Category: Best Short Film – 2025 WSXA Barcelona

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: BLACKSTAR – Until The End

Director’s Name: Joseph White

Writer’s Name: Joseph White

Producer: Joseph White

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Country of Filming: United Kingdom, Italy

Language: English

Runtime: 45 minutes

Film Description:

We follow rising star Professional Italian Ghanaian boxer ‘Joshua Boateng’ during his early career fighting in his home town of ‘Naples’ after being refused his English boxing licence twice despite living on his auntie’s sofa for 2 years to pursue this dream. In London, I follow Josh back to Naples for 2 fights. At the same time, he figures out how to raise money and sell tickets for fights in a country he left due to racism in the sports of boxing not supporting black Athletes, with all the mental challenges that come with boxing and being an expat, coach issue and hardships that come with making weight, training and living on the poverty line without guaranteed income.

This is a story deeper than boxing. It is about a young black male who leaves a sport in a country that is still a little racist towards black athletes to come to the UK and has that dream delayed due to medical reasons and no real answers. He must continue. We see his determination, heart, faith, and hope as a fighter and human explored through the connection with his family, partner and God.

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: Finding Chase

Director’s Name: Jody G Sherwin, Mark D Mathews, Zeke Anders

Writer’s Name: Jody G Sherwin, Mark D Mathews, Zeke Anders

Producer: Jody G Sherwin, Mark D Mathews

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Language: English

Runtime: 10 minutes 44 seconds

Film Description:

Seventeen-year-old farm boy dreams of becoming a musician, but when his controlling, alcoholic father dismisses his passion as a reckless fantasy, it forces him to choose between his father’s expectations and the pursuit of his own dreams.

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: YOU ARE SPECIAL

Director’s Name: AIDA BOUYA

Writer’s Name: NAIMA LAMGHAYFRI

Producer: KHALID DAMI

Country of Origin: Morocco

Country of Filming: Morocco

Language: Arabic, English, Spanish

Runtime: 1 hour 4 minutes

Film Description:

In this film, we try to delve into the memory of the place to give an accurate picture documented with audio and video of the group of landmarks that were and still are distributed within the palace neighborhoods, to shed light on one of the palaces located in southern Morocco, which is known as the Asa Palace, or (the Palace) as its residents like to pronounce it, and it is distinguished by its historical and architectural value. And civilization, and is full of an important, diverse and ancient architectural heritage, which we discover by following the path of the three characters Bouzid Mazdad in the palace, and one of its well-known residents runs a small inn consisting of houses in one of the neighborhoods of Qasr Asa.
Taking advantage of the grandeur and simplicity of the building, and to control the temperature inside the buildings, modern technology was combined with great success with some of the oldest methods known to man, such as clay bricks, which are an ancient building material and have Excellent insulation properties, as they help keep the heat of the day out and equalize the difference. Between day and night temperatures.
Another thing was added to this natural temperature control by integrating cold water pipes into the mud plaster of the walls. This combination of mud brick walls and cold water flowing inside the pipes helps keep the internal temperature at a comfortable and constant limit. Not far from Bouzid, in the second district, we find Mother Sahaba, who knows the secrets of the palace and lives on the authentic desert tents she weaves with her fingertips.

Taking advantage of the space of the square in the middle of the palace, then Embarak, that ambitious young man who lives not far from Fasr Asa. His profession is decorating in television and cinema productions, as well as festivals, and by virtue of the nature of his work, Hawa Al-Akhir took advantage of a space in the third district of Luxor and equipped it with all the supplies of desert décoration from old tools, the late millstone Amshaqab. And the fur is like the silk of the saddlebags, the pillars of the tent.
The heroes of this work are of different ages, tribal affiliations, skin colors, and different Hassani, Berber, and dialect dialects, but their common denominator is belonging to this lofty edifice, which dates back thousands of years of stone time, both in terms of its reconstruction as well as the social, religious, and political facilities, and based on the traditional architecture with which it was built. .

(WINNER)

Original Film Title: YOU ARE SPECIAL

Director’s Name: Ilya Noyabrev

Writer’s Name: Semen Khanin

Producer: Semen Khanin

Country of Origin: Ukraine

Country of Filming: Ukraine

Language: Ukrainian

Runtime: 17 minutes 38 seconds

Film Description:

A little boy, fascinated by the legend that the white keys on the old Steinway piano, which “lives” in his parents’ house, are made of elephant tusks, dreams every night of meeting the gray giants one day and never being separated from them…This desire grows from day to day along with the lullaby that his mother sings to him, because there are words in it: “You are special!”

The fate of the hero of the film turned out to be such that his life turned out to be full of hopes and disappointments…

He is not old yet, but the meaning of life gradually fades into the distance and loneliness becomes a sad reality…

The only “friend” who never cheated on him, an ancient instrument – the keeper of the white keys, and the memory of the “gray giants”, still lives in his house…

Who will Steinway get to when he is gone?

And one day everything changes: the hero accidentally enters a small bar to drink the usual glass of absinthe, and pays attention to the lack of music. He offers the bartender an adventurous venture, he agrees, and the very next day the antique instrument moves to the bar.

Now every evening our hero plays for visitors trying to fill his life with meaning and desires again. One evening, he remembers his mother, her lullaby, and his fingers begin to play familiar chords themselves…

Suddenly, a young woman appears from the semi–darkness of the hall, sits down next to him and … his mother’s song with the words “You are special” bursts into his tired heart, bringing with it both pain and comfort…

Life is slowly fading away, but now he knows exactly to whom he leaves “his elephants” and his Steinway…

(HONORABLE MENTION)

Original Film Title: LESYK a.k.a. Words of Wisdom

Director’s Name: Orr Bortman

Writer’s Name: Orr Bortman

Producer: Orr Bortman

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Language: English

Runtime: 31 minutes 30 seconds

Film Description:

‘LESYK a.k.a. Words of Wisdom’ is a moving portrait of Alexander Lesyk Balaban, an eccentric Ukraine stamp collector living in Astoria, NY for over fifty years. Told across four seasons and spanning over 1,000 years of history, come spend some time with Lesyk, who’s extensive stamp collection is part of the fight for the survival of Ukraine’s identity and history.

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: Sayonara, Mi Amor

Director’s Name: Luis Roberto Alcazar

Writer’s Name: Luis Roberto Alcazar

Producer: Luis Roberto Alcazar, Gene Aversa, Alejandro Etcheagaray

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Language: English, Japanese, Spanish

Runtime: 23 minutes 47 seconds

Film Description:

Miguel, an illegal Mexican immigrant, slowly falls in love Yui, a Japanese immigrant, with only one problem: neither of them can speak English or each other’s language.

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: COURAGE

Director’s Name: Eric Michael Hernandez

Writer’s Name: Eric Michael Hernandez

Producer: Cara Jade Myersidal, Eric Michael Hernandez

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming: United States

Language: English

Runtime: 14 minutes 39 seconds

Film Description:

Through learning the sacred art of the Hoop dance, a young Native American boy growing up in Los Angeles uncovers his inner strength and a renewed connection to his cultural heritage.

(HONORABLE MENTION)

Original Film Title: Lívia’s Journey

Director’s Name: Gabriel Panazio

Writer’s Name: Gabriel Panazio, Rebecca Rosa, Mariana Soares

Producer: Sofia Panisset, Carolina Almeida, Larissa Silva, Alexandra Vidal

Country of Origin: Brazil

Country of Filming: Brazil

Language: Gujarati

Runtime: 3 minutes 13 seconds

Film Description:

Lívia is a girl who is discovering a universe of feelings and learning to handle them both inside and outside of school. Gradually, she gets to know herself, makes new friends, and builds relationships with her family and teachers. On her journey of transformation, she encounters many challenges, but with a safe, nurturing space provided by the social-emotional education of LIV, she begins to understand herself and her place in the world.

(WINNER)

Original Film Title: Boxed In

Director’s Name: Steve hunyi

Writer’s Name: Steve hunyi

Producer: Steve hunyi

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Country of Filming: United Kingdom

Language: English

Runtime: 30 minutes

Film Description:

Steve Hunyi’s concise experimental drama unfolds a tragedy within Rufus and Brigitte’s relationship, sparked by a mysterious box. Benjamin Kaye’s compelling portrayal of Rufus and Jemima Knight’s nuanced performance as Brigitte plays out within the evocative setting of a Spanish country house. The film delves into themes such as addiction and grief, delivering raw and emotionally charged performances.
As the storyline unfolds, it skillfully navigates unexpected twists and turns that I hesitate to delve into to avoid revealing spoilers. The plot thickens into something profoundly unexpected and deeply tragic, keeping the audience emotionally engaged.

Lee Pretious’s cinematography captures the couple’s emotional journey with visually striking and well-framed scenes, but the film’s pacing could benefit from a more concise edit for greater impact. While the choice of incidental music enhances the atmosphere, at times, it competes with the actors’ emotions, slightly diminishing the raw authenticity.

Despite these considerations, the narrative remains a beautiful and poignant portrayal of loss, mental anguish and guilt. The emotional resonance of the film, though a streamlined runtime and a more restrained musical approach could enhance its potency. The unexpected developments in the plot keep viewers on the edge of their seats, and the pervasive sense of unease, coupled with haunting visuals, contributes to an unforgettable watch.

(FINALIST)

Original Film Title: Bubbling Synapses

Director’s Name: William Eguienta

Writer’s Name: William Eguienta

Producer: William Eguienta

Country of Origin: France

Country of Filming: France

Language: French

Runtime: 3 minutes 52 seconds

Film Description:

An idea… needs space, time & love to grow…
But, at what cost? Your friends ? Your wife ? Your kids ?
Of course not, it needs to be set aside, in a bubble, waiting for the right moment…
The wait is long, too long… This must emerge from its bubble, it must come to life, now !