Which short film by new Dutch film talent is the audience favourite?

Every year Shortcutz Amsterdam teams up with partners worldwide to ask a global audience which is their favourite Dutch short film. For our Audience Award, we tour with the compilation of the seven nominees for Best Short Film of the Year. This year, the tour will run in partnership with 30 national and international partners.

How to Watch?

Easy-peasy! Join your local screenings, watch the seven nominated short films and vote in the end for your favourite one.

When will you find out the winner?

Shortcutz will announce the overall winner at the 10th Shortcutz Amsterdam Annual Awards on January 22nd 2023. This gala will be streamed live on our website (www.shortcutzamsterdam.com).

CAGE

Rumi Kaul | Live-Action | 07’12’’

Omar (13) spends daily in a soccer cage with the boys in his neighbourhood. His group of friends is close, but they are also hard on each other. They constantly challenge each other, and vulnerability is constantly punished. One day Omar's younger brother Abdul wants to join them. At first, he is laughed at, but Omar sees his sweet little brother change over the day. He is shocked by Abdul's sudden aggression and tries to get him out of the cage. At the same time, he begins to doubt his friends' behaviour.

Director: Rumi Kaul
Main Cast: Moussaab Mahy, Sami El Bouhali, Rens Weber, Kevin Boateng, Jos de Bruin
Producer(s): Cleo Duijvelshoff, Lisa Hagenbeek
Screenplay: Demian van der Wekken, Rumi Kaul
Cinematography: Brian van Dijk
Editing: Pepijn Ahsmann

FUNKELE

Nicole Jachmann | Live-Action | 16’09’’

Fifteen-year-old Robin and her best friend Merel share everything and are inseparable. Except for Robin's budding sexuality and curiosity. Robin is ashamed of this and keeps it anxiously hidden.

Director: Nicole Jachmann
Main Cast: Claire Porro, Julia Olsthoorn, Jesse Meisters, Jonas Coppus
Producer(s): Rogier Kramer
Screenplay: Nicole Jachmann
Cinematography: Michel Rosendaal
Editing: Tessel Flora de Vries

IN BETWEEN GLASS AND WALLS

Razan Hassan | Documentary | 14’25’’

Anne couldn’t accept her own child Felix, who was born with Down syndrome. Anne tries to process her struggle by making theatre with Sara, a 32-year-old woman with Down syndrome. Will it be possible for Anne to connect with her motherhood through her encounters with Sara?

Director: Razan Hassan
Main Cast: Anne Gehring , Sara van Ketel
Producer(s): Kim Idsinga, Marie-Louise Keur
Screenplay: Razan Hassan
Cinematography: David van der Drift
Editing: Sammie Seuren

SCIENCE AROUND US

ARIV | Live-Action | 20’00’’

After finding out that his father was admitted to the hospital and refused medical treatment in Indonesia, Budi has to convince his father to take medical treatment while trying to clean up his wild party in The Netherlands. All in 20 minutes.

Director: ARIV
Main Cast: ARIV, Aris Julian, Gundhul Ibnu Widodo
Producer(s): Marijn van der Ploeg
Screenplay: ARIV, Tommaso Genovesi
Cinematography: Tobias Smeets
Editing: ARIV, Huub Verburg

SPOTLESS

Emma Branderhorst | Live-Action | 15’41’’

Spotless tells the story of 15-year-old Ruby, who lives in a small flat with her mother and younger sister. Her mother works overtime to make ends meet, and Ruby feels responsible for her sister. When Ruby realizes she is having her period, she notices they are out of period products. She doesn’t want to bother her mother by asking for them because she is aware of their money problems. To make sure she doesn’t trouble anyone with her problem, she tries to solve it herself.

Director: Emma Branderhorst
Main Cast: Alicia Prinsen
Producer(s): Marc Bary, Nicky Onstenk
Screenplay: Milou Rhode
Cinematography: Myrthe Mosterman
Editing: Tessel Flora de Vries

THE SMILE

Erik van Schaaik | Animation | 16’00’’

The Smile is a story about beauty and horror, the definitive biopic documentary about the life and the downfall of Knud Dendermonde, the world-famous damsel-devouring horror-movie actor we all know as The Smile. In this documentary, we trace every step of Knud's turbulent life. There will be interviews with many of his colleagues, movie trailers and clips and unique behind-the-scenes footage. Finally, we get to hear the shocking truth, what REALLY happened!

Director: Erik van Schaaik
Main Cast: Tim Gunther, Claire King, Erik van Schaaik
Producer(s): Paul Mathot
Screenplay: Erik van Schaaik
Cinematography: Erik van Schaaik
Editing: Erik van Schaaik

WHAT KILLED TIMMY BENSON

Nick Cremers | Animation | 14’08’’

In a sleepy, snow-covered village, a young playful Timmy Benson is being watched by a dark presence from the past.

Director: Nick Cremers
Producer(s): Nick Cremers
Screenplay: Nick Cremers
Cinematography: Nick Cremers
Editing: Nick Cremers