Synopsis

Otherworldly. Transcendent. Heartwarming. Insightful. Powerful. These six Hugo Award-winning short films have been selected by our juries as the best of the 56th Chicago International Film Festival.

In “The End of Suffering (a proposal)” (Greece), a young  woman’s anxiety attack becomes an intergalactic dialogue with the universe. A young New Jersey native returns to his hometown in “Gramercy” (United States), where his ongoing battle with depression becomes a poetic exploration of brotherhood and personal struggle. Sifting through old letters between his parents, Adam uncovers an extraordinary family secret in “We Have One Heart” (Poland). An essayistic contemplation of the act of desertion within the world of a videogame in “How To Disappear” (Austria). “Tie” (Portgual, France) finds two characters search for missing pieces of themselves in a gloomy, surreal landscape. And “Step Into The River” (China, France) presents a sumptuously-drawn fable about the consequences of China’s one-child policy.

Synopsis

This insightful drama about loneliness and insecurity in the digital age chronicles three days in the candy-colored life of social media celebrity Sylwia Zajac. The beloved fitness instructor preaches positivity and acceptance to her 600,000 followers as she documents her every move, thought, and feeling. To the dismay of her sponsors, she holds back nothing from her fans—from her desire for a boyfriend to her family squabbles—and a video of her breaking down in tears goes viral. Will the sudden appearance of a stalker prompt Sylwia to reconsider her choices? Stage actress Magdalena Kolésnik delivers a mesmerizing turn as the self-obsessed internet star, exposing what it means to live a life online.

“There’s an inherent sensuality to Sylwia’s breathless assemblage of planks and pushups, but the balletic display buries the essence of the person beneath the surface.” –IndieWire