Shorts Live-Action Competition 4

Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Live-Action Competition

The 2023 International Live Action Competition rages in the light of an unjust world. It abhors cruelty, rallies against war and suffering and screams long into the night about the broken systems and rampant prejudice that seem to be part and parcel of a modern world. Yet it also speaks of love and the promise it can hold for a better future. That there can be safety found in friendship and family. That we can transcend hate. That hope always exists for us to be better than we are.
Some of the films here dwell in the realms of the serene, offering careful examinations of the human condition. Others come straight for us, a riotous mix of sound, colour and fury making us look at the world anew.
There’s tremendous diversity, a myriad of styles, techniques and stories all making us look at the world in different ways. In a world that is often typified by chaos and the unknown, all these shorts help make us understand the world just a little better as they titillate our senses and excite our minds.

Screenings

Hall 2 Kino Artis
Screening082201 / Shorts lühifilmi võistlusprogramm 4
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Trailer

Films

European premiere

Sweatshop Girl

Local title
Vabrikutüdruk
Original title
Chica de fábrica
Director
Selma Cervantes
Country
Mexico
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Live-Action Competition

Inés works as a seamstress in a sweatshop where pregnancy tests are periodically administered. When she becomes pregnant, she is sure that her condition will get her fired. She does everything she can to keep it a secret.

During the first months of pregnancy, Ines is forced to falsify the test results with the complicity of a co-worker. When her accomplice is absent on the day of the new medical test, Inés spends the day trying to find way to keep her job.

Director
Selma Cervantes
Runtime
Language
Spanish
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Animal Transport

Local title
Loomavedu
Original title
Carga Animal
Director
Iván Bustinduy
Country
Argentina
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Live-Action Competition

A man returns to his job in a company that transports animals. On his first trip, one of the cages doesn't seem to be carrying what it should. The mystery lurking in his truck pushes him to the limit of his own sanity.

Director
Iván Bustinduy
Runtime
Language
Spanish
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Grill

Local title
Grill
Original title
Grill
Director
Jade Aksnes
Country
Norway
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Live-Action Competition

Tara is denied electricity bill support by Social Services, who tells her to simply get a free grill instead.

Inspired by true events, this short film offers a satirical look at how a rich country in Scandinavia deals with poverty.

Director
Jade Aksnes
Runtime
Language
Norwegian
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

Cross My Heart And Hope To Die

Local title
Vannun oma elu nimel
Original title
Cross My Heart And Hope To Die
Director
Sam Manacsa
Country
Philippines
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Live-Action Competition

Mila struggles as she remains unpaid at work and finds comfort in a love interest through his constant phone calls.
But a promise of hope may also lead to tragedy and sad love songs.

Director
Sam Manacsa
Runtime
Language
Tagalog
Subtitles
English

International premiere

Reap What You Sow

Local title
Mida külvad, seda lõikad
Original title
Ki mint veti ágyát
Director
Máté Konkol
Country
Hungary
Year
2022
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Live-Action Competition

A week in the life of 19-year-old Noémi, a first-generation college student who recently moved to Budapest from the country, as she is becoming independent from her controlling mother and starts taking full time shifts at a toy store to support herself. In the meantime she's facing how hard life is as a woman, especially coming from a working-class background.

Director
Máté Konkol
Runtime
Language
Hungarian
Subtitles
English
Trailer

Baltic premiere

An Ode To Procrastination

Local title
Ood edasilükkamisele
Original title
An Ode To Procrastination
Director
Aleksandra Kingo
Country
United Kingdom
Year
2023
Festival
PÖFF Shorts 2023
Programme
Shorts Live-Action Competition

Sarah is trying to create what she thinks is the project of her lifetime. As she struggles to begin, she sprinkles her fears and challenges with motivational quotes, all the while dying inside.

Director
Aleksandra Kingo
Runtime
Language
English
Subtitles
English