Quarter-Finalists

Spring 2025 Period

SELF-PORTRAIT

Hongsik lives in a redevelopment village.
The home where family memories exist is everything to Hongsik and a space he cannot leave.
Hong-sik always misses his son, but is cautious about contacting him because he feels like it will be a burden to him.
Hong-sik, who was preparing for death as if he were organizing his life alone, takes a picture of his face reflected in the mirror with his cell phone and leaves a memorial photo.
And he meets the son he has longed for so much.
  • Best Director
  • Best Actor
Directed by: SE KWON SEO
  • Best Original Screenplay
  • Best Short Film
Salam Cinéma



Amine, an 18-year-old Moroccan born in Brussels, spends most of his time hanging out with his friends in the streets of his neighbourhood.
One day, in the local square, he stumbles across a film shoot. That moment was a revelation: he decided that he would make films.
Driven by an all-consuming passion, Amine threw himself into the adventure without the slightest experience. There were many obstacles, but his determination was unfailing.
  • Best Short Film
Directed by: Zakaria El Bakkali
The Last Wish

On the threshold of the Supreme Court, everyone anxiously awaits the Decision about their fate. And only one strives to return to where a part of their soul remains...
Directed by: Ilya Noyabrev
  • Best Short Film
Pierre West



One day Pierre's TV breaks down, what at first seems like another setback will soon take him down a new road.
Pierre West is a drama about hope and darkness, filmed over 17 years.
Through Pierre’s isolated life and his unjust struggle with trauma, the film explores emotions that arise when the light at the end of the tunnel seems so very far away
A character-driven portrayal balancing hardships and inner demons with humor and longing.
In an existence without compassion – how long can Pierre endure?
  • Best Short Film
Directed by: Henrik Larsson, Jakob Arevärn
Warlord

An uprising stirs when a Sheriff raises taxes and uses violence to punish those who can’t pay. The oppressed seek support from the dangerous Wood Elves, who have their own designs on the city they were once banished from.
Directed by: Stuart Brennan
  • Best Actor
  • Best Feature Film
Jakarta sinking



While Indonesia's capital city is sinking by many inches each year, local residents in the Northern Jakarta neighbourhood Kapuk Teko are holding on amidst floods and seasonal torrents. In this documentary we follow their resilience and local attempts to tackle both rising sea levels and land subsidence.
  • Best Short Documentary Film
Directed by: Andreas Bülow Hansen
The Trace of the Mud

"You can't go back to the past to take that photo. It’s unique."
After one of the worst floods in Spain’s history, a group of people is concerned about something seemingly secondary: family photographs.
This documentary explores the importance of family memories, how they contribute to shaping historical memory, and how the mud carried by the DANA has helped unite the memories of thousands of families in L'Horta Sud, Valencia.
Directed by: Rodrigo Marquez
  • Best Director Debut
  • Best Short Documentary Film
StreetVet



StreetVet is a short film that delves into the incredible work of vet Jade Statt and the StreetVet team, a dedicated UK-wide network of volunteer vets and nurses who have swapped the practice for the pavements to provide free veterinary care to the pets of those experiencing homelessness. The film explores the profound bond between humans and animals, showcasing how pets offer companionship, emotional support, and a sense of purpose for their owners. Follow the journey of StreetVet and how one act of kindness back in 2016, led to a transformative and inspiring community of veterinary professionals helping thousands of animals and their owners receive the essential care they need and deserve, changing lives all over the country.
  • Best Short Documentary Film
Directed by: Stephanie Keelan
" I WILL REVENGE THIS WORLD WITH LOVE" S.PARADJANOV

The author of the film decides to leave the country where she lives, in connection with the outbreak of the dramatic events, and return home to Armenia in search of a worthy example and solutions on how to live on. Paradjanov’s house becomes a place of inspiration and a point of no return to toxic reality.
Through the life and work of Paradjanov, clarifying and interpreting the theme of human freedom in non-free conditions, where freedom is limited both by the borders of the totalitarian state and by the barbed wire of the camp fence.
Directed by: Zara Jian
  • Best Short Documentary Film
OUTSIDER. FREUD



a journey into the life and work of Sigmund Freud in four acts, combining animation, dreams, and insights from leading psychoanalysts. It explores Freud’s experiences of marginalization as a Jew in Vienna during Hitler’s rise and how these shaped his theories and personal life. Through an intimate lens, the film reveals new dimensions of Freud’s legacy, focusing on his impact on psychoanalysis, Judaism, and the power dynamics of being an outsider.
  • Best Feature Documentary Film
Directed by: Yair Qedar
Margherita Sarfatti, La Regina senza Corona

Scrolling through the index of names in many contemporary art manuals and essays, it is difficult to find Margherita Sarfatti's name. She was the first woman in the world to structurally establish herself in the role of art critic, theorizer of an identity line for Italian art, creator of a movement such as the Novecento Italiano and promoter of Italian contemporary art on the international scene with dozens of exhibitions in important European and American capitals. For decades, however, she has been removed from memory and historiography. Why? Her personal history and long intellectual and then loving relationship with Benito Mussolini have weighed on her figure. A responsibility that does not justify the damnatio memoriae that affected Sarfatti - and many of the artists she supported - until very recent years.
Directed by: Giulia Lorusso Caputi
  • Best Feature Documentary Film
Sicilia



Sicilia is a love story. A visually rich, character-driven documentary that explores the heart and soul of Sicily and why anyone who goes here falls in love with this island. Told through the lives of local artisans — from fishermen and chefs to winemakers, chocolate makers, artists, and harvesters — the film captures the island’s deep-rooted traditions, layered history, and vibrant cultural identity.
As ancient landscapes meet modern rhythms, Sicilia becomes more than just a place — it becomes a story of resilience, passion, and the timeless spirit of a people whose way of life is both a reflection of the past and a celebration of the present.
  • Best Editing
  • Best Director
  • Best Feature Documentary Film
Directed by: Colin West, Rupert Critchley
Chasing the Light

CHASING THE LIGHT is an inspiring story of hope and redemption, a beautiful feature documentary set amongst a spiritual community of misfits on the wild cliffs of the west of Ireland. But when their dream of building a Tibetan Buddhist haven is shaken by shocking allegations, their founder is forced to confront the fragile reality of his life's work.
Directed by: Maurice O'Brien
  • Best Feature Documentary Film
NADO



NADO is an intimate and powerful journey through the life and work of
one of the greatest Italian sculptors of the twentieth century. A
story of resistance and courage, a human parable of
will and joy that spans a whole century.
Nado Canuti has faced the difficulties of life since he was young with tenacity and vision, transforming every obstacle into
material to be sculpted. The story of a man who with three fingers
shaped his destiny.
  • Best Director Debut
  • Best Feature Documentary Film
Directed by: Daniele Farina
PUPPE
Directed by: Sandra Julia Reils
  • Best Micro Short Film
Macho!



An Englishman on holiday has a life-changing experience whilst encountering one of the locals.
  • Best Micro Short Film
Directed by: Courtney Bahr
SHADOW DOCKET

Two detectives are confronted by an ambitious lawyer…..and find that their facts don’t add up!
Directed by: Kevin B Ploth
  • Best Actor
  • Best Micro Short Film
RAY THE RUG



Ray shares his tragic past: “I lost my mum when I was a wee cub. Well, I didn’t lose her. She was murdered… by a
human.” His heartfelt plea, “A tiger can’t change its stripes. But you can,” transforms him from a symbol of loss into a
powerful advocate for change.
The film’s simple, innovative visuals and direct messaging cut through the noise, resonating with audiences, driving
over a million views within first view weeks. This campaign showcases the power of creativity to inspire action and
highlights urgent need to save one of the world’s most iconic species.
  • Best Animation
Directed by: Mohammad Ali Shakeri
Samurat

A wandering samurai's brief encounter in the winter woods.
Directed by: Cosmo Miller
  • Best Animation
BEKLEYİŞ VE BUNALIM



Yaşam döngüsünü ve hayatın rutinlerini aktarmaya çalıştım. İki bölümde anlatmak istediğim bu deneysel film beklemek; hayatın her anında yapmış olduğumuz bu rutini anlatırken bunalmak; bu kısımda ise beklemenin vermiş olduğu gerilimi aktarmaya gayret ediyoruz. Herkese iyi seyirler.
  • Best Experimental Film
Directed by: EKREM ÇIĞIR
Hallucinations of War

Emily returns home after her mother’s death, only to face her estranged twin sister and her sister’s new boyfriend, who manipulates her into questioning her reality.
Directed by: Nath Milburn
  • Best Experimental Film
Roots of The End



The short film, produced entirely in AI, tells the story of a chief in the Amazon, through the eyes of a chief, about the effects of the devastation of the forest, fauna and indigenous peoples.
A necessary call to action for a problem that will affect not only Brazil, but planet Earth.
  • Best Experimental Film
Directed by: Guigo Gerber
MALARKEY, LOST AMONG THE FLORENTINES

Aging writer leaves Venice for Florence to find love and lose it.
Written by: Mark Axelrod
  • Best Feature Screenplay
Closet Cases



In the early '90s when people listen to music on CDs and dial up to enter AOL chatrooms, two closeted gay law students face their families, their futures, and their feelings for each other.
  • Best Unproduced Screenplay
Written by: Joseph Anthony Francis
Ding-dong!

It's 1962. Five Avon ladies go head to head with the local sheriff as they cover up a brutal murder.
Written by: Pete Hewitt, Ally Hamilton
  • Best Unproduced Screenplay
The Chameleon Man



"The Chameleon Man" plunges us in the wake of Alfred, a young man whose
existence seems punctuated by a succession of romantic ephemeral conquests,
all built on a foundation of lies about the real nature of his intentions and commitments. The story takes a turn when it develops sincere feelings for one of them, Giulia. However, the truth comes out, revealing his duplicity and leading to their rupture. In an attempt to regain his confidence and her affection, Alfred volunteered for the film festival that she is organizing, and was entrusted with the delicate task of finding patrons.
Faced with the refusals, he chooses to use his talents of seducer with a potential patron, winning. Yet, unable to give up his old habits, he continues to navigate between his different relationships, multiplying unfulfilled promises. The film is inspired by real events, which anchor its message in a contemporary resonance.
  • Best Actress
  • Best Director
  • Best Actor
Directed by: Jonas Alfred Marcel Graf
Ghosted MD

When dedicated cardiologist Dr. Anastasia "Stacey" Dimas (Nafsika Antypas) becomes entwined with the ghost of Jason Walker (Jarred Harper), a charming stranger whose life she fought to save, she must navigate a perilous world of crime, love, and supernatural intrigue while uncovering the truth behind his mysterious death.
Directed by: Jarett Bellucci
  • Best Trailer
  • Best Actress - Nafsika Antypas
SOCRATES



“Socrates” is a thriller/horror about Ahmad, Thomas, and a group of college students researching ancient history and folklore. They discover that an urban legend is not a myth and releases a deadly spirit that is connected to an old slave fable. The spirit is housed in an intelligent African Grey parrot whose mission is to seek revenge on the descendants of their ruthless and heartless ancestors.
After seeking answers from Moses, a 102-year-old descendant of the bird’s original keeper, Moses demands that Ahmad and Thomas rebury what they unearthed. But Socrates proves nearly invincible. The horror escalates as Socrates hunts them, mimicking voices and growing stronger. They realize they are trapped in a terrifying situation that might seal their fate.
Socrates is dedicated to horror icon, Tony Todd, aka "Candyman."
  • Best Producer
Directed by: Ken Sagoes
Sand Forest


An inmigrant fox from the desert arrives in an American forest in search of opportunities, but his mission will be affected by discrimination from the local foxes.
Directed by: Nathalia Rangel, Keila Mora
  • Best Student Film
DUSK



Two friends, Alexandra and Kassia, are stranded in the middle of the road after hitting a pothole that punctures the tire. With only each other to rely on, they will have to support each other to fix the tire and continue their journey. In a moment of desperation, Kassia confronts Alexandra about her decision to take a different path in life.
  • Best Student Film
Directed by: Emilio Monarrez
GAD


Ayumu has an anxiety disorder. While he is unable to distinguish between reality and dreams due to the side effects of his medication, his classmate Akira begins to repeatedly attempt suicide.
Directed by: Haruka Kurosu
  • Best Student Film
GoFly



On the eve of Christmas 2024, during the flight from Rome to Paris of a modern ITA-Airways jet, Commander Camilla Gasperini is facing three major emergencies, which occur almost simultaneously.
The intoxication of passengers due to spoilage food served at lunch and the loss of the second pilot knocked out by the same food and the same intoxication; after all this, there is also the dramatic loss of both engines as a result of a failure caused by a flock of birds that have slipped into the turbines. As if that were not enough, the daughter travels on the same plane with her boyfriend: she’s actually boarded clandestinely using the mother’s name and in open prohibition to what Camilla had asked her.
Will our heroine be able to bring all the one hundred and fifty souls on board safely back to the ground, including that of the rebellious daughter? And will Camilla understand just that rebellious daughter?
  • Best AI Film
Directed by: Carlo Ambrosetti
Great Beast Albion Docudrama Episode 1


Creative Bandit Studios Presents: A Grade-Z AI Filmmaking Experience!
This docudrama introduces Mary Pratt, an original character created by Creative Bandit—a human storyteller, not AI. Using AI tools like Runway, KlingAI, Minimax, Pika, and Hedra, this project blends technology with creativity to bring her world to life.
This is a “Z” movie—a low-budget, experimental film embracing unconventional storytelling and AI-driven visuals.
Directed by: Alex Howell
  • Best AI Film
Love in Yanbian



I love your mountains and waters,the paintings that they form,and the scenery like in the heaven.
I love your songs and dances,the pursuit of dreams with the songs and dances,and the magnificent style.
I kiss on the old tales of yours,And adore the home on the frontier.
I kiss on the current legends of yours,And adore our Chinese compatriots.
I love your spring and autumn,the blossoms in these seasons,and the stunning sceneries.
I love your winter and summer,the passing of time through the seasons,and the splendid views.
I kiss on the old tales of yours,And adore the home on the frontier.
I kiss on the current legends of yours,And adore our Chinese compatriots.
  • Best Music Video
Directed by: Tong Nian
Michele Fraternali - Devil's Cry


"Somewhere.. between reality and dreams, The Artist begins his Descent... towards the light"
"Devil's Cry" is a short film that blends visual art and music.
All Music and Sound Design were Composed and Performed by Michele Fraternali using only electric bass.
This Opera and the Caracters were inspired by the timeless journey of Dante's Divine Comedy and the magical world of Devil May Cry.
Directed by: Michele Fraternali
  • Best Original Score
  • Best Music Video
Trailer for Crazy Texas (The movie)



When a rogue physiatrist, abducts one of his patients and coerces her sister into a satanic ritual, he must navigate the twisted path his grandfather began, leading to a harrowing battle for sanctity and sanity.
  • Best Trailer
Directed by: Francis Juarez
This Stitching Will Last


The life story of legendary fashion designer Michael Braun, who is best known for making flamboyant stage clothing for pop culture icons such as Jimi Hendrix and Macho Man Randy Savage.
Directed by: Kevin B Ploth
  • Best Poster