The Hard Way (2024)

The Night of the Witness

A witness to a car accident is offered bribes by both parties.

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...

Justo

A young woman proposes to the passengers of a full bus a change in seats. On the trip they will discover that, regardless of the result, it is always good to review the established order.

I And the Stupid Boy

Nora is a striking young girl in new love. We see her dancing around her bedroom, lip-synching, testing outfits, in between sending heart emojis, and more, to the special boy. All dressed up, she takes a short cut through an abandoned building, on the way for her hot date. Kevin pulls up in the background on his scooter. He's Nora's recent ex, jilted and jealous. Kevin grabs Nora's phone, and what ensues is a now universal 21st century story of male-female power, sexuality and shame with a biting, feminist twist.

Lacuna

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

Anemone Me

The only black American family in Maine has a son, a blind bodybuilder, who falls in love with a white "mer-boy."

The Human Voice

A woman watches time pass beside the suitcases of her ex-lover (who is supposed to come pick them up but never arrives) and a restless dog who doesn't understand that his master has abandoned him.

I'm the Most Racist Person I Know

When a romantic gesture towards a bartender backfires, Lali unexpectedly finds herself offered a pity date by another bartender, Ana. What starts as an awkward encounter turns into a genuine connection as they bond over shared experiences as women of color. As they grow closer, Lali finds herself falling for Ana. But when the conversation takes an unexpected turn, Lali must confront her prejudices towards Ana and... herself.

Cheer Up Baby

New York City present day. Anna is a 21-year old dance major in college. She takes the train home after a day of dance class and babysitting. She falls asleep on the train and wakes up to a man holding her hands. He whispers something to her she does not want to hear. The film follows Anna for the next two days. She tries to go about her life but grapples with the haunting memory of the stranger from the train. The city acts as the cacophonous landscape in which Anna develops a new perspective, one where she finds herself both suffocated and free.

Golden Time

In Japan, during the eighties, a recently discarded old television set refuses to accept its fate and tries to break out of the junkyard where it has been sent.

Heartless

Léo goes on vacation at his cousin's, in a fishing village. There, he meets a girl who goes by the nickname Heartless.

Hot Nasty Teen

A young teenage girl is being filmed through a simple video camera. She is being told to dance by an older man. Two months later they are traveling together by car through small town Sweden. She wants to go home but he insists that they should go on. After all, they have a few more friends to visit. Hot Nasty Teen depicts a seemingly well-known Sweden. But underneath the ordinary surface it simmers from suppressed desires and oppression. Hot Nasty Teen brings a new and daring perspective to male exercise of power and sexual abuse. The cast consists of some of Sweden's most well-known actors.

Venena Bibas

In a Catholic seminary, Brother Nestor is found dead and his best friend, Brother Esteban, tells the story of the events that preceded his death. There, a repressed and unhealthy love is discovered.

Wolves

Teenager Josh lives alone with his father in a remote corner of the British countryside. Their relationship is strained, and Josh spends much of his time exploring the nearby woods, but his life takes an unexpected turn when he meets a mysterious boy, wearing nothing but his underwear, shivering with cold and unable to speak.

TRIPLE TIMe

A theoretical physicist discovers his life is in danger when he comes home to find two future versions of himself.

Gary and Milo

Two brains in jars exist exclusively in a game of PONG, oblivious to the world falling apart outside of their computer.

The First Emperor of China

This historical drama tells the story of Qin Shihuang, who unified China's vast territory and declared himself emperor in 221 B.C. During his reign, he introduced sweeping reforms, built a vast network of roads and connected the Great Wall of China. From the grandiose inner sanctum of Emperor Qin's royal palace, to fierce battles with feudal kings, this film re-creates the glory and the terror of the Qin Dynasty, including footage of Qin's life-sized terra cotta army, constructed 2,200 years ago for his tomb.

Feel Something

When our hometown experienced a sudden spike in youth crime, we were quite stunned by the random acts of vicious violence these teenagers were willing to commit. Especially since there seemed to be no obvious reason for these attacks other than boredom and envy, as they mainly targeted people who were attacked by their peers for their clothes and smartphones.

Free Child

From leaving Egypt 10 years ago, to almost dying a month ago in a car accident. This film is about the journey in between and the massive role the internet played in the life of prominent Youtuber and Yes Theory co-founder Ammar Kandil.

El grito que nunca dimos

At the news that his best friend is going to move, Luis debates whether or not to confess his feelings towards her. Meanwhile the silence seems to distance them more and more.

F for Freaks

An empty, undefined world. Gabriela (70) is seriously ill. By all means she tries to keep alive, to escape from her own death. In her suppressed and rising fear of death she refuses any moral argument. Gabriela becomes an animal.

South of Heaven

When his boyfriend shows up unannounced, Elias' religious family learns their son's darkest secret.

Thule

In 1962, a group of young men, stationed at a remote Air Force base, band together to undergo a dangerous mission to retrieve mail lost in the frozen landscape of Greenland.

The Mirror/Mirror The

A socially awkward teen gets caught between a changing friendship and a life-altering discovery.

Automagic

On his return home, androgynous-looking Madhu attempts to seduce Ratnakar, his rickshaw driver, who is practicing celibacy in preparation for a religious pilgrimage.

Sycorax

Who is Sycorax? The first character in Shakespeare's "Tempest" to set foot on the island. The problem is that she has no voice. She is barely mentioned by Prospero as a crooked, old, wicked witch who vilely locked Ariel, the spirit of the air, in a tree. But why would she do that? Here, we wouldn't believe Prospero so much.

Homing In

After a long day at work, Cal drives home to his suburban neighborhood and realizes that he accidentally went inside the wrong house. Inspired by true events of Levittown, NY; American's first suburb.

In the Eyes

A Sunday like any other among a Russian community in France. Victor, a discreet young man, has to overcome the elusiveness of the one he loves in secret.

Carne

After a dreadful incident coupled with an ungovernable paroxysm of violence, a butcher will fall into a downward spiral that will burn to the ground whatever dignity still remained in him.

Iceberg

A married woman falls in love with a 19-year-old girl, and she has to make a choice between her family and the one who might be the love of her life.

Alfa

Alfa, a famous porn actor, must deal with his fears, insecurities and memories when he begins work on a new film without Yerry, his former partner in life and porn. On his first day of shooting without him, Alfa tries to act as in the past but can things be like before? Javier Ferreiro's short film reflects on the difficult decision of letting someone go to move forward. ALFA is framed in the context of gay porn cinema in Cuba where pornography is banned but, little by little, it's growing up an underground industry impulsed by foreign tourism.

A New Goodbye

Helen lives with her son Bruno, but Bruno doesn't behave like a normal kid. She will have to overcome the mourning crisis to withstand reality.

Confession

Gayoung, a director, expects to hear a farewell confession from her boyfriend, who's an actor. (Part of "100인 X 100초영화 프로젝트", a project dedicated to celebrate 100 years of South Korean cinema.)

DC Showcase: Death

Vincent, an artist with unresolved inner demons, meets a mysterious girl who helps him come to terms with his creative legacy… and eventual death.

A Place to Go

A cowboy goes on a spiritual journey and physical journey to reconnect with his dead father. Written, directed and produced by Dayne Hudson.

Almost Famous

In 1973, 15-year-old William Miller's unabashed love of music and aspiration to become a rock journalist lands him an assignment from Rolling Stone magazine to interview and tour with the up-and-coming band, Stillwater.

The Cure

A small town begins to feel the effects of an illness, forcing the local pastor to make an ethical decision that will affect the habitants of the place.

Bull's Heart

The story of a son who is secretly in love and a lonely, hard-working father. Each leads his own life – until one sultry summer day, their courses collide with a shock.

Blue My Mind

15-year-old Mia faces an overwhelming transformation which puts her entire existence into question. Her body is changing radically, and despite desperate attempts to halt the process, Mia is soon forced to accept that nature is far more powerful than she is.

Diwa

An unflinching look at the plight of immigrants victimized by violent crimes and the obstacles they face as they seek justice - told thru the eyes of one victim.

Reminiscence

Juliana is an experienced taxi driver who is trapped in the memory of her childhood until a difficult situation makes her reconsider past decisions.

Discretion

Derek's picture-perfect life as a family man and college professor is compromised when he falls for Trysten, a handsome new student.

The Mannequin

In suburban Rome, a kid is intrigued by a mannequin abandoned in a field. The fascination for this lifeless body, will mark the discovery of a new world, made of impulses, dreams and desires.

Sea Sparkles

The night before he is set to leave Uruguay in search of a better future, Lucas, an ambitious yet doubtful young man meets Juan, a Venezuelan immigrant who challenges his views on life and pushes him to enjoy the present.

Cleo Is Coming Over Tonight

Aitana organizes a big Halloween party in her huge apartment in Madrid in the hope that her friend Cleo will come.