2021 Festival Schedule
The following films will be screened in-person at the 2021 Short. Sweet. Film Fest. Many of these films, as well as others, will be available to screen on-demand for free. Details will be posted soon.
To see all films selected for the 2021 festival—both in-person and on-demand—see our selection list.
Hobby
Director: Jessy Leigh
A Mother takes her Daughter to get a horse for an upcoming competition; a hobbyhorse competition.
7 Steps to Inspire Creative Writing
Director: Zebulon Griffin
A politely crazed fan secretly intervenes in the life of her new favorite novelist. Her clandestine actions yield unintended consequences driving the author to the brink of madness.
Alive Day
Director: Lindsay O'Keefe
Against incredible odds, a young swimmer tells her inspiring story.
For Love
Director: George Tutie
His wife has been kidnapped and now he must do whatever it takes to get her back.
The Retribution
Director: Evelyn Smits
A strange humming sound may bring on the rapture via the children of the world.
Wind Chimes
Director: Pauline Nowakowski
Simone prepares for her best friends 50th Birthday - it's more than just birthday.
50 Little Birds
Director: Hannah Lindgren
Indiana folk artist Geoff Davis reflects on his childhood, career, mental health, and how he found peace through reconnecting with his life’s purpose.
I Have to Go
Director: Karanja Yorke, Mens-Sana Tamakloe
Aziz is put to the test when a mysterious woman lays claim to Aziz's soul. His only savior is his brother Femi, whose love would do anything to save his brothers life.
Summer, 16
Director: Vahan Bedelian
While playing Pokémon Go and driving, a reckless gamer runs over a mysterious creature. But when he gets out to inspect the damage, he is pulled away by the sight of an in-game lure that has been set down a dark alley.
Spurs and Dolls
Director: Kinsley Funari, Josh Miller
Our story begins in your typical Wild West stand-off. But as our hero Deputy challenges The Brimstone Kid, it starts to become obvious this shoot off will be anything but typical.
Scout Master’s First Day
Director: Patrick Donahoe
An aspiring scoutmaster must keep his first scout out of trouble to secure the funds he needs to start his own troop.
Saying Goodbye
Director: Brian Lachowski
A young woman soon becomes haunted by the mysterious entity that killed her best friend.
Death List
Director: Hayden Atzberger
When a group of boys stumble across a hit-mans stash of money, they have to decide what to do with the money and ultimately how to face the criminal head on.
The Girl Who Cried Ghost
Director: Emily Wilson
Two sisters are home alone, or so they think. When the younger of the two goes into the basement to retrieve a soda, she sees a “ghost”.
Place du Souvenir
Director: Gwendolyn Bueche
A college art student struggles to find his voice in his artwork.
Curbside
Director: Rebecca Rhodes
A curbside pickup worker must make to a party after work, but she can't leave until all the orders are sold. And the last order is late.
In These Uncertain Times
Director: Cameron Mays
Two roommates must hide the dead body of their third roommate.
One Minute to Explosion
Director: Avery Lenz
A couple has an argument at a coffee shop while unbeknownst to them there is a bomb under the table.
The Voice in the Night
Director: Gabe Schmidt
A mysterious voice sends one man on a perilous journey.
Possession
Director: Emily Wilson
Three girls perform a seance, which ultimately goes wrong.
Forest City Blues
Director: Connor Fairfield, Richard Perrins, Osgar Nugent, James Carney, Matthew Shanahan
Started as an extended introduction to the greater Cleveland Labre Project--which aims to not only to feed those who experience homelessness, but to stoke fellowship--this documentary traces the candid and sometimes surprising stories of those who do not live "inside", and moves from there to a fuller exploration of what social mechanics in the city complicate citizens' attempts to be free of poverty and homelessness.
Game
Director: Patrick Masteller
A girl takes her weekend alone to relax, but her serenity doesn't last long when something from the woods picks her as its dinner.
The Cookie
Director: Derek Champnella
A husband and wife battle for the last snack.
Man in the Box
Director: Brian Lachowski
The story of an aspiring mime who struggles to entertain people in a world where everybody hates mimes.
It’s Not You, It’s Me
Director: Hannah Lindvall
As the pandemic evolves into a national crisis, college-student Lily struggles to navigate the complexities of a budding romance as her world comes to a screeching halt.
Internalized
Director: Davis Cameron Chu, Milana Scarlato, Ethan Ngo
A beloved office worker struggles to ignore the depressing realities of life in order to prepare for an important presentation.
Numerous Duo
Director: Nick Fiorella
A young Catholic school girl encounters foul spirits.
The Prize
Director: Johnny Wu
When two friends find out their love interest is the same lady, they find a way to get her back... More than a belt on the line.
Parker: A Spider-Verse Fan Film
Director: Johnny Wu
Our story starts with an aged Peter Parker, who no longer desires to help anyone after the death of MJ. Parker moves away and living the rest of his life in solitude.
Bloody Geyser
Director: John Maslowski
A woman is killed by a creature of unknown origin.
Ein Man Stande (One Man Stand)
Director: Ryan Phoenix
Two German soldier brothers, part of the Nazi machine with two very different hearts. This short black and white film noir is not intended to be a political piece but a story about humanity.
The Shartist
Director: Paul Francis Zegarac
Francois attempts to bring Diarrheart to America.
Wind Chimes
Director: Pauline Nowakowski
Simone prepares for her best friends 50th Birthday - it's more than just birthday.
Strange Noises
Director: Pauline Nowakowski
Two teenage brothers house and dog sit their grandmothers home while she is in the hospital. Deme, the younger brother finds his grandmothers house unsettling, especially when he begins to hear strange noises.
Found
Director: Daniel Michael Tomcik
A young man finds and bonds with a stray dog only to discover that its real owner is looking for her and now he must decide whether or not he should give her up.
Woodsman: Blood Battle
Director: Dr. Scott E. Brosius
Woodsman and Mountain Man prepare new Glenn to box Satan and defeat him... BLOOD BATTLE.
The Boat Launch
Director: Rob Motoc, Tim Hale
Blaze has gotten lazy when it comes to his relationship. His girlfriend is fed up. He receives a magical necklace that transforms him into the guy that his girlfriend wants. Will this new guy be enough to fix their relationship?
Hometown
Director: Mikhail Tot
After a rough divorce Dave decides to come back to his home town and he finds it exactly how he left it. Some things just don't change.
Clay Mates
Director: Gracia Lu
A lonely boy's adoring clay creation comes to life.
Something Scary
Director: Joe Abriatis
A storybook-for-adults exploration of the fear of the unknown.
Br’er Rabbit & Anasi
Director: Obediya Jones-Darrell
Our friends live in a fictional tropical forest, filled with lots of colourful plants and fruits. All of the children are different animals... or are they?
Malakout
Director: Farnoosh Abedi
Music was his passion...Love was his masterpiece…
Orthogonal
Director: Ollie Rankin
Orthogonal is a story of two young women from very different, but equally challenging backgrounds.
Test Flight
Director: Emma Momoko Frew
A bunny witch attempts to get her vegetable themed broomstick to fly.
Piece by Piece: Ari's Story of Recovery
Director: Michael Skinner, Jon Michael Shink
"Piece by Piece" is an animated short story about one mother's journey to recovery and empowerment.
Gon, The Little Fox
Director: Takeshi Yashiro
When Gon, a playful orphaned fox, finds that young Hyoju has lost his mother, he tries to comfort him and make amends for his own earlier mischiefs by secretly bringing small gifts to the boy every day.
Frederick Von Scholar’s How –To Series
Director: Jim Allison
Thanks to our new collection of how-tos, now anyone can make friends. Maybe.
Kaze
Director: Avery Stockhoff
Shizuko, a young woman in a small Japanese town, spends her morning shift at a laundromat daydreaming about the windchimes outside the window.
Conference
Director: Nick Cavalier
A comedy short inspired by Covid -19 and boredom.
Roberto
Director: Carmen Córdoba González
15 years have passed and Roberto is still in love with his neighbor, but she prefers to hide ashamed of her body. With his art and an old clothesline as the only ways of communication, Roberto has a plan to push his beloved to face her monsters at once.
7 Steps to Inspire Creative Writing
Director: Zebulon Griffin
A politely crazed fan secretly intervenes in the life of her new favorite novelist. Her clandestine actions yield unintended consequences driving the author to the brink of madness.
Internalized
Director: Davis Cameron Chu, Milana Scarlato, Ethan Ngo
A beloved office worker struggles to ignore the depressing realities of life in order to prepare for an important presentation.
Interruptions
Director: Meredith Jackson
A couple tries to have an intimate date online, but keeps getting interrupted.
Hobby
Director: Jessy Leigh
A Mother takes her Daughter to get a horse for an upcoming competition; a hobbyhorse competition.
VR Demo
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Kids Again
Director: Mark Andrew Hamer
Animated short about two young characters finding each other and getting nostalgic about their past.
Polychrome (Starts with a Kiss)
Director: Sammy Patterson
Escapism Entanglements
Death Proof
Director: Gregory Elek
A Quentin Tarantino inspired music video for the artist WIll Cherry.
Mirage
Director: Peter-John Campbell
Music Video for "Mirage" by Indré
Human
Director: Erin Brown Thomas
A woman suffering in isolation gets a taste of the spotlight.
Murderous
Director: Laurence J. Nozik
A character who picks up an apparently special guitar and drives to a motel, where he nervously waits for another courier to pick up the guitar.
Dream Away
Director: Alan Sanchez
Fog
Director: Kristoffer Grindheim
FOG is a music video and a composition by the composer and pianist John Vegard Schow.
Green Cobra
Director: Sigurd Culhane
GREEN COBRA is the genre-bending story of a hit-man…excuse me, “Life Ending Technician.” Who details, to a documentary film crew, her rise in a mostly male dominated field, on the backdrop of a typical day on the job; which consists of Russian mob clients, disturbing methods of torture, and maybe one too many bad ex-boyfriends.
If<Girlfriend Deluxe>
Director: Steve Moss
Frank tries to replicate the lost intimacy of his marriage with Cindy, a synthetic pleasure unit. But she has other ideas. Tasked with fleecing clients for as much as she can, he struggles to find the connection he desperately craves.
Smoking
Director: Foster Vernon
Cigarettes, Saxophones, Guitars and Goth Girls.
I Am Samantha
Director: T Cooper
“I Am Samantha", by singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer, was inspired by his friend Samantha Williams. Director T Cooper and Allison Glock-Cooper gathered 27 trans actors to tell the story of the universal human journey to find identity, acceptance and love.
TrainFish
Director: Christian Ewald
Majorie loves the ocean, but has never actually seen it. In regular therapy sessions she tries to overcome her fear of trains. When she buys a goldfish that seems to share her longing for the ocean, she slowly starts to face her past.
Strange Noises
Director: Pauline Nowakowski
Two teenage brothers house and dog sit their grandmothers home while she is in the hospital. Deme, the younger brother finds his grandmothers house unsettling, especially when he begins to hear strange noises.
Superbois
Director: Jon Mancinetti
An indie filmmaker discovers his full potential by making a superhero movie with his brother, a young man with autism.
Bag Your Face
Director: Keith Eyrich
Taking the after-school special format and crashing it at high speed head-on with a whirligig of 90's VHS/video game/Nickelodeon trash imagery, this film is pure Nuclear Nostalgia.
Hometown
Director: Mikhail Tot
After a rough divorce Dave decides to come back to his home town and he finds it exactly how he left it. Some things just don't change.
48 Hour Film Project Presentation
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
I Am Samantha
Director: T Cooper
“I Am Samantha", by singer-songwriter Benjamin Scheuer, was inspired by his friend Samantha Williams. Director T Cooper and Allison Glock-Cooper gathered 27 trans actors to tell the story of the universal human journey to find identity, acceptance and love.
Feeling Flush
Director: Erin Brown Thomas
Vicki idolizes her new girlfriend Samantha, but draws the line when it comes to her time on the porcelain throne. Their small bathroom gets awkward when Samatha challenges Vicki’s definition of intimacy.
Polter
Director: Álvaro Vicario
José faces a paranormal event that breaks into his home. As he fights for his life against the supernatural powers, Jose will have to discover the secret behind the phenomena if he wishes to regain control of his home.
Guardian
Director: Pablo Arreba
Nobody can protect you from yourself.
ALVORADA
Director: Carolina Neves
Vasco’s exposed to his brother's extremist ideals, expressed through the National Socialist Black Metal genre. However, Vasco doesn't identify with the movement's nature and hides from his brother an essential aspect of his life, in order to avoid a fraternal break, while tracing the path of self-acceptance.
Love and Murder
Director: Tyler N. Thomas
A gay couple invite a co-worker over for dinner, but the eccentric co-worker has nefarious intentions.
My Body is My Home
Director: Marissa Roesch
A short film that shows what we will do to feel comfortable in our first and longest home; our body.
Sam & Emma
Director: Vanessa Leigh
When their love wanes after a miscarriage, two heartbroken women try to piece together their relationship, highlighting the hardship and dysfunction that can arise from trauma and grief.
48 Hour Film Project Presentation
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tea Time
Director: Tara Price
While having a tea party, a little girl loses her temper and things get bloody.
Give Me Something Good to Eat
Director: Patrick Masteller
When a lazy teenager fails to hand out candy, one trick or treater will take their love of Halloween to the extreme.
Answer Me
Director: Patrick Masteller
A fake halloween phone starts getting strange phone calls.
Eye Exam
Director: Aislinn Clarke
A woman regrets attending a free eye exam when she begins to suspect that her optometrist has nefarious intentions.
Sensor
Director: Brian L Tan
Haunted by his experiences from the war, a Vietnam Veteran has had enough. Placing motion sensors around his property, he's decided to face his demons once and for all.
Special Delivery
Director: John McPhail
A young delivery driver struggles with one simple direction: DO NOT OPEN THE BOX.
The Gift
Director: Jacintha Charles
A girl with uncommonly large ears is bullied at school, but finds solace in her friendship with a crow in the woods. She feeds the bird everyday and in exchange it presents her with gifts, until a violent encounter at school causes their ritual to take an unsettling turn.
Polter
Director: Álvaro Vicario
José faces a paranormal event that breaks into his home. As he fights for his life against the supernatural powers, Jose will have to discover the secret behind the phenomena if he wishes to regain control of his home.
Lycan Noir
Director: Lon & Shannon Nease
In a town facing werewolf attacks, a woman makes her last stand in a house in the woods.
Transmissions
Director: Robert Tejada
A young woman believes she is a targeted individual.
Numerous Duo
Director: Nick Fiorella
A young Catholic school girl encounters foul spirits.
Kibbler
Director: Adlih Torres
One sorrowful girl must get kibbles for her dog, but the potential consequences weigh heavy in her mind.
Monster
Director: Raj Sekhar
‘Monster’ is about a lady who is being haunted by a monster in her dreams and how it affects her reality.
Home Free
Director: Eddie Shieh
A pandemic challenges a young woman on the path to legal immigration while sheltering in her new American home.
The Tell Tale Heart
Director: McClain Lindquist
Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart" is considered the first Psychological Thrillers ever penned. His classic tale has been re-visioned in this gruesome, mind-bending, descent into madness.
There He is Now
Director: Jörg Viktor Steins-Lauss
A creature lurks in her mind. Maybe that's a good thing.
Summer, 16
Director: Vahan Bedelian
While playing Pokémon Go and driving, a reckless gamer runs over a mysterious creature. But when he gets out to inspect the damage, he is pulled away by the sight of an in-game lure that has been set down a dark alley.
Awards
8:30 – 9:00 p.m.
The Payback
Director: Carl Schlacht
The only way out is to get in deeper.
Damned If You Do, Damned if You Don't
Director: Nick Muhlbach
The classic case of the missing parents.
Le Carceri Uncanny
Director: Marc Haas
The interior of this place is underground, forgotten, and a small window high up becomes unreachable, staring down on the repressed human subject on whom space appears to close in. A machine rhythmically turns, powering the space while disempowering the man. The darkness in which the human resides is full of sorrow and sordidness, as he mindlessly works to keep the machine running. The days are repetitive and a descent into insanity ensues. The light becomes a hope for escape, but is life beyond what is known truly better off?
Changing Times
Director: Bernie Golias, Antonio Harper
An old man reminisces on his childhood, his father and their shared love for antique cars as he comes to realize he's part of a fading hobby.
Deadline
Director: Bernie Golias, Antonio Harper
A passionate collector receives an ultimatum for better or for worse.
The Retribution
Director: Evelyn Smits
A strange humming sound may bring on the rapture via the children of the world.
For Love
Director: George Tutie
His wife has been kidnapped and now he must do whatever it takes to get her back.
Love and Murder
Director: Tyler N. Thomas
A gay couple invite a co-worker over for dinner, but the eccentric co-worker has nefarious intentions.
My Body is My Home
Director: Marissa Roesch
A short film that shows what we will do to feel comfortable in our first and longest home; our body.
Block Universe
Director: Simone Massis
After a bout of insomnia, our unknowingly mentally ill main character, Don, starts hallucinating and has trouble deciphering what is real and what isn’t.
Panic in Valley City
Director: Antonio Harper, Abby Burton
Awakened to muffled voices and piercing light, a panic stricken couple crawl into the New Year.
Altruist
Director: Antonio Harper, Abby Burton
A young man stumbles upon a scene that forces him to become a part of the never-ending cycle of social injustice.
Superbois
Director: Jon Mancinetti
An indie filmmaker discovers his full potential by making a superhero movie with his brother, a young man with autism.
Cleveland Film Commission Presentation
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Gramma & Ginga: The Movie
Director: Jennifer Steinman Sternin
The story of beloved sisters Gramma and Ginga who, at ages 104 and 99, accidentally became world-famous internet superstars.
Wedding Officiant
Director: Hõbe Ilus, Mihkel Oksmann
Love is patient. Love is kind. But if you’re in a hurry, call Lennys! He’s been riding the subway for 20 years marrying couples of all creeds and none. A day can include five or more ceremonies, some in superhero costume and some even behind bars. In this feel-good documentary, we explore an unseen side of New York, following Lennys as he travels to and from weddings, serving a diversity of clients and sharing his wit and wisdom.
The Brick House in the Wind
Director: Sangsun Choi
A short documentary about a family's life with three children as immigrants.
Remembering Willie Earle
Director: Thomas Espy, Stevie Jefferis, Cassie Harding, Frank Carroll
70 years ago, Willie Earle was taken from a jail in Pickens, South Carolina and murdered by a mob for a crime that he may not have committed. Now, his childhood friend AQ remembers, in a community that wants to forget.
Aine
Director: Alexandria Cree, Kristen Hilkert
This is the story of Aine a magical, feisty young girl with Down syndrome.
Good Harvest
Director: Meyli Mars
A loving portrait of an older Chinese American couple enjoying a summer like any other in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio.
Alive Day
Director: Lindsay O'Keefe
Against incredible odds, a young swimmer tells her inspiring story.
Defying Cancer
Director: Debra Harrip
An honest, intimate documentary, which excavates one resilient cancer survivor’s journey by bringing a dark subject matter out into the light cancer diagnoses is a reminder to live life to the fullest.
Joe + Coffee
Director: Kristin Walton
This is a short documentary about Joe, the owner of Wooden Shoe Coffee, and how he got started with the business.
Out for Fame
Director: Graham Emerson Beck
Is graffiti art or vandalism? Are writers artists or vandals? Out For Fame takes an artistic approach to the subject of Cleveland graffiti and those who keep it alive.
The schedule for 10 Years, 10 Films is forthcoming.