Gautami, an accomplished dancer from India and Jai Leang, a talented artist, are introduced during her tour of Malaysia. Jai falls for Gautami, but fate separates them. Jai's search for Gautami takes a turn when his paintings go on exhibition in India. The Desire is a passionate story about dance, music, art and love beyond borders.

Neander-Jin: The Return of the Neanderthal Man

Germany, 81 min., PG-13
Directed by: Florian Steinbiss
Submitted by: Florian Steinbiss

Neander-Jin is the story of a young woman's quest to find the perfect mate who just might be embodied in a 50,000 year old Neanderthal Man. This is a tongue in cheek look at relationships in our modern age that playfully examines all of our preconceived notions about love. The Return of the Neanderthal Man is a screwball comedy with a Freudian twist.

An aspiring filmmaker dreams of directing a film from a compilation of short stories revolving around four couples. 1) Two newlyweds lack communication in comedic fashion. 2) A mirror creates confusion for a husband and wife who never had a mirror before. 3) An interview with a film director unravels a relationship. 4) A woman forces her lazy husband to take an odd job which happens to put a spark back in their marriage.

S.O.L.

USA, 80 min., PG-13
Submitted by Ken Gayton
Co-Directors Ken Gayton & Jason Schaver

A down on his luck comedian mistakenly gets connected with a bank robbery and kidnapping of a high profile TV actress. He fights for his survival as he searches for the right time to escape with the ungrateful actress in hopes of clearing his name.

Narrative Shorts
Winner: "Best Narrative Short"
"Best Performance: Robert Wisdom"

Bright

USA, 40 min., PG-13
Directed by: Benjamin Busch
Submitted by: Benjamin Busch

A surprisingly contemplative drama centered on a blind man (Robert Wisdom) who must guide a quirky young man (Eric Nenninger) through a desperate fear. This carefully crafted film is rich with imagery, cryptic dialog, and a superb cast chosen from The Wire and Generation Kill including Robert Wisdom, Eric Nenninger, Glynn Turman, Andre Royo, Marc Menchaca, David Barrera, Rich McDonald, and Benjamin Busch. Bright pulls us into its world, demands our fascination, and keeps us in wonder.

A grandfather and grandson both share a love for something magical, but their curiosity reveals secrets of a forgotten past.

Joana has the same dream as all young Brazilian girls in the 80s: she wants to be a Paquita, a dancer on Xuxa's TV show. Her family is wealthy and will support her. However, there is a problem; she is black and Xuxa never had a black Paquita on her team.

James Dean and Donald Turnupseed, the man whose car killed Dean, meet again for the first time ... at the very same intersection where the accident occurred.

Mr. Hatch falls on hard times and visits a fortune teller. She reveals to him a set of numbers that will change his life forever, so he buys a lotto ticket. His numbers don't come up, but he soon discovers the numbers she predicted do indeed change his life forever.

Documentary Features Winner: "Best Documentary Feature"

One Revolution

USA, 80 min., PG
Directed by: Amanda Stoddard
Submitted by: Amanda Stoddard

"I felt like this was my one chance". One Revolution opens as dawn breaks atop Africa's tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. Briefly, glimpses of the mountain frame Chris Waddell as he transfers to his specially designed handcycle. The air tingles with promise as Chris begins the fifth day of his ascent. Etched within every movement he makes is the weighty knowledge that this will be his last chance to transcend disability, last chance to transcend sport, last chance to have the world see that people like himself not as something less, but equals and possibly as someone with something to contribute. If he makes the summit the world will know his message, if he fails he will be just another guy in a wheelchair.

In 2008, an all-volunteer group of National Guard Soldiers from Oregon deployed to Afghanistan to train the Afghan National Army. Their mission was to be a first-of-its-kind "counter-narcotics" battalion sent into the deadly Helmand Province to interdict the opium trade. The mission quickly breaks down and the Oregonians find themselves split up and isolated on remote patrol bases along the Helmand river. Relying heavily on footage and photographs taken by the men who were there, Shepherds of Helmand takes viewers deep into an Afghanistan rarely seen by the outside.

Boys of Bonneville: Racing on a Ribbon of Salt

USA, 81 min., PG
Directed by: Curt Wallin
Submitted by: Jennifer Jordan

Boys of Bonneville: Racing on a Ribbon of Salt tells the story of an unsung hero and self-made man, David Abbott Jenkins, who, with almost superhuman stamina and boyish charm, set out to single-handedly break every existing land speed record on his beloved Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah.

On The Edge discloses the nomadic existence of women and children far from urban ghettos and poverty - a world imagined by few. This documentary chronicles the struggles of seven women trying to escape homelessness in small towns and resort communities all across America. On The Edge reveals painfully honest yet hopeful stories demonstrating the vulnerability of women and children living on the edge.

Documentary Shorts Winner: "Best Documentary Short"

Burma: An Indictment

USA, 20 min., PG-13 Adult Content/Violence
Directed by: Jeremy Taylor
Submitted by: Jeremy Taylor

Burma: An Indictment shows the inhumane conditions the gentle Burmese people suffer every day and exposes a wealthy country whose people are starving in the streets helpless at the hands of a brutal military dictatorship. A must see!

Bye Bye Now! is an amusing and poignant documentary about the fate of the Irish phone box, which has gone from the center of society to the verge of extinction. This roadtrip around Ireland gives a bitter sweet tribute to the phone box as a historical barometer on how much we've changed.

Sum of its pArts

Canada, 22 min., PG-13
Directed by: Kirby Hammond
Submitted by: Kirby Hammond

Nancy Edell corrupted the traditional craft of rug hooking with her own unique brand of kinky humor. Her family now grapples with the question of what to do with her legacy.

Student Shorts Winner: "Student Visionary Award"

Two Lives for Antonio Espinosa

Brazil, 17 min., PG-13
Directed by: Rodrigo Fonseca
Directed by: Caio D'Andrea
Submitted by: Rodrigo Fonseca

Alberto Espinosa, his younger brother Antonio and some friends decide to terrorize a family of natives. That night's reflex is the appearance of a mysterious figure which ruthlessly looks for payback.

---

Controlled Burn

USA, 22 min., PG-13
Directed by: Dan Van Wert
Submitted by: Dan Van Wert

When Olivia Browning's husband, Hugh, is ravaged by Alzheimer's Disease, she must make a decisive choice to determine his future, as she attempts to reconstruct the past.

---

Prémices (First Fruits)

Switzerland, 30 min., R
Directed by: Pao paixao
Submitted by: Pao paixao

A boy and a girl let themselves be driven by their desires. While diving in their intimacy, they fall in love with a young beautiful girl and seduce her. How far will they go in their loss of innocence?

---

Danger Don Rogers

USA, 15 min., PG
Directed by: JD Amato
Submitted by: JD Amato

The coming of age story of an elderly ex-daredevil and his wife.

---

Island of Man

USA, 35min, PG-13
Directed by: Adam Tanguay
Submitted by: Adam Tanguay

On their last day on Earth before an asteroid destroys the planet, ordinary citizens struggle to be with the ones they love and try to make their last day on Earth meaningful.

---

Nightfall

USA, 11 min., PG-13
Directed by: Corry Wiens
Submitted by: Corry Wiens

A lone wolf finds humanity in an unexpected companion as they navigate the desolate landscape of a world ravaged by the dead.

---

Animated Shorts
Winner: "Best Animated Short"

Swing

USA, 4 min., PG
Directed by: Yen-Ting Kuo
Submitted by: Yen-Ting Kuo

While enjoying a swing on the roof, an elderly patient is reminded of the value of his life.

---

Kidnap

USA, 4 min., PG
Directed by: sijia luo
Submitted by: sijia luo

A little chicken is late to school, but her excuse is too wild to believe.

---

Surviving Hunger

USA, 3 min., PG
Submitted by: Balgum Song

On a desert planet, food is hard to come by.

---

Homeless Conductor

Taiwan, 3 min., PG
Directed by: Dony Chiang
Submitted by: Dony Chiang

Once a great conductor of a famous orchestra, now homeless and fighting loneliness, he reaches for the old baton in hopes of a miracle.

---

Download and print summaries of this year's featured films (PDF)

---

Schedule of Films, Genres & Times

---