In search of lost time, 7min., USA Directed by Marta Renzi A man and a woman inhabit the same surreal location though not, apparently, at the same time. Marta Renzi directs this black-and-white meditation on memory and absence, joined by long-time collaborators Charles Caster-Dudzick (camera), as well as Aislinn MacMaster & David Thomson (performers). With a nod to the sound score for Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker and a location inspired by Joelle Bouvier and Regis Obadia’s La Chambre.
Sign up for the FREE 3-day trial to watch the film and 450+ award winning films.
Tagline: We may never know
The year was 1950. The camera used was a Kodak Roamer. But were the negatives altered? And what did President Harry Truman say about UFOs at that time – just three years after the Roswell incident? His reaction is included in this five minute documentary.
Directed by Orlando Mendes Nick, a 17-year-old race driver, has spent his life chasing speed, but now, the stakes are higher than ever. Haunted by the loss of his older brother in a Formula 1 crash and with his little sister trapped in an unbreakable coma, Nick is thrust into a race unlike any other—a race that isn’t just about winning but about facing his fears and rewriting destiny.
Silent Token, 14min., USA
Directed by Camilla Della Vecchia
When Sonia, a descendant of a secretive law enforcement group becomes the target of a ruthless enemy from the past, she must uncover the truth about her family’s legacy. Guarded by the fiercely loyal protector Michael Stone and the powerful coin that she inherited. As danger closes in she must decide whether to stay hidden or embrace her destiny in the fight against corruption.
camilladella88@gmail.com
Miami Film Festival Winner – This captivating dark comedy follows the eventful journey of Jessy, a morally ambiguous young man who finds himself entangled in a web of challenges when his mother is kidnapped. To settle his debt, Jessy reluctantly sets out to seduce Carlos, an older man in a vulnerable state of decline.
Directed by Alejandro Renteria
Written by Jorge Luis Sanchez-Noya
Cast: Alex Cowley, Mauricio Renteria, Lili Renteria
Director Statement This first story is part of a feature film design to reflect this statement.- The time spent on this earth is marked by the attention we give to our desires or the time we spend running away from suffering. This story develops and shows us the tragic force behind these silent motivators of human behavior. Miami is a hub for the Spanish speaker community world wide. This story happens to be spread out between Argentina, Mexico, Spain and Miami. This is a device to show the difference of tone, color and/or flavor of these cultural idiosyncrasies. This will aid to highlight how these silent motivators of human behavior remain the same regardless of the location. Using these four stories in different geographic spots while they are conceptually intertwined will show the audience these silent motivators with the hope they will recognize them, not just to be entertained but learn deeper truth about themself. As a result of having lived for long periods of time in different countries, has allowed me to perceive this simple truth, I want to share it and to show how similar we are at the core, no matter the location. The four short stories are tragedies with a tone of dark comedy, (one of those four has already been shot, link is attached.) The rest will be shot in similar manners, cinematic, subdued color schemes, low key lighting, high contrast cinematography. The fifth one is more of a dreamlike and will be closer to a romantic comedy look. One actor will play 4 different characters as he symbolically represents death, This will be evident with the final story.
Story short review
“Objetos de Deseo” is an 18-minute indie short film directed by Alejandro Renteria. It revolves around Jessi, played by Alex Cowley, who finds himself in a desperate situation in Miami and must make ethically questionable decisions to resolve it. The film expertly combines dramatic misdirection, tension, and a touch of dark humor. It explores themes of need, manipulation, and the lure of easy money, all set against the backdrop of Miami’s nighttime streets. The story unfolds as Jessi attempts to strike a deal with Mr. Lord, portrayed by Mauricio Rentería, but soon realizes he may not be in control of the situation. As the layers of deception are peeled back, the narrative keeps viewers engaged, leading to a surprising and impactful finale. The performances by the leads, Cowley and Rentería, showcase their characters’ complexity and the film’s understated style complements the storyline. Overall, “Objetos de Deseo” offers a fresh take on a cat and mouse game, making it a captivating indie film that explores human nature and the choices we make under extreme circumstances.
Miami Film Festival Winner – This captivating dark comedy follows the eventful journey of Jessy, a morally ambiguous young man who finds himself entangled in a web of challenges when his mother is kidnapped. To settle his debt, Jessy reluctantly sets out to seduce Carlos, an older man in a vulnerable state of decline.
Directed by Alejandro Renteria
Written by Jorge Luis Sanchez-Noya
Cast: Alex Cowley, Mauricio Renteria, Lili Renteria
Director Statement This first story is part of a feature film design to reflect this statement.- The time spent on this earth is marked by the attention we give to our desires or the time we spend running away from suffering. This story develops and shows us the tragic force behind these silent motivators of human behavior. Miami is a hub for the Spanish speaker community world wide. This story happens to be spread out between Argentina, Mexico, Spain and Miami. This is a device to show the difference of tone, color and/or flavor of these cultural idiosyncrasies. This will aid to highlight how these silent motivators of human behavior remain the same regardless of the location. Using these four stories in different geographic spots while they are conceptually intertwined will show the audience these silent motivators with the hope they will recognize them, not just to be entertained but learn deeper truth about themself. As a result of having lived for long periods of time in different countries, has allowed me to perceive this simple truth, I want to share it and to show how similar we are at the core, no matter the location. The four short stories are tragedies with a tone of dark comedy, (one of those four has already been shot, link is attached.) The rest will be shot in similar manners, cinematic, subdued color schemes, low key lighting, high contrast cinematography. The fifth one is more of a dreamlike and will be closer to a romantic comedy look. One actor will play 4 different characters as he symbolically represents death, This will be evident with the final story.
Story short review
“Objetos de Deseo” is an 18-minute indie short film directed by Alejandro Renteria. It revolves around Jessi, played by Alex Cowley, who finds himself in a desperate situation in Miami and must make ethically questionable decisions to resolve it. The film expertly combines dramatic misdirection, tension, and a touch of dark humor. It explores themes of need, manipulation, and the lure of easy money, all set against the backdrop of Miami’s nighttime streets. The story unfolds as Jessi attempts to strike a deal with Mr. Lord, portrayed by Mauricio Rentería, but soon realizes he may not be in control of the situation. As the layers of deception are peeled back, the narrative keeps viewers engaged, leading to a surprising and impactful finale. The performances by the leads, Cowley and Rentería, showcase their characters’ complexity and the film’s understated style complements the storyline. Overall, “Objetos de Deseo” offers a fresh take on a cat and mouse game, making it a captivating indie film that explores human nature and the choices we make under extreme circumstances.
SILENT TOKEN, 14min., USA
Directed by Camilla Della Vecchia
When Sonia, a descendant of a secretive law enforcement group becomes the target of a ruthless enemy from the past, she must uncover the truth about her family’s legacy. Guarded by the fiercely loyal protector Michael Stone and the powerful coin that she inherited. As danger closes in she must decide whether to stay hidden or embrace her destiny in the fight against corruption.
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.
A single person, Chyhenu, meets a potential partner In a beautiful and surrealistic collision of Nordic and Japanese cultures. These two eccentric characters share an inner connection that parts their clouds and returns blue skies to their lives.
My dad passed away recently and I’ll be completely honest here, watching him die slowly from cancer is a hell I would not wish on my worst enemy. Family and friends ask me how I am feeling, or how I am handling it all. In actuality, the emotions are too intense to verbalize.
The only way that I could come close to expressing how I am feeling was to make some art. So, I called some friends, we went to the forest, and we made this. Feel free to interpret it however you’d like. It’s exactly what I wanted to say.
Festival Reviews 