Animation Short – Official Selection – February 2022
Moth | China | 2021 | 04’
Director: Jiaze Li
Writer: Jiaze Li
Synopsis: In this strange world full of mist, only the light ahead of him guided him. Like a moth to a flame, he showed an irresistible longing for truth and freedom
Record Highs | United States | 2022 | 05’
Director: Beryl Allee
Synopsis: Frogs compete to reach the ultimate vantage point, where anything is possible and everything can be seen.
Isbjørn Obstfelder | Norway | 2021 | 15’
Director: Halvard Harboe
Writer: Halvard Harboe
Producer: Rebekka Rognøy
Cast: Alfred Ekker Strande, Mikkel Bratt Silset, Steinar Klouman Hallert, Jon Sindre Fjellvang, Sunniva Du Mond Nordal
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.
Mountain Spirits | 10’
Directors: Qiwei Li, Zishan Huang, Yin Fu, Yuxuan Fu
Children Short – Official Selection – February 2022
The Girl Behind the Mirror | Brazil | 2021 | 13’
Director: Iuri Moreno
Writer: Iuri Moreno
Producers: Lara Morena, Débora Resendes
Cast: Pilar Paz
Synopsis: A transsexual girl locks herself in her room for fear of the monsters that threaten her outside, until a new reality appears behind the mirror where these monsters do not exist and she is free to be who she is or who wants to be.
Discoveries | Brazil | 2021 | 02’
Director: Paulo Botelho
Writer: Fernanda Leme Cardoso Abrantes
Synopsis: Discoveries tells the story of Nina, a very curious and creative child who turned her toy room into a laboratory for the most amusing experiments. Embark on this adventure and come discover her latest invention.
The Mom Who Escaped | United States | 2021 | 14’
Director: Xiaoxiao Xu
Writers: Xiaoxiao Xu, Kefan Zhang
Producers: Xiaoxiao Xu, Kontaxis Konstantia, Cheng Chen
Cast: Zhanzhi Xu, Xiaoxiao Xu
Synopsis: Six years old Chinese boy Zhizhi flies from Shanghai to Miami by himself to visit his mom that he hasn’t seen in nine months, and also to see the sea. But his sea plan is not going smooth, and brings back the pain of a broken marriage to his mom…
Mountain Spirits | 10’
Directors: Qiwei Li, Zishan Huang, Yin Fu, Yuxuan Fu
Commercial/Ad/TVC– Official Selection – February 2022
I CAN DO IT MYSELF | Russian Federation | 03’
Director: Asya Demidova
Synopsis: According to the statistics, the total number of disabled children in Russia is 724K, 2021. However, there is no established adaptive apparel market. The film’s main goal is to provide information and raise awareness that children with special needs experience difficulties in self-care skills, especially self-dressing, promoting inclusion, focusing on the emotional side rather than the functional. The straightforward narrative centred on a story about one girl with cerebral palsy shows that adaptive clothing allows the child to be on par with their peers while being comfortable in society.
ADIDAS Combat Sports x Matteo Signani | Italy | 2021 | 02’
Director: Daniele Quadrelli
Synopsis: Matteo Signani, 42 years old, is the European Boxing Union middleweight champion. His strong discipline and the constancy of his training define the sportsman, the champion, the man.
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.
Documentary Short – Official Selection – February 2022
A new place called home | Canada | 2021 | 12’
Directors: Chrystelle Maechler, Andreas Krätschmer
Writer: Chrystelle Maechler
Producers: John Buffone (Bell Fibe TV1), Paul Gardner (Bell Fibe TV1), Chrystelle Maechler
Synopsis: For many different reasons, people change their lives completely and find themselves starting over… in a rural area! Whether they are refugees or want to leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind or fulfill their dreams of becoming BnB hosts, chefs, or farmers, they all have a story! Set in Prince Edward County, Ontario, this series of documentary shorts explore the reasons, challenges, and personal resiliency behind these inspiring life changes and shows how to build a life in a new place called home.
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.
Mini Short – Official Selection – February 2022
JUST A LITTLE | Austria | 2022 | 03’
Director: Hanna Gruber
Writer: Lena Rose
Producers: Lena Rose, Hanna Gruber, Lauren Klocker
Cast: Lena Rose
Synopsis: JUST A LITTLE poses questions that are rarely being discussed in society. It is hard to share one’s truth especially when it brings a certain ‘heaviness’ or ‘darkness’ with it. Too often we hear that one should rather focus on the ‘positive’, keep on moving forward and ignore whatever burdens the soul. But what if there is no way to get past your trauma? What if self-destructive thoughts eat you alive and take away all the joy and all the hope? JUST A LITTLE is an internal discourse, a fragile poem, an honest insight. It creates a space where contemplation of one’s life and death are allowed to exist as part of our journey.
Tiam | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 03’
Director: Samaneh Rad
Writer: Samaneh Rad
Producer: Samaneh Rad
Cast: Tiyam Zamaniyan
Synopsis: 7-year-old Tiam is an only child. His birth was a surprise for his parents, who are on the verge of separating, mostly because of all their arguing about their unwanted son. Tiam knows his parents do not want him and he is heartbroken and angry. He comes up with a plan to set himself free …
Papercut | Italy | 2020 | 01’
Director: Marina Fastoso
Writer:Pasquale Autorino
Cast: Giovanna Di Fraia, Luca Filippi
Synopsis: Haunted by the memory of his mate, a man come back in their old special place to deal with her ghost.
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.
Music Video – Official Selection – February 2022
Hourglass – Karakum | Germany | 2022 | 03’
Director: Valentin Bolte
Synopsis: An experimental musicvideo featuring the beauty of starling murmurations.
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.”
Little Piece of Hair | Canada | 2022 | 04’
Director: Chris Shapones
Producer: Chris Shapones
Synopsis: Century Egg Presents- Little Piece of Hair
Alone in her bathroom, a mostly naked crochet women ponders her life in comparison to the hairs that live on the floor. Incorporating both stop-motion and 2D animation, this charming and crafty music video is a fun and surreal video about having too much time alone.
Narrative Short – Official Selection – February 2022
The Father | Lithuania | 2022 | 08’
Director: Agnė Juškėnaitė
Cast: Vilma Raubaitė, Antanas Kurklietis, Akvilė Mačiulaitytė
Synopsis: A daughter comes up with a plan to leave her mentally unavailable father in the depths of a forest. The story portraits a painful reality of different generations living in a destructive circle of survival-driven absurdity.
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.
Cold Beds | France | 2021 | 20’
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.
Child’s play | Hungary | 2021 | 24’
Director: Christopher Orzói
Writer: Máté Előd, Christopher Orzói
Producers: Miklós Bosnyák, Linda Pfeiffer, Ferenc Pusztai
Cast: Fanni Wrochna, Barnabás Dékány, Luca Borsos
Synopsis: Bogi is a young mother in her twenties, who – for a couple of days – wants to escape the reality of her life.
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?
I, Adonis | Netherlands | 2021 | 15’
Director: Angelo Raaijmakers
Writer: 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.
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.
Song for Serbia | New Zealand | 2021 | 09’
Director: Rouzie Hassanova
Writer: Rouzie Hassnova
Producer: Francesca Carney
Cast: Lawrence Wharerau, Kathryn Akuhata-Brown, Dea Jeremic, Mia Jeremic
Synopsis: When two teen sisters escape lockdown, their journey home becomes complicated when they are picked up by a couple of unlikely locals. Two Serbian sisters Ruzica and Yana have broken the rules and escaped the confines of lockdown when they find themselves in a hurry to get home for their mother’s birthday celebration. In a moment of desperation, Ruzica decides to hitch a ride and they are picked up by a local Māori couple. Yana can’t help but be intimidated by the pair and when offered a lolly she notices a gun in the glove box. An apology from the couple is not enough and although Ruzica tries to defuse the situation the tension builds and Yana blurts out that she will go to the police and report them. With this sudden threat, the couple decides to stop the car and reveal their true intentions and it is not at all what the sisters had expected.
68 | France | 2021 | 20’
Directors: Quentin SERRES, Quentin HUBERT
Writers: Quentin SERRES, Quentin HUBERT
Producer: Léa GILET-LORAND
Cast: Julien Garcia, Baptiste Philippe, Léa Swan, Elie Kaempfen, Léa Fratta, Julien Pinet, José Carvalho
Synopsis: Jacques remembers a precise memory that changes his life. During a nice afternoon in May 68, he decides to gather his closer colleagues to announce his departure. Georges, emotionally touched by Jacques’ speaking, he will illustrate it by a strong life sample.
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…
Tricksters | United Kingdom | 2021 | 25’
Director: Ashwin Mohan
Writers: Ashwin Mohan, Benjamin Paynter
Producer: Rochna Kumar
Cast: Nag Vishal
Synopsis: On a hot summer day, 13-year-old Chinna begrudgingly accompanies his Shaman father to work. They travel village-to-village, with the father practicing black magic and the son assisting him. The duo struggle to get through the day as their relationship strains under the weight of the people they encounter and the differences they see in each other. Does Chinna learn to overcome his struggles or be doomed to live the life he feared he would inherit?
On The Square | Germany | 2022 | 13’
Director: Ajay Paul
Writer: Ajay Paul
Producer: Alex Müller
Cast: Leonard Burkhardt, Bayan Layla, Sebastian Kremkow
Synopsis: In order to step out of his brothers shadow, a wannabe actor tries everything to get place in a drama school. Therefore he crosses an inmoral line on stage.
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.
The Recess | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 12’
Director: Navid Nikkhah Azad
Writer: Navid Nikkhah Azad
Producer: Navid Nikkhah Azad
Cast: Mojan Kordi, Reyhaneh Nabiyan, Niloofar Shokouhinia, Ghazal Khalili
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Sahar is determined to watch her favorite soccer team play for the league championship. Barred from attending sports events as a woman, Sahar disguises herself as a boy with the help of her friends. Things take a tragic turn when Sahar’s disguise is uncovered. Inspired by true events, The Recess explores gender oppression in Iranian society.
Off-Key | United States | 2021 | 09’
Director: Michael McCallum
Writers: Anthony “Tucker” Amirante, DT Kofoed, Michael McCallum, William C. McCallum, Lucas Nielsen, Andrew D. Sandstedt, Eric Shalayko, Ginneh Thomas
Producers: Michael McCallum, William C. McCallum
Cast: Michael McCallum, Ginneh Thomas, Andrew D. Standstedt
Synopsis: A down and out trombone player finds himself at a crossroads with his career and life in a dark, wet alley at night.
The Peach | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 20’
Director: Mahdi Hoseinkhani
Writer: Mahdi Hoseinkhani
Producer: Behnam Hoseinkhani
Cast: Kian Alipanah, Ali Taheri, AmirMohammad Karimi, Yalda Sarrafi, Ali Ali Sarlak
Synopsis: A teenaged boy who is bullied by his classmates, to re-earn his lost identity, does actions that he once refrained from and tries to prove himself through making changes in his behavior.
A-Mourgh | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 20’
Director: Mohsen Ghezel Soflu
Writer: Mohsen Ghezel Soflu
Producer: Mohsen Ghezel Soflu
Cast: Hossein Monfared, Negar Salahshoor, Alireza Haghparast, Mahan Arrafi, Ali Haadipour, Mohamad Abdolvand
Sadegh, now separated from his wife, believes that nobody understands neither his word or his feelings. Synopsis: He suddenly sees himself, society and his surroundings in a new way. To deal with this he brings a chicken home to enter a dialog with it and create a relationship…
A Fast Of Longing | Israel | 2021 | 27’
Director: Ofer Weiser
Writer: Ofer Weiser
Producer: Mor Barkan
Cast: Lea Koenig, Amir Peter
Synopsis: Grandson Dan-Dan picks up his grandma to spend Yom-Kippur at his parents’ house. The car breaks down, and they spend Yom-Kippur alone, on the road, in his car.
Quarterlife Cruisers | Netherlands | 2021 | 09’
Director: Karlijn Koel
Writer: Elly Scheele, Tim Zweistra
Producer: Ferdi Çelik
Cast: Karlijn Koel, Willemijn de Jonge, Ronald Kalter
Synopsis: When the car is fine, but the people break down. Two 30-something besties, Wendy and Karin, are about to relive their teen years at a rock concert, when they decide to spice it up this time. They meet eighteen-year-old Anton who makes them feel young again. ‘Hop on in!’ and off they go: two dressed up glam rock chicks and one young guy who tries to keep his cool. It’s like the olden days: carefree fun, adolescent sexual tensions, fantasies about doing drugs and the exciting promise of one very wild night. Or is it? Because Karin’s husband is calling with mundane questions about their baby and the boy appears to still be living at his parents’ house. The only one who can responsibly do drugs (because she’s not breastfeeding) or kiss someone (because she’s single) is Wendy. But this night should only be about being in the moment and only doing what they want, right? And does Wendy even want to do all these things, while Karin only watches? This roadtrip makes two women realize they’re holding on to something that isn’t there anymore. Or at least not exactly as it used to be. Maybe they’ll have to redefine what their ‘fun night out’ should look like and discover that being young isn’t some holy grail to fixate upon.
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.
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.
No/Low Budget– Official Selection – February 2022
AUROREM | Austria | 2021 | 30’
Director: Oswald Unterberger
Writer: Oswald Unterberger
Producers: Oswald Unterberger, Florian Schwarzenbacher, Martin Bucher
Cast: Martin Bucher, Florian Schwarzenbacher
Synopsis: A stranger approaches a man who collects wood in the forest and kills him with a stone. Then he drives the murdered man’s van through a semi-dark landscape into a threatening nature. The killer finds an old country house in an abandoned place and searches it for food. At night he is woken up by a thunderstorm. When he looks out the window, he makes a discovery that starts a psycho-trip through the insatiability of human greed. Inevitably there is self-judgment and a longing for infantile innocence. But the human-animal only finds redemption in nature, to which it is at the mercy.
Session 107 | United Kingdom | 14’
Director: Pete Fielding
Writer: Pete Fielding
Producer: Pete Fielding
Cast: Harry Kearton, Ryan Wichert
Synopsis: An aspiring filmmaker needs to convince a computer to release him from lockdown. But is an artist essential to society?
BLUE LEMON | India | 2022 | 16’
Director: AKHIL SACHI
Writer: AKHIL SACHI
Producer: AKHIL SACHI
Canada:JIBRAN ZAIDI, MOUMI GUHA, DISHA PEREIRA
Synopsis: To begin a new chapter, Zufi decided to leave her hometown to stay with her better half, Sarah. Before she departs, Zufi has to face her childhood best friend Ayan who’s never been separated from her.
The Harryian Theory | United Kingdom | 2021 | 23’
Director: Chongyan Liu
Writers: Chongyan Liu, Thomas Moore
Producers: Chongyan Liu, Thomas Moore, Wen Zihan
Cast: Lyud Hristov, Sven Ironside
Synopsis: When Philip invites his assistant’s boyfriend, Harry, over for dinner under false pretences, an in-depth conversation on the nature of love leads to Philip revealing his true intentions and desires.
Habits | United States | 2021 | 08’
Writer: DENISE POOLE
Producer: DENISE POOLE
Cast: DENISE POOLE, Rane Jameson, John Kyle Sutton
Synopsis: Old habits die hard, but sometimes turning a new leaf can be scary. Ashton finds out the hard way when her friend unexpectedly drops by to see her.
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?
The Pretty Horse and the Ant | Australia | 2021 | 03’
Synopsis: A tale that follows the unlikely friendship between two solitary creatures.
Short Comedy – Official Selection – February 2022
Nice things | Russian Federation | 2021 | 16’
Director: Valentina Bespalaya
Writers: Valentina Bespalaya, Andrew Garyazh
Producer: Valentina Bespalaya
Cast: Anastasiya Kuleshova, Ol’ga Porubleva, Andrej Garyazh, YAnina Melekhova, Artem Vasil’ev
Synopsis: Toma wants to save each and every one. She works on the weekends, delivers stuff to the poor, takes care of her friend’s pet. Her husband Valera craves for her attention and is obliged to take part in her frenzied activity. One day at her job Toma finds out about the disappearance of a whole train car loaded with Zhdun (the Awaiter) toys, whereas she herself by mistake gives to the poor her expensive fur coat, which was bought on a credit. Toma is resolved to get back both of the missing items at any cost.
El Conquistador | France | 2021 | 20’
Director: Mathilde Bayle
Writer: Mathilde Bayle, Gilles Trinques
Producer: Jonathan HAZAN
Cast: Lucile Chevalier, Victorino Flores, Marco Horanieh
Synopsis: Fanny has become infatuated with the handsome, womanizing Diego, for whom her heart aches. One evening, at a party, she tries to make him jealous by letting a random man hit on her… It works. But this “random man”, Victorino, a Peruvian photographer, has no intention of giving up that easily.
Woody Allen takes revenge | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 20’
Director: Peyman Naji
Writer: Peyman Naji
Producers: Peyman Naji, Sharareh Mahmoodi
Cast: Saman Saffari, Amir Arshia Barati, Seyed Shayan Mousavi, Leila Fardad, Peyman Naji, Asadollah Yekta
Synopsis: An amateur theater director who loves “Woody Allen”, decides to perform Woody Allen’s “The Death knocks”. The rehearsal is so terrible. One night – somehow like what happens in the play- the death goes after the actor of the death.
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?
The Crossroads | Russian Federation | 2021 | 15’
Director: Anna Nosatova
Writer: Pavel Novikov, Anna Nosatova
Producer: Anna Nosatova, Daria Chigirinova, Arsenyi Militsin
Cast: Kirill Kyaro, Anna Popova, Elizaveta Lotova, Alexandr Nesterov, Olga Vinichenko, Sergei Sharifullin
Synopsis: Artem (40) is stuck in the routine of an unhappy life. He is under constant female pressure in the family and at work. A sudden meeting with a stranger at the crossroad makes him decide to make drastic changes.
LOSSES | Spain | 2021 | 29’
Director: Oscar Toribio Crabayo
Writer: Miguel Angel
Producer: Maroto Negrte
Cast: Oscar Toribio Carbayo
Synopsis: Julia’s life has been marked by a husband she didn’t love and an impossible platonic love. The only thing that keeps her going is the memories. Everything will change when he discovers that he suffers from a degenerative disease.
Forest Giants | United States | 2022 | 22’
Director: Augusta Mariano
Writer: Michael Moskewicz
Producers: Eleanor Vigneault, Michael Moskewicz
Cast: Erin Clark, Michael Moskewicz
Synopsis: In the early days of the internet a brother and sister attempt to mend their strained relationship as they venture into the woods to film a hoax video.
Short Dance/Musical – Official Selection – February 2022
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.
“Niebościan. Freedom lives in a head”. | Poland | 2022 | 05’
Director: Jagoda Turlik
Writer: Jagoda Turlik
Producer: Jagoda Turlik JaTu Film/JaTu Tańczę
Cast: Julia Domagalska Dancer of Kielecki Teatr Tańca, Szymon Pacholec Dancer of Kielecki Teatr Tańca
Synopsis: “Niebościan…” is a short story about actual imprisonment and a mental sense of freedom. Daily routine and the courage to make the decision to escape from it. About the fact that the boundless sky lives in our head. You just have to allow yourself to see them.
Short Drama – Official Selection – February 2022
I, Adonis | Netherlands | 2021 | 15’
Director: Angelo Raaijmakers
Writer: 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.
Ray | United States | 2021 | 13’
Director: Charles Socarides
Writer: Charles Socarides
Producers: Adam Bradley, Max Rothman, Charles Socarides
Cast: Juan Castano, Sarah Steele
Synopsis: After years of bitter separation, Quinn learns that his brother Ray is gone for good. Lost forever to opioid addiction. Seeking closure, he attends the memorial service where he meets Daphne, a woman tortured by her own substance use disorder, and discovers the shocking truth about Ray’s final hours.
Child’s play | Hungary | 2021 | 24’
Director: Christopher Orzói
Writer: Máté Előd, Christopher Orzói
Producers: Miklós Bosnyák, Linda Pfeiffer, Ferenc Pusztai
Cast: Fanni Wrochna, Barnabás Dékány, Luca Borsos
Synopsis: Bogi is a young mother in her twenties, who – for a couple of days – wants to escape the reality of her life.
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…
Cold Beds | France | 2021 | 20’
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.
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.
Swim Budis | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 09’
Director: Soroush Albakhshi Naeini
Writer: Soroush Albakhshi Naeini
Producer: Soroush Albakhshi Naeini
Synopsis: Iranian and Iraqi teenagers compete in an underwater breath hold contest on the border river of Iran (Arvand River), the competition ends in a draw every time.
Mahakan | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 18’
Directors: Hessam Hosseini, Abbas Hosseinzadeh
Writers: Hessam Hosseini, Abbas Hosseinzadeh
Producer: Hossein Fallah
Cast: Bahar Hosseinzadeh, Fatemeh Radmanesh, Sharareh Mansourabadi, Anisa Gharedaghi, Fariba Ataiee, Alimohammad Radmanesh, Meysam Damanzeh, Rasoul Shahsavari, Alireza Rashidi, Ali Hosseinzadeh
Synopsis: “Maahakaan” is the story of a family who forces their seven-year-old daughter to undertake the responsibility of the murder his father committed, saving her father’s life from the death sentence.
Jamais Vu | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 22’
Director: Saleh Alavizadeh
Writer: Amir Najafi
Producers: Meysam Kazazi, Mani Ghandi
Cast: Farhad Aeesh, Omid Salimi, Ali Nourani, Sajjad Tabesh
Synopsis: Omid, while under influence, accidentally kills Morteza in the presence of his friend Ali. Ali suggests that they should hold Omid’s father, an old man suffering from Alzheimer, responsible for the murder. Omid does not comply with this proposition but he has no other choice.
Just About | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2021 | 15’
Director: Mahmood Pouyandeh
Writer: Mahmood Pouyandeh
Producer: Shadi Katiraei
Cast: Amineh Keyhan, Farzan Jalali, Abbas Towfigh, Mohsen Khomeisi, Mahmood Pouyandeh
Synopsis: A young dance instructor girl tries to get her brother enrolled in an elite state-run school. The brother does a good job in the school admission interview but the principal thinks that she can’t afford to pay the school fee and prevents him from getting enrolled.
Payvazhik | Islamic Republic of Iran | 2020 | 15’
Director: Hojjat Gholami
Writer: Hojjat Gholami
Producers: Hojjat Gholami, Abbas Majidzadeh
Cast: Hadi Ahmadi, Kaveh Ebrahim, Mohammad Haghshenas, Bahareh Khaleghi, Analli Shakoori
Synopsis: Mohammad is having doubts on his wedding. He is trying to consult it with his therapist. His therapist does not respond and he finds himself worrying more about something that happened between him and his wife-to-be Parastoo weeks ago. Mohammad’s friends also saw his change of behavior for the last couple of weeks.
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.
A Fast Of Longing | Israel | 2021 | 27’
Director: Ofer Weiser
Writer: Ofer Weiser
Producer: Mor Barkan
Cast: Lea Koenig, Amir Peter
Synopsis: Grandson Dan-Dan picks up his grandma to spend Yom-Kippur at his parents’ house. The car breaks down, and they spend Yom-Kippur alone, on the road, in his car.
On The Square | Germany | 2022 | 13’
Director: Ajay Paul
Writer: Ajay Paul
Producer: Alex Müller
Cast: Leonard Burkhardt, Bayan Layla, Sebastian Kremkow
Synopsis: In order to step out of his brothers shadow, a wannabe actor tries everything to get place in a drama school. Therefore he crosses an inmoral line on stage.
The Spirit | Kazakhstan | 2021 | 21’
Director: Madi Kairzhan
Writer: Madi Kairzhan
Synopsis: Aliyah is the pride of her parents, who, sparing no effort or time, brought her up, protected her, and nurtured her. She is intelligent, tactful, and educated. Aliya has dreams that after passing her final exams, she will finally be able to travel, explore the world, communicate with different and interesting people! To do something useful for herself and her family. To help everyone who needs help, to meet her love! Her father is the head of their village. He has taught Aliyah everything he knows since she was little. To be worthy to run her village, to take responsibility when the time comes. Her mother, on the other hand, taught her to be compassionate, loving, the keeper of the hearth of her future family. To be strong when needed, and to be gentle when needed. She grew up in such an atmosphere, becoming more and more worthy of becoming the head of her village. But her plans were not destined to come true. One warm evening as she walked home from the store, she is stolen along the way by unknown assailants.
Song for Serbia | New Zealand | 2021 | 09’
Director: Rouzie Hassanova
Writer: Rouzie Hassnova
Producer: Francesca Carney
Cast: Lawrence Wharerau, Kathryn Akuhata-Brown, Dea Jeremic, Mia Jeremic
Synopsis: When two teen sisters escape lockdown, their journey home becomes complicated when they are picked up by a couple of unlikely locals. Two Serbian sisters Ruzica and Yana have broken the rules and escaped the confines of lockdown when they find themselves in a hurry to get home for their mother’s birthday celebration. In a moment of desperation, Ruzica decides to hitch a ride and they are picked up by a local Māori couple. Yana can’t help but be intimidated by the pair and when offered a lolly she notices a gun in the glove box. An apology from the couple is not enough and although Ruzica tries to defuse the situation the tension builds and Yana blurts out that she will go to the police and report them. With this sudden threat, the couple decides to stop the car and reveal their true intentions and it is not at all what the sisters had expected.
Short Horror – Official Selection – February 2022
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.
Virophage | Luxembourg | 2022 | 18’
Director: Nilton Martins
Writer: Nilton Martins
Producers: Nilton Martins, Adolf El Assal, Govinda Van Maele
Cast: Jil Devresse, Marcel Heintz
Synopsis: In the tradition of the B-Movie horrorgenre, “Virophage” tells the story of mad scientist and his unorthodox approach to save the world from a deadly virus outbreak. Because the end justifies the means he isn’t his above experimentation on all kinds of living or dead specimens.
Short Thriller/Mystery – Official Selection – February 2022
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.
SECOND | United States | 2021 | 12’
Director: Karl Richter
Writer: Karl Richter
Producer: Karl Richter
Cast: Mikki Hernandez
Synopsis: Twin sisters Sybil and Sasha try to come to terms with their differences only to discover a haunting supernatural tragedy.
By Nightfall | Italy | 2021 | 06’
Director: Giulio Maria Cavallini
Writer: Francesco Tosco
Producers: Federico Meneghini, Ludovico Casalone, Francesco Tosco
Cast: Matilde Vigna, Giulio Maria Cavallini
Synopsis: A detective on the trail of a missing woman ends up in a serial killer’s clutches.
The first look | Italy | 2021 | 15’
Director: Jacopo Manzari
Writers: Jacopo Manzari, Alessandro Nicolò
Producers: Riccardo Barone, Daniel Bollini
Cast: Pierluigi Gigante
Student Short – Official Selection – February 2022
Golden Margarite | Israel | 2021 | 07’
Director: Keren Sofi karasik
Writer: keren Sofi karasik
Producer: keren Sofi karasik
Synopsis: The film follows the day of three young teens living in a neglected ghost town in Post-Soviet Europe
Bears | Russian Federation | 2021 | 26’
Director: Pairav Sharifov
Writer: Pairav Sharifov
Producer: Olga Maximova
Cast: Lev Letov, Oleg Kirilenko
Synopsis: The story tells about the difficulties of mutual understanding between two generations. Grandfather Semyon and his little grandson Oleg, having gone hunting, are unexpectedly forced to go a long way from discord to absolute reconciliation. Faced with a number of trials in the forest, a representative of both the older and younger generations will finally be able to accept the differences of the other and learn to truly respect a loved one, no matter how much he differs from him.
The Interview | Russian Federation | 2021 | 15’
Director: Egor Yatsenko
Writer: Egor Yatsenko
Producer: Tatiana Ekimova
Cast: Dmitry Prokofiev, Elena Zakharova, Ivan Chuikov
Synopsis: “The Interview” is a story about an unlucky actor Sasha, who has been playing the same roles in a provincial theatre for many years. Everything would have continued like this, but the universe has its own plans for the hero: the artistic director decides to modernize the theatre and removes the actor from the leading roles, the wife informs him of her pregnancy, and telephone scammers steal not only Sasha’s money but also his colleagues’. The hero has no choice but to undertake a desperate act – he takes part in an interview, where he will have to play an incredibly difficult and, apparently, the most important role in his life.
Fleeting: Here & There | Canada | 2021 | 03’
Director: Gilnaz Arzpeyma
Producer: Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema
Synopsis: Mechanical and organic loops morph into each other in an experimental exploration of saturation and breath as a never-ending quest of presence.
Alledoags | Netherlands | 2020 | 02’
Director: Moze Mertens
Writer: Moze Mertens
Producer: Moze Mertens
Synopsis: The word ‘Alledoags’ comes from the Gronings Dialect from the Netherlands, which means mundane or ordinary but not in a negative connotation. “Alledoags” emphasizes the beauty of a routine and how PTSD can be a part of you through out your whole life, no matter what age.
她HER（Hidden Exclusive Role）| China | 2021 | 03’
Director: Riva Li
Synopsis: HER was inspired by the female characters in classic Hong Kong movies, the film tells the story of a girl who opens different blind boxes and enters different character scenes. A series of absurd “battles” are taking place. The film shows various pressures faced by women with an absurd and surreal “eradication action”. The girl pulled out different blind boxes from the machine, which let her enter different roles to “destroy the shadow men”. Shadow men represent the pressures we face in the real world. In this film, the girl is gaining mysterious power. She beated the surrealist “shadow men” heartily, but finally found that the pressure, represented by the “shadow men” is herself, thus the film wants to show that the importance of obtaining a positive and balanced mentality in the face of pressure. Director : Riva Li @liruiyyao Director of Photography : Troy Wang @wxd_troy & Jialing Li Executive Producer : Riva Li @liruiyyao 1st AC : Chao She 1st AD : Yingying Deng Art Director/Styling : Fanzy Zhang MUA : Yi Xiao Heroine : Chanwei Zou Gaffer : Hao Wang Production Assistants : Jiushan Nie & effy Huang @effyhuangyq Location Manager : Xuan Zhang & Jojo Zhao @zhaoyanling_ & Manmeng Wen Editor :Riva Li @liruiyyao Colorist /VFX & Compositing : Jay Liu Special Thanks: HER showcases the work of China designers: Yueqiqi @_yueqiqi+ Bluevase + Chipchipshop @chipchipshop_shanghai + 3km + Vapourblue + Lyuocheng @lyuocheng_official + iwi依偎 + NANNAN @nannan_lily
Paint The Wall Red | Spain | 2022 | 13’
Director: Kolya-Alvaro Dam de nogales
Writer: Kolya-Alvaro Dam de Nogales
Producer: Kolya-Alvaro Dam de Nogales
Cast: Jordi Bohigues, Edwin Dam, Pablo Sanz
Synopsis: Sam, a struggling wall painter, lands his first job. But what should have been a typical day of paid labour quickly becomes much more.
Aquarium Story | Thailand | 2022 | 29’
Director: Pobmek Junlakarin
Writers: Pobmek Junlakarin, Suebhatai Vinitchit
Producer: Nichamol Insook
Cast: Suebhatai Vinitchit, Pannaporn Leelaket
Synopsis: Being asked to be in a documentary about her fear of fish, Beam decided to go on a trip to the aquarium with Pun in order to overcome her fear.
Boys Night in Sidera Institute | United States | 2021 | 07’
Director: Adam Musa Othman
Synopsis: Two scientists roam in the institute they work for, way past curfew.
Dijiang’s Tale | United Kingdom | 2022 | 05’
Director: Junyan Liu
Synopsis: There lived a god named Dijiang, with six legs and four wings. Despite having no face, they’re said to be fond of music and dance. – Text from Classic of Mountains and Seas. Inspired by Chinese classics Zhuangzi and Classic of Mountains and Seas, this film tells the story of two gods attempting to give Dijiang the one thing they’re missing – a face. Would this be the finishing touch to an elaborate canvas? Or simply giving a snake a wasted pair of feet?
Lingering Paint | France | 2021 | 04’
Directors: Pierre-Damien Andre, Sarah Marques de Sousa, Sorya Mousar, Laure Coissac
Writers: Laure Coissac, Sorya Mousar, Sarah Marques de Sousa, Pierre-Damien Andre
Producer: E-artsup
Synopsis: In 1847, a widower struggles to paint again after his betrothed passes away. Years after, he finds one of her precious keepsake.
White (Menskleur) | South Africa | 2021 | 06’
Director: Luzanne Potgieter
Writer: Luzanne Potgieter
Producer: Luzanne Potgieter
Cast: Tshiamo Matlou, Luanrie Boshoff, Quinton Nagel, Dehano Muller
Synopsis: A young black boy struggles to come to terms with his identity in a predominantly white school.
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
NAHABED | Czech Republic | 2021 | 11’
Director: Serouj Hovsepian
Producer: Bruce Bybee
CastArman Kupelyan, Scott Sophos, Elvira Nikitina, Alexej Kravchenko
Mountain Spirits | 10’
Directors: Qiwei Li, Zishan Huang, Yin Fu, Yuxuan Fu
