WINNERS

MONTH OF MARCH

Letters to Freedom

Julie falls in love with a former slave of her father's in the middle of the American Civil War and is faced with the challenge of her life.

This film highlights what sacrificial love looks like. Audiences will witness what it means to do what's right and follow your convictions amid persecution.

Best Film(over 40min) - Directed by Joshua Steven Williams

Best Lead(Female) - Corina Raine Connelly

Best Lead (Male) - Kyle Lamont

Best Composer - Joshua Mize

Vita Nova

"Vita Nova," a short film by Dmytro Zavora, is a moving animated drama based on a story by German author Josef Reding. Set in post-war Germany, the film follows a man who visits a pharmacy with the intent to buy poison to end his life. As he stands at the counter, his indecision leads him to reflect on his circumstances and the potential reasons to continue living. Through this 7-minute narrative, the film explores themes of despair, resilience, and the search for hope amid adversity

Best Animated Short Film (Under 40min) - Directed by Dmytro Zavora

Jackknife

A fun afternoon of fishing turns frightening when a young black brother and sister are attacked in the woods by a drifter. While fighting him off, the brother accidentally kills their would-be molester with a jackknife."

JACKKNIFE is a sociopolitical drama that's like "Thelma and Louise" meets "Huckleberry Finn"

LIZ is a widow and the white mother of two mixed race kids who she's raising to mistrust and fear the police after their black father was killed by an officer in what should have been a routine traffic stop. One day she's called into work and leaves her 14 year son, TY, in charge of his 12 year old sister, JAZZ, with specific instructions not to leave the house. It's a beautiful summer day and Ty is furious with his mother for ruining his plans to spend the afternoon fishing. After sulking briefly, the siren call of the summer sun becomes too much for him. Ty gathers some fishing gear, his and his father's old jackknife, but as he tries to sneak out, Jazz catches him. She insists he let her come and the two spend a few hours down at the river. They have a surprisingly fun day fishing together and things are going well until they take a shortcut home, through the woods, and run into a drifter. The strange man grab's Jazz and tries to drag her away but Ty attacks him. The two struggle and Ty ends up stabbing the man In the inner thigh with the jackknife, hitting the femoral artery and causing him to quickly bleed out. Terrified about what might happen to them if they go to the police, Ty and Jazz decide to run away. When Liz comes home that night she finds the kids missing she goes to the police and soon the whole town is out searching for them. Over the course of three terrifying days, the kids will have to endure the elements and fight to survive in the wilderness, all while running and hiding from the very people who are trying to rescue them.

Best Director(over 40min) - Adam Jack

Best Producer - Adam Jack, Jason Lupish,Douglas Vermeeren, Erica Sherwood

The Portrait

In a desperate bid to overcome imposter syndrome and fulfill his dream of becoming a renowned artist, Rodrigo takes on a commission for the mysterious art connoisseur Damien. Challenged to meet deadlines and high expectations, Rodrigo battles with self-doubt and resorts to using AI to meet the gallery deadline. When his deceit is exposed, Rodrigo turns to expressing his true emotions on canvas, only bringing his inner turmoil to life. As his creation becomes a haunting reality.

Best Emerging Filmmaker (Under 40min) - Celeste Skye Ruiz

In Your Brain

Melanie, a single mother whose world was shattered when her son was abducted a year ago. As she faces an intense interrogation, the weight of her inner secret becomes almost unbearable.

Single mother Melanie is immersed in the profound sorrow of her abducted child. After multiple unsuccessful search and rescue attempts, just as everyone was ready to give up, she candidly revealed her own secret in exchange for the interrogator to continue searching. This story focuses on the harrowing issue of child trafficking, a grave violation of human rights that continues to plague our global society today. Beyond the devastating impact on families and marriages, it poses a profound threat to entire communities. In this short film, Melanie's role as both victim and victimizer blurs the lines between reality and surrealism, which helps to shed light on a pressing and crucial topic, compelling viewers to contemplate the far-reaching consequences of child trafficking while offering a unique and captivating storytelling experience.

Best Editor (Under 40 min) - Tong Luo

The Dolphin Dilemma

Imagine, waking up being covered in third-degree burns, that's what it's like for the Burrunan dolphins in Australia. But why is this happening? That's what Dr. Duignan, Director of Pathology at The Marine Mammal Center, Dr. Stephen’s from Murdoch University, and Dr. Robb from the Marine Mammal Foundation had to find out. This film explores this international collaboration that proves for the first time that these lesions being found on cetaceans around the world are only caused by climate change.

Best Documentary (Under 40min) - Directed by Olivia Andrus-Drennan

Shanghai Girls

In Shanghai in the early 90s, a high school girl’s choir achieved brief fame for their singing talents on the national stage. They were the promise of youth in a time of change, when society was transforming as rapidly as the city, and traditional ideas of the role of women were giving way to new possibilities for girls like them. Thirty years later, the now middle-aged friends reunite for the first time in decades to share their stories, tears and laughter, and to reflect on what being a woman can mean.

Shot over the course of a year, Shanghai Girls follows filmmaker Luo Tong as she reconnects with her former classmates. In a series of intimate encounters and conversations, she uncovers the winding paths they have walked, through marriage, career, love, family and ambition, to where they are today. Through every experience, each twist and turn, they have found their way back to each other, and closer to themselves.

Shanghai Girls is a portrait of a generation; a collection of rarely-told stories of middle-aged women; a complex chorus of voices in harmony.

Best Documentary(Over 40min) - Directed by Luo Tong

Nine Years

Spanning annual snapshots from 1972-1980, discontent school leaver Joodi embarks on a quest for musical stardom. Amidst her rise to fame she confronts formidable economic, political, and social barriers as the nine-year construction of the Humber Bridge casts shadow on her world. Inspired by true events. Music by Paul Heaton (The Beautiful South).

Best Film( Under 40min)- Directed by Haley Muraleedharan, Gabriel Fernández-Gil

Places, Please!

Places, Please! delves into the frantic world behind the scenes of a local theatre's opening night. With the director stuck in traffic, first time stage manager Keith McRay faces a cascade of challenges: a missing actor, a rebellious cast member, an incompetent stage hand and a demanding lead actress. As chaos ensues, Keith must navigate the backstage drama to ensure the show's success, all while dealing with unexpected surprises that threaten to derail the entire production. The film captures the comedic and unpredictable nature of live theatre, offering a glimpse into the mayhem that precedes the opening curtain.

Best screenplay ( Under 40min) - Paul Keith Rye

Coffee to Cocktails

A revolving door of conversations at a café table as the afternoon slips away, and the drink of choice goes from coffee to cocktails.

Best Emerging Filmmaker(Over 40min) - Andrew Brannen

More Than Our Skin

More Than Our Skin is a documentary exploring the depths and effects of living with Vitiligo through the stories of five extraordinary women: Valarie, Millicent, Patricia, Alicia, and Katrina. Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease in which the skin loses its pigment cells resulting in discolored patches throughout the body, leaving to experiences of depression, social stigmatization, and isolation. This film tells these story of these women who found strength after the pain; a newfound resilience; and the mission to help others find a way to live life to the fullest.

Best Emerging Filmmaker(Over 40 min) - Tonia Magras

In the Footsteps of Alexander Nevsky

Two people speak Sign Language in a rural library. Kolya, who is hard of hearing, and Tanya, who is deaf. They are professional guides and invite viewers on a unique journey. The camera pulls back and the audience sees the entire film crew. The journey begins...

The film crew does not hide behind the scenes. The group finishes filming the scene, gets on a bus or a plane and goes to the next filming location in Italy, in Russia, in Mongolia.

This documentary in Russian Sign Language looks at the Russian Prince Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky (1220 - 1263), famous for his campaigns, travels through the Mongol Empire and correspondence with the Pope. Tracing the hagiographic story of Alexander’s life, the film attempts to recreate an amazing picture of the world between East Asia and the Mediterranean in the time of Alexander. It also focuses on Giovanni da Pian del Carpini, a Franciscan monk, missionary and the first European traveller to Mongolia.

Special Jury Award - Anna Turchaninova

Xavier, an inmate at a country jail is awaiting transfer to a maximum security prison. He has been found guilty of killing his girlfriend, and although he is falsely accused, he battles his internal guilt for not saving her through a personified version of the killer. He remains adamant he is innocent but also is timid and cowardly avoiding confrontation from the truth. Adrian who is the true killer, torments his mind, breaking him to the brink of insanity and pushing him to believe he is to blame for the murder. Adrian becomes the voice of everyone telling him he is guilty and he deserves to die for what he did. Xavier falls deeper, submitting to Adrian, believing his lies, and accepting that he is the one truly guilty of the murder

Honorable Mention - Amy Arnold

Fame Juice

Two young actresses are hungry for fame and will do anything to get it, but at what cost?

Best Lead-Female (Under 40min) - Bailey Curbow

Blue

As the old saying goes, after the beginning of autumn, Yin and Yang began to change, chill rises. Everything goes from flourish and mature to decay. Life lies dormant as death, survives the long winter, and finally is reborn in the spring.This film is about men and women, the women want to be irreplaceable prisoners,the men don't want to be prisoners. The cycle of confrontation, destruction, rebirth to freedom, and shackling. I hope this film will make you ask whether freedom exists? I hope those who have seen this film will have their own answers.

Special jury award - Yunpeng Lee

The Coral Reef Cleaning Station

The Coral Reef Cleaning Station, a captivating short film by underwater filmmaker Shazaad Kasmani, delves into the essential role of cleaning stations in coral reef ecosystems.
Through stunning underwater footage, viewers witness the colorful cleaner fish attending to their fellow reef inhabitants, removing parasites and dead skin. The film highlights the symbiotic relationship between cleaner fish and their clients, showcasing moments of peaceful rejuvenation and occasional drama. VIP clients, including moray eels and top reef predators, receive personalized attention, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness in maintaining a healthy reef.
With its breathtaking visuals and informative narration, The Coral Reef Cleaning Station leaves viewers inspired to cherish and protect these underwater wonders.

Best Short Film on Nature & Wildlife (Under 40min)- Directed by Shazaad Kasmani