Morra Murrina!
Michè D’Onofrio, 18’ , Corse
Discreet and reserved, Battì is forced to replace his best friend Pierrot at short notice in the Morra regional championship, a traditional hand game where exuberance is essential. To have a chance of winning the tournament, they will have to find a way to overcome Battì’s shyness…
Biography:
Michè studied cinema at the IUT of Corsica (University Institute of Technology) where he wrote and directed his first short films : “Libertà per i scemi !” (fiction), “Peppu Flori, L’Anima d’una Cultura” (documentary) and “Tutt’in cumuna casa !” (fiction, co-produced by the G.R.E.C., cinematographic searching and testing group). In 2023, he directs “Morra Murrina !”, short fiction film produced by Vents Contraires and pre-purchased by France Télévisions.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Chikha
Ayoub Layoussifi,Raji ZAHOUA 25’ ,Morocco, 2025
FATINE, a young girl of 17, lives with her mother, NADIA – who is a chikha(1)¬ – in Azemmour, Morrocco. She has just passed her baccalaureate exams and she’s torn between two opposing paths: either committing to the family’s artistic tradition, or a more risk-averse life with her boyfriend, who scorn her heritage.
Biography:
Born in Casablanca, Morocco, in 1983, Ayoub Layoussifi is an actor, writer and director. On his arrival in France in 2002, and after passing through classes préparatoires and an M1 in Computer Science, he trained at the Actors Studio in Paris and obtained a Master Professionnel at the Université Paris VIII à Saint-Denis in Directing and Creation in 2010. From documentary to fiction, he worked between France and Morocco.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Wilderness
Ying Zhang, 20’ , China, 2024
A disgruntled and physically ill shepherd imprisons a woman who has shown him disrespect. When she mocks him again, he accidentally kills her in a fit of rage. He decides to sell his cattle and flee the village, but that night, events take a different turn.
Biography :
He is from Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, with his original name being Zhang Yingjie. He has been engaged in the film and television industry for more than ten years, mainly focusing on cinematography. This is his first attempt at directing, and his first exposure to film and television shooting was on Jiang Wen’s directorial work Devils on the Doorstep.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Milk Brothers
Kenza Tazi, 19’ , Morocco
It is in a place where bonds are created by breastfeeding that Meriem, a young single mother, will see her life forever changed…
Biography:
After 6 years studying cinema between Paris (La Sorbonne) and Berlin (MetFilm School) and many professional experiences in different departments, Kenza Tazi graduated as a Director of Photography. She holds this position on many projects.
Having written Milk Brothers, she decided to make her first short film while also being behind the camera.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
At The End Of The Day
John Shehata, 09’ , Egypt, 2024
The events unfold entirely within the walls of a modest apartment, exploring the inner world of a man as he reflects on his past self and the future of his family. As the days pass, he revisits his memories and confronts unspoken emotions. Through these interactions, the film delves into themes of memory, connection, and the search for meaning in life’s quieter moments.
Biography:
An Egyptian director who studied fine arts and film directing, earning numerous awards across various fine arts disciplines, was honored by the Egyptian Presidency for his achievements. He has worked on several film and television projects in the VFX industry.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
What's wrong with you
Janina Hüttenrauch, 16’ , Germany, 2025
Michael (47) lives a mundane life full of small humiliations and survives through quiet apathy. He suddenly discovers signs of his son´s tormented psyche and fantasies of violence. And so, when he finds out that someone was trying to break into the home gun safe, he has to act. Michael rushes to school worried about his son Max.
He picks him up and, no matter how carefully he tries to talk with him on the drive home, the conversation is unexpected and abrupt. Max feels cornered and the situation escalates.
Biography :
At the age of 19, Janina Hüttenrauch received a scholarship for the international summer art academy in Salzburg. There she shot the short film “Toys”, which was awarded the German Human Rights Film Prize (2nd place, young talent category). The following year, her documentary “The Other Way” won the Bavarian Youth Film Prize on the topic “Welcome to a Foreign Country”. After a successful period of study in New Zealand with a focus on film, stays in the USA and Africa followed.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Mierda
David Fernández Pastor, 17’ , Spain
Mariano Martínez is a struggling screenwriter who feels that his great work is yet to come. His agent, Maite, gets him that last chance he was waiting for. To concentrate on his work, he decides to isolate himself in a cabin in the middle of the forest to avoid distractions and finish the script in a week. When he arrives there, except for a fake ornithologist lurking around and a skulking landlord, everything seems ready to get down to work. But the muses don’t deign to show up and Mariano begins to despair. Until, suddenly, a light will illuminate his path… for a short time…
Biography:
Logroño, 1986. Graduated in Philosophy. He made his directorial debut in 2022 with the short film El cine es maravilloso, for which he also wrote and produced. It was selected as a finalist in the 3rd edition of La Rioja de Cine, organized by the La Rioja Film Commission. It has subsequently been screened at more than 30 national and international festivals, including awards at the Octubre Corto in Arnedo in 2023, the Sueños en Corto in 2022, recognition for Best Direction and Best Cinematography at the Electric Film Festival in Bournemouth in 2023, and second place at the Ezcaray Encorto in 2023. It has also been selected at Goya qualifying festivals such as the aforementioned Octubre Corto, the Rabat International Comedy Festival, the Annaba International Mediterranean Film Festival (where it received a special mention from the jury), and the HaHa Art Film Festival in Pombal.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Adrift In A Daze
Alessio Genovese, 14’46” , Italy
Turi grew up without his father, who has been in prison for years. When he turns 18, he dreams of building a family with the girl he loves. But she has different aspirations, and Turi can only respond with the tools he knows: violence and anger, which will lead him to the same prison as his father.
Biography:
Director and reporter Alessio Genovese was born in Naples in 1981 and grew up between there and Sicily. He began writing his first stories at a very young age and soon developed a passion for photography. After finishing high school, he attended the International Research Center for Actors, studying the “corporeal mime” technique of Etienne Decroux and the tradition of Commedia dell’Arte with Michele Monetta. He earned a degree in Mass Communication and Journalism in Perugia, and in 2004, he set off on foot to travel around the Mediterranean as the result of a lost bet. After this journey (which lasted nine months with a budget of 700€), he dedicated himself to learning Arabic. In 2007, he moved to Damascus, where he lived until 2010. It was during this time that he began his career as a reporter. His reports from Syria and the rest of the Middle East have been published both in Italy and abroad.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Turnaround
Aisling Byrne, 17’ , Ireland, 2024
Following a sudden, tragic bereavement, a West Cork cleaner must decide if she will uphold a tightly hidden secret whilst navigating the fast-paced pressures of a tourist property turnaround.
Biography :
Aisling Byrne (she/her) is an award-winning Writer and Director working across theatre, film and television. Her narrative short debut HEADSPACE was longlisted for an Oscar® for Best Live Action Short, winning the Academy-Qualifying Grand Prix at the 67th Cork International Film Festival. The film was selected as Ireland’s Short Film Candidate for the European Film Awards 2023 and screened at multiple international festivals picking up numerous further awards.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Mercenaire
Pier-Philippe Chevigny, 15’ , Canada
Hired at a pig slaughterhouse through a social reintegration program, an ex-convict desperately tries to find another job while repressing his inner violence.
Biography:
Pier-Philippe Chevigny is a filmmaker from Montreal, Quebec. His films combine anxiety-inducing camerawork and suspenseful scripts based on contemporary social issues. In 2019, his short film “Rebel” was an international success: over 130 festival selections (including TIFF, Busan, Namur, Stockholm, Vladivostok) and 30 awards including the Oscar-Qualifying Golden Owl Award at Tirana. His first feature “Richelieu”, completed in 2023, enjoyed similar success on the Festival circuit, with prestigious selections at Karlovy Vary, Tribeca, Palm Springs, Fantasia, Vancouver, Athens, and Namur where it won the Bayard for Best First Feature. Pier-Philippe has several projects in development at Le Foyer Films, including his follow-up feature.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Trinidad
Jos Azuela, Manuel Espinosa , 20’ , Mexico, 2024
After her grandfather’s death, a girl steals his ashes from the cemetery, carrying his memory and an unsettled debt.
Biography :
Jos Azuela: Multidisciplinary creator influenced by magical realism and surrealism. He has won national and international awards in art competitions and film and animation festivals.
José Manuel Azuela Espinosa: Director specialized in writing and narrating stories from the Mexican countryside, his short film “Aguero” received awards in 2018 at the GIFF, FICMA, and the Mexico City Independent Film Festival, among others.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
I Lay For You to Sleep
Ali Al Hajri , 15’ , Qatar
Surrounded by grief-stricken women who wash him with care, Ali’s soul drifts through glimpses of his younger self and loved ones, spurring revelations that alter his perceptions. As he navigates the interplay between death, loss, and rebirth, he captures the essence of a soul’s enduring connection with the world, while confronting a fundamental question: “What must be accepted for our souls to find everlasting contentment?”
Biography:
Ali Al Hajri is a Qatari filmmaker whose work is deeply rooted in a profound fascination with narratives that blur the lines between fantasy and realism. His commitment to innovative storytelling is evident in his exploration of the intricacies of human experiences and inner conflicts. Professionally, Ali Al Hajri is associated with the Qatar Foundation, where he uses his skills to produce and direct short documentaries that embody authenticity. His latest short film, ‘I Lay for You To Sleep’, is a nuanced exploration of the interplay between life, loss, and rebirth.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
The boy with white skin
Simon Panay, 15’ , France, 2024
Entrusted by his father to a group of gold-miners, an albino child embodies all of their hopes.
Biography :
Born in 1993, Simon Panay has made four short documentaries in West Africa. In 2014 he received the ARP Young Talent of the Year Award and in 2018 the Documentary Grant from the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation. His short film “Nobody dies here”, shot in an illegal mine in Benin, has been screened in 71 countries and won 133 awards. He continues to explore the world of gold mining with “If You Are a Man” his first documentary feature film released in theaters in 2023, and now in fiction with “The Boy With White Skin” in 2024.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Hoy No Es Siempre
Carmen Vidal , 20’ , Spain, 2025
Days before her Adlib Ibiza fashion debut, Diana’s world is rocked when her hands begin to tremble, rendering her unable to embroider her masterpiece. As she navigates the challenges this brings to her marriage and her own sense of self, Diana embarks on a journey of resilience and self-discovery, determined to redefine her aspirations in the face of unexpected adversity.
Biography:
Winner of 13 Emmys Awards® and a Student Academy Award®. Carmen Vidal is a director and producer with a strong interest in social issues. Her projects have been showcased globally, including at MoMA NY, PBS, UN, LeMonde.fr, and ARTE.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Stronghold
Meghann Artes, 15’ , USA, 2024
When a group home for boys closes and a single mother who has regained custody of her son does not show up on the final day, the house mother must go in search of the boy’s mom before heading off to her new life where she hopes to reconcile with her own estranged daughter.
Biography :
Meghann Artes is an award-winning filmmaker based in Chicago, IL. Raised in a small town in Iowa, she spent most of her adult life in big cities like New York, LA and Chicago. Starting out in animation, her short film Stronghold represents her expansion into live action filmmaking. Meghann has always had an interest in humanistic stories that reach across the various divisions of society in an attempt to demonstrate our common bond. When not pursuing her artistic endeavors, she is a Professor and Associate Dean at DePaul’s School of Cinematic Arts in Chicago.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Hard Case
Zhenya Bykova, 15’ , Russia, 2025
Former weightlifter Gerasim, who lost his arm and with it the meaning of life, goes through a difficult journey and gives away the last valuable thing he has left to cure a hangover. However, Gerasim’s efforts unexpectedly lead him to realize his strength and decide to change his life.
Biography:
After graduating from the Law Academy, I decided to start my career in cinema: I worked as an assistant director and producer, casting director, played several roles (including lead roles), after which I felt the need to realize myself in directing. In 2024, I graduated from the Daneliya Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors, and also received a grant for free education. I am raising my daughter, writing scripts, and preparing for new projects.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Place Under The Sun
Vlad Bolgarin, 20’ , Moldova, 2024
A talented pianist and his 8-year-old son struggle to find a place to sell vegetables at the biggest market in Moldova’s 2000′. When the father seems to give up under the burden of his precarious existence, a gesture from his son brings new hope.
Biography:
Film director and producer based in Republic of Moldova. Studied Filmmaking at the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts from Chisinau. Head of VOLT Cinematography – film production and post-production services studio. Known for the short films „SIGH” and “Place under the sun” (Shanghai IFF, Sarajevo FF, Busan ISFF, Animayo); and the Moldovan-American series “Lost in Moldova” (LA Shorts, Seriencamp, Berlin Webfest). Currently is working on the development of several short films and his debut feature fiction film.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Halcyon Days
Alexandros Skouras, 15’ , Greece, 2024
In a Greek village, the wedding day has come for a young farmer. For her, it’s not like every other day. It feels like a sunny halcyon day within winter. But her weeding is postponed for the next day.
Biography :
Born and live in Athens, Greece. He studied Economy, Cultural Studies and Philosophy of Science. He has created six short films and one documentary feature film. His official film debut with the title “Gran partita” won the prize of the best digital film at the Drama International Short Film Festival in 2011. In 2012, his short film “807” was selected by the Palm Springs International Shortfest and in 2013 his film “Trains” won the best picture award in the “Love in Athens” Film Festival.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
My Mother is a Cow
Moara Passoni, 15’ , Brazil
Left in her aunt’s care on a family ranch at the edge of the burning Brazilian wetland, 12-year-old Mia is desperate for the touch of her mother’s love – but in this volatile natural world, with the impending threat of a deadly Jaguar consuming the family, love comes in unexpected form.
Biography:
Moara Passoni is a Brazilian writer & director. She wrote and directed the feature-length essay film “Extase” (CPH:DOX, MoMA’S Doc Fortnight, Visions du Réel) which received critical acclaim and won a gamut of international awards. Moara was co-writer of the Academy Award-nominated “The Edge of Democracy”. She was named one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Filmmaking” by Filmmaker Magazine, is an alumna of TorinoScriptLab, La Fémis-Cannes Producing Atelier, GOTHAM Week and NYSCA. She is developing her narrative feature debut Cost of Living (Torino Script Lab, Berlinale Talents Market), and her TV series Strikers.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Goodbye Sun
Hakim Atoui, 20’ , France, 2024
Luna, 11 years old, lives with her big brother, Julien, 17, and her two adoptive fathers. It’s the end of summer and the heat is stifling. They are impatiently awaiting the solar eclipse that everyone has been talking about. The sun disappears behind the moon…it does not reappear.
Biography:
Hakim Atoui is a French-Algerian director. In 2020, he co-directed the self-produced documentary “La Première Marche”. In 2024, he directed his first fiction shorts : “Goodbye Sun” (Grand Prix at Busan Int. Film Festival and selected Palm Springs Int. Film Festival 2025) and “Blood Ties” (which was in the 2025 French Cesar Award shortlist). In 2025, he also launch his third short film : “The Man in the Showers”.
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Nicaragua y Uriarte
Tano Levi , 16’ , Argentina
Matia’s life has lost its meaning since Julia, his wife, died in a car accident. Drinking to forget has become his main goal until he thinks he sees his dead wife at a bar’s window. Matías decides to follow the clues that Julia seems to send from beyond, inviting him to go with her. But everytime he seems to be close to death, the signs interrupt him, revealing that the message Julia is trying to send is not the one Matías thinks he understands.
Biography:
Tano Levi was born in Buenos Aires in 1980. He graduated as a Media Technician at ORT Argentina. He studied Filmmaking at IUNA, screenwriting with Esteban Sztudent and Cinematography at Puntocine. He worked for 20 years as a creative in advertising, making more than 80 commercials.
He wrote the feature film “Los pibes del barrio”, still unpublished. Nicaragua and Uriarte is his debut as a fiction director.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 17:00-19:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
FIZR
Rani Nasr, 12’ , Lebanon
A man grieving his murdered cat takes refuge in an abandoned cabin after a violent confrontation with the mayor and the villagers. His friend finds him there and offers to help him until tensions pass. The relentless anger at the mayor’s tyranny clashes with any pragmatic attempt to save him. The story reflects the tension between two opposing forces in society—the loud but righteous versus the silent but complicit.
Biography:
Rani Nasr is a Lebanese multi-disciplinary artist based in Belgium. Though this is his first film, Rani has been active in cinema for over a decade. Coming from a background in writing, he has crafted scripts for feature films, series, shorts, webseries, and commercials. His creative pursuits also span music for film, photography, and non-fiction writing, all of which have informed his approach to narrative filmmaking.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Mounir
Javier Rúa, Xose Dopazo, 15’ , Spain
Mounir is an immigrant trying to obtain a residence permit, repeatedly denied because of an isolated incident when he was a teenager. While waiting for his situation to be regularised, Mounir lives a modest life, unable to travel, which prevents him from taking his 3-year-old daughter to Morocco to present her to her dying mother for fear of not being able to return to Spain.
Biography:
Xose studies Molecular Biology and Javier studies Pedagogy and Social Education. They also studied Audiovisual Communication at the University of Santiago de Compostela. In 2006, they made the documentary Camiños de Santiago together, which won first prize at the Cocol Fest at the Universidad Iberoamericana de Puebla (Mexico). In 2018, they filmed the short film Die Höhle in Germany. This was followed by the short films Pai noso (2020), Sacrificio (2023), and Mounir (2024).
🎬 02/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Due Sorelle
ANTONIO DE PALO, 19’ , Italy, 2024
Sara is a teenager with a troubled past. On a cold winter evening, she escapes from the residential juvenile community to save her little sister from the sexual slavery to which her father forces her. The discovery of the ogre will force Sara into a real struggle to win her freedom.
Biography:
Antonio De Palo, born in Molfetta, Puglia, graduated in Communication Sciences from the University of Bari and completed his training in film directing at the Rosebud Academy in Rome. In 2019, he was selected as one of the 10 emerging talents at Europa Creativa MEDIA’s Media Talents on Tour.
With five short films to his credit, characterized by a personal exploration of aesthetics, he has earned significant recognition: Due Sorelle won the RAI CINEMA CHANNEL award at the 42nd Torino Film Festival, while Le Abiuratrici received two Nastri d’Argento for Best Lead Actresses at the 2020 Corti d’Argento.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 20:00-22:00 📍 Roxy Cinema
Winter Brothers
Waleed Bedour,15’ , Egypt-USA
In the harsh winter, Sam and his younger brother fight to survive in the rough mountains. When Sam finds a refuge in an abandoned shelter, he clings to hope. But as time passes with no rescue arriving, desperation takes hold. Faced with a grim choice, Sam contemplates leaving his brother behind to escape death’s embrace. Yet as he grapples with his decision, he must confront a deeper truth: Can he ever truly leave behind the weight of loss, or is he bound to the same fate as his brother, trapped by the very trauma he seeks to escape?
Biography:
Waleed Bedour is an Egyptian filmmaker based between Cairo and New York. His short
Hawawshi screened at 25+ international festivals, including Dances With Films: LA. His thesis
film Dead Winter premieres in 2025. He is currently developing two feature films, Green
Paradise and The Desert Knight.
🎬 03/10/2025 🕒 14:00-16:00 📍 Roxy Cinema