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ON-DEMAND SCREENING
Friday, March 20th - Monday, March 23rd
Official Selections Screening Order
ON-DEMAND SCREENING SCHEDULE 1
A Ghost’s Best Friend: Etta Howard, Bella Evans, Quinn Charlson, Miana Sintic, Directors, Narrative Under 12
Three friends are forced to break into a school to search for their friend's past dog, who may be haunting the school. What they find is more surprising than anyone expected. Runtime: 6:02
Leah’s List: Lilly Ireland Gainey, Director, Narrative Under 12
After losing their friend Leah, a group of kids discovers her unfinished bucket list and decides to complete it together in her honor. Along the way, they heal old friendships, share laughter and adventure, and realize that being the best friends ever was the most important goal of all.
Director Lilly Ireland Gainey is an 11-year-old filmmaker and actor with a deep love for storytelling, performance, and collaboration. Runtime: 5:59
Hot Tea: Lyla Ruth Bostic, Director, Narrative 13-17
A young girl playfully microwaves water, then adds spices, honey, and a leaf to a teacup to 'make tea' for her mother, who is gossiping on a phone call. Runtime: 2:46
Parental Control: Andrey Kozlov, Director, Professional Narrative
Mira wakes up to her mother's voice coming from a speaker. At breakfast, the parents communicate with their children only through the speaker, and the nanny takes Platon to an empty stadium where the stands come to life only with the voices from the loudspeakers. In the evening, the AI announces that the parents won't be coming home, and Vasilisa reveals the truth to her sister: they are talking to a program.
Kozlov is the Founder of the children's film school "Stop! Action!". He works as a screenwriter and director, mainly in children's and teenage-themed films. Winner of the "Artmasters" team competition for short films in 2024, as a director and screenwriter. Runtime: 17:39
Every Dog Has Its Day: Lindsay Van Blerk, Director, Professional Animation
Every Dog has its Day is a detailed observation of a small event that relies on warmth, charm, and character rather than scale and spectacle to tell the story of a little dog and its owner.
This little story is based on actual experience, where the girl is so taken in by the spectacular birds that they are welcomed with open arms. Her Staffy is forbidden from doing what is obviously necessary, and the Peacock population grows dramatically. With time, the girl eventually changes her position to that of the Staffy, who knew all along that the garden should be out of bounds to peacocks. Runtime: 6:59
Our Future, Our Rights: Theodora Papageorgiou, Director, Docu Short 13-17
Every child deserves the chance to play, to rest, and to be educated. This short film brings the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child to life, turning its promises into real stories and images that reveal how these rights shape children’s everyday lives. It reminds us that children everywhere have voices that matter and dreams that must be protected—yet it asks: are these rights truly upheld for every child?
Theodora is a 17-year-old high schooler from Greece who captures the poetry of everyday life and the transitions of growing up. Alongside her films, she creates videos that advocate for girls' empowerment and children's rights. Runtime: 1:23
Grandpa’s Stamps: Yunqing Pan, Director, Professional Animation
A young girl bonds with her grandpa as he introduces her to his cherished stamp collection.
Yunqing (Sally) Pan, born Sep. 2004, is a student animation filmmaker originally from Guangzhou, China. She is currently studying Character Animation at the California Institute of the Arts, exploring storyboarding, 2D animation, 3D techniques, and design principles. Her passion lies in telling compelling stories through storyboarding and animation. Runtime: 2:30
The City, Elina Myshanych, Director, Narrative 13-17
Sisters Sasha and Kira survive together in a post-apocalyptic world ruined by war. Suddenly, deadly flashes strike, while dangerous gangs roam around. But there must be the city out there where people still live, right? An alien creature watches the sisters from space. Maybe it knows the answer?
Fifteen years old, Elina studied at the Virtual Club (London Film School), the online lab “Yellow Bus” (Kyiv), and Kids Movie Film School (Kyiv). Author of the five short fiction films and a short doc film, she has received festival prizes in Ukraine, Europe, the USA, and Australia. A professional actress, Elina, recently played the leading teen role in a Ukrainian 8-episode TV series. She is in Kyiv now. Runtime: 8:00
The Disappearing, Susanna Jardine, Page Haney, Declan Bailey, Haddie Benseler, Directors, Project of Kids First! RadGeekery, Narrative, Under 12
A group of Friends decide to investigate why their friend disappeared 2 weeks ago. The school holds an ominous secret and a finely tuned operation. Runtime: 8:39
A Silent Connection, Hoang Yen Tang, Linh Anh Nguyen, Minh Chau Tran, Nhat Minh Nguyen Hoang, Hien Long Vuong, Directors, Narrative 13-17
Somewhere in Vietnam, there lived an ordinary family: a son (Long), and his father (Trung). Long was a young teenage boy with many thoughts and feelings, still struggling to fit into his own skin, which explains his attitude both at school and at home with his father. The father truly wanted to understand and help Long work through his complicated feelings, not just as his dad, but also as his friend. And he came up with an idea.
Our group consists of 5 members, all 13 years old, each with their own contributions to the final product. Hien Long is the lead actor. Linh Anh did most of the scriptwriting and co-directed the film. Hoang Yen is the main editor and a co-director. Minh Chau and Nhat Minh operated the camera during filming. Runtime: 8:48
Game Over, Ava Bath, Jax Cloud, Directors, Project of Kids First! RadGeekery, Narrative, Under 12
Mischievous students steal their teacher's mysterious gaming console called the StoryBox 2000. When it turns on, the adventure begins. Runtime 5:00
Stop warring, Alexander Anatoly Cheremukhin Granada, Director, Animation/stop Motion, Under 12
This animated film was created by Alexander as a continuation of the school project: "With Our Hearts, We Ask for World Peace."
It does not represent any specific conflict or war—past, present, or future.
We simply wish for a world without wars.
Alexander was born in Viña del Mar, Chile, in March 2019. He is currently a Kinder student at Colegio Alborada. Alexander has a strong passion for animation and music and has taken classes in guitar, violin, and percussion. He also enjoys engaging in conversations about world history and loves watching animated films, especially those by Yuri Norstein. The idea for his film came from a school project. Runtime: 2:22
The Hidden Music of Seagull Beach. John Lawson, Director, Professional Narrative.
A musically gifted sister and her younger computer hacker brother decode a centuries-old pirate map, using their unique knowledge of music theory to decode its secrets and follow the melody to a hidden treasure. Along their journey, they must outsmart a duplicitous neighbor who, under the guise of assisting them, seeks to steal the treasure for herself.
John’s life took a dramatic turn at age 30 when he suffered an electrical accident that resulted in the amputation of both hands. John spent six months recovering at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill.
Despite this life-altering experience, John emerged with renewed determination. He became the first double-hand amputee in the United States to be trained and certified as a private pilot, and the first in the world to qualify as a PADI Scuba Instructor. John has since logged over 500 flight hours and nearly 1,000 dives in oceans across the globe. For the past 35 years, John has been a passionate advocate for people with disabilities, both in front of and behind the camera. Runtime: 7:30
Restarting the World, Rita de Cácia Oenning da Silva, Kurt Shaw, Directors, Narrative, Under 12
Laklãnõ children from the village of Koplag in southern Brazil are mysteriously turning into zombies, until the local medicine woman finds the solution. This experimental movie, scripted and filmed by indigenous children, uses horror tropes to reflect on how technology and the encounter with European culture can transform children into zombies... and how re-taking their culture can bring them back to life.
In 2004, Rita won the prestigious Wenner-Gren Anthropology Prize to develop a new method for using fiction in research with children. Kurt completed graduate work at Harvard before moving to Latin America to organize the world’s largest network of grassroots organizations working with marginalized children. Together, da Silva and Shaw produced the first feature film written and performed by ex-child soldiers (Life’s Roulette, Colombia, 2007) and a soap opera with indigenous teenagers for Bolivian national TV (En Busca de la Vida, 2011). Runtime: 7:24
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ON-DEMAND SCREENING SCHEDULE 2
Ups and Downs, Theodora Papageorgiou, Director, Narrative 13-17
Life is full of ups and downs, and the journey of a tennis ball mirrors that of the 17-year-old filmmaker leaving school behind. Bouncing through airports, roads, and garbage, it collides with walls, oranges, colorful balls, people, and cultures, each encounter shaping its story. As she trades childhood games for college and adulthood, both journeys tumble into the unknown, trusting that these twists and turns will lead to the most extraordinary chapter Theodora Papageorgiou, 17, is a high school student and filmmaker from Athens, Greece, who captures the poetry of everyday life and the transitions of growing up. Her love for storytelling began when she received her parents’ old, one-kilo camcorder, the first gift that truly mattered to her. Since then, she has created short documentaries and videos that advocate for girls’ empowerment and children’s rights, turning ordinary moments into reflections of change, courage, and hope. Runtime: 2:15
Cheesy Mourning, Zemario Sheppard, Director, Professional Narrative
Created as part of a 48-hour film challenge, this tender and lightly comedic short follows recently widowed Dad Eli as he navigates the chaos of a single morning with his spirited 11-year-old daughter, Naomi. What begins as a struggle over burnt grilled cheese turns into a quiet, heartfelt moment of connection, love, and resilience. Naomi’s wisdom, humor, and old-soul insight help her father navigate grief, reminding us that even in loss, love—and laughter—can still find a way. A story about family, imperfection, and the small moments that make life meaningful.
Zemario Sheppard is a writer and director based in California and the founder of Shepp Video Productions, LLC. His work focuses on intimate, character-driven stories that explore vulnerability, family, and the quiet moments where people are forced to confront themselves. Runtime: 6:01
Why Are You Like This? Sung Eun Park, Director, Professional Animation/Stop Motion
In this animated musical, the main character spends another one of her sleepless nights, contemplating what's been causing her life go off track-- or rather, WHO.
Grace Park is a story artist and a filmmaker who believes that a good story can come from anywhere. Whether she's listening in on a conversation between a toddler and his dad on a walk, or witnessing an impromptu martial arts fighting break out on a street of LA, she always thinks "there is a story here." She loves taking these moments of life, finding what makes them so special or enjoyable, and applying them to her work.
During her 4 years at CalArts, Grace directed and produced 2 short films, "Hi, Again," and "Why Are You Like This?" which taught her not only how to execute her ideas into a visual medium, but also how to manage a team of creatives in order to cross the finish line in time. Runtime: 5:53
Patjuk, Katherine Hee-Yeo, Director, Narrative 13-17
From Seoul to Southwest, a Korean American teen follows her memories of patjuk, weaving Korean and Indigenous stories to redefine the meaning of home.
Katherine Tae is a Korean American student filmmaker focused on documentary production. She is currently an intern for PBS and is a part of several art and music groups at her school. Her short film Patjuk (2025) explores ideas of food, identity, and family. In future years, she hopes to bridge culture, art, and storytelling to empower underrepresented voices. Runtime: 4:02
Echoes of Giants: Unearthing Elephant Fossils to Save a Species, Dr. Alongkot – Chukaew, Professional Documentary
Once rulers of ancient forests, elephants have walked the Earth for millions of years — but will they survive the next century?
Echoes of Giants is a powerful journey through time, focusing on the fossilized remains of 10 extinct elephant genera that once roamed prehistoric Thailand. With guidance from Thailand’s leading paleontologist, who shared with her the Fossils of the last 5 ancient elephant species, a young woman traces the evolutionary path of elephants— from stone fossils buried in sand pits to sacred carvings on ancient temples — and discovers their deep connection to both nature and culture. But this is more than a story about the past. It’s a call to action.
Alongkot Chukaew, Ph.D. is the co-founder and the director of the Environment and Social Foundation and the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Khao Yai, both of which are non-profit organizations under the Thai Elephant Research and Conservation Fund. He has established himself as a preeminent figure in wildlife filmmaking, known for his profound dedication to capturing the beauty and complexity of the natural world. Runtime: 9:58
Return to Sender, Seth Salkin-Weiss, Director, Professional Animation/Stop Motion
A mailwoman with a terrible fear of dogs meets an attention-seeking puppy that won't leave her alone.
Return to Sender was completed in May 2025, when the director was 22.
While in high school, Seth studied filmmaking and editing, but during the pandemic, he fell in love with animation and now applies his knowledge of timing, spacing, and storytelling to it. During his time in DePaul University’s animation program, Seth created and assisted with the production of several short film projects. His short film Pantry Problems gave him an opportunity to experiment with a unique, low-poly style inspired by the old PlayStation games he adores. His senior capstone film, Return to Sender, built on what he learned from Pantry Problems to further develop this aesthetic, and he hopes to refine it even further in future projects. Runtime: 5:43
Soaring Hoops, Yasheng Tao, Guanzhen Gao, Yi Wei, Directors, Narrative 13-17
In a high-altitude town in Sichuan's Aba, 14-year-old Zaxi practices daily under a makeshift hoop his father built from an old door. A storm destroys this symbol of his dreams, prompting Zaxi and his 10-year-old brother to journey across the plateau to find a "perfect court." They navigate yak herds, scale ancient structures, and try a hoop hanging from a tree, yet their ideal court remains elusive.
We made "Soaring Hoops" to explore the purity of passion and how basketball, as a universal language, can bridge cultural divides and connect spirits. This film stands out for its uncompromising authenticity—featuring local non-professional actors, entirely in the Tibetan language, and shot on location. It is not just a story but a poetic slice of real life. Runtime: 14:14
Go Green, Eva Weitzman-Stangel, Animation/Stop Motion 13-17
The story of a few marine animals and their struggles with a changing environment.
Runtime: 0:52
Rebel, Willow Payne, Director, Narrative 13-17
Rebel is set in a slightly dystopian world, where the “Malikain order” controls everyone and everything. It is the job of the Malikain guards to make sure everyone stays in order and follows the rules. But when a young girl makes a discovery of something that is thought to of died of, it is up to her to rebel against the order, and to make a difference.
Willow Payne discovered her passion for film by playing role-play games with her brother and deciding to turn those games into a filmmaking project. Also, from watching many classic movies and exploring how they are made. During her first work experience with a video production team, she was encouraged to keep doing what she was doing and to consider making a short film to enter a film festival. Willow has continued making films and exploring new ideas since then. Runtime: 7:43
McIntosh, Steven Hayet, Director, Professional Animation/Stop Motion
The cast list is posted and two students discuss their new parts in the Wizard of Oz.
Steven Hayet is a New Jersey playwright & screenwriter whose work has been performed from Los Angeles to London and New York to New Zealand.
He is currently Playwright-in-Residence at Roaring Epiphany Production Company, an inclusion theatre company providing opportunities for actors with disabilities. His short film, “Keep the Music Going,” written and recorded entirely on Zoom, had its world premiere at the Lighthouse International Film Festival (MovieMaker’s 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World 2020), and screened at the Life, the Universe, & Everything Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy where it received The Hope Award for its theme of connection and perseverance. Runtime: 2:54
A Glimpse of Hope, Brandon Kim, Director, Documentary 13-17
A heartfelt documentary depicting the struggles of a Ukrainian couple victimized by the Russia-Ukraine war that highlights the importance of assisting those in need.
Brandon Kim, age 16, is a junior at Oakton High School in Virginia. He is passionate about social justice and human rights issues. He recently interviewed a Ukrainian refugee family who had to leave their home at the outset of the war and struggled to settle in the United States. Their story was so powerful and touching that it inspired him to make a short documentary film about Ukrainian war refugees. Brandon wanted to share their story and tell the world why it is so important that we embrace and help them. Runtime: 5:00
Death Finds Life, Zoë Marie Brown, Director, Animation/Stop Motion 13-17
Zoë is a 15 year old, 9th grade student at Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is excited to present Death Finds Life following the success of her first animated short, Drought, on it's festival run. As always, she's very excited to see her art come to life on screen. Prior to Death Finds Life, Zoë has served as an animator and director of Drought, and appeared in Bulletproof (2024), Stall to Stall (Film Prize 2024), Off Sides (Film Prize 2023), The Lost Ones (Film Prize Jr 2023), and Billy After Power: A Power Rangers Fan Film. In her free time, she enjoys theatre, playing sports, hanging out with friends, and, of course, DRAWING. Zoë is currently working on several new ideas for future animated shorts. Runtime: 4:19
Little Stories “Into The Forest,” Emilia Rotenberg, Artemiy Zemelkin, Directors, Narrative 13-17
A child’s life is both difficult and easy at the same time.
It's hard to make sense of complex things, hard to feel unsupported by loved ones, and there are many more hardships along the way.
But it's also easy — easy to try, easy to be kind, easy to imagine, and easy not to repeat the mistakes of one’s parents.
This is what the Little Stories almanac is all about — acceptance, the search for understanding with the world, and with parents. Runtime: 7:58
ECLIPSE, Anastasiya Zabelina, Director, Professional Animation/Stop Motion
The Boy writes the words from which the world is created, until he thinks about how to correctly write “dog.”
Born on April 18, 2002, in Novosibirsk, but grew up in Tayga with my grandmother. In 2020, I entered the Rostov-on-Don branch of VGIK to study animation directing. In 2021, I was expelled and entered VGIK in Moscow, in the workshop of A.M. Demin. Now I am finishing my 4th year. I work as a freelancer and really want to continue making stop-motion films. Films include: Pies with eyes - coursework, stop-motion, 2 minutes, 2021; Cockroaches - coursework, stop-motion, 3 minutes, 2022; Smoke and mirrors - intro 28 ORKFAK Suzdal, stop-motion, 30 seconds, 2023; and more. Runtime: 5:23
Second Chance, India Anne Mitchell, Director, Documentary 13-17
An inspired young filmmaker who witnessed a disturbing incident at school looks inside Juvenile Hall and Court, through the moving account of a juvenile offender and his parents, as well as the insights of the judge, attorneys, and probation officer. Second Chance takes a step towards a better understanding, compassion, and ultimately, hope for juveniles who are among the most vulnerable in our society and also part of its future.
India Mitchell discovered her love of storytelling through filmmaking in middle school when her school in California changed to an online format for one year. At that time, India used an old cellphone to shoot footage about her dramatically changing world. India's first student film, "Capes", was honored in 2022. Her second student film, "The Innocent", received several recognitions at film festivals in 2023. Her third student film, "Guiding Light", released in 2024, won over 50 awards and was screened at more than 250 film festivals worldwide. India released her fourth student film, "Second Chance," when she is 14 years old and in her first year of high school. Runtime: 8:39
Lights Out, Saveah Van Ginkel, Sophia Chanoux, Sophia Junkins, Andrew Comstock, Directors, Narrative Under 12
A group of friends anxiously waits for a toy to be printed on a 3D printer, but it takes longer than planned. When they find that they are locked in the building, strange things begin to happen. Will they make it out?
Radgeekery is an afterschool film program that operates in the SLC school district.
ON-DEMAND SCREENING SCHEDULE 3
Obstacle, Afshin Malaki, Director, Professional Narrative
A boy playing with a ball in the alley suddenly falls into a house that…
Afshin Maleki is an Iranian cinematographer and actor. He has shot several short films and documentaries, and has acted in several TV series and short films. Runtime: 3:05
Friend, Oxana Frolova, Director, Professional Narrative
After moving to a new city, an excellent girl really wants to find new friends, but children are cruel, and parents are busy with their own affairs, and only an old loyal friend is always there, he will always support and calm down, he will always follow the girl wherever she goes.
Born in 1972 in Krasnoyarsk, she worked for local TV as a reporter, producer, and presenter. In 2002, she moved to Moscow and worked for NTV. In 2020, she graduated from the VGIK Master's degree in drama, and in 2024, she graduated from the VKSR with a degree in directing.
No Worries! Chris Dicker, Director, Professional Animated/Stop Motion
With the new school year looming, 10-year-old PJ's anxiety manifests as a 300-pound gorilla only he can see! Now he has to face his fears, a smelly schoolbag and last year's lunch.
Chris Dicker is a Creator, EP and Showrunner who is currently writing and directing on a diverse slate of original IP. He has written and visually developed projects for Netflix, Nickelodeon, Sky, Disney and the BBC. Previously he headed up development at the multi-award-winning Irish Animation Studio JAM Media. Chris developed the award-winning live action/animation hybrid series Little Roy for CBBC, co-created the award-winning Becca’s Bunch for Nickelodeon and created Jessy and Nessy for Amazon Studios. Prior to JAM Media, Chris co-founded the animation company TT Animation, now owned by Warner Brothers. Runtime: 2:00
Used To Be, Matt Webb, Director, Professional Narrative
Ally struggles daily with her anxiety and panic attacks, fighting to show herself kindness and grace in the midst of her battles.
Matt Webb is an writer and director from Knoxville, Tennessee. He has written, co-produced and directed several short films, including several award winning films with successful festival runs. Runtime: 7:41
JUROR'S CHOICE FEATURED SELECTION
The Curious Incident of Everett Wilder, Ben Tobin, Director, Professional Narrative
The story of a boy in 1952 who encounters a jackalope at his birthday party.
Ben Tobin is a filmmaker from Western Massachusetts. A graduate of Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema, Tobin returned to Massachusetts to make documentaries about various artists living and working in the Hilltown region of the state. Runtime: 17:30 LEARN MORE
To Fly, Mohsen Khademi, Director, Professional Narrative
In a remote village, a girl shares a deep bond with her duck. When she learns it is in danger, she flees into the mountains, where she meets a mysterious boy who has the ability to hear distant sounds. He takes her to a mystical place called Kenareh, where she witnesses the duck take flight. a moment of both liberation and transformation.
I’m Mohsen Khademi, a photographer and filmmaker from Qazvin, Iran. My journey began with filmmaking studies at the Iranian Youth Cinema Society, followed by screenwriting at Shahid Sāles Film School. I started photography in 2010, transitioning from documentary and street photography to more conceptual series exploring memory, loss, and emotional depth. Runtime: 15:22
Ceremony, Mark Wachholz, Director – Professional Narrative
In a near-future where perception of minors in distress is heavily filtered, the only survivor of a city erased in an apocalyptic strike, a 12-year-old girl, is interviewed to tell the world what happened. But she holds the key to a darker truth about children in our society.
CÉREMONY is a visual fable about aesthetic capture, desensitization, and the cost of protecting the world from the reality of trauma.
Mark is best known for his award-winning cinematic AI short films like the psychological horror film "Unblind" (2024) (i.a. winner "Best Director" at AI Artist Beijing 2024), the poetic video essay "The Cinema That Never Was" (2025) (i.a. Grand Prize Korea Content Awards 2025, Grand Prize OMNI International AI Film Festival 2025, and much more. Raised in Berlin, Germany, his stories are rooted in an interest in the power of narratives, systems, and storytelling to shape society, culture, history, and identity. Runtime: 10:10
The Priceless Art, Mohamed Asif Hameed, Director, Professional Narrative.
A young boy faces problems when he attempts to sell his art. Runtime: 10:00
A Boy Speaks, Charles Sharman-Cox, Director, Professional Narrative
What is it really like to be a boy in school? This moving film portrays three teenage boys speaking as one about being ignored and overlooked.
Charles Sharman-Cox — a director, writer, and visual artist bridging theatre, film, and TV. His acclaimed short films and stage adaptations have earned awards worldwide.
Runtime: 8:15
Tie Your Hair, Sheida Makaremi, Director, Professional Narrative
A seven-year-old girl visits an old, beautiful house with her father, a house filled with valuables, long abandoned after its owner’s death. Everything seems normal until the girl suddenly disappears.
Sheida Makaremi (born May 8, 1996) is an Iranian filmmaker, screenwriter, and actress. She holds a Master’s degree in Cinema and has directed a short film titled Tie Your Hair. In addition to directing, she has participated in several short film and theater projects as an actress and assistant director. Runtime: 9:46
