Director: Lauren Sims
Writer: Lauren Sims
Producers: Louise Dennett, Richard Sims
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Drama
Overview: A girl who recently lost her Grandfather discovers a hidden post office where you can send and receive letters to a loved one who has passed on, but, she receives the wrong letter.
Director Statement: This is my debut short film which I was lucky enough to make with the help of my family. This is for my Grandpa who we lost last year. This movie spawned from thinking about what I would write to him and what he would write back if we could, and I hope everyone will find some peace and hope through watching.
Director/Writer: Astra Silver Burke
Producers: Astra Silver Burke, Paul Burke Jr
Country: United States
Genre: Experimental, Short, Student
Overview: An introspective meeting with puppet Pierrot motivates a sleeping girl...
Director Statement: Art should raise more questions than it answers, shouldn't it?
Director/Writer: Nabat Shir
Producers: Nabat Shir, Kelly Fulford
Country: United States
Genres: Drama, Romance
Overview: An elderly woman begins to see her past through the window of her family home. She must confront life's choices and missed opportunities before the window closes forever.
Director Statement: The inspiration for The Window came from the films of Ingmar Bergman, Andrei Tarkovsky, Orson Welles, David Lynch, and Federico Fellini—directors known for exploring the depths of the human psyche. While these legends of cinema were all men, my goal was to create a film with depth, poetic essence, and intellectual rigor, but through a uniquely female perspective. As a woman behind the camera, I wanted to offer a nuanced and genuine depiction of womanhood, addressing themes of abuse and betrayal.
Director: Jack Kinsella
Country: United Kingdom
Genres:Sport, Documentary
Overview: A young British racing driver faces an international challenge after overcoming struggles early in his life. Will he regain control of his future?
Director Statement: I wanted to give Jonathan a chance to tell his story in a raw and real way, which shows off both the harsh reality of the sport of racing, but also the intengrity of the driver.
Director/Writer: Mokhless Al-Hariri
Producers: Mokhless Al-Hariri, Maria Mdani
Country: United States
Genres: Documentary, Feature
Overview: Chanting of the Dunes is an 86 minutes award-winning film about Wahbi Al-Hariri-Rifai who was an accomplished international artist, architect, archeologist, and author. Chanting of the Dunes takes viewers on a dazzling journey through multiple countries and during momentous world changes that extend from the Levant in the 1920s to the U.S. and China in the 1990s. The film is beautifully illustrated through hundreds of meticulously restored black/white and color archival photographs and original footage. Chanting of the Dunes recounts Wahbi’s life through the mixed perspective of his wife, Widad Marachi, who married him at the age of 15. The fascinating storyline is full of unexpected turns and is accompanied by a superb soundtrack. According to festival managers, the film exceeds all expectations and represents a new artistic genre. Many have called it “extraordinary, moving, mesmerizing, full of messages...”
Director: Guy Grundy
Writer: Guy Grundy
Producers: Guy Grundy, Drew Dermott
Country: United States
Project Type: Feature
Overview: From the land down under to the streets of Los Angeles, Grundy is a wild beer-drinking, weed-smoking Australian Hitman who doesn't want to grow up. The death of his Boss forces him to take charge and be the leader he was meant to be.
Director Statement: I had a rough childhood, but I always found peace when I watched Movies & TV shows. It was my chance to escape the reality of my shitty life. In many ways I was brought up on American Movies & TV. I knew what I wanted to be & do after watching "Rocky" at the drive-in. From that one movie I learnt so much about life, the ups the downs & how hard work discipline can overcome anything. I now look to motivate others through my films & make people laugh as life is to be enjoyed.
Director: Antonio Rodríguez Cabal
Writer: Antonio Rodríguez Cabal
Producers: Antonio Rodríguez Cabal, María Rodríguez Palao
Country: Spain
Project Type: Feature
Overview: Step back in time to the vibrant 1970s, where two young Spanish adventurers, Javier and Rafa, venture into the Sahara Desert, driven by a hunger for thrilling escapades and the yearning for an unforgettable journey. Amidst the vast expanse of sand, they discover the allure of friendship, the allure of risk... and the alluring Florence, a captivating French muse whose presence awakens a whirlwind of emotions. Together, they brave the perils of the notorious "Desert Pirates," immerse themselves in the ethereal wonders of the Tuareg culture, and endure the relentless grip of the shifting sands. But it is Javier alone who unearths the extraordinary secret guarded by "Tin-Hinan," the enigmatic Tuareg princess with a spirit as vast as the desert itself.
Director/Writer/Producer: Stephen Shelton
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Animation, Experimental, Long Short
Overview: An original short animated film, set in rural England, about a young woman who learns her evening train journey is being diverted to a place she hasn't heard of before. She drifts asleep once on the train, only to wake up and find herself in an altogether different world. Her train takes her to a station in a surreal hi-tech future world, inhabited by the 'artificials', but after her own train disappears, she is soon directed to her train replacement service, a strange steampunk style sky-train. This takes her outside of the glossy and sanitised city walls, to see a very different side of life, where the 'intelligents' have gone into hiding in a run-down bohemian world. These hooded sirens then expose her mind to two very different possible future scenarios.
Director Statement: I'm sure every artistic director will claim the same but I always try and do something very 'different' in artistic style and presentation. I'm never trying to follow the curve in trends but trying to have some level of uniqueness. I feel especially so with animation, the medium I stick with, as I feel it should be used to take an audience to places it would be impossible or very difficult to achieve with normal filming and actors (unless maybe with some giant major production special effects budget). Even then I hope my plots are still very unique.
Director/Writer/Producer: Mitchell Burrows
Key Cast "Aaron": Chris Mills
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Feature
Overview: A young man is brought to his knees as he navigates a dangerous lifestyle and confronts his traumas.
Director Statement: 'The Other Side' is my first film as a solo Writer/Director, which was shot in March 2023 and funded through an Indiegogo Fundraiser. I always knew I wanted to wait until I had an idea which really connected with me to make my Directorial Debut, and 'The Other Side' proved to be just that. The narrative evolved over approximately 2 years until eventually the version of the story which is present in the film presented itself to me in mid-2022, so I got to writing the screenplay immediately. Having waited for a story which I felt could really make for an intriguing viewing experience, the themes within the narrative of the male ego, how it impacts the person and those around them, how it alters their world-view in ambiguous circumstances, all felt like ideas which could elevate this project to something that could hopefully connect with its audience long-term. I chose to view each character as a different pathway to explore these concepts in the most entertaining, emotional and thematically interesting ways possible, and worked closely with each actor on the lead-up to the shoot to ensure we could bring these ideas to life in a way we both agreed would do them justice. The film was written with the low budget in mind, and was shot over an intense 3-day shoot ,which thanks to my incredibly talented & dedicated Cast & Crew ran extremely smoothly despite the tight schedule. Now I am proud to present a film I hope can connect with audiences the same way it has connected with me. Excuse the cliché, but it truly is a labour of love from all involved, and everybody who worked on the film is equally as excited as I am to be able to finally share it with the world!
Director/Writer/Producer: Ayman Mokhtar
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Animation, Experimental, Short
Overview: In the heart of a bustling city, a street musician struggles for recognition. A car accident leaves him wounded, his blood staining a tattered bag. Curious eyes deem it art, and he capitalises on this macabre allure, bleeding himself to create more bags for profit. Yet, when passion intertwines with emptiness during a loveless encounter, he seeks solace in his music… alone.
Director Statement: At its core, In Your Dreams explores themes of isolation, the search for identity, and the transformative power of art. It is a reflection on how personal pain can be channelled into creative expression, and how this process can lead to both recognition and deeper introspection. The film also touches on the complexities of love and relationships, drawing from my own experiences of a failed marriage and the subsequent journey towards self-discovery. Creating In Your Dreams has been a cathartic and transformative experience for me. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of art to heal and inspire. I am incredibly proud of the work my team and I have done, and I am excited to share this story with audiences around the world.
Director/Writer: Aidan Sherlock
Key Cast "Will": Phillip Bayntun
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Student, Drama, Short
Overview: In a meeting about their game's future Zach and Will's friendship comes to a head.
Director Statement: This film draws from a lot of my own personal experiences not just in computer science but also experiences at film school. This is very much a film about the creative process and it's reaction to commercialisation. The two main characters represent two sides of myself, sides that I feel each creative deal with to some extent so to be able to put those onto the screen was very fulfilling.
Director/Writer: Lucien Christian Adderley, Richard "Byrd" Wilson
Producers: Moon Lee Ferguson, Kiara Diana, Tanisha Cidel, LaToya Tonodeo, Arlen Escarpeta, Analisa Velez
Key Cast "Shay": Analisa Velez
Country: United States
Project Type: Horror, Thriller, Zombie, Romance
Overview: Tia and Akil are good people loved by their friends and family. However, no one believes they should wed because they love hard. They've had a dysfunctional, up-and-down relationship since college. They're crazy about each other, and their friends have seen the chaos that can bring when things aren’t going well. Their love is either SPARKS flying or things BURNING, no in-between. On their big day, we quickly learn that their wedding guests have doubts about their marital future. Despite the looming uncertainty among family and friends, the couple proudly pledges their LIVES to each other. As the devoted couple exchanges vows, things get wild when a catering staff member barges into the kitchen with sick but strange symptoms. After the ceremony, the NEWLYWEDS prepare to make their grand entrance in the ballroom as husband and wife, but instead of applauding guests, they are faced with grueling ZOMBIES.
Director Statement: Growing up in South Florida, we’ve realized that many people who aren’t from here see it as a very unreal place. There are countless news articles about the wildest things happening throughout the state, and now Florida has become synonymous with otherworldly events. Even as natives, we’ve learned we aren’t immune to the thought process that anything feels like it can happen here. Lucien once attended a wedding in Miami for a friend and found himself conjuring up the strangest 'What If' scenario. What if everyone turned into Zombies at the wedding reception?... and after the initial images of Zombies doing the cha-cha and electric slides, the thought grew into something more profound, dark, and symbolic. We began to think about what would happen to the Bride and Groom, especially after hearing the pastor say that everyone and everything outside their union was no longer a priority. Could they kill their family and friends in order to secure their future together? And even if they did, could they survive what the world had coming for them next? Can love really conquer all… even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse… in FLORIDA!? That’s when we knew we had to write ‘The Newlyweds'. The film explores the themes of love and sacrifice while serving as the action-packed origin story of a husband and wife fighting for each other in ways they never expected. It also presents a rare opportunity to see a Black couple as heroes in the genre film space, as fans of films that blend genres seamlessly we wanted to challenge ourselves as writer-directors to bring the next one to the screen.
Director/Writer: Eileen Byrne
Producer: Hélène Walland, Govinda Van Maele
Country: Luxembourg
Project Type: Comedy, Short
Overview: When a right-wing party wins the elections in Luxembourg, the lives of three single mothers are fundamentally changed. After all social benefits are cancelled and one of them even loses her flat, the three see no other way out than to rob a bank. And where better to rehearse a heist than at the adventure playground around the corner?
Writer: Steve Brown
Country: United States
Project Type: Television Script
Overview: In a futuristic, war-torn world on the brink of collapse, a woman’s mind-bending scientific research holds the key to humanity’s salvation. But an ancient and powerful order violently opposes her at every turn.
Writer: Helen Rana
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Short Script
Overview: A Frenchman staying overnight with a local friend in a Zambian village comes face to face with the truth about witchcraft.