KHENTOPIA, 72min., USA Directed by Job Michiel van Zuijlen Khentopia is a peaceful society on the planet Zeeray, where ethereal energy generated through chanting at Harmony Center is used to feed a protective shield that envelops the planet. All is well, until one June morning in 2502, the crew of raider ship Space Wolf is intent on breaking through the shield to carry out a pillage mission. They succeed in obliterating the ethereal power generation and so the protective shield. On top of that, a parallel universe emerges with an alternate Khentopia that is harsh and hostile.
Sauvetage, 5min., Australia Directed by Jackson Bentley, John Stokes When a special forces operative is held captive by a sadistic crime boss is interrogated, the only way to save him is through the element of surprise.
Copilot, 6min., USA Directed by Jeremiah Hammerling, Robert Devine A lost android stumbles upon an animated TV show he’s surprised to find himself starring in and remembers his true nature.
EXIMO, 20min., UK Directed by Mayed Al Qasimi Merald and Shaylyn, two skilled engineers, are part of a pioneering mission to the outer reaches of Earth’s solar system. When Shaylyn declines Merald’s invitation to dinner with his family, it seems like a trivial decision—until everything changes. A catastrophic failure in the Kepler drive triggers an emergency evacuation, and as chaos unfolds, Merald’s only thought is Shaylyn. Racing against time, he leads her back to his family, hoping to escape together—only to face unexpected betrayal. Forced to seek another way off the ship, they crash-land on a desolate moon, their fates entwined in a struggle for survival. With oxygen low and hope fading, Merald makes a choice that will define them both forever.
A Princess’s Plea, 8min., USA Directed by Brooke Thornton, Madison Hubler Princess Circe awaits in her tower when Vince Davenport, crown prince of a rich kingdom, comes to claim her as his wife. But with the beast left unslain and the princess left unimpressed, Vince’s quest takes a dark and unexpected turn.
Midnight Station, 3min., Brazil Directed by Rafael Beck In a dark subway station forgotten by time, a man awaits the last train of the night, unaware that he’s about to cross the threshold between reality and nightmare, in an inevitable confrontation with his own fears. Entirely created using artificial intelligence, Midnight Station immerses the viewer in a dreamlike and unsettling universe, questioning the boundaries between consciousness and the unknown.
LAB RATS, 18min., USA Directed by Stimson Snead A man finds himself in cage, like a lab rat. The most recent abductee of a prolonged alien invasion. There he joins a woman, a day-one abductee, long consigned to the mind altering drugs given to her by their alien overlords. Together, they must decide whether or not to succumb to being pets or face the absurd horror of their reality and find a way to escape the lab.
Intermission, 25min,. Spain Directed by Arnau Vilaro During a theater rehearsal, David receives a phone call that throws him off. He walks aimlessly through Barcelona, physically present but mentally elsewhere. His wandering helps him revisit spaces that take on the form of reveries in a noisy city that never stops transforming.
Getting Her, 30min, USA Directed by Chris Haifley A hipster lesbian Casanova takes her dorky best friend, a chauvinist and virgin under her wing to teach him how to romance ladies; the goal, lose his virginity before their 10 year high school reunion.
Law’s World: Lipstick Bandit, 13min., USA Directed by Law Artis “A sassy pansexual sex blogger prepares for a high-profile house tour, but his plans are derailed by his narcissistic bestie, determined to retrieve something she claims is irreplaceable.”
PEELING, 17min,. Japan Directed by Ryusei Emi The main character Shiori, who struggles with her own identity, one day visits a women’s sex club. She has a secret that she cannot tell anyone and is afraid of being rejected, so she has a hard time exposing herself. With the help of her therapist, Takeru, she peels away her insecurities and fears.
WALL UNIT, 10min., Poland Directed by Joanna Polak A ramshackle wall unit is a symbol of the monotonous life of a certain 40-year-old man living in a grey, dirty post-communist block of flats district. Right after his birthday, suffering from the midlife crisis, the man decides to change his dull and routine-based existence. Alas, his wife stands in the way.
Lagom Svensk (Swedish Just Right), 18min., Sweden Directed by Jamil Walli After experiencing xenophobia, a Syrian guy re-enacts a verbal attack on a Swede and gets caught in a fight over what it means to be Swedish.
ALIADAS, 27min., USA Directed by Juan Diego Ramirez Laura, a college professor, is contemplating participating in a Pro Palestinian demonstration during commencement as an act of solidarity. Her coworker’s approach her with concern what that might do to her job security. Laura, now must decided whether to follow her beliefs or keep her job.
LARIAT, 5min., India Directed by Komalankutty Methil Any companion becomes an unwelcome companion at times
BATTLE, 11min., Ukraine Directed by Olga Samolevska Poetic interpretation of the russian war against Ukraine. There are no actual fighting in the film. Three poems by Olga Samolevska. Song based on a poem by Vasyl Stus. The film is based on documentary footage of the results of the battle.
GERMANY IN WINTER – HANAU, 80min., Germany Directed by Uwe Boll Febr 19.2020 a right wing fascist ruined Amok in the city of Hanau, Germany and killed 9 Migrants. This films shows what happened that night.
RIVER, 26min,. Hong Kong Directed by Lap Fung Cheung Based on the inescapable karma of the eight sufferings, assassin Fuk Kin Dai Ho runs and hides in the home of an eccentric old man Chung Ha Gong after being injured in the firefight during a mission. Could it be simply chance or fate that brings these two men together since they are both suffering from personal angst relating to the loss of loved ones and does this meeting help them in resolving some of that pain?
Stan’s Plan, 14min., Canada Directed by Barry Nerling, Baille Reid Stan, Izzy and Rip, three drug fuelled low life criminals return after a botched robbery of a local gangster. In the process, Stan is shot in the stomach and in a panic, they take one of the Gangster’s men as a bargaining chip only to find out they have taken the Boss’s oldest son.
Crisis Point, 3min,. Romania Directed by Valentin Raileanu As a result of resource depletion, a virus outbreak stripping the afflicted of what makes them human and finally, war, humanity’s sovereignty has fallen. In dwindling numbers, the survivors have been driven out of their homes in the search for safety, while a former soldier travels through the toxic environment in search of a cure.
Emerging from the Shadows, 15min., Belgium Directed by Mark Stas Takeda was forced to leave Asia after a tragic incident. He travelled but stayed close to the woods in order to remember his heart, but also to live a new life in Europe and tries to forget his past. After three years this peace is suddenly disturbed. While he goes running in the woods
HELLBOUND FUGITIVE, 5min,. USA Directed by Christopher Patrick Vallone In a desperate bid for freedom, a convict seeks refuge in a decaying fortress within the mountains. He inadvertently enters a nightmarish arena where ancient demons punish the wicked, and survival means fighting hell itself.
Phantom Quartz, 12min., France Directed by Marc David Nolan Le, a former DGSE agent, aspires to lead an ordinary life with his daughter after several years of service, but fate intervened differently
RIVER, 26min,. Hong Kong Directed by Lap Fung Cheung Based on the inescapable karma of the eight sufferings, assassin Fuk Kin Dai Ho runs and hides in the home of an eccentric old man Chung Ha Gong after being injured in the firefight during a mission. Could it be simply chance or fate that brings these two men together since they are both suffering from personal angst relating to the loss of loved ones and does this meeting help them in resolving some of that pain?
Stan’s Plan, 14min., Canada Directed by Barry Nerling, Baille Reid Stan, Izzy and Rip, three drug fuelled low life criminals return after a botched robbery of a local gangster. In the process, Stan is shot in the stomach and in a panic, they take one of the Gangster’s men as a bargaining chip only to find out they have taken the Boss’s oldest son.
Crisis Point, 3min,. Romania Directed by Valentin Raileanu As a result of resource depletion, a virus outbreak stripping the afflicted of what makes them human and finally, war, humanity’s sovereignty has fallen. In dwindling numbers, the survivors have been driven out of their homes in the search for safety, while a former soldier travels through the toxic environment in search of a cure.
Emerging from the Shadows, 15min., Belgium Directed by Mark Stas Takeda was forced to leave Asia after a tragic incident. He travelled but stayed close to the woods in order to remember his heart, but also to live a new life in Europe and tries to forget his past. After three years this peace is suddenly disturbed. While he goes running in the woods
HELLBOUND FUGITIVE, 5min,. USA Directed by Christopher Patrick Vallone In a desperate bid for freedom, a convict seeks refuge in a decaying fortress within the mountains. He inadvertently enters a nightmarish arena where ancient demons punish the wicked, and survival means fighting hell itself.
Phantom Quartz, 12min., France Directed by Marc David Nolan Le, a former DGSE agent, aspires to lead an ordinary life with his daughter after several years of service, but fate intervened differently
Bang Bang, 14min., China Directed by Guan Yi Chongqing, a city built on mountains in Southwestern China, remains a stronghold of porters known as “bang bang” who move goods along streets on the rugged terrain. But the porters are slowly fading from view in the face of modernization. From 400,000 people working as bang bang in the city in 2010, they have shrunk to fewer than 2,000, mostly elderly.
CHAPPILANA, 23min., India Directed by Komalankutty Methil Pudiyankom-Kattusseri Vela Festival of Palakkad District has many unique features, one of which is a Chappalana, an elephant made of wood, bamboo and dry grass, with an ancient and fascinating story behind it.
Deferred, 18min., Sri Lanka Directed by Lanka Bandaranayake Ambitious and academically successful young Sri Lankan women, who have long dreamed of studying abroad, now find themselves at crossroads due to new UK immigration policies that prevent them from bringing their spouses along. Deeply personal and emotional journey, also, Sociopolitical explanations of academics unfold how they have to navigate the harsh reality of choosing between their educational goals and their familial bonds.
Sayad Capello, 24min., Iran Directed by Rostam Nazari Teenagers from the outskirts of the city have dreams in their heads. Sayad, despite his physical disability and his love of coaching football, is trying to make the dreams of the children to be fulfilled!
Mimas, 5min. Turkey Directed by Ervim Inci Alican Peker, who takes on the task of bringing water to the goats who live alone on an island and have no drinking water sources, also does not remain silent about the problems of other creatures in the area where he lives.
On Village Community and the Digging of Turf in Bobry, 2min., Poland Directed by Joanna Polak Film about the olden village tradition of digging for turf.
On a Mysterious Rock in a Mysterious Forest, 2min., Poland Directed by Joanna Polak Film about childhood spent in a forest which children saw as Paradise.
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On My Great-Grandmother Julia’s Orchard, 2min., Poland Directed Directed by Joanna Polak Film about an orchard where deer came to live, and stayed the year round.
the sky is the limit, 25min., UK Directed by Mirka Anderson Despite all social, physical and psychological adversities she is a symbol of success as a prolific artist and emanates positive energy with calm, humour and affection. She is a genuine star !
Mimas, 5min. Turkey Directed by Ervim Inci Alican Peker, who takes on the task of bringing water to the goats who live alone on an island and have no drinking water sources, also does not remain silent about the problems of other creatures in the area where he lives.
On Village Community and the Digging of Turf in Bobry, 2min., Poland Directed by Joanna Polak Film about the olden village tradition of digging for turf.
On a Mysterious Rock in a Mysterious Forest, 2min., Poland Directed by Joanna Polak Film about childhood spent in a forest which children saw as Paradise.
On My Great-Grandmother Julia’s Orchard, 2min., Poland Directed Directed by Joanna Polak Film about an orchard where deer came to live, and stayed the year round.
the sky is the limit, 25min., UK Directed by Mirka Anderson Despite all social, physical and psychological adversities she is a symbol of success as a prolific artist and emanates positive energy with calm, humour and affection. She is a genuine star !
Festival Reviews 