®
RAGFF
RETRO AVANT GARDE FILM FESTIVAL
New York City 2020 available for few days only
Best Retro Avant Garde Feature Film
The Minds of Men
Dir. Aaron Dykes and Melissa Dykes
United States
A four part investigation into the mysterious and terrifying Cold War
experimentation into man's last bastion of freedom, the brain ; a
thorough history of mind control as it was attempted, covertly, to
obtain an understanding of the new man – programmed, overtly, for
life in in symbiosis with the machine. THE MINDS OF MEN is a 3+ year
investigation into the experimentation, art, and practice of social
engineering and mind control during the Cold War — a mind-bending
journey into the past that gives startling insight into the world we are
living in today. It reveals [redacted]
Best Retro Avant Garde Short Film
Kokosmos
Dir. Anna Radchenko
United Kingdom
Shot in Moscow by the award-winning director and photographer Anna Radchenko, Kokosmos is a tribute to Russia’s infatuation with space.
Somewhere between a fashion film, a music piece and an experimental video, Kokosmos embraces reality and extends it through magical realism by visually answering the question: what if?
Finalist
The Cities Are Moving
Dir. Benjamin Esterlis
Israel
"In the silence of the night, the cities are moving" A short surreal music video animation.
Conversation With A Cigarette
Dir. Russell Brown
A cat and mouse game ensues when a
man faces his greatest enemy: A Cigarette.
Best American Feature Film
The Blue Tooth Virgin
Dir. Russell Brown
United States
An inside look into the politics of the creative process, two friends,
both writers, face the daunting challenge of delivering negative
criticism, but learn that the process can become a catalyst for self
discovery and growth. Sam, an aspiring screenwriter, and David, a
successful magazine editor, have been pals for years. When David
doesn’t appreciate Sam’s latest screenplay, it opens a fissure in their
friendship, one that spreads through to the rest of their lives.
Ultimately, both men must reevaluate their motivations to write, their
need for praise and validation, and what it means to see yourself as
you actually are.
Best Foreing Feature Film
Heart of Africa
Dir. Tshoper Kabambi
Congo, The Democratic Republic of the
A Congolese man runs from a terrible accident and finds himself at a
revolutionary camp, where he is told that he has a great destiny. He
tries to escape by going to another town, joining a religion, becoming
a missionary. Ultimately, though, he finds himself back in the very
place he tried to leave. He must face his fears and his shame, but also
his magnficent possibilities.
Finalist
Talking to God
Dir. Maya Batash
United States
After 12 nights of insomnia and feeling like her life is unraveling,
Rebecca travels to the Ukraine in a desperate attempt to find a
magic cure. There she finally sleeps and discovers the meaning of
life through an outrageous cast of characters including a man who
is truly happy despite having nothing.
WINNERS & AWARDS
Best Make Up and Hairstyling
Feature Film
Dio non ti Odia
Dir. Fabrizio La Monica
Italy
Short Film
Hotel MFW
Dir. The Blink Fish
Italy
Best Original Music
Feature Film
Kazarken (As we Dig)
Dir. Guldem Durmaz
Belgium
Short Film
A Leaf
Dir. Bishara Shoukry
Egypt
Finalist
Insidia
Dir. Paco Ruiz
Spain
Best Edition
Feature Film
Enticing Sugary Boundless or songs and dances about death
Dir. Tania Khodakivska
Ukraine
Short Film
The Butcher
Dir. Tian Tang
United States
Best Screenplay
Feature Film
Talking to God
Dir. Maya Batash
United States
Short Film
To Be Forgotten
Dir. Masa Gibson
United States
Finalist
Over the Line
Dir. Saba
United States
Best Cinematography
Feature Film
Palindrome
Dir. Marcus Flemmings
United Kingdom
Short Film
The Role of a Lifetime
Dir. Marc Saez
France
Best Actress
Feature Film
Maya Batash
Talking to God
United States
Short Film
Julia Strassmann
Greater Fool
United Kingdom
Best Actor
Feature Film
Denis Lavant
Kazarken (As we dig)
Belgium
Short Film
Ian Hart
Conversation with A Cigarette
Best Directors
Female Feature Film
Tania Khodakivska Enticing Sugary Boundless or
songs and dances about death
Ukraine
Male Feature Film
Russell Brown
The Blue Tooth Virgin
United States
Female Shortfilm
Leanne Nicole
Okay
United States
Male Shortfilm
Russell Brown
Conversation with a Cigarette
Best Director Documentary
Tariq Akreyi
The Bajos wont Celebrate
Iraq
Best Retro Documentary
Feature Film
Shenkman : The Last Flight
Dir. Alexander Martirosov
Russian Federation
The wreckage of an unknown plane and people's remains were
discovered in the Ural mountains in 2017. The investigation revealed
the legendary director of an aircraft factory Matvey Shenkman
crashed here during World War II. He launched into production the
most mass-produced military aircraft in history. Stalin threatened
him and agreed with him. Denunciations to KGB demanded him to
be shot. All the newspapers in the country wrote about his death.
But over time, his name was forgotten, and the path to the grave
was lost. And only 75 years later, the authors of the film found his
grave in Russia - and another one, in San Francisco, USA. Is also
engraved the name of Matvey Shenkman on it. And his bust, made
by Stalin’s personal order, stands now in a California house.
Finalist
A Tree remembers
Dir. Konstantinos Follas
Greece
This is the story of Lidice, levelled and – literally – eradicated by
the Nazis in retaliation for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich
in Prague. However, despite the heavy death toll it paid, the Czech
village not only was not erased from the map but constitutes a
symbol in the fight against Fascism.
Best Retro Short Film
The Magic Hour
Dir. Michael LaRocco
United States
A sorcerer casts a spell on a newlywed couple
Best Music Video
Bastille, Alessia Cara – Another Place
Dir. Anna Radchenko & Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux
Best Musical
The Tell- Tale Heart – a musicabre
Danny Ashkenasi
United States
A musical adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's gothic horror story. A man
is so disturbed by an old man's "vulture eye" he resolves to murder
and dismember him. But the murderer is driven to madness and
confession by the incessant beating of the victim's heart under the
floor boards.
Best Animation Short Film
Bookanima : Dance
Dir. Shon Kim
South Korea
Best Expressionism Short Film
Cycles
Dir. Veronika Vaculikova
Czech Republic
A dance interpretation of the life cycles of insects. An infinite process of a creature’s birth in silent timelessness. An organism in a vibrating microcosm, transforming on the background of inorganic matter. Camera, focused on an eternal action which can be barely perceived.
Best Experimental Short Film
Cuban Queens
Dir. Warren Bass
United States
CUBAN QUEENS (6 minutes) is an experimental film that approaches hand-drawn animation as a structuralist and painterly art form. It rhythmically explores ninety-nine evolving images of Havana's street divas. The production is a collaboration by Warren Bass (direction, animation and music), Lowell Boston (additional animation), and artist Liz Goldberg (original graphics, sketched on the streets of Havana). CUBAN QUEENS has been selected by the juries of 57 film festivals across 32 countries, and has received 6 international awards.
Best Psychedelic Fantasy
Feature Film
Amsteroid
John Higbie
United States
Two brothers, one dreamy and starry-eyed, the other earthy and
rational, are in search of their mother in the asteroid city of
Amsteroid, where she’s being held captive at the headquarters of
the evil mind control empire of Bob Van Horus. On the run from Van
Horus’ goons, they fall in with a group of teenage hustlers working
to blow up the asteroid.
Short Film
Twenty Twenty
Dir. Dave Sweeney
United States
Dave Slade faces a myriad of internal and external struggles in trying to figure out what's real or surreal. He encounters the threatening presence of Terranova, a huge woman who claims she's from the future, and he experiences terrible nightmares that illuminate this dilemma she presents to him along with a Mystery Woman. His Landlord, Mary Lee, is a positive presence who helps him waddle through the murky waters of his polluted mind as Old Man mysteriously guides him to his destiny.
Best Surrealism Short Film
Ouroboros
Dir. Emma Keehan
United States
One masked dancer threatens the cycle of pursued acceptance
met by authoritative rejection when part of her facade falls away and she can truly see.
Best Surrealism Feature Film
Kazarken ( As We Dig )
Dir. Guldem Durmaz
Belgium
A woman of Turkish ascent, following ancient anatolian healing rites,
dreams her way through fragments of memory, both personal and
collective. Guided by a mythological character, Kheiron the Centaur,
she travels freely between the ruins of an ancient Roman hospital and
the streets of a mountain village, high above the river Euphrates.
Time and space become dislocated, opening up passages between
worlds. An inner experience translated into a film poem, Kazarken
explores memory as a place of struggle against oblivion and the
violences of hidden history.
Best Horror Short Film
For the Record
Dir. Connor Sweeney
United States
A man buys a mysterious record from a record store which leads to a series of dark occurrences.
Best Science Fiction
To be Forgotten
Dir. Masa Gibson
United States
A recovering addict trying to erase the online records of his past transgressions gets a call from a mysterious company that claims it can help him be forgotten--not only by the Internet, but by all the people that ever knew him and by the natural world itself.
Best Web Series
Mystery Mansion
Dir. Joseph Whelski
United States
Three incredibly incapable men are tasked with guarding a mystical mansion, by any means necessary.
Best Comedy Short Film
Boss Kiss
Dir. Scott Michael Wagstaff
United Kingdom
After misunderstanding his bosses comments and body language, and believing he is asking for a kiss, a young man starts to kiss his boss at the end of weekly meetings. Each week the kisses increase until the boss is finally forced to confront him in order to avoid a dangerous 'me too' situation in the work place.
Best Drama Short Film
Development of June
Dir. Joe Olmstead
United Kingdom
Commercial development is planned for a field that holds June's dearest family memories. While she processes the devastating blows to her memory, she begins to come to terms with her state of mind and family.
“A stunning memory yarn condensed into what is just shy of 18 minutes, and full to the brim with heart!” - The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards
"Even if it seems to be a project about the disastrous effects of dementia, ‘Development of June’ is much more than that, since it goes beyond the pathology area to provide us a sensible stylistic exercise about the inner demons of the human soul." - The Monthly Film Festival
Best Documentaries
Best American Documentary Feature Film
Built on Graves
Dir. Joseph Mazzaferro
United States
A groundbreaking documentary from the original "Built on Graves" series dealing with the real life, current situations of grave recycling, cemetery abandonment, and how developers build homes, stores, and business over top of old cemeteries. In many cases leaving the bodies in the ground and paving over them.
Best American Documentary Short Film
L’eau est la vie ( Water is life ) : From Standing
Rock To the Swamp
Dir. Sam Vinal
United States
On the banks of Louisiana, fierce Indigenous women are
ready to fight—to stop the corporate blacksnake and
preserve their way of life. They are risking everything to
protect Mother Earth from the predatory fossil fuel
companies that seek to poison it.
Best Foreign Documentary Feature Film
In Nicaragua , My Name is Chepito !
Dir. Cheve Jean Luc
France
Chepito’s travel diary. Chepito, alias Joseph Chevalier, an 87 year retired french farmer, helps small farmers in Nicaragua with many friends of the french NGO association Echanges et solidarité 44. He has 11 long stays in Nicaragua.
I accompany him in search of a seed drill that I had offered to the Nicaraguan peasants. His many friends testify to the situation in rural areas, during these 25 years after the revolution. Is it realy about ?
Best Foreign Documentary Short Film
New Faustian World
Dir. Piero Passaro
Italy
Bologna (Italy), 2018. In a resigned world where the human
fate seems to be returned outside of their chances, Raffaele
Quattrone tells, walking among the streets of the city, the
artistic practice of 17 international artists with a Faustian
Factor: a strong and recognizable artistic identity and an
exasperated virtuosity that allows them to be in rivalry with
the endless possibilities of the computer, with the precision
of the photograph, with the reactions and relationships of
video and performance. NewFaustianWorld is the world of these painters that as the Faust of Goethe, emblem of the modern man, have an inner tension with which they don’t be satisfied with ordinariness but let the extraordinary be their philosophy of life taking up the challenges ahead of them.
The visual language of the film, halfway between documentary and fiction, pays homage to the personality of each artist recreating in the single scenes the world that we find in the artworks of these artists. It is similar to enter the work, the creative world of the artist.
Based on the book of the same name by Raffaele Quattrone and published by 24 ORE Cultura – Gruppo 24 ORE
Best Environment Feature Film
Beyond Climate
Dir. Ian Mauro
Canada
Narrated by David Suzuki, Beyond Climate explores the
human and environmental impacts of climate change in
British Columbia, and is a timely contribution to the
province and country as we grapple with climate change,
the paramount issue of our time.
Best Environment Short Film
The Kodiak Queen
Dir. Rob Sorrenti
The Kodiak Queen is about the ground-breaking transformation of a
decorated WWII warship that survived Pearl Harbour, into an artificial
reef and dive site by Richard Branson in the British Virgin Islands.
The essence of the project was to inspire a generation of ocean lovers.
But it soon revealed itself to be about something much bigger. On the
6th of September 2017, Hurricane Irma released it ferocious power
across the Caribbean and Florida Keys. Irma left behind a trail of uni-
maginable destruction, devastating the lives of thousands of people.
In this haunting film, Academy Award winner Kate Winslet and award
winning filmmaker Rob Sorrenti remind us of the momentous task
ahead restoring the British Virgin Islands.
Finalist
Charmolypi
Dir. Milinkovic Dragomir Clauss
Greece
WE WILL BE KNOWN FOREVER BY THE TRACKS WE LEAVE
Degree of pollution made by humans especially to seas and oceans,
has stopped being only a concern long time ago, urging us to react
immediately. We are living in time when passiveness of countries and
institutions made all of us, with at least a trace of an ecological awar-
eness, take a personal initiative in cleaning and preservation of nature.
Fashion industry, as one of the major pollutant, has a huge liability and duty to act responsibly towards our living space which we share with other living creatures. Because of the human recklessness, our planet has been over-polluted, and animals and the entire ecosystem suffer from its damaging consequences. Unfortunately, the negligence about the cohesion between the humans and the nature, will eventually be the price for its survival.
Human Rights Award
One day with Doctor Sergio
Dir. Oxana Kriss
Australia
Nikita is 8, he is a worldschooler from Australia – he is traveling
the World full time with his mother Oxana. While living in the
mountains of Chiapas, among indigenous people with their bright
culture, they met a real hero – Doctor Sergio Castro - a true Mexi-
can humanitarian. Doctor Sergio has provided free medical help
and building schools for local people of the poorest Mexican state
of Chiapas for more than half a century. The local people of Chia-
pas are Mayan Indians of different ethnic groups. Each ethnic
group has its own costumes, language, Catholic Patron Saint and traditions. The amazing doctor utilized this diversity, opening an ethnic Mayan museum which generated funds for to support his humanitarian work. Nikita and his mum became inspired by the unique personality of Doctor Sergio and decided to tell his story to the World. They followed Doctor Sergio and filmed him on his daily rounds. This film shows daily routine of the great contemporary humanitarian through the eyes of eight years old child.
Psychology of Migration
Dir. Ferhat Atik
Turkey
World-renowned psychoanalyst Prof.Dr. Vamik Volkan talks
about the immigrant problem and immigration psychology in the
world. What is the basic psychology of immigration and
immigrant? We learn it.
Golden Fish, African Fish
Dir. Thomas Grand
Senegal
"Golden Fish, African Fish " LINK ENGLISH
Password: sardine
The Casamance region in the South of Senegal is one of the last area of traditional fishing in West Africa. Facing the growing menace of industrial fishing companies and overcoming very harsh working conditions, the fishermen of Casamance contribute to the food supply (ou food safety)
of many African countries.
But for how long ?
The Women’s Strike Continues
Dir. Magda Malinowska
Poland
Protests against tightening of abortion law prove that women pose a real threat to prevailing power relations. However, this is not the only manifestation of their strength in recent years. "Women's strike continues” shows that women's resistance in Poland has its history.
Film depicts the struggle of women who work in municipal kindergartens and nurseries in Poznań (Poland). They fight for living wages and better conditions for themselves and the kids. In 2011, the women set up a union section. Since then they have learned to put pressure on their employers effectively, and they have also supported other workers during their struggles.
Aka : Dr Hope
Dir. Julian Biba
United States
A prominent doctor in the fight against cancer, gets diagnosed
with prostate cancer and has to use his "gift" to help himself and
others.
Women : a Success Story
Dir. Ceri Dingle
United Kingdom
This liberating tale for a new generation documents the great advance
made by women over the past 100 years and celebrates women as
equals in the West today. A far cry from contemporary concerns that
the world is awash with predators, misogyny and bias, over forty
engaging women give us a fresh perspective, tell us we have nothing
to fear and can do anything. From across the generations, they share
their life stories, what they overcame and what’s changed. Interwoven
with original archive we learn of women in the cotton mills, life during
the war, the 1984. Miners strike, from outdoor loos, terry nappies and
illegal abortions to pre-marital sex, freedom and making it in what was
once a man’s
Official Selections
Animations
Monster News Feed
Dir. Cara Hagan
United States
Dubicel
Dir. Yashira Jordan
Bolivia, Plurinational State of
Companionship
Dir. Engi Mahmoud
Egypt
Crime Time
Dir. Shanti Hands
United States
Stray Cat Ah Q
Dir. Mulan Fu
China
Music Videos
LINOLEUM – Alain Chamfort / Cie Niki Noves
Dir. Niki Noves
France
Fine Wine
Dir. Maria Shamkalian
United States
DIY
Dir. Benjamin Esterlis
Israel
Expressionism
1518
Dir. Brandon Humphries
United Kingdom
Umbrella Dance for Hong Kong
Dir. Wong King Fai
Hong Kong
A Double Caprice at the Asylum
Dir. Stephane Rizzi
France
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Art and Surrealism
Desir Pastel
Dir. Mathieu Rovolier
France
This story is about an angel coming down to
Earth. A mute and attractive young woman,
who is going to furiously turn upside down the
daily life of a middle-class family…
Maria's Silence
Dir. Cesare Bedogne
Italy
Subway Inferno
Dir. Peter Meng
United States
Loosely based on Dante's Inferno, this is a
subway ride through another dimension.
An underground journey that reveals a
labyrinth whose passages are the circles of
hell. Look for the light at the end of the tunnel.
Experimental
Schmutziges Licht
( Lichtphon Art – Avant X )
Dir. Schahram Poursoudmand
Germany
Residual Minority Showing till Jun19
Dir. Mieke Vandmechelen
Ireland
Join Us
Dir. Jasper Cable - Alexander
United Kingdom
Beautiful Colors
Dir. J. A. Moreno
United States
1536 Units
Dir. Jan Rehwinkel
Germany
Alchemy
Dir. Brandon Polanco
United States
Zoe
Dir. Iara Magdaleno
Brazil
Hallowstide
Dir. Steve Socki
United States
Blacks
Dir. Romain Claris
France
Compression
Dir. Oliver Smith
United States
Sciene Fiction
Proofs from the past
Dir. Christophe Ledard
France
Horror
The Carpool
Dir. Jonathon Graham
United States
A charmingly awkward man, Keenan, gets into a carpool taxi with the strong-willed Mary. They begin to hit it off when the driver suddenly flips a switch which releases gas rendering the two unconscious. They awaken in a locked garage. Together, with Mary taking the lead, they devise a plan of escape. They dupe the driver, who they eventually name 'Skinfucker', and lock him in the garage. Tables have turned. The front door is barred. Their only escape are the 'Skinfucker's' keys.
Comedy
Zoo
Dir. Veine
France
@theinternet
Dir. Hannah Burgos
United States
An aspiring social media influencer runs through the motions
of creating highly curated, niche internet content as she vlogs
on a special day.
Neighborrow
Dir. Martin Fournier
France
The neighbor showing up at eight o'clock in the morning
in her bathrobe, that’s normal for you?
A Smile Away
Dir. Florian Velasco
France
As every morning, Marc is going to drink his coffee
on the corner of his street. An unexpected Surprise
will upset his habits...
You or Me
Dir. Yana Zinov
United States
Audition Antics
Dir. Becca Beberaggi
United States
Drama
The Role of a Lifetime
Dir. Marc Saez
France
A man, a woman, a payback.
Pardon la Mer ( Sorry Sea )
Dir. Francois Ruiz
France
LATCHED
Dir. Dewen Yang
United States
The dark tale of the night a 28 years old Chinese
delivery man discovers physical abuse while
bringing food to an NYC apartment.. and the
conflict he faces of what to do about it...
A Work of Heart
Dir. Christine Bergeron
United States
Fool
Dir. Al Kalyk
United States
A middle-aged man is forced to confront their
gender identity.
Forse ti Incontro
Dir. Ludovico Marazzani Visconti
Italy
Two opposing characters. Gas is enterprising, idealistic, messed
up and for now he can not bring into the real world what is in his
mind. Son of a mechanic, he designed an eco-sustainable startup
to distribute fruit in offices. Fiamma is precise, methodical but full
of thoughts that wake her up at five a.m. o' clock and she tries to
anesthetize them with her cell phone. From a good family and
graduated with honors, and a promising HR. Both sentimentally
confused but one morning at dawn everything could change, or not.
A Missing Piece
Dir. Grace Chang
United States
Ling, a former Peking Opera performer, tries to enlist her teenage
son, David to deliver a mysterious package to her aging Opera
master. During their visit at her master’s old folks home in
Chinatown, something unexpected happens that leads Ling and
David to find the “Missing Piece
