IN THE BACKGROUND, 4min,. USA
Directed by Daniel Gold
This film glimpses the subconscious archetypes surrounding the ideas of consciousness, duality, and reincarnation.

http://aftereverpictures.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:
– I wanted to make this film for many years and it just came very organically. It was a vision of mine that I wanted to see for myself and was intrinsically motivated to finish the film.

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STOKER MACHINE, 12min., USA
Directed by Darieus Legg
Stoker Machine is a must-see animated surf documentary. Chad Campbell, an expert surfer discovers a mysterious surfboard on the big island of Hawaii. The retro board provides only a phone number and an email address as clues to its origin, leading Chad to accidentally uncover a central-coast California surf legend. The man they call, “Stoker”.

http://darieuslegg.com/
https://www.instagram.com/darieuslegg

Get to know the filmmaker:
My motivation to make this film was born out of a deep need to contribute something to the world beyond corporate DEI “content”. I wanted to make a personal film on my own terms with no censorship. I made a feature film in my home state of Hawaii twelve years ago and it was a traumatic experience for me. I spent the next eleven years working in Hollywood learning from experts and avoiding the elephant in the room – doing personal artwork. The pandemic happened and it gave me the space and time to be quiet and listen to what the Universe was asking me to do. Luckily I was paying attention when my neighbor Chad Campbell came home with this mysterious surfboard, the Stoker Machine. I knew immediately this was the story I had to tell.

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 MONSTER, 15min., Canada
Directed by Gabriel Després
Alice keeps drawing a monster that seems to terrify her. Everyone in the family has a different opinion about this monster.

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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¡Quédate en casa!, 33min., Mexico
Directed by Dominique Caron
As the world battles with an evolving global pandemic, a bohemian paradise coastal town is put into lockdown. Alvaro, a local resident panicked by the virus threat, volunteers as a vigilante to fend off any possible transgressions to the lockdown regulations. However, his fragile authority is challenged when a group of free spirited party-goers refuse to abide.

Get to know the filmmaker:

Self producing a film is always a challenge, especially with no money. One of the greatest challenges is to find dedicated collaborateur that will be willing to work on your project. I was in a small Mexican town when the first covid 19 lockdown happened. I immediately thought it was an amazing opportunity to make a film because everything was closed and all the people had a lot of time available. It was therefore easier to produce a film with almost no budget in a collaborative way.

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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FAIRY FINGERS (DOIGTS DE FEE), 22min,. Canada
Directed by Siham Kortas
Fairy Fingers is a documentary that tells the story of my son, who, despite his difference was able to grow up, take on challenges and realize his potential. It’s a story about how I, as a parent, went from a feeling of helplessness to one of pride and fascination.

https://www.facebook.com/doigtsdefeeparsihamkortas
https://mobile.twitter.com/sihamkortas?lang=en

Get to know the filmmaker:

When my son Paul told me in May 2021 that my daughter-in-law Lilie was pregnant, I immediately thought it was time to tell his wonderful story of hope, confidence and perseverance.
I had to produce a short film to tell his story, our story, with the idea of giving courage and hope to other families who also live with differences.

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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SKINWALKER, 12min,. USA
Directed by Benjamin Gaun
Two cowboy brothers investigate the disappearances of their townfolk in the cold woods of Northern Arizona, only to find that they are the ones being hunted, by something not quite animal or human.

https://www.instagram.com/cityboys.llc/

Get to know the filmmaker:
I decided I wanted to pursue film as a writer/director and met some talented actors that wanted to gain experience. I wrote a minimalist script and we just went out and winged it! I wrote SKINWALKER in about 2 weeks, only about 13 pages and we prepped for about a month planning it out with equipment and location. Then we shot it all in one night. After filming it then took about 3 months to edit which I did the majority of myself. Editing was by far the hardest part and I will be definitely be hiring someone for my next film!

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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Watch the Comedy Screenplay Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35-fr2OLZxU

When a notorious Internet troll appears on a live streaming video podcast to debate the existence of Sasquatch with Bigfoot believers, the fur flies when he’s challenged by an ape-suited prankster claiming to be the legendary beast!

Get to know the writer:

It’s a comedic take on paranormal podcasts and talk shows in which a prankster dons a Bigfoot costume and debates an Internet troll.

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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NEILS BOHR – LARGER THAN LIFE, 77min., Denmark, Documentary
Directed by Marie Breyen, Anna von Lowzow
Niels Bohr – Larger Than Life” is an international documentary film that has great relevance to the world of today, with a war in Europe and the importance of co-operation between nations and science.
The story is about one of the world’s greatest scientists and his Institute – Niels Bohr, who received the Nobel Prize in 1922 for his ground-breaking model of the atom. At the time no-one imagined that his Institute would accommodate 27 Nobel Prize recipients and be the leading centre for quantum mechanics, thus laying the bricks for the computer revolution but also for the most powerful man-made weapon ever created.

Get to know filmmaker:

The years 2021 and 2022 was the 100 years anniversary for the Niels Bohr Institute and The year that Niels Bohr received Denmark’s first Nobel prize In physics. Years before that we decided to do the documentary so that it could be part of the anniversary.

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 SOCIAL CAFE, 12min., Romania, Documentary

Directed by Alexandru George Kardos

Lucian founded Cofeels: a Social Café. But what does it really mean?

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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RECEDING, 16min., USA, Drama Directed by Renee Garcia

Sophia, is an 8-years-old girl suffering from Alopecia, where she can have sudden hair loss or a receding hair line. She gets bullied by other kids for her hair condition, but then surprises her mom, Mary when she asks permission to try-out for cheerleading which unexpectedly builds bravery and confidence in her.

https://www.instagram.com/sophianesterova2023/

Interview with director Renee Garcia

Producer/writer Valentyna Nesterova-Ashakhmetova

Actor Sophia Nesterova

Get to know director Renee Garcia

Valentyna Nesterova-Ashakhmetova, the Ex. Producer wanted to tell her true story with her daughter Sophia, their journey they went through together with having Alopecia. Adriana Kostetska, the Producer brought it all together and brought in an award-winning Director Renee she has worked with prior to Direct, write and tell their inspirational story on film that she is honored to tell their story.

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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ENTER YOUR NAME, 3min., USA
Directed by Aubrey Scott
Enter Your Name is a surreal fantasy film that serves as an allegory to the experiences of a pre-transition trans person, with horror elements to allude to the complex emotions and inner turmoil that one can go through.

https://enteryournamenull.wixsite.com/enteryourname
https://twitter.com/enteryourfilm
https://www.instagram.com/enteryournamefilm/

Get to know the filmmaker:

“Enter Your Name” is my attempt at using subtle environmental storytelling and surreal fantasy elements to explain the complex feelings a pre-transition trans person goes through. As a trans woman, I wanted to show a story that explains more to do with those feelings, pre-transition rather than post. What little media there is that portrays trans people shows it as this watered down element of the character, just an attribute. I wanted to tell a trans story, that is to say, about the people who struggle to understand and accept it about themself. Being a trans woman from a conservative family in Mississippi, this is something that I am deeply passionate in and need to tell and share. The title “Enter Your Name” is in reference to the character naming screen at the beginning of most role-playing games, as that is a lot of young trans peoples first experience with confronting the complex feelings of misunderstood gender dysphoria.

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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Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G_fvjDyr-Y

A down-on-his-luck gay man looks back on his former relationship with the love of his life… which just so happened to coincide with the Martian invasion of Earth.

CAST LIST:

Narrator: Kyana Teresa
Topher: Sean Devlin
Nate: Allan Michael

Get to know the writer:
Topher & Nate & The Invaders from Mars tells the story of Nate, a gay delivery driver looking back on his relationship with Topher, the love of his life, which coincided with the Martian invasion of Earth.

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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TONIGHT, 2min,. USA, Music Video Animation

Directed by Martine Gaudissart

3D animated music video of the song TONIGHT from the animated musical RUNAWAY CRICKET created by Martine Gaudissart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuVuMrSjXXQ

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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METHOD OF HEALING, 7min., USA
Directed by Jordan Lee Douglas Sims
After his daughter’s suicide, a mourning father goes to a new therapist. However, things are not as they appear.

https://www.amanwithfriends.com/methodofhealing

Get to know the filmmaker:
I’ve always loved surprising people. That’s always been one of my favorite parts of watching films: the surprise and the awe. I also wanted to challenge myself with this story (this was the largest budget and production for one of my shorts). The challenge of making a conversation between two people sitting in a room exciting and engaging, the challenge of shooting a fight scene, the challenge of putting an actor in a bunch of prosthetic make-up, and the challenge to put this all together into a cohesive narrative.

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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TURN OF FATE, 4min., UK
Directed by Melissa Stanton
A young Ballerina visits a fortune teller. What has fate got in store for her?

Get to know the filmmaker:

I was making my first film, Ghostlight, during lockdown, and I just started having dreams about a Ballerina and a fortune teller. It all started from there.

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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BEIRUT PORT BLAST STORIES, 30min., Lebanon

Directed by Chérine Yazbeck

This is the story of four people who lost a family member in the Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020. A fifth person who worked nearly half a century explains the rise and fall of a port that was in the heydays the flagship of the Lebanese economy. The documentary gives voice to the families of victims who bring their brother or sister back to life for a few moments.

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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WE ARE LEGENDS, 9min., Brazil
Directed by Bruna Valentini
Time as we know it first came from a young man, but little did he know, he wasn’t the only one with powers and time on his hands.

Get to know the filmmaker:

The story was created when I was younger, because when I was going through tough times, I became upset with how “time” was moving around me. The concept came from a requirement of my university in order to get my degree. There, all the students in the last year in Fashion Design had to make a fashion film as our final project and I always wished to make a short film, so I took this opportunity and joined my story and the project.

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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GUESS MY PET?, USA, Drama/Horror
Directed by Grace Charles
A girl and her old friend our catching up after a falling out. Over ice cream and a guessing game it’s revealed there’s a more sinister plan to this friendly reunion.

Get to know the filmmaker:
I always wanted to make a female-driven film that revolved around a female character who just wanted to be treated fairly. In all my life I felt very similar to the main character Lilac in the sense of feeling used and not knowing what to do about it. When I came up with the idea I realized how important it was for me to give this character her chance at revenge. I thought giving her this playful and camp revenge would be a perfect way to make a story that makes you think and wonder what drove this character to want this revenge. Being able to sneakily force the audience to think about what drive someone to exact this crazy revenge was my main motivation.

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 MAN IN THE RED BERET, 104min., USA
Directed by Derek Bridges
Chess Master Jude Acers has set up his “World Chess Table” on Decatur Street in the New Orleans French Quarter since 1981, where he continues to play all comers for $5 a game. This is his story.

http://judeacers.com/
https://instagram.com/themanintheredberet/

Get to know the filmmakers:

I wanted to learn how to make a movie, and I’d already written a long article about Jude Acers and I knew he would be a great subject for a documentary. And I was inclined to make a documentary rather other genres because it’s perhaps the most forgiving genre when it comes to technical proficiency, which seemed important since I didn’t know what I was doing.

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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PAGAN VIRTUES, 5min., Australia
Directed by Kaylia Jade McGarry
This is a very selfish experimental film reflecting on my lust for shiny things in every way, shape or form. This project explores the virtues of divinity, devotion and despair; natural forces worshipped religiously in the human condition. I aimed to capture the energy of a pagan fire ritual. The film is carnivorous, grotesque, elegant and sinister; celebrating what becomes after the death of innocence. This is also a tribute to the last three years of oscillating between enemies and soulmates with someone until an ill-fated end midway through production, giving the film a personal depth. All footage was shot on my iPhone with me and a tripod. I intend to haunt and hypnotise viewers regardless of my lo-fi production methods.

https://www.youtube.com/@kayliajade
https://www.instagram.com/kayliajade/

Get to know the filmmaker:

• There were a number of factors that evolved over time to create this film. My love of experimental film was evoked by my film teacher at school who taught me about surrealism and how to defy conventional narratives. Covid took away my class’s opportunity to make an experimental film project, so now that’s what I desire to create the most. Ideas for this project started over a year ago when I entertained the thought of making a music video for one of my favourite songs, Say The Name by Clipping. The visual inspiration of fire, gore and a young female’s corrupted innocence were derived from the lyrics. Fast forward to this year and I was motivated to finally make this film just with my iPhone and a tripod in my apartment. I initially intended it to be somewhat of a twisted romance film, as I was living with a partner at the time. Our history resonated with a lot of the spiritual and sadistic themes present. They were featured in a few scenes, however, certain tragedies post-production caused me to remove them, giving the film a slightly vengeful context. Some of the film’s visuals, like the drawings and heart stabbing, were ironically filmed before events occurred. Nevertheless, this film was made purely for creative merit with the grotesque, surreal aesthetic I admire. I wanted to defy all the polished short films my film peers make on expensive equipment with large teams. Film is my favourite medium of art.

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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