Fanomenon Short Film Competition 1
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Sun 10 Nov11:30 - 12:56Screen 12
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Mon 11 Nov13:30 - 14:56Screen 12
Relationships are at the heart of this programme of fantastic genre shorts where tensions often rise high, the first of three competition programmes.
A sunny Sunday afternoon game of Scrabble takes a turn when the board comes to life, siblings must wrestle with dark truths to break free of a malevolent cycle, and a young woman finds herself truly alone when a government error separates her from her now-fish family. Elsewhere, a woman’s grief turns into addiction in a post-masculine world. And finally, a couple’s attempt to spice up their relationship with an AI sex robot, ends up uncovering the long-buried cracks in their marriage’s foundations.
Game Over
Sunday afternoon is Scrabble day for an elderly couple. Forced to play for the umpteenth time, the man struggles to keep a lid on his contempt. But the game intensifies when he realises the words being played are becoming reality. A smart and delightfully twisted little comedy.
Adrian Cacciola | France | 2023 | 9 mins | Yorkshire Premiere
Broken Castles
In a large, empty estate, two siblings wrestle with contrasting perspectives and complexities of leaving their home. Can they confront what is keeping them in to finally break free? Featuring two fantastic central performances, Broken Castles explores generational trauma in a powerful and unique way.
Ginevra Gentili | United States | 2023 | 13 mins | Yorkshire Premiere
Fish Out of Water
In a harsh dystopian future, the government implements a radical programme to save the environment - converting 90% of the population into fish. When an error separates Nip from her family, she must decide how far she will go to correct it. Exploring loneliness, alienation and climate crisis, this is a dark comedy like no other.
Alexandra Boulton | United Kingdom | 2023 | 7 mins | Yorkshire Premiere
Venus
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After all men worldwide commit suicide, Joyce desperately tries to get her boyfriend back. She comes into contact with a group trying to manifest ‘the male’. But should we want men back? Gonzalo Fernandez mixes sci-fi and body horror to craft an astonishing dystopian psycho-drama.
Gonzalo Fernandez Carmona | Netherlands | 2024 | 42 mins | Premiere
Marriage Unplugged
Suzanna and Andrew’s marriage is crumbling. Tired of the status quo, and much to Andrew’s displeasure, Suzanna impulsively buys a sex robot - a decision that will make them confront the very fractures that damaged their relationship in the first place. Sweet, sad, and funny - this is the psychosexual AI drama you didn’t know you needed. This short film is supported by the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK. 
Florine & Kim Nüesch | Switzerland, UK | 2024 | 15 mins | Yorkshire Premiere
Content Guidance
Contains horror, graphic violence.
