LTUE 43
International Film Festival Selections
Canyon Ballroom
The film festival (short films) starts at 7:00 PM on February 14th, 2025 and runs until approximately 9:45 PM.
The list shows the films that were selected. Not all selected films were screened due to time limitations.
LTUE 2025 Film Festival Selections
Screened (and/or Viewable Online)
Hearts for Sale 7:38
Netherlands (in English)
A short live-action student film based on the comic “Hearts for Sale” by Miyuli
“Would you like to buy a heart?” A touching fantasy story about the Heartsmith, who is willing to do anything to help repair others’ hearts, even at the cost of his own. The story takes place in a faraway town where the emotions of every person are kept in a crystal heart.
A young man, who is about to get married, is struggling with a broken heart and seeks the help of the Heartsmith to restore his ability to love again. This film is a beautiful reminder of the power of compassion and selflessness. It showcases the importance of helping others and the impact one person can make on the lives of many.
The film is an emotional journey that will leave you feeling inspired, moved, and grateful for the people in your life who have helped mend your heart.
DoTheG 2:30
US Animated
The heartwarming journey of a rock-music animated mole and a mouse in their journey of friendship, separation and reunion as they ‘Do The G.’ They rediscover the power of teamwork and music with a fun and surprise ending twist.
Goldhearts 3:21
US Animated
A jerkish and selfish John Goldheart must choose between saving his own crew, or keeping the rare treasure he searched for and now holds. The character change for the Captain of the “Goldhearts is beautiful as he softens his heart and does the right thing.
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The First Moon Landing 3:07
Hand-drawn rough-animation Crowd Favorite
Portugal 6th graders remembering . . .
Remembering the first moon landing. This project was developed by a 6th Grade (K12) in Art Class in Portugal as part of their Education Through Art Strategies. The work was based on 6th Grade students visual research and then the students drew hundreds of photos that were shot and assembled in Movie Maker-like 2012 software.
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Sukro and The Stolen Name 12:59
Indonesia Claymation.
This film is about the journey of a boy named Sukro who has a superpower to control names and Javanese Letters. He’s on his way to search for Uman, his brother who left from home. In his journey, Sukro finds that the forest looks strange because the names of animals and vegetation have been stolen. He loses his power and has to make a promise to catch the name thief to have his powers restored. This film touches on the obvious (and subtext) power of words and names. It also weaves brotherly love, pride and seeking for solutions in relationships.
Mythomania 5:00
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Foreign Experts 6:24
Foreign Experts is a News Mockumentary filmed at LTUE 42 in 2024. This is a humorous combination of a news report and antics of over-eager authors and editors. Starring some of our Guests of Honor, Spotlight Guests, Toastmaster, and other loved LTUE authors, panelists and presenters. See the YouTube page for details.
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Elevator Pitch
Elevator Pitch is a also a humorous mockumentary about how NOT to pitch your manuscript. A portrayal of some of the humorous “horror” stories you may have heard about elevator pitches gone wrong. Similar to Forein Experts, written, starred and filmed by many of the same group. See the YouTube page for details.
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Bad Panelist
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Sea of Lightning 2:29
US Animated
On an alien planet, a storm beast mother tries to protect her fragile eggs as she battles against a hunting vehicle preying for her Energy Spike.
Robot Princess from Planet-X 14:07
US Live action
In the far reaches of outer space, on a distant world known only as Planet-X, lives a race of beings, so highly advanced, they have successfully merged man and machine into one. They call themselves Humatrons, and on Planet-X, every Humatron is created with meaning, and purpose. Under the rule of the Robot King, society functions to absolute perfection. But when his daughter, the Robot Princess mysteriously vanishes, the king enlists the help of his most trusted servant, the Space Ranger, to bring her back safe and sound at all cost.
A Quantum Theory of Gravity 9:22
Canada Hand drawn Illustrations
This short film is a tribute to Albert Einstein by a physcicst who studied under some of Einstein’s research partners. It is technical, but the illustrations were hand-drawn and inviting. The sketches and presentation made it feel like something special and different than a formal (boring) treatise. If you like physics, and want to understand the potential connection between electromagnetism and gravity, you may find this interesting. The tribute to Einsten is made complete by the creator stating that if Einstein had lived another 10 or so years he would have made these discoveries himself. As it was, he (Einstein) gave the hints and clues that made these discoveries possible.
The Night Boots 12:29
France Animated
While his parents are entertaining friends, a child is supposed to go to bed, but leaves his room to explore the woods wearing rubber boots. The boy encounters a strange friendly, curious and solitary creature. The creature leads him into the heart of the forest to meet the other creatures that live there. The creature wants to show the boy the monster in the water. The boy needs to go home because he has school the next day, but the creatures wants him to say as long as possible to keep from being alone. The boy shows the creature his home and keeps the creature from being scared. He shares the night boots with the creature in a gesture of friendship and future times together.
The Last Gunfight! 3:00
France Animated Suspense and Humor
The Wild West with its merciless gunslingers and heroes from another time. The Main Street is hot and dry under a blazing sun. Two creatures face off in a duel under the wide-eyed gaze of bystanders. The sheriff stands ready in case the gunfight gets out of hand. This is the last gunfight… “Suspenseful & Funny” So far it has 16 nominations & 12 prizes. The setup is great, perhaps the two T-Rex gunslingers should wear their gunbelts a little higher. . .
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Ads or Shorts with Live Action
Audience Selection – Sudden Death 20:00
Night of the Living Baggage 6:23
US real life Fantasy
After a nightmarish roommakte fight, Casey moves into a home but takes something with her that causes trauma. She will run, hide, and fight her way through the night, only to discover there is no defeating The Baggage.
Artificial Intelligence Award
Ida 12:56
Spain – with English subtitles.
In a future where artificial intelligences are subject to rules imposed by humans, Ida, an AI that cultivates the land in service to her creators, faces the aftermath of a global disaster. In a desolate world, an unexpected encounter will lead her to a pivotal decision that could change the fate of both her kind and humanity
Selected but Not Screened
IT HURTS EVEN THOUGH I’M A ROBOT 2:28
Brazil
In a future where humanity has been extinguished by machines, a robot makes a confession. Machines can tell time, but can they understand the meaning of a moment? A film made with AI resources.
He is an AI thing. . . and knows everything about time. . .but nothing about moments. . . the AI can’t understand moments and memories. . . heartfelt amazing things that humans can feel. . . feeling the wind, feeling the touch of a hand. . . loving someone and even missing someone. . .the AI doesn’t understand or comprehend that. . . In a sense all the images that the human-like AI sees are sort of nightmares for him because he can see them as time passes but doesn’t understand them as moments. . . I’m an AI. . . you have all these wonderful moments as humans that AI can’t have. . . Why didn’t you as humans figure out how to program that in so we AIs can enjoy time and moments. We the AI’s can’t forgive humans for not programming us with feelings and understanding so that we can experience moments.
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Pushkin 2:35
Russian Federation (live action)
In the heart of urban sprawl, a slang-speaking gamer’s mundane life is turned upside down when he stumbles upon a mysterious book by Pushkin. As he delves into the literary world, unexplainable events begin to blur the lines between reality and fiction.
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The End 2:30
Ireland Live Action
With the end of the world (allegedly) nearing, a guy takes the opportunity to throw caution to the wind one last time and tell his friend he loves her.
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Ambar 1:00
Argentina Claymation
A sad girl cries in the tub, submerges and finds a whole new world and a little star fish that she brings back with her. When she emerges from the water, the starfish becomes a happy star for her.
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The Last Winged Puppy 1:45
US animation
A forest that was once a winged dog’s sanctuary is now in ruin after all of the winged dogs have mysteriously disappeared. All except one winged puppy who lives alone, until he encounters a group of forest sprites.
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The Life of Jesus 4:06
Romania Student Real Life
The film presents the staging of nine sequences from the life of Jesus. From the breaking of bread, to the widow of Nain, from the healing of the Jew with a withered hand to the messages of the young Jesus that have crossed the centuries.
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