Director/Writer: Arnold de Parscau
Producer: Marie-Reine Poyteau
Country: France
Genre: Drama
Overview: In 1900, in an arid region of Berry, France, drought had been raging for over a year. The trees have dried up, the crops have failed and the animals are dying of thirst. A desperate farmer appeals to an old woman who lives in an isolated tower. She promises to make it rain in exchange for a sacrifice: his newborn son.
Director Statement: I wanted to explore the ambivalent relationship between man and nature, through the dilemma of a father who must sacrifice his son to save his land and his family. The drought, symbolizing the ecological imbalance caused by man, calls into question the characters' faith, morality and humanity. The witch, representing nature both wise and cruel, offers the peasant a Faustian pact: rain in exchange for his newborn son. The peasant accepts, but must face the consequences of his choice. I want to question the price we have to pay to maintain life and harmony on earth, by evoking the human greed and selfishness that threaten the planet's future. I'd also like to give a spiritual vision of nature, endowed with a soul and a will of its own, which can be generous or merciless depending on the situation.
Director/Writer/Producer: David Schlumpf
Country: Switzerland
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Drama
Overview: Oliver is tired of being alone and embarks on a quest for true love - using a rather unconventional method: He buys secondhand items from single women on an online marketplace, hoping to accidentally stumble upon his dream girl. But his pick-ups turn into bizarre encounters — a pushy fortune teller, a bearded forest fairy, and a burly fitness influencer, yet no sign of love.
Director Statement: „Secondhand“ is more than just a comedy to me. It‘s a reflection on the complexities and contradictions of modern dating. The dreamy Oliver doesn’t quite fit into today’s world, where dating apps promise to find the perfect partner through algorithms. He embodies a clash between a nostalgic yearning for a time when relationships were based on real-life encounters and the present, where people use technology to connect. A hopeless romantic, Oliver still believes in the magic of chance. Eventually, he resorts to modern tools to find love — but in his own, quirky way. On one hand, he’s a likable dreamer, firmly convinced of his own vision of love. On the other, he uses questionable methods, not fully realizing the potential consequences. This gives him a very human and relatable quality. Characters like Oliver fascinate me because they remind us of our own desires and flaws. He represents the tension between longing and reality. The film approaches these themes with humor, showing how absurd the quest for happiness can be sometimes. Roger, Oliver‘s best friend, serves as his opposite: pragmatic, cynical, and yet deeply caring. Fearing he will lose Oliver as a friend, he becomes the blunt voice of reason. Their conflict, reconciliation, and eventual goodbye are key emotional moments in the film, underscoring the importance of true friendship. In the end, the message is clear: Love can’t be planned, and often shows up after we‘re ready to let go of it.
Director/Writer/Producer: Donald D'Haene
Country: Canada
Type: Documentary
Overview: How the loss of one family's displaced brother taught them not to see homeless people as just the end result; they were once beautiful, talented, creative and loved; they were us. Human. Erik was not nothing; he was everything.
Director Statement: Interpreting Erik challenged every skill I’ve acquired and some I needed to develop. I’ve made a career out of telling my story. And I’ve been an interviewer all of my life. Combining these two facts to tell, convey the story of the most important person in my life, my brother, with emotion yet distance, with sympathy but objectivity, artfully yet neutrally is one of toughest challenges I’ve ever taken on. Consider the patience required to direct one’s surving siblings. I suggest it’s a tougher assignment than directing one’s partner in life. And how does one direct a professional actor to portray one’s late brother removing every artifice of “acting” to create a down-to-earth human being whose main goal in life was existing yet another hour, let alone a day? I took all my skills of grand standing, over-the-top, carnival barking and brought it all down to a whisper, a quiet, impactful, retelling of a life foreign to my experience and yet, as if my twin in life. Whereas I lived, survived, thrived, consciously within, my twin in blood and spirt, my brother lived without, as many as hours as possible unconscious, to avoid living, feeling, remembering. A hellish trip to give my brother peace. To artfully capture, if but for a few moments, some of which he lived, him not knowing that another human soul would know his name, remember him, or share in interpreting his experience.
Director: Matthew McPherson
Writers: Glenn Greenhill, Matthew McPherson, Kim Vithana, Tom Wright
Producers: Matthew McPherson, Lucinda Turner, Oliver Towse
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Drama, War, Historical Drama, True Story
Overview: Based on 'In Soldier's Clothes' from 'Sapper Dorothy', by Dorothy Lawrence herself, this is a mini-epic that depicts parts of Dorothy's journey to the front line trenches in 1915, disguised as a male soldier.
Director Statement: Making this short was a huge challenge, especially given the limited budget and tight timeline. But as I dug deeper into Dorothy’s story, I discovered her incredible act of defiance, disguise and remarkable adventure, while simultaneously pushing through some of the tough moments in production. Making a historical drama was no easy feat and despite the constraints, we ended up creating a “mini-epic-bio-pic” that I hope audiences will enjoy and feel enlightened to the fact that Dorothy Lawrence existed and did what she did, and to have a good time watching the story unfold on screen.
Director: Vaibbhav Shirke
Writers: Ravi Shah, Sameer Mhatre
Producers: Ravi Shah, Sameer Mhatre
Country: India
Type: Animation
Overview: In a vibrant, whimsical world where nature flourishes and colours burst with life, a young girl discovers a divine connection with Mother Nature. Playing amidst blooming flowers and dancing amongst trees, she interacts with nature and animals to convey the message of one religion – HUMANITY. Addressing the root cause of societal issues – the pervasive focus on the self, represented by the word ‘MY’, she also encourages the viewers to transcend ‘MY’ and shift their perspective towards collective well-being to foster a spirit of togetherness and empathy. In this enchanting tale, the viewers are inspired to aspire for eternal freedom – a seamless world with no kingdom. It urges us to realize this and sign a treaty – where we pledge to protect and enhance our planet's beauty.
Director/Writer/Producer: Kiel Robinson
Country: United Kingdom
Type: Drama, Short
Overview: When was the first and last time you uttered the phrase “I love you”? Stay delves into the concept of remorse and examines the diverse manner in which individuals grapple with this emotion.
Director Statement: Kiel has also spent the last two years collaborating on two multi award winning projects. Kiel now seeks similar success on his own personal projects. Director, Independent Motion Graphics and Film Artist. London born , self diagnosed and self rehabilitated acrophobic dyslexic slowly venturing out to the wider world. Ventures have seen me collaborate with award winning director Mark Brocking on the films "The Barber's Cut" , "The Double Cross" and "Behind The Mirror" . I am on the verge of completing production of my first film entitled "Missed Call". Along with these ventures I have collaborated on a number of projects including promotional material for Superrocketman "The I am" ebook series and post production for "Wasp" music video involving Christian Eignar.
Director/Writer: Jennifer Hulum
Producer: Howard Lum
Country: United States
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Whodunit, Drama
Overview: Five outlaws are invited to a remote mansion for a game organized by a crime writer (Mr. Lewis) with an eccentric heir (Adam) as his secret partner who provides the funding for the game. But things aren't what they seem.
Director Statement: “Last Culprit” is a tribute to classic cinema but fast-paced with modern twists. It is not just a plain crime story, but a sensational crime journey that crosses the generations with an emotional backdrop story that provides a healing experience. The cast includes Tuesday Knight, a horror legend from A Nightmare on Elm Street; Tonja Walker, an Emmy Nominated Actress, from early TV shows; a rising actor Bobby Slaski from “V/H/S/Beyond”, etc. Besides, the producer-director duo had previously made a whodunit (Fortune Defies Death) distributed by Lionsgate in 2019. With that experience, Last Culprit does not just maintain its production value, but also elevates the quality in many aspects. Last Culprit is recently signed a sales agreement with Bayview Entertainment. Together we hope the film will achieve more than ever.
Director/Writer: Tahirr Aashhraf
Producer: ASHPRO Ltd, Jes Rohit
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Trailer/Teaser
Overview: Six social media influencers venture into an abandoned haunted office building to spend a night as a challenge during halloween, only to discover they are not alone. As sinister forces awaken, they must confront their darkest fears to survive. A harmless escapade quickly turns into a survival nightmare which tests their physical and mental limits to escape, or remain trapped, forever.
Director Charline Fernandez
Country: Ireland
Project Type: Documentary, Short
Overview: THE LEGACY OF JOSEPH POOLE delves into the life of a young man from Dublin who became a key figure in the Irish struggle for independence. Through interviews with descendants and archival footage, this short documentary traces his involvement with the Feninans in the 1880s. Despite decades of tragedy and betrayal, Poole's legacy remains a testament to his unwavering fight for freedom.
Director Statement: "In my new documentary, I aim to uncover the forgotten story of Joseph Poole whose sacrifice helped shape Ireland's path to independence, and to connect the past to the present in both a personal and universal way."
Director/Writer: Gregoire Biessy
Producers: Gregoire Biessy, Gregoire Biessy
Country: France
Genre: Comedy, Spy, Adventure
Overview: In 1951, in the little village of Pont Saint Esprit in the Normandie, a serie of food poisoning is causing the death of few villagers. 70 years later, a journalist called Rachel Smith accuses the CIA to be the cause of the event. The CIA sends their best agent to intercept Rachel Smith and avoid a diplomatic incident.
Director/Writer/Producer: James Tolcher
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Drama
Overview: A young girl becomes increasingly disturbed by the noises coming from the couple upstairs.
Director/Writer: Ian Edward Weir
Producers: Ian Edward Weir, Farnaz Khoshbakht
Country: United States
Genres: Documentary, Short
Overview: We venture deep into the secret world of the Great Horned Owls and discover their fierce and majestic nature while experiencing the poetry in the trees.
Director Statement: I love going out to St. Marks to enjoy its epic naturescapes and to photograph and film creatures of all shapes and sizes. After filming nature and wildlife for over 10 years I had never got a decent shot of a Great Horned Owl. So in March 2023 when I heard there was an owlet in the great Eagles nest down at St. Marks, I went down to get a shot. It was magic. I got the owlet in the nest and her mother was nearby. After reviewing the footage, I got the bug and needed to get more shots to see where the story went. I clocked in over 50 times in total over a year and a half. That kept me going to St. Marks every chance I could get. It was not all a bed of roses with the heat, no-see-ums and mosquitoes. I enjoyed meeting all the regular photographers and passerbyers who were also excited to get a glimpse of the owls. I would let them peer though my camera and they would be ecstatic. I could have never imagined what story unfolded and now I get to share my journey with you.
Director/Writer: Alexandru George Fiț
Producers: Alexandru George Fiț, Dragoș Mihalcea, Bogdan Florea
Country: Romania
Project Type: Comedy
Overview: When a meat factory worker tries to apply for a new job at the company's central headquarters, two worlds collide! Brebenel is now torn between joining the soulless machinery of the corporate world for financial incentives, or turn back to the fragile, but alive, world of the simple man.
Director Statement: "Brebenel" is a satire of modern corporate culture, where sophisticated vocabulary and surface-level appearances take the place of actual meaning and genuine reason. The juxtaposition between its vintage film aesthetic with Academy ratio and modern setting is intended to frame the story through the eye of a working class man, a man from the old world thrown into the new. It is also shot in a POV style of the characters, with symmetrical frames to mimic a stage play. At its core, "Brebenel" is a critique of the shallow world of high-powered careers, while also asking the question "How much is integrity worth when faced with the highest bidder?".
Director: Shan Huang
Country: China, United Kingdom
Project Type: Experimental, Microfilm
Overview: The Gaze Box is an experimental image of the future. Human beings have not been abandoned, although they no longer see themselves as the centre of the universe. I see the social ecology as part of the overall ecology, and I propose a vision of the future of people's communication in which there is a new invention called the gaze box, which can appear anywhere in the world at any time and does not take up any spatial resources. People are encouraged to look into each other's eyes in the box. In such an environment, buildings, plants, artefacts, people and non-people are all equal. The non-verbal gaze is preserved as the ultimate form of communication to escape the Tower of Babel.
Director Statement: Shan Huang is an interdisciplinary artist investigating corporeal perception and spatial poetics through virtual reality. Her practice merges interactive narratives with experimental methodologies, examining how digital environments catalyze psychological transformation. Undergraduate explorations in VR dissected the entanglement of emotion, memory, and temporality, while hand-drawn animation became a conduit for intuitive self-reconciliation—bridging analytical frameworks with subconscious expression. Current research focuses on the affective interplay between body and space, utilizing VR to amplify environmental influences on behavior and resurrect neglected perceptual awareness. Challenging linear storytelling, her work employs "play" as a critical mechanism—orchestrating disruptive interactions that reconfigure viewer relationships within virtual realms. These experiments forge visceral philosophical encounters, advancing immersive art through a rigorous yet sensorially charged lexicon where technological inquiry converges with emotional resonance.
Director/Writer/Producer: Csaba Szuchy
Country: Hungary
Project Type: Drama, Short
Overview: Real story of Katalin Schönléber. This film is a dramatic story set during World War II in Dunaharaszti, Hungary. It centers around two sisters experiencing the heartbreaking events of war and its horrors. The narrative unfolds through personal recollections and realistic scenes, showcasing the strength of family bonds, the struggle for survival, and the trauma brought on by the war. This story honors the many families who endured the horrors of World War II and serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving their stories. Through these narratives, we pay tribute to their sacrifices and learn from history’s lessons, hoping to build a future where such tragedies never happen again.
Director Statement: Dear Guests, Dear Audience, Welcome you all and introduce my short film, which tells a true story from the dark times of World War II. As both the director and producer, it was especially important for me to authentically portray the struggles, courage, and determination of two young girls—one that stem from the power of hope and love, even in the cruelest of times. The first time I heard this story, it immediately captivated me. Realizing what these girls had endured—and knowing that this was not a work of fiction — I couldn't stop thinking about how to bring it to the screen. At first, there were no supporters; everyone told me it was impossible. But as the film itself demonstrates, nothing is truly impossible. Over the years, I have taken part in various film productions, but this project holds a special place in my heart. Beyond reflecting on historical events, the film explores how the resilience of a child’s spirit can find light even in the darkest moments. I am particularly thrilled that the film will be showcased at multiple festivals, and I sincerely hope that its story will touch the hearts of the audience. Thank you for joining me on this deeply emotional journey—I hope the film’s message will continue to resonate with all of us. Thank you for being here, and I wish you a meaningful viewing experience!
Writer: Eddie Clay Thompkins III
Country: United State
Project Type: Television Script
Overview: Higher Plane Sacred Vow is a paranormal mystery that delves into a complex tapestry of grief, the afterlife, and long-buried family secrets.
Writer Statement: The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why. Mark Twain
Writer: Matty Mahoney
Country: United Kingdom
Project Type: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Short Screenplay
Overview: During an assassination mission, a hitman shares his unusual metaphor to describe the sensation most of his targets experience as their lives draw to a premature end.