A showcase of student talent.
Screening: Saturday, Sep 13, 11am at Soo Theatre (Block 7) |
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Audience Choice Award Winner: Narrative Short
Director: John Daniel
Narrative Short, Canada, 2025, 12 min, Color, Student Project—George Brown College, Toronto,
located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and
other Indigenous peoples
Two best friends debate what should be done with their newly-acquired superpowers.
Project Links: Project Website
Audience Choice Award Winner: Student Animation
Director: Tristan Cloete
Animation, South Africa, 2024, 4 min, Color, Student Project—The Animation School (Pty) Ltd,
Cape Town, South Africa
An animated story of two boys, a fish, and an “evil” soccer ball.
Audience Choice Award Winner: Student Documentary Short
Director: J Fitzpatrick
Documentary Short, Canada, 2024, 6 min, Color, Student Project—Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario
Sex. Something that is part of human nature. Everyone does it and strives to have their happily ever after… Right?
A young adult writes a letter to their past self, providing advice about discovering one’s sexual identity while living in a hyper-sexualized and romance-filled society. A-Okay brings attention to how society’s expectations, stigmas, and stereotypes can be harmful to individuals on the aromantic and asexual spectra.
Great Lakes Connection: Our entire crew resides on the northeast edge of Lake Ontario. We are all going to school 10 minutes from the lakefront.
Project Links: Project Website Instagram
Director: Edo Natasha
Narrative Short, United States, 2025, 15 min, Color, Student Project—Los Angeles Film School, California
An Indonesian actress and an American music producer struggle through a grueling marriage that pushes them to a stinging conclusion.
Project Links: Project Website Instagram
Director: Tommy Dilger
Documentary Short, United States, 2025, 16 min, Color,
Student Project—Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, Georgia
Real Fake War is a deeply personal documentary that tells the story of Travis “TJ” Truax, a Marine Corps combat veteran struggling to cope with PTSD and the loss of his friends to suicide through war reenacting.
Great Lakes Connection: The director and the subject of the documentary are Michigan natives. The film was shot entirely in Michigan.
Project Links: Instagram
Director: MacLain Bowman
Animation, United States, 2024, 6 min, Color, Student Project—College for Creative Studies, Detroit, Michigan
A man tries to survive by the skin of his teeth as he is pursued by a vicious bounty hunter.
Great Lakes Connection: The film was created by a Michigan animator at a Michigan school. The soundtrack was created by a Michigan producer.
Project Links: Project Website Twitter Instagram
Director: Eduardo A. Camargo
Narrative Short, Canada, 2024, 10 min, Color, Student Project—Toronto Film School, Ontario
An acting student decides to kill her acting teacher because she didn’t give her an A Plus on her short film assignment.
Great Lakes Connection: The film was shot in Toronto.
Project Links: Project Website
Director: Olivia Ellis
Narrative Short, Canada, 2024, 7 min, Color, Student Project—Mohawk College, Hamilton, Ontario
A bride’s wedding day takes an unexpected turn for the worse moments before she says “I do.”
Audience Choice Award Winner: Animation
Director: David Mzolo
Animation, South Africa, 2024, 5 min, Color, Student Project—The Animation School (Pty) Ltd,
Cape Town, South Africa
After losing his life in the ocean, Mort awakes to the grisly sight of his body desecrated by a seemingly malicious surgeon, Viv, and is mortified by the absence of his heart. Through hijinks and mishaps, he uses his body and his organs to attempt to pursue and retrieve his heart, while Viv desperately tries to give the heart to her dying sister, Hope. Through his escapade in the hospital, Mort learns to let go of his past to help Hope create her future.
Director: Liana Montoya-Loranger
Music Video, United States, 2025, 6 min, Color, Student Project—University of New Mexico,
Albuquerque, New Mexico
A girl battles a mysterious illness as green slime pours from her and she desperately flees from doctors. Is it a mental struggle, or is the danger real?
Project Links: Project Website
Director: Kimberly Lee
Narrative Short, Canada, 2025, 8 min, Color, Student Project—Toronto Film School, Ontario
A young woman tirelessly pushes herself to excel in her career, sacrificing time with loved ones in the process. On the day of her biggest presentation, the stress she’s been suppressing overwhelms her, but she delivers flawlessly, reaffirming her “superstar” status. However, an email demanding more work reignites the pressure, causing her to break down, ultimately leading her to reach out for support and take the break she desperately needs.
Great Lakes Connection: The film was shot in the Great Lakes region in Ontario and some of our key crew members are natives of the region.
Project Links: Project Website Instagram
Directors: Mustafa Ali, Ryan Stasinski, Elliot Booth
Documentary Short, United States, 2025, 5 min, Color, Student Project—Troy Athens High School, Troy, Michigan
The story of Detroit Lions Hall of Fame Super Fan Ron Crachiola.
Great Lakes Connection: The film is about Ron Crachiola aka Crackman, a Hall of Fame Detroit Lions fan. It was filmed by Troy Athens High School students.
Audience Choice Award Winner: Student Narrative Short
Director: Ethan Schmaltz
Narrative Short, United States, 2025, 10 min, Color, Student Project—Washtenaw Community College,
Ann Arbor, Michigan
A pizza delivery driver delivers a pizza to an island where he is trapped and must escape from a retired delivery driver out to hunt him.
Great Lakes Connection: The film was shot entirely in southeast Michigan. Actor Joe Sbar hails from Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.
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