Toronto International Film Festival 2016: Docs, Midnight Madness, Vanguard, Cinematheque, Short Film Lineup

The full list of films screening in the Short Film section of the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival:

All Rivers Run to the Sea (Toate fluviile curg în mare) Alexandru Badea, Romania North American Premiere

Stung by the absurd administration process regarding the practicalities of his mother’s passing, Radu is having a hard time dealing with her death; although the rest of his family has plenty of opinions to offer. A beautiful and evocative examination of what it means to say goodbye.

And the Whole Sky Fit in the Dead Cow’s Eye (Y Todo el Cielo Cupo en el Ojo de la Vaca Muerta) World Premiere

Francisca Alegría, Chile/USA

In a small village in Chile, 85-year-old Emeteria is visited by the ghost of her patrón, Teodoro. She believes he has come to take her to the afterlife, but he has more devastating news.

Andy Goes In Josh Polon, USA World Premiere
He’s a $10 per hour farmhand with Tyson and McDonald’s in his crosshairs. And his name isn’t Andy.

Anna Or Sinai, Israel North American Premiere

It’s a hot summer’s day, and for the first time in years sewing workshop worker Anna unexpectedly finds herself alone, without her son. She sets out for a free night, roaming the streets of her small desert town, on the lookout for a man who can touch her, even just for one brief moment.

Bargain (Moam-gab) Lee Chung-hyun, South Korea International Premiere In a hotel room on an ordinary afternoon, a young woman in a school uniform has an illicit rendezvous with a man who has arrived with certain expectations. Yet viewers would be wise to be wary of their own assumptions, given how they’ll be confounded by every twist and turn in Lee Chung-hyun’s cunning one-shot wonder.

Battalion to My Beat Eimi Imanishi, Algeria/USA/Western Sahara International Premiere Naively envisioning herself a Jeanne D’Arc of the desert, Mariam runs away from the Western Saharan refugee camps in Algeria, hoping to liberate her homeland from occupation.

Because the World Never Stops Maximilien Van Aertryck and Axel Danielson, Sweden World Premiere Shot live in the studio during the evening broadcast on Swedish public television, this film shows the news like you’ve never seen it before. Using offbeat footage and camera angles, Because the World Never Stops plays with the theatrical aspect of broadcast news and questions the feeling of authenticity it so heavily relies upon.

BLACK HEAD COW (Engiteng’ Narok Lukunya) Elizabeth Nichols, Tanzania World Premiere In a Maasai village in rural Tanzania, Naserian, a young primary school girl, is suddenly confronted by an arranged marriage. Written and produced by students of Orkeeswa Village, who are among the first generation to go to school in their community, the film explores their dilemma between culture and education.

A Brief History of Princess X Gabriel Abrantes, France/Portugal/United Kingdom North American Premiere

A supercharged history of Brancusi’s infamous “Princess X”, a futuristic bronze phallus that is actually a bust portrait of Napoleon’s equally infamous great grand niece, Marie Bonaparte.

Cul-De-Sac Damon Russell, USA World Premiere
Parents living at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac discover a listening device inside their son’s teddy bear.

Dadyaa Pooja Gurung and Bibhusan Basnet, Nepal/France North American Premiere
An elderly couple lives in a small, empty Nepalese village. When everyone else is gone, what is left but memories?

Decorado Alberto Vázquez, Spain/France North American Premiere
The world is a wonderful stage, but its characters are disgraceful.

Fluffy (Flafi) Lee Filipovski, Serbia/Canada World Premiere
A family of three are packing to emigrate to Canada from Belgrade. When Fluffy, a gigantic prize teddy bear turns up at the door, the parents must decide whether or not they have room for their daughter’s new friend.

A family of three are packing to emigrate to Canada from Belgrade. When Fluffy, a gigantic prize teddy bear turns up at the door, the parents must decide whether or not they have room for their daughter’s new friend.

Green (Verde) Alonso Ruizpalacios, Mexico World Premiere Ariel, a taciturn security guard who transports other people’s millions every day alongside his talkative fellow guards, has just found out that he is about to become a father for the first time. One day, as he decides what to do about imminent fatherhood, a miraculous flaw in the system creates an opportunity to steal the fortune that he is guarding, without getting caught.

Half A Man (Po covika) Kristina Kumric, Croatia World Premiere A war is raging nearby. It’s a huge day for 10-year-old Mia and 12-year-old Lorena: their father is getting released from the camp where he has spent the last three months as a prisoner of war. The family will finally be back together, but will they be able to find happiness again?

The Hedonists Jia Zhang-ke, China North American Premiere

An engaging combination of comedy and drama about several unemployed Shanxi coal miners looking for work.

Imago Raymund Ribay Gutierrez, Philippines North American Premiere

On a humid night in the bustling slums of Metropolitan Manila, Inday, a 54-year-old single parent of a special child, goes to her unusual work.

Import Ena Sendijarevi, Netherlands North American Premiere

A young Bosnian refugee family ends up in a small village in the Netherlands after securing a residence permit in 1994. Absurd situations arise as they try to make this new world their home.

In the Hills Hamid Ahmadi, United Kingdom North American Premiere

Shahram is a young immigrant who lives in the idyllic countryside of the Cotswolds in England. To integrate into the new society, he chooses a rather radical approach.

Inner Workings Leo Matsuda, USA Canadian Premiere

The story of the internal struggle between a man’s pragmatic, logical side and his free-spirited, adventurous half, this short was created by a small team at Walt Disney Animation Studios in a unique, fast-paced style that blends CG and traditional hand-drawn animation. The result explores the importance of finding balance in daily life.

The Last Leatherman of the Vale of Cashmere Greg Loser, USA International Premiere

In a tucked away corner of a Brooklyn park, men meet men in the Vale of Cashmere. An aging leatherman takes a profane trip down memory lane as he visits this cruising destination of his youth. Now, amidst the thickets where secrecy once reigned, he contemplates a new world.

Mr. Sugar Daddy Dawid Ullgren, Sweden North American Premiere Mr. Sugar Daddy depicts the story of an older man, Hans, looking for a fresh start. Hans falls for young Andrej and is thrown into a game that does not allow any winner.

A New Home Žiga Virc, Slovenia World Premiere
What is the biggest danger Europe faces: the crisis on its borders, or its own paranoia and fear?
Next Elena Brodach, Russia North American Premiere

Another night, another naked body in her bed. She feels no love, just passion. A sharp lancet in her hands and a hidden box with her secrets. Only she knows how it all will end and who will be her next victim.

Another night, another naked body in her bed. She feels no love, just passion. A sharp lancet in her hands and a hidden box with her secrets. Only she knows how it all will end and who will be her next victim.

Night Dancing Barney Cokeliss, United Kingdom World Premiere
A short film about love, obsession, and delusion, with a strong contemporary dance element.
On the Origin of Fear Bayu Prihantoro Filemon, Indonesia North American Premiere

One soldier and one prisoner. Two soldiers and one film director. They talk to each other very intimately about pain, loyalty, betrayal, drama, and terror.

Paraya Sheetal Magan and Martín Morgenfeld, South Africa/France North American Premiere A city bustles with the urge for survival. A young woman adrift between worlds: one rooted in her past and one promising her future. Something is absent, missing, irretrievable.

The Pine Tree Villa (Eine Villa mit Pinien) Jan Koester, Germany North American Premiere Lion and Bird break into an uninhabited villa to discover the reason why it is not aging. They immediately feel the power that keeps the villa alive.

Red Apples George Sikharulidze, Armenia/Georgia/USA World Premiere A young Armenian bride’s relationship with her husband is put to the test the first day of their marriage when her mother-in-law interferes.

Romantik Mateusz Rakowicz, France/Poland International Premiere Stanislav takes his beloved Zosia on a mysterious and romantic journey. He wants to propose to her in the city of love. Stanislav doesn’t expect that it will be the most horrible night of his life, and his well planned trip will go much further than he anticipated.

Samedi Cinema Mamadou Dia, Senegal/USA North American Premiere Two children write letters to get enough money to go to the cinema. Saturday is their last chance to see the ending of the movie. The local city theater is closing down.

Sandy Beach Thanos Papastergiou, Greece World Premiere Late summer. Southern Crete. A woman takes her father for their usual Sunday swim. A break in their routine plunges them both into uncharted waters.

Second to None Vincent Gallagher, Ireland International Premiere In this a stop-motion black comedy about ambition where second best is never enough. Frederick Butterfield has always been runner-up to his twin brother. When Herman, older by a mere minute, becomes the world’s oldest man, Frederick finally sees an opportunity to be first place.

Semiliberi Matteo Gentiloni, Italy North American Premiere Alessandra is a loner, she doesn’t relate to anybody. One day she realizes the ingenious plan designed by female cellmates is the opportunity to escape from her loneliness.

Sevince (When you love) Süheyla Schwenk, Germany World Premiere Peri is a Turkish woman who lives with her husband and her daughter in Germany. Her life is bound between doing the household shopping, taking care of her child, and managing the home. Her husband is not aware of her emotions. One day he gives her a surprise, being very sure it will make her as happy as he is. Instead, it turns Peri’s world upside down.

Standby Charlotte Regan, United Kingdom World Premiere A comedy about friendship and routines entirely set in a police patrol car. We see the day-to-day lives of two new partners Gary, and Jenny, and the comedic characters they encounter whilst on patrol.

SUBMARINE Mounia Akl, Lebanon North American Premiere Under the imminent threat of Lebanon’s garbage crisis, Hala, a wild child inside a grown woman, is the only one to refuse evacuation, clinging to whatever remains of home.

Summer Camp Island Julia Pott, USA World Premiere Oscar and his best friend Hedgehog just got dropped off at summer camp. Once all the parents leave the island, all of the strangeness lurking beneath the surface starts to come out. Aliens exist, horses become unicorns, and there are monsters under the bed.

Transition (Tranzicija) Milica Tomovic, Serbia North American Premiere Jana says goodbye to her band members, friends, ex-girlfriend, and her family. They all share a feeling of regret saying goodbye to her, but also joy for her bright future in Michigan, where she’s going on post-graduate studies. Only her sister knows the secret, that Jana is not going away to study, Jana is going away to have her sex change. These are her two days to say goodbye to her old life.

Trespass Mirrah Foulkes, Australia International Premiere

A woman walking her dog alone in the bush has a strange encounter.

The White Helmets Orlando von Einsiedel, United Kingdom Canadian Premiere Set in Aleppo, Syria and Turkey in early 2016. As the violence intensifies, three volunteer rescue workers put everything on the line to save civilians affected by the war, all the while wracked with worry about the safety of their own loved ones. Moving and inspiring, this documentary is both a snapshot of the harrowing realities of life for ordinary Syrians who remain in the country, and a humbling portrait of the power of the human spirit.

Previously announced Canadian Short Cuts films include: Molly McGlynn’s 3-Way (Not Calling), Peter Huang’s 5 Films About Technology, Emily Kai Bock’s A Funeral For Lightning, Maxwell McCabe-Lokos’ Ape Sodom, Theodore Ushev‘s Blind Vaysha, Sanja Zivkovic’s Cleo, Joe Cobden‘s CYCLES, Timothy Barron Tracey’s DataMine, Martin Edralin’s Emma, Amanda Strong’s Four Faces of the Moon, Kelton Stepanowich’s Gods Acre, Justin Simms’ HAND.LINE.COD., Fabian Velasco and Milos Mitrovic’s Imitations, Patrice Laliberté’s Late Night Drama, Thyrone Tommy’s Mariner, Alexandre Dostie’s Mutants, Eden Mallina Awashish’s Nothing About Moccasins, Alisi Telengut’s Nutag – Homeland, François Jaros’ Oh What a Wonderful Feeling, Raphaël Ouellet’s Plain and Simple, Marie-Hélène Turcotte’s Red of the Yew Tree, Ryan Noth and Tess Girard’s The Road to Webequie, Haya Waseem’s Shahzad, Eva Michon’s Small Fry, Terril Calder’s SNIP, Rebecca Addelman’s The Smoke, Pier-Luc Latulippe’s The Taste of Vietnam, Walter Woodman’s TMG_103 (rough cut), Caroline Monnet’s Tshiuetin, Jay Cheel’s Twisted, Jonathan Tremblay’s Whispering Breeze, Ariane Louis-Seize’s Wild Skin, Anna Maguire’s Your Mother and I.

Leave your thoughts on the Toronto International Film Festival 2016: Docs, Midnight Madness, Vanguard, Cinematheque, Short Film Lineup below in the comments section. Readers seeking more film festival news can visit our Film Festival Page. Want up-to-the-minute notification? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and Facebook. The 2016 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 8-18, 2016 in Toronto, Canada.