Filmatique Talents 2021: Short Film Program
July: Filmatique Talents 2021, Shorts Program
During the month of July Filmatique presents the third edition of Filmatique Talents, an online film festival that promotes emerging filmmakers across the globe.
The 2021 Filmatique Talents Shorts program spotlights films from regions diverse as India, Cuba, Lithuania, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United States. Companion pieces explore themes of gentrification, identity, and displacement in Lisbon, Assam, and the northern coast of Cuba; the limits of art and justice as two women living at the fringes of Europe probe the limits of their respective professions; the state of emotional transit in Switzerland; abandoned landscapes and lost youth in Serbia and France; and the nature of time and American non-places.
Learn more about the shorts and their directors, and read exclusive filmmaker interviews, by diving into the 2021 edition of Filmatique Talents.
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Maria Cobra Petra, Erika Nieva da Cunha (2019)
Maria Cobra Petra, Erika Nieva da Cunha / Switzerland-Portugal, 2019
In a Lisbon neighborhood worn by gentrification, young rapper Maria and her neighbors are accustomed to eviction. Her songs provide an outlet to grasp the trauma of her origins, giving her the strength to face the present.
Erika Nieva da Cunha's short film premiered at the International Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, where it won a Special Mention.
Noor Islam, Devshree Nath (2019)
Noor Islam, Devshree Nath / India, 2019
This documentary delves deep into the state of mind of a person who is on the verge of losing his identity, almost everything he has. His broken hopes engender chaos within him while the serene beauty of Assam and his humble lifestyle paint a contrast against this inner tempest.
Devshree Nath's short film premiered at the Herat International Women's Film Festival.
Read an exclusive interview with Devshree Nath.
Sweet Salty Wind, Laura Gabay (2019)
Sweet Salty Wind, Laura Gabay / Switzerland-Cuba, 2019
Three siblings live on the seashore, on the north coast of Cuba. Through their games and the landscape that surrounds them, we gradually discover the absence of their parents who immigrated off the island.
Laura Gabay's short film premiered at Visions du Réel, IDFA - International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, and the Festival Cinematográfico Internacional del Uruguay Montevideo.
Read an exclusive interview with Laura Gabay.
Interrogation, Urte Sabutyte (2021)
Interrogation, Urte Sabutyte / Lithuania, 2021
The year 2000. Aleksandra, a young prosecutor, is handling a human trafficking case. At the police station she conducts two interrogation sessions. In the first, she faces Andrius—a high-school friend turned suspect, who provokes and undermines her. In the second, she speaks with Viktorija, the victim who has her own reasons to distrust law enforcement.
Urte Sabutyte's short film premiered at the 2021 Vilnius International Film Festival.
You Know What I Have Nightmares About, Aglaja Filipovic (2019)
You Know What I Have Nightmares About, Aglaja Filipovic / Serbia, 2019
Sunny and Hannah live together in the big city. Sunny is aspiring actress, intensely preparing for the premiere of her new play. Hannah is often alone—dealing with her demons alone.
Aglaja Filipovic's short film had its premiere at 39th VGIK Student Film Festival in Moscow, Russia. So far, it has won Best Film at over four festivals.
Terminal, Kim Allamand (2019)
Terminal, Kim Allamand / Switzerland, 2019
An 80-year-old woman spends her time at a bus station. She's waiting for the right moment to leave this place forever.
Kim Alland's short film premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival, where it won the Best Swiss Newcomer and Young Jury Awards; Taipei, São Paulo, and Solothurner Filmtage; and RiverRun Festival, where it won the Best Student Narrative Award.
Zenith, Camille Tomatala (2019)
Zenith, Camille Tomatala / Switzerland, 2019
Lucie, 14, was placed into a children's home to avoid seeing her mother die. In this parenthesis, she recognizes a familiar face. Yannis, 19, is dreamy and clever, an apprentice gardener and taking care of the grounds during the holidays. Lucie sees in Yannis the possibility of an elsewhere—the end of childhood frozen in the light of summer.
Camille Tomatala's short film premiered at Solothurner Filmtage, Winterthur, and the Huesca International Film Festival.
Bambiland, Danilo Stanimirović (2019)
Bambiland, Danilo Stanimirović / Serbia, 2019
Strahinja has just finished acting school and works as a clown in a kid's playhouse. Bambiland was a big amusement park in his home town when he was a child. Now, it is an abandoned, creepy place—a metaphor for Strahinja's generation in Serbia.
Danilo Stanimirović's short film premiered at Indie Short Fest LA, New Filmmakers New York, DukaFest - International Student Film Festival; International Short Film Festival - Film Front, where it won Best Cinematography; Pančevo Film Festival, where it won Best Screenplay; and Sumadija International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award.
Read an exclusive interview with Danilo Stanimirović,
Framework, Jasmin Gordon (2019)
Framework, Jasmin Gordon / Switzerland-France, 2018
It's summertime in rural France. A charismatic stranger happens upon three teenage boys. He has a gun in his car. Are they ready to go for a ride?
Jasmin Gordon's short film premiered at SXSW - South by Southwest, Leeds, Winterthur, Solothurner Filmtage, and Encounters Film Festival.
Carnage, Francisco Valente (2020)
Carnage, Francisco Valente / Portugal, 2020
New York, 2020. Border walls, luxury skyscrapers, and "American carnage."
Francisco Valente's short film premiered at IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival.
Next Time, Talia Shea Levin (2021)