Director/Writer/Producer: Josh Tickell
Director/Writer/Producer: Rebecca Tickell
Writer: Johnny O'Hara
Country: United States
Project Type: Feature, Documentary
Overview: Kiss the Ground reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. This movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible – to solve humanity’s greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species future.
Director Statement: After 7 years of hard work, we believe this film is an urgent call to action in addressing the world’s climate crisis. Finally, there is an accessible, relatively simple solution to humanity’s greatest challenge. It is our dream that it will be viewed by audiences in every part of the world for years to come and we would be honored if you and your festival would join us on this mission.
Director/Writer: Deepak Reddy
Producers: Shilpa Gajjala, Harikanth Gunamagari
Country: India
Project Type: Short
Overview:A young man muses on the nature of love, recounting three relationships from his past. The girls in his life resemble three different seasons, namely Chaitra (Spring), Varsha (Monsoon) & Seeta (Winter).
Director Statement: "Manasanamaha" roughly translates to 'Salutations to the mind' in Sanskrit. The film is an ode to the process of making memories and how they define our perspective. In order to communicate this to the audience, I chose to narrate this story in the first person perspective over the usual third person perspective. Of course it would be biased, but I felt it would also make it more human, full of errors and emotions. When I started visualizing the film, I wanted it to have its own language, be it the structure, compositions, colours, cinematography, editing or even the narrative. A lot of work went into the cinematographic and sound editing techniques to evoke the sense of nostalgia the character feels while reminiscing. Use of a custom-made helmet rig for the POV shots helped set the tone, as did the fluid watercolour shots to bookend the different chapters of the story.The idea at the heart of this film is that the endings of love stories can be happy or sad but the beginnings are always happy. With this in mind, I decided to literally narrate a story in backwards to end it on a happy note.
Director/Writer/Producer: Kyle Lawrence
Director of Photography: Dave McClung
Country: Canada
Project Type: Long Short
Overview: A group of teens have to go an entire year without the internet. They discover there's a clandestine organization pulling the strings and it's up to them to save their town.
Director Statement: This short was such a fun project to work on! Despite working through the nightmare of being the first production of any notable size in Vancouver to begin filming in a "covid world" after the film industry shutdown, we stayed healthy and safe, we made the best of it and had a great time doing so! We filmed three days at the beginning of June, followed by three days in mid-July. We had so many experienced and talented crew volunteer their time to help out with this project! Thank you for considering it!
Director/Writer/Producer: Ilya Polyakov
Producer: Sebastian Mathews
Country: United States
Project Type: Short
Overview: A young man working the graveyard shift at an old video store soon discovers something very sinister about the place.
Director Statement: This film was an exercise in using the resources you've got available. I knew I had an amazing location at my disposal (courtesy of my good friend and producer Sebastian), so I quickly set to work writing a story based around it. Then something just clicked, and so Cassette was born!
Director/Writer/Producer: Carolin Glomp
Country: Germany
Project Type: Short
Overview: A business man suspects his girlfriend of having an affair, after returning from a trip and finding a stranger's pubic hair on their sofa. A discussion between the couple starts to get more and more intense until they find themselves in a situation, none of them has seen coming.
Director Statement: "Love is blind, but jealousy sees too much." - old Jewish saying
Director: Robin Phillips
Writer/Producer: Christina di Marlo (aka Robin Phillips)
Country: United States
Project Type: Documentary, Experimental, Feature
Overview: WHO CREATED THE GREATEST WORK OF IAMBIC THUNDER IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE? “Behind the Name SHAKESPEARE: Power, Lust, Scorn & Scandal” answers that question in this fun yet important film. It is a costume-filled journey into literary history’s greatest mystery: Who really wrote the works of Shakespeare? This charming documentary is clearly a labor of love, which one can feel in every scene. "BEHIND THE NAME SHAKESPEARE is an extraordinary one-woman show/documentary. The exceptional Robin Phillips guides us through the exciting investigation about who is really behind the most important plays in the whole world and therefore behind the name of William Shakespeare…
Director/Writer/Producer: Sindre Kolbjørnsgard
Country: Norway
Project Type: Short
Overview: In the summer of 2019, four young adventurers, embark on a dangerous scientific expedition into the Arctic, with the intent of documenting the true story of the effects of the changing climate. Through Eric’s scientific degree in glaciology, and Kris' crucial knowledge of navigating the local terrain, working as an Arctic guide, the team approach the endeavor with open minds, seeking evidence, to determine fact from hysteria, about the rate of glacial melting. The journey proves to be an eye-opening revelation, sparking a sense of imperative, that they must do something before it’s too late.
Director Statement: “Re-photography is the easiest way to understand how big climate change is. I think the challenge is that we ordinary people are introduced to climate problems in such a scientific way that we are unable to relate to them.”
Director/Producer: Ed Picard
Producers: JM Seneca, Einat Dan
Country: France
Project Type: Short
Overview: Film Me’ a fashion film where fashion and cinema meet one another, a homage to different times of cinema through the spectrum of beauty. There are 4 scenes which all match to a time and a mood, and each are filmed in a special format (Super 8, 16mm, VHS, Digital).
Writers: Joseph Bronzi, Lindsay Gelfand, Buddy Fitzpatrick
Genres: Comedy Horror
Country: United States
Project Type: Television Script
Overview: Homicide Detective Harry Frye has a gift for infuriating women. His new partner Millie (who had rage issues before Harry) is pregnant, so working with her is like playing Twister in a minefield. His daughter is working off 'Daddy Issues' in a Strip club, and his AA Sponsor is so in love with Harry that she’s ready to strangle him. This ‘talent’ runs deep in Harry’s genes. A hundred years ago, his ancestor Augustus ruined the scheme of a Hellion named Lilith. Now the same Witch has found Harry, and is plotting her revenge.
Directors/Writer: David Barros
Producer: Comité Paralímpico de Portugal
Country: Portugal
Project Type: Short
Overview: A paralympic athlete that tries to beat a record ends up stuck in a time loop.
Director/Writer/Producer: Vasily Chuprina
Writer: Andreas Illmer
Producer: Svetlana Samarina
Country: Russian Federation
Project Type: Short
Overview: "Those beautiful moments" tells the story of a scientist on the search for eternal beauty and life.
Director Statement: "Those beautiful moments" tells the story of a scientist on the search for eternal beauty and life.
Director/Writer: Nick von Schlippe
Writer/Producer: Zuzana von Schlippe
Producers: Grace Low, Vicki Kok, Chong Boon Yee
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Short
Overview: When an old school bloke goes to his first ever yoga class the results are anything but enlightening.
Director Biography: Nick von Schlippe trained as a director at ARTTS International. On graduating, he worked as an Assistant Director on several films and TV shows, before going on to make over thirty short films. Many of these have been highly acclaimed, with screenings at the Curzon Soho and the Cannes Short Film Corner. As an actor, Nick’s credits include 6 Underground, French and Saunders and Spaced. Working with Zuzana von Schlippe at Caesar Pictures, Nick is currently developing his feature film directing debut.
Director/Writer/Producer: Jay Martin
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Short, Political, Drama, Historical
Overview:Redt'Blue is a documentary short, focusing on how, and why, the ex-mining town constituency of Mansfield swung from the Labour party, which had held it for a consecutive 94-years, to the Conservative party in the 2017 snap-election. A party which had not claimed the seat since its creation in 1885.
Director Statement: Redt'Blue is a documentary short, focusing on how, and why, the ex-mining town constituency of Mansfield swung from the Labour party, which had held it for a consecutive 94-years, to the Conservative party in the 2017 snap-election. A party which had not claimed the seat since its creation in 1885.
Director: Stanislav Matveev
Producer: Rafael Toro Cortes
Animation: Rafael Toro Cortes, Stanislav Matveev, Lena Zyadeh
Country: Austria
Project Type: Animation, Student, Short
Overview: A young soldier is walking through his memories, before the moment of death
Director/Writer: Hisashi Kikuchi
Producers: Shin Okada
Country: Japan
Project Type: Feature
Overview: The story begins at a hangout spot of four skateboarders. A random conversation leads them to create a team called “Crasher.” Together, they show up at skate parks and events where their skateboard tricks attract a growing flock of admirers. As their reputation gains momentum - fueled through the power of social media - their fame spreads. However, when Crasher members Ryo and K are sponsored by skateboard company ELEMENT, it puts undue pressure on their friendship. Both Ryo and K are thrilled to be sponsored by such a well-known brand. However, while Ryo uses the opportunity to improve his skateboard prowess, K turns to the allure of the nightlife. From an abusive household and now relentlessly flamed on social media for his public behavior, K reacts by distancing himself from his teammates. As he falls over the edge, will he recover his skateboard spirit before the big competition?
Director Statement: To create STAND STRONG, I spent many long hours working with skateboarders. They're always fun and free, but they can also be high-maintenance. Still, as people, they are incredibly brave and never give up no matter how many times they fail. I believe that STAND STRONG and its universal message can cross the ocean and reach the entire world.
Director/Writer: Vasco Alexandre
Writer/Producer:Karen T. Bolt, Sylvester Warren
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Short
Overview: The film follows the story of Ellie, a young girl from a violent home. The 9-year-old seems to escape from her harsh reality by spending her days in the woods of a nearby scrapyard with her friend, Pete. There, the pair have built a new home for themselves. One night, after witnessing the horrifying abuse of her mother, Ellie decides to come back home and confront her stepfather.
Director Statement: With families in lockdown worldwide, hotlines are lighting up with abuse reports. The violence is more frequent, more severe and more dangerous. Since cases have increased by 20%, I cannot imagine a better time to tell this story. Told through the eyes of one of the biggest losers in a violent relationship -children- 'Yard Kings' observes a 9-year-old girl's reality as a fly on the wall. It is a personal topic for me, and it was challenging to portray a social issue outside of my cultural zone. However, London is a complicated city, filled with all kinds of truths and contradictions, and I wanted to find my own emotional connection to it since my time there was such a significant chapter of my life.
Director/Writer/Producer: Ilya Polyakov
Country: United States
Project Type: Short
Overview: A lonely woman falls in love with her mysterious neighbor, only to learn he has a very deep, dark secret.
Director Statement: I don't know what it is that draws me to such lonely, desperate characters as Fiona, but with each film I make it becomes more and more evident that there is at least a subconscious attraction towards them, most often depicted as females. Yet, these characters are not weak. Fiona might be heartbroken and awkward but she ultimately knows what she wants. Love. And in a world so ravaged by sadness, one can't be too choosy about love, even if it's found in the strangest of places.
Director/Writer/Producer: Wendy Spinks
Director: Clea Mallinson
Country: South Africa
Project Type: Short
Overview: I am Chuma explores the story of how a young black woman, (having experienced numerous gender-based violence incidents) studying at a business college in Cape Town found herself homeless and living rough on a park bench for 3 years. 35 year-old Chuma Somdaka is a disabled, lesbian, isiXhosa woman, who unexpectedly finds her calling as an artist when to survive, she responds to an inner voice and embarks on an empowering journey of awakening and healing, but meets new societal challenges in her yearning to be truly seen and remain connected to her inspired state.
Director Statement: FRAMING: Can art really save her life? Can Chuma/you expand her/your outer circumstances through her/your connection to flow, offering further agency and therefore true empowerment? These questions dance with my deep fascination in the intersection of psychological and metaphysical fields as a framework at once. Perhaps best described; As within so without, as above so below. As the universe, so the soul~Hermes Trismegistus. Who is Chuma? How does she experience the world as a disabled, lesbian, isiXhosa woman who is alone, in a perceived state of separateness while being severely polarized of mind. Is Chuma badly broken or...? Are you and I, all, Chuma, in the mirror, a creator, a destroyer, making choices in every moment, creating according to our state of being? I ask myself if we are all part of a greater homeless community on this planet, just walking each other home.
Writer: Angel Connell
Country: United States
Project Type: Short Screenplay
Overview: Two white thugs attempting to rob a black businesswoman get more than what they bargained for when they seize and attempt to destroy her Donald Trump fetish doll.
Director: Alexander Williams
Writer: Tim Lebbon
Producer: Nathan Erasmus
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Short
Overview: Charlie brings his pet to school for Show and Tell - with unfortunate results
Director Statement: I wanted to create a fun, short film for kids. Charlie and Yip is a story about a kid with a serious problem - his favourite pet is a vampire bat. The short is really a teaser/trailer for my animated film in development: "Charlie Fantum's Haunted House".
Director/Writer/Producer: Fabrizio Daniele
Writer: Autumn Ivy Hobsson
Producers: Oliver Boon, Charlotte Hendrickx
Country: United States
Project Type: Short
Overview:When enough is enough, you realize you are enough!
Director Statement: Fabrizio is a truly unique and unapologetic artist that wants to bring roaring comedy and heart-wrenching drama to life. Whether it’s on a stage, in front of the camera or behind it, his dedication to telling inspiring stories in the United States fuels his determination and devotion to the art of acting.
Director/Writer/Producer: Joe Bartone
Director: Jose Zambrano Cassella
Producer: Thiago Oliveira
Country: United States
Project Type: Music Video, Short
Overview: A young nun auditions for a girl rock band.
Director Biography: Jose Zambrano Cassella has been in the film industry since 1991, mentored by directors Robert Rodriguez and Tony Scott. As a cinematographer, he has worked on theatrically released films and over 600 national and award-winning TV commercials for high-profile brands such as Revlon, IBM, McDonald's, Victoria’s Secret, REEBOK, Kohler, Gucci, Apple, Dior, Nike, and more. He has directed the features DELIVERY (Warner Bros./ Polychrome), SECOND COMING (Universal/ Polychrome), the hit horror film THE SACRED (Osiris Films), and the cop drama TWO DAYS (RAI TV-Europe). He also brings music video directing experience, having directed videos for international superstar acts like Mana and Shakira.
Writer: Mike Sorrinni
Country: United States
Project Type: Screenplay
Overview: A young Nazi’s carefully balanced world is shattered upon the arrival of a mysterious postcard with only ‘Flee with her’ written on it. Fear over the exposure of his forbidden romance with his long time Jewish girlfriend continues to mount as questions from his commander arise over his closeness to her family. With time running out, and few options available he must decide his destiny between being a proud German soldier or saving the woman he loves.
Director Statement: Mike Sorrinni is an American writer, editor, historian and archivist. Coming from an army family he spent much of his life traversing the world before settling down in Indianapolis. Following high school he began a series of jobs ranging from bicycle builder to a Dominatrix’s assistant to ambulance driver. He then became an archivist and historian specializing in World War II’s European theater. In 2009 Mike edited and produced a series of commercials for off broadway smash hit “Arias With A Twist” which earned him two Davey awards and a Telly award. After this he transitioned into writing finishing his first screenplay, a period drama titled ‘The Postcard’ which was a finalist in the 2013 Emerging Screenwriters Screenplay competition. He soon followed this with “Behind The Wall”, a top 100 finalist selection in the 2015 Hollywood Screenplay contest. Both scripts have been official selections in several film festivals.
Director/Writer/Producer: Stephen Wise
Director of Photography: Kevin Amoldovar
Country: United States
Project Type: Short
Overview: During a time of nomadic civilization, a woman traveling through the wilderness alone comes across a young orphaned girl and must take her to safety while fighting off marauders.
Director Statement: "Sur'vi" came about as a desire to work with lead actor Anna Faulkner, who leads a lightsaber training group in Pensacola and is quite adept with handheld weapons. I worked with her in a couple commercials and knew that she had amazing screen presence. With Anna in mind for the lead, I wrote this story set in a time that could either be far future or far past with colorful characters who speak with a distinctive dialect. I didn't know if it would work, but a number of people liked the screenplay and encouraged me to produce it. We ran a successful Indiegogo campaign, raising more than $5,000 to produce the film. I was able to gather an amazing team of actors and crew who followed me into the wilderness of Northwest Florida in the summer to shoot this ambitious film that included fight scenes, makeup and practical effects, a child actor, and all exterior locations while praying that the storms would stay at bay. I am very proud of what everyone's talent and hard work has produced and I hope that audiences find "Sur'vi" entertaining.
Writer: Nikki Smallwood
Genres: Drama, Suspense, Revenge
Country: United States
Project Type: Feature Screenplay
Overview: As a child growing up, we always expect our family to be there. Bianca never imagined she'd lose her father to a drunk driver, her mother to mental illness or her little sister to human trafficking. The sad reality of human trafficking is that most cases are never solved, those that do get solved have already wreaked havoc to its victims and their families. For black and brown victims, there is always the initial suspicion of being a runaway or a drug user, so these cases are not given much effort. Bianca’s sister’s case was pacified under the same considerations. Bianca knows her sister, an "A" student, on her way to college and never a troublemaker, didn’t just runaway. She decides to get closure in her own way, for the promise she made to her mother and for justice, for her little sister.
Writer Biography: Nikki Smallwood is an Administrative Assistant by day and a Production Assistant on the side. She has been involved with film and theater since the early 1990’s as an actress. Her first major role was as a bully in an after school industrial short for the New Jersey Department of Education. As she moved forward she’s booked various roles in local commercials, background for award winning series, various indie films and local stage plays. Although she enjoys singing, acting, and writing she has just recently decided to focus more on the production side of film as a production assistant helping with everything from making runs to gaffing. In recent indie productions she has lead on beauty and special effects make up and is looking to gain more experience with set design. She is also huge horror film buff and with a few scripts in the making, she is looking forward to shooting her first feature horror film in the near future.
Director/Writer/Producer: Jye Currie
Writer: Dr Stephanie Holm
Producer: Dr Susan Kerrigan
Country: Australia
Project Type: Short
Overview: A mother, a wife, a victim of domestic violence. After years of abuse resulting in a tragic accident her perception of life is completely warped while she reconnects the past of her absent son.
Director Biography: Jye David Currie was born on September 21, 1993 in Newcastle, Australia. He was raised in the city of Newcastle by his parents David Currie & Kelly Currie who showed him what hard-work, passion & love looked like. Currie earned a Bachelor Degree in Communication majoring in Media Production in 2019, followed by an Honours is Degree in Communication majoring in Film in 2020. Before this time however, Currie spent many years traveling around his home country before venturing off around the world where he has now visited more than 50 countries. Along this journey Currie found his purpose in life by growing a deep passion and love for storytelling and further exploring this through the art of filmmaking. Currie is now set on a mission inspired to share his art with the world in hopes to impact and influence others through his films.
Director: Sam Hartshorn
Writer: Lee Hodgetts
Producer: Stephanie Shires
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Short, Student
Overview: When Audrey- Shamborough's most miserable traffic warden- gives an illegally parked ice cream van a ticket... she unknowingly evokes the wrath of the violent local mafia, who soon embroil her in their mysterious plan!
Director Statement: Monkey’s Blood was the product of a significant amount of sweat, tears and strawberry sauce- in exactly that order. Produced as part of third-year coursework on the Film & Television Production course at the University of York, it brought a team of creative people together to craft a short film that we’re all immensely proud of. At the beginning of production, most of the crew were simply faces in the corridor to one another; yet, when we called “cut” on our final day, braving the chilly Scarborough coastline, there was a bittersweet sense of catharsis shared by firm friends. We hope the fun we had on set is reflected within the film itself. I believe there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Monkey’s Blood; whether one is fond of ice-cream related carnage, cut-throat mafia dealings or exploring the sympathetic side of the much vilified traffic warden… our short film has got you covered. We hope Monkey’s Blood provides a chuckle, a hit of action and an emotional gut-punch.
Director/Producer: Attila Szamosvári
Drone operator: Attila Szamosvári
Country: Hungary
Project Type: Short, Drone
Overview: ...glitch in time on a drone flight...
Director: Glory Zhai
Director/Producer: Herong Cube
Music/Sound: JOJO, Junkie Jangerr
Country: Canada
Project Type: Animation, Student, Short
Overview: An illustration student sitting front of her unfinished darwing but struggle to finished it, memory flash back when she staring at the drawing and take her back to the beginning of everything.
Director Statement: My artwork focuses on strong visual with the core of storytelling. Often referencing ACG (Animation, Cartoon, and Game) culture, my work explores the connection between visual media and tales. While I practice my art as diverse as animation, illustration, motion graphics and design, my belief about “ visual is the best way to tell stories” is consistent. My intention is to invite viewers to specifically use their eye to receiving messages. Therefore, my work relies on visual composition and layout management. I hope viewers will take time to experience what they see, therefore, bring their own meaning out of my work.
Director/Writer/Producer: Jonathan Geffner
Country: United States
Project Type: Short
Overview: A film noir parody web series, set in Brooklyn, NY. Written, created, executive produced and starring ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner. Trillo & Suede are a ventriloquist/dummy detective duo.
Writer: Sarah Cooper
Country: United States
Project Type: Short Screenplay
Overview: A young artist returns home for the weekend to housesit for her uncle but upon her arrival something doesn’t seem quite right. She finds herself fighting to hold on to reality as she’s tormented by an ominous and unexpected presence.
Director Biography: I am a young working artist who just recently tapped into my minds writing space. I have been a lover of the arts for as long as I can remember. When I was just a young girl my mother took me to see Les Misérables at the Boston Pops. I remember sitting on her knee; spell bound by the actors and the scene they brought to life. I knew then and there that I wanted to move the people the way these artists did. It was magic and I wanted to make my own. As I grew, so did societies expectations of me and I started to doubt myself; I began to slip further and further away from my aspirations of becoming an actress and writer... Years pass and I decide to take a leap of faith with an agency and started making a name for myself. Over the past couple years I have been to countless auditions and acted in a few commercial spots and independent films but things weren't happening the way I had envisioned them to in my mind. I wasn't getting the roles or even auditions I thought I should be cast for and I've decided to stop waiting and start manifesting instead. This year I completed my very first screen play and man does it feel good. I've learned that I am capable of anything I put my energy into and that the universe hears me. I can say that writing has opened up a new doorway for me into my creative verse and I am very excited to translate it onto the big screen. I think Thomas Jefferson said it best; "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." We are the pilots of our own destiny and I am finally taking the wheel.
Director/Writer: Austin Hill
Producer: Jack Wright
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Animation, Student, Short
Overview: Young Street Rat Tal and the head of their Robot friend Hermie must escape the criminal underworld of a dystopian mega city to find their mother on the top level.
Director Statement: I wanted to create an adventure set in a futuristic world, about a young girl who faces many obstacles in her struggle for freedom.
Director/Writer: Jason Land
Producer: Transient Films
Country: United States
Project Type: Short
Overview: A struggling musician, trying to build his business of playing theme music for your day, gets hired by the wrong client.
Director Biography: Jason Land was born in New York City but grew up mainly in South Florida. He has lived in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Miami. Concurrent with building a successful career in satellite transmission for live television broadcasts, Jason has written and directed several short films. In association with the International Academy of Film and Television, Jason co-wrote and directed “Ring Around the Rose” and “The Boardroom,” the latter winning Best Comedy at the Red Shorts Film Festival. Jason has collaborated extensively with Darktooth Films and its award winning filmmaker Michael Eldon Lobsinger. Under his own film company, Transient Films, Jason has also lead teams in the 48 Hour Film Project for several years, culminating in several short films, including, “Tahiti," "Open Your Eyes” and “The Stakeout,” which won the coveted Audience Award. Jason loves to write, direct and collaborate. Jason wrote and directed his acclaimed short "Ghost in the Woods" which screened at many festivals and is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Director/Writer: Pierre Reynard
Writer/Producer: Vincent Rauzier
Writer: Marie-Christine Fourny
Country: France, Switzerland
Project Type: Long Short, Documentary
Overview: "At the end of every street, there’s a mountain" the Stendhal’s phrase is well known and every resident of the large region of Grenoble experiences it on a daily basis... City, mountain - this relationship shapes the region far beyond its landscape. Through scientific observation, tourism and sporting activities, through the very living conditions of these spaces, we go beyond the limits that a first interpretation could give us, meaning partitioned, independent or even opposing spaces. In addition, the issues raised by the dialogues of these two distinct geographical entities lead us to question the place of the human being in his environment and, therefore, question the primordial role of a social imaginary, witness of our relationship to the world. The observation of this territory not only then takes on a universal dimension but it also allows each person to look into a Mirror, revealing the reflection of our society.
Writer: DMI Macdonald
Genres: Drama, Political, thriller, history, War, Vietnam, Politics
Country: France
Project Type: Screenplay, Television Script
Overview: With Saigon surrounded, the CIA, Army, and South Vietnam’s conflicted leadership waver between denial and panic, overwhelmed by the historic moment. As the Northern onslaught approaches, southern collaborators face a terrible fate as the Americans ready to leave. The bravery and insubordination of a few rogues will provide a tenuous and temporary lifeline, and demonstrate the sheer power of the human condition. BREAKFAST IN SAIGON is a political war drama rooted in painful authenticity. It is about America’s last gasp in Vietnam, not the fight but the evacuation, and its terrible impact on America’s name, its servicemen and their friends. Each character will have to decide what an American promise is worth. It’s unforgivingly bleak but not without its redeeming forces of good and the altruistic actions of a few, counterbalancing the harrowing choices and pain that permeates the story. This is a storytelling world as real as it can be, textured by the blood, sweat, and tears of many that will ripple through history. It’s dark, heartbreaking viewing, but like the most memorable tales of war, it’s fuelled by the enduring power of the human will and the immense strength of the human condition.
Director Biography: DMI Macdonald is a new screenwriter based out of the UK.
Director/Writer/Producer: Paul Edward Foulkes
Writer: Aaron Yamashita
Country: Japan
Project Type: Feature Documentary, Television
Overview: Inspired by a true story about Pauls life with HIV and How it affected both himself and those around him.
Director Statement: In this world, Prejudice and, hatred are common in a society which still has not found the way to openly communicate for fear of being persecuted. The need for truth, hope and the will to listen openly about those subjects which we fear are the only way to free our personal and social burdens. Someone once said that the "truth will set you free". We are already free, we just need to find the truth.
Director: Jessica Anna Festa
Writer: Giovanni Festa
Producers: Puck Teatré, Fernando Guerra, Piumadoca
Country: Italy
Project Type: Trailer/Teaser
Overview: First decade of the eighteenth century. The Serenissima, which has always been a bulwark of the West, begins its phase of decay: lust, gambling and a long conflict on the borders of the Aegean wear down the foundations of the historic republic. The Doge, Giovanni II Corner wants to revive the fate of his fellow citizens with the "craziest Carnival in the world", inviting the most important royal families to the event. Musicians, street artists, dukes and countesses are about to give color everywhere; among the numerous ships that dock at the port, four gloomy figures from distant lands trample the Venetian soil. Revenge is the force that pushes them beyond their borders, a revenge born of a body raped by noble hands in the shadow of the bell tower of San Marco and by a God never fully understood by Christians. The blood of the patricians paints the stucco-colored walls, the alleys echo with the tears of mutilated aristocratic beautiful women: it is the bloodiest Carnival week ever. But not all wicked people wear masks. A trio originating from destiny and a sense of servitude becomes the shield and sword of a frightened people. The Arsenale, the Rialto bridge, the casinos becomes the most spectacular and fascinating theater of a comedy that changes into tragedy between acrobatics, stilettos and colored bombs. And when everything seems destined to end tragically, the dark lady together with her lowest army, is defeated born from the legend of Arlecchino and his fantastic company.
Directors: Matu Harvey, Trevor Cone
Country: Singapore
Project Type: Short, Student
Overview: A young rape victim seeks revenge on her attacker. After researching her plan, she waits for her attacker to park and leave his car before she proceeds to cut the brake line. However, she is horrified to discover that the man’s daughter is in the car with him and all she can do is to helplessly watch the car with tampered break lines drive away.
Director: Tim Bragaw
Writer: Autumn Brooke
Producer: Nicole Purin
Country: United Arab Emirates
Project Type: Feature Documentary
Overview: Elegance, grace, mystery - women have an undeniable power that stems from their beauty. This beauty starts with the skin but the actual power comes from within. Annina explorers women's lives in the Arabic world. Travel with her to the gold City of Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the first Arab Fashion Week in the country's history. Then go behind the scenes of Dubai's Arab Fashion Week in the United Arab Emirates, to discuss women's empowerment. This film will lift women to discover their own beautiful strengths, to spread their wings, and fly. ITA Eleganza, grazia, mistero: le donne hanno un potere innegabile che deriva dalla loro bellezza. Questa bellezza inizia esternamente ma il vero potere viene da dentro. Annina esplora la vita delle donne nel mondo arabo. Viaggia con lei nella città d'oro di Riyadh, nel Regno dell'Arabia Saudita, per la prima settimana della moda araba nella storia del paese. Quindi vai dietro le quinte della settimana della moda araba di Dubai negli Emirati Arabi Uniti, per discutere dell'empowerment delle donne. Questo film spingerà le donne a scoprire i loro bellissimi punti di forza, a spiegare le ali e a volare.
Director: George Carmichael
Writer: Charlii Kerr
Producer: Molly Wise
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Sports Comedy, Short, Student
Overview: The Gutter Girls are about to face their ultimate rivals, The Splits, in a bowling game. The only problem? Their impulsive Coach has bet their bowling alley on the outcome.
Director Statement: I fell in love with the Gutter Girls story immediately. The idea of creating a bowling alley to shoot in was beyond exciting, the quirky characters charmed me, and the offbeat comedy made me howl. Quite simply put, I was bowled over by the script. Sorry. No more awful puns. It strikes me now (damn!) more than ever how lucky I was to get the opportunity to work on this film, let alone direct it. With practically an all-female cast and HODs, I was basically the only bloke on the core crew, and gladly so. My team helped this comedy flourish – we were all on the same wavelength. As an actor-orientated director, I couldn’t wait to help cast and work with the actors. The aforementioned brilliance of the script coupled with my encouragement of constant improvisation from the cast worked fabulously to create the upbeat, off-kilter tone we set out to achieve from day one.
Director/Writer/Producer: Phil Comeau
Writers: Joshua Wade
Country: Canada
Project Type: Documentary, Short
Overview: Acadians from Belle-Ile-en-Mer, France, visit Canada to meet their "cousins" with whom they share a common culture and history. Descendants of the deported Acadians by the British from their original homeland, they walk on their ancestral lands and attend the international World Acadian Congress. This film is about exile, the power of memory and finding your roots. - 69 awards received worldwide.
Director Statement: Culture is identity and it is what makes us all unique. This film is about exile, the power of memory and finding your roots.
Director/Producer: Travis Mills
Writer: Joseph Pevey
Producers: Bill Perkins
Country: United States
Project Type: Feature
Overview: One of 12 Westerns in 12 Months produced during 2020, this film tells the story of Cam Talcutt, a man who won a trading post in a card game. Now, he's stuck in the wilderness trying to run it when he learns the freight company who supplies his store won't be coming anymore. Cam is in a bad spot and might have to do bad things to survive.
Director Biography: Travis Mills was born in Quito, Ecuador. He spent the majority of his early life abroad in Europe and Africa before returning to the United States. In the U.S., he settled in Arizona where he co-founded Running Wild Films in 2010 with playwright Gus Edwards. Since then, they have produced over 10 feature films and more than 100 short film projects. In 2016, Travis expanded his film work to Mississippi and Colorado where he continues to produce and direct feature films. In 2020, he started his biggest project to date: making 12 feature length Western films in 12 months.
Director: Stan Adard
Producer: Astradream
Country: Switzerland
Project Type: Short
Overview: Astradream’s Breathing Through plays with the cinematic possibilities of a 360° VR environment, allowing the stages of life to be impressively experienced both architecturally and psychologically. An exciting VR experimental short film about the journeying of consciousness from birth, through the stages of life, into rebirth.
Director Statement: The actual pandemic has set a somber tone for people used to showing art and creating experiences—dancers, musicians, performers, filmmakers. In the absence of public events like these, virtual space has become one of the most immerse sensory experiences available to us. As people acclimate to having more and more emotional and contemplative experiences mediated by technology, a work like Breathing Through is a marker of the times. Traveling through a digitally constructed world, surrounded by scenes cultivated from history, autobiography, nature, the objects one experiences become timeless symbols. Logic and perspective matter less than the journey of life itself. Images aren’t supporting structures; the road we have chosen is only relative. But the meaning of our personal narrative, like the viewpoint one chooses to see in the video, is ultimately grounded in the breath.
Director/Writer/Producer: John Druzba
Country: United States
Project Type: Short, Student
Overview: A lonely New Yorker struggles to connect with a neighbor during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Walls" is a topical story shot on a mobile phone.
Director Statement: Making "Walls" during the COVID-19 pandemic was a refreshing challenge. Through it, I've learned how to work with simplicity. I trust that the message of this film's story connects with audiences on a deeper level.