A mysterious girl is saved from drowning by a fragmented family living in a desolate beach house. Her strange relationship with them becomes intimate and complex until everything reaches to a point of no return.
Amazing lineup of the best STAR WARS short films in the world today;
STAR WARS: RENDEZVOUS, 20min,. USA
Directed by Brett L. Peterson
A pair of do-gooders attempt to protect a young, force-sensitive girl from bounty hunters on their way to rendezvous with a mysterious contact with the power to protect her much better than they can.
After a group of smugglers acquire a valuable asset, they soon realize they’re not alone. Without warning, they are being hunted by one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy.
Two young JEDI, Daptain Drovat and his Padawan, were secrectly sent by the Rebellion to find the Blood Crystal, rumored to have infinite powers. A young Sith races to an abandoned Imperial Kyber mining base on the moons of Orsicca in order to procure the crystal fo the Empire. Following orders from the Rebellion and the Empire, both Sith and Jedi have found themselves on the same moon, fighting to find the Blood Crystal…
Kidnapped! Jedi Knights Pem’Aiara and Tala Vane have been abducted by the evil Galactic Empire. Taking place 3 years after the Great Jedi Purge, our heroes must face brutal truths about their beliefs while being interrogated by the insidious Commander Strand. After being beaten by a Purge Trooper, all looks hopeless for these brave Jedi as they prepare to meet The Emperor himself…
When Dresca – an injured imperial pilot – is rescued by rebels after the Battle of Endor, she must choose between her loyalty to the Empire and the kindness of strangers she once thought of as monsters.
STAR WARS: HEIR TO THE EMPIRE, Chapter 31, 14min., UK
Directed by Damien Valentine
Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian arrive at Sluis Van for a much needed break. Instead, they walk into Grand Admiral Thrawn’s massive assault on the shipyards. The Millenium Falcon and Rogue Squadron are all that stand between the defenseless New Republic ships and the approaching Imperial fleet.
Bad Chemistry, 20min., USA Directed by Michael Rognlie, EE Tallent In Bad Chemistry, a traumatized young woman goes to stay with her deceased boyfriend’s parents, only to discover chilling truths lurking beneath their kindness. This horror short explores grief, psychological torment, and the dark side of family.
The Cormorant’s Shadow, 1min., Switzerland Directed by Barbara Peikert A funny cormorant relaxes on a buoy in the lake and watches an animation that reveals a plan behind it: AI or the urge to take part in the spectacle?
The Light in the Dark, 6min., Taiwan Directed by YuFeng Chiu This story is about climate disaster survivor and his comforter/savior . I lived in Taiwan this small island, there were many typhoons and floods in my memory, earthquakes were also often happened in my dairy life. My works always focus on the survivors, including the comfort women and earthquakes survivors and the poor rains and flood survivors in many places because of the climate changing.
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.
A LIFE BET, 2min., France Directed by Marwan Tinhougga As the game reaches its peak, a debate ensues between Amir and Seydou, while Franck, completely inert to the conversation, takes advantage of the situation. During this poker hand, both cunning and majestic, the discussion between the two friends intensifies, creating such an intense atmosphere that it prompts the viewer to reflect on their own values and life choices in a moment of introspection.
Duties of My Heart, 10min., USA, Poetry Directed by Judy Lieff Originally shot on 16mm and remastered in 2024 with additional elements, Duties of My Heart breathes life into Barbara Barg’s poem through the expressive and evocative movement of American Sign Language and dance. It creates a visual and auditory poetic experience and weaves a tapestry of sorrow, resiliance and revival.
CHIMERA, 7min., South Korea, Dance Directed by Minsu Kim A presence curls up behind a thin veil on stage. From below, the serpent’s head—’Chimera,’ a camera—slithers its way up. The red recording light in Chimera’s lens flickers on, awakening the presence.
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?
SPARKS, 2min,. France, Dance Directed by David Ravel Alone on a vast stage, a dancer moves through a space sculpted by light. He observes, senses, letting the sensations guide his body. An instinctive dance emerges, visceral, almost organic. Each movement becomes an exploration, a silent quest in resonance with the luminous pulses enveloping him.
After the Spread, 3min., Canada, Musical 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”
ECHO, 7min., Germany, Musical Directed by Annekatrin Meyers Echo is a mountain nymph, cursed by Hera to only ever repeat the last words spoken to her. She falls deeply in love with Narciss, who rejects her, leaving Echo heartbroken. Echo‘s unreturned love and inability to express herself causes her to slowly die. Her bones turn to stone and her voice remains in nature.
Iku Ma Pa Mi (Death Don’t Kill Me), 9min., Nigeria, Musical Directed by Akintunde Oluwaseyi Smith Iku Ma Pa Mi is a modern take on a Yoruba death elegy in which the supplicant hails the mothers and spirits that control death and pleads for their mercy so that they live a long and fulfilling life before the eventuality of death. Performed by Ariky, it is the soundtrack to upcoming movie Ifihan Ika (Manifestation of Wickedness.)
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.
Composing Big Sur: John Wineglass’ Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, 35min., USA, Musical Directed by Douglas Mueller Composer in Residence John Wineglass’ creative process of his most recent Monterey Symphony commission, Sacred Land: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.
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.
Let Us Out, 10min,. USA Directed by Chris Alan A struggling painter begins to question her own sanity when her latest nightmarish creation inexplicably escapes its canvas.
Little Robot Stories: I’m ROE, 3min., Canada Directed by Roger Gallant Follow ROE through the daily grind of city life. Somewhere amidst the chaos, there is hope.
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.
Botching., 5min., UK Directed by Brian Williams Hacking a Robot for fun, or malicious intent, is dangerous, illegal, and banned globally. It has a name: Botching. This is a story from one such ‘Botch’ job.
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.
The Girl in the Spacesuit, 6min., USA Directed by Zhixiang Wang In the 2050s, humans launch the UERNE Project to explore the Earth’s center. Due to an unexpected accident, geocentric scientist Lydia—the sole occupant of the craft—is trapped underground forever. She communicates with the surface through “The Eye,” a special device that allows her to see and hear what happens above; astronauts also use the same system in space.
Wild Horses, 3min,. China Directed by Wenjie Lee, Zhengyang Yin The film “Wild Horses” tells the story of the survival scenes of a group of wild horses in the future. This film is produced by AI generation technology and can be regarded as a science fiction suspense concept film made with the latest AI technology. Although the production of the film is mainly completed through AI generation technology, its story content and film style are not restricted by the technology at all. It is a short film completed in the form of traditional screenwriting and shooting. From conception to completion of production, the cycle of the film took two weeks.
Tango Malhar, 93min,. India Directed by Saya Date In the bustling city of Pune, Malhar, a young rickshaw driver, shoulders the heavy burden of supporting his widowed mother and younger sister, Rani. Despite his unwavering dedication to family, Malhar feels like an outcast among his peers, his responsibilities isolating him from the carefree life of a typical youth.
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Plastico, 5min., UK, Documentary Directed by David Harriman, James Bettney In Almeria Province in Spain, a sea of plastic sheeting covers the land creating the the largest collection of greenhouses in the world. The invernaderos (as they are called in Spanish) cover upwards of 150 square miles and are visible by the naked eye from space. A large proportion of Europe’s vegetables and fruit is intensively farmed here.
CHAIN, 5min,. Taiwan, Animation Directed by Ling Han “Chain,” directed by Ling Han, is a 3D animated short film featuring charming characters and a sophisticated environment. It uniquely tells the story of the mantis catching the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
TENDU, 2min., USA, Dance Directed by Sophie Power, Michelene Mallard Billy What happens when you grow up in a world where there was only one projected image of what a ballerina “should look like” – down to the pink nude pointe shoes?
Under the Waterfall – The Avener, 3min., France Directed by Sebastien Caudron This video clip shows an explosive passion between two lovers, punctuated by an elegant and a contemporary choreography in the streets of Paris where buildings are changing into real waterfalls. It is an hymn to love that uses the metaphor of water for its fluidity.
FIGHTERS, 4min., USA, Sci-Fi Directed by Sam Hall A deep space research station is under attack from an overwhelming force. Hope arrives in the form of an elite squadron of fighters.
(PLASTIK), 3min,. Mayaysia, Drama Directed by Philip ROm View the plastic pollution crisis through the eyes and imagination of a child in South-East Asia, a major hotspot for plastic pollution. (PLASTIK) is the first short film made in Asia for audiences in Asia that uses creative storytelling and live action drama to raise awareness and catalyse action to end plastic pollution in the region. It pulls on the heart strings and is both wrenching and warming in equal measure. Witness how a child can take individual action to influence their family to say no to single-use plastic.
LVCI, 3min,. USA, Fashion Directed by Brock Newman A woman wanders the desert in search of a connection to her spiritual self and is transported to another realm where she embraces the dark and untamed.
Look Into a Whale’s Eyes, 5min., Ukraine, Documentary Directed by Andrii Andreiev The sperm whale stands as one of the most remarkable cetaceans on our planet. Its brain, touted as the largest among all living beings, underscores the complexity of its cognitive abilities. Similar to humans, sperm whales exhibit qualities of empathy, affection, future planning, and communication. Their mode of communication is articulated through a series of clicks.
FOUR MOM, 2min., Israel, Animation Directed by Itay Semo “FOUR MOM” is a short animated film displaying an ordinary morning in the life of a single working mom of 4.
Struggle, 5min., Armenia, Family/Comedy Directed by David Babasiev In the remote mountains a family facing intense challenges as the mother and their prized cow approach childbirth simultaneously.
AUTUMN LEAVES, 3min,. Canada, Animation Directed by Elizabeth Lewis Autumn brings bitter sweet memories. A woman, missing her husband, struggles to control the leaves and her emotions in this fully animated hilarious take on the classic song.
Skate Fast Turn Left, 1min., USA, Documentary Directed by Mary Hawkins Two friends, Fifi Fleshwound and Little Mary Switchblade, have a quick conversation about their roller derby years…
GETHSEMANE, 5min., Canada, Music Video Directed by Saccha Dennis Gethsemane: Black Jesus is a reimagining from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar told through the lens of Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton. A leader for his community but seen as a threat to the FBI. He was shot and killed in a pre-dawn raid in December, 1969.
BLOOD ON MY HANDS, 5min,. Austria, Romance Directed by Martin Kober “… you’ll always be apart of me” (Songtext) – cinematic drama love story without dialogue
Little Issues, 5min., USA, Comedy Directed by Jerah Milligan Mid-coitus, Andy discovers a blip in her new relationship that sends her running to her roommates to help her overcome this Little Issue.
*”Don’t Stare, See me”, 5min., USA, Documentary Directed by Steven Speliotis Naomi was born with a facial difference, and growing up she fell victim to the bullying of her peers because she looked different.
Between Wings and Swings, 3min., Canada, Animation Directed by Yuyang Yan Through an unexpected turn of events, a young girl must learn to let go.
REEF, 4min., Canada, Dance Directed by W.E. Overton It is a simple, beautiful dance film performed by hands alone.
Takeaway, 2min., UK, Comedy Directed by Joe McGowan A couple can’t decide what takeaway they want for dinner.
Festival Reviews 