Animation Short – Official Selection – June 2023
The Rat | China | 2022 | 13’
Director: Yuanqing Cai
Producer: Charlotte Zijin Duanmu
Synopsis: On a stormy night, a drunk man stumbles back home. Vomiting accompanied by vertigo in which he sees two huge rats in his house. Disgusted and cranky he desperately attacks the two rats hoping they will go away. After a night like that, the morning wind blows everything away, leaving only the broken family portrait.
Epicenter | Republic of Korea | 2022 | 11’
Director: Hee-yoon Hahm
Writer: Hee-yoon Hahm
Producer: Lithium
Synopsis: Bukhansan Mountain grows in an earthquake in a normal daily life. Little by little, as fine cracks appear on the wall that divided the world of fantasy and reality, someone begins to notice the existence of an invisible world.
The Magic Hour | United States | 05’
Director: Nath Milburn
Writer: Andrew Melzer
Producers: Nath Milburn, Andrew Melzer
Cast: Robbie Sublett, Sublett Sublett, Rivki Bench
Synopsis: Two brothers’ mission to fix their mom’s broken tablet, before she comes home, is met with a series of challenges.
Nosh-up | Portugal | 2022 | 12’
Director: Mafalda Salgueiro
Writer: Mafalda Salgueiro
Producer: Rui Cardoso
Synopsis: “Cooking is caring” says my mother while she enthusiastically juggles pots and pans preparing a family meal. Using food and passed down recipes, personal history is interwoven with gestures of affection and familial unity. A visual ode to the unsung heroes who repeatedly feed and care for us without asking for anything in return.
Shell in Love | Bulgaria | 2020 | 17’
Director: Svilen Dimitrov
Writer: Svilen Dimitrov
Producer: Miramar film
Synopsis: A timid snail, scarred by a childhood trauma, spends his time hiding away in his shell where he has created an imaginary version of the outside world. After a chance encounter with love he will have to face his fears and discover the wonders of reality.
Judgement | United States | 2020 | 03’
Director: Yifan Sun
Synopsis: In recent years, there are increasing news about people committing suicide because of depression, and cyberbullying is one of the reasons contributing to depression. Every person on the internet is wearing a mask, hiding behind their monitors to comment on anything they want without paying for their actions. So this story is about the main character is suffering from cyberbullying and trying to escape from his nightmare.
Un-Portalable! | United States | 2022 | 05’
Director: Ira Klages
Writer: Ira Klages
Cast: Taylor Perry, Ira Klages, Ashley Woods
Synopsis: Enya is preparing to meet up with a new friend. He wants to make a good impression, but his buddy Jonesy complicates things in a major way
Children Short – Official Selection – June 2023
FATHEAD | United States | 2023 | 20’
Director: c. Craig
Writer: c. Craig
Producers: Mitchell Graham Colley, Anthony Gaitros, Letia Solomon, Alexa Villarreal
Cast: Kapri Ladd, Tremari Limbrick, Tika Sumpter, University of Southern California
Synopsis: When one of the last free children of Junkyard Paradise has her brother stolen away from her, no Ragamuffin army or vicious beasts will stop her from getting him back.
Be-Friended | New Zealand | 2023 | 12’
Director: Crystalyne Jade Willis
Writer: Crystalyne Jade Willis
Producers: Crystalyne Jade Willis, Jason Pike
Cast: Sharon Hackett, Laura Trundle, Elizabeth Gritten, Felix Becroft
Synopsis: Isolated in a world connected through devices, an elderly lady longs for a connection so much that when a singing dragon says hello she goes with it. Though their relationship is filled with delight it endangers her and those around her and the lady must open to a new way of connecting.
Documentary Short – Official Selection – June 2023
ON THIS WONDROUS SEA | Greece | 2022 | 18’
Director: KALLIOPI LEGAKI
Writer: KALLIOPI LEGAKI
Producers: KALLIOPI LEGAKI, Peloponnese Documentary Festival
Synopsis: How can a woman, while experiencing pain, have the strength to provoke and fight for her place in society? Maria Cyber, a member of the LGBTQI+ community, succeeds in that, through her everyday fight for the right to diversity.
Behind the Dream – Ep01 – “Marc” | 2022 | 09’
Director: Mauro Talamonti
Writer: Mauro Talamonti
Cast: Marc Marquez
Synopsis: Go Behind the Dream and discover the unique human stories behind the most successful team in MotoGP history. The first chapter is entitled ‘Marc‘ and covers the extraordinary visit of Marc Marquez at the Austrian Grand Prix, where the eight-time MotoGP world champion is honest about the difficulties facing the iconic factory. On a personal note, #93 explains his relationship with fear, how he has changed in the two years since his accident at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez de la Frontera. “2 years ago I didn’t feel fear,” and “the way I approach races is changing”.
Me my wife and GBM | Israel | 2023 | 19’
Directors: Eitan Baigel, Limor Baigel
Writers: Eitan Baigel, Limor Baigel
Producer: Eitan Baigel
Cast: Eitan Baigel, Limor Baigel, Ori Scop
Synopsis: No one likes to plan or even talk about the last chapter in life, for various reasons and mainly out of fear and trivial beliefs. Eddie Peleg, 52, was diagnosed with GBM (brain cancer) in 2019. The disease landed on his head as a complete surprise, and he turned from a man who worked intensively to someone who lives around the disease. GBM is defined as a terminal illness, and its victims quickly lose the ability to speak, walk, and see. Most patients die within a year and a half. Eddie knows this, but for now, he is considered as a medical miracle. He speaks well and is cognitively and motorically active, almost like a completely healthy person. He wears 24/7 a helmet on his head that generates an electric field to prevent cell splitting, which he calls “my head guard,” takes long walks, and leads a support group for GBM patients. Death is a bad thing, but it exists. In the movie, we put on the table the subject that very few people want to talk about when it directly affects them – death. Eddie and his wife Limor meet in their living room with Keren – a palliative care nurse who accompanies patients on their final journey. Or, as she calls it – a kind of angel of death. Most people are afraid of her visit because it seems she bring death with her. In the course of the conversation, Eddie shares and illustrates what it is like to be a GBM patient from his point of view, how to prepare for death and the day after, and, no less importantly, we discover how the love between Eddie and Limor only grows stronger from day to day.
A STAR | Norway |2023 | 04’
Director: Siw Angell-Olsen
Writer: Siw Angell-Olsen
Producers: Siw Angell-Olsen, Nils Petter
Cast: Devold Midtun
Synopsis: A Star is a short poetic documentary philosophizing about what drives us in life. Is life a competition? Why do we hunt for honor and recognition? She uses her recently deceased father who in his youth won many medals in diving competitions and later devoted large parts of his life to the sport as a trainer and organizer.
DRAUFF! | Switzerland | 2023 | 24’
Director: Ciril Tscheligi
Writers: Ciril Tscheligi, Lorenzo Polin
Producers: Lorenzo Polin, Ciril Tscheligi
Cast: Lorenzo Polin
Synopsis: We actually wanted to make a documentary about Gian “Gec” Giachem Niggli, the idiosyncratic individualist from the pretty Engadine. Unfortunately, Gec died unexpectedly right at the start of filming. What should we do? His death didn’t freeze us, on the contrary, we brought Gec back to life! In a whole new form.
WE R HERE | United States | 2022 | 19’
Directors: Kyung Lee, James Goodwin
Producers: Daniel Baum, Kim Anno
Cast: James Goodwin
Synopsis: DJ is a former football player and musician who lives in his VW beetle. DJ’s cellphone is our window into his universe and his camera reveals a life on the streets: from encounters with the police to his struggles with addiction and complicated relationship with his family. Sitting in his beetle, DJ relives the past and tells us how he got here. He shares his real time experience as an unhoused African American man; we see the constant challenges he faces, and the strength needed just to maintain.
Experimental Short – Official Selection – June 2023
Exploitation | Greece | 2021 | 15’
Director: Marina Symeou
Writer: Yorgos Servetas
Producer: Marina Danezi
Cast: Theodora Tzimou, Anya Lebedenko, Yannis Drakopoulos
Synopsis: Electra, 45, was a teacher a few years ago in the industrial village “X”. A decayed village under the shadow of a huge factory, not on its heyday. The country roads take you there, amidst a rugged landscape spotted with black rust deposits. Lia, 20, until a few years ago a student of Electra, was and remains beautiful. She works in “Heaven”, a local cafe owned by the 50-year-old known as “Cannibal”. Lia has no way out. Entertainment and spectacle is nothing more than souped-up cars drifting on the empty lot. Electra knows that Lia deserves another kind of glory, she knows that as her teacher she has to lead her there. Electra returns. And she will take Lia with her to commit the robbery they both need: Lia to escape, Electra to tie Lia with her
Noen | Norway | 2022 | 16’
Director: Bernhard Østebø
Writers: Bernhard Østebø, Andreas Petterson
Producer: Ole Georg Østevik
Cast: Synne Garvik, William Østebø Sætre, Even Eileraas
Synopsis: Through a series of enigmatic and dreamlike scenes we meet a boy, a man and a woman, each in their own way engaged in a journey through inner and outer landscapes. The fourth “character” is a mysterious glass ball, wandering around from hand to hand. Some times distant and unreachable, some times close and tangible. Like waves, the characters drift towards and away from each other. Noen is a cinematic poem about enchantment and loss, hope and longing. Inspired by the lyrics of Nick Cave, but not meant to be an illustration or interpretation of these. The film is almost entirely without spoken words, and the story is driven by images, music and movement. The adult main characters are played by professional dancers, and there are two dance sequences.
SeaMonster II | United States | 2023 | 15’
Director: Eleni Mylonas
Writer: Eleni Mylonas
Producer: Eleni Mylonas
Cast: Eleni Mylonas
Synopsis: SeaMonster II is a single channel video with sound, duration 14:19. All the objects used in this performance were collected at the sea shore near the artist’s studio on the island of Aegina. This work is part of the “SeaMonster” series. The first iteration “SeaMonster Monk” a live performance took place at the Athens Art Fair 2019 and was featured at the WhiteBox NYC in 2023.
Still | Norway | 2023 | 01’
Director: Christian Søgaard
Writer: Christian Søgaard
Producer: Christian Søgaard
Cast: Julia Brovold
Synopsis: A Dance Short Film that explores the theme of ignorance
A letter to Jacklynn | China | 2022 | 03’
Director: Jing Zhu
Writer: Jing Zhu
Synopsis: During the lockdown, I wrote a letter to my friend Jacklynn, recalling a meeting we had before the epidemic, and the memories began to emerge with the extended urban traffic line.
Mini Short – Official Selection – June 2023
2 minutes before the news | France | 2023 | 02’
Director: Djiby Badiane
Writer: Djiby Badiane
Producer: Djiby Badiane
Cast: Nicolas Audebaud, Vilaysone Marie-France Siphonexay, Clara, Samory Sakho
Synopsis: 2 minutes before the TV news., 2 minutes that the audience never see. During those minutes a lot can happen, untold things during years, because 2 minutes are enough…
A flower a day | United Kingdom | 2023 | 03’
Director: Iancu Barbarasa
Synopsis: “A flower a day” is a stop-motion short film with over 500 flower ink drawings, made every morning for my partner over three years. The film portrays the joy of being in a relationship, and highlights the importance of daily commitment that a good relationship requires. Music is an integral part of the film, the drawings being matched with Chopin’s Minute Waltz.
The Thirteenth | France | 2023 | 03’
Director: Thomas Derlot
Writer: Thomas Derlot
Producers: Agnès Schmouker, Pierre Dessogne
Cast: Victor Bonnel, Yves-Batek Mendy, Ludivine Vauthier, Margot Wright, Lewis Wright
Synopsis: Two paid killers made another mistake. Their boss isn’t very happy with it.
The Borrowers | 2023 | 02’
Director: Yoli Shen
Writer: Yoli Shen
Producer: Yoli Shen
Cast: Fan Chen, Arina OZ
Synopsis: , a fashion film by me to question the way we treat content creators and their work in a consumerism era. It can be a waste and even a brutal murder for them if we focus more on the one-time commercial value instead of their true idea behind the work. We can all be the borrowers.
Who’s That Shouting at My Door? | Belgium | 2023 | 03’
Director: Laurier Fourniau
Writer: Laurier Fourniau
Only Fire | United Arab Emirates | 2023 | 01’
Director: Neel Kumar
Writer: Neel Kumar
Producer: Neel Kumar
Cast: Marco Möller
Synopsis: Only Fire is a visual ode to the birth of a machine conjured from a dream, set to a script that explores the vulnerability of an idea in its infancy.
The Winning Ticket | France | 2023 | 03’
Cast: Jérôme Gordolon, Benoît Belvans, Agnès Perraud, Arthur Gordolon
Synopsis: Every day, Mr. Baratier delivers the winnings of the national lottery. Every day, he sees joy, tears and thanks. Every day, except one.
Judgement | United States | 2020 | 03’
Director: Yifan Sun
Synopsis: In recent years, there are increasing news about people committing suicide because of depression, and cyberbullying is one of the reasons contributing to depression. Every person on the internet is wearing a mask, hiding behind their monitors to comment on anything they want without paying for their actions. So this story is about the main character is suffering from cyberbullying and trying to escape from his nightmare.
A letter to Jacklynn | China | 2022 | 03’
Director: Jing Zhu
Writer: Jing Zhu
Synopsis: During the lockdown, I wrote a letter to my friend Jacklynn, recalling a meeting we had before the epidemic, and the memories began to emerge with the extended urban traffic line.
Music Video – Official Selection – June 2023
Marion Woodseth – Ceiling´s on fire | Norway | 2022 | 04’
Director: Christian Søgaard
Producer: Christian Søgaard
Cast: Christiane Schaldemose, Thomas Buch, Marion Woodseth, Sondre Solheim
Synopsis: A young girl must tackle her thoughts and keep a mask up to get through an evening with friends. Everything seems ok, but it isn’t.
Sabaton, Motörhead ‘1916’ | United Kingdom | 2023 |08’
Director: Adam David Barker
Producer: Adam David Barker
Synopsis: Join a fearless tribute march through history with those who fought for a world fit for heroes. Legendary track from rock pioneers Motörhead ‘1916’ is covered by one of Europes top-tier bands, Sabaton in Adam Barkers music video. Adam Barker, Director, Video Ink: “I heard the track and it’s heartbreaking story of human sacrifice to the beat of marching drum… I immediately thought of staging a tribute march but I wanted to show their world – the towns they left behind and the human sacrifice of the battlefield” Lemmy Kilmister, Motörhead on ’1916’: “It’s about the The Battle of the Somme. 19,000 Englishmen were killed before noon, a whole generation destroyed, in three hours – think about it! It was terrible – entire towns in northern Lancashire and south Yorkshire had an entire generation of men completely wiped out” Adam Barker, Director, Video Ink: “I decided to take the march back to 1916, through 1939 and WW2, concluding in our modern day. It was crucial for me to enlist a diverse cast as this was global effort, where humanity united to fight against repression for peace. We owe everything to these heroes from our past. Doing them justice was central in my mind throughout the entire process”. Motörhead’s Mikkey Dee, Phil Campbell along with the Lemmy Kilmister estate supported the release. Mikkey and Phil are seen in the march along with lifelong Motörhead manager Eddie Rocha.
Distant Spirit | United States | 2023 | 05’
Director: Ben Dylan Sloan
Producer: Ben Dylan Sloan
Synopsis: An independently produced song and music video from Ben Sloan’s debut record ‘Muted Colors’ released in March 2023 via New Amsterdam, and Joyful Noise Records. The video is an abstract look at the intertwining relationship between technology and self. The mixed-media process to create the video combined hand drawn animation, paper scans, and digital manipulation to create a surrealist world both alluring and unsettling.
Yelpy: Gravity | United States | 2023 | 05’
Director: Jonathan Martin
Writer: Jonathan Martin, Yelpy
Producers: Jonathan Martin, Ieva Georges, Yelpy
Cast: Yelpy, Ieva Georges
Synopsis: An astronaut is lost in space and can only be saved by the love of a captain desperate to find him. Official music video for “Gravity” by Irish artist Yelpy.
THOSE MISSING WORDS | France | 2023 | 23’
Director: Sosthene Williams
Writer: Sosthene Williams
Producers: Sosthene Williams, Chris Macari, Lisa Aleksenko, Camille Choppin
Cast: Sandrine Salyeres, Jeremy Barlozzo, Alexandra Delmart, Cyril Durel
Synopsis: Henry is a music star questioning himself and his girlfriend about his purpose in life and the destiny he made for himself.
Narrative Short – Official Selection – June 2023
The Discarded | United Kingdom | 2023 | 03’
Director: Uli Meyer
Writer: Uli Meyer
Producer: Uli Meyer
Cast: Uli Meyer, Rob Rackstraw
Synopsis: A character designer struggles with the design of a cartoon cat and ends up on a short trip through the looking glass.
We’re Turning into Regular People | China | 2021 | 17’
Director: VALEN ZENG MENG SHENG
Writer: VALEN ZENG MENG SHENG
Producer: ECHO KE GUAN YU
Cast: AI TAO, CHENJING
Synopsis: We Are is a film based on a true event and is focusing on a mentally disabled person Faye with developmental delayed issues. Faye tries so hard to make lychee wine to please his wife, Mei. Meanwhile, Mei and Faye’s parents are negotiating secretly to trick Faye into signing up a divorce agreement document, so that Mei would return to “single” legally and Faye’s parents would have a tidy sum. However, Faye knows nothing about this melodrama and had no decision on his life at all.
The Place Between Mountains and Seas | China | 2023 | 17’
Director: Xudong Huang
Writer: Xiumin Hu
Producers: Kelang Zhang, Yakun Chen
Synopsis: In a mountain village in Fujian, Li Meng grew up relying on her grandparents. She has always yearned for the sea and often wanders around the village. The village eccentric, Haishan, riding a rare motorcycle caught her attention. In several encounters with Haishan, separation remains the main theme of life. Friends leave without saying goodbye, and her closest relative, her grandmother, passed away. Li Meng grew up in a state of confusion…
Rhyme or Die | United Kingdom | 2021 | 11’
Director: Max Lincoln
Writer: Alex Moran
Producer: Rami Sarras Pantoja
Cast: Bethan Cullinane, Victor Alli, Olumide Olorunfemi, Mohammad Amiri, Racheal Ofori, Samuel Blenkin
Synopsis: Five kidnapped strangers are forced to rhyme to their captor’s funky beats – or die.
The Old Young Crow | Japan | 2022 | 12’
Director: Liam LoPinto
Writer: Liam LoPinto
Producer: Liam LoPinto
Cast: Naoto Shibata, Hassan Shahbazi, Keiko Yamashita, Hitoshi Hinomizu
Synopsis: An Iranian boy befriends an old Japanese woman at a graveyard in Tokyo.
Almost Human | Canada | 2021 | 03’
Director: Kanja Chen
Writer: Kanja Chen
Producer: Kanja Chen
Cast: Kanja Chen
Synopsis: I tiny sock puppet monster tries to convince himself and others that he is in fact human.
Road Home | Russian Federation | 2022 | 21’
Director: Stepan Sokolov
Writer: Aleksandr Ezhber
Producers: Stepan Sokolov, Victor Klimychev
Cast: Tina Trukhacheva, Ivan Zhamoitin, Sergei Grishenko, Larissa Maslenikova
Synopsis: Anna needs to get home urgently. A disturbing call from her grandmother and she is on her way to the forgotten town of her childhood located in the middle of nowhere. On her way back home, there are strange dances and dancers. Some are professional and pleasant but some are not. Anna is compelled to observe them silently and whilst being distracted she loses her belongings and illusions… Facing even her death, she finally reaches her birthplace only to face her mother’s. On her mother’s funeral, Anna realizes that the dance of her own soul is just about to start.
THOSE MISSING WORDS | France | 2023 | 23’
Director: Sosthene Williams
Writer: Sosthene Williams
Producers: Sosthene Williams, Chris Macari, Lisa Aleksenko, Camille Choppin
Cast: Sandrine Salyeres, Jeremy Barlozzo, Alexandra Delmart, Cyril Durel
Synopsis: Henry is a music star questioning himself and his girlfriend about his purpose in life and the destiny he made for himself.
No/Low Budget – Official Selection – June 2023
LAND OF THE IMMUNE | Greece | 2021 | 28’
Director: MYRTO TRABL
Writer: MYRTO TRABL
Cast: MYRTO TRABL, KONSTANTINOS ANDRIKOULAS, CHRISTOS LEPOURAS
Synopsis: May 2020. Belgium is devastated by the pandemic and a young journalist is determined to take action. Noticing other countries are counting much lower victim rates, she travels to Greece in order to research the secret to people’s immunity. Land of the Immune brings together characters helplessly prejudiced against each other -but true romantics at heart.
“Mother” | China | 2023 | 02’
Director: Boqing Liu
Writer: Boqing Liu
Producer: Boqing Liu
Cast: Alma C, Melina Martin
Synopsis: A story between a mother, a daughter, and a man.
Ariane | France |2021 | 07’
Director: Emeric Gallego
Cast: Tiphaine Froid, Miles Drexler
Synopsis: Ariane gets lost in the metro, wandering in her thoughts and her memories of a first romantic encounter …
Be-Friended | New Zealand | 2023 | 12’
Director: Crystalyne Jade Willis
Writer: Crystalyne Jade Willis
Producers: Crystalyne Jade Willis, Jason Pike
Cast: Sharon Hackett, Laura Trundle, Elizabeth Gritten, Felix Becroft
Synopsis: Isolated in a world connected through devices, an elderly lady longs for a connection so much that when a singing dragon says hello she goes with it. Though their relationship is filled with delight it endangers her and those around her and the lady must open to a new way of connecting.
Short Comedy – Official Selection – June 2023
Punk Man | Republic of Korea | 2023 | 21’
Director: Jun Seob Kim
Writer: Jun Seob Kim
Producers: Yoodam Song, Jun Seob Kim
Cast: Woong Kyu Ma, Seohyun Kim
Synopsis: This shitty world we live in is full of things to resist. I believed that this era, more than any other era, needed punk. So, I’ve became a “Punk man” and devoted all my youth to punk. But nobody in this world listens to punk rock. They are just listening to hip hop and having fun. What have I done sacrificing my precious youth? Damn, should I just kill myself? Yeah, let’s do it.
The scammers | France | 2023 | 10’
Director: Maxime Chefdeville
Writer: Maxime Chefdeville
Producers: Maxime Chefdeville, Alexandre Guerin
Cast: Valentin Jean, Frédéric Deleersnyder, Frédéric Radepont
Synopsis: With the help of two robbers specialized in insurance scams, a restaurant owner organizes his own robbery to recover the insurance money, but what they didn’t plan is that the GIGN, the French SWAT, would have dinner tonight !
Short Drama – Official Selection – June 2023
The Third Bedroom | United States | 2022 | 23’
Director: Kathryn Van Buren
Writer: Kathryn Van Buren
Producers: Shane Greb, Maggie Bailey
Cast: Ava Torres, Ruben Caballero, Paul Michael Bloodgood
Synopsis: On a gloomy winter trip to help her father prepare their ancestral beach house for sale, little Isla illuminates some of the darkness that haunts the family tree.
LOS | Netherlands | 2023 | 22’
Director: Karlijn Koel
Writer: Jelle Tigchelaar
Producer: Ferdi Çelik
Cast: Willemijn de Jonge, Fokke Baarssen
Synopsis: Lena’s estranged brother doubts her ability to carry on their mother’s legacy as the Toothfairy, forcing Lena to choose between her comfortable life or reconnecting with her brother by taking on this magical responsibility.
Lena has a smoke while she waits at the gate of a large estate. Her brother Edward opens the gate for her after they’ve been apart for a long time. They enter the house where their deceased mother is laid out—the reason for Lena’s return to the family manor. She left it behind long ago, but Edward stayed with their mother all this time. Together they must arrange a funeral and deal with something way more important: Lena’s inheritance of her mother’s responsibilities. She will have to become the new Toothfairy, collecting children’s baby teeth as has happened for generations. Lena is not amused by this new task, which strains the relationship between her and Edward. Reluctantly, Lena puts on the tooth fairy’s dress and tries out the work, to no avail. She feels little responsibility for the job, partly due to becoming estranged from her mother over the years. Tensions rise between brother and sister with the upcoming funeral as they risk permanently losing each other.
Results Day | United Kingdom | 10’
Director: Omari McCarthy
Writer: Omari McCarthy
Producer: Jack Pollington
Cast: Tobias Martin-Clarke, Orion Martin
Synopsis: Set in the inner city of Handsworth, Birmingham, UK – Results Day is a coming of age story that follows “book-smart” Curtis and “street-smart” Jordan, best friends and inseparable since childhood. Curtis dreams of leaving Handsworth while Jordan dreams of ruling it. But opening their A-level results reveals a surprising twist – Curtis, despite all his revision, has not done as well as he hoped, while Jordan, despite not revising at all, has done better than anyone expected. Curtis is disappointed. His results have altered the perception of himself, Jordan and the trajectory of his life. Jordan’s only worry is the reaction when he takes his results home. The looming threat of an uncertain future causes the tension between them to escalate into an argument putting them at odds with each other. As they make up and part ways the bitter-sweet reality of their fates finally sets in… Their exam results mean things will never be the same again.
TOMOE | France | 2023 | 29’
Director: MARINE HEBERT
Writer: MARINE HEBERT
Producer: ARTHUR BEAUVOIS
Cast: YUMI NARITA, GEN SHIMAOKA
Synopsis: 1860. Japan. Tomoe strives to become a “onna bugeisha”, a woman warrior. But she begins to suspect that her master, Masaki, is reluctant to carry out the ceremonial duel. Is Masaki testing his young disciple or is he afraid of confrontation?
NELU | Romania | 2023 | 17’
Director: Oana Bălțatu
Writer: Oana Bălțatu
Producers: Oana Bălțatu, Elena Martin
Cast: Vlad Jipa, Anca Bejenaru, Mihaela Rădescu, Radu Zetu, Marian Ghenea, Vlad Lință, Alexandra Răduță
Synopsis: The hallways of an apartment building are mostly empty, this sort of vacancy is sometimes broken by people doing daily chores. The private sphere of the apartment extends to the hallway nowadays in a symbolic manner, plants, pictures of pets, sometimes a smoking area. But when one’s personal chaos takes place in this quasi private- quasi public sphere it is hard to handle one’s emotions. The apartment building’s hallways become a sort of limbo for Nelu, a middle aged man , with not many things going right for him.
DETI YETI | 2022 | 20’
Director: Aydar Sharipov
Writer: Aydar Sharipov, Yuliya Lemark
Cast: Artur Beschastny, Liya Latypova, Musa Gadjiev
Synopsis: The ethnobotanist girl went into the wild in search of a rare plant. According to legend, this plant brings good luck to the locals. She does not even suspect that along the way she will have to break off co-dependent relationships and look at the world in an adult way.
Short Fantasy/Sci-Fi – Official Selection – June 2023
Frontier | China | 2022 | 10’
Director: Xiaopeng Zhu
Writer: Zhiqin Wu
Producer: Tsuan Chan
Synopsis: The intern Li Wei, as a test subject of artificial intelligence, faces the temptation and persecution of the central system in an experiment where the boundaries of morality and humanity seem to be unfortunately out of control, and still chooses to sacrifice herself to preserve humankind.
MIRTILLO – numerus I | Italy | 2023 | 15’
Director: Desiderio Sanzi
Writer: Desiderio Sanzi
Producer: ElectroWish production
Cast: Desiderio Sanzi, Fabio Fieri, Francesco Sechi, Paolo Baiocco
Synopsis: 1346. The Black Death has arrived in Europe. Andruccio is fleeing his village Coccorone (Italy) in search of salvation. Among the woods and paths he meets a rather singular character who will accompany him to Triora, the ‘village of witches’, to find the cure. A metaphysical journey that will lead the protagonist to live a unique experience between dream and reality where death will become his travelling companion.
The Lampboy, or The Universe Between Us | Germany | 2021 | 15’
Director: Tali Barde
Writer: Zoe Hagen
Producer: Luisa Beuschlein
Cast: Amanda Mincewicz, Cedric Sprick
Synopsis: To prove love to her rebellious teabagger, a young woman settles for a one-night stand with a medical student – even though there’s a world of difference lying between them .
Student Short – Official Selection – June 2023
Jello Shot | Canada | 2023 | 03’
Director: Apollo Avery
Writer: Apollo Avery
Producer: Apollo Avery
Cast: Lina Privorotsky, Sandy Can, Matt Santino
Synopsis: When Ana’s roommate Sophie messes up a recipe and spawns a giant slime monster in their kitchen, the two must set their differences aside to defeat it and free their third roommate, David (who has been eaten).
Goldener Reiter | Germany | 2023 | 20’
Director: Konrad Schlaich
Writer: Lisa Polster
Producer: Oscar Meyer-Ricks
Cast: Andreas Merker, Torsten Holzapfel, Paul Wollin
Synopsis: In a few days, a new evaluation could turn Mr. Winkler’s life upside down. For years, Winkler has been treated in a facility for criminal offenders dealing with mental illnesses. Winkler considers what a new beginning in the outside world might be like for the first time after years of confinement.
Lighter | United States | 2023 | 08’
Director: Lyn Li
Writer: Lyn Li
Producer: Yucheng Qin
Cast: Tayo Fatiregun, Drew Michael Gardner
Synopsis: Two men encounter in front of the theater and there’s something happens by one asking for the lighter
An Ego and I | Canada | 2023 | 03’
Director: Jesu Medina
Writer: Jesu Medina
Cast: Jessika Khristina
Synopsis: An Ego and I (2023) , delves into the tumultuous journey of a character grappling with the aftermath of prematurely killing their own ego, triggering a chain of events that spiral into destruction within their carefully crafted universe. The film employs visceral visuals, introspective monologues, and a haunting score to depict the protagonist’s descent into madness, while weaving together a narrative that reflects on the complexities of identity, race, societal expectations, and mental health. An Ego and I (2023) explores the fragility of the human psyche and the far-reaching consequences of our actions.
Millenium Project | China | 2022 | 15’
Director: Yifan Zhang
Writer: Yifan Zhang
Producer: Han Ming
Cast: Zimo Liu
Synopsis: On the day before the turn of the millennium, junior high school student Guo Hao discovered the secrets of his family members while preparing to go skating at the rink…
Pater Familias | Croatia | 2023 | 18’
Director: Dina Uglešić
Writer: Dina Uglešić, Mihovil Horvat
Producer: Dina Uglešić
Cast: Matko Jukić, Goran Grgić, Sven Medvešek, Anita Sedić, Katarina Madirazza
Synopsis: Teenager Domagoj lets a prison fugitive into his apartment who pretends to be a Latin tutor. Not interested in learning, the boy asks him to leave, but he insists on staying. When the fugitive’s true identity is revealed, the two confess to each other under the pressure of fear and adrenaline, revealing the burdens of their lives.
Strangers in the House | Czech Republic | 2022 | 11’
Director: Jules Roux
Writer: Jules Roux
Cast: Alexis Osborn, Michael Pitthan, Denis Den, Mariana Čižková
Synopsis: Maud finds her husband Peter with strangers in their living-room. Who are these people? Why are they here? And why does Peter acts as if he knew them? This uncanny encounter will test Maud and Peter’s trust and relationship.
Sandals of Gold | India | 2023 | 15’
Director: Raj Kapadia
Writer: Raj Kapadia
Producer: Bhrugesh Amin
Cast: Jitendra Sumra, Vivaan Surti, Anamika Surti, Shreejit Dhoot, Dharmik Gajjar
Synopsis: When an old, lonely, seemingly humble man witnesses his gold plated sandals being stolen outside a temple by a young thief, he opts for extreme measures to get them back.
Loner’s Company | Greece | 2023 | 13’
Director: Athanasios Papadopoulos
Writer: Athanasios Papadopoulos
Producer: Athanasios Papadopoulos
Cast: Sophia Sachinidou, Athinogenis Sidiropoulos, Stavros Xiros
Synopsis: One night. Two people that share the same values as their favourite animal. A wish to the stars of this city. To stand up, to rise. Shophie, the Peacock. Bueatiful but she can’y fly yet. And the Loner. The Swan.
Dignity | Latvia | 2022 | 04’
Director: Dan Silov
Writer: Dan Silov
Producer: Vadim Zaikovsky
Cast: Andris Daugavins
Synopsis: After the court system fails him, a father takes matters into his own hands. A one-shot micro short film.
Bye bye! Bipolar | United States | 2022 | 02’
Director: Yoli Shen
Writer: Yoli Shen
Cast: Catheryn Clifford
Synopsis: Dedicate to all people who is suffering from and suffocated by bipolar.
My Aunt’s dream | Ukraine | 2023 | 03’
Director: Sevastian Kanarskyi
Writer: Sevastian Kanarskyi
Cast: Liudmyla Kovalchuk-Khimyuk, Nataliya Tchermalykh, Yuki The dog
Synopsis: I made this film for a swiss competition called “Reflex”. I documented one day, in which I asked my aunt to write a text about dreams.
Un-Portalable! | United States | 2022 | 05’
Director: Ira Klages
Writer: Ira Klages
Cast: Taylor Perry, Ira Klages, Ashley Woods
Synopsis: Enya is preparing to meet up with a new friend. He wants to make a good impression, but his buddy Jonesy complicates things in a major way
