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.

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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A FEAST THAT NEVER COMES (USA) BY MARIA JURANIC

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Trailer

Synopsis: Four characters inhabit cycles within cycles of contentment, discontentment, inertia, movement, desire, and betrayal. A story emerges—told through the marriage of music (Ex-Fiancée) and dance (ChrisMastersDance)—functioning as a set of nesting dolls, inviting you to uncover as many layers as you wish. Running time: 00:05:59.

About the director: An immigrant from Yugoslavia, Maria Juranic is a director and editor working in NY and LA. She has made visuals on a variety of media platforms from music videos and advertising to fashion and film. In the last decade, Maria has been writing and directing short form content for brands and companies as disparate as Conde Nast and Sesame Street. She is also sought out by labels such as Warner and Universal for her music videos. Her work has been seen on MTV, VH1, Rolling Stone and Nowness.

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LOSING IT (AUSTRIA) BY SASCHA VERNIK

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Trailer

Synopsis: After losing the tool he relies on most, a fraud information worker decides to go back in time to prevent it. Running time: 00:09:30.

Selections/awards: Venice Film Week, Boston Short FF.

About the director: Sascha Vernik is a director and animator based in Vienna, Austria. After his debut animated film "Embracing Lovers" in 2014 he has worked in the animation industry before completing his animated short 'Losing It' in 2022.

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I LOVE YOU DON'T LEAVE ME (USA) BY ALEX LEOMBRUNO

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Synopsis: An absurdist drama following the endless torment experienced by a young woman dealing with an eating disorder. As she tries to cope with obsessive tendencies and routines, Ghillie, a looming swamp monster, follows close behind. Ghillie is the most prominent thing in Morgan’s life — that is, until she meets a strange neighbor while out jogging and invites her over for dinner. What ensues is a stressful encounter for Morgan as she tries to fight past the thoughts of Ghillie. Running time: 00:15:41.

Selections/awards: Boston Short FF.

About the director: Alex Leombruno is a queer filmmaker and musician from suburban Massachusetts. Her body of work explores autobiographical themes of queerness, mental-illness, and adolescence. Through narrative and experimental films, Alex creates worlds and characters rich with vulnerability and emotion.

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IDOL (AUSTRALIA) BY ALEX WU

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Synopsis: A young Chinese celebrity is called into an emergency meeting after a fan of his commits suicide. Running time: 00:18:30.Selections/awards: Brooklyn FF (Spirit Award in Short Narrative, Outstanding Achievement in Performance (Best Male Actor)), Sydney FF (Dendy Award for Best Australian Live-Action Short Film), Adelaide FF, Flickerfest International Short FF, and more.

About the director: Alex Wu is an award-winning Australian filmmaker. The son of Chinese immigrants, Alex was born and raised in Canberra, Australia, where at the age of seventeen, he made his first short film on Super 8mm, ‘Compass’ (2011), a western that went on to win the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Canberra Short FF and top prize at the 2011 Leonid Film Awards. In 2015, his short films 'Beneath The Cotton Clouds' (2014) and 'Freight Train' (2014) screened at festivals including the LA Indie FF, Toronto Student Film Festival, Edmonton IFF and Barcelona FF. In 2016, his graduate film 'Motown' (2015) had its world premiere at the 60th BFI London FF, followed by a successful international festival run.

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OUSMANE (CANADA) BY JORGE CAMAROTTI

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Synopsis: Ousmane, a newly arrived immigrant living in Montreal, faces a challenging situation when he meets an elderly disoriented lady at the end of his workday. Running time: 00:25:09.

About the director: Born in Sao Paulo. In 2003, Jorge moved to Montreal, where he pursued a career as a professional photographer and then as filmmaker. Jorge has directed a dozen short films, both documentary and fiction, always remaining true to giving voice to the most aggrieved individuals of our society. Jorge wrote and directed Kinship (2019), which was selected in many reputable film festivals such as Palm Springs International, Maryland, Clermont-Ferrand (Sodec), Regard and which received a nomination at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards for best live-action. Besides working as a mentor for aspiring BIPOC filmmakers.

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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.

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

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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