WILDsound: The Film Podcast

Shanaya's Path, 54min., Netherlands Directed by Frank Röhrig Shanaya's Path follows the intimate journey of Shanaya, a young person from Darjeeling who identifies as a woman and dreams of transitioning despite immense social and familial resistance. Since gender norms are rigid and visibility for trans people is scarce in her home town, Shanaya leaves for New Delhi, but her desire to become her true self is met with hostility, shame, and fear.http://frankrohrig.com/ —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

He/She/Us Short Film, 19min., USA Directed by Susan Kelejian https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575877610548 https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-he-she-us Conversation with the creative team of the award-winning short film. ——— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

When the fourth wall breaks, a young filmmaker must find his inner creative confidence and take control of his story before it takes control of the world around him. Short film completed at Loyola Marymount University. —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Guillotine, 22min., Romania Directed by Alexandru Hosu https://www.instagram.com/hosu_de_biciclete/ ——- Hannah Ehman chats with actor Irini Katz on the making of the award-winning film. Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irinikatz/ Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/ Watch Hannah's commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Now it's better, 12min., Romania Directed by Alice Ioana Nicolae In a world where it is easier to tear down than to build, to blame rather than to take responsibility, there are still resources for a better life. Although very painful and seemingly unique to each couple, the stories of our protagonists are almost universally valid, or perhaps very relevant in our current social and political context.Will the protagonist couples save their relationships? We will see in the short film 'Now It's Better.' www.instagram.com/alicenicolaehl ——- Hannah Ehman chats with actor Adrian Teampau on the making of the award-winning film. Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/ Watch Hannah's commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman ——- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Feet Don't Fail Me Now, 7min., USA Directed by Fuzhi Zhao The sun will erase your memory. If you don't want to become nobody, you have to keep running. —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

In the forgotten corners of the city, a young homeless addict named JD drifts through nights haunted by silence, addiction, and disconnection. Alongside Max, a hardened street survivor, and Luna, a mentally ill woman caught in a cycle of delusion and innocence, JD stumbles through a grim urban purgatory. When tragedy strikes under the glow of streetlights and stars, JD is forced to confront the cost of invisibility — and the fragile spark of hope that may still exist. "Under the Stars" is a haunting, poetic portrait of those society ignores, where even in the darkest moments, humanity flickers like a lighter in the night. Conversation with filmmaker Jason G. Mercado, with his assistant Nadine Emrich. — Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

On September 22, 2025, Chef Matthew Biancaniello embarked on one of the greatest challenges of his life: a 21 mile swim from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes, CA. While his journey is inspiring on its own, he didn't do it just for himself. The swim was a vehicle to raise money and awareness for Indivisible Arts, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching consciousness and creativity to kids. https://instagram.com/frequency.creative   What motivated you to make this film? This is the 2nd film in a documentary series I'm directing called Rhythms, which is all about the unseen rituals of inspiring people. I learned about Matthew Biancaniello's marathon swim to raise money for Indivisible Arts through Robert Wemischner, who's both a friend and was the subject for the first Rhythms film.  I was immediately intrigued, but then I spoke to Matthew as well as Rafael McMaster, the founder of Indivisible Arts, and I was so inspired. I knew I had to tell this story in some way, and thankfully everyone was excited to have me involved in this capacity. Indivisible Arts is a remarkable organization, teaching creativity and consciousness to kids. The first time I went to their space in Hermosa Beach I was taken aback. These kids are able to explore their own sense of self in a way that's rare, as well as build vital mindfulness and emotional intelligence skills. Coupling that story with Matthew's intense swim, 2 years after major back surgery, was something I felt deeply moved by. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? I learned about the September 2025 swim in July. By early September we were confirmed to shoot, with production beginning on September 22. We completed the film and released it online on November 2, so it was about 4 months in total. — Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

GHEE, 21min., India Directed by Romi Banerjee A quiet lunch turns upside down when a secret recipe sets off a chain of surprises. https://www.instagram.com/ghee_theshortfilm Director Statement Ever since I could remember, I was obsessed with the idea of “control.” Do we really have control, or is it just a trick of the mind hacking away at us, desperate to be seen, heard, and felt? With Ghee, I wanted to make a film which touched upon the topics of control, power, and ambition. While writing this short film, I aspired to create a rather simple world. Don't get me wrong - It's a simple world, but it is a world where Gods feast on Gods.Structured chaos is the name of the game. I sought after creating a radically dark story without using violence, gore, and external mayhem. I tried to birth an antagonist that was arguably worse than the cruelest dictators of yesteryears - a smiling devil. The kind of devil that sweet-talks you into jumping straight inside boiling, hot lava - all that without lifting a finger. Would you want to live in a world where something like "Enthrallium" has federal approval? A world where conscious thoughts are obsolete? Where hope is a relic? My love for monochrome knows no bounds. I wanted this film to have zero distractions. Also the black and white format allowed me to capture the complex shades of grey that mirror the human psyche reflective of the characters inside the film. The world is grim, and impatient to innocence. This is more than just a story about control; it's a narrative about the madness required to thrive in a chaotic world. Because in this world, only the truly insane survive.

Our Threatened & Endangered Species: Allegheny Woodrat follows the Pennsylvania Game Commission and partners as they fight to save one of the state's most elusive mammals. Once common across the Appalachian Mountains, the Allegheny woodrat has declined for decades due to habitat loss, disease, and the disappearance of its ancient ally—the American chestnut tree. What motivated you to make this film? Allegheny Woodrats is Episode II in a series on Threatened & Endangered Species. These films aim to educate folks on the challenges surrounding species conservation, and what people can do to get involved and actions they can take at home to help all wildlife. Wildlife conservation and management is complex, involving hard work, creativity, tenacity and human politics. If we tell the story well, we can ensure all of our native species persist into the future—because people will not protect what they don't understand and they certainly won't protect what they don't know. The efforts surrounding saving the Allegheny woodrat are complex and involve partnerships across state lines, with varying agencies, non-profits, institutions and universities. There are over 15 groups involved in seeing that this species persists into the future. But the challenges the species' face is multi-faceted: from the effective extinction of the American chestnut, to habitat fragmentation that cascades into genetic isolation, inbreeding and population loss, and finally the increasing raccoon population as a result of habitat fragmentation. To save a species, we must address all of the challenges. The effort, creative thinking and dedication to our wildlife fills me with hope. Despite all the things going wrong with conservation on a bigger scale, these stories are so impactful and clearly state that we can and will affect change if we just act even in small ways. I am driven to make a difference with the films I produce. Documentary film is a powerful tool that helps change hearts and minds—even for species or issues for which are foreign to many people. This species is a particular challenge because of the stigma in its name: it isn't ‘just a rat' and I hope this piece sheds some light on the importance of all wildlife, despite the name we have assigned them. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? I started documenting field work with woodrats—actually translocations—in August of 2020. So, shooting took place over five years with the bulk of it taking place in 2024. I began editing full time in late summer 2024, and tried to do re-shoots and all the interviews in early 2025. Altogether the editing process took 18 solid months. I am one person and do all of the things: from research to writing, shooting and editing, it's a monumental task of dedication. ——— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Night security guard Tom monitors storage units in Chicago with only his chair and radio for company, until he witnesses regular tenant Mrs. Jones lead a man into her unit who mysteriously vanishes. Conversation with writer/director of the award-winning feature film SHIFT, Max Neace ——- Starring: Angela Alise, Cathleen Kaelyn, Rosanne Limeres Written & Directed by Max Neace Cinematographer: Robert Reed Altman Composer: Crystal Grooms Mangano Production Designer: Jevon Dismuke ——— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

GINNY'S ENTERPRISE, 18min., Canada Directed by Suzanne Marie Moreau She boldly goes where no girl has ever been allowed before! How a young Star Trek fan foils her family's restrictive roles for girls by becoming the Captain of her own starship. Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? I was motivated by my own coming of age experiences as a girl growing up in the sixties Cold War at a time when gender roles were strictly enforced by a generation traumatised by war. This origin story is a version of my own loss of innocence and a stark recognition of truth as an enigma. It is a reckoning of how I coped with injustice and intergenerational, complex trauma over a lifetime – like Ginny does in the film, at times inappropriately. The film is very meta. It's a path towards forgiveness of self and others, and of healing. It's how I found a way, through storytelling,to those who may have experienced their own version of trauma, to offer a glimmer of hope. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Ginny's Enterprise was one of several short screenplays I began writing in 2019. The screenplay was selected by Toronto and Montreal film festivals, and became a festival finalist in Vancouver, New York, Vienna and Paris, France in 2021. After launching my first short film, Blood Buddies (2022), I began pre-production in summer 2022 and wrapped filming in October that year. Ginny's Enterprise completed post-production and made its debut in film festivals in early 2023. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Guns in Paradise is a South Korea–set short film that blends fantasy, action, and romance through a metafictional lens. Trapped in routine, a DVD store clerk imagines a violent, passionate love story between two doomed assassins — unaware that the fantasy she's creating might hold the key to rewriting her own life. Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? In my recent projects, I've been deeply hands-on, taking on nearly every imaginable role within the filmmaking process. Over time, I've worn almost every hat—except one: set design. That gap stayed with me. Wanting to push myself further and expand my visual language, I decided to build a set for the first time. This wasn't just about learning a new skill. It was about deepening the knowledge I've accumulated over the years and becoming a more complete filmmaker. While I don't intend to keep doing everything myself forever—I'm very aware that this approach isn't sustainable long-term—I do believe strongly in understanding every department at a fundamental level. That understanding is what allows meaningful collaboration. When I work with seasoned professionals in the future, I want to communicate my vision clearly, elevate their strengths, and create work that feels unified rather than fragmented. That creative momentum was amplified when I acquired a dream camera: the Canon C700 shooting RAW. I've been a Canon user my entire life, and finding an affordable C700 at auction felt like a sign—fuel added to an already growing desire to create something ambitious and uncompromising in quality. At its core, this project is a love letter to cinema itself. It reflects my personal relationship with movies—the inspiration they've given me, the hope they still represent, and the quiet sadness I feel about the current state of the medium. It's both a tribute and a reckoning, born out of admiration, concern, and an enduring need to create. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?This project took two years to make. In general, my short films come together in about two months, featurettes take closer to two years, and full-length features require a minimum of four years. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Reach for the Stars, 22min., Australia Directed by Dylan Randall After her mother's passing, young Madeline is struggling with coming to terms with her grief. One night, when a small spacecraft crashes in her backyard, she meets B3R1, a stranded visitor from the stars. https://www.instagram.com/outatimepictures Director Statement Reach For the Stars is a project that I hold very close to my heart, as the idea came after the passing of my Grandad, and how my family and I dealt with the grief that followed. My film aims to be a light-hearted, wonder-filled adventure with emotional undertones that helps us explore the idea of how different people deal with loss, and how that can be overcome.When bringing this story to life, I was heavily inspired by the wonderful work of the ‘Industrial Light and Magic' studio and the puppets created for the original Star Wars, and I began to wonder how I could incorporate these techniques into my story. The emotional weight of this film is carried by B3R1, our little robot friend, while also bringing wonder to your screens. B3R1 acts as an emotional bridge for our audience to connect them to the story and to act as a sense of hope that people may need. Reach For the Stars is a heartfelt, nostalgic, science fiction tale that I hope brings you joy, wonder, and lets you know that it is okay to miss somebody, because that means you really loved them. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

After Sunset, 7min., USA Directed by Michael Blake Hudon A man, reeling after a serious breakup, reflects on his past relationship and finds a new perspective. https://www.instagram.com/aftersunsetfilm Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? I've loved movies for as long as I can remember. I finally decided to purse my passion and enrolled in The Los Angeles Film School's online Digital Filmmaking program in 2021. I was entering my final six months with the school and had to produce my final project. Writing has always been therapeutic for me, and I was going through a breakup at the time. I don't necessarily think I sat down and said let's make a movie out of it but I believe it was a more subconscious thing and I was searching for answers. From the idea to the finished project, how long did it take for you to make the film? Two years, which I'm not proud to state, but I've sure learned a lot. Most of that time was post-production. It's a really long story and we'd be all day but from pre-production through production, was four months. How would you describe your film in two words? Compassionate and reflective What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Gosh, so many. I'd say the answer would have to be the same that all filmmakers face- the money. Like many others before me, this project was almost entirely self-financed. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

A rag tag trio of criminals are tasked by the devil, to hunt down an outlaw trying to outrun his debt. https://www.instagram.com/nightielightie/ https://kmoore304.myportfolio.com/ What motivated you to make this film? This was my college thesis, and my passion project I have been working on for several years. What motivated me was the characters I crafted along the way, and ths wonderful preformances the Voice actors gave to the characters. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? It took me around 10-11 months of work. How would you describe your film in two words!? Questionable Protagonists What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? My biggest challenge was making time on top of other classes. As a transfer student my senior year I was doing 3-4 animation classes on top of my Thesis. So time management was super hard when you have to do over hundreds of frames for different projects. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process? That's difficult to say, as I love the whole process. But if I had to, I really enjoyed the pre-production, and the production. Once I get my idea I love to tweak and edit it. Polishing and getting all the assets and characters done. I want to say once I got the ok by my professor, I just ran off leash. Made tons of work for the pre-production book, as well as completing the backgrounds. ——- Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Conversation with writer/producer/actor Ashna Sharan & her acting team Wayne Jay & Roger Gutierrez on the making of the award-winning film REMINISCE. As Monica gets ready to host her older husband's college classmates, a phone call from her estranged sister puts her mind at unease. With the age gap and her questioning the one sacrifice she made for love, she feels like an outsider in her own home. As the evening continues, tensions run hot as truths come to light. After the friends leave, she questions the perfection of her marriage and the power imbalance as her loving husband struggles to rein her in. Project Links https://www.instagram.com/reminiscetheshortfilm/ https://www.facebook.com/reminiscetheshortfilm/ ——- Get to know Ashna Sharan: What motivated you to make this film? The original idea was for a feature film drama so I wrote a short film version in order to be able to get funding / show investors what the feature film would be about. The film is loosely inspired by my own life. I'm married to someone ten years older in real life. My husband and I both got judgment for the age gap, but we ended up deciding to move forward anyways. Having realized that it affected some of my friendships and relationships with others, I can only imagine what a large age gap like 25 or 30 years would do so that's why I exaggerated the age.  As for the professor-student relationship, my grandparents met in a student-tutor capacity so I tied that into the love story of Reminisce. Power imbalance and a generational gap amidst the #metoo movement added an interesting dynamic to the story.  From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? I had written it towards the end of 2023. We began casting in the spring and ended up doing a crowdfunding campaign over the summer. We shot it in October 2024 over two days in Los Angeles. Post-production was done by April 2025. So all in all, about a year and a half.  How would you describe your film in two words!? Layered and Lovely What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Casting for this was particularly tricky so Leslie Morris (the director) and I spent a lot of time with that. I was playing Monica and I had written the role of Brian for Wayne Jay. Since Diana and Patrick were Brian's friends from college, we had to cast people who looked like they could have gone to college with Wayne, but also had the chemistry of long-time friends. We received a lot of submissions so we did self-tapes, virtual callbacks and then an in-person chemistry read. Elisa Nixon and Roger Gutierrez were cast and they did a tremendous job.  ——- Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

BELONG TO YOU, 6min., Iceland Directed by Ísak Magnússon, Óliver Sólberg Belong to you follows a swimming pool employee who thinks about his relationship with his coworker on a quiet night. Hannah Ehman chats with actor Guðsteinn Fannar on the making of the award-winning film. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gudsteinnf/ Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/ Watch Hannah's commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman ——- Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Inspired by true events. Faced with terminal cancer, a beloved acting teacher rallies his favourite students one last time to stage his final play. What motivated you to make this film? It began with a group of close acting friends in London who wanted a project to work on together, purely for the joy of acting together again. The story itself is rooted in the loss of a dear acting teacher and mentor who passed away while we were rehearsing a play he had written for our troupe. At the time, none of us knew it would be his final work. When he died, what I felt most sharply was not only grief, but a creative rupture. He was someone who gave language to us as artists, and suddenly that voice was gone. I wrote The Last Rehearsal instinctively in response to that absence. It came from a simple question: who carries the work forward when a guiding voice disappears? The film became a meditation on unfinished work, mentorship, and artistic inheritance. It is inspired by true events, but it is not a literal retelling. A small number of my mentor's words to me appear as voiceover, used sparingly and with intention, not as explanation, but as presence. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take you to make this film? The script was written around seven years ago, at the very beginning of my writing journey. At the time, it was deeply personal, so I kept it private. About two years ago, a group of my acting friends and I were talking about wanting to collaborate again. One of the actors who went on to play the protagonist remembered the script clearly and strongly encouraged me to return to it. He championed it as the project we should make together, and that recognition became the catalyst for bringing The Last Rehearsal back to life. From there, the process moved very organically. We shot over five days, wrapping principal photography at the end of November 2023. We went into post-production in January 2024, and the film was completed in March 2025. From shoot to final delivery, the process took roughly a year and a half. How would you describe your film in two words? Unfinished inheritance. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Stepping fully into directing. I come from an acting background, and directing was not something I initially set out to do. It required trusting my instincts while holding the emotional and creative centre of the work. What made it possible was the generosity and trust and skills of the cast and a brilliantly supportive seasoned crew, who approached the material with care, intelligence and belief. —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

The famous actor comes to Herman in a dream, convincing him to make his feature “Bear Naked Amazonians from Mars.” If he makes the deadline, the film will take Best Feature at South by Southwest, making Herman an international celebrity. What motivated you to make this film? I was inspired by No Wave film  –  a movement from  NYC 1976-1982. In this style, you shoot it now. Before you even have a complete understanding of the story. You blast your way into the production and trust instincts. I thought this would be a great departure from my first narrative film, in which I was much more careful. I think in the future I will return to a more traditional, methodical plan, having learned what I needed in the process of making a No Wave inspired film.  From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you  to make this film? 18 weeks and two days from the first day of writing to the last shot of principal photography, then 18 months of editing and graphics, VFX, etc.  How would you describe your film in two words!? Hope High What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Other than time and money? Personalities. If even one cast member is not doing an indie film for the love of it, but rather from the money or career advancement it might bring, the whole cast and crew gets infected with negativity.  —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Music Video made entirely in Unreal Engine 5 for the song “BuddhaMachine=HMA” and based off of the short story “Rain Drops” The plot of the music video pulls and expands upon the short story, whose plot is as follows: a worn out detective in future Beijing attempts to solve a series of bizarre murders that involve a street drug called ‘Rain Drops', that purports to send people directly to heaven after use. What motivated you to make this film? After I finished my album, I planned on writing short stories for each of the songs. At the same time my fascination with the workflow and possibilities of Unreal Engine 5 started to grow. I work in film production and have seen people implement it before, but it never crossed my mind that I could do it. So one day the need for a music video crossed with the desire to learn a new skill/program, and I decided to embark on my Unreal Engine journey. I tried to keep it simple at first, use premade assets, touch them up here and there for specific shots. But mostly my goal was to learn the camera and rendering system and see if I could make something compelling and interesting with it. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? It took longer than I hoped! My day job is a sound mixer/designer and composer for film. I think from idea conception to final exports and uploads it took me about 9 months. I could only work on it in my spare time however so it took a while. How would you describe your film in two words!? Meditative Cyberpunk What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Besides learning a whole new workflow (I've never worked with a 3D rendering system or video game engine for that matter), I think the hardest part was understanding and utilizing UE5's complex rendering engine. It took many many tries in some cases to get it to pump out the shots I needed. Many YouTube tutorials were watched and many a coffee was drunk. —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

When a compassionate helpline counsellor begins to grow concerned for the safety of one of her clients, she's forced to decide whether to trust her instincts or follow protocol. Safe is a tense, quietly powerful drama about the weight of responsibility and the courage it takes to listen. Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? Honestly it started with the concept of showcasing our lead actress (Kelsey Cooke) and her talent – holding the audience attention and emotions as the sole person on-screen (supported by some incredible voice actors of course). Once we had the concept and decided how to approach it thematically, it became all about bringing authenticity to such a heavy topic and trying to do so in a way that did not feel exploitative but felt, informative and considered. I wrote the film alongside Kelsey Cooke who brought such depth to everything that we did. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? We had the concept in November 2024, but commitments on other projects meant we agreed to only start working on it at the end of January 2025. We wrote between February and March, applied for the Arts Council of the Isle of Man Short Film Fund and were awarded that in April. Location scouting on the isle took place shortly after with production in June and post production in July-August.  How would you describe your film in two words!? That's tough – and I think all of us will have different words for it but for me as director it would be: Vulnerable. Honest.  —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

An old man crosses the boundless Kazakh steppe, driving alone. Haunted by memories of a lost love, he stops by Bartogay Lake, flowers in hand. But as he tries to step out, his car door refuses to open, trapping him between past and present. https://www.instagram.com/kitsuney/ Answers from filmmaker Katya Mokolo: What motivated you to make this film? It was made from opportunity, I was in Kazakhstan for another project and seeing the country I couldn't miss this chance. 2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Scattered 5 weeks 2 weeks for the script 1 day of filming 1 week of editing 1 week of music  2 days of color grading 2 days of VFX 1 day of master and finalisation How would you describe your film in two words!? Melancholic hope What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Actually none, for once everything was smooth and all stars were aligned. —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

ACT 1 - DISCIPLE: EPISODE I OF THE HARMONY SAGA, 26min., USA Directed by Brad Reinhold The first act, reinterpreted by the director, of the award winning feature film Saga screenplays. Disciple; Episode I of the Harmony Saga is set 80,000 years after the disappearance of Earth. A Galactic Church rules the galaxy, enforcing dogma. Freedom fighters seek liberation. Samantha Sacre, a disciple of the Church, encounters something that will change the course of history forever, and must reconcile what she has learned with how she was taught and raised. This is only the beginning, and, as Sam says, "The best is yet to come." This mythopoetic journey into the far future challenges us to look beyond the surface of our realm, through the lens of a future civilization, and ask, "what does it all mean?" https://www.instagram.com/brad.reinhold —— Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj9bGNUIFdY A delightful blend of adventure and emotional depth, reminiscent of films like “Finding Nemo,” where the bond between characters drives the narrative through perilous waters. I thought of “The Shape of Water” as well, with its unique exploration of relationships between humans and extraordinary creatures, creating a sense of wonder and connection. Additionally, “A Monster Calls” came to mind, as it beautifully intertwines fantastical elements Get to know the writer: What is your screenplay about? The screenplay is about Gilly, a decades old, extremely intelligent Giant Pacific Octopus who lives in the Mermaid's Cave in Oahu where she has been gifted an information hub by her marine biologist friend. As time passes, Gilly enhances her ability to shape shift and learns how to communicate. In present day, she saves a government agent who is drowning in the ocean. Their relationship is at the center of the character driven story which unfolds like a chaotic, humorous, fast paced rollercoaster. It climaxes with Gilly and her new found friends saving the Arizona Memorial from attack from North Korea's marine biology program. What genres does your screenplay fall under? My story fits the following genres: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thriller, Comedy, with slight traces of Horror. It is suitable for all ages. It can be animated, use live actors, or be a combination of both. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? I have received extremely positive feedback from multiple industry evaluators. I will use the review by the International Screenwriters' Association to answer this question. “The project presents a distinctive blend of science fiction and emotional drama, anchored by the unlikely relationship between Slip, a disillusioned former agent, and an intelligent, shapeshifting octopus named Gilly. Their connection provides both the narrative's emotional center and its conceptual novelty, exploring trust, survival, and empathy in an unconventional yet interesting context. The tone operates in a deliberately hybrid register, merging high-concept science fiction with a light, often self-aware humor. In its best moments, this tonal elasticity creates a sense of discovery and curiosity, it allows for levity in scenes that might otherwise risk melodrama. The concept itself, an intelligent, shapeshifting octopus that engages with humanity, is imaginative and commercially distinctive, particularly in a cinematic landscape with familiar properties. What makes it notable is not simply its novelty but its potential for visual and tonal contrast, the serene oceanic imagery juxtaposed with covert operations, and the organic intelligence of a sea creature contrasted with human technology. Overall, this screenplay's originality and emotional core position it as a distinctive and engaging piece with strong cinematic potential.” Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Wukong Couriers, 15min., USA Directed by Peter Gabriel Gagnon An unwitting bicycle messenger is chosen as the mystical hero to save the city from an ancient horror. www.instagram.com/wukong_couriers Hannah Ehman chats with actor Kage Yami on the making of the award-winning film. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kageyami11/ Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/ Watch Hannah's commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman Subscribe to the podcast: Tweets by wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

A broken home, a broken mind. Will love overcome the difficulties Alyssa and Richard face? Conversation with the Film Team of the Horror Film “TRIpolar” Director Rogelio Robles, Actor Paul Fisher, DP Matthew Miller ——— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

MARA, 18min., USA, Horror/Thriller After years spent recovering from a botched exorcism, Jake prepares to reintegrate into society. However, the mounting pressures of everyday existence trigger a harrowing regression back into madness. https://www.instagram.com/scompassstudios/ Hannah Ehman chats with actress Mindy Smith about playing Dr. Andi Howell in the award-winning Horror Short Film MARA. —— Follow Interviewer Hannah Ehman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ehmanhannah/ Watch Hannah's commercial spots: https://www.ispot.tv/topic/actor-actress/bP8/hannah-ehman Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod/ https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch the Screenplay Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz6Xi_bkTbE When a troubled teen's wish to make everyone disappear comes true, she risks losing them permanently and must rely on an unlikely ally to save her town – the school bully. Get to know the writer: What is your screenplay about? It's about a teenage girl who gets bullied at school and is in a very dark place at the beginning of the story. She gets in a fight with her mother and in the heat of the moment, she wishes everyone would disappear. Little does she know that her wish instantly becomes true. She has to navigate through her new world and come to terms with herself and the other people in her life before she can move on. What genres does your screenplay fall under? coming of age, fantasy, drama Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? I think a lot of young people can relate to the feelings of isolationism, grief, and trauma early in life that this movie presents. The lead character also deals with a lot of loneliness. Sometimes that loneliness is desired and wanted and sometimes it makes her wish for someone to be with her. It shows that our feelings are changing on a daily basis and don't evolve in a neat linear pattern. I think ultimately what this movie expresses is that having these feelings is normal and takes time to sort out. Hope is around the corner even in our darkest hour. ———— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Always and Forever, 22min., USA Directed by Johnny Thames An obsessive, controlling teenager kidnaps her boyfriend to play a bizarre, self destructive game. But things become complicated when the boy demands a stop. The film comments on how trauma if not confronted and resolved will lead to co-dependent and potentially destructive results, while providing enough empathy toward accountability. https://www.instagram.com/alwaysnforever_film Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? In all honesty, it was a couple of things: the main reason was the way we perceive trauma survivors and the way media depicts these types of stories. We either view them as calm and composed or emotional messes. Additionally, many stories often depict survivors as infantilized victims needing help or as inherent monsters. The point of the film was to show it's not black and white, it's usually somewhere in the middle of all of this. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? From development to post-production, about a year and a half on and off. How would you describe your film in two words!? Empathetic critique What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? The biggest obstacle was the casting of Jennifer Baufour as Janice: When I first saw her tape, it stood out to me; I thought she understood the character, so I opted to cast her. The only issue was that the role wasn't fully realized. In response, I wrote the epilogue that plays over the credits, leaning into the nuance the film was going for. Writing the monologue was almost instantaneous, showcasing a woman who had gone through the effects of unresolved trauma and was now trying to make up for the consequences while being the parent she should've been years ago. ———— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

After a concert flyer turned paper airplane lands into the laps of two kid sisters, they infiltrate the venue to find a mindless mosh crowding a supernatural bathroom. Music video for ‘Buddha Was A Rich Boy' by That Handsome Devil What motivated you to make this film? We all have friends that have ideas for films they want to direct. My friends not acting on their ideas after years of me cheerleading them led me to saying, “fuck it”, and maxing out two credit cards to make two music videos with That Handsome Devil in one weekend. There's no lead-up to our death. It's just going to happen one day to all of us. Anyone wasting the time we aren't guaranteed drives me crazy.  From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? To keep up with the release of their album, Exploitopia, there were maybe 5 months tops on the calendar. In that 5 months, maybe two weeks of it was spent putting this baby together.  ———— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Don't forget to smile, 8min., North Macedonia Teacher that's teaching kids to smile in a post a dystopic school. Get to know filmmaker David Dulev: What motivated you to make this film? The initial motivation for this movie was the fact that i needed to graduate college and a short film was part of the final exam, that aside i felt like i wanted to give my thoughts on the pandemic and human emotions in general and i got lucky that my friend Onur had a script with that idea already built. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Technically 3 and a half years since the first time i heard the idea, although a solid one and a half year was idle spent just thinking about it because of both me and Onur being busy with work, after that we discussed possible ideas for the final script for a couple of months and finally brought up the idea withthe rest of the crew. After a few more months in pre production we were finally ready to shoot. How would you describe your film in two words!? Absolute Cinema! =) ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6h3AqETajg Inspired by the Great Fire of Chicago 1871 following the investigation of Mrs O'Leary, a woman the newspapers blamed for starting the fire that spread all the way to Lincoln Park. Get to know the writer: What is your screenplay about? My screenplay is about Catherine O'Leary, the Irish milkmaid unjustly accused of starting Chicago's “Great Fire” of 1871. As she fights to clear her name, she discovers the true culprit of the fire and faces an agonizing choice. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Historical fiction; thriller. Why should this screenplay be made into a movie? “Mrs. O'Leary” should be made into a movie because it's about a 19th-century “cancel culture” that 21st-century audiences would recognize. The story transcends region and period. “Mrs. O'Leary” is set 155 years ago, and yet the Chicago world of 1871 isn't so diffrent from our own — a world where vulnerable people are “othered” due to their homeland or accent and where they can wither under stronger forces that are determined to cast blame for a social problem. ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Melbourne Hopak is part of the Lehenda Film series. The origins of Lehenda's film series can be traced back to the global Covid-19 lockdowns—a time when theatres were dark, stages silent, and traditional forms of cultural expression temporarily out of reach. Faced with the absence of live performance, we turned to film as a new medium to preserve and express our identity as Australian Ukrainians. What motivated you to make this film? The idea for the Lehenda film series was born in during the Covid-19 lockdowns—a time when theatres were dark, stages silent, and our traditional forms of cultural expression temporarily out of reach. Being based in Melbourne, which was said to be the most locked down city in the world we turned to film as a new medium to preserve and express our identity as Australian Ukrainians. Our first project emerged from the golden wheat fields of Avoca, Victoria—a quiet yet powerful setting that echoed our connection to land, heritage, and memory. What began as a necessity quickly evolved into something much deeper: a cinematic exploration of who we are, and what it means to carry Ukrainian culture in an Australian landscape. Moved by the response to that initial work, we expanded our vision. We chose to reimagine Hopak, Ukraine's most iconic and spirited dance, within the urban heart of Melbourne. This contrast between the rural and the metropolitan, between tradition and reinterpretation, became the cornerstone of our approach. These films are not just documents of performance—they are cultural artefacts. They preserve memory, convey identity, and explore the dualities that shape our diasporic experience. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? We revisited the idea when we were in a bit of a creative slump earlier this year (2025) and we filmed it in late June. A lot of the pre work we had done in 2021 when we tried to film it, but the COVID restrictions still didn't allow us too. We ended up starting with a rural piece which was achievable at the time, and we picked up where we left off with this film in April this year. ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

A woman who loves eggs but one day, she is haunted by an egg monster. What motivated you to make this film? My name is Bao and Eggsecution is a film born out of my love for eggs and eating eggs. My grandmother has always berated me for eating way too many eggs a human being could handle and often chided me for doing so, warning that one day i would gain an allergy from doing so. When i moved here to the states from Singapore, i was given free liberty to eat all the eggs i wanted since i was no longer living with my family. in that way, i was unleashed. But there was always a nagging feeling at the back of my head telling me that maybe theres some wrong in eating so many eggs a day. Hence, this film was born from that fear that was ingrained in me since young. And because  I love horror and genre so much, i decided to put a fun twist into both the visuals and story of this film.  From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? The film roughly had a timeline of 6 to 8 months. Because of the support from American Film Institute., I was allowed access to shoot on 35mm film – the Panavision Millennium xl2, 3 perf and in addition, with the support and generous donation from Kodak, we shot on 50D celluloid film – which was an amazing opportunity. My facility head and mentors, Stephen Lighthill, Sandra Valde-Handsen and Sara Ross Samko were very supportive of the original pitch for my visual essay and we eventually had to tailor it down to smaller ideas and smaller spaces due to budgetary and location restraints. But i am still extremely proud of the team that managed to make this happen! Thank you for selecting Eggsecution as part of your line up in the Experimental Film Festival!  How would you describe your film in two words!? Disgusting and Delicious!  What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? One of the biggest obstacles i faced was budgetary restraints. Because this film was self funded and i knew i was not working at that time, i had to save and set aside a workable budget for my film. Though equipment was provided by AFI, it was still a big project considering that i wanted to use SFX and practical effects and costume changes, along with the build of the monster in the film. My costume designer – Kai Burns and my SFX artist – Daniel Sukara were the MVPs, coming down to AFI to do countless tests to make sure the colours of the wigs, gooey, eggs and monsters were of the right shades of colour and effects could work seamlessly.  ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Temporal Takedown, 8min., Norway Directed by Martin Sofiedal A woman with mysterious time freezing powers infiltrate a dirty car workshop in hopes of gaining information about a nefarious gangster. The mechanics are not compliant to her request and an epic and time-bending fight ensues. https://www.instagram.com/directorsofiedal/ Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? I love action, especially close quarter hand to hand action (The Raid-films are a big influence). I want to do a proper action film in that vein, but prior to this short film I had only dabbled in action set-pieces. I wanted to challenge myself and really spend alot of time to do a really proper action set-piece. It is always easy to say you want to do a an action film, but if you don't have any experience with it it is harder to sell yourself as an action-director. So I wanted to do this short film as a sort of proof-of-ability in a sense, mostly proving to myself that I am able to do it. If I succeeded is another story, I will have to let the audience decide that part From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? From inception to finished film it took roughly two years, but it must said that this was a major side project for everyone involved, so we had to work on the film whenever everyone had time. Had it been a fully financed film I imagine the time would be significantly shorter. How would you describe your film in two words!? Temporally kickass What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Scheduling. When you do a film like this, with big ambitions but basically no budget, you have to rely on peoples time, which is challenging when you work with talented and busy people, both in front and behind the camera What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? It was really fun, it is always great to hear people respond positively to your work, and here you get to hear specific things people respond to. A compliment is always nice, but a specific and analytical compliment is even better. You feel even more seen that way, since you put some much time and effort in details whenever you make a film, and to hear people see those details and explain how it made the film experience greater because of them is really lovely. ----- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Jaz is an agency worker given a simple task, to stay overnight at a student housing accommodation. There are just two problems; the weird lighting, and the unexpected coworker. https://www.instagram.com/BarnabusWalsh What motivated you to make this film? I've been in love with horror films since I was far too young to be in love with them (namely A Nightmare on Elm Street, I got in young enough to consider Freddy's Dead a highlight of the series.) The full-length version of The Lights was born when I grew tired of horror protagonists never being believed in their films, and wanted to create something where they actually had a support network. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? From the original idea? It's probably been seven years, after I met the best leading lady you could ask for in Fern Taylor. For the short film itself, between one and two years. How would you describe your film in two words!? Weird Lights. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Our DoP/Cinematographer/Technical Boy Ash Betton is also in a pretty successful band and was called away to the other end of the country after the session musician his band was using dropped out. Thankfully we had a fairly long scene with a fairly simple set-up to shoot next and our Sound Operator Lauren Stokes knew Josh Bowker, who was more than happy to help out. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development. Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution. What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process? I think development was the only one without the looming threat of insanity or a mental breakdown so by process of elimination it would be that one. I like to wear a lot of different hats but if I could only do one part of the filmmaking process going forward, it would be writing. ----- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Conversation with the co-writer/co-director and star of the award-winning short film MEMORIA OBSCURA. Connor takes a deep dive as his experiences working as an actor in Los Angeles and auditioning for roles, and how he collaborated with co-director David Christopher Nelson on this film. ——- Memoria Obscura, 5min., USA Directed by David Christopher Nelson, Connor Ryan In a world where memory erasure is a legitimate industry, the underground black market known as Memoria Obscura serves as a hub for stolen and repurposed memories. Get to know Connor Ryan What motivated you to make this film? My motivation comes from multiple aspects. I've always wanted to collaborate with Dave, which was a major reason. Beyond that, I want to create films I believe are currently missing in the industry and bring back the 80s–90s cinema I grew up with. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? About a year and a half. How would you describe your film in two words!? Connor: Bad Ass What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Connor: The biggest challenge was the final scene. Dave and I spent months refining it to get the look and ending just right. Once Dave composited the background, everything clicked, and we successfully landed the ending. ----- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Requital, 3min,. UK Directed by Ande Case A short Animation of how history repeats itself. Frustratingly. Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? The original idea was from my partner who talked about history repeating itself. We despise inequality, that people so wealthy they will never want for anything still end up being so cruel and disgusting. The worst of us. They have the ability to end hunger, disease, homelessness yet they always end up being fascists who only want to visit cruelty upon others. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? About 6 months from script to final version as Lucy, the animator, was very kindly developing this film in between all the other work she had on and, due to budget, we had to rethink some scenes and visuals. How would you describe your film in two words!? History Repeats. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Finance, it's always finance. I have reached a point where ‘funding streams' are some fairy tale old filmmakers tell newbies about how good it was in their day ----- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Terrence and Aisha hesitate to forfeit aspects of their relationship after a recent breakup. As their continued bond begins to threaten new relationships, they are forced to confront their willingness to move forward. What motivated you to make this film? I originally wrote and directed the first edition of “When It's Over” in 2019. While that short film was semi-autobiographical, I was intrigued by the idea of a narrative that focuses on how the characters deal with the aftermath of a relationship. With that central idea in mind, I crafted this version of the film to explore what happens when two exes refuse to cut ties completely and the different ways their decision could affect both them and the people around them.  From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? I began plotting out the idea and characters in late 2018, and the film premiered in 2022.  How would you describe your film in two words!?  Sneaky Familiarity… What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? During post-production, I almost lost the entire film when the drive holding all of my files suddenly crashed. I was on the verge of a panic attack, as I was worried that all of the work I had done over the course of 4 years was swirling down the drain (not to mention all of the amazing contributions from the actors!). Luckily, I was able to salvage all of the files with the gracious support of the good folks at Best Buy's Geek Squad! In general, post-production and editing was by far the biggest challenge. The writing came naturally, and directing was fun because I already had a pretty clear vision in mind. Putting all the pieces together in post was taxing not only because it's tedious work, but because I felt a lot of pressure to get it right for the sake of all the work I'd already invested in making the film. In the end, though, a valuable lesson was learned: make sure you back up every file! ----- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

BEAUTIFUL DISASTERS, 14min., USA Directed by Trisha Lynn Furhman Of all people exotic dancers understand money can't buy happiness. So where does it come from? This question sets Robin on a personal journey that takes her deep inside her desires and across the country; encountering hurricanes and personal loss of people she thought were just clients and coworkers. These events cause her to accept some hard truths not only about herself, but also about her industry. Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? This story needed to be told to help remove the stigma from exotic dancing. Not everyone who dances is doing it as a side hustle to prostitution or to scam men out of thousands of dollars. We are performers in every sense of the word; we are here to entertain people in our magical world where problems and inhibitions are left at the door. Strippers are perfectly capable sales professionals who capitalize on gender roles while exploiting society's natural appetite for the female body and attention. Because of our job we are comfortable with nakedness and naturally shy away from honesty for the safety of ourselves and our families. This is out of the norm and incredibly intriguing to the outsiders, therefore my goal was to bring in outsiders and help them understand exotic dancers because I feel that if we all just took the time to listen to one another we would be able to grow closer and stronger. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? I started pre-production in May of 2020 and finished post-production June of 2025; 5 years and 1 month. How would you describe your film in two words!? Unhinged….Raw What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? I might be my biggest obstacle. Being a post production crew of 1 there was no one to be accountable to, no one was waiting on me to finish my part so they could do theirs. No investors asking for an update or pressuring me to provide a return on their investment. There was just me and the commitment I made to myself that everyday I'd do something to progress my film forward, one step everyday toward my goal. ----- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Nothing Sticks, 1min., Netherlands Directed by Roze Elisa, Kuba Szutkowski What motivated you to make this film? I wanted to make something funny that we can all relate to – awkward dates and missed opportunities. I signed up for a 1-min film challenge, got selected and developed the awkward dance between the two along the way. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? About 2 months. The actual sourcing a crew, filming, editing and making it ready only took a month. How would you describe your film in two words!? Missed opportunity What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Getting the perfect crew in the timeline we had: a month. I wanted this to be as good as it could be, and we all know that the crew makes the movie. I ended up with incredible people, and I am very grateful. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video? So fun!! Really glad to hear the words “relatable” and “funny”. That was actually what we wanted and seeing that people can relate is a blessing and a curse (we all want you to have good dates!). —- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Come the Nightfall, 23min,. USA Directed by Tom Michaels A wealthy licentious offers a lift to a beautiful femme fatale in the middle of a deserted road with a shocking aftermath. http://www.orzelfilms.com/ —- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

My project, “Pieces of Me”, is a self-reflection of my emotional journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance. There are always moments in life where we feel confident we can complete something, but then encounter an obstacle and feel self-doubt. Eventually, we accept the weaknesses in ourselves, overcome the obstacle and gain confidence again. What motivated you to make this film? Coming from a medical background, it took a tremendous amount of effort to transition into the design and animation field. There were many moments when I struggled to keep up with other artists and questioned whether I belonged in this industry. That emotional vulnerability during periods of transition is what inspired the film. It became a way for me to express how self-identity can shift, break, and ultimately reform throughpersonal experiences—showing that every struggle contributed to shaping me into the stronger person I am today. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Took me quite some time! I illustrated and animated the textures, and this part of the process required the most effort. Overall, the film took about three months to complete. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? I guess the biggest challenge was figuring out the transitions. I designed each frame individually based on the script, so connecting them in a way that felt coherent and emotionally fluid was difficult. I ran intoseveral technical hurdles when animating, which added to the complexity. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Cats Cradle is inspired by the Greek myth Ariadne and her journey from Crete to Naxos. Like The Fates, she is associated with the symbol of the thread, which she uses to help Theseus kill the Minotaur. Central to Ariadne's story is her deification, her transcendence from mortal to divine through a union with Dionysus. By revisiting this ancient myth, Cats Cradle invites viewers to reflect on how they navigate their own inner labyrinths of identity and transformation. https://www.instagram.com/allysonglennart/ https://www.facebook.com/allyson.glenn.1/ What motivated you to make this film? I was preparing for a solo art exhibition called Date with Hermes: Journeying between Dreams and Reality for the Vorres Museum in Greece (2024). The curator, Dr. Katerina Pizania, suggested I create an animation to connect the Greek myth themes. While the show focused on large-scale paintings and works on paper, the film became a companion piece to my series on Ariadne and Dionysus. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? I only had two months to develop the animation for the first exhibition, so the first version was more of an “outline.”Completing the film took a year and a half. How would you describe your film in two words!? Intense! What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Time! As a full-time Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, I worked on the animation during weekends with invaluable help from students and alumni. ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Film Synopsis: After serving time in prison for a crime that shattered her family, a mother returns to reconnect with her estranged daughter for the first time in fifteen years, only to realize that her daughter is on the verge of moving overseas to start her own family. https://www.instagram.com/heavensapartfilm/ What motivated you to make this film? It initially started with me, wanting to challenge myself to craft a short film with emotional depth and compelling characters. As a director, I am always interested in exploring relationships on-screen in unconventional settings. I also had almost nothing to show for my work before that other than a short 3-minute scene I directed during COVID, so I was eager to prove myself. After brainstorming, I became interested in exploring the theme of forgiveness and the relationship between a mother and a daughter. As the script developed, I felt a deep connection to the story, and that further pushed me to make the film. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? The screenplay itself took me almost 10 months to write and re-write. The pre-production and production were about 6 months due to so many scheduling conflicts, and post-production for about 6 months. So almost two years!  Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

NAFKOT - YEARNING, 70min., Israel, Documentary Directed by Malka Shabtay An Israeli anthropologist traveling to meet a hidden Jewish community in north Ethiopia. Together they telling their special story of survival Abera, a young artist joins to discover what has been hidden from him Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? I worked with the community two years before we did the film. i did my research to understand their story..and after two years they were ready to share their story with the world. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Since we started the shooting until completing it took very intensive two years. How would you describe your film in two words!? Life mission What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? The biggest obstacle is to do a film with a hidden community, oppressed and full of fear. to get their trust and collaboration and belief that the film will help in their struggle. —— Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Director Statement on HANDYMAN Handyman was born from a reflection on what it means to help others and still feel misunderstood. It's a film about strength, not the kind that dominates, but the kind that endures and gives. Children play a central role in that vision; they see people as they are, without judgment, and remind us what empathy really means. At its heart, Handyman is about the passing of the torch, the moment when resilience becomes legacy, and when care becomes connection. https://www.instagram.com/thomas_faccini_/ ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Turmoil – Chapter One, 6min., Lebanon Directed by Sary Andre El Asmar A young woman lives between two worlds: Europe, where she's built a life, and Lebanon, the home she can't stop longing for. Torn between memory and desire, she drifts back and forth, riding the emotional rollercoaster of exile, identity, and belonging. Get to know the filmmaker: What motivated you to make this film? What motivated me to make this film was the complex feeling of belonging and displacement that many Lebanese expats carry. I started filming randomly with no clear plan.When my friend, who lives in Germany, came back to Lebanon we spent many days together, and after that i began to sense the constant push and pull, the urge to return to her home but at the same time the desire to leave again. For me home is where your roots are, but it's also where safety feels uncertain. The film became a reflection of living between two places, two lives, and two versions of what “home” means. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? Well actually, I have been shooting randomly for about 1 year and a half. I am a sea lover and mountain lover. So I used to shoot randomly every time I went out. But the idea of putting those shots into the final product took me like 3 months. How would you describe your film in two words!? Wandering Roots What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film? Emotional breakdowns There are 5 Stages of Filmmaking: 1) Development. 2) Pre-Production. 3) Production. 4) Post-Production. 5) Distribution.What is your favorite stage of the process and why? 4) Post-Production because this process is where the real story telling happens , where I can put all my emotions and meanings to start to take shape. ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Lana Tong, a tour guide who migrated to Hong Kong less than a decade ago, guides audiences through a post-pandemic Hong Kong undergoing rapid shifts in its political and socio-cultural landscape. Her journey is disrupted by two disembodied voices—native narrators steeped in Hong Kong's 80s to 00s ethos. Offering corrections rooted in a native perspective and drawing from their upbringing in Hong Kong's 80s to 00s milieu, they recount the city's geography and the values of freedom championed by earlier generations, paradoxically steering Lana to rediscover the city through their lens. Amid the tides of time, questions arise: Can a city's soul survive relentless tides of change? Will its people cling to inherited ideals, flee, or forge new meaning from the fragments? What motivated you to make this film?  This film was born out of a need to hold onto fleeting moments in Hong Kong, moments that felt especially fragile during the severe pandemic and political upheaval of 2021. Homebound with my partner, we found ourselves reminiscing about childhood and quietly mourning how the stories that shaped us seemed to be dissolving, not only through the passage of time, but also because of the shifting political landscape in Hong Kong. In response, I began filming the city's landscape and eventually created this short film.  From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?  The script and dialogue were written at the very beginning, but the images were filmed gradually over four years—from the lockdown to the reopening of the city. I wandered with a handheld camera and sound recorder, capturing fragments of memory from crowded streets to the city's border, trying to sketch a map of change through rapidly shifting visuals and evolving soundscapes.  How would you describe your film in two words!?  Questioning identity.  What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?   The biggest difficulty lies in the relevance of the content over time. Since the text was written four years ago, some of the topics became outdated during production. I even considered amending or removing those parts. Interestingly, some of these outdated issues have now become cross-generational matters, so I decided to keep the original script.  ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod

Conversation with Abigail Espinal about her winning short screenplay MANTEL, and her winning film from the Under 5 Minute Festival, QUEER STUDY. Queer Study, 4min., USA A hopeless romantic tries to figure out if her best friend is gay in the worst ways possible. https://www.instagram.com/abigailespinal1/ ---- Subscribe to the podcast: https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod https://www.instagram.com/wildsoundpod https://www.facebook.com/wildsoundpod