Independent Shorts Awards

“Show & Tell Tango” is a short film about a couple at the crossroads of fantasy and reality who dance around the idea of love. The fantasy: a daydream told through the dance of love, pure and innocent. The reality: an affair where hearts are guarded behind walls of words.
Directed by Melissa Skirboll and Natasha Straley (USA)

An educated painter seeks inspiration from a talented youth on a chilly morning by the Cahaba river.
In the midst of an artistic drought, Tristan agrees to meet with a talented and unknown artist with the hope of being inspired and reminded of his love for painting. However, when this unknown artist arrives at their agreed meeting spot on the bank of the Cahaba River, he is not as he described himself: he is not an elderly man finally following his lifelong passion, but an eager teenager in need of a warmer coat.
“Cahaba” is a surreal slice of life that uses the biodiversity and pollution of the Cahaba River to explore the identities of two artists struggling with their own forms of pollution.
Directed by Brett Blaylock (USA)

What would happen when your virtual assistant wakes up?” A short film reflecting on the relationship between human and technology.
Directed by Wendi Tang (USA)

This is a “slice of life” short dealing with a lady who has to reinvent her own existence after the death of her husband.
Directed by Fiona Lincke (USA)

Video featuring original music by Stefan Meylaers.
Directed by Tim Heirman (Belgium)

A young girl tries to deal with her insecurities and an overbearing mother.
Directed by Zena AbdelBaky (Egypt)

Directed by Mohamed H Morsy (USA)

Based on the true story of accomplished violinist Mare Wildmare. A tech meltdown spurs disillusioned IT consultant Brook to recall her idyllic childhood. She must reconnect with her artistic self or face a monotonous life without passion or meaning.
Directed by Rachele Wildmare (Australia)

A tale of two friends. A friendship that started because of a man… a friendship that goes through the phase of ‘jealousy,’ because of that man… a friendship that gets reinvented because of the same man. Who is HE? The Living Legend of Indian Cinema, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan. This is a story dedicated to all such friendships that exist because of the legend.
Directed by Ranjay RC (India)

In a sparkly, smokey bedroom in rural Gothenburg, Sweden, we follow Nick and his friend Jonte reminiscing good times and the really, really bad.
Directed by Mimi Dahlén (Sweden)

Directed by YuChen Tsai (USA)

In a city governed by an authoritarian regime, propaganda spreads the soils’ infertility. Sam, a 28-year-old, works at the National Communication Center as the producer of the government newscast. On an assignment, Sam discovers a storage with plants in the Ministry of Food, questioning the regime.
Directed by Valeria Brenes (Costa Rica)

Pete wakes up from a big night on the town with no memory of the previous night. To piece together what happened, he follows clues from notes his drunken self-placed all around his apartment.
Directed by Clay Fisher (Australia)

Two friends make New Year’s resolutions: Dave has to stay fit, and Steff needs to be nice. This is not an easy feat for a neurotic, courtesy- stickler like Steff who lives in an impolite world, especially when she meets upon an online friend with less than satisfactory etiquette.
Directed by Danica Gabriele (USA)