NACRE, 4min., Italy
Directed by Erika Giulietti, Giorgia Benazzo
“Nacre” is as a visual representation inside a liminal space of the creation process of our memories, experiences, perceptions: who we are.

Get to know the filmmakers:

Nacre was born in the university environment during the course held by Giorgia, a synergy was created between teacher and student, thanks to NID – Nuovo Istituto Design who made the production possible. The course was about the future of Fashion Film in an Experimental Way.

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RUNT, 4min., UK

Directed by Bess Noakes-Kettel, Brendan Void

We follow the journey of a young woman and her conflicting emotions and sense of impending demise as she interacts with four other ‘masked’ and seemingly predatory creatures in the wilderness. Expressing themselves through interactive dance and movement as they move through beach and woodland areas, our protagonist appears bare faced and ‘unmasked’: both brave and vulnerable in aesthetic contrast to the other ensemble members who appear in human form and demonstrate human athletic prowess and attributes, but retain anonymity behind their wolf masks.

https://www.ragged-pictures.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ragged_pictures/

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CATHERINE IN LOVE, 3min., USA
Directed by Nikki (Nikila) Cole
On the verge of being banished from the French Royal Court for failing to provide an heir to the throne, Catherine de Medici has been taking lessons in the Art of Seduction. She needs to seduce her husband create a baby, or else!

Get to know the filmmaker:

I have been researching the life of one of history’s most misunderstood and maligned queens in history for a long time. When the opportunity came up to make a 2 minute film shot in Virtual Production on a Volume Wall with the DGC/Pixomondo/William F. White’s workshop, I leapt at the chance to make a kind of Proof of Concept for the larger series.

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MARBLE MUSIC VIDEO, 4min., USA
Directd by Kevin Andrew Bailey
A music video for the band Marble for the song “marble.” We follow a young woman on the day she leaves an abusive relationship.

https://www.daymuseum.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Daymuseum
https://www.instagram.com/daymuseum/

Get to know the filmmaker:

The music! Marble was kind enough to let me pick which song I wanted to make a music video for and gave me complete creative freedom over the concept. I wanted to direct their self-titled song as soon as I heard it, the lyrics about a relationship turned loveless. I really enjoy writing about the big transformative times in life, and I find leaving a long term relationship to be one of the greatest examples of that.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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NINE TO FIVE, 7min., UK
Directed by Gareth Matthews
Mark Greyson is working the endless cycle of a 9/5 job and the weight that follows takes a toll on his mental health, gradually building up over time leading to an unbearable breakdown costing him his job.

Get to know the filmmaker:

I have had a similar experience of mistreatment in the workplace, working in sales and trying to manage deadlines, as well as, getting that next sale. All that anxiety led to me writing it down and doing research into neoliberalism – this is where my experience was turning into a script and I felt passionately focused on telling this story, where people do experience mistreatment in the workplace.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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REPERCUSSIES, 11min., Netherlands
Directed by Ivan Groenheijde
Two years after ending his toxic relationship, Brian is being held hostage in his own home by his ex girlfriend Katja, who is willing to risk everything to get him back. Katja gives him an ultimatum which makes Brian realize that his and his current girlfriend’s life are at stake

www.ivangroenheijde.nl
https://www.instagram.com/ivan.groenheijde/

Get to know the filmmaker:

I wanted to tell a story about a man who’s a victim of domestic violence. We have seen and heard so many stories about women being a victim, but rarely about men.

I think that we need more awareness about this topic, so we can help the victims whenever they are ready to escape a toxic relationship.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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TIDES, 8min,. USA
Directed by Andre Silva
Filmed at Masonboro Island, an undeveloped barrier island in southeastern North Carolina, “Tides” contemplates the liminal space between the modern technological world and that more ecological dimension we label as “nature” or “the environment.”

https://www.andresilvaspace.com/
https://www.instagram.com/andresilvaspace/

Get to know the filmmaker:
One of my favorite places to be is one of the uninhabited barrier islands, including the neighboring salt marshes, of Southeast North Carolina early in the morning. When I’m in this environment, I feel like I’m in a liminal space outside of my normal day to day life. I had been waking up before dawn on a weekend day every few weeks to head out to the barrier islands over a 5 year period and noticing the changes in light from pre-dawn to an hour or so after sunrise as well the way different animal sounds populated the environment throughout the morning. I had never intended to create a film about these experiences, but eventually decided to create the film as more of a quick light study (which is the first part of the film). As I continued working on “Tides,” over a 5 month period, I added in the reflective text components (part 2 and 3) resulting in a much more involved project than I had initially intended. Originally, I was just looking to create a 1-2 minute film to allow me to take a break from what would eventually be a 3-year time-intensive animation project titled “Revelation to the Disembodied,” which also happens to be inspired by the coastal environment.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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FAMILY AFFAIR, 16min,. USA
Directd by Julio Dowansingh
A young adult’s secret relationship puts him at odds with his friends, family, and other commitments in this short queer comedy.

http://www.familyaffairfilm.com/
https://instagram.com/family_affair_film

Get to know Writer/Producer Ernest Anemone::

I think comedy is a non-threatening way to talk about big ideas. But mostly, I just wanted to make people laugh. Too many comedies these days are hyper-focused on what makes the filmmaker laugh and they forget about creating an experience for the audience. I wanted my film and its characters to feel easy to be with and anxiety-free, like you’re sitting with an old (incredibly funny) friend.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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SUNFLOWER NICKY, 19min,. USA
Directed by Clifton J. Adams
Eight year old Nicolas dreams of owning a Nikki doll, but when his dream becomes a reality it sends a shift through his home as his parents grapple with their beliefs of how their young son should express himself.

https://facebook.com/sunflowernickythefilm
https://twitter.com/sunflowernickythefilm
https://instagram.com/sunflowernickythefilm

Get to know the filmmaker:
This film started as a “coming of age” writing prompt for a competition I was planning on submitting to in early 2019. At that time there was a lot of vitriolic debate regarding a particular Oscar host situation. A lot of the debate centered around how young Black boys and Black girls (or just children in general) should express themselves in accordance to the binary society around them. And how emotional, mental and even physical abuse is seen as an appropriate way to adjust your child’s behavior should they choose to express themselves outside of that. A debate that consistently happens today and that has happened time and time again even before 2019. It is my opinion, that this control of expression is one of a child’s first experiences with trauma. And how this kind of trauma deeply impacts their growth and how they view and interact with themselves and others in the world around them. I wanted to show the importance of allowing a child, especially a Black child, to be free to fully be themselves because as Black fol(x) we often don’t have that freedom. Gender norms are destructive and placing them and sexuality on various hobbies, items and colors is a parasite on the human experience.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, 22min., Documentary

Directed by Alexandra Nolen

In May of 2022 at just 34 years old, Patrick Behan, the head boys’ basketball coach at St. John's College High School in Washington DC, was diagnosed with ALS. He was given just a year to live. While adjusting to the diagnosis and the devastating effects that comes with it, basketball has become a form of medicine for Patrick, as he looks to win his first championship in the most competitive high school basketball league in the country.

Alexandra Nolen is an Emmy Award Winning director and producer within the Features Unit at ESPN. She joined the unit in 2020 after previously working for the Philadelphia 76ers and NFL Films. While at NFL Films, she won a National Sports Emmy for her work on HBO’s Hard Knocks. Most recently at ESPN, Alexandra won the Gracie Grand Award for Best Sports Feature and also Best Sports Feature for a TV Network by the National Association of Black Journalists.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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UNTIED KNOTS, 5min., Cambodia, Romance
Directed by Claire Yland Li
A girl who constantly fantasizes about sexual intimacy and romantic encounter doesn’t know what to do when the opportunity actually comes.

Get to know the filmmaker:
This story starts as a story about summer and youth; two girls who are bored and decide to run away together, but when their parents call, they go home willingly. But then, as I was re-writing the script, I wanted to write something about loneliness and a need to connect. I’ve been a bit of a nihilistic and believe that nothing other than the connections you made matters in the end.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE ALLIANCE, 60min,. USA, DOC
Directed by Amanda Jean Kowalski
During the Arctic winter an intrepid oceanographer attempts to collect rare climate data, but his greatest combatant isn’t the weather – it’s the Italian Navy.

http://thealliancefilm.org/

Get to know the filmmaker:
I was initially hired by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to go on the ship to make a short doc about what it takes to get science done in extreme weather conditions, but it quickly became clear that the more significant story actually revolved around the relationship between the scientists and the Navy captain. So in the end this project morphed into a feature documentary that became a passion project for both myself and for the chief scientist featured in the film, Dr. Robert Pickart. Additionally I’m motivated to tell stories like this because I think it’s important for people to see all of the challenges that come with trying to advance our understanding of the planet and our future.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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GENDER REVEAL, 9min., Canada
Directed by Bryanny
A young woman that always does everything right , has a Gender Reveal party where everything goes horribly wrong.

Get to know the filmmaker:

Hmmm. Gender Reveal actually began as a school project. When I was attending Toronto Film School, I wrote a script for my feature film class. My professor at the time, whom I have a lot of respect for (and isn’t really big on empty compliments. Which is probably why I have a lot of respect for him, LOL), really liked it, AND more importantly, I really liked it. It felt like my voice. Finally, it was MY voice. So, when we were given the opportunity to enter a 7-page short film screenplay in a contest for my program, I submitted it and …my project was Green-lit. So… it began.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE ROSE, 4min., UK, Animation/Music Video
Directed by Hilary Campilan
Baroque-pop, cinematic folk tale about lost childhood, with ethereal vocals, weeping cello & distorted bass. Starring dancer / choreographer Chrissy Brooke, Directed by Hilary Campilan.

http://www.michaelabetts.co.uk/
https://fb.me/michaelabettsmusic
https://mobile.twitter.com/miksweety
https://www.instagram.com/mikbetts

Get to know musician Michaela Betts:
The Rose is a deeply personal biographical song about childhood trauma. I released the song initially as part of my EP Ripe Fruit and then re-released a “darker” more orchestrated version The Rose (Darker) in July 2023. Because of the strong imagery in the lyrics, I felt compelled to seek out the right people to collaborate on the music video. It always felt right to animate it.

I found Hilary Campilan the animator and director on Instagram and was immediately drawn to the striking work she was doing with dancers, animation and ai. I was already friends with dancer & choreographer Chrissy Brooke as we had worked together in a singing capacity. We all connected and the rest is history!

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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DETECTIVE TICKLES, 6min., USA
Directed by Elizabeth Laidlaw
Detective tickles is a film Noir sketch that is in episode 1. It is about a party clown who turns Private eye. The sketch pays homage to film noir tropes, and is filmed in the classic style of black and white. The sketch stands well on its own, but I recommend watching the full pilot to be immersed into the Trash Panda world.

https://www.youtube.com/@trashpandacomedy9305
https://www.instagram.com/thetrashpandacomedy/

Get to know writer Fee Basanavicius, writer Marissa Chastain & director Elizabeth Laidlaw

Elizabeth (Director): have been a noir nut for a long time. A WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and DOUBLE INDEMNITY are two of my all-time favorites. I use the “anklet” scene of the latter to teach film directing to newbie film students. When Dean handed this script to me I.. well, I basically SAT on him and told him he HAD to let me direct it.

Fee (Writer): My comedy partner Marissa and I are comedians so our goal with all of our Trash Panda Comedy work is to release as many endorphins in people’s brains as we can. With Tickles we wanted to do that by being as silly as possible while playing it as straight/to period as possible. Elizabeth and her expertise helped us achieve just that.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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SEDUCTIVE DEVOTION, 7min,. USA
Directed by Destin Gerek
In a society where narratives of male perpetrators and harm inflicted upon women prevail, “Seductive Devotion” emerges as a powerful experimental short film presenting an inspiring alternative. Through captivating imagery and a stirring poetic voiceover, the film portrays a positive model of how a man can profoundly and healingly show up for a woman. It challenges societal norms and redefines love, intimacy, and relationships, highlighting the transformative energy between souls. “Seductive Devotion” celebrates vulnerability, courage, empathy, strength, receptivity, and grace, igniting a yearning for the level of committed desire depicted on screen. In a time marked by mistrust and division, this visually arresting and emotionally resonant film offers a refreshing perspective on the healing power of love and understanding, fostering positive change in our perception and engagement in intimate relationships.

http://seductivedevotion.com/
https://instagram.com/destingerek

Get to know the filmmaker:
It seems that too many people have forgotten how to love. The divide between men and women has become so stark. The constant blame, shame, and negative assumptions about each other seem so prevalent. I am a lover of love. I am a lover of women. I am a lover of the feminine: this mysterious and indescribable energy, that I have trained myself over the years to become very attuned to. A force that seems largely misunderstood by our culture. Yet, just as much, notions of masculinity have become so distorted. I wanted to showcase a dynamic between a man and a woman that exemplifies devotional love – to show what it can mean and look like for a man to show up for, and to uplift, a woman with all that he has. And to do so in a way that not only doesn’t weaken him, but through which he finds a deeper power that exists within himself.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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BAGS, 29min,. Canada
Directed by Mitch Ray
Jamie Gascoigne’s daily routine is disrupted one morning by his roommate Korey in their living room, still up from the night before with his musician friend Brody. Despite his displeasure with this development, his passive aggressive nature prevents him from confronting the issue in any meaningful way. What starts as a minor annoyance descends into a nightmarish daily reality as the events around him trigger things within him that he’s tried to repress and unlock things within him that he never realized were there in the first place.

https://www.instagram.com/bags.short.film/

Get to know the filmmaker:

The first time I met Mark McGee a few years ago he was staying at Kevin’s apartment – the same one in the film – and he emerged from his sleep and immediately cut into this deadpan bit as the passive aggressive roommate. Essentially the first scene in the film but with the roles reversed. That bit eventually served as the catalyst for the premise and the simple comedic premise of an untenable living arrangement lends itself effectively and authentically to a myriad of scenarios and social dynamics that confront uncomfortable and relatable issues, such as addiction, sexuality and repression.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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THE COMMON GOOD, 17min., Austria
Directed by Stefan Gutternigh, Eva Amann
In 2035 the earth is ruled by a world government called “The Global Organisation for the Common Good”. The “GOCG” wants to make everybody happy by monitoring the desires of its citizens with social media, omnipresent cameras, surveillance drones and – for those who can afford them – body implants. We join “GOCG” agent Cindy Karuso as she is visiting Mr. Berger, who has not spent his designated quota for lifestyle and entertainment products for the past months. Will she manage to complete her task for the mother-state and the father-corporation by taking care of Mr. Berger? And will Mr. Berger have something to say within the process?

Get to know filmmaker Stefan Gutternigh:
“The Common Good“ sums up many of my political views in a creative way. I wanted to create a modern take on classic dystopian stories like „1984” for the smartphone generation. There is much discussion concerning left or right, religious, social and political systems. The human component is neglected for the most part. A system, an ideology or a religion can not kill someone, this is done by people acting in its name. I have been wondering for a long time how the mind of people like dictators or their sidekicks such as gulag or concentration camp leaders works. How can people, who commit the most cruel crimes against mankind, justify their actions? How can they sleep at night? How can they still be kind to their own families? It does not matter which political or social system we have, if it is led by egoistic, narcissistic people. We need to find a way to prevent this. We need to discuss relevant topics and listen to each other in order to discover things in common, instead of being prisoners of some kind of ideology and its thought patterns. I have always liked films which have a message and are entertaining at the same time, “The island“ from 2005 with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson is a perfect example of this in my opinion. I wanted to do something similar, so there are nice visuals and some humor in our film, but it hopefully leaves the audience with some food for thought.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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POGO IS BORED EPISODE 2 - BULLY, 4min,.
Directed by Richie Valentino
Pogo and best friend Flower are always in search of something new to do. They love to help others in need and are very keen to jump in with innovative ideas to do so.

https://www.delvalentinoproductions.com/

Richie Valentino is back on the podcast talking about the sequel to his award winning film “Pogo is Bored’, plus his other animation works through the years.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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A WOMAN’S FACE, 8min., UK
Directed by Susan Lynch
A woman’s face. A short film about the aftermath of suicide on a man’s bereaved wife. The story begin when Anna’s husband’s body is retrieved from a canal. Anna walks out on her young children and retraces the steps of her dead husband.

Get to know the filmmaker:

My mother died a couple of years and it coincided with the end of my marriage. I wanted to do a film about loss and grief, but also the toll such emotions can take on your mental health. The conclusion I suppose is that there are so many loves in your life that hold you and in some ways your memories of who you lost also hold you. I wanted there to be hope for the main protagonist in the end.

You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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