SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION
Short Films in Competition is one of the longest running programs of the festival, and we are pleased to keep being chosen by many talented filmmakers from Latin America to present their works with us.
Programming Committee: Sarah Shamash and Artemio Narro.
The winning film will be chosen by the Short Films Jury and receive a cash prize of $500 CAD.
This year, the shorts in competition will screen before feature films.
5:03 AM
(Precedes CHAVELA)
Director: Abril Schmucler Iñiguez
Mexico, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 13 min
In the privacy of her bathroom, Paulina undresses, removes makeup. Her social networks reveal the troubles she is living through.
ABATE
Precedes COLD WATER OF THE SEA
Director: Lucas Vinzon Guimarães
Brazil, 2018
Portuguese with English subtitles | 14 min
Isabel finds out that her grandfather’s farm, a formative space of her childhood, was sold by her parents without telling her. Haunted by veiled memories, she drives to the farm in an attempt to repair the past.
AND THAT IS HOW THE RIVERS CAME TO BE
(Y así aparecieron los ríos)
Screens in LANGUAGES OF SOVEREIGNTY – Program 1
Director: Miguel Aráoz Cartagena
Peru, 2018
Kukama with English subtitles | 3.16 min
An animated oral story that takes us back in time to the moment when a mighty Kukama God created the Amazon’s rivers with his bow and arrow.
CHEMISTRY
(Química)
Precedes the screening of THE GOOD GIRLS on August 24
Director: Mariana Musalem Ramos
Mexico, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 11.53 min
Ten-year-old Valeria has a strong bond with her neighbour Susana, also ten, but an incident will change the future of their friendship.
GUAXUMA
Precedes the screening of THE HEIRESSES on August 29
Director: Nara Normande
Brasil, 2018
Portuguese with English subtitles | 14.16 min
Tayra and I grew up on a beach in the northeast of Brazil. We were inseparable. The sea breeze brings me back happy memories.
HIDDEN LIFE
(TIERRA AJENA)
Screens in #ACTIVISMO – SHORTS PROGRAM
Director: Valeria Brenes
Costa Rica, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 14.33 min
In a futuristic city, an authoritarian regime spreads propaganda that all soil has become infertile. On an assignment for the National Communication Centre, Sam discovers a secret that makes her question everything she knows.
MARÍA OF THE MANGROVES (MARÍA DE LOS ESTEROS)
Precedes MATAINDIOS
Director: Eugenio Gómez Borrero
Colombia, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 7.10 min
While extracting oysters from the mangroves, María unearths memories, songs, and ghosts. Present and past are blurred,and today, just like before, María refuses to leave her land.
THE MEXICAN GALAPAGOS
Screens in #ACTIVISMO – SHORTS PROGRAM
Director: Tania Claudia Castillo
Mexico, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 13 min
In the middle of the Chihuahuan desert, there is an archipelago of lagoons that hosts the oldest organisms living on our planet. Due to their biological diversity, scientists compare them with the Galapagos Islands. This region is currently under threat.
MONTE CARMELO
Screens in #ACTIVISMO – SHORTS PROGRAM
Director: Edén Bastida Kullick
Puerto Rico/Argentina, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 2.53 min
A picture-film tells the story of the day that Felix’s family’s bees expelled the US Navy from their land. A story that is kept alive in Vieques, Puerto Rico and serves as an ember for the resistance to the colonial status of the island.
PAULA’S ETERNITY
Precedes the screening of LOS SILENCIOS on August 24
Director: Dayana Gauthier
Venezuela, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 10.50 min
Five-year-old Liana and her family face a devastating drought. While the mother packs to leave, Liana has an unexpected encounter that will change the destiny of all.
VICTORIA
Precedes screening of YO, IMPOSIBLE on August 28
Director: William Reyes
Honduras, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 9 min
Victoria, an elderly transgender woman, lives in a small town in the centre of Honduras, where she has struggled towards finding acceptance.
THE WOODLAND (EL MONTE)
Precedes ON THE STARTING LINE (LA ARRANCADA)
Director: Claudia Claremi
Cuba, 2018
Spanish with English subtitles | 13.10 min
In the Sierra Maestra mountains of Cuba, José Manuel explains to his granddaughter Malena his worldview, and shares with her a deep knowledge of nature’s mysteries. Plants and humans have a great resemblance and must respect each other.
