Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.
CALAMITY & MERCY, 98min., USA
Directed by Daniel W Smith
Calamity and Mercy is a feature length documentary film detailing the stories of individual Ukrainian refugees submerged in the chaos of battle, fleeing war, and integrating into new cultures, along with the NGOs and efforts in place to assist the incoming migrants.
A woman home for college break must outwit a very dangerous intruder.
Cassie, a young woman returning home during a college break makes plans with her hometown boyfriend for him to come visit her at her parents’ house while they are away for a concert.
She is waiting with anticipation for her visitor to arrive when he makes his entrance. However, this is not the visitor she expected.
Now Cassie must fight for her life to escape this unwelcome intruder, isolated and on her own, with no means of escape.
Can she fend him off until help arrives, or will she be his latest victim.
You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at http://www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.
Festivals take place at various Cinemas in downtown Toronto, Canada, for the audience feedback video.
Submit via FilmFreeway:
NOTE: The festival has created a hybrid festival with 4 tiers to enhance your film and your festival experience. All accepted films receive all four tier options:
Tier #1 – Your film plays at either a public live event where we will record the audience reactions of your short or feature and then send you the feedback video. Or, it plays at a private festival event where the audience will record their comments/reactions to your film on their camera or phone, then we edit them and send you a promotional video. No matter what you will receive a promotional video of your film of people commenting on your film.
Tier #2 – We put up your film live on the Film Festival Streaming Service for 30 hours and invite a select industry audience to watch it. With this system, some films have already received a distribution deal as many platforms are looking for solid feature and short films. We can not guarantee anything of course but this has been very helpful to many in the past. (see testimonials below)
Then (Tier #3) we will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your film. Then after that (Tier #4) we will set up a podcast interview on our popular ITunes show where will we chat with you about the process of how the film was made.
This festival is designed to showcase the best of LGBTQ+ stories from around the world today! We accept screenplays (short, TV Pilot, feature) and short & feature films.
Submit via FilmFreeway:
Film Festivals:
Festivals occur every single month. We accept an assortment of shorts & feature films from around the world today monthly. We are proud to announce that we will be using the audience feedback format where all accepted films receive a video of people talking about their film at the festival. Excellent video to use for promotional purposes too. NOTE: To enhance the feedback video for the filmmakers, all festivals are held for a private selected audience only.
Screenplay Festivals:
We are proud to showcase 2-5 winning LGBTQ+ screenplays at our festival every single month!! Go to the site and watch the winning readings each month.
All entries receive full feedback from the industry. Accepted screenplays get their screenplays performed by professional actors.
One of North America’s leading gay destinations, Toronto has been holding Pride observances since the ’70s. The Pride parade draws more than 1.2 million spectators and participants annually, making it one of the top such draws in the world. The cinema is located in the Church & Wellesley area, where all of the Pride Events take place.
LGBTQ+ festivals occur 12 times a year. Go to the website for information on the next events.
All submissions receive feedback on their film no matter what.
ETERNAL LINES: William Shakespeare’s Verse in Music and Motion., 5min., USA
Directed by Yazan Al-Hajari
Eternal Lines: William Shakespeare’s Verse in Motion and Music” is the second part of a series where I delve into Shakespeare’s vast Canon, handpicking songs and sonnets that resonate deeply with me. I’ve woven these pieces into a narrative that, while personal in selection, unveils a connected story, reflecting the universal themes and emotions Shakespeare so masterfully depicted. This project is a heartfelt tribute to the timeless beauty of Shakespeare’s poetry, crafted with deep admiration for his poetic genius. While delving into Shakespeare’s poetry, my goal was not only to breathe new life into these classic texts but also to capture and reflect my own emotional journey as I navigated through the myriad of themes and expressions found in his work. Through a fusion of original music, captivating AI and real footage and visuals, and immersive sound design, I’ve endeavored to present Shakespeare’s poetry in a contemporary light, offering a fresh perspective that honors the essence of his work while inviting modern audiences to experience its magic anew.
My drive to create this film sprung from the enchanting layers within Shakespeare’s poetry—their timeless beauty and the myriad interpretations they invite. Each sonnet, with its rhythmic musicality and vivid imagery, became a cornerstone for the film’s narrative and aesthetics. This project was more than an academic endeavor; it was a personal voyage into the heart of these verses, exploring their resonance within my own life and experiences.
The process was two-fold: a devoted study of Shakespeare’s sonnets to honor their original spirit, coupled with a deeply personal journey to discover their significance to me. This wasn’t just about bringing academic analysis to life; it was about letting these verses breathe and speak through my creative lens, intertwining Shakespeare’s insights with my own. In essence, this film was fueled by a blend of fidelity to Shakespeare’s work and my introspective engagement with his poetry, striving to create a visual experience that is as rich and multifaceted as the sonnets themselves.
You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at http://www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.
The FEEDBACK Female Film Festival (FFFF) was created for women filmmakers and screenwriters. The goal is to showcase the best of female talent in film & TV from around the world.
Submit via FilmFreeway:\
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Film Festivals (short & feature) occurs 12 times a year (every month) in Los Angeles and Toronto.
Accepted films get their film screened at 2 festivals. The Audience Feedback Festival where you will receive a video of people’s reactions to your film. (Great asset to promote your movie). Plus, the Film Festival Streaming Service Festival where it will be seen by people in the industry and film fans.
Plus, each filmmaker gets the opportunity to do two interviews to further promote them and their work. A blog interview, and a podcast interview on the Film Festival ITunes show.
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Screenplay Readings also take place EVERY SINGLE MONTH.
Every submission received full feedback on their script from an industry professional. Winning scripts get their script performed by professional actors and make into a video for you.
Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.
CLOUT CHASER, 3min,. USA
Directed by Lubomir Atan
The animated video shows two girls in a fierce race to get to Star2 and his riches. They hurdle over a series of blocks and use supernatural powers to battle each other to reach him in a room guarded by a golden dragon and Buddha where he sits on a throne in front of hundreds of gold bars. Star2 narrates the video singing into a microphone: “she a little, little, little, clout chaser, she a little, little, gold digger, she don’t love me, she just love my money, love my money…”
RICE, RIBS, AND TEA, 6min,. USA
Directed by Lenti Liang
In ‘Rice, Ribs and Tea,’ a Chinese couple’s wedding anniversary takes an unexpected turn when the husband forgets the special day. As disappointment looms, the wife discovers that love isn’t about grand celebrations, but the small gestures of caring in everyday life. This touching short film delves into the essence of true affection, celebrating the beauty found in simplicity and genuine connection.
BLUE BIRDS, 12min,. Taiwan
Directed by Pei-an Chen
When tasked with “Parent Appreciation Assignment”, Aoi faces the challenge of changing her relationship with her mother.
LIP SERVICE, 10min., India
Directed by Arnav Mangla
A muddle of madness and love follows a paranoid woman whose relationship with her husband is hitting the rocks, as she hires an enigmatic lip-reader to inspect her husband’s potential affair.
A GIRL CALLED ZHEN ZHEN, 9min., China
Directed by Liangxue Duan
Zhen Zhen undergoes a traumatic experience when her mother’s morally corrupt boyfriend enters their lives.
APPLAUSE, 8min., UK
Directed by Jinhao Ding
Gwen is about to the most important dance performance of her career, but she is injured accidentally in a rehearsal before the performance, lost the vision temporarily.It also means she will miss this performance.As she want to prove herself through this performance too much.In order to get flowers and applause, she become insane gradually.She start to rehearse at her home constantly and image herself succeeding in this performance. One day,a thief break into her house and watch her dancing unintentionally,therefore, the thief become a only audience of her unconsciously.
DISCONTENT, 24min,. Pakistan
Directed by Areesha Amin
Ashraf wants to pursue his long-lost passion for music after retirement, but the society he lives in views music as disgraceful.
THE SHOES, 6min., Pakistan
Directed by Areesha Amin
A girl has just moved into an apartment and finds an old pair of shoes. Those shoes keep on haunting her.
This festival now takes place every single day giving filmmakers 4 tiers to showcase and promote their film (All accepted films get all four tiers).
Submit via FilmFreeway:
1) Screening #1 where you will also obtain your audience feedback video. 2) Screening #2 virtually on the streaming service WILDsound TV 3) Podcast interview at WILDsound Radio on ITunes 4) Blog interview promoting you and your film.
All festival dates are now presented in private screenings with the same Audience FEEDBACK videos made for the short & feature films, and recorded script readings performed by professional actors for the screenplays. This is our way of showing community over distance so everyone around the world can experience our Audience Feedback videos.
Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.
LOVE LETTERS, 13min., USA Directed by Abigayle Burch When Margaret gets accepted to college, her older sister Charlotte comes face to face with a new reality that she is not ready to accept. Charlotte bargains for her sister to stay, and Margaret resorts to good, ole-fashioned subterfuge to get a nagging sister off her back.
SUBAH (AWAKENING), 20min,. USA Directed by Arnav Magla The main character is Jai, a 17-year-old runner who is dealing with the recent loss of his mother in a car accident while constantly being pushed for an upcoming, crucial race by his disciplinarian father/coach. Due to Jai’s grief, his sense of time is distorted, further aggravated by his seemingly unaffected younger brother and recurring apparitions of his mother.
DAEBU (Godfather), 18min., USA Directed by Al Chang 6 years removed from his once violent life, an ex-mob boss is pulled back in for one night to tie up loose ends, for good.
MY BLUE FLEW AWAY, 16min,. China Directed by Yufei Li, Xuekai Ge A lost blue crayon, a phone that no one answers, arouses curiosity as a child explores the truth. Chenchen misses his maternal grandmother.I always ask my mom. Where’s my grandmother?The answer is always as far away as the sea.The more the mother suppresses, the more curious the child becomes.That day, Chenchen went alone and conspired to get to the bottom of the matter.On this day,Chenchen went alone and conspired to get to the bottom of the matter.That’s how the door to truth opened.It was not my grandmother who opened the door, but a lie.Chenchen and his mother stand at both ends of the lie.
50K, 14min., Vietnam Directed by Nguyen Phan Thai Vu Following the journey of a 50.000 VN? as it changes hands in society, the currency becomes a witness to surprising events and stories, connecting people in unexpected ways.
CYCLE, 3min., India Directed by Rajendra Ray Despite his son’s persistent requests, a father had to decline buying a bicycle due to financial constraints caused by monthly EMIs. This situation highlights the difficult choices many families face, balancing the desire to fulfill their children’s wishes with the need to manage finances responsibly. The father’s decision reflects his commitment to fulfilling his financial obligations while also prioritizing his family’s long-term financial stability.
U, 7min., Japan Directed by SHOGO SAWADA Everyday information is complicated, but there are many people who do not have their own opinions. Don’t you resonate with the opinion of those who say beautiful words on TV and SNS “similar to yourself”? In art, I think that “the attitude of trying to understand for yourself” also increases the value of the work. From the above, the theme is “Don’t quit thinking”. Since it’s a student film, I can’t find any information about it. Even if it comes out, it’s only my SNS. This work pursues the “possibilities” that only student films can create. Please find your own answer.
MAKOTO, 7min., USA Directed by Fumi Matsuura
DETO YETI, 20min., Russia Directed by Aydar Sharipov The ethnobotanist girl went into the wild in search of a rare plant. According to legend, this plant brings good luck to the locals. She does not even suspect that along the way she will have to break off co-dependent relationships and look at the world in an adult way.
As a fearless explorer with a disability, surfer and surf coach Karin Ochsner immerses herself in the raw beauty of nature. Her remarkable healing journey unfolds in the face of adversity.
Have you ever caught yourself in the middle of a pity party? I know I have. Most humans can get bogged down feeling sorry for themselves, especially in this technological age. Life is hard.
We struggle, we whine ( I’m so guilty here ), sometimes we even say “Forget it” and throw the towel in on something that’s just too difficult. There are times we just need inspiration and times we need a good swift kick in the…
Karin Ochsner is both inspiring and a refreshing kick in the pants. This documentary is an incredible tale of endurance, bravery and the unyielding spirit of a woman who wasn’t going to give up. You see Karin has a very rare immune system illness that makes her allergic to, well, everything. Imagine being allergic to almost everything in your house that you have to sleep outside. Salt water is the only water you can tolerate, and even when you think you have it under control, your allergies change.
I cannot imagine what Karin has gone through but I do know she never once threw herself a pity party. She adapted constantly. The interviews with Karin, her friends, co-workers, and doctors were all a testament to this wonderful woman’s spirit.
The cinematography alone in this film is absolutely stunning. That is thanks to Andy Bowles and several other talented Directors of Photography. Andy Bowles and Karin Ochsner produced this inspiring film together and they make a fantastic team.
Next time I start to whinge about my paltry issues, I am going to think about Karin and find the motivation to overcome my obstacles.
Festival Reviews 