BEEKIND, 11min. Canada Directed by Olivia Bronwyn Follow Gregg Scott and the keepers of Circling Hawk Honey & Mead, as we’re taken under their wing to get an up-close look at the species so relied upon by our kind. Beekind gives insight on the nature of the honeybee as a member of the colony, their interactions and relationships to each other and to humans, as we look within, and take one big sustainable step back. We’re welcomed into Circling Hawk, the business and home of Gregg and Michelle Scott, our owners and operators, and caretakers of the 25 acres of land. Alongside their two protégé’s Julia and John, they take us on their journey as stewards, artists, and guides to the life they lead at the apiary. A life of peace, love, and earthly balance.
Surviving Alone: The Tale of Simone, 15min., UK Directed by Claire Tomlinson Simone is the last Greater Bamboo Lemur in Ranomafana, a protected rainforest in south-east Madagascar. After a happy start in life, surrounded by family, Simone finds herself alone, as members of her family disappear one by one. Three years on, and she’s still alone – a social animal, a primate, just like us; how has this isolation affected her mental state?
BEEKIND, 11min. Canada Directed by Olivia Bronwyn Follow Gregg Scott and the keepers of Circling Hawk Honey & Mead, as we’re taken under their wing to get an up-close look at the species so relied upon by our kind. Beekind gives insight on the nature of the honeybee as a member of the colony, their interactions and relationships to each other and to humans, as we look within, and take one big sustainable step back. We’re welcomed into Circling Hawk, the business and home of Gregg and Michelle Scott, our owners and operators, and caretakers of the 25 acres of land. Alongside their two protégé’s Julia and John, they take us on their journey as stewards, artists, and guides to the life they lead at the apiary. A life of peace, love, and earthly balance.
Surviving Alone: The Tale of Simone, 15min., UK Directed by Claire Tomlinson Simone is the last Greater Bamboo Lemur in Ranomafana, a protected rainforest in south-east Madagascar. After a happy start in life, surrounded by family, Simone finds herself alone, as members of her family disappear one by one. Three years on, and she’s still alone – a social animal, a primate, just like us; how has this isolation affected her mental state?
NOTHING BUT BLUE, 16min., Germany Directed by Sebastian Bechtel NOTHING BUT BLUE is a 16-minute short film about German Olympic surfer Tim Elter – and his uncompromising passion for one of the most extreme and primal forms of surfing: tube riding.
Lovebirds, 4min., USA Directed by Maria Corso Betty and Ray, a wild couple on the run, live fast and love hard while staying one step ahead of the law. With their lives on the line and a clean getaway just out of reach, they attempt one more job — one which may cost them more than they can afford.
Snapshots, 84min., Spain Directed by Miguel Ángel Mengó Snapshots reflects twelve dialogues without beginning or end, held between twenty-four characters, inhabitants of the outskirts of a city, at some point in their lives, always marked by incommunication and time lost in the era of access to information and immediacy.
Lovebirds, 4min., USA Directed by Maria Corso Betty and Ray, a wild couple on the run, live fast and love hard while staying one step ahead of the law. With their lives on the line and a clean getaway just out of reach, they attempt one more job — one which may cost them more than they can afford.
Snapshots, 84min., Spain Directed by Miguel Ángel Mengó Snapshots reflects twelve dialogues without beginning or end, held between twenty-four characters, inhabitants of the outskirts of a city, at some point in their lives, always marked by incommunication and time lost in the era of access to information and immediacy.
The Skin Game: A Pornumentary, 1min., USA Directed by Sharon King The rise of the internet resulted in the explosion of the information age, allowing us to download a wealth of data in nanoseconds. It also gave us instantaneous access to porn. Lots and lots of porn.
Dating App Chronicles, 1min., Canada Directed by Kat Reynolds Dating App Chronicles follows Lisha, a sharp, funny, and emotionally unraveling Black millennial whose life is upended when a new job relocates her from Toronto to Vancouver—just as her long-term boyfriend dumps her. Alone in a new city and grieving a future she thought was secure, Lisha finds herself holed up in her apartment, surviving on gin, fast food, and sadness.
BATTLEFIELD, 1min., Malaysia Directed by Xiang Wan
Waiting For The River, 3min., USA Directed by Kit Wilson In 1944 a young girl escapes a deadly flood, only to discover years later the myth of a Phantom Bear that saved her.
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT CARMEN, 2min., Portugal Directed by Eve Ferretti, Pedro Mota Teixeira “What They Say About Carmen” brings to light the story of a 10-year-old girl who was born without arms, narrated by a voice that uses a “borrowed” discourse, typical of those who “say that…” This narrative, coming from someone who never knew Carmen, adopts a memorial tone that contrasts with the animated image, revealing the true essence of the protagonist. This confrontation between the visual narrative and the verbal discourse invites us to dive deeper into Carmen’s life.
Lapin Noir, 1min., France Directed by Simon J. Proctor The secret Academy of the Lapin Noir, in Paris, has sent Johnny to America on an important mission . But it is not going very well. He is in hospital actually. He has crashed (and been shot). And now the Blue Foxes are after him. And he can’t quite remember what the Mission is. . Its complicated…
SPECTRAL, 2min., Canada Directed by Lakshen Sundaram Spectral is a web series pilot. It’s a story about Maria, a young hard-working janitor who works overnight at a high school and during one of her shifts, she discovers that the school is haunted by ghosts. With the help of the lax security guard Tony and the occult-expert student Kane, they work towards uncovering the mysteries of the school and the reason behind the undead. All while the mysterious Mr. Bagwell dines with his illicit lover, Penelope.
Tornado, 1min,. Iran Directed by Majid Farzolahi A big spaceship comes to Earth and creates a massive tornado to destroy everything. (This film is a metaphor about global problems and how humanity faces them. This film shows how weak and vulnerable humanity is with all its technology)
7 Veils, 42sec., Greece Directed by Evi Tzortzi, Giorgos Alexakis The essence of life is protected by seven veils. One after the other, all veils are lifted. Past is explained, faith in life is restored, the eternal spiral is still alive.
FAMILIAR, 10min., France Directed by Julien Homère Elodie wakes up in the middle of the night, alone in the marital bed. Getting up to look for her husband, she comes face to face with his black silhouette at the end of the bedroom corridor. He has the same voice as her husband, speaks like her husband but… Is this her husband ?
Lana Tong: A tailor made tour, 2min., Hong Kong Directed by Sing Jantzen Tse Lana Tong, a tour guide who migrated to Hong Kong less than a decade ago, guides audiences through a post-pandemic Hong Kong undergoing rapid shifts in its political and socio-cultural landscape. Her journey is disrupted by two disembodied voices—native narrators steeped in Hong Kong’s 80s to 00s ethos. Offering corrections rooted in a native perspective and drawing from their upbringing in Hong Kong’s 80s to 00s milieu, they recount the city’s geography and the values of freedom championed by earlier generations, paradoxically steering Lana to rediscover the city through their lens. Amid the tides of time, questions arise: Can a city’s soul survive relentless tides of change? Will its people cling to inherited ideals, flee, or forge new meaning from the fragments?
Ancestral Shadows, 1min., USA Directed by Wilma Casal The reunion of three sisters leads to a journey through the shadows of their ancestors
Oh Deer, 46 sec., South Korea Directed by Jeongeun Lee “Oh Deer” is a poetic interactive animation that follows the journey of a being in search of itself.
Cosmic Dawn Episode 1 Part 1 Final Sneak Peek, 2min., USA Directed by Cosmic Dawn a fight between Vallazar and Tiatha
Johnny Be Good, 36sec., USA Directed by Chase Ramsey, Johnny Hebda Gay relationships are messy. Let’s be real—between the swipe-left culture, hookup apps on every corner, and the glorification of open relationships, monogamy gets treated like some dusty relic from the past. But why should queer couples chain themselves to “traditional” rules that weren’t even made for us? Who actually wants to settle for a relationship that feels like a straight, invented by straights, cookie-cutter cage dressed up as commitment?
MARYAM, 4min., Afghanistan Directed by Zainab Entezar a girl that her father rent him
Sensus Mori, 26sec., USA Directed by Sydney Rincón When an elusive society agrees to be interviewed, a journalist must contend with their ideologies or risk falling prey herself.
Maria Niklińska Marlen – make it, 3min., Poland Directed by Dominika Machel
The Pilot, 1min., USA Directed by Susan Lockwood A reenactment of an autobiography of a French contactee with many past lives as a commander of E.T.s who wants to, in his first Earth incarnation, rise up through the ranks of pilots and flight supervisors, then leave his wife and family in the middle of the night to be allowed to train to fly the ship, the first human on Earth to do so.
The World Needs You, 3min., Portugal Directed by 4.ºB Class Colégio do Marítimo In a world where unity makes a difference, small gestures build bridges, but a lack of cooperation builds walls. And you, will you be part of the problem or the solution?
(mis)Match, 3min., Portugal Directed by Grupo 5.º Ano ESC A self-centered man lives locked in his world until he has a moment of shock. A story of regret, empathy and cooperation.
Message of Change Directed by Grupo 3.º/4.º EBCC Two astronauts have a mission in space. Unexpectedly they issue a worldwide alert as a way to spread a message!
Rose Colored Glasses, 12min., USA Directed by Aiyanna Randolph, Frida Ajanel, Caper Ratchford A young girl meets a guy through social media and realizes that he has different expectations of her than she has of herself. This film follows the girl as she changes herself so that the guy will accept her, with interviews from young people who has experienced the male gaze a tried to change the status quo.
The Beauty in Being Different, 8min., USA Directed by Rebekah Grace de Guzman, Jairemei De Padua, Madison Mcmorrin Watson, Jennifer Tecum Three girls share their story about not fitting the mold due to their feelings of inadequacy stemming from the harmful effects of beauty standards and how they overcome it.
Work in Progress, 12min., USA Directed by Claudia Shin, Olivia Smith, Lenny Vargas Four women in positions of power discuss the hardships and triumphs of working in politics, academia, business, and entrepreneurship.
All You Need is Less, 9min., USA Directed by Adira Blades, Angelica Guillen, Erin Dela Cruz “All You Need Is Less” is a documentary film that unravels fast fashion’s hidden costs, from the factory floor to the For You page. Consumers don’t take into consideration the effects that trends have on the world, targeting mainly women who are more susceptible to fashion trends because of underlying societal issues. Everything comes at a price. The future of fashion is in our hands.
Where Home Never Was, 9min., USA Directed by Rain Herbert “Where Home Never Was” chronicles the lived experiences of Arielle Busby and her mother, whose lives are upended by homelessness. As mother and daughter confront the systemic barriers and personal challenges of homelessness, their story unfolds with raw honesty and emotional depth.
Words I Can’t Forget, 9min., USA Directed by Anabella Trujillo, Yaretzi Pineda, Catalina Kennedy, Izzy Medina “Words I Can’t Forget” follows multiple women’s experiences of being criticized on social media and in their own communities, and how this affects their personal and professional aspirations. Throughout the film, women reflect on their personal stories and take solace in the stories of others.
Roses Through the Cracks, 10min., USA Directed by Nargis Fazili, Alexandra Abundez, Leonora Garcia, Kimberly Ortiz-Ortega Story about 4 immigrants within Los Angeles, conveying their stories about the challenges and struggles within the immigrant experience that can also birth moments of beauty. Though there do exist challenges faced by a majority of immigrants, the immigrant experience isn’t miserable but accompanied by lively and joyful moments. The film de fpicts a contrast embedded within the concept of this experience, sharing how the difficult and virtuous coexists.
Da Terra, 30min., Portugal Directed by Miguel Chichorro Emília Pedro e Fernanda Jorge revisit childhood memories to identify over 70 land parcels inherited from their father. As physical traces fade, memory and oral tradition become the only way to ‘see’ what is no longer visible. The film captures the emotional and cultural depth of the minifúndio system, revealing how memory sustains identity, heritage, and community in rural areas.
The Shadows Left Behind, 13min., Pakistan Directed by Aun Ul Haider Two twelve-year-old friends, Ali and Noor, share an unbreakable bond. Noor, an Afghan refugee, faces sudden deportation. Torn between loyalty and fear, Ali promises to see him off. But what remains is a farewell that echoes in silence, and a friendship lost to the shadows left behind.
Fragments / Palestine, 16min., Germany Directed by Samu Morys Cornelissen Through a montage of sound and pictures, “Fragments / Palestine” explores the silence of German media during the genocide in Gaza.
Hempman vs. the State, 28min., Finland Directed by Sampsa Huttunen Hempman vs. the State is a story of a man who wants to cultivate cannabis openly and without asking for permissions. Authorities are not in favour of his endeavour, and although the fields are blooming, many obstacles stand in the way of the harvest.
STAG, 20min,. USA Directed by Nick Giannetto A queer son and his conservative father venture into the Sierra Nevadas for a hunting trip heavy with silence, grief, and unspoken truths. In the stillness of nature, their clash over identity and tradition becomes a test of love, acceptance, and whether connection can survive the distance between them.
TROY! The Original Lady Boy, 32min,. USA Directed by Christina Linhardt Take a peek inside the gritty, glitzy life of the one-and-only honky-tonk Queen, Troy Walker, considered to be the first “lady boy”. From his life of drugs and drag on the Sunset strip in the 1960s, to his infamous 1970s run at North Hollywood’s World Famous Palomino, not only did the ultra-flamboyant singer survive, but is now preparing to celebrate his 80th birthday.
Stargate SG-13, 20min., USA Directed by Glen L. Wolfe This Stargate mission is anything but routine. SG-13 team is left marooned and in a fight for their lives. A missing DHD, signs of Gao’ulds and lurking Replicators all about. Who will be left? Will help arrive in time or is this the end?
each note to a melody, 1min,. USA Directed by Lindsey Morrison Grant The Creator’s digital rendering of a patchwork quilt is the primary image as it goes through a series of aesthetic changes of hue and value.to illustrate that each patch, thread, and stitch is integral to the whole. It concludes with a silhouette of a world map, followed by a view of Earth from outer space.
WHEN I SEE YOU AGAIN, 36min., Argentina Directed by Ileana Andrea Gómez GAVINOSER VICTORIA DISCOVERS ALL THE TRUTH ABOUT HER FATHER ´S ROLE DURING THE LAST DICTATORSHIP IN ARGENTINA i http://www.cuandoyotevuelvaavercortometraje.blogspot.com/
Pisho, 16min., Pakistan Directed by Aun Ul Haider Journey of a seven-year-old girl, Ruqayya, on a mission to find her lost kitten. Suspecting her mother and neighbors, she embarks on a whimsical search. During her quest, Ruqayya stumbles upon a protest against a recent terrorist attack. Inspired by the demonstrators’ placards, she creates her own sign seeking help to find her missing kitten.
LONELY SEASON, 14min., Iran Directed by Hamid Reza Mahmoudi Mehrizi Farzaneh was a compassionate mother and a faithful wife. The life with love was going on, but unfortunately, her life was overshadowed by the shadow of darkness. While she was struggling with problems and circumstances, she accidentally found a secret that changed her life course completely….
Festival Reviews 