Independent Shorts Awards

A short film about the aftermath of sexual assault, revenge, and how far we will go to seek retribution.
Directed by Marco Zappala (USA)

A short film about a police officer who wants to bring peace to the community and is fair to all individuals no matter what race they are and his son who struggles with bullying. Also, a star stud football player who is very cocky, conceited, and loves the attention he gets. The officer, John Wagner, struggles to find solutions to bring peace between citizens and the police. The football player, Sean, struggles in an environment which offers him very little resources to thrive. What will their outcome be? To find out we go a day in their lives.
Directed by Edwin Maker Jr. and Jeremy Butler (USA)

Group of highly skilled agents in service of the unheard voices when recently they lost a comrade and it’s been a tough time without one of their own, let alone finding a replacement, which is where this story takes place.
Directed by Aristote John Boyo (UK)

A successful writer and his estranged brother reunite at their father’s funeral, but their reunion becomes complicated by an insensitive spouse, tequila consumption, and the haunting memories of a dead squirrel.
Directed by Jeff Huston (USA)

When a trans sister, January Marie Lapuz, is brutally murdered in her own home, a community reacts and her friends and other trans women of color come to share and voice their issues, concerns, and challenges. January was seen as a bright light in the lives of many. This is the story of January, a friend, a daughter, a person.
Directed by Elina Gress and Lenee Son (Canada)

Our show is about four middle-aged female friends who have known each other since college and thus formed a special bond. “Freakishly Normal” shows the comedic side of the suburban Mom’s daily routine and discusses the nothingness that can make them so busy while they are trying to navigate the often surreal drama of their “oh-so” average lives.
Directed by Eva Sippel (USA)

World record attempt in being the first person to cross the untouched liuwa plains of Zambia. We encounter Lions, Cheetah, Hyena and Buffalo. This all made the documentary more interesting but much more dangerous.
Directed by Richard Mcenery (UK)

A story of a man torn apart by his memories, decisions and loved ones.
Directed by Neil Webster and Simon Killick (UK)

Jack is reliving the same day over and over and seeks help from his Papaw and a skeptic therapist, but when they prove unhelpful and Jack seems to be doomed to stay forever imprisoned, he stumbles upon a murder and becomes convinced that he can prevent it before the day resets.
Directed by Chason Laing (USA)

At the end of a lunch in a big restaurant, a father talks to his son about education but this son does not agree with his father.
Directed by Gilard Pierre-André (France)

One band. Four explosive characters. 10 minutes till showtime. What could go wrong?
Directed by Aman Adlakha (USA)

Meggie and her great-grandmother are trying to deal with a piece of dislocated time. They want to turn it around and put it back in its right place, but this task is too difficult.
Directed by Julia Deak (Hungary)

“Black Coffee” is a scripted sitcom following the ventures of four Howard graduates who open a black-owned coffee shop in the nation’s capital. Each driven by a unique motive, these late 20-somethings come together to make their mark in the city as proud entrepreneurs. As business picks up, these first-time business owners face several unexpected challenges in the diverse community of DC behind the capital.
Directed by Jason Perez (USA)

The intimate bond between SinTing and Kaka has started since childhood. Not only are they inseparable companions, they also play a classic couple in Cantonese Opera. But while they’re rehearsing “the Farewell” (a scene from “Butterfly Lovers”), and with senior schoolmate Kai Fung entering Kaka’s life, the relationship between the bosom friends starts to change…
Directed by Willis Man Chak Wong (Hong Kong)