Children Short – Official Selection – March 2019
ONE CHANCE | Australia | 2018 | 07’
Director: James Hyams
Writer: Jeremy Rigby
Producer: Jeremy Rigby
Cast: Harrison Wilkes , Sienna De Carlo , Isabella De Carlo , Kirar Mercy
Synopsis: A young girl with a passion for soccer tries to silence her bully by attempting an impossible goal.
MIRACULOUS SPORT HR | Croatia | 2018 | 11’
Director: Emir Mulalic
Writers: Linda Poscic Borovac/Natasa Tepsa Budija/Nino Peric
Producer: Linda Poscic Borovac
Synopsis: Short film , actors are 13 children ages 11-17. The movie depicts belly-aching as the most popular sport in Croatia. Nobody in the world has ever beaten the Croatian national team at complaining. Croatia’s team shows urban and rural belly-aching and gives advice how to belly-ache with passion. This ancient “sport” Croats have perfected and thourghly developed in several strong disciplines so that today, why deny, they can without question be called “VIRTUOSES OF COMPLAINING”. The film supports positivity and those that think and influence others positevely.
WHY… | Italy | 2019 | 10’
Director: Dev
Writers: Dev, Caterina Morina
Producer: Dev
Cast: Federica Bracarda, Carlo Apice, Teacher, Librarian
Synopsis: A young boy who is mostly busy in his mobile gets a challenge from his mother. The challenge is simple but tricky.
Names of Months (Arabic) | Lebanon | 2019 | 06’
Director: Rouba Beydoun
Writer: Rouba Beydoun
Producer: Rouba Beydoun
Cast: Charbel Rouhana, Sawsan Nourallah
Synopsis: A song animation about teaching the names of months in Arabic, this music video aims to provide an attractive way for children to learn about their heritage. The lyrics of the song are inspired by rhyming folk proverbs, while the images in the animation make cultural reference to different parts of the Arab region: pyramids in Egypt, ruins in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, olive picking in Tunisia, folk dancing in Palestine, sea turtles in Yemen, etc. It is a five-minute cultural voyage into the four seasons.
Student Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Blind love | Germany | 2019 | 18’
Director: Bidzina Gogiberidze
Writers: Gianluca Bruno, Bidzina Gogiberidze
Producer: Gianluca Bruno
Cast: Alicia Rosinski, Michael Knöfler
Synopsis: Anna is a blind piano player. She loves to perform live on stage and always looks out for opportunities to do so. Tonight she is going to play a composition by Chopin in a small bar. While moving trough the place she runs into a waitress carrying a tray of glasses. Max the Barkeeper helps her to collect the shards from the ground and falls in love with her on first sight. After her performance he accompanies her home. They spend the night together.
Tide of Ghosts | United Kingdom | 2018 | 27’
Director: Seb Cox
Writers: Seb Cox, John Black
Producer: Sulekha Kaur Takhtar
Cast: John Black, Benjamin David Taylor
Synopsis: Andrew finds his best mate (George) reappearing to him as a ghost with unfinished business. Together they have to find George’s body in order to uncover the mystery behind his death so that he can move on to the afterlife. With only a couple of weeks before a body decomposes, time is ticking and their friendship is tested. @ 00:00:00 a clip of the sea
Audition | United Kingdom | 2018 | 04’
Director: Zhizi Hao
Writer: Zhizi hao
Producer: Zhizi Hao
Cast: Chunlei Fu, Haili Yu
Synopsis: A Chinese girl living in London tries to adapt to the Western society, but she finds it difficult to be a part of it.
PURE | Switzerland | 2018 | 11’
Director: Stephan Eigenmann
Writer: Stephan Eigenmann
Producers: Stephan Eigenmann, Robert Ramos
Cast: Lesley Minervini, Bella Bishop, Aaron Burns, Laurra Aagaard, Bren Thor Johnson
Synopsis: Helen, a call center worker who struggles with alopecia is learning to accept herself with the help of a young girl with cancer.
NEON! | United States | 2019 | 09’
Producers: Tamao Kiser, Matthew Ho, Lauren Oh
Synopsis: In a world where neon orange is banned, unexpected customers visit a dry cleaner run by two siblings.
Devil’s Dare | Greece | 2018 | 28’
Director: Aristotelis F. Petridis
Writers: Aristotelis F. Petridis, Kostis Bassogiannis
Producer: Aristotelis F. Petridis
Cast: Spiros Bibilas, Memos Koen, Thodoris Prokopiou, Loukas Simperas, Akrivi Kollia
Synopsis: A cold night in the shop. Countless pinball games ready to be sold. Their technician and his boss confront a strange customer who’s gonna become their nightmare. A story of paranormal suspense driven by the machine of the devil.
Deepness of the Fry | Denmark | 2019 | 05’
Director: August Niclasen
Producer: Michelle Ann Nardone
Stalker | United Kingdom | 2018 | 04’
Director: Media Sheybany
Writer: Media Sheybany
Cast: Media Sheybany, Aaron Argyrou
Synopsis: A girl is homebound due to a deadline she needs to make. But she has been procrastinating her time away by observing her three neighbors, mixing her imagination with the facts that she has gathered from each neighbor. However, there is a twist… she is also being watched….
Simelibärg | Switzerland | 2018 | 14’
Director: Seraina Scherini
Writer: Seraina Scherini
Cast: Severin Mauchle, Evelyne Gugolz, Beat Brunner, Alrette Wahlen
Synopsis: A couple stands before the difficult task of leading their mentally challenged son Jonas into adulthood. Due to the marital conflicts between the parents, Jonas looses track of what is right or wrong.
Phone Call At 1AM | United States | 2017 | 08’
Director: Yikai Wu
Writer: Yikai Wu
Cast: Jeff Yoika
Synopsis: This is a story about a midnight phone call from 6000 miles away that causes a man at the other end feel deeply helpless.
Golem | Czech Republic | 2018 | 25’
Director: Etrio Fidora
Writer: Etrio Fidora
Producers: FAMU, Studio FAMU, Gisella Marino
Cast: Marek Kuta, Agnes Willow, Nikita Pronin
Synopsis: J. hates how he looks so he spends his time on social networks, projecting his desires and sexual impulses in a world where nobody makes fun of him. However, the border between digital and real become thinner and thinner, dragging J. in a distorted digital reality that soon will become a nightmare.
Lilith | United States | 2019 | 12’
Director: Erofili Moraiti
Writer: Erofili Moraiti
Producers: Tejah Monet Robinson, Dave Fathers
Cast: Morgan Price, Avery Powers, Kimmy Hunt
Synopsis: A woman in her early twenties is having constant dreams about snakes, which make her question her sexual relationships with men and bring her closer to the jewish mythological tale of the demonized Lilith.
Modern Love | Israel | 2018 | 13’
Director: Itamar Gross
Writer: Itamar Gross
Producer: Itamar Gross
Cast: Mikey Morag, Sharon Stark, Alon Lior, Maya Koren, Elad Keidan, Alon Garbuz, Nir Barak
Synopsis: Three years after he stopped using Facebook, Chaim gives the social network a second chance. When he becomes much more popular than he has ever expected, he must choose between his social network persona and his own true character.
Grandma Lake | Germany | 2019 | 24’
Directors: Felie Zernack, Ann Esswein
Writer: Felie Zernack
Producers: Felie Zernack, Ann Esswein
Synopsis: The resource conflict over water at Lago Atitlán, Guatemala divides the population. Who solves the problem of the strong contamination of the lake?
A Place in Between | United States | 2019 | 14’
Director: Selin Bonfil
Writer: Selin Bonfil
Producer: Louise De Nexon
Cast: Holly Heiser, Jenna Sander, Dexter Buell, Jackie Krim, Tom Staggs
Synopsis: Maya, a woman in her early 40s, has to host a dinner for her husband’s friends and convince her teenage to help her through the evening. When she realizes that the dinner is turning into a complete disaster, and pushed to an edge by her daughter’s behavior, she has a nervous breakdown, questioning the necessity of the ideals and tradition not only she but all women are pushed to live by. Shot in April 2018. Director’s age: 21.
The Devil’s Lamp | United Kingdom | 2019 | 07’
Director: Chetna Vaidyanathan
Writer: Chetna Vaidyanathan
Producers: Chetna Vaidyanathan, Daniel Llobera
Cast: Frederick Boweman, Benjamyn Lyall
Synopsis: The story follows James the priest who develops a psychosis on account of his deteriorating health. His fear and obsession lead him down a dark path, an interplay in his mind between God and the Devil.
Narrative Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Sailors of the forest | Italy | 2018 | 17’
Director: Stefano Tammaro
Writer: Daniele Malavolta, Vincenzo D’Onofrio
Cast: Ugo Garau, Melinda Mereu, Antonio Andrisani, Giuseppe Ranoia , Francesco De Francesco, Ulderico Pesce, Gianluca Sotgiu, Andrea Staffa, Nicola Ferrari, Sandra Guerrese
Synopsis: 70’s in Italy. In Sardinia, a group of criminals kidnap for ransom an Italian public figure. Based on a true story.
Ladies Lounge | United States | 2018 | 10’
Director: MIchelle Bossy
Writer: Caroline V. McGraw
Producers: Mara Kassin, Michelle Bossy, Rabia Sultana
Cast: Mara Kassin, Lynn Cohen, Greg Keller
Synopsis: Lady (Mara Kassin, Extra Innings, Oscar-winning short, Curfew) sits in front of a mirror in the lounge of a stuffy restaurant, contemplating her reflection. She is joined by the lounge attendant (Lynn Cohen, Munich, Sex and the City), who offers her the lounge amenities–none of which will fix what’s really wrong: her boyfriend (Greg Keller, While We’re Young) has brought a small box to dinner, but it doesn’t hold an engagement ring. Lady hears a noise coming from the restroom, and finds her doppelganger, ecstatic over the world’s biggest engagement ring. While her boyfriend waits impatiently, Lady contends with more versions of herself–a harried mother with a newborn, and finally, a bloodthirsty femme fatale. Ladies Lounge is a film about the roles women are offered, and how they must sometimes take their power back by any means necessary.
Treacle | United Kingdom | 2019 | 18’
Director: Rosie Westhoff
Writer: April Kelley
Producers: April Kelley, Sara Huxley, Katie Rotolo, Henry Kittredge, James Dean, Zeus Zamani
Cast: April Kelley, Ariana Anderson
Synopsis: TREACLE is the story of two friends, BELLE, and JESSIE, who go on a weekend away to help Jessie get over a recent breakup. Road tripping through California, we follow them over the course of 24 hours as Belle convinces Jessie to not cancel the trip she’d originally planned to go on with her ex. Lines begin to blur between them when the always heterosexual Jessie in her drunken, post breakup loneliness kisses bisexual Belle. TREACLE aims to give a voice to the ‘B’ in ‘LGBT’.
Write Off |Argentina | 2018 | 13’
Director: Tomas Sivori
Writer: Jeronimo Palenzuela
Producer: Tomas Sivori
Cast: Natalia Santiago, Eloy Rodriguez, Uriel Einstoss, Jorge Digilio, Federico La Rocca
Synopsis: 1940s.After a job gone wrong, a gang of low-life criminals must face the consequences of the betrayal.
Rorrim | United States | 2019 | 15’
Director: M.P. Murdock
Writer: M.P. Murdock
Producers: M.P. Murdock, Alexander Hartl
Cast: Teressa Liane
Synopsis: A young woman suffering from recurrent memory blackouts finds herself in different parts of her house without recollection of previous events. She decides to record herself with surveillance cameras to unveil a dark and forgotten truth.
Lemons | United States | 2018 | 14’
Director: Simon Werdmüller von Elgg
Writer: Simon Werdmüller von Elgg
Producer: Amanda Young
Cast: Jared Carter, Dianne Berry, Tamiko Robinson Steele
Synopsis: A lone missionary is invited into the stately home of a mysterious older woman. Polite conversation over sweet tea gradually unravels as the two grasp to understand one another. While exploring her home, he comes to realize his suspicions only begin to scratch the surface of a terrible truth, forcing him to confront his own damaged past.
Do No Harm | United Kingdom | 2019 | 13’
Director: Sam Blakeney-Edwards
Writer: Reshad Malik
Producer: Louis Taylor-Baggs
Cast: Oliver Rednall, Clare McGowan-Duffy, Sophie Jones, Victoria Shepherd
Synopsis: Junior Doctor Sam Bloom is working the night shift in a busy A&E department. Our story begins with the death of Sam’s first patient which plays havoc with his mental state and his ability to follow the doctor’s oath… ‘First, do no harm’.
Good Friend form the West | United States | 2018 | 10’
Director: Shuaiyu Liu
Writer: Shuaiyu Liu
Cast: Zhan Wang, Dan Rutkowski
Synopsis: In 1873, Tin is a Chinese rail worker working in California, after he escaped from the railway construction. He meets a wounded treasure thief – Dan the cowboy. Tin finally decides to save Dan’s life, and Dan helps Tin to cut the chain. They become friends. Dan stole the most important treasure from a Native American tribe, and they send best warriors to take it back. Tin has to fight with warriors to protect his friend’s life.
BUG | Poland | 2019 | 17’
Director: Krzysztof Wróbel
Writer: Krzysztof Wróbel
Producers: Krzysztof Wróbel, Samira Baddour
Cast: Michał Meyer, Sebastina Stankiewicz
Synopsis: An ordinary day by the river turns into a hilarious, testosterone fueled quest through which two best friends learn more about their friendship then ever before.
Woods | Romania | 2018 | 17’
Director: Paul Decu
Writer: Paul Decu
Producers: Paul Decu, Crina Linta
Cast: Ionut Achivoaie
Synopsis: HE lives in a wooden house in the middle of the forest. In this world, there are no other interior or exterior forces excepting HE, but one day, somebody comes and knocks on door. When HE opened the door, there was nothing out there, excepting a tape recorder that seems to be animated by something. The tape recorder guides him in his journey, a journey that ends in a very interesting way.
The Safe House | Bangladesh | 2019 | 27’
Director: Zak Mir
Writer: Zak Mir
Producer: Tuhin Mehedi Hasan
Cast: Intekhab Dinar, Shahjahan Samrat, Shahporan Shuvro
Synopsis: The Safe House, is a tale of a University teacher, who has been brought to a detention center where he meets a young Hindu boy who falls prey to severe military interrogation and torture. It is a story of hope and commitment.
Killing Christmas | United States | 2019 | 13’
Synopsis: Deciding to opt out of the season of goodwill altogether, Holly abandons her family and all the forced merriment on Christmas Eve and instead gets a strange encounter with a security guard and a cosmic festive gift.
Ghosts in the Ink |United States |2019 | 14’
Director: Igor Lewicki
Writer: Phil McCarron
Producers: Phil McCarron, Mika Santiguel, Musa Isa
Cast: Alexandra Miller, Igor Lewicki
Synopsis: A recently divorced couple, mired by tragedy, struggle to maintain civility as the meet, one last time, to finalize the sale of their house.
Fashion Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Olympia | Italy | 2018 | 15’
Director: Giulia Achenza
Producer: Basement
Cast: Aomi Muyock, Silvia Degrandi, Valerio Maccario
Synopsis: “Existential states that go beyond the most incredible conjectures” Inspired by Don De Lilllo’s novella Body Art, Olympia tells the story of a body artist and her director husband. Starting their life together as a married couple in their new home, everything carries on as normal until the day Olympia receives tragic news about her husband. This leads her to an unexpected journey into herself, which will result in the creation of her greatest work as an artist, but also in losing part of herself.
Kids on the Moon – Playground | Poland | 2019 | 31’
Director: Grajper, Mateusz Dziekoński – DP
Writer: Grajper
Producers: Bartosz Jodłowski / Houdini Film
Junkotheque | Romania | 02’
Director: Florina Titz
Producer: Georgiana Toma
Cast: Lana Moscaliuc, Georgiana Toma, Madalina Dinu
Amateur Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Taking a Piss | Not Specified | 10’
Director: Josh Romyn
Writer: Kyle Strauts
Producers: Kyle Strauts, Rebecca Steele
Cast: Kyle Strauts, Brea Schneider
Synopsis: On a seemingly regular morning, two lovers immersed in a clandestine life are at a crossroads.
Enantiodromia | United Kingdom | 2019 | 04’
Director: Lisa Ghosn
Writer: Lisa Ghosn
Cast: Lisa Ghosn, Leah Geary, Peter Collier, Tyler Wilson
Short Comedy – Official Selection – March 2019
Swung | United States | 2018 | 08’
Director: Fokke Baarssen
Writer: Keith Armonaitis
Producers: Fokke Baarssen, Keith Armonaitis, Carlos M. Jimenez, Thomas Bernard Hengeveld, George Paul Henneberke
Cast: Susan Varon, Wally Marzano-Lesnevich, Garry Pastore
Synopsis: A young man moves back in with his mom after breaking up with his wife, but soon finds out that his mom has a strange new hobby. A poignant story of elderly independence.
Party Favors | United States | 2018 | 13’
Director: Michael Mizov, Cameron Taddeo
Writer: Michael Mizov
Producer: Michael Mizov
Cast: Shawn Erickson, James Impellizeri, Cynthia Gray, Justin Grabosky
Synopsis: After finding some drugs stashed after a housewarming party, Matt and his weird new roommate Jeb soon discover that not all their guests have left.
Burqa City | France | 2019 | 20’
Director: Bracq Fabrice
Writer: Bracq Fabrice
Producer: Preel Cleach Fabrice
Cast: Omar mebrouk
Synopsis: Souleymane and Leila just got married, for better or for worse. The better is that they love each other very much. The worse is that they live in an absurd and kafkaesque country.
Kissy Cousins Monster Babies (Director’s Cut) | United States | 2019 | 25’
Director: Wayne Keeley
Writer: Wayne Keeley, David Belafonte, Steve Kearney, Stephanie C. Lyons-Keeley
Producers: Craig Dobson, Wayne Keeley, Stephanie C. Lyons-Keeley
Cast: David Belafonte, Steve Kearney, Jack Plotnick, Pat Cooper, Jeffrey Lyons, Michael Medved, Zac Jaffe
Synopsis: Two Hollywood Producers try to save their dying careers by creating a blockbuster out of old movies and their warped imaginations. What they don’t know is that they are being mined for their creative ideas. The film was in production for 25 years and shot in seven states including Wash D.C. (Linklater eat your heart out!). Homages galore! The next Rocky Horror!
A fine stew | Belgium | 2018 | 20’
Director: Marie Glichitch
Writer: Marie Glichitch
Producer: Mediadiffusion
Cast: Réal Siellez, Laetitia Reva, Fanny Estève, Joffrey Verbruggen, Chloé Von Arx
Synopsis: Easter Sunday. Catherine has cooked her stew, Manon is hungover, Jacques is late. Dad is getting married and Pierre is the one who has to announce it. It would be just a normal family meal … if there wasn’t a dead cat in the freezer …
Short Drama – Official Selection – March 2019
What Is Your Name | United Kingdom | 2018 | 11’
Director: Nathan Birdi
Writer: Adam Lawrence, Nathan Birdi
Producer: Adam Lawrence
Cast: Tony Pitts, Adam Lawrence, Laura Pradelska, Buket Komur
Synopsis: When a man discovers his father’s nightclub is a front for human trafficking, he must choose between family and his conscience.
My Florida Home | United States | 2019 | 10’
Director: Matthew Herbertz
Writer: Matthew Herbertz
Producers: William Allen , Ross Morin
Cast: Denise Gossett , Sarah Villegas, Gary Gross, Riley Gossett
Synopsis: An estranged daughter returns home to confront her elderly mother’s caregiver.
THE PEOPLE ARE THE BRAND | Switzerland | 2019 | 22’
Director: Adrian Perez
Writer: Adrian Perez
Producer: Adrian Perez
Cast: Anna-Katharina Müller, Philippe Schuler
Synopsis: A doubtful photo project about fugitives makes doubtful headlines. About a journalist and a photographer lost in opportunities.
Exodus | Greece | 2018 | 10’
Director: Alkiviadis Papadopoulos
Writer: Alkiviadis Papadopoulos
Producer: Marinia Palaiologou
Cast: Natacha Topaltziki
Synopsis: Sofia and Aristidis are having dinner talking about their upcoming marriage. But an unexpected meeting will change everything.
Yasmina | France | 2018 | 20’
Directors: Ali Esmili, Claire Cahen
Writer: Ali Esmili
Producer: Nelson Ghrénassia
Cast: Hana Mekacher, Capucine Valmary, Kenza Noah Aiche
Synopsis: Yasmina is a 15-years-old teenager who is passionate about soccer and practices with the team FC SAINT ETIENNE. Originally from Morocco, she is in an irregular situation in France, with her father and his French partner. One evening when she returns from a training, she sees her father being arrested before her own eyes.
Flowers | France | 2018 | 19’
Director: Baptiste Petit-Gats
Writer: Baptiste Petit-Gats
Producer: Nelson Ghrénassia
Cast: Catherine Salée, Victor Rivière
Synopsis: It is All Saints’ Day. Bérénice wanders through the city. She must find flowers for the grave. Sacha, her son, has other plans. Too bad. She must find flowers for the grave.
Blue Peter | Croatia | 2017 | 15’
Director: Marko Šantić
Writer: Marko Šantić
Producer: Jure Bušić
Cast: Hrvoje Vladisavljević, Dražen Mikulić, Olivera Baljak, Alan Katić
Synopsis: Petar is a young police officer who has just begun his carrer, he lives with his parents in a small maisonette. Officer Goran, who comes to pick up Petar, suddenly arrives at their place. They have to deal with another distraint. Petar doesn’t want to be a part of it. His unemployed father tries to convince him to go since their family is dealing with money problems and soon they’ll have to face an eviction. In the field during the distraint, Petar reacts in a human way, brakes the police powers and tries to protect distrainees who happen to be an older married couple.
Missed | Netherlands | 2018 | 10’
Director: Fokke Baarssen
Writer: Keith Armonaitis
Producers: Fokke Baarssen, Niels Neeskens
Cast: James Kacey, Sean Kane, Jennifer Lynn O’Hara
Synopsis: A diner on a dusty desert highway in the American Southwest seems an unlikely place to call neutral territory, but it’s Graham’s last chance to try and reconnect with his estranged father, John. With John clinging ever more to his conservatism and the differences between father and son seemingly insurmountable, the stakes are high. Can they reconcile their differences and reconnect before it is too late?
Spizella | Germany | 2019 | 20’
Director: Mehmet Tığlı
Writer: Mehmet Tığlı
Producer: Ozan Takmaz
Cast: Nurcan Şirin, Yavuz Fırıldak, Arzu Suriçi
Synopsis: Spizella is a word with Latin and Greek origin and it means ‘sparrow’. Spizella is the story of a father and his daughter with troubled family relationships, which have become even more troubled after the death of the mother. The father keeps forcing his daugther to keep the mourning attitude alive and ongoing within the house and he tries to keep his communication with her very limited. This gloomy house is no different than a cage for this timid girl. The strong revival of her childhood memories and dreams by means of a souvenir suitcase left from her mother can bring the girl a glimpse of happiness.
Hymn of Hate | United Kingdom | 12’
Director: Matt Kennard
Writer: Matt Kennard
Producers: April Kelley, Sara Huxley
Cast: Russell Tovey, Thomas Turgoose, Andrew Knott
Synopsis: Set in No Man’s Land at The Somme during the early Spring of 1916, Hymn of Hate is a poignant and never more relevant film, made to coincide with the centenary of the end of the Great War.
Nocturne | United States | 2017 | 07’
Director: Marcus Cox
Writer: Marcus Cox
Producers: Ian Michaels, Karrie Cox, Marcus Cox
Cast: Beth Grant, Karrie Cox, Ireen Roseen
Synopsis: A woman on the run hides at a retirement community, only to have her mother invite someone sinister in for pie.
Watching them all | Not Specified | 2019 | 15’
Director: Josh Sondock, Ben Hayslett
Writer: Josh Sondock
Producers: Josh Sondock, Ben Hayslett, Evan Boyd
Cast: Xavier Markey-Smith, Kayla Kirk, Athena Zeros, Lily Meyersohn
Synopsis: Madison & her boyfriend, York, made a list of all the greatest films that were ever made. They planned to watch them all. Then Madison unexpectedly passed away. Over a year later, York is still dealing with the consequences.
Fishing with Father | Japan | 2018 | 23’
Director: Shigeru Hirai
Writer: Shigeru Hirai
Producer: Shigeru Hirai
Cast: Daikichi Sano, Hiroyuki
Synopsis: When a father who bonds with his son over fishing suffers from a stroke, his son chooses to drop out of high school to support the family while he recovers. The once close pair drift apart under their new circumstances, but eventually repair their relationship at long last and go fishing together again.
Waving mind | France | 2019 | 12’
Director: Cécile Psaltopoulos
Writer: Cecile Psaltopoulos
Cast: Danai Panou
Synopsis: Nina, 27 years old, is passionate about her work : dance. Almost autistically, that’s how she approaches life, the world around her, escaping all social contact but Manos’. When she unexpectedly gets pregnant, Nina panics and escapes reality to land in a place of her mind where only sea seems at reach.
Turn on my light | Russian Federation | 2019 | 20’
Directors: Mariya Denkova, Nikas Kotich
Cast: Mariya Denkova, Rashid Aytouganov , Aleksandra Verhoshanskaya, Ekaterina Dar
Synopsis: A young girl hits her boyfriend and he runs away from her. She is trying to do nothing with it.
Daily Bread | Australia | 2018 | 15’
Director: Ruby Challenger
Writers: Ruby Challenger, Jonathan Wald, Ella Carey
Producer: Ruby Challenger
Cast: Ruby Challenger, Street Smart Films Pty Ltd
Synopsis: In a WWII internment camp in Indonesia, Jan and a group of Dutch women and children face a daily struggle against abuse, disease and starvation. The Japanese Camp Commandant and his beloved, fluffy white cat, oversee the gruelling camp regime. Jan is a brave but impulsive young woman, and when she acts out of desperation to save a little girl’s life, her actions bring consequences upon the whole camp. What is the price for a meal when women and children are starving? Daily Bread is based on an excerpt from the autobiography Fifty Years of Silence by Jan Ruff O’Herne, which was published by Random House and has been translated into five languages.
Tank Man | United States | 2019 | 15’
Director: Robert Anthony Peters
Writer: Robert Anthony Peters
Producers: Robert Anthony Peters, Curt Chatham
Cast: Eddie Shan
Synopsis: Tank Man is the story of the iconic gentleman who stood in front of and stopped a line of tanks after the Tienanmen Square massacre of June 4, 1989. All that is know of this man are the images that were recorded of his acts. This film is a speculation of what he went through the day he took his courageous steps 30 years ago.
Documentary Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Harvardstein, U.S.A. | United States | 2018 | 06’
Director: Adrian Meyer
Cast: Twillian Un Pomp
Synopsis: Observe the whimsically erratic life of songwriter Twillian Pomp as he struggles to record his latest album.
Mirror Images – a portrait of Kaya Mar | United Kingdom | 2018 | 06’
Director: Neil Hall
Cast: Kaya Mar
Synopsis: Kaya Mar is a man who is worried about the darkness the world is in. He has made it his lifes mission as a to poke fun at global leaders and politicians through his satirical paintings. He takes his work to the streets to protest against “despots” and “wrong-doers” on behalf of the people. “Mirror Images: follows Kaya as he satirises figures such as Donald Trump and Britain’s Royal Family. It explores the philosophy of how satire can get serious messages to the masses.
Carry Your Hand | United States | 2019 | 14’
Director: Sean Brown
Writers: Jessica Anne Bogart, Sean Brown
Producer: Jessica Anne Bogart
Cast: Susan Artes
Synopsis: “Carry Your Hand” tells a personal story of professional show jumping rider Susan Artes. Through early tragedy, determination, and passion for her sport, Susie has become a recognized name on the show jumping circuit. “Carry Your Hand”brings a message of love, loss, and the beauty of horses!
Nine Letters | United States | 2017 | 22’
Director: Cristina Müller
Writer: Cristina Müller
Producer: Cristina Müller
Synopsis: The sensation of living in New York, away from home, is shared by those who come to live in this great metropolis from elsewhere. In Nine Letters, this experience of ‘here and there’ is conveyed by letters, and by images of everyday urban life, evoking the dream state of the present imbued by the past.
Voices of Charlotte Dufrène | Belgium | 2018 | 26’
Directors: Guy Bordin, Renaud De Putter
Writers: Guy Bordin, Renaud De Putter
Producers: Guy Bordin, Renaud De Putter
Cast: Aurore Latour
Synopsis: Charlotte Dufrène spent twenty-three equally fascinating and anxious years with the dazzling writer Raymond Roussel between 1910 and 1933. What remains of them during her sad exile in Brussels (1935-1968)? The singer Paule Daloze and the poet John Ashbery knew her at the time. With the essayist Annie Le Brun, and the collaboration of the actress Aurore Latour, they probe the silences of this forgotten figure and give her back her voice.
Humanitarian | United States | 2018 | 30’
Director: Erick Fix
Producers: Justin Wright, Hassan Hijazi, Glorianne Cody, Will Clark
Cast: Hassan Hijazi, Julia Al-Zoubi, Nasser Rawashdeh
Synopsis: We follow Julia and Hassan, Jordanian aid workers who have been working with Syrian refugees since the beginning of the crisis. They’ve pushed themselves to the edge of their sanity as they try to make a difference in the lives of children growing up without a country to call their own.
Short Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Mankind | United Kingdom | 2018 | 13’
Director: Layke Anderson
Writers: Layke Anderson, Ryan Child
Producer: Layke Anderson
Cast: Ricky Nixon, Alexis Gregory
Synopsis: A restless young man wants to leave love and the Earth behind. ‘Mankind’ reflects the idea of humans being explorers by nature, and the consequences of standing still, for too long. Reviews… “A fantastic film! Anderson creates incredible, unique worlds!” – Francis Lee, Director of ‘God’s Own Country’ “I loved the experimental form, the visual and aural sensibility and above all, the queering of science fiction into something tangible and emotional.” – Wash Westmoreland, Director of ‘Colette’ “The very best sci-fi finds the balance of humanity within the vastness of the universe, which is exactly what ‘Mankind’ manages. An excellent short.” – Ben Turner (The Pink Lens)
ROBOT WILL PROTECT YOU | Estonia | 2018 | 10’
Director: Nicola Piovesan
Writer: Matt Willis-Jones
Producer: Nicola Piovesan
Cast: Lizzie Freeman, Richard Epcar
Synopsis: A sci-fi animation about a little girl’s search for meaning in a world without emotions.
The Mirror Tree | United Kingdom | 2019 | 14’
Director: Andrew Pengilley
Writer: Andrew Pengilley
Producer: Andrew Pengilley
Cast: Luke Perczyk, Bethan Langford, Ian Kane
Synopsis: An introverted boy is given a magic leaf from ‘The Mirror Tree’ that transports him to another world.
Music Video Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Kite | Portugal | 2017 | 05’
Director: João Pombeiro
Cast: Nadia Schilling
Bubbles of Time | Switzerland | 2018 | 06’
Director: Bastien Bron
Writers: Bastien Bron, Raphaël Weber
Producer: Bastien Bron
Cast: Alizée Droux
Synopsis: The sensory trip of a girl in a swimming pool, under the eye of her naked cat.
Fire Musical Notes | Brazil | 2019 | 03’
Synopsis: Pierrot, Columbine and Harlequin are the central characters of the Carnival march “Fire Musical Notes”. The plot turns on the idea of swapping guns for musical instruments, which fire off notes instead of bullets. It’s the musical adaptation of the “make love, not war.” This animated video clip celebrates this creative inversion with beautiful drawings, humor, color and joy.
Norway Awakens | Germany | 2018 | 05’
Director: Ulrich Schmitt
Writer: Ulrich Schmitt
Producer: Ulrich Schmitt
Synopsis: In a Travel up to Norway we spent for 2 Weeks nearly every night somewhere outside in nature to capture the spirit of long nights with never ending sunsets until the sun came back over the horizon. It was May and everywhere you could see the snow melting and nature fighting back to live. But it was also a strong demostration of climate change. Norway had temperatures 4,5 degrees over average for May. This beauty of Norway and our whole planet is in serious danger. The Soundtrack was written on the pictures by Nikos Spiliotis.
Vai Ver | Brazil | 2018 | 04’
Director: Diego Souza
Synopsis: Away from home, a man decides to go back and make himself present.
Experimental Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Open Wound | Greece | 2018 | 18’
Director: Fotis Skourletis
Writer: Fotis Skourletis
Producer: Fotis Skourletis
Cast: Michalis Skyrianos, Argiris Thanasoulas
Synopsis: A man tries to escape from his disorder and the murder.
Hideous | United Kingdom | 2019 | 17’
Director: Hamish Robertson
Writer: Jim Rennie
Producer: Emma Vaughn
Cast: Zoe Bullock , Craig Andrew Mooney , Ben Storey , Linda Lyon , Tony MacDonald
Synopsis: When cheerful flower shop employee, Marla, awkwardly comes into contact with a mysterious man dressed all in black, she learns that her husband, Pete, was savagely murdered earlier that day. He then gives her an opportunity to take revenge. But will she accept?
Mellow Yellow | United States | 2019 | 05’
Director: Jessica Batson
Producer: Jenny Napier
Cast: Joanna Bajena, Logan Scofield
Synopsis: A mad hatter tea party between two eccentric siblings. Filmed in Chicago, the project features Polish talent and wardrobe.
The Undivine Comedy | United States | 2018 | 02’
Director: Lynn Bianchi
Writer: Lynn Bianchi
Producers: Lynn Bianchi, Robert Bianchi
Cast: Olia Rogova
Synopsis: Today’s world feels angrier and harder than ever before; an addiction to “plugging in” adds to a sense of acceleration, a hamster wheel of crisis and panic. Wouldn’t we all like to unplug? Wouldn’t we all like to take a deep breath? Wouldn’t we all like to fly to the moon? We humans seem to have lost sight of the fact that we have a choice – life can be sweet, we can fly to the moon, we can close our mouths and eyes and just feel what it is to be alive. If only the politicians, the pundits, the money makers, the social climbers could take a breath and remember how the warm wind feels against the skin.
Modulation Nowhere | Germany | 2018 | 12’
Director: Todd Bogin
Writer: Todd Bogin
Producers: Lydia Schulze, Todd Bogin
Cast: Christian Harting, Jessica Broesick
Synopsis: Sofia, A sweet and innocent violinist who performs music on the streets and sidewalks of Berlin is befriended by a mysteriously troubled yet charming man named Karl. All is well until one day Sofia wakes up only to find Karl and her beloved violin missing.
White Male | United States | 2019 | 04’
Director: Jared Hogan
Writers: Parrish Stikeleather, Jared Hogan
Producer: Elisha Gustafson
Cast: Tyler Chase
Synopsis: A brief, detached portrait of the interior a young, white man spiraling toward violence.
Lilith | United States | 2019 | 12’
Director: Erofili Moraiti
Writer: Erofili Moraiti
Producers: Tejah Monet Robinson, Dave Fathers
Cast: Morgan Price, Avery Powers, Kimmy Hunt
Synopsis: A woman in her early twenties is having constant dreams about snakes, which make her question her sexual relationships with men and bring her closer to the jewish mythological tale of the demonized Lilith.
We Shall Overcome | United States | 2018 | 10’
Director: Kelvin Shum
Writer: Kelvin Shum
Producers: Kelvin Shum, Alfonso Torres
Cast: Lenny Von Dohlen, Toby Kearton, Paul Wong, Ben Furney , Marie Senghore, Brandon Koen, Jennifer Buckley, Masato Di Santo, Danel Azimova, Matthew Ness, Hala Abouchakra, Yi-Hui Lin, Maria Manuela Gomez, Julia Nejman, Kyle Shum, Andrés Figueroa, May Cui, Laura M Muñoz, Damon Barnes, Noemy DelMar, Meave Thompson Osgood
Synopsis: In this grotesque universe, yearning students of different gender & race participate in what appears to be a ritualistic exam.
Animation Short – Official Selection – February 2019
FOR THE SAKE OF YOUSEF | Kuwait | 2019 | 05’
Director: Yousef albaqshi
Writer: FAHAD AL Qaoud
Producer: Yousef albaqshi
Cast: riyath aldosiry, brittany gneiting
Synopsis: In the living room , yousef’s mother turn the channel to watch a horror movie while the five years old kid (yousef) was playing there !
The Crossing | United Kingdom | 2018 | 05’
Director: Chris Shaw
Writers: Andrew Myors, Sara Stafford, Sam Wylde, Chris Shaw
Producer: Andrew Myors
Cast: Pempa Samuels, Dawa Tsering
Synopsis: ‘The Crossing’ follows the story of a Tibetan refugee’s perilous journey across the Himalayas to India, as they flee persecution in their homeland. For more than 60 years, Tibet has been occupied by China and tens of thousands of Tibetans have made this very journey. The charity Free Tibet commissioned Chris Shaw to direct and animate the short film, which explores what drove her to make this life-altering decision and to raise awareness of the oppression the people of Tibet face.
Where does the heart call? | Kazakhstan | 06’
Directors: Mansur Sarsembayev, Maxud Sarsembayev
Writer: Marat Sarsembayev
Synopsis: The factory worker lost the meaning of life in the daily routine. Until one day he begins to dream of the sea that won his heart as a child. Can he fulfill his dream?
GIRASOL | Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela | 2019 | 10’
Director: María Victoria Sánchez Lara
Writers: María Victoria Sánchez Lara, Marielvy D’Apollo
Producer: Marielvy D’Apollo
Cast: Edixa Montiel
Synopsis: Girasol is the story of Carandai, the first sunflower in the world.
Love Keeps on Going | Netherlands | 2019 | 08’
Writer: Rick Timmermans
Synopsis: 7 April 2019 will mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Dutch Jesuit Frans van der Lugt, who was murdered in Homs, Syria. The two shots fired were fatal. Van der Lugt sj died at the age of 75. To honour Father Frans, the Jesuits in the Netherlands and Flanders have produced an animated film about him. The film is available in 9 languages, including English and Arabic.
Mobile Phone Short – Official Selection – March 2019
Paper Trail | United Kingdom | 2019 | 01’
Director: Emily Brown
Writer: Ben Rufus Green
Cast: Ben Rufus Green
Synopsis: Follow the paper trail
Life in a Tiny Town | Not Specified | 03’
Director: Prakash Gandhi Natarajan
Synopsis: Shot on Apple iPhone XS Max. Equipment Used : Movi Freefly Cinema Robot Gimbel, Handheld Apps : Stock Camera and Movie Freefly App Editing : Luma Fusion in Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil Final Touches : Final Cut Pro X in MacBook Pro Music : Wanderer by Remember the Future from Premium Beat Shooting Location : Small towns in South India (Mayiladuthurai, Kuthalam, Thirumanamcheri, Aadudhurai, Kovindhapuram, Sivaramapuran, Naranamangalam, Kumbakonam)
The Monologue | France | 2018 | 01’
Director: Florent Sabatier
Writer: Florent Sabatier
Producer: Florent Sabatier
Cast: David Saada, Loic Bartolini, Marie Coustaury
Synopsis: This time, he won’t tolerate this racist insult ! He delivers a long tirade…
180 km/empty | Germany | 2019 | 02’
Director: Julia Effertz
Writer: Julia Effertz
Producer: Julia Effertz
Cast: Julia Effertz
Synopsis: “All it takes is a beautiful fake smile to hide an injured soul”. In under 2 minutes, “180 km/empty” traces one woman’s journey from a high-achieving smile into the reality of burn-out.
Come Back, Dad | Not Specified | 2019 | 10’
Synopsis: A heart-warming film made by mobile device. Mei’s father passed away two months ago. He used to be accompanied by Mei and her dog daily. In July of the lunar calendar, the ghost month, Mei discovers a phenomenon of the ceiling fan constantly operating on its own. However, the electrician can not solve the problem. She decides to investigate and uncover the truth. Therefore, she installs a surveillance camera to find out whether her father has come back to visit her, or not?
Journey | Russian Federation | 2018 | 07’
Director: Arina Salakhutdinova
Writer: Roman Salakhutdinov
Producer: Kirill Vozzhaev, Ekaterina Gunina
Cast: Anton Butakov, Cat Martha, Natalya Khalturina
Synopsis: The traveler goes to conquer Elbrus. At the entrance he meets an abandoned kitten. Before Andrey there is a choice: to save the cat or conquer the summit.
Blame yourselves if no one comes | Sweden | 2019 | 12’
Director: Gustav Egerstedt
Writer: Gustav Egerstedt
Producer: Gustav Egerstedt
Cast: Gustav Egerstedt, Andreas Putz, Nicola Jones, Henrik Hallgren, Rickard Edholm, Maria Fredriksson, Kristina Petrushina, Christina Nylander
Synopsis: We follow a man with an idea to create a film. He is convinced that his idea is so brilliant. This sends him on a journey of hope and despair. This is that film.
LILY | United States | 2019 | 10’
Director: JINGWEI BU
Writer: JINGWEI BU
Producer: SUNNY ZHANG
Cast: CHRISTOPHER CALLEN, DON BALDARAMOS, CHRISTINA MORRELL
Synopsis: At night, Lily is a grandma who lives with and cares for her daughter and grandson. During the daytime, she is a professional call girl. After her lover’s dies, she decides to release herself from her daughter’s judgment and hit the open road.
Mini Short – Official Selection – March 2019
FREI_RAUM | Germany | 2019 | 03’
Director: Charlot van Heeswijk
Cast: Patrizia Bieri, Francesco Rondina, Jannis Tiedemann, Nataša Pivec
Synopsis: FREI_RAUM is an observation on everyday acts of male dominance, more so than about public transport etiquette. Because the phenomenon of “Manspreading” is a symptom of a much larger problem and not just a minuscule thing – it is an act of dominance that is the result of deep-rooted societal privilege borne of our patriarchal society. For all my sisters out there. “You deserve to take up space.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Sonflower | United Kingdom | 2019 | 03’
Director: Alexander Hagani
Writer: Alexander Hagani
Producer: Alexander Hagani
Cast: Benjamin Peter Jones, Simona Cosimi
Synopsis: A father goes to pick up his son from his ex-wife for their weekend away. When his son does not want to come, the father comes to a realization.
Freedom | United States | 2018 | 03’
Director: Yuri + Ana, Yuri Sardenberg, Ana Monteiro
Writer: Eduardo Albuquerque
Producer: Luisa Acosta, Sabrina Percario
Cast: Giselle Itié
Synopsis: Freedom addresses the empathy crisis toward immigrants by showing how the concept of living free with no borders applies to car commercials but not when it comes to human beings.
Missing | United States | 2019 | 03’
Director: Gino DiLeva
Writer: Gino DiLeva, Matt Morreale, Sarah DiLeva
Producer: Sarah DiLeva
Cast: Sarah DiLeva, Gino DiLeva, Matt Morreale
Synopsis: Missing is a suspenseful, tense, white-knuckle thriller which keeps viewers guessing until the very end! It has a twist ending that viewers will never forget! Missing is directed by Gino DiLeva and is written by Gino DiLeva, Matt Morreale, and Sarah DiLeva.
A Trip Down Memory Lane | United States | 2017 | 02’
Director: Pamela Mathieson
Writer: Pamela Mathieson
Producer: Pamela Mathieson
Cast: Jon Kevin Lazarus, Fran Shelton, Stan Gilmer, Mia Speight, David Kenneth Sommerville
Synopsis: For their anniversary, an older couple relives some of their fondest memories in the city they love.
Night of Theft | Indonesia | 2018 | 01’
Director: Adhikara Nugroho Poesoro
Writer: Adhikara Nugroho Poesoro
Producer: Adhikara Nugroho Poesoro
Cast: Yakub Mini, Nony Hayati
Synopsis: The story of a thief entering a house and looking for valuable things, but instead he was attacked by a terrible woman who lived in it
Series Web/TV Short – Official Selection – March 2019
The Last Sound | United States | 2019 | 08’
Director: Gregg DaCosta
Writer: Gregg DaCosta, Brinton Woodall
Producer: Gregg DaCosta, Brinton Woodall
Cast: Gregg DaCosta, Melissa Sarai, Monique Suarez, John Torres, Alexander Gonzalez, Jordan Barosy
Synopsis: When the word, “cancer” hits the household, Jennifer and others must find out how to deal with such a difficult situation.
Pine High | Not Specified | 2019 | 08’
Director: Rob Bohn
Writer: Rob Bohn and Nate Milton
Producers: Jon Huggins, Nate Milton
Cast:
Synopsis: ‘Pine High’ is a colorful and visceral portrayal of what suburban teenage life looks like from the other side of normal.
Commercial/AD/TV – Official Selection – March 2019
“The Puns” Somersby Commercial | Poland | 2018 | 30’’
Director: Artur Czerwiński
Writer: Artur Czerwiński
Producer: Artur Czerwiński
Synopsis: The story of a pack of friends, who are playing puns.
“The Openers” Sprite Commercial | Poland | 2018 | 01’
Director: Artur Czerwiński
Writer: Artur Czerwiński
Producer: Artur Czerwiński
Synopsis: The story of three guys, who are trying to impress girls at the party.
Airstream – Creed | Not Specified | 2017 |05’
Director: Ian Fohrman
Writers: Kala Horvitz, Ian Fohrman
Producer: Mike Artz
Cast: Hugh Galyean
Synopsis: On a day when America celebrates almost two and a half centuries of freedom and independence, we at Airstream also celebrate a man who stood for the same values. “My dream belongs to you.” Our founder, Wallace Merle Byam, was born on July 4, 1896, in Baker City, Oregon. He championed these values in his Creed – a document that continues to inform our conduct and decision-making at Airstream today. Wally’s Creed hangs on the wall in our office, and every day, his words drive us to honor his core beliefs and greatest ambitions.
Jeep – Dogsled | Not Specified | 2017 | 02’
Director: Ian Fohrman
Writer: Ian Fohrman
Producer: Mike Artz
Synopsis: Short commercial showing off the capabilities of the jeep with some help from a pro snowboarder and some furry friends.
What do mothers want | Russian Federation | 2018 | 03’
Director: Denis Gulyar
Writer: Denis Gulyar
Producers: Alexey Stasyuk, Drya Feoctistova, Gleb Burganov
RES | United Kingdom | 2019 | 06’
Director: MARC ZAMMET
Writer: VERONIKA THIEL
Producers: MARC ZAMMET, CHARMAINE SEWELL, TONY ZAMMET, RICHARD OAKS
Cast: SARAH J LEWIS , ETHEL MCGLASHAN, REBECCA CALIENDA
Trailer – Official Selection – March 2019
Johnny Colorado | United States | 2018 | 01’
Directors: Alejandro Espinoza, Michael Benton
Writers: Alejandro Espinoza, Michael Benton
Producer:
Cast: Daniel Baldock, Doyle Reynolds
Synopsis: Johnny Colorado is unemployable, the problem is he doesn’t know it.
AWAKENING OF THE VILLAGE ASIRI | Sri Lanka | 2018 | 03’
Synopsis: Awakening the village ASIRI is an advertisement showing how to eliminate poverty by donating a cow to poor families in Sri Lanka.