Cabin Ban (Norway) by Finn Walther

Synopsis: To battle the Covid-19 outbreak the Norwegian government bans people from traveling to their countryside cabins. This gives a burglar the perfect opportunity. Running time: 00:01:09.

Selections/awards: South London FF (Winner Covid-19-inspired Short), Night of Comedy Shorts (Best Comedy), Boston Short FF, Verona IFF.

About the director: Documentary filmmaker born and bred in Norway. Finn has made several award winning shorts and in 2019 started the production company Walther Bros with his filmmaker brother, Martin Walther.

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To America (USA) by Arya Jo Singh

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Trailer

Synopsis: In an effort to defend her “American-ness”, an Indian-American teenager writes a poem about her dual identity. Running time: 00:04:24.

Selections/awards: Venice Film Week, Doc.Boston, New Jersey Independent FF.

About the director: Arya Singh is currently a sophomore at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts studying Film and Television. She grew up in New Jersey and has a passion for creating narrative and documentary work.

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Upsodown (Australia) by Nathan Ceddia

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Synopsis: An omniscient narrator leads us through various surreal worlds exploring the disconnect between humanity and nature. We are reminded that all living things are connected and collectively shared, on this planet - our home. Through the power of sharing, we can promote hope and reconnect. All it takes is a bit of reflection. Running time: 00:10:00.

Selections/awards: Sydney World FF (Best Australian Film), Venice Film Week.

About the director: Nathan's bold yet versatile approach to filmmaking allows him to craft his style across a wide range of film genres. Best known for his indirect experimental approach to filmmaking, resulting in a distinctively unique vision, Nathan takes the ordinary and turns it into the extraordinary. He was born in Melbourne Australia, and is currently based in Berlin Germany.

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Losing It (Austria) by Sascha Vernik

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Synopsis: After losing the tool he relies on most, a fraud information worker decides to go back in time to prevent it. Running time: 00:09:30.

Selections/awards: Venice Film Week, Boston Short FF,and more.

About the director: Sascha Vernik is a director and animator based in Vienna, Austria. After his debut animated film "Embracing Lovers" in 2014 he has worked in the animation industry before completing his animated short 'Losing It' in 2022.

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Window (Sweden) by Sara Kadefors

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Synopsis: A middle-aged woman begins to watch a young man in a window across the street. The drama that takes place there makes her remember her own life as a young woman, a time that was both fantastic, and which she realizes, as the man's life becomes complicated, difficult, and painful. One day she is interrupted in her thoughts, and her life takes an unexpected turn. Running time: 00:11:40.

About the director: Sara Kadefors has worked as a journalist and presenter for Swedish radio and television, is an award winning novelist. Today she works full time as a screenwriter for tv and film. Last year, both the miniseries Tsunami and Dejta premiered on Swedish television. Sara has also written and directed drama for radio and stage as well as her own short story films.

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Dragon (USA) by Dane Cree, Lisa Poppe

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Synopsis: A lonely dragon makes his way through a series of emotional obstacles and physical changes as he goes on a search to find his friends. Running time: 00:04:30.

Selections/awards: Supernova Digital Animation Fest (Directors Choice Award), Changing Face IFF, Flip the Script Fest, Do It Zero - A Zero Budget FF, Overmountain Animation Fest, and more.

About the director: Dane Cree is an independent animator based in Minneapolis, USA.

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I Love You Don't Leave Me (USA) by Alex Leombruno

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Synopsis: An absurdist drama following the endless torment experienced by a young woman dealing with an eating disorder. As she tries to cope with obsessive tendencies and routines, Ghillie, a looming swamp monster, follows close behind. Ghillie is the most prominent thing in Morgan’s life — that is, until she meets a strange neighbor while out jogging and invites her over for dinner. What ensues is a stressful encounter for Morgan as she tries to fight past the thoughts of Ghillie. Running time: 00:15:41.

Selections/awards: Boston Short FF, Super Shorts NY, and more.

About the director: Alex Leombruno is a queer filmmaker and musician from suburban Massachusetts. Her body of work explores autobiographical themes of queerness, mental-illness, and adolescence. Through narrative and experimental films, Alex creates worlds and characters rich with vulnerability and emotion.

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The Lamb (Canada) by Hélène Matte, Marco Dubé

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Synopsis: The result of a collaboration between the interdisciplinary poets and artists Hélène Matte and Marion Collé, the video Le Gigot brings poetry to life by exploring its relationship to the body and to sacrifice. in the ravage of the real / the hemorrhage of living / she spins she spins spins / flesh sacrificed alive for your entertainment / gymnastics of letters and skin / the heightened poetry / ardent videography. Running time: 00:04:00.

Selections/awards: Festival Constellation.About the director: Hélène Matte has been working in Québec City’s cultural scene for over twenty years as a multitalented free agent. She is a writer and a poet, a curator and a mediator, a performer and a visual artist, a mother and a citizen. Her artistic practice examines the notions of the voice, encounters and experimental poetry.

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Idol (Australia) by Alex Wu

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Synopsis: A young Chinese celebrity is called into an emergency meeting after a fan of his commits suicide. Running time: 00:18:30.

Selections/awards: Brooklyn FF (Spirit Award in Short Narrative, Outstanding Achievement in Performance (Best Male Actor), Sydney FF (Dendy Award for Best Australian Live-Action Short Film), Adelaide FF, Flickerfest International Short FF, and more.

About the director: Alex Wu is an award-winning Australian filmmaker. The son of Chinese immigrants, Alex was born and raised in Canberra. His first short film on Super 8mm, ‘Compass’ (2011) is a western that went on to win the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Canberra Short FF and top prize at the 2011 Leonid Film Awards. In 2015, his short films 'Beneath The Cotton Clouds' (2014) and 'Freight Train' (2014) screened at festivals including the LA Indie FF, Toronto Student Film Festival, Edmonton IFF and Barcelona FF. In 2016, his graduate film 'Motown' (2015) had its world premiere at the 60th BFI London FF, followed by a successful international festival run.

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Ousmane (Canada) by Jorge Camarotti

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Synopsis: Ousmane, a newly arrived immigrant living in Montreal, faces a challenging situation when he meets an elderly disoriented lady at the end of his workday. Running time: 00:25:09.

Selections:awards: Boston Short FF (Best Narrative Short), Bruges IFF.

About the director: In 2003, Jorge (Sao Paulo) moved to Montreal, where he pursued a career as a professional photographer and then as filmmaker. He has directed a dozen short films, both documentary and fiction, always remaining true to giving voice to the most aggrieved individuals of our society. Jorge wrote and directed Kinship (2019), which was selected in many reputable film festivals such as Palm Springs International, Maryland, Clermont-Ferrand (Sodec), Regard and which received a nomination at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards for best live-action.

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