OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2023
VOICES IN THE WATER
Argentina / Documentary / 20 mins.
The story about a strange and new threat of pollution hitting the seas near Argentina
BRAT
Germany / Drama / 9 mins.
Young single-mom Mia struggles with criticism and prejudices against her in her village. When she realizes that her son also suffers, she becomes a lioness.
WELL WISHES MY LOVE, YOUR LOVE
USA/ Animation / 9 mins.
In a delightfully fresh and poetic animation style, a boy lends his friend a prosthetic arm for the day.
SHARDS
Germany / Drama / 8 mins.
In a gritty, single-shot film, a mother has to find a way to get up out of her despair and take care of her child.
ELLEN NEEDS INSURANCE
USA / Comedy / 17 mins.
Being a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) doesn’t make you rich! Ellen is an actor on a mission… to get health insurance.
GAMER
USA/ Dramedy / 5 mins.
Despite his parents’ opinions, Sam proves that gaming is good for the gamer’s mental health.
OUR MALES AND OUR FEMALES
Jordan / Drama / 11 mins.
A father and mother are faced with the painful task of washing and shrouding their deceased grown child when religion clashes with reality
HALF STEEL
Germany / Drama / 2 mins.
A young war veteran tries to process his new life away from the front lines.
THE CONFESSOR
USA/ Dramedy / 11 mins.
An in-home hospice worker stuck in monotony is asked to do the unthinkable by one of his dying patients.
GLADIATORS
Iran / Drama / 10 mins.
In an effort to prevent his young sister from being married off, a boy takes on a personal sacrifice to to cover her so-called debt.
VOICES
UK / Thriller/ 11 mins.
When moving into their new home, Tara and Drew are alarmed when they overhear their neighbors arguing. As the voices get louder and more violent, they must decide if it’s their responsibility to act.
PICTURE DAY
Ireland / Comedy / 12 mins.
After learning that class photo day is approaching, a young boy comes face to face with the manifestation of his insecurities in the form of a troll called Alan.
IT'S OK TO SAY NO
Norway/ Drama / 15 mins.
16 year old Jane is surrounded by sexual pressure from social media, TV-shows and her “friends” from school. She has to choose between social ruin and protecting her wishes.
FINDING THE STOKE
USA / Documentary / 11 mins.
After hitting rock bottom with alcohol, Ben makes a colossal change by embracing surfing. As a “novelty surfer” (surfing non-traditional waves), his outlook is downright inspiring.
THE BATHTUB
Spain/ Drama / 19 mins.
Ramon Riera is taking a well-deserved bath when his cell phone suddenly rings. On the other side of the line is Clara, a phone solicitor who won’t take no for an answer.
MR. FOTSO
Cameroon / Documentary / 14 mins.
A heartwarming documentary about a father who becomes blind, yet still manages to be a positive influence on everyone he encounters.
THE UNIFORM
USA / DRAMA / 18 mins.
An exploration of the desperate need for basic human connection in an ever-fragmenting world.
JUST AN EVENING
Ukraine / Drama/ 3 mins.
Facing a period of dark anxiety, a mother strives to be the light for her young child.
THE SPACE BETWEEN US
USA / Comedy-Animation / 3 mins.
After a spaceship drifts off course for many years, the lone astronaut’s boredom gets the best of him.
LIFE AND THE LADY
USA / Drama / 20 mins.
In a poetic drama, a new soul struggles with an existential choice: to stay comfortable in her world or to incarnate and surrender to the unknown.
BUMP
USA / Comedy / 3 mins.
A young man’s reluctance to let go of a trivial encounter leads him to seek retribution.
BOUND
USA / Drama / 3 mins.
Leaving his ancestral home, Mantas confronts his childhood trauma in an attempt to cope with his own mortality.
A MOST EXQUISITE MAN
ESTONIA/ Animation / 15 mins.
There exists a most exquisite man, or at least the world that surrounds him, labels and sees him as such. He has fantastic abilities and incomprehensible talent, he could even be called a genius, yet something within him is restless.
WILD SUMMON
U.K. / Documentary / 14 mins.
Music legend Marianne Faithfull narrates this natural history fantasy film, following the dramatic lifecycle of the wild salmon in human form.
CUCKOO!
Netherlands / Comedy / 7 mins.
Inside a cuckoo clock lives a lonely man. Every hour he is catapulted out of his tiny house to yell ‘Cuckoo!’