FILM FEST PETALUMA
April 30, 2022, Mystic Theatre
Film Fest Petaluma returns to the historic Mystic Theatre with its signature annual showcase of the best short films from around the world. Filmmakers will be in conversation at all four programs (12, 3, 7, & 10). Patrons can make a day of the fest with a $35 Shorts Pass or purchase tickets to individual shows. TICKETS ARE EXCLUSIVELY SOLD AT THE MYSTIC BOX OFFICE ON THE DAY OF THE FESTIVAL.
SATURDAY MATINEE SHORTS - 12:00pm
A PERIOD IN TIME
Andrew Carniglia, USA, 3 minutes
A young adult finds himself lost after high school. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival. Writer/director Andrew Carniglia will be in conversation at the screening.
INERTIA
Mat Johns, UK, 18 minutes
When an extremely rare event derails a teacher’s life, an unlikely friendship with a student may just alter her destiny.
BESTIA
Hugo Covarrubias, Chile, 15 minutes
Inspired by real events, Bestia explores the fractured mind of a secret police agent during the military dictatorship in Chile. Nominated for Best Animated Short at the 2022 Academy Awards.
#RELATIONSHIPGOALS
Jaric & Jared Wright, Eric Ivey, USA, 8 minutes
An unhealthy obsession with social media sends a man into a downward spiral. Writer/director Jared Wright and Director Eric Ivey will be in conversation at the screening.
MIRAGE
Sil van der Woerd, Netherlands, 15 minutes
A hunter, tormented by the approaching death of his wife, is confronted with his emotions.
THE STATUE
Mohsen Salehi Fard, Iran, 10 minutes
A sculptor breathes life into his creation only to take away its freedom in its final form.
THE NIGHT TRAIN
Jerry Carlsson, Sweden, 15 minutes
When strangers lock eyes on the night train, it raises the specter of an unexpected encounter. Writer/director Jerry Carlsson (Shadow Animals, FFP 2019) will be in conversation at the screening.
INSIDE
Yann Chapotel, France, 5 minutes
A view from the filmmaker’s window transforms into a choreographed fresco on the visual and aural rhythms of everyday life.
THE TREATMENT
Álvaro Carmona, Spain, 9 minutes
When a couple seeks out a new experimental treatment, the price may be more than they’re willing to pay.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON SHORTS - 3:00pm
MADE OF MEMORIES
Sabrina Bomberg, USA, 1 minute
A short stop motion tale of a duck reminiscing about the girl who raised it. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival. Director Sabrina Bomberg will be in conversation at the screening.
NIGHT OF A WITCH
Matty David Denison, USA, 1 minute
A witch, cruising on her broom at night, decides to save a pig in distress. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival. Director Matty Denison will be in conversation at the screening.
READ NO MORE
Katherine Fairfax Wright, USA, 10 minutes
Recuperating in a military hospital after a catastrophic incident during the war in Afghanistan, a young soldier recounts fragmented moments of his life.
STRANGER THAN ROTTERDAM WITH SARA DRIVER
Lewie & Noah Kloster, USA, 10 minutes
The incredible true story of how one fearless producer went above and beyond the call of duty to help turn Jim Jarmusch’s absurdist short Stranger Than Paradise into a break-out feature film, all told in cut-out puppet animation.
TEO
Eduardo Bunster & Belén Abarza, Chile, 18 minutes
In this cautionary sci-fi fable, a couple visits a gene-editing clinic hoping to design a child that will find the happiness that has eluded them. Filmmakers Eduardo Bunster & Belén Abarza will be in conversation at the screening.
SVONNI VS. THE SWEDISH TAX AGENCY
Maria Fredriksson, Sweden, 5 minutes
A Sámi woman fights for her right to claim a tax deduction against the purchase of a dog to herd her reindeer.
GIRL WITH A THERMAL GUN
Rongfei Guo, China, 12 minutes
An overworked delivery man develops an interest in the clerk who takes his temperature at the supermarket. Awarded Best Narrative Short at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
WARSHA
Dania Bdeir, Lebanon, 15 minutes
When a Syrian migrant takes on one of the tallest and most dangerous cranes in Lebanon, it unleashes an unexpected sense of freedom. Awarded Best International Short Film at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival.
ZOON
Jonatan Schwenk, Germany, 4 min.
Residing in a dark swamp at the bottom of a nocturnal forest, a group of gleaming axolotls pursue lustful games until a creature interrupts their fun.
DON VS. LIGHTNING
Big Red Button, UK, 13 minutes
All Don wants is a quiet life in the Scottish Highlands but the universe has other plans.
EVENING SHORTS SHOWCASE - 7:00pm
LOST AND FOUND
Rik van Hoorn, USA, 4 minutes
When a man stumbles across a discarded old violin, memories come flooding back from his youth. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival. Writer/director Rik van Hoorn will be in conversation at the screening.
PLEASE HOLD
K.D. Dávila, USA, 19 minutes
A young man’s life is suddenly and inexplicably changed as he finds himself at the mercy of automated justice. Nominated for Best Live Action Short Film at the 2022 Academy Awards. Writer/director K.D. Dávila and Writer/producer Levin Menekse will be in conversation at the screening.
OF HEARTS AND CASTLES
Ruben Navarro, USA, 15 minutes
When two lonely men meet on a night out, they push each other to reveal truths about themselves and each other. Writer/director Ruben Navarro will be in conversation at the screening.
LOOP
Pablo Polledri, Argentina/Spain, 8 minutes
Animator Pablo Polledri (Corp, FFP 2017) explores the cycles and rhythms of everyday life and the need for those in power to control the loop.
THE DELIVERY
Doğuş Özokutan, Cyprus, 12 minutes
Plagued by family pressures, Yusuf accepts a job transporting refugees across an international border, but the stakes surrounding the delivery are greater than he expected.
SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING
Charissa Kroeger & Eric Schloesser, USA, 6 minutes
The meeting of two strangers ignites a sizzling, quirky outburst of dance in a retro-futuristic, parallel world. Director/dancer Charissa Kroeger will be in conversation at the screening.
SUCCESSFUL THAWING OF MR. MORO
Jerry Carlsson, Sweden, 14 minutes
When a medical technology company tells Mr. Moro that they can bring back his partner from 43 years ago, he is forced to grapple with the potential consequences. Writer/director Jerry Carlsson (Shadow Animals, FFP 2019) will be in conversation at the screening.
GOODBYE, JEROME!
Adam Sillard, Gabrielle Selnet, Chloé Farr, France, 8 minutes
Having just arrived in paradise, Jerome sets out to find his wife Maryline, but his journey takes him into a surreal and colorful world where no one seems to be able to help him.
THE SWEET HASSLE OF A FIRST TIME
Eva Zanen, Netherlands, 13 minutes
In this playful split-screen romp, two children decode the mechanics of sex with Barbie dolls.
LATE NIGHT SHORTS - 10:00pm
THE NIGHTMARE EXPERIMENT
Andrew Wynkoop, USA, 8 minutes
A young girl wakes in the night unable to tell if she’s having a nightmare, or living one. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival. Writer/director Andrew Wynkoop will be in conversation at the screening.
A PERIOD PIECE
Shuchi Talati, USA, 12 minutes
When Geetha finally has sex with Vehd one afternoon, things quickly turn messy as her pent-up feelings spill over mid-coitus.
SYNTHETIC LOVE
Sarah Heitz de Chabaneix, France, 24 minutes
A gas station attendant goes to extreme lengths to court the man she loves in spite of her unusual discoveries.
THE LAST PICTURE
Ally May, USA, 8 minutes
In this locally shot thriller, a waitress at a local diner gets uneasy vibes when some out-of-town patrons drop in for a visit. Writer/director Ally May will be in conversation at the screening.
METUBE: AUGUST SINGS ‘UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA’
Daniel Moshel, Austria, 8 minutes
After presenting MeTube (FFP 2014) and MeTube 2 – August Sings Carmina Burana (FFP 2016), Daniel Moshel offers up a new adventure where intergalactic music nerds August and Elfi attempt to conquer the opera stage.
CUSTOMS
Armita Keyani, Norway, 14 minutes
A young Chinese backpacker is confronted with a difficult decision when he arrives at his host’s home in a small Norwegian village.
WOLF IN DUDE’S CLOTHING
Solmund MacPherson, Canada, 13 minutes
When a wolf finds a suit of human skin, he uses it to try and join society.