It has been a difficult year for the film and audiovisual industry around the world. However our team has not given up and has worked hard to once again bring cinema back to the people and the people back to the cinema. An incredible programme containing everything that has made us excited and discover something more about the world and ourselves.

We are delighted to unveil the official programme of the ninth edition of La Guarimba Film Festival and to show it to you in presence from 7 to 12 August.

From the 1174 short films received from 80 different countries, the team of programmers carried out a meticulous analysis and evaluation work to select 172 works from 56 countries from all continents: 5 African countries, 13 Asian, 28 European, 9 American, 1 Oceanic.

Gender equality is fairly represented in the program: 94 of the selected films are directed by women (55% of the total). 

This selection confirms the mission to represent different cultures, languages and traditions, bringing richness and cultural variety to a small village in Calabria without a cinema.

Within the selection you will find established filmmakers alongside new emerging talents, who will most likely continue to be talked about in the near future.

The programme is enriched by special sections curated by external programmers: KARMALA, the Sub-Saharan Africa programme curated by Keba Danso; AMERICANIA, US short films curated by Sam Morrill; EL GUAYABO, a selection of documentaries on the Venezuelan diaspora; FOCUS LITUANIA in collaboration with the Vilnius Film Festival; and finally the winners of GLAS ANIMATION, the US animation festival that had to take place online this year and that we will host on our screen.

The monkeys are coming back, see you this summer in Amantea.

Head of Programming: Alex Spagnolo

Programmers: Marta Miquel, Mikel MurilloValeria Weerasinghe, Sara Fratini & Giulio Vita

#LaGuarimba2021

FICTION

THE LAST FERRY FROM GRASS ISLAND

Linhan Zhang | 2020 | 14′ | United States & Hong Kong

A Hong Kong hitman retires as a fisherman on the peaceful Grass Island. One day his Chinese apprentice shows up tasked to kill him before the last ferry departs.

ACCAMÒRA

Emanuela Muzzupappa | 2020 | 11′ | Italy

On the rugged Calabrian hills, fig harvesting is a yearly life ritual for Antonio. However, Antonio is going to find out that this time things are going to change.

THE UNSEEN RIVER

Phạm Ngọc Lân | 2020 | 23′ | Vietnam

Stories told along the river: a woman reunites with her ex-lover at a hydroelectric plant. Meanwhile, a young man travels downstream to a temple in search of a cure for his insomnia.

L'EFFORT COMMERCIAL

Sarah Arnold | 2020 | 17′ | France, Switzerland & Italy

Lea begins a summer job as a cashier in a large supermarket chain. In an empty and cold environment, she soon discovers the underlying violence of the workplace.

DROMEDARY

Janez Lapajne | 2019 | 17′ | Slovenia

A hunchback boy sets off by himself to the seaside, where he experiences a reckoning with the burdens and challenges of his life.

QUEENS

Youssef Youssef | 2019 | 30′ | Switzerland & Egypt

A nocturnal journey of a group of Drag queens from Geneva.

ANITA

Sushma Khadepaun | 2020 | 18′ | India & United States

While attending her sister’s wedding in India, Anita is pushed to question whether her life in the United States is any better than in her hometown.

DAVID

Zachary Woods | 2020 | 12′ | United States

A severely depressed man reaches out for an emergency therapy session. However, he’s not the only one who needs help.

3 MEETINGS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMITTEE

Jones | 2020 | 18′ | United Kingdom & Bulgaria

When the citizens of the small farming village of Dobre vote for a mythical creature, democracy comes face to face with reality.

SUKAR

Ilias El Faris | 2019 | 11′ | Morocco/France

Casablanca’s beach, Morocco. Teenager’s desire for each other is growing discreetly. Adults and children oversee. A fight creates a diversion.

THE DANGER IN FRONT

Alexis Chartrand | 2020 | 18′ | Canada

While observing life outside his shop, a barber thinks he sees someone who is after his life and his family. Confronted with imminent danger, the barber decides to react.

THE DELIVERY

Doğuş Özokutan | 2020 | 12′ | Cyprus, Turkey & Syria

Yusuf accepts the job of carrying refugees in his refrigerated meat truck in order to save his daughter’s life.

URSULA

Eduardo Brito | 2020 | 7′ | Portugal

Between the northernmost city in the world. On a long polar night and a foggy summer morning in the south, a dream, with all of its doubts, takes place.

THE MANILA LOVER

Johanna Pyykkö | 2019 | 27′ | Philippines/Norway

During a trip to the Philippines, middle-aged Norwegian Lars met Abigail. He wants to share his life with her, but does she share his plans?

ALL THE TIME

Shadi Karamroudi | 2020 | 15′ | Iran

Toranj is in limbo not knowing what to do when she’s told that her sister is planing to commit suicide.

EL AMOR AMENAZADO

Hector Herce | 2020 | 15′ | Spain

Alex and Felix appear to be the only inhabitants of a forgotten neighborhood at the end of a hot August.

BLACK HOLE

Tristan Aymon | 2020 | 29′ | Switzerland

When young skateboarder Vincent meets a vulnerable animal at the bottom of a hole, the encounter will get him to confront his own fears of the unknown.

PAIN

Anna Rose Duckworth | 2020 | 8′ | New Zealand

A young girl has an earth-shattering realization that her father is not invincible.

AUSTRAL FEVER

Thomas Woodroffe | 2019 | 20′ | Chile

Amanda lives with her son Daniel in the mountains of southern Chile. Octavio, a friend of Daniel, is accidentally injured while hunting in the forest.

LORENA

Sergio Babilonia | 2021 | 17′ | Peru

Johan has disappeared several days ago after having an argument with Lorena.

ANIMATION

TRONA PINNACLES

Mathilde Parquet | 2020 | 12′ | France

Gabrielle finds herself stuck near Death Valley, between two parents who no longer speak to each other.

FATA MORGANA

Daniella Bokor, Leanna Berkovitch | 2019 | 11′ | Israel

Christina, Anna, and Rachel are three nomads. What brings a woman to wander alone?

HOLD ME TIGHT

Mélanie Robert-Tourneur | 2021 | 7′ | Belgium

In the heart of a dark forest, two silhouettes meet, attract and repel each other in an explosive bridal parade.

SASSY BOY

Qieer Wang | 2020 | 1′ | China/United States

A short suspense series.

Incomplete woman

Huh Su-young | 2020 | 10′ | South Korea

A body of a woman is found dismembered except for her lower body and the left hand.

HORACIO

Caroline Cherrier | 2020 | 10′ | France

Guillaume kills Horacio because “he was shouting too loud”, this reason disconcerts at his trial.

IT'S ALL THE SALT'S FAULT

María Cristina Pérez | 2020 | 10′ | Colombia

The youngest daughter of a family of sloths rebuilds her parents’ and three siblings’ story.

BLUE FEAR

Marie Jacotey, Lola Halifa-Legrand | 2020 | 10′ | France

Nils is driving Flora to his parents for the first time when they get ambushed. She’s made prisoner while he flees. During a night in the pinewood, she has to face her doubts.

HOW MY GRANDMOTHER BECAME A CHAIR

Nicolas Fattouh | 2020 | 10′ | Lebanon/Germany

An aging grandmother loses her five senses and becomes a wooden chair.

LITTLE MISS FATE

Joder von Rotz | 2020 | 8′ | Switzerland

Little Miss Fate lives in a world driven by fate. When the opportunity arises she slips into the role of the world leader.

GIRLS TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL

Paola Sorrentino | 2021 | 7′ | Italy

What it is like to be a girl in a boy’s world. Six girls share their own experiences playing woman’s football in a male-dominated sport.

THE ZUCCHINI'S SMILE

Lucas Ansart | 2020 | 7′ | France

Myia and Aristote live from gluglu hunting. These cloud-animals allow them to grow courgettes in the desert.

DAT'S REAL GOOD?

Marc Faye | 2021 | 5′ | France

On 23 February 2005, the radio announced a law project about the benefits of French colonization. This announcement disrupted the daily life of Louise and her family.

COCKPERA

Kata Gugić | 2020 | 5′ | Croatia

A short opera inspired by Aesop’s fable The Fighting Cocks and the Eagle.

WOULD YOU PLEASE?

Ada Güvenir | 2020 | 5′ | Turkey/Belgium

A modern day love story in the right place but at the wrong time

EASTER EGGS

Nicolas Keppens | 2021 | 14′ | Belgium

The Chinese restaurant is empty. The exotic bird’s cage stands wide open. Two friends, Jason and Kevin, see this as an opportunity to catch and sell them.

NUEVO RICO

Kris Mercado | 2021 | 16′ | United States/Puerto Rico

A brother and sister stumble upon a celestial secret that changes their lives forever and propels them into Reggaetón stardom.

MERMAID IN A JAR

Malkki Tomi | 2020 | 5′ | Finland

A mermaid is in a jar and unless I loosen the top she’s not coming out to kill me…

CARROUSEL

Jasmine Elsen | 2020 | 9′ | Belgium

Rose grows up with her snails in their park. One day she is attacked by intruders or is it the other way around?

MALUMORE

Loris Giuseppe Nese | 2020 | 12′ | Italy

The mother cares for seniors in their homes where the ticking clock counts down the working day.

DOCUMENTARY

UNCLE IN LA

Kai Stoeckel | 2020 | 28′ | Germany & United States

“Who says Katy doesn’t love me back?” my uncle asks me before heading off from south Germany to Los Angeles to live with one of the biggest stars of our time, Katy Perry.

GOD WAS HERE!

Raluca Lupascu | 2020 | 27′ | The Netherlands & Romania

The old shepherd saw God 85 years ago and performed many miracles in which the whole community believes in.

JUST A GUY

Shoko Hara | 2020 | 15′ | Germany/Japan

Three women share glimpses of their affection, attraction, and relationship with Richard Ramirez: a serial killer and rapist they contacted after he was convicted.

SON OF SODOM

Theo Montoya | 2020 | 15′ | Colombia

In August 2017, I chose Camilo Najar, known as Son of Sodom in the social networks to be the main character of my first feature film. A week later, at the age of 21, he died of a heroin overdose.

SHADOWS ON THE RAILS

Elias Kahla | 2021 | 21′ | Finland

A short film about surviving traumatic fatal accidents taken place in railways.

GIRLSBOYSMIX

Lara Aerts | 2020 | 6′ | The Netherlands

Why is it so important to be a boy or a girl? Wen Long naturally and candidly explains that she was born intersex.

QUARANTA CAVALLI

Luca Ciriello | 2020 | 10′ | Italy

The summer raids of a group of kids from Chioggia, their dreams on the water and their expectations.

A LACK OF CLARITY

Stefan Kruse Jørgensen | 2020 | 23′ | Denmark

Sleeplessness is lit up by a computer monitor in an urban space where day and night are no longer distinguished.

THE BALLET OF SERVICE

Marlies Smeenge | 2020 | 15′ | The Netherlands

At the International Butler Academy in Limburg, people from all over the world are trained to become a butler for the elite.

3 LOGICAL EXITS

Mahdi Fleifel | 2020 | 14′ | Denmark, United Kingdom & Lebanon

A sociological meditation on the different “exits” that young Palestinians choose, in order to cope with life in the refugee camps.

MUSIC VIDEOS

NEVER EVER

Evgeniv Bakirov | 2020 | 3′ | Russia

A guy works as a janitor and cleans up gang fight scenes.

Music by: Husky

CAREFUL

Alice Saey | 2020 | 4′ | France

Music by: Jo Goes Hunting

PARACHUTE

Taisia Deeva | 2020 | 4′ | Germany & Russia

One of the protagonists is bullied in his neighborhood.

Music by: Paul Kalkbrenner

CRAZIEST THINGS

Sacha Beeley | 2020 | 3′ | United Kingdom

Music by: Babeheaven

I DIED

Zuzanna Plisz | 2021 | 4′ | Poland

Away from civilization, a small group of women form a doctrinal and conservative religious group.

Music by: Kuba Kawalec

KING'S BLVD

Andrew Litten | 2020 | 4′ | United States

A short film for LA based recording artist, Nana, that explores his divided upbringing.

Music by: Nana

STING LIKE A BEE

Leone Balduzzi | 2020 | 5′ | Italy

A quest in search of love through the streets of the Italian southern town of Vasto.

Music by: Ze in the Clouds

DEMASIADAS MUJERES

Santos Bacana | 2020 | 3′ | Spain

Music by: C. Tangana

THE TOWER

Sunčana Brkulj | 2020 | 4′ | Croatia

As years and years go by, a tiny civilization makes its way upwards.

Music by: The Recks

ROOM WITH A VIEW

(LA)HORDE – Marine Brutti, Jonathan Debrouwer & Arthur Harel | 2020 | 5′ | France

The wind is blowing in the Théâtre Châtelet. This destructive hurricane sweeps away all the remnants of a dying world.

Music by: Rone

EXPERIMENTAL - INSOMNIA

ANINSRI DAENG

Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke | 2020 | 29′ | Thailand

A ladyboy prostitute-cum-spy is assigned a mission to disguise as a cis-masculine gay to acquire important information from an idealistic student activist.

FRUIT

Ivan Li | 2020 | 3′ | Canada/Hong Kong

An in-depth technical analysis on fruit.

ANGRY DOGS

Shaun Clark | 2020 | 5′ | United Kingdom

When sleeping dogs awaken, rationality quickly disappears.

I WANT TO BE THE OCEAN

Raman Djafari | 2020 | 1′ | Germany

A meandering film about identity, uncertainty, and the hope to escape it.

XYLEM

Michael Hughes | 2019 | 5′ | United Kingdom

An experimental animation using only microscopic images of xylem, one of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants.

AFRICAN PROGRAM - KARMALA

AL-SIT

Suzannah Mirghani | 2020 | 20′ | Sudan

An arranged marriage in a cotton-farming village in Sudan. Does 15-year-old Nafisa have a choice?

BABLINGA

Fabien Dao | 2020 | 14′ | Burkina Faso

Moktar always said that when he shat down his bar Bablinga, he would return to Burkina. This day has arrived.

NOOR

Rim Nakhli | 2020 | 15′ | Tunisia

Noor and Adem set off to meet their father whom they haven’t seen for a long time.

EL GUAYABO

OF MEMORY AND DEBRIS

Rodrigo Michelangeli | 2020 | 16′ | Canada

A personal portrait of the director’s grandfather (Opa, 94) and his wife’s grandfather (Ababo, 81).

A BACKYARD FOR MY GRANDCHILDREN TO PLAY

Pedro Moreno | 2020 | 8′ | Uruguay

Escaping the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis, Pedro and Veruska find shelter in a poor-condition boarding house in Montevideo, Uruguay.

THEY CALLED ME PIETRO

Pedro Mercado | 2020 | 8′ | Venezuela

A childhood that has been influenced by the strong presence of italian people in the city, the street and the building he was born and still lives in.

LITHUANIAN FOCUS

BECOMING ANIMAL

Ieva Šakalytė | 2021 | 10′

Juste volunteers at the electronic music festival in the middle of the woods. Everything seems to be nice and fun.

IT'S ALRIGHT

Jorūnė Greičiūtė | 2020 | 17′

Two middle-aged people are going on a date in a secret place next to a river.

DUMMY

Laurynas Bareiša | 2020 | 13′

Using a faceless doll, a criminal re-enacts a brutal crime.

AMERICANIA

LITTLE POTATO

Wes Hurley & Nathan M. Miller | 2020 | 14′

A Russian mother becomes a mail-order bride to an unpredictable American man.

DICK MORRILL

Bas Berkhout | 2020 | 6′

An artist reminisces on his life as he completes his final painting.

CAROLINE

Celine Held & Logan George | 2020 | 12′

In the middle of a Texas summer, plans for a babysitter fall through and six-year-old Caroline is left in charge of her two younger siblings.

QUARTER LIFE POETRY ON PLANNED PARENTHOOD

Arturo Perez Jr. & Samantha Jayne | 2020 | 4′

There is no shared experience quite like a waiting room.

QUARTER LIFE POETRY ON OFFICE BATHROOMS

Arturo Perez Jr. | 2020 | 3′

When it comes to using office bathrooms, release your fear and anxiety.

GLAS ANIMATION

KKUM

Kang-min Kim | 2020 | 9′ | South Korea

My mother’s dreams have always been strong premonitions for important moments in my life.

NAKED

Kirill Khachaturov | 2019 | 15′ | Russia

Somewhere in Eastern Europe due to an accident in a laboratory, the hero gains superpowers that he does not want.

1000 DREAMS: ZENTI THE INVINCIBLE

Jonathan Phanhsay-Chamson | 2020 | 16′ | France

Zenti looks for his wife. Zenti is haunted by memories that are not his. Zenti has no control over the present but he will never collapse.

LA GROTTA DEI PICCOLI