Month: September 2021

We Save Us is a short poetic documentary centering the expressions of New Yorkers leading up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election results. As tensions rise, the movement led by Black female activists to end police violence is ever-present. Combining various montage techniques with soundscapes that evoke sociopolitical histories of the past, We Save Us… Continue reading Short Film: WE SAVE US, 14min., USA, Documentary

Born and raised in California, Nicholas “Niko” Gonzalez developed a passion for the arts at a young age. After pursuing music for most of his life, a chance encounter with a college film course led him on his current path. He moved to North Carolina at age 20, studying film at Blue Ridge Community College… Continue reading Director Biography – Niko Gonzalez (DROPPING OUT)

“Dropping Out” is the story of two sisters attempting to reconnect, amidst the backdrop of an industrial town. The youngest, Chloe, is destined for greatness, as she prepares to head to a top university in England. The elder, more cynical sibling, Maggie, has squandered her potential and attempts to hide within her own world. Their… Continue reading Short Film: DROPPING OUT, 16min., USA, Drama

Born and raised in Chicago, Marquis displays a diverse body of work as a filmmaker. After transferring from Arizona State University to Columbia College Chicago at 21 Marquis started Directing Music Videos for students, one including Hanna Ashbrook (The Voice Season 7 contestant) as well as local acts such as gospel singer Tina Crawley, Sicko… Continue reading Director Biography – Marquis Simmons (FAITH INTERRUPTED)

The piece gives a visual glimpse into mind and heart of someone that was assaulted, as they traverse the various stages of grieving and healing to once again find some sense of normalcy. Project Links  Website

Slain first gained notoriety at age 20 with the haunting short doc “It Ain’t Over,” premiering at SXSW and Telluride. Five years later, Slain’s collective works had received millions of internet views, seven Vimeo Staff Picks and been used as teaching materials at USC, NYFA, and USF. In 2016, Slain launched the experimental writing app… Continue reading Director Biography – Caleb Slain (“enough”)

LOGLINEA dream, a nightmare, a musical. Shot over 10 years, this surreal hip hop odyssey unpacks the stormy inner world of Nathan Nzanga, a Congolese-American artist coming of age in a fractured nation. SYNOPSISUsing footage shot over a decade, “enough.” is a narrative hip hop film exploring Nathan Nzanga’s journey from quirky kid born to… Continue reading Short Film: “enough”, 14min., USA, Cinematic docu-fiction

Showcase of the best SHORT FILMS in the world today. AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS:Best Short Film: AGAINST MY WILLBest Performances: A COUPLEBest Direction: VAVEYLA Theme of night: Life NOTE: Festival took place during the COVID-19 virus lockdown so all screenings were held in private. Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Videos: A COUPLE, 22min., Italy, Romance VAVEYLA, 10min.,… Continue reading HIGHLIGHTS, WINNERS & VIDEOS: EUROPEAN AUGUST 2021 FEEDBACK Film Festival