Anyways
Between what is not yet and what might have been, a woman lingers in a half-ripened season of life — a quiet journey through growth, belonging, and self-acceptance. by Danni Wang (China)
Between what is not yet and what might have been, a woman lingers in a half-ripened season of life — a quiet journey through growth, belonging, and self-acceptance. by Danni Wang (China)
After COVID-19, once-successful businessman Li Sheng, like many entrepreneurs, fell into difficulties and became debt-ridden. He reunited with his old classmate Sun Xiaoping at a café in Nanjing. What began as a gathering reminiscing about old times soon shifted through the weight of harsh realities, the regrets of youth, and emotional debts. Li Sheng started…
Ten minutes before showtime, a theatre group unravels into warm-up disasters, personal drama and backstage chaos as they scramble to survive opening night. by Freddy Barouh (USA)
Martha, a housewife, arrives at community college for her first evening class in psychology. As the sun sets, she’s joined by Rick, a friendly younger student. They wait for their instructor, growing increasingly certain that no one else is coming. When Martha decides to leave, what seemed like a scheduling error reveals itself as something…
In a chillingly plausible near future, limitless surveillance threatens a man’s sense of control, fueling a paranoia that misdirects blame on his wife, leading to a shockingly ironic conclusion. by William Mariano (USA)
A reclusive woman is drawn into a waking nightmare when she is stalked by a deranged lunatic, who is convinced that she holds the key to his twisted redemption. by Michael Rognlie and EE Tallent (USA)
Phung, a sexually frustrated young man, arrives at his long-awaited physical examination appointment with his aged and ailing physician, Dr. Jatt at the ‘ Un Real Clinic’ complex. Physically ravaged by three separate cases of the COVID pandemic , Dr. Jatt performs a shaky prostate exam on Phung, and explains a few reasons that would…
A tormented girl, a girl who has suffered a loss that has left her with a huge void. Her life is spiraling into an abyss she doesn’t know. She begins to walk an inner path that will lead her to discover the darkest depths of herself. by Borja Ros (Spain)
In the vast grasslands of Xinjiang, a Kazakh father gives his young son a football every year — three years, three balls, one ritual. As the boy slowly uncovers the meaning behind this quiet tradition, he begins to understand a buried promise and a father’s unspoken love. BALL is a restrained, dialogue-light short film about…
A lonely Macedonian man, Blazhe, suffers devastating grief from the loss of his son. He befriends an unlikely empath, John, through a chance meeting. Feeling the weight of his sorrow, John invites Blazhe to share his story in an effort to briefly connect. An unexpected twist leaves Blazhe looking for that connection again. by Rosanne…
In a future where medical care depends on online fame, a son races to become viral enough to save his mother’s life. by Luis Escobar
Since childhood, best-friends Judy and Annie have always followed their own path even when faced with death. by Richard Bruce Stirling (USA)
This film is inspired by a true story and an Italian legend.What was it like to be autistic in 1923 and what is it like today?The protagonist of the story is an eleven-year-old girl, affected by Autism Spectrum Syndrome.“We are not different, it’s the others who are all the same”.What does it mean to be…
What Could Have Been is an animated short that quietly reflects on the futures stolen by war. When a mother gives birth in a hospital under siege, she dares to imagine the life her daughter might have – one shaped by love, learning, and joy. by Amanda Barakat and Sam Chou (Canada)
A rebellious teenager, haunted by addiction and the death of her sister, is taken against her will to a “troubled teen” program that promises academic excellence and therapeutic reform. Instead, she is thrust into a rabbit hole of humiliation and corruption, forced to endure a cult-like system designed to break her. by David Ernesto Herrera…
A small-town girl drops out of school to help her single mother run the family grocery store. In secret, she forms a fragile bond with a young outsider. Her mother, fearful of losing her only child and clinging to a fortune-teller’s prediction, arranges a blind date in hopes of securing her daughter’s future. Torn between…