Premiere Category

Live Action, Premiere

Werner Vivier’s ‘Walls Like Windows’ Captures Our Acute Need for Human Connection and Empathy When Navigating Trauma

Werner Vivier walks us through the narrative developing cinematography and surprising shifts of tone of his expectation subverting drama short.

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Documentary, Premiere

James Slater’s ‘Look for the Diamonds’ Encourages Us Grab Life by the Horns No Matter the Circumstances

James Slater talks about the unconventional approach to documenting illness he employed for his documentary celebrating a uniquely positive outlook on life.

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Live Action, Premiere

Seamus Murphy’s ‘Henry Needs a New Home’ Is a Farcical Tale of One Man’s Battle With a Metallic Antagonist

Filmmaker Seamus Murphy talks to DN about the painstaking production design which set the stage for his absurd comedy short starring Nicholas Hope.

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Animation, Premiere

A Mother Battles Grief in a Dense and Vivid Fantasy World in Matt O’Donnell’s Animated Short ‘Runelight’

Matt O'Donnell describes the pleasure of creating the 3D animation behind the vivid world featured in his short film.

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Art & Fashion, Documentary, Premiere

Dawn Richard Champions the Power of Self-Expression in Moving New Orleans-Set Dance Short ‘Pigments’

Dawn Richard breaks down why she wanted to alter the cliched image of New Orleans through her compelling and empowering dance short.

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Live Action, Premiere

A Couple Struggle to Redefine Their Relationship in Beck Kitsis & Chris McNabb’s LGBTQ Short ‘Valentine’

Chris McNabb and Beck Kitsis tell DN how they sought to represent trans creatives both on and off screen when making their personal relationship drama.

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Live Action, Premiere

Bousher & Gee’s ‘You’re Absolutely Right’ Sees an Affirming Hotline Fuel a Paranoid Hoarder’s Troubled Beliefs

Theo Gee and Ian Bousher detail how they echoed their protagonist's inner turmoil through the detailed production design of their claustrophobic set.

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Music Video, Premiere

A Grieving Woman Experiences a Close Encounter in Meredith Hama-Brown’s Music Video for Loscil’s ‘Sol’

Meredith Hama-Brown reveals how she and her team embraced light and lasers to create a visually distinctive UFO for her emotional healing music video.

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Live Action, Premiere

Colby Day Traverses the Archetypal Romantic Journey of a New Relationship in Dance Short ‘Lead/Follow’

Colby Day explains how he practically translated his intimate play, about a couple experiencing new love, into a free-flowing dance short.

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Live Action, Premiere

Paul Holbrook’s ‘Old Windows’ Captivates With a Conversation Between Strangers That Is Much More Than It Seems

We spoke to Paul Holbrook about stripping down the dialogue in his nuanced short where an unsettling interest in the past grows tensions.

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Live Action, Premiere

The Newman Brothers Comedy ‘Do Not Touch’ Captures the Absurd Actions a Man Takes To Hide His Cheating Ways

The Newman Bros discuss tapering comedy with emotional stakes for their short about an art exhibition which throws an adulterer's life into chaos.

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Live Action, Premiere

Sarah Grant’s ‘Candy’ Is a Heartening Body Positive Reclamation of Sexuality and Empowerment

Sarah Grant talks to DN about her empowering body positive, inclusive short which challenges outdated notions of size being a barrier to self-expression.

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