The theme of the November 2024 Festival was “Expression through Conflict”
Audience Winners:
Best Cinematography: MONA’S NORTH BEACH NOIR
Best Comedy: THE DESTRUCTION OF JANE
Best Direction: IN BETWEEN
Best Documentary: TWISTED GAZE
Best Performances: STIGMA
Best Short Film: AVE MARIE
Best Story: O POMAR
SEE THE LINEUP OF FILMS:
STIGMA, 8min., Canada, Dance
Directed by Reilly Michael Saso
Confronted by a heart-wrenching diagnosis and societal scorn in his youth, a young man grapples intensely with mortality and rejection. Three decades later, he embarks on a poignant odyssey through the evocative language of dance, retracing his path to discover solace in self-acceptance, love, and a profound sense of belonging.
O POMAR, 14min,. Portual, Coming of Age
Directed by Ana Manana, Joana Lourenço
West, end of the summer. Laura works at the pear harvesting, a family business. During the afternoon, Carol arrives at the village to spend a few of her vacations. That night, Laura is confronted by her regarding her true intent.
AVE MARIE, 13min., New Zealand, Drama
Directed by Celestina Louisa Marie Sumby
Set in 1984 suburban Aotearoa New Zealand, Ave Marie is about adopted siblings Marie and Xavier who use dance as a way to escape the day-to-day reality of their mother’s religious rants and the neighbourhood bullies. While tough and unforgiving Xavier insists on putting himself front and centre of every dance routine and fighting the BMX gang for his right to wear lycra, Marie decides she wants to shine too. When their staunchly Catholic mother leaves the kids home alone for another funeral, Marie gets her chance.
https://instagram.com/ave_marie_shortfilm
MONA’S NORTH BEACH NOIR, 21min., USA, Film Noir
Directed by Kip Pearson
It’s San Francisco in the 1950s and post war paranoia is at its height. Mitch Marlowe (niece of detective Philip Marlowe) lands in town to start a new life…. passing as a man. She’s brash, confident and very comfortable presenting as a man. What she discovers in North Beach is a vibrant world of artists, criminals, corrupt cops, jazz clubs and the LGBTQ+ shadow world. But is it safe for her anywhere?
http://www.crashingpicturesllc.com/
TWISTED GAZE, 19min., Mexico, Documentary
Directed by David Sanchez V
Diego travels to Turkey, makes a layover in Dubai. There he suffers a series of abuses by authority, sexual and homophobic by the police and military. This leads to a ceaseless search of identity and an obscure social questioning — psychological about masculinity, diversity and the “Who am I”.
IN BETWEEN, 13min., Canada, Drama
Directed by Christie Pawluch
In Between tells the story of Blake, who lives a happy heteronormative life with her long time partner, Eric. After some vivid unexpected dreams, she gets a visit from a love from her past life, Adeline, who shows up to her home from across the world. If your past showed up on your doorstep… what would you do?
http://chriativeproductions.com/
https://www.instagram.com/chriativeproductions/
THE DESTRUCTION OF JANE, 11min., USA, Comedy
Directed by Drue Pennella
The Destruction of Jane is a campy, over the top, erotic, outrageous comedy which follows Miss Jane Parker to the African Jungle where it all began. Witness Tarzan and Jane’s first encounter, in what now has become a rather heralded expedition in the African Jungle, and one of our greatest love stories.
http://www.youtube.com/@thedestructionofjane9756
https://www.instagram.com/destructionofjane
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