HEART OF CHAMPIONS
ROSE & RAVEN – SHORT NARRATIVE – A young girl befriends her deaf classmate and learns how to be confident in herself as she pursues her dreams. Through their experiences with each other, they learn how to communicate, not only through their speech barrier but on an honest and personal level. Veronica Argentieri; Jared DeBusk; Nicolas Alayo, writer/director. Adult themes. USA
RESURFACING – SHORT NARRATIVE – In order to heal herself, a young single mother must overcome the grief of losing her son. Her physiotherapist oversteps while trying to help a reluctant Cara with her mental state. An encounter with a stranger forces Cara to choose between living or drowning. Lisa Chandler, Doron Bell, Ignacio Serricchio, Garry Chalk, Sarah Smyth. Adult themes. Canada
ONE MOMENT(S) – SHORT DOCUMENTARY – She is an endurance mountain bike racer, a licensed professional counselor and a survivor of childhood sexual assault. Heather Russell; Tracy Ross, writer; Tomas Zuccareno, director. Adult themes. USA
VIOLIN SCRATCHES – SHORT DOCUMENTARY – Gaelynn Lea is a performer and activist. She doesn’t let a disability get in the way of playing violin, writing a book, and doing TED Talks. Get a glimpse into her life, as she shares a traditional instrumental from Finland. Gaelynn Lea, performer; Rochelle Smith, interviewer and director. USA
IF I RISE – SHORT NARRATIVE – June is down, but not out. She’s just hit the mat, knocked down in her first Muay Thai bout. Gasping for breath, with the referee’s count echoing in her ears, she’s faced with a seemingly impossible challenge: Get back up. Francesca Ling; Lanny Joon; Roxy Vivien; Justin Schwan; Mark Nelson; Haley Leitman; Charles “Valhalla” Bisset; Ian Stoker – Long, writer/director. Adult themes, violence, adult language. USA
BLESSING – SHORT NARRATIVE – An expectant mother. Two intruders. And a boxing gym. Camelia Dee; Shamar Phillipe; Chris Cortez; Chris Rodway; Jenifer Yeuroukis, writer/director. Adult themes, violence, language. USA
RU – SHORT NARRATIVE – A mother-to-be driving through the night must find strength in adversity. Miriama McDowell; Richard Te Are; Sebastian Hurrell, writer; Awanui Simich-Pene, co-writer/director. Adult themes, violence and language. New Zealand
BAGHEERA – SHORT NARRATIVE – Bagheera, the determined leader of an Indian Girl Scout troop, is abducted by a brutal assailant and is more of a challenge than her abductor thought. Preeti Choudhury; Rajesh Balwani; Christopher R. Watson, writer/director. Adult themes, violence and language. Subtitles. India
