PROGRAMME 2024
FFFB 6
OCT.2-6 2024
INTRODUCTION
Join us in celebrating our 6th anniversary edition at Germany's oldest cinema, Kino Moviemento.
Experience five festival days filled with carefully curated film programs featuring exceptional films from around the globe, along with engaging panels and Q&A sessions with filmmakers and industry experts, as well as ongoing networking opportunities at the cinema lounge.
ABOUT US
The"FemaleFilmmakersFestivalBerlin"offersa platformtoelevateandcelebratediversefemale voicesinfilmfromaroundtheworld,empowering womentosharetheirfilmmakingtalentsandbe recognizedfortheirachievements.
PROGRAMME
2024 FEATURE FILMS
SPIRIT OF ECSTASY
SYNOPSIS
French pop star Claire Pommet makes her acting debut as a clever and ambitious non-binary person eager to make their mark, in director Héléna Klotz’s riveting portrait of self-possession and
France/French with English subtitles/98 min/ Coming Of Age-Drama
HÉLÉNA KLOTZ
ABOUT HÉLÉNA
Héléna Klotz is a Paris-based filmmaker. She has directed the medium-length film Le Léopard ne se déplace jamais sans ses tâches (03), the short films Bethlehem (14) and Amour océan (22), and the feature Atomic Age (12). Spirit of Ecstasy (23)
YELLOW BUS
SYNOPSIS
In the scorching heat of the Arabian Gulf, the daughter of an Indian family is accidentally left behind on a school bus, leading to her tragic death.
As each family member reacts differently to the situation, the mother, shattered by grief, refuses to settle until she uncovers the truth about what happened to her daughter and ensures that those responsible are held accountable for their negligence. Will she ultimately succeed in her quest and find solace in accepting the accident?
United Arab Emirates/Arabic, English, Hindi, Tagalog, Urdu with English subtitles/112 min/ Drama
WENDY BEDNARZ
ABOUT WENDY
Wendy Bednarz is a writer/director and Arts Professor at NYU Abu Dhabi. She began in NYC's fashion scene at the former Andy Warhol Factory, developing a love for unique imagery. Her work spans film, photography, and video installations with a focus on multicultural narratives. Her films have screened at venues like NY MoMA and the Venice Film Festival, winning awards such as the Cine Golden Eagle. She initiated the Syrian Children’s Storybook (2019) with refugees in Turkey and directed the documentary Burning Money (2018) and several shorts. Yellow Bus is her debut fiction feature.
SARIRI
SYNOPSIS
Chile/Spanish with English subtitles/74 min/ Drama
LAURA DONOSO
ABOUT LAURA
Laura Donoso is a director and screenwriter from Chile. Her feature film “Sariri” is her directorial and writing debut, which has won several prizes in WIP competitions, including the CineLatino Prix.
WITH LOVE AND A MAJOR ORGAN
Canada/English with English subtitles/91 min/ Comedy, Fantasy, Drama
KIM ALBRIGHT
ABOUT KIM
Kim Albright is an award-winning Canadian-British-Filipina film director. She studied architecture in Montreal before moving to London and joining the BFI Upshot Program for emerging UK filmmakers. Her shorts have won awards at festivals like the BAFTA-qualifying Encounters and BFI London. A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre Directors Lab and the WIDC program, Kim has earned accolades including the WIDC Feature Film Award. Her first feature, With Love And A Major Organ, funded by Telefilm, premiered at SXSW in March 2023.
THE MAN WITH A THOUSAND FACES
SYNOPSIS
France, Poland/English, French, Polish, Portuguese with English subtitles/90 min/ Documentary
SONIA KRONLUND
ABOUT SONIA
acclaimed documentary program "Les
ITU NINU
Mexico/Mixtec, English with English subtitles/72 min/ Sci-Fi, Romance, Drama, Indigenous
ITANDEHUI JANSEN
ABOUT ITANDEHUI
Itandehui Jansen, born in Oaxaca, Mexico, studied film directing at the Netherlands Film Academy in Amsterdam. She has participated in international programs like BERLINALE TALENTS, BINGER FILM LAB, and TORINO FILM LAB. Her films have screened at festivals including IDFA, FICM, ZINEBI, SLAMDANCE, and the London Short Film Festival, earning multiple awards and a nomination for the Diosa de Plata. Her feature film In Times of Rain won Best Emerging Feature at the Oaxaca Film Fest. She is currently an Associate Professor of Film at Screen Academy Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University.
SYNOPSIS
ignites a cascade of fear and selfreflection. As residents confront anxiety and uncertainty, unlikely alliances emerge amidst the chaos.
layered drama that delves into the human condition against a backdrop of societal unease. It intertwines stories of resilience and connection
HIGHLY EXPLOSIVE
Germany/German with English subtitles/94 min/ Drama
KERSTIN POLTE
ABOUT KERSTIN
Kerstin Polte is a director, screenwriter, and member of the feminist filmmakers' collective r.O.K.S. She studied film in Canada, at HfG Karlsruhe, and Zurich University of the Arts. Her graduation film 510 Meters Above Sea Level screened at over 150 international festivals. In 2016, her award-winning documentary Kein Zickenfox was released in Germanspeaking cinemas.
Her debut feature Who Actually Invented Love? won the Bavarian Film Prize. Recently, her TV film Immer der Nase nach aired, and she co-directed the series Wir (ZDF Neo).
2024 SHORTS & MUSIC VIDEOS
JOURNEY
SYNOPSIS
from conservative traditions, drawing transformation. This project was part initiative, which equipped ten Syrian produce short films about their own
Lebanon/Arabic with English subtitles/ 6 min
ABOUT JOUHAYNA
Jouhayna married at 14 to a man 11 years older than her and moved with him and their five children to Shatila in 2013. After her husband fell ill, the family struggled, and Jouhayna's eldest son had to work. She was unhappy about this and wanted him to continue his education, so she began working as a needle artisan. Initially working with various studios, including Sabbara, she became head embroiderer for Tight Knit Syria in 2019 and joined Alsama Studio as director in summer 2021.
JOUHAYNA FADEL
CLAUDE
SYNOPSIS
A trans woman navigates her turbulent love life with the silent company of her childhood stuffed bunny, Claude. As she prepares for dates and deals with emotional highs and lows, Claude is the constant witness to her most vulnerable moments. The film reveals the intimate, unseen aspects of her life, from isolation and emotional hangovers to tender calls with her distant mother and encounters with a past lover. By focusing solely on Claude’s unchanging presence, the film invites viewers to deeply engage with a story often overlooked.
United States/English/14 min
FINOLA HUGHES
ABOUT FINOLA
Finola Hughes graduated from the Arts Educational School in London in 1979 and began performing on TV and stage at 11. After starring in Cats and Song & Dance, she moved to the US to co-star in Stayin’ Alive. She joined General Hospital in 1985, winning an Emmy in 1991.
Her TV credits include Charmed and Blossom, and she appeared in Like Crazy, which won Sundance 2011. In 2013, she directed the award-winning feature The Bet. Hughes has also directed shorts, an episode of Good Trouble, and is an adjunct professor at USC.
INSTANT
SYNOPSIS
There are things in life that we do because we have to.
Brazil/Portuguese with English subtitles/ 15 min
ABOUT PAOLA
Paola Veiga is a film director and screenwriter. She wrote and directed "Instante” (2023); "Adendo" (2014), best film by the Popular jury of the French Festival "Très Court"; the Webseries "Mulheres Virais" (2016), nominated for Best Series and Best Actress to Regiana Antonini; "O Vão e o Vazio" (2015) and "Aqueles dois, Naquela Manhã" (2013) both nominated for Best film at the Recifest festival.
PAOLA VEIGA
YOUNG PEOPLE OF IRELAND
SYNOPSIS
It's the 29th of September 1979 and everyone in Dublin is going to see Pope John Paul II. Everyone except Marian and Pamela.
A playful exploration of underground responses to social mores in 1970s Ireland, told through a day in the life of two young women.
Ireland/English/14 min
SOPHIE MEEHAN
ABOUT SOPHIE
Sophie Meehan is a filmmaker, poet and interdisciplinary artist from Dublin. Her debut short Monday to Friday Person premiered at Kerry International Film Festival in 2020. Her poetry has been published widely including with Crannóg; The Honest Ulsterman; Under the Radar; the SHOp Magazine of Poetry and on Dublin Bus in association with Poetry Ireland. She has performed poetry readings as part of Ulysses 2.2; International Literature Festival, Dublin; at the National Concert Hall and at Poetry Ireland.
FRANKY
SYNOPSIS
Christie has an unusual dog at homeher husband. Since husband Frank has decided to live happily ever after as Franky the dog, things have changed for Christie too.
A nosy postman and a pile of torn files later, Christie has to take a stand in front of their daughter, who is quite ashamed of her father in his dog costume. Has Christie's own lack of understanding perhaps long since given way to something else?
Germany/German with English subtitles/ 11 min
CATHARINA LOTT
ABOUT CATHARINA
Catharina Lott was born in Offenburg in 1996. After graduating from high school, she began working in the German and Austrian film industry. She has been studying at the University of Television and Film Munich since 2020. FRANKY is her second film as part of her studies.
OLGA'S EYES
SYNOPSIS
Olga, a music-loving octogenarian, is tired of killing humans. Could it be the vampire blues? For her daughter Simone, she’s just being picky! Olga is placed in a care home where she can deal with those “who have one foot in the grave”...
Belgium/Dutch, French with English subtitles/22 min
SARAH CARLOT JABER
ABOUT SARAH
Writer and director Sarah Carlot Jaber grew up in the Middle East and today works in Brussels. With a diploma in movie direction from the IAD and a specialized master’s degree in gender studies, her interest lies in themes at the intersection of these two disciplines. Her third short film, 'She’s the Protagonist', a “meta” comedy questioning representation in the movies, has been presented at around 130 international festivals and won numerous awards. Sarah is currently presenting her fourth short, 'Olga’s Eyes', while developing her first fiction feature, 'Tell al Zaatar, a hill of thyme'.
SYNOPSIS
Massoh, a 27-year-old Malian, is back at home for her annual holiday. She’s thrilled to present her new French passport to her father.
However, Baba doesn’t share his daughter’s enthusiasm about this “sɛbɛn” (paper), a symbol of her dual nationality. He therefore draws Massoh into a back-and-forth discussion in which they question each other about patriotism, identity, and the difficult subject of homecoming for the diaspora.
Mali/Bambara, French with English subtitles/ 14 min
ROKIATOU KONATÉ
ABOUT ROKIATOU
Born in Mali and now living in France, Rokiatou Konaté balances an office job with film projects. Influenced by Iranian cinema, Souleymane Cissé, and Wong Kar-Wai, her films capture the world’s joys and sorrows. In 2019, she joined 1000 Visages, leading writing and directing workshops. From 2020 to 2022, she co-wrote and co-directed the short film The Clockwork of Sunflower for France Télévisions. In 2023, she released her first solo short, Sɛbɛn, which has been selected for festivals globally, including in South Africa, Nigeria, the UK, France, Ghana, and Germany.
THE GIANT BIRD
SYNOPSIS
Through the innocent eyes of a bird couple, the story explores the devastating impact of war.
Mistaking airplanes for benevolent giants, their hope turns to horror as they witness the destructive power of bombs, shattering their trust in the seemingly godlike humans they control.
This realization ignites a powerful message about the consequences of violence and the fragility of innocence.
Germany / no dialogue/ 6 min
SHARMEEN AHMED
ABOUT SHARMEEN
Born in Bangladesh, Sharmeen Ahmed studied fine art and earned a BA in Information and Communication Design from Hochschule Rhein-Waal. Starting her career in 2011 as an animator and motion designer, she honed her skills in creating dynamic animations. Her experience in animation and design led her to become a successful art director. As a filmmaker, Sharmeen leverages her diverse background to create impactful visuals and guide teams through the creative process, combining passion with effective leadership.
SYNOPSIS
In 1948, 21 girl scouts drowned at Gardno Lake near Szela village. What was meant to be a dream day to see the sea ended tragically. The girls, sleep-deprived from a night spent discussing a legend about Princess Wanda, were accompanied by two chaperones and two men in boats. The cause of the drowning remains unknown—an accident, murder, or collective suicide. This fictional essay explores the possibility that the girls transformed into seals and swam to a new future.
WANDA
Poland/Polish with English subtitles/ 21 min
ANNA BAUMGART
ABOUT ANNA
She is one of the most acclaimed Polish contemporary multimedia artist involved in directing, sculpture, installation, performance, video, photography and artistic tattooing. Her work is categorised as critical art and feminist art. She explores themes related to cultural patterns of behaviour, social stereotypes and the problems of contemporary women. She moves fluidly between essay, documentary, reportage and music video conventions. Baumgart's works can be found in collections, musea, and art galleries all around the world.
TO THE BODY
SYNOPSIS
TO THE BODY is an ode to resilience, depicting anxiety and depression through physical expression. This drama-thriller short film follows a woman in her mid-30s secretly struggling with these issues. Its repetitive structure mirrors her mental state, highlighting the relentless nature of her thoughts. Through physical symptoms and performative movements, the film portrays her quest for healing and reconnection with her body, giving voice to emotions often silenced by depression and anxiety.
Germany /English/ 3 min
CARLA MASSOLINI
ABOUT CARLA
Carla Massolini is an Argentinian film director based in Berlin. She began in fashion and art, working with international clients from boutique to global scale. Now focused on features, commercials, and music videos, her work spans concept development, storytelling, and all stages of production.
Her goal is to craft emotionally engaging stories from a cinematic perspective, ensuring viewers connect deeply with each narrative. Every film she directs, shoots, or edits aims to tell and evoke a compelling story.
SWEET LIME
SYNOPSIS
Eleven-year-old Amra accompanies her mother, Shirin, to pick up her aunt Hawra, who has arrived from Pakistan alone for the first time. While pretending to sleep in the car, Amra overhears intimate details of her aunt's troubled marriage. She persuades the women to stop for a picnic at the coast, where they enjoy sweet limes and a swim in the sea, despite not having bathing suits. Amra, too shy to join, watches from the sand. When her mother’s phone distractions lead Amra to discover tragic news, she faces the difficult choice of whether to reveal it to the women upon their return.
UK/English, Urdu with English subtitles/ 10 min
FATEMA ABDOOLCARIM
ABOUT FATEMA
Fatema Abdoolcarim, an IndianPakistani Hong Konger, works in visual art, filmmaking, and writing.
Her directorial debut, HEIDI, premiered at Locarno International Film Festival in 2016 and screened at L'Alternativa Barcelona, ZINEBI, and Bogotá Short Film Festival. She coproduced and consulted on editing for Juan Palacios's MESETA (2019), which won awards at CPH, Gijón, and other festivals. In 2021, she earned a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Manchester, focusing on visual representations of Muslim women.
CALL ME LALA
SYNOPSIS
Best friends, Lala, a taxi driver and Wera, a stewardess both dream of going to America. Each of them chases this dream in a different way. Lala, who believes that the "American dream" is a state of mind, decides to attend an audition for a movie with superstar Jack Monday. That’s where her journey to find herself and her place on earth begins. "DREAM$" is a fairytale story about friendship and belated adulthood of the millennial generation.
Poland / Polish with English subtitles /20 min
ABOUT ZUZANNA
Director and screenwriter. Born in Warsaw in 1992. A graduate of a directing degree at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School.
Her short film "Mother Dear" was presented at many festivals in Poland and abroad. She is also the author of music videos and social campaigns, and the winner of the Special Award in the Papaya Young Directors 2021 competition.
ZUZANNA SORÓWKA
ECHO
SYNOPSIS
During a basketball game, Maya, a teenager with problems at home, hits her head and stops hearing the sound. At that moment, she realizes that her silence gives her the opportunity to change her reality.
Spain/English/ 8 min
MERITXELL A. VALLS
ABOUT MERITXELL
Meritxell has studied scriptwriting and directing at the ESCAC film school. The premiere of her first short film "EL ALETEO DEL COLIBRÍ" was at the SITGES FilmFestival and it won selections and awards around the world, highlighting FantasiaFilmFest in Canada, BIFFF in Brussels or Post Alley FilmFestival in the US. Meritxell won the 1st ABC scriptwriters award, and she has worked for prestigious production companies such as MOD,BAMBU and NETFLIX. She's currently preparing her first feature film.
SYNOPSIS
Four friends search for each other between reality and a collective dream in this film, inspired by a ritual of sharing voice memos about impactful dreams. The film explores feelings of uncertainty about the future, excitement, and the blurring line between reality and technology. By incorporating AI-generated sequences and switching voiceovers between real and synthetic voices, the film examines whether our experiences are shaped by our brains or by the chaos of technology.
PULSE
Germany / English with English subtitles / 3 min
ABOUT LAURA
Design Bachelor 2019 FH Potsdam
2019 Assistant to Sebastian Donath
Filmmaking Master ESCAC 2021
2020 - 2022 Assistant to Phillip Kaminiak
Design Master 2024 FH Potsdam
LAURA RUSS
I YOU HE/SHE WE YOU THEY
SYNOPSIS
When the draft law on the amnesty of sexual abuse through marriage was on government's agenda in Turkey in 2016 and 2020, there was a great reaction among women. Women who were and will be married to perpetrators did not hesitate to make their voices heard and resisted. These law drafts were abandoned after a strong public outcry.
I You He/She We You They, tells the story of a young girl who is forced to marry the perpetrator of rape struggles between power, law, society and family. Salvation is in solidarity...
Turkey/Turkish with English subtitles/ 4 min
SEVIN YAMAN
ABOUT SEVIN
Sevin Yaman graduated in Film Design from Dokuz Eylul University and earned an MA in Cinema and Television from Kadir Has University. With experience as an editing assistant and treatment writer, she also holds cinema and media certificates from the University of London, University of Pennsylvania, and the University of New South Wales. In 2023, her experimental short film I YOU HE/SHE WE YOU THEY was named the Most Awarded Experimental Short Film by Hayri Çölaşan. She is currently pursuing a PhD at Dokuz Eylül University and continues to make short films.
KHARAB
SYNOPSIS
‘KHARAB’ is a one take psychological film that delves into a personal experience during the catastrophic explosion in Beirut on August 4th, 2020. The film explores themes of war, the fragmentation of memory after such a shock, and the profound psychological effects of a near death encounter. Through the protagonist's eyes, ‘KHARAB’ captures the turmoil and trauma of surviving a devastating event, offering a deeply emotional dive into someone's subconscious as they grapple with the haunting memories of that day.
Germany / No Dialogue / 3 min
SARAH SALEH
ABOUT SARAH
Sarah Saleh, born April 5, 1995, is a Lebanese film director and fashion designer based in Europe. She graduated with a Directing Degree from Barrandov Film School in June 2022. Her directorial debut, Kharab, a one-take psychological film, reflects her personal experience during the August 4, 2020 Beirut explosion, exploring themes of war and memory. Sarah’s passion for film began during her fashion design studies, leading her to create numerous fashion films for brands in Beirut and Europe. She is currently developing her first feature film, a tribute to Beirut.
SICK WORLD
SYNOPSIS
A couple ends up in a resort on vacation. The planet overheating, the phone grafted in hand, alcohol at will, the flame of their love is not really what was expected…
France/English with French subtitles/ 2 min
MARGUERITE LEFRANC
ABOUT MARGUERITE
Marguerite is a young French director. She works on movie sets since ten years as an assistant director and has made few shorts films in recent years which have earned her some prizes in festivals.
TANGO TO GO
SYNOPSIS
A young couple tries to save their marriage by taking a tango class. Through dancing, they discover parallels to their relationship. Is it even possible in the modern world, as a young family, to not make mistakes?
Germany/German with English subtitles/ 14 min
ALINA LEVSHIN
ABOUT ALINA
Alina Levshin, born in Odessa, Ukraine, immigrated to Germany, Berlin, when she was 6 years old. She finished the „Konrad Wolf Filmschool“ in Potsdam in 2010 by studying Acting. She worked in the film industry since 2008, as an actress, won several prizes and after giving birth to two children, she decided to concentrate on expressing herself as an female artist by writing her own scripts and making her own films. Apart from a 4-minutes 16 mm short film that she wrote and directed at the „Konrad Wolf“, „Tango To Go“ is her first professional short movie.
MANTING
SYNOPSIS
Manting, a Chinese woman in her early 60s, reconnects with the lesbian lover from her adolescence when one of her old classmates passes away.
After classmates' reunion event in a karaoke bar, they end up spending a night together roaming in the city.
China/Chinese with English subtitles/ 14 min
ABOUT SHUYAO
Shuyao Chen was born and raised in Wenzhou, a coastal city in southeast China. She moved to New York in 2018 to pursue a MFA degree at NYU graduate film after she completed her study in photojournalism at Penn State University. Her first short film Winter by the River won Best Actor (Asian International Competition) at Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2022 and Best Short Film at Berlin Film Week 2022, and was selected by HollyShorts Film Festival 2022.
SHUYAO CHEN
GILLYFISH
SYNOPSIS
When Gillian’s new partner, Lana, reveals that they was abandoned by their father as a child, Gillian offers to drive them across the country to confront him. But, when the two of them arrive, Lana is unable to engage with the past, and deserts Gillian - who chooses to confront Lana’s father alone, claiming to be his long lost daughter.
United Kingdom/ English/ 10 min
SARAH SELLMAN
ABOUT SARAH
Sarah (they/them) is a queer, neurodivergent writer and director from Alamosa, Colorado, with a background in Neuroscience and Ancient Religion from NYU’s Tisch. They worked as a Writer’s Assistant on Netflix’s BLACK SUMMER and have written for SyFy, Netflix, and Amazon. Their pilot COTTONWOOD won Series Fest’s Grand Prize and is in development with Brad Silberling. Their documentary American Bear screened in U.S. theaters and is online, while their short Hold Your Arms Out received a Sundance fellowship. Sarah is a founding member of the THIRD SPACE artist-activist collective.
SAILS OF SORROW
SYNOPSIS
A small group of family members has gathered for a funeral reception to bid a final farewell to Heinzi, the departed patriarch of the family. Expectations and worldviews of family members collide, leading to exchanges of trivialities and moments of rudeness, gradually thinning the table. Where has everyone disappeared to? A reflection on the wordlessness that accompanies grief.
Austria/German with English subtitles/ 10 min
ARTEMISIA REFLE
ABOUT ARTEMISIA
Artemisia Refle was born in Munich in 1992 and grew up in Austria. She studied painting under the guidance of Professor Thomas Hartmann at the Academy of Fine Arts in Nürnberg. Following her graduation as a master's student, she relocated to Vienna, where she is presently immersed in the study of screenwriting and directing at Filmakademie Wien.
SYNOPSIS
Michelle and John seem like the perfect married couple living a comfortable normal life. But behind closed doors, John has become increasingly strange and violent. Michelle becomes convinced that something is terribly wrong with her husband, but struggles to be believed even by her best friend Kim. Determined to prove her sanity, Michelle confronts her husband, sparking a night of unthinkable truths and a fight for survival.
NOT HIM
United States/English/ 15 min
SARAH YOUNG
ABOUT SARAH
Sarah Young is an award-winning director and filmmaker drawn by difficult and topical subjects. She believes in powerful, transformative storytelling through radical empathy and curiosity. Her films include In Case We Get Found (2021), a short film inspired by her father’s experience as a survivor of a mass shooting event, which won multiple festival awards including Best Suspense at the McMinnville Short Film Festival. Her short film Counting (2022), about an actress struggling with severe OCD, has won multiple festival awards and is now in contract for distribution with Sony Orchard.
I’M NOT OK
SYNOPSIS
Israel, Tel Aviv, October 2023. The war has debilitated the city. Joy, a young, helpless, sad, and frightened actress is fresh out of a breakup. She decides to go to the gym, there, she bumps into her ex and her new boyfriend. While sirens are going off and Tel Aviv is under attack, she decides it’s time for a confrontation.
Israel/Hebrew with English subtitles/ 12 min
JOY RIEGER
ABOUT JOY
Joy Rieger, an Israeli actress from Tel Aviv, won the Tribeca award for "Best International Role in a Feature Film" and "Best Actress" at the Montenegro Film Festival for her role in Karen Ben Refael's Vigrins. She has appeared in films like Patchwork, June Zero, Live and Become, Past Life, The Other Story, and Portrait of Victory, earning Israeli Oscar nominations for the latter three. On television, she starred in HBO's Valley of Tears, directed by Yaron Silberman. Joy also performs at Tel Aviv’s Cameri and Gesher Theatres, where she won Best Promising Actress.
LOVEHER
SYNOPSIS
What happens when love blurs the lines within the confines of friendship? Charlie grapples with this dilemma one fateful night as she goes to a party with her friends Patty and Sam. Charlie finds herself irresistibly drawn to her close friend Sam, igniting a well of emotions within her.
Initially held back by apprehension, Charlie's curiosity gradually overtakes her anxiety, prompting her to ponder the possibilities ahead. Should she dare to seize the moment or conceal her affections?
Germany/ English/ 9 min
ABOUT SOPHIE
Sophie is a curious and passionate creative from Berlin. She is currently finishing her degree in Graphic Design and Visual Communication at the HMKW.
She discovered her passion for film when she worked on set for the first time for a friend's student film. Since then she has worked as a production assistant in the commercial film industry and has worked on many more sets.
SOPHIE SATTLER
COEXISTENCE
SYNOPSIS
Anne-Sophie Mouraud, a French freediver passionate about sharks, takes a team of activists to encounter the blue shark, the most heavily fished shark in the world. The film raises awareness about the significant role played by the European Union in the global shark fin trade, and invites us to reconsider our relationship with the living world.
France/French with English subtitles/ 16 min
ANNESOPHIE MOURAUD
ABOUT ANNE-SOPHIE
After her father's death, Anne-Sophie discovered a passion for the ocean and sharks during her first dive in 2019. Back in France, she shifted from marketing to marine conservation, working with Coral Guardian and the "Stop Finning - Stop the Trade" EU Citizen Initiative. In mid-2022, she left her job to focus on ocean advocacy full-time and will work in the European Parliament in 2023 to support shark protection. She founded Coexistence Crew in July 2023 to enhance awareness of the EU's role in the shark fin trade. AnneSophie is also a freediver, breathwork coach, and emerging film director.
LUCIE FRANCINI
ABOUT LUCIE
Lucie, a filmmaker since 2018 based in the Basque Country, combines her passion for surfing and the ocean with aquatic filming. Her work in reportage and documentary focuses on social and environmental issues. In 2019, she co-directed RAME POUR TA PLANÈTE with Sabina Hourcade, highlighting surfers' efforts for ocean conservation. From 2020 to 2023, she collaborated with Hourcade on ARTZAIN SOIL - BERGÈRE SANS TERRE (produced by Novanima), a documentary about land transfers in agriculture.
BAKELITE
SYNOPSIS
BAKELITE is a live-action film shot entirely underwater, in the Mediterranean Sea. This aquatic ballet is an ecological tale depicting our paradoxical relationship with plastic.
France / No dialogue / 6 min
JULIE GAUTIER
ABOUT JULIE
Julie Gautier is a freediver, former French record holder and film-maker. She uses freediving as a means to tell stories: her films shot entirely underwater (Ama, Narcose, One Breath Around The World) have reached millions of viewers. Julie's desire is to awaken the public's sense of wonder and mobilize them against ocean pollution.
THE PRESCRIBED BURN OF A SAVANNA OAK
SYNOPSIS
Cori, a recent college graduate, heads to rural Oregon to look after two kids while their mother is away. She discovers a wildfire warning in effect, which the kids, used to frequent warnings, take in stride, but Cori finds alarming. As she manages both the land and the kids, her anxiety grows. Haunted by visions of destruction, Cori’s distress becomes palpable, and the kids sense her fear. Like an artist grappling with a fractured world, Cori struggles through her terror.
United States/English/ 22 min
CAMILLE REMI KIRBY
ABOUT CAMILLE
Camille Remi Kirby, a writer and director from Brooklyn and southern Vermont, now lives in Los Angeles. A USC School of Cinematic Arts graduate, she created an experimental short film at PlayLab Films Creator’s Lab in Yucatán with Cannes winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Her shorts The Prescribed Burn of a Savanna Oak and Framed have premiered internationally. Influenced by Edward Yang, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Abderrahmane Sissako, Camille’s films reflect her diverse identity, future uncertainties, and political themes.
SALT IN THEIR VEINS
SYNOPSIS
The Bajo people of Southeast Asia, descendants of sea nomads, have a deep bond with the marine environment. Traditionally roving the ocean for fishing and trade, they now live in coastal villages or on stilts. This short film focuses on the Bajo of Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, showcasing their connection to the sea and the challenges they face. Overfishing, pollution, and biodiversity loss threaten their survival. Some have turned to harmful fishing methods, endangering the reefs and their future.
United Kingdom/ English/ 16 min
RITA HENCKE
ABOUT RITA
Rita Hencke, a German photographer and filmmaker from Munich, now based in Melbourne, specializes in environmental and ethnographic storytelling. A graduate in Marine & Natural History Photography from Falmouth University, she uses her freediving and scuba diving expertise to create powerful underwater imagery. Her work, exhibited in Falmouth, includes award-winning films like Sea-renity and Salt in their Veins, which highlight our connection to the natural world and the urgent need for conservation.
SYNOPSIS
"The Lost Lake" tells the stories of four fishermen whose lives are tied to Egypt’s ancient Lake Qarun. Central to the narrative is Derbala Khairallah, a descendant of fishermen, who reflects on the lake's past abundance and his community's deep bond with it. The film explores the lake's decline due to pollution and neglect, revealing the drastic drop in fish populations. Despite the challenges, a glimmer of hope remains as the film celebrates the resilience of those fighting to preserve their way of life.
THE LOST LAKE
Canada/Arabic with English subtitles/ 12 min
FATMA FAHMY
ABOUT FATMA
Fatma, with a B.A. in Chemical Engineering from Cairo University (2013), focuses on capturing daily life in Arab countries, particularly Egypt. Her ethnographic photography highlights communities preserving ancient traditions. She received the Daniele Tamagni Grant for the 2020 Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Programme and was nominated for the 2018 World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including in Paris and the UK, and she contributes to Everyday Africa & Everyday Egypt.
CARRYING WOOD
SYNOPSIS
“Carrying Wood” explores the cultural practice of collecting firewood and touches on the complexities of the energy crisis.
As part of the artist’s research practice, she walked the Western Way in Connemara, Ireland,through a landscape - strongly impacted by humans, thereby asking questions about managing & apportioning land, but also celebrating the access of green space.
United Kingdom / English / 16 min
ABOUT LINDA
Linda Schirmer is a dance artist and choreographer based in the West of Ireland. She studied Theatre and Dance in Leipzig, Germany.
Currently, she is Galway Dancer in Residence at Interface Inagh. She has performed and exhibited at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Galway Arts Centre, Nun's Island Theatre, Interface, Clifden Arts Festival among others.
LINDA SCHIRMER
ROOTS IN THE SAND
SYNOPSIS
In Palmares de la Coronilla (Uruguay), Nancy fights to promote her artisanal fishing venture that provides work for 30 families.
Uruguay/Spanish with English subtitles/ 23 min
VALENTINA QUAGLIOTTI
ABOUT VALENTINA
Valentina Quagliotti (Uruguay, 1989) is the founder and executive producer of Ikusi. She co-directed and produced the award-winning short documentary "Raíces en la arena" (2023), about clam farmer Nancy from Palmares. She also executive produced the miniseries "Golazo" (2022), showcasing the Uruguayan Futsal Down Team’s global debut, and directed "Premio Destacados" (20162023), recognizing supportive Uruguayans. For a decade, she has produced and directed content for social and international organizations to enhance their impact.
GASTÓN DARIO MARTÍNEZ
ABOUT GASTÓN
Gastón Martínez is a Uruguayan communicator and filmmaker. As a director at Ikusi, he co-directed and edited the award-winning short film "Raíces en la arena" (2023). He also directed and edited the documentary series "Golazo" (2022) and has worked with various local production companies and AFP Services (20192020). Martínez directed "Premio Destacados" (2016-2019) and codirected "Pilsen Rock, the Movie" (2018), which has over 75,000 views on YouTube.
VOICES
SYNOPSIS
"VOICES" draws on Mapuche heritage, representing Antu (the Sun) and Kueyen (the Moon) through golden and silver visuals, respectively. The video features the singer embodying both Sun and Moon, symbolizing light, darkness, femininity, and masculinity. It explores the journey of finding and celebrating one's voice amidst external noise, using imagery of global women’s protests. The film, created by a diverse team of female creatives, focuses on empowerment, mental struggles, and embracing dualities.
United Kingdom / Music video / 4 min
VITTORIA RIZZARDI PEÑALOSA
ABOUT VITTORIA
Vittoria is an award-winning ItaloColombian film director based in London. Her work has been showcased at the MAXXI Museum in Rome and the Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, and has premiered at Oscarqualifying festivals such as the HBO Film Festival and LA International Shorts. Known for her vibrant and surrealist approach, Vittoria explores the absurdities of various scenarios through unique framing. She has also directed music videos and commercials for brands like GISAR Jeans, Cirque Du Soleil, and Swarovski.
DELINGHA
SYNOPSIS
Following the rhythm in a tense, even disturbing atmosphere of a moon landscape as you navigate through life'smultiplechoices. Delingha is about the Journey of a Lifetime.
China/Music video/ 5 min
ABOUT LU
3D visual artist Animation Director
Currently based in Shanghai, China
ALT DET DU GØR
SYNOPSIS
In this music video for the danish band Rigmor, we see the result of being in a toxic relation.
Denmark/ Music video / 3 min
NANA NANCY
ABOUT NANA
Nana makes film about people who see themselves as unlovable. She grew up in the South of Zealand, Denmark. And started acting at an early age, this was the start of her creative career.
HEART RHYTHM
SYNOPSIS
A flying saucer lands on Earth with a giant alien heart onboard, tasked with uniting people through dance.
Struggling to communicate in the city, the heart finds a potential ally in Anton MS, an animal shelter worker who dances to his own heartbeat.
As the heart and Anton connect in a café, they face a street gang that also feels the rhythm, leading to an unexpected dance showdown.
Russia /Music video/ 3 min
MARIA ZHEMCHUZHINA
ABOUT MARIA
Maria was born on April 12, 1995. In St. Petersburg. She received higher education at St. Petersburg State University, the Faculty of International Journalism, additional education at the New York Film Academy, a directing course and an additional diploma from the Art School. Over the past 8 years, I have shot more than 100 projects in Spain, Finland, Norway, France, Italy, Germany, the UAE, Kazakhstan and the USA.
BY MY SIDE
SYNOPSIS
In this music video for the danish band Rigmor, we see the result of being in a toxic relation.
Germany / Music video / 2 min
ABOUT SOPHIA
The 22 year old female director grew up in Hamburg and always dreamed of standing behind the camera and telling stories.
She's started early by filming with friends and some of them even made it into children film festivals or exhibitions, now she has been working in the industry for a few years in all kinds of departments.
SOPHIA LEONIE BEECK
SOUND OF THE WAVES
SYNOPSIS
FM4’s blog praised the "impressive" cinematography of “Sound of the Waves,” attributing it to director Katharina Simunic and a team of divers in the Gulf of Thailand. In reality, it was just me with a $300 action-cam and a snorkel.
The film's protagonist also faces a harsh reality versus fantasy. A friend even likened our work to Botticelli’s "The Birth of Venus," calling it “The (water-)Birth of (the Black) Venus.”
Despite the film’s modest means, I’m proud of its feminist themes and our creative journey.
Austria /Music video/ 4 min
KATHARINA SIMUNIC
ABOUT KATHARINA
Katharina Simunic is a Vienna-based filmmaker and human rights activist. Her debut documentary, "Europe, Can You See Me?" (2021), was filmed on the Croatian-Bosnian border during the pandemic, where she also provided aid to refugees. In Vienna, she conducts film workshops on children's rights and gender equality, and directs feminist music videos. Known for her hands-on approach, Simunic handles nearly every aspect of her projects, from camera work to editing, embodying a truly self-reliant filmmaker.
VISITORS
SYNOPSIS
The official music video „Visitors“ by Amy Ayanda, choreographed by Finja Kelpe and Verena Eccardt, takes the audience on an aesthetic journey through three distinct stages. The video visualizes the community of women as a central condition for their liberation from destructive societal structures. Through evocative dance and powerful imagery, „Visitors“ portrays the dancers’ quest for individual and communal liberation, celebrating the strength and resilience found in their shared journey.
Germany / Music video / 4 min
VERENA ECCARDT
ABOUT VERENA
Verena Eccardt is a director/cinematographer and dancer based in Berlin.
In 2015, she graduated from Design School in Munich and 2018 from Iwanson International school of contemporary dance. Since then, she combines both of her professions: filming and dance. Her filmography includes two dance short films, several music videos, and trailers for contemporary dance performances.
TANZT
SYNOPSIS
An ill has been brought upon us, but instead of turning against it, we have turned against each other. A dance film that navigates a world of chaotic disarray, featuring the moving performances of Rebecca BassettGraham and James Pett, to the ethereal music of Madil Hardis.
United Kingdom /Music video/ 7 min
ABOUT TRAVIS & VERONICA
TRAVIS CLAUSEN-KNIGHT & VERONICA FURMAN
South African-born Travis, leader of Pett Clausen Knight (PCK), has worked with top choreographers like Wayne McGregor and Michael Clark. He has choreographed acclaimed international works such as Salt To Water and SHIO to MIZU, and won the Korean International Contemporary Dance Competition award in 2020.
Veronica is Creative Director @ Off Leash Entertainment.
OLHARES
SYNOPSIS
Amid societal pressures to conform, a protagonist grapples with fitting into predetermined roles.
Yet, through a journey of selfdiscovery, they confront the constraints of conformity, navigating the intricate dynamics of identity and societal norms.
Portugal / Music video / 5 min
ALEXIA FERNANDES
ABOUT ALEXIA
Alexia Fernandes (she/they/he) is a Portuguese-French screenwriterdirector based in France, Portugal, and Germany. A 2011 graduate of the School of Technologies, Innovation, and Creation in Lisbon, her short films have been nominated at festivals like Fantasporto and Lisbon & Sintra. Her screenplays have been recognized by Maison des Scénaristes, and she participated in Clermont-Ferrand's festival in 2019.
Alexia is developing her debut feature film, selected for the TFL NEXT Screens of Tomorrow Lab.
A PLACE WITH DRAMA
SYNOPSIS
A narrative music video for Matteo Just's latest Single "A Place with Drama", showing the bizarre abuse of a young boy during a photo shoot. Distributed by KooKoo Records Canada.
Germany /Music video/ 4 min
PAULA BUCHTA
ABOUT PAULA
Paula Buchta, a 24-year-old filmmaker from Munich, began studying Photodesign in 2019. She directed her first music videos in 2021, with "Incubo" premiering at festivals and the Etherea Art Gallery. Her debut documentary, "Olympic Women," was shown at the "Pinakothek der Moderne München," competed at Brugg Documentary Film Days, and won an award at the Flimmern und Rauschen Filmfest. Paula is now working on a short film about Turkish sisters and a comingof-age drama set in Sardinia.
EAST LONDON GORILLAS
SYNOPSIS
East London Gorillas is the uninhibited and dreamlike wanderings of Alien, Warrior and Armor in the queer and creative North and East London. It depicts the encounter of alternative fashion with women's rugby: two worlds driven by unique, strong and liberated women.
United Kingdom / English / 2 min
MARGAUX LAHAYE
ABOUT MARGAUX
Margaux Lahaye, a French film director, explores the unique complexities of human experience through her art. Her debut short film, East London Gorillas, reflects her fascination with sonder—the profound individuality of each person. Romain Phạm Roellet, blending his Vietnamese and French heritage, crafts narratives inspired by his urban life and travels. His stories address identity and transcendence, focusing on love and violence while offering a poetic, optimistic perspective on the world.
HOUSE OF PLEASURES
SYNOPSIS
This is a story about the world of men and their fantasies, and about women who are forced to satisfy them, to play roles. Fantasies are not the most obvious, hidden ones: someone wants praise, someone wants domination, someone wants to see a mother in a woman, and someone even – a piece of furniture. We wanted to show this sexualized and objectified world through the space of one unusual brothel, where any male desires are satisfied at the click of a button, If only there is money. This is the space of a bad trip, you want to get out of it, as well as from this world of roles and male ideas about women.
Russia /English/ 2 min
MARIA PRONIN
ABOUT MARIA
Maria Pronin, born in Moscow in 1994, started as a ballet dancer before studying journalism at Moscow State University and pursuing film directing at Moscow Film School. She directs feature films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. Her debut short film, Rain or Wind (2020), has been featured at various festivals. In 2021, her documentary Gazing Through Touch was showcased at international festivals including VERZIÓ, Liberation Docfest Bangladesh, and the Social World Film Festival.
LOVE LETTER TO THE PAST
SYNOPSIS
Fashion film for AP Milan first collection SPRING/SUMMER 2021
Italy /English / 2 min
CHARLOTTE VACKOVÁ
ABOUT CHARLOTTE
Charlotte is a Czech filmmaker based in Prague with extensive international experience (USA, UK, Ireland). She earned her BA in Fine Art Experimental Media in 2015 and an MA in Film Directing from Edinburgh. Her debut short film, Loss, received awards at various festivals, and her experimental horror Liquid Soul was featured at Cannes. Charlotte continues to create short films, music videos, fashion films, and commercials, while also working as a freelance videographer and social media content creator.
S. EDONÉ
SYNOPSIS
An exploration between pleasure and pain through the oneiric journey of a young seamstress. S.Edoné tells a visionary and deeply intimate experience through a creative interpretation of S.Sebastian. As the girl experiences different stages of enchantment her corset evolves.
Italy /No dialogue/ 6 min
TERESA BUCCA
ABOUT TERESA
She began her artistic journey in 2014, integrating photography, video, sound, and writing. After earning a Bachelor's degree from Studio Marangoni in 2018, she specialized in camera operation and editing in 2019. Her early film work involved collaborations with social cooperatives and NGOs. She has participated in artist residencies and graduated in 2023 from Civica Scuola di Cinema Luchino Visconti in Milan. Now, she works internationally as a photographer, acting coach, editor, and screenwriter.
DIGITAL GHOSTS
SYNOPSIS
An experimental fashion film exploring the fear of the object of desire. The work also examines the anxiety towards the disembodiment of real existence in digital age.
Georgia /No dialogue/ 2 min
TANYA KROM
ABOUT TANYA
Tanya Krom is a filmmaker. She studied directing at the St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television. She directed the short film "Black Coat" and also created music videos. Her recent work, experimental fashion film "Digital Ghosts", was shot in Tbilisi, Georgia for fashion designer and artist Zu-zu Asmus Khannuf.
DENTRO
SYNOPSIS
The Dentro film series, a five-chapter campaign for the accessories brand, creatively explores the brand's bags through metaphorical links to the human body. Filmed at a Verona leather goods factory and a Parisian studio, the series highlights Dentro's craftsmanship and luxury status. It reveals the artisanal details—threads, handles, foam, and zippers—while the polished exterior remains hidden, offering a documentary-style look into Dentro's unique creations.
Italy /No dialogue/ 2 min
ABOUT CAMILA
My name is Camila Freiha, I am 36 years old, and I am a Brazilian filmmaker born in Bahia and raised in São Paulo. I have been working in the audiovisual field for 15 years, with experience in commercial films and political campaigns in Brazil and Latin America. Besides cameras, I am passionate about culture, music, literature, and travel – elements that nurture my creativity and inspire my artistic vision.
CAMILA FREIHA
SYNOPSIS
We want to celebrate the power of relationships, the beauty of individuality, and the unbreakable bonds that form when hearts connect. The film invites the audience to a moment based on glimmering sympathy between lovers and friends, that are forged by one’s journey of self-discovery and fulfilment. A short view on the uniqueness of relationships and the embracing of blur the lines between love and friendships.
KITSCH KIOSK
Germany /No dialogue/ 1:40 min
KRISTINA SCHMIDT
ABOUT TANYA
Born in 1993 in Omsk, Siberia, and raised in Bremen, Kristina Schmidt is a Hamburg-based Production Designer and Art Director. Since 2023, she has expanded her creative pursuits by initiating her own video projects as a Creative Director.
PRINTEMPS
SYNOPSIS
Obscure worn stories emerge in Printemps. During a day in the life of a dress, characters vivaciously explore their female and androgynous identity through movements. It ultimately showcase the power of bold design in encouraging freedom of expression, sensuality and self confident.
This film aim to celebrate the extraordinary of every day in fashion by symbolically depicting cyclical life of a second skin.
Netherlands /No dialogue/ 6 min
FUNDA ERZADE
ABOUT FUNDA
In her work, Funda Erzade focuses on a performative interpretation of movements. These motions are connected to a story line, character trait, atmospheric mood, or theme while it acts simultaneously with the music and/or sound. She creates images to understand the human beings’ particular relation to their own bodies. Clarifying, embodying, and deepening feelings. A visual dialogue of movement artists with their contrasting, colorful environment while exploring new methods of expression and liberating itself from the demands of narratives.
SEEMINGLY
SYNOPSIS
Seemingly is an independent short film that aims to question our relationship with fashion and raise awareness of the place of fashion in the mountains.
Through the creation of six entirely hand-sewn outfits from recycled Goretex fabric samples and the cocreation of two sandal prototypes from used climbing ropes, "en apparence" aims to raise awareness of the issues surrounding fashion in the mountains.
Entirely filmed in the heart of Chamonix's mer de glace, French Alps
Switzerland /No dialogue/ 4 min
VALÉRIE PELLET
ABOUT VALÉRIE
Since 2019, giscard has been creating unique pieces from the transformation and recycling of existing textile materials.
The clothes are designed and manufactured between geneva and chamonix, toward a slow, circular and committed fashion approach.