OFFICIAL SELECTION

Synopses

 

Let's Eat

Let’s Eat follows the story of an immigrant mother and her daughter as they navigate through the beauty and challenges of life. Despite the difficulties they face, the warmth and love of family provides comfort and closeness, and cooking becomes a symbol of their unconditional love for one another.

Across The Room

When Ben and Alexandria's first dates go downhill, the two unexpectedly create one of their own.

What doesn't kill you, doesn't kill you

In 2017 professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones was caught a life-threatening avalanche in the Utah backcountry while snowboarding with friends. His legs were crushed along with his ability to snowboard. This is the story of his hard road to recovery as he finds a new passion in mountain biking that helps him on his journey back to the mountains.

HEY SMARTBOX

Have you ever asked Siri for something, and she's got it awfully wrong?

One eventful night, after helping him move, Nathan's friends hang in the eerie basement of his new place. It gets silly when they begin asking stupid questions to Smart box, a virtual assistant. But what happens next will leave you gobsmacked. The tables turn and Smart box does all the asking. From death by suffocation to gouging your eyes out and confessing true love - whatever happens here is worse than awfully wrong.

Directed and produced by Panta Mosleh, Hey Smartbox was part of a 48-hour indie horror film competition in Vancouver, BC with over 10 nominations including Best Short.

AMERICAN MARRIAGE

Leonardo, an Italian immigrant who lives in New York, marries a Latina woman, Nikki, to obtain the American greencard. Through the comedy of it all Nikki and Leo fall in love “for real” but it looks like "Uncle Sam" will be the one to have the last laugh.

Attack

A troubled young woman finally stands up for herself, discovering not only what she is capable of but awakening something within.

L'EAU EST LA VIE (WATER IS LIFE):
FROM STANDING ROCK TO THE SWAMP

On the banks of Louisiana, fierce Indigenous women are ready to fight—to stop the corporate blacksnake and preserve their way of life. They are risking everything to protect Mother Earth from the predatory fossil fuel companies that seek to poison it.

Smoke Signals

A young girl navigates her way through a forest which represents life's journey for someone with mental health issues; her journey is full of obstacles, dangers and moments of feeling lost and alone. She gets dirty, cut and scraped on her path but the words of support from her mom, heard throughout the song, are a source of strength and inspiration for her to persevere on her journey. The young girl emerges as an independent and strong woman whose cuts and scars have healed and faded, she moves forward one step and one day at a time, with hope and support.

Paradise seen from Heaven

Laos is covered in wild jungles, mirroring lakes, colourful rice paddies, beautiful temples, ancient ruins, amazing waterfalls and slow rivers.

This short film takes you on a journey across Laos, captured from the air, showing this unique country from an entirely unseen perspective. Celebrating our engagement, my finacée Valentine and I cycled more than 2000km across the country, living the spirit of this wonderful place on earth and experiencing the ‘places in between’.

These shots were in and around: Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, Muang Ngoi, Bolaven, Paksé, Tadlo, Nam River, 4000 Islands, etc.

Music: Amazing Day by Coldplay (the song of our journey)
Filmed with a DJI Mavic Pro

High Existence

Comedic Episodic Pilot "Pee On It"

Millennial Jenny

In this new bite-sized Instagram-exclusive comedy, selfie-loving, digital-savvy Jenny is at a crossroads; she's bored, she hates her job, and she desperately wants to make her mark on the world.
It's time for her to find her purpose.

Takaya: Lone Wolf

When a lone wolf is a small uninhabited archipelago just off the coast of the city of Victoria, British Columbia, local resident and renowned wildlife photographer Cheryl Alexander goes in for a closer look. What follows is a seven-year relationship that pushes the boundaries of his world—and ours. Takaya: Lone Wolf recounts the inspirational story of one animal’s resilience, adaptation, and survival as he takes on the odds. Through Cheryl’s extraordinary connection and commitment, this special documentary reveals that humans can in fact co-exist with apex carnivores that are often perceived as a lethal threat. Amid widespread rumours and theories, Cheryl uncovers hidden clues and never-before-seen footage that detail where Takaya came from, how he got to the island, and how he’s adapted to his new landscape. And, meeting with leading experts to help decipher his remarkable behaviour, she is determined to expose the deeper lessons that this majestic hunter has to teach us all.

WITHOUT

Each day, a woman draws a circle of ash around the isolated cabin she lives in with her young baby. She is alone, and protected. But as she begins to experience flashes of memory from her past life, it becomes clear to her that her protective ritual is losing its power. When she discovers the red flannel shirt her husband wore on the day of his death, the border between past and present begins to dissolve, and she flings the shirt outside the cabin in a desperate attempt to shut out the painful memories of her past. But the circle’s power has been irreparably broken, and she must face the very truth she has been trying so hard to keep at bay.

ONE DAY IN JULY

One children plays with sand on a beach, but a soldier comes with his gun

McDougal & Sons

Here at McDougal & Sons, we're here to listen to you, fight for you, and plead guilty for you. Call us at 555-431-6892.

The Last House Standing

Hope is not a survival strategy. Every year millions of people suffer the wrath of Mother Nature, as infrastructure is demolished, houses are flooded and swept away, and lives are lost. The Last House Standing is a documentary film that explores why we continue to place cost over safety while the technology exists to build homes capable of withstanding hurricanes, fires, and tornadoes. What does it take to build the last house standing?

When All That's Left is Love

When All That’s Left is Love is the emotionally gripping story of a wife’s determination to care for her Alzheimer’s-stricken husband in their home. With unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access, the film reveals the toll that the disease takes on families coping with Alzheimer's, while also showcasing the power of love that sustains both patients and caregivers.

Un Nuevo Sol/A New Sun

Three young men travel to Mt. Shasta, CA from Los Angeles, CA to get a peek of the 2017 total solar eclipse that cross North America. While traveling, the young men reflect on their migration experiences from Guatemala and talk about their dreams and aspirations.

Just Be

"Just Be" is a short movie about the art of living wide rather than living long.

"Life's short, they say. But...maybe it's just long enough, if you live it right."
This line from the movie is a variation of thoughts from the philosopher Seneca, who basically said, that if you live a fulfilled life, it doesn't matter, how long it lasts.

Reading his words left such a deep impression on me that I knew I had to make art out of his thoughts - especially in recent days, where everyone is always busy.

So I made this short movie about our daily struggles, about passions, the love for mother nature, about freedom and about living a fulfilled life.

Yes, it's two girls mountainbiking, but the message is transferable to everyone, no matter which activity you choose outdoors.

Welcome to Hell

In this animated sketch comedy short written by Kath Dunham and Claire Sise, the devil interviews Hell's newest arrival.

Awful Dreams

A man’s plan for a quiet evening at home is shaken when a malevolent entity begins to stalk him. Not everything is as it seems in this horror short film directed by Sean Cruser. This film was made on a budget of 500 dollars!

18ft: MadnessToyo & Seytsu and Executive Order 9066

Mark Takahashi talks about both his grandparents, Toyo and Seytsu, and their experiences at Japanese Relocation Camps during World War II

Halwa

On the eve of her wedding anniversary, empty-nester Sujata Chopra attempts to find some joy in her broken marriage, until she learns about the passing of her childhood companion’s spouse on Facebook. Having been disconnected from this woman for over 30 years over a misunderstanding, Sujata finds the courage to reach out to send her condolences. They reconnect, sparking friction when Sujata’s controlling husband, Dr. Chopra, finds out.

https://www.hbo.com/video/movies/halwa/videos/about-halwa

Flickering Souls Set Alight

Greece, 2017. The lack of financial support of Aris (who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / ALS) urges his wife Persephone to get confronted with human existential limits. "How many years does it really take to finally reach «home»?"

Total

A gas station attendant meets a young electric car driver...

Young And Beautiful

No synopsis

Ouroboros

One masked dancer threatens the cycle of pursued acceptance met by authoritative rejection when part of her facade falls away and she can truly see.

UMBILICAL

'Umbilical' is a dramatic Short Film about separation and connection. It tells the story of Arthur, a short fused ex-convict seeking answers about the origin of his twin brother Charlie's most recent successful novel “Lost Cause”. Through a deep and inevitable conversation, Arthur learns no matter how hard we try we will always end up hurting the ones we love.

Magnolia's Hope

When three-year-old Magnolia Tesler was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, her parents didn’t know what to do. This intimate documentary follows the Tesler family as they spring into action in an effort to cure their daughter from a rare, debilitating disorder.

THE SOUL OF ICELAND

This was the second time I have been to Iceland. I stayed there for 10 days and I travelled over 4000 km through the land and around the coast. There are no words to describe the beauty of this country. I hope this film can genuinely convey the awe I felt when I was there.

Up The 5

Luckless Phil has 24 hours to get from Los Angeles to San Francisco for his father’s funeral. It's an easy drive up California’s least iconic Interstate -- until his car is stolen by the seductress, Grace, and her sinister sister, Elsa.

In pursuit of his car, Phill catches a ride with the oddball PERCY. As the unlikely outsiders chase each other Up The 5, every exit and detour leads to an episode of the absurd, the violent, the romantic, and the unexpected. A nighttime climax in a desolate motel forces everyone to discover a little something about themselves -- and it ain’t all good.

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CHEN

‘CHEN’ tells the story of Chinese Australian dancer Chengwu Guo. Who at the age of 10 was thrown into the strict and rigorous training world of the Beijing Dance Academy. Whilst enduring long periods of time away from his family and being subjected to harsh training methods, Chen was moulded into a highly talented and daring artist. After winning a prestigious competition he migrated to Australia at the age of 16, quickly rising through the ranks to become one of Australia’s most highly acclaimed principal dancers. Now after meeting his partner Ako (also principal dancer of the Australian Ballet) and riding a continual wave of success he must face one of his greatest challenges yet; A career threatening injury that could force him to quit performing forever. Will this injury stop Chen, one of Australia’s best dancers, from reaching his physical and artistic peak?

Weediatrics: A Covert Medical Mission

Weediatrics: A Covert Medical Mission follows the stories of desperate parents across the United States on their dangerous quest to attain and provide illegal substances to their children suffering with extreme medical needs. Conventional medicine hasn’t been able to help these poor children and these parents are not giving up.. With the state-by-state legislation of marijuana not addressing children’s needs, parents are deciding to smuggle medicinal marijuana home to their kids. With parents having their kids ripped from their houses like the Selva’s in California the stakes these parents face are real. With the help of Jason Cranford, a botanist who is one of the leading medical cannabis caregivers for kids in the country, loving and fearful parents test the boundaries of the perplexing legal system surrounding medical marijuana regulation in the United States. Up against efforts by lawmakers to crack down on the black and gray market at the state and municipal level, Cranford and his patients are forced into precarious workarounds in order to attain and provide medicine for their children in need. Weediatrics gives an inside look into the underground network of covert parents who are fighting for their kids lives all while keeping their treatment hidden from doctors, teachers, and law enforcement. These brave parents are now showing their face, risking everything in the hopes to create legislative change and help others.

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Scripts
OFFICIAL SELECTION

Tags

A young woman abandons her dying mother to free laboratory animals; capturing the world’s attention and forever changing the vivisection industry (based on real events).

Transcendent

A woman living in denial of her deep connection to the spirit world
is forced to embrace her power and confront her fears to save her dying father.

Ariel

Ariel is a mystery comedy-drama series based on the story of a person suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. Our up side is that, unlike other titles that address similar themes, in Ariel each of the personalities will be played by a different actor or actress. And the fun, or the tragedy, is that only Ariel (and the viewer) sees herself (or himself) as a different person every day. But everyone around her (or him) keeps seeing the same person. But who is this person? Is it a man or a woman? An elder or a child? Well, this is the mystery surrounding the plot, and after each episode the viewer will be even more curious to unravel it while getting more and more relatable with each of the personalities...

The Dreamer

Logline: A struggling writer's fate changes when he falls for a wealthy girl, but he soon discovers her family is tied to a dark past that involves him.

“The Dreamer” is written along the line of films such as “The Words” and "Lady Bird." The story is about Robert McKalis, a young man struggling to become a successful writer. Poor and living with his dying mother, Rose, Robert's view of life changes when he falls in love with a wealthy girl named Jasmine Monroe. Her father, Clark, is a powerful man in town with connections in the publishing world, and things seem to be turning in Robert's favor when Clark wants to help Robert's career. But the truth is, Clark has other plans. Long ago when Robert was a child, Clark was in love with Rose; unfortunately, the feeling wasn’t mutual. She left Clark bitter and angry. Now, when he discovers who Robert is and sees Rose again, Clark’s crooked mind plans on having Rose at all costs. Jasmine discovers her father’s evil intentions, yet has little time to save herself and warn Robert. When Robert ultimately puts all the pieces together, he plots revenge plans of his own. But he soon learns that going up against a wealthy man like Clark could put everyone in harm's way.

A Creggan Journey

A young man born into the Troubles looks to escape. He heads for the peace and tranquility of a Kibbutz in Israel, fate has other plans.

The 211 Home

A heartwarming and poignant story, The 211 Home is the story of 13 year old Daniel O'Malley. A young man who loves baseball but hates the gift he just received; a ragged, worn-out old glove from his grandfather.

Focused on the embarrassment and ridicule he'll receive from his friends, his frustrations at the unfairness of life are about to explode.

​Set in a crowded airport at the busiest time of year, Daniel begins to learn lessons about what's really important in life from an unlikely duo; a retired union worker and a soon to be retired Navy Chief Petty Officer.

​The question is, will he learn the true lesson about giving before it's too late?

​After all, grandfathers don't live forever...

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