These short films experiment with the structural norms of cinematic storytelling to depict the unique vantage points of their characters.
The Broken Past
Director – Martin Morgenfeld / Sebastian Schjaer – Argentina
After being absent for several months, a teenager suddenly reappears in a hospital to reconnect with the mother of his newborn daughter. Through naturalistic acting and a striking use of close-ups, this gripping story focuses on how a single moment can reverberate across lives.
Run Time: 16 min.
Deszcz
Director – Malina Maria Mackiewicz – Australia
As Magda visits her lover in prison, she realizes these might be their final moments together. This taut, minimalist drama masterfully packs all the pains of love, separation, and acceptance into a single setting.
Run Time: 5 min.
Oh Lucy!
Director – Atsuko Hiranayagi – Japan, Singapore, US
A chain-smoking, corporate Japanese woman develops a crush on her English teacher in this ingenious comedy of manners and Americanization.
Run Time: 22 min.
One-Minded
Director – Sébastien Simon, Forest Ian Etsler – South Korea
A mechanical fan witnesses odd misdeeds in a high-rise Seoul apartment, and we’re right there with it. This inventive short puts the audience in the (metaphorical) shoes of an inanimate appliance.
Run Time: 20 min.
over
Director – Jörn Threlfall – UK
A dead body has appeared in a suburban street, and in reverse order, we learn how it got there. This outside-the-box strips away sensationalism and keeps you guessing till the end.
Run Time: 14 min.
Turtle
Director – Jordan Schiele – China, US, Singapore
A photographer buys a reptile from a construction worker, but also purchases something far more precious—his dignity.
Run Time: 15 min.