Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Volume 5!
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 Brilliant Boy
Director: Emeka John Ekeh
Writer: Emmanuel Owoicho Patrick
Producers: Zainab Eniola Yunusa
Country of Origin: Nigeria
Synopsis:
The short film “The Brilliant Boy” is a biographical fictional story that dives into the life of Nathaniel, an autistic genius that dies at an early age. The story entails themes of regret, desire and remorse. In the heartwarming tale of untapped potential and unfulfilled dreams, a young autistic boy with a remarkable gift for mathematics becomes the help to mathematician.
Season Award #16 Shortlist: Best First-Time Filmmaker
Audience Choice Winners
I Wish to be like you
Director: Essam Mohammad Jaber
Writer/Producer: Aya AL SAYED AHMAD
Producer: Essam Jaber
Country of Origin: Jordan
Synopsis:
"I Wish to Be Like You" is a film that addresses the impact of social media on our daily lives. The movie revolves around seven different characters who find themselves trapped in a spiral of jealousy, envy, and depression towards each other. Each person compares their life to others through the photos and short videos they share on social media platforms.
The Daydreamer
Submitted by: Orson Heath-Pampin
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
3 students must complete there final exam in order the pass the module, but for one student he becomes a bit....distracted
37 Sunset Boulevard
Director/Writer: hoda elsafty
Producer: Ashraf Ahmed
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
An emotional struggle unfolds between a homeless graduate and a stray dog as they both eye a piece of hotdog that has fallen from the mouth of a pampered dog in a luxury car.
Psyche
Director/Writer: Daniel Marx
Producer: Fabio Linns
Country of Origin: Brazil
Synopsis:
Psyche dives into the mind of a man in denial of death. Unable to accept the loss, he begins conversing with the ghost of himself, reconstructing memories, dialoguing with his own guilt, and feeding an illusion that refuses to disappear. As the encounters become more frequent, his psychological disturbances surface, distorting the line between reality and delirium. In the end, the truth is revealed: he was already dead. A dense and intimate portrayal of the refusal to accept the end — even when the end is himself.
The Favor
Director/Writer/Producer: D'Angelo Harris
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
When a man agrees to do a favor for a distant associate, he unknowingly sets off a chain of events that force him to confront his shadow, blurred realities, and the question of whether fate is truly a choice.
12 Steps to Freedom
Director/Writer/Producer: Bruno Sette
Writers/Producers: Jean Carllo, Laiandra Silva
Country of Origin: Brazil
Synopsis:
Through the journeys of Fábio, Sidney, and William, who share their experiences with the resocialization method of the Association for the Protection and Assistance of Convicts (APAC), the documentary unveils the challenges and transformations within this alternative approach to serving a sentence. Rooted in human dignity and social reintegration, the film offers a poignant narrative of memories, reflections, and hopes, shedding light on the possibility of a new beginning for those seeking to rebuild their lives beyond prison walls.
Palestine, Free, Fire
Directors/Producers: Ali Kharghani
Country of Origin: Islamic Republic of Iran
Synopsis:
Two ambulance drivers enter an area in the Gaza Strip after a bombing. After finding an injured child and heading towards the hospital, they become trapped in a surreal atmosphere on the road. An unusual story in an unusual city.
The Perspective
Director/Writer/Producer: Albin Nils Oscar Nilsson
Country of Origin: Sweden
Synopsis:
The perspective is a self biography short about depression, neurodiversity and spiritual awakening. A story about a change in perspective rather than place.
The Ladder
Director/Writer/Animator: Albin Nils Oscar Nilsson
Country of Origin: Sweden
Synopsis:
A man ascends the corporate ladder, only to realize he’s becoming just another cog in the machine—selling and promoting the same things as everyone else. This stop-motion short explores the crushing monotony of corporate life, likening it to a slow, existential demise.
Lift-Off Season Awards #16
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.