Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival 2023 - Network Round Shorts
Thursday 31st August - Thursday 7th September
1.
Avalanches
Dir. Liz Lian
USA
Logline: When his younger brother joins the team, a high school lacrosse player makes the difficult decision to stand up to his coach's abuse.
2.
The Reflection Of Francisca Newman
Dir. Jon Frenkel Garcia
USA
Logline:In this cinematic fairytale, Francisca Newman, a psychologically disturbed ballerina, fails at her life audition. Her perfectionism starts to take a noticeable toll on her mental health, where in a world of passion and beauty, sensibility and enlightenment becomes darkness.
In this increasingly violent and surreal competition at the hands of her own reflection, a familiar voice starts talking to her as an old forgotten friend. A voice that takes her on a journey through her own memories in order to find herself, before her reflection becomes a stranger.
3.
Bellingham's Belief
Dir. Tom Salvaggio
USA
Logline: 1954 - Panic erupts when the citizens of Bellingham, Washington notice strange cracks in their car windshields.
4.
Talk to Your Fish
Dir. Stella Fife
USA
Logline: When 19-year-old Sam who struggles with spectrum-related disabilities and is adjusting to living alone is given the sudden responsibility of taking care of the cat belonging to his hospitalized neighbor, he is forced to understand how to accept change in his routine, self-reliance, and discover new joys in life.
5.
H.O.E.s: The Bulge
Dir. Robin Leabman
USA
Logline: A single camera comedy that shows the on air/off air shenanigans at the Home, Outdoor, and Entertainment shopping channel. Rhonda Stevenson comes to H.O.E. to sell her latest item for male consumer confidence, The Bulge!
6.
Luna Azul
Dir. Juan P Soto
USA
Logline: Two Venezuelans, Laura a catholic novice nun, and her Ex-Fiancé Carlos meet again, in order to resolve the traumatic past that separated them.
7.
Kneel
Dir. Ryan Goble, Malcolm Serrette
USA
Logline: In the wake of George Floyd's murder, a Nigerian-born man takes a knee in the middle of a Venice, CA street for 8 minutes and 47 seconds, as his own statement of peaceful protest. When his "kneel" starts to become a nightly ritual, attracting followers who look to him for guidance, he's forced to confront his own views of racism, bias, and complicity.
8.
I Cheated
Dir. Ben Escobar
USA
Logline: "Yo he sido infiel," Spanish for "I cheated," is whispered as the premise of a father's attempt to rebuild a relationship with his son. Shrouded by the shadows of a blue hour on a fishing dock, the two navigate their lasting shame and grudges in an effort to reacquaint as the best friends they once were.
9.
Consumed
Dir. JP Bradham
USA
Logline: Tammy discovers one night that her shopping addiction
might become the death of her.
10.
Places Been
Dir. Cameron Bortolussi
USA
Logline: A trip around the world that creates memories unseen.
11.
Winner Fights The Moon
Dir. Lucas Jones
UK
Logline: Arris (25) has recently been released from prison after serving a five year sentence. Having never met his daughter Riley outside of a prison visitation room, Arris is desperate to make up for lost time. In an effort to reconnect with his daughter and ex-girlfriend Lauren, Arris promises a long overdue family day at the beach. But the young family soon discover that the past doesn't always stay in the past.
12.
All I Hear is Static
Dir. Charles Vincent Whitmill
USA
Logline: A reclusive introvert’s routine is interrupted after someone leaves a tube television on his porch in the middle of the night.
13.
CUT
Dir. Federico Napoleone
USA
Logline: George Harrington, an exuberant fintech entrepreneur, runs online courses that promise success and wealth to its subscribers. However, behind a magnetic screen appeal, George is a high profile scammer and deceiver, using his courses to defraud the public instead of enriching them.
14.
Walkie-Talkie
Dir. Olivia Dellums
USA
Logline: An asexual young woman decides to meet people in a very non-traditional way.