Desire (An Interactive Movie)
PAKISTAN / 2005 / 15 MIN / URDU

Cast: Tehseen, Noor-ul-Hassan,
Yasir Mazhar, Aslam, Zeeshan
Cinematography
and Editing: Yasir Nawaz
Art Direction
and Sound: Yasir Nawaz
Written, Produced
and Directed by: Yasir Nawaz

SYNOPSIS
In daily life one is presented with various options. Sometimes one can predict where he or she will be going based on a particular selection, but more often than not, the right decision only presents itself after a choice has been made.

THE FILMMAKER
Yasir Nawaz graduated from Government College, Lahore, in 1996. He has participated in three Rafi Peer Festivals and in 1999 began working for PTV Lahore Centre as a game designer for a show called “Fungama.” Yasir joined the National College of Arts in 2003 and completed his masters in multimedia arts in 2005. “Desire (An Interactive Movie)” is Yasir’s MA thesis.

Die Besucher (The Visitors)
GERMANY / 2006 / 38 MIN / GERMAN

Cast: Dirk Borchardt, Johanna Geissler, Moritz Fuehrmann,
Myriam Schroeder
Cinematography: Daniel Moeller
Editing: Hanka Knipper
Sound: Jens Meyer
Music: Niklas Kammertoens
Written, Produced
and Directed by: Ulrike Molsen

SYNOPSIS
Karla longs for her boyfriend who is abroad. She takes up work at a shabby bar to make enough money to visit him. At work she meets Sugar, her dazzling colleague who just got kicked out of her apartment. Kara offers Sugar her place. But Sugar doesn’t come alone, bringing with her a husband and a kid. The visitors occupy the place, treating it as their own, and confide in Karla their contradictory stories.

THE FILMMAKER
Ulrike Molsen was born in Berlin in 1973. She has interpreted in Poland, comforted in New York, bici-taxi-driven in Havana, bartended in Hong Kong and is studying at the Academy of Media and Arts, Cologne.

Dos Veces (Twice)
SPAIN / 2006 / 24 MIN / SPANISH

Cast: Estela Garcia, Pablo Vina
Cinematography: Andoni Azurmendi
Editing: Mario San Emeterio
Sound: Marcos Salso
Production Company: Senso Producciones Audiovisuales
Written and
Directed by: Joseba Fuentes

SYNOPSIS
Laura wants to divorce Mario. He agrees to give her whatever settlement she asks for on one condition: she must accept to reenact, with all the details, the first time they met.

THE FILMMAKER
Joseba Fuentes graduated in business administration from London before enrolling in the TAI School of Cinema in Madrid, where he studied for three years, and in the New York Film Academy in New York during a summer. He also took a screenwriting workshop in the Conde Duque Cultural Center in Madrid and another advanced screenwriting workshop at the International Film and Television School in San Antonio de Baños. In 2003, he started working for Bassat Ogilvy, an advertising agency in Madrid. He and two other associates founded the production company Senso Producciones, based in Madrid.

DVD
SPAIN / 2005 / 17 MIN / SPANISH

Cast: Cesar Camino, Carlos Martinez, Sara Montalvo, Valeria Arribas
Cinematography: Pedro J. Marquez
Editing: Jose Manuel Jimenez
Sound: Nacho Arenas
Music: Jose Sanchez-Sanz
Producer: Marela Films
Written and Directed by: Ciro Altabas

SYNOPSIS
This short film includes: scene selection / trailer / selected cut scenes / alternative ending / eliminated scenes / video clip / featurette: "What's a freak?" / audio commentary / character selection… and a boy-meets-girl story.

THE FILMMAKER
Joseba Fuentes graduated in business administration from London before enrolling in the TAI School of Cinema in Madrid , where he studied for three years, and in the New York Film Academy in New York during a summer. He also took a screenwriting workshop in the Conde Duque Cultural Center in Madrid and another advanced screenwriting workshop at the International Film and Television School in San Antonio de Baños. In 2003, he started working for Bassat Ogilvy, an advertising agency in Madrid . He and two other associates founded the production company Senso Producciones, based in Madrid.

Dysfunctional Growth
PAKISTAN / 2006 / 1 MIN

Cast: Sajjad Ahmed, Sana Ali, Haider Jan, Mahreen Murtaza
Cinematography: Sajjad Ahmed
Editing, Sound and Music: Sajjad Ahmed
Written, Produced and Directed by: Sajjad Ahmed

SYNOPSIS
One usually thinks of growth in positive terms but it could be negative as well. The term ‘Dysfunctional Growth’ refers to useless growth. Various things are happening at any given moment, and although one may not necessarily relate to them, these happenings add to the collective subconscious and the entire growth process.

THE FILMMAKER
Sajjad Ahmed is a final year student of visual communication design at the School of Visual Arts, Beaconhouse National University, and has been involved in new media since 2002. He began with creating animations for VISA Canada’s interactive CD, and followed this by establishing a corporate identity for a New York-based fashion design and image consultant, Janine Giorgenti. Since 2002, Sajjad has worked as a freelance graphic web designer. His interest is now shifting towards broadcast design and direction.

Explosions
UK / 2006 / 10 MIN / ENGLISH

Cast: Atta Yaqub, Shefali Verma, Nadim Khan, Alex Edwards, Mark Springer, Surinder Kochar
Cinematography: Shane Daly
Editing: Laura Jennings
Sound: Haresh Patel
Music: Theo Green
Producer: Alex Feakes
Written and Directed by: Hammad Khan

SYNOPSIS
While waiting for his turn to bat for a local cricket team, Hassan reflects on his disillusions and the temptation to join a fundamental cause. When his turn arrives, Hassan is ready to explode.

THE FILMMAKER
Hammad Khan, a UK-based Pakistani filmmaker, made his first short film “Samovar” in 2004, which helped him pick up an award at the 4th KaraFilm Festival for the Best Emerging International Talent. The film was also nominated for Best Short at the Raindance Film Festival 2005 and was selected for several other festivals. It also found online distribution with Raindance and UK ISP Tiscali’s short film website. Hammad completed his first UK-based short film “Explosions” in collaboration with the UK Film Council. Hammad continues to work as a film examiner with the British Board of Film Classification. He plans to direct his debut feature film in 2007.

Five Angry Things
UK / 2006 / 5 MIN 13 SEC

Animation: Christopher Eales, Maryam Mohajer
Cinematography: Chistopher Eales
Editing: Christopher Eales, Maryam Mohajer
Sound: Marlene Richter
Producer: RCA Animation
Directed by: Christopher Eales

SYNOPSIS
Five things are caught in an endless loop in time as a direct result of their actions.

THE FILMMAKER
Born in Kingston, Surrey, Christopher Eales studied in Manchester as an illustrator before going to the Royal College of Art in London to specialise in animation. He is now setting up a studio with fellow graduates.

Fly By Red Shoes
INDIA / 2004 / 6 MIN 40 SEC / ENGLISH

Animation: Harsha Nagaraju
Music: Apernit Singh
Edited and Directed by: Harsha Nagaraju

SYNOPSIS
Man’s fascination with flight is perpetual. This has led to glorious achievements and some spectacular failures. But his quest for accomplishment and freedom continues. “Fly By Red Shoes” is a tribute to this indomitable spirit of man, which lends him wings. A story where myth is entwined with reality and fact flows with fantasy along the stream of history.

THE FILMMAKER
Born in 1979 in Mysore, Harsha Nagaraju graduated from the University of Mysore in 2000. He enrolled for the postgraduate diploma program in animation film design at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, in 2001. His interests include art and literature, mythology, cinema, illustration and world history. He enjoys exploring possibilities in devising multicultural, multi-contextual narratives and stories. “Fly By Red Shoes” is Harsha’s first animation. He is currently working on his diploma film for the India Heritage Foundation, Bangalore.

Forget Me Not
UK / 2006 / 3 MIN 10 SEC / ENGLISH

Voices of: Macy Nyman, Ella Macrae, Anna Wing, Barbara Kingsland
Animation: Kim Noce
Cinematography: Mike Beresford Jones
Editing: Napoleon Stratogiannakis
Sound: Rainer Heesch, Sion Tammes
Music: Peter Gosling
Screenplay: Andras Gerevich, Liana Dognini
Directed by: Kim Noce

SYNOPSIS
An elderly woman recalls bygone memories: as a child she had three imaginary pets that she held with strings. She carried them with her all day and night, until one day she lost them. She looked for them everywhere only to then find them unexpectedly.

THE FILMMAKER
Kim Noce graduated in fine arts and subsequently with an MA in the animation director course at the National Film and Television School, London. Currently Kim and her partner Shaun Clark are represented in USA by Propeller Productions.

Ghairat Mand (Man of Honour)
PAKISTAN / 2005 / 43 MIN / URDU

Cast: Rafiq Shad, Hina Gul, Sajjad Suhag,
Yaqoob Zakria, Sanjeela Jiskani
Cinematography: Naveed Buzdar
Editing: Fida Husain Bhagat
Sound: Ibrar Hyder
Music: Jamshed Habib Khan
Screenplay: Zafar Meraj
Producers: Khaild Ahmad, The British Council Pakistan
Directed by: Sharjil Baloch

SYNOPSIS
Khamisoo Khan was once a landowner, but now has to work as a peon in a government office, as incessant drought has left the land lifeless. His meagre salary cannot pay his outstanding loan, and the office refuses to assist him. He finally resolves the problem by accusing the man he was indebted to of having an illicit affair with his wife. He kills his wife and allows the man to escape. This not only rids him of the pressure to pay off the loan, but also gets him a considerable extra sum from his creditor, who is obliged to pay him under the traditional law. Khamisoo Khan marries again, this time a younger woman. However, what he does when he discovers that his young wife has a paramour is an entirely different story.

THE FILMMAKER
Sharjil Baloch has been working as a freelance director since 2001. He has directed a number of documentaries and many plays. He also acts and writes. His first documentary “Ki Jana Main Kaun” was screened at the 4th KaraFilm Festival and “Das Rupay”, a short film, was shown at the 5th KaraFilm Festival. Sharjil works for the Dastak Society for Communication as a film director.

Graveyard Sisters
PAKISTAN / 2005 / 30 MIN / ENGLISH

Cast: Khalid Ahmad, Angeline Malik
Cinematography: Ehsan Zulfi
Editing: Aslam Sanghaar
Art Direction: Riaz Rafi
Producer: Khalid Ahmad
Written and Directed by: Essa Khan

SYNOPSIS
“Graveyard Sisters” is an adaptation of a Guy de Maupassant short story by the same name. The story is about middle aged Joseph de Bardon who finds true love, but is unable to recognise it because of his pride.

THE FILMMAKER
Essa Khan has worked with the television channel Business Plus and also directed plays for other channels. “Graveyard Sisters” was part of the TV series “Aaj ki Kahaniyan” that ran on Aaj TV.

Guerre Et Gloire (War Or Glory)
SWITZERLAND / 2006 / 17 MIN / FRENCH

Cast: Jean-Pierr Gos, Jean Winiger
Cinematography: Olivier Kune
Editing: Aurore Purber
Sound: Benedikt Fruttiger
Art Direction: Vinlent Stadelhann
Written, Produced and Directed by: Filippo Filliger

SYNOPSIS
Roberto is fired from his job, so he decides to organise a joke with some friends.

THE FILMMAKER
Filippo Filliger was born in the Italian part of Switzerland with a half Italian and half German family background. It is this diverse background that has created questions of identity that Filippo likes to explore through his films as he searches for the borders of reality. "Guerre Et Gloire" is Filippo's first short submission to the KaraFilm Festival.

Gunahkaran e Muqadas (Holy Sinners)
PAKISTAN / 2005 / 26 MIN / PASHTO-DARI

Cast: Hameed Sheikh, Fatima Ali Gauhar, Naseem Jawaid, Aamir Malik, Abdul Qadir, Rabia Huma, Rani
Cinematography: Hameed Sheikh, Iqbal
Editing: Azam Khan, Mudassir
Sound: Idrees
Music: M. Aslam
Producers: Hameed Sheikh, Fatima Ali Gauhar
Written and Directed by: Hameed Sheikh

SYNOPSIS
An allegory for the destruction of the social fabric in Afghanistan during the regime of the Taliban. Two women and a child are left alone to fend for themselves in a village in Afghanistan. They try to migrate across the border but miss the ride they had been offered. As darkness falls, the women are accosted by a commander of the regime who offers to take them home. Refusing his offer, they flee, only to be sought out by the same man who devises a murderous plan to exact revenge on them.

THE FILMMAKER
Hameed Sheikh, born in Quetta, had to leave school to earn a living. Beginning with selling posters outside schools in Quetta, he has worked as a vendor of socks and vests and as a salesman at an electronics shop. In 1984 Hameed met Feryal Ali Gauhar who asked him to play a small role in “Niqab e Sang.” Since then he has acted in several major television serials, and has just completed filming his first feature, “Khuda Ki Liye”, directed by Shoaib Mansoor. He directed a children’s television serial “Parbat” in 1997, and a telefilm “Khaburak” in 1998. “Gunahkaran e Muqadas” is his first short film. Hameed is currently working in collaboration with Cinemaya Independent Films on a feature film based on Feryal Ali Gauhar’s war novel, “No Space for Further Burials.”

Guy’s Guide To Zombies
UK / 2006 / 3 MIN 26 SEC / ENGLISH

Voice of: Matthew Austin
Animation: Daniel Austin
Cinematography: Matthew Austin
Editing: Daniel Austin
Sound and Music: Matthew Austin
Producers: Daniel Austin, Matthew Austin
Written and Directed by: Daniel Austin

SYNOPSIS
Zombies. Shambling scourge of the modern world, or just a little misunderstood? If in doubt, check out “Guy’s Guide to Zombies”, the definitive A to Z guide to living with the dead. Peaceful coexistence is just a handshake away! “Guy’s Guide…” is a parody of 1950’s public safety films, that also quietly pokes fun at the current international climate of (often irrational) fear.

THE FILMMAKER
“Guy’s Guide To Zombies” is the fifth short film to be written and directed by Daniel Austin, not to mention his first fully animated short film. Since completing university in 2002, Dan has worked on dozens of shorts, trailers and corporate videos and has had his films screened at festivals all around the world, including a premiere of “My Inner Short” at the 59th Edinburgh International Film Festival.

Hafez
IRAN / 2006 / 23 MIN / PERSIAN

Screenplay: Vahid Nasirian, Saadat Rahimzadeh
Producer: Saba Center
Directed by: Vahid Nasirian

SYNOPSIS
The life of the famous poet Hafez…

THE FILMMAKER
Vahid Nasirian is a filmmaker based in Iran.

Harmony Run
USA / 2005 / 18 MIN / ENGLISH

Cast: Lonnie Schuyler, Marcus Aurelius, Darrel Heath, Bruce Fine
Cinematography: Shawn Landis
Editing: John Gilbert
Sound: Doug Allen
Music: Ron Feuer
Producers: Marcus Aurelius, Steve Montoya, Lonnie Schuyler
Written and Directed by: Chris Pappas

SYNOPSIS
“They come as friends, play as enemies…but leave as brothers.” A slice of life about the racially and socially diverse basketball life on the West Coast.

THE FILMMAKER
Christopher Pappas graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology as a film major in 1994. While studying, he wrote over 15 student screenplays and won several undergraduate directing awards including the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ Student Emmy Award. He was also one of the 16 students chosen from around the world to attend the 1994 Cannes Film Festival. He arrived in California during the summer of 1994 and began working on a slate of screenplays, which he hopes to direct in the near future.

Hich Rouzi (No Days)
IRAN / 2006 / 6 MIN / PERSIAN

Screenplay: Mehdi Abouhashem
Producer: Saba Center
Directed by: Mohammad Reza Khanzad

SYNOPSIS
The story of a cow who grazes greedily during the day because it thinks there is no grass at night.

THE FILMMAKER
Mohammad Reza Khanzad is a filmmaker based in Iran.

Hobout
IRAN / 2006 / 11 MIN / PERSIAN

Screenplay: Saied Imani, Mehdi Abouhashem
Producer: Saba Center
Directed by: Saied Imani

SYNOPSIS
An angel falls into a horrible cave in which some dirty creatures live. They do not pay attention to her. But after some time...

THE FILMMAKER
Saied Imani is a filmmaker based in Iran. While studying chemistry at college, Saied began designing graphic titles for television commercials. In 2002, he created special effects for the film "Season of the Soul." "Hobout" is his directorial debut.

Holy Palace
PAKISTAN / 2005 / 11 MIN / URDU

Cast: Aslam, Aabia Ahmad, Ayaz Sharif, Riyasat, Sara Syed, Farzana
Editing: Armughan Hassan
Music: Iqbal Bano, Tina Sani, Karsh Kale, Midival Punditz, Deepak Chopra, Faiz Ahmad Faiz
Screenplay: Hina Khan
Produced and Directed by: Hina Khan, Maria Amir, Mehtab Lasharie, Sundas Malik, Aabia Ahmad, Parivash Mir and Sara Syed

SYNOPSIS
Based on the life of Iqbal Hussain, an artist born in the red light area of Lahore, the film addresses the importance of an artist and his art. The film follows through a series of Iqbal’s memories.

THE FILMMAKERs
This short has been directed by seven directors and is a result of their final year college project. Their professional fields vary from journalism to advertising. This project was inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s impressionist movie, “Dreams.”

How The West Was Won
UK / 2006 / 5 MIN 15 SEC

Animation: Rowena True
Music: Girls of the Golden West
Producer: RCA Animation
Directed by: Rowena True

SYNOPSIS
Three cowboys alone in the desert awaken to find their herd is gone and something sinister is approaching. A satirical short portraying a duel between the old and the new America.

THE FILMMAKER
During her last year of fine arts at Newcastle University, Rowena True became fascinated with the moving image. Her interest gradually moved from painting to animation. After receiving the Charles Spence Prize for her films “How to Escape” and “Dance Of The Paper Man”, she did her MA in animation at the Royal College of Art, graduating in June 2006. Earlier this year, Rowena travelled to Japan, where she worked in collaboration on a film about the Sapporo Snow Festival.