Pongo Labyrinth [VTuber KawaiiMermaid120’s Final Livestream], 11min., USA
Directed by Nathan William Frost
An eerie glitchy stop-motion video made by Nathan Frost about a Virtual YouTuber’s final livestream.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?:

I was inspired to make Pongo Labyrinth from growing up on the internet and seeing it evolve and devolve in real time. Mostly devolve, through online parasocial relationships of creators and Silicon Valley algorithms used to suppressed people In actual need of help. This new era of the internet has led to creators having to bend a knee to algorithms and be someone they’re not. Creators are forced to make quick and sanitized art to keep up with the algorithm. It leads to burnout and kills creativity. It also leads to creators getting addicted to likes and followers as a source of dopamine. Due to the abusive algorithm, some creators lean into their audience/viewers’ support for their own benefit. They become obsessed with power. Only then will viewers see the creators’ true colors as the persona starts to slip, one way or another. I made Pongo Labyrinth to express that mind-numbing horror of losing one’s true self on the internet.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?:

Pongo Labyrinth took a year to make from the idea stage to the ten minute and 30 second finished work. The idea of an orangutan in a fleshy landscape came to me while at college in biology class for some reason.

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FIGHTERS, 4min., USA
Directed by Sam Hall
A deep space research station is under attack from an overwhelming force. Hope arrives in the form of an elite squadron of fighters.

https://www.instagram.com/samgoingwest/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I've spent most of my life helping make other people's stories and I wanted the chance to do something my way.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I thought it was interesting, especially the reviewer who thought it reminded them of a game of which I'm unfamiliar. Generally I'm just glad it makes sense. That was something I was never quite sure about.

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SCORPION. 10min., USA
Directed by Krstover Luaay
When former gang member Peter’s decision to leave his criminal past behind leads to the ruthless murder of his family by vengeful ex-comrades, he is thrust into a perilous quest for retribution. Fuelled by grief and anger, Peter transforms into the relentless Scorpion, navigating a treacherous underworld to settle the score and confront his past, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown that will redefine his destiny

http://iqbproductions.com/

https://www.instagram.com/director_krstoverluaay

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I have always been drawn to action films, and my first short film, Money Greed, was also an action film. The story itself was a strong motivator for me, as I wanted to create something that resonated with audiences while delivering high-energy, impactful sequences.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience discuss your film in the feedback video?

It was an incredible experience. Seeing people engage with my work and share their thoughts was truly rewarding—I couldn’t stop smiling.

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HONORABLE, 16min., USA
Directed by Zachary Scott Clark, Mariah L. Richardson
Two months after he denounces the Nation of Islam and nine months before his assassination, MALCOLM X SHABAZZ has a chance encounter with his estranged brother and mentee MUHAMMAD ALI.

https://linktr.ee/Honorablefilm
https://www.facebook.com/Honorablefilm
https://www.instagram.com/honorablefilm/

Hannah Ehman chats with the star of “Honorable” about the process of playing Malcolm X.

https://www.instagram.com/jasonjlittle/

Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/

Watch Hannah’s commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman

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THE LAST PUFF, 4min., India
Directed by Lorick Jain

https://www.instagram.com/lorick.jain/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I have a personal attachment to this problem. I lost my grandfather to smoking hence I’m making the world aware of its ill effects. However, I wanted to message this to the audience using a non traditional method. I feel an ad, doesn’t have the same impact as a short conveying the message through the horror, thriller, and suspense genre.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

It took me about 3 weeks to complete the film.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Final drag.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

I think as a first time filmmaker all aspects of filming were new and challenging to me.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I am truly ecstatic winning the best micro short at the world’s #1 Thriller film festival in the world. More importantly, I think the audience feedback video truly helped me understand how my work can reach people and evoke deep emotions in them.

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Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD7-GJD_6EU

The untold true story of Phil Leonetti, the youngest underboss in mafia history, and how he brought down the mob. Set in one of the most brutal eras of the Philadelphia Crime Family, young Phil Leonetti rose through the ranks to become second-in-command to his uncle, Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo, and eventually turned government witness. His cooperation turned convictions against his own family, John Gotti, Vincent Gigante, and countless others. The downfall of La Cosa Nostra as it was began with Phil Leonetti.

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

Philadelphia Crime Family in the 1980s (I’ll expand on this)

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Crime/Thriller

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It has not been done before, in any capacity, and there is an audience for this kind of work. It’s an untapped story with incredible potential

How would you describe this script in two words?

Untold and engrossing

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

The Godfather

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Watch the stage play reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOvCadojSGY

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

Ultimately it’s about loneliness and how if can look different through grief or mental illness. Some people struggle with it and seem to function well (career, appearing ‘normal’) and others seems devastated emotionally and outwardly. Each of my main characters deal with it in different ways, but the fact is human beings need connection.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

This is a slice of life drama.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

I think resilience is always something that speaks to audiences. In spite of real challenges of grief and mental illness, it’s important to own your challenges and work through them.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Humanely complex

.What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

It’s a toss up between The Princess Bride, Casablanca and When Harry Met Sally. At different times in my life, I could recite each of them word for word.

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THE MOMENT, 7min., Canada
Directed by Craig Wrobleski
A poem about resilience and strength as a path to peace. The film follows one woman’s extraordinary journey.

https://instagram.com/cwrobleski

Get to know Craig Wrobleski

What motivated you to make this film?
I received the poem that the film is based on as a text message from my friend Irina Lytchak. It arrived at the end of a rough day and the message of the poem really resonated with me. It felt like a universal message that could help others so I thought I’d make a film inspired by it.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Well, that’s a difficult question to answer. From the idea to finishing the one-day shoot was about 3 weeks and then the edit took another couple days. It then went to the composer who spent a couple weeks working on the score and then the mix took another couple weeks. So that process took about 3 months. That is when things get complicated as I then became very busy on a number of projects, lost two close family members and basically had a lot of life happen. For that reason it took about a year and a half to complete the final colour and send the film out to the world. It was a long and difficult time but one in which the message of Irina’s poem became all the more resonant.

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Love Unveiled explores the collision of two different worlds. Sophie, a driven and self-centered woman, dreams of a political career in Washington, D.C., but her plans derail when her father’s gambling debts entrap her with Drago, a ruthless mafia boss in Split, Croatia. Forced into a marriage with Drago’s son, Ivan, Sophie finds herself in a world of crime and moral uncertainty.

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?
Love Unveiled follows Sophie, an ambitious young woman determined to build a successful political career. Her life gets derailed when she has to marry a conflicted Croatian mobster to settle her father’s gambling debt. The film explores themes of love, sacrifice, redemption, and self-discovery.

. What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Romance
Crime
Drama

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The screenplay offers a fresh take on the collision of two vastly different worlds. Currently, there isn’t a film similar to Love Unveiled released in the past 6 years which makes it a unique selling point. Love Unveiled explores universal themes that are compelling to the worldwide audience.

. How would you describe this script in two words?
Unexpected destiny

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
The Passion of the Christ, I watch it on every Good Friday.

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Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-wbuMLmLCQ

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?
White Chocolate is about a female detective who, along with her male partner, has to solve the killing of a high school basketball prodigy in Yonkers, New York (near New York City). Detective Erika Gonzalez is a single mom and the daughter of a cop killed in the line of duty. Her son’s father, who proved unfaithful during their relationship, has been recently released from prison. The story focuses on Erika’s resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges, as well as the unwanted attention that comes to an attractive woman who simply wants to do her job.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama, Crime, Sports.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Erika is a character who faces so many challenges in a male-dominated profession and is constantly being tested, which makes her someone worth rooting for. Also, the basketball prodigy represents the hopes and dreams of many in a city not noted for producing famous people. Many in the community live vicariously through him, making his killing difficult for them to process. Fingers are pointed in many different directions. There’s a whodunit element to the story. Those who may be able to identify the killer before the detectives may be intrigued by the lengths to which the killer tries to avoid accountability.

How many stories have you written?
Two screenplays. The other is Iceman, which is about a Black hockey trailblazer in the 1995-96 National Hockey League season.
I’m also the author of four books: Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey (Insomniac Press, Toronto), the first book that told the unique stories of Black players in hockey; Call the Yankees My Daddy: Reflections on Baseball, Race, and Family; Charging the Net: A History of Blacks in Tennis from Althea Gibson and Arthur to the Williams Sisters; and Different Strokes: Serena, Venus, and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution. My books reside at the intersection of sports and sociology. I used to cover the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes for The News & Observer in Raleigh and the New York Rangers for Newsday in New York. The lead character in Iceman is based on Black NHL players I wrote about in Breaking the Ice.

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SHADOWS OF THE PAST, 13min., Australia
Directed by Locky Boaretto
A prequel to JUMPING AT SHADOWS.
Also, the origin story for the character “Agent Nixon”.

http://www.youtube.com/@lochnesslegends
https://www.instagram.com/lochnesslegendsproductions/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I was inspired by the Noir Sci-Fi vibe of films like James Cameron’s “The Terminator”, and also the character tragedy / fallen hero element of films like “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith”.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was actually very happy to hear that people not only had a positive reaction to the film, but that they also felt a genuine emotional connection with the 2 lead characters as well, which made me feel extremely relieved because I wasn’t sure how they were going to respond to all the tragedy elements towards the end of the narrative.

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CALIBURN, 16min., USA
Directed by Bryce Ury
The legendary King Arthur goes to the Lady of the Lake for guidance, recounting both his noble deeds and tragic mistakes.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve always been fascinated by medieval fantasy and the power of fairy tales to distill reality into one story. My wife used to teach the story of King Arthur to her 5th grade students and the image on the front cover was of a hand reaching out of the water, grasping Excalibur. That image was very impactful and I felt like there was a way to explore that chapter in the legend of Camelot in a way that was fresh and surprising while also feeling thoroughly Arthurian.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

About five years passed between the first inkling of an idea and the final edit being made on the project. Passion projects can take a long time. The “passion” can come and go. One of the greatest lessons I learned was that waiting for creativity to surface is much less productive than diving in and finding it yourself.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

The audience feedback video I received from the festival was very surreal to witness. Knowing that there were people I hadn’t met who were watching my film and enjoying it, lauding the parts of it I was proud of, was very encouraging.

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Watch the best scene script reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT_ztVSLtb0

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

This is the tale of the immortal Vampire Goddess Lilitu of ancient lore and her near human lover Dougal, their three identical red haired daughters and an oblivious species known as humanity.

What genres does your screenplay fall under?

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

Since I first took up the pen to write this story I have watched as rewrites of successful films and sequels and prequels have graced our screens, some enhanced by more seasoned writing and special effects while others show little imagination or creativity and relying on the name of it’s original. This story has no comparison.

How would you describe this script in two words?

Sensuous thriller

What movie have you seen the most times in your life?

Hard to answer. I had a mother, have a wife and daughter. Now grandchildren, so you’re looking at Sound of Music verses Willie Wonka (the original), or numerous episodes of Bluey.

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Hannah Ehman chats with actor Ryan Carson on the making of the short film SING ME TO SLEEP.

SING ME TO SLEEP, 25min,. USA

Directed by Mario Valdivieso

“Sing Me To Sleep” follows the story of a young couple by the name of Marc and Julia. Julia has been diagnosed with cancer and she is at the point where her disease has become terminal. Marc decides to take his dying wife home so they can make the most of their last days together.

https://www.instagram.com/sing_me_to_sleep_film/

https://www.instagram.com/_._comradecason/

Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/

Watch Hannah’s commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman

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CHAIN, 5min., USA
Directed by Ling Han
“Chain,” directed by Ling Han, is a 3D animated short film featuring charming characters and a sophisticated environment. It uniquely tells the story of the mantis catching the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

https://www.chainanimationofficial.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559900085971
https://www.instagram.com/chain_animation_official/

Get to know filmmaker Ling Han:

What motivated you to make this film?
On my journey to becoming a professional animator, I’m always seeking opportunities to grow and improve my artistic skills. In 2021, I started wondering how I could challenge myself further. Directing seemed like the perfect way to step outside my comfort zone and push my creative boundaries. That’s why I decided to make this film.

. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Creating this film took us over two and a half years. We continuously faced numerous challenges, including a limited budget and technical issues. These challenges significantly influenced the schedule of the project.

How would you describe your film in two words!?
I would describe my film as ‘challenging and rewarding.’ It was challenging because completing the entire project was difficult. It was rewarding because our teammates all grew as better artists throughout the process.

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HELLBOUND FUGITIVE, 5min., USA
Directed by Christopher Patrick Vallone
In a desperate bid for freedom, a convict seeks refuge in a decaying fortress within the mountains. He inadvertently enters a nightmarish arena where ancient demons punish the wicked, and survival means fighting hell itself.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?
SO this film is just a piece of a feature length script I wrote 18 years ago when I was just getting out of indie filmmaking after 10 years. AI came into my life almost 2 years ago, and so I started to dabble in it. I started to make a film trailer to that feature I wrote, and then started to see some AI horror, thriller contests online, and decided to make a short “Hellbound Fugitive” as a piece off of the trailer I was producing. I figured I had some scenes made already from the trailer, why not make a short from some of the clips? So that’s what I did.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Very cool, so glad everyone enjoyed it, and the constructive criticism was great too, great advice to help me improve next time.

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CLOSER THAN YESTERDAY, documentary feature film

Two young San Francisco Ballet dancers compete on the world stage at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition.

http://closerthanyesterday.com/

Review of the film: https://festivalreviews.org/2025/01/27/feature-film-review-closer-than-yesterday-directed-by-lisa-le-lievre/

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BAD BLOOD, 19min., Argentina
Directed by Guillermo Ronco
Abandoned by the state and with his daughter’s life at stake, police officer Rafael chooses to break his deepest convictions and commit a crime to resolve his situation. But when what was supposed to be a robbery turns into a kidnapping, he discovers that there are limits he cannot cross.

https://www.instagram.com/lucero_audiovisual/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?
In 2018/19, I began developing my first feature film, “Saints of Buenaventura”, but it was canceled due to the COVID pandemic. So, my next move to push forward this project was to shoot a short film with similar characteristics in terms of tone and artistic style. So, I took the structure of the third act of the first draft of that script and turned it into a story with a beginning and end in less than 20 minutes.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It was awesome! The way they got engaged and moved by the story, and their comments about the right pacing and the sound score building suspense and anticipation. I work so consciously on those topics that it makes me very proud that I got them right. Feedback is priceless for us filmmakers. Thanks so much for that!

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Hannah Ehman chats with actor Benjamin Eio on the making of the short film TAINTED.

TAINTED, 11min,. Singapore

Directed by Ian Wee

In a world driven by corporate greed and unethical genetic experimentation, Darien, the pioneering human clone, finds himself obsolete against a superior 2nd Generation Clone, leading to his and his mentor’s targeting. Following his mentor’s death, Darien’s hidden hybrid nature—combining human and vampire DNA—surfaces during a critical confrontation, granting him unexpected survival. Marked as a “Tainted” failure yet possessing newfound powers, Darien faces an ambiguous future, embodying the narrative’s critique of ambition’s perils and the poignant fallout of manipulative sciences.

http://www.brightvoxelstudios.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551387412655

https://www.instagram.com/film_tainted/

Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/

Watch Hannah’s commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman

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The Second City – A Documentary, 34min., USA
Directed by Samson Ziegelman
My goal with this documentary is to share the magic of The Second City and the art of improvisation with actor and writer Bob Odenkirk and Second City Vice President Kelly Leonard. We discuss their Second City experiences, the stars they have worked with, how improv shaped their careers, and advice for the younger generation.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I spent four summers at The Second City, learning and performing improv, and it left an indelible impression on me. With this documentary, I wanted to give back to The Second City and hopefully inspire people interested in comedy to give improv a try.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I am so pleased and grateful that people responded so positively. I am very glad people learned more about The Second City!

When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

For as long as I can remember, I have loved being creative. I have always been interested in movies and my passion sparked after I watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The way John Hughes highlighted Chicago, the city I grew up in, was deeply inspiring to me, and I hope to one day highlight the city in a similar way through my films.

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