Documentary Short Competition presented by Vimeo
Documentary Short Program 1
Authentic storytelling that captivates, surprises, and excites.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
Program Includes:
Documented in the Cotswolds in England, a fairytale life turns into a nightmare as a traumatic event at an air display festival haunts the minds of the Wingwalkers and the airplane pilot involved. Through daily scenes, the rare dynamic between the three shows how much they rely on each other to mentally overcome their disaster and continue performing the skill that brings them the most joy.
The film is a meditation on the difficulty of accepting reality, while finding room to dream. It is part of a growing body of short films in a photobook aesthetic, utilizing photographic compositions and sequencing rather than traditional film conventions. The film documents the people and landscape of the Salinas Valley, one of the most productive agricultural regions in California.
For the first time in four years, a daughter returns to Daegu, South Korea, determined to end the domestic war that plagued her childhood. They have been hurting each other for years as they never learned to live harmoniously. Despite their efforts to find peace, the scars of the past remain unresolved. Through conversations with her parents, she uncovers a pattern of domestic violence deeply ingrained in her family's history. At last, she realizes that only she can break this cycle.
EXODUS serves as a portrait of two women, Trinity Copeland & Assia Serrano, as they struggle to make sense of their lives post-release, exploring the overarching question: What does life after life in prison look like? Through a lyrical and poignant lens, the film examines whether the women can move beyond what they’ve done—while grappling with the weight of what society has done to them. Reflecting on the burden of absence, the film asks: what does healing look like within the family context? What is the deeper toll of separation? EXODUS will probe how one rebuilds a family fractured by profound loss, while the women maintain a crucial truth: our crimes are not the totality of who we are.
Dana Tiger was just five years old when her father, legendary Muscogee Creek artist Jerome Tiger, passed away. In memory of Jerome's art and to support their family, Dana’s mother and uncle started a booming t-shirt printing business in the 1980s. Then, tragedy struck their family once more. Dana’s younger brother, Chris Tiger, was relentlessly murdered and their business was brought to a halt. Dana and her family have been working for nearly 30 years to revitalize the iconic Tiger t-shirt company, through immense grief and suffering from Parkinson’s. Now, everybody wants their hands on a Tiger T-shirt.