BELLYDANCE VOGUE (LEBANON) BY HADI MOUSSALLY

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Synopsis: "My birthday was on the 3rd of April 2020 during lockdown, and for the first time, I celebrated it all by myself. But even if I was alone, I decided to celebrate it as if it’s the last one." A film made during quarantine. Running time: 00:05:00.

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Selections/awards: Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest, 180´Berlin Filmfest, Toronto Arthouse FF, London Int Screen Dance Festival, Hong Kong Arthouse FF, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film, Viewpoint Documentary FF, Flikkers Queer FF, Experimental, Dance & Music FF LA, Fashion FF Amsterdam, and 'Best Music Video' at our 2021 edition.

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About the director: Hadi Moussally (Lebanon, 1987) has Masters in 'Fiction Cinema' and in 'Documentary and Anthropological Cinema'. The anthropological and documentary approach accustoms him with the sense of keen observation of his subjects and alerts him to the importance of instantaneous shooting; whereas his fictional background gives him the urge of creating sensual, esthetically pleasing imagery universes. Moussally has made fashion films and documentaries some of which have received festival awards, and his experimental project on albinism "Positive" has been exhibited at the UNESCO, the City Hall of Paris and Beirut Art Fair.

BEFORE WE COLLIDE (U.K.) BY GUY GOOCH, GREGOR PETRIKOVIC

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Trailer

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Synopsis: Before We Collide is a short film shot on a Nishika N8000 analog lenticular camera consisting of over 800 photographs pieced together. In a haunting encounter, the film captures our fragmented perception of time during the pandemic while exploring the dynamics of mutual support. The film does not give the impression that it is made for me, you, or anyone for that matter. It simply exists as an artefact that can be witnessed, like found footage of a ghostly apparition. Running time: 00:01:10.

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Selections/awards: Super Shorts London FF, Sydney World FF.

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MAGIC KINGDOM (USA/HONG KONG) BY NELSON NG CHAK HEI

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Trailer

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Synopsis: The story is set in 1997 against the backdrop of the looming handover. Kit, a middle-aged single parent, brings his son from Hong Kong to California under the pretense of visiting Disneyland. The son, Chun, comes to realize the real intention of the trip is for his own adoption. Running time: 00:15:00.

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Selections/Awards: Asian FF LA (Best First Time Director), Boston Short FF, Brussels Independent FF, Sydney World FF, Super Shorts London, and more.

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About the director: Nelson Ng Chak Hei studied film at Emerson College and graduated from Boston University with a degree in International Relations. After returning to Hong Kong, he co-founded Stray Dogs, a production house specializing in advertising, while exploring personal stories to develop outside the commercial sphere.

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THE SCROLL OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH (CANADA) BY JAKE KOVNAT

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Trailer

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Synopsis: I work after his voice and do exactly what he says to do... He put up what colors he want. I don't know about them. - "One day, in May of 2018 as I was driving through Niagara Falls, NY, I passed a home unlike anything I had ever seen before. I slammed on the brakes and reversed to take some pictures of this stunning and unusual work of art tucked away in an otherwise unremarkable neighborhood. As I finished, a man who was sitting across the street called me over to talk. His name was Isaiah and the conversation that began on that day culminated in this short film. Maybe our encounter was meant to be. In honor of Isaiah, I hope you enjoy it." Running time: 00:03:08.

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Selections/awards: Toronto Arthouse FF, Super Shorts London FF, Doc.Boston, and more.

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About the director: Jake Kovnat is a director working mostly on commercials, but also documentaries and music videos. His short documentary "On Days Like These We Must Surf" (2016) about a crazy group of surfers who chase icy waves on The Great Lakes, played at a number of festivals worldwide and was selected as a Vimeo Staff Pick.

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METUBE: AUGUST SINGS 'UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA' (AUSTRIA) BY DANIEL MOSHEL

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Synopsis: The third part of the internationally award-winning MeTube short film series. This time the intergalactic music nerds August and Elfi conquer the opera stage and orchestrate their final adventure in an opulent manner. Running time: 00:10.00.

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About the director: Daniel Moshel was born in Germany. Currently he lives as a writer/director in Vienna, Austria. The project "Metube" started as a homage to thousands of ambitious YouTube users and video bloggers. It was the most successful short Daniel accomplished. Consequently the sequel MeTube 2 followed. Both MeTubes were screened on more than 600 festivals (including two nominations on Sundance 2013 & 2016), received more than 60 awards, and gathered over 4 Million web views. MeTube 3 just launched its career online and is going to be release to the festival circuit. Currently Daniel works with his Team of writers on features and tv shows.

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BALLAD OF A BREAKUP (USA) BY LAUREN LOESBERG

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Synopsis: An experimental short reflecting on past breakups in friendships. Running time: 00:03:08.

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Selections/awards: Student Academy Awards, SIDE/LOT Experimental FF, Mosaic World FF, PBS Guam/Guam IFF Select Showcase, Maine Student Ff, Festival Angaelica.

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About the director: Lauren Loesberg is a writer and director whose work focuses on the complexities of the female experience in nature and society. She's a recent graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in Radio/TV/Film as well as a minors in Dance, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Acting for the Screen. Amonst many other things she has worked as an AD and PA on independent projects, including 2020 Academy Award Winner “The Neighbor’s Window”.

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I N T E R S T I C E (SWEDEN) BY OSKAR WILLERS

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Synopsis: When Anders makes an indecent proposal to his younger boyfriend Micke, things take a very sudden dark turn. Running time: 00:11:21.

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Selections/awards: BFI London FF, Venice Film Week, Cornwall FF, Amsterdam Independent FF, Super Shorts London, Toronto Arthouse FF, and more.

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About the director: Oskar Willers has studied Filmtheory and Filmhistory at Stockholm University and went to the hands-on Film Schools: Stockholm Film School and Biskops Arnö Screenwriting School. He has worked as a commercial film- and still photographer and for the last ten years he is also a teacher at Kulturama Film School in Stockholm. I N T E R S T I C E is Oskar's directorial debut.

SLURP (FRANCE) BY JULES JOLLY

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Synopsis: A couple at the table. Isn’t diner the best time to say things?Running time: 00:02:40.

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Selections/awards: Brussels Independent FF, Super Shorts London, and more.

About the director: Jules is an Art Director in the advertising industry. For almost 15 years he worked on ads for Ubisoft, Adidas, Warner Games, Orange and Instagram among others. In recent years he has been learning filmmaking with commercials. Slurp is his first short film. It’s a more personal work, far from commercial matters.

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GUM (USA) BY JACOB REED

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Trailer

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Synopsis: In a reality where gum doesn't exist, Anne pitches an idea that could change the world. Running time: 00:08:54.

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Selections/awards: Raindance FF, London Short FF, Sci-OnFF (Winner Best Comedy), Venice Film Week, Boston Short FF, Brussels Independent FF, Hong Kong Arthouse FF, El Dorado FF, and more.

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About the director: Jacob Reed is an award-winning director and writer. He’s known for his ability to craft nuanced performances from improvisers and Oscar-winners alike, owed partially to more than a decade as a teacher and performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Jacob has directed for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central, Funny or Die, Nickelodeon and BuzzFeed. His ability to tap into pop-cultural moments has resulted in hundreds of millions of views for his videos, which as we know are the crack cocaine of the Internet.

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DE-ESCHATOLOGY (USA) BY CHARLY SANTAGADO, ERIEL SANTAGADO

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Trailer

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Synopsis: De-Eschatology is a physical manifestation of the claustrophobic conditions created by the COVID-19 crisis and the yearning to break free from them. The piece seeks to draw attention to a heightened sense of touch, which directly results from the lack of physical contact many in quarantine face. The film's trajectory explores the gradual de-escalation of shelter-in-place orders, and its psychological effects. Running time: 00:05:00.

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Selections/awards: FilmFest by Rogue Dancer, IndieX Film Fest (Best Screendance Short), Dance Place: Dance on Film Series, EXCHANGE Choreography Festival Online.

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About the director: ~mignolo dance~ was founded by Charly and Eriel Santagado in 2017. They have been dancing and creating together for more than ten years and use this experience to continue to collaborate with each other and other dancers and artists to create new work that explores elements of various artistic mediums through movement. The company has had work produced at many festivals including KoDaFe, Dumbo Dance Festival, Triskelion’s SummerFest, Waxworks, Peridance's APEX, and Koresh’s Come Together Dance Festival. Their first evening-length work will be produced by Jersey City Theater Center this year.

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AMAZONIA (U.K.) BY DOMINIC HICKS

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Synopsis: Amazonia is a triptych of twisted tales about alienation and obsession based on real reviews from amazon.com. Running time: 00:08:00.

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Selections/awards: Dark Comedy Shorts, London Short FF, and more.

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About the director: Dominic Hicks is a writer and director of short films, music videos and commercials. He lives and works in London. Hicks explores alienation in contemporary culture through dark comedy and genre experimentation.

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LEAP (ARGENTINA) BY JUAN BAIO, EINO ANTONIO

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Synopsis: On the rooftop of a massive building, surrounded by the blazing Buenos Aires’ skyline, two friends are taking a relaxing sunbath. In the flash of an instant an unexpected event takes place, which will call into question their friendship and leave them both on the brink of a resolution that could change their lives. Running time: 00:02:37.

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Selections/awards: Brussels Independent FF, Sydney World FF, Super Shorts London, and more.

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About the director: Juan and Eino met in Buenos Aires in the process of making a short film. Juan is a graduate from the acting program of Universidad Nacional de las Artes. Eino graduated graduated as Film Director from Universidad del Cine.

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NEIGHBOUR (GEORGIA) BY DAVID BORCHKHADZE

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Synopsis: The quiet life of Beso and his daughter is suddenly disrupted when neighbouring workers damage the wall of their house. Running time: 00:30:00.

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Selections/awards: Brussels Independent FF, Super Shorts NY and LA, Sydney World FF, and more.

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About the director: David Borchkhadze has been working around sets since the age of 16. He worked as editor at almost all TV channels in Georgia, and later directed episodes on several TV shows, including one of the first reality shows in Georgia. He also has been independently shooting the biggest commercials in Georgia, totaling over 300 commercials. He directed an episode of the film 'Tbilisi Love Story' and soon after shot his first independent feature film ,'Seazone' in 2010. In 2019, he shot the first interactive 3-hour commercial film in Georgia, 'Arena'.

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