In each episode, the C.E.O. of WILDsound, Matthew Toffolo, chats about all things storytelling and film. Conversations with talented individual from all around the world.
Watch script reading: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/in-the-house-that-elle-built
Elizabeth has her hands full with her two foster kids, a roommate and a new love interest that she's not sure can handle her lifestyle.
https://www.instagram.com/lbe.hackney/
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After being kidnapped and forced into a brutal assimilation camp where the English language is used as control, two teenage girls from different countries must find a way to escape, before they are stripped of their identity.
Conversation with director Felipe Marinheiro https://www.instagram.com/marinheirofelipe/
& actor/producer Carolina Liz https://www.instagram.com/caaliz/
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Vapor Trails, 11min., USA
Directed by Matt Jenkins
Mandy has just given Jethro an ultimatum, quick vaping or else. His friend Chuck thinks its going to be easy to quit.
https://www.instagram.com/misfits_of_film/
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Change - Kramon - Music Video.
The unconscious self and conscious self meet.
Interview with star/director Meredith Adelaide on the making of the video.
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Heal avec Delphine, 30min., USA
Directed by Delphine Breyne
Heal avec Delphine is a deeply personal docuseries that follows individuals navigating life after cancer, trauma, alopecia, and other challenges. Each episode invites viewers into a powerful journey of reconnection and renewal—beginning with an intimate look at the person’s world, followed by a transformative beauty restoration at Delphine’s atelier, and ending with a meaningful surprise to mark their new beginning. Through heartfelt storytelling, emotional connection, and light-touch artistry, the series introduces a new era of beauty and healing, where feeling truly seen becomes the start of renewed self-confidence, emotional healing, and personal transformation.
https://www.instagram.com/delphineeyebrowcouture/
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Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgCnQQd1mmY
In a 1960s rural community, a young girl navigates her coming-of-age only to discover family secrets of mental illness, love, and loss that change the course of her life.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
It’s a coming-of-age story about a girl trying to find her place in the turbulent 1960s, a time of women’s rights, civil rights, and gay rights. But what she sees in herself and what others see in her are at odds, and she must navigate mental illness, loss, and the redemptive power of love to find her true self.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama and coming-of-age
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The most compelling aspect of this movie is its strong connection to “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” The story parallels the turbulent ’60s with our political climate today, showing us how far we’ve come and the dangers that await us today if we go back.
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An ancient realm awakens. Somewhere between the living and the dead, a long forgotten forest begins to blossom. An exploration of loss, rebirth, and what awaits after death. A music driven short film that relies on imagery and sensation to convey meaning and suggest narrative. Even After (Prelude) was produced through digital paintings methodically rendered into photographic images with AI, custom small AI model creation for additional visuals, and original musical composition.
The process used to create this film can be viewed here:
https://youtu.be/y5VfbGxK1Iw
Project Links
Director Statement
I create music-driven short films that blend sculpture, painting, and AI to explore the inner landscape of self and the nature of a greater reality.
My process begins with hand-sculpted digital characters and environments rooted in classical and Renaissance traditions. These are transformed into richly detailed, photorealistic visuals using AI tools — not to replace the artist’s process, but to enrich it. I’m committed to exploring how AI can be used ethically in artmaking: not as a shortcut that erases creative work, but as a tool that preserves and amplifies the voice of the artist within a deeply intentional process.
Original musical composition is the driving force of each piece. Rather than relying on dialogue or sound effects, I craft immersive scores that act as both the emotional anchor and the sonic identity of the world — shaping tone, pacing, and meaning. The music is not background; it is the pulse and spirit of the story.
My films explore themes of death, transformation, memory, and the otherwordly. They often unfold in liminal and mythic spaces — haunted forests, vanished towns, thresholds of the afterlife — carried entirely by music, imagery, and movement.
Blending conventional techniques with influences from silent film, experimental cinema, and works like Fantasia, my work exists between narrative and abstraction. It invites audiences to feel before they understand — to experience story as sensation — while redefining what cinematic language can be.
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BELONG TO YOU, 6min., Iceland
Directed by Ísak Magnússon, Óliver Sólberg
Belong to you follows a swimming pool employee who thinks about his relationship with his coworker on a quiet night.
Get to know the filmmakers:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
We had just graduated from high school, where me and Ísak had worked quite closely together, and we wanted to continue our partnership and continue creating. I had this idea that was originally a poem and from that we started production. The poem was originally just meant for me to vent out my feelings.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
The idea first came about when I wrote the poem in early 2024. From that there was the early drafts of the script, but that came to a halt until me and Ísak picked it up in august 2024. We started production but that also came to a short stop, because we couldn’t find the right actors. Then, by miracle, we found the two perfect ones. We shot the film in one day at a closed swimming pool on november 23rd and finished shooting after only eight hours of filming. Then came post production which took about two months and the film was finished in late february of 2025. So in total the film took about a year to complete, from idea to the big screen.
BELONG TO YOU, 6min., Iceland
Directed by Ísak Magnússon, Óliver Sólberg
Belong to you follows a swimming pool employee who thinks about his relationship with his coworker on a quiet night.
Get to know the filmmakers:
What motivated you to make this film?
We had just graduated from high school, where me and Ísak had worked quite closely together, and we wanted to continue our partnership and continue creating. I had this idea that was originally a poem and from that we started production. The poem was originally just meant for me to vent out my feelings.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
The idea first came about when I wrote the poem in early 2024. From that there was the early drafts of the script, but that came to a halt until me and Ísak picked it up in august 2024. We started production but that also came to a short stop, because we couldn’t find the right actors. Then, by miracle, we found the two perfect ones. We shot the film in one day at a closed swimming pool on november 23rd and finished shooting after only eight hours of filming. Then came post production which took about two months and the film was finished in late february of 2025. So in total the film took about a year to complete, from idea to the big screen.
Three S3conds, 16min., USA
Directed by Diana Shield
Arlo, a 17 year old boy struggles to open up and express himself to his counselor. He is haunted by his past actions due to his inability to control his rage and anger issues.
https://www.instagram.com/galacticbutterflyfilms
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
My husband and I enjoy going on walks, driving long distances and we noticed people’s lack of patience at a Stop sign or red light. We talked about three seconds waiting for an individual to cross the road. This is all it takes to cease all movement from a vehicle. So we noticed a growing trend of people not coming to a complete stop or taking a red light. And it happens across a lot of major cities. But one day two young men were crossing and the driver clipped one of them. They both began shouting at the driver of the vehicle who did not stop. Luckily the young man was not hurt, his backpack was struck with the vehicle.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I would say about three months. However once we got our DP, everything moved quickly.
How would you describe your film in two words!?
Intense, provoking.
What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Nothing, we were lucky enough to have it completed. We had great support and were surrounded by talented individuals.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
They said wonderful things about the film and the message got across clearly. I appreciate the feedback with sound, pacing, cinematography and acting. These were all elements we concentrated on and worked extensively. It makes one feel heard and seen. Stories are important and impactful, I want people to leave thinking about the story, I want it to resonate.
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The Interrogation, 5min., USA
Directed by Kyle Riggs, Dylan Lighthall
A Russian mob interrogation goes awry when an over-eager enforcer tries to pitch in, but can't get his mind out of the gutter.
www.instagram.com/dylanlighthall
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Tendon, 13min,. USA
Directed by Jannik Ehret
Recovering addict Rene sees a creature poison the city’s water supply and has to convince his skeptical sister and her no-nonsense boyfriend to stay away from the tap water.
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film?
I grew up in Germany from where Los Angeles always felt like a mythical place in another world. Through a street racing video game I was first introduced to the LA river; a concrete channel that splits Los Angeles in such a crude and inorganic way. At the time I thought it was an invention of the game designers. Why else would there be a perfect drag racing track going right through the city. Ten years later, when I first saw the LA river in person, I became enchanted by its otherworldly existence.
My parents are spiritual teachers. Witnessing their clashes with “the regular world” has forced me to contemplate the role of “the real” in our emotional lives. To an extent, the “real” is irrelevant if its effect is tangible. The fear we feel from the monster under the bed is happening regardless of the presence of the monster. With that in mind, people should treat the fears of others, no matter how otherworldly, with empathy. Tendon is the merging of my love of sci-fi, the LA river, the homelessness epidemic and my take on the deep seeded fear of not being believed.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I played around with the script for about five years. Once I landed on something I liked it only took about a month to get the project to the editing stage. Sound designing and composing was tricky since the film lives between genres but after another 4 months the project was done.
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Seconds in Eternity, 42min., Estonia/Germany
Directed by Christian Schu
An elegant woman in her later years feels the relentless march of time as she mourns her lost youth and missed chances. Alone in a dimly lit room, her life seems to fade with each cigarette she smokes. She observes a vibrant young woman, envying her youth and vitality. Through her introspections, we explore her deep desires and regrets. The narrative, rich with poetry and flashbacks, takes a dramatic turn with a potential murder, leading to a surprising twist. Despite its dark beginnings as a Film Noir, the film transforms into a celebration of life, ending on a hopeful, life-affirming note.
Hannah Ehman chats with the lead actress of the award winning film “Seconds in Eternity”.
Marina Welsch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammarinawelsch/
https://secondsineternity.com/
https://instagram.com/christian_schu_film
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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 Story of Marjan the Bunny, 3min., Slovenia
Directed by Mitja Manjek
Marjan the bunny was the first pet of little Mitja, which was named after his dad. One day boy found an empty cage and he didn't know where the bunny had disappeared.
http://www.mancekmitja.si/en/Films/ProfessionalYears/TheStoryOfMarjanTheBunny/
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ROSALIND, 32min,. USA
Directed by Veronica A. Hodge-Hampton
Vivian and Rosalind love each other, but after Rosalind was diagnosed with lung cancer she became abusive to her only caregiver, Vivian, for nine life draining years. When Vivian leaves town to see her dying father, a nurse and their close friend, Phoebe, teaches both Rosalind and Vivian a lesson in love they will never forget.
http://www.gloryfilmworks.com/
https://facebook.com/gloryvisionworks
https://www.instagram.com/gloryvisionworks/
Get to know director Veronica A. Hodge-Hampton & writer/producer/songwriter Sandra Hodge-Hampton:
What motivated you to make this film?
Sandra (writer/producer/songwriter): I wanted to show that when a person has limited strength or even a terminal diagnosis their caregivers should let them keep as much independence as they can because in addition to the sadness associated with the illness the person is also dealing with feeling like a burden to their loved ones.
Veronica (director/producer): I wanted to make this film to show that caregivers need to ask for help while they are caring for their person whoever that is, and that it is okay to ask for help when you’re not the one that’s sick.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Sandra: Relieved and thankful! Because I prayed that everything I wanted to convey in the script would translate into a meaningful and thought provoking experience for the audience and their comments proved that we did our job.
Veronica: It made me happy that they understood what we were trying to say. They got the emotion, they understood the stress and strain on both characters and they saw Vivian overcome in the end and be at peace about how she took care of Rosalind.
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Hannah Ehman chats with actors Darlene Popovic & Cynthia Gatlin on the making of the short film GIN RUMMY.
“Three best friends have been playing Gin Rummy every week for over 50 years. On this Gin Rummy night they have made other plans as a final bonding of the trio.”
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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MEROPE, 8min., USA
Directed by Juan Carlos Zaldivar
The short film, Merope, follows a personification of the hidden star on a journey towards emancipation from the ties that historically have bound her and her six sisters, the Pleiades constellation, in a narrative about captivity and victimization, towards a new story where she claims visibility and a more authentic place in the universe for her and her sisters.
http://sedonaballet.org/merope-epk
What motivated you to make this film?
Juan Carlos: Winifred and Christel had the revolutionary idea of creating a multi-disciplinary art festival that would result in a collaboration. Merope was born from our group which included a composer, a filmmaker/animator, a collage artist, a photographer, a dancer, a poet, and a choreographer —with a wardrobe person and a camera person. Winnie and Christel acted as producers.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
The audience’s reaction was truly exhilarating! Watching people connect so deeply with our film and hearing their insights in the feedback video was both humbling and inspiring. Hearing the audience describe the film as wonderful, meditative, peaceful, harmonious, and touching was profoundly gratifying—it affirmed that our vision resonated deeply with viewers. Their heartfelt appreciation for the music and the emotions it evoked validated the passion and dedication poured into every aspect of the project.
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REMEDY, 30min., USA
Directed by Pat Mitchell
An intelligence agent must relive his past to remedy a mistake he once made.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2147487/
Get to know the filmmaker:
I love Sci-fi Films. Not just any sci-fi films but the surreal ones. The films that blur the lines of reality and fiction.
Films with heavy degrees of realism are my kind of films. Science fiction by definition is the belief that using science can explain what we can’t explain.
I have always been intrigued by how far reality can be pushed before becoming fantasy. Once you can’t explain your story grounded in science, your film is fantasy.
Don’t get me wrong. Fantasy can be intriguing but it comes at face value at times. Basically any existing nature leaves unexplained like fully industridalized extraterrestrial planets, Middle Earth, magical beings.
But nothing tops an imaginative story with its limits bound to what is right outside your window. Star Wars vs Star Trek debates always come to mind.
There is a major disconnect between the real world and Star Wars. As much as I love those movies, I prefer the rooted reality of Star Trek.
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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/
Get to know writer/producer/actor Mia Bible:
What motivated you to make this film?
My need to create for creation’s sake and grief. The idea of “Honorable” began as a 3-minute scene where Ali & Malcolm X would simply have a conversation. The plan was for me to write it and Jason Little who plays Malcolm X in the film and Zach Clark who portrays Muhammad Ali to star in it. All three of us just worked together on a play called “The Meeting,” and it was super successful so I was condent in what they could do. However, in the same year I was dreaming this up, I was also processing the death of my friend, who was also an actor, my first producing partner, and 27 when he passed. I knew nothing about Ali and Malcolm’s brotherhood, but once I began researching it, I came across Ali’s quote in his autobiography and it triggered deep sorrow and and a desire for Asa to have a second chance at life. I wrote to get it out.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your lm in the feedback video?
I stopped breathing. I cried then I thanked God.
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CATHY & HARRY, 40min., USA
Directed by Marta Renzi, Daniel Wolff
A revealing and humorous double-portrait of Catherine Murphy and Harry Roseman whose work is in collections from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Metropolitan Transit Authority. “Cathy & Harry” documents how their lives revolve in joyous, dizzying intensity around work, food, friends, and each other.
Get to know the filmmakers:
What motivated you to make this film?
We thought these two were special people, whose work and relationship should be documented.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
We were pleased that the message came across – and a little surprised that the message seemed to be so much about their relationship.
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GIN RUMMY, 17min., USA
Directed by Suzanne Baird
I’m excited to share our project made from love and friendship..
Three best friends have been playing Gin Rummy every week for over 50 years. On this Gin Rummy night they have made other plans as a final bonding of the trio.
Get to know the filmmaker Suzanne Baird:
What motivated you to make this film?
There were several motivators. The biggest was that my mother was dying from Dementia. It was an illness that she had for about 10 years and was in the final phases. At the same time, Roe V. Wade was repealed, and this required an examination of the question of choice on many levels. Do we have dominion over our bodies, male or female, to make choices about our health and existence.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was really gratified! They were so positive and thoughtful. It was a great
feature of your festival. So appreciated!!
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