Moondance had the pleasure of screening these wonderful films at the 2013 Moondance International Film Festival.

The films selected for the 2014 festival screenings will be announced here & in the Moondance news blog, in mid-August.

4queens4 BHANRÍON (4 QUEENS)

Short film, directed by Vittoria Colonna (Ireland). Four elderly Irish sisters play a nasty game of poker with their Zanax, Valium and a string of pearls as ante, to decide who will take care of their ailing and irritable, ancient mother, in this hilarious dark comedy, and poignant story of love, hate & with a wry, surprising twist at the end.~15 minutes. In Gaelic, with English subtitles.

afishstoryA FISH STORY

Feature film, directed by Matt Birman, written & produced by Sam Roberts (CANADA). After his sudden and tragic death, a devoted father’s search for heaven brings him back to his distraught family and his isolated lakeside wilderness fishing camp, for a few precious days, in the body of a wanted man.. ~110 minutes

aaynaAAYNA KA BAYNA (VICTORY SHALL BE OURS)

Feature film, directed by Samit Kakkad (India). What do you get when you combine a caring dance counselor, nine young detention centre escapees equipped with contortion abilities and Michael Jackson dance moves, a strident police warden in hot pursuit of justice, and a society that views them as throwaways ? From the torturous confines of Mumbai’s Yashwant Juvenile Detention Home, a group of adolescent boys plot then execute their escape with parkourian efficiency. As they start mastering the art of dance, they develop a sense of fulfillment and purpose never before experienced in their young and difficult lives. Staying just one step ahead of the warden, the boys set themselves up for an explosive finale. ~ 94 minutes. In Hindi, with English subtitles

abracadabraABRACADABRA!

Short film, directed by Catriona Warren & Jordi Wise (Australia). A hapless magician finally gets a trick right, but unfortunately it’s the one that causes the most trouble. ~6 minutes

aureliaAURELIA

Short film, directed by Victor Ghizaru (Canada). Aurelia embarks on a journey to find her father. Cut off from the world, she naively discovers simple things that marvel her infant spirit. A peaceful story about self-discovery, taking place in the empty fields of a forgotten land. ~29 minutes

BAGHDAD DIARY

Feature documentary, directed by: Joseph Consentino & Sandra Consentino (USA). Beginning in March 2003, Iraqi taxi-driver Fadil Kadom’s video diary includes his family’s preparations for war, the days of bombs and missiles, and Baghdad’s ultimate fall. Kadom’s camera unmasks the horrors of Saddam’s torture houses and mass graves, and reveals the mounting fear as Iraqi streets turn increasingly deadly with the horrific explosion of insurgent and sectarian violence. NBC News cameraman, Craig White, embedded with the US Army, brings the war into focus, live – from combat to the disintegration of Iraqi civil society. Emotional and graphic scenes include the death of his NBC colleague, correspondent David Bloom, and the ambush at Objective Curly. ‘Baghdad Diary’ is Fadil Kadom’s and Craig White’s story, and a cautionary tale of war’s human toll. ~90 minutes

BREAKING THROUGH

Feature documentary film, directed by Cindy Abel (USA). Openly LGBTQ elected officials, including the first openly gay US Senator, share their stories of self-doubt and triumph over multiple barriers, revealing a deeply personal, rarely-seen side of politicians and gay people. As they show what is possible, they give hope to struggling people from all backgrounds and walks of life. ~85 minutes

CAN YOU SEE ME?

Short film directed by Lou Hamilton, 11 minutes (UK) A joyful and very poignant flashmob staged in Trafalgar Square, London, to protest child sex-trafficking. With professional dancers and singers from many of London’s famed theaters, who enthusiastically volunteered their talents (and angel wings) to support this vital cause. ~11 minutes

poorheartCARA CAMPANELLI: POOR HEART

Music video, directed by Ben Phillippo (USA). Beware the song of the siren… The spirit of an earlier era is a awakened in this haunting music video. ~4 minutes

catscratchCAT SCRATCH

Short film, directed by Christian de Rezendes (USA). Jeff is heading off for a typical day at the office when a brief encounter with a very weird cat changes everything. When an insurance salesman named Jeff is bitten by a neighbor’s cat, he slowly goes mad at the notion that he might have rabies.  ~17 minutes

CAT’S CRADLE

Short film, directed by Liz Hughes (Australia), Dad is laid out on the dining room table. He is dead and his family cannot afford to bury him. In a surreal funeral procession, they set out with their father’s corpse to find a final resting place for him. ~12 minutes

DAWN

Music video, directed by Nick Dimitriadis (UK). An artist seeks inspiration for his next project, in this fabulous cinematic storytelling adventure. With his incredible adventures into the realm of the impossible and surreal, his quest will take him to some rather unusual places… ~7 minutes

doinitDOIN’ IT IN THE PARK: PICK-UP BASKETBALL, NYC

Feature documentary, directed by Kevin Couliau & Bobbito Garcia (USA). Pick-up basketball is the truest essence of the sport. There is no governing body, no schedules, no coaches nor referees; only unwritten rules that change from park to park. People from all walks of life voluntarily step onto the asphalt, wholeheartedly, for the love of the game. Over decades, this passion has manifested a rich culture, with its own unique language, attitude, behavior, and style. In New York City, pick-up basketball is not just a sport. It is a way of life. The film explores the definition, history, culture, social impact and global influence of New York City’s outdoor summer basketball scene, the worldwide ‘Mecca’ of the sport. ~75 minutes

doyourememberwhenDO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE WHEN…

Short documentary film, directed by Matthew Alexander Levy (USA). Artfully edited to include archival images we will all recognize, “Do You Remember Where You Were When” is a film, by a talented young New York City filmmaker, about television’s unrecognized impact on creating a mythical and pervasive collective memory for us all. ~ 10 minutes

dosalmasDOS ALMAS (TWO SOULS)

Short film, directed by Danielle Villegas (USA). In the remote western wilderness in the mid 1800’s, a mestiza woman finds herself alone and posing as a man for self-protection. While foraging for her survival, she is approached by a local native woman who offers sustenance. Two-Spirit natures are revealed when their worlds collide. While grappling with the realization of her true self, she asks for guidance from Tonanzin the Virgin of Guadalupe, who shows her the way.  ~16 minutes

dovidmeyerDOVID MEYER

Feature film, directed by Moshe Paul Mones (USA).  A proper British family advertises for a Mary Poppins-type of au pair for their children, but a 14 year-old Hasidic Israeli boy, an orphan from from Jerusalem, shows up, to rattle the household’s lives in many miraculous ways.~80 minutes

DRUM & PLAY

Short film, directed by Mohammad Alkazemi, 6  minutes, (USA). A tale of two homeless street artists faced against each other by their own ego. Will music be able to save the day? ~6 minutes

elEL (HE)

Short film, directed by Lidice Abreu (Venezuela). A beautiful, but lonely woman living alone in the jungle near the ocean, has a strange encounter with an inexplicable being on a beach, and her desperate need for a relationship, a companion, leads to an oddly comical situation filled with pathos, and a very curious ending. ~22 minutes

eldraELDRA

Feature film, British Welsh Gypsies try to settle down in the Penrhyn Quarry district of North Wales. While a local lad befriends Eldra, her gamekeeper father rescues a foxcub, amid the charming valley land of Wales that emanates an enchanting tale of a Romani girl called Eldra. The matter-of-fact acceptance by the Romani of the wonderful truths of their traditional beliefs is beautifully played out, in this miniature masterpiece, against the equal hatred and fascination of the settled modern community which surrounds them, in nineteen-thirties North Wales. The great strength of the film is its location of ‘fairyland’ in the most powerful intuitions of our common human nature, and in its ability to show how the simple goodness of such a natural world is equally accessible to the two children, who befriend each other across the great cultural divide which so troubles their respective communities. ~90 minutes

ellaELLA (SHE)

Animation film, directed by Juan Montes de Oca, 19 minutes, (SPAIN). In Palma de Mallorca, through the eyes of a 5 year-old innocent kid, a lovely and moving story unfolds of life’s coincidences, miseries and joys, as the boy learns about an old man’s stories of his ill-fated life in New York, and his long-lost love. But the boy is happy to see that, in the end, the old man finds his way to his life’s happiness, and even to the love of his life. Juan Montes de Oca has won more that 100 international awards for his animation work, and this is one of his finest and most poignant examples. ~19 minutes

findinghappinessFINDING HAPPINESS

Feature documentary film, directed by Ted Nicolaou (USA). A film that brings a new perspective to docudrama, Finding Happiness presents real people living dynamic, harmonious lives in real communities around the world, viewed through the eyes of fictional magazine journalist, Juliet Palmer.

 A somewhat skeptical and jaded Juliet meets extraordinary people who not only answer her questions, but welcome her to a reality she had never imagined — founded on inner happiness and freedom. Filmed on location at the Ananda communities in California, Italy and India. Starring Elisabeth Rohm, who plays the skeptical journalist in Finding Happiness, is known for her television appearances on Angel, Law and Order, and Heroes. ~95 minutes

FINDING HER OWN WAY HOME

Short film, directed by Beth Osnes (USA). A solo performance to illuminate social issues and ignite positive social change. What starts as a crisis of faith ponders its way to a freedom from the facades that have historically held power over women  ~3 minutes

firstolympicsFIRST: THE OFFICIAL FILM OF THE LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

Feature documentary film, directed by Caroline Rowland (UK). In the summer of 2012, the most talented young athletes from around the world responded to the call to compete in the London Olympic Games. In the final weeks before the Games, we meet them at their homes in Britain, Ireland, the USA, Kenya, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, France, and India. This uplifting, sometimes whimsical story describes the humanity of young people whose dreams and determination have led them to the greatest sporting event in the world, and captures and reflects their personal experiences. It seeks to offer a glimpse of how these extraordinary athletes are really just very ordinary young people. ~104 minutes

freedivingFREE-DIVING WITH KILLER WHALES

Feature documentary, Directed by: Eskil Hardt (Denmark). This documentary follows Stig Aavall Severinsen, current World Champion in freediving, as he lives out his dream to fearlessly interact with killer whales and explore their mesmerizing underwater world, diving only wih a mask and snorkel. The film takes viewers on an unforgettable journey north of the Polar Circle, to Tysfjorden, Norway, where killer whales come each year to hunt and eat herring.~ 45 minutes

HEY, DIRT

Short film, directed by Beth Osnes (USA). A solo performance to illuminate social issues and ignite positive social change, as a woman checks in with her old friend, dirt, and revisits their solidarity. ~4 minutes.

holdonHOLD ON

Short film, directed by: Jackie Julio & Doug Olear (USA). This must-see, delightful, and thought-provoking film is a quirky comedy about Rose, a spirited, real-life quadriplegic, and famed physicist, who goes to extreme measures in her fantastic quest for romance and true love. This engaging, story, filmed in a fantastic old mansion, – part romance, part magic realism – is sprinkled with absurdity and symbolism, adding more than a touch of spice for the consummate film lover. Starring Jackie Julio, Doug Olear (“The Wire”) and Dominic West (“Chicago”), and featuring music by Bruce Springsteen. ~ 21 minutes

ifiwereabellIF I WERE A BELL

Short film, directed by Sherese Robinson Lee (USA). If I Were A Bell is a hip-hop tale of two brothers unexpectedly caught in a passionate love triangle with a rising sexy female rapper who comes in between them. This sensual story of love and betrayal is told through vivid provocative rhyme. ~20 minutes

JIANGSU: LAND OF GOOD FORTUNE

Feature documentary travel film, directed by Chris Nebe (USA). Revel in the time-honored magic of the sacred spirit of nature, and discover the beauty and ancient traditions of the Jiangsu province in China, with its lovely Venice of the Far East, where the revered author, Pearl S. Buck, lived and wrote her prize-winning novels.. ~60 minutes 

kakoKAKO SAM OSTAO BEZ KRILA (HOW I LOST MY WINGS)

Short film, directed by Ivan Tasic (Serbia). Resistance of a common man for the kind of regime and authority that he finds in his beloved country. Life of an individual who was born in a socialistic state that has experienced many divisive changes of regimes, with icons such as Stalin, Tito, Milosevic, and which is startlingly depicted through a surrealistic and chronological series of rituals, in an artistic and poignant attempt to make sense of the chaos. 22 minutes

khaltiKHALTI DOKA VARTI PAAY (UPSIDE DOWN)

Feature film, directed by Ajay Singh (India). Upside Down is a metaphorical revelation about the ways and means of everyday city life, as seen through the eyes of a little village kid. Upside Down asks for our attention towards the high paced, highly glamorous ways we live our lives, which for a naïve village kid is nothing short of a spectacle witnessed during the carnival or circus, making us ponder whether we have got it all wrong. ~80 minutes

kingKING TIGERMORE IN STRAWBERRY FIELDS

Animation film, directed by Tunde Reid-Kapo (USA). Synchronized to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G Minor, It all begins in Central Park’s Strawberry Fields, when eight-year-old Kimi, the boy who plays chess in his dreams, falls asleep during a chess match, and imagines that the white king piece in his chess game has come to life as King Tigermore, in this delightful children’s animation. ~4 minutes

lifeiswonderfulLIFE IS SO WONDERFUL

Short film, directed by Kayin Cheng (UK). One young woman, a dreamer, longs to dance with a man she sees at the plaza and prepares herself endlessly to dance with him. While at the same time, another woman dancer sees the same man and also wants him, but the two women eventually realize that what they really covet is not exactly what they expected. ~ 8 minutes

littledancerLITTLE DANCER

Feature film, directed by George Jecel (Austria/Ukraine). New ways have taken over in the rural backwater of an Eastern European country. Tradition is losing out to greed and personal gain, with a steep price paid in the currency of human suffering. Tatjiana, an exceptional and gifted peasant girl, has a legitimate shot at attending the National Ballet Academy. Her dream is shared by her instructor and priest, Father Nikolai, and by her love interest, Vasa, a war-orphaned boy living in the forest by himself. As Tatjiana’s departure to ballet school draws closer, her naïve aspirations meet head-on with the brutality of a new world that is without a moral compass. In Russian, with English subtitles. ~ ~104 minutes

MANHATTAN MERMAID

Short fantasy film, directed by Tristan Von Christann (US). “We shall linger in the chamber of the sea, with sirens wreathed in seaweed red and brown till human voices wake us…” – T.S. Eliot. An inspirational film about a species we can only rarely see, being so blinded by thoughts and the slowness of our senses.  ~7 minutes

masqueMASQUE

Feature film, directed by Robert Hatch (USA). Colorado McBride has led an evil life as a prizefighter, henchman and gambler whose malevolently scarred face reflects the exacting image of his dark and loathsome past. Double-crossed and left for dead, McBride is drawn to a beautiful and compassionate country woman widow who nurtures him back to health but shuns his romantic advances, illuminating that the man who might “win her heart” would countenance “a mirror of true love”. Defying a fate of destruction and despair, the artful skills of a gifted mask-maker offer the hope of a long journey to redemption. Starring Lauren Holly and Wilford Brimley. ~40 minutes

memoriesMEMORIES FOR SALE

Short film, directed by Christian de Rezendes (USA). Charlie O’Neal (David Sullivan) is a writer desperate for a big break. For four years he has been writing a biography on the great Sid Freedman (Bob Colonna), a famous comedian from the golden age of television. But when the book’s contents seem ‘too tame’ or dull to interest any publisher, Charlie’s literary agent Bruce Halpern (Jerry Bisantz) organizes an impromptu meeting in his office with Sid’s granddaughter Rachel (Melissa Penick) bringing him in. Bruce coerces Charlie into interrogating Sid on the private yet scandalous details surrounding his career, much to Charlie’s dismay and all for just a few more juicy tabloid-headlining pages. What is the price of a man’s dignity? ~25 minutes

onenightonthemoonONE NIGHT THE MOON

Feature film, One Night the Moon was inspired by the true story of indigenous tracker, Alexander Riley as depicted in Black Tracker (1997). Set in the 1930s Australian Outback, starring singer Paul Kelly as a farmer, Jim Ryan, newly settled in the area. He is the father of a girl, Emily who climbs out the window of their farmhouse one night and follows the moon into the hills. Rose Ryan, comes to check on her daughter only to find that Emily is missing. The Ryans get the local police to search for her, but when their Aboriginal tracker, arrives, the father says he does not want any blacks on his land, leading to tragic consequences.  ~55 minutes 

ourcommonrootsOUR COMMON ROOTS

Feature documentary film, directed by Glenn Axford (Canada). This film speaks to  the therapeutic and energetic qualities of medicinal plants of the forest, field and garden. Reconnecting with the intelligence of the plant kingdom, and our global healing traditions such as Ayurveda, might just be the most rewarding investment we can make – not only for ourselves, but also for our planet, and all future generations. The film is a cinematic mix of nature, music, narration and on-location plant walks covering over 35 healing plants and the holistic philosophy behind their use. Our goal is to empower the viewer with the knowledge that health and vitality can be achieved through integrating the best of both modern and traditional methods. ~102 minutes There will be a nature hike with a local naturalist immediately after the screening.

pandorashopePANDORA’S HOPE

Short documentary film, directed by Kit Farrell (USA). follows Kit Farrell, a young journalist and filmmaker, as she explores a side of Kauai, Hawaii rarely seen by the millions of visitors who come seeking paradise on earth. Through a series of interviews, the film shines daylight on secretive corporate & government scientific research; growing trends in open source science; and the urgent need for transparency and ethical responsibility. Kit’s journey ultimately stirs up questions about how we balance the need for progress with our basic human rights, native traditional ways, and the environment, not to mention naturally arising concerns about what evils might be unleashed in the process of modernization and technology. ~ 20 minutes

paperPAPER

Short film, directed by Ivan Kraljevic (USA). Mashka, a lovely Russian young woman, in search of the American dream, escapes from her devastating life in a Brooklyn massage parlor, only to find herself alone in Venice Beach without any money, passport or paperwork allowing her to stay in the US. A chain of fateful events forces her into an agonizing decision. What would you do for Paper? ~23 minutes

peaceablePEACEABLE KINGDOM: THE JOURNEY HOME

Feature documentary, Directed by: Jenny Stein (US). Combining the gripping testimony of farmers breaking a long-held code of silence, and with rare footage demonstrating the rich emotional lives of farm animals, this new documentary from the award-winning filmmakers of THE WITNESS invites viewers on an epic journey of awakening conscience. The farmers’ touching personal experiences with individual animals challenge what they’ve been taught since childhood, forcing them to acknowledge that these beings have greater mental and emotional depth than they were ever led to believe.  ~ 78 minutes

PHOTO TREKKER: THE AMERICAN WEST

Short documentary film, directed by Keith Kiska (USA). The American West beckons photographers to explore, to brave the wild, and to capture it. A month-long photographic expedition, spanning more than 8,000 miles, witnessing some of the most iconic visual wonders of the west, and capturing them, immerses the audience in the world of nature photography, and the heart of America’s wildernesses. We want to take you along with us, to put you behind the lens, and experience these natural wonders firsthand. Blistering desert winds, iced mountain peaks, and rugged coastal shores are just some of the elements we will brave to capture that perfect shot. ~11 minutes

pinkballoonsPINK BALLOONS

Short film, directed by Rebecca Rocheford Davies (Australia). When a nurse’s daily ritual of buying a pink balloon for a young patient is disrupted, an unlikely friendship is formed, and a quiet but poignant denouement ensues. ~7 minutes

planetrethinkPLANET RE:THINK

Feature documentary film, directed by Eskil Hardt (Denmark). Today we are facing not one but two global crises: the financial crisis but also the more insidious one relating to our misuse and overuse of the Earth’s limited natural resources. The two are so tightly linked that we will not solve the global financial crisis until we start to think of using these resources more efficiently and sustainably. Our growing dependence on these finite resources for new technology will only deepen the financial crisis, as prices increase, exponentially. A potential battleground for the future has been laid, as these resources get more and more scarce. Planet RE:think, via incredible cinematography,  investigates where we are failing, and gives hope for our future, on a planet with only finite resources. ~90 minutes

powertoolsPOWERTOOLS

Short film, directed by Beth Osnes (USA). A solo performance to illuminate social issues and ignite positive social change, comparing the power of women’s votes to power tools capable of reshaping our world ~2 minutes

PRRREÜTE

Short multi-media film, directed by Thierry de Coster (Belgium). A story about a courtship between two strange characters out of time, accompanied by an apathetic hen and a very erotic red glove. ~6 minutes

pumziPUMZI

Short film, directed by Wanuri Kahiu, 21 minutes, (Kenya) Pumzi is a sci-fi film set in a futuristic Africa, 35 years after World War III, “The Water War.” The outside world is deemed extinct, and leaving one’s indoor community has been outlawed. Asha, who lives and works as a museum curator in one such community, risks it all for her belief that life exists on the outside. An Africa First film. In English ~21 minutes

putitinabookPUT IT IN A BOOK

Short film directed by Rodrigo Garcia, 30 minutes (USA) is about two brothers: when one is killed by gang violence, the other must choose between two paths, one of righteousness or one of revenge. The writer and star, Jabril Muhammad, who has Sickle Cell Anemia, was inspired by his experience working with Make A Film Foundation to realize his dream of starring in his own short film. ~30 minutes

REPAIRED?

Animation, directed by Seung-Hoo Ihm. Two really stupid aliens try to fix their UFO after crashing from the Moon to the Earth, but they don’t know how to. While one tends to follow by the manual to fix it, the other wants to do by instinct. Finally they fix the UFO but they encounter an unexpected situation. ~ 5 minutes

REVEALED, Portraits from Beneath One’s Surface

Feature documentary film, directed by Christian de Rezendes (USA). Photographer Scott Indermaur creates one-of-a-kind portraits of 11 individuals who have been given the unique challenge of symbolically capturing their essence and spirituality in a small box. ~42 minutes

rosemarytimeROSE, MARY AND TIME

Short film, directed by Hardeep Giani (UK). This film is a story of second chances. Barney lost the love of his life around six years ago. Through the magic contained within a clock he inherited, and with the help of an old Indian shopkeeper, Barney finds himself back in time, with the opportunity to save her…but life isn’t always as easy as that. Is life governed by Kismet, or can we change our life path? ~38 minutes

myshoesSABBAT EL AÏD (MY SHOES)

Short film, directed by Anis Lassoud (Tunisia). In a small countryside village, Ahmed is a 9 year old boy with a passion for running. Under the influence and with the help of Ba Zdig, the village idiot, he dreams of becoming an Olympic Champion. He not only runs for that reason, but also because he needs it, it is his vocation, for the simple pleasure of it and to attain a passionate weightlessness. He will go through his ordeal between dreams and nightmares, hopes and frustrations. But the day of Aid will bring him the much-coveted shoes and the whole village will celebrate and share his joy. ~30 minutes. In Arabic, with English subtitles

SACRED SITES OF THE DALAI LAMAS

Feature documentary film, directed by Michael Weise (UK). A remarkable pilgrimage which visits the sacred sites of the Dalai Lamas in Tibet. This fascinating journey explores the caves, monasteries and power places where the early Buddhist masters meditated and achieved enlightenment. At an altitude of over 17,000 feet – it looks down into the famous oracle lake of Lhamo Lhatso where every Dalai Lama has had prophetic visions. ~120 minutes

shangrilaSHANGRI-LA CAFÉ

Short film, The film is about a Japanese-American family who conceals their identity and reluctantly adopts discriminatory practices in order to operate a Chinese restaurant within the hostile cold war climate of Las Vegas in the late 1950s. “A stirring evocation of a very personal place and time, ‘The Shangri-la Cafe’ serves up a tender, bittersweet childhood recollection of a not always glittering Las Vegas past.”
-Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter. ~30 minutes

twoflagsSHNEY DEGALIM (TWO FLAGS)

Feature film for kids & adults, Directed by: Lior Molcho (Israel). Set in the time of WW2, this passionate, poignant film tells the story of a small group of underdog kids fighting to save their home from their local bully. The kids must decide: How far will you go to defend your home? Showcasing innovative visual effects, Molcho’s directorial debut presents an inspiring story that speaks to children and adults everywhere, especially in the  war-torn areas of the world today. ~80 minutes

siberiamonamourSIBERIA, MONAMOUR

Feature film, Siberia. Late autumn. In taiga, in the deserted village there lives an old man Ivan & his seven-year-old grandson Leshia. A pack of feral dogs devours everything alive in the neighborhood. One of these dogs is Leshia’s best friend. Sometimes their uncle Yuri brings food to them. Once, on his way back from Ivan’s village, uncle Yuri is attacked by dogs & perishes. Once Leshia witnesses Ivan shooting at ‘his’ dog & runs away. The old Man finds him in a dry well, but he fails to get him out on his own. Ivan sets out through taiga in search of help. Now the dogs are hunting him… and the boy is waiting for his father to rescue him… In Russian, with English subtitles.~101 minutes

silentsnowSILENT SNOW

Short documentary film, directed by Jan Vanden Berg (Netherlands). Against the background of melting ice and a white landscape, two young native girls in Northern Greenland speak out against the dangerous pollution and global warming which is dramatically changing their lives, and the traditional livelihoods of their families. Ole Jørgen Hammeken is one of the main characters in the film. He is a famed Greenlandic explorer and social worker, and was very important for making the film possible and arranging for the filming in Greenland. In Inulitiput, with English subtitles. ~ 14 minutes

skyblueSKY BLUE COLLAR

Short film, directed by Derek Frey (USA). A businessman and a carpet installer enjoy a wild and playful friendship, but when their class-conscious bosses pressure them to steer clear of each other, the Romeo and Juliet of the workaday world must decide what’s more important: how we make a living, or who and what we’re living for. ~8 minutes 

zionistsSOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE ZIONISTS

Feature documentary film, directed by Bruce Robbins (USA). Through interviews with both young people and notable Jewish artists and intellectuals such as director Tony Kushner, Judith Butler, James Shamus, and author Gary Shteyngart, Some of My Best Friends are Zionists explores the changing views of the American-Jewish community on the state of Israel. Despite statements from official Jewish organizations, or the reports in the mainstream media, when it comes to American support of Zionism, radical change appears to be happening. ~47 minutes

SOUL OF CHINA

Feature documentary film, directed by Ray, Kai Chung Mak (Hong Kong). With a history of over a thousand years, the Jingdezhen imperial kilns were a treasure trove of knowledge and craft. But the traditions passed down by our ancestors are slowly dying out. Gong Hua, a master ceramist, is determined to retrace the footsteps of our ancestors. Faithfully adhering to each step of the process is what he believes gives the China its unique soul and character. A young woman is involved in the traditional antiques trade and this summer, she left Hong Kong and traveled to Jingdezhen in order to witness the rebirth of a thousand-year-old kiln. The experience inspired her to continue to pursue her passion. She realized that these works of art are priceless. ~40 minutes

SPAGHETTI FÜR ZWEI (SPAGHETTI FOR TWO)

Short film, directed by Matthias Rosenberger & Betina Dubler, 19 minutes, (GERMANY). How a seemingly ordinary day becomes a significant turning point for an unremarkable man, thanks to a minimal shift of fate. A likeable but lonesome man is on his way to lunch. Awaiting him, the outside world lurks menacingly: in his imagination it swarms with would-be crooks, hussies and criminals. What should have been a routine stroll develops into a dark odyssey, triggering a troubled conflict against himself and against the world… but ultimately, it is the underdog who is victorious. In German, with English subtitles. ~19 minutes

STABAT

Animation film, directed by Luciano DeFraia (Italy). The narrative journey of the film begins with the voyage of angelic figures through endless territories of space and time. It is the voyage of the conscience on the trail of illuminated existences. Stabat is dedicated to the memory of all pacifists who have fought to change the world. The director, Luciano DeFraia, passed away suddenly, and the screening of this film is a grateful tribute to him. ~7 minutes

STRANGEFACE

Short film, directed by Lynne Vincent McCarthy, 10 minutes, (AUSTRALIA). Finding a best friend can be scary. Ten year-old Ana longs for a friend, but her odd attempts to connect freak the other kids out. Retreating into the bush for another day of lone exploring, she comes upon a stranger intent on drowning a puppy in the river. Horrified, she battles her fear and confronts the man, saving the dog, and unexpectedly finding the loyal and non-judgmental  companionship she has craved. ~10 minutes

talkingwithspiritsTALKING WITH THE SPIRITS

Feature documentary film, directed by Michael Weise (UK). Filmed in a remote village in Bali, in the 1970’s. In he world where the Balinese live, the Balinese spend half their life participating in elaborate rituals and ceremonies evoking the spirits of the ancestors and honoring countless spirits and deities – both gods and demons – who influence their world. Bali yielded its secrets as trance dancers, mediums, shadow masters, priests and healers revealed the spiritual practices and portals to these sacred dimensions. The result – a filmic treasure with many never-before-seen moments that makes us question everything we know about the nature of reality, consciousness and the source of creativity and inspiration. ~90 minutes

TANGHI ARGENTINI (ARGENTINIAN TANGO)

Short film, 13 minutes, directed by Guido Thys (Belgium). Nominated for a 2007 Academy Award for best foreign short film. This sweet story is about a  middle-aged office drone who begs a co-worker to teach him to tango, in anticipation of a bind-date he found online. It’s Christmas-time, and the concept of office place gift-giving assumes a fairy-tale proportions,  in this beguiling tale. Our hero wants to give something very real and very precious. Elegantly filmed and crisply edited, the 14-minute tale unfolds with wit as the unlikely duo perfect terpsichorean flourishes amid the filing cabinets. This delightfully-plotted film has a surprise ending, which is both enchanting and thought-provoking. In Dutch, with English subtitles. ~14 minutes

THE 25,000 MILE LOVE STORY

Feature documentary film, directed by John Davies (USA). The 25,000 Mile Love Story chronicles the amazing journey of endurance athlete, Serge Roetheli, as he endeavors to run a distance equal to the earth’s circumference to bring awareness and raise money for the world’s impoverished children. Accompanied by his wife Nicole, their unforgettable journey spans five years, covering six continents and unforgiving landscapes. Confronted with challenges that pushed them beyond their limits, the Roethelis battled against extreme weather, civil unrest, and near-death illnesses. Remarkably, they survived it all. At the heart of their journey is a poignant love story; a relationship of two people who believe in achieving the impossible, and whose story ends with a shocking and tragic twist. ~86 minutes

boywhofliesTHE BOY WHO FLIES

Feature documentary film, directed by Benjamin Jordan (Canada). (n’dee-zo-teh-ka) From opposite corners of the earth, two men are united by a common dream; to be the first to paraglide from Mount Mulanje, Malawi’s highest peak. Things go well until they discover that one doesn’t know what he’s in for, and the other doesn’t know how to paraglide. Ultimately, their commitment to each other dissolves borders as they achieve something far greater than they could have ever imagined. ~45 minutes

THE CHARON INCIDENT

Short film, directed by Allan Wylie (Canada). A private fixer is stationed in England, set to complete his final assignment. The film pays homage to thrillers of the 1970s, while blending a retro lens with cutting-edge technology. The result is a chilling look at the fragility of society — especially when Science mixes with greed. Against the backdrop of London, the fixer waits for instructions from his handler. This is to be his final assignment as a highly discrete and effective Private Fixer. ~20 minutes

thediverTHE DIVER

Animation film, directed by Damon Mohl (USA). The strange and poignant life of a plastic toy diver, as he lives out his days in remarkable landscapes and circumstances: thrown by a boy into a pond to sink or swim with fishes, left and forgotten in a dark toy box with other discarded toys, in this amazingly beautiful and yet familiar world. A startling realization sets in, on a deeper level, as we start to realize that this story may parallel some aspects of one’s own life. ~14 minutes

duckandelephantTHE DUCK AND THE ELEPHANT

Short multi-media film for kids, directed by Jessica Hayes (Australia). A duck and an elephant set off to sea in a beautiful pea green boat, but an almighty wave sends the animal adventurers off-course, leading them toward different futures from the ones they originally had planned. ~ 7 minutes

dustmachineTHE DUST MACHINE

Animation, directed by Damon Mohl (USA). A highly imaginative visual journey into a dark microscopic world, The Dust Machine is a poetic expressionistic meditation on absurd technological eras of exploration, isolation and communication. ~15 minutes

THE FIREBIRD

Short film, directed by Antonis Tsonis (Australia). From the depths of political exclusion an artist is born. Young Omid is forced to flee his homeland because of political unrest and his father’s revolutionary poetry for freedom. To endure the consequences and survive mandatory imprisonment and deportation from Australia, Omid trusts in the wisdom of the great poets and his father’s words to avoid surrender, both literal and internal. ~26 minutes

THE INCIDENT AT TOWER 37

Animation film, Directed by: Chris Perry  (US). In the middle of a dry, desolate landscape stands Tower 37: a shimmering water processing station, siphoning every last drop of water from a once-pristine lake. Day in and day out the station’s lone steward monitors the tower’s activities, never realizing that Tower 37 is slowly destroying an entire ecosystem. But when two unexpected guests arrive, the tower’s operator learns the high cost of his ignorance. ‘The Incident at Tower 37’ leverages the power of allegory and the beauty of computer animation to foster a debate about the ownership, use, and exhaustion of natural resources. ~ 5 minutes

THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF OSCAR BERGER

Animation film for kids, directed by D. Evan Simpson (USA). Oscar Berger is an adolescent iceberg living happily in the North Pole whose journey begins when he breaks away from the pack to disable a ship dumping toxic waste. Caught up in the currents, he drifts southward, undergoing transformations and meeting interesting characters, many threatened by the humans’ ongoing disregard for the planet and her creatures. ~ 18 minutes

THE LAST PAPERBOY

Short film, directed by Sheri Ratick Stroud, 5 minutes, (USA). The nostalgic story of the last day on the job for the very last living paperboy in America. ~5 minutes

THE LONG JOURNEY HOME

Animation, directed by Billie Mintz (US). In a village that never knew sickness, a boy is sent into the wilderness to find the cure to his strange illness. He returns from his great journey to a village that does not recognize him for the changes he has endured. Until one day, much later, the village sends out a young warrior to find the boy and bring him home. It is time. They are ready to hear his life-affirming story. ~5 minutes

THE MAGIC BRACELET

Short film, directed by young filmmaker Jon Poll (USA). ‘The Magic Bracelet’ mysteriously links best friends Angela, Ashley and a cheese-obsessed dog. When Ashley inherits a totem bracelet from a friend who died of Mitochondrial Disease- the same illness she herself battles- it leads the girls on a mystical journey of discovery in which a new level of friendship, family and healing is revealed. (This project was created by Make A Film Foundation to fulfill the wish of 15 year old Rina Goldberg whose final words to her mom before she died of Mitochondrial disease were ‘Promise to take care of my film.’ www.makeafilmfoundation.org) ~ 18 minutes 

nightbeforechristmasTHE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Short film, directed by Bart Grieb (USA). When Dad accidentally shoots a would-be burglar on Christmas Eve, he and his family discover the true meaning of Christmas in this hilarious spoof of Santa Claus in suburbia. ~20 minutes 

orchardTHE ORCHARD

Short narrative film, directed by Margaret Nussbaum (USA). A mother and son struggle with the effects of climate change; but this eco-thriller really heats up when they accidentally trespass upon the mysterious doings in ‘The Orchard’. “We’re telling the story of a mother and child, dealing with the difficult consequences of climate change. We really need to keep our collective carbon footprints to a minimum,” says director and co-producer, Margaret Nussbaum. 24 minutes

thepainterTHE PAINTER

Short film, directed by Nate Townsend (USA). Obsessed by events that changed his life decades ago, an amateur artist finally returns to the farm where it all began. One man’s journey in search of redemption, closure, and peace. ~10 minutes

THE ROAD HOME

Short film for kids, Directed by: Rahul Gandotra (UK). Bullied by his schoolmates for insisting he is British, despite his Indian heritage, 10 year-old Pico runs away from his boarding school in the Himalayas, determined to return to his home in far-away England. As he treks through a stunning landscape unknown to him, he encounters others along the way who treat him as an Indian. ~21 minutes

THE SOUND OF CRICKETS AT NIGHT

Feature film, directed by Jack Niedenthal & Suzanne Chutaro, (Marshall Islands). An elderly nuclear survivor from Bikini Atoll in the Pacific summons a mysterious ancient deity to help reunite his family. The Sound of Crickets at Night is the story of a family displaced as a result of nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll and now living in exile on Ejit Island in the Marshall Islands. Most of the actors are from the Bikinian community, residing in exile on Ejet Island of the Majuro Atoll. The film, entirely shot on Bikini Atoll and Majuro, is in English & the Marshallese language with English subtitles, as needed.  ~57 minutes

THE WIND FISHERMAN

Short film, directed by Anna McRoberts, 12 minutes (USA). The Windfisherman lives in the windiest little town in the world, where he “fishes” for things that have blown away, and returns them to their rightful owners. His father, grandfather, great-grandfather & even great-great grandfather before him were all the town’s Windfishermen, but even though it is in his blood, it’s not in his heart, at least not until he learns one of life’s most valuable lessons, in this beautifully-filmed allegorical tale. ~12 minutes

TIDAL BLUES

Music video, directed by Ian Hitre, music & lyrics by Ted May (USA). Tidal Blues depicts, in film noir images, the ravages and joys of a weathered life, from hurricanes to passionate loves and losses, while paying grateful homage to the history and the rhythms of Blues and Jazz, to the places it grew from, and to the greats who have contributed to its timeless evolution. ~5 minutes

TWENTY FEET CLOSE

Short film, directed by Daniel DiBella (USA). Two Indian brothers, Maalik and Aadil, are holding a middle-aged woman, Natalie, and her elderly limo driver at gunpoint in limo service car. The two brothers must contend with questions of their own morality as a result of their impulsive choices made during a crude kidnapping situation. ~12 minutes

UNDER OUR SKIN

Feature documentary film, directed by: Andy Abrahams Wilson (USA). It’s bigger than AIDS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu, combined, yet most physicians don’t recognize it or are afraid to report it. Insurance companies pay experts to say it’s all in your head. And the mainstream medical establishment won’t want you to see this film. Each year tens of thousands go undiagnosed or mis-diagnosed with such conditions as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and even autism, MS and Alzheimer’s. The shocking story of Lyme disease, what may be the fastest-growing infectious disease in the nation, and a hidden epidemic destroying untold numbers of lives. ~ 104 minutes

WAYS TO GO

Music video, directed by David Cho & Evan Urman (USA). A wild, fantastic  musical day in the boring life of a fictional Kim Jeng-un, as a young boy, and his only good day, ever.   ~5 minutes

WE ARE VOICES FOR A FUTURE WITHOUT GENOCIDE

Feature musical documentary film, directed by Denise Gentilini & Lynette Prisner (USA). A rousing and poignant music concert featuring the fabulous Hazel Miller, full classical orchestra, and other talented musicians and singers, as well as speakers on genocide. This film is a passionate plea for ending world genocide. Music composers: Denise Gentilini, Lisa Nemzo, Reva Janis Tunnell, Beth Avedis & Robbyn Kirmsse.  ~90 minutes

wewerequietWE WERE QUIET ONCE

Feature documentary film, directed by Laura Beachy, Ryan Balton, & Cory Sage (USA).  Somerset, Pennsylvania, was a picture-perfect small, rural  farming town, where life embodied a quiet, pleasant innocence. That is, until September 11, 2001, when United Flight 93 crashed in Somerset’s sheltered countryside, claiming 40 innocent lives, and forever changing the people on the ground. How do these people memorialize the tragedy which touched them? Grief connected this small community with a nation and a world. This film reveals how the community embraced a passionate patriotism, and went on to ride all the way to Washington, DC, and to Ground Zero, some 2000-strong, to show the world that Americans will not forget the brave sacrifice of those 40 lives.  Let’s roll! ~60 minutes

WILDERNESS WITHIN (PAPOU AND YIAYIA)

Short film, directed by Evangelos Maderakis (Greece), screenplay by Elizabeth English (US). In this true story, an elderly Greek man ponders his long and passionate life as a peasant boy at the turn of the century in Greece. Old Petros relates his unique, Zorba-esque tale of an undying love for his late wife; a tale of incredible, mystical adventures, a poignant quest for life lived to the fullest, and a venture into the realms of the impossible. Petros, a wild orphan boy, falls in love with the village mayor’s daughter and determines to marry her, despite the differences in their social status. He kidnaps her one night and makes her his wife in a moonlit poppy field. Petros’ young wife, a strong-willed woman, is the equal to his story, and the tale becomes hers, too, in this multi-award-winning classical, Hellenic saga. 18 minutes

zennoirZEN NOIR

Feature film, directed by Marc Rosenbush (USA). A surrealist Buddhist murder mystery. A nameless ‘noir’ detective, still mourning the loss of his wife, investigates a mysterious death in a Buddhist temple, but his logical, left-brained crime-solving skills are useless in the intuitive, non-linear world of Zen. ~71 minutes

ZIMBABWE

Short film, directed by Anjuli Hinds (US). Amidst the turmoil and uncertainty of a militant regime, two young children, one white, the other black, are forced into a conflict they hardly understand when they are pitted one against the other. What’s left is not an end to the aching strife of Zimbabwe, but two fathers who realize that their fight was never worth the cost.  ~16 minutes