Category: Globe Award ARFF Berlin 2023

Original Film Title: THE CURSE EFFECT

Director’s Name: Gregg Jaden

Writer’s Name: Gregg Jaden, Jason Satterlund

Producer: Gregg Jaden

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: Indonesia

Language: English

Runtime: 29 minutes 30 seconds

Film Description:

A True Story – Short Documentary

Dive deep into the heart of Indonesia’s Borneo jungle with ‘THE CURSE EFFECT.’ This riveting mini-documentary delivers never-before-seen footage of one of the most feared tribes on earth, Suku Dayak. Enter a world of the tribe’s private way of life known for its voodoo traditions, daily rituals, and historical enemy headhunting. Defying the odds as a foreign outsider, filmmaker Gregg Jaden miraculously earned the tribe’s trust, gaining access to film them like never before… at the tribe’s land. Uncovering the mystery of a voodoo curse and their fight against a deadly, unseen evil.

Jaden’s journey immerses you in the tribe’s everyday existence, rituals, and resilience in the face of the curse’s deadly grip on Keanu Haridanus. In this suspenseful rare journey to forbidden lands, ‘THE CURSE EFFECT’ uncovers the harrowing experience of a man living under a life-threatening voodoo curse, chilling tales from locals, and the tribe’s magical spiritual ancestor connection that’s helped them survive for centuries in the Borneo jungle.

Experience ‘THE CURSE EFFECT,’ a compelling blend of fear, magic, and a life-or-death struggle, as Jaden leads you through a world unknown, teetering on the edge of good vs. evil.

Original Film Title: PUNTI DI VISTA

Director’s Name: Pepi Romagnoli

Writer’s Name: Pepi Romagnoli

Producer: Michelangelo Pastore

Country of Origin: Italy

Country of Filming: Italy

Language: Italian, Romany

Runtime: 8 minutes 42 seconds

Film Description:

Presenting Pinheiro, a portrait of the modern skier and part of Atomic’s vision for the future of ski racing.

In “ALL IN,” the third episode of the season, follow the journey of Lucas as he faces a sudden medical issue that threatens to derail his dreams. Lucas, a young and ambitious athlete, has been working hard to achieve success in his sport. But when he is hit with an unexpected health problem, he must navigate a challenging road to recovery.

The strive to improve and to perfection provides the main plot for this series, showcasing what it takes to become a complete skier – besides training and racing. This project is about opening the world of skiing to new people. A whole new generation of fans and people.

Original Film Title: Science for Hire

Director’s Name: Gary Null, Ph.D.

Producer: C.C. Crew

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: Denmark, Israel, United States

Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes

Film Description:

Science for Hire takes us on a journey through the most critical scientific issues that directly affect our health and well-being, shedding light on the hidden secrets of the scientific, pharmaceutical, and military industrial complexes. Following a long history of systemic corruption across medical organizations and schools, scientific publications and federal regulatory agencies, we enter a world where pseudo-science and misinformation rules. 

Billions of dollars are spent to manipulate and buy the allegiance of elected officials and the media. Those who speak up against modern science’s culture of corruption risk having their careers destroyed. Governments operate in lockstep with the pharmaceutical ambitions to erect an unregulated global regime, a “Great Reset,” that will dictate what we can eat, what medical interventions are permitted and banned, and the rewards and punishments that legislate our choices.

Science for Hire describes a broken system and offers hard hitting solutions to spark clarion calls to take heed of the realities facing humanity today. 

Original Film Title: Planalto Building

Director’s Name: Roviglio Cordenonsi

Writer’s Name: Roviglio Cordenonsi

Country of Origin: Brazil

Country of Filming: Brazil

Language: Portuguese

Runtime: 1 hour 18 minutes 29 seconds

Film Description:

The story of artists living in a classic building in São Paulo City Centre, they talk about their art, their relationship with the city center, about Artacho’s Jurado architecture and their personal dramas as: war fugitive, women rights, homophobia, etc. In a dark time, where the government tried to censor the artists as hard as they could, a must seen film.

Original Film Title: El Adiós de la Esperanza

Director’s Name: Lieter Ledesma

Writer’s Name: Iliana Lavastida, Grethel Delgado, Wilma Hernandez

Producer: Iliana Lavastida, Aida Levitan, Darcy Borrero, Silvio Campos, Grethel Delgado, Jesus Hernandez, Wilma Hernandez, Rafael Marrero, Camila Mendoza

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Language: Spanish

Runtime: 51 minutes

Film Description:

“Journey to Hope” (Official Selection of the 40th Miami International Film Festival) recreates the experiences lived by five of the children that make up the group of 14,000 minors who 60 years ago were sent to the US without their parents in a mass exodus that was carried out secretly.

Eduardo, the boy from eastern Cuba who at the age of 12 became the father of his younger brother, with whom he traveled, had to hold three jobs while he was studying because he had promised his mother to make all necessary sacrifices to achieve higher education. 
Aida, the girl born in Havana who grew up in a home of divorced parents with her mother and brother, for whom the adventure of arriving to a new country stimulated her dreams and the desire to do transcendental things despite having been exposed to many challenges. 
Enrique, originally from a mountainous region in the center of the island, had grown up in the peaceful environment of the countryside, with the warmth of his parents and grandparents, a very tightknit family. When he arrived in Miami, he was transferred to an orphanage where he faced rejection because of his origin and not knowing English. 
Tony, originally from Havana, began to realize that his classmates were disappearing every day, and everyone wondered what was happening. His mother promised him a vacation trip to the US, but the time of the trip became indefinite, and it took him many years to reunite with his parents. 
Eddy remained frightened by the images that on television showed summary trials, executions, shootings, so he resignedly accepted the idea of separation and traveled to the unknown land where they sent him.

Eduardo, Aida, Enrique, Tony and Eddy revisit in their memories the day and place from which they left, recreate the impression of that abruptly interrupted childhood, travel to the places where they were received and describe the feeling of growing up lacking the warmth of home.

In this short film we discover what became of their lives. 

Original Film Title: Диктатор

Director’s Name: Parenyok Prostoi

Writer’s Name: Parenyok Prostoi

Producer: Serhii Shkoliar

Country of Origin: Ukraine

Country of Filming: Ukraine

Runtime: 4 minutes 9 seconds

Film Description:

Dictatorship is a huge evil!!! 
It has no nationality and does not depend on the country!!! 
It makes people afraid! 
Tolerate! Suffer!! 
Get humiliated!! 
And it seems that, having strengthened, the dictatorship becomes invincible… 
But it’s not!! 
At least any dictator is mortal!!! 
Now, fighting for their homeland, for their homes, for their families and for our freedom, Ukrainians are fighting against dictator!!! 
The battle of good and evil! 
Light against darkness! 
Freedom against slavery!!! 
Dictators will go and peace will come!