This year’s opening film is Memory Lane by Jelle de Jonge. This road movie follows Jaap and Maartje, a couple who have been together for nearly 50 years. When they receive a letter from an old holiday friend, the two set off on an unexpected journey. Through their travels, the film gently reminds us that later life is not an end, but a time still open to growth and transformation. Jaap is cynical and emotionally withdrawn, while his wife Maartje hasn’t given up on the joys of life. They have become accustomed to the routines of their long relationship. However, like any journey that reveals its lessons along the way, their trip to Barcelona in a beat-up old car becomes more than just a change of scenery it becomes a rediscovery of each other and a quiet meditation on the meaning of life. While the story touches on weighty themes such as dementia, anxiety, and loneliness in old age, it is equally shaped by the couple’s deep trust and the understated humor that lingers in their conversations. Featuring powerful performances by acclaimed Dutch actors Martin van Waardenberg and Leny Breederveld, Memory Lane offers a poignant, resonant reflection on life for all of us.