Official Selection - Albuquerque Live Festival
Wednesday, August 26th - Sunday, August 30th 2020

All times below are UTC/GMT -6:00 hours (Mountain Daylight Time)

Wednesday, August 26th
Online Filmmaker/Script Writer Meet & Greet 4:00pm


Thursday, August 27th


1:00pm Covid-19 Films
This block of films were shot and or edited from home during the Covid-19 Quarantine
To watch this block


Beneath a Silent Blue Sky (Dir. Judith Lynn Stillman) [USA]

While in COVID-19 self-isolation, interfaith artists unite in spirit to form a virtual choir, as a Holocaust remembrance and as a tribute to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Concentration Camp.

Dishwasher (Dir. skjmmjngtonrjde.) [USA]

an @home COVID quarantine ode to my favorite domestic appliance

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Reprise (Dir. Özümcan Akın) [Turkey]

A young man quarantined at home alone during the COVID-19 pandemic becomes a prisoner of his own mind.

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"World Premiere Video" - the Music Video That Survived After Music Television Didn't (Dir. Mike J. Nichols) [USA]

"WORLD PREMIERE VIDEO..." is an honest, feel-good testament to a time when the world loved Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, and as a consequence, everyday kids were using Super-8 film to make their dreams toward one day making it in Hollywood...

Safer at Home (Dir. Pat Battistini) [USA]

How can one simple informational thread that was started on a neighborhood app go south fast?

Day One (Dir. Ryan Cervasio) [USA]

Distance makes the heart grow fonder

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Mother & Son Skype Sesh (Dir. Blair Peyton) [USA]

Lester and Helen Higgins have weekly check-ins while in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Q di Q (Dir. Gianmarco Donaggio) [Italy]

juxtaposes a variety of different perspectives resulting in a not linear perception of time and a bent vision of space.

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Tenant (Dir. Edwin Escobar) [USA]

While tending to a friend's rental property, Leah encounters her own worst nightmare.

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I See You Now (Dir. Tara Gadomski) [USA]

Stuck at home during the 2020 quarantine, a religious father struggles to connect with his gay daughter, over weekly video calls. But when Dad finds an unlikely ally--his daughter's partner--he finally sees them both, in their full humanity.

Flycatcher (Dir. Guillermo Trujillo Accini) [Colombia]

Three dead birds fall unexpectedly into the garden of Bia's house while she playing with her sister. Bird-loving Bia, looks for the possible causes of these mysterious deaths. Reasons that could be the harbinger of the arrival at her home could be caused by a deadly virus that has the whole world in lock down and could change their lives forever.

Delirious (Confined) (Dir. Brice Blanloeil) [France]

Music video with 14 funk musicians playing remotely between Bordeaux, Paris & Porto while confined during COVID 19 Pandemic

And Finally Searching in Time (Dir. Giulia Maffei & Giorgia Arena) [Italy]

The topic of this text is you, me. Still and firm, we are all asked to give up on some unquestionable rights. Health protection is a fundamental right of the individual and interest of the community.

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The Killing of Time (Dir. Neil Murphy) [Spain]

Shot during the COVID-19 confinement in Spain, a reflection on the situation from a philosophical viewpoint. Sharing my own thoughts about the pandemic's outcomes, transforming into a more self-aware humanitarian meditation.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


3:30pm Short Films
To watch this block


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Sorry, Mommy Is on the Phone (Dir. Shihyun Wang) [USA]

A Girl was kidnapped when her mom was on the phone.

Ishtar Speaks (Dir. Dena Ryane) [USA]

When a woman meets the ancient Babylonian goddess, Ishtar, in her dream, she embarks upon a jounrney to complete a lethal mission.

Asian She - Competitive Mourning (Dir. Kevin Beauchamp & Mando Lopez) [USA]

A man stalks his prey on the streets of Los Angeles, but on this occasion picks the wrong person to mess with.

Shimmery (Dir. TzuYi Yang) [Taiwan]

Shimmery is a surreal, narrative animation whose style combines 3D and 2D graphic elements. A gentle beast searches for light in a dark forest taking the audience on an exploration of addiction at its essence.

CLOSED (Dir. Maximilian hillmer) [Germany]

A Short Film for the collaboration between the fashion brand "Closed" and the designer Francoise Girbaud. A true and vivid short showing Langston Uibel and his friends Model Mila Rabini and Luca Julika, the artist Kean Farrar and Leo Berinson hanging around and going crazy in Berlin, Germany.

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From Kyoto, With Love (Dir. Yann Carpentier) [France]

A meditative journey to Kyoto, where statues are alive, where light, space and time behave in a strange way and seem to reveal a hidden truth. This short movie is a tribute to Andrei Tarkovski and Terrence Malick.

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The Animal That Therefore I Am (Dir. Bea de Visser) [Netherlands]

“What does the animal see when it looks at me?” Three animals and a woman in an enclosed space. As they study each other, their own methods of communication create a wordless conversation. We view them in close-up and from various perspectives, with the woman as a solitary species in this universe.

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The Light (Dir. Bradley Mason) [USA]

‘The Light’ is a documentary following two people using two different somatic therapies, EMDR and transformational bodywork, to overcome their past traumas. It dives into the science behind trauma freezing people in that time and place and how these somatic therapies allow people to unfreeze that experience entirely. In the film, EMDR is outlined by Wendy Conquest MA, LPC, CSAT and transformational bodywork by Fred Mitouer P.h.D.

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It's Me (Dir. Andrea Casaseca) [Spain]

Maria is a larger-than-life 'mean girl' who believes she can do or say whatever she wants, whenever she wants, to whomever she wants. What she doesn't know is that, often in life, you might get what you give.

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Dignity (Dir. Pat Battistini) [USA]

"Dignity" is a love story between a woman and her family. However, the family's strength is tested when a moral decision must be made.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


6:00pm Feature Length
To watch this block


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Adira's Dream (Dir. Oliver Williams) [United Kingdom]

A girl uses a typewriter to write a script about her life. She uses it to make aspects of her life 'better', 'rose tinting it' in much the way we do when we use Facebook or Instagram to make our lives appear better to other people. Trouble happens when she chooses to do this to someone else.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


Friday, August 28th


1:00pm Short Films
To watch this block


Sacrum (Dir. Rolf Lindblom) [Finland]

In the early days of fighting the aliens, there where no means to escape the effective field of the black hole bullets. Volunteer soldiers with nothing to loose and help from alien artifacts and guide dogs accomplished these off world missions...

Office Song (Dir. Marcus Markou) [United Kingdom]

It's another office affair – one of thousands. But in Office Song, the inner world of ordinary office workers and their humdrum lives bursts into life with poetry and something greater than the sum of their tedious working day is revealed.

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The Mandrake (Dir. Quincy William Baltes) [USA]

Herman, a farmer content to live out his life alone out in the woods, tends his garden day in and day out. Except for the regulars that come to his market to buy his giant carrots and radishes, he rarely gets visitors. When a witch approaches his cottage one day, asking for a special ingredient and supplying a spell, he is understandably shaken. He wakes up the next morning to the cries of a screaming baby, unaware that his life has taken an incredible turn.

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Almost Midnight (Dir. Jan Fabris) [Slovenia]

A woman tries to seduce a man, but something is holding him back.

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The Spirit Seam (Dir. Ashley Gerst) [USA]

The Spirit Seam is a short animated film about a little girl, Pollywog, and her Pap-Paw. Located in an Appalachain coal-mining town in the 1950s, the film takes the audience through the daily life of both characters. At the start of the film, the characters eat breakfast together and then travel to their respective locations- Pollywog is dropped off at school, and Pap-Paw clocks into work at the Hiraethsburg coal mine. Throughout the film they experience the simple pleasures of rural Appalachian life: catching fireflies, fishing, catching frogs, and birthdays.

A French Chinese Scam Guide (Dir. Cong Li) [China]

Two cities. Two young losers. Pierre is a French actor trying to make it in Shanghai. Mucong - a poor Chinese student in Paris. The troubles of the two young guys begin when they meet two charming ladies and fall in love. Burning with passion, while barely understanding their language, they are compelled into a whirlwind of lies and absurd situations. Pierre is mistaken for the heir of a French aristocratic family, and Mucong for the head of the Chinese mafia. Suddenly our characters find themselves at the heart of an international crime network - now they have no choice but to become real-life scammers.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


3:30pm Short Films
To watch this block


Unseen (Dir. Naïma Pöhler) [France]

A portrait of different characters who have one thing in common: Loneliness.

Ms. Rossi (Dir. Pat Battistini) [Italy]

While on her way to a business meeting, Ms. Rossi takes an interesting detour.

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Ghost of a Chance (Dir. Manes Duerr) [USA]

Ghost of a Chance is a snapshot into the relationship of a young working class American couple. Two individuals bonded together through the expectance of a newborn baby, yet with different priorities - racing through their lives, we question whether one man’s childhood dream is more important than three people’s reality.

Rendezvous (Dir. Seth Kozak) [USA]

An opportunistic congressman schemes to have his much younger wife killed, but she's already a step ahead of him.

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The Widow (Dir. Brendan Young) [Australia]

Melbourne, Australia in 1965, a Sicilian widow fights for her life when members of the local Calabrian mafia murder her husband and try to seize control of his produce business. God forgives...Sicilian women don't!

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Luminous (Dir. Than Niles) [USA]

In Luminous, a restless security guard, Lou, is forced to decide between his job at the research facility and the fate of humanity when he is confronted by the mysterious Dr. Sharp and the truth of what he is guarding.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


6:00pm Feature Length
To watch this block


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The Curse and The Covenant (Dir. Robert Towne) [New Mexico, USA]

In a dark time when the kingdoms of men have fallen and orcs dominate the earth, Akosh, the cowardly survivor of a dragon attack, seeks refuge in the mountains. There he must learn the ways of the sword from an exiled knight named Eli, and his daughter Zephra. But as Akosh gets groomed to take up the mantle of heroes who have passed in to legend, he begins to uncover dark secrets about Eli's family history.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


Saturday, August 29th


1:00pm Short Films
To watch this block


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Sycamore (Dir. Mehmet Tığlı) [Turkey]

An old man spends the day wandering the streets of Istanbul. He communicates with the trees and seagulls rather than other people. All day, he checks the ATMs to find change like a child, even though he does not own an ATM card. He gets happy when he finds money and indignant when he doesn’t. For the old man, life is like a game that has remained from his childhood. And the sycamore leaves are a part of this innocent game.

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The Champ of Champs (Dir. Brian Johnston) [United Kingdom]

The story of how Triple Guinness World Record boxing champion Steve Ward become the oldest professional boxer in the world. A combination of determination and miraculation, from a man who emulates the saying 'Quitters never win and winners never quit'. Through the eyes of the iconic roadside cafe dedicated to Steve and interviews with family, friends and faces from the boxing world. An unmissable journey of hope.The miraculous man, who became 'The Champ of Champs'.

Under her skin (Dir. Justine Dusseaux) [France]

A young man, shy and reserved, starts serving an old lady in a confined house. He’s going to be attracted by the life of this beautiful old classic dancer. The house and the memories attached to it are gradually going to take up a part of him.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


3:30pm New Mexico Short Films
To watch this block


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Willowpede (Dir. Anthonee Smith & Kenny Vigil) [USA]

After burying his wife a old man is driven made by a Willowpede that lurks the halls of his home.

Art (Dir. Arturo Anzures) [USA]

The story of a painter that gives real life to everything he paints. This short movie was shot and edited in both El Paso, Texas and Santa Fe, NM.

Bid (Dir. Jetto Dorsainville) [USA]

Hakim 33 with a family struggles raising money for his dad transplant. He sells a lens for 4k on a online marketplace to a unknown buyer. Hakim sends off the lens but on the way the lens gets damaged during shipment. The buyer wants his money back but Hakim has already spent the money on his dad transplant and can't give the buyer a refund. The buyer get's enraged and stalks Hakim and later on killing Hakim over money. Now Hakim diseased leaves behind a family and his dad has to watch his only son get buried

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When Did That Happen? (Dir. Stephen Burhoe) [USA]

The guest of honor at a surprise party meets with old friends and acquaintances, only to realize they have all been lost to him, long ago. Drinking and driving prove to be fatal to this party animal.

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Expolo (Dir. David D Perez) [USA]

A desperate father allows his co-dependent daughter to partake in a controversial / unethical experiment involving DNA blending performed in a highly secure laboratory in Mexico.

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Bring the Gun (Dir. Jeffrey M. Williams) [USA]

A first-time bank robber must escape a heist alongside an unpredictable partner in order to survive.

Sana, Sana... Un Dicho (Dir. Diego Romero) [USA]

If you've ever wondered where "Sana, sana colita de rana, si no sanas hoy, sanarás mañana." came from you can thank a curandera, a frog and his pinche colita.

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Volunteer (Dir. Allonzo Armijo) [USA]

92-year-old Howard Henry chooses to stay busy and avoid aging by going to work every day.

Let the World Go on Sleeping (Dir. Michael Charles Slavich) [USA]

Depicting a vision, Let the World go on Sleeping grounds us in an unfamiliar dream. Greeted by a chain of mothers and fathers, a man must make peace with his world in order to save it.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


6:00pm Feature Length
To watch this block


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Artik (Dir. Tom Botchii) [New Mexico, USA]

A comic book obsessed serial killer's sinister plan to train his son to be his replacement is interrupted when the young boy lures a well-meaning stranger, Holton, back to their secluded farm threatening to expose their families terrifying secret.

***Filmmaker Q&A following***
To attend this Q&A


Sunday, August 30th


Script Writers Q&A 1:00pm
To attend this Q&A

Feature Scripts


Perfect World (Emil Faithe) [USA]

SARAH CAHILL went missing two years ago. Her grieving husband, ROB CAHILL hasn’t gotten over it. But he has gotten his fill of crap as an E.R. doc at a stately Napa, California hospital, where he routinely sees things he’d rather not see. Until he sees the one thing that changes everything. His first extra-terrestrial patient. ZACH CAHILL, Rob’s son and brilliant video game geek hasn’t seen anything, yet. But give it time. When the ADHD poster child catches his Pop bingeing on Ancient Alien videos and cosmic guilt, he knocks out a pep talk to save his Pop’s confused ass, and quite probably the fate of humanity. Time to lose the Adderral.

Totah (Kevin Goss) [USA]

Dennis Cleveland, the author of a popular gay book series, returns to his hometown of Farmington, New Mexico, when his grandmother passes away suddenly. A break-in at his grandmother's house starts Dennis on a search for a turquoise ankle bracelet that may tie into his parent's death when Dennis was a child.

Protector of the Emerald City (Kevin J. Howard) [USA]

Michael, an archangel hiding amongst humanity while harboring a deep resentment to God, is called back into service to thwart a powerful demons plan to unleash hell on earth.

You Didn't Come to See My Band (David Ballard) [USA]

An ex-rocker-turned LAPD homicide detective forms an all-undercover cop rock band in order to catch a serial killer who keeps murdering people who didn’t come to see his band.

I Quit (George Massimillo) [USA]

Frankie is at a crossroads. Stuck in that limbo phase of life where you’re clinging to the care- free, no responsibilities, remnants of youth, knowing that taking the step into adulthood is inevitable. Where do you go? Who do you take with you? Who do you leave behind? We get to experience one pivotal day in Frankie’s life where those questions are suddenly answered.

Short Scripts


Come Along, Harry Higgins (Kevin Machate) [USA]

Set in 1899, successful safe cracker Harry Higgins decides to hang up his drill for good when he meets the woman of his dreams, only to be tailed by the constable that put him away once already.

“Twisted Fate” (Charles Petrilla) [USA]

A dramatic character study portrays life shattering occurrences that effect both Robert F. Kennedy and Sirhan Bishara Sirhan covering years 1963-1968.

Into the Moonlight (Scott Dissinger) [USA]

The story is an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's "What the Moon Brings". Described as a surrealist dreamscape, a man wanders through his garden one night and in the moonlight sees strange and bizarre things.

Echoes of Kerberos (Steve Brock) [USA]

A man suddenly gets a call from a stranger threatening the life of his girlfriend if he isn’t done what he’s told.

The Yoga Retreat (Connie Jean Badrines McGill) [Spain]

During a yoga retreat, Mary has a visión, which she decides not to share with her friends. Meanwhile, the other four women each try to discover what they are looking for. Will their expectations be met?

Virtual Awards Ceremony 3:30pm
To attend the Ceremony