Feature Films
Symphoria – Best Feature Film & Best Actress Award For "Catherine Dao" (United States)
At 29, Shawn Wittig is the epitome of the spoiled rich kid living on the largesse of an indulgent single playboy father. The years of coddling by dad, including avoiding prosecutions from DUI to manslaughter charges continue to fuel Shawn’s addictions to drugs and alcohol, When the law finally caught up with him, Shawn is released into a teaching/rehabilitation program at the local university run by JT Dalton, a brilliant but mysterious chemist. At first JT’s and Shawn’s relationship is antagonistic but, after a late night in the chemistry lab, it becomes something deeper. Soon JT and Shawn are involved in an illicit and highly sexualized affair that begins to consume both their lives. When the University catches wind of the affair, JT is promptly suspended and Shawn’s father forces the young man to give up his romance with his older professor.
Documentary Films
NEWS FROM FUKUSHIMA – Best Documentary Feature Award (Japan)
The nuclear disaster in Fukushima set off three meltdowns. This film documents a theater piece, performed in San Francisco last year, by a multicultural cast, bringing together poetry, dance and music to explore the ideas of human error and suffering juxtaposed to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Music Videos
I Miss My baby Girl – Best Music Video (United States)
When my girlfriend had a miscarriage at 8 months I was lost and did not know what to say or do. She went into a deep depression. This song is about me as a MAN not being able to understand from the mother’s point of view of what she and MILLIONS have went through since the beginning of time. BUT in this song I’m speaking from the father point of view
Indian Short Film Category
Nitya – Best Director Award
Nitya, a 30 year old woman lives in Bengaluru and works as a fitness trainer in a reputed Gym, she is a physically fit person who works out religiously, she lives alone in a 1bhk apartment, moves around on a 2 wheeler, follows a strict diet and has good sleeping habits. It’s almost clinical her routine. She seems to be happy with having no one around her and barely speaks to anybody, she seems peculiar and has no friends. She curls up in bed while she falls asleep at night leaving the bed lamp on, as if she is scared of the dark. She wants to overcome this vulnerability but she is failing. Something is boiling inside her which even she is not aware of on the surface. Nitya as a kid was the total opposite. A energetic and lively kid, who is training to become a professional swimmer. She is quite good at swimming. She can spread happiness with just her presence. And an incident occurs in her life and everything collapses within herself and she has become the Nitya we see today. How Nitya deals with the trauma of childhood and frees herself from herself to find redemption is what the film is about.
Animation Short Film Category
The Very Special Day – Best Animation Award
“The Very Special Day” is a stop motion animation short by Hayatto of a children’s story written and read by Yuri Kageyama. A birthday is very special for any little boy. And a little boy is very special for any parent. This is an everyday but very special story about the trials and joys of growing up in an imperfect world. With music by Kouzan Kikuchi, Hiroshi Tokieda, Ryan Carter and Isaku Kageyama.
International Short Film Category