Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the 2024 New York Lift-Off Film Festival!
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.
The judges' scores have been combined with the audience's choices, and after careful scrutiny, it's our pleasure to announce the New York Lift-Off Film Festival winners!
Winners: New York Network Round Shorts
Guardians
Director: Julián Stubbs Generali
Producers: Julián Stubbs Generali, Manuel Izurieta Aguilera, Intervalo Media
Country of Origin: Mexico
Genre: Nature, Activist, Journalism
Synopsis: Three remarkable environmentalists from ordinary origins give every waking moment to the same goal. They preserve life, in a dangerous world.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Short Documentary
Silence
Dir & Writer: Christian Borgkvist Hansen
Producer: Cecilie Kjær
Country of Origin: Denmark
Genre: Short Narrative Film
Synopsis: While preparing for her first, big piano concert, Laura gets diagnosed with a serious inner ear disorder, that inhibits her ability to play properly. At home, things are falling apart, when Laura and her mom get into a big fight.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Short Live Action Narrative, Best Actor (Karoline Kofod Koch)
Open House at Floralville's Orphanage
Dir. & Writer: Leah Liu
Producers: Miaomiao Liu, Jianda Ma
Country of Origin: China
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Synopsis: May, an orphan living in Floralville, stumbles upon an unknown secret on the day of the orphanage's open house.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best First-Time Filmmaker, Best Post-Production
Book!
Dir/Writer/Producer: Chris John Georgenes
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Animation
Synopsis: The age-old question, "why did the chicken cross the road?", can finally be put to rest. The concept for this animated short started back in 2009 with the audio recording of my daughter who was only 6 years old at the time.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Animation
NO FANTASY
Director: Daniel Herz, Pedro Murad
Writer: Pedro Murad
Producer: Jéssika Menkel
Country of Origin: Brazil
Genre: Short
Synopsis: A large metropolis's old and decaying downtown area is set to be completely incinerated. As the local population gets ready to evacuate by government mandate, an aging prostitute decides to stay and vanish within the flames. She receives an unexpected visit from a former client.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography
The Stars in New Mexico
Director/Producer: Kyle Rankin
Writer/Producers: Taylor Dupuis, Nicholas Griffy
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Short
Synopsis: Bonnie and Clyde are two strangers on the run from their past. Months in an old van with money running out, they rely on three rules: Always have fun, Never turn down a proposal, and NEVER bring up the past. They soon come to realize that even the bravest and freest of us all will always hold on to the one thing that makes us human.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Director
Lillith & Bert Go Nowhere
Director: Rex Provost
Writers/Producers: Bert James, Lillith Fallon
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Short, Television, Web / New Media
Synopsis: Lillith and Bert packs the punch of a full sitcom in bite-sized, two minute vignettes. Each one offers viewers, a quick dose of off-best charm and laughter. It’s quirky, binge-ability at its finest, a fresh and innovative take on episodic storytelling. Let’s Go… Nowhere!
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Acting Ensemble
The Kiss
Dir/Writer/Producer: Yazan AL Hajari
Country of Origin: Syrian Arab Republic
Genre: Music Video
Synopsis: This music video is a creative blend of classical music and iconic visual art styles, from the classical depth of Rembrandt and the impressionist light of Monet, to the bold cubism of Picasso and the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock. All brought to life through AI and video editing. It encourages viewers to recognize and appreciate the combination of sounds and visuals, highlighting famous artworks in motion. Recorded in Moscow, this original piece features the Moscow Metropolitan Session Orchestra, presenting a harmonious tribute to The global visual artistic heritage.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Music Video
Winners: New York Network Round Features
Get Me To 21 - The Jenna Lowe Story
Director: Diana Joy Lucas
Producer: Gabi Abigail-Ann Lowe
Country of Origin: South Africa
Genre: Feature Documentary Film
Synopsis: The extraordinary story of a young South African girl, her battle to get to 21 and the lasting impact she has had on the world around her. A compelling and inspiring story of advocacy, rare disease, organ donation, courage, humanity and hope. Plus some extraordinary learnings, beautifully and gently delivered, around grace and empowerment in the face of adversity.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Feature Documentary
Sirens
Dir/Writer: Lucy Willa Burnett
Producers: Ed Soto, Lucy Burnett, Phillip Vernon
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Comedy, drama, Romance
Synopsis:Alice, a wealthy New York City senior at Duke University, tries to navigate her exciting but impractical relationship with a local Durham EMT.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Feature Live Action Narrative
15th Annual Lift-Off Season Awards
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.