KAFKA. IN LOVE | Zane Oborenko | LTV | 10’

Franz and Milena – between them a distance, her husband and loads of letters – it is love that fills Kafka’s life with light and hope and at the same time illuminates the fears and darkness in him. Based on Franz Kafka’s Letters to Milena, “Kafka. In Love” explores a multidimensional experience of falling in love.

A PERFECT NIGHT | Angelo Raaijmakers | NLD | 18’

To celebrate his promotion to senior police officer, Nordin and his girlfriend Luna try to bake ‘a perfect cake, for a perfect night’. What starts as a fun and affectionate activity slowly changes into a toxic cycle of emotional and physical abuse, in which the two struggle with their boundaries and self-control.

LES BELLES CICATRICES | Raphaël Jouzeau | FRA | 15’

DREAMS LIKE PAPER BOATS | Samuel Suffren | HTI | 19’

Edouard has been living in Port-au-Prince with just his daughter Zara for five years. Since his wife left, his daughter and him have only received a cassette from her, and that was a long time ago. After years of absence, what can we expect from a distant love?

GREEK APRICOTS | Jan Krevatin | CRO | 20’

Mak, a young man working his night shift at a gas station, encounters Nada, a female truck driver. They bond over their shared Macedonian roots and find comfort in each other, as they attempt to escape their individual loneliness.

IN THE END | Linda Stūre | 5’ | LTV

In the deep countryside of Latvia, relatives and neighbors, near and distant, come together to celebrate the last important ritual of human life. A series of events and details reveal a picture where two different eras overlap.

SON | Zhanna Bekmambetova | 21’ | KAZ

The story of a boy and his dad who live in a small house on the edge of the steppe. The boy is confined to a wheelchair and can't even take a spoon with porridge. The dad is close to despair, but everything changes when one day the TV shows the landing of the newest robot on Mars… This tale is dedicated to all parents who don't give up.

YUCK! | Loïc Espuche | 13’ | FRA

Yuck! Couples kissing on the mouth are gross. And the worst is, you can’t miss them: when people are about to kiss, their lips become all pink and shiny. Little Léo laughs at them, just like all the kids at the summer camp. But he has a secret he won’t tell his friends: his own mouth has actually begun glistening. And, in reality, Léo desperately wants to give kissing a try.

ALLEGIANCE | Alex Bajon, Lucie Coste, Charlie Coucoureux, Hindha Koné, Anne Le, Aurore Meyer, Mariette Pons, Éloïse Vacher | 7’ | FRA

Accompanied by her Fool, a Queen fulfills the material wishes of her people in exchange of their submission. However, one day, someone asks her for an abstract wish: happiness. The established order will start to crumble.

NUN OR NEVER! | Heta Jäälinoja | 11’ | FIN

A nun digs a man up from the ground and loses her grip on everyday life. Can secrets and harmony coexist?

MOI AUSSI | Judith Godrèche | FRA | 17’

At the dawn of a new day, a young woman finds an entire crowd staring her straight in the eye. Each face evokes a story from the past. That young woman becomes the voice of those countless stories. Each one is different, yet together, they forge a path forward — from unspeakable pain to the beginnings of liberation through the spoken word.

FUCK-A-FAN | Muriel d’Ansembourg | NLD | 24’

Chloe Cam, the hottest porn star on social media, launches a “Fuck-a-Fan” contest to blow up her following and let one lucky fan live out his dream. That turns out to be Thomas, an awkward young man from Amsterdam whose heart was recently crushed. In his loneliness and desperation, he can’t help projecting something deeper onto her than porn-star thrills. When the lights go on and the camera starts rolling, Thomas and Chloe find themselves as they never expected: vulnerable, and accountable to each other.

MACHINES | Sigurd Bleken | NOR | 15’

Everything goes to hell for a single mom working as a cleaner, when she takes an extra shift to afford a special present for her son on his 14th birthday. We witness 24 hours of her life, trying to hold the scattered pieces together, while trying to mend the relationship to her son, a relationship that has been broken by her absence. A film about the consequences of rising poverty and poverty related shame in one of the world’s richest countries.

MRS. FAIZA & DR. LOVE | Anissa Daoud  | FRA | 25’

In the modest family apartment, Faiza has 'a room of her own' where another part of herself unfolds—one that is unafraid of transgression and reconnects with her youthful ambitions.

A MOVE | Elahe Esmaili | IRN | 28’

Elahe returns to her hometown in Mashhad, Iran, to help her parents move to a new place after 40 years. Influenced by the Woman-Life-Freedom movement, she's also hoping for a bigger move beyond just a new apartment.

Shortcutz Amsterdam is a dynamic film festival and platform dedicated to promoting and nurturing emerging Dutch film talent and creating a “Shortcut” to audiences and the established industry. Through a proactive approach, we reach out to audiences and communities in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and worldwide. Our current main activities consist of the Weekly Sessionz (7 months per year), the Annual Awards (the award ceremony of our competition) and “Amsterthem”, the project with 7 short film portraits about Amsterdammers from 7 different neighbourhoods of the city. In 2025, we will bring the films to the people in the 7 districts.

ABI PATAT | Janna Grosfeld | 17'

Selahattin Vural, fondly known as Abi, is the heart of a beloved snack bar in Amsterdam's Overtoomse Veld. In 1997, this neighbourhood was plagued by adversity, including crime and unease. Abi, a symbol of resilience, emerged as a unifying figure. He isn't just a snack bar owner; he's a philosopher who connects with everyone, earning him the nickname "The Fries Philosopher”. However, Abi faces a dilemma, the local municipality plans to demolish Abi Patat in 2024. Abi Patat is more than a business; it reflects Abi's character and serves as a vital communal space. The restaurant is Abi’s stage. This documentary delves into Abi's life and his role in fostering community connections. Yet, behind the scenes, a different Abi emerges, sharing his personal journey to the Netherlands and the snack bar's role in community bonding. In 2014, an arson attack threatened Abi Patat, but the community rallied to help it reopen. Now, Abi Patat's future is uncertain, posing the question: "Who will Abi be without his snackbar?"

DE BOYS VAN DE BARBARA | Fabienne Boekel | 15'

Last summer, the oldest school in the city, de Barbaraschool, closed its doors after 134 years. ‘De Barbara’ was one of the most diverse schools in the country, representing backgrounds from nearly all continents. Few kids will remain together, as parents made quite different school choices. Three boys in ‘Group 6’ are best friends: a Dutch Moroccan boy, a Dutch white kid (Fabienne’s son) and an 11-year-old of Nigerian descent. The three boys ended up at different schools and got separated. Together they sneak into the closed school building, sharing their memories with each other while showing us around. What did the closure of the school mean to them and how did it impact their friendship? What was the impact on the neighbourhood? The film tells the stories of what Oost is today and what it could be in the future - through the eyes of three ‘Oost born and raised’ young boys of very different backgrounds.

GAYA WAS HIER | Finn Szumlas | 13'

“Gaya was here”. Is the story of a young “economically displaced” mother and her two young children. Who every couple of days, sometimes weeks or months , again and again have to find a new place to stay. After her divorce 24 year old Gaya drags herself and her children from one temporarily solution to another. It’s a tough challenge for her to survive in today’s Amsterdam housing market, and find a safe and permanent shelter for her family. It seems like a never ending search to realize her dream.

MAESTER KWAME - LEAD BY EXAMPLE | Yve Baya | 15'

"‘Lead by Example’ is an intimate portrait of Kwame Agyapong-Ntra, aka Meester Kwame. The short film highlights the significance of role models within Amsterdam Southeast’s black community. Meester Kwame’s personal story serves as the premise to dissect the drive behind the tutoring work he’s been doing for youths with migration backgrounds. The film puts emphasis on the inspiration behind Kwame's decision to follow in his father's footsteps, setting off a chain reaction that has positively impacted over a thousand children in his community. This portrait is an emotional yet hopeful love letter to the saying “Each one Teach one” that showcases the power of these words when transformed into practice. The poetically bittersweet tone of the film addresses two sides of the same coin. It is, on one hand, a celebration of Kwame’s achievements, and on the other, a reality check into the everyday challenges faced by the children he guides, as well as their families."

CHICO | Sophie van Bree | 11'

"In a small house in Amsterdam West, the down-to-earth 72-year-old Leendert lives with his parrot Chico under one roof. Chico, the main character in Leendert's life, is a deeply wise Ara. Leendert shares his unconditional love for her through spending day and night with her around home. Traditions like showering after waking up in her bedroom keep them tied tight to each other. While Chico keeps on growing, with a life expectancy of 90 or 100 years, Leendert knows he is becoming older and more fragile. When Leendert's health is deteriorating; his main worry is that Chico keeps on eating and drinking. He is wondering who will be taking care of Chico if he won’t be able to do it anymore. The symbiotic relationship between Leendert and his parrot symbolises the humans and their longing for connection. In the visual yet poetic experiment, we explore Leendert’s intimate relationship with his Ara. How far do you go for your love?”

GOD IS LIGHT | Nissim Khalifa | 9'

In “God is Light” we travel through the cultural landscape of Amsterdam and the connection with the Jewish heritage with the community in District Zuid (South). The film celebrates hope and spiritual connection, even between religions. Is that still possible in light of the events of the past year? We follow Rabbi Dovi during the time of Hanukkah. We learn about the history of the arrival of Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam, but at the same time see how the Rabbi visits a variety of people. Such as a Jewish Israeli and his Dutch partner, a man. They ask God’s blessing and protection for their home by installing a “Mezuzah”. During a Hanukkah celebration, Rabbi Dovi lights candles in the midst of a diverse group. He shares his personal anecdote of a light in current dark times. Walking along a number of stumbling stones, laid in memory of deported Jews during the Second World War, the Rabbi talks to passers-by about the lessons of the past. In conclusion, Rabbi Dovi reflects on the essential freedom of religion and tells us about how he and a Muslim friend exchange appropriate wishes on each other's religious holidays.

DELICIOUS SOLITUDE | Masha Gurova | 17'

At the age of 40, Hanneke's life took an unexpected turn when her husband left her abruptly after 14 years of marriage. All he left behind was a note on the kitchen table, and she never saw him again and never had a family of her own. Now, at 64, Hanneke has been the owner of her own restaurant for 24 years. She is the only person who works at her Bouchon Lyonnais in the centre of Amsterdam, she does it all – from handling supplies, cooking, and serving more than 10 tables to keeping the place spotless. This film explores whether it is possible (or not) to be alone, but not lonely.