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WINNERS
MONTH OF APRIL
Whispers on Red Lake
Whispers on Red Lake is a chilling exploration of trauma, resilience, and the fragility of the human mind. After surviving a brutal assault, Emma, the story's determined heroine, struggles with schizophrenia and PTSD. Seeking solace, she retreats to an isolated cottage, only to be haunted by disturbing visions of her attacker, forcing her to question her grasp on reality.
As the line between fear and strength blurs, Emma’s battle for control becomes a powerful portrayal of how trauma reshapes perception and challenges sanity. With haunting imagery and masterful lighting, the story immerses viewers in Emma’s anxiety, crafting a gripping and intensely atmospheric narrative.
Best Director(Under 40 min) - Adrian Campbell
As the line between fear and strength blurs, Emma’s battle for control becomes a powerful portrayal of how trauma reshapes perception and challenges sanity. With haunting imagery and masterful lighting, the story immerses viewers in Emma’s anxiety, crafting a gripping and intensely atmospheric narrative.
Best Director(Under 40 min) - Adrian Campbell
The Way Out
A woman must choose between her family and her safety after her mother shares a long-held family secret.
Best Emerging Filmmaker - Jason OHara
Best Emerging Filmmaker - Jason OHara
Soul Mates
Sean and Abby, each at the center of each other’s universe, receive a life altering diagnosis. Sean has but six months to live. Knowing they can’t change the diagnosis they decide to make the most of it. To see the world and enjoy every last minute before he passes away. However, believing what awaits us in death is a second chance, they make an ethereal pact. They vow to find one another when they are reborn into this world and to pick up where they leave off. To get it right, to enjoy their love once again. So, they create a plan and they put their faith in the unknown. When the time comes, and Sean passes, it is almost too much for Abby to bear. Then some how, some way, they come to discover that the universe… might not be as cruel as we make it out to be.
Best Screenplay (Under 40min) - Jim Sea
Best Screenplay (Under 40min) - Jim Sea
Out of Sight
America's drinking water systems face an urgent but often-overlooked threat. Potable water storage tanks and towers, critical components of the nation's water infrastructure, are frequently neglected, with many never receiving necessary cleaning or maintenance.
Last year alone, inspections of over 850 tanks revealed that approximately 700 required cleaning, highlighting the widespread neglect. Despite the potential risks to public health, most states lack regulations mandating regular cleaning of these water storage systems.
Join a team of experts, including a potable water diving contractor, microbiologists, and a former EPA employee, as they delve into the hidden dangers in potable water storage and advocate for the systemic changes needed to safeguard America's drinking water.
Special Jury Award - Ryan Bijan
Last year alone, inspections of over 850 tanks revealed that approximately 700 required cleaning, highlighting the widespread neglect. Despite the potential risks to public health, most states lack regulations mandating regular cleaning of these water storage systems.
Join a team of experts, including a potable water diving contractor, microbiologists, and a former EPA employee, as they delve into the hidden dangers in potable water storage and advocate for the systemic changes needed to safeguard America's drinking water.
Special Jury Award - Ryan Bijan
Marmots on Toast
The life of an Alpine Marmot almost seems perfect - they live in the most beautiful mountains, their days are spent relaxing, play-fighting and cuddling. And their priority in life is simple - to eat as much as possible and become fat! This film follows one special and adorable marmot family, as they await the arrival of the generous humans and tourists who feed them, with both positive and negative results
Best Film on Nature & Wildlife (Under 40min) - Yaz Ellis, Jack Mifflin
Best Film on Nature & Wildlife (Under 40min) - Yaz Ellis, Jack Mifflin
Magdalena
Delusional journey of Magdalena where she is battling her sense of guilt after her husband’s death. It is about a world of a woman suffering from paranoid delusions, disabled from distinguishing the real from the unreal, tragically misled by mental illness to the loss of her child.
The story is set on an old property estate where the only residents are the two, Magdalena and her son Peter. The Georgian residence evokes a sense of mystery and every wall hides a secret of its own. Magdalena’s husband has recently passed away in unexplained circumstances and since then she has been dealing with a sense of guilt while suffering from paranoid delusions. In her visions she sees her late husband violently trying to drag her into the afterworld. Magdalena fears when confronted but also tries to fight back with every grain of power that she has. Her son Peter is a young boy, quiet, distressed, who wishes to save his mother but has no means for doing that. She scares him awfully much and not so rarely he suffers her abuse. Magdalena loves her son deeply but her delusion and the fear of the unreal are too difficult for her to cope with. She is tragically misled by mental illness into believing that there is only one way for her to save herself and her son. Magdalena makes a difficult decision by sending Peter away to his late father. We see Peter falling into her arms for the very last time, but shortly thereafter the fear in her eyes shows that the outcome is not the salvation she was hoping for.
Best Film directed by (Under 40min) - Iva Kevra
Best Original Score - George Ivanovich
The story is set on an old property estate where the only residents are the two, Magdalena and her son Peter. The Georgian residence evokes a sense of mystery and every wall hides a secret of its own. Magdalena’s husband has recently passed away in unexplained circumstances and since then she has been dealing with a sense of guilt while suffering from paranoid delusions. In her visions she sees her late husband violently trying to drag her into the afterworld. Magdalena fears when confronted but also tries to fight back with every grain of power that she has. Her son Peter is a young boy, quiet, distressed, who wishes to save his mother but has no means for doing that. She scares him awfully much and not so rarely he suffers her abuse. Magdalena loves her son deeply but her delusion and the fear of the unreal are too difficult for her to cope with. She is tragically misled by mental illness into believing that there is only one way for her to save herself and her son. Magdalena makes a difficult decision by sending Peter away to his late father. We see Peter falling into her arms for the very last time, but shortly thereafter the fear in her eyes shows that the outcome is not the salvation she was hoping for.
Best Film directed by (Under 40min) - Iva Kevra
Best Original Score - George Ivanovich
Letts Roll
Abby has intractable epilepsy. Her mother and grandmother grapple with how to keep her safe as her seizures have escalated in severity and frequency over the past decade. Nothing has worked to control them and they have tried EVERYTHING. Abby's indomitable spirit continues to overcome what ever restrictions epilepsy throws at her. Her mother wonders about Abby's reaction to a wheelchair as she struggles with her own resistance to have Abby use one to help keep her safe in public. She thinks maybe decorating it to make it look less like a wheelchair might make it more palatable. In the middle of her attempt, Abby's grandmother chimes in to help. Too many chefs in the kitchen? The two women want the very best for Abby, but they have very different tastes and opinions about what makes something look good. Abby walks in on their squabble, horrified to see a wheelchair that in her view, no matter how "beautifully" decorated will not convince her to use it. She storms off alone, pulling away from her care giver. She falls while having a seizure and ends up in Urgent Care, again. Tune in to find out what happens
Best Documentary Film (Under 40min) - Sandra Cruze
Best Documentary Film (Under 40min) - Sandra Cruze
INACCESSIBILITY..
After meeting numerous individuals from various countries, all of whom are migrants, I observed a common problem among them, albeit manifested differently in each case. This observation led me to choose this topic. Loneliness, stemming from detachment from society, often progresses to social isolation for some migrants. As I conversed with more people, I came to recognize the severity of this issue, prompting me to conduct research on social isolation and loneliness, especially among migrants.
Many migrants expressed feelings of depression due to their loneliness. They confessed fear of interacting with others and engaging in society at large. This fear stemmed from encountering prejudice, political tensions from their home country, discrimination based on skin color, and clashes of cultural norms. Additionally, they faced discomfort from others' inappropriate inquiries. These individuals often remain unnoticed in society, withdrawn or isolated, which leads to their problems being overlooked or forgotten by others.
As a fashion designer, my forte lies in visual communication rather than verbal or written expression. Through my artwork, I aim to bridge the gap and connect with people effectively. I have developed a collection that narrates the tale of social isolation and loneliness among migrants through fashion, sculpture, and performance. This collection delves into the causes and consequences of social isolation and loneliness, aiming to make them visible, tangible, and perhaps audible to the audience.
Honorable Mention - Azita Asadikenari
Many migrants expressed feelings of depression due to their loneliness. They confessed fear of interacting with others and engaging in society at large. This fear stemmed from encountering prejudice, political tensions from their home country, discrimination based on skin color, and clashes of cultural norms. Additionally, they faced discomfort from others' inappropriate inquiries. These individuals often remain unnoticed in society, withdrawn or isolated, which leads to their problems being overlooked or forgotten by others.
As a fashion designer, my forte lies in visual communication rather than verbal or written expression. Through my artwork, I aim to bridge the gap and connect with people effectively. I have developed a collection that narrates the tale of social isolation and loneliness among migrants through fashion, sculpture, and performance. This collection delves into the causes and consequences of social isolation and loneliness, aiming to make them visible, tangible, and perhaps audible to the audience.
Honorable Mention - Azita Asadikenari
EFC
In this adrenaline-fueled story, the world of women's mixed martial arts is rocked by an explosive showdown between reigning champion Cassady Jones and rising star Alexa Star. The clash of these two titans sends shockwaves through the EFC, as the future of the sport hangs in the balance.
Best Producer (Over 40 min) - Jaze Bordeaux Bordeaux, Ilham Aragrag, Jason Romolo & Wayne Wells
Best Producer (Over 40 min) - Jaze Bordeaux Bordeaux, Ilham Aragrag, Jason Romolo & Wayne Wells
Misty Northern City
Misty Northern City follows Xiao Bai, a young international student navigating life in Toronto, Canada. Amid the challenges of adapting to a new culture and the pressures of academic life, Xiao Bai becomes the heart of a close-knit group of fellow international students.
Through group portraits and the vibrant yet isolating cityscapes of Toronto, the film delves into Xiao Bai's emotional journey. As she grapples with homesickness, self-discovery, and the bonds she forges with her friends, her inner transformation unfolds against the backdrop of a city that mirrors her complexities.
A poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and resilience, Misty Northern City captures the universal struggle of finding oneself in an unfamiliar world.
Best Emerging Filmmaker (Under 40 min) - Zhou Xing
Through group portraits and the vibrant yet isolating cityscapes of Toronto, the film delves into Xiao Bai's emotional journey. As she grapples with homesickness, self-discovery, and the bonds she forges with her friends, her inner transformation unfolds against the backdrop of a city that mirrors her complexities.
A poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and resilience, Misty Northern City captures the universal struggle of finding oneself in an unfamiliar world.
Best Emerging Filmmaker (Under 40 min) - Zhou Xing
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