Escapism (2023)

Styx

Long-term partners Marc and Adrien live a seemingly perfect existence close to Lake Constance. Only whilst Marc is content to spend his days working for the local ferry service, Adrien yearns for the bright lights of Berlin and the clubs in which he hopes to realize his dream of becoming a musician. Yet life has a way of turning out not as you expect and here events culminate on a lengthy ferry crossing, one that sees Marc soon to spot Adrien onboard, complete with a one-way ticket and a car packed full of his belongings. Suffice to say that the stage is set for a traumatic farewell.

You Like That

Lost in a hypersexual digital world, Joshua dreams of the kind of love he’s only read about in classic literature.

NO LITTERING

While enjoying a date in a park, a man carelessly tosses an empty bottle onto the ground. His selfish littering promptly summons an imposing figure wearing a white hockey mask. The gruesome events that follow tell an admonishing tale about the importance of preserving the outdoors and defending the environment from the ugly menace of litter. The short was made for the tve YouTube Relay project, but wasn't included because it's too violent.

Lacuna

As she struggles to finish her short film, a first-time filmmaker travels through her memory bank in search of inspiration.

The Summer Holidays

Blandine spends her holidays alone in a small campsite at the foot of the mountains. She is quickly overwhelmed by the noise, the crowd and the rain that she was trying to escape for a summer. At the edge of the lake, Blandine meets Helio, a young local journalist.

The Story of Christmas

This short animation tells the familiar story of Christmas in an innovative and colourful way. Filmmaker Evelyn Lambart uses glowing zinc cut-outs to give this traditional tale a contemporary twist. Akin to a joyful medieval manuscript, the film is embellished by the artist's own whimsy—heraldic trumpet sounds, luminescent light, and wildflowers in every scene tell the message of rebirth. A film without dialogue.

The Lion and the Mouse

This animated short by Evelyn Lambart is a visual adaptation of the famous Aesop fable "The Lion and the Mouse," in which a mouse proves to a lion that the weak and small may be of help to those much mightier than themselves.

Merenguito

Merenguito, a little piñata boy, wakes up on a school table after being put together by a group of primary school children. Soon they discover his gift: dispensing candy at will. When the children become absorbed by their greed for candy, Merenguito finds comfort in his friendship with Bruno, a gentle child outcast from his peers due to his delicate health condition. Chaos soon erupts and Merenguito becomes a victim of merciless bullying that spirals him into a choice with terrible consequences.

How the Lion Cub and the Turtle Sang a Song

The Tortoise composed a song and the Lion cub learnt it by heart and they sang it together.

The Difficulties Of Being Drunk Alone

A young man finds himself alone in his hotel room with a full bottle of vodka when his repressed memories begin to resurface and take control.

The Anvil

Once upon a time, in the evening of his Birthday, a boy got from his parents a strange gift: an Anvil from which he would never separate. An uncomfortable load to carry, which will make his life particularly troubled, preventing him from doing what he wants, and even from approaching the girl he loves. But we are in a fairytale... And in fairy tales, everybody get a second chance.

Mannequin Mother

Whilst visiting her late mother's gravestone, Emma meets Jon - her half-blood brother, whose existence she's never known of till now...

He

A story told in four parts, "He" explores the swell of poetic love and the breathless aftermath of its heartache.

A Grand Day Out

Wallace and Gromit have run out of cheese, and this provides an excellent excuse for the duo to take their holiday to the moon, where, as everyone knows, there is ample cheese. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive.

The Wrong Trousers

Wallace rents out Gromit's former bedroom to a penguin, who takes up an interest in the techno trousers created by Wallace. However, Gromit later learns that the penguin is a wanted criminal.

A Close Shave

Wallace's whirlwind romance with the proprietor of the local wool shop puts his head in a spin, and Gromit is framed for sheep-rustling in a fiendish criminal plot.

I Decided to Leave

A man decides to leave. He knows he wants to do something with his life. He just hasn't figured out what yet.

We Collide

A queercore romance - a visceral and immersive exploration of the power of the mosh pit and finding love in the most unlikely of places.

Nha Sunhu

Issa, a footballer from Guinea-Bissau who plays in Portugal, is contacted by two filmmakers who want to know more about his life and make a documentary. Exposing the voices behind the camera, Nha Sunhu is a reflection on the gaze, bias, and representation of the other.

Negative Space

Even though Sam's father is hardly ever home because he is often away on business trips, he is able to connect with his son by teaching him how to pack a suitcase.

Bea

At the age of 19, Bea realizes that the love she deemed infinite is as decadent and full of excesses as a night in the port of Acapulco.

Perfect Roast Potatoes

William comes to Los Angeles to celebrate Christmas only to find his mother has died, but his sister insists they still have Christmas dinner, corpse and all.

Consent

After meeting online, a woman allows a virtual stranger into her home to fulfill an agreement.

Chicken

Mick and Kev, teen Irish lads, are at the shore, throwing rocks at empty cans, drinking cider. Mick's the pushy one, engaging Kev in a game of mumbly peg, his hand on top of Kev's, fingers splayed. As Mick moves the knife between their fingers, a train is heard approaching. What's Mick's purpose?

The House That Jack Built

Story about the cow with the crumpled horn that tossed the dog that worried the cat that killed the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.

Sweet Dreams

A cupcake escapes a city of sweets and is marooned on an island with vegetables where he learns to reform his destructive ways in this tasty stop-motion from the talented Kirsten Lepore.

Talking To My Mother

A young Asian American man struggles for both personal happiness and the love of his mother.

Tomer & Elias

Coming of age film about Sven, a boy who feels trapped in his own family which only consists of duos. His brother Alex in return tries to keep Sven by his side through the same methods his parents use.

Bread for the Birds

Like Max Ophüls, Capellani set many films in the theatre – backstage, on stage, in the public eye; Here is a rags-to-riches story of a dancer and her older benefactor, a kind-hearted piano tutor.

Atoms

Hugo, 34, an educator at the boarding school, finds is daily life disrupted by Jules, a provocative teenager.

That Which Once Was

In 2032 an eight-year old boy, displaced by global warming, fends for himself as an environmental refugee in a hostile northern metropolis. Haunted by memories of flooding that left him homeless and orphaned, the boy forms an unexpected friendship with an Inuk ice carver who helps him confront his past.

The Understudy

An ambitious understudy’s respect grows to obsession.

Otava

An adolescent girl tries to dream about memories of Mother while having to be physically present in the surrounding farm with grandmother.

We Are Fine

A boy makes a discovery at the seaside.

Maleta Llena

Plot unavailable

The Man Who Slept

A young woman lives with her sleeping husband. Prisoner of her loneliness, she refuses to accept that this man is only a memory.

The Last Pizza

On his final delivery of the day, a carefree pizza delivery guy arrives at an unfamiliar, desolate apartment building, only to find the customer absent. Curiosity leads him to explore the rooftop, where he becomes trapped as night falls and the winter chill sets in. With minimal supplies and a dying phone, he must fight to survive.

Steam is Steam

Montreal 1952, teenager Samuel brings his friend Julien to the neighbourhood steam bath for his weekly routine with Dad. Julien’s first time will be a day to remember.

No Word of Goodbye

Sin decir adiós (No Word of Goodbye) is the story of the encounter between Alex and Marina. The ghosts of the past that separated them a year ago will be present in this meeting.

The Room

Mariana must sacrifice her dog Frida after violently beating it for having destroyed her recently deceased son's toys. The pet's death helps Mariana accept and overcome the loss of her son.