Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Volume 3!

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!

Karma

Director/Writer: Stéphane FORT
Producer: Ellay Production
Country of Origin: France

Synopsis:
It's an ordinary day for Francky, a barber. He's in his salon with a client. As they're chatting, a man enters and points a gun at them. He's looking for Francky, with a very specific goal. From then on, it won't be a day like any other.

The Shapes of Love

Director/Writer/Producer: Matías Ramírez
Country of Origin:cColombia

Synopsis:
Eloy, a struggling photographer, sees his life unravel after his girlfriend leaves him and his career stalls. Things take a turn when his best friend Romina, pregnant by a man who abandoned her, decides to have the baby and move in with Eloy. After the baby is born, Romina disappears, leaving Eloy to care for the child. With the help of his friend Guille, Eloy navigates the challenges of unexpected parenthood while trying to rebuild his life. Amid heartbreak, chaos, and an unlikely bond, Eloy discovers new forms of love and redemption.

Song & Dance

Director/Producer/Writer: Kristofer J Keltgen
Country of Origin: United States

Synopsis:
"Song & Dance" is an upbeat and heartwarming music documentary that weaves together two powerful stories: the personal journey of Evelyn Keltgen—a girl born with a rare, life-threatening disease who grows up to become a musician—and the rich cultural history of old-time dance bands in the Midwest. Featuring the band Kris and the Riverbend Dutchmen, the film explores legendary ballrooms, unique instruments like the Hengel concertina, and the enduring spirit of polka fans and dancers. With a hopeful eye toward the next generation, Song & Dance is a joyful celebration of family, music, and traditions that refuse to fade.

Between Shadows and Light

Director/Writer/Producer: Babatunde Tribe Alande
Director/Writers: Oladapo Ogunwale
Country of Origin: Nigeria

Synopsis:
Between Shadows and Light is a feature experimental documentary tracing the evolution of queer representation in Nollywood. From decades of harmful stereotypes to emerging stories of empathy and complexity, the film explores how censorship, cultural politics, and artistic resistance shape the narratives of queer identity in Nigeria. Through archival footage, film excerpts, and intimate interviews, it reveals the struggles and breakthroughs of filmmakers and communities working to move queer stories from the margins into the light of authenticity and acceptance.

UMBU TREE

Director/Writer/Producer: Emílio Soares Ribeiro
Writer: Camila Paula
Country of Origin: Brazil

Synopsis:
“Umbu Tree” (Umbuzeiro) follows the story of an elderly woman whose life has been marked by a violent past, and who lives secluded in an old mansion, surrounded by memories, silences, and traumas that weaken her mental health. A survivor of an existence permeated by fear, she sees time blurring between memories and delusions, while living with her son, teacher Elias. In a dark and oppressive atmosphere, her intimate pain inspires her son to write a book and sustains the mysteries of the narrative, gradually revealing the invisible marks of violence against women and leading the viewer through twists and turns that give new meaning to the story and its relationships.

Posers

Director: Alexander O'Loughlin
Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Synopsis:
A documentary film crew is granted access to The 4th Annual Musical Statues Competition. Three contestants from across the statue world arrive for the final. Tensions are high, excitement is buzzing, it all comes down to this. In this mockumentary short, the story unfolds through interviews with the contestants and live footage from the event, revealing the drama of this fiercely serious sporting event. It’s a scrappy, comedic piece in the spirit of Christopher Guest and This Country.

Daydream

Director/Writer/Producer: Charley Gregorius
Country of Origin: United States

Synopsis:
A short horror film about someone getting out of sleep paralysis and then going into an intense daydream

LOST & FOUND

Director: Santiago Malcolm
Country of Origin: Barcelona

Synopsis:
LOST & FOUND is an audiovisual investigation situated at the intersection of image archaeology and experimental narrative. The project stems from the premise of the digital ready-made, utilizing exclusively open-access archival material (found footage) to explore the loss of human identity in the era of visual hyperstimulation.

A FOUR LEGGED BEAT

Director: aldo pacifici
Country of Origin: Italy

Synopsis:
A man and his dog are in perfect harmony. One day, the man receives news of an illness, brain cancer, which fortunately is still operable, perhaps in time. He misses his four-legged friend in the hospital, and his dog, Teo, misses his owner. The hospital gets to work preparing a room where patients can meet their pets. Everything goes well, the operation is a success, and Luca and his dog return to playing in the park. The short film is a reminder to hospitals to create pet rooms for these very meetings.

FARIDA

Director/Producer: Ahmed MOSTAFA Zafan
Writer: KHALED EMAD EL DIEN

Synopsis:
A short film about a teenage girl struggling with bullying and anxiety, who finds strength and connection by sharing her story online. Through social media, she discovers support, friendship, and the power of being seen.

Tin Box

Director/Writer/Producer: Nicolas Andreozzi
Producer: Elizabeth Huppe
Country of Origin: Canada

Synopsis:
In a boarded-up house running out of food, water, and options, a couple prepares to carry out the suicide pact they agreed on months ago. But when the moment finally arrives, Cathy hesitates, forcing the two to confront their grief, their fear, and whether survival—however bleak—still matters.

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.