Category: 2024 ARFF BERLIN

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: Strange Games

Director’s Name: J. Hal Cordova

Writer’s Name: J. Hal Cordova

Producer: Geoffrey Bennett Ulrich, Jon Kinney

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming : United States

Language: English

Runtime: 1 hour 16 minutes 14 seconds

Film Description:

A documentary crew investigates the disappearance of two filmmakers by interviewing those who worked with them. Based on true events. Real clues are hidden in the film making the movie itself a “stange game.”

(HONORABLE MENTION)

Original Film Title: OH MAYBE NOT TONIGHT

Director’s Name: Kim Fino

Writer’s Name: Kim Fino

Producer: Kim Fino

Country of Origin: Canada

Country of Filming : Canada

Language: English

Runtime: 17 minutes 23 seconds

Film Description:

Ennie is traveling overnight by bus. At dawn, she gets off at the wrong station and ends up roaming the streets of an unidentified town. On her wanderings, she catches the insistent gaze of a young man her age, seeking company. She decides to talk to him.

(HONORABLE MENTION)

Original Film Title: Garden of Eden

Director’s Name: Mona Schmauß

Writer’s Name: Mona Schmauß

Producer: Anastasia Jasmin Habibi

Country of Origin: Germany

Country of Filming : Germany

Language: English

Runtime: 3 minutes 30 seconds

Film Description:

The song “Garden of Eden” is visually realized through metaphors from the Old Testament, employing a tropical garden, a snake, an apple, and a church. The premise is “Stay true to yourself.” The artist and protagonist find themselves torn between societal norms and their own identity. In this dilemma, they must choose between the apple and the snake. However, the snake here represents not the devil, but rather the path one can and should take on their own. Initially, the artist chooses the apple.

The artist finds themselves in what seems like paradise, visually represented by a tropical setting. However, an industrial street, symbolizing reality, hints that this paradise is merely a facade. The individuals in paradise represent our society. Society consists of sinners who believe they are doing what is right but in reality, succumb to pressure and norms. This is illustrated through the act of eating apples. The protagonist himself wants to belong, but fails in the attempt. Similarly, he feels the urge to bite into the apple rather than eat it with a knife and fork like the others.

By gaining self-confidence and remaining true to himself, the protagonist bites into the apple at the end of the video. In a world where everyone is alike, he stands out to fulfill his own potential.

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: Mourning

Director’s Name: Michael Ross Catania

Writer’s Name: Michael Ross Catania

Producer: Michael Ross Catania

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming : United States

Language: English

Runtime: 6 minutes 41 seconds

Film Description:

Welcome to “The Mirror,” a thought-provoking exploration of how our energy is reflected back at us. As Einstein wisely noted, creativity trumps intelligence as it allows us to see beyond the surface and discover the true nature of existence. This film challenges us to be mindful of the energy we put out , as it may shape our reality and ultimately ourselves. Join us on a journey of self-discovery and reflection!

This content is a fictional story with Actors and models. This story is more of a thought experiment in the Science Fiction Genre.. Any person depicted in the content is an Actor or model. All Content is Properly Licensed.