MIDNIGHT SHORTS Competition

MIDNIGHT SHORTS competition directed to Polish and worldwide artists – students, amateurs, independent – that explore horror, dark comedy and absurd experiment genres in their work.

4.12.2024, 22:30
Zmiana Klimatu, Warszawska 6
ticket: 20 zł – at the kino Forum + https://bilety.bok.bialystok.pl/

DEAD ENDERS
directors: Fide Ruiz-Healyl & Tyler Walker
director of photography: Conor Murphy
music: Chris Ruenes & Drake Tyler
USA 2023, 13′

Disaffected, young gas-station clerk Maya doesn’t care about much besides messing with her manager and getting her beer discount at the end of the midnight shift. But after a sinister race of mind-controlling parasites are set loose by irresponsible oil drillers, Maya realizes that there might be more to life than spending all your waking hours stacking shelves for a corporate overlord.

WET FISH
director: Big Red Button
director of photography: Alex Melman
music: Julian Guidetti
UK 2023, 3’53”

Jaded and listless, Toby can’t think of a single thing he wants to do. And yet, he can’t seem to shake the feeling that he is destined to play a crucial role in something really important.

HITO
director: Stephen Lopez
director of photography: Akie Yano
music: Myles Hilado
Philippines 2023, 21’53”

Between nuclear reactors and military curfews, 14-year-old Jani lives in a dystopian world oppressively devoid of empathy. Together, she and her slippery new friend Kiefer the talking catfish gear up to strike a surreal blow for freedom.

DREAM CREEP
director: Carlos A.F. Lopez
director of photography: Jacob Rosen
music: Aaron C. Schroeder
USA 2024, 12’34”

A couple awakens in the night to sounds emanating from an unlikely orifice.

MY SECRET CYBERLOVE
director: Bartek Stankiewicz
director of photography: Jan Cisiecki
music: Paulina Derska
Poland 2024, 29’52”

Robert is in a relationship with a sex robot and runs a bakery with his mother. When a cake oven breaks down, his toxic father returns to fix it. His father’s presence puts Robert’s love for the robot to the test.

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
director: Dimitri Simakis
director of photography: Seannie Bryan
music: Dimitri Simakis, Josh Ascalon
USA 2023, 12’43”

Tina and her elderly dog visit a mysterious clinic offering human-to-pet communication. However, they soon get more than they bargained for when two sinister doctors uncover a bond between them that transcends time and space. They might just be the key to something greater… but at what cost?

RAINER, A VICIOUS DOG IN A SKULL VALLEY
director: Bertrand Mandico
director of photography: Nicolas Eveilleau
music: Pierre Desprats
France 2023, 26′

Octavia Foss wants to stage a female version of Conan the Barbarian in the theater. She makes a pact with a dog-headed demon to achieve her goals. This unnatural act will lead her and her troupe into a creative hell.

LA LEY DEL MÁS FUERTE
MIGHT MAKES RIGHT
director: Raul Monge
director of photography: Sofía Urwitz
Spain 2023, 19′

Pablo walks through the city, checking his watch and realizing he won’t make it to his appointment on time, until he runs into a group of gang members in a narrow alley.

WE JOINED A CULT
director: Chris McInroy
director of photography: E.J. Enriquez
music: Bird Peterson
USA 2023, 4’10”

The story of two friends who just wanted to play kickball.