Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the December edition of the Lift-Off Sessions!
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.
Lift-Off Sessions is designed to be the entry into the Lift-Off Global Network. A platform for the avant-garde, 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
Behind the Pose
Director/Writer: Sally Lomidze
Producer: Melissa Rodriguez
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Short
Synopsis: Teen Eastern-European model on the brink of losing her contract must redeem herself in one last photoshoot under threat of sexual exploitation and deportation.
Season Award #15 Shortlist
Audience Choice Winners
Amongst The Ropes
Director/Writer: Fernando A Fisher
Producer: Alberto Aguilar
Country of Origin: Mexico
Synopsis:
An exciting survival adventure located in a slum neighborhood living in an area controlled by the mafia and violence Martin seeks to obtain his first Boxing championship to make the leap to the professional level as one of the most promising boxers in the country while seeking to grow his talent to give a better life to his girlfriend, Martín is unexpectedly challenged by tragedy and it confronts him when he encounters another reality of cynicism, revenge and courage, anonymously he takes on the task of facing the violence with his own hands regaining control of the area, This unusual success unleashes the fury of the mafia who decides to put an end to this unknown vigilante resulting in a domino effect for the search of our untamed hero.
Ghosted
Director/Writer/Producer: David Bermudez
Producer: Meghmik Karapetian
Country of Origin: United States
Bad Trip
Director/Writer/Producer: Anonymous Artist
Country of Origin: Finland
Synopsis:
This film, "Bad Trip," was created to mirror the chaos of life with the experience of having a “bad trip.” While under the influence, some people may experience feelings of anxiety, paranoia or overwhelming fear, and this mirrors the ebb and flow of life, and how stress can make us experience the same effects. However, we must always remember that all experiences are temporary, and no matter how overloaded our senses may become, we will always find our way back to ourselves, or slowly go mad.
Malgrat
Submitted by: Pablo Costa
Country of Origin: Spain
THE SPARK
Director/Producer: Karim Tamimount
Country of Origin: Algeria
Synopsis:
A young man carelessly tosses his cigarette butt and is suddenly overwhelmed by haunting visions of the catastrophic consequences of this simple act. Caught between the past and the future, he confronts the devastation caused by his gesture.
The Red Elephant
Director/Writer/Producer: Ramin Mirzaee
Country of Origin: Islamic Republic of Iran
Synopsis:
To once again be able to gaze at the moon, Shahrzad tells another story to the king.
Vampire City
Director/Writer/Producer: Kris s Cantu
Writer/Producer: Victoria Vega
Country of Origin: Mexico
Synopsis:
In the shadows of a city that never sleeps, where the noise of life drowns out the whispers of danger, predators lurk in the darkness. Unseen and unnoticed, vampires move among us, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Beneath the hum of bustling streets and bright neon lights, they blend into the crowd, choosing their prey with careful precision. As the city spins on, oblivious to their presence, the line between predator and prey begins to blur, revealing a terrifying truth: the night belongs to those who feast in silence, and no one is safe
Beyond reality
Director/Writer: Anton Shirin
Producer: Alena Trofimova
Country of Origin: Russian Federation
Synopsis:
The young man and the woman have been dating for a long time in a simulation indistinguishable from the real one. Everything changes when one evening the woman proposes to the man to meet in real life.
IF YOU COULD DO IT ALL AGAIN
Director: Ben Charles Edwards
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
Told with Ai. 'If You Could Do It All Again' is an abstract exploration of memory, choices, and the longing for second chances upon examining the beauty of ones life. The film journeys through fragmented thoughts, using a series of disjointed, dreamlike visuals—morphing landscapes and faceless figures.
Photos
Director/Writer/Producer: Antoine Sextier
Country of Origin: France
Synopsis:
10-year-old Pierre plays with a camera made from a box. While the child explores the surroundings of his house, we begin to capture how he sees his world, and as something that is part of a game being a game, it is also a profession, a hobby and an artistic expression that covers large aspects of the life of the being. human.
Fractured Haven
Director/Writer/Producer: Alexander Eastham, Alexandru Stoica,Gram Gill
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis: A young man attempts to find refuge in different environments that he imagines, but his attempts bring him to a place where he really feels at home.
Human Layers
Director: Fatemeh Zare
Country of Origin: Netherlands
Synopsis:
How humans behave differently in different contexts. At work, together as a couple and alone where they fully express themselves
The Morgue
Director/Writer/Producer: Majid Farzolahi
Country of Origin: Islamic Republic of Iran
Synopsis:
A zombie girl comes out of the morgue and is horrified by the image of the movie The Ring on the TV. (Real voices of ghosts are used in this movie)
Lift-Off Season Awards #15
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.