THE SALENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SIFF) ANNOUNCES THE SELECTED SHORT-FILMS "THE WORLD IN SHORT" COMPETITION,

The Salento International Film Festival (SIFF) here proudly announces the Short-Films that have been selected for competition "THE WORLD IN SHORT" and the change of dates due to the high demand to submit films. The new date is September 18 - 26 to be held in Tricase, Lecce, Italy. http://www.salentofilmfestival.com

THE GRAND FESTIVAL: A CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD CINEMA

The Salento Film Festival is a celebration of films and filmmakers from all around the world in recognition of the fact that movies are the most powerful form of cultural communication and link between cultures' and peoples'.

26 Short-Films from 15 countries, 4 World Premieres, 6 European Premieres and 5 Italian Premieres.

"I would like to thank all the filmmakers who sent in their short films" says festival director Luigi Campanile "and I here take the opportunity to congratulate all the filmmakers whose films were selected".

The entire festival program features film, documentaries and special events listings will be announced in a few weeks time.
Selected short-films "THE WORLD IN SHORT" competition

1) Honka
Latvia, 2004, 22 Minutes, color
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Director: Ivo Kalpenieks
Sinopsis
Mr. Miller experiences a totally unexpected face-to-face encounter with his childhood fear Honka, visually represented as a little flying ghost, after 40 years. He is utterly astonished by this awareness; at his respectable age Mr. Miller has long forgotten his childhood. The childhood fear, suddenly viewpoint; on the other hand, he understands the advantage this fear gives to him. The surrounding persons obstruct the contact with Honka and cause a tense situation. The film is set on a ship in 1912.

2) How Beautiful is the Sea
Libanon 2003, 10 Minutes, color
ITALIAN PREMIERE
Director: Sabine El Chamaa
SYNOPSIS
On the Eve of a nuclear explosion, a woman ventures into the city street and ends up by the sea. There, she meets a man. But both are wearing protective gear that cut off their sensations...

3) Universo
Brazil, 2004, 13 Minutes, B/W
WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Marcos DeBrito
SYNOPSIS
Not adapted to a world that was becoming upside-down, Saulo lives his life in a universe where the gravity is reverse. An upside-down universe is the scenario to criticize today's moral values in a society that cares more their own satisfaction than the serious social problems that surrounds them. Saulo is one of the inhabitants of this universe who feel something is wrong. Hi frustrated attempt to open the mind of the citizens who don't care much about social issue, turns him into a fragile obstacle threatened by this universe gravitational menace.

4) Flying
Japan, 2002, 25 Minutes, color
ITALIAN PREMIERE
Director: Hirofumi Nagaike
SYNOPSIS
An Unidentified Flying Man was witnessed in the west of Tokyo. About that time, a man disappears, leaving a mysterious picture book named “Flying.” Has he really flown away? And where is he heading?

5) Silent Night
Japan, 2003, 7 Minutes, color
WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Hirofumi Nagaike
SYNOPSIS
At Christmas night, a girl can't sleep because of her dad's snore. She tries to wake him up. but in vain. She brings her favorite picture book named Silent Night and lies down in front of a Christmas tree. There comes a Santa Clause.

6) Claudia Shadow
Australia, 2002, 16 Minutes, color
Director: Ruth Borgobello
SYNOPSIS
Claudia, a seven-year old Italian, arrives in Australia in 1961 to discover she is no longer able to do the one thing she loves - tell stories. Highly spirited, Claudia navigates her way through the trials and tribulations of her new foreign landscape. Forming bonds with the Mona Lisa, an eccentric photographer, Lily and romantic young Sicilian, Antonio, Claudia ultimately learns the power of storytelling to transcend all cultural and linguistic barriers. All she needs is her shadow.

7) Last Stand
USA 2002, 23 Minutes, color
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Director: Gabe Torres
SYNOPSIS
In the aftermatch of the Battle of the Little Big Horn, a twelve-year-old Lakota boy (Goes Alone) comes upon a wounded calvary soldier hiding in the grass. When Goes Alone sees James about to take his own life rather than be captured, the boy takes pity on him and allows him to escape into a ravine. The next morning Goes Alone comes looking for James and finds him by a creek, wounded and dying. Over the next two days Goes Alone and James form a bond that grows into a friendship as Goes Alone tries to help the dying soldier. The price they both pay for the friendship they share is high as their two cultures come into contact in a startling emotional conclusion.

8) DUEL
USA, 2004, 23 Minutes, color
WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Dominic Cerniglio
SYNOPSIS
In a place out of time, in the furthest most reaches of the kingdom, a lone soldier rides to a mysterious meeting. His fate takes an unexpected turn when he enters a deserted tavern and stumbles upon an altercation between two men, forever changing the course of all their lives.


9) Stuff That Bear
Italy/Romania, 2003, 19 Minutes, color
Director: Bruno Coppola
SYNOPSIS
Florin, the last remaining taxidermist in Bucharest, and his brother Dragos, arelentless scammer, dream of escaping to London. They meet a drunken American, who wants them to stuff an illegally shot bear. Instead, they steal his money and head to a seedy club to meet Carmela, the beautiful, ethereal, lap-dancing girlfriend of Dragos. Carmela is troubled: she knows she is sexy but worries that she lacks sex appeal - something deeper inside. Self-confident Dragos has no time for Carmela's dilemma, but sensitive Florin is just discovering what he wants in a woman. Should they leave for London, or stay with Carmela?

10) Apnea
France 2003, 5 Minutes, Color
ITALIAN PREMIERE
Director: Steven Moreau
SYNOPSIS
Whilst doing an Apnea dive, a man lets his imagination wander to the elements that surround us

11) J'attendrai Le Suivant/ I'll wait to the next one... FRANCE, 2002, 5 Minutes, color
Director: Philippe Orreindy
SYNOPSIS
Ladies and gentleman, ever so sorry to bother you...Don't worry, I'm not here to beg for money... Let me introduce myself. My name's Antoine, I'm 29...I recently read in magazine that there are about 5 million single women in France...Where are they? I'm looking for lady aged between 18 and 55 who's also had trouble meeting someone in a conventional way and who would't mind giving a honest relantionship with someone a shot... .

12) Archipielago
Spain/Porto Rico, 2003, 17 Minutes, color
ITALIAN PREMIERE
Director: Leon Siminiani
SYNOPSIS
Honeymooning with her husband Ben, Nina returns to the Caribbean island she left years ago for a new life. The two enjoy perfect love on a deserted beach until the past catches up with them.

13) I’d Whant to Know About Love
Italy, 2003, 11 Minutes, color
Director: : Max Croci
SYNOPSIS
The fortune teller Maga Apollonia is a love affair sdvisor on Sole Mio TV. A viewer who calls her for advice, confesses during the show that he's gay. She tells him not to worry about it and suggests him to face the issue with his mother. She doesn't know that a very surprise is about to happen...

14) Deadline
Italy, 2002, 14 Minutes, color
Director: Massimo Coglitore
SYNOPSIS
Alex and his pregnant wife Laura, are isolated in a mountain road during to a breakdown of their jeep. They are helped by an ambiguous man, that brings them to a bleak desolated hotel shrouded in the fog. The man’s speeches even if illogical, have a double and deep meaning of their own. Only at the end Alex understrands what’s really happening.

15) The Perfect Trip
Italy, 2003, 15 Minutes, Color
Director: Alessandro Baracco
SYNOPSIS
Gio and Valeria, Alex and Luisa are two couple from Milan, in their thirties, heading to Tuscany for the weekend in a shining blu convertible Wolksvagen.

16) The Crooked Nose
Italy, 2002, 20 Minutes, Color
Director: Antonio Ciano
SYNOPSIS
His late mother tells him he passed up too many opportunities to be himself, when he had them, therefore he too is dead. Giovanni, a successful 40-year-old, sheds his old identity and begins to live up to a new, uncontrollable persona.

17) Once Upon a Time There was a King
Italy, 2003, 10 Minutes, color
Director: Massimiliano Mauceri
SYNOPSIS
Who it has reason it has twisted, who it has twisted it has reason.

18) Burning The Bed
IRELAND, 2003, 13 Minutes, color
ITALIAN PREMIERE
Director: Denis McArdle
SYNOPSIS
Atmospheric drama about a couple breaking up and leaving their home in the west of Ireland for the last time. Although still strongly connected, they decide to burn their bed in a cathartic and symbolic ritual.


19) Frame Of Mind
USA/Germany, 2003, 20 Minutes, Color
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Director: Simon Jöcker
SYNOPSIS
Frame of Mind is an intense thriller that illuminates both the bright and dark side of Julia, who might be a serious threat to the public and herself. But the law doesn't allow the police to keep the woman in custody - a contradiction with unforeseen consequences.

20) Spokane
U.S.A., 2003, 29 Minutes, color
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Director: Larry Kennar
SYNOPSIS
Two guys ditch a boring wedding and escape to parking lot, a strip club, and eventually end up in a hotel room

21) Sangam
INDIA., 2003, 28 Minutes, color
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Director: Prashant Bhargava
SYNOPSIS
Sangam is a site of pilgrimage in Prayag, India where three rivers meet - the Ganges, the Jamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. Raj has arrived to New York from Bihar, India, determinated, he has left his family, culture, and a troubled past in hope of finding the American Dream.

22) Harvie Krumpet /2004 Academy Awards - Best Animated Short-Film Australia, 2003, 23 Minutes, color
Director: Adam Elliot
"... Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them and then there are others..." SYNOPSIS Harvie Krumpet is the biography of an ordinary man seemingly cursed with perpetual bad luck. A 22 minute claymation

23) The Freak
USA, 2002, 6 Minutes, color
Director: Aristomenis Tsirbas
SYNOPSIS
He's Happy, He's Different, He's in BIG Trouble

24) La Historia de Todos/ Our Story
Mexico, 2003, 10 Minutes, color
EUROPEAN PREMIERE
Director: : Blanca Aguerre
SYNOPSIS
At Christmas night, a girl can't sleep because of her dad's snore. She tries to wake him up. but in vain. She brings her favorite picture book named Silent Night and lies down in front of a Christmas tree. There comes a Santa Clause.

25) Stressz
Italy, 2004, 5 Minutes, color
WORLD PREMIERE
Director: Mario Lombardo
SYNOPSIS
Have you ever transformed a small problem into the worst of your days ? Have you ever had a colleague doing the perfect job while you are facing repeated failure? There is the unexpected and there is Quiq, a very impatienthoneybee dealing with a rebel pack of honey that will cause her serious moments of stress. Quiq - fully committed to put life under control ˆ will show a special talent for wrong decisions and extreme measures when eventually trapped into the squeezes of a modern supermarket.

26) Tango Octogenario
USA, 2003, 6 Minutes, color
ITALIAN PREMIERE
Director: David Licata
SYNOPSIS
Is a narrative film about an elderly couple's unique way of reconnecting to each other.