CHORUS(2022)

The Woman in the Room(el)

A man must face his inner demons when he is confronted with the decision to euthanize his mother, who suffers from an incurable disease.

Artemide’s Knee(fr)

Mourning the death of his partner and collaborator Danièle Huillet, Straub finds tender mercy in music and nature. Out of the abyss, Kathleen Ferrier sings “The Farewell” from Gustav Mahler’s “The Song of the Earth”, (which the composer wrote in 1909 after the death of his daughter) and Heinrich Schütz’s Lament on the Death of His Wife. The landscape also provides solace: the mountain grove where Endymion pines for his beloved Artemis, “a wild thing, untouchable, mortal,” appears to embody the Japanese concept of ‘mono no aware’ — a wistful acceptance of the fleeting beauty of things.

Mamma(no)

On new years eve Amanda (24) gets an ultimatum from her mother: "Either you'll look after Lana (6) or you can move out!" Can Amanda combine the responsibility for Lana and satisfy her own need for partying and freedom?

Iris(de)

Common Causes for a Clinical Condition(es)

María rehearses Antigone the same way as she criticizes the government's actions; Ismene listens fearfully just as Irving reluctantly accepts the official version of a lie. Love only has consciousness in its disappearance; in the end the causes will be known, and only the memory of those who refuse to forget will be left with no consequence.

Porch(en)

Andrew 'Dew' Schofield has spent his entire life taking care of others; his children, his granddaughter, and even his wife after she got sick. Now that his kids are grown and his wife has passed, Dew finds himself living alone in his familiar little suburb, with only his memories. When his granddaughter comes to visit inbetween apartments, they will both face the deeprooted loneliness they've spent so long trying to bury.

Adam in aeternum(es)

Little Wings(en)

The dramatic short, Little Wings, explores the trauma of child abuse through the eyes of a ten-year-old boy named Thomas. In this emotional tale, Thomas learns about the Legend of the Butterfly from his mother, Emily. The Legend states that if you whisper a wish to a butterfly and then set it free, the butterfly will carry the wish off to the heavens to be granted. Thomas loves butterflies and seeks the escape he needs in the pages of his favorite butterfly book. Butterflies are his only true happiness while growing up on a farm with his abusive father. After Thomas saves a butterfly from a spider's web, a stranger arrives at the farmhouse. As the tale continues, Thomas ultimately finds his freedom and steps into the unknown world of "Joy".

La Jetée(fr)

A man confronts his past during an experiment that attempts to find a solution to the problems of a post-apocalyptic world caused by a world war.

We Are Not Here(en)

We Are Not Here is a short film about a small derelict town, waiting for a road. Through a series of vignettes we take a glimpse into the life of the town and its residents.

Heartstrings(en)

Disillusioned with life, love, and the pressures of the modern world, Jay goes on a quest for higher meaning. But when two violinists, one mysterious man and a briefcase seem to conspire against him, he discovers what really pulls the strings of his heart.

The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands(en)

A man believes he has been cursed after a horrific accident.

The Morning After(zh)

In post-pandemic Taipei, Tian and Jay meet for their annual fling—until a heart attack forces them to confront what they really mean to each other.

Rubber Band Pistol(ja)

Jūzō Itami's debut short film, concerning a group of unique young people in the high economic growth period who are into games with rubber band pistols.

Debut(sv)

A short film about Philip who dreams of becoming a model. At a casting he gets the chance to be photographed with the well-known model Sebastiaan; they fall in love. During the photo shoot, Philip pushes his limits more and more in order to keep the photographer's interest. Philip and Sebastiaan lose control of the situation when Philip is doing everything he can just to be able to stay in front of the camera.

Separate We Come, Separate We Go(en)

Separate We Come, Separate We Go is the story of a 10-year-old girl, Thea who escapes her bleak domestic life to find sanctuary in the surreal desert landscape of Dungeness. Roaming around the barren skeletons of boats and abandoned fishing huts, she is increasingly aware of her loneliness and vulnerability. Seemingly out of nowhere a man (David Thewlis) appears; she is so intrigued by him she defies all lessons taught about strangers and approaches him. As they walk and talk she discovers he is a widower and has lost his son; she realises she is not alone in experiencing loss. He notices her sadness and unusual maturity and decides to help lift her out of her melancholy. Through the metaphor of the freedom of flying birds, he shows her that life does have exciting possibilities. This redemptive story shows that in life you should not allow fear to limit your horizons.

A Tale of Yearning(zh)

This is a sad tale of a noble lady who is entranced by an opera singer. Hoping to get closer to the singer, the lady takes up lessons with her. Despite their affection, they must face obstacles.

A Search Through Nine Lifetimes(zh)

For love to travel for thousands of years, they will eventually meet.

Akiva(en)

A Holocaust survivor was ready to give up his life until he met a young and curious boy.

Clown Face(en)

Ah, to see ourselves as others see us. Michael's mid-life crisis was a flame out. Left his wife. Bought a Porsche (used). Now, lonely and looking to make amends, he's seeking forgiveness and counsel from his angry daughter. Laurie sees right though him.