(The Making of) Please Don't Make Me Play Piano Man
13 min.
New York, US
Director - Steve Nerangis

Inspired by the unsuccessful experimental Broadway shows of the 1970s, singer-songwriter-comedian Julian Velard has written a musical about his own life. A born Manhattanite living in Queens with a wife and child, Velard has quit the music business for the stable world of musical theater. Joined by his co-writer and fellow dad Mark from the Park, Velard presents his disasterpiece in an attempt to face middle age with his dreams still on his shoulders and the realities of life around his neck.

As We Are Planted
7 min.
Chicago, US
Director - Anna Lee Ackermann

On the South Side of Chicago, Just Roots Chicago and Saint James Catholic Church come together to help alleviate food insecurity while also cultivating community. Director/Producer Anna Lee Ackermann was 21 at time of documentary completion.

Message From the Future
4 min.
US
Director - Dano Johnson

A time traveler tries to save the future. It doesn't go well.

The Cookie Cutter
8 min.
Chicago, US
Director - David Rocco Facchini

With bathing suit season just around the corner, Steve needs to put his sweet-tooth for cookies in check! But when an ambitious Cookie Scout darkens his doorway, dead-set on the sale, it becomes the ultimate battle of the bulge!

The Catastrophe
2 min.
Illinois, US
Directed by Matthew Josef Weber

The catastrophe is here. Go ahead. Introduce yourself.

Happy Easter
7 min.
France
Director - Juliette AUDUREAU, Maho CLAQUIN, Titouan COCAULT, Yann COUTARD, Franklin GERVAIS, Sophie TERRIERE, Xinlei YE

In the shop of a chocolate factory, four rabbits trade their kind look for bandanas and gangster style golden chains. They leave to deliver a ransom to deliver their boss.

Cingulate
7 min.
Chicago, US
Director - Aaron Williams

A renowned criminal psychologist hopes to determine culpability in his "criminally insane" patients, by developing a device to live their memories.

Harvey
12 min.
Australia
Director - Aaron Carroll

Harvey finds out his best friend has passed away. He does what he knows best, runs away.

The Decisive Moment
21 MIN
fRANCE
Director - Eduardo Rufeisen

The Decisive Moment follows the life of two young photographers living in Paris, Henri and Yvette. They meet in an art school and become fascinated with each other in very different styles.

Is the creative process a commitment to analytical reason or to passionated inspiration?

The film is a homage to the photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson, who was able to combine analytical mind and intuition in his photographs in the spare of a moment, a Decisive Moment.

EP
10 min.
California, US
Director Biography - Pat Campo

(Pilot Episode)
An AI robot and his owner make a living by hacking into computers and stealing important electronic files. During their usual escapade, they stumble upon a hard drive containing EP. But what is EP?

Delayed Package
6 min.
Illinois, US
Director - Jack Longo

After a video of a dancing mailman goes viral, he learns it’s never too late to go after your dream.

Covid Bach
2 min.
Canada
Director - Elizabeth Lewis

This freeflowing stream of consciousness animation is set to J. S, Bach The Well Tempered Clavier. The fully hand drawn images weave in and out between abstract and nightmarish visions. Then the dream ends......but does it?

Video Vista
20 min.
Chicago, IL
Director - Aaron Klinger

Video Vista is the last remaining video store in the city. Bored employee Polly escapes the reality of this dead industry with fantastical daydreams that parody the movies around her while trying not to get fired before the store closes.

After-life service
6 min.
France
Directed by Coline CESAR, Florent CHAPUT, Steven LECOMTE, Claire MAURY, Emilie MILCENT, Sophie PAYAN

At the After-life service, the soul Gaspard doesn’t have enough
Karma points to reincarnate into the beautiful peacock he wishes to become. Meanwhile, he can only opt for an ordinary pack of lives he will have to endure.

Rose
7 min.
Chicago, IL
Director Biography - Peter Behbahani

A grieving widower is haunted by a gassy ghost.

Bandwidth
5 min.
California, US
Director - Pat Battistini, Robert Francke

Frank's important job interview on Zoom goes south due to his "stay at home" Covid precautious family using up his bandwidth.

Sisyphus Rocks It!
3 min.
Illinois, US
Director - Ron Fleischer

This animated short is a humorous take on Greek mythology’s Sisyphus, a king who cheated death twice. Sisyphus was punished for this by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down every time it neared the top, repeating this task for eternity. In a cruel twist, Sisyphus learns the dangers of celebrating too soon… too late.

The Woman Under The Tree
15 min.
Florida, US
Director Biography - Karishma Kohli

Lucia, a homeless woman in South Beach, spends much of her time sitting under a tree, watching the life of a family unfold in a house across the street. When not under the tree, she fights for food and shelter while drifting between reality and delusion. What begins as a seemingly senseless act of voyeurism becomes something deeper as we discover the meaning her routine brings to her life.