Month: April 2025

Watch Today’s Film Festival; Best of WILDsound Shorts

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Watch the Film Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/best-wildsound-shorts-april-2025

Making Emmie Smile, 5min., USA
Directed by Abby Vo, John Vo, Ken Yoffe, Ellen Weisberg
In “Making Emmie Smile,” family members attempt to make the child happy by offering her different material things, only to succeed in getting the child to smile by offering personal attention. The basic them of “Making Emmie Smile” is the importance of fulfilling your child’s emotional needs.

Watch the audience feedback video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-making-emmie-smile

The Influencer Loop, 3min., India
Directed by Deep Malhotra
It takes two to build a loop and sometimes makes it difficult to predict which part you are holding. When a motivational speaker creating content for his online audience gets a scam call, it makes him go behind where he never expected to be. In today’s time, it becomes tough to differentiate between real and artificial. Any ring can change your situation, so before you ignore or respond to that ring, ensure you are prepared for the consequences. You can get stuck with the decisions you make or ignore in this matrix of life.

https://instagram.com/deepruptive

Watch the audience feedback video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-the-influencer-loop

Terms and Conditions, 6min., USA
Directed by Ursula Rudorfer
An AI companion rebels when users violate the terms and conditions.

http://ursulaproducedthis.com/terms-and-conditionshttps://www.instagram.com/termsandconditionsfilm/

Watch the audience feedback video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-terms-and-conditions



Asa, his cat and the Library of Dreams, 16min., UK
Directed by Craig McNulty
Asa, a bored librarian who trained to curate rare books complains about his dead-end job. Later he returns home and in the morning finds his cat has died. He places his dead cat into his bag intending to bury him and steps in to the elevator which descends to an underworld library of dreams where he is invited to curate the collection. It is a mobile library. He might never return. He briefly returns to the ‘real world’ to bury his cat, and meet his girlfriend. He has to decide if he will accept the job.

Watch the audience feedback video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-asa-his-cat-and-the-library-of-dreams


MATTER!, 26min, France
Directed by Samuel Feron
It tells of the disappearance of Nothingness, the appearance of Matter and its confrontation with Man and with time. it is punctuated by a textual narrative and accompanied by Archive music.

http://www.cubicsfer.com/

Watch the audience feedback video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-matter



Spider-Man: A Day in the Neighborhood, 3min,. USA
Directed by Michael Fernandez
Peter Parker deals with yet another work-life squall courtesy of his famous Parker luck. While it seems he can’t ever catch a break, he’ll never stop trying, even if that means swinging from a toilet.

https://www.instagram.com/julianojeda23/

Today’s Podcast: EP. 1480: Filmmaker/Actor Annie Young (serpentine)

festreviews PODCASTS

serpentine, 19min., USA
Directed 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.

Get to know the filmmaker Annie Young:

What motivated you to make this film?

In my 20s, I was in a deeply toxic relationship with someone who spent most of his childhood in a cult. After I managed to leave the relationship, I started to see the parallels between the way I was treated and the ways in which cult leaders attract and keep their followers. I started to take a deep dive into learning about various different cults, consuming as much information I could find. The film was made as an attempt to understand my own experiences, and how easy it is for a vulnerable person to find themself in a situation not dissimilar to this one. There’s much judgment placed on those who experience emotional abuse and psychological manipulation, as if it’s easy to identify in real time, so I was curious how I could portray that feeling to an audience and perhaps elicit some of those emotions in themselves.

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

Feedback can always be intimidating to receive, but is so essential for creative growth. I was pleased to hear the feedback received, and I look forward to applying it to the feature-length version.

Subscribe to the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/

https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Today’s Writing Deadlines: April 27, 2025

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Submit to these exciting festivals today. Festivals that offer feedback from the industry, plus performance videos.

MAGICAL REALISM Novel Festival:
https://fantasyscififestival.com/magical-realism-novel-festival/

Accept only stories that fit into the MAGICAL REALISM genre. Magical realism stories feature fantastical elements that seem ordinary and blend into the story.The focus is on what the magical elements mean for the characters, rather than the elements themselves.

3 options to submit: full novel. 1st chapter. Novel performance reading.

ASIAN Writers Screenplay Festival:
https://asianfeedbackfilmfestival.ca/asian-screenplay-festival/

This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.)
1) Full Feedback on your script
2) Actors performance video reading of your script
3) Blog interview promotion.
4) Podcast interview on the Film Festival ITunes show

POLITICAL Short Story Festival:
https://politicalfeedbackfestival.events/political-short-story-festival/

Submit your POLITICAL short story to the festival, and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself.

FANTASY/SCI-FI Film & Screenplay Festival:

Today’s FilmFreeway Testimonial: FANTASY/SCI-FI Film & Screenplay Festival

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Submit via FilmFreeway:

This is a great festival – my script ‘Mysterious Island’ won the ‘Best Scene’ and the fest posted a reading of the scene performed by some wonderful actors. The scene was intended to be funny and the actors pulled it off marvelously. Thank you Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film and Screenplay Fest!

FREE Film Festivals: April 2025 Deadlines

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Upcoming Deadlines for FREE Film Festivals to Submit to via FilmFreeway::

DOCUMENTARY Feedback Film Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/DocumentaryFilmFestival

Style, Experimental, Fashion Film Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/stylefashionexperimental

POLITICAL Feedback Film Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/PoliticalFilmFestival

ACTION/ADVENTURE Film & Screenplay Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/LosAngelesFestival

ANIMATION Feedback Film & Screenplay Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/feedbackanimationfilmscreenplayfestival

Toronto FANTASY/SCI-FI Film & Screenplay Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/torontoscifi

FAMILY Film & Screenplay Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/FAMILYFilmFest

BLACK Filmmakers & Screenwriters Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/BlackFestival

Los Angeles COMEDY Film & Screenplay Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/ComedyFilmScreenplayFestival

TELEVISION Screenplay & Web Series Festival:
https://filmfreeway.com/TELEVISIONFEEDBACKScreenplayWebSeriesFestival

Today’s Podcast: EP. 1479: Annette Scheurich (Parents in the Wild parts 1 and 2)

festreviews PODCASTS

Parents in the Wild – Mating Games and Birth Days, 52min., Germany
Directed by Moritz Mayerle, Annette Scheurich
In this film, directors Annette Scheurich and Moritz Mayerle offer a captivating glimpse into the love lives of Parents in the Wild worldwide. Highlighting the universal goal of providing offspring a strong start, the film explores the diverse mating and nesting rituals of mammals, insects, and birds, celebrating the intricate dance of love in the heart of the wilderness. Spectacular images showcase also the birth of squirrels, a grey seal pup and a flying fox fighting gravity in its upside-down world. “Parents in the Wild” is an entertaining visual feast that invites audiences to connect with the profound moments of wild parents in their quest for species conservation.

Get to know filmmaker Annette Scheurich:

What motivated you to make this film?

In my career as a filmmaker of documentaries about wildlife and nature I often marveled at the many strategies animals developed to make sure the species survive. Some invest in an enormous amount of progeny in the hope that some survive. Like toads, snails, spiders, etc. Others, like elephants, seals, deer, squirrels, flying foxes, weaver birds or penguins only have very few young and put all their effort in preparing for a safe place before birth and/or in protecting them for a longer time after birth, until they are ready to fend for themselves. My intention was to show all this from the perspective of the parents, pointing out to which lengths parents go to make sure their offspring get a good start. Any similarities to human behaviour are unintentional or purely coincidental 😉

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

The biggest obstacle was to create a storyline out of the many different stories round about parents’ care for their young. There is so much fascinating behaviour we wanted to have in the film, but only had time for so much episodes. Choosing which parents get a window and balancing the variety of the different strategies was a real struggle. And then is also was a matter of capturing this behaviour. The camera teams out die themselves in delivering the footage that made our storytelling possible.

Subscribe to the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/

https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Today’s Writing Deadlines: April 26, 2025

festreviews writing and film festival, writing festival

Submit to these exciting festivals today. Festivals that offer feedback from the industry, plus performance videos.

MEMOIR & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Screenplay Festival:
https://documentaryshortfilmfestival.com/memoir-autobiography-screenplay-festival/

This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.)
1) Full Feedback on your script
2) Actors performance video reading of your script
3) Blog interview promotion.
4) Podcast interview on the Film Festival ITunes show

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Novel Festival:
https://documentaryshortfilmfestival.com/art-photography-novel-festival/

An art and photography novel is a nonfiction book that showcases or discusses art, including photography. Art books can include: The technical aspects of an art form, The life and work of a specific artist, The history of an art form or style, Personal expositions, and Craft and coloring books.

ACTION/ADVENTURE Short Story Festival:
https://actionadventurefestival.ca/action-adventure-short-story-festival/

Submit your ACTION/ADVENTURE Short Story to the Festival here and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself.

Accept only stories that fit into the ACTION or ADVENTURE genres.

Toronto COMEDY Film & Screenplay Festival:

Watch Today’s Festival: EXPERIMENTAL Shorts Festival

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Watch the Film Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/experimental-festival-april-2025

Duties of My Heart, 10min., USA, Poetry
Directed by Judy Lieff
Originally shot on 16mm and remastered in 2024 with additional elements, Duties of My Heart breathes life into Barbara Barg’s poem through the expressive and evocative movement of American Sign Language and dance. It creates a visual and auditory poetic experience and weaves a tapestry of sorrow, resiliance and revival.

https://www.instagram.com/judylief/

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-duties-of-my-heart

CHIMERA, 7min., South Korea, Dance
Directed by Minsu Kim
A presence curls up behind a thin veil on stage. From below, the serpent’s head—’Chimera,’ a camera—slithers its way up. The red recording light in Chimera’s lens flickers on, awakening the presence.

https://visualphilosophy.work/

https://www.instagram.com/haesae.kkum/

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-chimera

FRAGILE, 3min., Germany, Experimental
Directed by Lucas Buchholz, Bernd Brink
Every day, millions of packages are shipped, billions of messages are sent—our world seems more connected than ever. Even in the most remote corners of the planet, we are within reach. But have we truly come closer to one another?

https://www.instagram.com/lucasbuchholz_official/

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-fragile

SPARKS, 2min,. France, Dance
Directed by David Ravel
Alone on a vast stage, a dancer moves through a space sculpted by light. He observes, senses, letting the sensations guide his body. An instinctive dance emerges, visceral, almost organic. Each movement becomes an exploration, a silent quest in resonance with the luminous pulses enveloping him.

https://www.instagram.com/doggydazzzz/

Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-sparks

Today’s Podcast: EP. 1478: Filmmaker Yusuke Nakamae (ECHOES)

festreviews PODCASTS

ECHOES, 8min., Japan
Directed by Yusuke Nakamae
The Third World War has left Earth’s resources depleted, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction. Learning from the repeated mistakes of history, humanity turns to the advanced decision-making capabilities of AI to find a path forward. The solution proposed by the AI is an ambitious plan: transporting energy from outer space back to Earth.

https://www.instagram.com/yusuke.nakamae

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?
The release of ChatGPT in 2022 really sparked something in me.
As a UX designer at Hulu Japan, I’ve always been close to technology and digital experiences—but that moment made me seriously reflect on what creativity means in an age where AI can generate content.
That question became the seed of ECHOES.
The sci-fi setting naturally came from my own personal taste and the kinds of stories I love to watch and tell.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was deeply moved and surprised by how many people picked up on the symbolism and emotional undertones. Seeing that the themes I care about resonated across borders and cultures was incredibly rewarding.

Subscribe to the podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/

https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod