THE FARMHOUSE, 15min,. Australia
Directed by Luke Creely
A young woman, living alone in an isolated rural farmhouse, is haunted one night by a mysterious entity which forces her to confront her inner demons and traumatic past.

https://instagram.com/_lcfilms

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I have always been drawn to slow-burn horror cinema in the mould of Michael Haneke from Austria. His early films are fascinating explorations of the human psyche. This has inspired me from the beginning of my career. I am also very interested in pain and trauma as key themes in my films. So, my aim was to make a Haneke-style horror film that immerses the viewer and makes them uncomfortable as they observe a character who is alone and grappling with PTSD from a past traumatic event.

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

Roughly twelve months, accounting for the scripting, crowdfunding, pre-production, production and post-production phases.

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

Immersive and unrelenting.

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

Crowdfunding is always a challenge. But I am very grateful to our incredible pledgers for helping us achieve our funding goal and making this film a reality.

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

The audience feedback video was excellent because the members who spoke understood the film and my intentions as director. They “got it”. And this means that I did what I needed to do as director. Their interpretations were interesting to listen to as well.

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

As a university undergraduate. I watched Picnic at Hanging Rock at a first-year film course at Monash University and fell in love with Australian cinema, horror cinema, and film in general. After that I started making films with my friends and learnt by getting out there and doing it.

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

Greg McLean’s Wolf Creek. I wrote my PhD on it. I know the film so well I could quote it verbatim – dialogue as well as each camera shot/angle.

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

Your festival is one of the best out there. Clear and fast communication, and so many incredible platforms and opportunities for filmmakers to have their work screened and promoted. You really look after your filmmakers. Other festivals should take a leaf out of your book.

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

The platform is easy to navigate, and the interface is well-organised. It’s the go-to for filmmakers in the festival phase. FilmFreeway is great.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Mexican. Anything Mexican.

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

I will be launching a horror podcast in the next couple of months where I will provide deep-dive textual and cultural analyses of different horror films and filmmakers. And there may be a film or two coming soon too, but I’ll remain tip-lipped on that for now.

COMIC IN COVID, 127min., USA
Directed by Michael T. O’Brien
An out of work comic, due to Covid-19, practices his routines in his car because the walls in his apartment are too thin and he doesn’t want to disturb the neighbors.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was motivated by the idea of a comedian during covid. That this could be a vehicle for me to showcase my comic skills and acting ability.

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

It took about a year to complete. I had to practice the routines and make sure they would look like material an actual comedian would be working on.

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

The two words I would use to describe the film are, intense, funny.

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

The most challenging part of the film was getting the routines down so people would believe that I was a comedian and that this was a real documentary.

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

The audience reactions were very interesting. I like the fact that people felt his journey and uncertainty during covid, but I thought people would say how funny the routines were.

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

The Godfather is probably the movie I have seen the most.

7. 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 not sure what can be done to improve festivals. I think you do a lot.

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

I like film freeway, however, sometimes you wonder about the festivals. Are they really watching every submission.

9. What is your favorite meal?

My favorite food is spaghetti, but I’m a vegan, so with vegan meatballs.

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

I have so many ideas and projects, it’s just a matter of finding the time to do them.

SNEEZE, 5min., UK
Directed by Gareth Brierley
A woman sneezes and goes on an unexpected journey.

http://www.peopleshow.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/garethbrierley/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

We wanted to make a film that we could make on an iPhone where we could almost use a ‘Guerrilla filmmaking’ style to the shooting in a day or two. I came up with the idea of Sneeze after a huge sneeze that made me forget for a second where I was…and then the idea of transportation from a sneeze came.

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

It took us two days to film, one day to write and a day edit. Four days in all.

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

Teleportation Sneezing.

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

The last shot was in the sea with Fiona drowning. But me and Maya were in there as well on a very windy day. The sun only came out for a couple of seconds so we had to be quick and not drown. But when we finished we were so happy. I have a photo to prove it.

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

Amazing comments and such insightful thoughts about the film. We felt humbled and so very pleased. Thank you.

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

From an early age playing about with a 1980’s video camera. I love the medium of telling a story visually and seeing how far you can go without words.

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

So hard. Goodfellas, The good, the bad and the ugly spring to mind. Lately it’s been The Dark Knight and Field of Dreams.

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 love the audience feedback video. Brilliant

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

Excellent

10. What is your favorite meal?

Vegan Burger and Fries.

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

We are looking to make another Micro Short in March. Will have a few options.

THE WHIRLING DERVISH, 2min., Egypt
Directed by Osama Elolemy
In the mesmerizing whirling dance of the Sufi lady, grace and devotion blend seamlessly. Her movements, like poetry in motion, transcend time and space, capturing the essence of the divine in every spin. The gentle flow of her white garments symbolizes purity, while her serene expression reflects inner peace and connection to the universe. As she twirls, she becomes a living embodiment of spiritual ecstasy, inviting us to join her in this sacred dance of unity and love

https://www.genieinaclick.com/
https://www.instagram.com/genieinaclick/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

As a fine art photographer, the inspiration for creating a short reel emerged from an editorial photoshoot I conducted on the Whirling Dervish dance. Initially, the plan was to exhibit the photographs in a gallery. However, since this dance is quite unique and not widely understood across different cultures, I felt the need to bring it to life through motion. By creating a reel, I aimed to showcase the fluidity of movement and the depth of expression captured in the images, making it more accessible and immersive for viewers.

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

The actual photoshoot took two days, during which we secured exclusive access to one of Samarkand’s most iconic and tourist-heavy locations—Registan Square. We were granted permission to shoot there for three hours, which was a significant challenge to arrange. Additionally, obtaining a drone permit in Uzbekistan was a complex process that took nearly two months. During this time, we coordinated travel logistics, secured the necessary approvals, and ensured everything was in place. My wife played a crucial role in assisting me throughout this journey.

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

The Divine connection

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

One of the most significant challenges was obtaining a drone permit in Uzbekistan. The process was time-consuming and required extensive approvals. However, through perseverance, I managed to secure it. Interestingly, as I started creating more reels like this, I found myself even more motivated and inspired to explore this format for future photoshoots.

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

I was truly touched and flattered by the heartfelt feedback. While receiving comments on social media with emojis is always encouraging, hearing people articulate their thoughts, describe the emotions behind each scene, and express their admiration in words made the entire effort deeply rewarding. Knowing that the film resonated with the audience on such a profound level was incredibly fulfilling.

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

I realized my passion for filmmaking when I saw how still photography, as powerful as it is, sometimes couldn’t fully convey the movement, emotion, and energy of a moment. My turning point came during my editorial photoshoot of the Whirling Dervish dance. While the images captured its essence, I felt that something was missing—the motion, the rhythm, and the soul of the dance itself. That’s when I decided to create a short reel to bring those moments to life. The process was incredibly fulfilling, and it opened my eyes to the possibilities of storytelling through film

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

I don’t have a single film that I’ve watched the most, but I’m drawn to movies that explore culture, traditions, and humanity’s deep connection with the earth. Films that beautifully capture the essence of different cultures, landscapes, and spiritual journeys resonate with me the mos

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

Watching the audience reaction in the Video would be also exciting to watch. Seeing their faces light up, hearing their gasps or moments of quiet reflection would be nice to have as an extension to the video

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

The experience was smooth and straightforward. The submission process was fairly easy since most of the required details were already pre-filled on FilmFreeway, saving me a lot of time.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pizza 🙂

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

One of my recent projects was a cinematic piece on the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which I’ll be revealing very soon.