The 2024 Universe Multicultural Film Festival Selections
Feature Films
Maoussi |France| 1:15:00 Director: Charlotte Schiøler A dark comedy about the presumptions on love. Babette unexpectedly finds herself sharing her small Parisian apartment with Edo, a Congolese refugee. When Maoussi, an escaped lab mouse makes an appearance, their lives are turned upside down as they try to navigate cultural misunderstandings and conflicting expectations, about what love and parenthood are supposed to look like in 2023
Rapunzel und die Rückkehr der Falken |Germany| 1:27:58 Director: Christoph Heimer Once forsaken by her biological parents, Rapunzel lives in a tower with sorceress Eleonor. When Prince Sigismund connects with her, Eleonor's past catches up, leading to their imprisonment. After escaping, Rapunzel and Sigismund reunite but face opposition from Queen Freya. In the final act, Eleonor sacrifices herself to save Rapunzel and restore Sigismund's sight. Guided by love, they vow to leave the past behind with their loyal friend Pip by their side.
The Legend of the White Snake |China|1:30:00 Director: Dawei Yin In order to repay the kindness of saving her life, the thousand-year-old snake demon Bai Suzhen turned into a human and married her reincarnated benefactor Xu Xian, starting a love story in which "humans and monsters take different paths".
Where Olive Trees Weep |United States/Palestine| 1:43:14 Director: Zaya Benazzo, Maurizio Benazzo Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice.
Short Films
Alma |Chile| 7:00 Director: Sebastián Claro Alma (14) is in charge of her brother's, León (8), care in her loneliness. An unfortunate accident will leave her true reality exposed.
Snail |China|12:10 Director: Jiaxing Yang, Lixuan Han A girl who loved painting lost her pursuit of her hobby and dream because she had a mother who valued learning. It wasn't until a painting competition that she found confidence in her dream, and slowly gained her mother's understanding, making the parent-child relationship harmonious.
Salvation |Armenia|23:27 Director: Temur Hovhannisyan This movie is about faith and the miracle it can lead to. It’s a story about a sick woman with no chance for life. Devastated and hopeless her son pays a visit to the most powerful St Hovhaness Ghaltaghchi church. He asks God to heal his mother. So with the help of God she recovers.
The Tales of the Blue Sky |United States/Armenia| 43:00 Director: VruirTadevosian This documentary illustrates the impact war has on children.
Youth Made & Student Films
Ojue |Panama| 13:08 Director: Fernando Broce A panamanian fashion designer living in the US, who is embarrassed about her culture, is forced to bring her dad with dementia (who is convinced that he is still in Panama) to her most important exhibition.
Guiding Light |United States| 5:00 Director: India Anne Mitchell It tells the story of a young teen (Polly Hannah Klaas) in a small town in America who was kidnapped from her bedroom during a slumber party while her family was in the house. In "Guiding Light", India Mitchell, a teen growing up in the same town thirty years later brings a fresh perspective and highlights the importance of the legacy of this case to the continuing endeavor to keep children safe.
Music Video and Film Songs
Ahora |Spain| 4:00 Director: Javier Alvarez Solís Despite medical advances, multiple sclerosis continues to challenge the lives of more than two million people worldwide. A neurologist, a composer and an association of affected people have embarked on the project NOW WITH MS with a clear message: a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is not the end. On the contrary, it is a challenge to transform fear and weakness into strengths, so that goals and dreams can be fulfilled
Sacred Flowers |United States| 3:52 Director: Jeremy Gredone Native American Blues/Rock band BLUE MOUNTAIN TRIBE honors family and loved ones left behind with the grief and loss of thousands of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women.
TV Episode
Story of Godia |Libya| 45:00 Director: Mouayed Zabtia Hussein lives in his father's house, who used to put the house as a retirement home before he died in a poisoning accident with a number of elderly people with Hussein's daughter who was in the house by chance. Hussein lives in his father's house with his sick son who suffers from a disease that needs expensive treatment. The child watches things strange happening in the house