A PERFECT NIGHT

December Submission Period Spotlight Award: A Perfect Night

A Perfect Night is a striking and emotionally immersive work that confronts its subject with rare honesty and intensity. Directed by Angelo Raaijmakers, the film places the viewer inside the volatile rhythms of an on-again, off-again relationship, its tenderness, fractures, and inescapable pull. From the opening moments, we are not simply observing this relationship but inhabiting it, carried through each rise and collapse with visceral immediacy.

The cinematography, shot in a distinctive 4:3 aspect ratio by Eva Heinsbroek, is particularly noteworthy. Each frame feels deliberate and intimate, like a series of postcards from a world that is both beautiful and suffocating. This visual restraint heightens the emotional stakes, reinforcing the sense that there is no easy exit, only the constant oscillation between longing, frustration, and despair.

The performances further anchor the film’s emotional core. Momo Samwel as Luna and Illias Addab as Nordin deliver raw, deeply felt portrayals, their chemistry unsettling in the best possible way. The film draws the viewer into moments where frustration gives way to empathy, and empathy to a quiet, lingering hopelessness. Both actors demonstrate a presence and emotional intelligence that mark them as talents to watch closely.

For its confident direction, evocative visual language, and fearless emotional honesty, A Perfect Night stands out as a work of exceptional impact. It is a film that remains with you long after it ends, and for these reasons, we are proud to award it the December Submission Period Spotlight Award.