Amsterdam Lift-Off Film Festival 2024
Network Round Shorts
Monday 28th October - Sunday 6th November
1. House of Switzerland
Director/Writer: Bernie Forster
Country of Origin: Switzerland
Synopsis: Promoting Switzerland. Using all available resources. Such is the goal of the fictitious agency "House of Switzerland" in London.
The friendly bunch of misfits leave no stone unturned to "sell the cheese" while dealing with their own troubles in the big city.
When they invite two British journalists for a promotional dinner, things get less and less neutral by the minute.
2. The Ocean is Red
Director: Oliver Jacboby
Writer: Yas Wadi
Producer: Lucas Buur Petersen
Country of Origin: Denmark
Synopsis: In this psychological love drama, we follow the main character, 'MAN', who questions his existence from the start of the film. He has a pessimistic view of life and emphasises to himself the insignificance of his existence. The only thing that truly allows him to see any light in life is the film's other main character, 'WOMAN'.
3. The Unstealable Bike
Director/Writer: Rozh Surchi
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Synopsis: A stylistic mockumentary that unveils the intriguing life of Floris, a renowned figure on Amsterdam's streets for his bike-stealing prowess. In a city where 80,000 bikes vanish yearly, Floris emerges as a key player in this clandestine cycle. However, he's not alone – the market thrives on stolen bikes. Through deadpan humour and unexpected revelations, Floris provides a unique insight into the intricate gears that keep Amsterdam's bike theft machine in motion.
4. Sucker
Director/Writer: Steve Oen
Writer: Menno de Ruijter
Producer: Barend van Balen
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Synopsis: When the brand new, state-of-the-art smart robot vacuum ‘Sucker’ sees his new owner Eve for the first time, he instantly falls in love with her. But the intimate bond between these two is brutally disrupted by Lars, her boyfriend.
Without any remorse Sucker tries to break up the couple, for his love for Eve. When Lars tries to reset Sucker to factory settings, he must fight to survive and must give his all to achieve his ultimate goal: Eve.
5. Queen of Dying
Director: Zoë Kiani
Writer: Gonca Karasu
Producer: Guido F.G. Jeurissen
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Synopsis: A single phone call between a beat-down woman in a car and her girlfriend, unravels the dynamics of physical and mental violence in a same sex relationship.
6. Good Girl
Director: Helene Madsen Smed
Writer/Producer: Sara Dhimitri
Producers: Mathilde Klostermann, Ane-Kathrine Lamdahl Pedersen, Pelle Folmer, Lars Mitch Fischermann
Country of Origin: Denmark
Synopsis: GOOD GIRL is a story about Emilie who faces the guy who raped her, Simon, on a night out. To her surprise, he doesn't seem to recognize her. She decides to take matters into her own hands and finally get her revenge, but the situation quickly spirals out of control. Simon suffers the consequences of his actions, but so will Emilie. GOOD GIRL is a short film about power, sexual assault and revenge.
7. Cake
Director/Writer/Producer: Justyna Romul
Country of Origin: Poland
Synopsis: A strange object appears above Warsaw city in the morning. Guys are waking up their UFO enthusiast roommate to check what is going on, alongside with funky music and a retro flying car.
8. Before The Rain Fades Away
Director/Writer: Hassan Ammar
Country of Origin: Egypt
Synopsis: After losing his daughter, a father struggles between the harsh reality of his grief and the violent visions that plague his sleep. As the
line between the two worlds blurs, he must choose: confront his pain or remain trapped in the torment of his dreams.
9. Grief's Embrace
Director/Producer: Samuel Laubscher
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis: What does it look like to come to terms with losing someone, while they remain a part of you? How does grief move you, leave you, return back to you? The intent of this piece is to offer an exploration of these often painful questions we tend to grapple with most. The decision to film outdoors represents the ongoing nature of grief. While we may feel trapped by grief, it is often as unpredictable as Nature itself. The overcast sky, the mountainous, yet open landscape emphasizes grief being unbound, free of any law or obligation--much like Nature's own law unto itself. em>
10. Get up the yard
Directors: Jose Ángel Catalán Ruiz, Mario Barsony
Producer: Greg Markus
Country of Origin: Ireland
Synopsis: The documentary "Get Up the Yard" provides a captivating and intimate look into the life of a renowned painter from Cork. Infused with both humor and emotion, the artist narrates his personal journey, highlighting his extraordinary artwork that surpasses all expectations.
11. Blend Ability
Director/Producer: Valentina Gutierrez
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis: In a world where 77.5% of individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities face unemployment, "Not Your Average Joe" stands as a beacon of inclusion and purpose. This short documentary unveils how a small coffee shop in Oklahoma City brings people together, breaking barriers and fostering mutual understanding. Witness the transformative power of customer-facing, meaningful employment, and community through the inspiring stories of those who refuse to be defined by their limitations.
12. Kids from the OSB
Director: Karim Khamis
Co-Director: Raoul Kluivert
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Synopsis: The most famous high school in the Bijlmer, the OSB, has existed for 50 years. How did students experience their time at this school? In Kids of the OSB, filmmaker Karim Khamis, himself a former student, investigates how this vulnerable time has had a positive, and sometimes negative impact on their lives.
13. The Adventurers
Director/Writer/Producer: Armando Avallone
Country of Origin: Belgium
Synopsis: On a beach in southern Senegal, a group of fishermen lives together in a hut by the shore. Not owning their own pirogue, they are usually hired by the day.During a long period of bad weather, they can’t find work at sea. So, they have to get by doing small jobs on the shore, and above all find ways to kill time.
14. Nightshades - Juno Stardust
Director: Ellen Callaghan
Producer: MAEV
United States
Synopsis: Juno is a producer, host, performer and stripper who floats between queer and erotic nightlife spaces. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil they have been based in New York since 2015. Here, they have worked in a variety of venues, from burlesque staples to independent queer bars and alternative strip clubs locally and beyond.
15. ZODI
Director: Hubrecht L. Brand
Producers: Stephane Caboche, Jennifer Schlechter
Country of Origin: Luxembourg
Synopsis: A heated tragicomedy about an inheritance dispute between four siblings after their parents' funeral.
16. Scherven van de Zon
Director, Writer: Indya Suer
Producers: Tycho Schneider, Indya Suer, Pearl Graw
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Synopsis: When a young woman becomes entangled in a heated conflict with her boyfriend, her evening takes a dark turn filled with impulsive, escapist decisions and unique encounters with various people that make her question her own perception of the truth.