Passionate Pursuits

Director(s): Multiple directors
Country: Multi-national
Language: English w/ some English subtitles
| 2023-2024 | 80 mins
Recommended for ages 10+ (Parental Guidance: Several films have death of a parent in the narrative.)

Stories of people with passions so strong that they focus more energy towards honing their skills and reaching their goals than anything else. Time to be inspired! Stories on this year’s reel include kids that want to learn to dance, play keyboards and dress the way they feel.  

Films and film order are subject to change without notice.

ATIVIO  – Guénolé dreams of playing piano. But in his small village in Togo, there are no keyboards – only drums. When his sister and grandmother help him listen to the spirits of his ancestors, he finds a path toward his dream when he least expects it. (2022 / 27 min / Togo / dir. Juliette Boucheny / in French w/Eng subs)

DRAGFOX – Sam’s search for identity gets interrupted by a mischievous neighborhood fox-in-drag. With the ethereal presence of Dragfox, a fairy god-mother-esque drag queen, Sam’s tale of self-exploration and acceptance has only just begun. Sometimes you need to see it to be it! (2024 / 8 min / UK / dir. Lisa Ott)

FLY BIRD, FLY! (Vogel, flieg!) – After the Taliban came to power, 13-year-old Adina fled Afghanistan with her father and brother to Germany under precarious circumstances. It’s here that she really develops an interest in dancing against the wishes of her traditional father. Undeterred by the customs of old, she embraces new freedoms offered to her which eventually unlocks the story of the fate of her mother.  (2024 / 19.5 min / Germany / dir. Rabeah Rahimi / in German/Dari w/English subtitles)

BOY CUT – When it comes to haircuts, this young person finds that confidence starts at the top! Based on a true story. (2024 / 3 min / USA / dirs. Cullen Burt, Abby Corbett, Indira Escobar, Shon Xiao)

KEEP ON LOVIN’ – Are you ever too young to think about being in love in your life? For Jonah the answer is no. However, recognizing your ability to fall in love comes with the risk of unrequited love. Does he do it anyway? (2023 / 11 mins / USA / dir James Wert / Ages 10+)

THE GENIE IN THE BOTTLE (Le Génie dans la bouteille) A young girl finds a bottle at the beach with a very sassy Genie inside. Her fascination of being granted three wishes turns to annoyance as she realizes no wish is as nice as her dad simply playing with her on a warm summer’s day. (2024 / 9 min / Belgium / dir. Thomas Leclercq / in French w/English subtitles)

NO ROOM (Nema mjesta) – Urban resident is very annoyed by the traffic on the street outside her home and the obnoxiousness of motorized vehicle drivers and lack of safety for pedestrians. Cars are creatively depicted as reptiles with human legs.  (2024 / 6 min / Croatia / dir. Jelena Oroz / in Czech w/English subtitles)

COMING OF AGE – In an ancient time a young boy is asked to perform a rite of passage by sacrificing something he cares for. His rebellion to this proposition was the just the affirmation the elder needed to pass the authority on to the next generation. (2022 / 4 min / Korea / dir. Jae-min Park / non-verbal)

INSIDE THE SKIN – As a teenage football player preparing for an important match, Ali must keep a secret hidden. But when Hamed finds out about it, the path ahead of Ali becomes shrouded in doubt. (2023 / 16.5 mins / Iran / dirs. Maryam Mahdiye, Shafagh Abosaba / in Persian w/English subtitles / Ages 13+)

FOR ROY – Inspired by true events, a young girl, pursuing the Japanese belief that once one folds 1000 origami cranes they get one wish granted… hopes of saving her father during his final days in the hospice. (2022 / 12.5 min / Canada / dir. Vivian Cheung / in English / CAVEAT: Death of a parent is part of the narrative.)

And more…!