CBFF 2025
Mar 04, 2025
-
May 31, 2025
In Person:
May 18, 2025
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May 22, 2025
Online:
Mar 04, 2025
-
May 31, 2025
Every time it rains, Tongtong has to wait for a long time after school for her mom to pick her up. During this time, her little yellow umbrella would lead her to search for her mom's whereabouts. But this day, her mom never showed up. Where could she have gone?
With nothing but day-time television, the daily crossword and each other for company, we begin to see the pressure on their relationship. In a puzzling narrative, told through flashback and “crossword” format dialogue, we explore the intricacies and difficulties of a lifelong commitment. Give a voice to the voiceless through poetry and prose. And highlight the struggle of loneliness for the already vulnerable.
The final farewell of Fox's famous LA bar in 1990s East London. A staple of the Caribbean community, caught in the crossfire of a rapidly gentrifying city.
The Doorbell tells the story of two neighbours through the perspective of a doorbell camera.
EXPERIMENTAL/POETIC Winner 2024
A woman living in her car on hospital grounds during the coldest Scottish winter in years ignores the growing concerns of others - but she must come to accept what is holding her there or face the inevitable consequences.
In a world where the future is for sale, a grieving man visits a mysterious Time Spa, seeking a glimpse of his future. However, he discovers that some truths are more challenging than the past he's desperate to escape.
A little dog named Rosy is the mascot of Marina Grande, a small port area in Sorrento. Today, Rosy turns 10 and helps her 60-year-old male owner work at the bar, socializing with the customers and watching the fishermen and the sea. Rosy has a past as a fisherman with her previous owner and she's the link between the merchants and residents of Marina di Sorrento.
Set over two time periods, the story is a mix of English and Scots Gaelic and follows Isla; a young girl who returns to the Scottish Highlands with her father, leading her to the mystery of the legendary and mythical being, The Selkie.
During a research trip, an international marine biology student uncovers his lab partner's scheme.
No Budget Short Winner 2024
Sol and Gina worked hard to build their perfect life. With a passion for education they obtain teaching positions at the same elementary school, adopt a little dog named Rosie, and in their spare time, renovate a vintage RV for an unforgettable summer roadtrip across America.
Tragically, Gina is killed in a school shooting leaving Sol paralyzed with grief. Determined to honor Gina's memory, he embarks on their planned summer journey, accompanied by faithful Rosie, uncertain if he'll ever return.
In search for answers along his own personal odyssey, Sol realizes through helping others and rediscovering lessons from his Mestizo heritage that his true path has been laid before him all along.
He’s a man who has had enough.
After 30 years of too many downs and not enough ups on life’s rollercoaster, Billy embarks on a final lost weekend in the funfair of a town that is Blackpool. The place he loved as a kid seemed as good as anywhere to end it all. Well, at least try to. Unfortunately, like so many other things in his chaotic world, it doesn’t quite go how he had hoped. In a hilarious, drink and drug-fuelled romp, Billy staggers from one failed attempt to another, but then suddenly finds a reason to live in all the madness.
His redemption arrives in the shape of a grown man dressed as a parrot. Forgetting his problems for a second, Billy instinctively saves the suicidal parrot from ending it all in the Irish sea and in doing so, Billy finds a reason to live.
“A cracking short that punches harder than the usual drama
and with a funny bone to boot. Beautifully shot & acted short that finds massive heart & humour in the guts of Blackpool.”
- Shane Meadows
"Laugh out loud funny and devastatingly heartbreaking. Stephen Gallacher gives us a masterful and beautiful film, showing us the light and the dark yet always finding hope on every corner through superbly heartfelt performances and a very witty script."
-Peter Hoar
The story begins in a bustling Irani café, reminiscent of Koolers in King’s Circle (Mumbai), during mid-morning. Regular patrons are there for their usual bun maska and chai.
Our protagonists -Vicky and Wasim, two unassuming men, enter the café one after the other. Vicky a man in his mid 40s/50s settles down in the café with an air of control and familiarity in the café. One tell by the welcome he gets from the owner and waiters that he weel liked and a regular at the café. Soon, Wasim, a young strapping man in his 20s enters the café and joins Vicky bhai. During the course of their interaction its very evident Wasim is clearly looking to impress Vicky bhai, his mentor.
They settle down with their bun maska and chai. As they chat and people-watch, soon their conversation takes an unexpected turn. Vicky bhai tests Wasim by pointing out various customers and asking how he would neutralize or kill them. The targets range from a “khadoos” and rude businessman to an effeminate wealthy rich teenager. As Wasim responds with rather graphic ways of how he would eliminate them, it is revealed to the audience reveal that they are local hitmen, discussing their "work" in a casual, humorous and very matter of fact tone.
Finally, a sweet, girl-next-door type comes in for a parcel. As she places her order and settles down on a bench while it is readied, Vicky points out to her and asks Wasim how he would eliminate her. Completely to Vicky’s surprise, Wasim reveals the girl and he are in love and that he could never even think of hurting her ever. He goes on to share his plans of how he plans to marry her once her family issues are settled. Vicky bhai at first listens to him patiently but then finally asks Wasim to forget all these romantic plans and slides a phone across on the table with the girl’s picture saying- “She's your first assignment.”
‘Josefine’ is a fantastical animated opera inspired by Franz Kafka’s short story ‘Josefine the Singer.’ It explores the power of music and Art on the individual, the community, and on the world; and the ever-more-relevant question of art’s place in times of crisis.
When Josefine cracks a bleak desert open with one piercing note, her birth shakes up the existence of a curious shoal-sprite who is enchanted by her voice.
Perched on the highest peak the tiny Josefine controls the shoal-sprite community with her demands for food, water and shelter, but as she grows older and stronger their instinct is to protect her and to preserve her qualities of childhood by caging her. Abandoned and alone in her nest, Josefine falls silent.
RISING STAR AWARD Winner 2024
A young artist visits a small café every day, hiding his secret feelings for the waitress in his longing glances. But she is too busy with work and her own worries to notice.
Then, a simple accident changes everything. In one moment, their world turns upside down. Now, the artist faces an unexpected choice—one that could transform the café’s walls… and maybe even the walls around the girl’s heart.
But does he have the courage to take that step? And is she ready to discover the truth behind his art and his lingering gaze?
When Aaron and Fred get challenged to a cross country race, can they make it across the UK from coast to coast in 8 Hours, by any means possible?
Stop-motion music video for the song "Staircase Stomp" by punk/new wave band The Clamor. The music video tells the story of a man grappling with his inner turmoil, represented by a haunting female figure in a storm-battered cabin. Through surreal stop-motion animation, the video explores themes of identity, psychological conflict, and self-reconciliation, blurring the lines between external chaos and internal struggles.
Through a child's imagination it tells the journey of a man who after falling prey to his fears, he must cross a strange world, a universe full of magic, where he will be confronted with his own fears and conflicts from the past and where he must find solutions for the future to discover his self-identity.
SHORT FILM MADE IN WALES Winner 2024
Rory’s driven to help children with limited time enjoy laughter in life as they undergo medical treatments. The emotional toll it takes on him personally has begun to catch up in his life.
When an isolated middle-aged man discovers his beloved dog is dying, he is confronted by long buried childhood memories of life on the sea with his father.
A worker in a future dystopian world begins to question his place in the production line and takes steps to break free from it.
Did you work today? Did you get fired today? Have you found a job today? What else can you do today? What are you worth today? Are you past your expiration date today?
When AI emerged, people were shocked at first, but gradually people began to feel unease and fear. Although the convenience brought by AI has intelligent people's lives, it is also gradually replacing the work of ordinary people, resulting in a serious division of classes. Time is passing too fast, AI is developing too fast, and the value of labor for most ordinary people is also losing too fast. Perhaps everyone asks themselves "What can I do?" Think about what your value is, so that you will not be replaced, will not be marginalized by society, and will not make life hopeless.
A couple's night out is interrupted by a man in a parking lot, who challenges their perceptions on modern-day masculinity
Terminally ill Paul Siegert travels from Germany to a secluded Swiss mountain resort specifically designed for assisted suicide where he unexpectedly finds a new reason to live.
Russian Orthodox Theological Academy near Moscow, USSR, 1982.
An ambitious student, Vassily prepares for his forthcoming ordination as an Orthodox priest when his roommate goes missing. As worrisome rumours and paranoia permeate the all-male Academy, Vassily is approached by a quietly menacing KGB agent.
Unmasking the Pain is a music video inspired by the Director’s personal experience of being abused by her father and not protected by her mother. While rooted in her own story, the project resonates with many others who have endured similar hardships. Through haunting visuals and evocative music, it explores the profound sense of loss from the absence of parental protection and serves as a powerful call for awareness, action, and change.
"Grow Wild" is a short animation with non-photorealistic style, telling a story about a small flower growing at the bottom of a bell tower that wants to climb up to see the further landscape. The process is obviously not easy when facing all kinds of obstacles, can it stand firm on its choice? Similar to our life. Maybe the choices we make are not always the best, and we may encounter all sorts of questions and misunderstandings, but our life belongs to ourselves, and we should make our own choices. Both flowers and thorns are all the treasure scenery on the road. So just be firm with ourselves with a bare heart. Keep the passion and grow wild!
Emma embarks on a bureaucratic odyssey to get her life back after an administrative error leaves her legally dead.
A powerful woman's journey within a futuristic dystopia world of different people in a society that challenges individuality & race. Visually and emotional scenes resonate with those who see the beauty of diversity, empathy and the universal bond that connects us all.
As the video reaches its climax, the cityscape and desert transforms into a beautiful array of colors, symbolizing unity.
Her mesmerizing performance and message becomes clear: "People Are People," and the importance of embracing humanity.
In the end, Vaja's directorial debut captures the pure essence of her vision.
Following the passing of British-Ugandan teen Nia’s grandmother, she struggles with the guilt of not being able to mourn her death. Through this, she is inspired to connect with her culture.
A heartfelt drama that unfolds through the intimate lens of a home video camera. It tells the story of Luke, a firefighter, and his family, as they navigate the heartbreaking aftermath of September 11th. Capturing the family's everyday moments, juxtaposed against the backdrop of Luke's declining health due to 9/11-related illnesses, the film immerses us in the love, grief, and strength of a family as they confront a system that chooses to ignore the ongoing challenges of a tragedy that continues to shape their lives.
A story of faith, denial, and revelation. As one heart is shattered by unimaginable loss and consumed by hopelessness, the line between salvation and damnation begins to blur. In a world where belief is tested and truth is uncertain, one soul must confront the ultimate temptation, life, or death.
