FLÜGGE, 25min., Germany
Directed by Leopold Schraudolph, Dani Rose Cortés
In an Austrian mountain village in 1914, the determined Amelie (20) must defy her father’s wishes of running the family sewing business to pursue her own dreams of flight and seize her only chance at finding true freedom.

Get to know filmmaker Finn-Oliver Walter

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The motivation behind “FLÜGGE” came from a deep-seated fascination with aviation and a desire to highlight the largely untold stories of female pioneers in early aviation. Growing up with a pilot father, Leopold’s (Writer, Director, Producer) bedtime stories were filled with epic adventures of heroic aviators. However, Amelia Earhart was the only female aviator represented in these stories. This realization inspired him to explore and celebrate the rich yet vastly underrepresented legacy of women aviators. Through Amelie’s journey – a fictional tale inspired by real-life trailblazers – we aim to shed light on their incredible contributions and the timeless themes of dreams, freedom, and emancipation.

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

The journey of creating “FLÜGGE” began on October 18, 2022, during initial discussions and culminated in the final master export on July 31, 2024.

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

DREAM BIG

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

One of the biggest challenges was balancing historical accuracy and magical storytelling in all aspects of the story.

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

This is a movie made for a wide audience, so seeing the positive reactions was incredibly rewarding. We couldn’t stop smiling while watching them!

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

After Leopold finished his first LEGO stopmotion animation as a child he showed it his family. In seeing how his small audience reacted to the story, he realized that this was his way of touching and inspiring people – filmmaking had taken a grasp on him. FINN REALIZED MAKING MOVIES MEANT….

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

Star Wars, Back to the Future & Harry Potter.

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

Offering networking opportunities would be incredibly beneficial. Additionally, creating platforms for filmmakers to collaborate on cross-cultural projects could foster creative synergies and expand our storytelling horizons.

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

Using FilmFreeway has been a seamless and mostly user-friendly experience. It offers a straightforward interface for submitting films and provides access to a diverse range of festivals.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Maultaschen (German dumplings), Dim Sum (Chinese dumplings) & Palak Paneer (Indian spinach dish).

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

We’re working on a feature length version of FLÜGGE. To receive updates on the future developments of this project, send us a mail and we’ll add you to our mailer: info@willitgrain.com

Sofia Portanet – Lust feat., 3min., France/Germany, Musical
Directed by Béla Baptiste
Lust delves into themes of love, passion, self-doubt, depression, and healing. The song expresses the longing for closeness and the desire to heal someone through kisses and love. When we feel unwell, we often withdraw and isolate ourselves, making it difficult to let someone in—both emotionally and physically. Allowing oneself to be held, to be loved, and to surrender in another’s arms requires courage and a willingness to open up. Though not always easy, there is beauty in being truly seen for who we are, beyond self-doubt and difficult times.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Sofia and I are long time friends (we actually dated back when we were 15…) – I love her music and we kept wanting to work together but an ocean separates us (she’s in Berlin, I’m in New York) – one day I said I’ll be in Paris and she said: I’ll come down I have a song you might like.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took about a month – a deadline was due, which helps in terms of procrastination

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
It was raining – which was great for a free wet down and cool lens effects but I also needed to protect the camera…

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I thought: damn that’s so nice – I’ve never since that in a festival. We are used to read textes but seing actual faces makes it so much more touching!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I grew up in an artistic environment but I was used to be in front of the camera/stage – only after 2 car crashes and resulting panic attacks I had to take a deeper look at my path and realized I want MAKE them as in behind the camera. I was 21.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
If you mean in the sense of THE ONE MOVIE I have seen the most I would go with Dumbo.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I think communication is always everything. I appreciate when festivals help fellow filmmakers in giving them plattforms. We live in a world where the artists also need to be promoters, marketing specialist and sales agents – it helps a lot when someone helps in that part.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I remember my father and his friends needing to submit in the 90’s – that was giant pain in the coffee cupholder! So platforms like filmfreeway really helped the democratisation of submitting –

10. What is your favorite meal?
That’s simple: Schnitzl

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I’m in pre-production of a feature: a dark comedy adapted from a stage play.

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?

Get to know filmmakers Lucas Buchholz + Bernd Brink:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

FRAGILE is the second part of a free audiovisual project by Weissraum. In electronic sound and vision we approach the topics of our time that concern us. FRAGILE (https://youtu.be/g-eE1hkR2T4) is about how aware we are of what we send – wether words, goods, or signals.
With our first piece RE, we focused on overconsumption and plastic waste. Click here for the clip RE, the first part of our series – a multiple award winner: https://youtu.be/qnXTpaTe5F0

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

The initial idea came about years ago when we found the head of “Lilli”, the blonde mannequin, at a flea market. The production of the movie itself took about eight months. During this time, we also produced the soundtrack, which gives our film its emotional depth.

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

Handle Carefully!

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

99% of all images and motion sequences were generated with AI, but all editing and cutting was done manually. This was done to ensure that every single part was absolutely as we intended. Learning: Using AI doesn’t mean it’s faster – it’s just a different approach. What’s new is that there are no (material) limits to the imagination.

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

Wow, how cool – it seems like people are feeling, thinking and reacting to our movie the way we hoped they would.

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

It’s always been a part of our work in communication design. Please also check our WS: weissraum.de

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

Blade Runner Parts one and two.

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 bigger the audience, the better. It’s important for us to reach as many people as possible. But for now, we are very satisfied with your festival.

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

It is very convenient and easy to use. We really appreciate working with it. And it’s nice that we often get direct invitations and even more favorable offers from festivals.

10. What is your favorite meal?

We love italian pasta – in many different ways.

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

Yes! The third, fourth and fifth parts of our film concept are already in the works at the same time. The aim is to give our individual films a larger whole. When we have finished the next parts of the entire concept material, we will let you know. Until then, thank you again for featuring us here.

Sequoia, 15min., Switzerland
Directed by Michelle Künzler
Sequoia, a diligent AI maid, works for the captivating yet mysterious Mrs. Terrance. Although not designed to harbor any emotions, Sequoia starts developing sentience, when a certain sound triggers a feeling inside her that feels oddly familiar – and human. Forced to conceal her newfound emotions to evade shutdown, Sequoia embarks on a dangerous quest for truth, tearing at the seams of her own identity and re-evaluating the intricate power dynamics that govern her place within the household.

http://sequoia-shortfilm.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sequoia_shortfilm/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I started writing ‘Sequoia,’ when AI tools like ChatGPT were rapidly gaining traction and the Hollywood strikes were unfolding, motivating me to explore the ethical implications and potential dangers of AI. The film was also deeply inspired by my personal experience. Growing up in a traditional household with a stay-at-home mom, I didn’t initially grasp the value and scope of unpaid domestic labor until I got older. As a feminist filmmaker, I wanted to pay tribute to housewives like my mother and shed light on that often overlooked, gendered work while connecting it to the theme of AI. I was particularly interested in the way modern technology intersects with gender roles—given that today’s AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Ameca are still predominantly female in name, voice, and/or appearance.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took 20 months. The idea for ‘Sequoia’ first came to me in April 2023, and I completed the film in November 2024.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
There were quite a few challenges throughout the entire project—from budget and time constraints to assembling the right crew. However, the biggest hurdle came during production as we fell behind schedule due to constant noise disruptions during exterior filming and a stunt scene that look longer to shoot than expected, resulting in an unplanned pick-up shoot. With some key crew members no longer available for the reshoot, it was difficult to find replacements and maintain continuity. Still, I’m proud to have persevered and overcome this obstacle. I’ve certainly learned and grown a lot from this experience.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Hearing the audience talk about my film, when it’s usually the other way around, felt like a rare and special moment. It was incredibly rewarding and refreshing to just listen to their honest feedback and kind words, and it was especially satisfying to learn that the twist at the end genuinely surprised them.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I realized early on that I wanted to make films, but it took time to find the courage and self-belief to actually pursue that passion. As a kid, I’d watch tons of DVDs and create stop-motion “movies” with a small handheld camera, using my toys as actors. Yet as I grew older, filmmaking seemed like an unrealistic career path—especially growing up in Switzerland, where the film industry is limited. I’ve always loved writing, so initially I considered journalism as a more realistic career choice, but I eventually realized it wasn’t for me. At 25, with the unwavering support of my family—especially my mother, who’s always encouraged me to follow my dreams—I finally packed my bags and moved to LA to become a filmmaker.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Difficult to say, but I used to re-watch a lot of chick flicks like ‘Legally Blonde’ and ‘Mean Girls.’ However, I’ve always been more drawn to TV shows, and I’ve probably watched ‘Desperate Housewives’ more than anything else.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Great question! First, I want to thank you for the incredible support and opportunities your festival already provides. To further support filmmakers, I suggest sharing the trailers or short clips of their films on your Instagram to boost visibility and build anticipation. Offering a short free review, with the option to purchase a more detailed one, and hosting an in-person screening and Q&A to foster networking and direct audience engagement would also be helpful.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Great! The information on FilmFreeway is clearly presented and easy to access, making the submission process smooth and easy.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Any meal my Turkish mom cooks is my favorite—there’s nothing like homemade comfort food. I especially love Turkish dishes with yoghurt like Mantı and Dolma. I’m also a big fan of Italian cuisine like Penne all’Arrabbiata.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Lately, I’ve been focusing a lot on production design, but I’m eager to shift my attention back to writing and directing. I’m planning to write and direct a new feminist thriller short film this year and would love to collaborate with Amber again, who played Mrs. Terrance in ‘Sequoia.’

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:

1. 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.

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

I wrote the first draft of this in December 2022, and we shot in June 2023. With post production, the film was completed at the beginning of June 2024.

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

Insidious + Unnerving

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

I am based in NY, so setting up production in another state was a challenge. It was important to me to use as many local filmmakers as possible, and to prioritize working with womxn/non-binary filmmakers. We found a fantastic crew who were predominantly based out of Albuquerque.

5. 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.

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

I grew up in LA, so I’ve always been around film. My father was a cinematographer and I grew up going to sets, I think it was something I fell in love with fairly early on. I knew from a very early age that I wanted to be involved in the film industry, starting off solely through acting. As I’ve grown older, I’ve expanded and taken up writing as well. I love movies, and I’m grateful to be able to express my creativity in this way.

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

That’s a tough question! I think I watched ‘Paper Moon’ quite a bit when I was younger, and I revisited many Ingmar Bergman films throughout my angsty 20s. My mum and I always watch ‘Love, Actually’ at Christmas — so perhaps that’s the one I’ve seen the most?

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

I’m always looking for people to collaborate with. Whether it’s as a writer or an actor, I love meeting new people and working with fellow creatives to craft a story. I started my career solely as an actor and wrote this film as a vehicle to do what I love while exploring my own experience. I’d love to continue connecting with other creators to foster a larger artist community.

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

It’s been pretty easy! FilmFreeway is a great resource.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I love Japanese food generally, so probably sushi or maybe a Japanese curry.

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

I’m currently developing the short into a feature, so that’s my main focus. I took some space from the project for a while, but am now back in full force. I also have a treatment for a mini series that I’d love to shoot some day. I’m continuing to audition as well, so who knows where this next year will take me. I look forward to finding out!

Am I Still Beautiful?, 8min., USA
Directed by Tara Sekana Zulfikar
Fourteen-year-old Malaya is the quintessential tomboy who loves baggy pants and hanging out with boys. However, her world of familial expectation and rough friendships collide on the day of her birthday party, when she is forced to prove her masculinity once and for all in order to defend her best friend and secret crush, Ali.

https://www.tarazulfikar.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tara_zulfikar/

1. What motivated you to make this film?
This film is deeply personal and closely mirrors my own upbringing. I was a classic tomboy growing up—always trying to emulate my older brother. I wore his oversized checkered shirts and baggy pants, and spent most of my time surrounded by boys. With no girls’ soccer team at my primary school, I joined the boys’ team and felt completely at home in that world.

But everything shifted when I was around fourteen and developed a crush on a close male friend. I worked up the courage to express my feelings in a roundabout way, only to realize I was still seen as “one of the guys”—funny, rough-around-the-edges, and invisible in any romantic sense.

Am I Still Beautiful? is my way of exploring identity, beauty, and self-worth. It’s a personal reckoning, a way of rewriting my story and reclaiming my femininity on my own terms. I also hope it resonates with others navigating similar questions about how we define and express who we are.

2. From idea to finished product, how long did it take to make this film?
This film was created for one of my production classes at NYU. Pre-production lasted about six weeks, and we shot the film over two days. Post-production, however, took the longest—around seven months.

3. How would you describe your film in two words?
Bittersweet and familiar.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Post-production, hands down. I often get caught in an endless loop of edits, second-guessing every cut, unsure when a project is truly finished. I ended up sitting on this film longer than I planned, but thankfully, my editor Adriana Guevara was an amazing collaborator. After a long break, we returned to the project with fresh eyes and landed on a cut we were both really proud of.

5. What were your initial reactions to the audience feedback video?
I loved it! There’s no better feeling than hearing people “get” your film. It was like—Yes! That’s exactly what I was going for. It’s incredibly affirming.

6. When did you realize you wanted to make films?
I got a camera for my 14th birthday, and I started out with photography before transitioning into video. I made skits with my childhood friends and quickly fell in love with storytelling. I’ve always been obsessed with the way movies make you feel—it just made sense to pursue filmmaking.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Probably The Florida Project by Sean Baker.

8. What could festivals do to better support filmmakers like yourself?
Getting real audience reactions is such a rare and rewarding experience. Most of the time, it’s just a yes or no—you’re accepted or you’re not. So to be able to hear genuine, constructive feedback and feel that sense of community? That’s invaluable. Honestly, I have no notes—just keep doing more of that!

9. How has your experience been using FilmFreeway?
I love FilmFreeway. It’s super user-friendly and makes it so easy to get your work out there and seen by people around the world.

10. What’s your favorite meal?
Indonesian food, no question. I’m obsessed with nasi padang—steamed white rice served with a variety of sides like beef rendang, curried jackfruit, and all kinds of spicy, flavorful dishes.

11. What’s next for you—any upcoming projects?
I’m currently wrapping up post-production on a commercial for a local Brooklyn chocolate shop. Post was a bit of a challenge again, but I’m proud to have pushed through. I’ve also been focusing on producing, and I have several films lined up for this upcoming festival season!

NIGHT FEEDING, 6min., USA
Directed by Sarah K. Reimers
Exhaustion and sleep-deprivation begin to take their toll on a new mother, who struggles through the strange, dark stillness of the 4am feeding.

http://www.bestbaddogfilms.com/
https://facebook.com/bestbaddogfilms
https://instagram.com/bestbaddogfilms

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

ANSWER – There were a of couple things. Firstly, my husband (Robert Rossello who co-Produced, handled the cinematography, color grade and visual fx) and I had been talking about making a really short, no-budget film and using just what we had on hand, or could borrow, with friends who would volunteer their time and talent. The inspiration for the story came from being a new mother myself and struggling with sleep deprivation. One early morning, in the dark hours, I was up feeding my infant daughter and this idea came to me and it seemed like a great candidate for a short, no-budget film. It also made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

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

ANSWER – shooting the film only took a about a week. About 4 days initially and then a couple days with pick-up shots later on. Because I make these films in my free-time outside of my job editing animated feature films and Robert is doing the same, it can take us a really long time to get these movies done. In this case it was about 5 years. We had the editing done within a year, but then getting the music, sound design, vfx and color grade were much slower to get done. Life gets in the way and we just chipped away at it as we could.

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

ANSWER – Mother’s Nightmare

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

ANSWER – The biggest obstacle was just trying to find the time and energy, while working full-time (sometimes working extra long hours and weekends), being a parent, moving to a different city and then living through the Covid lock-downs. A lot happened while we were making this short film.

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

ANSWER – It was so gratifying to hear audience members say back to me the ideas I was trying to communicate with this film. To know you reached someone and they GOT IT. All of the pieces that were important to us; the mood, tension, the scares – to hear that it all landed and was appreciated, what a gift.

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

ANSWER – I think I must have been in highschool. When my Father brought home a video camera, that was it for me.

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

ANSWER – Either the original Ghostbusters, or Clue.

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

ANSWER – something I’ve struggled with is connecting with film reviewers and connecting with talent management or representation.

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

ANSWER – It’s awfully convenient.

10. What is your favorite meal?

ANSWER – Oh, so many things, but my favorite thing might be my husband’s home-made pizza. He makes the dough and the sauce from scratch and if we ever left the film business, it might be to go into the pizza business!

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

ANSWER – Well, I’m currently editing Angry Birds 3 as my day job and in my free time I am working on a new episode of my cooking web-series “Family Recipes with Allison and Sarah” and working on writing some new material. I’ve been working on a horror feature, an animated feature based on a fairy tale and a bunch of other little things that are all percolating in the back of my brain.

Midnight Coachmen, 18min., Canada
Directed by Enrico Ferri
A reimagining of the classic fairytale of Cinderella, told from the perspective of a dog and mouse who live as humans until the stroke of midnight disrupts their world.

http://enricoferr.ca/
https://instagram.com/stanleywoodfilms

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
It was a concept that I had come up with when I was in university.
I’ve always wanted to do a period piece and after getting enough experience producing and directing I felt it was finally a good time to challenge myself in this genre.

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

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The global pandemic and the Canadian grant process both stalled the project multiple times.

Provincial restrictions and closures caused repeated delays, and the grant process left me in limbo—unsure whether to wait and reapply or move forward on my own. In the end, I decided to do it independently. Securing Canadian arts grants is tough—part luck, part timing—and with this project, I had neither.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It’s great to see strangers critique your work—sometimes they’re more honest than friends or family.
Hearing people talk about the film was especially rewarding because they picked up on many of the things I hoped the audience would notice and enjoy.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
After I failed as an actor.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Problem Child 2.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
I think it would really help filmmakers—especially those just starting out—if festivals gave a short explanation when a film isn’t selected.
It would give them a clearer idea of what to improve, instead of leaving them guessing and feeling discouraged.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
For the most part, I enjoy using FilmFreeway. It’s organized and detailed. I like how they now have reviews for the festival.
It helps to choose which festivals are the right one for the filmmaker and the project.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Pinot Noir and a Snickers bar.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Yes. A new short film. Then I’m focusing on getting two feature films off the ground once that is complete.

Until Death Do Us Part, 20min,. USA
Directed by Leonardo Daccarett
In technology advanced dystopian future of New Angeles. Detective Lucius Caine is assigned to the murder of Marcus Rhyne, high level agent of the Japanese megacorporation Yanasawa. With evidence alluding to his wife, Uma Rhyne, being diagnosed with Kipnosis (Kinetic Integration and Psychosomatic Neural Overload Syndrome) makes her a prime suspect to his murder. His one night visit to her estate pits the enigmatic detective and a cold/calculated corporate in a battle to outwit the other.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23872148/?ref_=nm_flmg_knf_t_1

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

The idea came to me in the form of a question. During the 2020 lockdown, I had been going through a Columbo marathon with my father and not long after I went to revisit Blade Runner. It was during my reviewing of Blade Runner where despite the many times I had seen it, I could never connect or really get interested in the Deckard character played Harrison Ford. I liked the performance, but was never interested in his story. So after hours of watching Peter Falk masterfully play Detective Columbo throughout his life, I asked myself “Would Blade Runner work if Columbo was the protagonist?” This sparked an interest I already had with the cyberpunk genre as I always loved media such as Ghost in the Shell and Akira, as well as even dabbling in the Cyberpunk 2020 table rpg in high school. So I got to writing and thought this could be fun challenge to see if I could pull it off.

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

I started writing the film back in early 2022, with that idea of a Columbo type detective in this cyberpunk dystopian setting. I had taken the setting of New Angeles from a tabletop campaign I wrote when I was in high school and just added it. Originally the script was around 35 pages and included an opening, not to dissimilar from how a traditional Columbo episode would open, we’d see the antagonist (Uma Rhyne) commit the crime of killing her husband and then Detective Caine of the NAPD would show up. The final product follows most of what was originally written, minus the 15 minute intro. We shot the film in November of 2022, and began editing in January of 2023. It took a year in total of post-production as the challenges of attending the film school and having time to edit really delayed the process. It eventually completed, but was kept on the drive since I had committed to my next short film in 2024, which took up much of my time as well as a few more films I was producing. It wouldn’t be till 2025 that I eventually screened and released the film, making 3 years from when I had initially written it.

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

TECH NOIR…

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

The biggest obstacle had to have been the scope. For a relatively simple concept it took a while to understand how to even make it. Never done anything like it, so much of it had to be figured out as I was making it. I had knowledge of VFX and stunts, but not enough. The fight scene originally was much bigger. We would see Uma actually brutally murder the Yanasawa bodyguards in the hallway before reaching Detective Caine, and in the final scene where Caine fights Mia it was much bigger and more complex with guns and more martial arts. However, this proved to be impossible to feasibly accomplish with the time given, with only 4 days at our disposal, it just wasn’t gonna work. So we cut out the hallway scene and shortened the Caine/Mia confrontation. As previously stated there was a whole different intro which also never happened – this would have easily added another 2 days of shooting. However, that intro was later adapted into the Music Video Dark Fires, which is the ending original song of Until Death Do Us Part. Do in no small part this was a school project and it was my first time making a film of this scope, the time given to me was just not enough to accomplish the whole vision, but it definitely was a great learning experience that informed my decisions of my next film.

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

I went into it not really expecting a specific response, but just curious to see if it was an overall enjoyable experience. Much of what I heard did make me feel satisfied in knowing that my experiment did come across and it was very positive. You never know sometimes how people will react when you do a project like this, because while it’s a cliché story – there’s that added element of a buffoon type Detective who is somewhat funny and endearing. So it’s a little different from your typical noir where the protagonist is a more serious character and I wanted to see if it could resonate with people. Evidently it seemed to have work and I’m glad it did.

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

I was very young, could’ve have been older than 12 I think. I used to watch the behind the scenes of movies and just the creativity that went into fooling the camera with miniatures or matte paintings, or force perspectives – it all fascinated me. The process of making movies was so exhilarating and creating these worlds just sparked my imagination. As a kid I was always the type to run DnD campaigns and write short stories to later post in a blog on some website like creepypasta or even just pass around in my class. So it was just a natural evaluation that I’d eventually make my way into film.

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

Hard question to answer. I think the safe answer would be Pirates of the Caribbean, I can easily say I’ve seen it over a 100 times by now and still tend to revisit it every so often. However, I do revisit the Lord of the Rings trilogy once a year and films like RoboCop, Aliens, Terminator, Starship Troopers, etc… are all on my bucket list of just films I have to watch again and again. So it’s really just a hard question to answer.

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

I’m no expert, but I feel that offering audience feedback is always key for me. Since it just helps to hear from real people what they truly feel about my films. Being in an echo chamber, while spares feelings temporary, it does me no favors when the real goal is to keep making bigger and better movies.

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

Very positive. Typically before, it was a game of knowing the right people to get into festivals and while I still believe that’s still true, FilmFreeway is a good way to get your film out there, faster and to more people.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Ramen…

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

So, I’m currently finishing up my last film ‘Twilight of the Undead’ it’s a nice little throwback to ’80s zombie action. Took up almost a year and half of production. This film will release later this year in Fall of 2025. I also recently wrapped up a film I was hired to produce which went very well, and am looking to produce an additional 3 films by this summer. During this I’m looking to the future for something very big, I’ve written my next big project and I’m thrilled to start production later this year – it’s gonna be my biggest film yet and can’t wait for it.

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:

1. 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.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took about 7 months from concept to completion.
Since I created this film as a solo project—writing, directing, editing, and designing everything myself—it was a very intense process, but it allowed me to shape the story exactly the way I envisioned it.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
One of the biggest challenges was working with 3D design and visual effects.
While I wasn’t starting completely from zero, my skills at the time were limited and far from professional.
Since I was handling every aspect of the film myself, I had to significantly improve those abilities throughout the process.
Of course, I’m still learning, and in many ways, my technical limitations became part of the film’s visual language—both as a constraint and a characteristic.

5. 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.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
Working as a UX designer at Hulu Japan, I’ve always been surrounded by films and storytelling.
Being immersed in that environment made me fall in love with the language of cinema—not just as entertainment, but as a form of emotional and philosophical expression.
That daily exposure eventually sparked my desire to tell stories of my own.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Interstellar.
Its emotional depth, scientific imagination, and powerful visual storytelling left a lasting impression on me. It reminds me that great science fiction can be both intellectually profound and deeply human.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
What you’ve done—offering audience feedback and promoting filmmakers beyond just screenings—is fantastic. More festivals could follow this example by offering mentorship, distribution advice, or networking spaces with industry professionals.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?
It’s been smooth and efficient. FilmFreeway is a great way to discover supportive and passionate festivals like yours.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Sushi—elegant, precise, and quietly powerful. Much like the kind of film I strive to create.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Yes. I’m developing a new sci-fi short that continues to question how humans interact with the technologies we create.
This time, I want to explore the idea of legacy and what we choose to leave behind.