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SHORT to the Point – August 2022 Nominees

Animation Short – Official Selection – August 2022

Jeremy, my Father | United Kingdom | 2022 | 08’
Director: Miranda Peyton Jones
Producer: Miranda Peyton Jones
Synopsis: ‘Jeremy, my Father,’ is a poignant film which attempts to navigate bereavement following suicide. Through animation, archival footage, and sound, director Miranda Peyton Jones guides us to the heart of her grief, love and loss. The voices of her family and her father’s music underscore this deeply personal, powerful, and poignant film.

The Factory | United Kingdom | 2022 | 05’
Director: Gizmo Beardon
Writer: Gizmo Beardon
Producer: Gizmo Beardon
Synopsis: Life is short, in fact it’s just six lessons. In a world controlled by the Overseer, our hero enters the world as a new-born. Will they achieve enlightenment and become conscious enough to break free or will history repeat itself? Controlled by the Overseer, Phoenix enters the world as a new-born, to set off on the journey of life. Phoenix learns existence has been condensed into six video messages (infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, old man) taken from an ancient archive whose meanings have long been forgotten. The Factory is an interpretation of Shakespeare’s sonnet “All the World’s a Stage” mixed with George Orwell’s 1984 and Aldous Huxley’s “A Brave New World”.

Talk Time – Necessary Evil | United States | 2022 | 07’
Director: Dustin Apodaca
Writers: Dustin Apodaca, Edson Choi
Producers: Edson Choi, Dustin Apodaca, Michael Seth Nissen
Synopsis: Inspired by Kubrick’s Space Odyssey, this animated epic adventure begins at the dawn of humanity and into the future, where 2 hapless musicians are sent into deep space to answer the call of the Monolith and find the meaning of life. The band listed Radiohead’s Paranoid Android as a reference for how they wanted this video to feel when combined with the music. Their song “Necessary Evil” is driving and melancholic, and the goal was to juxtapose that with a colorful and epic satirical take on billionaires buying their way to space. Combine that with some of our favorite sci-fi as inspiration and the result is a humorous commentary on technology, progress, and human nature.

THE SPRAYER | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2022 | 09
Director: Farnoosh Abeo
Writer: Farnoosh Abedi M.reza
Producer: Karimi Saremi
Synopsis: In the land occupied with the sprayers army, no one has the right to grow any kind of plants either in public or private. So many of the people and soldiers do not even know how dose a plant grows or look like, until one day one of the soldiers finds a seed buried deep down in the dust and his curiosity is just the beginning of something extraordinary, something big, something revolutionary

FLÂNEUR | United States | 2022 | 04’
Director: RUIMING WU
Synopsis: The film Flâneur is a process-driven experimental animation, it’s about a journey through the conflict between the freedom of one’s spiritual world and those boundaries of reality, it’s also an animated psychogeography of everyday experiences from the director’s personal observations of living in the metropolis of London.

From the water | Germany | 2021 | 11’
Director: Diana Menestrey
Writers: Diana Menestrey, César González
Producer: Camilo Colmenares
Synopsis: A person wakes up. Due to a constant and symbolic metamorphosis, they gets the head of different animals. Through these metamorphoses, they is led intuitively to the search for a secret. This secret is generated in water and a fish is the only trace that can reveal to Them the consciousness of Their own origin. “From the water” shows the relationship between intuition and memory of living beings. In his search, the protagonist becomes half human, half animal. They is guided by animal instincts, but also by what They thinks They remembers.

Runelight | United Kingdom | 2022 | 05’
Director: Matt O’Donnell
Synopsis: Runelight is about the permanent impact that loss can have on our lives, and a reflection on how it can feel as though our world is literally changing around us. The dark cave of depression is a difficult place to leave, particularly for those coping with loss. This is the case for our main character in Runelight, a vulnerable forest creature who reluctantly follows the glowing lights leading her onwards out of the darkness. Day and night are used to express the character’s emotional state. We see her at the beginning playing with her child, in a happy moment during the day time. We are then abruptly transported to her night time state, where she is in grief. She has moved, not only to night time, but to the darkest place she can find, the cave. Here she is able to live away from any light. Suddenly, when the light finds her, she is forced to finally leave her cave. We then travel with the character through the forest as she follows the lights and the blue butterfly. Arriving at a bioluminescent clearing, she realises this was her destination when a portal reveals itself. Unfortunately, the path onward from grief is never easy. She is pushed back as the forest starts to self-destruct. Does she flee, or carry on? In a moment of weakness, she turns to run. However she is then forced to confront her memories more directly. In her memory space, we discover the love that she has lost: her child. The significance of the butterfly we see in her night time state is also revealed. As our main character watches her memory-self lose her child again, she goes to help, but is abruptly transported back to her night time state. She realises that she cannot fix the past and, painfully, must accept that. After hesitating, she decides to face the struggle, push through the obstacles, fight. With effort, she reaches the portal and is transported back to day time. While calmer, day time is sadly not what it used to be for our main character. In the end, she disappears in a twinkling of blue light, much like her child. Nevertheless, her efforts to move forward cannot be undervalued.

Prime Suspect | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Gail Albright
Writer: Gail Albright
Producer: Gail Albright
Cast: Klaus von Hoehenloe, Adam Riley
Synopsis: When a criminal named the “Sirloin Snatcher” has eaten all the steaks in Mew York, cat detective Samuel looks to what seems to be an obvious suspect- a meat hungry dog. Our doggy suspect, Barclay, tries to avoid suspicion by pretending to be a cat- but will his façade hold up? Stick around to find out!

Found You | United States | 2022 | 05’
Synopsis: During a game of Midnight Hide and Seek at summer camp, an anxious Lucy struggles to hide her werewolf identity from her fellow campers! And it’s a full moon! Will Lucy be successful in concealing herself?

Put It Back | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Diane Catsburrow Linnet
Synopsis: The boy is told he has to let the fish go.

The Snowman | United States | 2022 | 01’
Director: Diane Catsburrow Linnet
Synopsis: Her snowman’s head came out too small. Time to fix it.

Children Short – Official Selection – August 2022

Put It Back | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Diane Catsburrow Linnet
Synopsis: The boy is told he has to let the fish go.

The Snowman | United States | 2022 | 01’
Director: Diane Catsburrow Linnet
Synopsis: Her snowman’s head came out too small. Time to fix it.

Commercial/Ad/TVC – Official Selection – August 2022

Visit Birmingham | United Kingdom | 2022 | 01’
Director: Ben Falk
Producer: CharacterShop Ltd
Cast: Darren Harriott
Synopsis: A cinema commercial produced in collaboration with Odelay Films and Leamington based agency rbl that showcases Birmingham & the West Midlands. The film features live-action shots of various West Midlands landmarks that were produced by Odelay Films, composited with our mix of traditional and cut out 2D animation. Designed by newcomer Steven Pascoe and animated by CharacterShop’s 2D team the film is a vibrant, colourful take on the West Midlands top visitor attractions. It includes hand-drawn animation at Warwick Castle and cut out 2D animations of multiple characters – Peaky Blinders in Digbeth and the host, top Brummie comedian, Darren Harriott – as well as Birmingham’s much loved Bullring Bull.

The Genius | Hong Kong | 2022 | 03’
Directors: Irving Cheung, Philip Chan
Writer: Veronica Bassetto
Producer: Jacqueline Liu
Cast: Pak Him Chu, Locker Lam, Ga Man Au, Crisel Consunji

Documentary Short – Official Selection – August 2022

The Red Buoy | United Kingdom | 2022 | 28’
Director: Hannah Owen
Producers: Carolina Ratcliff, Spandana Patanaik
Synopsis: What’s the difference between growing up and growing old? Two parallel journeys explore time, age and memory.

The Future is Fabric |Australia | 2021 | 04’
Director: Julia Martin
Writer: Julia Martin
Producer: Julia Martin
Cast: Khaisy Sophabmixay
Synopsis: The tumultous and triumphant life of Lao Master Weaver, Khaisy Sophabmixay. Born in the midst of conflict, Khaisy began a woman-led enterprise with one loom and two weavers. After decades of championing traditional, sustainable textile design, she has now been recognised as one of Asia’s greatest artisans.

Never Ask Why | India | 2022 | 20’
Director: Saurabh Dubey
Writers: Rohit Prakash, Akash Wadhwa
Producers: Sumon K Chakrabarti, Sumant Chawla, Sujay Chakraborty, Arnab Kundu
Synopsis: The unfulfilled dream of a young football fan became the catalyst to help achieve the dreams of talented young under-15 football / soccer players who come from very underprivileged and under-nourished families, struggling to meet their daily needs.
‘Never Ask Why’ is the journey of Jishnu Mitra and how his dreams have provided hope to over 250 children in Delhi and Kolkata, India. It is the story of the 1st year of the Jishnu Mitra Foundation, where the children played under the banner of ‘Dream Team’ in the U-15 Delhi Youth League. This short docu-drama explores the impact of football foundations in the sporting ecosystem in India. While exploring the themes of ambition, failure, the spirit of life, and love for ‘the beautiful game’ of football, the film is a celebration of hope, the display of true human spirit and grit that brings strangers together for a larger cause. The children did not win the league but they won the hearts and minds of everyone with their playing style and passion for the beautiful game. ‘Never Ask Why’ is a maiden passion project from the start-up production house ‘Eating Potatoes’. The film is directed by Saurabh Dubey, the Co-founder of Eating Potatoes, who is also an acclaimed musician, rapper and lyricist.

We Are Our Totem: A Native American Tale | Australia | 2022 | 10’
Cast: Bobby Runningfox
Synopsis: Short Documentary – Cultural – Indigenous – Environment
Around the globe, First Nation cultures respect and pay tribute to the guardians and protectors of their world, connecting with the animals as their totems. We adventure into the Native American culture with Bobby Runningfox, a Medicine Man, to share the beauty of animal spirits, destruction of the planet and why we, as humans, are not the hierarchy after all. Indigenous wisdom might save us all…

Experimental Short – Official Selection – August 2022

CANAL | United States | 2022 | 17’
Director: Will Rahilly
Producers: Giovanni Saldarriaga, Aaron Rodriguez, Anna Boskovski
Cast: Suri Jackson
Synopsis: A woman crossing a bridge on her walk home feels a sudden impulse to peer over at the river below. An otherworldly disturbance transports her through a watery portal into uncanny territory. She emerges in spotlight to the laughter of a self-populated audience demanding entertainment. Perplexed at her new surroundings and at being surrounded by herself, she flees the stage in panic, seeking exit through a labyrinthian course. But can she evade the force that drew her into this grim domain?

LOVE SONG | Australia | 2021 | 15’
Director: Claire Marshall
Writer: Claire Marshall
Producer: Claire Marshall
Cast: Richard Causer, Anthony Trojman
Synopsis: LOVE SONG is a dance film that explores a story of a relationship in constant flux, where deception and emotional manipulation unfolds. Featuring contemporary dancers Richard Causer and Anthony Trojman as two men in the relationship, LOVE SONG is presented in a parallel, split-screen structure, highlighting two aspects of a relationship occurring concurrently. The idea to present LOVE SONG in parallel structure opened up the idea to enhance the idea of alternative perspectives in a relationship and provide the viewer alternative perceptions of the dancers and story, permitting the viewer’s eye to follow what they wish and their perception to inform their experience of the story. The story of LOVE SONG evolved in rehearsals, developed in collaboration with the dancers Richard Causer and Anthony Trojman.

PERMUTATIONS | Australia | 2022 | 30’
Director: Claire Marshall
Writer: Claire Marshall
Producer:Claire Marshall
Cast: Richard Causer, Lucy Hood, Bella Hood, Jacob Watton
Synopsis: Permutations is an immersive dance film installation that positions the audience in the centre of four large screens where a multiple point-of-view story unfolds, taking screendance to a ‘performative’ experience. Permutations also exists as an interactive online platform.

Mystery of Art | Argentina | 2022 | 04’
Director: Mateo Padula
Writer: Endangerhood
Producer: Endangerhood
Cast: Rosa Micale, Santi Garcia Ibanez
Synopsis: A meditation on how adding a little mystery can help your life

Dernières nouvelles des peluches | Italy | 2022 | 04’
Director: Riccardo vannuccini
Writer: Riccardo vannuccini
Producer: Riccardo VANNUCCINI
Cast: SILVIA FASOLI, CEDRIC KASONGO, LARS ROHM, PIETRO FREDDI
Synopsis: She, him and the last of the peluche.

DEAD DREAMS FALLING | France | 2022 | 13’
Director: Craig Murray
Writers: Amine Boucekkine, Craig Murray
Producers: Amine Boucekkine, Craig Murray
Cast: Adam Craigmile, Nevena White
Synopsis: Can a soul come alive without being both haunted and carried by a primal rip that keeps it torn between the irrepressible quest for a certain form of completeness and the equally incoercible feeling of being deprived of it forever ? This musical short movie evokes the life-and-death bond between two twins as a quantum entanglement explored through the interconnection of several levels of reality and temporality which are all versions of the same story. What is, maybe. What may have been. What could have been. What may have been deleted. So many dimensions that constitute a vast field of possibilities articulated according to a complex game. So what is real and what is fictional, since every version of reality keeps on haunting the others as an aborted alternative version of themselves ?

Fashion Short – Official Selection – August 2022

EXHIBITIONISM | Ukraine | 2021 | 02’
Directors: Jorj Jorburj, Igor Darovskyi
Producers: Irina Dzhus, Anatolii Elgert
Synopsis: The media epoch has been generating new codes of existence. Exposure is encouraged, fragility is celebrated, and a norm no longer exists. Artificial standards are set to be instantly reconsidered. In DZHUS SS22 collection of multi-purpose clothing and accessories, Irina Dzhus ironises equally the established stereotypes about human appearance and exaggeratedly optimistic new trends. DZHUS juxtaposes empowerment to the body cult in symbolically sexualised silhouettes featuring grotesque proportions. Exhibitionism coexists with introversion in all-covered outfits showing surreal, anatomic-looking details while being modified. While design of collars and pockets refers to breasts’ shape, pleated wig-like hoods are an allusion to hair obsession in the mass culture. The lingerie theme is boldly translated in the garments’ structure: 2 underwear bottoms merge into a top, whereas bra details are multiplied, forming a distorted biomorphic look. DZHUS deciphers sartorial patterns, meant to fit human body, and integrates recognisable cut elements in clothing details that, eventually, transform into bags and headwear. Created for both a procrastinating escapist and a media icon (possibly, same person), cosy DZHUS sweatpants turn into an appealing dress in a few seconds, and a skirt folds as a colossal shopper bag. DZHUS develops its concept of unified wardrobe items, inventing new, unprecedentedly variable ways of using seemingly basic pieces. This philosophy reflects the brand’s aspiration to fulfil a conscious approach to consumption with no limitation for creativity. The collection was produced with the support of Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. Music by EYIBRA Cruelty-free footwear provided by House Martin

Arabian Message | United Arab Emirates | 2022 | 02’
Director: Basher Khalifeh
Writer: Eissa Ibrahim Alawadhi
Producer: Basher Khalifeh
Synopsis: We gathered from different regions across the earth. Within the oldest inhibited capital in history. To take you on a visual trip, told by an Arabic tongue. And to tell a love story entitled “peace” (Salaam).

SAPHI | Spain | 2022 | 03’
Director: Javier Cano Larumbe
Writer: Javier Cano Larumbe
Producers: Martí Font, Cristina Herrera, Alejandra Zilvetti, Javier Cano Larumbe
Cast: Paula Losada
Synopsis: “Saphi” is an adventure to our origins, back to our roots and the deepest of our essence. A journey which connects our inner selves through nature and the world around us.

Mini Short – Official Selection – August 2022

PHANTASME | France | 2022 | 03’
Directors: Florian Le Tavernier, Arthur Rupert-Meinsfeld
Writers: Florian Le Tavernier, Arthur Rupert-Meinsfeld
Producer: MADE BY ARM
Cast: RÉGIS
Synopsis: What if hope, gone for so long suddenly came back to us. For an instant, hope meets dream without ever forgetting reality. Regis’ reality.

Precipice | United States | 2021 | 03’
Director: Joshua Sikora
Synopsis: With childlike wonder, this animated short takes viewers on a visceral thrill ride over the edge and into the magic of dreams. Created exclusively in Unreal Engine by a single animator, PRECIPICE showcases new potential in digital production with an inspiring tale of courage and joy.

The Sharing | United States | 2022 | 03’
Director: Hariharasudhen Nagarajan
Writer: Melanie Coffey
Producer: Hariharasudhen Nagarajan
Cast: Cassie Osuji, Chris Louis
Synopsis: Florence and Dasdan navigate the rules of their rocky relationship.

Yeah I’m good thanks | United Kingdom | 2022 | 02’
Director: Hannah Lau-Walker
Synopsis: ‘Yeah I’m good thanks’ is a short film about the things we don’t say. Exploring the duality of what we present to the world and the reality of how we feel. In modern times, it can feel as though we’ve almost created automated responses to questions, rather than sharing our inner thoughts. This idea made me reflect on my first online chatrooms, well before what’s app and predictive text, where I would in some ways be my most honest; crudely divulging how I truly felt about the world to strangers from the safety of my bedroom desktop. Now with many working remotely and feeling the isolation that thing brings, it seems we discuss our inner thoughts less on online platforms and instead revert to our automated response “I’m good thanks, how are you?”

Music Video – Official Selection – August 2022

Ways To The Light | Russian Federation | 2022 | 05’
Director: Alexander Perfilyev
Writer: Tatiana Treglazova
Producer: Rodion Yudanov
Cast: Rodion Yudanov, Lev Trofimov, Anton Silaev, Roma Prosetsky
Synopsis: The story is about four different characters, friends, getting away from the city to a utopia of a pseudo soviet Russian village/country house lost somewhere in the past. Friends are taking part in different traditional country life errands. The plot combines all the positive traits of a Soviet Russia with its banned in soviet times roots Orthodox Christianity, folklore. etc. Makes the audience reminisce of the past in general and hope and look forward to a better times.

Too Much | United States | 2022 | 06’
Directors: Candice Holdorf, Gabriel Diamond
Producers: Candice Holdorf, Gabriel Diamond, Morgan Bolender, Scott Ferreter
Synopsis: Documentary-style music video for The Feelings Parade’s song, “Too Much” – which explores the subject of body autonomy and safety on the streets.

Favlav – Bezdna | 2022 | 04’
Director: VLAD NETKACHEV
Writer: VLAD NETKACHEV
Producer: Irina Gauk
Cast: Bezdna (abyss) is chaos, another dimension in a human mind that hides the demons’ shelter – an abstract world of thoughts and missed opportunities. This video is a trip through the looking glass of a broken human soul. It speaks the language of emotional madness, tells the story of a struggling mind that erased the boundaries between present, past and future. The mind, that is trying to survive dissecting the reality and making the attempt to unleash the true self. This action is about the bottom of existentialism and the hope of getting out of this abyss.

DEAD DREAMS FALLING | France | 2022 | 13’
Director: Craig Murray
Writers: Amine Boucekkine, Craig Murray
Producers: Amine Boucekkine, Craig Murray
Cast: Adam Craigmile, Nevena White
Synopsis: Can a soul come alive without being both haunted and carried by a primal rip that keeps it torn between the irrepressible quest for a certain form of completeness and the equally incoercible feeling of being deprived of it forever ? This musical short movie evokes the life-and-death bond between two twins as a quantum entanglement explored through the interconnection of several levels of reality and temporality which are all versions of the same story. What is, maybe. What may have been. What could have been. What may have been deleted. So many dimensions that constitute a vast field of possibilities articulated according to a complex game. So what is real and what is fictional, since every version of reality keeps on haunting the others as an aborted alternative version of themselves ?

Narrative Short – Official Selection – August 2022

Trapped in the Head | Germany | 2022 | 08’
Directors: Rafael Winkler, Christian Deusel
Writer: Rafael Winkler
Cast: David Ketter
Synopsis: The dreary and emotionless life of the nameless protagonist becomes exciting only through letters from an old friend. After even they lose their importance to him he tries to fill his life with emotions again through pain.

Nora on the Plain | China | 2022 | 17’
Director: Xiyao Xu
Writer: Qi Zhou
Producer: Haiyan Sun
Cast: Zoffy Wang
Synopsis: A peasant women wants to escape from her present life.

Nightwish | Switzerland | 30’
Director: Micha Andrea Meyer
Writer: Micha Andrea Meyer
Cast: Milena Vogt, Flavio Leu
Synopsis: Jenny has found the man of her dreams. However, to her evil astonishment, he ends the relationship after 4 years. Jenny is devastated and in her despair gets involved with a strange figure (Mephisto), who promises her to bring Thom back. In fact, Thom comes back to her, but from then on behaves strangely and does not seem to be the same anymore.

Uprooted | Ukraine | 2022 | 03’
Director: Andzej Gavriss
Writers: Andzej Gavriss, Konstantin Koval, Rick Dodds
Producers: Blake Powell, Thomas Bartl, Marc Haferbusch
Cast: Olya Shevchuk, Ivan Dorn, Olya Storozhuk, Anna Furdui
Synopsis: Displacement crisis has reached 100 million people globally. 60+ Ukrainian refugees were involved in making the film, sending a message of support to all refugees. The film focuses on the PTSD that people experience after fleeing the war.

Passerby | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 29’
Director: Mohammad Ali – Entezarian
Writer: Mohammad Ali Entezarian
Producers: Mohammad Ali Entezarian, Siavash Ramazanloo
Cast: Alireza Sanifar, Niloufar Koukhani, Saghi Hajipour, Houman Moghimi
Synopsis: A triple narrative of a child In the autumn noon of Tehran

The Watcher | United States | 2022 | 10’
Director: Nathan Sellers
Writer: Nathan Sellers
Producers: Christopher J King, Nathan Sellers
Cast: Charlotte Rea, Sandrine Morin, Rohit David
Synopsis: The last remaining member of a small religious cult (The Children of Enoch) awaits the resurrection of her recently departed “sisters” and their leader, Father Enoch. **Closed captioned/subtitled version of the film is available for download.

Blood Gum | Australia | 2022 | 09’
Director: Jonathan May
Writer: Joelly Dean
Producer: Joelly Dean
Cast: Joelly Dean, Jaida White, Sid Richards
Synopsis: A naive, poor decision of heart leads to shattered dreams, a love lost forever and devastating consequences. The sweetness of revenge should not be this painful.

Bellingham’s Belief | United States | 2022 | 09’
Director: Tom Salvaggio
Writer: Tom Salvaggio
Producer: Tom Salvaggio
Cast: Bob Bavnani, Megan Hamilton
Synopsis: 1954 – Panic erupts when the citizens of Bellingham, Washington notice strange cracks in their car windshields. What is causing this mysterious phenomenon?

Waiting for a Wave | Japan | 2022 | 30’
Director: KAORI Danjo
Writer: KAORI Danjo
Producer: Kaori Danjo
Synopsis: A story about a lonely elderly man regaining his impulses and freedom.

BACKSTAGE FRIGHT | France | 2022 | 29’
Director: Alexandre Leroy
Writer: Alexandre Leroy
Producers: Alexandre Leroy, Pierre Bibloque
Cast: Délia Espinat Dief, Gilles Graveleau, Marie Benati, Antoine Vinck
Synopsis: Lily is a young actress going on stage for the first time. Unfortunately, she is late for the representation… but she faces stage fright, forgotten lines and battles with the people around her. That is only the begging of her nightmare.

Short Comedy – Official Selection – August 2022

TELL-TALE WANK | United Kingdom | 2022 | 23’
Director: James Everett
Writer: James Everett
Producers: James Everett, Ian Martin, Mark Shraga
Cast: Aidan O’Neill, Caoimhe Farren, Kate Perry, Charles Lawson
Synopsis: An overly honest man must help his wife hide a dead body from the government inspector that can make their dream of adopting a baby come true

Soundboys: at the river | Italy | 2022 | 07’
Director: Edoardo Pasquini
Writer: Edoardo Pasquini
Producer: Luciano Montesi
Cast: Edoardo Pasquini, Ivan Pellegrini
Synopsis: Being a Soundboy is not a simple job: it is a vocation. The real Soundboy searches for the right sound, sleepless and on an empty stomach, if necessary. But all this would be pointless without the most sacred element: silence.

Prime Suspect | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Gail Albright
Writer: Gail Albright
Producer: Gail Albright
Cast: Klaus von Hoehenloe, Adam Riley
Synopsis: When a criminal named the “Sirloin Snatcher” has eaten all the steaks in Mew York, cat detective Samuel looks to what seems to be an obvious suspect- a meat hungry dog. Our doggy suspect, Barclay, tries to avoid suspicion by pretending to be a cat- but will his façade hold up? Stick around to find out!

Short Dance/Musical – Official Selection – August 2022

Kid Heart | Japan | 2022 | 12’
Director: Meg Igarashi
Writer: Meg Igarashi
Producer: Gen Nakazawa
Cast: Shigeru Saiki, Naomi Claire, Rion Misaki
Synopsis: A grandpa that’s heartbroken, a mother that’s disappointed, and a granddaughter that’s not ready to give up on the family. A Japanese heartwarming musical!

Anywhere is a Dancefloor | United Kingdom | 2021 | 08’
Director: Mathew Beckett
Producers: Matthew Critchfield, Anna Clifford
Synopsis: ‘Anywhere is a Dancefloor’ is a new collaboration between choreographer Jason Guest and drag artist & cultural producer Fatt Butcher. Through celebrating the creativity, resilience, and fierce spirit of Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community this new work is an invitation to the city to create their own dancefloors anywhere and everywhere!

Genesis | Poland | 2022 | 05’
Director: Dariusz Mrowiec
Producers: Dariusz Mrowiec, Andrzej Rolski
Cast: Karolina Mielnik, Anna Kruk, Ava Kmieciak, Wiktoria Galas, Julia Lelko, Sara Resiak, Hanna Szymańska, Natalia Froń
Synopsis: “Passion is the genesis of genius” You live once and no one will survive our lives for us. There is a lot of beauty associated with it, but also responsibility for the decisions made. If you feel that painting, music, literature, singing … dance … that art is following you. If you feel that your passion for running, horse riding or cars is with you everywhere – give it a chance! There really aren’t many things as beautiful as devotion to your passion. If you do not try – you will never know what genius is hidden in you. It is worth looking for your passion.

SAPHI | Spain | 2022 | 03’
Director: Javier Cano Larumbe
Writer: Javier Cano Larumbe
Producers: Martí Font, Cristina Herrera, Alejandra Zilvetti, Javier Cano Larumbe
Cast: Paula Losada
Synopsis: “Saphi” is an adventure to our origins, back to our roots and the deepest of our essence. A journey which connects our inner selves through nature and the world around us.

Short Drama – Official Selection – August 2022

Dare to Dream | Guernsey | 2022 | 30’
Director: Alex Bates
Writer: Alex Bates Bates
Producers: Rosie Le Friec, Penny Dawes
Cast: Jonny Labey, Bryan Ferguson, Olivia Ephgrave, Sapphire Brewer-Marchant
Synopsis: Theo struggles to maintain his sanity after his loss at the Culinary Arts Competition leads him down a dark path.

Le Trajet | Netherlands | 2022 | 12’
Director: Marie Lormeau
Writer: Marie Lormeau
Producers: Marie Lormeau, Mark Stevens
Cast: Stéphanie Marino, Tatia Tsuladze
Synopsis: Entrapped in the car, an exhausted single mother and her rebellious but fragile teenage daughter get into an argument which soon escalates into a violent altercation.

Kiss, Kiss, Kiss | Germany | 2022 | 20’
Director: Boromir Bogumil
Writers: Candela Canellas Daigeler, Boromir Bogumil
Producers: Candela Canellas Daigeler, Boromir Bogumil
Cast: Florian Hertweck, Barbara Ricci
Synopsis: A short film about a kiss that is not given. When Antonella comes home after a long day of work, she doesn’t kiss her husband Peter and the perfect harmony of the architect-couple is suddenly disrupted. With pasta on the menu, the film explores the meaning of traditions and the behavior of a relationship while focusing on the theme of the diabolisation of women in our society.

Listen to Her | China | 2022 | 15’
Director: Yajing Wang
Writer: Yajing Wang
Producers: Yajing Wang, BinBin Zhou
Cast: Bateer Liu
Synopsis: During the birthday of the gods in the temple in town,a scarred teenager fled from the correction center and hid in an old house. The house was empty, with only one bed and a faint and strange red light. His mother kept asking him to appear.And when he discovered the secret of the former tenant, his own story finally surfaced…

H I D E | Iceland | 2022 | 15’
Director: Margrét Seema Takyar
Writer: Margrét Seema Takyar
Producer: Hark Films
Cast: María Heba Þorkelsdóttir, Vivian Ólafsdóttir, Kolbeinn Arnbjörnsson
Synopsis: Sigurbjörg Káradóttir is overwhelmed with news about rising statistics of domestic abuse. She decides one evening to put an offer out on facebook: “If you find yourself in need I can come.” When she receives a message the next day that says: Can you come? With an address attached. She decides to comply.

A Pocket Angel | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2022 | 26’
Director: Siniša Grabež
Writer: Siniša Grabež
Producer: Siniša Grabež
Cast: Admir Šehović, Mario Knezović, Milan Hajduković, Maša Grabež, Maksim Grabež, Siniša Grabež
Synopsis: The main rule of angels is that they must not interfere with man’s free will. The punishment for disobeying this rule is to trap an angelic being in the transience and decay of the human body. Imbued with love and care for his protégé, one of the guardian angels decides to break this old rule.

The Golden Age | Switzerland | 2021 | 12’
Director: Adrien Royer
Writer: Adrien Royer
Producers: Vincenzo Aiello, Damien Mazza
Cast: Milo Karlen, Mégane Belomo, Heaven Jordan
Synopsis: Two young children play among the dilapidated buildings of a vacant lot and let themselves be carried away by their carelessness.

Mabel | Canada | 2021 | 12’
James Alton
James Alton
Noah M Dorsey
Phillip Wagner, Corky McMechan, Zoe
After a devastating loss, an elderly man must face the monotony of everyday life as he navigates denial and grief.

I LIVE WITH THE DEVIL | United Kingdom | 2022 | 21’
Director: Mark J Blackman
Writer: Emma Richardson
Producers: Emma Richardson, Reshma Makan
Cast: Cassie Bradley, Julian Glover, Sean Hart, Sian Reeves
Synopsis: Following the death of a resident, a young care home worker, battling with crippling anxiety, must confront her greatest nemesis, herself.

FIREWORKS | France | 2022 | 25’
Director: ANTOINE CUEVAS
Writer: ANTOINE CUEVAS
Producers: LEA WISNIEWSKI, VICTOR BILLET
Cast: VICTOIRE DU BOIS, FELIX KYSYL
Synopsis: A scorching summer. Hidden in the forest, Jeanne and Jonas live in their converted truck. Before hitting the road again, they prepare one last action…

THE KNIGHTS | France | 2022 | 20’
Director: Titouan Dumesnil
Writer: Titouan Dumesnil
Producer: Léa Wisniewski
Cast: Antoine Gillot, Rafael De ferran
Synopsis: In the great hall of a medieval castle, Jordi, an apprentice guide, finishes his day’s work. The visitors are leaving. Except for Antoine, his older brother, whom he has not seen for years.

An Invitation | China | 2021 | 13’
Directors: Yeung Tung, Hao Zhao
Writers: Yeung Tung, Hao Zhao
Producers: Xuli Cao, Hao Zhao, Yeung TUng
Cast: Jim Ping Hei, Yu Xuan Liu
Synopsis: An 8-year-old boy reluctantly visits his divorced father in Hong Kong, who wants him to become a Hong Kong citizen. They both keep secretive intentions and find it difficult to ask what they want from each other.

Short Fantasy / Sci-Fi – Official Selection – August 2022

Still Alive | United States | 2022 | 19’
Director: Jaehee Cheong
Writer: Jaehee Cheong
Producers: Parinton Suwanpraipatana, Jaehee Cheong
Cast: Erin Malimban, Ronan Schwarz
Synopsis: After the death of her never-met senior colleague, Seol, Penelope visits her house for the first time with a special balloon made out of her breath. Going through the strange service provided by the strange funeral company Still Alive, Penelope, for the first time, feels Seol’s existence more than ever after all these years of working together “remotely.”

Betur sjá augu (See No Evil) | Iceland | 02021 | 20’
Directors: Sesselía Ólafs, Peter Callow
Writer: Sesselía Ólafs
Producers: Veronika Rut Hjartardóttir, Sesselía Ólafs
Cast: Sesselía Ólafs, Pétur Friðrik Jónsson, Sverrir Jóhannsson, Hrefna Björk Víðisdóttir, Krista Dís Kristinsdóttir, Bergdís Anna Þórlindsdóttir, Fanney Edda Felixdóttir, Sigurður Óskar Baldursson, Natalía Ösp Jóhannsdóttir, Aníta Lind Björnsdóttir
Synopsis: Betur sjá augu (See No Evil) is about isolated people yearning for human contact and connection. Their search leads them to the discovery of something new and unexpected within themselves.

The Lord of the Woods | Poland | 2021 | 28’
Director: Julia Bui
Writers: Julia Bui, Iwona Czapla, Karol Witenberg
Producers: Maciej Ślesicki, Siostry Bui, Karol Witenberg
Cast: Ada Nejman, Magdalena Kielar, Ewa Kasprzyk, Włodzimierz Dembowski, Bonifacy Gałka Gałka
Synopsis: Warrior Kriss meets a young girl in the forest, Mojmira, who escaped captivity. In the ruins of a hut, where they stop overnight, Kriss finds the Urobors, a magical object of time travel properties. Kriss is being entangled in a tragic love story of Mojmira-Valdemena and Derwan. The characters, constantly travel through time dimensions, trying to escape the vicious cycle and, in their own little ways, reverse the course of the tragedy.

Ghost | Finland | 2022 | 14’
Director: Artur Sallinen
Writer: Artur Sallinen
Producer: Artur Sallinen
Cast: Kris Gummerus, Peter Kanerva, Nooa Salonen, Emil Santamäki, Olivia Broman, Laura Auvinen, Danielle Engström
Synopsis: The traumas from the past returns when Antti finds out that Lauri, who bullied Antti in school, starts as his new boss. Will Antti be able to confront Lauri as the bullying begins once again? The superhero short Ghost praises the inner child in us and seeks to notice all the victims of bullying. And in the end, you don’t necessary need to wear a cape nor a mask to be a superhero.

Short Horror – Official Selection – August 2022

Still Up There | Ireland | 2022 | 05’
Director: Joe Loftus
Writer: Joe Loftus
Synopsis: A mortally wounded Astronaut awakens in the upper atmosphere after a catastrophic event. He struggles to remember how he got there and latches himself on to the only familiar thing to him, his own severed arm.

MUDMONSTER | Italy | 2021 | 25’
Director: O.B. De Alessi
Writer: O.B. De Alessi
Producer: O.B. De Alessi
Cast: Mariandrea Cesari, Noa Zatta, Laura Bombonato
Synopsis: In seguito all’improvvisa scomparsa di suo padre e alla conseguente crisi familiare, la piccola Fiamma inizia a vedere un mostro di fango. Mentre gli incontri con questa creatura diventano frequenti e sempre più intensi, Fiamma inizia a soffrire di un male misterioso. — Following the sudden disappearance of her father, young Fiamma is visited by a mud monster. As her encounters with the creature become more frequent and intense, Fiamma begins to suffer from a sudden, mysterious illness.

INCUBUS | United Kingdom | 2022-05-06 | 17’
Director: Tito Fernandes
Writer: Tito Fernandes
Producers: David Elliot, Tito Fernandes
Cast: Malou Coindreau, Adam Ford, Emmanuel Berthelot
Synopsis: Trapped on a boat, a woman is haunted by fear itself.

ANIMALIA | United Kingdom | 2021 | 16’
Director: Ben Crompton
Producer: BalletLORENT
Cast: Natalie Trewinnard
Synopsis: Produced for International Women’s Day 2021. Can we be artists and parents at the same time? It is well known that female artists are side lined because of gender inequality. If we have babies this can happen ever more so. For female performing artists who have given themselves body and soul to an art there is reason to be afraid. We don’t have as standard a performing arts infrastructure that welcomes mothers and financially supports the cost of parenting. There is a very real fear that the job you love and are good at is slippery to hold on to when you become a mother. How many women have hidden pregnancy until the last possible moment when it just became obvious? “I would like to believe that a woman can continue to work and express herself as an artist after becoming a mother. We have much to say, and a whole lot of like experience to offer.” Liv Lorent Commissioned by Northern Stage

Short Thriller/Mystery – Official Selection – August 2022

Filter | China | 2022 | 12’
Director: Qianhang SHAO
Writer: Qianhang SHAO
Producer: Irene Gao
Cast: Ling Ling, Xiayu Lin
Synopsis: Xiaomei is a heavy user of the beautyCam/filter and cannot extricate herself from the world dressed by the BeautyCam/filter. However, the unexpected visit of her mother forces her to face reality. But what is the reality? Who are we without the filter? What is our real appearance? The anxiety and confusion of contemporary young people fermented in the digital space. Will it quietly reform who we are in real life?

TRAC | France | 2022 | 29’
Director: Alexandre Leroy
Writer: Alexandre Leroy
Producers: Alexandre Leroy, Pierre Bibloque
Cast: Délia Espinat Dief, Gilles Graveleau, Marie Benati, Antoine Vinck
Synopsis: Lily is a young actress going on stage for the first time. Unfortunately, she is late for the representation… but she faces stage fright, forgotten lines and battles with the people around her. That is only the begging of her nightmare.

Sport – Official Selection – August 2022

Swarmer | United Kingdom | 2022 | 20’
Director: David Ejins
Writer: David Ejins
Producer: David Ejins
Cast: David Omordia, Lloyd Morris
Synopsis: In the lead up to his final fight as an amateur, tensions flare between a young boxer and his coach over their differing opinions on his ability to succeed in the pros.

The Locker Room | France | 2020 | 11’
Director: Noah Gaoua
Writer: Noah Gaoua
Producers: Seid Mokrani & Noah Gaoua
Cast: Hélène Rosselet-Ruiz, Damine Carlet, Samir Harrag, Laurianne Marie-Louise, Hichem Harrag, Joseph Woerlen, Said Moussa
Synopsis: Sabrina is the coach of the soccer men’s team at Aubervilliers, Seine Saint-Denis, France. The club plays a decisive game and its star striker is not in good shape. Worse, the police burst into the middle of the match to arrest him. Sabrina ‘s nerves will be put to high stress-test.

Student Short – Official Selection – August 2022

ANNA | Albania | 2021 | 13’
Director: Kristina Rushiti
Writer: Kristina Rushiti
Producer: Dritan Huqi
Cast: Rozina Kostani, Ervin Bejleri, Xhoana Karaj, Kastriot Çaushi, Aneta Malaj, Amadeus Xhizdari
Synopsis: Anna, a teenage girl with mental health issues, commits the murder of her own father. Anxiety, violence and depression dominate Anna’s family.

What They Left Behind | China | 2022 | 07’
Director: Vicky Xingyu Gu
Writer: Vicky Xingyu Gu
Synopsis: Several years after her grandfathers had passed away, a young woman recollects her memories of them.

BYE, MY Captain | China | 2021 | 05’
Director: Li Luo, Yun Xiao Liu

Wild Rose | United States | 2022 | 19’
Director: Hannsue
Writer: Hannsue
Producer: Luna Križan
Cast: Patrick Zhao, Si Chen, Jian Leonardo
Synopsis: On a normal day, a teenager Henry suddenly shows up at his long-missing relative, Sarah’s house. Henry tells Sarah he has permission from his father to give Sarah a visit during his school’s event week. With a deep connection between Henry and Sarah, and what had happened in the family. Sarah immediately realizes Henry is lying to her and has a vague clue of the reason why Henry comes to her.
Sarah decides not to call Henry out directly and allows him to stay. Meanwhile, she makes a phone call to Henry’s father.
Henry becomes less distant from Sarah and feels comfortable having vulnerable conversations with his aunt again.
Sarah needs to confirm the reason why Henry lied. When she finally asks Henry the question, Henry’s father Zhao arrives. Unable to let go of the past, Zhao still can’t prevent himself from blaming Sarah for causing their father’s death. He continues insulting Sarah in order to release the anger of him seeing Sarah keeping Henry at her house. Finally, Henry can’t stand the insults directed at Sarah anymore, so he decides to tell his father the secret he’s been hiding….

The Cadillac | United Kingdom | 2022 | 11’
Director: Nimit Kaushik
Writer: Nimit Kaushik
Producer: Anantha Krishnan
Cast: Andre Fyffe, Jahmila Heath, Ema Kosac, Grace Truly, Iyadunni Adegoke, Chris Cordell
Synopsis: In the late 1950s London, a saxophonist, when offered to play at the most prestigious venue in the city, slips down a spiral of existential thoughts about his future after the performance.

Hold the Ball | Israel | 2021 | 06’
Director: Yocheved Pianko Feinerman
Writer: Yocheved Pianko Feinerman
Producer: Orel Sebag
Cast: Roy Reshef Plessner, Zohar Meidan
Synopsis: A sleep deprived mother grabs the ball, taking a fast break from her screaming baby.

Boys | Czech Republic | 2020 | 08’
Director: Raghuvir Khare
Writer: Raghuvir Khare
Producer: Raghuvir Khare
Cast: Kryštof Sochor, Tomas Vorel
Synopsis: Isolated in the Czech countryside, Tomas, a ten year old boy, struggles to express his sexual curiosity towards his best friend Arno.

Get Home Safe | Germany | 2022 | 14’
Director: Tamara Denić
Writer: David Lorenz
Producer: Christian Siée

The Show | Germany | 2022 | 13’
Director: Frederic Kau
Writer: Sophie Dittmer
Producer: Paula Maria Martin-Karg
Cast: MÜLLER
Synopsis: Famous activist-couple Max and Lou went to extreme lengths to make a statement and got irreversibly sterilized together. They don’t want to have children in a world where humanity keeps on destroying the planet. They are about to have their first TV-appearance after their sterilization, when Max confesses something to Lou: Shortly before the procedure he got cold feet and couldn’t go through with the vasectomy…

Pizza d’Amour | Germany | 2022 | 11’
Director: Elsa van Damke
Writer: Alexander Schmid
Producer: Lisa Carstensen
Cast: Joy Ewulu, Christoph Glaubacker, Christian Kerepeszki, Dalila Abdallah

Pandas in Love | Germany | 2022 | 15’
Director: Elena Pilar Nyffeler
Writer: Nick Buckenauer
Producer: Laurian Luis Schymura
Synopsis: The tragic accidental death of Xiu the panda lady causes Nele, the cantankerous golf course employee, and Jonathan, the loneliest panda breeder in the world, to meet. Despite pain and anger – or perhaps because of it – the two fall in love.

8 1/2 minutes | Germany | 2022 | 10’
Director: Stephanie Olthoff
Writer: Jana Forkel
Producer: Nadezda Bobyleva
Cast: Nutsa Kekelia, Jonas Anton Feldmann, Jessica McIntyre, Till Demuth
Synopsis: When Mia runs into her former schoolmate Steffen and his son at the grocery store, she is pleasantly surprised by the unexpected encounter. But the joy quickly turns into unease as Mia and her daughter slowly realize that Steffen’s supposed son might be in danger.

Flick-a-Cig | Germany | 2022 | 14’
Director: Elena Weiss
Writer: Julia Dorit Mergel
Producer: Lea Liya Wang
Cast: Marie Rosie Merz, Lea Media Schmidt
Synopsis: To escape from the void and the pain of her life, Carina fights everything and everyone that comes close to her. Even Nikolas, a man lying amidst his belongings, who seems to be as alone and lost as her. Until a tender bond begins to form between them.

Stadtmusik | Germany | 2021 | 06’
Director: Elsa van Damke
Writer: David Lorenz
Producer: Nadezda Bobyleva
Cast: Idil Ünert, Jens Weisser

Under water | Germany | 2021 | 05’
Director: Frederic Kau
Writer: Sophie Dittmer
Producer: Christian Siée
Cast: Helena Sattler, Glenn Goltz, Antonia Breidenbach
Synopsis: The ambitious Elea has always had one goal: to be a successful competitive swimmer. Lately though, she is pushed to her athletic limits, her performance is lacking. Elea has to face the question how far she is willing to go to make her dream become reality.

The Clown Wars | Germany | 2021 | 05’
Director: Elenar Pila Nyffeler
Writer: Julia Dorit Mergel
Producer: Lisa Carstensen
Cast: Sandro Sutalo, Jing Xiang
Synopsis: When the venerable clown school of Claudia Clodetti calls for quietition, the talents show up to enter a rivalry with their like-minded. Likewise Konny and Dimples, two applicants, who soon enter an epic duel, blending reality and phantasy.

Underground | Germany | 2021 | 05’
Director: Stephanie Olthoff
Writer: Jana Forkel
Producer: Lea-Liya Wang
Cast: Jodie Leslie Ahlborn
Synopsis: Annabell’s son has recently disappeared without a trace. Nobody knows what happened to him. One day, she finds a strange hole in the flower bed. At the same time seemingly supernatural things happen in the house. Annabell wants to get to the bottom of it and makes a frightening discovery.

Unknown, Room 147 | Germany | 2021 | 05’
Director: Tamara Denić
Writer: Alexander Schmid
Producer: Paula Maria Martin-Karg
Cast: Genet Zegay, Konstantin Graudus
Synopsis: The paths of the young nurse Larissa and the homeless Peter meet again and again. An encounter during the night occupies Larissa’s mind for a long time and does not let her go even in her dreams. Finally, she is led to Peter for the last time.

Unavailable | Germany | 2021 | 01’
Director: Eléna Weiß
Writer: Nick Buckenauer
Producer: Laurian-Luis Schymura
Cast: Cornelia Werner
Synopsis: Rike has a serious accident during one of her bike tours in the forest. Thrown back on her own physical strength and without any technical aids, she fights for survival in an act of enormous exertion.

Dincolo | Belgium | 2021 | 13’
Director: Luca Peres-Bota
Writer: Luca Peres-Bota
Producers: Adrian Peres, Daliana Peres
Cast: Adrian Ban, Vlad Ionut Popescu, Bertrand Yurdover, Ioana Niculae
Synopsis: Bogdan is a Romanian immigrant who with the help of his older cousin, Ovi, gets a job in a restaurant in Belgium. This way he can provide some financial stability for his newborn child and girlfriend who still live in Romania. But while on the job he gets a phone call from Romania with awful news. Chaos erupts in Bogdan’s life as he cannot help his family directly.

Yuta | Brazil | 2022 | 15’
Director: Matheus Malburg
Writer: Matheus Malburg
Producers: João Macedo, Lucas Lobo, Bruna Martinelli, Matheus Malburg
Cast: Martin Mica, Santiago Acosta Cis
Synopsis: Matias and Franco, two Argentinians who are passionate about football, come to Brazil on a ride to follow the team they love: Chacarita Juniors. In “Yuta”, after suffering violence and police abuse, they both decide to strike back at the aggressors, even if it means the end of their lives.

Found You | United States | 2022 | 05’
Synopsis: During a game of Midnight Hide and Seek at summer camp, an anxious Lucy struggles to hide her werewolf identity from her fellow campers! And it’s a full moon! Will Lucy be successful in concealing herself?

Put It Back | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Diane Catsburrow Linnet
Synopsis: The boy is told he has to let the fish go.

The Snowman | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Diane Catsburrow Linnet
Synopsis: Her snowman’s head came out too small. Time to fix it.

Fragments | United States | 2022 | 06’
Director: Jean Yu
Cast: Kelsey Provident
Synopsis: A woman is pushed out of her home after an asteroid shatters it. She is then forced to retrieve the pieces while navigating a new unknown land.

Tork | United States | 2022 | 03’
Director: Hyun Kim
Synopsis: A chubby office worker comes home to relax and play with his toy car.

Prime Suspect | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Gail Albright
Writer: Gail Albright
Producer: Gail Albright
Cast: Klaus von Hoehenloe, Adam Riley
Synopsis: When a criminal named the “Sirloin Snatcher” has eaten all the steaks in Mew York, cat detective Samuel looks to what seems to be an obvious suspect- a meat hungry dog. Our doggy suspect, Barclay, tries to avoid suspicion by pretending to be a cat- but will his façade hold up? Stick around to find out!

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