Collective film created in the framework of the program Cinema en curs
Spain

“Exquisitely patient and quietly moving, this collaborative piece was created by a group of 16 to 23 year olds who recently migrated to Barcelona from various countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia. They interview a series of older folks who themselves migrated to Barcelona, which causes the youth to reflect on their own stories in a new light. The deceptively simple structure creates poetic reflections on home, nature, and family that nourish the soul with their beauty.”

On the Road

Olivia De Camps - 22
Dominican Republic

“Sirena is a special film with a unique sense of place and character; only on rare occasions will a short film create such a fleshed out, lived-in world within the confines of its runtime. Every moment, ravishing visual, and audio cue creates an organic sensorial experience that never distracts from the moving story that illustrates the complex patriarchal dynamics that leave Caribbean women feeling disempowered. In my mind, this also joins the ranks of the great motor scooter films (a favorite sub-genre of mine).”

Closing Night

Philip Thompson - 23
NY, USA

“What happens when real emotions disrupt our regularly scheduled programming? Should we maintain the laugh track or give in to the invasion of the real? I was completely captivated by the design of this film, which emulates a sitcom and then dissolves into a lo-fi documentary collage of memory and emotion. The unforgettable visual texture combined with the uncanny recreation of the televisual world sheds a unique light on the relationship between media, memory, and mental health.”

Experimental Visions

Jesse Vela - 21
CA, USA

“As with the best experimental cinema, I found many of my own preconceptions about cinema challenged with this film. I was left with a range of emotions from wonder, frustration, nostalgia, and above all else: admiration. The filmmaker interviewed their mother across great geographic distance, subsequently dressed up as her to record a mock interview, then fed the staged interview and some photos into an AI system to create a new, fused recreation of their mother. The results are a compelling and utterly unique depiction of memory.”

Experimental Visions

Julia Hogg - 21
Canada

“I always relish being able to spend time with people who are experts in extremely niche areas, as it showcases the unbelievable breadth of the human experience. This film takes this obsession to a new level, following those who specialize in competitive pigeon racing. We spend time with everyone from old time members of the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union to a 12 year old who represents the next generation of pigeon racers. Please let me join your collective!”

Passionate Pursuits