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SHORT to the Point – February 2022 Award Winners


BEST FILM

The Owl | Hong Kong | 2021 | 24’           

Director: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat)     

Writer: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat)        

Producers: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat), Venus Kwan (Kwan Pui Yee)       

Cast: RONALD LAM, HOMAN HO               

Synopsis: Understanding life, but resist the fate.  A solitary fortune teller in the jade market, cross path with an ordinary girl who wants to escape from the fetters of life.  Storyline:  Cheung Chi Sun is a fortune teller at the Jade Market. Sun lives a day to day life and on his own as he believes that is his fates. He hides nothing from his customers since everything is fixed by fate. From another side of the town, an ordinary girl crossed path with Sun’s lonely life. Gigi works along with her mother at the fruits market and although life kept beating her down, she never gives up. Gigi is fascinated by fortune telling and asked Sun to teach her, trying to get out from her fate, Sun agreed but only offered Gigi some lessons. After the 3 days, Sun pushed Gigi away from his life. The story follows Gigi’s journey to unravel Sun’s secret…


BEST DIRECTOR

Cylinder | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 20’ 

Director: Amir Pazirofteh             

Writer: Amir Pazirofteh

Producer: Amir Pazirofteh                           

Synopsis: A teenage boy, regardless of his interest and talent in soccer, must obey a father who is obsessed with money. Father prevents his son from going to the football competition by any means. Eventually, after a consistent struggle, the matchday arrived and the boy decided to reach the final match with the help of his friend, in any case.


BEST SCREENPLAY

I, Adonis | Netherlands | 2021 | 15’       

Writer: Angelo Raaijmakers

Director: Angelo Raaijmakers                     

Producer: Ellen Havenith             

Cast: Hein van Rooij, Dennis van Beusekom, Jolanda van den Berg            

Synopsis: Nicky’s world revolves around fitness, with the goal of getting bigger and stronger. But when hidden childhood memories emerge, Nicky starts losing control and his body obsession sets off in an unhealthy direction.


BEST LEADING ACTRESS

Cold Beds | France | 2021 | 20’

Actress: Inès Melab

Director: Laëtitia Martinucci       

Writer: Laëtitia Martinucci          

Producer: Jonathan Hazan           

Cast: Inès Melab, Gémi Diallo, Michel Mhanna Santoni   

Synopsis: It’s a winter night in a ski resort in the French Alps. After getting locked out, Mona, a young seasonal worker of Italian origin, tries to fight off the cold while looking for shelter. Her nighttime journey brings her close to an unknown presence.


BEST LEADING ACTOR

Cylinder | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 20’ 

Actor: Babak Nouri

Director: Amir Pazirofteh             

Writer: Amir Pazirofteh

Producer: Amir Pazirofteh                           

Synopsis: A teenage boy, regardless of his interest and talent in soccer, must obey a father who is obsessed with money. Father prevents his son from going to the football competition by any means. Eventually, after a consistent struggle, the matchday arrived and the boy decided to reach the final match with the help of his friend, in any case.


BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Owl | Hong Kong | 2021 | 24’           

Cinematographer: Quinton Wong

Director: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat)     

Writer: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat)        

Producers: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat), Venus Kwan (Kwan Pui Yee)       

Cast: RONALD LAM, HOMAN HO               

Synopsis: Understanding life, but resist the fate.  A solitary fortune teller in the jade market, cross path with an ordinary girl who wants to escape from the fetters of life.  Storyline:  Cheung Chi Sun is a fortune teller at the Jade Market. Sun lives a day to day life and on his own as he believes that is his fates. He hides nothing from his customers since everything is fixed by fate. From another side of the town, an ordinary girl crossed path with Sun’s lonely life. Gigi works along with her mother at the fruits market and although life kept beating her down, she never gives up. Gigi is fascinated by fortune telling and asked Sun to teach her, trying to get out from her fate, Sun agreed but only offered Gigi some lessons. After the 3 days, Sun pushed Gigi away from his life. The story follows Gigi’s journey to unravel Sun’s secret…


BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Owl | Hong Kong | 2021 | 24’           

Production Designer: Venus Kwan

Director: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat)     

Writer: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat)        

Producers: Sam Wong (Wong Man Tat), Venus Kwan (Kwan Pui Yee)       

Cast: RONALD LAM, HOMAN HO               

Synopsis: Understanding life, but resist the fate.  A solitary fortune teller in the jade market, cross path with an ordinary girl who wants to escape from the fetters of life.  Storyline:  Cheung Chi Sun is a fortune teller at the Jade Market. Sun lives a day to day life and on his own as he believes that is his fates. He hides nothing from his customers since everything is fixed by fate. From another side of the town, an ordinary girl crossed path with Sun’s lonely life. Gigi works along with her mother at the fruits market and although life kept beating her down, she never gives up. Gigi is fascinated by fortune telling and asked Sun to teach her, trying to get out from her fate, Sun agreed but only offered Gigi some lessons. After the 3 days, Sun pushed Gigi away from his life. The story follows Gigi’s journey to unravel Sun’s secret…


BEST EDITING

The Misadventures of Kidsuper | United States | 2022 | 17’       

Editor: Jordan Rosenbloom

Director: Sebastian Ssdaigui        

Writer: Colm Dillane       

Producer: David Wept, Farah Idress        

Cast: Joey Bada$$, Colm Dillane, Kenneth Cash, Alex Goldberg, Rabiullah Sikander            

Synopsis: Based on a true story, the early days of the KidSuper empire. A fashion designer and his entourage set out to make a mark on the streets of NYC. What begins as a high-wire heist evolves into a plan to throw the biggest party in the city — but can they make it out on top?


BEST NARRATIVE

Au79 | Armenia | 2022 | 07’     

Director: Rafael Hovhannisyan  

Writer: Rafael Hovhannisyan     

Producer: Narek Nazaryan          

Cast: Gevorg Dodozyan, Mane Minasyan, Vahagn Gasparyan, Roffi Petrossian     

Synopsis: Valery is a retiree working as a night watchman in a newly built building. He inherited gold from his grandfather of blessed memory, which neither his daughter nor his son nor even his wife saw except him. After Armine’s death, Valery had to take her gold from home, keep it in a deserted place away from Emma’s and Ashot’s eyes. On that horrible day, he had no idea what could happen to him, that  the history what had happened to his grandfather : the elder Valery could repeat.


BEST DRAMA

Frida | Germany | 2021 | 21’     

Director: Aleksandra Odic            

Writer: Aleksandra Odic

Producer: Stanislav Danylyshyn

Cast: Vicky Krieps            

Synopsis: An encounter between a young nurse and her patient Frida, who is the same age, on the border of professional distance and the desire for closeness.


BEST COMEDY

The Misadventures of Kidsuper | United States | 2022 | 17’       

Director: Sebastian Ssdaigui        

Writer: Colm Dillane       

Producer: David Wept, Farah Idress        

Cast: Joey Bada$$, Colm Dillane, Kenneth Cash, Alex Goldberg, Rabiullah Sikander            

Synopsis: Based on a true story, the early days of the KidSuper empire. A fashion designer and his entourage set out to make a mark on the streets of NYC. What begins as a high-wire heist evolves into a plan to throw the biggest party in the city — but can they make it out on top?


BEST HORROR

All Night Long |  Italy | 2021 | 19’           

Director: Eric Scabar       

Writer: Pietro Utili          

Producers: Ludovico Di Martino, Sara Casani, Maria Clara Taglienti            

Cast: Luigi Fedele, Monica Piseddu, Dino Porzio

Synopsis: All Night Long tells of the night in which Ferdinando and Maicol, two twenty-year-old friends, implement the plan to kill Lucrezia, Ferdinando’s mother, a woman who has never been able to fulfill the role of mother. Ferdinand, relying on Maicol’s weaknesses and precarious economic situation, convinces him to make the atrocious gesture by promising him a large sum of money.


BEST THRILLER/MYSTERY

Closure |  Israel | 2021 | 18’      

Director: Ziv Sheffer      

Writer: Ziv Sheffer          

Producer: Dror Levin      

Cast: Daniel Engel           

Synopsis:  8months after suffering a hit-and-run accident in which his fiancée was killed, Yuval is having a hard time overcoming the trauma and he is addicted to painkillers. When he accidentally notices the same driver who fled the scene of the incident and was never caught, he kills him and he is sure that from here his life is going to get better. To his surprise he discovers that the same driver is still alive and while trying to kill him again, he discovers that the road to revenge will not be as easy as he thought.


BEST DANCE/MUSICAL

BANKET | Réunion | 2021 | 09’

Director: Galant Ophélie              

Writer: Levil Guillaume 

Producer: Tien Bo Productions                  

Synopsis: The daily life, irredeemable. But one day Loïc and Lara return to their native island without suspecting that they can find the power of freedom.


BEST STUDENT

The Thorn In My Flesh   | South Africa | 2021 | 21’          

Director: Luzanne Potgieter        

Writer: Luzanne Potgieter           

Producers: Luzanne Potgieter, Charmaine Potgieter        

Cast: Francois Smith, Tsebang Sipambo, Danny Muller, Dehano Muller

Synopsis: A conflicted Afrikaans boy makes an unlikely friendship with a young Xhosa girl. He spends his free time dancing with her to escape the expectations of his culture and family. The boy’s prejudicial Father does not approve of his son’s unique


BEST YOUNG DIRECTOR

The Thorn In My Flesh   | South Africa | 2021 | 21’          

Director: Luzanne Potgieter        

Writer: Luzanne Potgieter           

Producers: Luzanne Potgieter, Charmaine Potgieter        

Cast: Francois Smith, Tsebang Sipambo, Danny Muller, Dehano Muller

Synopsis: A conflicted Afrikaans boy makes an unlikely friendship with a young Xhosa girl. He spends his free time dancing with her to escape the expectations of his culture and family. The boy’s prejudicial Father does not approve of his son’s unique


BEST CHILDREN SHORT

Mountain Spirits |  10’ 

Directors: Qiwei Li, Zishan Huang, Yin Fu, Yuxuan Fu        


BEST ANIMATION

Garisani |  Republic of Koreea | 2022 | 08’         

Director: Jin Woo            

Writer: Jin Woo                                

Synopsis: Garisani – meaning: Perception to judge things.  The newborn baby god goes around the underworld and starts a journey to escape from his destiny.  * This animation is based on Korean mythology.


BEST DOCUMENTARY

UTA – The Climb for Kosovo | Kosovo | 2021 | 20’           

Directors: Jake Tupman, Jack Somerville               

Producers: Jake Tupman, Jack Somerville             

Cast: Uta Ibrahimi           

Synopsis: In 2017, 34 year-old Uta Ibrahimi became the first person from Kosovo to attempt to climb Mount Everest. Her goal was to inspire a new post-war generation in Kosovo to move on from the war and help create a better future for their country.  This film looks back on Uta’s inspirational life, charting her journey from young woman growing up in a conflict country, to the literal top of the world.  On the surface, this is a film about mountain climbing; human versus the most unforgiving terrain on the planet, but underneath it is a film about recognition, about empowerment and about having the courage and the determination to step forward and keep going – for Uta and for Kosovo. Uta mirrors her homeland, its history, its sense of place in the world and its battle for recognition. Uta and Kosovo, in that respect, are one and the same.


BEST MUSIC VIDEO

The Jenny Thing – “American Canyon” | United States | 2022 | 04’          

Director: Ramesh Nicolas Iyer                    

Producer: Randy McDowell         

Cast: Brooke Coleman, Brendan McCarthy, Ehren Becker, Matt Easton, Mike Phillips, Shyam Rao

Synopsis: In the music video for “American Canyon,” a heroine on horseback charges across an otherworldly desert.  Pursued by malevolence known and unknown, she looks back… before ultimately facing her fears head-on.  On a different plane of the desolate landscape, California electro-rockers The Jenny Thing perform the title track from their album, American Canyon.  Even as singer Matt Easton meditates on the magnetic pull of physical violence, Pyrrhic victories, and the ecstasies of defeat, the band never forgets their pop duties, conjuring up a pounding, new-wave psychedelia that evokes the best of Peter Gabriel, Nine Inch Nails, and even Duran Duran.  If “American Canyon” sounds like the work of a group reborn… that’s because it is.  After a layoff of over a decade, The Jenny Thing reunited in 2016, embracing modern technology and integrating elements of industrial, experimental, ambient, and electronic music.  American Canyon has received strong critical response since its release, with Take Effect calling it “a flawless blend of New Wave, nostalgic pop and post-punk” and The Aquarian deeming it “one of the most ruminative and stylish records of the 2020s.”


BEST MINI SHORT

DREAMFALL | United States | 2021 | 03’             

Director: London Huang

Writer: London Huang   

Producer: London Huang             

Cast: Natalie Teuton, Tommy Heubner  

Synopsis: Moments away from death, a woman reminisces about past memories with her significant other while sentimentally immersed in the ocean waves. Through the interlacing of poetic prose and metaphorical visual themes, “DREAMFALL” blurs the line between fate and existentialism—between dreams and reality.


BEST NO/LOW BUDGET

Before A Painting | Switzerland | 2021 | 25’      

Director: Nathan Tosoni

Writer: Nathan Tosoni   

Producer: Nathan Tosoni             

Cast: Adèle Viéville, Hélène Bolanz, Raphaël Tschudi, Paola Renout Lefever, Simon Labarrière, Vivien Hebert, Maël Descombes, Estelle Bridet, Anastasia Fraysse      

Synopsis: What happened right before 3 painting masterworks?


BEST COMMERCIAL/AD/TVC

Thoughts Run Life | Malaysia | 2022 | 01’           

Director: Sin Wei Lee                                                     

Synopsis: A girl struggles to redirect her life back onto her path of pursuing dream.

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