Aίθουσα “TΩNIA ΜΑΡΚΕΤΑΚΗ”, Αποθήκη Δ’
Ημερομηνία: 17 Οκτωβρίου 2024
ΕΙΣΙΤΗΡΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΤΙΣ ΠΡΟΒΟΛΕΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΠΟΘΗΚΗ Δ, ΛΙΜΑΝΙ:
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Α προβολή: 17.00-20.00
Β προβολή: 20.30-23.30
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Α’
Three Screaming Vaginas
Alexia Roc, Canada
15′
Three Screaming Vaginas is a triptych short film which interweaves three respective intimate stories. It immerses us in the daily lives of three women, revealing to us the challenges and splendors of the vaginal experience, with humor and sincerity.
Director Biography – Alexia Roc
Alexia Roc is a 27-year-old Quebec-Haitian screenwriter, director and artistic director based in Montreal. She particularly likes writing unique and real characters to illustrate different realities that we don’t often see on screen. Her feminist activism and her Métis origins push her to speak out on subjects that are extremely dear and close to her. With a master’s degree in film production at Concordia University, she is interested in different forms of feminist cinematic experiments as therapeutic means to redefine and understand experiences of abuse and trauma.
She produced and directed her social web series “Entre Parenthesis” which has been distributed by MAtv since 2021, featuring duos discussing sensitive contemporary subjects and opening dialogue on many social issues. Herlatest short film Bergen, Norway won the Tourner à tout Prix grand prize at the Festival Regard in 2023 and is showing it in several other festivals such as Fantasia, the Festival Émergence de Montréal, Pleins screens and Mutoscope de Lyon. Alexia is currently in pre-production of her next short film “Aux Garcons de Mon Age”, which is supported in production by SODEC.
Director Statement
In the case of “Three Screaming Vaginas”, it is essential for me to feature three different female characters, without excuse, who act with their bodies. What unites them is the desire to accept their body as it is (they have no choice), although this is not always easy. Their physical and physiological pain, a reality shared by for many people with vaginas, is a catalyst for their action, not a feeling of victimization.
The formal tactics that appealed to me for this triptych film are in line with my research over the last few years during my master’s degree: the use of humor and irony, the desire to pursue the highlighting of a hybrid cinema – a less conventional cinema of fiction, with elements specific to the experimental style (since I am using here the technique of a choral scenario which reflects three distinct but related stories, running parallel to each other). Finally, my desire to go against the “male gaze”, where the woman’s body is highlighted while she has full control over it.
These three related stories allow me to elaborate in an almost episodic manner, in number, the difficulty of having a vagina. Without censorship, with the greatest sensitivity and authenticity possible, the triptych technique subdivides the evolution of the life of a vagina into three distinct chapters.
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Aqueronte
Manuel Muñoz Rivas, Spain
25′
On board a ferry, a series of passengers cross a river from one riverbank to the other.
Some of the travelers wrap themselves in silence and observe the unfamiliar fellow travelers or contemplate the scenery. Some others chat, perhaps to liven up the voyage and speed up time.
The journey on the waters seems to expand, the destination shore is postponed, the magnitude of space is blurred. Motion itself is perhaps the only certainty.
Director Biography – Manuel Muñoz Rivas
Manuel Muñoz Rivas is a filmmaker based in Spain. He alternates his personal film projects with co-writing and editing films for colleagues.
His first feature film EL MAR NOS MIRA DE LEJOS (The sea stares at us from afar) was premiered in 2017 at BERLINALE, in the FORUM section, and was shown at several international film festivals. His short film CON EL VIENTO (With the wind) premiered at the OBERHAUSEN INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, 2009.
Among those films in which he has participated as editor and/or co-writer, it’s worth mentioning DEAD SLOW AHEAD, BLANCO EN BLANCO, ELES TRANSPORTAN A MORTE, ARRAIANOS, OCASO, etc
Director Statement
With each new film project, it is natural for me to return to the foundational question of “what is cinema”, and to engage with this inquiry through a wider formulation:
“what can cinema be?”.
I feel that the commitment of every filmmaker is to carry
out a formal exploration through which, hopefully, to broaden the contours of what we expect from cinema as an art. Both as a filmmaker and as a film spectator, I
seek astonishment and wonder.
I would add that I also seek the revelation of something, a kind of truth, which might comfort me (and others) with a sense of belonging.
When I first approached the location where later I would shoot my film “Aqueronte”, the river Guadalquivir and more specifically the ferry boat that crosses it, I was
struck by the aesthetic characteristics of the scene. Everything that I identify as defining elements of cinema was there: movement, faces, bodies, landscape,
sound atmospheres, light and shadow, reverie, the visible and the latent force of the invisible… all present in the raw material with which to shape fragments of time and space.
Because ultimately that is what we filmmakers do: compose with fragments of time and fragments of space.
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SAME OLD
Lloyd Lee Choi, Canada
15’10”
One bad night for a New York City delivery driver.
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NEW
Zhenia Kazankina, Russian Federation
20′
Outskirts of Moscow. A girl comes to an unfamiliar apartment to look after a dog. After a while, she realizes that the owner of the apartment has disappeared. She finds herself into a series of people that have been taking care of the dog for years in that same apartment, creating a weird community around this strange absence of the owner.
Director Biography – Zhenia Kazankina
Born in Moscow, Russia in 1996, Zhenia Kazankina (she/her) is a screenwriter and director and a graduate of the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). Her work revolves around themes of solitude, attachment, and alienation from a feminine perspective. Her short films have screened internationally in festivals such as Locarno Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, ZINEBI, True/False and many others. She is an Alumna of Locarno Filmmakers’ Academy and Spring Academy and of Reykjavík Talent Lab.
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Bisolar
Maïlys Gelin, France
14′ 45”
Salomé has a panic attack while she tries to reason with herself, her “solar” double will try to change her mind.
Director Biography – Maïlys Gelin
She then worked as assistant director, with André Téchiné among other directors (Being seventeen, Golden Years, Farewell to the night). At the same time, she works as a director and editor for short films, documentaries, commercials, clips, reports…
She is currently working on a post-apocalyptic short film project and a mini-series mixing social and fantasy.
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The distance between us
Léo Fontaine, France
18’24”
At 5 in the morning, Yalla is in a hurry. Without her boss’s permission, she leaves her night shift as a nursing assistant. She boards a bus, carrying only a heavy bag filled with clothes. The city is still asleep. Yalla sketches out on a piece of paper the various bus lines she needs to take. It’s her first time making this journey: her son is waiting for her.
Director Biography – Léo Fontaine
Born in Chatenay-Malabry in 1994, Léo Fontaine studied cinema and directing at the 3IS school, from 2013 to 2016. In his final year, he directed his first short film, Fils De, co-written by Nolwenn Marty and Julia Zahar. The film tackles the daily life of a young teenager living in an oppressive neighborhood, starring Anthony Bajon, Jean-Michel Correia, Najaa Bensaid and Yves-Batek Mendy.
With the help of his brother Brice Fontaine, producer at One Out, Léo went on to direct and produce two short films about adolescence; L’un pour l’autre, a film about soccer, starring Yves-Batek Mendy. The film made some fifteen selections around the world, including several sports film festivals such as Barcelona. Then he directed Emma Forever, co-written with Julia Zahar, starring Victor Bonnel and Flavie Delangle. The film was selected for some twenty festivals and received a special mention at the Festival de musique et cinéma d’Aubagne. It has been purchased and broadcasted on OCS.
In 2021, he shot his third short film, Les cœurs en chien, produced by Améthyste Films and starring an attractive quartet of actors and actresses: Victor Bonnel, Manon Bresch, Héloïse Volle and Bilel Chegrani. Distributed by Manifest, the film was selected for the Jean Carmet Festival and the Brest Festival, then purchased and broadcasted on Arte.
His last short film, Qu’importe la distance was produced by Offshore and distributed by Manifest. The film follows the journey of a mother who visits her son in prison for the first time.
His first feature film, Jeunesse, mon amour, co-produced by Poly Films and Améthyste Films and distributed by Wayna Pitch, will be released in cinemas in April 2024. The film once again focuses on adolescence, friendship and the passage to adulthood.
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SAUNA DAY
Anna Hints, Tushar Prakash, Estonia
13′
SAUNA DAY invites you into the world of Southern Estonian men who go to the dark-intimate space of a smoke sauna after a hard day’s work. Beneath their tough exteriors lies a desire for connection, veiled in secrecy.
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AMARELA
André Hayato Saito, Brazil
15′
On the day of the World Cup final between Brazil and France, Erika Oguihara, a Japanese-Brazilian teenager who rejects her family traditions, experiences a violence that seems invisible and plunges into a painful sea of emotions.
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DANIEL
Pavlos Vissariou, Greece
15′ 40”
The meteorological event known as ”Daniel” was an extreme weather phenomenon characterized by heavy rainfall, traced back to the 4th of September 2023, originating from the Ionian Sea, with the wider area of Thessaly as its epicenter. The tempest wrought catastrophic consequences, claiming 17 lives and decimating 850,000 hectares of cultivable terrain, while over 100 thousand livestock perished.
Director Biography – Pavlos Vissariou
Actor – Director
Born in Karditsa, Thessaly Greece. Pavlos Vissariou is a distinguished personality in the realms of acting and directing. He honed his craft at the esteemed Kostas Kazakos School of Dramatic Art, where he immersed himself in the study of classical and contemporary theatrical techniques.
Vissariou’s artistic journey encompasses a rich tapestry of performances, both on stage and screen. He has lent his talent as both an actor and director to productions spanning the spectrum of classical and modern repertoire. Noteworthy among his endeavors is his active involvement in seminars dedicated to ancient drama and modern Greek theatre, including notable participation in the Workshop Program – International network of Ancient Drama (September 18-26, 2021) hosted at the Thessalian Theatre.
His cinematic contributions are equally laudable. Vissariou’s portrayal in award-winning historical feature films by director Vangelis Serdaris, such as “Vasiliki” (1998) and “The Seventh Sun of Love” (2002), have garnered acclaim both domestically and internationally, with screenings at prestigious film festivals in Thessaloniki and beyond.
In October 2003, Vissariou spearheaded a tribute in honor of the esteemed director Thodoros Angelopoulos in his hometown of Karditsa, underscoring his reverence for the luminaries of Greek cinema.
Since April 2004, Vissariou, in collaboration with his partner, the esteemed actress-director Vasiliki Makris, has been instrumental in establishing and nurturing the “Opseis Theater Art Space” in Karditsa. Serving as their permanent artistic home, this venue has become a beacon of creativity and cultural enrichment within the local community.
In 2020, Vissariou marked a milestone in his directorial career with the release of his inaugural short film “Nostos,” which premiered to critical acclaim at the TISFF – THESS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL in October of the same year, earning the prestigious “Cinematic Achievement Award.” The film’s success propelled it to participate in the 2021 Iris Awards of the Hellenic Film Academy, and subsequently embark on a world tour, showcasing in prominent international festivals across European capitals, North and South America, Oceania, and Asia, with Awards accolades spanning various categories.
Continuing his cinematic endeavors, Vissariou presents “Daniel,” his second short film.
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Dyosmos
Alexandros Georgios Sotiropoulos, Greece
27’47”
A lonely spearmint unsuccessfully tries to connect with others. The plant gets picked up by a person going through a rough patch, isolating himself and dwelling οn the past.
Director Biography – Alexandros Georgios Sotiropoulos
I was born in Kozani, Greece. After finishing my doctoral studies in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and while studying film direction, I moved to Australia for research.
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B’
VODKA FANTA
Elisabeth Silveiro, France
23′
Elena (70), is a retired Ukrainian who lands in Montpellier to visit her son, but he does not pick her up at the airport. Feeling sorry for this woman’s distress, Fanta (25), a young airport employee, decides to help her…
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H2O My love
Laëtitia MARTINONI, France
13′
Is it reasonable to fall in love during the end of the world ?
Alice and Simon meet as the water war rages.
Director Biography – Laëtitia MARTINONI
After obtaining a cinema and audiovisual license, Laëtitia Martinoni works on film sets as an assistant director. Over the years, she became second and then first assistant, on television and in cinema, and worked regularly with Alexis Michalik, Philippe Lefebvre and Michel Leclerc.
The desire to achieve becomes stronger and stronger. She wrote her first short fiction film, “The escape”, inspired by her own experience with cancer. Produced in 2018, it won around twenty awards at festivals including the European Films Awards. She has since written many projects. “H20 mon amour” is her second short film.
Catwalk
Maria Michael, United Kingdom
15′
In a dystopian fashion contest, an aspiring designer orchestrates a revolution after being betrayed by her best friend, a former competitor. Relying on a new ally to impress society’s elite and escape together, she discovers the toxicity of success.
Director Biography – Maria Michael
Maria Michael is a London-based writer/director originally from Cyprus. Maria graduated with an MA in Directing from Met Film School (Ealing Studios, London), a BA in Acting from Athens Conservatoire Drama School and a BA in Political Sciences from University of Cyprus.
A visionary video director who crafts high-impact narratives and captivating commercial content. With an interest in evoking emotions in dystopian worlds, Maria’s unique storytelling style creates highly stylized and surreal imagery.
In 2020, Maria wrote and directed her debut 3min short film “Reflections.” Following this, Maria wrote and directed the short film “The Pulse Within Us” in New York City, which is distributed by Amazon Prime in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. The film has earned nine official selections from film festivals worldwide, including the Topaz Film Festival in Texas, he Female Filmmakers Fuse Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Toronto International Women Film Festival, the Montreal International Film Festival, and the First Time Filmmaker Sessions. The film was selected as a Semi-Finalist at the Thess International Shorts – TiSFF, a Finalist at the Sunset Film Festival Los Angeles, and it has received an honourable mention from the Athens International Monthly Film Festival.
In 2021, Maria received the AWARD BEST NEW FILM DIRECTOR at the Athens Marathon Film Festival for her film “The Pulse Within Us”.
Since January 2021, Maria has been a member of the Greek Directors Guild, which is a member of the European Federation F.E.R.A and the International Federation M.E.I.
Director Statement
“Catwalk” is more than just a passionate project; it is my personal reflection on today’s paradoxical existence in the world of arts. The idea behind the story is inspired by the thirty-year journey of my mother, who dedicated her life to the fashion industry. Driven by this personal narrative, the film delves into the political dimensions intertwined with the individual journeys of characters, transcending individual relationships to become universally resonant.
As a storyteller with a background in Political Sciences, I adhere to the belief that the personal is inherently political. Carole Hanisch’s assertion, “personal is political,” guided my creative process. Catwalk” unfolds within two contrasting realms—the fashion studio, symbolizing the working class, and the runway, symbolizing the elite. This juxtaposition serves as a metaphorical commentary on the social imbalances within this dystopian fashion industry.
By unmasking the overarching control of the social system over individuals and mass audiences, my intention is to challenge the audience to reflect on the functionality or dysfunctionality of societal elites. I pose a pivotal question: Can an individual pursuing success in a dream career genuinely change the system, or is the system more powerful in shaping individuals to conform to its norms?
The characters are compelled to work relentlessly to attain success, with their personal happiness tied to the fruits of their labour, while a manipulative society alienates them by being judged and trying to be accepted. The creation of a dystopian world serves as a narrative tool, both visually and conceptually, to highlight the farcical and often brutal aspects of the fashion industry’s judgmental conditions, revealing the violence inherent in this society.
“Catwalk” was filmed at Ealing Studios and the TV Studio at the University of West London, using the Arri Alexa Mini . It was completed through a collaboration with a visual effects (VFX) team at a production house in Mumbai.
The “Catwalk” team is thrilled that the film is ready to be shared with the world and is eager to compete in film festivals. I am particularly drawn to international film festivals for their reputation in showcasing innovative and diverse films that push the boundaries of storytelling. I believe “Catwalk” aligns with the prestigious festivals’ missions, contributing to their legacy of promoting ground-breaking cinema.
I am available to provide any additional information or materials you may require and would welcome the opportunity to showcase the film in festivals worldwide. Thank you for considering “Catwalk.” I am honoured to be part of the submission process and eagerly anticipate the possibility of sharing my work with your audience.
I dedicate this film to the audience—a creative and fearless spirit that, hopefully, nurtures the child within.
Sincerely,
Maria Michael
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J’ OUVERT
Philip Bell, United States
15’31”
New York’s J’ouvert overwhelms the senses during the pre-sunrise hours as it marks the start of Carnival festivities. Steel bands are ushered down Brooklyn’s streets by dancing crowds of revelers in an outpouring of percussion music and masquerading. Rooted in the celebration of freedom from slavery, J’ouvert has become an expression of rebirth and joy throughout the Caribbean and abroad. This film explores the rich history of J’ouvert and captures it’s undeniably powerful energy as it lights up the streets of Flatbush in a brilliant explosion of sound, color and excitement.
J’ouvert’s origins are traced back to the 18th century when Carnival, a masquerade ball marking Catholics’ symbolic “farewell to flesh” before Lent’s start, was introduced to Trinidad and other Caribbean islands by French colonists and settlers. Banned from participating, slaves of African descent began to hold their own celebrations. They would mimic the Carnival of the plantation owners while incorporating African musical and masquerading elements. Their celebration became a way to express creativity while also maintaining a variety of African traditions.
With Trinidad’s emancipation in 1834 these celebrations evolved into J’ouvert, which is literally translated as, “the dawning of a new day.” Rooted in this celebration of freedom from slavery, J’ouvert has become an expression of rebirth and joy throughout the Caribbean and abroad.
Beginning in the 1930s, widespread immigration from the Caribbean brought Carnival traditions to New York. While the more popular daytime festivities are now dominated by bright, feathery costumes and amplified electronic music, Brooklyn’s J’ouvert continues to embody Carnival’s old time traditions with a mixture of macabre characters and a strict adherence to live percussion and steel pan music.
Today’s J’ouvert consistently attracts over half a million revelers to Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood. Unfortunately, the majority of media coverage focuses on the handful of violent, tragic, incidents that interrupt the otherwise peaceful celebrations. Sadly, the politically and racially charged response to violence surrounding J’ouvert has led to greater and greater restrictions that may permanently alter or even end an otherwise significant New York tradition. Hopefully this film can contribute to a more nuanced understanding of J’ouvert’s cultural and historical significance and the important role it plays in New York’s rich cultural legacy.
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A peculiar night
Enzo Martinez, France
26’36”
Worried about their child’s strange behaviour since his return from a snow class, a couple of parents want to meet Daniel, his teacher.
Director Biography – Enzo Martinez
Enzo Martinez, born on the 18th April 2001 in Lorient, France, is a director, actor, scriptwriter and a film editor.
At the age of 18, after graduating with the high school diploma in literature and completing his theatre studies at the Conservatory of Toulon, passionate about cinema, he wrote, directed and self-produced his first film “Jusqu’au dernier souffle” (Until the Last Breath) that lasts 57 minutes and in which he plays the leading role. In 2020, he later moved to Paris to study as an actor at Cours Florent.
In 2023, he wrote, directed, co-produced and presented his short film “UNE NUIT PARTICULIÈRE” (A peculiar night) freely adapted from Joël Pommerat’s play.
At the moment, Enzo is working on his first full-length film, and with the same desire to tell and film the complexities of the human relationships, while questioning our morality.
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The North
Sveta Gertman, Russian Federation
24′
Cold weather come to the world. A young family was broken. They come to parental home to let parents know about their divorce. On the way to the lawyer, they are overtaken by a snowstorm.
Director Biography – Sveta Gertman
Was born in 1996 in Khabarovsk. Studied at GITIS at the acting faculty. In the second year, Decided to move to a directing workshop. In 2022, graduated from Dmitry Mamulia’s directing workshop at the Moscow School of New Cinema. For several years worked on set as a DOP assistant and focus puller.
Director Statement
I wanted to create a heroine whose existence in life suddenly becomes questionable. The characters seem to be placed in a glass ball with snow, and someone decided to shake it.
It was not my goal to tell a coherent story or create objectively comprehensible meanings. The DOP and I tried to use film language to tell story about our current state of mental health: pulsating, anxious and piercingly cold.
The film crew went to an expedition to the Vologda region. In the extreme conditions of the night forest, we had to make decisions very quickly. We didn’t have the opportunity to do a lot of takes. Thanks to our preparation, we knew exactly what we needed.
Now my DOP and me are working on a feature film. We are developing an idea. It seems important to us to talk about the diseases of the time, about their influence at private lives of ordinary people. If you once felt what heartburn is, then how can you explain the sensations of this pain to a person who has never experienced it? I believe cinema can do this.
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Crease
Demitri Zujew, Russian Federation
19’40”
In a neat classroom, a distinguished principal dazzles the local TV crew with achievements that make her school the best in the entire district. Meanwhile, outside the camera’s frame, her students are executing their own take on “proper socialization”. In a society permeated by a cult of strength and neglect towards the weak, such school hall lessons are absorbed much faster than those printed in textbooks. Shaping adults that continue to propagate this philosophy to the world around them.
Director Biography – Demitri Zujew
Demitri is a writer/director born in Moscow, Russia. During his years as a journalist, he developed a taste for deeply personal stories and, in 2011, decided to take a different path. While working in short-form and directing for different mediums, he was developing his story ideas. CREASE marks his narrative debut, exploring themes such as the relativity of morals and the cost of preserving humanity in a society obsessed with power.
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An ordinary love story
François Berthier, France
16’24”
Claire and Max are coming to the end of a long-term toxic relationship into which Cléa, a former client of Claire’s, has intruded. In the confusion of feelings and events, there is also a mixture of dilemma, fear, and doubt about closing the past.
Director Biography – François Berthier
François Berthier started photography at the age of 17 when his mother gave him her old Pentax K1. After his law studies, in 2002, he became a rock journalist. At 28, he was appointed editor-in-chief of his rock magazine. In December 2008, after interviewing rock stars for 6 years, François decided it was time to return to his first love, photographing women. He then began a career
as a fashion and celebrity photographer. Seven months later, he photographed Lady Gaga.
When he’s not photographing the most beautiful women in the world, François captures the biggest stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, Mads Mikkelsen, Steven Spielberg, Lady Gaga, Tom Hanks, Ben Stiller, Hugh Jackman, Pharrell Williams, and more.
François Berthier has been published in prestigious magazines such as Variety, Vanity Fair Italy, Madame Figaro, L’Express Style, Rolling Stone Magazine, and many others… François has since started directing several fiction short films, including “An Ordinary Love Story”.
Director Statement
A breakup never occurs without difficulty, without aftermath, and without suffering. It is not the responsibility of one or the other, it’s not all black or all white. It’s an interaction with a backlog that accumulates until a point of no return. I wanted to address this theme by illustrating the drama of a separation through quirky situations wrapped in genre film and film noir codes. Hope it’ll touch a truth somewhere somehow.
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Revived
Uriya Hertz, Israel
16′
After a night out at a Jerusalem gay bar, Aaron finds out that his bag is missing. Unable to return home without it, he receives assistance from Sefi, the bartender. The fates of both will be linked tonight.
Director Biography – Uriya Hertz
Born in Jerusalem in 1990, Uriya Hertz graduated with honors from the Sam Spiegel Film School in 2016. ‘THE RABBI’, his first feature film, was selected for the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab & MIA Market Rome. Filming is set to begin shortly. His short films won prizes and participated in many film festivals worldwide, including Shanghai, Sarajevo, BFI and Raindance.
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