The Contest

The Memory Booth

September 2007 •English

A young man visits the memory booth to recall his childhood and the accident in which he lost his parents during a journey to a beach house.

The East Wind

January 1975 •Arabic

Set in the mid-1950s when Tangier was still an international zone, El Chergui presents the city on the eve of its independence, as Aïcha resorts to magical practices to try to prevent her husband from taking a second wife. Around her, a society of women creates its own form of active resistance even as the larger independence movement grows around it. Through his unique use of montage, Smihi creates arresting images that present a society torn by the contradictions of colonialism, religion, patriarchy, and resistance. (Block Cinema)

Tehdy spolu

June 2017 •Czech

Fragi - Away from Happiness

July 1984 •Russian

Biopic about legendary Turkmen philosopher and poet, Makhtoumkuli, who was also known as Fragi.

Little Angel, Make Me Happy

September 1993 •Russian

A social drama. The period of the Second World War in Turkmenia. In Central Asia the deportation program of the Soviet citizens of German origin begins. All adults are taken to camps in Siberia and children are put in orphanages. The six-year old Georg hides from the Red soldiers and finds himself left almost alone in his, now abandoned, German village. The horrifying reality sets in. The daily routine of his life is shocking: What to eat? How to take care of his sick friend Yashka? How to bury Aunt Lisa? Under these inhuman circumstances, the soul of Georg remains miraculously uncorrupt – he still believes in Little Angel from a children’s song, and he makes a nest for it in a tree. A miracle takes place: sometimes a glass of milk is left for Georg in the nest; sometimes an ear of corn...

Živý bič

January 1967 •Slovak

A film about the dramatic lives ofthe people of the village of Ráztoka during WW I. Women are left without husbands, families fall apart, finding themselves on the verge of poverty. Eva, the main heroine, is going through difficulties after her husband was drafted to the army. Her defilement and her tragic death cause a rebellion by which the village inhabitants finally stand up against their unbearable situation.

Denomination: Sorrow

September 2019 •English

A short poem from the perspective of a non-believer, that questions the realism of religious creation, using basic emotions as a motif.

How I See Sunsets

August 2017 •English

A poetic, semi-autobiographical short film of the sun setting over a village, shot from behind the curtains of a small, dimly lit room.

A Wreath of Sonnets

September 1977 •Russian

A story of two boys who obstinately, in spite of everything and everyone run to the front when the war was almost over.

Mankurt

January 1990 •Turkmen

The film is about a Turkmen who defends his homeland from invasion. He is captured, tortured, and brainwashed into serving his homeland's conquerors. He is so completely turned that he kills his mother when she attempts to rescue him from captivity.

Atlan

September 2015 •Persian

In Turkmen language, Atlan means "mount a horse and depart". Horse is the most important element in the life of Iranian Turkmen. That's why courses are some of the most significant social events in their land, Turkmen Sahara. Turkmen Sahara is a region in north eastern Iran and is homeland to Iranian Turkmen. Ali is a Turkman with his life, like many of his peers', intertwined with courses. Now his wedding depends on his success in courses. This documentary film is about Iranian horses.

Coalesce

Invalid date •English

In 2020, the World was closed. Life got cancelled. People were struggling. Here’s an emotional and entertaining true story shot live, during the pandemic, about courageous people who came together, despite the risk, to share their love with one another. The film opens in Times Square on NYE 2020. Everything seemed right with the World. Fast-forward six months into the pandemic, hundreds of artists from all different performance art genres are invited to come together over the course of several consecutive days, culminating in a group costume parade event on 10/10/2020 to witness the only live performances happening ANYWHERE. The goal was to lift each other's spirits during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. There were over a dozen genres represented including acrobatics, live music, magic, dance, and even a wedding. Dozens of unscripted live interviews were recorded and the event proved a huge success. The film captures the rawness of what it was like living during this unprecedented time.

How to Hold a Cloud to the Ground

July 2019 •Portuguese

What happens after THE END? The fable of Isabela, a phantasmagorical journey of a girl searching for her true self.

Yesterday and Forever

January 1985 •Lithuanian

A poetic film about ancient Lithuanian traditions and rituals.

When a Woman Saddles a Horse

January 1974 •Russian

Biographical film about Eyne Kuliyeva, who was the first woman to be the head of a local governance in 1920s Soviet Turkmenistan.

Teenage Fever

February 2018 •French

Lacuna

October 2020 •German

The portrait of two young women – a loving team that complements each other with all their habits and rituals like two puzzle pieces. This is a declaration of love of a couple – a snapshot of their present and a speculation about our future, because what could happen if a piece of the puzzle is suddenly taken away?

Transitional Seasons

February 2020 •Italian

A young couple gets ready for a ceremony. Emilia is not dressed yet and Pietro is struggling with his tie and also very annoyed about a speech he has to give. While they talk around their house, time travels back and forth revealing different phases of their life.

Visions

April 2015 •English

In split screen we see both a utopian and a dystopian day in the life of a girl called Sam.

The Opposite of Life

March 2017 •Italian

The story of a boy who dreams to be an actor but fate has other plans for him. He will see his life flowing and changing in unexpected ways.