SELECTED SHORTS
SHORT FilmS
Cinema has always had the power to tell extraordinary stories, but it is through the lens of women that we see some of the most profound and inspiring tales. This tribute is dedicated to all the women who have shaped, innovated and transformed the world of cinema. In this tribute to women in cinema, we celebrate their courage, their creativity and their invaluable contribution to the seventh art. Thanks to them, cinema continues to be a powerful and varied mirror of our society, capable of inspiring and moving audiences around the world.
ASSUNTA
A film by Luana Rondinelli | Italy 2023 | 9 min.
Assunta is a prostitute who, once her son Mattia is taken away from the brutal fury of a violent father, chooses to give him into foster care to allow him to have what she, at the moment, cannot give him. Through the protagonist’s point of view, we will investigate the very delicate bond between mother/son/foster family, without ever losing sight of the child’s emotional priorities.
Luana Rondinelli,
Actress, playwright and director originally from Rome and raised in Marsala, she graduated from the local theatre school directed by Michele Perriera and continued her training at Ribalte in Rome, led by Enzo Garinei. Founder of the Accura Teatro company in 2011, she has distinguished herself in Italian theatre for her works focused on social issues, particularly violence against women. His show “TADDRARITE” has received significant recognition, including awards at the Roma Fringe Festival and participation in international festivals such as the San Diego International Fringe Festival. He also received awards for other works such as “GIACOMINAZZA” and “A TESTA SUTTA” Rondinelli participated as a juror at the Mario Fratti Prize in New York and in 2018 she won the Anima Mundi Prize for “PENELOPE – L’ODISSEA È FIMMINA”. He also directed productions for the Teatro Stabile di Catania, including a reworking of Verga’s “La Lupa”.
CAST
DIRECTOR: LUANA RONDINELLI WRITTEN BY: LUANA RONDINELLI, FRANCESCO TERESI PHOTOGRAPHY: DANIELE SAVI EDITING: GIULIANA SARLI MUSIC: GREGORIO CAIMI CAST: DONATELLA FINOCCHIARO, BRUNO DI CHIARA, ANTONIO PANDOLFO, MATTIA LIBECCIO
Luana Rondinelli | Italia
UP, UP AND AWAY
A film by Kai Yin Canice Tam | Hong Kong 2023 | 14 min.
“To be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and you must not fear the darkness, for that is when the stars shine the brightest.”
TszChun is a shy and introverted boy who spends most of his time alone. In his life he faces many difficult moments and obstacles, with no one to share his experiences with except his inseparable toy astronaut. His daily life changes when, one day at school, a theatrical performance about space exploration is organized. Between fantasy and reality, TszChun embarks on an adventurous and extraordinary journey that will lead him to discover the courage hidden within himself. In a mix of dream and reality, the young protagonist finds himself sailing among the stars, learning to shine with his own light and find his way even in the deepest darkness. An emotional journey about growth, discovery and the magic that lies within us.
SCREENINGS AWARDS
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The 10th Edition Supports Microfilm Production (Music)
Hong Kong | February 3, 2023
“Best Microfilm Production Award” | “Best Photography Award”Festival internazionale del cinema americano Golden Picture (aprile 2024)
Jacksonville, Florida stati Uniti | 3 maggio 2024
Miglior cortometraggio di narrativa; Miglior attore bambino (menzione d’onore)
Kai Yin Canice Tam | Hong Kong
THE CAPTIVITIES
Un film di di Silvia Jiménez | Mexico 2023 | 6 min.
The world is an empty and cold, devastated place. There is no more time, there is no more space. Perhaps, beyond violence, nothing exists. When there is no single path to safety, the only refuge is a forest. And the only possible salvation is through a spell. “THE PRISONS” immerses us in a dark and surreal reality, where the protagonist must face a journey to find a way to escape from oppression and desolation. In a mysterious and magical forest, he will discover that hope and salvation lie in ancient and powerful magic. This short film by Silvia Jiménez drags us into a gripping and tension-filled adventure, where the border between reality and enchantment dissolves, and survival depends on the strength of the soul and the power of forgotten rituals.
Silvia Jimènez
Graduated from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), she obtained a Master’s degree in Screenwriting from the Universidad Carlos III in Madrid, Spain. Her work in television brought her closer to non-fiction, participating in the Documentary Workshop of the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión (EICTV) in Cuba. Residing in Mexico, he writes works that question the official historical narrative. “”Los hermosos vencidos” (Beautiful Losers), a feature film co-written with Guillermo Magariños, the film’s director, was presented in 2021 at the Malaga Film Festival, obtaining an Honorable Mention at the Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF). His first short film as a director, “Los cautiverios” (The Captivities), was produced with the support of the Mexican Institute of Cinematography (IMCINE).
CAST
DIRECTOR: SILVIA JIMÉNEZ SCREENPLAYstrongspan: SILVIA JIMÉNEZ PHOTOGRAPHY: JOSUÉ EBER MORALES EDITING: GULLERMO MAGARINOS, EDUARDO PALENGUE CAST: CLAUDIA SANTIAGO, JOSÉ ESTRADA, TANIA LOPEZ
Silvia Jiménez | Mexico
L’ ACQUA DI SAN GIOVANNI
A film by Anna Claudia Bassani | Italy 2023 | 14 min.
In the picturesque Tuscan countryside, a mysterious village is the stage for ancient traditions and magic. Lidia, a young woman with an unusual secret, starts each day with stones in her pockets The story unfolds during the summer solstice, when the community prepares for the ritual of Saint John: Lidia’s mother creates the miraculous water, while the villages stack wood for the purifying bonfire. Despite repeated attempts, the ritual does not change Lidia’s fate. It is only Elio’s intervention, with the creation of a special instrument, that could change everything.
Anna Claudia Bassani
Anna Claudia Bassani, born on June 12, 1995, spent her childhood in the lively artistic context of Lucca, deeply influenced by her parents who owned a renowned record shop in Tuscany. She graduated in Performing Arts and Communication in Pisa, where she made her debut as a director with the short film “Albertina”, a moving montage of family films that explores the impact of Alzheimer’s. Later, she moved to Milan and continued her studies at IULM University, dedicating herself to research on Alice Rohrwacher’s cinema and magical realism. She collaborated with director Giuseppe Carrieri for the short film “Mezzanotte”, presented at the Giffoni Film Festival 2019, and subsequently as a camera operator for the documentary “Tessere”, broadcast on Sky Arte. In 2021, his short film “Containers” won the video contest “Storie di cose” during Milan Design Week, confirming his talent and ability to tell stories through the cinematographic medium. Anna Claudia Bassani continues to distinguish herself as an independent director and filmmaker, exploring universal themes and addressing the human experience with depth and sensitivity through her works.
CAST
DIRECTOR: ANNA CLAUDIA BASSANI SCREENPLAY: ANNA CLAUDIA BASSANI AND TOMMASO OLIVIERI PHOTOGRAPHY: FILIPPO MARZATICO EDITING: strongANNA CLAUDIA BASSANI MUSIC: FABIO ANGELI CAST: ROSA ZODDA , FEDERICO BARBAGELATA, CRISTINA GARDUMI, ROLANDO ABBARCHI
Anna Claudia Bassani | Italy
GONE BEFORE YOUR EYES
A film by Cara Yeates | Canada 2023 | 12 min.
Gone Before Your Eyes follows Angela, an artist with Alzheimer’s, as she attempts to paint. Caught in a surreal loop, Angela struggles to do what once came naturally to her.
“Gone Before Your Eyes” premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival last fall; festival highlights include screenings at the Mill Valley Film Festival and the Sedona International Film Festival. The short won Best Narrative Short at the Buffalo International Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Bowery Film Festival.
Cara Yates
Cara Yeates is a Canadian-American filmmaker living in New York State, where she runs the production boutique Trigger Creative. You won Best Director of a Narrative Short at the Queensworld Film Festival for “Gone Before Your Eyes.” Cara began her career in theater, creating and touring award-winning one-woman shows throughout North America. Her first short documentary, “Taking New Steps,” was screened on the Breaker platform.
CAST ARTISTICO
REGIA SCENEGGIATUEA: CARA YATES PRODOTTA DA : CARA YATES E SERGIO MAZA FOTOGRAFIA: ANDRES KARU PRODUZIONE:
Cara Yates | Canada
INNER
A film by Valentina Kamenova | USA 2023 | 14 min.
A young girl struggles to deal with her karma in the midst of an identity crisis. Searching for herself, she finds solace on the beach, but her past continues to confront her as she tries to find her inner child. This leads her to face her Karma.
Valentina Kamenova
is an actress and director originally from Los Angeles, who moved to Italy two years ago to pursue her career in the film industry. Since the beginning of her career as an actress and composer, Valentina has shown a growing interest in screenwriting and directing. While walking down Via Nazionale in Rome, she wrote the film “INNER” in a single day, then worked to perfect it and bring it to the screen.
In addition to her work as a director, Valentina has acted in productions such as Rai Fiction with Pierfrancesco Favino in the lead role of “Generale Della Rovere”. Raised in an artistic environment, she has always cultivated a passion for art, which led her to undertake the course of her life.
Her move to Italy marked a turning point in her career, allowing her to explore new challenges and discover a passion for directing. With the film “INNER”, Valentina focuses on the psychological genre, exploring the psychological, unconscious and irrational sides of the human being. Her work reflects her courage to take risks and push creative boundaries, taking her to new heights in the world of film.
CAST
DIRECTION EDITING VALENTINA KAMENOVA MUSIC VALENTINA KAMENOVA PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVIDE NATALE .CAST: VALENTINA KAMENOVA, RICCARDO FREZZA, NICOLA TOMBACCO, FRANCESCO MURATORI, FELISIA ROMEO, ANTONELLA FORMISANO, SOFIA PENNACCHIO
Valentina Kamenova | USA
Fish
A film by Siying Li| China 2023 | 14 min.
On an isolated island, young Hong Li, tormented by the loss of his mother, develops a dependent relationship with his maternal girlfriend, an unappreciated painter. One day, she decides to leave. Terrified of being abandoned once again, Li threatens to take his own life so that she stays, and discovers a mysterious painting of fish left by her mother…
Siying Li
Siying Li, from Chengdu, China, graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in Film. Originally an aspiring dancer, she moved to the United States, where she discovered the power of cinema to express her feelings of being “lost in translation” as a foreigner. The cultural conflict between the Western world and her heritage led her to explore these themes in her works. His debut film, “Dr. Wang,” starring his father and shot in his hometown, explores the conflict between Western and traditional Chinese medicine. Selected for the Me My City Festival in China, the film was screened at numerous libraries and earned her the title of “Best Senior Artist” at the Middle Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition in the United States. Siying sees storytelling as a path to healing. She combines her dance experience with her films, creating complex, character-driven worlds. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Global Art Practice at Tokyo University of the Arts, exploring new mediums for storytelling.
CAST
DIRECTOR: SIYNG LI SCREENPLAY: SIYNG LI PHOTOGRAPHY: TAO KIO QIU EDITING: SIYNG LI MUSIC: MARTIN LIU CAST: HONGWEI WU, YENAN DONG, LINJINGY PAN, XUZHEN ZHOU, YIMING FENG
Siying Li | Cina
HIS MOTHER
A film BY Maia Scalia . | USA 2023 | 14 min.
After receiving a disturbing email from her son, a mother frantically drives to his school in the hope of averting the unimaginable. “His Mother” is a psychological thriller in which Julie, a worried mother, receives an alarming email from her teenage son and rushes to his school to prevent a tragedy. During the chaotic journey, Julie tries to get help by contacting the police, her ex-husband, and her son’s therapist, but to no avail. Her anxiety intensifies when she hears a news report on the radio confirming her worst fears. With time running out, Julie desperately attempts to contact her son to stop the unimaginable.
Maia Scalia
Maia Scalia is a vibrant and talented Italian-American director and actress, currently residing in bustling New York City. With a childhood spent between the charming streets of London and the sunny hills of Los Angeles, Maia has developed a unique and cosmopolitan perspective. Her passion for cinema led her to attend the prestigious NYU Tisch School of The Arts, where she honed her artistic talents.
Maia’s career is filled with memorable supporting roles in successful films such as “Call Jane” and “Morbius.” She is also set to captivate audiences in the upcoming Showtime series “Three Women.” With her directorial debut, “His Mother,” Maia demonstrates not only a strong presence in front of the camera but also an extraordinary creative vision behind it. With a continually rising career, Maia Scalia is undoubtedly a figure to watch in the contemporary film landscape.
CAST
DIRECTION and SCREENPLAY: MAIA SCALIA PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT CLEGG EDITING: PIETRO SCALIA MUSIC: ELI KESZLER CAST: BETHANY ANNE LIND, EVAN HALL, BEN
Maia Scalia | Usa