Meital Cohen Navarro – Over My Dead Body
Meital Cohen Navarro (USA), Over My Dead Body, Film Short, Jewish Theme – Over My Dead Body tells the poignant story of Isfahan, a young Jewish Persian-American woman torn between her Muslim fiancé and her family’s deep-rooted traditions. Set in present-day Los Angeles, the film explores the emotional turmoil of religious intolerance, cultural preservation, and intermarriage. As Isfahan grapples with her relationship and her family’s expectations, each family member, from her protective parents to her conflicted siblings, believes they’re acting in her best interest, though they unknowingly impose pain and restriction on her. The film skillfully presents both sides of the story, balancing the family’s cultural values with Isfahan’s desire for personal freedom and love. With powerful performances, Over My Dead Body explores love, identity, and generational divides in a modern, diverse world. Its open-ended conclusion challenges viewers to reflect on their own values and the difficult choices families face when old traditions clash with personal desires. A thought-provoking, universal film. Stars: Mary Apick (Dead End, Checkpoint, The Mission), Bahram Vatanparast (Guests of Hotel Astoria, Virgin Woman), Nakta Oahlevan (Leila, Azizam), Afshin Katanchi (Aloodeh, Black Intelligence), Ash Dadvand (Watch Me, Winter of ’79) and Mahsa Shamsa.
Harley Idris Hamer – The Stress Tester
Harley Idris Hamer (Australia), The Stress Tester, Film Short – Journalist Jess interviews Mike, a mysterious man hired to “stress test” relationships, pushing partners to their limits to reveal hidden doubts and flaws. As Jess navigates the complexity of his methods, she finds herself drawn to the idea of exposing the raw truth beneath the surface. As she becomes more immersed in his world, she conceals a personal motive: Mike’s work is the reason her family was torn apart years ago, a painful secret that still haunts her. This compelling, thought-provoking short film invites reflection of values and trust in relationships, with achingly authentic performances by a talented cast. Stars: Eliza Matengu (Thor: Love & Thunder, Predestination, Buried) and Trevor Major (No Way Out, High Country, Fallow)
Daniel Robichaud – Lifted
Daniel Robichaud (USA), Lifted, Animation – Industry veteran Robichaud (Titanic, 5th Element) crafts a powerful animated journey in LIFTED, where a reserved man named Hugo experiences a surreal transformation during a seemingly ordinary elevator ride. Thrust into fantastical realms, Hugo confronts challenges that awaken his courage, reshaping his perspective on life. When he returns, a changed man, he reconnects with Claire, a young woman whose lost earring ignited his extraordinary adventure. The film’s richly drawn characters and brilliantly imaginative, metaphorical scenes brilliantly explore themes of hope, growth, and self-discovery, promoting the values of transformation and resilience.
Keith Ellis Mitchell (USA), Vitebsk, Music Video – Emmy-winner Mitchell’s masterful design brings Vitebsk to life with engaging visuals and meticulous detail. Featuring marionettes of the band and villagers, this unique film captures the spirit of a Jewish town before WWII. With music by Mostly Kosher and Grammy-winner Eva Reistad’s sound, it’s highly entertaining and a moving tribute to a lost world.
William Amos McKegg (New Zealand/India), Medicine, Film Short – When Marjorie and Jack help a woman in India, an unexpected twist reveals who truly needs help. Faced with being left a baby, Marjorie’s open-minded façade crumbles, exposing deep biases. A gripping film that challenges views and a reckoning with cultural acceptance. Phoenix Connolly (Evil Dead), George Mason (Home and Away), Sumitra Sahu (Nava Bihan).
Ron Myrick, Adebisi Adetayo and Mbuotidem Johnson (USA / Nigeria), The EKSPATS – We’re Going to Africa, TV Pilot – Emmy-nominee Myrick’s animated culture clash comedy. Bill, an unlucky guy, seizes a career-changing chance to relocate his all-American family to Nigeria. Mixing 3D and 2D animation, witty writing, charming characters, and stellar voice talent, it delivers both laughs and poignant reflections on life.
Endry Rovaz (Venezuela), Unworthy, Film Short – A rich man and his butler pause to watch a child playing the violin in a plaza. As they chat, the boy shares a painful truth—his father, once proud, was forced into crime to survive. But as the conversation unfolds, the gentleman realizes his own past is entwined with the child’s fate in unexpected ways. Jesus Perozo, Eugenio Torcasio, Abelardo Courbenas, Yeferson Nuñez.
Hsun-Chun Chuang (Taiwan), Lucky Around the World, Animation / Special Project – Commercial animator Chuang (Tencent, Disney) brings another stunning animation to life in MSI’s “Lucky Blind Box” campaign, celebrating the Vanguard Graphics Card series. Featuring 10 exclusive designs it blends global cultural elements into a visually rich journey, embodying the spirit of innovation, diversity, and boundless creativity.
Lowell Blank (USA), Suffering Into Gold, Doc Short – Industry veteran Blank’s poignant doc follows Paul, who is dying of ALS and chooses medical aid in dying rather then becoming incapacitated. His wife Beth seeks guidance from William Peters of Shared Crossing Project. Together they train for a shared death experience, ultimately making peace with death and turning suffering into gold.
Candice Hill (Australia), Mirror Mirror, Experimental – A married curator is drawn to a young, polyamorous artist who awakens a part of her she abandoned. Feeling stifled by the confines of her carefully built life, she reopens the idea of open marriage. It explores modern relationships, self-identity and the allure of self-destruction. Bianca Zouppas (One Perfect Match), Joel Pierce (Love and Monsters), Michael Cameron (Home and Away).
David Gray (USA), The Surgical Treatment, Film Short – Commercial director Gray (Jeep, Verizon) delivers a satirical take on film “treatments” and observes what it might be like if another industry had to go through the process to rehashes many hours’ worth of work – in this case, life-saving surgery. Aaron Serotsky (Dopesick), Ryan Woodle (Boardwalk Empire), Molly Lloyd (Law & Order), Ashley Marie MacDonald.
Aaron Vanderkley (Australia), Demo Program Retrospective, Documentary Short
Alan Williams (USA), Secrets of the Sea, Original Score
Andrew McDermott and Simon Fisher (United Kingdom), 92, Film Short, Direction
Benjamin Ryan Nathan and Mariel Nathan (USA), Stories of Regeneration: North Dakota, Documentary Short, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Brett Langolf and Andrew Jowett (USA), Welcome to Vietnam: Where Corporate Branding Meets Live Events, Cinematography, Direction
Candice Hill (Australia), Mirror Mirror, Direction
Chen-Tang Lee (Taiwan), ART TAROKO, Documentary Short
Daniel Robichaud (USA), Lifted, Special Effects: Animation
David Gray (USA), The Surgical Treatment, Humor / Humorist
Dayse Amaral Dias (Brazil), A Saga, Script / Writer
Dustin J. Robison (USA), Country Couture, Music Video
Endry Rovaz (USA), Unworthy, Latin / Hispanic Filmmaker
Harrison Winter Altmann (Australia), Curtain Call, Film Short
Headed Home (USA), Belly Button – Chapter 2 Mezcal, Editing
Julie Anne Burch (USA), Tiny Teaching Tales, Animation, Original Score, Web Series
Keith Ellis Mitchell (USA), Vitebsk, Jewish Theme
Luke Stone (USA), Retrieving Roadie, Animation
Madeline Poeta (USA), Chickentown, Film Short
Meital Cohen Navarro (USA), Over My Dead Body., Women Theme
Melina Kian (Iran), Excess, Film Short
Michele Josia (Italy), When Unfettered, Original Score
Nigel Thomas (USA), Mission 17, Film Short, Action / Adventure
Richa Khandelwal Bhat (India), Oli (Light), Asian Filmmaker, Film Short, Women Filmmakers
Susan Hope Engel (USA), Discovering Catharine, Documentary Short
Susan Mey Lee Lim and Christina Teenz Tan (Singapore), Cosmic Rhapsody – A Journey of Hope, Original Score
Thomas Block (USA), Across the Aisle, Film Short
Tremayne LaMont (USA), Chthonic, Movie Trailer, African American Filmmaker
William Amos McKegg (New Zealand), Medicine, Direction
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