Thank you to all the filmmakers who participated in the June 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
Ghouls Day Out
Director: Charlie Spencer
Storyboards: Ruah Suarez, Claire Bombach
Layout: Evelyn Emerick, Taesung Kim
Character Design/Animation: Ruah Suarez, Charlie Spencer, Macey Valentine, Dominic Cabriga
Sound Design: Thomas Larson
Country of Origin: United States
Genre: Animation, Comedy
Synopsis: A ghost afraid of the ocean feels left out during a beach party, but two vampire girls comfort the ghost as they all have differences and adapt to the circumstances.
Season Award #15 Shortlist: Best Short Live Action Narrative
Audience Choice Winners
24 hours left
Director/Writer/Producer: Javier Ruiz
Country of Origin: Spain
Synopsis:
Some friends are having a good time when suddenly a card falls into the hands of one of them. The card says "You will die in 24 hours unless you find someone who willingly takes it.
CHEATING
Director/Writer/Producer:Alessandro Massa
Country of Origin: Italy
Synopsis:
In the suggestive frame of a city on the Apulian coast, seven people find themselves in an intricated game of cheatings and passion that will put their life at a stake.
Jealousy will get in, resulting in bringing at light some secrets. Once the truth will come out, the situation will get at its lowest touching the darkest shades of the human psych.
Troughout the suggestive landscapes of the Italian boot, "CHEATING" gives us a compelling view on the fragility of human relations and the most irrational impulses that hide within them.
SET BACK
Director/Writer/Producer: Lyla Avital
Country of Origin: Israel
Synopsis:
The night before the production of Nina's film, everything goes wrong. She embarks on a nightly journey to save the film and rashly decides to find Quentin Tarantino, who has been living in Israel for the past few years. Along the way she learns lessons about relationships and art, and understands what is really important.
GAZE
Director: MEG PAYNE
Writer: Faith Dale-Hughes
Producer: Avani Sahdev, MEG PAYNE
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
What do you like? Explore how the bisexual female gaze fits into a world dominated by the male gaze. Are you simply an object of desire? Where is your agency? Do you have any?
Corner
Director/Writer: Diego José Antonio Lentini
Producer: John Farag Fared
Country of Origin: Egypt
Synopsis:
Man is good and evil in himself, so we find evil always chasing us because of the craving for smoking or drugs, so we stumble, fall, and get up again, but we ignore the evil.
SEED
Director: Mattias Göransson
Country of Origin: Sweden
Synopsis:
A short film about seeds.
THE LEGEND OF HYDN BRÛK
Director/Writer/Producer: Omar Kahouadji
Country of Origin: France
Synopsis:
Four young tourists pick up a hitchhiker on their way. Ben, the driver decides againt the hitchhiker's advice to take a stony track which crosses a forest reputed to be cursed. The hitchhiker will tell them about a legend: The legend of Hydn Brük.
A Street Dog Named Desire
Director/Writer: Nich Esposito
Producer: J Shanks Kindlon, Bradley Dujmovic
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
A journey through the streets and sewers with a hot dog dropped by a hapless street vendor.
Memories of Manslaughter
Director/Writer: Taishu Wang
Producer: Producer
Country of Origin: China
Synopsis:
Hu, who was just laid off, has plunged into the depths of schizophrenia and alcoholism.
Promo Girls
Director: ALICJA SĘDZIKOWSKA
Country of Origin: Poland
Synopsis:
Art students try to pay their rent by working for Polish mafia - short documentary.
Cloud Van
Director/Writer: Ryan Minaker
Producer: William ‘Sleeps’ Stewart, Kofi Effah, Ryan Minaker, Megan Danso
Country of Origin: Canada
Synopsis:
After losing his Vancouver dispensary, Sleeps sets out to get his employees back together to start selling marijuana on the streets but runs into problem after problem.
it is well with my souls
Director/Writer/Producer: Carah Chafin
Producer: Devon James
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
A man plays a hymn before dying.
Memory
Director/Writer: 鑫 王
Producer: 梦也 徐
Country of Origin: China
There is a place
Director/Writer/Camera Operator/Editor: Gianmaria Palombo
Producer: Amy Alvarez
Country of Origin: Italy
Synopsis:
Away from the cities there is a place where nature reigns and people smile.
Embark on a journey unveiling the authentic essence of the San Vicente coast in Palawan, from incredible nature landscapes to the simplicity and warmth of the local culture.
Unlucky Jim
Director/Writer/Producer: Ben Mullan
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
Superstitious Jim has a scary start to his day when a black cat crosses his path. Bad luck seems to follow him, so he takes tries to enlist as much good luck as possible.
Motion
Director/Writer/Producer: Ryan Evans
Country of Origin: New Zealand
Synopsis:
Motion is a theatrical short film about a middle-aged ex-theatre performer who is let go from her job. During this period of turmoil her granddaughter comes up with the idea of connecting her grandmother back to her theatrical routes.
Sunday in Church
Director/Writer: Cocco Spengler
Producer: Leon Diamond Broedner
Country of Origin: Germany
Synopsis:
The altar server Jamie fell in love with a girl, but when she tells her priest about it he is shooked and throws her out of the community. Afterwards she has a magical encounter with a mysterious kid, who gives her new hope
The Unhoused
Director/Writer: Ogo Eze
Country of Origin: Canada
Synopsis:
The Unhoused opens with a gut-wrenching scene as our protagonist races toward the deafening roar of a bulldozer tearing down her home. Her anguish is palpable, mirroring the despair of countless individuals grappling with the stark realities of homelessness. Yet, as the dust settles, we are jolted into the realization that this harrowing moment was but a cruel reverie. In truth, our protagonist finds herself once more cast adrift, ejected from the fragile haven she has crafted beneath the city.
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.