Short Films in 2021 UMFF

2021 UMFF Short Films

		AstroLOLogy - Libra - The_Pied-Piping Malaysia \| 7 min Short \| Animation Director: Ken Foong Synopsis: AstroLoLogy is our original comedy web-series of short skits based on the members of the Greek Zodiac and their wacky personalities and relationships. Gaze with wonder in this simple, dialogue-free, colorful, children's series featuring universal characters and plenty of physical comedy for people all over the world.			.Cou Taiwan \| 21min Short \| Drama Director: Rong-Hua Chuang Synopsis: Pasuya is an indigenous child of the Cou people in Taiwan, living in the city. His grandfather led him to the traditional Cou house in Alishan, from where he shared stories from his childhood memories, hoping to acquaint Pasuya with his own culture. Through the grandfather's description, the audience can also take a look at the traditional lifestyle of the Cou people back in the 1930s.

		De Brume Et De Sang France\| 24min Short \| Horror Director: Roland Collin Synopsis: A famous novelist, winner of a prestigious prize, meets a journalist. Wanting to find out more about his personality, the journalist asks him about his latest books and where he gets his inspiration. As the time passes, the author starts to doubt the real intentions of the interviewer. The meeting quickly goes downhill, revealing the scars of a tragedy that happened four years ago...			Dignity United States \| 25min Short \| Drama Director: Pat Battistini Synopsis: "Dignity" is a love story between a woman and her family. However, the family's strength is tested when a moral decision must be made.

		Kanda Bode (Don't Get Whipped) Ethiopia \| 25min Short \| Drama Director: Fekad Kiros, Cheryl Halpern Synopsis: This documentary focuses on the Hamar Tribe, a semi nomadic and rural people who live along the Omo River in Southwestern Ethiopia. Preserving the traditions of their ancestors is essential to defining Hamar life			Ke Baba Hahalaba United States \| 26min Short \| Drama Director: Sudipta Chatterjee Synopsis: Sri Nrisingha Roychowdhury is the scion of an erstwhile Zamindar house of Bengal, currently settled in San Francisco. On the midnight of December 31, 2019, he consults a vagabond shaman and turns to the supernatural for get-rich-quick schemes. Come laugh with us as we conjure magic on screen, invite beings from other worlds, and peek into the future of the world with the short film, “Ke Baba, Hahalaba?”. As the famous saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for, because it might just come true”.

		Panaah India \| 7min Short \| Drama Director: Joydeep Sen Synopsis			Pedacito de la Tierra United States \| 10min Short \| Documentary Director: Lina Lyte Plioplyte Synopsis: The Pedacito de la Tierra (A Little Piece of Home) documentary series weaves together humanitarian, migrant & refugee, food, and sustainability issues from around the world. The series shares stories of hope, growth and community to raise awareness and support for the efforts of global humanitarian organization, Alight, and Burners Without Borders.

		Rejoice Abyssinia United States \| 7min Short \| Theatre Director: Gail Simpson (Music), Bichu Tesfamariam (Film) Synopsis: Opera Frontier went to Ethiopia in January 2019 to collaborate with Circus Abyssinia. Featuring circus arts fused with traditional Ethiopian instruments and dance, Opera Frontier repurposed an aria from Handel’s Messiah (Rejoice Greatly) with lyrics that place four young Ethiopian circus artists at the center of an empowering scene. Rejoice Abyssinia celebrates young women and the leaders who inspire them.			Soyka United States \| 16min Short \| Drama Director: Anastasiya Sergienya Synopsis: Anna, a young woman from Belarus, tries to survive in New York City while dreaming of a better life. This intimate portrait of an individual showcases the experience of the American immigrant: loneliness, fear, happiness, self-realization, and ultimately hope...

		The American Dream United States \| 6min Short \| Drama Director: Baldev Sandhu Synopsis: Three immigrants about to cross the border sit around a fire and discuss what "The American Dream" means to them. *Contains adult language..			The Argument United States \| 18min Short \| Drama Director: Ben Greene, Eshaana Sheth Synopsis: In November of 2012, a young interracial couple deals with the aftermath of a tragedy during a time of national panic before the impending Mayan Apocalypse.

		The Light Dares to Desert Me United States \| 30min Short \| Drama Director: Miranda Bowden-Parker Synopsis: The sins of a man's past make it difficult for his family to adapt to their new life.			Together in Tomorrowland United States \| 10min Short \| Drama Director: Rob Schmidt Synopsis: A 1960s couple meet their son in a strange place they call "Tomorrowland."

		Twinkle Twinkle Little Star China \| 12min Short \| Drama Director: Shiyue Xu Synopsis: Throughout Tommy’s life, the song “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” has undergone many changes that mirror his journey through the different stages of his life.			Wadayaze Belgium \| 7min Short \| Drama Director: Grohmann, Dieter Michael Synopsis: Two men meet by accident at the beach and have a vision of past and future life.

		Lao Yang's Summer China \| 19min Short \| Drama Director: Quanlin Li Synopsis: Lao Yang, a melon farmer, made a living by planting melons. An accident got him into trouble. Fortunately, with the help of a loan company, he got out of the predicament. Lao Yang was honest and trustworthy, and made a fortune through hard work.