Question & answer session after the festival screening with filmmakers from the September 25th, 2025 festival at the Carlton Cinemas, in downtown Toronto, Canada.
Conversation with creators: – Deb Ethier (The Once Upon a Time that Never Was) – Ash K Tysowski (After the Spread) – Atoosa Moshashaee (10min. More)
The Once Upon a Time that Never Was Directed by Deb Ethier Animated experimental music video for the original song “The Once Upon a Time that Never Was”. With words and music by Deb Ethier and sung by Belén Mariscotti, the song evokes those compelling (and often disquieting) moments from childhood fairy tales, challenging our memories of them.
After the Spread, 3min., Canada Directed by Ash K Tysowski A group of teenagers navigate their night-life, and their emotions, to the song “After the Spread” by “the Idea of machines”
10 min more, 9min., Canada Directed by Atoosa Moshashaee A schoolgirl is waiting for her mom to pick her up from after school and the last 10 minutes seems very hard to get through, until her drawing comes to make her companionship.
A showcase of the best fantasy/sci-fi shorts from around the world today.
AUDIENCE AWARDS: Best Film: THE OUTCASTS Best Visual Design: The Adventures of Captain Atom: Chapter 7 Best Direction: 2042
THE OUTCASTS, 15min., USA Directed by Jenn Page An unlikely team of gifted misfit kids battle against a corrupt government organization to save other kids like themselves. They must harness their powers and fight for justice, pushing the limits of friendship, family, and sacrifice.
The Adventures of Captain Atom: Chapter 7, 11min,. USA Directed by Eli Hutchinson An Atomic Age superhero and a rocket scientist’s daughter attempt to stop a sinister military junta from launching a missile strike on the Earth
Question & answer session after the festival screening with filmmakers from the September 11th, 2025 festival at the Carlton Cinemas, in downtown Toronto, Canada.
Conversation with creators: Cassandra Myers (EVERYONE WANTS A TIGHT PU**Y) Maziyar Khatam (with producer and actor) (THE SWEATER)
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The Sweater, 9min., Canada, Experimental Directed by Maziyar Khatam Pressured into giving away his clothes, an emasculated young man obsessively attempts to reclaim his cherished sweater before it vanishes into the donation abyss.
Question & answer session after the festival screening with filmmakers from the July 31, 2025 festival at the Carlton Cinemas, in downtown Toronto, Canada.
Conversation with directors:
Sohil Chhabra (OBSIDIAN)
Malcolm Jack (THE CALLBACK)
THE CALLBACK, 10min., Canada Directed Malcolm Jack ISAAC is one of several actors auditioning for the lead in the globally renowned action franchise: MAX STORM. Every actor has been invited into the audition room, which is empty aside from a table with a black covering. Suddenly, they’re greeted by the voice of director DEAN WEST over the intercom. “Do whatever it takes to secure the role.” The tablecloth comes off, revealing a massive collection of deadly melee weapons. Everyone is skeptical, but distrust is already growing. When one of the actors sets his sights on Isaac, snatches an imposing knife off the table, and begins to close in, Isaac is forced to fight to survive.
OBSIDIAN, 18min., Canada Directed by Sohil Chhabra David Smith, a deeply troubled detective grappling with a brutal murder case and the collapse of his personal life, finds himself spiraling into darkness—only to uncover a path to unexpected self-discovery.
AWARD WINNERS: Best Film: BAD BLOOD Best Story: HWANDO Best Direction: OBSIDIAN Best Performances: THE CALLBACK Best Cinematography: THE DROWNING POOL Best Sound & Music: DESIRE
EE THE LINEUP OF FILMS:
OBSIDIAN, 18min., Canada Directed by Sohil Chhabra David Smith, a deeply troubled detective grappling with a brutal murder case and the collapse of his personal life, finds himself spiraling into darkness—only to uncover a path to unexpected self-discovery.
HWANDO, 25min., South Korea Directed by Will LeForestier An assassin enhanced with a brain-to-computer interface and controlled by a dark organization must turn against her creators to protect her family and destroy the AI-driven system that enslaves her.
Bad Blood, 19min., Argentina Directed by Guillermo Ronco Abandoned by the state and with his daughter’s life at stake, police officer Rafael chooses to break his deepest convictions and commit a crime to resolve his situation. But when what was supposed to be a robbery turns into a kidnapping, he discovers that there are limits he cannot cross.
THE CALLBACK, 10min., Canada Directed Malcolm Jack ISAAC is one of several actors auditioning for the lead in the globally renowned action franchise: MAX STORM. Every actor has been invited into the audition room, which is empty aside from a table with a black covering. Suddenly, they’re greeted by the voice of director DEAN WEST over the intercom. “Do whatever it takes to secure the role.” The tablecloth comes off, revealing a massive collection of deadly melee weapons. Everyone is skeptical, but distrust is already growing. When one of the actors sets his sights on Isaac, snatches an imposing knife off the table, and begins to close in, Isaac is forced to fight to survive.
The drowning pool, 12min., Spain Directed by Enrique Novials Ariadna, a former police officer, is now a detective shocked by the recent death of her mother due to Covid. In the midst of this, she must find a child who has been kidnapped after school.
DESIRE, 7min., USA Directed by Jason Chu When a suave socialite lures a beauty back to his yacht for drinks, his hidden, darker passions stir, forcing him to choose whether romance is on the menu or something far more sinister.
SOLITARY ROAD, 76min., Sweden Directed by Johan Palmgren There is a road in the middle of the wilderness, far North of the Arcitic Circle in the Swedish mountains. It was built 1955 and was supposed to lead to Norway. The work was interrupted and now there is only a fragment of a road of 20 kilometres without connection to the general road system. Along the road there are five villages, where time has stopped. There is no electricity nor any water. The villagers have transported old cars over the ice of the lake Torneträsk from Kiruna to this unique place. The cars date from the 60 ́s and 70s. We filmed big and small aspects of life here for three years.
INSECT, 8min, Canada, Fantasy Directed by Cherelle Ann, Sarah Higgins In a subterranean prison, a bitter young girl and her supernatural ally hold a strange and beautiful man captive to avenge the crimes he has committed against her.
PORTRAIT OF CONSUMPTION, 8min,. Canada, Experimental Directed by Gillian Fortin Expressed in a metaphorical universe; a young woman named Jane Doe’s entire existence depends on the interactions of her social following as if she is a mere puppet on strings desperately seeking approval through the digital form of likes, comments and emojis. When she is hit with a wave of cyber bullying following a post she made, Jane Doe begins to spiral into a dark descent where the very fabric of her reality begins to fray. In one final act to regain her social status, Jane performs a grand gesture for her audience just as the curtain closes.
DAISY, 11min,. Australia, Romance/Period Drama Directed by Alyssa Scott “Daisy,” inspired by the real-life tale of our writer’s great-grandparents in 1930s Australia, unfolds the courageous journey of a young woman who defies societal expectations and risks losing everything as she embarks on a forbidden love affair, challenging the boundaries of family, faith, and the pursuit of true happiness.
.Do .Re .Mi, 9min,. USA, Drama Directed by Yuan Yao A girl with a talent for dance is about to face one of the most important auditions of her life, but on that day an accident happens…
NIGHT FEEDING, 6min, USA, Horror 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.
HER LAST DAY, 14min,. China, Drama Directed by Jiacheng Wang A woman “Meizi” with her child who has lived in domestic violence for years travels back to her past wedding with her abusive husband while facing the decision to change her marriage.
Afrolistic: Black Healing From Zimbabwe to the Bay, 22min., Zimbabwe, Documentary Directed by Nekia Wright, Shylet Ndarambwa Black American healer shares about her practice and explores traditional healing, music, and dance in Zimbabwe.
THE BIG JOHNSON, 95min., USA Directed by Lola Rocknrolla Dean Johnson was a famous New York drag queen, rock star, sex party promoter and late in life escort. In 2007 Dean went on a job and never came back. Was it just an accidental OD, Dean had a history of drug use or was it something more sinister? Another escort died in the same apartment four days earlier. The mystery of his death is only part of Dean Johnson’s wild life. Dean was the first in many things, the first bald drag queen, the first to throw sex parties in the 80s during the AIDS crisis, the first openly gay singer on Island records (which cost him his record deal). The first and only person to throw a LGBTQ party at the iconic rock club CBGBs. Through Deans ups and downs, heroin, sobriety, love, sex, music, community, HIV, poverty, Dean survived them all. Until he didn’t. This film brings you into the burned out, fabulous world of the 80s East Village where the looming AIDS crisis made you want to live every day like it was your last. Dean Johnson personified this time in New York and in gay history. Dean Johnson was the man, the myth, the Big Johnson.
The Job of Production Management is the job of organization, budgeting, scheduling and preparing for everything.
POINTS OF A PRODUCTION MANAGER
1. Prepare breakdown and preliminary shooting schedule 2. Prepare and coordinate the budget 3. Oversee preliminary search and survey of all locations and the completion of business arrangements 4. Assist in the preparation of the production to insure continuing efficiency 5. Supervise completion of the Production Report for each days work, showing work covered and the status of the production, and arrange for the distribution of that report in line with the company’s requirements 6. Coordinate arrangements for the transportation and housing of cast, crew and staff 7. Oversee the securing of releases and negotiate for locations and personnel 8. Maintain a liaison with local authorities regarding locations and the operation of the company
THE PRODUCTION MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO FACILITATE THE WORK OF THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE WORKING CONDITIONS
The Production Manager MUST protect the film and the interest of the company they are working for
They are in charge with the control of all organizational, managerial, financial and logistical aspects of the production
Production Managers will have a lot of MEETINGS, make sure you know how to run one.JOB IS TO FINISH THE PRODUCTION ‘ON TIME, ON BUDGET’
As a Production Manager you will be expected to know every detail about every unit during all phases of production -Keep logs that contain notes on your conversations -Keeps a paper trail of memoranda that details recommendations, suggestions, directives and opinions expressed by and to anyone involved in the production
PRODUCTION MANAGER STAGES OF PRODUCTION
PRE-PRODUCTION -screenplay breakdown -shooting schedule -location scouting -budget -casting and unions -permits -hiring staff and crew -unit supervision -permit clearance -equipment rental and stock -lab supervision -payroll service -insurance -post-production preparation
PRODUCTION
-Responsible for a glitch-free shoot and must handle both logistics and overall organization -Budget must be monitored according to the cash-flow chart
-Public relations must be started -Together the Production Manager and the Assistant director on the set are responsible for the flow of information. They must ensure that everyone involved with the production – staff, crew and cast – knows what is going on, when and where
POST-PRODUCTION
-Generally the Production Manager organizes the editing phase in advance, including sound effects, music production, opticals and mixing
PREPARING FOR THE PRODUCTION
SCRIPT BREAKDOWN
With an initial first glance reading of a screenplay, an experienced producer or Production Manager can get a good estimate of the size of the production
Considerations come into play when designing the shooting schedule
1. Availability of the actors 2. Availability of the locations 3. Putting day player actors into shooting all their scenes in one day to cut costs 4. Desirable to schedule less complicated scenes during the first few shooting days in order for the crew to find its specific rhythm and chemistry 5. Exterior scenes should be scheduled before interior ones, which are independent of whether conditions and if they can be shot safely towards the end of the shooting period 6. Trying to shoot in script order as much as possible
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Braving the realities of the harsh Montana winter and changing hunting regulations, hobby and career biologists track and study wolves in the Northern Tier of Yellowstone National Park. While the fate of wolves remains uncertain, the devotion and passion of Yellowstone’s Wolf Watchers are always a constant.
Rebirth: Intended to foster environmental climate change awareness by children, Rebirth is A Child’s Environmentally-Friendly Fairytale — a 12-minute animated musical suite depicting the respective seasons in four movements: The mini-symphony features (recorded-live) violins, cellos, clarinet, oboe and timpani, among other instruments, as it gathers momentum to provide a personal experience of nature’s growth cycles – with trees dancing and tendrils triumphantly bursting forth through the soil. Further, it doubles as a meditation mindfulness exercise as it allows us to teach children to move a little bit more methodically – react less and observe more. To pay attention instead of being distracted.
“Karibu Nyumbani” translates as “Welcome to my Home” in Swahili. Guides in the Maasai Mara have a deep-rooted pride, knowledge, and love for wildlife. This film encapsulates that passion from the perspective of George Osono, a guide in Mara North Conservancy, who completely embodies this spirit of caring for nature.
Festival Reviews 