MELIORA, 20min,. Estonia
Directed by Kristin Hildebrand
Emma is a perfectionistic painter with a rich husband and great style. But it soon becomes clear that her perfect life is merely an illusion. Emma is forced to navigate self-doubt, jealousy and to face the darkest parts of herself. Her repressed emotions come to life in the form of a Monster, who shows no mercy to those who have wronged her. In the end, Emma must choose between staying in her gilded cage or facing the Monster.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32384134/

Get to know the filmmaker:

This film began as something completely personal, a result of spiraling mental health and feeling unable to express myself artistically. I was trying to capture a certain emotion and then built a plot and message around it. As the themes became more clear I became more motivated to see the project through; when I discussed the idea with people, especially other women, I realized that I wasn’t alone in many of the things I felt. I met with several female painters to learn more about the struggles they’ve faced in their careers and it was uncanny how similar their stories were to what I had written, down to a similarly abusive relationship. It made me feel like I was on the right track, that it wasn’t just a selfish ego project but something that could resonate with audiences and make people feel heard.

I researched a lot about emotional abuse and the effects it has on victims. The common denominator is that they get isolated, cut off from loved ones and dependent on their abuser, in Emma’s case both emotionally and financially. When your self-worth becomes so tied to another person’s opinion of you, the smallest look or word can cut deep and drive you insane, yet leaving the relationship feels impossible. I think there is a certain power in art and especially film language to communicate things that we might not otherwise be able to put into words. We worked hard with my cinematographer Luisa

Valgiste and sound designer Venla Rummukainen to put viewers in Emma’s headspace.

20 minutes is a very short time to dive deep into something but I hope that if nothing else we managed to capture that feeling of being trapped.

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DIPPERS IN THE ALTAI IV; EMERGENCE OF THE CHICKS, 54min., UK
Directed by Andrew Laurie
In the course of his work as a wildlife conservation advisor to the Mongolian government, Andrew Laurie followed up on a childhood fascination with White-throated Dippers on the Teme near Ludlow, by finding out more about their lives in the Altai Mountains. Now resident in Cambridge, Andrew has made four films on Dippers in Mongolia – covering nest-building, incubation, feeding of the chicks in the nest, and this, the most recent one (2023) on the emergence of the chicks and their early lives on the river.

https://www.youtube.com/@andrewlaurie64/featured

Get to know the filmmaker:

Early experience and fascination with the White-throated Dipper in UK as a schoolboy led me to search for its breeding sites in the Mongolian Altai when there on an assignment much later in life – because although sigthings were common, particularly in winter on unfrozen streams, the local ornithologists did not know where it bred.

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HOLLY BY CAPTAIN DANGER, 5min., USA
Directed by Aaron Steinberg
Captain Danger soundtracks interstellar misadventures.

https://www.captaindanger.com/
https://www.facebook.com/captaindangermusic
https://twitter.com/captdanger
https://www.instagram.com/captaindangermusic

Get to know the filmmaker:

Our band Captain Danger needed a music video to accompany our single entitled “Holly.” Our goals included making something fun that pointed to our sense of adventure as a group, musically and otherwise. Along the way, we were super-fortunate to enlist (Emmy-nominated) Dane Lawing as Director of Photography, who was keen on capturing a look for the live band sequences that could somehow complement the overall Sci Fi concept. We were striving to create something that could nod to our appreciation for weirdness and humor while also supporting the song’s underlying, more earthbound themes, which explore missed connections and a sense of alienation.

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LITTLE ISSUES, 4min., USA

Directed by Jerah Milligan

When Andy discovers mid-coitus that her new beaux has a micro-penis, she rushes to her roommates who remind her that he’s thoughtful, adventurous, and way too hot to let go of. Besides, he's had this Little Issue his whole life: he must know how to use it!

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BUTTERFLY'S BAQA, 6min., USA

Directed by Abby London, Mariam-Saba Ahmad

This heart-opening dance film Butterfly’s Baqa invites the viewer to drop into their heart and open to an experience of meaningful beauty. Dancers Mariam-Saba Ahmad and Antonio Samayoa move through a European traditional dance, the waltz, to modern American Pop music, expressing ancient Eastern spiritual concepts. The art and music are created and sung by Mariam-Saba Ahmad specifically for this film, to create a cohesive message, a reminder that there is a purpose to the difficulty we all experience, and that freedom and connection we all search for is within our grasp.

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EARTHLOVE, 6min., Sweden
Directed by Felicia Konrad, Johan Haugen
EarthLove is a poetic music/dance film with 6 dancers, filmed in the city of Malmö, south of Sweden. “There’s a revolution that needs to happen and it starts from inside each one of us. We need to wake up and fall in love with Earth. We’ve been homo sapiens for a long time. Now it’s time to become homo conscious.” Thich Nhat Hanh

http://www.istillliveinwater.com/
https://www.facebook.com/www.istillliveinwater.com
https://www.instagram.com/feliciavoiceperformer

Get to know filmmaker Felicia Konrad:

A strong sense of that we need to become aware of the fact that we are not separated from Earth, we are a part of Earth. And the inspiration to find the playfulness in shifting into a wider perspective sensing ourselves becoming with Earth.

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HIGH LIGHT, 4min., USA
Directed by Anthony Orlando
A young man musters the courage to face an alien lifeform rooting through his garage.

Get to know the filmmaker:

: As I saw my peers in the film industry sharing their new projects and getting laurels for their work, I knew I had to direct a new movie to promote myself so I could move forward in my career as a filmmaker. It had been a few years since I directed my last short, so I knew I had to create something new to showcase all the knowledge and experience in filmmaking I had gained since then. Also, since the short is based on a screenplay I have been working on, I hoped this film would act as a proof of concept that I could pitch to executives and hopefully get it made into a feature-length film.

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WAR COUPLES, 3min,. USA
Directed by Nevin Boila
In a desert war land, the elite tactical team, only know as BRAVO, must be the eyes and ears for their comrades, ALPHA Team. With time on the essence, both teams need to be on alert for the capturing of the 6 mass villains of the land. A war of stealth, values, and friendship lay on the line as BRAVO Team must overcome their own internal struggles if they wish to accomplish the mission. The question is, will they?

http://www.nevinbolla.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

=The truth is the motivation was just to film. Any filmmaker’s goal- well the majority of filmmakers- is to bring some type of entertainment to everyone. For me, not only motivation to film was the reason ‘War Couples’ was made, but I also asked myself this question right before I began creating a film, “Is This Possible?” Location, time, money, the team, when making shorts you can have the greatest script in the world, but if you don’t have the proper resources then the story will never be true to what you see it. ‘War Couples’ passed these obstacles because it was not only simple to shoot, but had a great comedy aspect to the end of the film.

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AN ORDINARY EXPERIENCE, 52min., France
Directed by Herve Marcotte
In July 2022, I brought together two sixteen-year-olds, Jeanne and Romain, in a house by the sea. They didn’t know each other yet. I was determined to take them seriously, and make them live with all their uncertainties and reserves, an experience in the world of beauty.

http://verissimusfilms.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

My first long documentary, “Encounter with Remarkable Souls,” focused on 25-year-olds, so it’s no surprise that “An Ordinary Experience” centers around two 16-year-olds. Initially, my intention was simply to gather two young individuals (not actors). The casting requirement was deeply rooted in my desire to reconnect with my youth. The art theme emerged later.

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COOKIES 4 JANE, 62min., USA
Directed by Mary Elle Alexander
Ten years in the making, “Cookies 4 Jane” recounts the final chapters of the life of a beloved matriarch, Jane, as she battles Alzheimer’s Disease. Filmed, edited, and directed by Jane’s granddaughter, Mary, this intimate documentary condenses four years of raw footage into an hour-long, heart-rending, inspirational, and delightfully educational piece.

https://vimeo.com/maryellealexander

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A MOVEMENT DEEPER THAN DANCING, 2min., France
Directed by Katya Mokoto
https://www.kitsuney.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:
It was a spur of the moment decision, we met through a mutual friend whom was convinced that we could do cool things together and voilà ! Production / filming wise 3 days, then post is always longer because when you work on a small budget you try to arrange your planning between paid job. But also the main thing was to find the right compositor for the music. And working with Axel was a first and great experience.

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DAKINI, 43min., Nepal
Directed by Arniko Kumar Singh
When darkness holds the light, the thin line between good and evil becomes an illusion. Unravel the captivating journey between perception and reality.

Get to know the filmmaker:

– I always wanted to make a movie based on folklore and bring originality to the screen. Hence, this movie was the best way for me to showcase my ideas and interests.

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PETEY POSSUM, 5min., USA
Directed by Sean Winslow
Oh no! It’s *enter name here* birthday and Petey’s running late! Follow him on his journey to make the party.

https://www.instagram.com/seanpwinslow

Get to know the filmmaker:

I like to write sketch comedy, so I was thinking about random funny ideas. I have a memory from my 6th birthday party at Chuck – E – Cheese of a TV above the stage showcasing Chuckie getting ready in quick clips before appearing in front of a bunch of screaming children riding a sugar high. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be funny if he was getting ready, but things kept going horribly wrong as each clip progressed?”. That’s where the idea started.

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"A mentally ill person feels neglected by society and takes revenge."

"When life is meaningless and everything is hopeless, where do you go?"

Inspired by the life of Danny Germansen.

Manifestation is an semi-autobiographical art-house short film about a mentally ill person who takes revenge on society because he feels neglected by his family, the social system, the community around him, and Society in general. He was mentally abused as a kid and adult by a psychopathic father. The film draws parallels to the environmental issues of the present and to the white supremacy that created our capitalist society that we live in today. It’s a tale of a social outcast who suffered weltschmerz and lived a life of loneliness, alienation and isolation in a society that is emotionally desolated. During the 17-minute film, the viewer experiences a nihilistic view of the world from the social outcast’s point of view.

https://brujoart.com/manifestation/

https://www.facebook.com/BrujoArtCompany

https://www.instagram.com/brujo_art_company

Written & Directed by DANNY GERMANSEN

Starring: MAREK MAGIERECKI, MIKKEL W. KNUDSEN, BIANCA KLINGENBERG-DUPONT, SUZANA LUNGU

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CHANGE MAKERS: The Global Race to Save Our Seas, 14min., USA

Directed by Simone Kisiel

Advancements in the fishing industry have led to devastating consequences, not just for sea life being hunted to extinction, but for communities around the world who depend on the ocean’s bounty to survive.

https://changemakersfilm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MagicDogProductions

https://twitter.com/MagicDogMovieshttps://www.instagram.com/magicdogproductions/

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TESOCO NUEVO: LAND OF JAGUARS, 37min., Mexico
Directed by Camilla Daldoss, Fernando Costantino Martinez Belmar
In a remote mayan community called Tesoco Nuevo located in the selva of Yucatan – Mexico, people have a special relationship with nature. The forest that this village protect is home of the largest wild cat in America and one of the most endangered: the jaguar. The documentary shows how they all have the important role to preserve it.

https://tesoconuevo.wixsite.com/documentary
https://www.facebook.com/tesoconuevotierradejaguares
https://instagram.com/camilladaldoss_videographer

Get to know filmmaker Camilla Daldoss:
I was filming my first short documentary about Sea Turtle Conservation in Puerto Escondido, when the biologist Fernando Martinez Belmar contacted me to see if I was able to film something in Yucatan about his conservation project with jaguars. I moved to Yucatan pretty excited and ended filming and editing for months and years.

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Watch the Screenplay Reading:
https://youtu.be/QexzCn2nFPc

 
A down-on-her-luck violinist reluctantly accepts an offer to teach a young boy with severe social anxiety.

Get to know the writer:

Dischordant is a live action/animation hybrid about self-destructive, single Rachel, a forty-year-old violinist whose greatest dream is just to get her job back with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra but fucks it up every time, and David, a selectively mute, neurodivergent eleven-year-old with a dark secret, who just wants to fit in.

Rachel struggles to connect with and unlock her full talent. Her technique is perfect, but her heart? That’s locked away. In the pilot, Rachel loses her job and her beloved cat, and – once again – blows an audition with the Symphony Orchestra. She’s under constant pressure from everyone around her – Gracie, her half-sister who suffers from PTSD, her mum Joan who pesters her at every turn and who develops early onset Alzheimer’s, and her needy BFF Lucy who, through her own insecurities, makes Rachel feel worthless at every turn. So of course, Rachel has her emotional barriers wayyyyy up. Until now she has been unable to break through these barriers, but David is going to change all of that.

Rachel and David form a unique bond of trust, mainly through music which flows through the series almost like a character itself. Music is the only thing that can calm David when he’s going through his “darkening” – like when the neighbour mows his lawn too loudly, or the markers scratch too loudly on the whiteboard at school. David will eventually learn to trust Rachel, and finally reveals to her the dark secret that made him selectively mute. Rachel must now decide whether to breach his trust in the name of justice, or keep his nightmarish secret and let someone get away with murder.

Dischordant is a character driven, no filter dramedy about falling down and getting back up, time and time again. About being rejected over and over and learning how to live with that. It’s sarcastic – the characters use humour as a coping mechanism – but it is always rooted in the reality of the constant fight to get what you want, no matter how many times you have to claw yourself out of that hole. As viewers, we want Rachel to succeed, we want her to fight, because if she doesn’t, what hope do the rest of us have?

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MY ROCKSTAR, 13min,. USA

Directed by Stephanie Williams, Graham Nothrup

"My Rockstar" is a compelling and emotional short film that follows the journey of Amanda (aka “Eva” of the band Eva Under Fire”), a determined young Latina woman who dreams of becoming a rockstar while navigating the challenges of her father's opiate addiction. The story delves into the complexities of familial relationships, self-discovery, and the power of resilience. The film aims to evoke strong emotional responses from the audience while conveying a powerful message about the profound impact of addiction on familial relationships. It explores themes of hope, resilience, and the pursuit of dreams, leaving viewers inspired and moved by Amanda's journey.

Read movie review of the film: https://festivalreviews.org/2024/05/21/short-film-review-my-rockstar-directed-by-stephanie-williams-graham-nothrup/

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PLEASE CLICK 2, 4min., USA
Directed by Allexxis Youngs
Two friends fight to keep their sanity after encountering a
mysterious video online, there is no escape but to become a part of the video.

Get to know the filmmaker:

Lol, this film was for a screenwriting class. We had to come up with 3 to 5 ideas. Me being a Reddit user and into the deep web stuff. I saw a story that made me think about human interactions with tech/media. And it just clicked, the response I got from my professor and classmates made me keep pushing to make this film. Everyone wanted answers and loved how universal it is through the audience and media format-wise.

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THE YORKIE WEREWOLF, 74min., USA
Directed by Michael DiBiasio-Ornelas
A rebellious teen witch is turned into a tiny werewolf and thrown into the middle of a decades-old war between one small town’s creatures of the night — and the local mafia.

https://www.instagram.com/michaeldibiasio/
https://twitter.com/MichaelDiBiasio

Get to know the filmmaker:

Fun. The goal of this film was to do something absurd, to enjoy the process of that, and to make something that would hopefully make a lot of people laugh. I first got the idea nine years ago, and then forgot about it. It occurred to me again — “what if someone got turned into a werewolf, but instead it was a Yorkie” — and this time I pitched it to someone while looking for my next film to line up. The pitch went well enough that they said “if you write the script, I can try to help you get some financing at a low budget.” Ultimately, that opportunity didn’t pan out but I pretty quickly got a private investor on board based on the strength of the concept.

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