One More Like – Karoly Palfai
Karoly Palfai (Hungary), One More Like, Film Feature – A boxer on the brink of obscurity and a girl fresh out of foster care ignite a love affair that threatens to unravel them both. Patrick, weighed down by failure and the legacy of his parents, sees Jenny as a lifeline—vibrant, unpredictable, and full of promise. But when her hidden life as a sex influencer is exposed, his world tilts. Shifting between the tenderness of their romance, the raw intensity of the boxing ring, and the stark reality of his incarceration, the film weaves a gripping portrait of a man torn between redemption and collapse. As Patrick fights to reclaim his identity, love, shame, and survival collide in a world that’s constantly rewriting the rules.
Driven by powerful performances, the film pulses with raw emotional tension and layered humanity. Unexpected twists keep the narrative sharp, while the chemistry between the leads adds depth to every charged moment. With its unflinching lens on digital-era intimacy and fractured masculinity, the story walks a fine line between heartbreak and hope—offering no easy answers, only the honest chaos of lives colliding. Stars: Hungarian Film Award Best Actor-Winner József S. Kovács (The Cost of Deception, The Grey War), Hungarian Film Award Best Actor-nominee Gusztáv Dietz (Külön falka / Mastergame), Zita Reiter (FBI International), Roland Bordás (Now or Never!, Gólkirályság), Sándor Badár (Control / Marsra magyar!), András Mészáros (Drága örökösök, Coyote), Gergely Karácsony (The Teacher / The Buzz), Richárd Kovács, Dániel Kanalas, Ferenc Peszlen.
My Neighbor – Dominic Carola
Dominic Carola (USA), My Neighbor, Animation – Veteran Disney animator and award-winning director Dominic Carola (Lilo & Stitch, The Lion King, Mulan, Brother Bear) brings exquisite sensitivity and craftsmanship to My Neighbor—a wordless, emotionally layered short told entirely from the point of view of birds in a snowy backyard. Carl, a prickly cardinal who fiercely guards his solitude, is thrown off balance when Misty, a bright bluebird with three hungry chicks, enters his territory. But a single, hesitant act of kindness on Carl’s part opens the door to something deeper: a bond that redefines his understanding of connection and care. What follows is a gentle transformation, rendered in quiet beats and subtle shifts, that speaks volumes—without a single line of dialogue.
Carola’s direction is a study in emotional precision. Forgoing spectacle, he leans into simplicity with touching results. Every movement, glance, and flutter is deliberate, imbued with meaning and heart. The characters—minimalistic yet achingly expressive—are brought to life with a restraint that lets emotion rise naturally to the surface. It’s visual storytelling at its purest, a rare blend of elegance and warmth that invites viewers of all ages into a deeply human story told through non-human eyes. The film’s power is amplified by a team of seasoned industry talent: animator Justin Farris (Brave, Incredibles 2), art director Ryan Feltman (Retelling the Good Story), editor Lauren Stevens (Super Team Canada), and visual effects artist Cameron Banker. My Neighbor is a quiet revelation—a reminder, especially in these complex times, that compassion is still our most powerful language. Premise Entertainment
Tomorrow is Not Like Today – Seyed Mahdi Karbais
Seyed Mahdi Karbais (Iran), Tomorrow is Not Like Today, Film Short – Set in a modest Iranian elementary school in the 1990s, this quietly powerful short drama explores how a single moment can ripple far beyond the playground. During a routine PE class, Hosein scores a goal that sparks a moment of pure joy—only to be shattered when Mr. Ahmadi, the classroom teacher, interferes and strikes the school’s top student. What begins as a sudden, shocking act escalates into a deeper moral testing the bounds of loyalty, justice, and personal courage.
What unfolds is the poignant story of a young boy’s unexpected act of selflessness—one that elevates him from an ordinary student to a symbol of moral courage. It delicately navigates blurred lines between right and wrong, asking audiences to rethink what it means to do the right thing when that choice carries a personal cost. Directed with emotional precision by Karbasi and based on a true story, the film features strong performances from both seasoned pros and young actors. Produced by Soureh Cinema it offers a powerful reflection on integrity, community, and the hidden strength of a child’s conscience. Stars: Siavash Cheraghipour (Fish & Cat, Delighted), Sina Razani (It Happened at Midnight, Retribution), Reyhaneh Razavi (Bonzsai / Shahin), Peyman Pournikdast (Yavar, God of War), Arsām Ojāqlu, Behzad Hājizadeh.
Lorraine Kabbindi White / Mike Hill (Australia), Take Heart: Songlines, Doc Feature – Emmy-winner Hill and White deliver a moving doc exposing the urgent fight against Rheumatic Heart Disease, a preventable illness still claiming young Indigenous lives weekly. Through heartfelt stories from First Nations leaders, families, and changemakers, it reveals the deep impact on communities and inspiring efforts to end it with hope and resilience.
Chunxiao Li (China), Beyond the Mountains, Film Feature – A brilliant student from a poor rural family arrives in the city for university, only to be scammed and left homeless. As he struggles to survive, unaware the city is searching for him, his acts of kindness ripple through society. A powerful story of resilience and the quiet strength of human compassion. Achingly authentic performances: Yuxi Jian, Nan Sima, Bo Feng, Yalin Gao.
Kirsty McKenzie (Australia), The Trial, Film Short – A determined woman haunted by abuse joins a drug trial seeking closure, but faces deep darkness. It explores trauma, memory and ethics amid shifting realities between a stable world with a disorienting inner one. Chilling premise, sharp storytelling and standout performances: Kirsty McKenzie, Anthony Brandon Wong, Nicholas Hope, Ella Scott Lynch, Andy Rodoreda.
Andrew Lynch, Ben Ayers and Rush Sturges (United Kingdom), The Human Side of Plastic: Babacar Thiaw, Doc Short – A visionary Senegalese surfer and activist battles his country’s plastic pollution to protect its coast. Rooted in family and ocean heritage, he founded Senegal’s first zero-waste restaurant, sparking a sustainability movement. His journey shows how one person’s passion can inspire global environmental change.
Will Agee (USA), Anopheles, Doc Feature – This doc follows a passionate global team battling humanity’s deadliest enemy: malaria. Set on a remote island, it reveals how cutting-edge science aims to genetically modify mosquitoes to stop disease spread. Through intimate stories of researchers and locals, it captures a bold mission of innovation, courage, and hope—offering solutions that protect both people and the planet.
Marta György-Kessler (United Kingdom), Meeting the Buddha, Doc Feature – Traces the life of the 16th Karmapa, a Tibetan Buddhist leader who preserved his lineage in exile and sought to bring Buddhism to the modern world. It follows Ole Nydahl and his wife Hannah, whose chance meeting with the Karmapa changed their lives, inspiring them to spread meditation and teachings across the West with unwavering devotion.
Dean Gregory Love (USA), If You Tell Anyone, Contemporary Issues – Emmy-winner Love delivers this raw and eye-opening doc tracing Nathan Spiteri’s journey from childhood sexual abuse to hard-won recovery. With powerful insights from trauma expert Dr. Norman Fried and activist Jane Randall, the film exposes the heartbreaking scope of abuse while offering a message of hope and resilience.
Haojie Yan (China), Hard to Say, Film Short – A crucial disk vanishes, stalling a telecom fraud case. To save his mother, Erhu borrows from gangster Cheng. His friend drags him into “accident-for-hire” scams, where they find the missing disk. Chaos erupts as thieves, gangsters, and cops collide in a wild chase ending in a mad showdown at Cheng’s lair. Crazy action, sharp comedy. Stars: Dasuo Liu, Wenjun He, Xiaoliang Song.
Maciej Adamek (Poland), Unspoken, Doc Short – An intimate portrait of charming 26-year-old Mateusz, who stutters and dreams of becoming Poland’s acrobatics champion. This poetic documentary explores his journey of perseverance and self-expression, capturing the challenges of speech impediments with visual grace and emotional depth, blurring the line between reality and fiction.
Harry Putz (Austria), REQUIEM IN WHITE – Our Dying Glaciers, Doc Feature – The glaciers of the Eastern Alps are dying irreversibly, yet tourism booms. Visitors flock to glacier lifts in summer, while winter skiing runs at full speed. Drastic interventions—artificial snow, slope stabilization, terrain leveling—escalate in a race against time. The film asks: are these measures truly protecting the environment or causing more harm?
Adam Cushman (USA), Written for Walken, Film Short
Alexandra Maria Manda (Romania), Merry Christmas, Actor: Leading (Gheorghe Visu as Costică)
Ashish Sharma (Singapore), Thirty Seven Dollars, Asian Filmmaker
Bruce M. Jaqua (USA), Women of Pinot, Documentary Feature
Candida Brady (United Kingdom), Trashed II – The Burning Question, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising, Editing, Narration / Voiceover Talent
Carlie Mantilla-Jordan and John Eliot Jordan (USA), Mid-lennial Life Crisis, Latin / Hispanic Filmmaker, Television – Pilot Program
Cristina Carrión, Dakiti Productions LLC (Puerto Rico), ROCKOLANDIA: Las Cabritas, Animation, Children / Family Programming, Latin / Hispanic Filmmaker, Original Score, Original Song (Chupacabra)
Drey Richards (USA), David Vox Mullen: Type 2 Comedy, Film Feature
Harry Putz (Austria), REQUIEM IN WHITE – Our Dying Glaciers, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Karoly Palfai (Hungary), ONE MORE LIKE, Actor: Leading (Kovács S. József as Patrick), Actress: Leading (Reiter Zita as Dzseni, Direction, Cinematography, Original Score
Kirsty McKenzie (Australia), The Trial, Actress: Leading (Kirsty McKenzie as Leah)
Kory Getman (USA), PULSE, Film Short
Lorraine Kabbindi White and Mike Hill (Australia), Take Heart: Songlines, Health / Medicine / Science, Native Peoples / Aboriginal Theme
Luyao Xue (China), Reciprocal Causation, Actor: Leading (Yingnan Dongmen as The Guy)
Marcus CB Soori (USA), Chaton – From the Future, Music Video
Marta György-Kessler (United Kingdom), Meeting the Buddha, History / Biographical / Travel
Mohamad Hosein Hoseini (Iran), Stateless, Film Short
Nafen Wu (USA), Confessions, Cinematography
Sarah Jenkins (USA), The One, Film Short, Entertainment / Drama / Dance / Variety, Women Filmmakers
Will Agee (USA), Anopheles, Direction, Cinematography
Zewen Wu and Dongcheng Jiang (China), Brightest Summer Darkest Night, Asian Theme
Zhengyan Li (China), FALL, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
