Finalist films 2024 – Season 6

PERIPETEIA

An ordinary day in the life of 9 years old Adem who helps support his family by collecting from the garbage papers and plastics to sell.

Go Back Home 返屋企

Jona is a delivery cyclist living and working in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. However he still dreams of Hong Kong, but he is living the harsh reality he might made a big mistake, regretting his move to the Netherlands instead of living the live of his dreams.

THE DAILY NIGHT

This is Marco’s last day of life. In a dark room, a light faintly illuminates his sick body. Resigned to his fate, he looks inside himself with different eyes than those he used to look at himself with. He remembers the last days with his wife Alice after the diagnosis. Only now does Marco become aware of his own existence, as well as the value of his memories and passions.

Out of the Shadows

In a world affected by climate change, conflict, and economic instability, it is always the most vulnerable people that suffer – often from neglected diseases for which there is no cure. Our newest film, Out of the shadows – the story of DNDi, is about three Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) scientists from Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sri Lanka, and follows their work to develop cures for patients who have lived in the shadow for too long.

Filmed to mark DNDi’s 20-year anniversary, Out of the shadows tells the story of how our unique, not-for-profit drug development partnerships have delivered new treatments that have saved millions of lives and put certain diseases, like sleeping sickness, on the pathway to elimination. But the film also shows why these alliances are needed for the next 20 years: both for climate-sensitive diseases like dengue, but also to ensure that even the most neglected patients reap the benefits of today’s AI-powered revolution in drug discovery.

Out of the shadows was shot by the South African film company Scholars, with whom DNDi produced A doctor’s dream, which won the World Health Organization’s inaugural Health for All Film Festival.

Lunatic

Lunatic tackles urgent earthly issues, as seen by a lonely astronaut, called Antonio, who was left behind on the moon after his coming out.
In addition to the climate crisis, human waste, even in space, determines our fate. The moon-guard, a statue of a skinned warrior, symbolises defence against the space debris danger from above. Ultimately, collisions between space debris and satellites will cause a cascade of collisions that will destroy all communications. It’s called Kessler syndrome.
The earth ends up with a Saturn like dust ring of metal and silicon.

Antonio is aware of these problems and as he put’s it: “It is one small scrap by man, one giant heap by mankind.” He tries to do some terra forming on the moon and finally he meets the all knowing ‘I am AI’ who also happens to be the voice over.

Lunatic is an improvisation animation film by Robin Noorda, based on his poem about the human behaviour of leaving waste everywhere.

L+T

A young woman makes a heartbreaking love confession to a stranger in a snack bar. None of them imagined how far this will go.

Cathy’s Doll

A watchful little girl observes shades of grief at her father’s funeral, ultimately coming to terms with loss in her own unique way.

The Bridges We Cross

The story follows Henry and Bertie, two elderly gentlemen who are going into town to go to a concert. Bertie has middle to late Alzheimer’s disease with Henry serving as his caretaker. As the couple walk through the town, they suddenly come across a bridge that evokes some unexpected memories.

Hold You Down

“Hold You Down” is a poignant short film that explores the theme of grief through the expressive medium of dance. With graceful movements and compelling choreography, the dancers encapsulate the profound emotions intertwined with mourning, allowing their bodies to articulate what words often fail to convey. The film narrates the tale of a young couple forgotten by time, highlighting the pervasive loneliness experienced by many queer individuals.

Saleh

A story of a teen in a Saudi rural village balancing school and caring for his aging dad. He sets out on a journey to bring joy to his father’s life against all odds.

The Tripsitter

The young Lisa shares her frustrations about life with her guru after she took some hallucinogenic mushrooms. When she gets into a bad trip, his influence on her becomes more oppressive. Unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy, she needs to break free of his ideas.

All Rise

In Athens, 18-year-old Petros is fatally beaten by the police on his way home. His parents, Eleni and Konstantinos, grapple with doubt as they sit in the courtroom, anxiously awaiting the judge’s verdict, seeking justice for their son’s tragic death.

Zombie Therapy

Zombie Therapy is a comedy web series set in a post zombie pandemic world where zombies are now part of our everyday lives.

The series is a special case study, made by the Zombie First Rehabilitation Centre, which follows the lives of three zombies and their struggling families. Each episode focuses on a zombie undergoing therapy and dealing with the challenges that come with being deceased. From brittle bones, overbearing mothers and uncontrollable cravings for brains, there’s a lot for them to deal with. Lucky for them, their therapists have stepped in to help.

Each of the zombies undergo transformational therapy taking them from being the living dead to the dead and living. Family members must learn to accept the death of their zombie and zombies have to learn not to eat them.

DISCONNECT

Here HE (27) is. A disappointment! As he observes himself in the gloomy light of his living room mirror, the young man starts to hear intensifying voices from his past. He has failed everyone – especially himself. He envisions himself as a strong, ambitious, masculine version but these vibrant images of an unfulfilled self-idealisation do not hold any truth anymore, nor do they offer perspective to go on in the same manner. At the brink of a mental breakdown, he just manages to tear himself away from the living room mirror.

He finds himself in the solitude of nature. It is bright day and it seems to be a different time and a different place. After a moment of disorientation he locates a shiny structure in the distance. Attracted by its mystical appearance he approaches the unknown. The erecting mirror columns in front of him reflect his image and feel in this environment alien-like. He enters and gets absorbed by the sheer size of the unreal surroundings. It is at the heart of the structure where he discovers HER (27), an embodiment of femininity. But it is her aura that he is immediately drawn too. This familiarity and her gentle smile provides for him the comfort to face her from close range. The energy of this close encounter transfers them away.

A pink bedroom. Yet another unknown and artificial place. The mattress camp he finds himself on reminds him at first glance of his dark state. He just recently had spent a lot of time not able to engage in reality. However, now he is not alone. He receives and accepts her comfort, feels cheerfulness alongside her and learns to enjoy the beauty of a relaxt moment with her again. It is the influence of her female soul that provides him with a new sense of self-acceptance. Through her he is able to transform to an inspired being as he incarnates to a complete human, ready to be born again into the world.

He wakes up on the hard wooden floor of his living room. As he gets up, morning has broken. He looks into the mirror in front of him and is greeted by her smiling reflection. He is for a moment unsure since he alone occupies the room, just before he finds himself smiling back at her out of the mirror.

Lights

In ‘Lights,’ an animator breathes life into two felt stop-motion puppets on an old factory workbench. When their instincts deviate from the animator’s intentions, they take the reins of their destiny, by trying to break free from his influence.

Brothers for Life

Three IDF veterans embark on a breathtaking journey to the Langtang Valley of Nepal in an attempt to heal wounds and find peace.

Do You Remember Me?

Areesha is a South Asian nurse who lives with her sick mother in an apartment in Doha. She is the only one able to care for her mother, which forces her to take days off from work. The lead doctor in her hospital warns Areesha that she needs to come to work or risk losing her job, which she needs to buy medication for her mother. Areesha is stuck between her duty to care for her mother and her need to work to provide for her.

As Areesha watches over her mother, she begins to reflect on the sacrifices she has made as a caregiver. She questions whether she has made the right choices and whether her devotion to her mother has come at the cost of her own happiness.

Home Burial

Love and loss collide in this hauntingly beautiful adaptation of Robert Frost’s poem, Home Burial.

In the poem Home Burial, Robert Frost portrays a couple’s struggle to reconcile their conflicting ways of dealing with the death of their firstborn child. She is consumed with grief and unable to let go, and he is ready to move on to find some sense of normalcy. They find themselves on two opposing sides of an emotional chasm that seems impossible to bridge.

Tennis, Oranges

A robotic vacuum suffering from burnout quits its job at a hospital and sets out to find community and a greater purpose on a quiet street where two lonely rabbits are stuck in perpetual loops.

Clarkii

A funny short animated documentary about the bureaucracy and contradictory laws surrounding the red swamp crayfish.

NADA DE TODO ESTO

Whilst a mother drives with her daughter through the wealthy suburbs of her home city,
eyeing the houses of the rich, she accidentally drives her car into a beautiful flower patch
inside the front yard of a mansion, bogging their car down. The daughter tries to find a way out, before her mother’s visceral fascination with the house and its owner drives them both to a point of no return.

Dear Child I

Dear Child I, written by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Chris Hedges takes the viewer on an uncompromising journey into the life of a child living under Israeli bombardment in Gaza. The film intentionally challenges the viewer to look at their own actions during the bloodshed, while also hinting at a possible hopeful future.

CONSIDER THE LILIES

Marjanne in Aleppo

Marjanne van Vliet works for ZOA in Syria – a country devastated by war, economically crippled by sanctions, deserted by half of the population, and hidden from the world because it is closed to journalists.

And then, in February 2023, an earthquake hits the border area of Syria and Turkey. Filmmaker Lieuwe Siebe de Jong follows Marjanne in the stricken city of Aleppo. During the aftershocks of the earthquake, she and her team are faced with the difficult task of providing support to the residents of Aleppo. This cinematographic documentary offers a unique look behind the scenes at the dilemmas of aid in an almost hopeless context.

Let’s Play

In a village consumed by adult responsibilities, a child yearns for play and fun. However, unintentionally, his innocent play sparks a war within the village, escalating from simple playfulness to destructive conflict.

Outside

‘Outside’ follows the journey of The Outsider, a man whose life has been completely uprooted, following a catastrophic event that has changed his world forever. Trying to survive in this new world void of human life, he struggles to stay alive. He scavenges the streets, searching for food and other means to stay alive. The streets of a once lively city are empty, bar the sounds of birds and the wind blowing through the streets. Occasionally, he encounters threats he tries to avoid, which remind him of his troubled past. While trying to adapt to this new reality, he tries to find closure for his past.

‘Outside’ is a poignant and haunting exploration of survival and grief in a post-apocalyptic setting, as The Outsider navigates a cityscape void of human life, grappling with themes of loneliness and homelessness, while confronting his past. Through its evocative storytelling, the film captivates with its exploration of human resilience and the search for meaning in a desolate world.

Figment

In Figment / Hoofd Stuk, we follow artist Lieke Anna (35). Born and raised in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, the Netherlands, she has always had a very tight relationship with her mother, Jeanine.
On June 19, 2020, disaster struck when Jeanine suffered a severe cerebral hemorrhage while Lieke was sitting next to her on the couch. What followed were anxious and uncertain weeks of operations and complications. For a long time it stayed unclear whether and how Jeanine would wake up. When slowly and painfully it would become clear that the confident and independent woman she used to be has turned into a needy and dependent woman.

We witness the impact of this change in the parent-child relationship on Lieke. Is she still a daughter now that their bond has changed so much? What does this mean for her? How does she accept this new mom? What does it do with her own creative process as an artist? An inner search for her new me.

Figment is an intimate documentary about the invinsible impact of a mom’s brain damage on her daughter, her son and her own identity. A film about finding hope, love and closeness in living loss.

Lieke: “My work as a photographic self-portrait artist is an incredibly important part of who I am. My artworks are like a diary to me. I process my feelings and thoughts in it and share stories about loss, grief, searching in life and uncertainties.

This way of processing is also an important part of the film and will be reflected in the cinematic scenes where you get to have a look inside my head as a daughter, as a main character.”

Ice Cream

In the hustle of Sylvia’s demanding career, she grapples with isolation and strained relationships, particularly with her mother. Amidst a relocation, she encounters Fred, her neighbor, who invites her for dinner with his daughter, Lily, revealing the depth of parental love and the human need for connection.

Continuations

The roof of a Japanese shrine was reconstructed for the first time in 40 years.
This work is a documentary about one year of traditional Japanese architecture.
The roof is called Hiwadabuki, a technique that is registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Hiwadabuki is made from layers of thin tree bark. It is the beauty of Japan.
The peeled trees will grow back in 10 years. The forest will not be destroyed.
Scraps of tree bark are also used, so there is no waste.
Construction is done by hand using ancient techniques.
This has been done unchanged in Japan for over 1000 years.
This work is not simply a documentary about traditional architectural techniques.
This is a movie that gives you an insight into the Japanese mind and thoughts.
This is a movie that shows that Japanese people still have the same idea of valuing everything as they have in the past.

Observer

Jasper, a handyman, has a dream of becoming a famous writer. He peeked into the lives of his clients while writing about them in his own stories. By chance, he arrives at the home of the anonymous writer Charlie. After watching Charlie succeed in life, Jasper’s jealousy takes hold of him. When Charlie insults him, Jasper kills Charlie in anger and takes his place, living Charlie’s life.

STIFF

An ancient, decrepit man wakes up from a prolonged period of stagnation. He rises, worn and weary, and sets to the task of reclaiming his vigor and vitality. The film explores themes of mental health and the spectrum of the human condition.

The invisible cords

Wishing to The Sky

Hopes for a better world live in a magical moment for a young war orphan.

As Easy As Closing Your Eyes

Academy Award-nominee Abigail Breslin presents:
As Easy As Closing Your Eyes.

The story of a grieving mother who battles her addiction to a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost.

SUBTITLED LINKS (password: Amesten)
ENGLISH: https://vimeo.com/951282392
SPANISH: https://vimeo.com/951298911
ITALIAN: https://vimeo.com/952515352
FRENCH: https://vimeo.com/951629032

Migration

A Central American migrant attempts to pass a covert immigration screening process in the hopes of reuniting with her estranged father, forty million miles away.

SCRAP

SCRAP is a tragicomedy shortfilm about the selfish and unself-conscious port employee Peter who is prevented from committing suicide by the AI (artificial intelligence) of his ex-wife’s car. When the car becomes more self-aware than Peter, Peter is forced to change…

Going Dutch

After a heart-wrenching breakup, Theo visits his grandparents in Holland. Seeking solace in the serene seaside dunes, he encounters an enigmatic Dutch woman who beckons him to Amsterdam. As Theo’s spirits begin to lift, a startling revelation about his new romantic interest threatens to shatter his newfound hope.

NOX

NOX is a sensory experimental film in which I use a combination of archival and own film prints and digital footage to “re-imagine” moments in which a shift in the balance of the human/natural world has occurred. In it, a lone hill above a town is revealed to be an active volcano, a destructive tornado seemingly intentionally repeats its path through a neighborhood, and a hurricane forces its way over a mountain. A layered soundscape of my own creation stands as an individual “character”, heightening the disturbing, and transforming sensory experience.

And a box of chocolates

Benny, the owner of a small grocery store, does sell chocolates in a special way.

You are not the others

Xi had been in love with Yan, her childhood friend, but struggled to express her feelings. Her approach to Yan was extreme, as she couldn’t find a suitable way to convey her emotions. Many years later, one afternoon, as Yan was about to leave, she discovered her true emotional needs in her memories. This led to a romantic farewell and the beginning of their love.

Shadow of The Light_Short Movie_MSC/SHT_1st

This short film tells the journey of a traditional puppet master and his struggle to preserve the ancient craft of Wayang (Javanese traditional shadow puppetry).

Murano Chronicles: Glass Tales of Love

A fictional short film that takes the viewer on an imaginative journey into a Murano glass furnace in Venice, where various glass artifacts crafted between the 14th and 20th centuries come to life during a single night, evoking a sense of magical realism.
Based on historical research into the Murano glassmaking tradition, each artifact is imbued with a distinct personality and shares its unique past, offering fresh perspectives that intertwine with Venice’s centuries-old history.
Through these enchanting narratives, the film explores the rich cultural heritage of Murano glassmaking and its enduring impact on the Venetian legacy, weaving together tales of artistry, passion, and the timeless allure of glass.

The Exchange Girl

With 26 festival screenings and 4 awards, The Exchange Girl is a short documentary about women working in dangerous conditions editing in silent film. Those positions did provide women with an entry point to film work. The film explores how those jobs suddenly disappeared with the coming of sound and how from their ranks rose legends, like Oscar winner Margaret Booth.

Princess and the Pea

Princess and the Pea is about the turbulent dynamic between teenager Lotta and her parents when she’s stuck at home with depression and anxiety. She can’t, she won’t, she wouldn’t dare. Also isolated at home are Marthe and Paul, scared to lose their daughter. In a house full of misunderstanding and hopelessness the family gets help from a psychologist in their search for recognition, connection, and hope.

Earth

“If our planet were a person, what feelings would fill it?” – I started off from such an idea when forming the concept. According to the plot, the heroes of the clip visit an unusual attraction where, with the help of special technologies, everyone who wants to can physically “feel the Earth”.

Angelina appears in the image of a higher mind – the main component of this technology, it is she who broadcasts visions into the brains of other heroes of the clip and controls their feelings.

The location for the video clip was not accidentally the hall of the National Library of Ukraine named after V.I. Vernadsky. After all, it is there that the giant panel “Pain of the Earth” is located, the main theme of the composition of which is a reminder that science should be directed to the protection of life on Earth. And by no means the other way around.

After all, in such small visual forms as a music video, there isn’t always enough screen time to provide answers. However, you can try asking questions.

Intruders

Some foreign minors take refuge on the farm of a caring lady. They are looking for a home but get involved in the story of a broken family. The situation escalates when the lady mysteriously disappears. A family investigation suspects the young migrants, who are hiding something out of fear and ignorance of their rights. During a traditional initiation ceremony, secrets come to light.

Soldiers of Peace

In the stark isolation of the mountains, two enemy soldiers, lost and far from their respective units, find themselves in a tense face-to-face encounter.

Although neither truly wishes to harm the other, they are prisoners of a conditioning that inexorably pushes them to fear one another and to consider the elimination of the other as a necessity.

In this silent duel, one of the soldiers, wiser and more thoughtful, desperately attempts to defuse the explosive situation. However, his opponent, more impulsive and guided by a whirlwind of emotions, threatens to tip this precarious moment into tragedy…

Redeveloping Hope

Based on the real business case “Can Financial Acumen Supercharge Social Impact? -The case of the redevelopment of Spofford in the Bronx”. The original case is written by Ludovic Phalippou, Professor of Financial Economics at Saïd Business School, University Oxford, author of the best selling book «Private Equity Laid Bare».

Deathbed

When Marieke, a tough and resolute woman, reluctantly visits her childhood home where her aggressive father is dying, she is confronted with their dark past, which isn’t finished with her yet…

Carry You

A young couple faces a tough situation when one of the two becomes very ill