Film Fest Report writer Abdul Latif has curated his favorite short films of 2023, presenting a unique showcase of cinematic odysseys by emerging and aspiring filmmakers worldwide.
Based in Indonesia, Film Fest Report writer Abdul Latif has meticulously combed through a plethora of film festivals in 2023, including prestigious events like IFF Rotterdam, Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Sheffield DocFest, Venice, Locarno, TIFF, and more. Drawing from this extensive experience, he proudly presents his personal selection of the top short films of 2023, a curated collection that transcends borders.
This list is a testament to the bold, audacious, and singular voices of emerging filmmakers across the globe. These films, ranging from Egypt to Colombia, Lebanon to Slovakia, have made an indelible mark in the cinematic landscape.
Each film in this compilation tells a story that demands to be discovered, some having garnered significant attention and accolades at various festivals and upcoming award ceremonies. While some may not have received widespread recognition, they all share the common thread of being unique gems deserving of exploration.
Abdul Latif’s top 10 short films serve as a complement to the broader selection of the top 10 films of 2023 curated by the entire Film Fest Report team. Together, these lists offer a comprehensive glimpse into the diverse and compelling cinematic landscape that unfolded throughout the year.
Without further ado, here is the top 10 short films of 2023 according to Abdul Latif:
10. Valerija
Director: Sara Jurinčić
Producers: Vanja Jambrović, Sara Jurinčić
Country: Croatia
Commencing the list is an experimental documentary by Sara Jurinčić that transports viewers to the island where the filmmaker’s grandmother is buried. The director, accompanied by her mother, embarks on a journey from the mainland to the island graveyard, exploring the traditions and memories that contribute to the creation of art. This enchanting adventure excels in both narrative style and technique.
The film made its debut at Sheffield DocFest and went on to secure the Best Short Documentary award at the Sarajevo Film Festival, a testament to its success in captivating audiences and its excellence in storytelling and cinematic craftsmanship.
9. Good Boy
Director: Tom Stuart
Producers: Kay Loxley, Max Marlow, Elettra Pizzi, Tom Stuart
Country: United Kingdom
Smart and charming, this Oscar-shortlisted film follows Ben Whishaw as a desperate young man whose attempt to rob a bank with his overbearing mum (played by Marion Bailey) is thwarted when figures from his past show up, pushing him further into a downward spiral. Marked as the directorial debut of Tom Stuart, known for his acting in various TV series and co-writing the Venice Orizzonti entry Mainstream (2020), Good Boy is an incredibly confident, freakishly off-the-leash, and consistently funny film about male anxiety, delirium, and grief.
8. I Promise You Paradise
Director: Morad Mostafa
Producers: Saswan Yusuf, Margaux Lorier, Baho Baksh, Safei Eldin
Country: Egypt, France, Qatar
I Promise You Paradise enables Morad Mostafa to portray his vision of grief, hope, love, and loyalty within the backdrop of stunning scenery and compelling subject matter, all within a concise twenty-five-minute timeframe. The film is painterly and magnificent, with Mostafa El Kashef’s photography reaching beyond imagination. Premiering in the Critics’ Week strand at the Cannes Film Festival, it narrates the story of a young migrant living illegally in Egypt, compelled to race against time to save his loved ones at any cost.
7. 27
Director: Flóra Anna Buda
Producers: Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, Pierre Baussaron, Gábor Osváth, Péter Benjámin Lukács
Country: France, Hungary
Bringing tons of fun with gorgeously expressive animation and a tremendous music score by the Hungarian electronic music duo Committee, Flóra Anna Buda’s Palme d’Or-winning, Oscar-shortlisted animated short 27 is a spectacular visual feast that continuously immerses you in the energy of each scene. The 11-minute film follows Alice, who, after a bicycle accident and a short coma, realizes that she must break free from her everyday life.
6. Projekt
Director: Dane Komljen
Producer: Zsuzsanna Kiràly
Country: Germany, Nigeria
The latest cinematic work by Dane Komljen, which had its world premiere at DOK Leipzig, immerses us in the Trade Fair Complex in Africa’s largest metropolitan city, Lagos. Initially intended as a hub for trade, exchange, and sharing, the complex now stands in decay after 46 years. This haunting ode to memory and landscape is a succinct documentary with a limited scope, yet it maintains a deep respect for its subjects’ intimacies. It prompts us to contemplate something beyond the passage of time.
5. Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy
Director: Khozy Rizal
Producer: John Badalu
Country: Indonesia
The first Indonesian short film in history to compete for the Short Palme d’Or and the sole Asian film last year, Khozy Rizal explores sexual and societal pressures in his latest critique of Indonesian society’s toxicity with Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy, executed in a highly entertaining manner. An earnest, potent, and surreal portrait of society with solid characterizations, sharp commentary, and a humorous twist. The film narrates the story of a married couple facing societal pressure from their family members due to their inability to have children after years of marriage.
4. Sea Salt
Director: Leila Basma
Producer: Natalia Pavlove
Country: Czech Republic, Lebanon, Qatar
This film follows Nayla, who secretly decides to leave her small town in Lebanon with her new mischievous boyfriend to explore Beirut. On the other hand, her brother is planning to take her abroad. It’s a story about a young girl striving for independence. Leila Basma transformed her experiences of growing up between two extremes—free-spirited individuals and a conservative society in Lebanon—into a visually arresting and powerful portrait of adolescence in Sea Salt. The film was an official selection at the 80th Venice Film Festival and served as her graduation film from the leading filmmaking school in the Czech Republic.
3. La Perra
Director: Carla Melo Gampert
Producers: Julie Billy, Capucine Mahé, Franco Lolli, Naomi Denamur
Country: Colombia, France
In Bogotá, a bird-girl departs from her family home, leaving behind her domineering mother and faithful dog to explore her sexuality. La Perra (literally “The Bitch”) had its world premiere in the Short Film Selection at the Cannes Film Festival. This superb animation, directed by Carla Melo Gampert, is a glorious and visually stunning “family film” that evokes deep emotions. With narrative depth, candid honesty, and an exquisite visual uniqueness, Carla Melo Gampert presents an extraordinary gem from Cannes.
2. Been There
Director: Corina Schwingruber Ilić
Producer: Stella Händler
Country: Switzerland
Schwingruber Ilić’s ten-minute documentary serves as a tender critique for all of us who visit places solely to capture moments through photographs. With barely a few days off, we find ourselves quickly moving on. What do we truly gain from this experience, aside from photographic evidence that we were present? This entertaining and humorous film, gracefully photographed, prompts viewers to reflect on the chaotic nature of life.
Been There is a broadly comic and luminous portrait of places with characters continually coming and going. The film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in the Pardi di Domani Concorso Corti d’Autore, where it received a Special Mention. It also became a European Film Award candidate of the Locarno Film Festival.
Director: Peter Hošták
Producer: Peter Hošták
Country: Slovakia, Canada
Truly a fantastic and accomplished piece of cinema that leaves a lasting imprint on your memory, Peter Hošták transforms a simple story about a group of Slovakian loggers and their horses gathering firewood deep in the mountains into a strange journey that creates haunting imagery through his fascinating and stark monochrome documentary. Premiered at Sheffield DocFest in its International Short Film Competition, Hošták, who also served as the cinematographer and editor of the film, has firmly established himself as a bold and distinctive voice in filmmaking.
We look forward to sharing our discoveries from what the 2024 festival season has in store for us.
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