FRENCH INTERNATIONAL MODERN FILM AND SCRIPT FESTIVAL
Selection of the season
September - November 2023
Best Feature Documentary
“Performing Arts Studio West: 25th Anniversary – A Retrospective” explores the origin and twenty-five-year history of the Inglewood, California based one-of-a-kind arts organization that trains adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities for professional work in the entertainment industry.
John Paizis
Best Feature Documentary
Hours before her assassination, indigenous leader Berta Cáceres wrote down the names of the corrupt interests aiming to kill her. Using these clues, the documentary puts together the puzzle pieces to help Berta solve her own murder.
Katia Lara
Best Feature Documentary
Geoffrey Dutton made his mark nationally and internationally as a writer, poet, publisher of Sun Books and the ABR and founder of the Adelaide Festival of Arts and Writer’s Week. He was married to broadcaster and ceramicist Ninette Dutton but after 40 years Geoffrey walked away from his family and from Adelaide. Many found it difficult to forgive him and his later years brought tragedy and controversy, fuelled, to some extent, by his aptly titled autobiography, “Out In The Open.”
Rob George
Best Feature Film
Best Young Director
Addicted to the desire of this pleasurable life leads a retired Marie Corps plot a scheme along with computer genius on how to get rich regardless of those involve.
A one million dollars life insurance policy is initiative and his children; Georgia, Kelvin and Regina are his beneficiaries including his grandchildren (Ben Jr & Benita). To receive the money once he’s dead, he carries on his first plan. He and his felon partner who happens to be a genius in hijacking infiltrate the health system, pose as the personal to Kels by creating a terminal disease that Kels (this Ex-Marie Corps) suffers from.
Alexander Wiaplah
THE ULTIMATE MOMENT
Best Feature Film
Tragically orphaned, Michel and Frank separated by a dramatic adoption, find themselves a few decades later, while Frank ignores the existence of the brother. Living a meeting as heartbreaking as tumultuous, will the two brothers manage to reconcile?
Jean-Claude Nader
Lock Down Love
Best Feature Film
Lisa, a plus-sized African American woman, concludes that her boyfriend broke up with her because of her weight. Now on quarantine lockdown and alone, she will now use the next 40 days to try to lose the weight, in hopes of winning him back
Emeka Mbadiwe
Best Feature Film
FORCED is a feature film about domestic abuse/violence so though the subject matter is extremely serious and is absolutely dealt with in the film properly, the main cast are of African decent so expect some underline African humour also. STORY:Forced (2021)A story of a young girl abused by her stepfather. Caroline was a loving girl until one day her life came crashing down. Her stepfather took advantage of her and Caroline became mixed up with the wrong set of people.
Danny Erskine
Doubting Tom
Best Experimental Film
After a white lie spirals into his separate worlds colliding, Tom must learn to embrace what's really important before his deception ruins his love-life, his friendships, and his chances at a local darts competition.
Vanessa Roman
Tasmania
Best Feature Film
A nuclear physics grad student facing deportation hides on a Southern California campus where he falls in love with an undocumented janitor who wishes she could go to college. When a Keystone Cop sniffs out the campus stowaway, the homeless lovers seek sanctuary in their hearts, and together they brave the death of their American Dreams.
Austin Alward
Best Original Soundtrack
Rudy was always a strange boy. But when his father abandoned the family one Christmas morning, Rudy spiraled into a loop celebrating Christmas every day hoping that one day his father will return. At 43, Rudy is alone, with only his clueless dragon lady mother who will not be winning the Best Mom award anytime soon. When he meets Clarice, he begins to question his life choices.
Sean Brown
Le travail est-il une forme de prostitution?
Best Short Documentary
Dans cette vidéo, le témoignage d'une travailleuse du sexe permet d'exposer la réalité des faits de manière extrêmement simple et claire. L'auteur de la vidéo est interviewé pour expliquer les raisons pour lesquelles la prostitution doit être comprise avec plus de respect et sans aucune discrimination.
Gian Elio Ezael de marco
Best Short Documentary
The film (original title: Lámpaidők) gives an insight into the life of the "other" glass artist Barbara Móró. To the secret world that exists beyond the hustle and bustle of the often monotonous everyday life. Where one spends time on oneself, one’s personal development.
Krasznay Zoltán
Best Short Documentary
Sixteen-year-old Nikau doesn’t see anyone who is quite like him. He has a unique view of the world; he also has Asperger Syndrome. Step into Nikau’s colourful world as he turns to his animator Dad to help fulfil aspirations of bringing the character Munch Jr. to life. Powered by the unconditional bond of father and son, an emotional journey must be taken to realise Nikau’s dreams.
Ali Cowley
Best Short Documentary
This is a short documentary (under 20 minutes) about the current threats to our water systems from the extractive industry that is exacerbated by politicians and law enforcement.
Pamela Palmater
From Stella's Diary
Best Short Documentary
A young eye (curious and "different") observes the days passing and the succession of events during a summer at Alpe Camaggiore, up in the hills of the Muggiasca Valley.
Although far removed from the rest of the world, here nothing can be kept hidden or forgotten: the complexity of the present engages in a dialogue with the simplicity of age-old traditions. The difficulties in restoring an equilibrium in the pastures are softened by the charm of the landscape.
Carlo Bava
Best Short Documentary
An art professor and her students apprentice with Kam minority artisans deep in the mountains of southwest China to learn early papermaking technology.
Marie Anna Lee
Best Short Documentary
"Fuori le mura" racconta il quartiere Prati, l'ultimo dei quartieri romani, l'unico fuori le mura.
Il film è un viaggio immersivo in questa area storica di Roma, chiamata genericamente “Prati”, che comprende tre zone distinte, con diverse caratteristiche edilizie ed edificate in epoche differenti
Andrea Natale,
Giuseppe Vincenzo Sciarra
BE(E)ING ALIVE
Best Short Documentary
Vincenzo Notaro
Best Short Documentary
Te Rā is about the 100 year challenge issued by Maori Anthropologist Te Rangi Hiroa, for Maori to recreate the woven sail now kept at the British Museum. A challenge answered in 2022 by the wahine Maori/maori women of the weaving group 'Ta Rā roopu ringa raupa'/the calloused hands
Karen Sidney
Best Short Documentary
The daily life of a Lombard woman in the seventh century, from her birth to her death an historical study on the Lombard society.
Simone Vrech,
Sandra Lopez Cabrera
Indian Alley
Best Short Documentary
Indian Alley has become an iconic area in Downtown Los Angeles for Native American murals. This short documentary shares the stories and artistic visuals of six Native American artist that are using their art to share the history of American Indians in DTLA skidrow district a area known as Yaangna to the traditional Tongva people.
Pamela J. Peters
Best Short Screenplay
As his callous father nears an unexpected death, his estranged adult son must examine their tumultuous relationship and answer the question: fury or forgiveness?
Mary Madaline Roe
I KILLED ELVIS
Best Short Screenplay
Two job weary reporters, Dave and Norah, on assignment for a sleazy tabloid, stumble into possibly the biggest story of their career that entangles them in a mysterious and dangerous cabal.
Wolf Bukowski
Best Short Screenplay
Apulia, Southern Italy. Second World War. During the bombings, the inhabitants of a small town devise an ingenious ploy to save their lives from the inevitable and cruel rain of bombs thrown by enemy aircraft. The plan is to hide in the enormous hollow trunks of centuries-old and millenary olive trees, of which the countryside of this region is rich. .
Donatella Corrado
Paula Murphy: Undaunted
Best Sport Film
During the turbulent 60s, the quest for women’s rights was invigorated. In motorsports, where names like Andretti and Petty transcended the race track, a lone woman emerged from their shadow – her name was Paula Murphy. Fast, fearless, and versatile – auto racing had never seen anyone like Paula. Dubbed the “World’s Fastest Woman on Wheels” she was more than a speed demon. When she hit the throttle, attitudes toward women drivers changed forever.
Pam A Miller
No One's Birthday
Best Student Film
"No One's Birthday" follows the story of Sarah, a naive 16 year old girl, who is worried about the repercussions of having/not having an abortion. While on the steps of a planned parenthood waiting for her boyfriend to come pick her up, she is approached by Jodi who is looking for a candle on behalf of his cupcake. After a newly discovered use for a tampon, Jodi enlightens Sarah on his celebration of "No One's Birthday," thus changing Sarah's perspective of her future.
Juliana Santamauro
Cold Turkey
Best Student Film
Filmed under almost impossible conditions on Lake Michigan: temperature below freezing, winds >50 kts using a Canon DSLR with an unstabilized 400 mm lens. To accomplish this I placed the tripod and camera within an inch of the wall of a concrete building and found the optimum spot for viewing without any wind shake!
Scott Crawford
Best Student Film
onathan Cooper is an autistic young man who craves acceptance. In a meet-and-greet event, he finds the courage to talk to Grim Andrews. However, his friendship gets threatened when Jonathan gets into an altercation at the event.
Anthony Carniello
Best Student Film
A man, suffering from a psychiatric disorder, tries to understand what exactly is going on in his difficult life.
Piro Gjylameti
EMPYREAN
Best Super Short Script
Marilyn is mourning the loss of her faithful, four-legged companion, Bella. Unable to bury Bella due to the frozen winter ground, she wraps the dog in a shroud and places it in the freezer until she can bury her in the spring. Tyler, Marilyn's slacker twenty-three-year-old son, is oblivious to his mother and her pain. His apathy is challenged when he accidentally destroys Bella's frozen remains and his mother spirals into a deep depression. Frightened by his mother's immovable grief and desperate for forgiveness, Tyler is shocked into awareness. Faced with a seemingly impossible task, he must find a way to pull his mother from her darkness and repair their bond.
Laura Jaques
Best Super Short Script
Two scientists aim to engineer the perfect children, but when their creations exhibit exceptional talents, the world takes notice, and society begins to question the concept of 'ideal'.
Antonio Michael Leaks
Best Symbolic Film
A hybrid avante guard/experimental short on images of female self-oppression, mental health, and self-imposed bias.
Kathy O Lofton
Best Synopsis
L’ULTIME INSTANT
Drame psychologique
D'après une histoire vraie
Jean-Claude Nader
Best Television Script - Pilot
A street-smart private eye diagnosed with advanced involuntary
narcissistic rage disorder becomes the prime suspect in the brutal murder of her therapist and finds herself embroiled in a tangled web of lies, corruption, and homicide.
Stephen John Campbell
Best Feature Documentary
On train away from home, young Oliver browses through a scrapbook of old pictures. They bring back memories of his two closest friends - Flora and Sophie - when they were kids and inseparable.
However, Flora’s passing on a tragic accident drives Sophie into starting a new life elsewhere, whilst Oliver is left alone to develop an obsession with death.
Micaela Narciso Castanheira
Best Short Film
A romance at a trippy Halloween rave goes wrong... Lola's public breakup is disrupted when an Elvis impersonator comes to the rescue. Sharing confidences and ghosts from their past, they reminisce about their homeland and discover meaning in their newly shared bond.
Imelda O'Reilly