POLTER
2019 | Short, Comedy | Spain I 10 min
José faces a paranormal event that breaks into his home. As he fights for his life against the supernatural powers, Jose will have to discover the secret behind the phenomena if he wishes to regain control of his home.
THE DIRECTOR
In 2009 Álvaro Vicario wrote and directed the documentary series about space tourism "To The Sky", in collaboration with Toro Pictures, the NASA, the Virgin Galactic Group and many more european and russian aerospace companies. In 2016, wrote, directed and edited, with Andrés Martín, the short film "El Adivino", selected in over 30 film festivals. He has directed multiple music videos (Taken: Back to Zero) and the Making-Of of: "Las Aventuras de Tadeo Jones", "Ocho Apellidos Vascos", "Plan de Fuga", "Ozzy", etc.
TERCEIRO DIA
2019 | Short I Brazil I 5 min
For days listening to a voice inside her head, a woman reflects on life and existence while doing the dishes.
THE DIRECTOR
Isabella Melo graduated from the Escola Superior de Artes Célia Helena and, in cinema, FAAP, completed her studies at institutions such as the Estúdio de Ballet Cisne Negro, the Royal Academy of Dance, the Arts Educational Schools of London, among others; starred in productions such as "Grease" (Sandy) and currently features in the cast of "11 Selvagens", among the top 10 pieces of Veja SP, already in its 5th season. In cinema, she worked in the production of titles such as: O Bosque dos Sonâmbulos (best short film at the Phenomena Festival 2018), Dracula's Wedding, among other shorts, music videos and advertising campaigns. Currently directs content and show producer Alhena Produções.
LVRS
2018 I Short I USA | 11 min
LVRS (pronounced 'lovers') is a magical-realism/horror film that explores the paradox of a woman choosing to stay in an abusive relationship.
THE DIRECTOR
Emily Bennett trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London (3 year program). She has co-starred on the NBC shows Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Justice, and The Blacklist. Her screenplays have won awards in The Austin Revolution Film Festival, The New York Short Film & Screenplay Competition, The Eat Crow Screenplay Competition, and Shriekfest. As she transitions from acting into writing and directing, her main focus is to tell complex female-driven stories with strong, female led crews.
IN FULL BLOOM
2019 | Short, Animation I USA I 11 min
In Full Bloom is a surrealist short film about overcoming the loss of a partner within the parameters of living as a female Vietnamese immigrant. After her husband’s death, Cecile becomes an agoraphobic hoarder, paradoxically practicing what she loves — gardening — indoors without the help of direct sunlight. She orders worms to grow a rare flower. Though they help the flower grow, the development comes at a price when the worms create a black hole that absorbs everything she cherishes. With her home unrecognizably empty, she has no choice but to leave for the first time since her husband died and re-assimilate into society on her own terms.
THE DIRECTOR
Maegan Houang is a writer and director based in Los Angeles. Born and raised in East Lansing, MI, she grew up watching Hong Kong movies her father showed her on repeat. She worked on the Starz show COUNTERPART as a staff writer on Season Two for which she wrote episode 207 "No Strings Attached" and co-wrote the finale "Better Angels" with creator/showrunner Justin Marks. Maegan also directed several acclaimed music videos for artists such as Mitski, Charly Bliss and Skylar Spence. Her video for Mitski’s “Happy” was featured as #3 Best of the Year in Fact Magazine. Her video for Skylar Spence’s “I Can’t Be Your Superman” received a Vimeo Staff Pick and was nominated for a UKMVA. Her work has been featured in 1.4, Noisey, Videostatic, Promo TV News, Shots Magazine, and Fangoria among others.
ANOMALY
2019 | Short I Argentina I 5 min
Dawn wakes a man up, who discovers an intruder at his house. An abnormal event makes him go on. Like a chess piece, carved by time, he will find his way out of that maze
THE DIRECTOR
Federico Bezenzette is a director, screenwriter and producer. Creator of the web serie "Simples" (nominated for the Internet Fiction category at Martin Fierro 2015) and "Suplentes" with Darío Lopilato and Sebastián Mogordoy, co-produced by UN3TV and Soleado Films, his production company. He has also made different fictions, including an episode of the "Ranchera" series and the short "Acerca de la proximidad de los cuerpos", which was awarded.
HUMAN GRAVE
2019 I Short, Horror | Brazil I 10 min
He buried his pain deeply, but it insists on returning.
THE DIRECTOR
Joel Caetano is the director and screenwriter of award-winning short films such as "Gato" (2009), "Encosto" (2013) and "Judas" (2015) that have been screened at hundreds of festivals around the world. He is also co-director of the feature film "As Fábulas Negras" (2015) along with Rodrigo Aragão, Petter Baiestorf and José Mojica Marins, the eternal Coffin Joe. In 2017 Joel released "Casulos", a science fiction short film that has won 7 awards, two of which are international. As early as 2018, the director makes 3 films, "Inside" and “Scratches”, 1 minute horror shorts filmed with a cell phone camera and "7 to 1", a drama about old age and conflict of generations. These works were selected and awarded in various festivals and shows around the world. His most recent work is "Human Grave" (2019) where he returns to the horror genre to discuss as the main theme the depression caused by mourning. The short film has already started well the festival circuit being selected for FANTASPOA, the fantastic film festival of Brasil considered one of the most important in the Latin America and at the Weekend of Fear, an important horror film festival in Germany. Joel also works as an educator, giving workshops and film lectures.
POP RITUAL
2019 I Short | Brazil I 20 min
A priest captures and arrests a vampire. He visits him for a regime of scientific experiments and strangeness. Over time the encounters become a hallucinated erotic and supernatural relationship.
THE DIRECTOR
Mozart Freire holds a degree in Social Sciences and a Masters in Sociology from the Federal University of Ceará. He is an audiovisual technician at the Vila das Artes Public Audiovisual School where he wrote and directed the Cinemão (2015) short film that received the Best Short Film Award from the official jury of the Mostra Olhar do Ceará and the Mistika Prize for Mastering in DCP at the 26th Ceará Cinema. Award for Best Short Film of the 10th For Rainbow - CE (2016) by ACECCINE - Cearense Association of Film Critics. He also wrote and directed the short Janaína Overdrive (2016), Best Short Film Award of the University Jury at the 26th Ceará Cinema. Honorable Mention for the performance of the actress Layla Kayã Sah at the Rio Festival (2016) and Award at the 20th Brazilian University Cinema Festival - RJ (2017) for Highlight in Technical Contribution.
THE TRAVELERS
2019 I Short, Drama, Horror | Brazil I 12 min
On a Friday night, two actresses share their fears.
THE DIRECTOR
Davi Mello was born in São Paulo (Brazil) on January 20, 1993. He graduated in Cinema and has a Master degree in Communication Studies from Universidade Anhembi Morumbi. Directed short films that were screened in more than 50 film festivals.
IN A FOREIGN TOWN
2018 | Short, Fantasy, Horror I USA | 11 min
Based on the stories of acclaimed horror author, Thomas Ligotti. A troubled man recounts a strange childhood journey to a town with no name.
THE DIRECTOR
Born in Odessa, Ukraine, Michael Shlain is a director working in Los Angeles. Trained as an actor, he began his professional career as a literary agent before heeding the persistent cries of his soul and returning to his roots as a filmmaker. He is a founding partner at Butcher Bird Studios which creates commercial and narrative content for a variety of brands and networks including Legendary, National Geographic and Viacom.
VR FOOD
2019 I Short, Horror | USA I 13 min
The quest for virtual food– infinite deliciousness with zero calories– is derailed when inventors mistake a film, "VR Food", as a rival.
THE DIRECTOR
Malcolm Mills is a NYC-based actor, filmmaker, and noise-pop songwriter. Mills plays a lead villain opposite Betty Gabriel (GET OUT) in the upcoming fantasy feature THE SPINE OF NIGHT, from the screenwriter of LOVE, DEATH, & ROBOTS, Philip Gelatt. At the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, he played Kate Flannery's (THE OFFICE) henchman in Fox Digital's feature comedy TENURED. Shirley Jackson Award-winning novelist Laird Barron tweeted of his performance in the feature THEY REMAIN, "I'd have a rider in every adaptation that he gets to play one of the villains." In addition to directing VR FOOD, Mills also worked as the film's editor, soundtrack composer, producer, art designer, and lead actor.
THE HAUNTED SWORDSMAN
2019 | Short, Animation, Horror I USA I 17 min
In this handcrafted epic puppet film set in a world of demons and ghosts, a lone samurai and his odd companion, a cursed severed head, seek vengeance in a haunted world.
THE DIRECTOR
A professional creature effects artist, cinematographer, model maker, and puppeteer, Kevin McTurk has been working in the effects industry for over 20 years. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Production, Kevin moved to Los Angeles in 1992 and began his career in special make-up effects at Stan Winston Studios, working on Batman Returns, Interview with a Vampire, and the Jurassic Park films. Kevin also worked at New Deal Studios, where he was involved on the miniature effects shots for the Martin Scorsese films The Aviator, Shutter Island, and Hugo. In 2011, Kevin received a Project Grant from The Jim Henson Foundation to make his first puppet short film "The Narrative of Victor Karloch". His follow-up film, "The Mill at Calder's End" was the result of a highly successful Kickstarter campaign and played in film festivals around the world.