Winners 14th Season 2024
Callie and Bee
Replay. Release.
Callie and Bee
George Maestri
Director, Animator. Producer.
00:01:00
USA
A short exploration of 1930's rubber hose animation in 3D.
Callie gets her dog Bee to jump through a hoop with surprising results.
George Maestri is a Los Angeles based director, writer, animator and producer with experience at studios such as Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Di
Callie and Bee
George Maestri
Director, Animator. Producer.
00:01:00
USA
A short exploration of 1930's rubber hose animation in 3D.
Callie gets her dog Bee to jump through a hoop with surprising results.
George Maestri is a Los Angeles based director, writer, animator and producer with experience at studios such as Nickelodeon, Warner Bros, Disney, Film Roman, and Comedy Central, on series such as 'Rocko's Modern Life' and "South Park.". He has written a number of books on animation and has taught animation at Cal Arts and Otis College of Art, as well as online at Lynda.com and LinkedIn Learning.
Director Statement
I make cartoons that tell fun and interesting stories while exploring the edges of technology..
Replay. Release.
Replay. Release.
Replay and Release
Sonnie Skinner, Director, Writer, Producer.
0:03:00
USA
A digital consciousness completes its next iteration of life and is downloaded into a physical body.
Julia Jones, Key Cast
USA
Sonnie Skinner is a student filmmaker from San Bernardino, CA. She has just graduated with a degree in film and animation from Rochester Institut
Replay and Release
Sonnie Skinner, Director, Writer, Producer.
0:03:00
USA
A digital consciousness completes its next iteration of life and is downloaded into a physical body.
Julia Jones, Key Cast
USA
Sonnie Skinner is a student filmmaker from San Bernardino, CA. She has just graduated with a degree in film and animation from Rochester Institute of Technology, and has been making short films since 2017.
https://www.instagram.com/sonnie.mov
The Man Who Couldn't Clap
The Man Who Couldn't Clap
The Man Who Couldn't Clap
Hyunoh Chang, Director, Writer, Producer.
Josh S Rose, Director.
0:03:07
USA
"The Man Who Couldn't Clap" is a short story of a man looking back on his life. Caught in a complicated affliction that makes it impossible for him to clap or put his hands together, he ultimately finds a way to live with it. A dance of accep
The Man Who Couldn't Clap
Hyunoh Chang, Director, Writer, Producer.
Josh S Rose, Director.
0:03:07
USA
"The Man Who Couldn't Clap" is a short story of a man looking back on his life. Caught in a complicated affliction that makes it impossible for him to clap or put his hands together, he ultimately finds a way to live with it. A dance of acceptance, a silent applause to learning to live with what life hands us.
Liam Young, Executive Produce.
Robbie Tharp, Director of Photography
Alina Arustamyan 2nd Cinemotographer
Associate Producers:
Juan Montoya,
Sean Levitan.
Siv Disa Anderson, Music.
David Oh, Colorist.
Pamela Broady, Production Designer.
Yuxing Xu, VFX.
Alexis Lamborn, Hair & Makeup.
KEY CAST
Gaige Johnson
Glen Ratcliffe
Konner Rudisill,
Angela Su,
Kimberley Kim,
Devin Rader,
Kyle Brueggemann,
CREW
Saumil Upadhyay,
Hongwon Suh,
Xiangyi Zhu,
Director's Choice for Thinking In & Out of the Computer.
3D_Rush
3D_Rush
Chi Zhen, Director, Animator.
0:03:00
USA
Director Biography - Chi Zhen
Student animator who wants to make funny things to make anybody laugh
Director Statement:
Chi "David" Zhen is currenly an animation major student at Maryland Institute College of Art. He is now exploring both 2d and 3d animation.
Finalists: Animation.Experimental. 2 Narratives.
Requiem for Larissa
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
Requiem for Larissa
Requiem for Larissa. Goodbye World!
0:03:23
Ukraine
Swetlana Telbukh, Director, Producer.
Music, Valentin Sylvestrov.
Violin, Yevheniya Sirenko.
Sand Animation, Svetlana Telbukh.
Today Ukraine is going through difficult times. Innocent people are dying, everything that was created and protected for centuries is being destroyed. The world is wa
Requiem for Larissa. Goodbye World!
0:03:23
Ukraine
Swetlana Telbukh, Director, Producer.
Music, Valentin Sylvestrov.
Violin, Yevheniya Sirenko.
Sand Animation, Svetlana Telbukh.
Today Ukraine is going through difficult times. Innocent people are dying, everything that was created and protected for centuries is being destroyed. The world is watching Ukraine's pain with trepidation and hope. Good hearts, filled with empathy, feel Ukraine's pain as their own. Let this video be a requiem for those who have not had time to say goodbye.
Sad music touched my soul, and through sand animation, I conveyed to the audience the pain and hope of the entire Ukrainian people.
A child symbolizing the birth of Ukraine sleeps peacefully in the nest embraced by a crane - a symbol of family values.
The girl grows into an adult, representing the growth and strengthening of Ukraine over 31 years. The tree deeply rooted in the ground symbolizes the strength and native land - the genetic code of Ukrainians.
The grown woman-mother, embracing her children-cities of Ukraine with her wings, brings us into the present. The most famous landmarks of Ukraine come to life in the sand, from St. Sophia's Cathedral, Independence Square, Lviv Opera House to the iconic Kharkiv fountain. This image - the mother bird symbolizing modern Ukraine - becomes a reflection of the strength and pain of the Ukrainian people. Within her vulnerable embrace lies strength and protection.
The climax of the artwork is the alarming encounter between the raven and the crane - the clash of good and evil.
Composer:
Between 1997 and 1999, the renowned Ukrainian composer Valentin Vasil'yevich Silvestrov composed his last work "Requiem for Larissa. Goodbye, world!" in mourning for his deceased wife.
The Requiem was nominated in the "Best Classical Contemporary Composition" category at the Grammy Awards in 2005.
https://www.instagram.com/sand_elf_art/
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Wondering Eyes
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
Requiem for Larissa
Wondering Eyes
0:03:00
Italy
Simone Redeghieri Baroni, Director, Writer, Editor.
Camilla Rizzi, Key Cast.
Guido Costabile, Music Composer.
A girl on her balcony observes the dark and silent night, when all of a sudden she sees the wonder where it was unexpected.
Simone Redeghieri Baroni was born in Milan, Italy, in 1998.
He graduated in Media L
Wondering Eyes
0:03:00
Italy
Simone Redeghieri Baroni, Director, Writer, Editor.
Camilla Rizzi, Key Cast.
Guido Costabile, Music Composer.
A girl on her balcony observes the dark and silent night, when all of a sudden she sees the wonder where it was unexpected.
Simone Redeghieri Baroni was born in Milan, Italy, in 1998.
He graduated in Media Languages at Università Cattolica of Milan, taking courses of directing and cinematography at UCLA in Los Angeles. After the graduation he took a master in Cinematographic Ideation and Production at the same university in Milan, where he co-directed the short film “In the Loop” as a student project, which was then awarded as Best Super Short at the Absurd Film Festival in the contest of April/May 2022. His short experimental documentary "No shapes in the clouds - Images and Sounds from 2020" has been screened at the Robinson Film Awards in Naples where it received the annual award as Best Lockdown Short in 2023. Later in 2023 his short film "Wondering Eyes" has been screened and awarded with the third place prize in a short film competition held by the "Cineteca of Milan". In the meantime he started working on movie sets as assistant director, while he continues working on personal projects, writing and directing short films.
Director Statement
"Keep looking for things in places where there is nothing."
https://filmfreeway.com/SimoneRedeghieriBaroni
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
0:02:56
Hungary
Péter Bergendy, Director.
Gábor Hellebrandt, Writer, Producer.
Hajna Sziládi, Key Cast.
Ádám Kiss, Key Cast.
At Gundel, the world-famous Hungarian restaurant, a girl sits sadly at her table. The waiter speaks to her in the sign language of the deaf and hard of hearing, and she replies in a sign that sh
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
0:02:56
Hungary
Péter Bergendy, Director.
Gábor Hellebrandt, Writer, Producer.
Hajna Sziládi, Key Cast.
Ádám Kiss, Key Cast.
At Gundel, the world-famous Hungarian restaurant, a girl sits sadly at her table. The waiter speaks to her in the sign language of the deaf and hard of hearing, and she replies in a sign that she is still waiting for someone. It seems in vain. The waiter thinks for a moment, talks to the executive chef and, together with the restaurant staff, cheers up the sad girl. As a gift, she also receives a famous Gundel pancake. Finally, the late boyfriend drops in and apologetically joins his girlfriend.
Peter Bergendy got his first camera from his grandfather at the age of six. From that moment film became part of his life. He originally graduated as a psychologist with a first class degree with distinction, where he wrote his thesis on horror film psychology. For ten years he was the editor-in-chief of the Hungarian issue of German Cinema Magazine, he worked as academic researcher for the Hungarian Film Institute, also as editor and director in Hungarian Television.
For 30 years now he's been ditched in Hungarian and international commercial directing, his multiple award winning commercials are shown across the world.
In 2020 Peter Bergendy was awarded the national Balázs Béla Prize for his outstanding services in the arts and motion pictures.
https://www.instagram.com/gundel.restaurant/
REPARACIONES
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
The Gundel is for EVERYONE!
REP0ARACIONES
0:03:00
USA
Y(E)S a.k.a. Yehuda Sharim, Director.
Lorena Alvarado, Writer.
Margaret Breslau, Producer.
Elizabeth Lopez, Producer.
The poetry and images of Reparaciones invoke a cycle of the doing and undoing of fabrics and flesh, material and social, the threads that clothe our bodies and the relations that sustain our life, that
REP0ARACIONES
0:03:00
USA
Y(E)S a.k.a. Yehuda Sharim, Director.
Lorena Alvarado, Writer.
Margaret Breslau, Producer.
Elizabeth Lopez, Producer.
The poetry and images of Reparaciones invoke a cycle of the doing and undoing of fabrics and flesh, material and social, the threads that clothe our bodies and the relations that sustain our life, that resist the ruptures and absorb the shocks that we inevitably encounter in all stages of life.
Y(E)S, is a writer, filmmaker, poet, and photographer. His work reflects on the relationship between the quotidian and the poetic to explore new potentialities of the imagination. Oscillating between fiction, improvisation, and real-life events, Sharim’s work offers an intimate portrayal of those who refuse to surrender amidst daily devastation and culminating strife, offering a vision for equality and renewed solidarity in a divisive world.
Director Statement
Que dice aqui, mija?/what does it say here, mija?
Que no te da cambio/ that it won’t give you change.
Que cambió en mi rostro?/what changed in my face?
El arbol de tus ojos/the tree of your eyes
Se cae poco a poco/falls a little more each day.
by Lorena Alvarado
https://www.instagram.com/sharimstudio/?igshid=tyk2ospkzgh2
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Honorable Mentions
MOD3RN T1M3Z
MOD3RN T1M3Z
0:00:34
USA
Richard Thompson, Director, Animator.
Darcy Thompson, Sound Design.
A machine comes to life in a 3D animation short inspired by Charlie Chaplin.
Richard Thompson is a 3D artist/generalist, associate professor, and coordinator of digital design at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He has over 35 years of cre
MOD3RN T1M3Z
0:00:34
USA
Richard Thompson, Director, Animator.
Darcy Thompson, Sound Design.
A machine comes to life in a 3D animation short inspired by Charlie Chaplin.
Richard Thompson is a 3D artist/generalist, associate professor, and coordinator of digital design at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He has over 35 years of creative and collaborative arts industry experience on award-winning projects. The last two decades have been focused specifically on bringing virtual characters to life, visual storytelling through animation, environmental narrative, and optimized immersive game world design. He was awarded an Excellence in Teaching Award. In industry, he worked on the History Channel’s Engineering an Empire as a 3D generalist, as an animator and 3D designer in the production pipeline for Word World, a multi-EMMY Award-winning TV series, and in modeling, texturing, and rendering television commercials and product visualizations for Chobani yogurt and pharmaceutical companies. In an earlier career as an actor and playwright, he appeared on and off-Broadway in Tony and Obie award-winning plays; he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Best Actor Award for the role of Jimmy Porter in John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger. Thompson, whose own plays have won Drama-Logue awards, is working on an animated short film, “La Piazza,” in which a gelato salesman battles for survival against the forces of change. For it, he is designing and producing related media, such as 3D printed character figurines and a VR experience.
https://youtu.be/GpPgnJ9IwFY?si=owLp8DvgsNrGyFvZ
"Feedback video for M0D3RN T1M3Z."
https://youtu.be/iXqqNe5DruA
Reverie
Reverie
0:01:47
Australia
Amber Morgan, Director. Producer. Key Cast.
As an independent Australian filmmaker venturing into the world of cinema, Amber Morgan brings a fresh perspective and a deep-rooted passion for storytelling to the art form. With a Bachelor of Design under their belt, their journey into filmmaking is a testament to their i
Reverie
0:01:47
Australia
Amber Morgan, Director. Producer. Key Cast.
As an independent Australian filmmaker venturing into the world of cinema, Amber Morgan brings a fresh perspective and a deep-rooted passion for storytelling to the art form. With a Bachelor of Design under their belt, their journey into filmmaking is a testament to their innate creativity and desire to explore new avenues of expression.
Drawing inspiration from the rich cultural experiences of Australia and beyond, Amber Morgan seeks to infuse their work with authenticity and depth, capturing the essence of the human experience through the lens of cinema. While relatively new to the craft, their background in design provides a unique foundation, allowing them to approach filmmaking with a keen eye for visual composition and narrative structure.
Driven by a relentless curiosity and a hunger for exploration, Amber Morgan is committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling, embracing both the challenges and the triumphs that come with the creative process. With each project, they strive to leave an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape, offering audiences a glimpse into worlds both familiar and fantastical.
https://www.instagram.com/pureamberdesigns
Magika Mistika
Magika Mistika
0:02:23
USA
Samarah Hasan-Kepes, Gyuri Kepes, Directors.
Key Cast:
Samarah Hasan-Kepes,
Gyuri Kepes
A father (Gyuri Kepes) makes a paranormal proposal in an attempt to cheer up his daughter (Samarah Hasan-Kepes). It just might work.
Samarah likes doing gymnastics and playing piano. She is 10 years old, and lives in Easthampton, MA
Magika Mistika
0:02:23
USA
Samarah Hasan-Kepes, Gyuri Kepes, Directors.
Key Cast:
Samarah Hasan-Kepes,
Gyuri Kepes
A father (Gyuri Kepes) makes a paranormal proposal in an attempt to cheer up his daughter (Samarah Hasan-Kepes). It just might work.
Samarah likes doing gymnastics and playing piano. She is 10 years old, and lives in Easthampton, MA. She enjoys making films and can speak Chinese fluently.
Gyuri is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Landmark College in VT, where he teaches courses in multimedia production. He enjoys painting and making films with his daughter, Samarah.
Time Travel Adventure
Jordan's Time Travel Adventure
0:02:40
USA
Phil Rodrigues, Director, Writer, Producer.
Michael Cerqueira Da Costa, Key Cast.
Ryan Guimares, Key Cast.
Kate Parziale, Key Cast.
Phil Rodrigues, Key Cast.
If you had one chance to go back and rectify a mistake, would you take it?