Category: BEST SHORT FILM – 2025 ARFF AMSTERDAM

(Finalist)

Original Film Title: Nocturne No. 1 “El Palacio”

Director’s Name: Jay Keitel

Writer’s Name: Jay Keitel

Producer: Estephania Bonnett

Country of Origin: Spain, United States

Country of Filming: Mexico

Language: Spanish

Runtime: 14 minutes

Film Description:

A brief portrait of a small town located in the Yucatán Peninsula.

(Winner)

Original Film Title: At The Front Of The Line

Director’s Name: Christjan Wegner

Writer’s Name: Arvid Swedrup, Andreas Thunman, Christjan Wegner

Producer: Andreas Thunman

Country of Origin: Sweden

Country of Filming : Sweden

Language: Swedish

Runtime: 12 minutes 24 seconds

Film Description:

When war breaks out in Sweden, a group of foolish and or lazy people decides to start their own country to escape the conflict. They name it Bärsingbrås. However, when others have the same idea, new countries start popping up left and right. One of these countries is established on the same potato field as Bärsingbrås, leading to a war over the potatoes. The short film is set in the tense moments before the battle, where the group is supposed to take up defensive positions but realizes that no one is willing to stand at the front of the line. So, how do they decide who should do it, when no one wants to volunteer?

(Finalist)

Original Film Title: Shadow Road

Director’s Name: JIN SUNG PARK

Writer’s Name: JIN SUNG PARK

Producer: JIN SUNG PARK

Country of Origin: Korea, Republic of

Country of Filming : Korea, Republic of

Language: Korean

Runtime: 23 minutes 24 seconds

Film Description:

A woman drives along a quiet country road. Her car hits a nail embedded in the road, leading to an accident. Out of nowhere, a mysterious man in a truck appears. At first, he seems to offer help with goodwill, but when he’s unable to assist, the woman quickly grows frustrated and angry.

As tension builds, the two begin to eye each other cautiously, both hiding their true intentions. Gradually, their motives are revealed—and the woman finds herself powerless against what’s to come.

Just like the title suggests, everyone is converging on this area with a purpose.

(Finalist)

Original Film Title: The Last Algorithm

Director’s Name: CHRIS QI YAO

Writer’s Name: CHRIS QI YAO

Producer: CHRIS QI YAO

Country of Origin: China

Country of Filming : China

Language: Chinese

Runtime: 8 minutes 19 seconds

Film Description:

A disenchanted AI engineer opens Pandora’s box after being unceremoniously let go from his company.

(Honorable Mention)

Original Film Title: The Garden of Holland

Director’s Name: Sander Timans

Writer’s Name: Sander Timans, Thomas du Gardijn

Producer: Jonna van Lierop

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Country of Filming : Netherlands

Language: Dutch

Runtime: 24 minutes 22 seconds

Film Description:

In the very wealthy and green Dutch area called ”Gooi”, Community Officer Arjan is tasked with investigating a report about a mysterious man in black, who is supposedly staring into people’s houses. Going from one conversation with residents to another, the line between actual threat and neigbourhood paranoia grows ever thinner.

(Finalist)

Original Film Title: Rental House

Director’s Name: Mengmeng Feng

Writer’s Name: Mengmeng Feng

Producer: Jidong Du

Country of Origin: China

Country of Filming : China

Language: Chinese

Runtime: 20 minutes 17 seconds

Film Description:

An Yue could’t pay her rent after she was fired and become homeless.She had no alternative but to her friend Chen Beichuan who used to sing in a bar with her.An Yue started her live streaming commerce after Chen Beichuan took her in.But her business was bad in the beginning. Chen Beichuan helped her got more fans and made lots of money.They have some good times togethe in the basement.However, not lasting long, An Yue discovered the secret of Chen Beichuan one day…

(Honorable Mention)

Original Film Title: The Dream Of Swans

Director’s Name: Marcelo Szykman

Writer’s Name: Marcelo Szykman

Producer: Douglas Aguillar, Fábio Leeuwen

Country of Origin: Netherlands

Country of Filming : Netherlands

Language: English, Portuguese

Runtime: 20 minutes 15 seconds

Film Description:

Pedro, a Brazilian newcomer to the Netherlands, shares a profound love with Oriane, a Dutch citizen. Their bond is tragically severed, leaving Pedro lost in grief. As he navigates his sorrow, dreams and nightmares intertwine, guiding him toward a renewed sense of purpose. “The Dream of Swans” delves into themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of the subconscious.

(Honorable Mention)

Original Film Title: On Tick

Director’s Name: Aaron O keefe

Writer’s Name: Sean J. Forde

Producer: Sean J. Forde

Country of Origin: Ireland

Country of Filming : Ireland

Language: English

Runtime: 14 minutes 33 seconds

Film Description:

Teenagers struggling in society’s unforgiving underbelly.

(Finalist)

Original Film Title: Quality Control

Director’s Name: Adem Ulaş Dönmez

Writer’s Name: Karacan Güldoğan

Producer: Hüsamettin Güldoğan

Country of Origin: Turkey

Country of Filming : Turkey

Language: Turkish

Runtime: 15 minutes 28 seconds

Film Description:

In a dystopian future, Akif finds himself caught in an event he does not understand. He is asked to shoot a stranger. With this decision, he will either integrate into society or live as a prisoner.

(Honorable Mention)

Original Film Title: Depart At Dawn

Director’s Name: Yu Ji

Writer’s Name: Weiyi Liu

Producer: Yunxiu Wang, Ruotian Fang

Country of Origin: China

Country of Filming : China

Language: Chinese

Runtime: 15 minutes 51 seconds

Film Description:

Yerta, a Kazakh teenager, had a “wish”. He wanted to win the prize money in the horse race and help his sister fulfill her “wish” of participating in a dance competition in Beijing. However, during the venue arrangement, an accident caused Su Xin, the newly arrived volunteer teacher, to get into a car accident. Yerta’s father sold Yerta’s pony for the horse race in order to help Su Xin repair her car. This made Yerta hostile towards Su Xin’s arrival. Su Xin learned the truth from Sa Ya. She asked Sa Ya to tell Yerta that as long as he made a wish facing the red flag when the sun rose, the “wish” in his heart would surely come true. Yerta was skeptical, but looking at the fluttering national flag, he closed his eyes…