2025
UNDEREXPOSED
FILM FESTIVAL yc
AWARDS
GRAND JURY AWARD
$750 Cash Prize
Narrative | 2024 | 13 min.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Country | Croatia
Language | Croatian
Director | Nebojša Slijepčević
Producer | Katarina Prpić, Danijel Pek, Katya Trichkova, Noëlle Lévénez, Boštjan Virc
Key Cast | Goran Bogdan, Alexis Manenti, Dragan Mićanović, Silvio Mumelaš
SYNOPSIS
In the middle of winter, a passenger train is stopped by paramilitary forces. As they arrest innocent civilians, only one man out of 500 dares to stand up to them. This is the true story of a man who could not remain silent.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Nebojša Slijepčević was born in 1973 in Zagreb, Croatia. He graduated in Film Directing from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb.
His documentary feature Srbenka (2018) was shortlisted for the European Film Awards and won numerous awards at international film festivals, including the Heart of Sarajevo Award, the Audience Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival, and a special mention from the Buyens-Chagoll jury at Visions du Réel 2018.
His feature documentary Gangster of Love (2013) won the Audience Award at Zagreb Dox and premiered internationally at Hot Docs and Karlovy Vary. It was one of the biggest box office hits in Croatia. Nebojša has directed numerous TV documentaries, series, and short films, and he currently teaches at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb.
RELATED LINKS
Website | themanwhocouldnotremainsilent.com
BEST ANIMATED FILM
$200 Cash Prize
Animation | 2023 | 9 min. 50 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG13
Country | Portugal
Language | Portuguese / French
Eligible | Woman to Watch
Director | Marta Monteiro
Producers | Vanessa Ventura, Nuno Amorim, Animais AVPL, Claire Beffa, Sidonie Garnier, La Clairière Ouest
Script | Marta Monteiro
Photography | Marta Monteiro
Sound | Geoffroy Cantou-Carrassoumet
Music | Nico Tricot
Animation | Daniela Duarte, João Silva, Manar Guiller, Natália Azevedo Andrade
Inspired by | Sopa by Joana Estrela
Voz Off | Filomena Gonçalves, Anna Lepley
SYNOPSIS
A woman victim of domestic violence looks back at the years when she was married, recalling how difficult it was to stay afloat.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Marta Monteiro holds a degree in Fine Arts/Sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto. She taught for four years before transitioning to work as an illustrator and director.
Monteiro collaborates with both national and international newspapers, magazines, and publishers, contributing to prestigious outlets such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Adufe magazine.
As a director, she has created several short animated films, including Independência de Espírito (Independent Mind, 2011), A Sonolenta (Sleepy, 2017), and Sopa Fria (Cold Soup, 2022). Her work has earned her multiple awards, including the Vasco Granja Prize, supported by the Portuguese Society of Authors, for Best Film in the Portuguese competition at the Monstra Festival (Portugal, 2018) for A Sonolenta.
RELATED LINKS
Website | agencia.curtas.pt
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
$200 Cash Prize
Documentary | 2023 | 28 min. 50 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Country | United States
Language | English
Director, Writer, Producer | Ryan Steven Green
Key Cast | Andrés Cortes, Jennifer Korsen, Kellan Meador
Composer | Shawn Jimmerson
Re-Recording Mixer | Nikola Simikic
Colorist | Bobby Lam
VFX | Justin Edwards
Add'l Photography & Editing | Matthew R. Green
Dialogue Editor | Ian Mackley
SYNOPSIS
Utilizing such varied materials as concrete, papier-mâché, and blown-out tires, disparate Los Angeles street artists give new life to the dwindling remnants of the city’s public payphones by repurposing them as canvases for unique creative expressions. With the streets as their gallery, our heroes defy vandalism laws, maintenance crews, haters, and history itself to deliver a moment’s levity to the right kind of passerby. By keeping its focus on the artists, the phones, and the ephemeral nature of both art and technology, this short documentary thoughtfully invites its audience to appreciate what’s being lost as the world moves on.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Photographer and director Ryan Steven Green was 14 years old when he first put a camera to his eye and the list of films he has amassed since betrays a penchant for, as one long-time collaborator put it, “spicy banality”.
Born in Glendale, came up in Altadena, graduated from USC (Cinema-Television, emphasis on non-fiction filmmaking), since 2004 Green has lived in the Highland Park home built by his grandfather.
Film festivals and awards a-plenty for films on topics ranging from moustaches, to air-cooled Volkswagens, to the “world’s smallest professional basketball team” have fueled a fruitful career in advertising where Green has had a hand in telling stories for some of the world's most well-known brands.
Since 2018, his continuing documentation of the disappearing payphones of Los Angeles has yielded thousands of film and digital images, a series of ten micro (<1 minute) documentaries, two photo books, two group photography exhibitions, three solo photography exhibition, and the 29-minute documentary It’s For You: Ephemeral Art & The Death of the Public Phone.
RELATED LINKS
Instagram | @payphonesoflosangeles
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM
$200 Cash Prize
Experimental | 2024 | 1 min. 18 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | United States
Language | English
Director, Producer | Kate Raney
SYNOPSIS
Despite is an experimental documentary animation using hand-drawn animation, cyanotype exposures, and imagery of daily life. Through these materials the film reflects upon the habitats that sustain life and harbor disease and explores the tensions between the wonder of motherhood and the anxiety of illness.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Kate Raney began animating in college when given an assignment to make a 1-minute animated film. She immediately connected with the materiality and process of animating. Her current creative interests primarily involve combining live action and animation to investigate representation, performance, subjectivity, and process in the digital age.
Kate’s work has screened at numerous festivals such as the Maryland Film Festival, the Iowa City International Documentary Film Festival, the Factual Animation Film Fuss, SXSW Film Festival, and the Chicago Underground Film Festival. She was a Sponsored Artist at High Concept Laboratories in Chicago and has twice received an Ohio Arts Council Award of Individual Excellence. She is currently an Assistant Professor in Media Arts and Studies at Ohio University.
BEST NARRATIVE FILM
$200 Cash Prize
10 Days to Eternity
Narrative | 2024 | 30 min.
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | Japan
Language | Japanese
Cinematographer | Akira Otaguro
Lighting Designer | Ryuji Matsumoto
Sound Recordist | Isao Tahara
1st Assistant Director | Yukihiko Mizomoto
Composer | Denkyu
Sound Designer | Yusuke Mogi
Colorist | Kei Ikeda
Editor | Qurata Kenji
2nd Assistant Director | Keiji Tamayose
Assistant Camera | Kouta Noma
Hair&Makeup Artist | Misaki Takahashi
Production Manager | Daisuke Fukuzaki
Production Assistants | Kousuke Fukuda, Kuniyuki Miyazawa, Ayaka Masumizu, Reiko Juni
Props Makers | Arisa Juni, Keitarou Juni
English Subtitle | Jeff Fuccillo
Co-Producer | Haruki Yamada
Associate Producer | Asami Nanase
Production Companies | KURUWA.LLC, SD Co.,Ltd
SYNOPSIS
Akira, photographer returns home for the first time in more than a decade after receiving a message left by his younger brother Jun. However, Jun is nowhere to be found, and his brother's daughter, Sana, gives him an envelope. The envelope leads him to the beginning of a "treasure hunt".
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Qurata Kenji is a film director and screenwriter. Winner of the Grand Prix at the Sundance NHK International Filmmaker Awards. Winner of awards at international film festivals, for the movies EVERYTIME WE SAY GOODBYE and Novela Picaresca. He also made the T.V. show Futari Monologue, and the feature film MANKAI MOVIE A3!. He wrote the screenplay for DitO directed by Takashi Yuki.
RELATED LINKS
Website | quratakenji.com
BEST PUPPETRY FILM
$200 Cash Prize
Puppetry | 2024 | 33 min.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Country | United States
Language | English
Director | Stacey Weingarten
Writer | Liz Hara
Producer | Liz Hara, Allen Martsch, Randy Overland, Stacey Weingarten
Key Cast | Camille Chen, Liz Hara, Victor Yerrid
SYNOPSIS
Lily the Hedgehog is in love with her best friend, Marco, but Marco is in love with Rebecca… the boring cactus at the front desk at work. But when Lily accidentally murders Rebecca and starts to text Marco pretending to be her, she’ll have to convince Marco that it’s Lily he’s been in love with all along.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Stacey Weingarten is an Emmy-winning multi-hyphenate specializing in writing, directing, and producing musical and puppet-infused works, particularly for kids and families. She’s worked with icons like Kermit the Frog and Julie Andrews, creating projects that promote social awareness through her company, Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter LLC. Her Off-Broadway show Rescue Rue and its award-winning sequel Runaway Rue have been highlighted at Hollywood Fringe.
Stacey has served as Episodic Director and Supervising Producer for Reading Buddies (WCNY/PBS), Puppet Consultant for Blippi’s Treehouse (Amazon), and Co-Creator/Writer of Monica’s Mixing Bowl (Independent). A trained puppeteer, she has worked with the Jim Henson Company on Sesame Street and Muppets Mayhem (Disney+). She also co-created and directed the short film Cone of Shame for Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams.
Other projects include the sci-fi rock opera Ludo's Broken Bride, the French-Algerian 5th Republic, and the gender-affirming Madame. A former Dramatists Guild Fellow, Stacey teaches puppetry at Pace University and is the President of the Children’s Media Association's LA Chapter. She’s also the proud mom of Rescue Rue, her doggy-brother Jack, and human-brother Emmett.
RELATED LINKS
Website | hedgehearts.com
Website | SAWeingarten.com
WOMAN TO WATCH
$200 Cash Prize
Alexandra Ramires and Laura Gonçalves
Percebes
After graduating from the Fine Arts University of Lisbon, Alexandra and Laura begin working in animation film in 2009.
Since then, their paths have always been intertwined. They've been part of the technical teams on various films, directed together and separately, and recently started producing.
They both believe in the power of collaboration. They are 2 of the 6 founding members of BAP- Animation Studio, a Cooperative of animation authors, which since 2013 has been their nest for developing and making films, along side other internationally recognised authors.
Together they made the films Água Mole (2017) and Percebes ( 2024). Individually: Alexandra directed Elo (2020) and Laura directed Three Weeks in December (2012) and The Garbage Man (2022). These are films with a strong festival path as well as national and international recognition
RELATED LINKS
Website | agencia.curtas.pt
Animation | 2024 | 11 min. 50 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | Portugal
Language | No Dialogue
Director | Alexandra Ramires, Laura Gonçalves
Producer | David Doutel, Vasco Sá, BAP – ANIMATION STUDIOS
Script | Alexandra Ramires, Laura Gonçalves, Regina Guimarães
Co-Producer | Edwina Liard, Nidia Santiago, IKKI FILMS
Sound | Bernardo Bento
Music | Nicolas Tricot
Animation | Inês Teixeira, Joana Teixeira, Leonor Pacheco, Laura Equi, Carolina Bonzinho
SYNOPSIS
Lily the Hedgehog is in love with her best friend, Marco, but Marco is in love with Rebecca… the boring cactus at the front desk at work. But when Lily accidentally murders Rebecca and starts to text Marco pretending to be her, she’ll have to convince Marco that it’s Lily he’s been in love with all along.
CINEMA CAROLINA
$200 Cash Prize
Documentary | 2025 | 11 min. 30 sec.
Suggested Rating | G
Country | United States
Language | English
Director, Producer | John Rash
Producer | Lia Newman
Key Cast | Elizabeth Bradford
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Assistant Professor of Film Production and Southern Studies at the University of Mississippi, John Rash is a filmmaker, photographer, video artist, and founder of the Southern Punk Archive.
John earned his M.F.A. in Experimental and Documentary Arts from Duke University in 2014 and has since worked as a visual storyteller and educator in both the United States and China.
John has produced and directed several award winning films, and was the recipient of the Soul of Southern Film award from Indie Memphis Film Festival, History+ Film Award from the North Carolina Museum of History, and the Excellence in Community Engagement Award with Distinction from the University of Mississippi.
RELATED LINKS
Instagram | @documentarypunk
SYNOPSIS
Elizabeth Bradford draws inspiration for her paintings from a profound connection to nature through direct observations while hiking or kayaking primarily in the Appalachian Mountains and foothills where she resides.
BEST STUDENT FILM
$100 Cash Prize
Animation | 2024 | 4 min. 25 sec.
Suggested Rating | PG
Country | United States
Language | English
Director | LJ Burnett
Supervising Producer | Morgan Eng
Art Director | Claire Chong
Production Assistant | Min Mei Buck
Animation Co-Director | Ashley Hayden, Breanna Lawton
SYNOPSIS
Elizabeth Bradford draws inspiration for her paintings from a profound connection to nature through direct observations while hiking or kayaking primarily in the Appalachian Mountains and foothills where she resides.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
LJ Burnett is a storyboard and comic artist hailing from Northern Virginia. Raised on fantasy books, action-adventure graphic novels, and animated TV shows, LJ has always been captivated by stories and impassioned to create their own.
While pursuing their BFA in Sequential Art at SCAD, LJ has constantly sought out collaborative opportunities outside the classroom, such as illustrating for a visual novel game, storyboarding for indie animation projects, or an editorial position at a grassroots comic publisher.
Their curiosity for animation and passion for collaborative storytelling led them to join SCAD Animation Studios and pitch the story that would become “Time Flies.” When they’re not drawing or writing, LJ enjoys playing D&D, tabling at comic conventions, and scouring the internet for odd science facts.
RELATED LINKS
Website | scadanimationstudios.framer
TERRY ROUECHE
AUDIENCE CHOICE
$100 Cash Prize
Love Me Hate Me
Narrative | 2023 | 8 min.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Country | United States
Language | English
Director, Writer, Producer | Will H Hutchison
Key Cast | Gabriel S Dunham
SYNOPSIS
Antonio has a change of heart two days before he is to be wed to Jasmine. He tells Jasmine his decision and she is not pleased with his way of thinking.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Will H Hutchison has been an avid music video, and short filmmaker since graduating the Teleproduction Technology program at York Technical College located in Rock Hill South Carolina.
AMY LYNN RECTOR
TEEN’ CHOICE AWARD
HedgeHearts
Puppetry | 2024 | 33 min.
Suggested Rating | PG-13
Country | United States
Language | English
Director | Stacey Weingarten
Writer | Liz Hara
Producer | Liz Hara, Allen Martsch, Randy Overland, Stacey Weingarten
Key Cast | Camille Chen, Liz Hara, Victor Yerrid
SYNOPSIS
Lily the Hedgehog is in love with her best friend, Marco, but Marco is in love with Rebecca… the boring cactus at the front desk at work. But when Lily accidentally murders Rebecca and starts to text Marco pretending to be her, she’ll have to convince Marco that it’s Lily he’s been in love with all along.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Stacey Weingarten is an Emmy-winning multi-hyphenate specializing in writing, directing, and producing musical and puppet-infused works, particularly for kids and families. She’s worked with icons like Kermit the Frog and Julie Andrews, creating projects that promote social awareness through her company, Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter LLC. Her Off-Broadway show Rescue Rue and its award-winning sequel Runaway Rue have been highlighted at Hollywood Fringe.
Stacey has served as Episodic Director and Supervising Producer for Reading Buddies (WCNY/PBS), Puppet Consultant for Blippi’s Treehouse (Amazon), and Co-Creator/Writer of Monica’s Mixing Bowl (Independent). A trained puppeteer, she has worked with the Jim Henson Company on Sesame Street and Muppets Mayhem (Disney+). She also co-created and directed the short film Cone of Shame for Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams.
Other projects include the sci-fi rock opera Ludo's Broken Bride, the French-Algerian 5th Republic, and the gender-affirming Madame. A former Dramatists Guild Fellow, Stacey teaches puppetry at Pace University and is the President of the Children’s Media Association's LA Chapter. She’s also the proud mom of Rescue Rue, her doggy-brother Jack, and human-brother Emmett.
RELATED LINKS
Website | hedgehearts.com
Website | SAWeingarten.com