Director & Writer // Halbe-Piter Claus
Producers // Laura Oosterloo & Janjelle Ringnalda

Country of origin // Netherlands

Season Award #16 Nominations // Best Short Narrative, Best Acting Ensemble & Best Art Direction

Synopsis // For Dieuwke, silence is golden: no sleep means no explosive breakdance moves. Yet the dog of her antisocial neighbor keeps her awake, night after night. Fatigue eats away at her relationship, her body protests, and her dreams falter — until she decides that decency has its limits too. – Wekker

Director, Writer & Producer // Simon Stock

Country of origin // United Kingdom

Season Award #16 Nominations // Best Short Documentary

Synopsis // In one of the world’s most brutal and unforgiving sports, four fighters step into the ring—not just to battle their opponents, but to confront their own inner struggles. Fighting Demons is an in-depth exploration of the motivations that drive professional athletes to compete in Bare Knuckle Boxing, a sport where every punch carries the risk of severe injury, and only the toughest survive.

Director & Writer // Martin Hemingway-Moseley
Producers // Zoe Lewin & Martin Hemingway-Moseley
Production Company // Filmoon

Country of origin // United Kingdom

Season Award #16 Nominations // Best Short Narrative, Best Director, Best Cinematography, & Best Editing/Post Production

Synopsis // 82 years after a boy, barely 17, volunteers for RAF Bomber Command at the height of War, Stan is struggling to come to terms with the little time he has left and the resolution he must find.

Despite her willingness to help Stan, now in his 90s, his young carer, Abby, is struggling with job disparity in the modern world and is often distracted. Her lack of patience with Stan’s stubbornness and his ignorance of the weight of life on young people today brings their relationship to breaking point.

In a moment of utter vulnerability, Stan begins to recognise elements of his younger self in Abby and tries to reconcile the person he should have become versus the tragic life he chose to lead instead, seeking comfort for them both by revealing his past for the first time in 82 years, and in turn, passing on the message of Remembrance.

Director & Writer // Pedro Greig
Producer // Jane Liscombe

Country of origin // Australia

Season Award #16 Nominations // Best First-Time Filmmaker & Best Cinematography

Synopsis // With her family slowly breaking apart, a vibrant, spirited 10-year old girl escapes to a strange, magical world that helps her navigate the turbulence at home.

Director // Aisha Schliessler
Producers // Aisha Schliessler, Carlos Crooks, Sy Turnbull, Jeremy Goold & Hannah Malpas

Country of origin // United Kingdom

Season Award #16 Nominations // Best Short Documentary & Best Cinematography

Synopsis // Acclaimed equine sculptor Charlie Langton delves into his lifelong fascination—a muse that has captivated him for decades with its powerful form and graceful presence. In his creative journey, from intense observation to the meticulous shaping of wax, clay, and bronze, Langton endeavors to capture the spirit of the majestic horse. Revealing a profound connection to his subject, he invites us to reflect on the role of beauty and awe in everyday life and the infinite pursuit of artistic expression.

Director & Writer // Kazunori Miura
Producers // Riku Machida, Akihiro Mitsuishi, Kazunori Miura

Country of origin //Japan

Season Award #16 Nominations // Best Short Narrative & Best Actor (Ayaka Onishi)

Synopsis // In a near future where every decision is guided by artificial intelligence, a devoted couple must confront the terrifying consequences of surrendering their humanity to a machine that dictates even the fate of their unborn child.

Director & Writer // Georgia Wilde
Producers // Georgia Wilde & Jon S Baird

Country of origin // United Kingdom

Season Award #16 Nominations // Best First-Time Filmmaker

Synopsis // Jack has a secret that he must confess to his pregnant wife Kate. She’s recently developed a craving that she can’t get enough of – what better time to confess to her than during her favourite dessert?