Author: matthewtoffolo

BASEBALL HARMONY, 49min., USADirected by Joo-il Gwak, Amy HutchinsonDid you ever hear of a 9-year-old boy making a choice to become an orphan? This describes Kim, Young-do. Even his last name is borrowed from the owner of the childcare center where he was an orphan. However, he was never discouraged. Harmony in baseball? Yes. Kim… Continue reading Filmmaker Amy Hutchinson (BASEBALL HARMONY)

YOUNG BOY, 8min., USADirected by Rachel JacobA young boy dealing with a hard family situation is offered an opportunity to find hope again in the form of a wish. https://www.instagram.com/youngboyproductionsllc/ Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make this film? It was a short piece I wrote about 5 years ago that… Continue reading Filmmaker Rachel Jacob (YOUNG BOY)

CLOSET COMBAT EPISODE 2, 3min,. USADirected by Augustus HintonTed, a closeted, gay high school boy, imagines literally fighting his way out of an encounter with bullies at a track meet. Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make this film?I wasn’t seeing my experience of being in the closet represented on screen.… Continue reading Filmmaker Augustus Hinton (CLOSET COMBAT EPISODE 2)

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, 4min., CanadaDirected by Ngan Kim Luong‘Until We Meet Again’ is a three minute animated short film exploring the process of grief and the struggle to find acceptance. The film is set in a fantastical setting, with mystical elements and a magical atmosphere, but remains grounded in the very human and real… Continue reading Filmmaker Ngan Kim Luong (UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN)

THE LAST KOALAS, 54min., AustraliaDirected by Serena Michelle FindlayThe summer of 2020 was characterised by catastrophic bushfire events around Australia. On Kangaroo Island in South Australia, over 200,000 hectares was burned, including 90,000 hectares of national park. A thriving colony of 50,000 koalas called Kangaroo Island home prior to the devastating Black Summer bushfires. Now,… Continue reading Filmmaker Serena Michelle Findlay (THE LAST KOALAS)

RAMEN DAY, 30min., USADirected by Corey HendricksonThis documentary delves into the heart of the Vermont Everyone Eats program, showcasing its profound impact on combating food insecurity and revitalizing local food systems. Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make this film? I noticed one of the distribution sites in my town, The… Continue reading Filmmaker Corey Hendrickson (RAMEN DAY)

NINE TO FIVE, 7min., UKDirected by Gareth MatthewsMark Greyson is working the endless cycle of a 9/5 job and the weight that follows takes a toll on his mental health, gradually building up over time leading to an unbearable breakdown costing him his job. Get to know the filmmaker: 1. What motivated you to make… Continue reading Filmmaker Gareth Matthews (NINE TO FIVE)

STIGMA, 8min., CanadaDirected by Reilly Michael SasoConfronted with a devastating diagnosis, stigmatized and shrouded in despair, a young man desperately grapples with the dark specter of mortality and societal rejection in his tender teenage years. Thirty years on, he reflects on his extraordinary odyssey in search of solace through self-acceptance, love, and a sense of… Continue reading Filmmakers Reilly Michael Saso & Jeff Domitriou (STIGMA)

RUTHFUL, 29min., Canada, DramaDirected by Jocelyn Au-Yeung, Ariane NopraWhen a Chinese-Canadian college student returns home to Toronto, she visits a Hong Kong cafe she frequented during her childhood. Through eating the food, she is suddenly able to relive suppressed memories of her deceased grandmother. Now she must confront their multifaceted relationship and her own identity… Continue reading Filmmakers Anna Spencer & Jocelyn Au-Yeung (RUTHFUL)