Submission: The Everest Within

Documentary: The Everest Within

Submission: THE ZOO (Chidiakhana)

Feature Film: THE ZOO (Chidiakhana)

THE ZOO (Chidiakhana), Feature Film

A young Bihari boy, Sooraj with a talent for soccer, arrives with his poor mother to live in Mumbai slums, that is predominantly Marathi. He faces extreme odds from gang members of his new school who would not let him be at peace or play his game for which he has great passion and talent for.

Hounded and cornered, Sooraj fights for his spot under the sun, his place in the Chidiakhana or the Zoo, often literally, as his adversaries appear with animal heads to confront Sooraj. Things start to change for for our underdog protagonist when protection comes from unexpected quarters; a local Marathi gangster comes to their rescue and gives wings to his modest dreams. Chidiakhana is a heartwarming sports drama with a touch of magic realism.

Directed by: MANISH Tiwary

Key Cast: RITVIK SAHORE

Country of Origin: India

Submission: The Hidden Court

Documentary: The Hidden Court

The Hidden Court, Documentary

The Hidden Court. A heartwarming documentary about a group of 11 men from Northern Westchester, NY who, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when gyms were closed and rims taken off outdoor courts, found a sense of community and camaraderie by playing 'prohibition basketball' on a hidden outdoor court.

The film follows the men as they bond over their love of the game, providing a much-needed escape from the stress and isolation of the pandemic. The film is a time capsule of life during covid, reminding us and future generations of what life was like in the year 2020. Through their stories, the film explores the power of friendship and the resilience of the human spirit.

Directed by: Walter Schlomann

Country of Origin: USA

Submission: 0.5 meters

Documentary: 0.5 meters

0.5 meters, Documentary

Gonzalo wants to be a film director, he dreams of directing comedies. In November 2006 his life stopped in a traffic accident that caused him a spinal cord injury. A few days after he was bedridden, he borrowed a video camera and as self-therapy began to film everything that happened to him, beginning his life 0.5 meters above the ground. When the state terminates his rehabilitation, he returns to his hometown. He has two options: stay put or continue his life in an eternal traveling.

In order not to be alone, he decides to practice wheelchair basketball at the famous club AMFIV, and his story takes a Copernican turn. Discover a new universe for him in this professional sport, a world that has not yet been filmed from the inside.

Directed by: Gonzalo Suárez Garayo

Key cast: Gonzalo Suárez Garayo

Country of Origin: Spain

Submission: The Carnival: 125 Years of the Penn Relays

Documentary: The Carnival: 125 Years of the Penn Relays

The Carnival: 125 Years of the Penn Relays, Documentary

From Award-Winning Director Justin Jarrett and Emmy Award Winner “JB” James Brown (CBS/Showtime), comes The Carnival: 125 Years of the Penn Relays. For more than a century, The Penn Relays have defied the odds on their way to becoming one of the longest running sporting events in history. From breaking world records to breaking down barriers, they have helped revolutionize the sport of track and field while playing host to everyone from World Champions to Olympic icons and creating a legacy that will last forever.

Directed by: Justin Jarrett

Country of Origin: USA

Submission: ULTIMATE CITIZENS

Documentary: ULTIMATE CITIZENS

ULTIMATE CITIZENS, Documentary

In ULTIMATE CITIZENS, Jamshid is an Iranian who came to study in 1970’s America, and due to the Revolution, never went “home.” Now a guidance counselor in Seattle Public Schools, Jamshid’s best work takes place out of the building and on a playing field with “his kids,” the children of refugees and immigrants. Their parents are in the grips of their own struggles to make a living and a home in a strange land.

Mr. Jamshid is the charismatic, fiery, funny human with a Frisbee in hand, who is the first to show that "love wins" on the field, off the field, at home with family, or boldly forging a new community, in a new country - one kid, chicken, extreme mile and friend at a time.

Directed by: Francine Strickwerda

Key Cast: Jamshid Khajavi

Country of Origin: USA

Submission: Svaneti - The hidden paradise

Short Film: Svaneti - The hidden paradise

Submission: Home Ocean

Short Film: Home Ocean

Submission: Rebound

Documentary: Rebound

Submissions

Submission: The Everest Within

Submission: THE ZOO (Chidiakhana)

Submission: The Hidden Court

Submission: 0.5 meters

Submission: The Carnival: 125 Years of the Penn Relays

Submission: ULTIMATE CITIZENS

Submission: Svaneti - The hidden paradise

Submission: Home Ocean

Submission: Rebound