WARNING: Some films may contain adult content; viewer discretion is advised.
OPENING NIGHT, Friday February 13 at 7pm
Better Living Through Creativity
Directed by Erik Winkowski, USA, 2m
A humorous instructional video on self improvement through creativity.
The Doorman
Directed by Serena Dykman, USA, 15m
Joe is a doorman in an upscale residential building in Manhattan. Having lost all hope in love, and in need for extra money, Joe secretly fulfills the sexual fantasies of the old ladies in the building. This all changes when Rebeca, the young, sexy tenant he falls in love with, moves into the building and discovers his secret…
Some Things Won’t Sleep
Directed by Leah Johnston, Canada, 11m
A woman does the most horrific thing possible to save her marriage. Unfortunately, some secrets won’t stay buried for very long.
Walking Contest
Directed by Vania Heymann, Israel, 3m
Taking another look at walking down the street.
The Last Orange Grove of Middle Florida
Directed by Carl Knickerbocker, USA, 3m
Orange grove morphs into subdivision.
On/Off
Directed by Thierry Lorenzi, France, 14m
Obsessed by a mysterious voice message, astronaut Meredith will face its paradoxical condition in order to stay connected to his humanity.
Apalachicola
Directed by John Francis, USA, 15m
After her final tour of duty in Afghanistan, an oysterman’s daughter returns home to rediscover her family and the coastal community she grew up in.
Love at First Sight
Directed by Mark Playne, UK, 14m
A heart warming story of a lonely young man’s increasingly creative attempts to attract the attention of the girl of his dreams. A gentle film of hope and optimism.
E FOR EVERYONE, Saturday February 14 at 10:30am
Lilly’s Big Day
Directed by Berlin Demuth, Medina Dennie, Zaiyah Dennie, Ocean Demuth, Maezy Dennie, Sol Demuth, Canada, 5m
Lilly, a 10-foot tall orange monster, steps out for a special day at Wilma’s Super Salon. Patrons gasp and stylists glitch as the affable giant bumbles her way through a beauty ritual like no other.Cut out animation created during Quickdraw Animation’s 48 hour Animation Lockdown by The Bum Family, 6 Canadian cousins ages 4 to 11.
When Fish Fly
Directed by Lisa Rose Snow, Canada, 10m
In this dialogue-less exploration of grief, a determined little girl goes on an unusual mission of love in order to let go and move forward after the sudden death of her mother.
Flowers
Directed by Sabina Sattar, UK, 9m
A boy falls in love with a deaf and mute girl and has to find a way to communicate his feelings for her.
Practice Makes Perfect
Directed by Devon Avery, USA, 3m
When is a kiss more than a kiss? … When it’s your first kiss.
The Last Gentleman
Directed by Erik Long IV, USA, 8m
The Last Gentleman tells the story of a slovenly college student who, with the guidance of his elderly neighbor, finds the courage to ask out his high school crush while learning the valor in being a gentleman.Retired Air Force World War II gunner Alan ‘Ace’ Grant, served as the inspiration for my short film. Growing up, I eagerly looked for opportunities to shovel Ace’s driveway, pull his weeds or take out his trash just so I could spend time listening to his life’s stories. Additionally (and arguably most importantly), he taught me how to behave like a true gentleman. Mr. Grant passed away last year, and this film was my catharsis and personal way to honor the life of a great man.
The Star Fishing Boy
Directed by Chuanshu Shi, USA, 12m
This is a story of love and hope.
Heyln Springs
Directed by Noah Camenker, USA, 16m
After discovering that his grandpa is terminally ill, Mason sets out on a journey to a local spring rumored to have magical healing powers.
DOCUMENTARY, Saturday February 14 at 1pm
The Curse and the Symphony
Directed by David Schulte, USA, 20m
The Curse and the Symphony is a short documentary about former punk musician Nathan Felix’s eight-year effort to break into the elite world of classical music, in spite of having no formal musical training, and attempt to get his symphony performed by a full orchestra for the first time.
Ballad of Hollis Brown
Directed by Nico Sabenorio, USA, 7m
Small town farmers fight for survival in rural America.
Musafir
Directed by Danny Bedrossian, USA, 12m
In 2011, a diverse group of expats moved to Kenya to build a massive wooden sailing boat. After three tough years of construction, their journey is about to begin.
Hyena Boys
Directed by Tarryn Crossman, South Africa, 10m
This is a film about a family business. A family that capture and tame hyenas, baboons and pythons and use them in their urban circus. Follow Nigeria’s elusive hyena boys into their secret world of animal magic and voodoo.
Mr. Gold
Directed by Brian Carlson, USA, 5m
Redemption is found in the oddest of places. Jose Melendez found it inside a gold suit. In the documentary short Mr. Gold, filmmaker Brian Carlson explores how a 21-time felon and two time Maury show guest crafts a new life through becoming a street corner promoter.
Vroom Vroom Yum Yum
Directed by Mana Handel, USA, 8m
Tallahassee: home of the Seminoles, Florida politicians…and food trucks? Explore this unlikely industry that brings its own brand of community eating and mobile food vending to the peninsula’s capital.
A Wolf’s Place
Directed by Annie White, USA, 17m
Gray wolves stand on the edge of a precipice. Throughout the Northern Rocky Mountains wild wolves have made a remarkable comeback, but now widespread hunting seasons are taking a heavy toll on the population and many politicians are pushing for the removal of all protections for wolves across the USA. ‘A Wolf’s Place’ examines how gray wolves can impact an entire ecosystem in what scientists call a ‘trophic cascade.’ It also explores the personal side of large carnivore conservation through the story of Wolf 10, the first wild wolf released into Yellowstone in over 70 years – his triumphant life and tragic death in the sights of a poacher’s gun.
ANIMATION, Saturday February 14 at 3pm
Zweibettzimmer
Directed by Fabian Giessler, Germany, 10m
Two old men share a hospital room, in which the window is the only connection to the outside world and thus becomes a highly demanded resource. ‘Double Occupancy’ is a dark parable about the greed of man – an animated, psychological intimate play about the power of imagination and illusion.
Prey
Directed by Victoria Giacomazzi, Emily Crosby, USA, 7m
A distraught man gives up his soul to save his wife’s life to a conniving witch. The wife must figure out a way to get her husband back. Through dramatic fantastical elements, the viewer is taken through a tale as dark and surreal as a Grimm’s bedtime classics.
Treasure Nest
Directed by Meng Chwen Tien, Allison Botkin, Mike Bourbeau, USA, 6m
A 3D animated short following Blue and Peanut’s journey across the land in search of hidden treasure.
Position: Vacant
Directed by Leonie Yue, Australia, 3m
‘That wasn’t in the job description.’
Monster
Directed by Patrick Fatica, USA, 9m
Getting lost in the forest is never a good idea. MONSTER is a dark fable of 5 little girls that get lost in the forest and fall victim to their vices.There’s been a monster in the swamp forest as long as they can remember. This is the story of the first time the monster made itself known and the only time anyone escaped.
Blue
Directed by Katelyn Bianchini, Rena Cheng, Asia Lancaster, USA, 9m
A fearful balloon must learn to put his fragile life in the hands of an unlikely friend.
Wine, Women, & Cognac
Directed by Louis Mansfield, USA, 5m
Living out his days in a retirement home, a petulant elderly man, Frank, creates a fantasy world in which he was a man of international success.
Prelude
Directed by Mitra Shahidi, USA, 6m
Prelude is a whimsical story of a creative little girl and her scientist grandfather. A series of happy accidents cause the relationship between these two get stronger.
Cuerdas
Directed by Pedro Solis Garcia, Spain, 11m
Maria’s routine at school is altered by the arrival of a very special child. Soon they become close friends.
Junk Girl
Directed by Mohammad Zare, Iran, 17m
There once was a girl who was made up of junk. She looked really dirty, and she smelled like a skunk. She was always unhappy, or in one of her slumps-perhaps ’cause she spentso much time down in the dumps. The only bright moment was from a guy named Stan. He was from the neighborhood garbage man. He loved her a lot and made a marriage proposal, but she already thrown herself in the garbage disposal.
COMEDY, Saturday February 14 at 8pm
Wishful Thinking
Directed by Austin Bragg, USA, 5m
5 guys have to split 3 wishes when they find a genie lamp.
One-Minute Time Machine
Directed by Devon Avery, USA, 6m
James is all too eager to put his one-minute time machine to use in winning the heart of Regina, until he discovers the unexpected consequences of his actions.
Hell Hath No Fury
Directed by Dug Rotstein, Canada, 9m
A therapy group for the girlfriends of superheroes goes horribly awry as a self-absorbed action hero ignores his fiancees complaints.
The Sunny Side
Directed by Trishul Thejasvi, USA, 10m
Little boy Dennis sat on a wall, wondering what would become of it all. The Sunny Side takes us on a short self affirming-journey through the entire life of a person, from the 1960’s to the present day.
Ballot Box
Directed by Jon Fraaza, USA, 16m
Sergei, a recently naturalized American citizen, runs a polling location in a local election. Plagued by an overbearing superior and incompetent coworkers, he struggles to maintain his optimism (and patriotism) in the face of electoral disaster.
Position Filled
Directed by Samuel Harvey, UK, 5m
Having made the fatal mistake of going out for ‘one drink’ the night before an important appointment, an incredibly hungover Helen awakes with no recollection of the previous nights drunken antics. Soon distracted by memories of her unruly behaviour, the hands of fate have a wicked surprise in store and a stark corporate meeting room provides the backdrop for a job interview Helen will never forget…
Shambles
Directed by Ryan Naylor, USA, 10m
A ten-year-old outcast, Willow, helps injured felt puppet Isaac escape the clutches of the Australian Mafia.
Birthday Box
Directed by Ashlea Patterson, USA, 7m
An overly optimistic Mary decides to surprise her boyfriend with a unique birthday present, but when it doesn’t go as planned she has to think outside the box.
Lust in Translation
Directed by Benjamin Treichel, USA, 13m
An English Teacher in Poland gets his balls back with help from his quirky students, a skirt-chasing mentor and a geeky new love interest.
SCI-FI / HORROR, Saturday February 14 at 10pm
Juegos de la Mente
Directed by Hugo Felix Mercado, Mexico, 12m
After its success across Europe, the polemic reality show Mind Games goes to Latin America searching for people with supernatural abilities. Hundreds of candidates are sending their videos with the hope of being part of the group that will compete for one million pesos, but one of them wants something else than money: he wants respect from others.
Valiant
Directed by Robin Phillips, USA, 29m
Set in a distant nuclear war-torn future, where European kings control their empires from the skies, ‘Valiant’ is the story of a band of wanted air pirates, The Valiant Three, who set out on dangerous quest after finding a lost child princess who may hold the ticket to their freedom.When a deadly accident leaves the wanted bandit trio as the guardians of a lost child princess, they hatch a half-baked plan – trade her to the King for a pardon for their crimes, and to free themselves of the bounty on their heads once and for all. However, they soon find themselves facing a choice between sacrificing the girl for their own gain, or living up to the reputation of the valiant heroes they claim to be.
Girl
Directed by Charles Quinn Frutos, USA, 8m
Deep in the dark woods, a girl in a cage is being held captive by a man with a knife.
Hellyfish
Directed by Patrick Longstreth, Robert McLean, Patrick Longstreth, USA, 13m
America’s only missing nuclear weapon is leaking radioactive material into the ocean just off the coast of Savannah, GA causing a mutation in the local jellyfish population. The trifling existence of a hapless cast is disrupted by a vicious force of nature that shows no mercy.
Hush
Directed by Michael Kehoe, USA, 7m
A young woman witnesses a malevolent presence in a house while baby sitting a young girl.
Into the Dark
Directed by Lukas Hassel, USA, 15m
Sometime in the future. Two men, strapped in back to back, on a journey from Moon to Earth. Just Reality. Real Justice.
Lure
Directed by Kyle Robinson, USA, 4m
A determined man must get his girlfriends purse back from the unseen perils of downtown.
The Rules
Directed by Dale Metz, Ted Souppa, USA, 5m
An early morning interruption from an obnoxious visitor turns into something very unexpected for a woman with insomnia in this dramatic short film with a unique twist.
DRAMA, Sunday February 15 at 1pm
Beneath Water
Directed by Charlie Manton, UK, 15m
In the remote Ozarks, Missouri. Daisy grows further apart from her withdrawn mother. Events unravel on the anniversary of her younger brothers death, and what they have both been holding back they finally share.
Vigilante
Directed by Benedict Sanderson, UK, 21m
Set amidst the lawless turmoil of the 2011 London UK Riots, shopkeeper Reg decides to defend his store against an armed gang intent on looting it. As the violence spirals out of control, his grandson Kal is sucked into the ensuing chaos and family ties are pushed to breaking point.
A Blind Man
Directed by Joel Black, USA, 15m
As a blind musician copes with the passing of his beloved wife, he reluctantlyaccepts a service dog and is guided to a fuller life.
The First and Last
Directed by Olivier Frigon, Canada, 15m
The first independent short film produced, written and directed by Olivier Frigon inspired by the passing of his best friend who lost his battle against cancer.
Consolation Prize
Directed by Todd Kipp, Canada, 11m
A delusional deadbeat dad living on an inherited wasteland of wrecked cars and trucks, tries to connect with his son over a surprise weekend visit.
Stairway Denied
Directed by Chris Lee, USA, 4m
Two ex-best friends confront each other about a past betrayal.
FLORIDA FLAVOR, Sunday February 15 at 3pm
M-Theory
Directed by TL Westgate, USA, 16m
Saving the world has unintended consequences.
Posthumous
Directed by Noah DeBonis, USA, 30m
14 year old Harley is trying to save her families broke down bed and breakfast in the swamp country of florida. When a gruff guest with a mysterious background arrives she wonders if her fortunes have changed.
Death Has a Son
Directed by Zack Ogle, USA, 9m
Death gets more than he bargained for when a woman trades sex for her life. Now he’s spending the day with the bastard son he never wanted. Things are looking grim.
Hop Skotch the Funk Dumpling
Directed by Khadif Sanders, USA, 16m
A lonely privileged kid and a street hustlin’ hobo discover the value of friendship through their shared love of break dancing.
Lesson Learned
Directed by Charles Frisby, USA, 4m
A retro styled romance meets a retro style heartbreak when Louie St Claire opens his heart up to a woman he thinks may be the one. She isn’t. The official music video for Louie St. Claire’s single, “Lesson Learned.”
The Tracks
Directed by Quincy Perkins, USA, 17m
When a prison escapee is tracked down by a sheriff he must do and say anything to convince the sheriff that he is not guilty.
