INDIE SHORT FEST

The Land

An abstract snapshot of creative life at the edge of the Sonoran Desert.
On the southernmost border of Arizona’s Cochise County, the Sonoran Desert provides a life of creative expression for those able to live in concert with its diverse plants, animals and people. A deep regional history reveals itself each year as the community gathers to share in fire and rebirth. Shot on decades-old expired 16mm film stock, the imperfect visual texture and meditative docent-like voiceover are complemented by a live, improvised instrumental soundtrack. The resulting exploration of sound and image exposes a life of beauty, freedom and powerful self-reflection.
Directed by Stephen Crout (USA)

2017

Mixed signals, narcissism, love for sale: Liquid Love in São Paulo. The lives of the 30-year-old Katharina (played by Camilla Ferreira) and 40-year-old Alice (played by Rodolfo Lima) intertwine when Katharina enters a new world of online romances through dating apps.
Directed by Pryka Almeida (Brazil)

For Summer

“For Summer” is a haunting short horror film exploring a couple’s broken relationship in the aftermath of grief, and the terrifying results.
Directed by Jessie Kirby (UK)

Here’s Your Flag

An Army officer arrives at Mrs. Cavanaugh’s door to inform her that a new algorithm predicts that her son Eddie will die in battle. Not “did” die, but “will” die. Since Eddie just enlisted yesterday, she feels this is hardly fair. The officer reminds her that the possibility of death was mentioned in the recruitment contract: “Page 12, in the fine print, at the bottom.” Mrs. Cavanaugh persists until she finds out Eddie will die a hero. “Will he be getting any medals? We can put them with his football trophies!” And then it just gets weird. By the way, there really is such a thing as a “death gratuity” when a loved one dies in battle, and yes, it really is $100,000. This is a comedy. (No, really.)
Directed by Jonny Lewis (USA)

Husband Approved

Trudy Macloo is the Queen of Sweets, the outdated host of the show Husband Approved, where her husband is the solo judge. All things go sideways when Derek Troppo, a hot internet sensation enters the show and defies Trudy’s ways.
Directed by Max Gleiser (USA)