SELECTED SHORTS
SHORT FilmS
International short films from the USA, Russia and Colombia offer a variety of unique cultural perspectives and tell short stories that are often intense and impactful. These films are important for young people because they teach the art of telling stories concisely and powerfully, stimulating creativity and critical reflection through narratives that can be immediate and emotionally engaging.
CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER
A film by Alexey Petrashevich | Russia 2023 |15 min.
Valya is the eldest daughter of a family of professional pilots, who is in flight school despite her true passion being photography. Valya struggles between following family traditions and continuing her dreams until she meets a talented cadet, the best pilot in the school, who helps her find her way.
Alexey Petrashevich
In the 21st century we face a choice. A choice between what we “have to do” and what we “want to do”. I believe that every individual has the right to choose, to pursue what they want, as long as it does not harm others. This is why I made this film, a story in which freedom challenges traditions and ideologies.
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA: ALEXEY PETRASHEVICH SCENEGGIATURA: ALEXEY PETRASHEVICH, ELIZAVETA PARSHAKOVA FOTOGRAFIA: SERGEY BASCKOEV MONTAGGIO:MARIA GARDASH, ALEXANDER GAVRILOV MUSICHE: GENNADY MEDVEDEV CAST: VALERIA REPINA, ANTON ARTEMEYV, VASILY SCHEVELILKIN
Alexey Petrashevich | Russia
AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES
A film by Parker Crofy | USA | 21 min.
Alla vigilia del compleanno del suo defunto figlio, LILA partecipa a un incontro di gruppo per persone dipendenti dall’Amesten, una nuova droga del mercato nero che regala a chi la usa sogni realistici su coloro che hanno perso. Sebbene la droga abbia avuto un impatto terribile su di lei, la sua sobrietà è ancora solo appesa a un filo. Mentre si prepara a festeggiare il compleanno di BODIE con suo fratello KIERAN, la tentazione di rivedere Bodie comincia a sopraffarla e lei deve scegliere se lasciare finalmente andare un sogno impossibile o seguire la luce della sua vita nell’oscurità.
Parker Croft
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA: Parker Croft SCENEGGIATURA: Aaron Golden, Parker Croft FOTOGRAFIA: Zakaree Sandberg PRODUTTORI: Max Loeb, Parker Croft, Aaron Golden, Chris Blim, Laura Coover CAST: Sharon Powers, Laura Coover, Doug Fager, Sean Marquette, Dawson Sweeney, Henry Foster Brown, Brian Foyster, Nancy Linari
Parker Croft | USA
HERB’S PAJAMAS
A film by Todd I.Gordon| USA 2023 | 13 min.
Belle, in the 1960s, has a long relationship with Rudy, the shoemaker of the apartment building where she lives. Rudy lives with his wife one floor below Belle, keeping their affair a secret. One night after a sexual encounter, Rudy goes out to smoke and a worried Belle finds him apparently dead on the building’s stairs. In an attempt to hide their relationship, Belle involves her naive but loyal neighbor Edith in transporting Rudy’s body to her apartment. Everything seems to be going according to her plan until Rudy’s wife surprises them at her door, risking discovering the truth.
Todd I. Gordon
Todd I. Gordon came to directing after a long career in entertainment law and managing complex web development projects for a large media company. “Pianoforte”, a narrative short film he wrote and produced, was released in 2018. “Old Hen” (2020), which he also wrote and produced, was his first foray into direction and was selected in 15 festivals in United States and Europe. In 2023, Todd wrote and directed two short films, “Herb’s Pajamas,” a comedy, and “Mr. Donahoe’s Mangoes,” a drama, both based on short stories by renowned memoirist Abigail Thomas. In 2024, Todd wrote and directed two more short films, “The Ghost Writer”, inspired by a short story by Henry James, and “The Revenge of Ordinary Things”
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA: TODD I. GORDON SCENEGGIATURA: TODD I. GORDON CAST: DEBORAH OFFNER, ALLISON CIMMET, RICHARD EAGAN, YVONNE BRECHBUHLER
Todd I. Gordon | USA
NEBBIA MENTALE
A film by Simon Sepulveda | Colombia 2023 | 6 min.
A boy desperately tries to live an ordinary day, but fate has other plans. Every attempt to escape from the strangeness that surrounds him drags him further into a vortex of unexpected events. As he struggles to understand the distorted reality around him, he discovers that perhaps the key to his serenity lies in his acceptance of the bizarre circumstances that confront him.
Simon Sepulveda
Born in Bogota, Colombia, Simon Sepulveda was introduced to the world of cinema from his first step. His parents, advertisers with their own events company, taught him everything about cameras, lighting, sound, blocking and much more. At six years old he began his first acting class, and from that day on he was fascinated by the idea of working in this medium. At the age of 14, he combined his knowledge of cameras with a passion for acting when he made his first film at the acting academy DECA. However, it wasn’t until he directed his first film (“Unknown Roots”) alone, using only his phone and with no money, while living in France, that he realized that directing was truly his calling. He has since made his latest film (“Fog of Mind”), which premiered internationally and even won at some film festivals such as ARFF Paris and Hong Kong Indie Film Festival. In addition to his passion for directing and film, Simon has had the pleasure of living in many parts of the world and speaks three languages. Simon Sepulveda is currently a student at New York University, where he studies Film and Television.
ARTISTIC CAST
REGIA: SIMON SEPULVEDA SCENEGGIATURA: SIMON SEPULVEDA PRODUTTORE: SIMON SEPULVEDA PRODUTTORE:JOSE FERNANDO SEPULVEDA CAST: NICOLAS CLAVEIJO, SIMON SEPULVEDA
Simon Sepulveda | Colombia