Skip links

Congratulations to our April 2021 Award Winners

SHORT TO THE POINT APRIL 2021 AWARDS


BEST FILM

A Little Circus | Japan | 2021 | 27’          

Director: Yoshiro Osaka

Writer: Yoshiro Osaka   

Producer: Ryan Barton  

Cast: Nov Lyheng            

Synopsis: In the town of Battambang:  Birthplace of  Cambodian circus, bombastic virus and news bedevil an innocent young circus boy, Theara. His best friends unite and play a circus for him.


BEST DIRECTOR

A Little Circus | Japan | 2021 | 27’          

Director: Yoshiro Osaka

Writer: Yoshiro Osaka   

Producer: Ryan Barton  

Cast: Nov Lyheng            

Synopsis: In the town of Battambang:  Birthplace of  Cambodian circus, bombastic virus and news bedevil an innocent young circus boy, Theara. His best friends unite and play a circus for him.


BEST SCREENPLAY

Barrier | Netherlands | 2020 | 09’          

Writer: Paul Bontenbal 

Director: Niels Bourgonje

Producer: Joris Vorselaars           

Cast: Walt Klink, Bill Barberis, Craig Stott              

Synopsis: September 1944. Two Canadian soldiers find a boy washed up on the Dutch beach.

Where did he come from and can he be trusted?


BEST LEADING ACTRESS

I Am | Germany | 2020 | 27’     

Actress: Melodie Wakivuamina

Director: Jerry Hoffmaann           

Writer: Florens Huhn     

Producer: Stella Flicker (Creative Producer)         

Cast: Melodie Wakivuamina, Sheri Hagen             

Synopsis: One day, the withdrawn Noé finds a motionless android in the forest, takes it with her and reactivates it. It’s the beginning of a strange relationship. Far too late, Noé realizes that the android is about to copy her personality.


BEST LEADING ACTOR

A Little Circus | Japan | 2021 | 27’          

Actor: Nov Lyheng

Director: Yoshiro Osaka

Writer: Yoshiro Osaka   

Producer: Ryan Barton  

Cast: Nov Lyheng            

Synopsis: In the town of Battambang:  Birthplace of  Cambodian circus, bombastic virus and news bedevil an innocent young circus boy, Theara. His best friends unite and play a circus for him.


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Woodland Cemetery | Netherlands | 2020 | 10’              

Cinematographer: Rasmus Eriksson

Director: Niels Bourgonje            

Writer: Niels Bourgonje

Producer: Niels Bourgonje          

Cast: Josefin Asplund    

Synopsis: A photographer has the assignment to shoot Skogskyrkogarden, a cemetery located in the woods of Stockholm. There she sees an old woman placing a lantern on a grave. When the photographer shoots a picture of this very private moment, she soon finds out that this haunting image is more haunted than she bargained for.


BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

I Am | Germany | 2020 | 27’     

Production designer: Iris Trescher-Lorenz

Director: Jerry Hoffmaann           

Writer: Florens Huhn     

Producer: Stella Flicker (Creative Producer)         

Cast: Melodie Wakivuamina, Sheri Hagen             

Synopsis: One day, the withdrawn Noé finds a motionless android in the forest, takes it with her and reactivates it. It’s the beginning of a strange relationship. Far too late, Noé realizes that the android is about to copy her personality.


BEST EDITING

Woodland Cemetery | Netherlands | 2020 | 10’              

Editor: Nils Rensen

Director: Niels Bourgonje            

Writer: Niels Bourgonje

Producer: Niels Bourgonje          

Cast: Josefin Asplund    

Synopsis: A photographer has the assignment to shoot Skogskyrkogarden, a cemetery located in the woods of Stockholm. There she sees an old woman placing a lantern on a grave. When the photographer shoots a picture of this very private moment, she soon finds out that this haunting image is more haunted than she bargained for.


BEST NARRATIVE

Knock 3 times | Lithuania | 2020 | 14’

Director: Klaudija Matvejevaitė

Writer: Klaudija Matvejevaitė   

Producers: Urte Emile Askeloviciute, Baltic Productions 

Cast: Karolis Vilkas          

Synopsis: Young blind priest serves his first week in an old city church undergoing restoration. While the priest is getting familiar with the church space and its visitors, they also need to get accustomed to the new priest.


BEST DRAMA

IT’S MORE RELIABLE THIS WAY  | Russian Federation | 2021 | 30’            

Director: Sophie Salman

Writers: Sophie Salman, Raisa Mironova

Producer: Raisa Mironova                           

Synopsis: A woman over 50-years old escapes loneliness on a dating site. She goes on a date out of  curiosity. However, this one results in her making a hard life decision.


BEST HORROR

Statues | France | 2020 | 27’     

Director: Thomas Gallo 

Writers: Marie Palinacci, Julie Béguet, Thomas Gallo       

Producer: Association APIA         

Cast: Ewan Bogart, Casimir Szymczak, Pierrette Chambellan, Lily Gera, Antoine Routard  

Synopsis: Two municipal police officers respond to the home of an elderly woman screaming in terror and pain. Upon arriving in front of the house, the two policemen break down the door. Once the door is wide open, silence reigns. The two officers enter and discover a dirty and dusty house. The old lady seems to be living as a recluse in the house. During their search, the two officers are intrigued by the abnormally large number of dolls and statues present, turning their backs on them. Having been persuaded to intervene in a case of domestic violence, the two agents will very quickly find themselves confronted with things that are beyond their control.


BEST ADVENTURE/ACTION

Evolutionary | United Kingdom | 15’     

Director: Oliver Crawford            

Writer: Oliver Crawford

Producer: James Player

Cast: Tim Bentinck, Sean Knopp, Stephanie Siadatan        

Synopsis: A military-led government sends out a Special Forces team to track down an unknown creature in an abandoned warehouse.


BEST FANTASY/SCI-FI

I Am | Germany | 2020 | 27’     

Director: Jerry Hoffmaann           

Writer: Florens Huhn     

Producer: Stella Flicker (Creative Producer)         

Cast: Melodie Wakivuamina, Sheri Hagen             

Synopsis: One day, the withdrawn Noé finds a motionless android in the forest, takes it with her and reactivates it. It’s the beginning of a strange relationship. Far too late, Noé realizes that the android is about to copy her personality.


BEST THRILLER/MYSTERY

444 | Canada | 2020 | 17’           

Director: Alexandre Nachi           

Writers: Alexandre Nachi, Félix-Antoine Cantin, Shaun Gauthier-Vu         

Producers: Alexandre Nachi, Shaun Gauthier, Laurent Allaire       

Cast: Félix-Antoine Cantin           

Synopsis: Inside a house he doesn’t recognize, with a family he doesn’t know, a young man tries to make some sense of what is happening to him. Everything keeps changing, his mind is sick. ”Trust the protocol” is all he can do.


BEST DANCE/MUSICAL

TANG’O  | France | 2020 | 04’        

Director: BASTIEN SOLEIL  

Writer: BASTIEN SOLEIL     

Producer: BASTIEN SOLEIL

Cast: ARIADNA HAFEZ        

Synopsis: Sometimes, art is doing something simply because we know it will be beautiful. With the combination of water, lighting and dancer Ariadna’s talent, TANG’O offers the viewer an innovative take on underwater videography and art in general.  In my eyes, beauty and joy are related. This is why we choose such powerful, dynamic and lively music and choreography. During these 3 minutes, I would like the viewer to be transported far away from daily routine, into a mesmerizing dreamlike world.  The dancer and cameraman freedived 120 times to complete filming.


BEST STUDENT

And after | Belgium | 2020 | 15’              

Director: Marine Follonier                                                           

Synopsis: Mute and almost motionless behind a two-way mirror, Gilles and Vanessa, a couple in their thirties, watch their daughter being interrogated. Agathe, 6 years old, explains the sexual touching of which she was a victim.


BEST YOUNG DIRECTOR

And after | Belgium | 2020 | 15’              

Director: Marine Follonier                                                           

Synopsis: Mute and almost motionless behind a two-way mirror, Gilles and Vanessa, a couple in their thirties, watch their daughter being interrogated. Agathe, 6 years old, explains the sexual touching of which she was a victim.


BEST CHILDREN

Ole, Benni und der Rest des Universums | Germany | 2020 | 23’              

Director: Anna Ludwig   

Writer: Anna Ludwig      

Producer: Anna Ludwig 

Cast: Leopold Schill, Frederik Dahnk, Helena Prison, Ferdinand Ranninger              

Synopsis: Oles Freund Benni hat das Down-Syndrom. Doch das hat Ole nie gestört. Bis die große Schwimmfreizeit bevorsteht und die anderen Kinder im Verein nicht wollen, dass Benni mitkommt. Denn jetzt muss Ole sich für eine Seite entscheiden. Dass Ole zum ersten Mal verliebt ist, macht die Sache auch nicht leichter…  That his friend Benni has the Down syndrome, Ole (11) has never disturbed so far. But now – on the threshold of childhood to youth – their friendship is changing. Ole is in love for the first time and suddenly it’s no longer easy to stand by his friend …


BEST ANIMATION

Reflection | Switzerland | 2021 | 05’     

Director: Mathilde Heu                 

Producer: Mark Kelly                     

Synopsis: En: In ‘Reflection’, metamorphosis, weightlessness, change of scale and spaces challenge our apprehension. Similarly to waves’ ebb and flow, its loop brings us back to a dream space, as if everything could start again. 

Fr: Dans ‘Reflection’, métamorphose, apesanteur, changements d’échelles et d’espaces bouleversent notre appréhension. “À l’instar du ressac des vagues, sa boucle nous renvoie à l’espace du rêve, comme si tout pouvait recommencer sans fin.”


BEST DOCUMENTARY

URBANO | Germany | 2021 | 08’             

Directors: Ken Kamara, Arianna Marin                    

Producer: Cinque alpha

Cast: Urbano Taquecher Ruiz     

Synopsis: URBANO is a ride through the charming streets of old Havana and a glimpse into the life of one of her bicitaxi riders. Pedalling alongside majestic buildings, reminiscent of a crumbling past that seems to be haunting this vibrant city, Urbano takes us on a journey where struggle and hope, harshness and tenderness, music, rum and love mix together in an honest portrait of the Cuban capital and the spirit of her people.


BEST EXPERIMENTAL

DUET | United States | 2020 |  21’         

Director: Mika Orr           

Writer: Mika Orr              

Producer: Hila Ben Shushan        

Cast: Talia Kadoury, Hili Levy , Alex Moshe , Michal Eliassaf , Golan Azulai , Adi Gilat          

Synopsis: Duet is the story of one fateful day in the lives of 8-year-old girls May and Shadmit, who dislike each other but learn that their lives have become oddly intertwined forever.   Duet is a multidisciplinary project, uniquely integrating film and music. The story raises questions about loneliness, regret, subject memory and fate that ties two children together for a lifetime.


BEST MUSIC VIDEO

All I want is here | Spain | 2021 | 04’    

Director: Marc Lesperut                               

Producers: Max de Rosselló, Maria Granell           

Cast: Jorel E. , Lucia Fernández, David García, Carla Serrat             

Synopsis: All I Want Is Here is a sonic mantra that levitates with a subtle but incessant crescendo that manages to abduct the viewer, leading them into a hazy and introspective tale about the search for essence. The video has an almost mystical force and depth that invites you to go on a journey, eyes-closed.


BEST MINI SHORT

The posh mums are boxing in the square | United Kingdom | 2021 | 03’

Director: Helmie Stil       

Writer: Wayne Holloway-Smith 

Producers: Poetrycinema, The Healthy Scepticism Project             

Cast: Adele Carlsen, Katie Fried 

Synopsis: ‘The posh mums are boxing in the square’ is a short film based on the poem by Wayne Holloway-Smith. The film poem is about a mother reimagined into life and given boxing gloves to fight off cancer.


BEST LOW/NO BUDGET

Kid dreams | Chile | 12’               

Director: Benjamín Leiter Henriquez       

Writer: Benjamín Leiter Henriquez          

Producer: Carolina Gutierrez      

Cast: Victor Varela          

Synopsis: A lost soldier at the end of the war, remembers as a child his motivation to go to combat. Disappointed by reality, he wanders alone, causing his death.


BEST DEBUT

BLACKOUT | Ukraine | 2021 | 10’           

Director: Ilya Mikhaylus

Writer: Ilya Mikhaylus   

Producer: Ilya Mikhaylus              

Cast: Slava Babenkov    

Synopsis: An infantile web designer surrounded by modern gadgets finds himself locked in an apartment without electricity. Finding a way to survive the blackout, he recalls a forgotten childhood dream. But will he stay true to himself  when the electricity returns?


BEST SERIES

Abadai | Israel | 2020 | 30’        

Directors: Sivan Malca  , Vladimir Dzyackevich, Orit Nahari Tzipkin             

Writers: Sivan Malca  , Vladimir Dzyackevich, Orit Nahari Tzipkin

Producers: Binyamin Gurevich , Tzachi Sharon    

Cast: Gil Desiano Bitton, Sivan Malca, Eyal Cohen, Eyal Ciobanu  

Synopsis: Shlomi is a taxi driver who thinks he can solve his problems and return to his family with money he doesn’t have. Sadly, the opposite is true.


BEST FASHION

The Secret Garden | Ukraine | 2021 | 02’            

Director: Anastasia Kovalchuk                    

Producer: Olga Tretyakova          

Cast: ANNA SETTAROVA, TOMA RUBKA, YASYA CHUHMANENKO, ELIZABETH GRINENKO 

Synopsis: ‘The Secret Garden’ is a fashion film about the bohemian life of 4 girls in a beautiful garden. There are no hidden ideas in this video. We just want you to enjoy this wonderful atmosphere.


BEST COMMERCIAL

Sen Soy. Sense Asia | Russian Federation | 2020 | 01’   

Director: Denis Gulyar   

Writers: Denis Gulyar, Roman Salakhutdinov, Alexey Stasyuk, Alexandra Mityushova       

Producers: Alexey Stasyuk, Liza Lavrova                

Synopsis: A visitor to the restaurant ordered a dish from Pan-Asian expert Sen Soy. The aroma of cooking has started its incredible adventure, which transforms the everyday life of the city into something fantastic.


BEST TRAILER

Charlie & Yip | United Kingdom | 2014 | 02’      

Director: Alexander williams       

Writer: Tim Lebbon        

Producer: Nathan Erasmus          

Cast: Lizzie Waterworth

Synopsis: Charlie brings his pet to school for Show and Tell – with unfortunate results

Explore
Drag