The #WILDsound Feedback Festival has to be one of the most groundbreaking festivals because the reviews are always from a diverse perspective on the body of work submitted. #filmfestival We appreciate this festival and how it incorporates all film producers to submit their work from varying backgrounds. I enjoy spending time watching the many short films submitted on their platform. Congratulations to WILDsound Feedback Festival and their team! All great work being done here!
This is key theory advice on making a great film on a limited budget. Next step is to use it on a practical level and make a film. Or make another film !!! #indiefilm #filmmaking #makeamovie #petermarkle #film
Festival played at the end of September 2025. Showcasing the best of NEW movie trailers from around the world. Over 180 submissions.
AUDIENCE AWARDS:
Best Movie Trailer: THE AGE OF THE EMPATH
Best Action: THE SOOTHSAYER
Best Cinematography: THE HUNTED
Best Comedy: THE DON OF WEST HOLLYWOOD
Best Concept Film: THE ANGEL’S TEARS
Best Crime: MY SAFE PLACE
Best Direction: THE POINTLESS ADVENTURES OF DARTMAN
Best Drama: ROOTLESS
Best Environmental: PRECURSOR
Best Experimental: THE INTERVIEW
Best Fantasy: HOLLER
Best Mystery: HOTEL PURGATORIO
Best Performances: THE NOMAD
Best Quest: FYR
Best Sci-Fi: CROSSTUNNELS
Best Story: THE GOBLINS OF SYCAMORE STREET
Best Student Trailer: FATHER DADDY
Best TV Web Series: TMM: PRELUDE
Best Twist: BLACK JACK DAISY
Best Visual Design: THE GUNSLINGER GRIFTER LOGAN
THE GUNSLINGER GRIFTER LOGAN, 2min., USA Directed by Stephen Rubac
THE GOBLINS OF SYCAMORE STREET, 3min., USA Directed by Jay Lorenz Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where goblins aren’t just creatures of myth and legend, but your next-door neighbors? In this story, we journey into the heart of a goblin family who decides to leave a life of mischief and swap their forest home for the suburban tranquility of Sycamore Street. It’s a tale that blends the fantastical with the everyday, exploring the joys and challenges of adapting to new environments, celebrating the unique qualities of each family member, and proving that even goblins can find happiness in the most unexpected places.
THE POINTLESS ADVENTURES OF DARTMAN, 2min., USA Directed by Jay Lorenz Mason Wright was formerly a well-respected astronaut for the Merritt City Space Station, until a career ending injury from an accident on his most recent mission, left him spending his remaining days as a guide for the Space Station. Coincidently, the accident resulted in an exploding meteor, which projected a radioactive fragment directly at the vicinity of Merritt City.
THE AGE OF THE EMPATH, 2min., USA Directed by Steve Brown When a trailblazing physicist is about to prove that consciousness can transform the material world, she is met with violent opposition from an ancient and powerful order.
THE DON OF WEST HOLLYWOOD, 3min., USA Directed by Dominic Paolo Testa A mafia don accused of being gay must prove that he is straight or die.
THE NOMAD, 1min., Australia Directed by Wesley October In a sun-scorched desert where the law is as relentless as the heat, a lone biker known only as The Nomad rides the empty highways, trailed by the shadow of a vulture. Passing through hostile towns and tense standoffs, his journey seems aimless until a single bullet reveals his true purpose
MY SAFE PLACE, 1min., USA Directed by Brenda Patricia Garza After surviving a classroom shooting as the sole survivor, seven-year-old Lisa struggles with the quiet psychological aftermath of trauma. Once carefree, she becomes consumed by fear — questioning safety, and the world around her. As her family attempts to help her heal, Lisa must confront survivor’s guilt and redefine what “safe” truly means in a world that suddenly feels fragile. My Safe Place is an intimate portrait of childhood innocence interrupted. rgvtalentconsulting@gmail.com
HOLLER, 2min., USA Directed by Devin Michael Smock, Samuel David After the world ends quietly, a hardened loner and a pregnant young woman form an uneasy alliance across the ruins of rural America. Part western, part road movie, part slow-burn apocalypse — it’s a story about survival, guilt, and finding scraps of hope in a world that’s lost its soul.
CROSSTUNNELS, 20 seconds, Serbia Directed by Ivan Miodrag Cvetkovic *CROSSTUNNELS = Final Timefall script page 41 (Religion in the age of space exploration)
THE SOOTHSAYER, 1min., UK Directed by Nick Sneath A skilled assassin is sent back in time to stop a dark cult from seizing an ancient relic that could reshape history. As he fights through medieval lands, haunted by visions and hunted by supernatural foes, he must piece together the shattered artifact before time itself is lost along with the only chance to save the woman he loves.
BLACK JACK DAISY, 2min., USA Directed by Greg Ferrara A man’s wife disappears while he is away on business. His friend agrees to go to their house to find her but she’s not there. An old man tells him the legend of Black Jack Daisy, the wandering soul of a murderer who claims her lost loves throughout time. And warns him, “You don’t want to meet her.”
PRECURSOR, 2min., USA Directed by Steve Brown When a mysterious contagion traps its victims in paralyzing loops of déjà vu, a burned-out neurosurgeon races against time to save lives, only to stumble upon a conspiratorial plot to wipe out the human race.
FȲR, 1min., UK Directed by Mackenzie Fuller A young warrior and his aging mentor confront the Mother, a primordial being of nature who blurs the line between creation and control.
TMM: Prelude, 2min., USA Directed by Keith Diamante Hence The Mini Series Will Be Very Very Short Episodes Of The Immediate Events Leading Up To The Official Full First Season Of The Drama Series “The Masked Men”.
THE HUNTED, 90sec., USA Directed by Josh Herum
THE INTERVIEW, 5min., Italy Directed by Sara Bergamini, Daniele Zucchini Daniel has a job interview via Zoom, but at one point, he finds himself face to face with a projection of his mind that puts him in difficulty and makes fun of him.
ROOTLESS, 1min., Canada Directed by Leslie Gabriela Ortiz Nila is interviewed by an immigration officer in Canada. This marks the beginning of her immigrant journey. She calmly answers the questions, but a chaos of fear and confusion shocks her inner world. A year later, the questions continue on other people’s lips and faces. The last question: “Was it worth it? It prompts Nila to break the fourth wall and look into the camera; the answer is no longer hers alone, but that of whoever is behind the screen.
HOTEL PURGATORIO, 3min., Philippines Directed by Joey Agbayani
THE ANGEL’S TEARS, 1min., France Directed by Chris Garcia After several centuries, Angel Gabriel and the Fallen Lucifer meet to play a game of chess that will have repercussions for both kingdoms.
FATHER DADDY, 40sec. USA Directed by Mayrav Estrin A conflicted young priest struggles with his seductive demons and unfamiliar desires as he navigates a life of faith, temptation, and the path to redemption, all while being a leader of faith in his church community.
This has been one of the absolute highlights of my festival journey. I would recommend any filmmaker submit here because they do something truly exceptional. If selected, your film is screened for an audience, and you receive thoughtfully edited video audience feedback, which is an incredible gift to filmmakers. It moved me deeply and gave me renewed energy to keep going.
I was also fortunate to take part in both a written and podcast interview with the team, and the experience was genuinely enjoyable. The questions were thoughtful and supportive, allowing me to talk about the film holistically, including the team behind it and how we created it. I have followed WILDsound for years, so submitting felt like a natural choice. An absolute highlight of my festival journey.
LEMONADE PARTY, 5min., USA Directed by Alexander Minas A scientist has discovered the “interdimensional hop.” On a mission, she lands in an alternate universe where the world feels like an idyllic 1950’s lemonade party but she soon discovers something sinister lies beneath.
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film? This was part of the 48 Hour Film competition in San Francisco (filmed at my home in Oakland). I had a great and motivated team – specifically a fierce DP (Deidre Locklear) and Producer (Hillary Pierce) who wrangled everything to make this film a success.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Because it was a competition, we could only plan for so much like wrangling crew, props, equipment but we truly didn’t know what would come to fruition until the kick-off. We literally had 48 hours to concept, write, shoot, edit and deliver this film!
3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Bad party.
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Probably writing the film and using the parameters given to us by the competition. I think at one point I wanted to use a green screen and my producer and DP reeled me in from that.
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? I was surprised how well they received it. I really REALLY wanted it to do well in the 48 Hour Film project but I was so nervous I thought I was going to have a panic attack in the theater – but people came up to me and told me how much they loved the visuals and the camera-heads.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? In high school. I took a film class and our big project was to make a film. It was in the 90s so I believe we filmed on 8mm tape, transferred the media to a VHS and edited between two VCRs. A time was had.
7. What film have you seen the most in your life? It’s a toss up between Jurassic Park or Poltergeist! The common denominator is Spielberg, cliche I know, but still!
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 have no notes, it’s so cool to get a full review on my film! Thank you@
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? Seamless!
10. What is your favorite meal? A toss up between quesadillas or pizza (might just be the cheese).
11. What is next for you? A new film? I would love to find the time to make a fantasy film set in an urban environment. I’ve been mulling over some ideas!
FAT BOI, 3min., USA Directed by Lynnette Cabrera This is biig red couch’s first professional music video! As a Washington Filmworks project, FAT BOI was filmed at Harbor Island Studios in Seattle Washington. biig red couch is thrilled to make his music video debut with Equinox Productions, especially beside his buddy and hype-man Antonio the capybara. Antonio surfs through biig red couch’s journey from delusion to drab to FABULOUS!
1. What motivated you to make this film? My DP who I have known since he was a child encouraged me for several months to tackle the largest film project in my life.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? It took over 3 years from concept to finish to get this done.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!? Inspiring and Joyful
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Communication amongst the crew.
5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.
What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process? Production was exhilarating and fun!
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films? I realized I wanted to make music videos in my mid 40’s.
7. What film have you seen the most times in your life? Because I watch Groundhog’s Day on repeat every year on February 2nd, it takes the prize but Howl’s Moving Castle is a close second.
8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film? So, as an older, hispanic female filmmaker with a chronic illness, I know Hollywood and the industry are not for me. The current system drains the creativity out of the process and I am not interested in selling my soul to be a part of it. That being said, I would like to work with experienced and diverse crews on well funded projects that showcase collaboration and imagination. And truly, I’m only interested in making my own films and not working in the industry for the above stated reasons.
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? Filmfreeway is great unless you encounter a glitch in submitting and then it’s not terribly intuitive.
10. What is your favorite meal? Pho Tai Nam
11. What is next for you? A new film? About to launch a fundraiser for Antonio the capybara’s next short film starring him as the Solstice King who brings back the light. Besides that project we have been developing a web series about the Zucchini 500 races at the local county fair that I preside over as The Zuccchini Queen. Also on the slate is a post apocalyptic feel good feature movie featuring, you guessed it, Antonio the capybara! Last but not least I’m working with an animator to animate a short film I illustrated as a children’s book, the script recently won some local awards.
The Unarmed: Firelock Silhouettes, 2min., China Directed by Suyu SUN In a land embraced by mountains, rituals repeat across generations: young men have their heads shaved, receive gunpowder and firearms, and become inheritors of the village’s cultural memory. Beyond the ritual, a pair of eyes has always been watching. She stands silent, slightly bowed, in the shadows beneath the drum tower.
Get to know the filmmaker:
Q1. What motivated you to make this film?
It started with a chance discovery — I came across a place known in China as ‘the last gunmantribe.’ But what struck me wasn’t the guns themselves. When these men raise their flintlocksaspart of a tourist spectacle, I kept wondering: what stories lie behind them? And more importantly— when men first picked up these guns, where were the women? How did they see all of this?
Those questions wouldn’t leave me, and that’s how this film was born.
Q2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
A little over two months. I don’t like dragging things out — once the idea clicked, everythingflowed naturally. I rode the momentum and just went for it.
Q3. How would you describe your film in two words?
The Gaze. The Unseen.
Q4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Runtime. I always wanted to go deeper, say more — but sometimes the hardest thing is knowingwhen to stop.
Q5. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?
Pre-production, without a doubt. It’s the purest creative stage — anything is possible andtheideas are still alive with potential.
Q6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
At 15, when I got into the highschool affiliated with the Central Academy of Fine Arts —oneof
China’s most prestigious art institutions. Everyone around me was painting. I looked aroundandthought: that’s not my path. I need to find my own. Film was the answer.
Q7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?
I’m not really someone whorewatches films — I always want to see something new. But afewhave pulled me back: Taxi Driver, and Rohmer’s Four Seasons series (mostly becauseI keepforgetting the details, honestly). Some classics you revisit for work, and they always reveal something new.
Q8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?
Woody Allen. I don’t even know if I’d want to make a film with him —I just want to sit downandtalk with him for hours.
Q9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on thefestival platform?
Really smooth and intuitive. It makes the whole submission process much less intimidating.
Q10. What is your favorite meal?
Toasted bread. I’m too lazy to cook a proper meal — I could eat the same simple thingeverydayfor a month and be completely fine with it.
Q11. What is next for you? A new film?
First, moving to France to continue my studies. After that — I imagine new stories will findme.
Embrace the hustle., 4min., India Directed by Aditya Janak Joshi
Get to know the filmmaker:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
The motivation for making this film stems from the world that I grew up observing. I saw two fresh and original worlds both at different times. When I was a kid, there was “Saturday Night Racing” an illegal night bike racing circuit organising racing events every Saturday Night on Mumbai streets. Co-existing at the same time was (still is) Linking Road in Bandra, Mumbai…a prime hub for street shopping in the city and country. I decided to club these two worlds and create a fictional third world and that is how it all began.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
The entire process of idea to film took four months in total. The idea for the short film originated in September ’25 and by the back end of December ’25, the project was ready. We could’ve ended it much quicker but the crew and myself were all working individuals, thus being able to cultivate this project only on weekends.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Unapologetically intense.
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle was to execute the project in the constrained budget of 6000 INR / 65.95 USD while also not compromising on the quality efficiency and delivering the core message plausibly.
5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?
Development. This stage has that magic moment when I watch my film or a particular scene of it in my head for the first time and that seals the deal for me. The feeling is elevating, surreal and incomparable.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
In 9th grade, which is when I was 14 years old. I had freshly broken up with my childhood dream of becoming a cricketer which is a very relevant dream in the Indian subcontinent. I participated in an intra-school science short film competition with no real motivation but still somehow bagged the award, that moment, is when I decided to make films.
7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?
Its a three-way tie between “Interstellar” “Seven” and “La La Land”. Watched them all thrice.
8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?
It is really tough to pick one but I’d love to collaborate with Daniel Day Lewis.
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
The experience has been nothing short of delightful. Effective communication, easy-to-follow guidelines, a user-friendly interface and other attributes like so have really uplifted my experience.
10. What is your favorite meal?
My favorite meal is “Chole Bhature” which is an Indian cuisine where huge disc-shaped bhatura breads are scooped into a tad bit sour and fairly spicy chickpea gravy, sided with onion rings and mint chutney.
11. What is next for you? A new film?
Next for me is what I always wanted to do with this idea. So the original nature of this idea was as a feature film. I wrote the entire 144 page script and screenplay and then to make it reach mammoth production houses in the Indian film industry, I compressed it into a short-film which I planned to use as a pitch deck for producers to get a better grip of the world. My plan is to tell them “If I can execute these kinds of visuals and create an immersive world like so in a constrained budget of 6000 INR / 65 USD, imagine the kind of quality I can bring on-board with a decent budget.”
EDGE, 14min., Spain Directed by Abel Moreno Pradas Locked in, separated by a huge glass and deprived of speech, two people meet without knowing how they got there. Where are the limits that prevent us from acting in unjust situations? Are they physical or are they within us?
The initial motivation came from certain personal experiences where a pane of glass separated me from another person. In all of them, there were strong emotional implications, and the glass took on a certain symbolic meaning. In one of those experiences, I had the idea to express it through dance because I couldn’t find the words to express something so abstract. And I thought that idea would only exist in my mind, but one day it began to take shape, and along the way, many other situations have been added to the short film’s message.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Well, the initial idea came about 10 years ago, but the project didn’t really get off the ground until much later. The project began to take shape when I met Gelya, the lead female dancer, and in total it took about two years from when we started looking for funding until post-production was finished.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Social screendance
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle was securing the necessary funding to complete the production. In fact, I ended up having to finance part of the short film myself and give up my salary.
5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.
What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?
I find it hard to choose between production and post-production. Because filming is the most active part, there’s a lot of teamwork, and that’s wonderful. But I love editing, putting the pieces of the puzzle together and seeing the film take shape and come to life. So it’s a tough decision!
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
That much I know for sure! It was a Saturday, when I was 6 or 7 years old. I woke up very early and my parents were still asleep, so I did what I did every Saturday: turn on the Beta video player and put in the first tape I found. It was “Singin’ in the Rain,” and there I saw, for the first time, how a movie was made. I was fascinated and knew for sure that I wanted to do that.
7. What film have you seen the most times in your life?
Probably, “Lost highway” by David Lynch.
8. In a perfect world: Who would you like to work with/collaborate with on a film?
In a perfect world, I would love to work with some of the great directors I’ve always admired for their films. But we live in a very imperfect world, and these same directors, whom I don’t even want to mention, have highly questionable political and ideological positions.
So, in this imperfect world, I prefer to work with filmmakers, actors, and actresses who are socially engaged. As a director, I would choose Ken Loach. And as actresses and actors, I would love to work with Susan Sarandon, Javier Bardem, Mark Ruffalo, Tilda Swinton, Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett, and Viggo Mortensen because, beyond being incredible actors and actresses, they are people committed to social causes and have a clear stance against the genocide suffered by the Palestinian people.
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
So far my experience has been very good. There are other similar platforms, but the one I use most is FilmFreeway.
10. What is your favorite meal?
The spanish omelet cooked by my father.
11. What is next for you? A new film?
I hope so! Right now I have several ideas in mind, some in documentary format, and a feature film I wrote a while ago. Whatever it is, it will definitely be a socially conscious project, because it’s more necessary now than ever.
CLOSURE, 9min., USA Directed by Dainique Jones In this dance film, we watch a couple unravel into a cycle of control, distance, and longing. Through movement rather than words, the film explores the weight of regret—the ache of what cannot be undone, and the haunting persistence of love that has turned toxic. A visceral portrait of connection and loss.
Get to know writer/performer/producer Kat Bark:
1. What motivated you to make this film?
The need to finally share a part of me that I was nervous to present. There was a lot of emotion connected to this film for me, and when I heard Justin Vernon’s song it all clicked for me. All my past experiences and thoughts felt supported by his music.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
From the first rehearsal to finishing up edit, it took roughly 10-11 months. I had an amazing team to support me the whole way.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Connection and Exposed
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Scheduling! My team is made of very busy freelancers, so finding a weekend to shoot the film was a large challenge. Then I sprained my ankle, which pushed us back about 2 months. We had to find another weekend that would work for everyone, so it was a lot of puzzling to make sure we could all be there.
5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I always worry that the lack of dialogue will make an audience feel withdrawn, but I am glad to hear that the audience felt like they could go on the journey with these two characters. It made me feel like I did my job as a choreographer.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
The first short film I made was the summer of 2024. It was my way to test if this was an avenue I would be interested in. While working on Closure, is when I realized that this was something I wanted to continue to do.
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Requiem for a Dream by Darren Aronofsky
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 enjoyed the audience feedback, I thought it was a great way to feel a part of the festival even though I was not able to attend.
The only thing that would have made me feel even more involved would be being able to watch the other films in my category.
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I like FilmFreeway and I find it to be a user friendly platform.
10. What is your favorite meal?
Any version of steak and potatoes
11. What is next for you? A new film?
I was inspired after working on this film and decided to move to London. I am studying at London Contemporary Dance School for my Masters in Screendance. I wanted to build my foundation, and learn more about the film industry.
I have two short films in the making to be released in 2026. One film is choreographed and directed by me. The second film will be choreographed by Becky Izad, and I will be co-directing. Very excited for this year!
Festival Reviews 