Category: 2026 ARFF Barcelona

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Pinocchio and the Water of Life – dir. Victor V Luckysov

(WINNER)

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Original Film Title: Pinocchio and the Water of Life

Director’s Name: Victor V Luckysov

Writer’s Name: Mark DeCarlo, Ryan Rowe

Producer: Paul Marshal, Kim Eva Matuka, Yonas Kibreab, Marc DeCarlo, Vsevolod Zorin

Country of Origin: Spain, United States

Country of Filming: Spain

Language: English

Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes

Film Description:

In this hilarious, action-packed twist on an Italian classic, Pinocchio goes on a mission to rescue his puppet pals before the evil Faustino destroys them in a catastrophic bonfire!
Our story, based on Carlo Collodi’s original 1883 book, starts when the enigmatic Dr. Wushi rumbles into Genova, leaving behind a cranky talking bottle to grant puppet-maker Carlo his greatest wish – or so he thinks. Suddenly, Pinocchio is alive and kicking, something Carlo never, ever wished for. Knowing he’s not wanted, Pinocchio escapes Carlo’s house and sails away. But he’s not alone, feeling responsible for the mistake, Coot, the wisecracking bottle, tags along to keep Pinocchio safe as the unlikely duo embarks on a laugh-out-loud, globe-trotting quest for the legendary Water of Life. This magical elixir is their only hope to save Pinocchio’s friends from their fiery fate! But it won’t be easy.
Along the way Pinocchio and Coot outrun swashbuckling pirates, tangle with carnivorous circus performers, and outsmart hungry beasts, all while trying to get their hands on that magical water. After a harrowing escape from living flames lapping his heels, Pinocchio thinks he’s home safe. Until they return to Genova with the Water of Life, and run head-first into the truly evil Major Faustino. This maniacal puppeteer is dead set on throwing the biggest, most profitable puppet bonfire the world has ever seen! Pinocchio thinks bringing his friends to life will solve everything, but… its just the beginning of his real problems.
Will Pinocchio save his friends? Can he outwit the diabolical Major Faustino? And will Coot ever stop complaining? Find out, in the animated adventure that’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat and rolling with laughter: Pinocchio & the Water of Life.

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Knot – dir. Zihan Chen

(FINALIST)

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Original Film Title: Knot

Director’s Name: Zihan Chen

Writer’s Name: Zihan Chen

Producer: Zihan Chenib

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Country of Filming: United Kingdom

Language: Mandarin Chinese

Runtime: 4 minutes 44 seconds

Film Description:

The story is my personal experience which is about a girl’s life in a boarding school, until one day she gets accused by her teacher of stealing a classmate’s glasses. At the same time, she feels a lack of trust from her mother, which leads to a long period of self-doubt.

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Saleem – dir. Cynthia Madanat Sharaiha

(HONORABLE MENTION)

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Original Film Title: Saleem

Director’s Name: Cynthia Madanat Sharaiha

Writer’s Name: Cynthia Madanat Sharaiha, Mirna Jadoun, Shadi Sharaiha, Dolly Dib, Majd Matalka, Leen Abu Lail, Nadia Husseini, Bana Nasser

Producer: Shadi Sharaiha, Nadia Husseini, Dolly Dib

Country of Origin: Jordan

Country of Filming : Jordan

Language: Arabic

Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes 26 seconds

Film Description:

After being forced to leave everything behind, Saleem, a young boy carrying the burden of his past, stumbles upon a treasure map and embarks on a life-changing adventure!

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Poncho And Lefty in Chrome Don’t Get Ya Home – dir. Matt Jacobs

(FINALIST)

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Original Film Title: Poncho And Lefty in Chrome Don’t Get Ya Home

Director’s Name: Matt Jacobs

Writer’s Name: Matt Jacobs

Producer: Matt Jacobs, Ari Rubenstein

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming : United States

Language: English

Runtime: 6 minutes 50 seconds

Film Description:

Set against the Sonoran Desert, two biker buddies, Poncho and Lefty, embark on a journey to a remote saloon. Poncho, cruises on his weathered, rusty chopper, a testament to years of adventures and stories etched into its frame. Lefty, his riding companion, boasts a gleaming, polished chrome machine, the embodiment of style and class. As the two go to leave, Lefty doesn’t miss a chance to poke some fun at the state of Poncho’s ride. Lefty is pleased with himself until his own bike refuses to start. Initially flustered, he soon finds himself in a dilemma as he tries everything to get his motorcycle running again. With each failed attempt, he becomes more and more frustrated and what should have been a simple departure turns into a comedic nightmare. ”Chrome Don’t Get Ya Home” is a heartwarming and humorous tale of self-discovery, and the wisdom that sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective… “keep it simple stupid.”

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BE – dir. Chonger Wu

(FINALIST)

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Original Film Title: BE

Director’s Name: Chonger Wu

Writer’s Name: Chonger Wu

Producer: Chonger Wu

Country of Origin: Australia

Country of Filming : Australia

Language: English

Runtime: 2 minutes 19 seconds

Film Description:

‘Our existence may be merely a coincidence, but it is a great fortune.’ BE is a 2D non-linear narrative animation exploring the complex relationship between the real and virtual worlds. Using the magical blue tones and dreamlike visuals inspired by modern artists like Chagall, it seeks to soothe the deep-seated human anxiety about the unpredictability of the objective world.

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THROUGH THEIR EYES – dir. Cedric Brusselmans

(WINNER)

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Original Film Title: THROUGH THEIR EYES

Director’s Name: Cedric Brusselmans

Writer’s Name: Cedric Brusselmans

Producer: Cedric Brusselmans

Original Music: Pascal Chardome and Line Adam

Country of Origin: Belgium

Country of Filming : Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India

Language: English, French

Runtime: 1 hour 20 minutes 27 seconds

Film Description:

THROUGH THEIR EYES follows the transformative journey of four teenagers who travel 25,000 km across Eurasia by train and bus. Told entirely through their voices, emotions, and questions, the film reveals an unfiltered encounter with some of the most urgent challenges of our time.

From a permaculture farm in India to the peaks of the Himalayas, from Bhutan’s spiritual traditions to the tensions in Tibet, the Uyghur region and Armenia, they navigate cultural diversity, climate fragility, oppression, and the educational systems shaping the next generations.

With honesty, humour, and disarming clarity, these teens explore what it means to grow and adapt in a rapidly changing world. THROUGH THEIR EYES is a luminous coming-of-age documentary where travel becomes a profound school of life – an invitation to rethink how we inhabit our planet.

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Searching for the Paradise on Earth – dir. Sam Osmanagich

(HONORABLE MENTION)

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Original Film Title: Searching for the Paradise on Earth

Director’s Name: Sam Osmanagich

Writer’s Name: Sam Osmanagich

Producer: Sam Osmanagich

Country of Origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina

Country of Filming : Bahrain

Language: English

Runtime: 1 hour 3 minutes 57 seconds

Film Description:

Anthropologist Dr Sam Osmanagich is searching for the Lost Paradise on Earth, Land of Immortality, where supreme deity Enki lived for thousand of years. Has he found it in the beautiful Kingdom of Bahrain?

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Heal avec Delphine – dir. DELPHINE BREYNE

(FINALIST)

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Original Film Title: Heal avec Delphine

Director’s Name: DELPHINE BREYNE

Writer’s Name: SALINA SIU

Producer: REED MORRISSEY

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming : United States

Language: English

Runtime: 30 minutes

Film Description:

Heal avec Delphine is a deeply personal docuseries that follows individuals navigating life after cancer, trauma, alopecia, and other challenges. Each episode invites viewers into a powerful journey of reconnection and renewal—beginning with an intimate look at the person’s world, followed by a transformative beauty restoration at Delphine’s atelier, and ending with a meaningful surprise to mark their new beginning. Through heartfelt storytelling, emotional connection, and light-touch artistry, the series introduces a new era of beauty and healing, where feeling truly seen becomes the start of renewed self-confidence, emotional healing, and personal transformation.

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River Mamma – dir. Arun K. Vir

(HONORABLE MENTION)

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Original Film Title: River Mamma

Director’s Name: Arun K. Vir

Writer’s Name: Arun K. Vir

Producer: Arun K. Vir, Willie E. Dawkins, Stefhen Bryan

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming : United States

Language: English

Runtime: 29 minutes 56 seconds

Film Description:

In Jamaica—where legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals are virtually non-existent and trans communities face profound risk—Jacqueline grapples with the impending transition to her female identity while mourning the loss of contact with her son, Michael. As hostility closes in around her, she is forced to confront what it means to live authentically in a society that denies her dignity, safety, and belonging.

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The Red Mask – dir. Ritesh Gupta

(HONORABLE MENTION)

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Original Film Title: The Red Mask

Director’s Name: Ritesh Gupta

Writer’s Name: Samantha Gurash, Patrick Robert Young

Producer: Atit Shah, Aimee Schoof, Isen Robbins

Country of Origin: United States

Country of Filming : United States

Language: English

Runtime: 1 hour 31 minutes

Film Description:

When outspoken queer screenwriter ALLINA GREEN (Helena Howard) is chosen to pen the final installment of the legendary slasher franchise THE RED MASK, anger, outrage, and online death threats from die-hard fans causes a rift in her relationship with reticent fiancé DEETZ (Inanna Sarkis). Desperate for a creative breakthrough, the pair escape to a secluded Airbnb, where Allina concocts a DANGEROUS GAME for the two to play to unlock her writer’s block. But when two uninvited houseguests crash the scene, (Kelli Garner and Jake Abel) the weekend turns dark and a twisted game devolves into a duel to the death.