Music Video made entirely in Unreal Engine 5 for the song “BuddhaMachine=HMA” and based off of the short story “Rain Drops”

The plot of the music video pulls and expands upon the short story, whose plot is as follows: a worn out detective in future Beijing attempts to solve a series of bizarre murders that involve a street drug called ‘Rain Drops’, that purports to send people directly to heaven after use.

What motivated you to make this film?

After I finished my album, I planned on writing short stories for each of the songs. At the same time my fascination with the workflow and possibilities of Unreal Engine 5 started to grow. I work in film production and have seen people implement it before, but it never crossed my mind that I could do it. So one day the need for a music video crossed with the desire to learn a new skill/program, and I decided to embark on my Unreal Engine journey. I tried to keep it simple at first, use premade assets, touch them up here and there for specific shots. But mostly my goal was to learn the camera and rendering system and see if I could make something compelling and interesting with it.

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

It took longer than I hoped! My day job is a sound mixer/designer and composer for film. I think from idea conception to final exports and uploads it took me about 9 months. I could only work on it in my spare time however so it took a while.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Meditative Cyberpunk

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

Besides learning a whole new workflow (I’ve never worked with a 3D rendering system or video game engine for that matter), I think the hardest part was understanding and utilizing UE5’s complex rendering engine. It took many many tries in some cases to get it to pump out the shots I needed. Many YouTube tutorials were watched and many a coffee was drunk.

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When a compassionate helpline counsellor begins to grow concerned for the safety of one of her clients, she’s forced to decide whether to trust her instincts or follow protocol. Safe is a tense, quietly powerful drama about the weight of responsibility and the courage it takes to listen.

Get to know the filmmaker:

hat motivated you to make this film?

Honestly it started with the concept of showcasing our lead actress (Kelsey Cooke) and her talent – holding the audience attention and emotions as the sole person on-screen (supported by some incredible voice actors of course). Once we had the concept and decided how to approach it thematically, it became all about bringing authenticity to such a heavy topic and trying to do so in a way that did not feel exploitative but felt, informative and considered. I wrote the film alongside Kelsey Cooke who brought such depth to everything that we did.

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

We had the concept in November 2024, but commitments on other projects meant we agreed to only start working on it at the end of January 2025. We wrote between February and March, applied for the Arts Council of the Isle of Man Short Film Fund and were awarded that in April. Location scouting on the isle took place shortly after with production in June and post production in July-August. 

How would you describe your film in two words!?

That’s tough – and I think all of us will have different words for it but for me as director it would be: Vulnerable. Honest. 

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ACT 1 - DISCIPLE: EPISODE I OF THE HARMONY SAGA, 26min., USA

Directed by Brad Reinhold

The first act, reinterpreted by the director, of the award winning feature film Saga screenplays. Disciple; Episode I of the Harmony Saga is set 80,000 years after the disappearance of Earth. A Galactic Church rules the galaxy, enforcing dogma. Freedom fighters seek liberation. Samantha Sacre, a disciple of the Church, encounters something that will change the course of history forever, and must reconcile what she has learned with how she was taught and raised. This is only the beginning, and, as Sam says, "The best is yet to come." This mythopoetic journey into the far future challenges us to look beyond the surface of our realm, through the lens of a future civilization, and ask, "what does it all mean?"

https://www.instagram.com/brad.reinhold

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Wukong Couriers, 15min., USA

Directed by Peter Gabriel Gagnon

An unwitting bicycle messenger is chosen as the mystical hero to save the city from an ancient horror.

www.instagram.com/wukong_couriers

Hannah Ehman chats with actor Kage Yami on the making of the award-winning film. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kageyami11/

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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Always and Forever, 22min., USA
Directed by Johnny Thames
An obsessive, controlling teenager kidnaps her boyfriend to play a bizarre, self destructive game. But things become complicated when the boy demands a stop. The film comments on how trauma if not confronted and resolved will lead to co-dependent and potentially destructive results, while providing enough empathy toward accountability.

https://www.instagram.com/alwaysnforever_film

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

In all honesty, it was a couple of things: the main reason was the way we perceive trauma survivors and the way media depicts these types of stories. We either view them as calm and composed or emotional messes.

Additionally, many stories often depict survivors as infantilized victims needing help or as inherent monsters. The point of the film was to show it’s not black and white, it’s usually somewhere in the middle of all of this.

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

From development to post-production, about a year and a half on and off.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Empathetic critique

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

The biggest obstacle was the casting of Jennifer Baufour as Janice: When I first saw her tape, it stood out to me; I thought she understood the character, so I opted to cast her. The only issue was that the role wasn’t fully realized.

In response, I wrote the epilogue that plays over the credits, leaning into the nuance the film was going for. Writing the monologue was almost instantaneous, showcasing a woman who had gone through the effects of unresolved trauma and was now trying to make up for the consequences while being the parent she should’ve been years ago.

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After a concert flyer turned paper airplane lands into the laps of two kid sisters, they infiltrate the venue to find a mindless mosh crowding a supernatural bathroom. Music video for ‘Buddha Was A Rich Boy’ by That Handsome Devil

What motivated you to make this film?

We all have friends that have ideas for films they want to direct. My friends not acting on their ideas after years of me cheerleading them led me to saying, “fuck it”, and maxing out two credit cards to make two music videos with That Handsome Devil in one weekend. There’s no lead-up to our death. It’s just going to happen one day to all of us. Anyone wasting the time we aren’t guaranteed drives me crazy. 

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

To keep up with the release of their album, Exploitopia, there were maybe 5 months tops on the calendar. In that 5 months, maybe two weeks of it was spent putting this baby together. 

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Don’t forget to smile, 8min., North Macedonia
Teacher that’s teaching kids to smile in a post a dystopic school.

Get to know filmmaker David Dulev:

What motivated you to make this film?

The initial motivation for this movie was the fact that i needed to graduate college and a short film was part of the final exam, that aside i felt like i wanted to give my thoughts on the pandemic and human emotions in general and i got lucky that my friend Onur had a script with that idea already built.

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

Technically 3 and a half years since the first time i heard the idea, although a solid one and a half year was idle spent just thinking about it because of both me and Onur being busy with work, after that we discussed possible ideas for the final script for a couple of months and finally brought up the idea with
the rest of the crew. After a few more months in pre production we were finally ready to shoot.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Absolute Cinema! =)

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Melbourne Hopak is part of the Lehenda Film series. The origins of Lehenda’s film series can be traced back to the global Covid-19 lockdowns—a time when theatres were dark, stages silent, and traditional forms of cultural expression temporarily out of reach. Faced with the absence of live performance, we turned to film as a new medium to preserve and express our identity as Australian Ukrainians.

What motivated you to make this film?

The idea for the Lehenda film series was born in during the Covid-19 lockdowns—a time when theatres were dark, stages silent, and our traditional forms of cultural expression temporarily out of reach. Being based in Melbourne, which was said to be the most locked down city in the world we turned to film as a new medium to preserve and express our identity as Australian Ukrainians.

Our first project emerged from the golden wheat fields of Avoca, Victoria—a quiet yet powerful setting that echoed our connection to land, heritage, and memory. What began as a necessity quickly evolved into something much deeper: a cinematic exploration of who we are, and what it means to carry Ukrainian culture in an Australian landscape.

Moved by the response to that initial work, we expanded our vision. We chose to reimagine Hopak, Ukraine’s most iconic and spirited dance, within the urban heart of Melbourne. This contrast between the rural and the metropolitan, between tradition and reinterpretation, became the cornerstone of our approach.

These films are not just documents of performance—they are cultural artefacts. They preserve memory, convey identity, and explore the dualities that shape our diasporic experience.

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

We revisited the idea when we were in a bit of a creative slump earlier this year (2025) and we filmed it in late June. A lot of the pre work we had done in 2021 when we tried to film it, but the COVID restrictions still didn’t allow us too. We ended up starting with a rural piece which was achievable at the time, and we picked up where we left off with this film in April this year.

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Temporal Takedown, 8min., Norway
Directed by Martin Sofiedal
A woman with mysterious time freezing powers infiltrate a dirty car workshop in hopes of gaining information about a nefarious gangster. The mechanics are not compliant to her request and an epic and time-bending fight ensues.

https://www.instagram.com/directorsofiedal/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I love action, especially close quarter hand to hand action (The Raid-films are a big influence). I want to do a proper action film in that vein, but prior to this short film I had only dabbled in action set-pieces. I wanted to challenge myself and really spend alot of time to do a really proper action set-piece. It is always easy to say you want to do a an action film, but if you don’t have any experience with it it is harder to sell yourself as an action-director. So I wanted to do this short film as a sort of proof-of-ability in a sense, mostly proving to myself that I am able to do it. If I succeeded is another story, I will have to let the audience decide that part

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

From inception to finished film it took roughly two years, but it must said that this was a major side project for everyone involved, so we had to work on the film whenever everyone had time. Had it been a fully financed film I imagine the time would be significantly shorter.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Temporally kickass

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

Scheduling. When you do a film like this, with big ambitions but basically no budget, you have to rely on peoples time, which is challenging when you work with talented and busy people, both in front and behind the camera

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

It was really fun, it is always great to hear people respond positively to your work, and here you get to hear specific things people respond to. A compliment is always nice, but a specific and analytical compliment is even better. You feel even more seen that way, since you put some much time and effort in details whenever you make a film, and to hear people see those details and explain how it made the film experience greater because of them is really lovely.

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Jaz is an agency worker given a simple task, to stay overnight at a student housing accommodation. There are just two problems; the weird lighting, and the unexpected coworker.

https://www.instagram.com/BarnabusWalsh

What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve been in love with horror films since I was far too young to be in love with them (namely A Nightmare on Elm Street, I got in young enough to consider Freddy’s Dead a highlight of the series.) The full-length version of The Lights was born when I grew tired of horror protagonists never being believed in their films, and wanted to create something where they actually had a support network.

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

From the original idea? It’s probably been seven years, after I met the best leading lady you could ask for in Fern Taylor. For the short film itself, between one and two years.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Weird Lights.

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

Our DoP/Cinematographer/Technical Boy Ash Betton is also in a pretty successful band and was called away to the other end of the country after the session musician his band was using dropped out. Thankfully we had a fairly long scene with a fairly simple set-up to shoot next and our Sound Operator Lauren Stokes knew Josh Bowker, who was more than happy to help out.

There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?

I think development was the only one without the looming threat of insanity or a mental breakdown so by process of elimination it would be that one. I like to wear a lot of different hats but if I could only do one part of the filmmaking process going forward, it would be writing.

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Conversation with the co-writer/co-director and star of the award-winning short film MEMORIA OBSCURA. Connor takes a deep dive as his experiences working as an actor in Los Angeles and auditioning for roles, and how he collaborated with co-director David Christopher Nelson on this film.

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Memoria Obscura, 5min., USA
Directed by David Christopher Nelson, Connor Ryan
In a world where memory erasure is a legitimate industry, the underground black market known as Memoria Obscura serves as a hub for stolen and repurposed memories.

Get to know Connor Ryan

What motivated you to make this film?

My motivation comes from multiple aspects. I’ve always wanted to collaborate with Dave, which was a major reason. Beyond that, I want to create films I believe are currently missing in the industry and bring back the 80s–90s cinema I grew up with.

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

About a year and a half.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Connor: Bad Ass

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

Connor: The biggest challenge was the final scene. Dave and I spent months refining it to get the look and ending just right. Once Dave composited the background, everything clicked, and we successfully landed the ending.

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Requital, 3min,. UK
Directed by Ande Case
A short Animation of how history repeats itself. Frustratingly.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?
The original idea was from my partner who talked about history repeating itself. We despise inequality, that people so wealthy they will never want for anything still end up being so cruel and disgusting. The worst of us. They have the ability to end hunger, disease, homelessness yet they always end up being fascists who only want to visit cruelty upon others.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
About 6 months from script to final version as Lucy, the animator, was very kindly developing this film in between all the other work she had on and, due to budget, we had to rethink some scenes and visuals.

How would you describe your film in two words!?
History Repeats.

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

Finance, it’s always finance. I have reached a point where ‘funding streams’ are some fairy tale old filmmakers tell newbies about how good it was in their day

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Terrence and Aisha hesitate to forfeit aspects of their relationship after a recent breakup. As their continued bond begins to threaten new relationships, they are forced to confront their willingness to move forward.

What motivated you to make this film?
I originally wrote and directed the first edition of “When It’s Over” in 2019. While that short film was semi-autobiographical, I was intrigued by the idea of a narrative that focuses on how the characters deal with the aftermath of a relationship. With that central idea in mind, I crafted this version of the film to explore what happens when two exes refuse to cut ties completely and the different ways their decision could affect both them and the people around them. 

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I began plotting out the idea and characters in late 2018, and the film premiered in 2022. 

How would you describe your film in two words!?
 Sneaky Familiarity…

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
During post-production, I almost lost the entire film when the drive holding all of my files suddenly crashed. I was on the verge of a panic attack, as I was worried that all of the work I had done over the course of 4 years was swirling down the drain (not to mention all of the amazing contributions from the actors!). Luckily, I was able to salvage all of the files with the gracious support of the good folks at Best Buy’s Geek Squad! 
In general, post-production and editing was by far the biggest challenge. The writing came naturally, and directing was fun because I already had a pretty clear vision in mind. Putting all the pieces together in post was taxing not only because it’s tedious work, but because I felt a lot of pressure to get it right for the sake of all the work I’d already invested in making the film. In the end, though, a valuable lesson was learned: make sure you back up every file!

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BEAUTIFUL DISASTERS, 14min., USA

Directed by Trisha Lynn Furhman

Of all people exotic dancers understand money can’t buy happiness. So where does it come from? This question sets Robin on a personal journey that takes her deep inside her desires and across the country; encountering hurricanes and personal loss of people she thought were just clients and coworkers. These events cause her to accept some hard truths not only about herself, but also about her industry.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

This story needed to be told to help remove the stigma from exotic dancing. Not everyone who dances is doing it as a side hustle to prostitution or to scam men out of thousands of dollars. We are performers in every sense of the word; we are here to entertain people in our magical world where problems and inhibitions are left at the door. Strippers are perfectly capable sales professionals who capitalize on gender roles while exploiting society’s natural appetite for the female body and attention. Because of our job we are comfortable with nakedness and naturally shy away from honesty for the safety of ourselves and our families. This is out of the norm and incredibly intriguing to the outsiders, therefore my goal was to bring in outsiders and help them understand exotic dancers because I feel that if we all just took the time to listen to one another we would be able to grow closer and stronger.

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

I started pre-production in May of 2020 and finished post-production June of 2025; 5 years and 1 month.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Unhinged….Raw

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

I might be my biggest obstacle. Being a post production crew of 1 there was no one to be accountable to, no one was waiting on me to finish my part so they could do theirs. No investors asking for an update or pressuring me to provide a return on their investment. There was just me and the commitment I made to myself that everyday I’d do something to progress my film forward, one step everyday toward my goal.

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Nothing Sticks, 1min., Netherlands
Directed by Roze Elisa, Kuba Szutkowski

What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to make something funny that we can all relate to – awkward dates and missed opportunities. I signed up for a 1-min film challenge, got selected and developed the awkward dance between the two along the way.

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

About 2 months. The actual sourcing a crew, filming, editing and making it ready only took a month.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Missed opportunity

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

Getting the perfect crew in the timeline we had: a month. I wanted this to be as good as it could be, and we all know that the crew makes the movie. I ended up with incredible people, and I am very grateful.

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

So fun!! Really glad to hear the words “relatable” and “funny”. That was actually what we wanted and seeing that people can relate is a blessing and a curse (we all want you to have good dates!).

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Come the Nightfall, 23min,. USA
Directed by Tom Michaels
A wealthy licentious offers a lift to a beautiful femme fatale in the middle of a deserted road with a shocking aftermath.

http://www.orzelfilms.com/

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My project, “Pieces of Me”, is a self-reflection of my emotional journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance. There are always moments in life where we feel confident we can complete something, but then encounter an obstacle and feel self-doubt. Eventually, we accept the weaknesses in ourselves, overcome the obstacle and gain confidence again.

What motivated you to make this film?
Coming from a medical background, it took a tremendous amount of effort to transition into the design and animation field. There were many moments when I struggled to keep up with other artists and questioned
whether I belonged in this industry. That emotional vulnerability during periods of transition is what inspired the film. It became a way for me to express how self-identity can shift, break, and ultimately reform through
personal experiences—showing that every struggle contributed to shaping me into the stronger person I am today.

From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Took me quite some time! I illustrated and animated the textures, and this part of the process required the most effort. Overall, the film took about three months to complete.

What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
I guess the biggest challenge was figuring out the transitions. I designed each frame individually based on the script, so connecting them in a way that felt coherent and emotionally fluid was difficult. I ran into
several technical hurdles when animating, which added to the complexity.

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Cats Cradle is inspired by the Greek myth Ariadne and her journey from Crete to Naxos. Like The Fates, she is associated with the symbol of the thread, which she uses to help Theseus kill the Minotaur. Central to Ariadne’s story is her deification, her transcendence from mortal to divine through a union with Dionysus. By revisiting this ancient myth, Cats Cradle invites viewers to reflect on how they navigate their own inner labyrinths of identity and transformation.

https://www.instagram.com/allysonglennart/

https://www.facebook.com/allyson.glenn.1/

What motivated you to make this film?

I was preparing for a solo art exhibition called Date with Hermes: Journeying between Dreams and Reality for the Vorres Museum in Greece (2024). The curator, Dr. Katerina Pizania, suggested I create an animation to connect the Greek myth themes. While the show focused on large-scale paintings and works on paper, the film became a companion piece to my series on Ariadne and Dionysus.

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

I only had two months to develop the animation for the first exhibition, so the first version was more of an “outline.”Completing the film took a year and a half.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Intense!

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

Time! As a full-time Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, I worked on the animation during weekends with invaluable help from students and alumni.

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NAFKOT - YEARNING, 70min., Israel, Documentary
Directed by Malka Shabtay
An Israeli Anthropologist traveling throughout Amazonia to meet the descendants of the Moroccan Jews who immigrated to this region since 1810. Together they are sharing their unique story of resilience and persistence in this special part of the world, as well as their daily lives and their deep feelings towards their Jewish origins, which sometimes still exist only in their hearts.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I worked with the community two years before we did the film. i did my research to understand their story..and after two years they were ready to share their story with the world.

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

Since we started the shooting until completing it took very intensive two years.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Life mission

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

The biggest obstacle is to do a film with a hidden community, oppressed and full of fear. to get their trust and collaboration and belief that the film will help in their struggle.

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Director Statement on HANDYMAN

Handyman was born from a reflection on what it means to help others and still feel misunderstood. It’s a film about strength, not the kind that dominates, but the kind that endures and gives. Children play a central role in that vision; they see people as they are, without judgment, and remind us what empathy really means. At its heart, Handyman is about the passing of the torch, the moment when resilience becomes legacy, and when care becomes connection.

https://www.instagram.com/thomas_faccini_/

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