United States
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Dennis Harris and Wendy Christensen have been creating taxidermy since they were children. Today Dennis owns his own shop where he creates suspension taxidermy and Wendy works in a museum maintaining dioramas. They both compete in the World Taxidermy Championships with their creations and try to find a balance between art and science in their work.
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A story as true as you want it to be. This unexpected love story shouldn't have happened: Delilah (Natalie Zea, Justified) is distant and emotionally dry, Samson wants to live in his imagination, yet when Delilah answers his call to a phone sex number, they both weave a tale even they confuse with reality. She unleashes men's fantasies while he seeks inspiration. As they weave a sensual tale of love and lust, they wonder if they are falling in love with the fantasy, the person, or simply their voice.
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An undocumented worker gambles on her own life at the track.
Dionicia lives in a small room in the back of a Bay Area racetrack, tending to horses and raising her family in the squalor of her surroundings. As an undocumented worker, Dionicia takes pride in the fact that her kids can dream of a better life due to the risks and sacrifices she is willing to bear.
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With great power, comes greater villains. Based on his own cult comic hit, Christopher Folino's groundbreaking superhero noir thriller follows Ian Sparks (Chase Williamson, John Dies at the End), a young man destined to protect others from the grips of evil. He may not have the physical prowess of other Supers, but his lovable charm easily captures the heart of the beautiful Lady Heavenly (Ashley Bell, The Last Exorcism). Together they become the go-to heroes, but after a traumatizing encounter with the villainous Matanza (William Katt, Carrie), Sparks plunges into darkness.
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The spirits of the Oceanic realm dance and frolic on a South Seas beach. Can you hear their song? Found footage, video of Tiki objects d'art, and stage-of-the-art digital composing are combined to create a surreal tropical. Part of Shorts Program 4: Animated Worlds
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Can a teenager piece together a broken woman? For Anna (Jessalyn Gilsig, Glee), a facade of perfection is not enough to mask the painful reality of her mid-life crisis. No matter how much she smiles at insulting remarks or applies makeup to conceal her blotchy skin, feelings of self-loathing still remain. When an emotional breakdown sends her over the edge, Anna escapes town and meets a wandering free-spirited teenage boy on her journey up the East Coast. His genuine care and respect for her are a comforting surprise, sparking an instant bond between the two.
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Six people. Three stories. One truth. The marriage of socialite Kathryn (Rhoda Griffis, The Blind Side) and her politician husband (Ric Reitz, Flight) is falling apart. They each struggle to keep their secret second lives concealed, while trying to restore their once love-filled relationship. A lawyer (Robert Pralgo, The Vampire Diaries) battles wits with a streetwise hustler, risking everything to save his credibility. Construction worker Ridley (Russell Comegys, The Lucky One) pushes Sofia (Dixie Light, Joyful Noise) to her physical and mental limits.
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Death can be feared, sensationalized, romanticized... but it cannot be ignored. Other than birth, it is the single most universal and transformative event in our lives. However each of us meets our fate, communities around the world mark this moment with unique and ancient traditions. How do we say goodbye? Buddhist lama Bat-Orshikh provides a rare glimpse into a storied and nearly extinct death ritual of sky burials in Mongolia, a practice designed to help let go of the body, comfort the living, and guide the spirit to another state of being.
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A colorful cowboy/poet tries to save the wild horses of the West.
Adventurous and romantic stories about The American West are a thing of the past--until one meets Dayton O. Hyde. From World War II to Berkeley to cattle drives and rodeos, this imposing cowboy/poet tells his colorful story with the wisdom and insight of a man who is at peace with himself and his world. Nearing the end of his remarkable life, Hyde embarks on one last mission: to save and protect the vanishing wild horses of The West.
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Alone and bored with his life indoors, a young boy ventures outdoors to his favorite swimming hole, only to find it already occupied. A showdown ensues, but is the outcome worth it? Part of Short Program 8: Student Shorts