2026 Shorts #2
Thursday, March 26
Scotiabank Toronto Screening: 11:30 pm
PINK ELEPHANT
14min | Drama | Toronto
Director: Maria del Mar
Writer: Maria del Mar, Jo Vannicola
Producer: Jen Pogue, Lauren Saarimaki, Jill Purdy, Jo Vannicola
DOP: Ashley Iris Gill
Production Designer: Stephanie Sakaki
Editor: Verona Choi, Michelle Szemberg
Music: Andrés del Castillo, Paul Anthony
Cast:
Maria del Mar, Jo Vannicola
Film Synopsis:
A long-standing friendship creeps into conflict around gender identity, but is quickly resolved when one friend receives some news that changes their lives forever.
FOR DAWN
20min | Drama | Ontario Premiere
Director: Setareh Saleh
Writer: Setareh Saleh
Executive Producer: Masood Ashrafi, Reza Jozi, Setareh Saleh
Producer: Tofunmi Adebise, Sara Fakhr
DOP: Matthew Labra
Production Designer: Niloufar Ziaee
Editor: Ebi Badavi
Music: Ali Azizian
Cast:
Kimia Kalantari, Maryam Fara, Viona Moarefi, Nakta Pahlevan, Morvarid Alinejad, Leila Bakhshi, Blue Ozar, Alireza Nonahal, Amirali Mokhtarian, Rose Dehganpour, Sarah Iranca, Shahla Fatah, Mareim Khalil, Sepideh Dibadin, Tina Valiz
Film Synopsis:
Three teenage girls, Mahtab, Noor, and Sahar, form a secret group to fight for women’s rights under an oppressive regime. Mahtab, the determined leader, pushes for risky acts of defiance, while Sahar treats their rebellion like a game, frustrating Noor, who's struggling with the growing danger. The brutality of their reality hits hard when Sahar, defying Mahtab’s orders, attends a protest alone and is killed, sparking a government crackdown.
As their school becomes a battleground, Noor is pressured by her mother, the principal, to expose the group. Mahtab rescues her and leads a frantic effort to erase evidence of their rebellion before being fatally shot. Noor, shaken, captures a confession revealing the truth behind Sahar's death. With Mahtab’s sacrifice igniting her resolve, Noor takes a desperate final stand, vowing to carry the fight forward.
SORRY, IT’S A GIRL
10min | Drama | Toronto Premiere
Director: Jaskaran Gill
Writer: Jaskaran Gill
Executive Producer: Jaskaran Gill
Producer: Noor Dhanda
DOP: Aman Samra
Production Designer: Lovey Brar
Editor: Shetu Modi
Music: Diane Vallesteros
Cast:
Arveen Aujla, Guru, Muskaan Kaur Jaura, Jujhar Kaur Gill, Meenu Singh, Rajan Parashar, Madeline Smart, Jorawar Singh Bajwa
Film Synopsis:
Gurneet is pregnant and hoping for a boy so she can fulfill her duty as a wife and continue the family name. Already with two daughters, Gurneet is informed that she'll be having another girl. When she breaks the news to her mother-in-law, she's immediately pressured to get rid of it. Gurneet struggles with her decision, as she's reminded by her husband, culture, and society of the importance of having a boy.
TANT QUE NOUS SOMMES IMMORTELLES (AS LONG AS WE ARE IMMORTALS)
14min | Drama | Ontario Premiere
Director: Nora Burlet Dhainaut
Writer: Nora Burlet Dhainaut
Producer: Nora Burlet Dhainaut, Zion Lipstein-Saffer
DOP: Benoit Ouellet
Production Designer: Alexandre Lechasseur
Editor: Jean-Luc Oicle
Music: Isabelle Charlot
Cast:
Lysane Picker-Paquin, David-Emmanuel Jauniaux
Film Synopsis:
Lisa sees her ex partner, Dan, and remembers the context of their separation. Crossing the river and their history, Lisa confronts Dan with what happened between them.
FLAT
5min | Documentary | Ontario Premiere
Director: Suri Parmar
Writer: Suri Parmar
Producer: Laura Nordin
DOP: Sabrina Spilotro
Production Designer: Stephanie Sakaki
Editor: Nancy Gidman-LaTorraca
Music: Erica Procunier
Film Synopsis:
In which filmmaker Suri Parmar discusses her struggles with breast cancer, gender and body image as she heals from a double mastectomy and reclaims her identity.
ROAD 138
18min | Documentary | North American Premiere
Director: Sarah Warren
Writer: Sarah Warren
Producer: Mérédith Gonzalez-Bayard
DOP: Cloé Lafortune
Editor: Alexis Viau
Music: Louis-Joseph Cliche
Cast:
Gaston Mogollones, Tatiana Mogollones
Film Synopsis:
On June 10th, 2023, a man embarks on a journey to run 138 kilometers on Quebec’s Road 138, wishing to honor his sister’s resilience facing cancer. This odyssey becomes a brother’s love letter to his sister in the language he knows best: running.
