OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
The UFO’s of Soesterberg
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In the early morning of February 3, 1979, a mysterious object flew over Soesterberg Air Base. At least twelve soldiers witnessed this. Despite being in the middle of the cold war this event has still remained unexplained. And that is not the only anomalous sighting in that specific part of the Netherlands...
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Bram Roza
His previous documentary Xangadix Lives! received great reviews, was selected for festivals at home and abroad and even got a cinema tour. Bram has been interested and evolved in contemporary myths such as the UFO phenomenon and knows better than anyone how to shape a story like this. Het portrays ordinary people with extraordinary experiences. Not making science fiction... but stranger than fiction.
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Project Title (Original Language):
De UFO's van Soesterberg
Project Type:
Documentary, Feature
Genres:
Mystery, Ufo, Drama, Non Fiction, Fringe, Otherworldy, Suspense, People
Runtime:
1 hour 20 minutes
Completion Date:
October 1, 2023
Production Budget:
20,000 EUR
Country of Origin:
Netherlands
Country of Filming:
Netherlands
Language:
Dutch
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
2.39 : 1
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
Crystal Quest
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When an evil cyborg poisons the love of his life, Erik Starburn travels to the other side of the galaxy for a powerful crystal to cure her of the strange disease.
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Jeff Boarts
Jeff Boarts is a first-time filmmaker based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and has spent over a decade working in graphic design. Comic books, b-movies, and the DIY ethos of punk rock music have always influenced Jeff's art. His love of creating and storytelling took him on a journey to learn everything necessary to make his first film Crystal Quest.
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Project Type:
Short
Genres:
Sci-fi, Comedy
Runtime:
19 minutes 56 seconds
Completion Date:
March 30, 2024
Country of Origin:
United States
Country of Filming:
United States
Language:
English
Shooting Format:
Digital
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
we all belong to the tower
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On the day the tower appears, Kaitlin learns her ordinary life can completely change in a single moment, and she could lose everything she holds dear as her family, her community and her sanity begin to unravel.
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Dustin Paul Weible
When Dustin first saw Jurassic Park at the age of three, he knew he wanted to make movies. With his Hot Wheels camcorder, he'd record videos of his action figures and best friends. In high school, he would film music videos for local musicians and live events.
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Project Type:
Short
Genres:
Horror, Sci-Fi, Drama
Runtime:
9 minutes
Completion Date:
August 2, 2023
Production Budget:
1,500 USD
Country of Origin:
United States
Country of Filming:
United States
Language:
English
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
2:39
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
Purgatory
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"Purgatory” is a visual short story that delves into the life of a man who finds himself stuck between here and the hereafter.
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Justin Meckes
Justin Meckes wrote and performed in the award-winning short "9 Brief Films from Suburban Zen." More recently, he worked on a monologue film titled, "The Anxieties of a Reluctant Japanophile." His work has screened all over the United States. He writes novels in addition to his spoken word pieces. You can learn more about them on his website, justinmeckes.com.
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Project Type:
Experimental, Short
Genres:
Sci-fi
Runtime:
7 minutes 57 seconds
Completion Date:
April 20, 2024
Country of Origin:
United States
Country of Filming:
United States
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
The Path of the Greys
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A Grey pupil in the Star Wars universe is subjected to a physical and mental test by his mentor to prove that he is on the right path of the Force: being neither Jedi nor Sith.
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Joshua Van't Hoff
Born and raised in the city of Haarlem, filmmaking was early in his life; by bringing a video camera to high school he wanted to capture moments and portray individuals, by making videos with his siblings or friends he wanted to entertain. He discovered all stages of film production during a project for his higher education in journalism at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, which made him realize that this art would become both his passion as well as his profession.
When a Haarlem cinema from 1915 was about to close, Van ’t Hoff got inspired to make his first short film: ‘Cinema Palace’ (2011). In the same year, he started his 6-month internship as a cinematographer at the Royal Theatre Carré in Amsterdam for a television show about artists. Starting to work as a freelance filmmaker after his internship, he remained active at the theatre for two more years while continuing to produce short films such as the award-winning ‘Ruysdael’ (2012) — developing himself both artistically and commercially.
‘Truth & Privacy in the National Archives of the Netherlands’ (2015), Van ’t Hoff’s first documentary film with which he graduated from his university, concerns relatives of Holocaust victims and their search for truth in World War II files; it was broadcast on Dutch television and was screened in the Netherlands and Israel. Since then, he decided to focus more on his artistic side: his short films ‘A Divided Whole’ (2018), ‘Accelerate’ (2018) and ‘The Path of the Greys’ (2018) were completed in the same year and would be screened, nominated and awarded at international film festivals; later, he completed his documentary films ‘Focus on Belarus’ (2020) and ‘Complete Portrait Wanted of Markéta Ledererová’ (2023).
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Project Type:
Short
Genres:
Fan FIlm, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Act
Runtime:
13 minutes
Completion Date:
June 16, 2018
Production Budget:
500 EUR
Country of Origin:
Netherlands
Country of Filming:
Netherlands
Language:
English
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
The Parallels of Loneliness
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A woman wakes up one day to realize she's the only person left on Earth.
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Doug Strong
Doug Strong is a director, editor, writer and cinematographer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Known for River Road, Psycho Bastard, 24 Percent and The Parallels of Loneliness, He's won many awards for his work including Best Film - Psycho Bastard (Fright Film 2021) Best Narrative Storytelling - Psycho Bastard 2022 (Blue Chip Media Award) Best Cinematography- 24 Percent (Winterfilm 2023) and Best Film and Best Cinematography - The Parallels of Loneliness (Winterfilm 2024). Best Kill for Psycho Bastard 2022 (Days of the Dead Indianapolis) among others. Recently Doug and co-producer Kira L Wilson took home Best Film 2024 at the Hilliard Short Film Festival for their collaboration The Parallels of Loneliness.
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Project Type:
Short
Runtime:
11 minutes 47 seconds
Completion Date:
March 1, 2024
Production Budget:
2,000 USD
Country of Origin:
United States
Country of Filming:
United States
Language:
English
Shooting Format:
Black Magic Cinema Camera 4K
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
Memory Card
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Memory Card is a short film that chronicles the adventures of two friends competing in a championship after the enigmatic blogger Mr. Monkey reveals that hidden coordinates in several PlayStation One games lead to a coveted memory card. To uncover these coordinates, our heroes dive into a thrilling journey across beloved retro games.
Memory Card seeks to evoke nostalgia and transport viewers back to the height of the PlayStation One era. Alongside the characters, audiences are immersed in the iconic games of the console, navigating a quest that blurs the lines between digital fantasies and reality. As the protagonist delves deeper into the gaming world, they begin to lose touch with reality, projecting game scenes into their everyday life.
The film is set in an alternate reality where technology remains stuck in the early 2000s—think flip phones and bulky TVs—with internet capabilities mirroring today’s standards. This era's style is vividly reflected in the characters' attire and the overall aesthetic.
With over 102 million units sold worldwide, the PlayStation One has left a lasting impact on countless gamers. Many of them still cherish their memories of the console. Imagine the potential of being the first movie project to tap into this rich, nostalgic vein.
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Taras Lashchak, Stanislav Puzdriak
Stan Puzdriak and Taras Lashchak are a dynamic directorial duo known for their innovative storytelling and immersive cinematic experiences. Their collaboration dates back to their work on the Soviet Cyberpunk project four years ago. After the war in Ukraine started, Taras moved to the US, reuniting with Stan to create new cinematic works.
Stan Puzdriak is an award-winning filmmaker, cinematographer, and video producer with over a decade of experience in the film industry, based in NYC. His directorial debut, "Immigraniada," tackled the complex issue of Ukrainian immigration and was screened in over 10 countries worldwide. In 2017, he founded Rebel Monkey, a video production company specializing in post-production services and the creation of original content such as documentaries and short films. Moving to the United States in 2019, Stan began working on various commercial projects. In 2021, he started his new documentary project, "Tale of the American Dream," delving into the complexities of the American Dream and its reality. The following year, in 2022, he released the critically acclaimed "Defender of Mariupol," which premiered at the Culver City Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Taras Lashchak has an equally impressive background, bringing a unique perspective and creative vision to their joint projects. Known for his innovative approach to filmmaking, Taras has contributed to several high-profile commercial projects and independent films. His move to the United States marked a new chapter in his career, providing fresh opportunities for collaboration and artistic exploration.
Now, reunited in the US, Stan and Taras are working on their latest project, "Memory Card."
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Project Type:
Short
Genres:
Sci-Fi, Thriller, Drama, Adventure
Runtime:
23 minutes 30 seconds
Completion Date:
June 19, 2024
Production Budget:
15,000 USD
Country of Origin:
United States
Country of Filming:
United States
Language:
English
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
16:9
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
Vale
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An investigator nearing the end of a life-long pursuit, begins to feel the weight of everything he left behind.
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Kyle Brewis, Josh Klaassen
Josh Klaassen - Born in Penticton, BC and will always want to film movies there. Very much inspired by the recent work of Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, and Denis Villeneuve.
Director Statement
Josh Klaassen - It was important for us to partially film in the Okanagan with a small and local cast and crew, meaningfully giving the story that ethereal element of home, something our protagonist is completely without.
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Project Type:
Short
Runtime:
8 minutes 54 seconds
Completion Date:
July 25, 2023
Production Budget:
1,500 USD
Country of Origin:
Canada
Country of Filming:
Canada
Language:
English
Shooting Format:
Digital
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No
Heart-Ware
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In the year 20XX, where AI has replaced many human jobs, Sanada, a once-renowned game director, is the last human employee at his company. To save the company from bankruptcy, he collaborates with an overconfident AI to create an innovative game but struggles with a creative block. When his niece Yui, who feels isolated at school, visits, her story reignites his creativity. This encounter leads to a groundbreaking game, merging human emotion with AI precision and revitalizing his career.
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Jii Zhang
Jii Zhang is an acclaimed film director and screenwriter originally from Shanghai, China. Moving to Japan in 1990, he nurtured his passion for film at the Art Center College of Design in the U.S.
Since 2013, Jii has directed numerous music videos for prominent musicians and commercials for top companies in Japan and China, earning significant recognition. In 2017, his documentary on a Sogetsu Ikebana master won the Silver Award at The Golden City Gate Awards in Germany. His short film "SAKURA" won the International Short Film Award at both the Chain NYC Film Festival in the U.S. and the Kanda Jinbochou Film Festival in Japan. From 2020 to 2022, his short film "SYNCHRO" garnered 10 international film awards.
Jii Zhang's impressive portfolio highlights his exceptional talent and influence in the film industry, establishing him as a highly skilled and respected director.
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Project Type:
Short
Genres:
Sci-Fi, Comedy, Drama
Runtime:
32 minutes 48 seconds
Completion Date:
March 23, 2024
Production Budget:
4,000 USD
Country of Origin:
Japan
Country of Filming:
Japan
Language:
Japanese
Shooting Format:
Digital
Film Color:
Color
First-time Filmmaker:
No
Student Project:
No