KASHISH 2021 International Narrative Shorts FILMS in Competition

The following films are nominated for the Best International Narrative Short Award which carries a KASHISH Golden Butterfly Trophy and cash prize of Rs. 20,000 supported by the KASHISH Arts Foundation.


INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMPETITION  I

WHAT IF?
Dir: Teresa Garratty / 10 min / United Kingdom

After a bad break-up, Jess focuses on rebuilding her life and her self esteem. Dating someone new might help, but what if it all goes wrong? Only one way to find out.

SNAKE
Dir: Andrey Volkashin / 20 min / Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of

A bitter-sweet story about an unusual friendship between a nine year old daredevil Mario and an eccentric gay man Borche, challenged by the prejudices and hatred of the parents in a remote Macedonian small town.

SAND LAND
Dir: Iven Tu / 12 min / Canada

A middle-aged man, Charlie, wakes up every day trying to get over the loss of his beloved. One morning, he follows the apparition of his deceased partner to the ocean, where he almost drowns.

PINK & BLUE
Dir: Carmen LoBue / 13 min / USA

After a surprise first-time pregnancy, a Trans couple of color wrestles with how the new baby will affect their relationship and how to raise a child in a binary world.

LIFT OFF
Dir: Shin Si-A / 21 min / Korea, Republic of

Queer love story of dancers Su-gi and Yeon-jae.

THE DANCE OF THE STARLING
Dir: Bárbara Fdez / 13 min / Spain

The Dance Of The Starling speaks of a love story of two unknown in an unsolvable equation A relationship that runs through the streets of Madrid in the 80 s, in which our main character far from cultural revolution of the time, lives his love story in the most absolute secret. His boyfriend ends up disappearing without a trace and the only memory he has of him are his letters that were never sent to him. At his elderly age he recalls those memories and reflects about his love and loss.


INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMPETITION  II

LILA
Dir: Lamberto Guerra / 20 min / Spain

One night. Three women. Three generations. A grandmother, a mother and a daughter are about to lose Lila, the pet that has joined them for the past 20 years. This will expose their unresolved conflicts: their fears, their mistakes, their secrets… And how much they need each other. Tonight, they not only face a bitter farewell, but the distance that had separated them until now, and they will discover if they are able to walk that path… Or if they will have to keep walking alone.

A BRONX STORY
Dir: Bell Soto & Gabriel Peña / 20 min / Peru, USA

Two queer Dominican men living in Bronx, New York, navigate modern-day relationship’s trails and tribulations while trying to keep their love afloat.

THE LAST ROMANTICS OF THE WORLD
Dir: Henrique Arruda / 23 min / Brazil

  1. The world as we know it is about to be ended by a pink cloud. Far away from the urban chaos, Pedro and Miguel seek only eternity.

ONLY HUMAN
Dir: Lukas Vizner / 28 min / Slovakia

A short movie about a relationship of a talented pianist Christoph and an experienced porn-star Philip opens a complex topic of prejudice in society, as well as within LGBTI community.


INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORTS COMPETITION  III

FABIU
Dir: Stefan Langthaler / 30 min / Austria

80-year-old retiree Arthur lives in a modest home in Vienna. For quite some time he has lovingly been caring for his seriously ill wife Martha, with only female nurses assisting him. When the new male Hungarian care worker Fabiu enters the picture, his routine is broken. But soon the two men become closer and inside Arthur feelings of desire and suppressed longing start to rise.

APRIL’S LAST MEMORIES
Dir: Nancy Cruz Orozco / 20 min / Mexico

Camila and Abril grew up together in a small town on the coast and are best friends. There´s an obvious and uncomfortable attraction between them. April’s family will move to the city, their paths will have to separate forever. No one understands how to say goodbye to the person they love.

STRAY DOGS COME OUT AT NIGHT
Dir: Hamza Bangash / 11 min / Pakistan, UK

Karachi, Pakistan. Iqbal, a migrant sex worker, cannot come to terms with his illness. He convinces his uncle to take a day trip to the beach, desperate for respite. The Arabian sea beckons.

THE SILENCE OF THE RIVER
Dir: Francesca Canepa / 14 min / Peru

Juan, a 9 year-old Peruvian boy, lives with his silent dad in a floating house on the breathtaking Amazon River. This idyllic background sets an allegorical journey into the rainforest jungle, where nature, gender, truth and all things begin to reveal the identity of his dad.

This film is geo-blocked to play only in India.

THE ACT
Dir: Thomas Hescott / 18 min / United Kingdom

1965, the eve of decriminalisation for acts of male homo- sexuality. Matthews, a young gay man at odds with the world, discovers love, sex and a family in the backstreets and underground bars of Soho.