T2:NY1 (USA) BY ALEXANDER RATTER

Synopsis: The film discusses on a metaphorical level gun rights and discussions about it in the U.S influenced by the recent shooting. It shows us that disability of communication is one of the reasons for the actual political problems. Running time: 00:01:33.

About the director: Alexander is film and theatre director and producer from Germany. He is currently on the feature film „The heart of darkness“ (working title) and the fictional series „Limassol - day and night“ (working title) with Picco-Studio.com.

​

ONCE THERE WAS III (USA) BY NINA MCNEELY

Trailer

Synopsis: 3 women bound to a shared soul oscillating between the throes of brutality and piety. A visceral display of true sisterhood- they suffer together, thrive together and bleed together. Running time: 00:06:34.

Selections/awards: Boston Short FF (Best Music Video), Brussels Independent FF, and more.

About the director: Nina McNeely is a storyteller, provocateur, and a creator. She is a choreographer, visual artist, director, creative director, and animator. Nina is madly in love with people, and finds no greater pleasure than studying the human condition. Throughout her career, Nina has been fortunate to work with Björk, Gaspar Noé, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Foo Fighters, Sam Smith, Alicia Keyes and black midi to name a few - all legends in their own right.

​

SHE SURVIVED (USA) BY JUDI POLANCO

​

Trailer

Synopsis: “She Survived” is a short documentary about the domestic violence epidemic across the globe, focusing primarily on violence against women. It is inspired by the director’s own experience with violence in her home as a child. 1 in 3 women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime and this film aims to inspire discussion and action to stop this toxic culture. Running time: 00:13:25.

About the director: Judi Polanco was born in NYC-born Judi Polanco is a Forensic Psychology major. Judi’s experiences with racism, gender bias, and domestic violence inspired her to direct her first documentary, “She Survived”, which touches on violence against women.

​

UTE (POLAND) BY MACIEJ PISAREK

Synopsis: Desert, voices, mystery... Music video from a debut, independent album "Now The Grass Grows Through My Skin" by Anchey. Running time: 00:03:59.

Selections/awards: Parai Musical International Awards.

​

SCARS (CANADA) BY ALEX ANNA

Trailer

Synopsis: Alex Anna’s body is a canvas : her scars come to life to tell a new story of self-harming. Live action and animation intertwine in this short and poetic documentary, both intimate and universal. Running time: 00:10:00.

Selections/awards: Brussels Independent FF, Hong Kong Arthouse FF, Toronto Arthouse FF (Best Documentary Short Film), Ghent Viewpoint Documentary FF, and more.

About the director: Alex Anna is a director and script supervisor in love with cinematographic language and words in all their beauty. As a queer and feminist filmmaker, she signed her first short film “The Fruit of Our Womb” in 2017 (as Laurie Mannessier), and uses art as a way to fight for a better world.

​

FOX VS PIGEON (USA) BY SYDNEY REBECCA MAGGIN

​

Synopsis: This rotoscoped film showcases an age old rivalry between fox and pigeon takes an unexpected turn. Running time: 00:00:30.

​

BLACK ACTION FIGURES (USA) BY DAVE STECK

Trailer

Synopsis: A short documentary about representation, connection and the power of seeing yourself reflected in popular culture. It features Duro Wicks sharing some of his personal doll collection and talking about his motivation, process and passion to find and collect Black action figures. Running time: 00:06:55.

Selections/awards: People's Film Festival, Harlem IFF, Roxbury IFF, Chicago Underground FF.

​

DÉBÂCLE (CANADA) BY CATHERINE ARSENAULT

Synopsis: Débâcle (a french term referring to spring ice breakups) draws its inspiration from the shifting courses of the St-Lawrence river during wintertime. Through a search for the vast ice patch which usually clings to the Quebec North Shore coastline during the colder months, Débâcle bears witness to climate change and the fragility of our coastal territory. Running time: 00:01:33.

​

TO AMERICA (USA) BY ARYA JO SINGH

​

Trailer

Synopsis: In an effort to defend her “American-ness”, an Indian-American teenager writes a poem about her dual identity. Running time: 00:04:24.

Selections/awards: Venice Film Week, Doc.Boston, New Jersey Independent FF.

About the director: Arya Singh is currently a sophomore at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts studying Film and Television. She grew up in New Jersey and has a passion for creating narrative and documentary work.

​

OBITUARY (IRAN) BY MOEIN ZARRABI​

​

Synopsis: Amirhassan, a young clergyman, is somehow forced to hold the funeral of her former beloved without prior notice. The girl’s family were against their marriage because Amirhassan was a clergy. Running time: 00:20:00.

Selections/awards: Brussels Independent FF, Verona IFF, Sydney World FF.

About the director: Moein Zarabi was born in 1989 in Tehran. He is a director and actor, and a Graduate of filmmaking from Youth Cinema Association and Acting from Samandarian Acting School.

​

PHOSPHOR (USA) BY JACOB BASRI

Synopsis: On a beautiful night, two strangers find themselves lost in the middle of a dark forest, contemplating uncertainty. As they search for a way home, a mysterious light draws them together, and their collision creates massive destruction. Running time: 00:08:30.

​

US (PORTUGAL) BY NELSON FERNANDES

Trailer

Synopsis: "Us" is a short film of animation which mixes several Stop Motion techniques, proposing a journey through the conflicted human condition. War, loneliness, nature, crossings, fallen dreams are some of the recurring aspects in this animated poem on paper. Running time: 00:05:00.

Selections/awards: Vienna Shorts, Odense IFF, Viborg International Animation Festival, MONSTRA Lisbon Animated FF, Athens Animfest, Palm Springs Animation Festival, and more.

About the director: Nelson Fernandes aka Zina Caramelo (1979) is a Portuguese multi-awarded artist. Since 2000, he has been developing his work in a series of fields such as video, cinema of animation, photography, painting and illustration.

​

MAMMA (NORWAY) BY ASLAK DANBOLT

Trailer

Synopsis: It’s Christmas Eve, and Synnøve is searching for her drug-addicted daughter Michelle in an almost desolated city. (Synnøve and Michelle are mother and daughter in real life and play versions of themselves in a story that is very close to their own lives.) Running time: 00:15:00.

Selections/awards: Aesthetica Short FF, Brussels Independent FF, Norwegian Short FF, Ankara Accessible FF (Best Film Award, Best Director Award), Bergen IFF, Hong Kong Arthouse FF, and more.

About the director: Aslak Danbolt is a Norwegian filmmaker who lives and works out of Oslo, Norway. He studied Documentary Directing at Lillehammer University College and later attended The London Film School. His grad film 'Last Base', was selected for more than 120 festivals (including Tribeca, Chicago & Slamdance) and won numerous awards. He directed the documentary series 'Petter Uteligger – 52 dager på gata i Oslo' (2015), which was nominated for 5 Norwegian Golden Screen Awards 2016, winning Documentary Series and Audience Award.

​