After accidentally inhaling helium that leaves him with a squeaky high-pitched voice, a young man must navigate a high-stakes dinner date without speaking, leading to a series of misunderstandings and chaos that threatens his relationship. Director Biography <a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/196/668/original/bafae558b3-headshot.jpg?1747468089" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/196/668/thumb/bafae558b3-headshot.jpg?1747468089" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-language-override: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;" width="210"></a>Zack Abdulbaki has been a fan of comedic films since he was a child. He grew up watching comedy films like "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "Anchorman" and was inspired to create short films with his friends. Zack was raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He immigrated to the United States when he was 18 years old to study screenwriting at Chapman University in California. During his time at film school, he created several short films including a comedic mystery ("It's Gone") and a road trip buddy comedy ("Scorpion Cocktail"). Director StatementHelium is inspired by the comedies of Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) and Adam McKay (Anchorman) where socially awkward men spiral as they desperately try to maintain control in situations that are already off the rails. The more they cling to composure, the funnier—and more painful—it becomes.That same blend of discomfort, escalation, and emotional sincerity is what I set out to capture.The helium isn’t the punchline—it’s the catalyst. The real comedy lies in how far Seth goes to pretend everything’s fine. Beneath the absurdity is something recognizably human: the fear of looking foolish in front of someone you want to impress. Helium is fast, physical, and full of left turns—but at its core, it’s about a guy trying not to blow a moment that really matters. It’s for anyone who’s ever tried to act normal while quietly falling apart inside.

English

Helium

An elderly couple is preparing to attend their young granddaughter’s birthday party while also attempting to conceal a secret from their children… <a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/838/893/original/caac440727-headshot.jpg?1721761412" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/838/893/thumb/caac440727-headshot.jpg?1721761412" width="185" style="border: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: left;"></a>Director BiographySara Mokhavat studied Film at the University of Art in Tehran. Her novel, The Woman Who Was Found at the Lost &amp; Found, was published in Iran in 2016. She also wrote and directed the play Goodbye My Cherry Orchard. In 2019, she began her career in film with her debut short film, Shogoon. Her second short film, Private, was showcased at the 57th Chicago Film Festival. She has contributed to the online magazine Markaz Review, where her nonfiction stories and essays were published. Her next short film, Lovebirds, was released in 2021. During the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, she collaborated with Saqi Books on a collection showcasing art and writing, which led to the publication of Woman. Life, Freedom in London in 2023. Her latest project, the short film Home, tells the story of people forced to live under dictatorship and their doomed fate.&nbsp; Director StatementThe darkest aspect of the human being is our capacity for cruelty, violence, and destruction. As creators and observers of the world around us, we see the ways in which people can harm each other and the planet, whether it be through war, oppression, or environmental degradation. This darkness can be reflected in art through themes of suffering, death, and despair, and can serve as a powerful tool for exploring the complexities of human nature and the struggle between good and evil. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/50sgrlhyde5cizcm9ow0y/Home_Press_Kit.pdf?rlkey=x4mlhmk5t1a2jmhvizhqvxcqx&amp;st=h95q503v&amp;dl=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Link to official press kit.</a>

Includes graphic imagery of disembodied head.

Home

A young man, Jason, becomes addicted to a headset that allows him to lucid dream. <a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/199/125/original/e6ceb8de3e-headshot.jpg?1747607104" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/199/125/thumb/e6ceb8de3e-headshot.jpg?1747607104" width="185" style="border: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"></a>Director Biography Keep Asleep is my Junior film at MSU Bozeman. I wanted to tell a story I hadn't seen before. Luckily, I a phenomenal team help me bring it to life, and I couldn't have made this without them! From the props to the music, everyone was committed and willing to experiment. Director StatementAsking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Keep Asleep

A group of doctors tries to surprise their friend, Sogand, but an unexpected incident involving her puts their relationships to the test. Tensions rise, and the conflict between them escalates beyond their control- leading to a critical moment where something terrible happens to Erfan. Now, the group faces a dilemma: to choose between their duty as doctors or saving themselves. <a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/401/569/original/9a0185cf48-headshot.jpg?1751635607" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/401/569/thumb/9a0185cf48-headshot.jpg?1751635607" width="185" style="border: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: left;"></a>Director BiographyMostafa Ghanbarizadeh was born on April 25, 1996, in Chalous, Iran. He is an Iranian filmmaker specializing in cinematography and directing. He holds an Associate’s degree in Cinema with a focus on Cinematography and a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema with a focus on Directing. He has also earned filmmaking and screenwriting certificates from the Iranian Youth Cinema Society, as well as a professional cinematography diploma from the Bamdad International Institute.Mostafa began his filmmaking journey at the age of 16. His passion for surreal and psychoanalytic cinema is evident in his works, which often explore themes such as emotional detachment and existential questions. This film is his second short film, following Limbo of the Mind (2020). His experience includes cinematography for over 50 short films, editing for more than 30 short films, and working as an assistant cinematographer on a feature film. Mostafa has received numerous awards for editing and cinematography in both domestic and international film festivals. Director StatementI made this film, first and foremost, out of a deep love for filmmaking and the language of visual storytelling. But on a deeper level, I was driven by another concern: I wanted to portray a group of people who claim to be close to one another—individuals who see themselves as capable, educated, even as saviors of others. Yet, when a crisis emerges from within their own circle, they are unable to help themselves.In a world where we are quick to label ourselves as "problem-solvers" and "heroes," this story asks: What do we do when we are the ones in trouble?The characters in this film are quiet. They live in silence, in the cold distance between one another—a space where genuine connection has faded and the performance of friendship has taken its place.I hope viewers will look beyond the surface of the story and ask themselves: Are we truly present for the people around us? Are we aware of our roles and responsibilities—not just in words, but in action?Ultimately, I want the audience to walk away from the film thinking that the world needs fewer self-proclaimed heroes, and more people who pay attention, who care, and who choose to act when it matters most.*The feminine noun "Sogand" in Iran means "oath", which is dually associated with both the name of the film character and the meaning of a Hippocratic oath. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xifp7lphdd5gng2s81ras/Outh_Press-kit.pdf?rlkey=h1rdelyjkgy15zxsgt77lr7h2&amp;st=lyuk1f92&amp;dl=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Link to official press kit.</a>

Outh

When a surprise party for a close friend turns into a nightmare, a group of doctors must choice between their oath to save others and the instinct to save themselves.

A supernatural thriller about a family living in the same space, but not really together. The phone keeps ringing, but Beatrice is the only one who seems to notice. The intentions of the caller are unclear, until Beatrice discovers something hidden within the walls of her own home. <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/598913453cebda607085e56b0c20635b.jpg" width="185" style="display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em;">Director BiographyRebekah Steffen, born and raised in Central Indiana, grew up with a love of storytelling. As a young girl, she’d record “movies” of Barbie dolls and draw comics on scraps of paper. That love turned into a degree in film production at Huntington University, where she received her diploma earlier this year. She has previously worked in production design, in films like Will Happen and Till Death, and cinematography like in Blood Rush. Her experience in those areas bleeds into her directing style, emphasizing worldbuilding and the camera’s relationship with those elements.The Call Is Coming From Inside The House was well-received at Prison City Film Festival as a nominee and the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival as an honorable mention. It is the second short film directed by Rebekah, following her debut, I Remain, two years prior. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/92rmk32c0f3e3uxchwopk/The-Call-Is-Coming-From-Inside-The-House_PK-Rebekah-Steffen.pdf?rlkey=r90ned28qd7ik9jg417heuq4q&amp;st=0ghsw6f4&amp;dl=0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Link to official press kit.</a>

The Call Is Coming From Inside The House

<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/f2dc6e07751771353f4283e20853a716.jpg" width="185" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">A pizza delivery driver delivers a pizza to an island where he is trapped, and must escape from a retired delivery driver out to hunt him. Director BiographyHello! My name is Ethan Schmaltz. I am a filmmaker from southeast Michigan. I am a recent film student graduate and a part of Pizza Sundae: a production company myself and other film students have put together. We won best in show in the Detroit 48 hour film festival, along with 5 other awards. Together we all hope to move forward in the industry onto bigger and better productions!Ratings

The Most Delicious Game

What do you get when you mix small-town politics with hood chaos? The Village. Deron Wright, the fast-talking village president of Harmon Hills, gets caught with his pants down—literally. Now the state sends in Carmen Blake, a sharp, straight-laced fixer, to get things under control. But between backstabbing trustees, viral scandals, and a community with no chill, cleaning up this town is easier said than done. Think Veep meets The Wire, with a splash of Boondocks. <a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/083/431/original/17bc5443ef-headshot.jpg?1757365096" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/083/431/thumb/17bc5443ef-headshot.jpg?1757365096" width="291" style="border: medium; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 0px 1em 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: right;"></a>Director BiographyEric Almond, a dynamic filmmaker raised on the Southside of Chicago, channels the rich culture of his upbringing into his work, capturing authentic narratives of triumph, resilience, and social justice. His unique perspective and visionary storytelling earned him recognition when he was featured in Shoot Magazine’s prestigious New Director Showcase, marking him as a rising talent in the industry. Eric’s award-winning short film, Requiem for Black Love, gained acclaim for its deeply emotional and resonant portrayal of love and loss within the Black community. Continuing to push creative boundaries, Eric recently launched Write On: writer's room, a collaborative initiative focused on developing fresh, independent TV content. As part of this endeavor, he spearheaded the creation of The Village, a groundbreaking episodic project aimed at elevating the standard of independent television by bringing together writers and filmmakers to craft compelling, high-quality stories that resonate with modern audiences. Director StatementThe Village is more than just a TV pilot; it’s a reflection of the world I come from and the one I hope to help shape.I grew up on the South Side of Chicago, in a place where survival, community, and conflict lived side by side. I saw the systems that fail us and the people who rise anyway. That tension, that resilience, is the heart of The Village. This story is grounded in the everyday heroes who fight to make change from within, even when the odds are stacked against them. As a filmmaker, I’m drawn to stories that blend emotional truth with political urgency. The Village explores themes of power, accountability, loyalty, and transformation within a fictional municipality that could easily exist in any overlooked corner of America. But we don’t just show corruption; we show the cost of doing the right thing and how hard that path can be. Visually, I want The Village to feel grounded but cinematic, natural light, intimate framing, and visual texture that mirrors the rawness of the world these characters navigate. Tonally, I’m inspired by shows like The Wire, Queen Sugar, and South Side, where character, culture, and commentary intersect.What sets The Village apart is its commitment to nuance. We’re not just telling stories about a broken system; we’re telling stories about the people trying to fix it, sabotage it, survive it, and heal within it. The boardroom scenes are just as tense as the street-level ones, because in this world, every decision has consequences. This project was born out of Write On: writer’s room, an initiative I created to elevate independent television by bringing writers and filmmakers together in true collaboration. We didn’t wait for permission; we built our own table. And now we’re inviting audiences to pull up a chair. The Village is personal, political, and unapologetically Black. It’s about community, leadership, and what it means to try, fail, and try again. I’m proud to direct this story and bring it to life with the care, fire, and authenticity it deserves.

The Village TV Series: H.N.I.C

Short Film Program 4

Virtual Admission

Chicago Southland International Film Festival

Donation to {{name}}

Donate to CSIFF

Gift Cards

None available

Memberships

These are all the memberships tied to your account. Now, use our online schedule to reserve tickets. You can access your tickets via {{my_tickets_link|"My Tickets"}} or via the PDFs attached to each ticket order confirmation email. {{buy_membership_link|Looking to buy more memberships?}}

These are all the passes tied to your account. Now, use our online schedule to reserve tickets. You can access your tickets via {{my_tickets_link|"My Tickets"}} or via the PDFs attached to each ticket order confirmation email. {{buy_pass_link|Looking to buy more passes?}}

These are all your purchased tickets for the Chicago Southland International Film Festival. Each ticket gives you access to the various short film programs and feature film screenings our festival offers. Too many tickets? Purchase an All-Access Pass to unlock access to our entire festival catalog for one low price!

All-Access Festival Pass

3 Program Pack

Virtual Festival Pass

Festival Pass

VIP Festival Pass

All Access Festival Pass

Standard Festival Pass

Festival Passes

Here you can browse our available virtual programming. Plan to watch more than one program? Click "Return to Festival Page" above and then shoose "Select a Pass" for discounted access to more films. For any questions, please feel free to contact us at csiff@govst.edu.

Chicago Southland International Film Festival

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Our live-streams will be available for 24 hours from their initial air time.