Official Selections
Summer 2023
Official Selections List
Best Short Film
"Redlights" by Eva Thomas
"Best Short Film"
An evening out takes a dramatic turn for two Indigenous women, Tina and Amber, when Amber is suddenly taken into police custody. Fearing the worst, Tina tails the cruiser outside city limits and makes a courageous choice to free her friend.
"Stoker" by Alessandro Onorato
"Best Short Film"
Bram Stoker has retired to the countryside, where he spends his days walking in the
woods. During a visit to a ruin, appears a frightening creature, a Vampyr, of which he had read in the letters of a professor friend of his, Ármin Vámbéry, who joins him with his family to tell him about his travels and his discoveries. The stories, nightmares and mysterious apparitions of this creature will lead to the birth of the famous novel Dracula.
"Unio Mystica" by Katharina Klewinghaus
"Best Short Film"
In the Middle Ages, the "women's mysticism" movement emerged in Central Europe. Unmarried and widowed women found refuge in monastery-like communities, such as the Beguine movement, which was a lay order that surfaced in the 12th century. Here women could lead contemplative, active and self-determined lives characterized by education in self-imposed poverty, within small and protective communities. The intense contemplation and asceticism in these places brought forth deeply mystical experiences.
"E40S" by Chong Kim, Kimberly Weryackwe
"Best Short Film"
Survivor of Human Trafficking works alongside the Taskforce to take down traffickers.
"Awakenings of Rock" by Abhinav Chhabra
"Best Short Film"
A mesmerising journey in the heart of Himalayas, where two lives intertwine and discover their true identities through the power of music.
"Two Sisters" by Diego Carli
"Best Short Film"
It is a story of two sisters connected by a strong relationship of sisterhood and mutual love that will lead them to a tragic end. Two sisters accused to be witches runtowards a destiny that seems to be settled. Five men chase them through the woods to kill them. A story of extreme love between two sisters, of sacrifice and strong feelings.
"A LOULOU ROYAL PAINTING" by Romaric Bonne, Patrice Aubertel
"Best Short Film"
"INCUBUS" by R S Rathore
"Best Short Film"
As an old man lives his day to day life in the hills, his job in an NGO help line centre takes him down memory road to recall the memories of his past. As the past holds onto him, he finds himself burdened by its weight every day and through his single perspective we witness his story of loss, survival and guilt.
"Eridiati - Different Type of Vampire" by Charli Brown
"Best Short Film"
Pronounced ir-e-di-a-ti
There are five in existence. They are the Protectors.
The Order must be restored. The Balance has become unstable and Others are being affected by the Human Ways.
Their mission to help the Humans is clear: They will kill Us to save Us.
"RaceCar" by Adam Baranello
"Best Short Film"
Connected Souls in their different journeys through life. Finding answers within their racecar. A black Mini Cooper S.
"Sophie" by Marie Lydie Bierne
"Best Short Film"
A young woman’s party with her friends doesn’t go as planned when her boyfriend rapes her and she meets a poetic embodiment of femininity.
"PREDATION" by Adam Baranello
"Best Short Film"
A young woman posts a photo on flimsy outfit on social network. Little by little a quiet man horde invade her house and decide to keep her body.
"Ave Gradiva" by Yuri Riklis
"Best Short Film"
When a lonely man, a fashion photographer, meets the sweetheart of his youth, from whom he separated under the pressure of his Oedipal mother, he is attacked by fragments of past memories and does everything he can to realize the love of his life, doubt in the dream - doubt in reality, doubt in the present - doubt in the past, under the influence of a literary and surrealistic character Gradiva.
Ave Gradiva tries to challenge the conventional perception of a short film as something limited in terms of time, place, and plot, and instead - to create a 19 min' show that embraces different countries and civilizations, lasts for thousands of years, and contains within it several kinds of LOVE - human phenomena which take place on the border between Dream and Reality.
"Lightning" by Pete Berger
"Best Short Film"
A storm front moves across the country.
Julia, an Ukrainian model, is surprised by a lightning strike.
"I Walk With Ghosts" by Grant Clover, Michael Metzler Jr.
"Best Short Film"
A storm front moves across the country.
In this short poetic film, a man follows ghosts, witnessing the subtle beauty of their journeys and their desires. Through his wanderings with them, he comes to realize what they're looking for in their brief, inexplicable lives -- as the physical and supernatural worlds collide.
"BERGAMOT" by Hsu Chien
"Best Short Film"
Inspired by real events. Bergamot, the name that tangerine receives in southern Brazil. This fruit with such a characteristic smell and for many, an aphrodisiac, will trigger a night of seduction, sensual dancing, blood and revenge on an ordinary night in Rio de Janeiro. Bergamot, is a Thriller/Horror/LGBTQ film released in July 2023, and already participated in 12 Film Festivals in Brazil and abroad winning 6 Awards so far. Five as "Best Film" and One as "Best Director" Bergamot also got nominated in "Best Screenplay" and "Best Actor" categories.
"Us.Together.Alone" by Gregg Prosser
"Best Short Film"
Milo and Ollie, half brothers, realize that loyalty and devotion can have horrendous results.
"Do not close anything" by Antonin Domage
"Best Short Film"
A woman gets an email that says: "Do not close anything."
After she opens it, strange things start happening that slowly make her world darker.
She faces a tough choice: run away from the unknown or dive into the scary situation to try and find out what's behind the message.
"A Killer and the Dead" by Austin Janowsky
"Best Short Film"
A film where two women are chased by an unstoppable killer until the dead themselves save them... but for how long?
"Total Liquidation" by Ugo De Gregorio, Luis Patard, Andoni Maury
"Best Short Film"
A young man is slumped on a couch watching TV. The commercials are running on the screen when a symbol looking exactly like the logo of one of the ad suddenly appears on his skin. The young man quickly understands that the marketing products around him have an effect on his body. He then tries to escape desperately.
"Who Invited The Robots?" by Jack Schneiderman, Todd Wallace, Dan Rathke
"Best Short Film"
Young love is so easy! ...At the beginning.
Adam and Dolores want to take the next big step in their relationship by moving in together, but Dolores needs her friend’s approval first.
A dinner party is set so everyone can become acquainted with Dolores’ new boyfriend. A true test of any budding love story — will they like Adam? Will Adam like them?
It’s a nerve wracking moment for everyone involved, but what’s the worst that could happen?
"Little red hen" by Vanessa-Tatjana Beerli
"Best Short Film"
Struggling with anxiety disorders for years, Valérie rarely leaves her neighbourhood. However, she must face her fears when her new boyfriend arranges to meet her out of town for mysterious reasons. Disturbing revelations will force her to confront her deepest fears.
"So What Did We Learn Today, Georgina?" by Franco Volpi
"Best Short Film"
Georgina, a curious and energetic 10-year-old, has a lot to say about her day at school while her mum is busy preparing supper. But something Georgina overheard today is on her mind; a word she doesn't know. What seemed like another normal day, turns into an unexpected sex education talk.
"Phobos" by Zafir Ahmed
"Best Short Film"
Dealing with phobia and how it can damage your life without any real influence
"Aubrey Grump" by Mike Dietz
"Best Short Film"
"Some people are only happy when they're not."
"A Tale of 2 Cities" by Destinee Easley
"Best Short Film"
At the crossroads of life, Virgil must choose between a life of higher education where he feels no-one looks like him or the a life on the street where his best friend excels at. There is only 2 ways to go, where will he decide to go?
"Maura" by Adrian Roberts
"Best Short Film"
A man finds a 20 year old camcorder outside in the dark and decides to take it home and test it out…
"ZMIENA" by Pierre Renverseau
"Best Short Film"
Autumn, dawn. The forest rustles everywhere, it looks like it lives. On the edge, an old isolated house. And in this house, a room, decrepit. A man, Greg, wakes up painfully, like he's having a hangover ... If it was not that ...
"EX" by Paloma Oakenfold
"Best Short Film"
Sam is at home preparing to kill herself. Cut to 5 weeks earlier. We see the events leading up to this moment. Stir-crazy in lockdown, Sam reaches out to Jack, her ex of 15 years ago. She is delighted when he responds, and they rekindle their relationship remotely on zoom. But whose version of the past is the truth and who do we trust now? EX is a darkly comic psychological thriller about sex, lies and reconciliation with a fierce sting in the tail.
"I WONDER,YES I CONFESS, I WONDER" by Antonia Economou, Christos Adrianopoulos
"Best Short Film"
In an environment barren of almost all life, where heat and blinding light rule all, a woman slowly burns in the sun. She stands still and muted. Unable to utter words with sound, she mourns over the paradoxes and deadends in her life. Out of loneliness and shame, she buries herself to hide away from the burning rays and becomes assimilated into the landscape. All her questions remain unanswered but she is not all alone.
"Cold Caller" by James Alexander Allen
"Best Short Film"
A needy man who recently rejected a cold caller must now escape being blackmailed by the deranged AI, who has taken the rejection personally.
"The Alice Test" by Gabriele Sardella
"Best Short Film"
Two men are locked in a room. Their task will be to survive inside it, but they will not be alone.
"Appointment with The Plague Doctor, Lester Haywood" by L.S. Strange
"Best Short Film"
Connected Souls in their different journeys through life. Finding answers within their racecar. A black Mini Cooper S.
"Are We Really Friends...Yet" by Natasha C Smith
"Best Short Film"
"Are We Really Friends": Challenging Perspectives, Fostering Connections.
Step into a world where diverse perspectives, including those from the LGBTQ+ community, collide and genuine connections are forged. In this thought-provoking short film, "Are We Really Friends," we embark on a journey that challenges societal norms, deep-rooted ideologies, and prejudices. Through intimate conversations over dinner, individuals from various walks of life, representing different races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, come together. As the evening unfolds, the film delves into the dynamics of privilege, unconscious bias, and systemic discrimination, exploring the complexities that shape our social perspectives. With each interaction, a transformative power emerges, urging us to reflect on our own beliefs and preconceived notions. As the characters grapple with their differences, they discover shared humanity, fostering connections that defy societal expectations and prejudice. "Are We Really Friends" sparks dialogue, dismantling propaganda and bridging gaps between communities. It serves as a reminder of the transformative potential inherent in genuine, open-minded conversations and the importance of embracing diversity and inclusion. Join us on this captivating journey where challenging perspectives lead to the profound experience of fostering genuine connections among individuals from all backgrounds, including the LGBTQ+ community.
"The Master of Sento" by Yusuke Ishide
"Best Short Film"
Shitamachi (traditional commercial district) Tokyo. Asakusa, Taito-ku. At an old public bath, there is an old fashioned, stubborn master who doesn't speak much and his beautiful wife. The couple runs the business well, but the wife leaves home due to the husband's bad drinking habit. Instead of learning from his wife's leaving, his drinking habit gets worse. Losing patience, his nosy neighbors visit him and persuade him into getting back together with his wife... Set in the public bath "Arimayu", which was built in 1930 and is still open, the story depicts the relationship of a married couple and humanity.
"Storm" by Lena Tsodykovskaya
"Best Short Film"
A couple wakes on a stormy night to find themselves trapped in the mechanisms of a horror movie.
"Legacy" by Diamond Keener
"Best Short Film"
When on a visit to her grandmother's grave, a woman has a very strange encounter.
"Habits" by Nicolás D Amico
"Best Short Film"
Synopsis of the film
Habits is a short journey through ephemeral moments of an immediate past.
"Fractal Cities" by Haotian Zhang
"Best Short Film"
The short film “Fractal Cities” documents a diverse collection of habitation, ranging from various forms of housing estates to temporary shelters in underground tunnels. These typical cases selected from the wide spectrum of living conditions in Hong Kong are dissected, folded, and morphed into an imaginary landscape. In this fractal city, concepts such as big and small, in and out, are no longer applicable. It challenges the 3-dimensional constraint and envisions a fluid digital world.
"Say My Name" by Rhoyce Nova
"Best Short Film"
A violated girl is trapped in an underworld of shame. As a child, she was exploited by her father and his friends, and then thrown to the streets as a vulnerable teenager. Despite life going against Mel at every turn, she is determined to see the good in people and find hope before her past catches up with her.
"Bonding" by Luke Rex
"Best Short Film"
A solitary figure at an empty bar, CIA clinical and forensic psychologist, Dr. John Flemington, is planning to visit his girlfriend in Mexico when he is pressured by mysterious underground operatives to join them on a secret mission. He really doesn't have a choice.
A film in the drama/thriller/suspense spy genre, with esoteric origins.
"The future in our hands" by Shihyun Wang
"Best Short Film"
A quick look at the bloody civil wars that killed tens and of millions. Can we control our fate?
"Survivor" by Louis Lampard
"Best Short Film"
A surrealist story of feeling alone, trapped, and exhausted; a lone man has to survive the forest that challenges him mentally and physically.
"Girls" by Aman Kaleem
"Best Short Film"
Produced at MIT Media Lab, Girls showcases the extraordinary use of AI's generative models to bring stunning visual elements to life. A gaming engine is harnessed to craft landscapes, intricate architecture, and characters. The fusion of AI-driven generative models and gaming technology attempts to elevate traditional filmmaking by creating visually striking and immersive environments that push boundaries.
The story revolves around two resilient eight-year-old girls determined to preserve their friendship in the grim future of 2050. One struggles in a ravaged Boston City, enslaved by AI machines amid a submerged world, while the other finds hope on a Mars space station adorned with thriving gardens and advanced technology.
"Gain" by Seongho Won
"Best Short Film"
A movie that "Gain" was participated as leading actor is embroiled in a plagiarism controversy, and her close friend is selected as leading actress of a famous director. The story of "Gain", who continues to move forward with strength even if the desperate situation continues to unfold.
"Canceled" by Teemong
"Best Short Film"
When famous rapper Kuenta gets mercilessly canceled in an endless stream of hate messages and death threats, his legion of followers on social media decreases in breakneck pace and even his label publicly drops him. Together with his manager Randy he flees to a villa in Belgian Ardennes, where it turns out that not only his career but also his life is dangerously facing a point of no return.
"Mara: The Seal Wife" by Uisdean Murray
"Best Short Film"
After giving birth to their child on a beach during the dead of night Sine runs into the darkness leaving her husband Magnus in a state of anguish. Journeying into the past we discover the answers behind Sine’s behaviour and witness the harrowing events that brought her into the realm of the selkie, mythological creatures that take the form of seals known to shed their skin to reveal a human form.
"Sophia's Eclipse" by Luis Felipe Delgado
"Best Short Film"
1848. Gold Rush.
In the virgin forest landscape of Northern California, eight-year-old Sophia’s and her father, Anthony, each night use a telescope to explore from a fort they built together the brilliant mysteries of the night sky.
One day the gold mine where Anthony works collapses, and Sophia’s world comes crashing down with it. Continuing her nightly stargazing now by herself, she wonders if maybe Anthony is not actually gone but rather watching after her from that place they both love so much − the MOON.
"Five Questions" by David Arrow
"Best Short Film"
In Five Questions, Jill, a young woman played by Amber Paul, comes to terms with an early trauma in her life. In each of the film's five scenes, a question is asked that propels Jill forward and toward an answer that opens a path to resolution.
Written and directed by David Arrow, the film stars Amber Paul as Jill and features a diverse supporting cast that includes Donna Lynne Champlin, Kiera Allen, Joyia D. Bradley and Elijah Guo. The film was produced by Leon Derriey.
"Cats Don't Sleep at Night" by Beibei Xu Champagne
"Best Short Film"
A young women tries to get through another day with depression while dealing with a sense of detachment from her cat and boyfriend.
"Delta Lovers" by Natasha C Smith
"Best Short Film"
"Delta Lover" is a gripping short film that delves into the destructive power of intense emotions, particularly jealousy. When a woman is betrayed by her partner, her rage ignites, leading her to cast a spell that sets off a perilous event, threatening to forever change her life. Caught in a web of conflicting emotions, she embarks on a harrowing journey of redemption and growth, navigating a complex relationship entangled with love and hate. Prepare to be captivated by the shadows of love as they consume and transform in this emotionally charged exploration of human desires and their consequences.
"8:13" by Stephen Clarke Dunne
"Best Short Film"
An ignorant man is haunted by an entity day after day, as much as he tries to ignore the evil creature that stalks him from outside the comfort of his home, it slowly gets closer and closer to him. Despite his best efforts, he cannot outrun the revelation that the horrifying entity must reveal.
"I wish i was human" by Yara Tabrera
"Best Short Film"
In this short film, a hand with arthritis explains the abuses she lives in hands of her cat and how she avoids to tell people because everyone says that "they just can't think about her cat in that way"... Or something like that.
"Ribbon and Dagger" by Lukan Zakrzewski, Arek Detmer
"Best Short Film"
A Teutonic knight kills a Polish knight's beloved to force him to duel.
"Little Miss Sunshine" by Charli Brown
"Best Short Film"
Never come between a Man and his Espresso. Especially if that Man is Croix Braesan.
"Happy Birthday" by Vittoria Benigno
"Best Short Film"
"Happy Birthday" tells the story of a young girl struggling with addiction and loneliness. Nora realises she has lost control over her life through her sister's voicemails
"Maulenauta" by German Valenzuela, Edgard Torres, Daniel Buccolini
"Best Short Film"
Maulenauta is a documentary in five chapters, referring to each one of the five geo-spaces that the Maule River (Chile) runs through on its way to the ocean: the Maule Lagoon in the high mountains, the Colbún reservoir in the foothills sector, the crops of the central valley, the pine crops in the dry land and the fishermen of the coast.
Official Selections List
Best Feature Film
"Dog Bites Man" by Vincent Zambrano
"Best Feature Film"
After being threatened by a dog with a killer instinct, a painter and a poet from the city (Evo and Darm) are trapped for the night in their rented farmhouse after their neighbor and/or other locals appear to have declared war on them. Throughout the night, Evo and Darm cope by painting, writing, overeating, and playing the piano interspersed with comedic bickering, verbal highjinks, and bingeing on frozen yogurt and ice cream, all of which are juxtaposed with moments of violence, hatred, homicidal barking, and the possibility of no sleep or death.
"Fang" by Richard Burgin
"Best Feature Film"
It's winter in Chicago and Billy Cochran (Dylan LaRay) can't stop alienating the people around him. His mother Gina (Lynn Lowry) is in and out of the hospital and her mind is breaking down, caught between her glory days as a Southern belle and her current state of decay. One night, Billy gets an unexpected visitor: a rat that springs out of his bathroom and bites him. At first, everything seems okay. Billy comes home, drowsy from the tetanus shot, and bonds with Gina's lovely new caregiver Myra (Jess Paul). Then the rat fur appears. It grows out of Billy's skin, then goes away like it was never there. The more Billy looks in the mirror and scratches, the more he's forced to face the unthinkable: he might be turning into a rat. Billy is plunged into a waking nightmare where he slowly discovers the truth about himself as he unleashes the ferocious depths of the human and rodent soul.
"The Bright Path" by Iryna Riabenka
"Best Feature Film"
Stanislav was reporting from his native city of Donetsk for various Ukrainian media, after a part of the Donbas region fell under the control of Russia-backed separatist militants in May 2014. In 2017 Stanislav was taken captive and spent most of his 962 days in a prison called “Isolation”. During his captivity, Stanislav started writing about what was happening there. A few years ago the territory of “Isolation” was the main cultural platform of the region.
"LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI" by Nikolay Bogomilov
"Best Feature Film"
Short sinopsis :
Somewhere in the space between reality and fairy tale. A poet left in tragic loneliness sees as if on a film, his entire past and the price he paid for his poems.
Synopsis:
Medieval France. The main character studies at the in France in university. Together with other students, he studies Latin, sometimes likes to fool around. But he is different from others because he writes poetry and is very religious.
He has close friends. One day they break into the public bathhouse together for it being hosting vice. In retaliation, he is attacked at night. He kills one of the attackers. He has to run, and he ends up in a fairy kingdom. The King welcomes him, but the Queen falls in love with him. In the fairy forest, they talk about their love. Sometimes Instead of the Queen, the poet sees Death in the image of an Oriental beauty. The queen is dying. The poet remains in tragic loneliness.
"See Me Once More, My Dear Kid" by Bihong Sha
"Best Feature Film"
A Chinese-American mother Lily Zhang embarked on a tortuous journey of healing after her son was killed in a school shooting(based on a true event), accompanied by her family and the families of other victims. (Setting against the backdrop of true event from the 2018 Parkland, Florida School Mass Shooting, a young Chinese-American hero Peter Wang who was shot and killed while helping his classmates escape.
This film is an intimate, heartbreaking portrait of Lily Zhang, a Chinese American mother. It leads a dazzling, sorrowful, and deeply affecting journey through unbearable pain of losing her son, ultimately reclaiming humanity and hope. It is a cry of the mothers and families who've suffered devastating losses and a present of love for those who are in need of emotional healing.
"La Ricerca" by Giuseppe Petruzzellis
"Best Feature Film"
For sixty years, an elderly artist has been working on a monumental collection of stones: “La Ricerca".
Exploring the Adige river and the Lessinia mountains, Luigi Lineri has collected and catalogued countless pebbles with human and animal shapes, reminiscent of mysterious prehistoric sculptures.
Stones thus become the instrument to research the deepest human nature, amid primordial memories and omens for the future.
Evoking mythological images, his artwork pays homage to the struggles of men and women who lived through the infancy of our species, allowing us to become what we are.
"Don Q" by Claudio Bellante
"Best Feature Film"
Al Quinto is losing his mind. The rapidly changing culture of his beloved Little Italy is more than he can handle. Fueled by his obsessive studying of the Mafia, watching mob movies and reading mob books all night instead of sleeping Quinto transforms, and one day he emerges from his dreary apartment as the heroic and chivalrous Don Q, an esteemed Mafia chieftain and protector of Little Italy who will stop at nothing to see the old ways return.
The locals play along with Don Q’s fantasies , out of sympathy, and so does Rocco, a ruthless wiseguy who just got out of prison. Rocco deceptively offers his services to be Don Q’s strong-arm enforcer with the sole intention to steal his life time savings.
"Out of State-A Gothic Romance" by Victoria Bugbee
"Best Feature Film"
Elsa, 18, is sent to live with her strange step-relatives Aunt Marcia and her two twenty something sons, Tab and Emery. Tab is a pianist and Marcia's favorite while Emery is the Cinderella of the family and they never leave their house. Both brothers fall madly in love with Elsa shattering Marcia's control. Who will leave with Elsa? Stay tuned and find out.
"Alameda - Here is Anywhere" by Patti Cary
"Best Feature Film"
When a recently retired science teacher, Patty May, witnesses something she can’t explain, she makes it her mission to solve the mystery of Rusty, a man suddenly gone missing, and Scout, the sweet dog he left behind.
When the locals get wind of Patty’s story on social media, she is inundated with a cornucopia of strange theories, unsolicited advice, and wild accusations from nosey neighbors, total strangers, and well-meaning family and friends.
After a summer of chasing vague leads and many perplexing encounters, Patty comes to understand - humans are not always what they seem and not all mysteries are meant to be solved.
"Dog’s Walk in circle" by Nicolas Di Cocco
"Best Feature Film"
Ricardo Darring is a moderately successful theatre director/actor. He staged some memorable plays a long time ago. Lack of the ideas for his writings and debts lead Ricardo to accept a proposal from a childhood friend, now mayor of his hometown Jorge Salcedo. On the occasion of the reopening of the Municipal Theater, Ricardo revives with the original cast the play that 30 years ago boosted his fame but forced him to leave his fellow cast member behind. Ricardo begins his journey back to his hometown full of doubts. He looks for the original cast and tries to convince them to participate in the play once again.
"FOUND FOOTAGE HORROR PROJECT: DEVIL WORSHIP IN THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY 2023" by Dovid Loew
"Best Feature Film"
Independent filmmakers engage in a paranormal investigation in of a notorious devil cult in Bandera, Texas located in the Texas Hill Country where they make an astonishing discovery of several 8mm film rolls chronicling a dark, insidious legacy of Satanism.
Official Selections List
Best Director
"The Master of Sento" by Yusuke Ishide
"Best Director"
Shitamachi (traditional commercial district) Tokyo. Asakusa, Taito-ku. At an old public bath, there is an old fashioned, stubborn master who doesn't speak much and his beautiful wife. The couple runs the business well, but the wife leaves home due to the husband's bad drinking habit. Instead of learning from his wife's leaving, his drinking habit gets worse. Losing patience, his nosy neighbors visit him and persuade him into getting back together with his wife... Set in the public bath "Arimayu", which was built in 1930 and is still open, the story depicts the relationship of a married couple and humanity.
"Five Questions" by David Arrow
"Best Director"
In Five Questions, Jill, a young woman played by Amber Paul, comes to terms with an early trauma in her life. In each of the film's five scenes, a question is asked that propels Jill forward and toward an answer that opens a path to resolution.
Written and directed by David Arrow, the film stars Amber Paul as Jill and features a diverse supporting cast that includes Donna Lynne Champlin, Kiera Allen, Joyia D. Bradley and Elijah Guo. The film was produced by Leon Derriey.
"Out of State-A Gothic Romance" by Victoria Bugbee
"Best Director"
Elsa, 18, is sent to live with her strange step-relatives Aunt Marcia and her two twenty something sons, Tab and Emery. Tab is a pianist and Marcia's favorite while Emery is the Cinderella of the family and they never leave their house. Both brothers fall madly in love with Elsa shattering Marcia's control. Who will leave with Elsa? Stay tuned and find out.
"Stoker" by Alessandro Onorato
"Best Director"
Bram Stoker has retired to the countryside, where he spends his days walking in the
woods. During a visit to a ruin, appears a frightening creature, a Vampyr, of which he had read in the letters of a professor friend of his, Ármin Vámbéry, who joins him with his family to tell him about his travels and his discoveries. The stories, nightmares and mysterious apparitions of this creature will lead to the birth of the famous novel Dracula.
"See Me Once More, My Dear Kid" by Bihong Sha
"Best Director"
A Chinese-American mother Lily Zhang embarked on a tortuous journey of healing after her son was killed in a school shooting(based on a true event), accompanied by her family and the families of other victims. (Setting against the backdrop of true event from the 2018 Parkland, Florida School Mass Shooting, a young Chinese-American hero Peter Wang who was shot and killed while helping his classmates escape.
This film is an intimate, heartbreaking portrait of Lily Zhang, a Chinese American mother. It leads a dazzling, sorrowful, and deeply affecting journey through unbearable pain of losing her son, ultimately reclaiming humanity and hope. It is a cry of the mothers and families who've suffered devastating losses and a present of love for those who are in need of emotional healing.
"Dog Bites Man" by Vincent Zambrano
"Best Director"
After being threatened by a dog with a killer instinct, a painter and a poet from the city (Evo and Darm) are trapped for the night in their rented farmhouse after their neighbor and/or other locals appear to have declared war on them. Throughout the night, Evo and Darm cope by painting, writing, overeating, and playing the piano interspersed with comedic bickering, verbal highjinks, and bingeing on frozen yogurt and ice cream, all of which are juxtaposed with moments of violence, hatred, homicidal barking, and the possibility of no sleep or death.
"Quiet" by Victoria Malinjod
"Best Director"
'QUIET' is a drama short film that explores the inevitable question: Why many women do not report sexual assault?
Many people are not psychologically prepared to accept how common harassment and assault are. Experts say they tend to look for reasons to disbelieve.
But what if there was something else? What if there was more than that?
"Immortal Mind" by Roku Jingwen Long
"Best Director"
In a future world where brain-computer interface (BCI) surgery is ubiquitous, individuals face a choice: upload their consciousness to the cloud for immortality, or preserve their physical bodies in a body archive and upload their consciousness for future resurrection. For those who choose the latter, the promise of reawakening in a tangible form brings new opportunities and challenges as they navigate a world that has advanced far beyond their previous lives.
"Ombré Ma Fí - "Payment Withheld"" by Charli Brown
"Best Director"
A member of the Mayor's Security Detail reports to the Don of Manhattan that a stranger is making promises. He hopes to be rewarded with a nice payment.
"Socio-political" by Umur Işık
"Best Director"
A writer seeks refuge in a storm and finds it in a retired factory worker's house. As the night continues things turn out to not be what they seem and the two with sinister plans try to out do each other in a fight in order to exist and be free.
Official Selections List
Best Cinematography
"Awakenings of Rock" by Abhinav Chhabra
"Best Cinematography"
A mesmerising journey in the heart of Himalayas, where two lives intertwine and discover their true identities through the power of music.
"Stoker" by Alessandro Onorato
"Best Cinematography"
Bram Stoker has retired to the countryside, where he spends his days walking in the
woods. During a visit to a ruin, appears a frightening creature, a Vampyr, of which he had read in the letters of a professor friend of his, Ármin Vámbéry, who joins him with his family to tell him about his travels and his discoveries. The stories, nightmares and mysterious apparitions of this creature will lead to the birth of the famous novel Dracula.
"Quiet" by Victoria Malinjod
"Best Cinematography"
'QUIET' is a drama short film that explores the inevitable question: Why many women do not report sexual assault?
Many people are not psychologically prepared to accept how common harassment and assault are. Experts say they tend to look for reasons to disbelieve.
But what if there was something else? What if there was more than that?
"So What Did We Learn Today, Georgina?" by Franco Volpi
"Best Cinematography"
Georgina, a curious and energetic 10-year-old, has a lot to say about her day at school while her mum is busy preparing supper. But something Georgina overheard today is on her mind; a word she doesn't know. What seemed like another normal day, turns into an unexpected sex education talk.
"Us.Together.Alone" by Gregg Prosser
"Best Cinematography"
Milo and Ollie, half brothers, realize that loyalty and devotion can have horrendous results.
"Fang" by Richard Burgin
"Best Cinematography"
It's winter in Chicago and Billy Cochran (Dylan LaRay) can't stop alienating the people around him. His mother Gina (Lynn Lowry) is in and out of the hospital and her mind is breaking down, caught between her glory days as a Southern belle and her current state of decay. One night, Billy gets an unexpected visitor: a rat that springs out of his bathroom and bites him. At first, everything seems okay. Billy comes home, drowsy from the tetanus shot, and bonds with Gina's lovely new caregiver Myra (Jess Paul). Then the rat fur appears. It grows out of Billy's skin, then goes away like it was never there. The more Billy looks in the mirror and scratches, the more he's forced to face the unthinkable: he might be turning into a rat. Billy is plunged into a waking nightmare where he slowly discovers the truth about himself as he unleashes the ferocious depths of the human and rodent soul.
Official Selections List
Best Editing
"The Master of Sento" by Yusuke Ishide
"Best Editing"
Shitamachi (traditional commercial district) Tokyo. Asakusa, Taito-ku. At an old public bath, there is an old fashioned, stubborn master who doesn't speak much and his beautiful wife. The couple runs the business well, but the wife leaves home due to the husband's bad drinking habit. Instead of learning from his wife's leaving, his drinking habit gets worse. Losing patience, his nosy neighbors visit him and persuade him into getting back together with his wife... Set in the public bath "Arimayu", which was built in 1930 and is still open, the story depicts the relationship of a married couple and humanity.
"See Me Once More, My Dear Kid" by Bihong Sha
"Best Editing"
A Chinese-American mother Lily Zhang embarked on a tortuous journey of healing after her son was killed in a school shooting(based on a true event), accompanied by her family and the families of other victims. (Setting against the backdrop of true event from the 2018 Parkland, Florida School Mass Shooting, a young Chinese-American hero Peter Wang who was shot and killed while helping his classmates escape.
This film is an intimate, heartbreaking portrait of Lily Zhang, a Chinese American mother. It leads a dazzling, sorrowful, and deeply affecting journey through unbearable pain of losing her son, ultimately reclaiming humanity and hope. It is a cry of the mothers and families who've suffered devastating losses and a present of love for those who are in need of emotional healing.
"Fang" by Richard Burgin
"Best Editing"
It's winter in Chicago and Billy Cochran (Dylan LaRay) can't stop alienating the people around him. His mother Gina (Lynn Lowry) is in and out of the hospital and her mind is breaking down, caught between her glory days as a Southern belle and her current state of decay. One night, Billy gets an unexpected visitor: a rat that springs out of his bathroom and bites him. At first, everything seems okay. Billy comes home, drowsy from the tetanus shot, and bonds with Gina's lovely new caregiver Myra (Jess Paul). Then the rat fur appears. It grows out of Billy's skin, then goes away like it was never there. The more Billy looks in the mirror and scratches, the more he's forced to face the unthinkable: he might be turning into a rat. Billy is plunged into a waking nightmare where he slowly discovers the truth about himself as he unleashes the ferocious depths of the human and rodent soul.
"Marvin the Vampire" by Adrian León
"Best Editing"
It's Marvin's first day at a support group for vampires where they discuss personal problems as well as bigger ones - such as the climate crisis.
"Awakenings of Rock" by Abhinav Chhabra
"Best Editing"
A mesmerising journey in the heart of Himalayas, where two lives intertwine and discover their true identities through the power of music.
"Anything You Lose" by Irina Vodar
"Best Editing"
Anything You Lose explores the world of Reproductive Technologies and its effects on mental health. The documentary delves into the booming industry, where clinics compete for clientèle with high success rates, and follows the director on her personal seven-year journey. Irina Vodar and her husband Eddie are a couple who want to have a child but face challenges and pressures along the way. Through cinema vérité footage and narration, Vodar shares her intimate story of hope and resilience, and examines the psychological impact of reproductive technologies on patients, such as addiction, shame, isolation and silence.
Official Selections List
Best Actor
"Us.Together.Alone" by Gregg Prosser
"Best Actor"
Milo and Ollie, half brothers, realize that loyalty and devotion can have horrendous results.
"Socio-political" by Umur Işık
"Best Actor"
A writer seeks refuge in a storm and finds it in a retired factory worker's house. As the night continues things turn out to not be what they seem and the two with sinister plans try to out do each other in a fight in order to exist and be free.
"Me and My Tenant: Selwyn and Rose" by Simon King
"Best Actor"
After a five-year hiatus from our screens, Me and My Tenant returns with a bang, as we feature landlord Selwyn and his tenant Rose. Is it a match made in heaven or a living hell? Watch here to find out.....
"Dog Bites Man" by Vincent Zambrano
"Best Actor"
After being threatened by a dog with a killer instinct, a painter and a poet from the city (Evo and Darm) are trapped for the night in their rented farmhouse after their neighbor and/or other locals appear to have declared war on them. Throughout the night, Evo and Darm cope by painting, writing, overeating, and playing the piano interspersed with comedic bickering, verbal highjinks, and bingeing on frozen yogurt and ice cream, all of which are juxtaposed with moments of violence, hatred, homicidal barking, and the possibility of no sleep or death.
"Seul" by Sdiri Mohamed
"Best Actor"
Raconte l’histoire d’un jeune homme qui fais tout pour réaliser son rêve a paris de devenir comédien mais la réalité du milieu va finir par avoir raison de lui entre les problèmes familiaux , l’es problème d’argent est la difficulté de partir de 0 Amine va peut a peut sombrer psychologiquement … Tells the story of a young man who does everything to realize his dream in Paris of becoming an actor but the reality of the environment will end up getting the better of him between family problems, the problem of money is the difficulty of leaving from 0 Amine goes can a can sink psychologically
Official Selections List
Best Actress
"The Master of Sento" by Yusuke Ishide
"Best Actress"
Shitamachi (traditional commercial district) Tokyo. Asakusa, Taito-ku. At an old public bath, there is an old fashioned, stubborn master who doesn't speak much and his beautiful wife. The couple runs the business well, but the wife leaves home due to the husband's bad drinking habit. Instead of learning from his wife's leaving, his drinking habit gets worse. Losing patience, his nosy neighbors visit him and persuade him into getting back together with his wife... Set in the public bath "Arimayu", which was built in 1930 and is still open, the story depicts the relationship of a married couple and humanity.
"Five Questions" by David Arrow
"Best Actress"
In Five Questions, Jill, a young woman played by Amber Paul, comes to terms with an early trauma in her life. In each of the film's five scenes, a question is asked that propels Jill forward and toward an answer that opens a path to resolution.
Written and directed by David Arrow, the film stars Amber Paul as Jill and features a diverse supporting cast that includes Donna Lynne Champlin, Kiera Allen, Joyia D. Bradley and Elijah Guo. The film was produced by Leon Derriey.
"So What Did We Learn Today, Georgina?" by Franco Volpi
"Best Actress"
Georgina, a curious and energetic 10-year-old, has a lot to say about her day at school while her mum is busy preparing supper. But something Georgina overheard today is on her mind; a word she doesn't know. What seemed like another normal day, turns into an unexpected sex education talk.
Official Selections List
Best Supporting Actor
"Out of State-A Gothic Romance" by Victoria Bugbee
"Best Supporting Actor"
Elsa, 18, is sent to live with her strange step-relatives Aunt Marcia and her two twenty something sons, Tab and Emery. Tab is a pianist and Marcia's favorite while Emery is the Cinderella of the family and they never leave their house. Both brothers fall madly in love with Elsa shattering Marcia's control. Who will leave with Elsa? Stay tuned and find out.
"Stoker" by Alessandro Onorato
"Best Supporting Actor"
Bram Stoker has retired to the countryside, where he spends his days walking in the
woods. During a visit to a ruin, appears a frightening creature, a Vampyr, of which he had read in the letters of a professor friend of his, Ármin Vámbéry, who joins him with his family to tell him about his travels and his discoveries. The stories, nightmares and mysterious apparitions of this creature will lead to the birth of the famous novel Dracula.
Official Selections List
Best Supporting Actress
Official Selections List
Best Original Screenplay
"The Master of Sento" by Yusuke Ishide
"Best Original Screenplay"
Shitamachi (traditional commercial district) Tokyo. Asakusa, Taito-ku. At an old public bath, there is an old fashioned, stubborn master who doesn't speak much and his beautiful wife. The couple runs the business well, but the wife leaves home due to the husband's bad drinking habit. Instead of learning from his wife's leaving, his drinking habit gets worse. Losing patience, his nosy neighbors visit him and persuade him into getting back together with his wife... Set in the public bath "Arimayu", which was built in 1930 and is still open, the story depicts the relationship of a married couple and humanity.
"See Me Once More, My Dear Kid" by Bihong Sha
"Best Original Screenplay"
A Chinese-American mother Lily Zhang embarked on a tortuous journey of healing after her son was killed in a school shooting(based on a true event), accompanied by her family and the families of other victims. (Setting against the backdrop of true event from the 2018 Parkland, Florida School Mass Shooting, a young Chinese-American hero Peter Wang who was shot and killed while helping his classmates escape.
This film is an intimate, heartbreaking portrait of Lily Zhang, a Chinese American mother. It leads a dazzling, sorrowful, and deeply affecting journey through unbearable pain of losing her son, ultimately reclaiming humanity and hope. It is a cry of the mothers and families who've suffered devastating losses and a present of love for those who are in need of emotional healing.
"The Sandman" by Dillon Padraig Noah Hamill
"Best Original Screenplay"
A troubled young man, Charlie, struggles with his inner demons personified by the Sandman, as his mother, Marion, exerts control over him through medication and manipulation, ultimately leading to a dark and unsettling series of events.
"Meeting Director Sam Peckinpah" by Nancee LaFayette
"Best Original Screenplay"
One cold morning at the Apachieland saloon two men walked in and sat at the end of the bar to my right. One was a big fellow with wavy hair down to his shoulders, mustached and bearded---he looked like he’d seen better days. The other man was smaller, also bearded and mustached, and wore a bandanna on his head. I asked the big fella, ”What’s your name?” “Frank Kawaloski,” he smiled. “Are you guys with the film crew?” They nodded. I looked them over and said, “I hear the director is a Little Cesar and when he says jump, you ask how high?” The smaller man asked, “Do you want a shot of brandy in your coffee?” “Yes,” I replied, as it was freezing in the saloon. Frank asked if I was afraid, and I said, “NO! That guy better not try pushing me or…” and I raised my little fist and shook it. Frank looked at the smaller man and said, “Do you see that SAM? You better behave, or this little girl will part your hair!” “Really? I’m Sam Peckinpah.” We stared at each other for a bit then I said, “Gotta Go”, finished my coffee, jumped off the barstool, and skedaddled.
"Spring Heeled Jack" by Anthony A. Labriola
"Best Original Screenplay"
Far and away form the traumas of her childhood, Evelyn has made a new life for herself with her adoptive family, but as the horrors of her past, and the hideous monster that accompanies them, come back to haunt her the deep rooted secrets of the people she thought she knew come to light.
"Just Talk" by Patrick Bailey
"Best Original Screenplay"
Paul is the life and soul of the party. Behind closed doors however, is a different story. His mental health is at an all time low, and he has turned to drugs and alcohol to try and cope. Can he get his life back on track?
"From Homeless to Hollywood" by Shaneen Charese Bonner
"Best Original Screenplay"
The Script depicts the story of Shaneen Bonner being homeless in Los Angeles to becoming a business owner in the music business.
"So What Did We Learn Today, Georgina?" by Franco Volpi
"Best Original Screenplay"
Georgina, a curious and energetic 10-year-old, has a lot to say about her day at school while her mum is busy preparing supper. But something Georgina overheard today is on her mind; a word she doesn't know. What seemed like another normal day, turns into an unexpected sex education talk.
"F A L L" by Kathleen Doherty
"Best Original Screenplay"
A short solo contemporary dance film by Kathleen Doherty, exploring the complex intersection of emotion and environment. Embodying the struggle for mental health from the depths of the pandemic.
The artist’s struggle with their environment echoes the internal conflict that often accompanies mental health challenges. As a result, the image glitches and fractures, mirroring the artist’s own sense of disorientation and confusion. The artist's work evokes a somber, introspective mood hinting at anxiety and loss. Yet there is a sense of hopefulness as they reach for the light. This theme runs throughout, suggesting that even in the most difficult times there is a chance for redemption and renewal.
"The Edge - Episode One "Into The Past" by Gary F St. Martin
"Best Original Screenplay"
20 years after the murder of a college student, a police captain reopens the cold case and begins getting help from a mysterious hacker who leads her to a handful of suspects.
"The Loss of Innocence" by Donatella Corrado
"Best Original Screenplay"
Apulia, Southern Italy. Second World War. During the bombings, the inhabitants of a small town devise an ingenious ploy to save their lives from the inevitable and cruel rain of bombs thrown by enemy aircraft. The plan is to hide in the enormous hollow trunks of centuries-old and millenary olive trees, of which the countryside of this region is rich. Each person in their hollow trunk, each feeling the same fear. Fear of losing their home, but aware of the fact that they can save their own lives and those of their loved ones.
"Socio-political" by Umur Işık
"Best Original Screenplay"
A writer seeks refuge in a storm and finds it in a retired factory worker's house. As the night continues things turn out to not be what they seem and the two with sinister plans try to out do each other in a fight in order to exist and be free.
"ANIMAL MESSENGER - A True Story" by Bonnie Norton
"Best Original Screenplay"
"ANIMAL MESSENGER" is the true story about a woman who communicates telepathically with a variety of animals including Keiko the orca whale after his starring role in the movie, "Free Willy." Despite a gallant attempt to return Keiko to the wild, Lisa struggles to help Keiko be heard and convince his caretakers that Keiko does not want to be set free.
"A Vampire's Dilemma" by Wayne Landreth
"Best Original Screenplay"
A vampire cult initiation takes a turn when the new recruit refuses to suck blood.
"Out of State-A Gothic Romance" by Victoria Bugbee
"Best Original Screenplay"
Elsa, 18, is sent to live with her strange step-relatives Aunt Marcia and her two twenty something sons, Tab and Emery. Tab is a pianist and Marcia's favorite while Emery is the Cinderella of the family and they never leave their house. Both brothers fall madly in love with Elsa shattering Marcia's control. Who will leave with Elsa? Stay tuned and find out.
Official Selections List
Best Animation
"Am I a painter?" by Michał Kucharski
"Best Animation"
A plasticine character named Grey Clay lives in a painter's studio, hiding in a drawer. Once upon a time he watches the painter's work with great interest as he creates one painting after another. One day he is left alone in the studio and decides to try to paint a picture himself. Despite his inexperience, will he manage to overcome adversity and create his own painting?
Plastelinowa postać imieniem Szarek mieszka w pracowni malarskiej, ukrywając się w szufladzie. Pewnego razu z ogromnym zainteresowaniem obserwuje pracę malarza podczas tworzenia kolejnych obrazów. Pewnego dnia gdy zostaje sam w pracowni postanawia spróbować samodzielnie namalować obraz. Czy mimo braku doświadczenia uda mu się pokonać przeciwności losu i stworzyć własny obraz?
"Island" by Michael Faust
"Best Animation"
Island recounts the history of a small secluded island over the course of several millennia, to reveal a telling lesson about human nature.
From the island’s rise to riches to its ultimate fall into ruins, the film explores the island’s different chapters over time: a heap of boulders, a massive guano deposit, a tropical oasis, a colonial territory, a prosperous republic, and an open-pit mine eventually devouring the island to the point of bankruptcy and desolation.
"De Mundi Statu" by Bela Balog
"Best Animation"
Image of the world
has changed many times,
and its orderly state
has often declined,
and is disordered in the
its order and form,
in name it stands, but it is destructive.
it has been destroyed.
The old line is changed,
O morals are lost,
new ones grow in their place,
More and more cruel;
Every man his own friend,
I'll do anything for a companion;
the earth blesses not Saturn,
but Pluto is dreaded.
"Lucie" by Tatiana Michelle Dutuit-Sauter
"Best Animation"
In the attic of a big old house, a curious monster is sketching a little drawing with a bone. She looks at the bone and lets out a bored sigh. This monster is called Lucie. She used to be haunting this place but right now the house is empty. So many rooms in this house but no one to play hide and seek with. Wandering around the house, she remembers moments where she used to torment a child. Feeling nostalgic she enters the cellar to throw away the bone on what seems to be the remains of the last inhabitants of the house. Her boredom is quickly interrupted by the sound of a car approaching. Two kids come out of the car running happily to discover their new home. They don't know that someone is already waiting for them, eager to be their new friend.
"Poise" by Luís Soares
"Best Animation"
A sad and restrained man lying on the bed in his empty room. Hesitates, ponder hypotheses in a cycle without deciding, stuck. In exhaustion all anguish equals. Another man is sitting at the window: he looks at him and to the street. Characters in broken situations. The key positions, the suspended sequences, are shown. The man almost decides - and they almost return, inside and out, to them and to the city, time and movement. Infinite dawn.
Official Selections List
Additional Categories
"Yarokamena" by Andres Jurado
"Best Short Documentary"
"Not For Sale: A Witness Story" by Brianne Faye Turczynski
"Best Short Documentary", "Best Director Debut"
Not for Sale: A Witness Story is about one community’s prophetic vocation to hold space for their homeless and impoverished neighbors amidst an ever-growing gentrification project that booms around them in Corktown, Detroit.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church has been serving the homeless community in Corktown since the Great Depression. With the recent developments creeping closer to the church, the parish is finding clever ways to push back against some of the cynical and indifferent attitudes of Corktown’s developers and their new neighbors of high socioeconomic status.
"Uneven Ground: The Melissa Witt Story" by LaDonna Humphrey
"Best Feature Documentary"
Determined to find answers, LaDonna Humphrey and her team spent eight years on a journey like no other. Never before seen case files, interviewing witnesses, potential suspects, and working alongside retired detectives to find justice.
"Out of State-A Gothic Romance" by Victoria Bugbee
"Best Directo Debut", "Best Producer", "Best Color Editing"
Elsa, 18, is sent to live with her strange step-relatives Aunt Marcia and her two twenty something sons, Tab and Emery. Tab is a pianist and Marcia's favorite while Emery is the Cinderella of the family and they never leave their house. Both brothers fall madly in love with Elsa shattering Marcia's control. Who will leave with Elsa? Stay tuned and find out.
"The Family Forest" by Louis Charles Mouchet
"Best Feature Documentary"
Psychogenealogy and epigenetics through a VERY personal experience
"Join or Die" by Rebecca Davis
"Best Feature Documentary"
Join or Die is a film about why you should join a club — and why the fate of America may depend on it. In this feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking "Bowling Alone" research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis. Flanked by influential fans and scholars — from Hillary Clinton, Pete Buttigieg, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to Eddie Glaude Jr., Raj Chetty, and Priya Parker — as well as inspiring groups building community in neighborhoods across the country, join Bob as he explores three urgent civic questions: What makes democracy work? Why is American democracy in crisis? And, most importantly…What can we do about it?
"With you, with you and without me." by Amaya Villar Navascués
"Best Feature Documentary"
Amaya has filmed the four love relationships that have marked her life. They covered the last 20 years, from her first love at the age of 18 to her current 38.
Faced with the desire to become a mother, she writes an audiovisual letter to her future children. She takes us on a journey into her past that explores the phases of love and the challenges of long-distance relationships, where illusions collide with frustrations and guilt.
The film combines documentary and animation, the real and intimate with the expressive.
"Anything You Lose" by Irina Vodar
"Best Feature Documentary"
Anything You Lose explores the world of Reproductive Technologies and its effects on mental health. The documentary delves into the booming industry, where clinics compete for clientèle with high success rates, and follows the director on her personal seven-year journey. Irina Vodar and her husband Eddie are a couple who want to have a child but face challenges and pressures along the way. Through cinema vérité footage and narration, Vodar shares her intimate story of hope and resilience, and examines the psychological impact of reproductive technologies on patients, such as addiction, shame, isolation and silence.
"Seasoning of the Soul" by Charli Brown
"Best Director Debut"
An unexpected guest at a meeting turns into a new Alliance.
"Fang" by Richard Burgin
"Best Color Editing", "Best Sound Design"
It's winter in Chicago and Billy Cochran (Dylan LaRay) can't stop alienating the people around him. His mother Gina (Lynn Lowry) is in and out of the hospital and her mind is breaking down, caught between her glory days as a Southern belle and her current state of decay. One night, Billy gets an unexpected visitor: a rat that springs out of his bathroom and bites him. At first, everything seems okay. Billy comes home, drowsy from the tetanus shot, and bonds with Gina's lovely new caregiver Myra (Jess Paul). Then the rat fur appears. It grows out of Billy's skin, then goes away like it was never there. The more Billy looks in the mirror and scratches, the more he's forced to face the unthinkable: he might be turning into a rat. Billy is plunged into a waking nightmare where he slowly discovers the truth about himself as he unleashes the ferocious depths of the human and rodent soul.
"See Me Once More, My Dear Kid" by Bihong Sha
"Best Sound Design"
A Chinese-American mother Lily Zhang embarked on a tortuous journey of healing after her son was killed in a school shooting(based on a true event), accompanied by her family and the families of other victims. (Setting against the backdrop of true event from the 2018 Parkland, Florida School Mass Shooting, a young Chinese-American hero Peter Wang who was shot and killed while helping his classmates escape.
This film is an intimate, heartbreaking portrait of Lily Zhang, a Chinese American mother. It leads a dazzling, sorrowful, and deeply affecting journey through unbearable pain of losing her son, ultimately reclaiming humanity and hope. It is a cry of the mothers and families who've suffered devastating losses and a present of love for those who are in need of emotional healing.
"Racho" by Rodrigo A. Rodríguez
"Best Student Film"
Valentin tiene que matar una cucaracha un día que sale con su novia para tener relaciones, lamentablemente el miedo por la cucaracha lo hace verla de una manera distinta.
"Natural Art" by Henrik Bobb
"Best Student Film"
An unconventional young artist is more than inspired by the sounds of Tchaikovsky and the movements of a passionate ballerino for her next work of art.
"One more day" by Elanit Rubalcava
"Best Student Film"
During the pandemic of COVID-19, a young girl learns the consequences through her actions, marking the beginning of a new way of living.
"Stoker" by Alessandro Onorato
"Best Sound Design", "Best Director Debut"
Bram Stoker has retired to the countryside, where he spends his days walking in the
woods. During a visit to a ruin, appears a frightening creature, a Vampyr, of which he had read in the letters of a professor friend of his, Ármin Vámbéry, who joins him with his family to tell him about his travels and his discoveries. The stories, nightmares and mysterious apparitions of this creature will lead to the birth of the famous novel Dracula.
"Music video: I miss you (Mi manchi)" by Georgios Demetres Iosefides
"Best Music Video"
Like in "Chickens" of Aristophanes, we praise the hilarity of the search for a utopia. We believe in the utopia of a world without passions, hatred and wars.
For my Caruso cat passed away 8/1/2021.
Research peace and love.
"Xénia" by Alexander Kakouris
"Best Student Film"
Xenia is trying to interact with her social circle, in search of true communication. Her attempt turns out harder than expected, as she is up against a timeless social phenomenon.
"Una Risata ci Salverà" - A laugh will save us
by Michelangelo Gregori
"Best Feature Documentary"
Una Risata ci Salverà’: Esploreremo l’intersezione tra umorismo, satira e religione, analizzando come si influenzano reciprocamente. Attraverso interviste con comici, artisti e studiosi, scopriremo le battute irriverenti, le parodie sagaci e le caricature audaci che mettono in discussione i dogmi religiosi. Rifletteremo sul ruolo critico dell’umorismo nella fede e nella spiritualità, esaminando la sua capacità di sfidare le convenzioni sociali e di aprire il dialogo su temi considerati sacri. Un viaggio che ci farà ridere e riflettere, esplorando il potere della comicità nel contesto delle religioni e aprendo nuove prospettive sulle dinamiche culturali. ‘Una Risata ci Salverà’ inviterà a sfidare il potere attraverso una risata liberatrice."
"La Ricerca" by Giuseppe Petruzzellis
"Best Feature Documentary"
For sixty years, an elderly artist has been working on a monumental collection of stones: “La Ricerca".
Exploring the Adige river and the Lessinia mountains, Luigi Lineri has collected and catalogued countless pebbles with human and animal shapes, reminiscent of mysterious prehistoric sculptures.
Stones thus become the instrument to research the deepest human nature, amid primordial memories and omens for the future.
Evoking mythological images, his artwork pays homage to the struggles of men and women who lived through the infancy of our species, allowing us to become what we are.
"Baato" by Lucas MIllard, Kate Stryker
"Best Feature Documentary"
Every winter Mikma and her family travel by foot from their village deep in the Himalaya of Nepal to sell local medicinal plants in urban markets. This year, construction of a new highway to China has begun in their roadless valley, and things are never going to be the same.

Partially complete, the highway project will transform this roadless Himalayan valley permanently and open up a direct transport route between Nepal and China - bringing new challenges, new opportunities, and ultimately a new way of being to those who live along its path.

This documentary film is a deep dive into a way of life that is in the midst of a slow and chaotic, yet inexorable transition. Through the subjects’ experiences, a document of a time and place emerges - one that details life in the Himalayas before a new highway forever transforms this mountain landscape.
"ACID Canal" by Tyler Faires
"Best Feature Documentary"
When a rural irrigation district in Northern California has its water cutoff during a historic drought, the community must join together to face the devastating impacts to their way of life and the environment around them.
"TOSHA MAIDAAN - Bombarded for Fifty Years" by Dinesh Lakhanpal
"Best Feature Documentary"
Long extolled as a veritable `Paradise on Earth’, India’s state of Jammu & Kashmir has witnessed war and bloodshed right from Independence. More recently, it was the scene of enforced mass migration of Kashmiri pandits.
Yet Kashmir continues to remain one of our topmost tourist destinations because of its matchless natural vistas and its vibrant cultural and artistic history.
The film tries to capture a similar baffling and binary history of an almost magical patch of land called Tosha Maidaan in district Budgam.
"Spaghetti Cowboys" by Anthony A. Labriola
"Best Short Documentary"
Witness the modern wild west as a group of big city construction workers follow the american dream into the countryside to live out their own spaghetti western.
"LEGACY" by Lamara Sogomonian
"Best Short Documentary"
"St. Vitus Dance" by Bhopal
"Best Short Documentary"
Two brothers in search of an area of freedom, before the walls of the disease become too high
"The Water Battle in Ouro Preto" by Matheus Vieira
"Best Short Documentary"
The Water Battle in Ouro Preto is a documentary that explores the controversy surrounding the privatization of water supply and sanitation services in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. The work delves into the social, political and health developments that emerged in response to privatization, including popular movements for the remunicipalization of sanitation.
"SKIN SHOW / LIVE" by Richard Daniels
"Best Short Documentary"
Artist Dan Romer paints a live model before an audience at an event during the run of his exhibition Skin Show at Soho Project Space, New York City.
"future paradise" by karel ducasse manzano
"Best Short Documentary"
For the past decade, the Cuban government and a Chinese company have been preparing a tourist project in Havana linked to golf. The work won’t begin until the State relocates the 38 families living on the site. Lacking official information, the neighborhood lives between rumors and waiting. Silently but steadily, other tourist constructions are flooding the island…
"Quest for Vinca" by Vladimir Jaksic
"Best Feature Documentary"
Quest for Vinča is a journey of discovery to understand the roots of European culture and development during the neolithic period.
Tracking a course from England to Serbia, follow author and historian, Benjamin Elliott, as he brings together fragments of the past, visiting archaeological sites and interviewing some of Britain and Serbia’s most respected academics.
Discovering the possible nucleus of human development in Europe, Quest for Vinča uncovers the foundations of our modern world as we understand it today, offering an alternative narrative to the story of human progress.
"Call me Damien" by Sonja Mayer
"Best Short Documentary"
How does it feel when your appearance doesn't match your inner feelings, when you are called and seen differently than how you would like? Which demons do you have to fight, which struggles to overcome in a society that doesn't leave much room for individuality and not within the "norm"? How liberating must this feeling be, when you can finally set yourself free from these norms, be yourself and live the life you want? A movie about identity, belonging, acceptance and love - from others to others but first of all the love for oneself.
"Felipe, the avocados in Chile and climate change" by Jan-Willem Bult, Karin Wesselink
"Best Short Documentary"
The Netherlands is one of the largest importers of avocados, especially the fruits that grow in Chile, among other places. Felipe's mother (11) works on an avocado plantation, but the avocados are not growing well this year. This is due to drought and and other effects of climate change. More cool nights are needed. Coproduction Netherlands, Argentina, Chile.
"#MyLife" by Jan-Willem Bult, Jovana Celebic
"Best Producer"
Young people from Montenegro travel through their country, filming stories and statements of peers about their lives and their future.
"The Master of Sento" by Yusuke Ishide
"Best Original Score", "Best Director Debut", "Best Soundtrack"
Shitamachi (traditional commercial district) Tokyo. Asakusa, Taito-ku. At an old public bath, there is an old fashioned, stubborn master who doesn't speak much and his beautiful wife. The couple runs the business well, but the wife leaves home due to the husband's bad drinking habit. Instead of learning from his wife's leaving, his drinking habit gets worse. Losing patience, his nosy neighbors visit him and persuade him into getting back together with his wife... Set in the public bath "Arimayu", which was built in 1930 and is still open, the story depicts the relationship of a married couple and humanity.
"Sayonara_TOKYO / The Apocalypse of URBAN CROW" by  HIROAKI HIRAKATA
"Best Music Videok"
All elements are AI produced MUSIC VIDEO. Midjourney AI makes these girls, CREEVO song Writing AI project by KYOTO UNIVERSITY JAPAN makes this song and sing , D-ID project site makes these girls animated to sing . and I just edit them.LoL!
And this film is an advertisement for the movie URBANCROW to be released in 2023. It's also unofficial advertising. looking forward to!
"Wildlife Cameraman" by Erentia Bedeker
"Best Music Videok"
Wildlife Cameraman (Summer Farm) is a music video/poetry film based on the poem “Summer Farm” by Scottish poet Norman MacCaig with music and lyrics by Scott William Urquhart & Constant Follower.
The film focuses on the connection between nature and our inner world. McCaig’s poem looks outward to nature, noticing the simplistic details which become a metaphysic web that connects all living things. The expansiveness of nature often triggers an inward journey when we feel disconnected from ourselves and the world around us. The true self manifests as the inner child who is always true and pure no matter what hardships we might face. We can lose touch with our inner child, but the connection can never be severed. We can always find our way back to ourselves and to nature.
‘Wildlife Cameraman (Summer Farm)’ is taken from the album Even Days Dissolve.
"Us.Together.Alone" by Gregg Prosser
"Best Original Score", "Best Director Debut", "Best Sound Design",
Milo and Ollie, half brothers, realize that loyalty and devotion can have horrendous results.
"JOHN" by Le Han
"Best Director Debut"
John is an eighteen year old Latino male prostitute, living in the poorest area of Hollywood, L.A. He often steals condoms and medicine from the local stores to support himself, due to his inexperience in the hustling world. Peaches is a black trans prostitute, who often helps John financially. Miguel is an older hustler that teaches John how to please men.
John often spends his night wandering through the street, looking for older men to buy him for the night. His clients, men who come from all level of society, share with John their stories and secrets.
Produced by Joseph Hieu, known for producing ‘The Accidental Getaway Driver’, an acclaimed feature at Sundance Film Festival that won the Directing Award in U.S. Dramatic.
"Le Je d'Échec" by Philomène Amougou, Pauline Raybaud
"Best Experimental Film "
In Le Je d’Echec, the details are what holds everything together, every shot, sound effect, play of light and mouvement, are serving a complex narration, as visual as it is poetic, which brings us in a uniquely captivating atmosphere at the image of its protagonist. This film invites us to let ourselves be hypnotized by its hybrid timeless feel, entirely shot inside, depicting the portrait of a fractured identity and the questions that come with it, a subject too often swept under the rug.
"Songs of the Chambermaids" by Mark C. Hewitt
"Best Experimental Film "
The narrative arc of Sigmund Freud’s essay Civilization and its Discontents reimagined in the voices of three chambermaids. The sequence, which features music for drum ensemble and guitar by Norwegian jazz percussionist Thomas Strønen, comes from the 9th section of an as-yet-unperformed stage play by writer Mark C. Hewitt called Civilization and its Discontents but works in this digital version as a stand-alone piece. Following Freud’s narrative through three songs, the chambermaids share their woes, contend with the difficulties and frustrations of being a human being (and being a woman) in society and express their outrage at the repeating tragedy of human aggressiveness and violence. All over complex rhythms and shifting drum patterns till the sequence ends in a cacophonous crescendo on the repeating word: SHAME! The black and white edit by artist/videographer Matt Parsons includes distressed film and an increasingly visceral and disturbing torrent of half-seen densely-packed subliminal images evoking mankind’s history of war and atrocity.
"Small Fish, Dog Fish I" by Silvia Mantellini Faieta
"Best Experimental Film"
The short film takes its name from thoughts about criminal organizations and the slang used by them to describe, respectively, the small executioner and the boss.
Filmed with an iPhone, the video is an exchange of considerations between the artist and her brother about the illegals’ way of life and the aggregations’ rituals.
Having as the main location a leper colony–now a place of rave parties–Small Fish, Dog Fish turns from techno music and police alarm to the presence of sea, nature and calm. Going from hallucinations to clarity of mind, the viewer feels a kind of hope in life changes.
"Homeless Not Hopeless In America Ft. "Brook"" by Gregory Wayne Walton II
"Best Director Debut"
First-Time Filmmaker Walton’s Debut Film: Homeless Not Hopeless in America is a multi-award winning progressive sociological documentary which provides an up-close and vivid expression of the unreal realities, and street trenches of the impoverished environments many disenfranchised homeless Americans attempt to survive daily. Additionally, the film strongly illuminates how drug abuse is truly a mental disease that should be treated holistically, with modern medical and social services. Therefore, this emotional educational film depicts alarming statistics and substantiative research which prove that individuals should not be criminalized or incarcerated for suffering from a mental disorder (drug abuse) in which they greatly need rehabilitative assistance to overcome.
"A LOULOU ROYAL PAINTING" by Romaric Bonne, Patrice Aubertel
"Best Experimental Film", "Best Original Soundtrack"
"Appointment with The Plague Doctor, Lester Haywood" by L.S. Strange
"Best Director Debut", "Best Producer"
Connected Souls in their different journeys through life. Finding answers within their racecar. A black Mini Cooper S.
"REMINDER 2023" by Olaf Lenz
"Best Experimental Film"
REMINDER 2023 can be seen as an introduction to a world under crisis conditions. It is a world that at the same time has re-established the spirit of life.
The film is set during a heavy rainfall at a location where the street is covered by a building. There is a lot of traffic. As we follow the point of view of some nervous eyes a mix of audio fragments is floating by. We will first recognize it's something dealing with Porsche sports cars. During the title sequence the topic changes: Our attention is drawn to the pouring rain and we start to listen to some political talk interfered by announcements well-known from international airports.
"Who is God?" by Oscar Adan Lopez Parres
"Best Experimental Film"
Humanity is a wonderful race. With amazing creativity. With the ability to create great empires and destroy itself. Human beings can create life. In its eternal solitude, humanity engendered its son. The human as well as God will look for the creation to become the image and likeness of the creator.
"The Divine and the Poet" by Claudio Neri
"Best Experimental Film"
A story of love, passion and poetry, with the great actress Eleonora Duse and the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio. We have often seen works made on the great poet, but the novelty of our project is in the choice of the period of life of the artist that we would narrate, we would in fact see him
a still youthful D'Annunzio, still with all his hair, I intend to live his life as a Bohemian artist, an unruly and dissolute life, in which his poetry is still immature, until his meeting with Eleonora Duse, a meeting full of passion and poetry, which will shape the artist, indeed the great actress will shape the character and as a true "pygmalion" will educate the poet accompanying the artistic / human path up to maturity up to the fine and evocative beauty of a "rain in the pine forest"
"Variance Propagation" by Brian Alexander
"Best Experimental Film"
Variance Propagation is an optically based experimental film shot in realtime without computer generated effects or post processing. The only physical subject is light and water. I have developed open lens systems which operates in complete darkness in a 20’ x 30’ room. The actual lenses have no body and are a combination of glass and melting ice which degrade over time such that no two takes are exactly the same nor are they repeatable. The art of the process has become in creating the conditions which manifest the effect since it is largely uncontrollable, it is a practice of allowing and openness. The audio is created primarily in realtime with as few post tweaks as possible. It is hoped that this sense of the immersive, rooted in physical reality can serve to ground us and help reset media stereotypes.
At a conceptual level, “Variance Propagation” represents an ongoing exploration in observation, meditation, and artistic research. Why do we stare and slowly decompress at the sight of light on water, a distant flock of birds or an empty bag hovering in an alley ? There is an apparent gray area of experience where cadence, familiarity and abstraction are in balance and serve to connect us in an elemental and unified manner. Ive sought to expand on these moments of “betweenness” and shift them towards the primary.
"MeetingPlace" by Antun Balog
"Best Experimental Film"
Meeting Place is a film that talks about changing our view of memories over time.
The author explores the reasons for this change through conversations with family members, photos and videos. Facing his memories from the past, the author prepares for upcoming events that he believes will change the course of his life. Through the creation of the film, the author discovers the importance of archiving memories through images and videos so that their change over time is as small as possible.
"ZMIENA" by Pierre Renverseau
"Best Maleup"
Autumn, dawn. The forest rustles everywhere, it looks like it lives. On the edge, an old isolated house. And in this house, a room, decrepit. A man, Greg, wakes up painfully, like he's having a hangover ... If it was not that ...
"Out of the past" by Raki Ralko
"Best Student Film"
Twenty years after her family was ripped apart, a soon-to-be mother escapes her controlling mother and returns to her old home to confront her estranged father.
"If I Knew" by Piro Gjylameti
"Best Student Film"
A man, suffering from a psychiatric disorder, tries to understand what exactly is going on in his difficult life.
"Red Velvet" by Rodrigo A. Rodríguez
"Best Student Film"
Karina, a violinist, is a talented woman who dates Matias, a chef specialized in making cakes and cookies. He makes her addicted to his recipes using his special ingredient.
"Awakenings of Rock" by Abhinav Chhabra
"Best Director Debut", "Best Color Editing", "Best Original Score", "Best Sound Design"
A mesmerising journey in the heart of Himalayas, where two lives intertwine and discover their true identities through the power of music.
"My Last Seven Years Episode 3 "The First Terror"" by Danilo Buendia
"Best Director Debut", "Best VFX"
Daniel's time has run out, to his horror, as he experiences The First Terror from The Book of Revelation...The Locust.
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