Watching the competition program of short feature films. Day 1.

Short Film Competition Schedule for August 7:

"Abuse of Office" (Russia)

Description: 

An ambulance leaving a courtyard is blocked by a car of a powerful, self-satisfied civil servant. The ambulance driver, demanding to clear the way, personally insults the civil servant, which forces him to stand on principle and make the driver apologize at any cost.

Director Roman Khan, 7 min., 2023, Russia

Profession: Ambulance Driver

"Mierda" (Spain)

Description: 

The film tells about the adventures of a former screenwriter, Mariano Martinez, who strives to write the best screenplay in the history of cinema. The hero once dreamed of becoming a great screenwriter but was never able to realize his dreams. However, one day he decides to overcome all obstacles on the way to his goal.

Director Sergio Fernández, David Fernández, Judit Arteaga, 17 min., 2025, Spain

Profession: Writer

"Only the path" (Russia)

Description: 

This is the dramatic story of a simple engineer from a Siberian industrial city who, trying to save an old locomotive once owned by his father from disposal, enters into a confrontation with the system, society, and himself. His struggle for the decommissioned machine becomes a metaphor for returning to himself, rethinking lost connections with the past, and attempting to pass on something important to the next generation.

Director Pavel Menyaylo, Evgeny Korol, 12 min., 2025, Russia

Profession: Train Driver

"Roy's Way" (France)

Description: 

Roy, a flying saucer maintenance specialist, saves money for a big trip. His dreams are thwarted when his management decides to cut salaries.

Director Pierre Maurin, 7 min., 2024, France

Profession: Cleaner

"BotchAI" (Russia)

Description: 

At a private IT corporation, the presentation of an innovative AI-powered robot goes off-script.

Director Alexander Gladky, 14 min., 2024, Russia

Profession: Programmer

"Soledá" (Spain)

Description: 

A young farmer lives in an almost deserted coastal village, tied to a routine she cannot escape. She lives with her father, who struggles to communicate with her. When the village's only neighbor falls ill, her father cares for him, leaving her alone to watch the house and livestock. In the neighbor's absence, his sheepdog escapes to find its owner. The young woman and the dog meet in their loneliness and form a loyal friendship that helps them both cope with melancholy.

Director Howi Álvarez, 15 min., 2025, Spain

Profession: Farmer

"Gulls Above Golgotha" (Armenia)

Description: 

Arno, a disillusioned realtor, lives in a noisy city, isolated from the world by earplugs. His wife, a blogger and vegan, falls asleep to the cries of seagulls and the sound of the sea, instilling in him a sense of harmony. Upon learning that his father is selling the family home, Arno begins to reflect on life. Change forces him to face his past and future.

Director Liya Karapetyan, 20 min., 2025, Armenia

Profession: Realtor

"Benedita" (Brazil)

Description: 

Working a dangerous job at a steel plant in Volta Redonda (a small industrial town in Brazil), Benedita begins to feel strange waves of heat that don't stop when she leaves her workplace. To cope with her workday and care for her daughter, Benedita relies only on her neighbor's help.

Director Lane Lopes, 19 min., 2025, Brazil

Profession: Firefighter

"A little lie" (Russia)

Description: 

Architect Vasya overslept an important presentation and in a panic lied to his boss that he broke his leg. He tries to salvage the situation, but everything spirals out of control, and his life begins to unexpectedly crumble.

Director Daniil Levkovets, 10 min., 2024, Russia

Profession: Architect

"Kuppai muniswami" (India)

Description: 

A man named Muniswamy works as a garbage collector for the municipality and faces psychological abuse due to the nature of his job. He encounters severe humiliation and stands up for his rights. Will society accept how he is treated?

Director Manuj Chanakya, 4 min., 2024, India

Profession: Garbage Collector

"The Project" (Russia)

Description: 

Vasily works in an outdated office all alone but compensates by talking to non-existent colleagues at the coffee machine and water cooler. His boss, Oleg Petrovich, communicates via messages, caring less about Vasily's project and more about watering office plants.

Director Andrey Krikunov, 7 min., 2025, Russia

Profession: Office Worker

"Directions" (Canada)

Description: 

John spends whole days behind the wheel of his taxi, driving strangers around the city—each carrying their own burdens. Listening to their stories, he quietly reflects on his past. Despite appearing unflappable, the weight of his experiences haunts him. But when he returns home, his true purpose becomes clear. In the silence of his own world, he finds a foothold, proving that even in life's chaos, connection is the main direction forward.

Director Ramez El-Haj, 11 min., 2025, Canada

Profession: Taxi Driver

"Your own boss" (USA)

Description: 

A food delivery worker struggles to balance his duties as a young father with the demands of an algorithm that pushes him to the limit.

Director Álvaro Guzmán Bastida, 18 min., 2024, USA

Profession: Courier

"Forgive me" (Russia)

Description: 

Upset Lyudmila, returning home after a New Year's office party, meets a man in a Santa Claus costume who makes her believe in miracles again.

Director Denis Kazantsev, 19 min., 2025, Russia

Profession: Magician

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