Independent Shorts Awards

Canicule

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)

Valley Angel

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

Good Cop Black Cop

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)

Orpington Poulet

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)

Chicago HR

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

“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)

Lure

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

Adult Humans

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)