Join us for a remarkable celebration of independent dance filmmakers at our stunning screening of the best international short films from around the globe. This carefully curated selection showcases the artistry and creativity of dance through diverse narratives and styles.
As a special highlight, we will also present our Youth Film Festival finalist film: Canvas.
With limited tickets available for this intimate screening, be sure to secure your spot today and support the vibrant world of independent dance cinema! Don’t miss this opportunity to experience these exceptional films and celebrate the talent of filmmakers from around the world.
*Not in Screening Order
Dance Short
'In The Distance' - 10:16 (France)
Director – Laëtitia Daché
“In the Distance” is a choreographic triptych presented as short films, offering a perspective on the notions of complementarity and duality, expressions of resilience in the face of challenges.
The three parts of this choreographic triptych invite us to examine the physical, mental, and emotional states evoked by life’s circumstances. Whether through our relationship with others, ourselves, or these circumstances, the ability to take a step back emerges as an introspective exercise in balance – a test of the mind and soul, heightened by hardships.
Dance Short
'You Are Enough' - 9:18 (France)
Director – Lisa Magnan
Embracing imperfections and fostering self-acceptance, YOU ARE ENOUGH is a dance film that delves into the themes of identity, diversity, and individuality.
Evolving in a clean white space, the film unfolds the journeys of four individuals, capturing moments of life and a spectrum of emotions. Amidst these experiences, the protagonists shape their identities, exploring the beauty and complexity of humanity with a blend of poetry, sensibility, and humor.
Dance Short
'Layers' - 8:55 (Slovenia)
Directors – Michal Rynia, Nastja Bremec Rynia & Fabris Šulin
Layers is a contemporary dance film that artfully explores the intricate layers of human connections, delving into the multifaceted nature of relationships, emotions, and personal journeys. By interweaving scenes from intimate home environments with industrial settings, the film symbolizes the complexities and interconnectedness of our daily lives, navigating the juxtaposition of personal and professional roles.
Through visually representing the juxtaposition of home and work, Layers invites viewers to contemplate the intricate layers of human experience and the delicate balance between different facets of our lives. Ultimately, the film offers a profound exploration of the complexities inherent in the human experience and the interplay between work and personal identity.
Dance Short
'Ruins Within Ruins' - 9:23 (Greece)
Director – Lefteris Parasyris
A group of dancers positions themselves between the ancient and modern ruins of the island of Crete, Greece. Drawing inspiration from its rich heritage, they craft a series of kinetic forms and patterns influenced by folk dances. These installations, whether harmonising with or contrasting against the island’s culture, offer reflections on historical memory and the Cretan identity.
Dance Short
'You are also Us' - 15:00 (UK)
Director – Cathy Waller
You are also Us is a powerful exploration of the complex and multifaceted experience of invisibility. The film explores the themes of pain, joy, power, connection and resignation that come with the struggle to hide certain parts of ourselves from this world.
Through a nuanced and empathetic lens, the film examines the toll that keeping ourselves hidden can take, while also acknowledging the sense of protection and control that invisibility can provide. The work challenges the boundaries of what we are willing to share, inviting the audience to see, feel, and hear the profound impact of this experience.
Starting as the Director’s self exploration around invisible disability, over 400 people contributed to the research in finding what invisibility means to us all.
Translated through striking movement and composition, this work is filmed on drones in stunning National Trust locations in Dorset, UK.
Dance Short
'Monday' - 5:08 (Hong Kong)
Director – Andreas Guzman
Nobody loves Mondays. The return to the grind haunts every office worker worldwide. Paperwork piles up, conference calls overload, and the suits and ties bind us to the monotony of the workday. But even within the overbearing nature of Monday, the everyday working person can find their escape from the corporate work culture and discover their inner peace.
Live Capture
'Hong Kong Ballet Tutu Academy' - 1:45 (USA)
Director – Dean Alexander
At Tutu Academy, where tutus are the uniform, students of all characters (geeks to goths) express themselves through ballet—and bizarro hair. One odd day, a UFO lands and an alien enters the classroom. Eager to connect with the visitor who doesn’t speak earthly language, the teacher starts a dance conversation—followed by the entire class. At first, the alien struggles to learn the artful language, until he’s gifted a magical tutu. With fresh confidence, the green-hued stranger joyfully joins the dancing crew.
But just as the bond deepens, the alien must return to his homeland. With bittersweet farewells, the UFO departs—donning a tutu too. On his planet, a stark contrast to Tutu Academy’s vibrant vibe, the alien proudly presents tutus to his commanders where they dance in celebration of the newfound connection with Earth.
Dance Short
'Burn From The Inside' - 9:59 (UK)
Director – Jack Riley
‘Burn from the Inside’ is not your typical narrative work. It delves into the exploration of music and its origins, examining why we have an innate desire to dance or move when we hear music, sound, or voices. It seeks to understand the essence of what triggers our movements and the emotional responses evoked by music. – Mthuthuzeli November
The profound question arises: why do certain things compel us to jump up and dance, while others make us want to sit back and do the opposite? The most significant realisation in this exploration is that from the very beginning, we were destined to be moved by sounds.
Dance Short
'Ao pó voltaremos [To dust we will return]' - 5:31 (Portugal)
Director – Merli V. Guerra
Hailed as “a stunning piece, where landscape, heritage, movement, and dance merges in a poetic composition,” this striking screendance film features the 16th-century monastery ruins of Messejana, Portugal (the convent of Our Lady of Mercy / Order of Saint Francisco). Inspiration was derived from site-specific research of the space, as well as traditional “Ranchos Folclóricos” folk dances of the region, historical studies, and weaving motions specific to the town’s traditional “buinho” chairs.
In 2021, this site was purchased to become a “charming rural hotel” for tourists. While the main facade will be preserved, the majority of what is shown in this film will be lost forever.
Filmed in Messejana, Portugal.
Queer Dance Short
'Private Flowers' - 7:00 (Canada)
Director – HAUI aka Howard J Davis
In 1832, a Canadian Infantryman was hanged for making love with another man. The victim’s rank was Private, and his name was Flowers.
Commissioned by Toronto History Museums’ Artist Mentorship Showcase: Pride with Mentor Ashley Mckenzie-Barnes with additional support from the open space residency programme at the National Ballet, TD Bank, Pride Toronto and the Ontario Arts Council.
Created as part of Awakening with Toronto History Museums Private Flowers is part of a series of art projects by Black, Indigenous and artists of colour, operating under the principles of anti-oppression, anti-colonialism and anti-racism and is part of the City’s efforts to address anti-Black racism.
Student Dance Short
'Find' - 5:42 (China)
Director – Yang Yiying
I am a Chinese student studying choreography in Europe. Before this, I had studied traditional Chinese dance for over a decade. While it is a beautiful form of dance, it does not truly belong to me. I long to have my own dance style and to document it, but people only seem to care about what job I should have or when I should get married. The disparity between reality and imagination makes me want to run and hide in both my mind and in life. I hope this dance captures my true confusion in different cultural backgrounds and dance environments, and also reflects the desolation and bloom of the young people’s inner world. Like a dream, dance provides a stage for people, as everyone needs a stage to tell their dreamsThe music in the video comes from musician Ezio Bosso. I have consulted and obtained permission via email. Thank you for his great contribution to world music.
Student Dance Short
'Ghost In You' - 3:06 (USA)
Directors – Rafael Alejandro Lopez and Hanna Tzong-Han Wu
Ghost in You explores grief as a universal, human experience. Lopez’s creative process was instinctive and deeply influenced by the recent loss of a parent. Collaborating with Wu, both artists kept their personal grief unspoken, allowing them to focus on the emotional landscape rather than individual stories. This approach opened the door to an egoless, free-flowing collaboration, where the emotions of mourning guided the work.
Hanna Tzong-Han Wu, a first-generation immigrant, uses dance to connect with the world and the people in it. In Ghost in You, she examines the transient nature of life, exploring themes of separation, heartache, and the illusion of permanence. Through movement and film, Wu and her collaborators transform the invisible pain of loss into physical expression, creating a space for audiences to reflect, heal, and ultimately release their own grief.
IDYFF Finalist – Youth Dance Company Short
'Canvas' - 6:44 (USA)
Director – Sophia Stoller
A large blank canvas becomes the source of colorful imagination in a young girl’s mind.