A JOKE – Croatia/North Macedonia, 21 min, Coming of Age
directed by Trifun Sitnikovski
A coming-of-age story about love, adventure and the most harrowing thing in a teenager’s life – the anxiety of what lies ahead.
BUFFER ZONE – United Kingdom, 15 min, Drama, Musical
directed by Savvas Stavrou
Two young soldiers, separated by the front line, fall in love and escape their oppressive fears through music.
BURUL – Kirgyzstan, 14 min, Drama
directed by Adilet Karzhoev
A high school student from a rural school, Burul, is interested in wrestling. However, the coach does not allow her to attend the male gym, forcing her to train at home on her own. Even Burul’s father believes that wrestling isn’t suitable for girls and forbids her from training. Meanwhile, a young man from a nearby village, after numerous failed attempts to approach her, decides to kidnap Burul to marry her.
COOL HAND JESUS – France, 21 min, Comedy
directed by Olivier Lambert
33-year-old Jesus holds the world champion title in an unusual discipline: kendama. As the championship approaches, the expected winner is affected by uncontrollable tremors. Faced with these symptoms, Jesus must find a solution to save his reputation.
FAGNES 1986 – Belgium, 17 min, Thriller
directed by Nicolas Monfort
Winter 1986. Due to heavy snowfalls Mum and Dad won’t be back to the chalet until morning. Simon and Eva, the children, are on their own. At night, they hear strange noises…
FATHER – Italy, 19 min, Drama, Dystopic
directed by Michele Gallone
In the near future, emotions are for sale. It was a painful choice, but Francesco decided to sell his love for his daughter, Anna: he wouldn’t have done it if the child’s life weren’t compromised by a terminal illness. The buyer is Mario, a man driven by an ambiguous spirit of sacrifice, at the highest price a father can feel.
HIGH TIDE – Belgium, 19 min, Drama
directed by Noha Choukrallah
Hannah, an English immigrant, is separating from Jean, the father of her daughter Thea. On the surface, the divorce is going well. On the surface. But Hannah is struggling with a high tide of (re)feelings.
MANMADE – United Kingdom, 15 min, Drama
directed by Plum Stupple-Harris
Two brothers come to terms with their past as they face the consequences of their strict paternal upbringing during the man’s funeral.
MIND THE GAP – France, 21 min, Drama
directed by Frédéric Bélier-Garcia
Alain is approaching retirement, after a life bruised by work, compromise and renunciations. He’s become a burden to those around him, and most likely to himself. Today, in order to make ends meet, or just do something, he shows up for an audition as an extra at the Opera in Marseilles.
PLAYING GOD – Italy, 9 min , Animation
directed by Matteo Burani, animated by Arianna Gheller
A clay sculpture comes to life in the darkness of a workshop, surrounded by strange creatures…
SAGAH – Belgium, 13 min, Drama
directed by Maité Lonne, Gaël Maleux
After filing a complaint, Sagah is summoned to the police station. But how do you tell the unspeakable when you’re suffering from complex post-traumatic stress disorder?
THE A TO Z OF BEING AN EXCELLENT KID – Spain, 10 min, Black Comedy
directed by Albert Aymar
Victor is an exemplary kid, while Sid is quite the opposite: a rebel. Victor wants to help Sid become more well-behaved. But perhaps things aren’t as they seem…
THE ONE NOTE MAN – United Kingdom, 20 min, Romantic Comedy
directed by George Siougas
A musician lives a diligent life. Every day is exactly like the next, just as he likes it. But one day, misfortune and fate collide, interrupting his routine and changing his world forever.
THINGS UNHEARD OF – Turkey, 15 min, Comedy
directed by Ramazan Kılıç
Una bambina curda cerca di riportare il sorriso sul volto della nonna dopo la disattivazione della loro televisione, unica finestra sul mondo, da parte dell’esercito turco.
TWO FOR THE ROAD – Ireland, 18 min, Drama
directed by Lochlainn McKenna
Traveling through 1990s Ireland, Oscar, a young boy, finds himself immersed in the true essence of adventure and chaos with his father.
UNDER THE ROCK – Greece, 19 min, Drama
directed by Nikolas Koskinas
Having to move out against her will, Maria seeks refuge in secret meet-ups with a young stranger. Running against the clock, she has to find a way to stay in the beloved past she is so obsessed with.