International and Local Short Films

All movies shown in their original language with English subtitles

This program features 17 short films that explore themes of identity, transformation, and resistance. Through a variety of styles—ranging from whimsical adventures to psychological explorations—these films provide a rich, thought-provoking commentary on personal and political issues in today’s world. Each film provides a distinctive lens on identity, existence, and artistic expression, offering an enriching and diverse viewing experience. 

Read about the filmmakers and learn more about GRRL HAUS at www.grrlhauscinema.com.

Featuring Films:

Chora
Ao Wei (UK, 8:05)
I have created a world called “Chora”, a world of pre-linguistic order, a maternal space where “Chora” is both a living being with changing emotions and an architectural body with its own order. The world actually suggests the circulation and flow of energy within the female reproductive system, a raw female power.

Happy Birthday to us!
Tamara Tasic (Serbia, 19:06)
The story of two inseparable friends born on the same day of the same year. As they grow up, their unique, idyllic world—understood only by them—begins to crumble when one of them finds a boyfriend.

Cat Cow Meow
Lady Beaver (US, 2:39)
A cat and a cow find friendship and get sexy as they explore the city of Berlin and have a wonderful playtime adventure.

Eternal Depth
Onyou Oh (Republic of Korea, 7:40)
A time of looking at the sea, accompanied by poetry imbued with death and eternity.

Don’t Fall From Grace
Carley Byers (US, 10:52)
Set in 1954, Grace, a young woman possessed by a mysterious entity, is trapped in a sinister trance as her mother is desperate to release her.

Gina Kamentsky’s Pinocchio in 70mm
Gina Kamentsky (US, 3:12)
Pinocchio felt a longing deep within him. Someday, he would become a real girl and live a life beyond the confines of make-believe.

I’m sorry I’m late
Sharon Mooney (US, 7:22)
Psychological deteriorations caused by invisible labor and stress intensify. What’s left as our internal and external struggle to find solid ground? Moments taken from the The Avengers that hint at disruption, mental dissolution, and violence slowly disintegrate to be replaced with another – another thought/another memory/another question. An ethereal soundscape with re-edited sound clips from Honey West gives voice to the tension of navigating the unnamed character’s internal and external self.

Gab
Hogan Seidel (US, 3:14)
This piece continues my exploration of nature alongside significant queer individuals in my life. Filmed across various forests, arboretums, and gardens in Seattle and Vancouver with artist and friend Gabby Follett, this film employs intricate visual layering, hand-processed film, and biofeedback sound to delve into themes of queer ecology. The work celebrates the beauty of non-hierarchical, non-binary, and non-human-centric ways of experiencing queerness in and as part of nature.

Object(s) of Desire
Liberty Antonia Sadler (UK, 4:05)
“The worship of fat pleasures…
You are the embodiment of lust & gluttony combined”
An intimate colour-drenched celebration of queer fat sensuality, ‘Object(s) of Desire’ is a three performer portrait & poem film featuring Smashlyn Monroe, Jade Williams & the film’s director Liberty Antonia Sadler.

The Looking Game
Ann Upton (Ireland, 7:02)
The Looking Game is an experimental animated short made in paper cutouts. It depicts a faux-instructional game-play environment inspired by eye-tracking. Divided by the screen, the fictitious audience follows the orders of the narrator. We can’t be sure if the bond they form is reciprocal, or if the audience was ever there to begin with. ‘A Two Way Mirror with the Lights Switched Off;’ an attempt at connection doomed to fail.

The Real American Dream
Rita Damiron, Isabella Breton (US, 1:29)
While many leave their homeland to pursue the American dream, this artistic short film takes us through a brief conversation between two sisters separated by the Atlantic where one shares her personal American Dream.

Tehran Is Ours…
Hamideh Azimi (US, 6:06)
A girl joins protests on the city streets. Like everyone else, she wears a mask to keep her face unrecognizable. She and many others meet police resistance; she is trapped in an empty alleyway. It is there that she is shot. But she cannot be silenced in this political drama.

The Streetlight
Sophia Parella (United States, 6:48)
A man gains a deeper understanding of purpose after helping a talking streetlight through its existential crisis.

Reversal
Diane Nerwen (US, 6:34)
REVERSAL combines images and sounds from movies released or broadcast in 1973, the year the Supreme Court decided Roe v Wade. In the strange new reality ushered in by the Dobbs decision, the slogan “We won’t go back” is recalled with bitter irony. This collage piece evokes the spectre of regression and repression that has followed the Court’s decision.

Not A Body
Cassandra Paige (Canada, 3:49)
A Short Experimental film about living within the constraints of a body and it’s impermanence.

Marrow of my Bones
Karly McCloskey (Canada, 2:11)
“Marrow of my Bones” is a short experimental film blending digital effects, frame-by-frame animation, and hand-processed 16mm film. It explores post-humanism through a tactile return to nature, with a score featuring electroacoustic sounds, analog synthesizers, and field recordings of insects, wind, and fire. These sounds are processed with hardware effects, mirroring the film’s visual style. The film delves into themes of hybridity, embodiment, and otherness, portraying nature as a dynamic, queer entity. It’s a love letter to queerness, exploring the filmmaker’s connection with non-humans and challenging ingrained perceptions of identity.

But Humble Sinners
Dir. Stephanie Halovanic (United States, 11:22)
Two nuns scam a cowboy for a coffin.

About:

GRRL HAUS CINEMA, is a Nonprofit film festival, screening series, and collective dedicated to promoting the works of women, trans, non-binary, and genderqueer filmmakers in the realms of experimental, low-budget, and underground cinema. Our emphasis on low budget and DIY culture creates a space for underrepresented voices in cinema to be heard by promoting creativity and diversity of expression through film.

Diverging from traditional film festivals, GRRL HAUS adopts a dynamic model, hosting multiple events throughout the year to consistently showcase high-quality short films crafted by women, non-binary, genderqueer, and trans individuals for a global audience.
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At GRRL HAUS, we wholeheartedly embrace DIY culture and prioritize sharing these works with a wide spectrum of audiences. Whether it’s showcasing films in international museums or projecting them in underground clubs, our mission is to make these works accessible to all. We reject the notion of limiting exposure to the typical film festival networking crowd and strive to reach diverse audiences, celebrating the inclusivity of innovative and distinctive cinematic creations.