Beyond Border International Film Festival - 11th Season

In the French language, the words « sea » and « mother » have the same pronunciation. From this fact came the idea of this short movie ; the similarities we can find between the one who gave us birth, and the mother we all come from, the Ocean.

Come to a unique party in Brazil with trans woman Suzy Santos, where for one enchanted day she invites child-spirits called Erês to join her in a sacred ritual of music and dance of Candomblé - an Afro-Brazilian religion. Shunned and cast out from their homes and religious communities, many trans women end up living as street prostitutes to survive. Suzy has created her Candomblé temple as a place of refuge and acceptance for all gender identities.

Back in 1989, the employees of "Wallie's Big Deals," affectionately called "Wallie's Gals," come up with their own "unique" ways to help the business. Then flash forward 30 years later, and Maxine, the store's manager, needs them back.

A jaded and delusional assassin rethinks some life choices with her manager, while believing she's the main character in a 90s style tv show called, "Shooting Your Own Shadow".

Among the technology elite, the idea is gaining ground that humans must merge with machines in order to remain useful. World leading experts embark on a journey into the darkest, inhuman thoughts of technology optimists.

The coming of age story of a sixteen-year-old girl pursuing her dreams of a career in music, set in the shadow of the nine year build of the Humber Bridge.

Marc Ash talks about his battle with Dysautonomia which led to depression. He is joined by his wife who explains her struggles as a caregiver. Dysautonomia is a silent disease but is a very debilitating disease. Ash is an advocate and will talk to patients 1 on 1.

How can loans lead to drama? Bulgarians are sharing the pain and family stories to prompt the public to consider the importance of financial literacy.

Synopsis: Jason, a charismatic New Yorker, appears to be just another successful entrepreneur, owning a chain of bustling tanning salons. However, there's more to Jason than meets the eye. While the salons are a front for his legitimate business, it is the hidden world behind the back door that truly defines him. In the depths of each salon lies a secret doorway, leading to a clandestine nightlife where high-stakes players gather to unleash their inner demons. This hidden realm attracts a diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique set of vices and secrets. Jason, known as "The Tan Man," is the mastermind behind this underground operation. With his sharp wit and street smarts, he navigates the treacherous world of high-stakes gambling, where fortunes are won and lost with every turn of a card. As the players come and go, Jason's true power lies in his ability to read people, exploiting their weaknesses for his own gain. But as the stakes rise, so do the risks. Jason finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and danger, as his own past demons threaten to resurface. With the line between his two worlds blurring, Jason must confront his own inner darkness and make choices that will determine his fate. "The Tan Man" is a gripping tale of ambition, temptation, and redemption. It explores the complexities of human nature and the lengths one man will go to protect his empire. As Jason's worlds collide, the film delves into the consequences of leading a double life and the sacrifices one must make to find redemption. With its compelling characters, thrilling plot twists, and a unique blend of light and darkness, "The Tan Man" promises to be a captivating cinematic experience that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the final reveal.

As substance use and overdose rates within Indigenous communities continue to rise, behavioral health experts from Southern Indian Health Council teamed up with Kumeyaay Natives to bring awareness to substance prevention and harm reduction strategies. Three inspiring journeys of overcoming addiction collide to prove there is everlasting hope for a brighter future.

"Aeterna" is an evocative essay on the concept of beauty. Presented in a unique diptych format, it delves into the life of an actress, offering a poignant biographical exploration. The story skillfully exposes the psychological duality that exists between her authentic self and the facade she maintains for society. This compelling journey is narrated through the eyes of a teenager, who theatrically embodies every stage of the actress's life journey-from her early foray into the world of glamour to her descent into elderliness. Central to this narrative is the symbolic mask worn by the actress, representing her reliance on makeup and plastic surgery as futile attempts to preserve her youth. This mask evolves into a profound metaphor, illustrating her struggle to break free from the crushing societal pressures and her own preoccupation with outer beauty. The story of "Aeterna" stands as a haunting reminder of the importance of self-acceptance and the ephemeral nature of physical beauty, urging the audience to reflect on the true essence of what makes us beautiful.

This captivating film follows the journey of two extraordinary women - a wizard without power and a scholar without a home - who join forces with the legendary Robin Hood to solve a mass murder and save the town of Rye.

Where Olive Trees Weep offers a searing window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice.

"Auntie Mandi... Am I fat?" These five words changed the trajectory of Master Photographer Mandi Lynn's life. They were spoken by her five-year-old niece and touched a deeply personal family wound. Afraid that the next generation was going to face the same energy-draining body shame that had impacted her life, Mandi answered her niece as an artist and asked women from all walks of life to help her create a photographic exhibition of the reality of the female form, rather than the 600 photo-shopped images our daughters see each day. In December 2016, Mandi put an advertisement on Facebook asking women to let her cover their torsos in golden clay and photograph them. Six women turned up for the first photo shoot. The numbers quickly rose to 100, and a year and half later, Mandi had created a 320 strong "Golden Breasted Shield Wall" with the brave women who put their hand up to join her on this journey. Mandi's goal is to reach 600 images which will create a counterpoint to the 400-600 photo-shopped images we see daily of a genetic 1-5% of women. The film is a candid look into the workshops that developed alongside the photo shoots. It tells a personal and yet universal story - the experience and pain of many women worldwide - as we follow Mandi and the courageous women who put their hands up and took their kit off to be photographed. Women who seek to undo the pattern of body shame and stop their traumas from trickling down to the next generation. Meet workshop attendees like Mia, who has a history of deep body trauma and is doing everything she can to keep it from touching her 9-year-old daughter, Haru. You will be taken on a visually rich, emotionally cathartic journey of hope, healing and redemption.

Mahmoud has an authoritarian behavior towards the women of the family, but his behavior is rooted in the past. He wanders the border between reality and fantasy in search of a lost past and unfulfilled dreams.

When darkness holds the light, the thin line between good and evil becomes an illusion. Unravel the captivating journey between perception and reality.

The Tower of Babel was built to unify understanding, but it became a symbol of human fragmentation and conjecture. Even if we live in a common language today, our souls are lost in the ruins of interpretation and translation. The word "pain" is full of meaning; for one, it is a poem of longing, for another, it is a song of sadness. In today's world, humans, like lost poets amid their unfinished poems, search for the meaning of words, but remain endlessly in the embrace of discordant interpretations and rarely dance in the embrace of empathy and absolute understanding of each other.

Stuck in a cycle of physical and mental torment, Lara meets a rapper whose life experience leads her to take an extreme approach to get out of her situation.

After their father's death, David ( (Randy Bernales -Fear the Walking Dead) and Anna are left with a mysterious box and a note, forcing them to confront their fears, their past, and the decision that will change their lives forever.

About a person who starts to question his line of work, he wrestles between his duty and morality.

Screenwriter Zeph E. Daniel, formerly known as Woody Keith, stepped out of his closet-of-dark-secrets and told the incredible story behind this morbid, subversive oddity of a film.