Something is Wrong... Very Wrong! | VAEFF 2024

Something is Wrong... Very Wrong! | VAEFF 2024 Screening and Q&A

The “Something is Wrong… Very Wrong” program represents our struggle to perceive the eerie, unstable and seemingly unpredictable state of our present world.

Director: Christina Acevedo

Synopsis: Holding in pain can be deadly. The Pointy Slippers tells the story of a woman who, on a date, conceals the excruciating pain caused by her new shoes, only to discover that her hidden suffering takes on a life of its own, becoming impossible to ignore.

Director: Birgitta Liljedhal

Synopsis: When Mother 1 struggles with a tired body, a failed bun-baking project and hopeless over-aged children, conflicts soon escalate beyond what’s accepted by The State of Sweden. The doorbell rings. And The Inspector enters, providing the States quality solution: a shining, new Mother 2. Mother 1 fights for her life against the Inspector, the State and Mother 2’s tetra-organic cabbage from Peru. When Mother 1 strikes back, the children will meet a force they’ve never witnessed before.

Director: Raoul Paulet

Synopsis: A woman relives her journey on this planet in the pursuit of belonging. Only through the acceptance of the world around her, she can find her true self. Or, is it the other way round?

Director: Andres Bronnimann

Synopsis: A visual poem and stark critique of the commercialized “green” movement and the deceitful exploitation of environmental activism for profit in the 21st century.

Director: St. John Michael Moses McKay

Synopsis: After a bomb blast, a seven-year-old tries to repair a broken toy with artifacts of his global siblings: the young and innocent of conflicts in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia. Though the child succeeds in his mission in the end, he is so destroyed — bodily, mentally, spiritually, generationally — his final act is one of a small, but foreboding … murderous violence.

Director: Natalie Peracchio

Synopsis: A letterbox searches for the meaning of life.

Director: Steve Wood

Synopsis: When the 16mm format was in wide distribution, there were “test films” that could be used to calibrate your projector. This composition imagines a test film that includes calibration for the audience, using sounds created by patterns on 16mm film as they pass through the optical sound system. These are edited into musical rhythms and melodies, with every sound accompanied by its pattern on the screen, adjusting the viewer’s brain for the best possible cinematic experience.

Director: Andrea Nazarian

Synopsis: Golden Days explores the deep bond between an elite athlete and his coach and the heartbreaking devastation they face after a sudden season-ending injury. The video glimpses into the complexities of their connection, capturing moments of joy, frustration, and raw anguish, taking viewers through the emotional peaks and valleys of their training cycle.

Director: EyeCandy

Synopsis: In the spirit of collaboration fostered over the years with creative agencies, EyeCandy is proud to unveil their latest creation: “Ann Idea”. This film provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process behind video production, catering primarily to industry professionals. Infused with humor, “Ann Idea” invites viewers to immerse themselves in the various situations depicted, showcasing the birth, evolution, and sometimes the demise of creative ideas.

Director: Elsa Wong, Zon Chan

Synopsis: Softshell and Feeders is a visual narrative that explores the profound connection between memory and senses through two characters. In the vision of Elsa Wong and Zon Chan, the sensorial journey of Softshell and Feeders is punctuated by the enthralling sounds of Mervin Wong and the enigmatic performance of Butoh Dancer XUE. As their journey reaches a crescendo, will we be comforted by the ultimate release of Softshell’s transformation? Or will it reveal the sobering nature of memories and their ephemerality?

Director: Brendan Void

Synopsis: An alien arrives in New York and tries to fit in.

Director: Faraz Alam

Synopsis: Within M’s poignant odyssey through fractured memories, she unearths wounds from former lovers, embodying abuse, deception, and death, all in her quest for self-acceptance.

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