DOTGABI – FIRE, 3min,. USA
Directed by Kaia Kim, Jenna Vopat
There’s a lame birthday party going on. DotGabi, a party lover, is sick of this boring event. With her magical powers, she turns it into the ultimate kick-ass party.

Get to know the filmmakers:
We wanted to make an exciting film that would stand out from the crowd and be fun to watch! We wanted to create a music video and bring bright energy and visuals!

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GAY BODY OF MUSIC, 31min., USA
Directed by Daniel Beliavsky
The life and work of American composer David Del Tredici

Get to know the filmmaker:

My focus in documentary filmmaking is on living composers who are often in the late stages of their careers and have decades of experience upon which to reflect. Specifically, I’m interested in creating a document wherein composers have the platform to communicate their artistic legacy. I started my career in music as a classical pianist, and the majority of my repertoire was by composers who had died decades or centuries before me. Any interpretations of their music were through the teacher-student chain and never directly from the composers themselves. Accordingly, my motivation for this film, like the ones before it, has been to give composers a voice to directly and without compromise communicate their musical desires, goals, and contexts to the current and next generation of performers and audiences.

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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ALIVE, 3min., USA
Directed by Pavithraa Sudhakar
“Alive” is a music video that captures the essence of New York City through a simple yet captivating storyline. Follow the journey of a young adult as they embark on a surrealistic adventure through the city on a magical taxi.

Get to know the filmmaker:

I have always loved singing and have the most fun doing it. Additionally, I have a passion for art and creativity, so I enrolled in the 3D animation and VFX course at the School of Visual Arts, where I was extremely inspired by all the work that was being created. I ended up loving the visual effects course and wanted to create a project that would challenge my skill level while also being enjoyable for the audience to watch. I decided to make a music video that combined both of my interests, and I was motivated by the learning experience in the process of songwriting and visual effects.

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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CIRCULAR, 10min., Netherlands
Directed by Inge Theunissen
In the history of the future lab technicians clone themselves. Overheating strikes when a clone emerges that deviates.

http://itmoves.tv/

Get to know the filmmaker:

When I saw the choreography Circular from Adriaan, it reminded me of those SF series from the sixties/seventies, also partly through the music and costumes. As a child I watched series like Star Trek, Doctor Who and I still really love the old science fiction imagery. That is where it started, I wanted to make a short sci-fi film, based on the choreography but with my own script so I started writing.

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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FOLLOW THE SUN, 4min,. Mexico
Directed by Ernesto Ruvalcaba

Get to know the filmmaker:
Since I’ve started doing music videos and commercials, my goal was to reach the sensible fiber of people. Most of the times we do not see this sensorial and emotional projects and with YEKE (the client) we had a a lot of creative freedom to propose this beautiful ode to the sun.

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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MASTER SENSEI, 20min., Denmark
Directed by Theis Gavnbo Holmstrup

Written by Jes Bergholt Bach
The world-famous elite soldier Master Sensei decides to blow himself up after a series of public scandals have destroyed his career. However, his plan is put on hold when he meets the young boy scout “Piggy”, who is in desperate need of help. Piggy is harassed by the excentric bully and influencer, Lanky Lenny, who has stolen Piggy’s braces in an attempt to shake him down. Master Sensei must now go on one last mission, so he can help Piggy retrieve his braces and stand up against the evil tormentor Lanky Lenny.

https://styrvolt.dk/projekter/mastersensei

Get to know the filmmaker:

We started planting the seeds for this film back in the summer of 2021. Back then we were brainstorming on a tv show, about a boy who was training to become a local justice warrior, through an online YouTube course. That course was held by Master Sensei, and he was supposed to be a side character on the show. The show didn’t get picked up (who knows what might happen in the future), and we retooled it into a short film that incidentally sort of works as a prequel. We wrote a synopsis for the short film in April 2022, then we got the funding and started shooting in September 2022. The film was completed in February 2023.

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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WILD TERRITORY, 27min., USA
Directed by Samuel Steiner Riley
Wild Territory explores the relationship between a daring wildlife photographer, Etienne Littlefair, and the vast freshwater ecosystems that define Australia’s far north. From free-diving in murky water to find crocodiles and rare turtles, to spending days on end staking out drying riverbeds for parrots and finches, Etienne and his wife Cara go to extreme lengths to photograph rare and under-appreciated species – all with the hope to spread awareness and appreciation for the wildlife and waterways they have come to care so much about. This film is a combination of beautiful imagery, exceptional wildlife, and true human connection with nature. It is a testament to the importance of protecting what we have before it’s gone.

Get to know the filmmaker:

My initial motivation for creating the film was Etienne’s extraordinary underwater photography of aquatic freshwater reptiles. The reason that his photography stood out to me was three-fold. Firstly, it is no secret that swimming in the Northern Territory is notoriously dangerous due to the prevalence of Saltwater Crocodiles, and he is undoubtably the only person doing this type of photography in the region. Secondly, he is representing a largely unseen, little known, and widely misunderstood selection of wildlife that is generally swept under the rug and poorly prioritized when it comes to conservation policy and public opinion. And thirdly, I felt that the range of photography that his work encompasses tied together various realms of a larger ecosystem that is critical to the preservation of Northern Australia’s beauty and biodiversity.

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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THE REFLECTION OF FRANCISCA NEWMAN, 15min., USA
Directed by Jon Frenkel Garcia
In this cinematic fairytale, Francisca Newman, a psychologically disturbed ballerina, fails at her life audition. Her perfectionism starts to take a noticeable toll on her mental health, where in a world of passion and beauty, sensibility and enlightenment becomes darkness.

Get to know the filmmaker:
It was the urge to explore this feeling of passion mixed with perfectionism that made me feel so alone as an artist but also as a friend, a son and as a human being in general. I’ve always been a very existentialist kid, looking for answers about myself and Francisca Newman is a huge aspect of who I am (and still am) that I am still trying to understand, respect and give the space that it deserves and not anymore. I found the concept of a dancer locked inside a space, ironic and beautiful and a great visual metaphor of how our creative headspaces work, psychologically speaking.

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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SANKOFA CHICAGO: THE UNTOLD, 102 minutes, USA
Directed by Vanessa Wright
Sankofa Chicago: The Untold is a powerful documentary that is the second part of a three-part series exposing the inadequacies of American History curriculums in Chicago Public Schools, a problem across the US. It highlights the overlooked contributions of Black and Brown people in American history. It explores methods of enhancing the current History and Social Science curriculum and alternative avenues for incorporating this vital history into other academic disciplines. The film stresses the significance of accurate representation and continuous learning, inspiring viewers to question conventional narratives and seek a more comprehensive understanding of American history.

http://www.sankofachicago.com/

Get to know the filmmaker:

The motivation behind creating “Sankofa Chicago: The Untold” stems from a twofold source of inspiration. Firstly, the positive feedback received from the previous installment in the series, “Sankofa Chicago,” encouraged the pursuit of this sequel, affirming its potential to resonate with and educate a broad audience. Secondly, I was motivated to create “Sankofa Chicago: The Untold” because my two kids are currently studying social science and history in the Chicago Public School system. I felt a strong need to investigate what they were learning and explore various ways in which they could be exposed to their history, mainly black history and the histories of other ethnic groups.

My motivation stems from a personal passion for uncovering untold histories. Throughout my life, I’ve been intrigued by the idea of delving into the hidden narratives of our past. Sharing these stories can enrich my children’s education and contribute to a more inclusive and comprehensive learning experience for everyone. As a parent, I’m acutely aware that we don’t always have complete insight into what our kids are learning, which further fueled my desire to provide a glimpse into their education, shed light on why it matters, and explore alternatives for teaching 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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THE TALE OF BILLY O’C, 100min,. Ireland
Directed by Pete Harris
In 1970s rural Ireland, the murderer of an IRA safe house operative, must be stopped before executing his master plan.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550225274205
https://www.instagram.com/the_tale_of_billy_oc/

Get to know the filmmaker:

When I first started coming to Ireland from Australia over eight years ago I was swept up in the romantic mystique of the land and people like most tourists. There’s a magical quality about the place with its music, castles, cosy pubs and dramatic landscapes that just make you want to swing a pint and befriend people. After spending a lot more time here I’ve noticed in myself that I’m starting to take that first impression for granted like the locals do, so I wanted to make this film sooner rather than later to try to capture that original feeling of mystique and warmth in the style of the movie.

This being my debut film, I didn’t want to confuse things with lots of mad action scenes and VFX and just wanted to concentrate on telling a compelling story. Personally, I feel that a lot of modern films have become too much about the spectacle and telling a unique and interesting story still holds a lot of importance for audiences and that can often be overlooked. So, I really tried to strip it back to a story that isn’t predictable, and I wanted to avoid having the audience feel like they’ve seen this story in some form before, by keeping you wondering what’s going to happen next.

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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WINTRY MIX, 7min., USA
Directed by Christine Veras

https://labs.utdallas.edu/experimental/wintry-mix/

Interview with musician David Mooney. Animator Philip Martin. director Christine Veras.

Get to know filmmaker Christine Veras

I run an experimental animation lab at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). At an event, I connected with the jazz musician and professor at University of North Texas (UNT) Davy Mooney, and playfully suggested that we should collaborate on an animated piece one day. To my surprise, a few months later (December 2022), he contacted me and said that he would like my lab to animate one of the tracks of his new album. I said yes, and we had around four months to create the animation before the album’s release in early June 2023.

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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MANUFACTURING THE THREAT, 82min., Canada
Directed by Amy Miller
For the first time ever, a feature-length documentary is examining the issue of agent provocateurs and entrapment in Canada’s national security apparatus. Manufacturing the Threat is a thrilling and emotional film, which examines a deeply disturbing episode in Canadian history, when an impoverished couple was coerced by undercover law enforcement agents into carrying out a terrorist bombing. Further, viewers learn that this case is far from unique in the context of Canadian intelligence.

Get to know the filmmaker:

It’s an extremely important topic that has not been covered in a feature documentary to date so I felt a sense of responsibility to ensure there was at least one film that took on the subjects.

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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AGENTS OF CHANGE, Project: Polymer, 15min., USA, Action
Directed by Jett Garrison
“AGENTS OF CHANGE, Project: Polymer” is a spy-genre film that centers a fully a queer and transgender cast while bringing issues facing the environment to the forefront. Rookie secret agent Guy Longani is on a take-along mission to expose the ringleader of an illegal plastic dumping scheme, but when the operation goes awry, he must earn the trust of his more experienced partner if they’re going to bring an evil mastermind to justice.

https://agentsofchangemovie.com/
https://www.instagram.com/agentsofchangemovie

Conversation with screenplay writer, producer, and star Shaan Dasani.

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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MICHELLE, 2min,. USA, Animation
Directed by Sarena Vasquez
With the assistance of a casino waitress, Michelle moves to eliminate her next hit assignment— a perpetrator of sexual assault named Julius Lopez de Villalobos. Before Michelle can finish the job she must first get through Julius’ bodyguard. However, Julius won’t go down without putting up a fight of his own.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I adore making art that can authentically represent my values and touch on some of my life experiences. MICHELLE’s themes, to me, encompass concepts like contradicting symbols and the “feminine” which are fascinating. This was a very fun project to serve as my first animated film; additionally, the sheer impact of the story and imagery were very motivating to see how the film all came together 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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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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THE WHEELCHAIR MAFIA, 15min., France
Directed by Michael Kay
A film covering what unfolded during thirty six hours at a dog shelter ninety minutes south of Bangkok.

https://www.instagram.com/mikeykayfilms

Get to know the filmmaker:

I stumbled across an IG story of TMTRD foundations showing the excitement of the dogs in Wheelchairs. After researching the organization, and discovering the brilliant work it did, and as a lover of dogs, I wanted to help shoot some film and photography content. It was serendipity, as I was also filming in Bangkok on a separate project. So I contacted the shelter and they invited me down on the weekend when I wasn’t filming the other project. I am a solo filmmaker so when I arrive on location, it gets busy very fast, especially as there was no time for any pre-production (pre-interviews etc). What unravelled over 36hrs at the shelter was tragic and inspirational and the same time. And the backstory of the main character, Chris, was mind-blowing. So the different sub arcs I captured during those 36hrs gave me the motivation to piece together a short film showcasing the shelter, the dogs, and the humans that work for them.

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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