Sunday, May 13th - Beverly Hills Music Hall

The Soup (La Soupe) Cyprus

Director: Nicos Synnos

BEST ANIMATED FILM

A man has two chickens. When one chicken gets ill, the man kills the healthy one to make a soup for the poorly one. This is a story that inverts our perception about priorities and superiorities and scratches at the thin line between love, life and nonsense.

What kind of sacrifice can one make for loved ones? And what kind of sacrifice can a chicken make? Do chickens live in Matrix? How much yellow can one put into a single film? Is sacrifice rational? Does love breed death? Seemingly simply animated film, with a whole lot of questions …and little bit of vegetables.

West Coast Premiere

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Top Ramen USA

Director: Rebecca Hertz

DRAMA SHORTS 13a

TOP RAMEN stars Tracie Thoms as a protestor whose activism lands her in jail … and forces her two young daughters to fend for themselves. Inspired by a true story.

World Premiere

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Ansel's Elgar USA

Director: Angie Su

DRAMA SHORTS 13a

Cello follows Ansel Evans (Lynn Harrell), a master cellist who has been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. As his condition worsens, Ansel makes the decision to minimize the physical and emotional suffering for himself and his loved ones that culminates in a stirring farewell symphony concert. The cellist’s playful young ten-year-old granddaughter (Samantha Desman) ponders the inevitability of her grandfather’s condition and what it means to suffer in a world she doesn’t yet understand.

IFS Premiere

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Convergence USA

Director: Melissa Holt

DRAMA SHORTS 13a

GARY, 60, is a Vietnam Vet. Suffering from tinnitus and PTSD, he lives a reclusive life. Still haunted by the war and behind in his bills, he uses his hobby of building and racing classic hot rods in an attempt to seek solace and escape the past. That is, until he receives a letter from his long lost daughter.

Plagued by memories of his ex-wife and daughter, Gary’s no longer able to escape from his past. He soon realizes the link that he and his daughter shared was his hobby of building and driving cars.

Flooded with new ideas, Gary designs and builds a new car from scratch. Once finished, he leaves in his new roadster in an attempt to seek out his daughter and repair their strained relationship.

World Premiere

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Bicker USA

Director: Philipp Nesterenko

DRAMA SHORTS 13a

Jackson and Robin are not your typical couple, they play their own twisted game and call it a relationship. After another round, Robin sees an opportunity for a revenge. She goes for a win, but is she the one who’s actually being played?

“BICKER” unveils a theme of relationships that shouldn’t work, but they somehow do. It was directed by a young director Philipp Nesterenko, who worked on the upcoming feature film “Leto” by Kirill Serebrennikov. While Ian Down, who recently starred in TV drama “The Truth About Carl Jennings”, is playing a role of Jackson.

IFS Premiere

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Then I'll Rest USA

Director: Anthony L. Gilardi

DRAMA SHORTS 13a

Then I'll Rest takes place in present day Los Angeles, and is the story of Lucky Ramos (Wilson Ramirez). A once talented amateur boxer who threw it all away for drugs and the gang life. Now a recovering addict and somewhat reformed veteran of the streets. We are taken on Lucky's journey as he continues to battle past demons while facing new challenges, such as raising his young son Anthony (Stewart Flores), risking everything to save his brother Raccoon (Al Marchesi) from a deadly fate and settle his debt with the neighborhood Shot Caller Cobra (Anthony Fernandez).

Like all things in life, sometimes the path you set is not always the one you walk. Will Lucky be able to save the ones he loves?

Cast: Anthony Fernandez, Carlos Ayala, Wilson Ramirez, Cesar Garcia, Stewart Flores, Al Marchesi, David Gomez, Daniel Salvador

IFS Premiere

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Queer and Southern God USA

Director: Melisse Tokic

LGBTQ SHORTS 13b

Southern Gothic, biblical tale, set in rural Tennessee.

After being raped, Hank, a trans person, finds himself knocked up and alone. In spite of a lifetime of attempts, Hank can’t shake his Christian guilt, and is in a constant wrestling match with his choices.

We follow Hank through a series of encounters with a quirky cast of characters that can only be found in the South. Mama’s too drunk to lend an ear. His older boyfriend is full of condemnation. Honey Lynn, is a breath of fresh air that offers the most unexpected solution.

The film explores the complex intricacies of contrasting spiritual paths, addiction, micro-aggressions and hope after violence. It is an illustration of the experience of being raised in the God fearing South and discovering the difference between spirituality and religion. The film is a 'Queer' ride that hopes to increase awareness between cultures, and implement discussions between those from different backgrounds in order to implement positive change.

World Premiere

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Violets USA

Director: Maren H. Jensen

Best LGBTQ Short

LGBTQ SHORTS 13b

Violets is a short film about love, and how one family is transformed when it's patriarch is revealed to be transgender.

It follows John, a faithful father, son, husband, and LAPD officer grappling with gender identity and her journey as she and her wife Violet struggle to navigate love and life within their predominately Christian, African-American community in South Central, Los Angeles.
At its heart, this film is a story about love.

Starring Loretta Devine, Scott St. Patrick, and Aisha Kabia

IFS Premiere

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The Adventures of Ready Freddy USA

Director: Crispin Alapag

COMEDY SHORTS 13c

The Adventures of Ready Freddy tells the tale of four old friends getting together for a night out. Freddy is the rich superstar of the group with exceptional skills and attributes. His three buddies from high school plan a night out but it’s never a normal night with a friend like Freddy.

World Premiere

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The Lion's Crumbs USA

Director: Terri J. Vaughn

COMEDY SHORTS 13c

The Lion’s Crumbs a comedic short film exploring the ever-debatable topic of marriage roles. Our married couple, Luke and Laura, debate over gender roles, expectations and 'man of the house' obligations. These very real and comedic conversations happen while having dinner with friends, at a therapy session, while hanging with the neighborhood fellas and then while attending a church group. In the end Laura realizes that accepting her family’s flaws and cleaning up their crumbs is just a way to show her love. Luke insists that he would do anything for Laura, but a little ‘puff-puff-pass-pass’ is the best way for any husband to have a peaceful marriage.

West Coast Premiere

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Shy Guys USA

Director: Fredric Lehne

COMEDY SHORTS 13c

Tony Winner Reed Birney brings the laughs as two strangers confront one of the most insidious and perplexing scourges to ever afflict mankind - while standing at neighboring urinals - in this first film from ubiquitous character actor Fredric Lehne.

A festival favorite earning dozens of awards. Recently acquired by Hewes Pictures for worldwide distribution.

IFS Premiere

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Two Germs One Cup USA

Director: Fernanda de Sa Schwartz

COMEDY SHORTS 13c

Bit and Mal, two ordinary germs, get stuck together in a cup of water on a bathroom counter. They need to land on a human body soon, or risk death. Will Becky, the woman who lives in the house, be the key to their survival?

World Premiere

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Knock Knock Head Lock USA

Director: Mike Southerly

COMEDY SHORTS 13c

From marketing executive at Twentieth Century Fox to Creative director for the ad agency Trailer Park, Mike has made his first foray into writing, directing and editing his first short film.

In the spirit of Tarantino and Guy Ritchie KNOCK KNOCK HEAD LOCK is A twisted take on Dickens' classic 'A Christmas Carol" A homebody hitman is visited by four 'ghosts'.

World Premiere

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Addict Israel

Director: Nir Yaniv

HORROR SHORTS 13d

Gershon Goldberg is an addict. On his path to rehabilitation, he's being interviewed for a documentary film. Unfortunately, Gershon isn't addicted to alcohol, tobacco or recreational drums. He's addicted to blood. But never, never call him a vampire.

World Premiere

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Ghosted USA

Director: Sevgi Isabel Cacina

HORROR SHORTS 13d

When an attractive woman visits a therapist to rid herself of the love-sick ghost that's haunting her, she realizes she's going to have to take matters into her own hands. Ghosted is a metaphorical story about false hopes in relationships.

IFS Premiere

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Stones USA

Director: TJ Burke

HORROR SHORTS 13d

A woman walking down a beach knocks over a stack of stones. She shouldn't have done that.

World Premiere

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Smiley's USA

Director: Mike James

HORROR SHORTS 13d

A country legend becomes a waking nightmare for a college student when his study group takes a break to the countryside which leads to a discovery followed by an obsession. A soda machine takes Mitch down a dark rabbit hole he may never return from.

IFS Premiere

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A Love Deed USA

Director: Abdo John Hajj

HORROR SHORTS 13d

A Love Deed is the debut psychological thriller from writer and director Abdo John Hajj. Robert (Isaac Kaufman) and Kim (Lili Bordan) are forced to make an irrevocable decision when they discover the heinous act their troubled thirteen-year-old son Jonathan (Reid Miller) committed. Abdo's short film is a conversation starter that leaves audiences thinking about the unsettling complexities of parenting and family dynamics. Mr. Hajj treats silence as a stand-alone character, working its way into every scene, allowing the plot to serve as a toolkit for unraveling deeper issues between characters. Hajj’s twisted narrative partnered with a bone-chilling and unpredictable original score by Bradley Dujmovic will leave a pit in your stomach.

World Premiere

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Frank and Us USA

Director: Isaiah Wesley Taylor

SCI-FI SHORTS 13e

A natural survivor living in an abandoned post apocalyptic town with his only companion... a stuffed teddy bear left by his daughter and a looming alien spacecraft that hovers in the sky like a creepy uncle.

Frank, our survivor, goes through his daily survival routine; checking his traps, talking to Mr. Bear, scouting the terrain on a pink bike, talking to Mr. Bear, imagining his past life in broken down junkyard cars.... oh and talking to Mr. Bear.

Out of the crisp thin air of loneliness, his desert hideaway is jeopardized when a note threatening pork & beans or death appears in the middle of his camp.

World Premiere

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The 716th USA

Director: Andrew Bowen

SCI-FI SHORTS 13e

THE 716TH is a wildly fun, sci fi adventure about a two insubordinate non-automated combat medics and their admirably brave but poorly conceived attempt to rescue a pair of injured infantry soldiers.

West Coast Premiere

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Love Dream USA

Director: Eric David Wallace

Tiger a talented young artist gets accepted to a prestigious design college in Los Angeles. After finding out his true love has left him for another man, he seeks the help of his friend Fred and even a psychotherapist. As things get worse, Tiger starts to loose his grip on reality and begins to take matters into his own hands.

World Premiere

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Dragon Kin USA

Director: The Tarmac Brothers

Shot almost twenty years ago but finally edited together. This comedy, fantasy-adventure film follows the story of a Brotherhood of Mystics who fall pray to an evil Priest. The Brotherhood consists of Eric Michael Cole (White Squall), Jermey Sisto (Six Feet Under, Law and Order), Meadow Sisto (Captain Ron). Their magical land is destroyed and the Brotherhood is cursed and thrust into modern day San Francisco. According to a prophecy they must find a chosen warrior to help them destroy the evil priest and end their curse.

World Premiere

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Gold Dust USA

Director: David Wall

Lifelong friends Fink and Moses have spent their lives in the remote wilderness of the American southwest searching for the legendary treasure of the Lost Ship of the Desert. But when they stumble across a dead man in a jeep, $3 million in cash, a rickety ultra light aircraft and a lost little girl pilot bringing a new type of treasure over the border - heroin - for an infamous drug lord, their friendship will be tested to the breaking point and beyond. Dancing assassins, opera in uncharted canyons, armed children on dirt bikes, mines, hostages and mirages all form the wild whirlwind called Gold Dust.

IFS Premiere

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