Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the August edition of the First-Time Filmmaker Sessions!
The festival platformed hundreds of films, each project worthy of recognition and celebration. We want to extend a giant thank you to everyone who took part and a special congratulations to all the incredible talent that went into making these projects.
First-Time Filmmaker Sessions is designed to be the entry into the Lift-Off Global Network. A platform for the avant-garde, FT Sessions isn't about selecting the 'best' or most 'commercial' projects; it is about providing a screening opportunity for everyone, connecting these new and emerging voices with new audiences. An option we hope highlights and educates each month!
Jury's Overall Winner
The Tape
Director/Writer/Producer: Léo Rattez
Country of Origin: France
Genre: Adventure, documentary
Synopsis: A young man stumbles upon an audio cassette recorded over 30 years ago by his late grandfather. In the midst of an ascent, his grandfather’s voice captures his perception of the world, thinking of the rapid pace of modern life and its hinderance of our ability to resonate with our environment.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best First-Time Filmmaker
Audience Choice Winners
Whale Wash - The Forgotten Whale
Director: Peter Carr
Writer: Jasmine Duthie
Producer: Nicola Helen Turner
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
A maritime investigations team led by ESPA's Chief Operating Officer Pete Carr, pursues Norwegian whaling vessels at sea and films the whalers unethical hunting methods, and ESPA investigator Hannah interviews marine biologists, whaling experts and whaler skippers, to uncover the dark truth about modern whaling and the weak science used to justify minke whale quotas.
Can Frogs Be happy
Director/Writer/Producer: Berkan Bayçınar
Writer/Producer: Claudia Hempel
Country of Origin: Germany
Synopsis:
A modern Odyssey. The end of the circle of life of the character, who is not clear who he is and where he is going, is imminent. While escaping from his own shadow, clichés teach him a good lesson.
River’s Thirst
Director/Writer: Marcelo Abreu Góis
Producers: Renata Pinho, Marcelo Abreu Góis, Ilsinho Villa
Country of Origin: Brazil
Synopsis:
In "River's Thirst," we are led through the thrilling journey of Nir, a riverside dweller whose life is intricately connected to the waters of the majestic São Francisco River, in Brazil. Every year, Nir embarks on a poignant river pilgrimage to Bom Jesus da Lapa, a city known as the "Mecca of the Sertanejos," in a touching tribute to those who lost their lives along the course of the river he loves so much.
Grief Sick
Director/Writer/Producer: Annaliese Schroeder
Producers: Canelle Vanderford, Brandon Bruington, Declan Rhodes
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
After the sudden death of their friend, Parker and Cam struggle to remain close in the aftermath. Cam resents Parker for being distant and apathetic, while Parker suppresses his feelings until they come out in the form of their friend's belongings.
Autumn Fall
Director/Writer/Producer: Benjamin Avdic Utland
Writer: Christian Ryssdal
Country of Origin: Norway
Synopsis:
Sebastian, a lonely writer battling solitude and an existential crisis in Oslo, unexpectedly encounters his former love, Maria, now a successful author in Copenhagen. Old feelings are rekindled when they reunite, but Maria's seemingly perfect life makes Sebastian question everything. Can they find a new beginning, or are they just shadows of the past?
Death Penalty
Director/Writer: Tiago Miguel Zacarias
Country of Origin: Portugal
Synopsis:
Two men are sitting on a bench, attentively waiting for something.
Father
Directors: MASREE RULIAT, UMAR SETYADI,EROS EFLIN
Writer: EKA PERDANA
Producer: EDWARD S IRIYANTO
Country of Origin: Indonesia
Synopsis:
The story of an old man named Pepeng (60 years old) who takes care of the child of a prostitute (Marlina, 19 years old) whom he loves very much.
The Third Dimension of Impact
Director: Valentin Devriès
Country of Origin: France
Synopsis:
A company seminar is starting, providing an opportunity for a 'collective deep breath.' To reflect together on the company's values, the facilitators have planned a playful yet serious exercise. Acting as a talking stick, a plastic ball circulates among the colleagues, some more motivated by the exercise than others.
The Soul of the Party
Director/Writer: Alberto Strano
Country of Origin: Italy
Synopsis:
Every year, Albi, for his birthday, organises a gigantic party at his seaside house: the Party of Parties. Parents, relatives, and neighbors always try everything to stop him. However, this time, something worse threatens to put an end to the party...
Stapler
Director/Writer/Producer: Connor Raithby
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
After John receives a call from his friend regarding his absence at a party, a piece of stationary equipment speaks to him unexpectedly, which is revealed to be his Stapler. Cautiously, John tries to get to know the Stapler to see what he can learn.
Transcendent
Director/Writer/Producer: Nate Norman
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
A girl meets her soul after her death
¡CUT!- The tape of my life
Director/Writer/Producer: Alexa Sánchez Noguez
Country of Origin: Mexico
Synopsis:
A girl makes a movie with her friends while she is between a rock and a hard place since she can't tell her true passion to her parents.
GRAVITY: A Short Film by Sutherland Dance
Director: Brandon Sutherland
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
In the life of relentless pursuit, dancers propel themselves until they collide with barriers. Through evocative and fluid movements, GRAVITY metaphorically explores the journey of confronting and transcending mental limits, embodying the fight between perseverance and exhaustion.
Deja Vue
Director/Writer: Stella Sharp
Producer: Alistair Sharp
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
Two supposedly estranged city girls spend the day together, only to form an unexpected bond
Lucid Dream
Director/Writer: Beáta Magyar
Country of Origin: France
Synopsis:
A young woman with a special ability falls in love with a mysterious man in a dream and faces a shocking revelation finding out who he really is.
Into Me You See
Director/Writer: Ruben Josephs
Writer: Willem Newton- Beer
Producer: Bethan Phipps
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
Young gay couple, Ezra and Luca, struggle to intimately connect, as Ezra is haunted by disturbing images of harrowing past experiences.
The Keeper and the Moon
Directors: Börteçine Umay Sümer, Didem Peker
Country of Origin: Turkey
Synopsis:
The tragic love story between a lighthouse keeper and his wife.
Lift-Off Season Awards #15
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event that celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films that have excelled in their respective category are short listed for a Season Awards Nomination. At the end of the year, once all the 12 city-based festival have taken place, the shortlisted nominated films are reviewed again by the jury and Official Nominations are designated. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.