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2017 Short Film Competition

Film Fest logo. A blue handy man leaning forward holds a green video camera. The wheel of his wheelchair forms the C in the phrase Cinema Touching Disability.

October 13-14, 2017
Alamo Drafthouse Village

2700 West Anderson Lane, Austin TX, 78757 (map)

Documentary Division

1st Place: My Dad Matthew (dir. John Schaffer)
This short is a glimpse into the life of Matthew, a man with a significant disability, as voiced by his insightful and articulate son, Elijah. Using a wheelchair, a pointer and a letter board, Matthew shows us he's a college professor, an honorary coach for the football team, an advocate and a dad. Learn more at wildasperagusproductions.com.

2nd Place (tie) & Audience Favorite: 4 Quarters of Silence (dir. Cody Broadway)
4 Quarters of Silence diagrams a journey that follows the Texas School for the Deaf Rangers. Ask the school’s head football coach, players, and the athletes’ parents and you’ll find out that deafness is not a weakness, but a strength. Learn more at CodyBroadway.com.

2nd Place (tie): Mala's Cello (dir. Kelly Stoner)
A hand-made cello, made lovingly over 2 years for a young girl with cerebral palsy, 900km away. Throughout this story will be woven the idea of possibility and the journey to find our own diverse paths to fulfilling our dreams. Learn more at littlestory.com.au.

3rd Place: Family Rewritten (dir. Yasmin Mistry)
Despite battling Cystic Fibrosis, Camilla, age 16, identifies as a typical middle-class American teenager until the thread that holds her family together suddenly unwinds. Just months before her 18th birthday Camilla finds herself in foster care, but instead of being ashamed, she makes a conscious decision to not let her situation define her. Learn more at fostercarefilm.com.

Non-documentary Division

1st Place & Audience Favorite: Just Go! (dir. Pavel Gumennikov)
Inspired by the incredible true story about a young man JUST (24), who lost both of his legs in a childhood accident and who is in love with the girl next door - IEVA (23). The story begins when JUST meets IEVA on the doorstep of the house they both live in. They start a flirty conversation that is interrupted by two thieves, who rob Ieva in front of JUST. In the blink of an eye JUST decides to follow the thieves to retrieve IEVA’S bag and conquer her heart. Learn more at GumennikovFilms.com.

2nd Place: Two Seconds of Silence (dir. Felipe Sanz)
Javier is an exemplary pianist, admired by the jury. Isabel plays following her feeling, praised by the audience. The two pianists will meet in a final and their understanding of music will change the way they understand life. Learn more at promofest.org/films/dos-segundos-de-silencio.

3rd Place: Lefty & Loosey (dir. Zico Abrar)
Private Investigators Lefty and Loosey uncover a diabolical plot and must overcome their fears to crack the code and save the world.

Finalists:

Outburst (dir. Benjamin Strack)
Outburst is a short film about a young man overcoming his anger to achieve his musical dreams. Caught in between being ignored and being babied, he struggles to keep his anger in check as he prepares to put it all on the line in a song-writing competition. Learn more at Facebook.com/OutbursttheMovie.