We the Monkeys | Clarence Larrivoire | FRA | 19’
Dimitri and Pierrot set off on a tree top adventure course. They wish to become real adventurers and win women's hearts. But their harnesses are too tight around their crotches, making them uncomfortable and reconsidering their whole way of life.

SELFTAPE | Valentin Coste, Florent Beaudot | FRA | 10’
Maxime, a young and perfectionist actor, has the opportunity to audition for a commercial directed by his dream director: David Sunderbergh. Determined to make an impression on the great master, Maxime tries to put all the chances on his side to produce the best self-tape possible… even if it means his project takes on unsuspected proportions.

I am the Fire | Patrik Eklund | SWE | 14’
The time of change is on the threshold for fifty-three-year-old Kaj, who recently has started to question his authority as Sensei. After a workplace accident, Kaj is forced to find a way out of the past and a way into the present.

Gender Reveal | Mo Matton | CAN | 12’
Rhys, a dedicated people pleaser, winds up at their boss’ gender reveal party with their two partners. The trans throuple soon realize that they are dealing with more than they were prepared for and their ability to survive the event comes into question.

Cucumber | Harald Furuholmen | NOR | 11’

Shintaro receives a homegrown cucumber from the older lady next door and his crippling anxiety convinces him that he has to reciprocate the gesture.

About the film:
After surviving the terrorist attack on the island Utøya in Norway in 2011 the director, Harald, struggled for years with the consequences. Anxiety, depression and isolation meant that he often closed himself off from the world. As an adult, these experiences and the themes have never lost their importance to him. During the Covid pandemic, Harald started researching the Japanese term Hikikomori - a state of life he recognizes. In recent years the term has spread to research papers here in Europe as well. But it was during this period that he stumbled upon Japanese Vosot Ikeidas real life account of suddenly receiving a cucumber in an article series which this short film is inspired by.

Cucumber is a dark comedy made by a Norwegian and Japanese team as a cultural hybrid. It's inspired by a true story of a Hikikomori about wild anxiety-driven overthinking, about discovering the beauty of nature and how a cucumber can turn your life upside down.

How much for this? | Johanna Viskar | EST | 18’
August spends his days walking around the beach looking for customers. He drags his cart full of random stuff along the beach sand and tries to sell people what he thinks they might need.
However, a competitor appears in August's territory. And the competitor's business seems to be doing much better. Then the paths of August and the mysterious competitor cross.

Island | Branko Kosteski | MKD | 15’
Vlado, a 40-year-old misanthropic screenwriter, lives alone, avoiding human connection. On his birthday, his sister urges him to reconnect with his high school sweetheart, Sara, now back in town. The date goes disastrously when Vlado, who can’t stand kids, discovers Sara is pregnant, sending him into a panic. Days later, Vlado believes his elderly neighbor Pero has died and rushes to help, only to find him alive. Shaken, Vlado’s views on solitude begin to crumble when he sees Pero embraced by his loving family visiting from abroad.

FUCKING YUPPIES | Thorn de Vries | NLD | 6’
In a neighborhood overtaken by gentrification, old contrasts with new. 'Act normal' clashes with status and image. When a man, an archetypal yuppie, can’t unlock his electric bike, something snaps. Can he let go of his carefully crafted yuppie image?

Oldtown | David Vermander | BEL | 14’
Life in a retirement resort is turned on its head by the news that a consignment of anti-aging pills is on its way.