 Herman feels lost after losing his cat, Baltus, with no clear path forward. But when Baltus suddenly reappears—now the size of a human and able to speak—they’re given nine minutes for a final goodbye.  Director Herman Dahl https://www.youtube.com/@hermandahltv Herman Dahl, from Oslo, Norway, is a young filmmaker passionate about storytelling. He first gained attention as a child actor, starting at the age of 10 in the Norwegian drama series “Jenter,” which ran for 10 seasons and won an Emmy in 2018 for Best Digital Project. At 14, Herman launched his YouTube channel and, within a year, was named Norway’s Best YouTuber. His way of exploring storytelling on social media has earned him over 200,000 followers on TikTok and over 120,000 on YouTube. Herman’s dream of making films started when he was just 5 years old after watching the behind-the-scenes feature of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” This early fascination with filmmaking shaped his childhood aspirations. After finishing high school at Elvebakken, focusing on media production, Herman knew he wanted to pursue filmmaking more seriously. He received his Journey Man certificate and made his first short film, “The TV Man,” a story about a TV dumped in a landfill trying to find its way back to its owner. This short film earned him direct admission into the second year at Prague Film School, where he specialized in directing. Herman has also been in front of the camera on shows like “The Masked Singer Norway,” “Maestro,” which he won in 2020, and “Spillet” in 2024, which gained a prize for Best Reality in Norway. Herman’s journey is about following his passion and embracing new challenges. As he grows as a filmmaker, he remains dedicated to creating stories that inspire and connect with people.
Director Statement I love cats, especially my dear Baltus. Moving out of my home for the first time last year to study in Prague meant saying goodbye to family and friends, but most heartbreakingly, to Baltus. Baltus is 12 years old and has been with me since I was 10. Reflecting on how much he has meant to me throughout my life, I realized he has been there during my best moments and those times when I needed a shoulder to cry on and someone to talk to. After many conversations and research, I wanted to create a tribute to pets and highlight how important they can be in people’s lives. Growing up, I was deeply influenced by PIXAR and Disney films, which are clear inspirations for my work. At the same time, I have a deep love for comedies. For me, it’s easier to open up emotionally after I’ve laughed. That’s why the best comedies make me cry the hardest. My short film, “The Final Meow,” is a heartfelt tribute to all the pets who have been silent companions, offering unconditional love and support. Through this film, I hope to capture the joy, laughter, and tears that our furry friends bring into our lives.  "Out of sight, by the forest" is a poignant documentary exposing the brutal reality of Polish fur farms. With extraordinary sensitivity, the filmmakers present the story of three activists - Aleks, Angelika and Bogna - who for years have tirelessly documented the suffering of animals raised for fur. Their heroic struggle against the powerful fur lobby and heartless bureaucracy creates a narrative full of tension and moral challenges.  Director Nadina Dobrowolska Nadina is a graduate of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice, majoring in Organisation of Film and Television Production. Dobrowolska is a long-time pro-animal activist. In her debut documentary film "Out of sight, by the forest", she asks the audience what place animals have in contemporary society. For her first feature-length film, she drew inspiration from the documentary output of Werner Herzog and Wim Wenders. https://pozawidokiem.pl/en
The film chronicles the unseen actions of the investigators, who have spent a decade exposing the scale of injustice against animals. Together with the activists, we look into the dark recesses of the farms, where foxes, mink and raccoons suffer in cramped cages. The documentary is non-violent, but its minimalist approach to portraying suffering heightens the dramatic overtones, forcing the viewer to reflect on consumer choices and animal rights. The camera accompanies the activists in their daily struggles, doing justice to their sacrifice and determination. The film avoids easy moralising, instead raising questions about the limits of human responsibility and ethics. "Out of sight, by the forest" is a call for greater awareness and empathy towards beings who cannot fight for their rights on their own. Nadina Dobrowolska's debut film thus becomes not only an indictment, but also an inspiration for action.  In a world where cows reign supreme, Kamala and her family must outwit a bovine examiner to save their home from eviction. As they navigate a surreal examination center, they deploy unconventional tactics to win over the cow and secure their future. 'Oh My Cow' offers a satirical commentary on the housing crisis, showcasing the extraordinary measures families take to protect their shelter.  Director Ramgopal Rajagopalan Ram Rajagopalan is an emerging filmmaker based out of Vancouver. His stories have made it to the top 40 at prestigious local film festivals like Crazy 8s and Run N Gun. A recent alumni of Vancouver Film School, he has produced three noteworthy shorts - Spiral, Mannequin and Oh My Cow) of which the last two he also directed. He has worked on other roles like 1st AD, Script Supervisor, DOP in different student film projects while at VFS. https://instagram.com/ohmycowshortfilm
Director Statement Oh My Cow was originally envisioned for a 48-hour filmmaking festival in Vancouver called Run and Gun. The film made it to the official selection for the gala screening amongst 160 competing films. The festival had given a few props and a theme of alternate universe to adhere to. Hailing from Tamil background, I and the writer wanted to weave in elements of a Tamil household into the story. Cows are revered in India. I have grown up in a household with cows. I wanted to use a cow as one of the key characters in the film. What happens if a cow becomes a supreme authority in a futuristic world? What if your housing was contigent on getting a cow’s approval? In such a universe what would people do to please a cow? Will a Tamil girl be able to woo it with her bharatanatyam skills? Those were in essence the seeds in coming up with the narrative for the film. I wanted to achieve a few things with the story - 1) Highlight some parts of Tamil culture in Canada, 2) In a predominantly beef eating society, play with the idea of what happens if the tables are turned, 3) Play a satire on the housing crisis we are facing in Canada today.   A young girl deals with her sibling jealousy by liberating a neighbor's mistreated pet. Director Jason Jakaitis, Phoebe Jakaitis Jason Jakaitis is an Associate Professor in the Media Production at Saint Mary’s College of California, where he teaches digital media. A creator of augmented reality and personal documentaries, much of his work explores themes of family and disability. Jason’s documentary Mothersbane won the Jury prize at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival. Jason also served as Director of Independent Media at the Bay Area Video Coalition, where he supervised numerous community media programs, including San Francisco’s Public Access Television Station and the National Media Maker Fellowship. Jason lives in Oakland, California with his wife and two daughters, one of which - Phoebe - co-directed Maisie.
 A Tortoise Called Pumpkin Spice captures the moving story of a successful wildlife rescue. As viewers follow the tale of Pumpkin Spice, a young gopher tortoise, they discover how scientists are working to ensure the survival of this important keystone species in the American Southeast. A Tortoise Called Pumpkin Spice takes viewers on a fascinating journey, from longleaf forests to a gopher tortoise hatchery. The film features scientists and experts from Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Wildlife Division and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Director Laura Albritton https://www.magickumquatproductions.com Laura Albritton directed and edited A Tortoise Called Pumpkin Spice. Her previous nature conservation film, Longleaf Forever, won the 2024 Best North America Short at the Wildlife Conservation Film Festival. Laura also won a 2023 Suncoast EMMY for her work as the writer on the public television documentary, The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise, which has aired on 249 stations nationally. She wrote and edited the wildlife documentary, Introducing the Indigo, which won a Silver Medal for Short Documentary at the Atlanta Children's Film Festival. Working with her filmmaking partner, Zickie Allgrove, she's currently in production with the documentary Devouring Beauties: The Remarkable Pitcherplants. Laura is the author of five books and works remotely for the University of Miami's Writing Studies department. Before attending graduate school, she worked for Vanguard Documentaries and distinguished Black film producer Charles Hobson in New York.
Director Statement I became really fascinated by gopher tortoises, a keystone species, while working on other nature films with my filmmaking partner, Zickie Allgrove. We talked about making a gopher tortoise documentary film that would focus on the importance of these remarkable reptiles. But there were so many elements that seemed important to convey: why gopher tortoises play an essential role for the survival of over 300 other species; the efforts to rescue not only mature tortoises but also eggs; the headstarting programs to give juvenile tortoises a better chance at survival; gopher tortoise mortality in the first year of life – to mention only some of the issues. The question was, how could we approach the subject of gopher tortoises from an original angle? The concrete idea for a short documentary didn’t really crystallize until I heard Pumpkin Spice’s story. I was genuinely moved by this wildlife rescue, and all the steps involved in the journey. When I began to learn about the specific work involved in gopher tortoise conservation, I knew that this was a subject that audiences could connect with... |
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