Feeling disconnected from each other is an increasingly ever-present theme in a modern society that seemingly favours individualism. The constant pressure to fit into societal norms can lead to people lashing out on those around them despite their craving for human connection.
San Simon is Always Right
Nominated for Best Live Action Short
Original Title: San Simon No Se Equivoca | Director: Michael Flores | El Salvador | 2024 | 14 Minutes | World Premiere
Magic Realism from the jungles of El Salvador. As the Civil War rages, El Salvador is met by mass disappearances. After months of silence, one woman finally receives news of her missing husband when she enlists the help of San Simon, the smoking, drinking, patron saint of lost causes.
Cast: Magaly Lemus, Dinora Cañenguez, Francisco Borjas, Germán Costa, Fátima Gonzáles
Writer: Carlos Córdova, Michael Flores | Producer: Javier Kafie, Ricardo Rysh | Director of Photography: Meme Flores | Editor: Michael Flores | Music: James Peter Moffatt
Dammi
Director: Yann Mounir Demange | France/UK | 2023 | 19 Minutes
Returning to Paris, a man moves through memories of his past and fragments of the present, searching for connection with his father. On his journey, he meets a French Algerian woman. As their intimacy grows, he is confronted with his shame and fears while exploring his lost Arab identity…
Cast: Riz Ahmed, Souheila Yacoub, Yousfi Henine, Isabelle Adjani, Sandor Funtek
Writer: Yann Mounir Demange, Rosa Attab | Producer: Alexandre Mattiussi, Gary Farkas, Clément Lepoutre, Olivier Muller, Rosa Attab, Maëva Tenneroni | Director of Photography: Paul Özgur, Benoît Soler | Editor: Rich Orrick | Music: Oliver Coates
The Masterpiece
Nominated for Best Live Action Short
Original Title: La Gran Obra | Director: Álex Lora | Spain | 2024 | 20 Minutes | UK Premiere
Leo and Diana, a rich couple, bring a broken TV to a recycle point where they meet two scrap dealers. Diana asks them to come to their house to get more objects. Leo looks at them collecting objects with mistrust, until they see the scrap dealers have something they want.
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Cast: Melina Metthews, Daniel Grao, Babou Cham, Adam Norou
Writer: Lluis Quilez, Alfonso Amador | Producer: Lluis Quilez, Álex Lora, Néstor López, Jose Mari Martínez | Director of Photography: Manel Aguado | Editor: Erin McIntyre | Music: Namina
Dog
Original Title: 犬 | Director: Natsuki Nakagawa | Japan | 2023 | 24 Minutes | European Premiere
As Kaede Tsuchida walks with her lover, Yonehara, they are barked at by a homeless woman like a dog. Surprised by this encounter, Yonehara ends up striking down the woman. However, Kaede becomes captivated by the woman who remains unfazed and expressionless, unable to get the woman out of her mind.
Cast: An Ogawa, Aoi Watanabe, Ryusei Isoda
Writer: Natsuki Nakagawa | Producer: Kentaro Hayashi, Kenta Suzuki, Yuka Asano, Mamoru Inagaki, Mizuki Ohno | Director of Photography: Yusuke Suga | Editor: Natsuki Nakagawa | Music: Motoyoshi Tai, Chisato Tai
Cry Me A River
Original Title: 悲傷是一條乾枯的河 | Director: Suman SEN | Taiwan/India | 2024| 15 Minutes | European Premiere
XIXI, a professional mourner, is hired to cry at a funeral but while performing, she suddenly loses control over her emotions. She is not able to cry on demand anymore. She gets caught between two contrasting emotions …while finding her life.
Cast: Yi-Chieh LEE, Meng Hsuan CHU
Writer: Suman SEN | Producer: Ivy Yu-Hua SHEN, Bo-Tsun KUO, Dominique WELINSKI, Suman SEN | Executive Producer: Tatiana Kelly | Director of Photography: Ai CHUNG | Editor: Natalia GOZDZIK | Music: Mirjam Skal SCHNEDL
Skin of Water
Nominated for Best UK Short
Original Title: پوست آب | Director: Somayeh | UK | 2024 | 8 Minutes | World Premiere
Through abstract and symbolic imagery, Skin of Water hauntingly delves into an Iranian father’s memories. The film reveals Amir’s turbulent journey through grief, guilt, and obsession, as he confronts his role alongside that of a mesmerising butterfly, unravelling how both contributed to the tragic death of his son, Ehsan.
Cast: Ramin Farahani, July Namir, Nikan Haghighi
Writer: Somayeh | Producer: Nima Shahmalekpur | Director of Photography: Sam Meyer | Editor: Somayeh | Music: Shervin Hejazi, Alison Manicourt
