Showcase of the best FILMS in the world today.
Audience Award:
Best Feature Film: Smile for the Dead
Best Short Film: The Last Houseboat
Best Micro-Short: Peking Opera
Best Direction: The Nose Knows: Foreignness and Fortune in China
Best Story: I Am 18
Best Environmental Film: Arctic Polar Bear Mothers
See info for each film:
The Nose Knows: Foreignness and Fortune in China, 23min., Singapore
Directed by Bill Callahan, Kieran Hanson
What can noses tell us Chinese identity, and the PRC’s increasingly important place in the world?
Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.
The Last Houseboat, 31min., USA
Directed by Colin D’Amelio
The Last Houseboat is a heartfelt short documentary that delves into the history of a unique wooden vessel, lovingly crafted by a family patriarch in 1970. Anchored on the Rhode Island coast for over 50 years, the houseboat became more than a structure—it was a landmark, a cherished family tradition, and a symbol of connection across three generations. When unforeseen circumstances force the family to dismantle the beloved vessel, they confront a profound sense of loss while celebrating its enduring legacy. A poignant tale of resilience, memory, and the ties that bind, The Last Houseboat invites viewers to reflect on the traditions and stories that shape their own families.
https://www.instagram.com/cdproducshins/
Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.
Peking Opera, 6min., China
Directed by Yiqing Wei
It is incumbent upon us to restore the glory of Peking Opera.
Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.
Arctic Polar Bear Mothers, 16min., USA
Directed by Carol J. Amore
Immerse yourself in the “Seasons of Life”
of a heroic Polar Bear Mother who has to
protect and provide for her hungry cubs everyday
in the everchanging arctic weather extremes.
http://www.arcticpolarbearmothers.com/
Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.
I Am 18, 40min., India
Directed by Sasi Kumar
“I am 18” is a powerful documentary set in India that delves into the lives of young adults as they reach the significant milestone of turning 18. This age marks a pivotal moment in many cultures and societies, symbolizing the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The documentary captures the emotions, aspirations, and challenges faced by these individuals as they stand on the threshold of a new chapter in their lives. Through intimate interviews, candid footage, and compelling narratives, “I am 18” offers a poignant exploration of what it means to come of age in the modern world.
https://www.instagram.com/sasikumardir/
Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.
Smile for the Dead, 54min., USA
Directed by Hamilton Young Ward
True crime meets the paranormal as “Smile for the Dead” uncovers the eerie mystery of William H. Mumler’s spirit photography and his ghostly portraits that baffled the 1800s. This documentary investigates Mumler’s techniques and why society so needed him in the post Civil War era.
https://www.309filmsllc.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ham_on_vvry
Watch NOW – the audience feedback video.
Documentary Film Festival. Los Angeles & Toronto 