Short Film Showcase
DECEMBER 7, 2023 | 7pm - DECEMBER 18, 2023 | MIDNIGHT
THE SHEPHERD
On Christmas Eve, a young RAF pilot flying home across the North Sea finds himself in peril when his radio and electric power cut out, leaving him stranded and running on limited fuel. Just when it appears his luck is about to run out, a mysterious good Samaritan appears through the fog. Followed by a conversation with director and writer Iain Softley.
AWAY
Two teenage Ukrainian refugees in Budapest express their pain and grief through art. After school, the young couple make colorful protest artwork out on the streets of the Hungarian capital, sparking discussions between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian passersby. The camera films the pair without commentary, capturing the everyday fun had by two teenagers in love, as well as the difficult phone calls to the home front.
NEIGHBOR ABDI
How can you understand a violent past? Somali-born Abdi is furniture designer and support worker. He reenacts his life, marked by war and criminality, with the help of his neighbor and filmmaker Douwe. Through playful reconstructions in a special effects studio, Abdi and Douwe embark on a candid and investigative journey through a painful history, focusing on the creative process throughout. Followed by a conversation with director Douwe Dijkstra and subject Abdiwahab Ali.
OASIS
As they enter their teenage years, twin brothers Raphaël and Rémi see their fraternal relationship crumble as one of them, suffering from an increasingly marked disability, remains a prisoner of childhood. But for one last summer, as they contemplate nature, time seems to stop momentarily. Followed by a conversation with director Justin Martin.
BACKFLIP
A digital avatar learns to move, walk, talk–and maybe do a backflip. Inspirational quotes from the internet drive him forward and his creators capture the process in an improvised documentary. Followed by a conversation with director Nikita Diakur.