YouTube teen film sensations point the camera at themselves—and capture the attention of the Berlinale. Russian premiere as part of the Collective Cinema Festival.
Crocodile
- Date:
- 18 Sep 2026,
19:30–22:20
- Age restrictions
- 18+
2026, Pietra Brettkelly, The Critics
New Zealand—Nigeria
101 minutes, English with Russian subtitles
Documentary
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Five kids from Kaduna, Nigeria, under the collective name The Critics set about making original and witty sci-fi videos and uploading them to YouTube. When views exceeded a million, director Pietra Brettkelli suggested they make a film about themselves, their creative process and the world around them.
Still from Crocodile, 2026
At a time when it seems like technology and global connectivity have only created greater insularity, Crocodile demonstrates impressive reach, both in conveying how far stories can travel and how potent creative expression remains.
—Stephen Saito, The Movable Fest
The Critics’ short films impress with their bold imagination, technical inventiveness, and boundless teenage energy. Crocodile retains this exuberance and explores the dramas that accompany the joy of creativity—from experiencing poverty and violence to the rifts within the maturing collective.
The screening will be followed by an online discussion with director Pietra Brettkelli.
