2017 UMFF Youth Made & Student Films

4242 Portugal|12 minShort|Experimental Director: Sara Eustaquio Producer: Victor Eustaquio Writers:Cristina Caldararu, Sara Eustaquio, Mae Margriet Cast: Cristina Caldararu Synopsis: '4242' is the story of a young female immigrant, a story of a teenager's anguish who is trying to redefine her identity after being forced to leave home.      A NEW LEAF ON LIFE USA|4minShort|Comedy Director/Producer: Collin Leslie Writers: Sharyn Davidson, Collin Leslie Cast: Sharyn Davidson Synopsis: When a crippled, older woman receives a single marijuana seed in a magazine subscription ad, she finds an unexpected cure for her ailing disabilities. After realizing the benefits, she spreads her gifts to other senior sufferers.                 BEHIND THE ROCKS Canada|5minShort|Sci-Fi Director/Writer: Maia Costea Producer:Lettie Costea Cast: Maia Costea, Carla Costea, Izabel Pearce Synopsis: After finding a golden rock in her garden, a girl goes on an unexpected adventure with her friends.     CULTURE SHOT Malaysia|2minShort|Documentary|Music Director: Zhen Yee Khor Synopsis: Culture Shot is a short documentary about a musical group in Malaysia which consists of members from different ethnic group. The only thing that keeps them united is their love towards music.                  DRUM ROLES India|18minShort|Music|Documentary Director: Avi Anurag Synopsis: The film shows glimpses of a drum student’s daily life, exploring the life of a musician in India.      ENGULFED BY DESTINY IN SKOPELOS Greece|5minShort|Drama Director: Erika Polasek Producers:Luca Acito Writers: Erika Polasek, Elias Ksiroximonas, ChrisanthiFouskarini Cast: LoukiaTsela, Elias Ksiroximonas, SteliiosAsteriadis Synopsis: Life doesn't always turn out the way you expect it.                  EVEN IN YOUR DREAMS Australia|19minShort|Drama Director/Writer: Rohan D'Souza Producer:Annie Thiele Cast: Nadia Rafati, Charah Jackson, MaithriGoonetilleke, Carter Doyle Synopsis: On the verge of starting her own family in Australia, a second-generational Australian woman decides to sell her deceased immigrant mother’s home, only to be confronted by the memories still living within its walls.     FIRST KITCHEN PROBE LAUNCHED USA| 2minShort|Animation Director/Producer/Writer/Animator: Gerry Orz Synopsis: First kitchen probe ever launched!                 INSIDE A BUNDLE Korea| 16minShort|Drama Director/Writer: Minjae Kang Producer:Heung Jong Joo Cast: Seung-Tae Park, Ji-Sook Kwak, Kyu-Sung Lee, Sang-Hoon Song, Hye-Young Jung Synopsis: An elderly woman hopefully searches for her long lost daughter to assure her of her mother’s love and desire to care for her. Disoriented, a kind police officer assists her on her quest.      .MOTHER TONGUE Canada|12minShort|Documentary Director/Producer: Nadim Iqbal Writers: Nusrat Chowdhury Cast: Asad Chowdhury Synopsis: This is a story about a man who risked his life to save his culture, his heritage, his language.               OF GODS AND BELLS USA| 5minShort|Documentary Director/Writer: Alexia Salingaros Synopsis: This film is a unique exploration of the hidden, magical world of classical Indian dance in a seemingly modern and suburban environment       ROSE GARDEN USA| 14minShort|Family|Comedy|Drama Director/Producer/Writer: Rafael Nani Synopsis: A whole condo has its routine changed after Felix arrived. A smart little kid who knows he’s going to die soon, but the way he faces his destiny changes everyone around him.                  SCENT OF GERANIUM USA| 5minShort|Animation Director/Writer: NaghmehFarzaneh Music:NimaFarzaneh Synopsis: Immigration is a new chapter in one's life, a chapter with unexpected events that can take one's life down paths different from the one imagined. This film is an autobiographical account of the director's experience with immigration.     SHAKTI New Zealand| 5minShort|Documentary Director: Jessica Hill Synopsis: This is a short portrait film of the lovely Tessa Patrick.                  THE BEST AND THE LONELIEST DAYS USA| 16minShort|Drama Director/Writer: Qianzhu Luo Producers:Don Ohmer, Micah Johnson Cast: Eon Song, Yao Xie, Kevin Young, Olivia Liang, Greg Scali, Kathy Wu Synopsis: When Yang, a Chinese girl living in Los Angeles, has a dream in English, she needs to prove that she’s still a hundred percent Chinese. So she organizes a big Chinese New Year’s party, but things don’t end up the way she planned.      THE DANCER GIRL USA| 9minShort|Drama Director: YokeenaJamat Producer/Cast:AneeshaMadhok Synopsis: An Indian and Iranian mixed-American ballerina discovers a new fusion style of dance after suffering an identity crisis.                  THE LOTTERY USA| 14minShort|Drama|Music|Family Director: Han Rui Wang Producer:Leiqi Lin Writer: Raiza Centeno Cast: Tonyboy Marin, Rebecca Kostolny, Don Hardwick Synopsis: Billy, a starving orphan, steals a winning lottery ticket from the town drunkard only to later question and doubt his own morality.