The Lift-Off Film Maker Sessions are different to other film festivals in two ways. One: you need to rent the films to watch them $12 or 22 films is cheap per film. Two: you vote for your top four favourites not just the top one. So I’ve copied the synopsis’s from each film’s page to help you find the films you might like quicker. The only information I’ve added in is the first line under each movie title about the subtitles as many of the films aren’t in english.
If you want to dive straight in click here. Every vote for my film feature film “WUITAB” is greatly appreciated. You helped my short film “F.O.A.” win an Audience Choice Winner for Lift-Off Sessions Volume 12! Vote for WUITAB by the 25th January 2026!
Asaba Massacre: October 7, 1967
In English so subtitles not needed but turn them on if you need to.
Producer: Ed Emeka Keazor
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Synopsis:
“HE ASABA MASSACRE DOCUMENTARY
One of the most significant and tragic milestones of Nigerian history is without question the Nigerian Civil war of 1967-1970.
The 30-month long conflict which witnessed the loss of over a million lives, with a ripple effect on the socio-political
landscape of the nation, lasting even till the present day. One of the most tragic events of the Nigerian Civil War occurred from the month of October 1967, at Asaba in the present-day Delta State of Nigeria, commencing on the 4th of that month and lasting in sporadic waves for several weeks after. The event saw the unprovoked killing of scores of indigenes of the peaceful and serene riverside town, by men of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army. By the time
the orgy of violence had ceased, the innocence of the sleepy  coastal town was lost– possibly forever.”
The 2nd Wave
Producer: Shiraz Khan
Country of Origin:
Synopsis:
“Dr Shaan Ali is a prominent virologist who works for an international corporation. When a global pandemic starts to appear on the horizon Dr Ali suspects that his work has been used to create a pandemic. His investigation and consultations with his colleagues around the world leads him to the murky world revealing the highest levels of corruptions.
As his colleagues are threatened and start to disappear, he finds himself at a dead end. An unlikely source appears to help him get to the truth but who can Dr Ali really trust to help him find the truth before it is too late. Will he be able to get to the truth in time?”
WUITAB
Please vote for this as one of the four you select.
No human dialogue so no subtitles required regardless of your native language. Lots of beautiful bird dialogue.
Director: Neville Hiatt
Writer: Neville Hiatt
Producer: Neville Hiatt
Country of Origin: Australia
Synopsis:
“From award winning film maker Neville Hiatt comes WUITAB the most relaxing film you will see all year.
Drift into calm as 90 minutes of Australian birdsong at the very first light of dawn whisper all around you while a slow-burning campfire crackles and pops. Fresh eucalyptus-tinged morning air caresses your face, as the Snowy River flows low and steady in the background, as the bush wakes up around you.”
Party of shadows
Turn on the subtitles.
Producer: Jamshid Abdollahi
Country of Origin: Iran, Islamic Republic of
Synopsis: Crime Drama
CKT the Documentary: Anniversary Edition
Turn subtitles on if you have trouble with their accents
Producer: Jamon Buffington
Country of Origin:
Synopsis:
“A revealing documentary about the infamous Clarkston (CKT) neighborhoods and the three generations that shaped metro Atlanta’s East Side, from the streets to the music. Spanning from the 1990s to today, the film traces the evolution of culture, community, and survival in America’s most diverse square mile. This remastered edition of ‘CKT The Documentary’ brings the original story back to the screen with enhanced color grading, an all new soundtrack, and updated subtitles.”
Cottage Cheese, Buckwheat… Who Am I?
Turn on the subtitles.
Producer: Alena Jaworowska (Suranova)
Country of Origin: Serbia
Synopsis:
“You are no longer there, but not yet here…
Having moved to another country, finding a new home, learning a new language, and seemingly leaving your past life behind, you now search for an answer: “Who are you?” in this new world of yours.”
O Coringa do Cinema
Subtitles are hard coded into the film so you don’t need to turn them on.
Producer: Sergio Kieling
Country of Origin: Brazil
Synopsis:
“The personal and professional trajectory of cinematographer Virgílio Roveda is the subject of the documentary “The Man of the Cinema.” A collaborator on more than 60 feature films in a wide variety of roles, he worked with Zé do Caixão (Coffin Joe), Mazzaropi, Ozualdo Candeias, among many others. Roveda is an unknown figure to the general public, but a true man of Brazilian cinema.”
An interesting look back at a man’s life who spend decades in the film industry.
The First Shapeshifter
In English
Producer: Raúl Coria Martínez
Country of Origin: Spain
Synopsis:
“The First Shapeshifter is a 76-minute independent science fiction feature film about human transformation in a world shaped by artificial intelligence.
Created outside traditional industry systems, the film explores identity, evolution, and survival through a dystopian narrative where adaptation becomes inevitable. Directed by Raúl Coria Martínez, the film blends cinematic storytelling with AI-assisted creation as an expression of independent auteur cinema.”
El ataque (The Attack)
Subtitles aren’t in English.
Producer: Jonatan Acosta
Country of Origin: Argentina
Synopsis:
“In a small town, a group of men who attend a support group for domestic abuse slowly discover that all their partners share a disturbing secret. Dark humor, paranoia and violence unfold as fear turns into collective hysteria.”
Colombina
No subtitles which is unfortunate as this could have been an interesting film.
Producer: Victor Vidangossi
Country of Origin:
Synopsis:
An exhaustive portrait of Colombina Parra, singer-songwriter, writer and architect with multiple ties to Chilean popular culture. In front of the camera, her personal reflections on an artistic journey that has linked her since childhood to the fundamental heritage of her father, Nicanor, and direct uncles, such as Violeta and Roberto Parra. In the archives, her persistent rock work with the bands Barracos and Los Ex, and, finally, on her own solo path. These are the paths taken by a woman determined to find her own voice, exploring her emotions and concerns through songs.”
Rumble! After School
English subtitles hard coded into the film.
Producer: #MisterS
Country of Origin: Thailand
Synopsis:
“At an elite high school filled with top students, a red-haired boy who cares nothing must fight against a group of top students—who have secretly been turned into man-eating ghouls by the principal—all for the sake of buying the custard-filled bread, the only thing he truly desires.”
Cunning Strategy – a Mousetrap
A film in English and with English translators.
Producer: Sejo Bajraktarević
Country of Origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Synopsis:
“This is a true story about four people who had never met before: a general, a Master of Science in Engineering, a multimedia artist, and a taxi driver.
The story takes place between 1992 and 1995, during the occupation of the capital city of Sarajevo in the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was an unprecedented case where ammunition and weapons were bought from the enemy (Chetniks). These weapons and ammunition saved the city of Sarajevo.
The general of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the other interviewees discuss this event, which lasted nine months, with supporting archival material. The citizens of Sarajevo voluntarily donated money and gold, as the Presidency of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina did not give the army a single German mark. The film is highly interesting and unusual.”
Zombie Pandemic
In English
Producer: Vito Garcia Viedma
Country of Origin:
Synopsis:
“A city infected with an unknown virus that turns people into the undead. Six stories. Six different situations and views, at the same zombie pandemic that plagues the city, and the entire country.”
“We Ride Why”
In english so no subtitles needed unless you need them for the accents.
Producer: Greg Roth
Country of Origin: USA
Synopsis:
“We Ride Why” was filmed entirely in and around Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. It is a documentary film about the power of love, community, and hope in the face of cancer. The film follows the stories of several women who have been impacted by cancer, as well as the friends and family who support them. Through their stories, we learn about the collateral damage that cancer can bring, but also the hope that can be found in the relationships that are born out of trauma. We also see how a strong community in Seattle, Washington has formed to support all those impacted by cancer.
“We Ride Why” is an inspiring and moving film that will stay with you long after you watch it. It is also a story about the importance of friends, family, community, and the never-ending hope that can be found even in the darkest of times.”
A Life Unwritten
In english so no subtitles needed unless you need them for the accents.
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
“In the haunting shadows of his past, a man grappling with mental health battles his inner demons, seeking redemption and healing as he embarks on a transformative journey through the memories that define him.”.
Democracy in Dialogue
In english so no subtitles needed unless you need them for the accents.
Producer: Matthew Pitts, Dr Terron Banner
Nietzsche’s landscapes in Upper Engadine
English subtitles hard coded into the film.
Director: Fabien Jegoudez
Writer: Fabien Jegoudez
Producer: Fabien Jegoudez
Country of Origin: France
Synopsis:
“The documentary film ‘Nietzsche’s Landscapes in Upper Engadine’ deals with the period when Nietzsche lived in the Upper Engadine, particularly in St. Moritz and Sils Maria. The beauty of the landscape and Nietzsche’s special relationship with the Upper Engadine are the focus of the film. We explore the manifold connections between Nietzsche’s biography and his work, which resonate with these landscapes. For Nietzsche, the surroundings of Sils Maria and St. Moritz, with their colourful contrasts of small towns with mountains, rocks, forests and lakes, combined with the special, very pure and transparent light, were a source of inspiration and deeply stimulated the philosopher’s thinking. We follow Nietzsche’s footsteps through the various hikes he undertook and the places where he lived. These varied landscapes are presented in different moods, weather and light conditions and accompanied by informative commentary. The viewer experiences the Upper Engadine Valley and the intimate experience Nietzsche had there first-hand.”
Miracles are possible
Sadly no English subtitles 🙁
Producer: Zikica Jovanovic
Country of Origin:
Synopsis:
“It’s rare for someone from a small town to fight their way onto a stage watched by an entire nation and the world. But that’s exactly what the boxers from Prokuplje managed to do. In the 1970s, they stepped into the ring and amazed all of former Yugoslavia and beyond. Can those successes be repeated today?”
Cold Time
English subtitles
Producer: Vyacheslav Komarnitsky
Country of Origin: Russian Federation
Synopsis:
“This is a story about a young couple, who moved from the provinces to St. Petersburg for better life.
When their illusions collapse, Lena and Sergey decide to change their lives dramatically, without caring about moral boundaries.”
We are “PuraRisa”
English subtitles hard coded into the film.
Producer: Marco Vera Argüello
Country of Origin: Ukraine
Synopsis:
“This is the story about a family (of hospital clowns).”
TUNNEL
English subtitles hard coded into the film.
Producer: ÖNER KILIÇ
Country of Origin:
Synopsis:
“THE TUNNEL: “How Many People Can a Tunnel Connect to Life?” Despite all the destruction, Ottoman and Turkish traces are most clearly visible in Europe. As an example of perseverance and determination, he led the country during the period leading to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s independence. The tunnel connecting it to the world was built. The Tunnel Changed the Course of the War and Brought Victory! That tunnel connected a besieged country to the world, and its people to life. Thanks to this tunnel, one of the world’s most volatile wars ended in victory. The tunnel made it possible for many people alive today to survive. Now think again! How many people can a tunnel connect to life?”
Finding Light
In English
Director: Paul Michael Bloodgood
Writer: No
Producer: Paul Michael Bloodgood and Karen Bernstein
Country of Origin: United States
Synopsis:
“Illuminated through the story of Holocaust survivor Naomi Warren, “Finding Light” takes the audience on a journey that is simultaneously situated in the past while making relevant connections to the present through the lens of dance.”
Enjoy watching the films and thanks for voting for WUITAB.