Eye for Film: Raindance Film Festival 2008

1 Or 2 Things I Don't Know About Him (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Maurizio Von Trapp; Writer: Maurizio Von Trapp; Stars: Pedro Reichert, James Nield), Official Site

A man considers his lost love.

Full Review

Africa! (Afrique!) (Country: France; Year: 2008; Director: Hervé Lavayssiere; Writer: Hervé Lavayssiere, Jean-Bernard Pouy)

Annie's family gather to celebrate her birthday at the train station... but it doesn't stop.

Ahoy (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Tara Baker-Miles, The Renowned Baker-Miles; Writer: Terra Marique; Stars: Sally Somerville, Agnieszka Baginska)

Piratical problems.

Air Hostess (Country: France; Year: 2008; Director: Richard Lecoq; Writer: Richard Lecoq)

Psychological problems for an air stewardess.

Alfie Is Go (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Joe Godard, Tom Cerroni), Official Site

A man's attempts to build a flying saucer.

All Embracing (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Andrew Love; Writer: Dave Pescod; Stars: Zahra Taghavi, Carole Love, Karl White )

A lonely woman's attempts to make a connection.

The Ambient Medium (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Bill Domonkos; Writer: Bill Domonkos)

Experimental short, inspired by 19th century spirit photography.

Aunty Betelnut (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Natasha Henry; Writer: Natasha Henry; Stars: Aunty Rita, Aunty One and Aunty Amy)

An intimate documentary set in a suburban Australian backyard.

The Aviatrix (Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Toddy Burton; Writer: Toddy Burton; Stars: Barbara Chisholm, Hannah Morgan, Garry Peters, Jessica Robertson, Nicholas Yedinak), Official Site

A life or death battle is fought by a superhero. (S)

Banditos (Country: USA, IMDb USA section; Year: 2008; Director: John Robinson Irwin; Writer: Vanessa Ragland; Stars: Vanessa Ragland, Amanda Shumate, Raymond French, Jim Greulich), Official Site

Two women try to get in touch with their inner cowboy on a trip into the desert.

The Basket Case (Country: Ireland; Year: 2008; Director: Owen O'Neill; Writer: Owen O'Neill; Stars: Declan Colon, Simon Delaney, Deirdre O'Kane)

Darkly comic tale of a lengths a man will go to in order to avoid separation from his dying wife.

The Bent Penny (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Darrel J Butlin; Writer: Darrel J. Butlin; Stars: Olegar Fedoro, Simon Poland, Kay Curram, Toby W. Davies, Angus Barr, Guy Davies, Kat Ballie, Julie-Ann Dean, Sarah Flower, Leila Gray, Rebecca Tranter), Official Site

Lives are connected through a curious coin.

The Big Read: A Conversation With Ray Bradbury (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Lawrence Bridges)

Documentary about an initiative that aims to promote reading in American culture.

Charcoal Traffic (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Nathan Collett; Writer: Fatima Jibrell, Pamela Collett), Official Site

Brothers trapped in a environmentally destructive cycle, in Somalia.

Claxon (Clacson) (Country: Italy; Year: 2008; Director: Tak Kuroha; Writer: Tak Kuroha)

The Raindance programme says: "Every morning, every woman gets up and knows she will have to make her way through the traffic to the clacson music in order to survive; every man gets up and knows he will have to be very very patient in order to survive"

Clocked (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Michael Sharck; Writer: Ben Blair, Michael Sharck; Stars: Robyn Mellor, Anna Cottis, Chris Preddie )

A daughter's unconditional love is tested to its limits.

Come Here Today (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Writer: Simon Aboud; Stars: Felicity Gilbert, Rita Tushingham)

The philosophical journey of Alex, Rhys Ifans, through his most intimate relationships towards an emotional reconciliation with his father.

The Confession (Country: Ireland; Year: 2008; Director: Thomas Hefferon; Writer: Thomas Hefferon; Stars: Donncha Crowley, Sean Flanagan, Stephen Morris), Official Site

A man at confession, grapples with a gossiping priest.

A Day In A Life (Country: Belgium; Year: 2007; Director: Nicolas Daenens)

Two street punks, Mario and Tom plan a bank job. Emin agrees to be their driver - but he doesn't have a car.

Directions (Country: Australia; Year: 2008; Director: Kasimir Burgess; Writer: Kasimir Burgess; Stars: Greg Muller)

A desperate man finds inspiration in a broken shopping trolley.

Screening with Who Is KK Downey?

DJ:LA (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Jerry Chan; Writer: Jerry Chan)

The sights of LA set to the music of the city.

Screening with Year Of The Nail

E1even Roses (Year: 2008; Director: Pedram Goshtasbpour; Writer: Pedram Goshtasbpour)

A mix of 3D and 2D short film that explores love and pride in a film noir style.

The Electric Koi (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Sam Lanyon Jones, Andrew Cope; Writer: Sam Lanyon Jones; Stars: Jason Isaacs and Jeanette Sutton)

Satsuma, a young girl living on a strange and apparently deserted island one day discovers that she is no longer alone.

Emerald City (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Henry McComas; Writer: Henry McComas; Stars: Darrick Mosley, Damian Black)

A musician tells his friends about a vision.

Esplendido (Country: Spain; Year: 2008; Director: David Ciurana; Writer: David Ciurana; Stars: Carles Sales, Dafnis Balduz, Joan Massotkleiner)

A vet saves a famous race horse.

The Eye (El Ojo Unico) (Country: Argentina; Year: 2008; Director: Adrian Castanga; Writer: Cristian Bernard; Stars: Martin Slipak, Mario Ramirez)

In Buenos Aires 2068, a motorcycle courier stumbles on a truth that will irrevocably change his life.

The Facts in the Case of Mister Hollow (Country: Canada; Year: 2008; Director: Rodrigo Gudiño, Vincent Marcone; Writer: Rodrigo Gudiño; Stars: Alan Alderton, Lea Lawrynowicz, Tony Morrone, Julian Richings)

A single image that tells an entire story.

Fight (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Lewis Metcalfe; Writer: Lewis Metcalfe; Stars: Adam Clayton, Callum Marhum and Leo Plevin)

Two schoolboys are pressurised into a fight.

È Finita La Commedia (Country: Belgium, Spain; Year: 2006; Director: Jean-Julien Collette, Olivier Tollet; Writer: Jean-Julien Collette, Olivier Tollet; Stars: Christian Crahay, Cédric Eeckhout)

A father and son chat in a parked car... but what are they waiting for?

First (Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Tinge Krishnan), Official Site

Showing at EIFF as part of the UK Shorts showcase.

The First Night (Country: Portugal; Year: 2008; Director: Ricardo de Almeida; Stars: Adriano Teixeira, Lais Saíd, Rafaela Malagueta, Rosa Malagueta, Wander Luis)

A man takes his girlfriend to a motel - with plans to spend their first night together.

A Fitting Tribute (Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Daniel Cormack; Writer: Ben Clover; Stars: Sally Bretton, Thomas Nelstrop, April Nicholson), Official Site

A naïve local newspaper reporter on a 'death knock' gets more than he bargains for from a grieving mother.

Screening with Goliath

From The Diaries Of Jojo (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Marco Puig; Stars: Earl Carpenter, Laurie Hagen)

A short musical love story with a werewolf twist.

Fujica Single-Date (Country: Japan; Year: 2007; Director: Kenji Murakami; Writer: Kenji Murakami)

Video diary mourning the loss of Fuji Super 8mm film.

The Funk (Country: Australia; Year: 2008; Director: Cris Jones; Writer: Cris Jones; Stars: Jacek Koman, Steve Adams, Trudy Hellier)

A man wakes up in a funk - but where did it all begin?

Gravel And Stones (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Ben Hollins, Edward Hofman)

A remarkable film by four 6th form students about disabled people in Cambodia, a country with one of the highest disability rates in the world.

The Gravity of Belief (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Martin Gooch; Writer: Martin Gooch; Stars: Alexandria Beck, Paul Ready)

Ever wonder where all the missing people go?

Screening with Production Office

Greaseland (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Peter Boyd Maclean; Writer: Simon Crump)

In an isolated roadside cafe the owner likes to reminisce about the days when he was Elvis Presley's minder.

A Head B Body (Country: US; Director: Jim Fields; Writer: Jim Fields)

A look at the frontier of organ transplanting in the Fifties.

Hope Springs Eternal (Country: US; Director: Ron Noble; Writer: Ron Noble)

Mort has been hopelessly depressed ever since the love of his life, Vida, dumped him. Now all he wants for Christmas is to die in his sleep. But poor Mort is such a loser he can't even commit suicide without blowing it...

Hot Dog (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Bill Plympton; Writer: Bill Plympton)

The third in Bill Plympton's DOG series, sees him join the fire service.

Hourglass (Country: UK; Director: Rory O'Donnell; Writer: Rory O'Donnell; Stars: Julian Glover, Anthony O'Donnell)

The commission of a lifetime for a clockmaker.

Screening with No Through Road

Imaginary Lines (Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Yumi Yoshiyuki; Writer: Yumi Yoshiyuki)

Homage to a Seventies pop idol.

Inertia (Motion Studies: Inertia, MOTION STUDIES An Ongoing Series of Experiments 97: Inertia) (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Jake Mahaffy; Writer: Jake Mahaffy; Stars: Carl West)

Exploration of the difficulties of running in a suit of armour.

Full Review

Screening with Wellness

In August (Country: Columbia; Director: Andres Barrientos, Carlos Andres Reyes; Writer: Andres Berrientos)

Two people - in different time periods - anticipate the end of the world.

Irish Twins (Country: US; Director: Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong; Writer: Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong; Stars: Rider Strong, Shiloh Strong, John DiMaggio, Al Vicente, Chris Solari, Devon McGinn ), Official Site

Brothers Michael and Saemus come to blows over their fathers ashes. (N)

JediGym (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Ben Koldyke, Timothy Kendall, Van Roble; Writer: Van Roble; Stars: Ben Koldyke, Bill Ims)

Gym-goers take on the mantle of Star Wars characters for a workout... but is The Force to be reckoned with?

Joystick (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Kevin Richards)

Animation about the destructive power of love.

A Juicy Turkey (La Dinde marinée) (Country: France; Year: 2008; Director: Benoît Ameil; Writer: Benoît Ameil, Laurent Freynet; Stars: Maëllys Battesti, Nicolas Buchoux, Patrick Noerie, Aude Roman), Official Site

A man faces problems when his wife gets hooked on George Clooney.

Just Add Water (Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Nick Collett; Writer: Errol Wallace, Natalie Scheetz, Phil Gilbert; Stars: Errol Wallace, Natalie Scheetz, Phil Gilbert)

Your perfect partner for £9.99.

Karaoke (Country: Germany; Year: 2008; Director: Carolina Hellsgård; Writer: Carolina Hellsgård; Stars: Renate Serwotke)

An elderly actress's desperate search for a new role.

Screening with Wild Blue Yonder

Kix (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: George Fort; Writer: George Fort)

A crooner gets in over his head with booze and women, in this animated parody of Cole Porter's I Get A Kick Out of You.

Left Behind (Country: Germany; Year: 2008; Director: Fabian Daub and Andreas Grafenstein)

In Waldenburg all mines are closed down. Lukasz and his friend Jacek have been digging coal at their own risk for several years now. Like hundreds of other former miners, they are illegally digging for the black gold on the outskirts of their city. The local police are constantly after them. The miners have also been trapped in the tunnels several times. But they keep going.

A Letter To Colleen (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Carolyn London; Writer: Carolyn London)

Animated short in which a haunted man tries to put his demons to rest.

Like Other People Do (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Alex Kelly; Writer: Alex Kelly; Stars: Sagar Arya)

A community's response to unconditional giving.

Little Minx Exquisite Corpse: Cara (Country: US; Director: Chris Nelson; Writer: Chris Nelson; Stars: Cara Failer, Amanda Alch, Owen Beckman)

A mix of biscuits and a girl's shot at stardom.

Little Minx Exquisite Corpse: Come Wander With Me (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Phillip Van; Writer: Phillip Van)

Meditation on the loss of childhood innocence.

Little Minx Exquisite Corpse: She Walked Calmly Disappearing Into Darkness (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Malik Hassan Sayeed; Writer: Malik Hassan Sayeed)

After a shooting, a young man tries to work out what happened.

Little Minx Exquisite Corpse: Waffles For Breakfast (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Josh Miller; Writer: Josh Miller; Stars: Jim Connor, Stephen Mendillo, Aviva)

A man is in for a surprise when he wins a Winnebago in a card game.

Little Whispers (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Delvin Crow; Writer: Delvin Crow, Kennedy Crow; Stars: Richard Briers, Nicholas Patterson, The Illumins)

A small race of people appear... but do they wish a stranger good or ill?

Looking Up Dresses (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Jared Ingram; Writer: Jared Ingram; Stars: Sam Huntington, Jlynn Johnson, Andrew Grenier, Mickie Banyas, Don Margolin, Joshua Salvati)

After getting dumped for being “too nice,” Jade Williams has until the end of a church service to convince his girlfriend he’s actually a wild man.

Screening with Crawford

Losing Hope: Women In Afghanistan (Country: Afghanistan; Director: Paul Anderson, Salma Zulfiqar; Writer: Paul Anderson)

A report on the plight of Afghan women nearly six years after the overthrow of the Taliban regime by international forces.

The Lost Child (L'Enfant perdue) (Country: France; Year: 2008; Director: Josephine Mackerras; Writer: Josephine Mackerras, Gilles Noël; Stars: Thomas Courcoul, Maria Derrien, Antonio Ferreira)

A woman becomes convinced she is being spied on and lures the man to her apartment, but what transpires will make them both face up to the past.

Screening with Lost Ear

Lover's Lane (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Guy Ducker; Writer: Guy Ducker; Stars: Carl Prekopp, Katherine Reilly), Official Site

After a chance encounter, former lovers must face their past.

Screening with Chris And Don

Love And Kisses (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Patricia Aspinall; Writer: Patricia Aspinall)

Kathy and Danny - will their best be good enough?

Madrugada (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Michael Pearce; Writer: Michael Pearce)

Max buys a rundown hotel. Frank, his son comes to visit. However Frank finds his father in a more decrepit state than the hotel.

Making The Man (Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: John Susman; Writer: John Susman; Stars: Kymberly Harris, Matthew Bible, Noelle Hardy, Dana Lynne Gilhooley, Angelina Lyubomirova, Natalie Jeckel McGee)

An interview hangs on the brink of disaster.

A Man Of Letters (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Tom Turley; Writer: Patrick Thompson, Tom Turley; Stars: Ian Attfield, Nick Von Schlippe, Laura Steele)

A postie has a fall out with a pal.

Mending Fences (Sin Oko Fo) (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Heather Murphy; Writer: Ebbe Bassey, Heather Murphy; Stars: Aminah James, Ash Roeca, Ebbe Bassey)

A man's sister comes to visit from Nigeria... and brings her customs with her.

The Milky Audition (Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Yumi Yoshiyuki; Stars: Yumi Yoshiyuki, Takashi Urai)

Memory and time collapse as a woman meets two men.

Mime And Punishment (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Ronni Raygun Thomas)

Mite (Milbe) (Country: Germany; Year: 2008; Director: Karl Tebbe; Writer: Karl Tebbe; Stars: Helga Uthmann, Alexander Maria Schmidt)

According to the write up, this is "a short animation film about my grandmother, Oma Grete, and gigantic house dust mites that threaten to destroy world."

Mr McKinley In Moviola Mayhem (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: David Lilley, Stephen Gray; Writer: David Lilley; Stars: Kevin Norcross, David Lilley)

Mr McKinley takes on the Evil Doctor at a fair.

Noise (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Krishna DK; Writer: Krishna DK, Raj Nidimoru; Stars: Alok Chaturvedi, Pitabash Tripathy, Sudheer Chaudhary, Vijay Verma)

Three young men have a blast after they find a ticking time-bomb.

Non-Intervention Game (Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Yoshihiro Itoh; Writer: Yoshihiro Itoh)

A battle of the sexes, over dinner.

Nosebleed (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Jeff Vespa; Writer: Jeff Vespa; Stars: David Arquette)

A man's disasterous attempts to stop a nosebleed.

Nothing's The Same (Country: Burundi, Canada; Year: 2008; Director: Linda Kamuntu)

Anemone, a girl raised with strict Christian values, must deal with a harsh new reality on the eve of her wedding.

Not Enough Night (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Dan Boord, Luis Valdovino; Writer: Jack Kerouac; Stars: Jack Kerouac, Robert Frank)

A swansong for bygone hipsters.

Ochrasy (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Lovisa Inserra), Official Site

Ochrasy is a song by Mando Diao about their fantasy world called... Ochrasy - surprise, thy name is not Mando Diao.

One Careful Owner (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Sean Van Hales; Writer: Sean Van Hales; Stars: Denise Van Outen, Dexter Fletcher, Sheila Reid)

One man and the love of his - his Ford Capri.

Screening with The Milky Way

One Of The Last (Country: Italy; Year: 2008; Director: Paul Zinder)

An elderly Italian peasant and his love for the landscape.

Ottica Zero (Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Maja Borg)

Exploration of one woman's quest for a better future.

Full Review

The Outlaw Emmett Deemus (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Stephan Szpak-Fleet; Writer: Larry Hankin; Stars: Larry Hankin, Edie McClurg, Paul Willson)

Don Quixote on a motorbike.

Out Of Nowhere (Country: UK; Director: Gary Fannin; Writer: Martin Scorer, John Schwab; Stars: Howard Ward, Sam Caughlan)

In this hilarious very short short, a writer has submitted the perfect manuscript, but the publisher has one minor quibble.

The Pig Farm (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Michelle Coomber), Official Site

An open air service to commemorate a concentration camp but there is no memorial. Only a pig farm.

Player (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Mary Nighy; Writer: Sam Hodges; Stars: Sam Hodges, Pete Postlethwaite, Haydn Gwynne and Celia Imrie)

The story of a claustrophobic relationship between a single mother and her piano prodigy son.

Primitive Technology (Country: US; Director: Bo Price; Writer: Bo Price; Stars: Adam Shapiro, David Hood, Jeff Atherdeen, Matt Berck)

A group of misfits aim to test their creativity by making inventions out of rubbish.

Procrastination (Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Johnny Kelly; Writer: Johnny Kelly)

An investigative and exploratory hands–on gloves-off study into the practice of putting things ‘off’. Showing as part of McLaren Animation 2 at EIFF.

Rachel (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Chris King; Writer: Chris King; Stars: Kelly Nixon, Eric Wheeler)

An adoption, leaves the prospective parents with memories that will haunt them forever.

The Ranger (Country: Ireland; Year: 2008; Director: PJ Dillon; Writer: PJ Dillon; Stars: Máirtín Jaimsie o'flaharta, Owen Mcdonnell)

In the mid 1850s, a soldier returns from serving overseas to discover his family have died from famine.

Raspberries (Country: Norway; Year: 2008; Director: Morgan Davidsen; Stars: Morgan Davidsen, Vemund Kaurstad Mørk)

Short about "the dreams that come along while waiting for the better".

Red Sands (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: David Procter; Writer: Tom Turley, Stoff Bellhouse; Stars: Manuel Revilla)

Celebration of the San Fermin fiesta.

Second Guessing Grandma (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Bob Giraldi; Writer: Eddie Safarty; Stars: Kathleen Chalfant, Shawn Hollenbach, Lori Wilner)

A gay man comes out to his grandma.

Second Guest (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Dan Turner; Writer: Dan Turner; Stars: Claire Goose, Gemma Langford, Milo Twomey)

On a night amongst friends, Pete and Suzy await the arrival of Pete’s fiancée Kim. But as the delays mount, her whereabouts become ever more unclear.

Seeking You (Country: Canada; Year: 2008; Director: Jean-Julien Pous; Writer: Jean-Julien Pous)

A man goes in search of his lost love on the streets of Hong Kong.

Self-Portrait With Cows Going Home And Other Works - A Portrait Of Sylvia Plachy (Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Rebecca Dreyfus )

A camera-shy photographer. (D)

Shadow Play (Country: France; Year: 2008; Director: Ramon Bloomberg; Writer: Ramon Bloomberg)

When life's story comes undone, what's a man to do but start all over again?

Silent Star (Country: Netherlands; Year: 2008; Director: Vera Iwerebor; Stars: Randal Malone)

Documentary about silent film star Anita Page.

Single Girl (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Kristen Swanbeck; Writer: Kristen Swanbeck; Stars: Jessy Ginsberg, Sandra Hernandez, Izzy Marrero)

Women find intimacy in unexpected places.

Small Avalanches (Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Gillian Munro; Writer: Gillian Munro, Gillian Munro; Stars: Katelyn Pippy, Bruno Oliver, Noah Blake, Wendy Herrick)

A teenager is pursued on the way home.

Small Collection (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Jeremiah Crowell; Writer: Jeremiah Crowell)

A love story caught in the corridors of memory. Through fragments of conversations still echoing in now empty places, we piece together the record of a relationship cut short.

Something Wriggling Along In The Womb (Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Satoe Kamino)

No details available.

Son (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Daniel Mulloy; Writer: Daniel Mulloy)

A boy tries to cope with the realities of his mum's abusive relationship.

Stolen Youth (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Leon Chambers; Writer: Leon Chambers; Stars: Perry Spencer, Simon Poland, Jade Williams)

A delinquent’s rampage on a small town is not as horrifying as the secret he discovers.

The Sweetest Sound (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Jamie Rafn; Writer: Jamie Rafn; Stars: Adam Tabraham, Isabel Walker, Lizzie Rainbow)

A woman bumps into her ex and finds their lives have undergone a massive transformation.

The Tangent (La Tangente) (Country: Italy; Year: 2008; Director: Vincent Vesco; Writer: Vincent Vesco, Vlad Sprinceana)

As a couple's relationship grows will they be forced to reconsider their rock and roll lifestyle?

Terrafarmer (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Will Adams; Writer: Will Adams)

An astronaut tries to terraform a hostile planet with the help of a malfunctioning robot.

Testudo (Country: France, UK; Year: 2008; Director: Jörg Tittel; Writer: Jörg Tittel; Stars: Alex Helfrecht, Jörg Tittel, Philippine Julia)

Estranged parents take their children to the zoo in the hopes of rebuilding their relationship.

Screening with PVC-1

Tide (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Felix Wiedemann; Writer: Felix Wiedemann)

Does a kiss mark the beginning of love or the end?

The Tournament (Il Torneo) (Country: Italy; Year: 2008; Director: Michele Alhaique; Writer: Federico Mazzei ; Stars: Lorenzo De Angelis, Andrea Meloni, Fabio Scotti, Alessio Attanasio, Danilo Meloni, Giada Fradeani, Giordano de Plano )

Footballing boys learn lessons in sportsmanship. (N)

Toyland (Spielzeugland) (Country: Germany, IMDb Germany section; Year: 2007; Director: Jochen Alexander Freydank; Writer: Johann A. Bunners, Jochen Alexander Freydank; Stars: David C. Bunners, Cedric Eich, Julia Jäger, Torsten Michaelis)

When a wartime German mother tries to protect her son by telling him their Jewish neighbours are going to Toyland, she little realises the consequences.

Troubles Sens (Country: France, US; Year: 2008; Director: Anna Condo; Writer: Anna Condo; Stars: Alexandra Stewart, Aurélien Recoing, Erin Roth, Cyril Descours)

Dangerous liaisons in Paris.

Umeshinju (Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Yoshihiro Itoh; Writer: Yoshihiro Itoh)

A blossoming romance between two people unable to use their arms.

Under Ginkgo Trees (Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Eiji Shimada; Writer: Eiji Shimada; Stars: Ikue Shimizu, Katsutoshi Nakajima)

A man mourning the loss of his wife, goes in search of a time capsule.

Unmanned (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: John Butler; Writer: John Butler)

A motion captured tale of commercial conflict in the homeland security state.

U: The Underwood Company (Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Joseph Varhola; Writer: Joseph Varhola)

A terminally ill man founds a company in an attempt to discover the fate of a train that disappeared.

Veils (Country: UK; Year: 2008; Director: Dan Susman; Writer: Dan Susman; Stars: Maureen Lipman, David Horovitch, Ray Panthaki, Andy Lucas, Jessica Manley, Janie Booth, Danielle Allan)

Will a young bride and groom’s marriage bridge their cultural divides?

Full Review

Screening with The Blue Tower

Voices Over (Voci fuori campo) (Country: Italy; Year: 2008; Director: Alessio Cigliano; Writer: Alessio Cigliano; Stars: Ciro Scalera, Daniela Calo, Paola Majano)

A worn-down family man finds solace in his car, where he is guided by a friendly voice.

Vortex (Country: Japan; Director: Yoshihiro Itoh; Writer: Yoshihiro Itoh)

A gaijin’s view of Tokyo’s Shibuya district.

Why Now? (Country: Kenya; Director: Guy Wilson; Writer: Guy Wilson; Stars: Paul Karuri )

A true story of a bus driver who drove through 15 roadblocks while transporting 41 passengers during Kenya's post-election voilence.

Wife's Knife (Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Yoshihiro Itoh; Writer: Yoshihiro Itoh)

A man faces problems with the arrival of an ex.

Woman in Burka (Country: USA; Year: 2008; Director: Jonathan Lisecki; Writer: Jonathan Lisecki; Stars: Katherine Atkinson, Samantha Buck, Sarita Choudhury, Debra Eisenstadt, Zeke Farrow, Catherine Kellner, Jonathan Lisecki, Annie Parisse, Sam Rockwell, Kerry Washington,), Official Site

A darkly comic look at the life of an actress and the types of Middle Eastern roles available to her in a post 9/11 culture.

Eye For Film >> Festivals >> Raindance >> 2008 >> Short Films