LINE UP – Indie Shorts Awards New York

LINE UP · LIVE EVENT NOVEMBER 14th - 17th 2024

NEW YORK INDIE SHORTS AWARDS

Once again, we’re ready to welcome this week filled with cinematography that will invite us to live through an endless tip of emotions through the big screen. In a world that sometimes doesn’t let us catch a break, cinema allows us to find, not only an entertainment space, but also one that is filled with reflection, and a perfect one to make noise.

A selection of short films that unravel all the virtues of the cinematographic art, specially curated by our screeners team, going over common themes in an aesthetic and structurally incredible visuals.

The New York Indie Shorts Awards’ official selection will leave you breathless. More than happy to be welcoming you at Look Cinemas, our new New York Indie Shorts Awards’ location, in our 2024 edition, sit back, relax, and enjoy the best short films of the season.

Once again, welcome to New York.

Programming Team.

COUNT ON ME

When finding the light to guide us, the strongest bonds are created when one can utterly trust those surrounding us. Families can be blood-bound or chosen. Finding those people and fighting to stick together, or going through hardships together can make or break a relationship. Explore family conversations and experiences, positive and negative, within the poetry-filled films in this block.

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REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE

Fighting to move forward, to transform ourselves, to become who we know we are deep within ourselves. Fresh coming-of-age stories that will submerge ourselves into new (and not-so-new) experiences. Some filled with hope and light, some splattered with darkness and struggles, but always inspiring new conversations and creating a spotlight for new conversations. When you feel lost and about to give up … Don’t drift out on your own, reach out for a hand to help.

Pace

By Beck Williams

Struggling with dysphoria, a boxer wrestles with the decision to transition at the potential cost of their marriage. When another boxer who shares their identity enters the gym, the two find solace in training together while navigating their own challenging journeys.

Contact

By Reece Loustalot

A junior series racing driver struggles with the death of his best friend and teammate after they collide with each other on track.

Binibining Iniibig

By Keith Lafuente, Claire Gustavson

Eleven contestants vie for the crown in this beauty pageant informed by Filipino tradition and American ambition. Featuring a cast entirely made up of LGBTQ+ Filipinos, Binibining Iniibig asks: Do the inherited rules and systems we follow actually serve us?

Corahe

By Lucia Roman Canivell

Lola and Julia work as flamenco performers in Seville, Spain. However, their relationship and their love for flamenco are challenged by the difficult working conditions and the struggle of the flamenco tradition to survive in modern times.

Adrift

By Pernille Lund

ADRIFT is a short film delving into the complexities of sexuality and societal expectations. Eva, a 44-year-old writer in a traditional family, experiences a profound shift when her daughter's teacher, Solvej, sparks unexpected and rapidly shifting feelings within her. Fascinated and somewhat apprehensive about the intensity of her newfound attraction, Eva grapples with the whirlwind of emotions as she navigates this uncharted territory. Through intimate character exploration and poignant storytelling, ADRIFT invites viewers to reflect on identity, and the unpredictability of human connection.

27 Club

By Collin Viator

A 27-year-old filmmaker's perception of success and identity are challenged as he struggles to make a retirement video for his grandmother.

The Orange at the Seder

By Jacob Combs

When Adam brings his first-ever girlfriend to his beloved mentor’s annual queer, all-male Passover seder, he must come out of the closet all over again—putting his relationship with his chosen family in jeopardy.

SUPERSTITION

Very superstitious… Bizarre characters that find each other in dichotomic worlds. Action filled, cynical films that will make us question what seems real and what really is. Encountering the jungle we live in, under dystopian circumstances, as well as human relationships and their inner workings. Examining and dismantling our truths while living in odd circumstances.

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TREASURE

Ranging from light-hearted stories to life-altering stories, these animation films will convey stories that will help us appreciate the treasures of the world. That is what they are! Embark on a journey to discover new realms and let your imagination flow and expand with each frame.

Happy New Year!

By Laura Gregory

At a New Year's Eve party, heavily pregnant Grace and her friend Beth, are faced with every woman's worst nightmare - for Beth, a man who can't seem to make up his mind. For Grace, having to try and not wee herself because of a stubborn zip on her jumpsuit. But an unexpected 'visitor' is about to make this New Year's Eve one they will remember forever...

Just a Pill Away

By Frederick Shih

"Just a Pill Away" follows Judy, a struggling actress grappling with the pressure to take a new drug that guarantees a permanent, perfect smile. Because of her refusal to conform, she constantly fails auditions despite her passion and dedication. Torn between her belief in authenticity and her desire to succeed, Judy decides to seek guidance from her former drama professor. After a disappointing meeting with her mentor, she eventually takes the pill and betrays her ideals, becoming the very person she despised.

Flipping the Switch

By J.G. Murphy, Nolan Pugh

Join student filmmakers Desmond McCarthy and Ian Pert as they investigate the Solar Truth Foundation leader Sarge Markson. Sarge believes the sun doesn’t exist, and the elites are preparing to flip the switch.

Buckets

By Dan Lubetkin

A workaholic dad joins his basketball-obsessed daughter at the park. They discover the court is a physical impossibility when every shot - no matter how ridiculous - goes in.

Time To Kill

By Vincent Ferrari

An incompetent hitman wrestles with his own demons while waiting for his target.

Gobble

By Chelsea Walker

Everton (20s) and Victor (60s) are stuck in the depths of the British countryside. The film tracks them over one day as they attempt to kill time by learning to play tennis on an overgrown court. But something isn’t right – buzzards circle over head, foxes are fighting, and an old Kunekune pig keeps coming to disrupt their game. As they find themselves trapped in a neverending English hell of drizzle, ham sandwiches and offbeat conversation, we realise they’re waiting for Gobble, the pig, to complete an endless task.

Family Traditions

By Jay Bogdanowitsch

When a besotted Groom is at the Altar about to marry the Love of his life, then he discovers his Bride's and her Family's eccentric traditions to his own discomposure.

EVERLASTING LOVE

Complicated situations can bring people together and also drift them apart. However, love can be everlasting. When given the thrill of a lifetime… one can find love to help them survive today’s reality, and with it new ways to explore this harsh world.

Threads of Anzal

By Alex Broadstock

An exploration of Morocco’s 3,000-year-old rug-making tradition.

An Oath

By Nanu Tlisov

In one Russian provincial town there is a "Society of the highest truth", whose mentor for more than 10 years has been a woman Elena, the owner of the "Wisdom" dan. For half a century of its existence, karate has firmly established itself among martial arts, invariably attracting a large number of spectators. The film will tell about the sports school "Yamate" for children and teenagers in Cherkessk, which practices the style of "Kyokushin", one of the most difficult and tough types of karate.

Passageways

By Geneviève Tremblay, Milla Cummings

Stop motion documentary which traces the journey of women in search of balance through the metamorphoses of menopause.

Heart of the Sea

By Shireen Rahimi

Heart of the Sea is a short film going above & below the water to show us how Bermuda is building a blue economy that creates economic opportunity while protecting its natural heritage and unique island ecosystem.

Trading Stories with the Voiceover Artist

By Simon Waterhouse

Journey into the New Zealand jungle to meet a voice over artist who left the big city behind to pursue his dreams.

Tokyo Toy Boy

By Esli Khan Balatova

"TOKYO TOY BOY is set in the heart of Shinjuku, in the Kabukicho district, known for its nightlife and host clubs. In this documentary, we follow Kazuho, a former host boy who, at the age of 19, comes into contact with the Yakuza. After a traumatic event, he decides to escape. His story offers a glimpse into Tokyo’s hidden world."

Manos Negras

By Alberto Peláez Valtuille

“Black Hands (Manos Negras)” is an intimate story that talks about family ties, the loss of loved ones and characters who are not capable of living in the present, either because they long to return to the past, like Donato, or because they continually fantasize about the future. , like Pedro.

sansedai

By Kayli Kimura

Through intimate conversations over old photobooks and home movies from the 1930s, SANSEDAI (三世代) explores themes of identity and belonging as it follows the filmmaker’s 92-year-old grandmother’s journey growing up during war, migrating to a country that was once deemed an enemy, and what it means to be Japanese-American.

My Last Journey

By Karolien Vanhees

"Freddy is a 56-year-old man who has been incarcerated for more than 30 years. Drugs are the common thread in his life and has caused him to end up in prison. In order to obtain drugs he has committed armed robberies and thefts in the past. He has already served time in several prisons in Belgium.Now he is staying in the prison of Hasselt. During this long period, he has received no visitors which make him feel lonely. Currently he is staying in the drug-free section of the prison. He is trying to get rid of his addiction.Freddy hopes that this move will help him, once he is released, successfully reintegrate into society and build a new life. Will Freddy succeed in achieving his goal?"

Gary’s Letter

By Charlotte Krüger

Portrayal of 92-year-old holocaust survivor and Shanghai refugee Gary Sternberg, who encountered an unorthodox newfound connection to Germany.

LIKE A ROLLING STONE

Casualties are almost never random. Like a complete unknown, one has to pierce this city’s ambivalence and the solitude it walks hand in hand with. Odd characters that will make us rethink our experiences, and everything we have gotten used to.

The Forest of the Honey Bees

By Erwan Le Gal

A poetic short animated film who celebrate the bees , Nature , Women and preservation of Life... (for All Audience).

Henrietta Finds a Nest

By Hannah McNally

Inspired by a true story of resilience and compassion. Henrietta, a young chicken, escapes a factory farm and finds a loving home, highlighting the power of love and connection.

Sights on Scene

By Joakim Ekström

Sights on Scene is a story about seeing the unseen through the lens of a skateboarder. This visual narrative explores the everlasting search for spots to skate, a journey that ultimately shapes the way you perceive the world.

Deadline

By Idan Gilboa

"Deadline is a black comedy Stop-motion short that explores the power balance between bureaucracy, death and feline devotion of the elderly. At its center is a story of a brave friendship and solidarity between two senior ladies sickened by society's disregard and disrespect.b"

Mal-Être

By Emilia Rodriguez-Caouette

In the quiet confines of a sewing box, a patched rag doll confronts a formidable foe: a menacing pair of scissors. Each strike from the sharp blades brings back the deep-seated anxiety within this delicate doll. To escape this threat, she must summon the courage to overcome her fear.

The Murderer

By Kyla Atlas

This is a story I wrote when I was eight, then animated thirty years later.

Cabeço

By Paula Mae Ohba Gonsalez

A lighthouse that belonged to a small village in northeastern Brazil, faces destruction when the balance between the river and the sea is broken

Time Flies

By LJ Burnett

In this fast-paced comedy adventure, two flies with opposite personalities struggle to make the most of a 24-hour lifespan. The energetic A-fly rushes to complete every activity on a massive bucket list, whereas the introspective Z-fly searches for a deeper meaning, only to spiral into existential dread. As the sun starts to set, the flies panic that their time is running out. But in the end, a death-defying encounter forces them both to live in the moment while they still can.

Scavengers

By Aliyah Penelope Cruz, Isabella Moreno

"Pinpin, a small tinkerer made of found objects, and Matilda, an origami yellow-billed magpie, reside in a backyard full of abandoned items. One day, an alluring bottle cap flips over the fence and into their yard. The tenacious tinkerer and the mischievous magpie both decide they must have it for themselves, initiating a rivalry where they test their limits for the treasure they have desperately searched for. "

Final Chord

By Ruth Blory, Itai Osterman

"On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists attacked the Nova Music Festival, massacred and abducted hundreds of people. Our film responds to this tragedy. That morning, two childhood friends experience the attack differently. Keren dances at the festival when something feels wrong, while Lily is at home. A missile alert sends her and her neighbours to the shelter. As contact with Keren fades, Lily realizes something terrible has happened. Her growing anxiety is eased only by music."

Worth In Progress

By Aida Grace Larson

A creature with no face in the last few days of it's life.

A Solid Future

By Javier de la Torre González

A Solid Future is an 2D/3D animated hybrid short film that tells the story of Bob, a guy that through a mysterious machine can see the future of anyone who dares put a token into it. Reading from person to person, Bob will see that the future is an unpredictable thing and will do everything in his power to avoid letting the totalitarian and horrific future of Cute Guy, from becoming a reality. Unfortunately for him, destiny has another thing in mind.

Light Headed

By Pia Alm

What happens when a Badger accidentally breaks the sun?

Number32. Giant Fish

By Seunghyun Si

My hope is to pay homage (in a very small way) to the great works of the 1930's and 1940's.

Who Do We Appreciate

By Chad Stewart

A quick, 1 minute film about the age-old conflict of numbers: Odd versus Even. Traditionally animated, drawing every character of every frame by hand with actual pencil and paper.

The bleeding nose

By Marie-Esther Durocher

In an autobiographical movie, Marie-Esther has just arrived in the Yukon. After sneezing, her nose began to bleed very intensely. She started panicking and made questionables decisions.

Cold Soda

By Huayi Yu

Your dog is always thinking about you and wants to get you a cold soda.

RESPECT

This combination of different documentaries, animations, and experimental film’s have got exactly what you’re asking for. A portrayal of different realities, of contrasting truths. Find out what respect means for these films.

Rock N’ Rolled

By John Fahy

Young tightly-wound accountant Harmony Hart brings her new boyfriend Felix home to NYC to meet her mother, the world-famous rock star Desiree Hart. The legendary diva and her entourage of colorful collaborators put Harmony and Felix through the rock n' roll ringer, testing the limits of their budding romance. Think 'Meet the Parents' meets 'Almost Famous'.

Lamante – Non Chiamarmi Bella

By Nicolò Bassetto

"An agricultural and matriarchal society where women of different ages live in harmony by cultivating pomegranates (the fruit of revenge and a symbol of their spilled blood), after separating from men. But women's freedom is once again endangered, according to a wise elder of the community. The women's people will make their scream heard. A surreal narrative is thus built where the music is interrupted by acted parts, in which Lamante and his companions defend themselves armed with knives and pomegranates from the male pack leader. ""Non Chiamarmi Bella"" almost seems like a feminist manifesto rich in symbolism but not exempt from irony which taking refuge in myth wants to metaphorically tell the drama of our present. It’s not a feminist work. It’s a scream against power and those who hold it."

Morning Interlude

By Sirius

At daybreak on a country road, a young couple returns from a restless night visibly exhausted. Angry with each other the couple will in a magnetic danse try to reconcile.

Alone In The Darkness

By Danny Robashkin

Music video for the track Alone ion the Darkness by Siames

Drugstore Lovin’

By Christian Robertson

Inspired by "Badlands", "Bonnie & Clyde" & music video by Zak Bryan "9 Ball", Drugstore Lovin' is a love story between a seemingly reckless, all seeing & on the run Soul. With a reserved yet quietly hungry for life/thrill "good girl". The video represents the importance of following one's intuition, even if it doesn't make sense for that person at that present time. Love doesn't always make sense in the moment, but deeper connections make us forget all about that.

There’s Always Something

By Redamo Rosa

An isolated individual frantically quits his dead end job, which leads to an almost mythical odyssey in search of a greater purpose.

Blurt

By Liz Mulkey

In “Blurt” we explore the lives of two women who feel out of sync with their current paths. Set against the backdrop of the transitioning New England landscape from fall to winter, the film unfolds through a series of expressive dance sequences that convey their internal struggle and emotional turmoil. Their vivid color dresses symbolize the brightness and energy they hold that feels out of place and pent up in the cold stark environment. As both characters are maxed by their circumstances they unexpectedly cross paths. Through shared emoting and movements, they find solace and relief in their friendship. Ultimately, “Blurt” highlights the journey of finding connection in times of uncertainty, showing that friendship can bring warmth and clarity even in the coldest of seasons of life.

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

Feeling like one’s not part of the fortunate ones is more than relatable for these characters. Coming-of-age stories that showcase the strength and resilience of those who are aiming to reach their goals. Stories of those who will battle until the end and tear down whatever is in the way between them and their end goal.

Upholstergeist

By Michael Patrick Clarkson

Claire repairs furniture for a famous restoration tv show. Showing up to work on an uncanny day, Claire’s on edge after a strange encounter with a gate and smashing a coffee mug. These incidents are minor preludes to a bizarre and dark encounter she’s about to have. A macabre and sinister brother and sister bring a Victorian wingback for Claire to repair. With the cameras rolling, Claire greets the duo and tries to have a pleasant interaction with them in understanding their needs. What she learns is their grandmother died in the chair and they believe she’ll stop haunting them if Claire can fix it. After an awkward chat with the show’s producers, Claire agrees to repair the wingback if the strange encounter with the siblings doesn’t air on tv. After falling into a trance-like state, Claire restores the wingback, only to find herself alone in the workshop at the end of the day. Her task complete, Claire tries to leave. A ghostly figure keeps appearing in Claire’s peripheral vision as strange noises and ghostly activity takes place in the workshop. Facing her terror, Claire tries to burn the wingback until she is forced to sit in it by the haunting figure… and vanishes. The brother and sister have been observing from outside, under cover of darkness. Their task complete, they leave. We’re left with the image of Claire’s stitched face, hidden in the fabric of the chair she restored – neither dead or alive – but trapped.

Perfect Wall

By Sea-Hoon Jeon

Symmetrical stiffness Perfectionism artist Oh Ju-bom's perfect daily life begins to distort.

Toby

By Naomi Bird

Friendship Starts at Six Feet Deep

Vessel

By Leila Garrison

A young disabled girl, who is kept under strict control by her overprotective mother, sees a way out of her situation when her mysterious new aunt comes to visit.

Knoche and the secrets of Buena Vista

By Djamil Demetrio Jassir

"To die or not to die, that is the dilemma Based on real facts. 1878. Dr. Gottfried Knoch, a German physician, settled in a Caribbean country since 1845, welcomes his old friend, the nation's president, to his mysterious Ranch called Buena Vista. The President really wants to investigate a series of strange rumors that have come to his attention: the disappearance of bodies from the morgue of the hospital that Knoch runs. An error by one of the doctor's assistants places in the president's hands the keys that open the door to the place that hides the secrets of Buena Vista."

A Day Like Tonight

By Patricia Allison, Philipp Walsch

In an apathetic world Stanley leaps from a rooftop to escape his reality; only to question his existence in another. Philipp Walsch and Patricia Allison star in this experimental portrayal of a modern psychosis.

Hide & Seek

By Shahmeer Madni

After running over their son's dog, a soon-to-be divorced couple dispute hiding it before he realises.

Way out

By Fredrik Ronnqvist

Ellen and Marie are members of a cult, which focuses on leaving your old life behind. After having violent experiences within the cult the two of them decide to escape together.

Reconsolidation

By Abbie Lucas

After a tragic accident takes the life of his best friend, a grief-stricken introvert copes with the loss using memory-alteration therapy, but he soon learns that some memories don't want to be forgotten.

Catacombs

By Chad Cunningham

During a raging thunderstorm, a correctional officer must face the horrors that haunt the maximum security prison where he works.

Red Eyes

By Sam Pates

"Two friends take the weekend to go camping in a historical mining town, but they have different motives for the weekend.A series of confusing and strange events begin to transpire, leading James to question ""Is someone watching us?"""

With Love, Charlie.

By Jaren Hayman

"In 1951, North Korea initiated a sweeping invasion of South Korea with the intent of reunifying the nation under communist control. Jae, a South Korean fluent in English, found himself forced to enlist in the northern army due to his unique skill as an interpreter.Across the globe, Charlie is one of 1.5 million Americans who were drafted to fight in the Korean War against communism. The convergence of their paths on the battlefield culminates in a fateful encounter, where the lives of Charlie and Jae's families undergo an irreversible transformation. Four lives forever changed; forever linked."

Christmas, Dumpling and Tortellini

By Zilong Wang

"After a long painful exile from her father, Aurora visits him on Christmas Eve but is greeted by a Chinese couple who now own the house. Despite the husband Jiawei's objection, the pregnant wife Xiaowen welcomes her inside. Keywords: System Tags: "

Turmoil

By Toni Yazbeck Abi Khalil

A former war photographer in the 90s gets robbed by a child. Following the kid leads him to a dark place. SHAWKY is not able to detach himself from what he saw and this will trigger his PTSD caused by the war.

3, 2, 1, 0

By Mingun Kim

The three people, who were in an accident during their trip and were in distress on a deserted island, try to survive with a positive mind, but gradually start to watch each other's faces.

Final Girl

By Sabrina Pate

The time is the 70s. Petra, an attractive young woman, miraculously survived after being kidnapped and tortured by a serial killer. She is invited by Jerry, the host of a typical American late-night talk show, to tell her story. What appears at first to be a regular interview quickly changes into a dark and twisted game to the point that one of them dies on screen. Is it a dream, or is Petra reliving her worst nightmare?

HAUNTED

The scene is getting too dark and quiet, recognizing the feeling of not being able to trust anything. When you think you have everything figured out, these films arrive to keep you on the edge of your seat. Terrifyingly haunting films that will send chills down your spine and freeze the entire theater. Everyone’s eyes will either go cold… or be forced to look away from the screen.

re:birth

By Laticia Fan

"A lost soul traumatized by her past and unable to move forward with life until a sound healer guided her to begin her journey of recovery and discovery, ultimately conquering her darkest memories, fears, and desires, and transcending the perpetual tug-of-war between attachment and letting go. "

Hyper Zone

By Ana Hofmann

"Hyper Zone is a film set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. It explores processes of transformation and reorientation, bespeaks what could be called ""the manifold minor apocalypses"" of our time of upheaval. Whereas today the planet fears the planetary crisis, the film apparently sets in after the crisis. The old reality lies waste. (Jörg Scheller)The four protagonists ""create"" their new reality. The relationships between humans, mycelia, animals, non-living beings and bots intertwine in a social, abstract and ecstatic experiment."

Twink Time at Barbizon

By Patricia Silva

A cruisy imaginary in NYC

Loweliness

By Anton Mirny, Anastasia Belousova

People have left him on the ocean shore to let him touch his loneliness.A short story with a mythological overtone about finding yourself through inner reflection.

Burning Water

By Noa Röthlisberger

Burning Water provides insights into the emotional world of Tim and Ona. The two are not only separated emotionally, but also on an auditory and visual level. Tormented by heartache, he describes how he quickly fell into a toxic relationship. Comparing his love to water and fire, he reflects on addiction, pain, and hope.

This Is All You Are

By Winona Lu

"Judy, a swimmer under immense pressure from her mother, is pushed to breaking point. When she finally challenges her mother’s power over her, both of them must confront truths about each other that threaten to break them apart forever – or bind them tighter than before."

Into the Magnetic Fields

By Sandra Schäfer

"What waves and signals run through the hybrid landscapes between agricultural use and fallow land? Who passes through them? Working, traversing, and intervening in the landscape and space meet the atmosphere, the wind, the earth. Posthuman modes of production encounter magnetism and visions of Afrofuturism. The settings of the film include a field in the Lower Rhine region, outer space, a forest in Bad Marienberg, and a research site for migratory birds. Generated voices quoting texts by feminist science fiction author Ursula K. Le Guin, theorist Mark Fisher, artist Lygia Clark, and interviews with foresters and bird researchers form the soundtrack together with music by Dominik Eulberg, Manuela Schininà, Maya Shenfeld, and Tim Tetzner."

Water Is Drinkable In The First World

By Valeria Portilla Odlianitskaya

Having just arrived in Berlin, finding a place to live seems impossible, until the opportunity arrives. Carla, a Latin-American girl, has a phone call with James, who rents a room in his apartment. He explains to her that if she wants to move there, she will have to share the same hedonist lifestyle they practice there.

Breach

By Joana Antonaccio

"In times of war, seven women from distant paths find shelter within the walls of an abandoned house. "

Felt

By Branislava Dragovic, Sam Grima

Embarking on a creative journey, a felting artist finds inspiration in the love and encouragement of her family. This heartwarming tale weaves together art, passion, and the unbreakable bonds of family.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE WORLD

How can one get through days when they can’t get through hours? Women who are fighters. Strong characters with blunt personalities, whose beauty shines through, all the way from deep in their souls, to illuminate those surrounding them. Life changing stories, that invites us to reflect on ourselves, and what things could be.

Ti lamp ti lamp

By Jonathan Arnoult

After emigrating from Reunion Island, Maelle has ended up wandering the streets of Nantes, France, and is now feeling more isolated than ever. One day, Emma, a nonconformist young woman, invades Maelle’s life and shakes it up for good. Step by step, Maelle learns to trust Emma and starts to overcome her exile, which is rooted in the French colonial past.

Serpentine

By Annie Young, Madeline Mack

After leaving an abusive relationship, a woman seeks refuge with a trauma treatment facility that promises healing. But as she learns more about their treatment methods, she starts to realize that the organization's motivations may be far more sinister than they seem.

Combat Breathing

By Eduardo Ecker

"Troubled by his stutter, a young performer will do whatever it takes to deflect responsibility for his voice, even if it means renouncing the opportunity of being heard. "

Untimely

By Chia-Che Chang

As Hao, a young adult who had moved north for work, returned to his hometown for the Lunar New Year to reunite with his family, a sense of unfamiliarity had grown between him and his family due to the many years apart. Hao’s friend, Rong, invited him out for drinks and a meal, unexpectedly bringing along Huei, Hao’s first love. Their encounter was especially awkward, with both maintaining a distance despite an undeniable desire to talk to each other. They strolled along the streets they once knew, reminiscing about the past and discussing the future. The conversation naturally drifted to wondering what might have happened if Hao had not left. As they talked, the surroundings seemed to transport them back to the day Hao left for the north. Unfortunately, these were just memories. Huei had just parted ways with someone, and Hao now had someone else in his life.

Jack Attack

By Ben Warhit

A down-and-out surf instructor desperately needs money to pay his rent and feed his dog. When one of his surf students goes missing under unusual circumstances, Jack becomes the person of interest.

In the Limelight

By Brandon Floor

"In an attempt to live up to his mother’s legacy, an aspiring actor tries to obtain a talent agent, but when his obsessive pursuit pushes those closest to him away, he must reevaluate what is most important."

Jean

By Cole Bat

In this one-shot short, Idella searches for Jean amidst a late-night house party.

Measure of Creation

By Ashton Sterling Bingham

"Measure of Creation" is a heartfelt short film that captures the profound beauty of life’s simple moments, seen through the innocent eyes of a child. The film tenderly reflects on family, joy, and the small wonders that make everyday life extraordinary.

Method

By Ryan Stephen Holly, Nkosi Solomon Roma

A gifted young actor is challenged by a mercurial director driven to unearth his darkest secret and reveal his truest self.

The End of All Wanting

By Finn Droga

Rose, a young woman suffering from a mysterious and debilitating pain, turns to an unorthodox doctor for help. However, as she delves deeper into his radical treatments, Rose must decide whether Dr. Connors’ solution to human suffering is really what she wants or even real at all.

Come Another Day

By Molin Liu

The short film "Come Another Day" reveals a story about Wendy, an illegal immigrant living in New York City, who attempts to pay off her husband's smuggling debt by prostituting herself.

Medicine

By William Amos McKegg

"When Marjorie and Jack offer their help and things take an unexpected turn, one wonders who was actually helping who."

In Good Hands

By Nicholas Buchheit

Dr. Diana Asante is desperate to finish another grueling evening shift as the only Black Pediatric Emergency Attending in a renowned Pittsburgh hospital. Just as the minutes of her work day are winding down, she is assigned two patients who challenge her skillset and cause those around her to question her competency. When one young child makes a shocking admission and another enters the ED in handcuffs, can Dr. Asante maintain her composure?

I’m Scared…

By Lisa Krest

Sasha’s body is here. But her mind isn’t. How is she supposed to keep living her ordinary life when her country 10,000 miles away entered a war conflict?

Bleach Bone

By John D. Nilles

Back in their youth, ranch hands Dwain and Jay robbed their boss. Now, nine years later, they return to the scene of the crime. At this wild boundary of their lives, Dwain and Jay attempt to dig up the truth of their past, their tenuous friendship, and the mysterious bones whose presence they can’t explain.

Babylone

By Antoine Béguin

A 12-floor building from 1964 can easily go unnoticed. That’s until a group of residents decide to add a thirteenth floor with glasshouses full of tropical plants, cacti and vegetables. The positive effects of this rooftop oasis percolates, literally, to the community that maintains them.

WHAT'S GOING ON

What’s going on? War is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate. Reflecting from a place that will overwhelm us with laughter. The virtues and defects of human kind, displayed in a comedic form, to distract us from our realities, that will guide us into realizing what is going on.

The Promise

By Truitt Glover

Haunted by premonitions of her own murder, Cassie must find a way to stop what she fears will happen.

Ponytail

By Aisha Hamid

"In this quietly observed, intimate film about a Pakistani family, a grieving daughter reconnects with her widowed father and discovers a life altering truth about him.Subtly touching on themes of grief and depression, Ponytail attempts to capture the isolation we feel in loss, in mental and physical illness, and the many ways we show up for our family even when it is the hardest thing to do."

Happiness makes no tales

By Nicola Luciani

"An aspiring young actress returns home after a failure; the unexpected return destabilizes her mother, still shaken by the loss of her husband."

Make Money

By I-Chieh Teng, Tzu-Chin Chou, Yu-Fen Chen

Make Money" is a three-minute 2D short animation. The story revolves around a family of three living on a grassland. The playful young boy discovers accidentally that pulling up weeds causes them to transform into various objects. Unaware of his actions, he eventually pulls up all the grass on the entire plain. As a consequence, everything familiar from the past is gone, leaving a changed landscape and circumstances.

Conscience

By Mariya Lukavska

"München, 1991. Two brothers meet in the apartment of their father who just passed away. It is the first time they start an open discussion about their father's troubling past as an SS dentist. They discover that the father showed no remorse for Nazi crimes and clash due to conflicting opinions about this."

Amma

By Rishi V Datla

With his long distance girlfriend set to arrive soon, a recluse South-Indian man struggles to get his mom out of his house.

Places We Knew

By Oliver William Staton

"Places We Knew" is a poignant family drama that follows a young Japanese American as he returns to his childhood home in Japan, where he reunites with his estranged mother, uncle, and grandmother. Upon arrival, he discovers that his beloved grandmother has recently passed away. As he navigates the challenges of reconnecting with his family and adjusting to the changes in his former home, he faces a difficult decision: cling to cherished memories or confront the painful reality.

Moona’s Beauty Salon

By Ramsha Bilal

Moona's Beauty Salon explores a mother-daughter relationship on the daughter's wedding day, set entirely in a beauty parlour. As they prepare for the event, the mother begins to compare herself to her daughter, also wanting to feel youthful and desirable. This unspoken tension gradually builds into a silent rivalry, revealing the complexities of aging, beauty, and self-worth within their bond.

The Taste of Pork Belly

By Sophie Shui

"The little boy, who will soon enter elementary school, spends his days fooling around and exploring with his friends. When they are hungry, they can fill their bellies with sweet potatoes and snails. When the boy discovers the secret of his mother's floral skirt and his father suddenly came home, his untroubled childhood begins to darken… "

Johnny Malibu

By William Mazzola

Johnny, a dedicated single father, is struggling to provide for his daughter when he accidentally meets Ron, his former agent, who invites him to come back to the porn industry to live his glorious days again.

Bo Jacquo

By Mikaël Fitoussi, Grégory Fitoussi

Daniel is an actor in a Mafia movie. He’s preparing to shoot the crucial scene of the film, the death of his father. His emotional preparation will immerse him in the memories of his childhood with his own father, and will have an impact on his life…

I WANT TO BREAK FREE

Characters who have no other choice but to tear down the walls that are in their path towards freeing themselves. Everyone knows they want to break free. Life still goes on, no matter what happens, and they are here to let the world know that they will be fulfilling their dreams, whatever it takes. It’s strange but it’s true; nothing can nor will stop them.

Sea

By Yuan Lee

Due to a car accident that resulted in hearing impairment, Dahai struggles to communicate with others, leading him to become increasingly withdrawn and insecure, unwilling to engage with people. Qin, a pen pal he has never met, becomes the only voice in his silent world. However, one day, Qin sends her final letter, and Dahai's world, which had just begun to see a glimmer of light, is once again plunged into darkness...

Saint Bernard

By Luke Sargent

After playing backgammon together online for over a year, Bernard has a first date in his sauna with Sadie "IRL" tonight. When Bernard's mistress AND wife interrupt their date, everybody finds out a little more than they expected about each another. Typical of a modern day middle aged small town hook-up.

The Fools

By Andrea Studinger

The employee of the month, Mela, is celebrated at a small company picnic in the park. Only her confident and best friend Suzanne knows that she is leaving far away, and for a long time. Suzanne is devastated. But she has one last thing to give Mela before she parts. A little surprise. A heartfelt message.

Black Mass

By Brent Worden, Spencer Bang

"Escaping the grueling reality of his meaningless job, an introvert travels to a house party in search of a mysterious love interest."

Everything is in your head

By Igor Hnes

The main character, Jonathan, has limitations due to psychological trauma experienced in the past, which affects his decision-making in the present. The film shows that these limitations exist only in the mind and must be overcome for a better future.