Pinocchio and the Water of Life – Victor V Luckysov

Victor V Luckysov (Spain), Pinocchio and the Water of Life, Animated Feature – In this hilarious, action-packed twist on an Italian classic, Pinocchio goes on a mission to rescue his puppet pals before the evil Faustino destroys them in a catastrophic bonfire! A bold, steampunk-inspired reimagining of the classic tale, where darkness and wonder collide in a world both mechanical and magical. Amid clockwork monstrosities, enchanted machinery, and mystical waters that bring life to the inanimate, Pinocchio and his wisecracking companion Coot embark on a perilous quest to save his fellow puppets from the villainous Faustino. Along the way, they confront danger, navigate treacherous landscapes, and discover that courage, friendship, and sacrifice are the truest forms of magic.

Blending surreal humor, high-stakes adventure, and breathtaking visual storytelling, the film pulses with intricate mechanical marvels, heart, and wonder — a richly layered, genre-bending cinematic experience that redefines what an animated adventure can be. Stars:  Yonas Kibreab (Pixar’s Elio), Emmy-winner Maurice LaMarche (Futurama), Emmy-winner Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), James Hong (Kung Fu Panda), Fred Tatasciore (Star Trek: Lower Decks), Rob Paulsen (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Phil LaMarr (Samurai Jack,Candi Milo (Tiny Toon Adventures). Writing by Emmy-winner Mark DeCarlo and Ryan Rowe. Asymmetric VFX

Nothing to See Here: Watts – Michael Soenen

Michael Soenen (USA), Nothing to See Here: Watts, Doc Feature –  A groundbreaking, self-made portrait of a community rarely seen from the inside. Filmed over three years, shot almost entirely on phones and created by the people of Watts themselves, the film breaks from every convention of traditional documentary storytelling. With no outside director shaping the narrative, the story emerges directly from those who live it — raw, immediate, and unfiltered — offering a level of authenticity that could only come from within the community itself.  Across this evolving tapestry of voices are grieving parents, youth mentors, survivors, longtime residents, former and active gang members, and police officers whose lives intersect in unexpected ways. Their testimonies, captured in real time rather than staged settings, reveal a Watts that is complex, wounded, resilient, and deeply human.

The doc distills into a clear, emotional throughline: a community confronting its pain, expressing its hope, and documenting itself into healing. A private early screening for key gang leaders unexpectedly sparks a local peace movement, leading to a measurable drop in violence. In capturing these moments, the project becomes not only a record of a neighborhood but a catalyst for change — a rare example of storytelling reshaping the very community it depicts. With producers Oscar-nominee Todd Lieberman and Emmy-winner Suzanne Malveaux.

She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley – Abby Ginzberg

Abby Ginzberg (USA), She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley, Doc Short – With deft direction from Peabody‑winner and Emmy Silver‑Circle inductee Ginzberg, this documentary is a striking, deeply moving portrait of Ayanna Pressley — her journey from a young advocate shaped by hardship to a bold Congressional leader fighting for justice. The film blends intimate access, compelling storytelling, and a cinematic eye for detail, creating an experience that is as inspiring as it is illuminating. It traces Pressley’s early life — marked by family struggle, sacrifice, and personal challenge — through her historic rise as the first Black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts. But the film goes beyond biography: it captures the heart, courage, and unflinching determination that define her leadership. Viewers witness the resilience it takes to challenge entrenched systems and advocate for those often unheard.

The documentary pulses with urgency and relevance, situating Pressley’s story within the broader fight for democracy, civil liberties, and equity. She is presented not simply as a politician, but as a symbol of resistance, hope, and the power of daring to dream — a figure whose vision and conviction inspire action. The result is a masterfully crafted, emotionally resonant film: a celebration of survival, courage, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of justice so necessary in these difficult times.

Ondřej Provazník (Czech Republic), Broken Voices, Film Feature – In early 1990s Prague, 13-year-old Karolína joins a world-famous girls’ choir, but the choirmaster’s favored attention soon reveals a disturbing cost. Inspired by real events, this is a gripping, unsettling look at innocence threatened and power abused. Excellent performances by Jura Loj, Maya Kintera, Kateřina Falbrová – From Salaud Morisset

Vadim Lasca (USA), What Remains, AI Film – In a fractured near-future, civilization has collapsed, leaving abandoned cities, silent ruins, and a few survivors bearing memory and grief. Through drifting shots and exceptional AI-generated imagery, the film evokes loss, despair, and fleeting hope, exploring what it means to be human when all else falls away. A haunting meditation on decay, memory, and resilience.

Geoffrey William Reed, Reedcomm Entertainment (Australia), Forever Young, Doc Short – Both 98 years young, Australia’s Henry Young and Ukraine’s Leonid Stanislavskyi come together for a heartwarming exhibition match to raise funds for children affected by war. Competing at such an extraordinary age, their courage and determination create an inspiring story of resilience, hope, and the enduring human spirit.

Marie-Elsa Sgualdo (Belgium), Silent Rebellion, Film Feature – 15-year-old Emma, pregnant after assault, defies her rigid Swiss village amid WWII’s shadows. With deft direction and fearless performances, Sgualdo’s debut transforms trauma into courage, weaving autonomy, moral hypocrisy, and the cost of defiance into a searing, immersive drama. Stars: Lila Gueneau, Sasha Gravat Harsch, Cyril Metzger.  From Salaud Morisset

Ghazal Zoghiniya (Iran), Narmook, Women Theme – Malalai, a teenage girl from Iran’s Baloch community, has worn boys’ clothing for years due to an outdated cultural practice. Now reaching puberty, she must rejoin the world of girls, confronting an identity crisis. Zoghiniya’s directorial debut is a tender, intimate, yet shocking and unsettling exploration of gender, culture, and self-discovery.

Mark Fisher (USA), The 3100, Doc Feature – A cinematic exploration of Idaho’s 3,100 miles of navigable whitewater, this film captures the indomitable spirit of its guides and the transformative power of experiencing wild places at any age. Through their voices, it celebrates resilience, adventure, and the vital importance of connecting with nature for everyone, brought vividly to life by Fisher’s lively, immersive direction.

Ehsan Soltani (Iran), Solomon’s Hegira, Film Short – Solomon, the only protector of his grandson who has Down syndrome, races against time to secure the child’s future as his health declines. As love, fear, and hope collide, it unfolds as a tender yet haunting portrait of devotion, an urgent story of family, legacy, and survival in the face of despair. Moving performance by Mahmoud Nazaralian.

Rob Herring (USA), Greenfield, Doc Short –  An intimate look at Robin Greenfield, one of the world’s most radical environmentalists. Through bold experiments—from carrying a month’s trash through Times Square to living a year on foraged food and walking barefoot from Canada to Mexico—he challenges what it means to live simply, in harmony with the Earth, and discover true freedom and fulfillment.

Dax Phelan (USA), Kirkwood, Movie Trailer – Phelan’s captivating trailer for a Hitchcockian suspense thriller, hinting at a shocking murder and escalating tension. With pulse-pounding pacing, striking visuals, and exceptional sound design, it immerses viewers in a world of suspense, uncertainty, and danger, delivering a gripping and unforgettable cinematic movie teaser.

 

 

Abby Ginzberg (USA), She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley, African American Theme
Brett Langolf and Alex Boydston (USA), GENERATION: CURE, Movie Trailer
Chenyi Jiang and Yi Wei (China), When the Scales Tip, Experimental (Student)
Chi Fan Wang, Kai Chuan Yang, Tzu Yu Tung and Yun Ting Lo (USA), Twac (Taiwan Arrival Card), Animation
Dax Phelan (USA), KIRKWOOD, Editing (Chris Chan Lee), Sound Editing / Sound Mixing (Erick Jolley)
Dede Chuck Wai Man (Hong Kong), Intangible Cultural Heritage · Yeung Hau Temple, Documentary Short, Women Filmmakers
Deng Xiangfeng (China), A la Recherche du Panda, Documentary Short
Emile Pison (South Korea), Bee With Me, AI Film (Student)

Hamdi Khalil Elhusseini and Samar Taher Lulu (Palestine), Adas Falasteen, Islamic Filmmaker
Herman Perera (Australia), Sunny’s Mansion, Script / Writer
Hunter Nickless (USA), Where We Left Off, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Jane Centofante (USA), Saffron Robe, Asian Theme, Documentary Feature
Jiawei Lin (China), Tibetan Ballads, Direction (Student)
Lynn Elliott (USA), Travèse Envizib. Invisible Crossings, Episode 6: The Boy Who Earned His Magic, Script / Writer, Television – Program / Series
Mahsa Ahmadzadeh (Iran), Hidden Moon, Women Filmmakers
Marcel Barsotti (Germany), Imperia, Editing, Special Effects: Animation
Michael Soenen (USA), Nothing to See Here:  Watts, Editing, Film Feature, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest, Original Score

Michele Josia (Italy), Revival, Original Score
Mikhail Shevchuk (Russia), Groom from Mars / Жених с Марса, Film Feature
Sascha Schneider, Auburn Productions (USA), Ben & Tony, Script / Writer (Kaenan Oliver and Dominic Oliver)
Shuo Shen (China), The Only Universe For Us, Sound Editing / Sound Mixing
Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation (Taiwan), The Six of Us, Ep 6, Drama Program / Series, Direction, Actor: Leading (Boya Umin as Lin Da-sheng)
Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation (Taiwan), The Six of Us, Ep 7, Actress: Leading (Tien-Hsin Wu as Guo Fu-mei)
Yanin Tangkaravakoon (USA), Homes for Hornbills, Nature / Environment / Wildlife (Student), Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Yvette Freeman (USA), The WOMEN IN SECURITY Documentary, Documentary Feature, Women Theme
Zane (Canada), After, Cinematography (Zane)

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