Roster and/or sequence subject to change

ADDICTED TO THE STARS
Director:  Michael Radford, 2002, UK, 10:24, Live-Action, science fiction

A British/German short film anthology titled Ten Minutes Older was issued in 2002 in two companion volumes: The Trumpet and The Cello, featuring fifteen distinguished filmmakers. The premise was to create films of 10 minutes or less focusing on the passage of time. Ten Minutes Older never had a US theatrical release although it played in a few museums. Michael Radford joined prominent directors such as Spike Lee, Bernardo Bertolucci, Aki Kaurismaki, Claire Denis, Jean-Luc Godard, Werner Herzog, Jim Jarmusch, Wim Wenders, et. al. in creating the anthology.

Representing a vision of future life on earth, Addicted to the Stars presents a father-son relationship separated by time and distance, subsumed by an astronaut’s (Daniel Craig – pre-James Bond) passion for space exploration.  It weighs life as it is versus life as it might be – complex, nuanced and thought-provoking.

Michael Radford is an award-winning director from the UK best known for Oscar-nominated and BAFTA winning Il Postino (The Postman),  The Merchant of Venice with Al Pacino, Joseph Fiennes and Jeremy Irons, Flawless with Michael Caine and Demi Moore, 1984 with Richard Burton and John Hurt, Elsa and Fred with Christopher Plummer, Shirley MacLaine, Marcia Gay Harden and James Brolin, and The Music Of Silence with Antonio Banderas and Jordi Molla.

JOHN WAS TRYING TO CONTACT ALIENS
Director:  Matthew Killip, 2002, UK, 16:00, Live-Action, documentary
For 30 years, John Shepherd built and worked in a massive audio lab in the basement of his grandparents’ house in rural Michigan, where he’s from, with the goal of reaching extraterrestrial life. He decided to do this through broadcasting music into outer space: German electronica, Afrobeat, funk, disco, etc. For decades, Shepherd was a DJ to a hypothetical alien audience, signing off his broadcasts with his name.

But there is more to this story than Shepherd’s passion for connection with alien life forms… namely his creativity, purpose in life and striving to overcom loneliness. No Spoilers here – you’ll have watch and enjoy the happy ending.  Winner: Sundance 2020 Short Film Jury Award and IDA 2020 Best Short

Matthew Killip is a British filmmaker living in the US. His short documentaries have played at film festivals around the world, including Sundance Film Festival and True/False Film Fest. He also works as an editor, most notably collaborating on multiple projects with artist Jeremy Deller and director Michael Almereyda.

TEN AND TWO
Director:  Travis Wood, 2022, USA, 5:24, Live-Action, drama 

A mother’s passion for her son’s safety turns a seemingly innocent driving lesson into an intense survival lesson on police encounters for young Black males.  Timely and thought-provoking.

SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING
Director:  Stephanie Abel Horowitz, 2020, USA, 12:44, Live-Action, romantic comedy

A dark, funny and intimate story about a woman discovering the importance of relationships. Fran thinks a lot about dying, but her dark thoughts are interrupted and her passion is aroused when a man in the office shows interest and they start dating.
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Winner, Best Drama, Aspen Shortsfest 2019
One of 10 Must-See Shorts at Sundance 2019 ~ Indiewire

COMPASSION
Director:  Thanonchai Sornsriwichai, 2015, Thailand, 2:58, Live-Action, drama

An American war veteran’s daughter searching for answers following her father’s death, finds her answer in an elderly Asian woman. The daughter explains to the woman that her father was taken as a prisoner of war, beaten, tortured and truly demoralized. But despite all this undeserved horror, he devoted his life to helping strangers after he returned home.

The woman was the reason for his enduring kindness in light of all that had happened. “What did you say to him?” the daughter asks as the video cuts to a frame of the same woman many years ago quietly taking the prisoner’s hand, speaking volumes without words. She does the same now to the daughter, as the daughter slowly realizes that giving with the heart without expecting anything in return transcends words, language, society and culture.  A moving story of empathy and compassion.

“Compassion” is one of a series of three-minute PSAs directed by Thanonchai Sornsriwichai for Ogilvy & Mather Thailand, on behalf of telecom client Truemove H.

THE MAKING OF SWEET CHARITY
Producer:  Melissa Godoy, 2023, USA, 16:54, Live-Action, documentary

In this fascinating behind-the-scenes short documentary we witness the passion and proficiency brought to the musical production – individually and collectively.  Filmed by CCM’s Production Master Class, viewers will hear from key participants and see how “Sweet Charity” was designed and run by a team of students from throughout the college’s Theatre Design and Production Department.

OVER TIME
Directors:  Oury Atlan, Thibaut Berland & Damien Ferrie, 2004, France, 4:54, Animation

A passionate and exquisite tribute to Jim Henson, the legendary creator of “The Muppets.”  Made as a graduation project at Supinfocom, Valenciennes, France, this brilliant short film has been internationally acclaimed, winning awards around the world such as the Annecy and Bristol animation festivals.

Strikingly original with an incredible level of detail, it takes a film noir approach, mixing humor, celebration, sadness and lament. The delicate mix of love, tenderness, and respect is enhanced by a superb score including “Inconsolable” by the Silberman Orchestra and “shien vi di l’vone” and ” eli eli ” by Ornadel and the Starlight Symphony.

DAMGO SA KAHITAS-AN  (Dream of the Highest)
Director:  Ryan Miguel Capili, 2022, Philippines, 5:00, in Tagalog w/ English subs, Live-Action, drama

In this autobiographical story, a young man must choose between his passion – film making – and more traditional career choices.

Based in Manila, Capili is a 21-year-old student from De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, studying Digital Film. “damgo sa kahitas-an” won the Best Film at the Manila Student Film Festival 2023. 

SOMETHING’S UP WITH VERONICA
Director:  Pierce Ryan, 2023, USA, 6:00, Live-Action, comedy

Theo’s passionate possessiveness lurches into a downward spiral of jealousy after witnessing his girlfriend hug another man a little too tight, for a little too long…

Pierce Ryan is a member of Cincinnati-based Devra Labs, specializing in short film storytelling.

WHEN WE DANCED
Director:  Ryan Moore, 2023, USA/Philippines, 20:00, Live-Action, drama

The touching story of a Filipino farmer, Rommel, who leaves his homeland in search of a better life in America with his true love Lily. The film explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery as Rommel grapples with his own unfulfilled dreams and reignites his passion for dance as he teaches his grandson the basics.  It won both the “Best Short Film” Special Jury Award and the “Best Editing” award at the 2023 Beverly Hills International Film Festival.

Ryan Moore is a Filipino-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles with a passion for telling compelling stories that resonate with audiences worldwide. His unique background, having spent his formative years in the Philippines, has deeply influenced his work. Ryan graduated with honors from the University of Southern California and went on to direct and produce his first feature film documentary, “Manny,” narrated by Liam Neeson. The film chronicled the life of legendary boxer Manny Pacquiao, premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and was acquired and released internationally by Universal Pictures.

THE MAKER
Director:  Christopher Kezelos, 2011, Australia, 5:30, Animation, drama

An enigmatic Burtonesque stop-motion short that is a metaphor for the cycle of life. Charming, beautiful and compelling, enhanced by the score.

Winner, Best Animated Short:  Indianapolis Intl FF, Toronto Worldwide Short FF, Sydney FF, Rhode Island Intl FF, Newport Beach FF. Nominee, Grand Jury Award, SXSW.