Sowing the Seeds of Love, 18min., USA
Directed by Riley Young
Sowing the Seeds of Love explores the obscure and peculiar sex lives of animals through the eyes of Hulk Hogan (1980’s WWE wrestler icon), Joyce DeWitt (Janet Wood from the popular 1970’s sitcom Three’s Company), and Robert Picardo (known for his character as the Holographic Doctor on the 1990’s Star Trek: Voyager series). Their role in this film is to satire their popularity to make the subject of animal sexuality more digestible to those without a scientific background.

https://www.rileyoung.com/new-page-1
https://www.instagram.com/_riley_young_/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What was your motivation to make this film?

My true motivation for making this film was to find an engaging and accessible way to communicate science to a broad audience. With a background in Marine Science, I experienced firsthand during my capstone research project how challenging it can be to make scientific concepts exciting and understandable for those without a science background. That realization led me to pursue documentary filmmaking as a way to bridge that gap—bringing science to life in a way that is fun, accurate, and captivating for viewers of all backgrounds.

Two major inspirations shaped this film. The first was Jean Painlevé, a French filmmaker and pioneer of underwater cinema. His films explored the mysteries of marine life while blending science with humor, making complex topics engaging and accessible. The second was Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno series, where she playfully reenacts animal mating behaviors in surreal, theatrical settings. Her bold, unconventional approach to documentary filmmaking opened my eyes to new ways of presenting science—ways that are visually striking, thought-provoking, and deeply entertaining. Both of these influences challenged traditional documentary styles, incorporating themes of sexual identity, gender norms, and finding beauty in the unexpected—ideas that became a driving force behind my own film.

Drawing from these inspirations, I wanted to create something fresh, quirky, and exciting while still staying true to scientific accuracy. That’s how Sowing the Seeds of Love was born. My film follows a trio of celebrity hosts who use humor, animation, and their star power to educate audiences about unconventional animal mating science—while drawing thought-provoking parallels to societal conversations around sexual identities. My goal is to reach people who might not typically watch documentaries—because let’s face it, the word “documentary” alone can turn some people away. I want to change that by proving that science can be just as entertaining as it is enlightening.

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

I first came up with the idea about a year before fully committing to making the film. Once I moved into pre production, the entire process—from development to the final product—took about a year and a half.

How would you describe your film in two words!?

Two words that come to mind are quirky and educational.

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

There were several obstacles in making this film. One of the biggest was shooting entirely on 16mm film. I wanted to capture an authentic, nostalgic feel that reflected the shows my celebrity hosts were known for. However, working with film came with challenges—I had a limited amount of stock, which meant only a few takes per scene, and I never truly knew how the footage turned out until it came back from development.

Another challenge was working with an extremely small crew—just me and my DP, Zach Robinson. This made production more demanding, but despite the limitations, we made it work. In the end, these challenges pushed us to be more creative, and I’m incredibly proud of how the film came together.

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

I was so pleasantly surprised by the feedback video! It was amazing to hear people’s first reactions to my film and see how much they genuinely enjoyed it. Their excitement reassured me that this concept resonates with audiences, which motivates me to keep developing it further. I’d love to expand this idea into a full show with even more animals, more celebrities, and, of course, more fascinating mating habits to share with the world!

When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I’ve always been a huge film buff, but it wasn’t until college—while earning my undergraduate degree in Marine Science—that I realized I wanted to pursue filmmaking. Experiencing firsthand how challenging science communication can be pushed me toward documentary filmmaking as a way to bridge that gap and make science more accessible and engaging.

What film have you seen the most in your life?

The film I have seen the most in my life is probably Harold and Maude. It is so quirky and funny but with this message of hope and positivity. It is a beautiful story that touches my heart every time.

What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I loved my experience with this festival because it’s so difficult to get independent films seen by a wide audience. This festival stands out not only for providing valuable, unbiased feedback but also for showcasing films to a diverse group of viewers. One addition that could be helpful is knowing more about the people in the feedback video—such as their backgrounds or areas of interest. That insight would help me understand what types of audiences my film is attracting and how I might refine my approach for future projects.

What is your favorite meal?

My favorite meal is an In-N-Out burger without the meat (vegetarian) but with the addition of pickles and chili peppers with a side of animal fries with chopped chilis. I love a little spice.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Next for me is to use this film as a proof of concept and try to pitch this idea to be able to pursue this as a T.V. show. I think this idea has huge potential to really make an impact in both entertainment but also education.

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/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

In 2016 I made a film “Self-portrait” and I felt that there was something missing, but I didn’t want to make another self-portrait, instead I decided to make a portrait of my pet, where I can play a significant role. I also felt obligated to let people know that the family where I come from, was not so perfect as it seemed from the outside. Financial support from our national television was also very important, but the main thing that motivated me, was my belief that this could be a good film, because I told the story to other people and I saw them having high emotional reaction to it.

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

The main story got stuck in head for 30 years before the film was released to the public. The first idea about making the film out of it was around September 2021, when I had a conversation about it with a local sculptor. I spent two weeks in February 2022 making a screenplay, storyboard, a financial and shooting plan and other materials to apply for funds. The realization took time from mid-September 2023 to end-March 2024.

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

Intense & Real

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

I didn’t experience any real obstacles until the very last day of realization, when I received a very strong criticism from Slovenian national television accusing me of breaking our contract and that I should remake basically the whole film. Instead of doing that, I started sending my film to various film festivals and to Slovenian Film Archives to secure its place in history. Television later softened their approach but still censored the raw meat sequence, as they said it was inapropriate to show it to any audiences at any time.

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

My initial reaction was smile. It was very nice to see all of these people talking about my film and I’m very grateful for their feedback and engagement. I would also like to thank to the audience for their vote.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

Making films was a very natural progression from making comics and music, because I could merge them both into an animated film. The main inspiration for me to get involved in filmmaking was first Slovenian feature-length animated film “Socialization of a bull?”, that was made in 1998. I started drawing my first film the same year as a 10 years old boy.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Socialization of a Bull?, Bugs Bunny Films, Coffin Joe Trilogy, South Park Films

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

The most satisfying experience that could further my filmmaking career at this point in time would be receiving a monetary award.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I’m glad how simple it is to submit my films to various film festivals. I wish more festivals were on FilmFreeway.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Raw fish.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I am planing to create a new film based on comics that I drew for magazine of Slovenian fishermen.

VAMPIRES AT NIGHT, 20min., Canada
Directed by Mark Anatoly Falko
A young happy couple are attacked by a vampire. Soon, the young woman transforms into a monster. Will true love prevail?

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I was inspired by my love of horror films and classic black & white films, more specifically the films of F.W. Murnau.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took me a year, from October 2023 – October 2024. Most of the film was volunteers, so you had to work around their schedules.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Evoke Emotion.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Time, money and organizing people. Again, since everyone was volunteers you had to work around their schedules.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was very happy that they enjoyed it. I was also very happy that the criticisms they had were the same ones I had, I feel like I have a better understanding of what audiences expect.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Around high school, I directed a couple one act plays but I found film more intriguing.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Honestly, probably 2008’s ‘Drillbit Taylor’. Through junior high and high school I played that movie on DVD over and over again on the weekends while I was home alone, usually falling asleep and waking up to the play menu. Otherwise, I’d say maybe Welles’ ‘Citizen Kane’ and ‘F for Fake’ I’ve seen a lot. If not those, possibly my vhs of ‘Mystery Men’ or ‘Lion King’ when I was a child.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Nothing really, your festival is really the best festival I’ve seen so far. You guys offered wonder options and really helped me advertise my film with all the work you guys have done. I’m absolutely gonna apply to your festival for every horror film I make. Let me know if you guys branch off into other genres as well.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
It’s going alright so far, very organized and the website looks aesthetically appealing.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Oven cooked hickory sauce pork chops and pan fried brown rice with steamed broccoli made by my Mother.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I’m working on a sister film to ‘Vampires At Night’ which will be about witches, hopefully I can get it finished by the end of 2025. Aside from that I’m just trying to write and get involved in more projects.