Films

You have heard of Mad Max but what about Mad Heidi? This Swiss milkmaid can take on more than cow udders – and she will prove it in a brutal quest for revenge. When she escapes from a re-education camp for naughty girls, armed with a halberd and combat training, she sets out on a mission to overthrow the totalitarian regime of the cruel President Meili. Riding the wave of cult flicks such as Iron Sky and Kung Fury, this multi-genre B-movie madness doesn’t lack anything one could ask for from such a film: a cool protagonist, bizarre deaths, gallons of fake blood, Nazis, sexy Black men in traditional folk costumes or a hefty load of cheese.

The war between unicorns and bears has been raging for ages. When two bear brothers, a night and day opposites, embark on a mission to hunt their arch-enemies, things get out of paw. In the middle of the Magic Forest, their fragile relationship is put to the test and the outcome could decide the fate of the world. This psychedelic adult cartoon is not afraid of brutality or darkness. Director Alberto Vázquez explores religious fanaticism and the legacy of fascism in hyper-colourful settings and admits to being inspired by Bambi and Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. But the seasoned film fan will also note the similarities to the Adventure Time series.

Huesera is a mythological character who represents the archetype of a free-spirited woman liberated from all conventions. This is – or at least used to be – the protagonist of the Mexican film of the same name, Valerie. She has long been trying to conceive a child. When she finally succeeds, the expectant mother looks forward to a rush of happiness and fulfillment. However, neither comes; instead, Valerie is plagued by disturbing visions… Director Michelle Garza Cervera has made an atmospheric psychological drama with mysterious elements, which explores topical themes such as post-natal depression and female identity in the maternal role.

This support group definitely doesn’t inspire a new will to live. A bunch of junkies, who come here out of obligation and just barely stay sober, is a parade of unpleasant, morally questionable existences. When they’re joined by a stranger with a gun, an otherwise mundane evening turns into a living hell. Sins of the past and dirty secrets float to the surface. No one is completely blameless and everyone’s life is on the line. William Higo’s claustrophobic psychological thriller shows that we all have something we cling to: some to drugs, others to revenge. But what happens when we finally get what we so desperately want?

A selection of short films by iShorts will bear the mark of unique encounters. You will witness a fusion of usually non-compatible genres – get ready for sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and comedy – as well as events where past meets the future, technological innovations meet ancient myths, and everyday routine meets fantastic adventures. We are looking forward to see you, film fans, at the first iShorts programme of this year. Featured film synopsys below.

THE SPRAYER

Iran, director Farnoosh Abedi, 2022, 9 min, animation

In the land occupied with the sprayers army, no one has the right to grow any kind of plants either in public or private. So many of the people and soldiers do not even know how dose a plant grows or look like, until one day one of the soldiers finds a seed buried deep down in the dust and his curiosity is just the beginning of something extraordinary, something big, something revolutionary.

ARMSTRONG

Great Britain, director Russ Etheridge, 2020, 10 min, animation

Mel secretly watches her crush from across the factory floor. The moon disappears. Things start to fall apart. With the world breaking into pieces like a giant jigsaw puzzle and her crush’s life in danger, our heroine struggles to hold herself together. How will she solve this moon mystery? Time to go out on a limb and take matter into her own hands.

SCP: OVERLORD

USA, director Stephen Hancock, 2020, 35 min, live Action

A secret NGO investigates the home of an esoteric cult on suspicion that they are more than meets the eye

THE ALBATROSS

Australia, directors Joel Best, Alex Jeremy a Alex Karonis, 2016, 7 min, animation

In the center of a freezing, misty lake, a struggling writer’s solitary fishing trip is disrupted by a strange creature from the bottom of a whiskey bottle.

BACKSPACE

USA, directors Lexie Findarle Trivundza, Nick Trivundza, 2022, 7 min, animation

Hunting for blackholes is a dangerous business. Adventurers, Explorers and anyone trying to find their fortune, will kill, and face danger in BackSpace to find one. Hunter and Mono track down a lost pod that may lead to a blackhole.

THE ROCK OF AGES

France / Iceland, director Eron Sheean, 2021, 16 min, live action

Fleeing his enemies, a soldier encounters a talking rock which promises to grant his deepest desire.

THE VOICE IN THE HOLLOW 

USA, director Miguel Ortega, 2022, 10 min, animation

Two sisters are trying to proof themselves, until one of them hears a voice in the hollow.

BLINDSIGHT

USA, director Danil Krivoruchko, 2020, 5 min, animation

While a cryo capsule resurrects the body of a survived crew member on his long way back to Earth, his wakening mind unwinds memories of the first contact mission.