Independent Shorts Awards

Three women go through independent relationship struggles of their own while trying to remain true to their friendships to one another.
Directed by Rachel Neal (USA)

Today, Françoise is spying on her husband Robert, who she suspects of cheating on her. The hairdresser is right to trust her instinct… She spots Robert stepping inside a gay sex club with a young man, as handsome as he is mysterious.
Françoise is furious but she has no idea how weird and horrific this day is about to get!
Directed by Philippe Solange (France)

On a hot summer night in Paris, Lou, 26, is throwing a party at her place. As the time goes by, she appears to be at a crossroad in her life, slowly realizing she is not personally fulfilled as she thought she was. A chapter will close that night, leaving room for a brand new start.
Directed by Leila Lamblin and Charly Destombes (France)

Witness the life of a Retired Army cadet with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in this short silent film.
Directed by Duane Dsouza (India)

An interrogation goes awry as one cop (Quincy Johnson II) contemplates what life is like as a black cop. Also starring Darren Gendron (Good Cop), Ashley Karp (Perp), and Magdalynne Sager (Sergeant).
Directed by Ashley Karp and Alejandro Etcheagaray (USA)

When a farmer sees his beloved chicken has stopped laying, he is presented with heartbreak and the loss of a friend.
Directed by Max Zabell (USA)

In an imprecise future, humanity faces many strange diseases that threaten to bring the entire species to extinction.
Directed by Clodoaldo Lino (Brazil)

Chicago HR follows the day-to-day life of Langston and Woods, the world’s two most excitable and exciting HR reps at a Chicago accounting firm. Langston and Woods take their jobs very seriously – a little too seriously for their boss Terrance “Chief” Kofi. But since Langston and Woods came in, office shenanigans have declined sharply. They will do whatever it takes to keep the people of Fey and Farley accounting safe-even if it means taking the law into their own hands.
Directed by Kara Haller, Adam Smestad, Gavin O’Herlihy, Daniel T. Moore, Amy Jackson, Shane Dedmond and Matt Stell (USA)

“The Bench” is the story of a young girl battling homelessness and the stigmas she faces. It shows the flip-side of what we perceive and brings a humanity to those living on the street as we follow Mary through her day. This compelling story is filled with real struggles that tug on your heartstrings and challenge preconceived ideas.
Written by Cjay Boisclair (Canada)

After picking up a magical music box, a young man struggles with his internal temptations.
Directed by Weiyi Chu (China)

A vegetarian spaghetti western music video starring an unlikely hero.
Directed by Brian Neong San (Australia)

An Animal Rescue Volunteer and a Mysterious Traveler compete for the attention of a Young Woman who agrees to adopt a Pitbull before the dog is scheduled to be euthanized at a Kill Shelter.
Directed by James Zeiss (USA)

Soundtrack for the multi-award winning Merv Nickleman’s short film “Beneath The Lyrics”.
Written by Vince Breheny and Brendan Phelan, performed by Brendan Phelan (Ireland)

A ragtag group is about to flee illegally across a border. They’re confronted with their fears and hopes. The boundaries between reality and dream blur…
Directed by Cem Arslan (Germany)