The Pulse | VAEFF 2024

The Pulse | VAEFF 2024 Screening and Q&A

“Throughout my career, my interests have continued to evolve and change. Whereas in the past I may have primarily focused on fashion and music-driven videos, my spectrum has broadened. Today, I’m drawn to works that reflect the diversity of our world and its cultures, whether through dance, music, fashion, lifestyle, design, or art. These can take shape in narrative, experimental, or more traditional formats. This shift is what inspired The Pulse: a platform born from my deep passion for creativity, highlighting productions from the past year that have captured my attention and reflect the current pulse of global creative expression”

Niccolo Montanari has been a VAEFF Guest Curator since 2016. He is the founder of Curation Hour, a platform that amplifies the voices of filmmakers through curated screenings with partner festivals, online features, and network building.

Director: Min Soo Park

Synopsis: “Love Letter to Asian Women” is a short documentary that explores the captivating world of Felicia Oh, a Taiwanese drag queen who challenges stereotypes and reshapes perceptions of Asian femininity through her performances. Felicia’s distinctive approach to drag in the vibrant landscape of New York City transforms societal expectations placed on Asian women into eye-catching expressions of individuality.

Director: Rob Woodcox

Synopsis: A wandering soul is caught in a moment of reflection when he’s surprised with a sweet surprise, an object of desire. Thrust from his lonely corner into a riveting series of surreal encounters, Moon falls into a journey of love. Traveling through the most seductive and tender experiences, the passage of time, and ultimately through the shadows of societally prescribed affection, Moon falls deep into orbit with Sun. However, time also produces cracks in the foundation and soon outside forces tear through this passionate orbit. Though these two flames weren’t meant to burn hot forever, the power of nature and a return to the self cleanse the wounds of Moon and Sun. Both lovers slowly drift apart, returning peace and order to the inner workings of both individuals.

Director: Zen Pace

“For this piece, I had different subjects write a letter to their inner child and read it into a mic. Then, I played this recording in a studio as they stared into the camera. What you are seeing is them processing their own journey and healing to their younger self. After this, we scanned their bodies using Luma AI.

Director: Kitty McNamee

Synopsis: In the beauty of the Taos mesa, movement, nature and philosophy converge, forcing Zak Ryan Schlegel to question life and the way he is living it. ELEGY embraces a return to nature and to one’s true nature. Shot in the natural beauty of Taos New Mexico in and around a sustainably built home. It also explores that idea that only by staying true to one’s own voice can true creativity be sustained.

Director: Nicola Martini

Synopsis: A flock moves across the sky among the mountains. As a woman begins to dance in a large hall, the same flock seen a moment ago enters and moves around her. Through the combination of these movements, a flow of life and memories is born. In the end, the flock is nothing more than a particulate entity formed by a multitude of small diamond rings.

Director: Delia Simonetti

Synopsis: A group of friends experiences a collective hallucination after discovering an enchanted flower in their backyard. This experimental film, which combines techniques such as pixillation and stop-motion animation, is a collaboration with the emerging electronic musician BU’KE and a project crafted together with multiple artists. The interpretation of Dell’Altro Mondo (Otherworldly) is left to the viewer’s imagination.

Director: Bianca Poletti

Synopsis: Tensions grow between two friends as their attempt to make an independent film together goes absurdly wrong.

Director: Francesco Calabrese

Synopsis: Sita Abellán releases a new short occult horror short film, in the form of a music video for her recently released track “DIABLA.” The film is a collaboration with filmmaker Francesco Calabrese, known for his story-driven, visually striking work in both the narrative and commercial fields.

Director: D I • A L

Synopsis: A Visual Essay and Contemporary Exploration of the Iconography and Symbolism of Plants’ Reproductive Systems.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Cinema Village, 22 East 12th Street, New York, United States