A massive thank you to everyone who participated in the Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival 2020. It's been absolutely fantastic having so many filmmakers involved and seeing the global support for true indie film...
The judges' votes have been counted and added to the audience's feedback. Huge congratulations to the filmmakers who screened with us! A special well done to the following films...
Festival Winners
Best Feature Film
(next screening with Lift-Off in Amsterdam 2021)
Medulla
Dir. Rudi Brekelmans
Synopsis: The conscience of a married therapist is put under pressure by the thrilling confession of a seductive female client. Will he keep his distance or does he fall for her temptation?
Best Short Film
(next screening with Lift-Off in Amsterdam 2021)
Ex-Wife Monogatari
Dir. Zihao Su
Synopsis: Broken after his wife's sudden death, Ming begins seeking and molding other women to fill the void. One day, he meets Hong who seems to play the part of his ex-wife perfectly. Ming is enthralled. Hong is too, but for her, Ming fills a different void...
Season Award Nominations
The Lift-Off Season Awards is an annual event which celebrates the very best of indie film. Following each Lift-Off film festival, films which have excelled in their respective category are nominated and invited to attend the prestigious Lift-Off Season Awards, culminating at the end of the Lift-Off season. Click here for more information about the Lift-Off Season Awards.
- The Gliwensbourg Chronicles
Dir. Emilie Tommasi
Synopsis: Gliwensbourg, winter 1915, a French trench is pounded, all the soldiers are buried making only one survivor. Underground, the soldier who survived managed to get out of an air pocket and crawl into a hole leading to a mysterious tunnel that leads to ... 1925!
Nominated for Best Art Direction
The Covenant
Dir. Adam Baroukh
Synopsis: One year after WWII concentration-camp survivor Abba Kovner is set to poison a German water-filtration plant in revenge for the crimes of the Nazis, but as the moment of truth nears, an unexpected encounter threatens to jeopardize the mission.
Nominated for Best Art Direction
Taboo
Dirs. Olivia Altavilla
Synopsis: After witnessing the local priest abuse his power, Sofia attempts to convince her devout Catholic family to act.
Nominated for Best First-Time Film
Audience Chioce
The Audience Choice award is given to the filmmakers whose film received the most votes during the festival. The filmmakers will be invited to join us on the Lift-Off YouTube channel for a directors commentary roundtable. Join in the conversation as we delve deeper into each film. This event is LIVE and due to take place on Thursday 8th October.
There's Something About John
Dir. Emma McCagg
Synopsis: Emma is a painter in NYC wrestling with questions of success and inspiration. At the behest of a friend, she enrolls in a dance class at the local YMCA led by the charismatic instructor, John. She, like many in the class, are drawn to him. His passion breathes life into Emma as she searches for change in her own practice. John answers - his offer to help her outside of class is like an epiphany. With John as subject, Emma’s art feels fresh and alive. John’s daily ballet class becomes ritual and Emma is rapt. Her new friends in the class are rapt. But how long can it last? When disillusion comes, how will the community react?
Metamorphosis Ltd.
Dir. Bobby Markov
Synopsis: A young man experiences the transfer into another body in an attempt to break free from his depressive episode and better his life.
You Can't See Out
Dir. Kayla Marriott
Synopsis: Five friends celebrating their last night of summer before college by breaking into a home to party. The night, however, takes a turn when they realize they are being followed. They must face the challenges of growing up and losing friends as it manifests itself into a real nightmare.
Breathe
Dirs. Kevin Pison Piamonte, Kenneth De la Cruz Philippines
Synopsis: Suffocated by the Coronavirus lockdown, two filmmakers defy the quarantine to find their breathing space. It is also the time of Lent. Using only their cellphones they travel the roads and reflect on prayer, alms giving and fasting. As they do so, they bring out the voices of the communities and eventually discover that there is a way to diminish the fear of the virus and make us all breathe.