Director: Antonis Tsonis/Writer: Antonis Tsonis/Cast: Panos Natsis, Daphne Patakia, Yannis Papadopoulos/Cinematographer: Joerg Gruber/Editor: Lambis Haralampidis/Music: John Phillips/Produced by: Ficino Films/Origin: Grece Australia, 2016/Running time: 20’

SYNOPSIS

When Leon’s best friend Ari shares tragic news about his battle with cancer, unemployed and desperate to help, Leon secretly decides to become a criminal to pay for more cancer treatments. Against the backdrop of contemporary Athens, Greece, Leon’s actions to save his best friend have irreversible consequences.

DIRECTOR

Born in Athens, Greece, Australian writer | director, Antonis resides in Melbourne where he studied law and history and received his Doctorate in Jurisprudence from the University of Melbourne. Antonis has been nominated and has won awards for Best Director in a number of international festivals and his short films have played in over 100 film festivals and have received many awards and nominations worldwide.

Director: Olivier Van Hoofstadt/Writers: Olivier Van Hoofstadt, Mourad Dhoir, Sophie Galibert/Cast: Ariane Blaise, Milena Studer, Jean-Baptiste Maunier, Maxime Dambrin/Cinematographer: Jean-François Hensgens/Editor: Amélie Massoutier/Music: Thibault Quillet/Produced by: Association artistique de l’ADAMI, Antoine Le Carpentier – MON VOISIN PRODUCTIONS/Origin: France, 2016/Running time: 9’32

SYNOPSIS

A/K is the story of Kim and Anouk awaiting a bus that will never come. To pass time they create a story about Ted the «cowboy cop» and «Joe the lonely guy». While their adventures are linked to the rhythm of the wild imagination of the two girls, Ted police car stopped in front of the bus shelter.

DIRECTOR

Olivier Van Hoofstadt is a belgian scriptwriter and director. In 2006, he works with Marion Cotillard, Mélanie Laurent, Dominique Pinon and François Damiens in his first movie “Dikkenek”. Then with Roschdy Zem in “Go Fast released” in 2007. 

Director: Gary H Lee/Writer: Gary H Lee/Cast: Kevin Alejandro, Charles Rahi Chun, Caroline, Macey, Logan Kishi/Cinematographer: Justin Gurnari/Editor: Julian Smirke/Music: Jack Wall/Produced by: Jeffery Gou, Gary H Lee, Luke E. Watson/Origin: USA, 2015/Running time: 10’47

SYNOPSIS

A man stays one step ahead of nefarious forces in the race to find a child who may hold the key to mankind’s future.

DIRECTOR

Gary H Lee started as a student at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. At the age of 19, he started his professional career when he was recruited by Lucasfilm to work on “Star Wars: Episode II e III” (2005) at the Skywalker Ranch as a Cinematic/ Pre-visualization Artist. After Lucasfilm, Gary directed his first liveaction project “Hector Corp” (2009). The film ended received 10 awards in festivals around the world. During this time, Gary was also involved in the Layout department for several major DreamWorks Animation productions such as “Kung Fu Panda”. At the beginning of 2010, Gary joined Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” (2012).

Director: Gabriele Urbonaite/Writer: Gabriele Urbonaite/Cast: Severija Bielskyté, Šarunas Zenkevičius, Viola Klimčiauskaite/Cinematographer: Pål Ulvik Rokseth/Editor: Gabriele Urbonaite/Music: Snorre Bergerud/Produced by: Apricot Films/Origin: Lithuania, USA, 2016/Running time: 19’15

SYNOPSIS

 Ieva comes back to her hometown Vilnius, Lithuania, from Hollywood. During her first twelve hours at home, Ieva sees her mom and friends who project their false expectations on her. Only to Tadas, her ex-boyfriend, Ieva reveals about her constant struggle in the U.S. As they walk down the streets of Vilnius, Ieva notices how much her city has changed. In order to reconnect with home Ieva has to accept the fact that nothing stays the same.

DIRECTOR

Gabrielė Urbonaitė, born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania, is a writer, director, and editor based in the U.S. She studied Philosophy at the Sorbonne University in Paris and received her BFA in Film Production from Emerson College in Boston. Gabrielė in 2012 was selected to Berlinale Talents.

Director: Toby Fell-Holden/Writer: Toby Fell-Holden/Cast: Charlotte Beaumont, Genevieve Dunne, Umit Ulgen/Cinematographer: Brian Fawcett/Editor: Matteo Bini/Music: Terence Dunn/Produced by: Tom Kimberley and Ali Mansuri/Origin: United Kingdom, 2015/Running time: 17’

SYNOPSIS

Tina, a troubled teenage girl, is attracted to Dana, an Afghani girl, whom Tina tells us is oppressively victimised by her substance abusing father, Karim. Initially, we trust Tina and admire her protectiveness of Dana from the kids at school and on the violent estate, but as we watch their friendship blossom we come to suspect that something is off.

DIRECTOR

Toby Fell-Holden is a British writer director based in London. He graduated from Columbia’s Film MFA in 2013 and holds a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University. “Little Shadow”, his thesis film, was long listed for a BAFTA and nominated by the Casting Society of America (CSA). He wrote the short ‘Subordinate’, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival 2014.

Director: Sahirr Sethhi/Writer: Sahirr Sethhi/Cast: Shelly Kurtz, Johnny Cannizzaro, Jimmy Slonina, Marlene Hamerling /Cinematographer: Jason Almendinger/Editor: William W. Rubenstein, Sahirr Sethhi/Music: Nathan Matthew David/Produced by: Sahirr Sethhi, Lizet Lopez, Arkesh Ajay, Chelsi Johnston/Origin: USA, 2016/Running time: 9’53

SYNOPSIS

John is about to win a multi-million dollar lottery draw in a diner, when two robbers barge in for a stick-up!

DIRECTOR

Sahirr is a filmmaker from Mumbai, India who recently graduated with an MFA in Film Directing from UCLA. Two-time MPAA Award winner and a Telluride FilmLAB Fellow, he has worked as a director’s assistant to Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris on multiple projects. He is currently working on developing his debut feature film as a writer/director, while freelancing as an editor.

Director: Theo Pavlou/Writer: Theo Pavlou/Cast: Lucy Kane, Linus Karp/Cinematographer: Sam Parsons/Editor: Theo Pavlou/Music: Francis Haines/Produced by: N/A/Origin: United Kingdom, 2016/Running time: 11’47

SYNOPSIS

Transforming what appears as a flaw into a gift is the theme of this film. An enchanting tale about a lonely young man named Hugo born with uniquely long fingers. Fearing the mockery of others and hidden from the world in a disused theatre, he practises hand shadow puppetry and hope one day to share with others his magical tales.

REGISTA

Theo Pavlou (1994) director, producer, writer. On completing secondary school where his favourite subjects were Art and Media, Theo worked for a year as a Runner for a number of film companies before enrolling for an intensive short course at the Ealing Film School.

Director: Tony ElKhoury, Anthony Lappé/Writer: Tony ElKhoury, Anthony Lappé, Allen Seif, Bakhos Baalbaki/Cinematographer: Richard Ballan, Richard Mattar/Editor: Tony ElKhoury, Timothy Ziegler/Music: Oak (Allen Seif)/Produced by: Still See a Spark Films/Origin: Lebanon, 2015/Running time: 22’52

SYNOPSIS

On the eve of the 2014 Fifa World Cup, two former enemies from the Lebanese civil war prepare to support their favorite team Brazil. Can the tournament unite them despite everything that’s gone wrong?

DIRECTOR

Tony ElKhoury lives in Beirut. Since 2012 ElKhoury is director, cinematographer and producer on several corporate films for large international clients such as Radical Media New York and VICE News. His film “Lebanon Wins the World Cup” won Best Documentary Short awards at Warsaw Film Festival and Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Anthony Lappé is a New York-based writer, producer and director. He was a producer for Radical Media and is the showrunner of Black Market, a docu-series for VICE’s global TV network.

Director: Vincent Gallagher/Writer: Benjamin Cleary/Cast: Sean T. O’Meallaigh, Ciarán Hinds, Barry Murphy/Cinematographer: Evan Barry/Editor: Martha Meyler/Music: Barry Gorey/Produced by: Fail Safe Films/Origin: Ireland, 2015/Running time: 18’21

SYNOPSIS

“Love is a Sting” tells the story of struggling children’s book Harold Finch. At his lowest point, Harold gains an unexpected house guest in the form of an ageing hyper-intelligent mosquito named Anabel. Anabel has literally been the fly on the wall throughout history, but has never managed to communicate with a human being. She will attempt to do so now, even if it kills her.

DIRECTOR

Vincent Gallagher has directed numerous award winning short films, including “Crossword”. He is currently developing projects for film and television, including Storyland: Burning Wishes (RTÉ) and stop-motion animation film “Second to None”, which is also on the longlist for next year’s Academy Award® in the Animation category.

Director: Artur Marcol//Editor: Artur Marcol/Music: Lukasz Ledzki/Produced by: Panoptiqm/Origin: Poland, 2016/Running time: 3’45

SYNOPSIS

“Magic Forest” is a short story about charms and temptations of a magic forest. Main character, a loony and indomitable squirrel, invites a bunny friend to live the unforgettable journey…
“Magic forest” is a bitter story coated with sugar glaze, a story about friendship, choices and the power of desire.

DIRECTOR

Artur Marcol (1985) graduated from University of Humanities and Economics in Lodz with a Master’s degree in Graphic Design, majoring in 3D animation. He has been successfully developing his skills for a few years now, working with such production studios like Alien FX, Platige Image or Fumi Studio. He has several commercial and film productions to his credit.  

Director: Florian Tscharf/Writer: Florian Tscharf/Cast: Rainer Sellien, Odine Johne/Cinematographer: Fabian Gamper/Editor: David Kuruk/Produced by: FILMACADEMY BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG/Origin: Germany, 2016/Running time: 14’28

SYNOPSIS

When the german sailor Max and his daughter Emily receive a mayday-call on the Mediterranean sea, they act immediately: they change the course of the little sailing-boat and try to involve other ships. But then they understand that there are over hundred people on board – and the damaged boat is only forty foot long…

DIRECTOR

Florian Tscharf is studying Direction at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, Germany. “Mayday Relay” is his first live action short. It was shot with a small team of students in Italy and screened at over 40 European festivals in 2016.

Director: Vincent Maury/Writer: Vincent Maury et Steve Achiepo/Cast: Leanna Chea, Tawan-François Asselain, Nicolas Giraud, Liên Ton My/Cinematographer: Denis Gaubert/Editor: Aurélien Manya/Music: Caroline Duris/Produced by: DACP – De l’Autre Côté du Périph’/Origin: France, 2016/Running time: 25’

SYNOPSIS

At the age of 33, Minh Tâm has given up on love. Devoted to the education of her autistic son, overwhelmed by a domineering mother, she uses men just to escape briefly from daily life. Until the day she meets Olivier, who causes her to question her certainties.

DIRECTOR

First as an actor, then as a screenwriter, Vincent Maury has devoted himself to cinema for more than 10 years. Eager to share his vision of life through unusual and strong-willed characters, he directs his first film Minh Tâm”, produced by DACP.

Director: Joo Hwan Kim/Writer: Joo Hwan Kim/Cast: Sun Yong Moon, Min Lee, Sung Won Shin, Soo In Lee/Cinematographer: Nils Clauss/Editor: Yun Ae Kim/Music: Jin Ho Jung/Produced by: NONE/Origin: South Korea, 2016/Running time: 25’

SYNOPSIS

Lee Kwang  is an illegal immigrant in Korea. He makes a living by stealing dogs from animal shelters and selling them to butchers. But when he adopts a big golden retriever named Bori, the two develop a special bond.

DIRECTOR

Director Joo Hwan Kim was born in Seoul in 1981. Joo Hwan Kim made his first short film “Hello” in 2009. His next step was the independent feature film ‘Koala’ made in 2013. Retriever is Joo Hwan Kim’s second short film.

Director: Taisia Deeva/Writer: Taisia Deeva/Cast: Daria Proshina, Alexander Dzyuba/Cinematographer: Andrey Zubarev/Editor: Vladimir Krug/Produced by: Mach 1 Records Gmbh/Origin: Germany, Russian, 2015/Running time: 23’

SYNOPSIS

Ten-year old Sasha tries to be on good terms with both of her divorced parents. But her innocent idea of family is shattered by reality when she goes to a picnic with her father and his new girlfriend.

DIRECTOR

Russian-born, Taisia moved to London to study filmmaking at Met Film School. She graduated with her film “Ruslan” that won several awards at international short film festivals. Currently Taisia is developing her first feature film in which she will continue exploring psychological aspects of human nature through the medium of cinema.

Director: Dejan Mrkic/Writer: Dejan Mrkic/Cast: Charly Thorn, Michael Robinson, Anthony Schulz, Joanne Booth/Cinematographer: Matthew Jenkins/Editor: Rachel Harding/Produced by: 3Poses/Origin: Australia, 2016/Running time: 14’39

SYNOPSIS

After her hearing breaks down at a music rehearsal, a young musician uses her sexuality to reclaim control over her identity. However, after an exchange with a musician, she is encouraged to renegotiate her self-perception and understandings of success.

DIRECTOR

Dejan Mrkic is a Film Director, Screenwriter and Psychologist with a Master’s degree in Psychology. He is best known for winning the Jury Prize at the Montreal World Film Festival for “Silence”. He now lives and works in London. His next film project will be an international co-production (Croatia, Germany, Serbia and UK) to be filmed in Croatia in 2017.

Director: Vasily Chuprina/Writer: Andreas Illmer/Cast: Ad van Kempen, Rom Elzakkers/Cinematographer: Artyom Zakharenko/Editor: Vasily Chuprina/Music: Julian Scherle/Produced by: Vasily Chuprina/Origin: Netherlands, 2016/Running time: 6’56

SYNOPSIS

The story of an unlikely friendship. A young boy sitting by the sea, watching the stones he throws disappear beneath the surface. An old lighthouse keeper. A different truth beyond the water.

DIRECTOR

Vasily Chuprina is an award winning filmmaker. After a succesfull career in science, having a Ph.D. in physics and biology, Vasily pursued his passion for filmmaking. His first drama “A Morning Call” received numerous awards. His latest short film “The boy by the sea” was officially selected to many festivals including Austin Film Festival, Edmonton International Film Festival, Aesthetica Short Film Festival, ShortCutz Amsterdam, etc.

Director: Lewis Rose/Writer: Lewis Rose/Cast: Amir Boutrous, Andy Linden, Waleed Akhtar, Waj Ali, Sajid Varda/Cinematographer: Emma Dalesman/Editor: Lewis Rose, Samantha Rhodes/Music: Koby Israelite/Produced by: Daphnée Hocquard/Origin: United Kingdom, 2015

SYNOPSIS

“The Chop” is a comedy about Yossi, a charismatic Kosher butcher who loses his job, cannot find work at other Kosher butchers, and therefore decides to pretend to be Muslim in order to get work at a Halal butchers.

DIRECTOR

Lewis Rose is a London-based writer, director and actor working in short films, music videos and commercials. His films have screened at festivals across the world including most recently The London Short Film Festival. He has an offbeat style, looking to find humour in life’s uncanny and untoward moments. He has also created content for prominent broadcasters (BBC, FOX), renowned music artists (Sam & The Womp, Beardyman) and high profile companies (Warner, Estée Lauder). He is currently in development for his first feature film.

Director: Simon Scheiber/Music: Nicolas Martin/Produced by: Trim Tab/Origin: Netherlands, Austria, 2015/Running time: 11’20

SYNOPSIS

“The Lighthouse” tells the tale of a lighthouse keeper’s surprising discovery that pulls him out of his monotonous, daily routine and takes him onto a journey into uncharted territory. Made up of over 14,000 photographs, The Lighthouse is a neo noir stop motion animation crafted by two hands over the course of 7 years.

DIRECTOR

Born in Austria in 1985, Simon Scheiber taught himself how to design and animate at a young age. After working for several design studios in Europe, he founded Trim Tab and started working on commissioned and self-initiated projects.

Director: Karis Oh/Writer: Karis Seungyoun Oh/Cast: Stephen Knight/Sound Design: Assaf Gidron/Produced by: John McIntosh/Origin: USA, 2016/Running time: 2’29

SYNOPSIS

“The moment” is a story about an artist who learns about the importance of the things unseen as she gets to draw a stranger’s portrait.

DIRECTOR

Karis Oh is an illustrator and 2d animator who focuses on storytelling and visual development. She believes in the power of a great story and its ability to inspire people to look at the world whit a broader perspective. She aspires to create original characters that anyone and everyone can relate to.