Abingdon Theater, Tuesday, August 23, 12:00 PM-10:00 PM

Abingdon Theater

Tuesday 23


10:00/11:30 PM

Women (20'21 m, France)

Dir. by A. Scott
Genres: Drama, Avant-garde, Fantasy, Surreal, Art, Social Issue
Synopsis: 'Women' depicts the age-old dilemma of the feminine role is society. Set in a beautiful nether-France, two exquisite young ladies argue the merits of conforming to society's idea of femininity versus what women might do if they made their own rules. Sexy and Violent!
Colette and Delphine, the closest of friends, vehemently disagree on the rules of female behavior, ending in a bloody gun fight. The survivor wins the right to be the dominant personality in what we discover has been an internal battle between two distinct personalities fighting for control of the one body they inhabit.


The Spirit of Isabel (20 m, USA)

Dir. by R. J. Butler
Genres: Drama, Personal Narrative
Synopsis: In a story of survival in an economically collapsed Detroit, a young woman named Isabel struggles to get by. All alone, desperately seeking work, and on the verge of eviction from her apartment, she hits the streets as a part of the world's oldest profession. Ashamed and tormented, she refuses to give up, having faith that hope and redemption are just around the corner. In a world growing smaller, and exponentially more dangerous, can Isabel find the strength to carry on?


Sign Language (5 m, UK)

Dir. by O. Sharp
Genres: Alternative, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Independent, Romantic Comedy, Mockumentary, Dramedy, Docu-Drama
Synopsis: Meet Ben - he holds a sign for a living, and he loves his job more than almost anything. But today is his last day.


On Crystal (25 m, USA)

Dir. by W. Bednarz
Genres: Drama, Romance, Coming of Age , Human Rights, Urban, Culture, Social Issue
Synopsis: 'On Crystal' is a gritty tale of a young mentally challenged woman, Crystal, who teaches a drug dealer that 'smarts' don't always have to come from the street.



Tussen Tijd (In Transit) (26 m, Nederlands)

Dir. by K. J. Husselman
Genres: Alternative, Drama, Human Rights, Docu-Drama, Art, Social Issue
Synopsis: A poetic documentary that takes place in a Dutch asylum center where refugees are waiting to hear if they will allowed to enter the country or not. Sometimes for years people live in insecurity while somebody else decides about their future. In an observational and stylistic manner the film shows people fighting with time while thoughts of traumatic pasts haunt people in silent moments of waiting. We see a man from Somalia, a family from Angola and a family from Iraq, each waiting in their own way.



12:00/1:30 PM


The Unvarnished Boy (18'25 m, Canada)

Dir. by M. Drake & M. McInnis
Genres: Drama, Human Rights, Independent, Urban, Social Issue
Synopsis: Facing a life of abandonment and broken promises, a young boy is forced to fend for himself in the midst of urban squalor. He is determined not to take help from anyone. But when a waitress shows him a random act of kindness he is shocked, and tries to repay her the only way he knows how. The waitress is then forced to face her own fears and regret as she wrestles with how to deal with a defiant 13 year old boy at the edge of ruin.


Civil Unions, A Love Story (3'06 m, USA)

Dir. by E. Zuritsky
Genres: Comedy, Human Rights, Mockumentary, Satire, Social Issue
Synopsis: CIVIL UNIONS: A LOVE STORY imagines a world in which marriage doesn't exist. For anyone. Young couples, dewy-eyed teens and seasoned veterans anxiously await and reflect upon the most meaningful commitment of their lives: their civil unions. It's a pretty awkward world. In these volatile times, this satiric piece sends the message that gay couples deserve the right to be just as naive, corny, impetuous and bitter about their love-lives as straight couples are. In short, they deserve the right to marry.


Showers of Happiness (28'49 m, USA)

Dir. by A. Storck
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Dramedy
Synopsis: Workaholic urbanite Joan has issues. Kids freak her out, she can't seem to get along with her sister, and she'll do anything to avoid dealing with her latest dilemma. And the last place on earth she wants to face her personal demons is at the suburban baby shower from hell.



Extinction (29'30 m, USA)

Dir. by K. McCarey
Genres: Drama, Coming of Age , Culture
Synopsis: Paleontologists seeking clues to an extinction event, befriend Sipho, a South African youth with a gift for finding fossils. But the boy's village is experiencing its own extinction, and a girl he loves is dying. To instill hope, Sipho tells her how the human species arose triumphantly from past extinctions.



2/3:30 PM


The Walled City (2'14 m, USA)

Dir. by R. Hom
Genres: Alternative, Fantasy, Independent, Post Modern, Anime, Urban, Action, Social Issue, History
Synopsis: In 1842, when Hong Kong became a British colony, The Kowloon Walled City, a military fort, was abandoned by the Chinese, but never officially handed over to the British, creating a political black hole. It was a haven to Triads and other illegal activities, since the colonial government technically could not administer what was still a Chinese territory. It was also a refuge for a hard working people that called it simply, home.
In a series of surrealistic events, the two characters of the film emerge from their paintings of one another. The paintings offer a window to memories and experiences. The film suggests these paintings are not exclusively made by the characters, but perhaps are apparitions, memories of a lost city, awaiting demolition.


Into the New World (24'45 m, USA)

Dir. by H. Naka
Genres: Drama, Avant-garde, Fantasy, Independent, Magical Realism, Post Modern, Surreal, Urban, Spiritual
Synopsis:
A woman travels from Japan to the U.S. in search of a missing boyfriend who has began living with a mysterious figure whom he calls 'god.' She attempts to find out 'god's' identity, putting into question the meaning of their relationship.


While God is Watching Us (15'30 m, USA/Italy/Sweden)

Dir. by S. Cipani
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Human Rights, Magical Realism, Art, Health/Medical, Adventure
Synopsis: Max wants to have sex before he dies. But being a paralyzed boy in a wheelchair with only a few years left to live makes it hard to even dream about. The last person in the world that would probably help his dream come true is Liam who cares only about one thing in life. Himself.
One day their roads crosses and, without even knowing each other, they find themselves on a road trip to Las Vegas


The Loop (13'45 m, USA)

Dir. by R. Lounello
Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Fantasy, Independent, Road Trip, Spiritual
Synopsis: Destiny has a way of following you. That's the tag line for 'The Loop'.
Rose and Joe are driving home from a trip in which they're celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.
Car troubles force them to stop. In this detour on the road home, Rose comes to discover she could have had a different path.
We come to learn that Rose was once a nightclub singer in NYC. She was starting to make a name for herself and was on the way to great success. Destiny, on the other hand, had other plans for Rose...or so it would seem.


Labour Laws (2 m, Canada)

Dir. by J. Genn
Genres: Comedy, Independent
Synopsis: Anything a woman can do, a woman can do pregnant. A fun little short about a woman returning to work after winning a wrongful dismal court case for being pregnant.


Urban Lullaby (9 m, USA)

Dir. by S. Gonzalez Martinez
Genres: Comedy
Synopsis: Unemployed artist Nina Rivera is at her breaking point in her noisy Bronx neighborhood. She is intimidated to step to Mateo Reyes, her young thuggish neighbor and source of the noise. They finally have a confrontation that forces both of them to examine how to navigate the space they both take up.


Frames (5'04, Germany/Estonia/USA)

Dir. by M. Thoburn & M. Adoma
Genres: Alternative, Drama, Independent, Post Modern, Surreal, Culture, Art
Synopsis: FRAMES is a short mixed media animation about a character who is thrust into different worlds after discovering the artificiality of his own world. The character takes on various identities and new physical forms as he adapts to the new environment. Frames is an International Co-Production that resulted out of an Animation Exchange Forum sponsored by the Dresden Filmfest and the DEFA foundation in 2009. The film is an expression of a mutual experience shared by both filmmakers about living & traveling abroad.


Le Maillot de Cristiano (Cristiano's Shirt) (16 m, Belgium)

Dir. by V. Bruno
Genres: Family, Comedy, Children Live Action
Synopsis: Tom and Ptit Lu, two 11 years old children dream f buying the same shirt as their idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately, their parents are no help, saying the crisis means there's no money to spend. In this economical crisis that they don't really understand, our two heroes will try to get what they're longing for: Cristiano's shirt



4/5:30 PM


A Mind Beside Itself (18'57 m, USA)

Dir. by P.J. Starks
Genres: Drama, Romance, Independent, Supernatural, Mystery
Synopsis: Love that lasts the longest is love that is never returned. Tristan Ashling knows this all too well. Love is just beyond his reach. Soon he's faced with an important decision. Stay with Maya no matter the cost or take a different path and lose her forever.


Enter The Dark (17'39 m, USA)

Dir. by T. Miro
Genres: Microcinema, Horror, Thriller, Cult, Fantasy, Independent, Supernatural
Synopsis: Enter The Dark is a short film that takes you into the dark recesses of a haunted house and the even darker fathoms of the human soul. With the lights out, two friends are led on an adventure of paranormal encounters: cold spots, an eerie talking children's book, unexplained apparitions and a final mystery that leads to an unforgettably disturbing ending.


The Confession (17'21 m, USA)

Dir. by A. Sivori
Genres: Comedy, Coming of Age , Fantasy
Synopsis: A young Catholic-Spanish boy in the heart of New Jersey, goes through life every single day holding a secret he cannot reveal to anyone. Finally wanting to reveal his secret he goes to confession to ask a priest the best way of going about it.



Vision (2'10 m, India)

Dir. by P. Chaudhary
Genres: Musical, Urban, Social Issue, News
Synopsis: The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision-Helen Keller (American Author and Educator who was blind and deaf.)
Inspired by the given quote, Vision is a public service film, for the blind. The film is an attempt to create visual poetry driven by a voice over. The main character being self assured blind person, doesn't ask for sympathy; instead he describes his world, his hope and wishes for living the life differently.


Bunce (11'47 m, UK)

Dir. by P. Cattaneo
Genres: Short, Comedy
Synopsis: Stephen Fry takes a nostalgic and dryly amusing look back at his childhood passion for sweets during his boarding school days.


Share Your Story Series - Part 1: The Power of Fear (14'51 m, Australia)

Dir. by A. McGuid
Genres: Drama, Educational, Docu-Drama, Social Issue
Synopsis: A young woman aspires to become an actress whilst suffering from severe anxiety panic disorder.



Eulogy Maker (5'50 m, USA)

Dir. by L. Langee
Genres: Family, Comedy, Drama, Children Live Action, Health/Medical
Synopsis: Eulogy Maker, is a film about Elliot, a young country boy that give eulogies for children’s beloved pets. Saying goodbye to a pet isn't easy for a child, but sometimes it’s the only way to prepare for life’s inevitable losses.



6/7:30 PM

The Dinner Meeting (15 m, Australia)

Dir. by A. Webb
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Thriller
Synopsis: Dennis believes Natalie is The One. Natalie believes Dennis is useless. These feelings are brutally unmasked at the quaint and exclusive restaurant Eternity.


Lover (28'42 m, USA)

Dir. by R. Hurst
Genres: Drama, Blaxploitation, B-movie, Neo-noir, Independent, Urban, Period/Historical
Synopsis: A popular religious leader is propelled toward tragedy when he tries to confront his obsession with his mistress. In an urban city somewhere in America it is the era of disco, 1977. Violence, corruption, and repression have over-run the town, but the earnest Pastor Warrenthall Mitchell may be the one man capable of carrying the torch of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That is, if he doesn't self-destruct first. Lover is a short psychological thriller involving an idealistic pastor, his unwieldy mistress, her vicious dog, and the pastor's most loyal follower.


Earthship (18 m, USA)

Dir. by D. Wilson
Genres: Drama, Sci-Fi Action, Sci-Fi, Coming of Age , Environmental
Synopsis: In 2047 Post global warming Canada the Whitmore family has remained hidden from the rest of the world for years. Now the youngest son Dax wants to see what has become of the world, but the world is coming to them.


Tejo (14'30 m, Portugal)

Dir. by F. Baptista & H. Pina
Genres: Crime, Neo-noir, Independent, Mystery
Synopsis: In present-day Lisbon drowned in a Film Noir universe, an accountant becomes obsessed with a married woman who moves to the apartment downstairs.When her husband is killed, a wandering detective starts investigating the murder, finding a bizarre and unsettling atmosphere surrounding a manipulator woman, her strangled husband and a voyeur neighbor.


Weisst Du Eigentlich Das Ganz Viele Blumen Blühen im Park (You Know the Park is Filled with Flowers) (27'30 m, Germany)

Dir. by L. Herzog
Genres: Drama, Romance, Erotic, Coming of Age , Post Modern
Synopsis: Lena can't find stability in her life. The relationship with her boyfriend Mario has turned into a power struggle where sex and emotions are used as weapons. Love for her is about bargaining, transgression and rivalry. The way Lena sees her life reflects a feeling of loss of security - and living for the moment seems to be a sensitive reaction. The film's fragmentary narrative expresses the protagonist's state of mind. The film does not have a classical plot, and instead follows the emotional logic of it's characters. The idyllic small East German town of Brandenburg and its natural beauty provide a contrast with Lena's dark inner struggle.



8/10 PM

Next door to the Velinskys [Not in Competition, private screening] (80m, Australia)

Dir. by C. Traicos
Genres: Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Synopsis: A young journalist James Marshall has his life torn apart when he unexpectedly meets with a ghost of his past - Ruby Taylor - A girl whose very existence he wanted to forget. She has since lost her memory in a car accident and has no recollection of who he is.
However there are vital facts James needs her to remember and he can't leave her until he knows. Together the two travel a hazardous road through the past that forces them both to face traumas long hidden and secrets best forgotten.