Author: chicagofilmfestival

A lone soldier has a series of increasingly peculiar experiences, giving way to an all-too-familiar cause.

Best of DRAMA Short Films from 2021 Event.

AWARD WINNERS:
Best Film: LEA
Best Cinematography: WHEN SHE WAS GOOD
Best Direction: FURTIF
Best Sound & Music: MADE WITH LOVE
Best Performances: GOODNIGHT, BELLA

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LEA, 10min., Italy, Drama

Directed by Nora Jaenicke

Set in Italy, it follows a little girl, the eponymous Lea, whose crush on her guitar teacher has become the most significant part of her life and world—which is confined to the country house where she lives with her mother, her father uncaring and absent. It is viper season, and they love the river that Lea frequents. Lea’s mother copes with a strained marriage and the questions that it prompts from her daughter. And the one that threatens to finally tip over the precarious balance—Lea has a crush on her guitar teacher, who she discovers is involved with her mother. Lea’s relationship with her mother is not quite easy. Dealing with a crush which is obviously all-consuming for one so young, Lea is almost always moping. With her failing marriage, a secret affair, and a daughter she is raising alone, Lea’s mother too has a lot on her plate.

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WHEN SHE WAS GOOD, 20min., UK, Drama

Directed by Margarita Milne

When a young girl discovers that Santa is not real, she questions the lies told by adults and the terrible secret that she has been forced to keep.

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FURTIF, 7min., Canada, Drama

Directed by Vincent Richard

By not respecting nature, an accident will be inevitable and that day, mother nature will only wildly observe.

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MADE WITH LOVE, 9min., UK, Docudrama

Directed by Calum Macdiarmid

The incredible (true) story of a young dancer’s kidnap and subsequent escape from two criminals who wanted to learn how to dance.

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WANDER, 13min., USA, Drama/Experimental

Directed by Dimitri Luedemann

After wandering through the desert a man must realize what are the important things in his life in order to survive the arid desert in moments of deep reflection triggered by his own survival.

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GOODNIGHT, BELLA, 30min., Canada, Drama/Thriller

Directed by Clyde Capistrano

An escaped convict makes a desperate attempt to see his daughter one last time, but stumbles upon a child in need. He is now forced to decide whether to save the boy or to keep running.

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Born and raised in the Philippines, and immigrating to Vancouver, Canada in 2015 when he was 20 years old. Works full time as a Wedding Photographer/Cinematographer and writes and directs in his free time.

An escaped convict makes a desperate attempt to see his daughter one last time, but stumbles upon a child in need. He is now forced to decide whether to save the boy or to keep running.

Project Links

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Margarita Milne is a writer-director from London. She recently graduated from the NFTS with a Directing Fiction MA, for which she was awarded a scholarship from the David Lean Foundation. She also has a BA in English Literature from the University of Cambridge. Her first short film, La La Means I Love You, was nominated for Best U25 and Best Director at Underwire 2018, and she has since made four short films. Margarita’s interests lie in psychological thrillers and docu-fictions. She is also a photographer and singer. Prior to the NFTS, she was a Develop Ambassador for The Photographers’ Gallery and has continued her music project, Margie, while studying at the school.

Director Statement

For many children, finding out that Santa Claus is not real is a defining childhood trauma. As we researched the film, we found that this revelation is particularly traumatic for children who don’t figure it out on their own. Those who are told, taken totally by surprise, are often left feeling most upset and disorientated.

For Riley, the discovery is particularly tragic because her childhood has already been stolen away from her. She is now forced to confront her family’s complicity in the lies. We wanted to tell a story of childhood sexual abuse through the vehicle of Santa because Santa is a lie most of us uphold and promote, and so many victims of sexual abuse speak of their inability to tell the truth. When push comes to shove, how easy is it to always tell the truth – and do we like hearing it?

We shot this film during the Covid-19 pandemic and are proud of the results. We hope you enjoy the film.

When a young girl discovers that Santa is not real, she questions the lies told by adults and the terrible secret that she has been forced to keep.

Project Links

•  Website
•  Instagram

Dimitri was born in Brazil and immigrated with his family to California during his teenage years. After spending 10+ years as a Motion Designer, where he has worked for some of the top studios in New York, he decided to venture into Cinematography and Directing. Dimitri felt it was time to return to what once inspired him to get started exploring animation and graphic design in the first place which was music videos and film. He spent quite a few years working just behind the camera as DP before venturing out to direct his own projects, which include a few award winning music videos, commercials and short films.

Director Statement

We wanted to explore a journey into the unknown on this experimental short using the desert as our backdrop for intense moments of introspective insight about what are the things that really matter for us at the end. We hope you enjoy this experience as much as we enjoyed making it. Thank you! Dimitri + Rosália.

After wandering through the desert a man must realize what are the important things in his life in order to survive the arid desert in moments of deep reflection triggered by his own survival.

I think everybody is concerned by this subject. Humans are not respecting nature and animal. I don’t say that hunting is bad, I just think that the way human torture animals and doesn’t respect nature by trapping and everything that is related to this must change. It can also be seen on a metaphorical way by showing there’s always consequences when you don’t respect nature. Exactly like it has been done with native people and climate changes.

By not respecting nature, an accident will be inevitable and that day, mother nature will only wildly observe.