Festival internazionale Segni della Notte - Urbino |
International Festival Signs of the Night - Urbino |
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10° Festival internazionale Segni della Notte - Urbino - April 13 - 19, 2026
24th International Festival Signs of the Night - Italy
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STUDENT JURY
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Charlie Kaufman |
Grece, USA / 2025 / 0:23:00 |
Two newly-dead ghosts walk the streets of Athens, among the pulsing cityscape and the ghosts of history. They were outsiders in life: he, a queer Lebanese translator; she a half-Irish photo- grapher. They wander the city together, finding consolation in the difficult beauty of life and its aftermath.
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JURY DECLARATION
The jury chose to award this short film for its ability to perfectly balance screenplay, sound, and cinematography in an original and artistic way, seamlessly blending multiple cinematic elements into a cohesive whole.
The use of 16mm film helped enhance the intrinsic meaning of each scene, drawing attention to the characters’ emotions and the emotional context in which they unfold.
The lead actors successfully maintain the audience’s attention through their heightened expressiveness and strong on-screen chemistry, which allows viewers to become emotionally immersed in their relationship.
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SIGNS AWARD
The Signs Award honours films, which treat an important subject in an original and convincing way
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Audrey Clemens |
France / 2024 / 0:17:32 |
At the scale of hairs, we discover an unknown planet. However, this is our body. By giving a voice to two hairs, the film questions our relationship to ourselves, others living beings, and the Earth.
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JURY DECLARATION
The jury chose to award this short film for its innovative approach to human and psychological themes, such as the sexualisation of the body, consumerism and self-perception. Through the metaphor of human “possessions” as hair, it critically reflects on contemporary ideas of identity and value.
We awarded this work for its bold and original writing. The screenplay stands out for its sharp metaphorical language and its ability to transform abstract ideas into a cohesive, thought-provoking narrative structure.
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NIGHT AWARD
The Night Award honours films, which are able to balance ambiguity and complexity characterized by enigmatic mysteriousness
and subtleness, which keeps mind and consideration moving
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Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan |
Philippines, USA, Singapore | 2024 / 0:22:00 |
In the aftermath of an earthquake, the police find a man in the woods. A zoologist, a sound recorder, and a news team grapple with the truth that he may be the cause of all the natural disasters that devastated this small mountain town.
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JURY DECLARATION
The jury awarded this short film for its original approach to natural disasters, combining distinctive direction, invented language, and striking natural and urban imagery. The result is a constant atmosphere of suspense and mystery.
Particular appreciation was given to the film’s varied and unique framing choices and editing transitions, which helped sustain the audience’s attention throughout each scene.
The direction stands out for its precise visual storytelling, with every framing and camera movement serving a clear narrative purpose. It shows strong control of rhythm and atmosphere, maintaining emotional intensity throughout. The result is a cohesive work where form and meaning are tightly connected.
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EDWARD SNOWDEN AWARD
The Edward Snowden Award honors films, which offer sensitive (mostly) unknown information, facts and phenomena of eminent importance, for which the festival wishes a wide proliferation in the future
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Simon Schneckenburger |
Germany / 2024 / 0:29:59 |
Two men displaced in the hell of the German meat industry. Something lies between them. Something makes them dream again.
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JURY DECLARATION
The jury awarded this short film for its raw portrayal of labor exploitation, animal abuse, and homosexuality, addressing issues that remain deeply relevant today. Alongside its depiction of cruelty, it also reveals a powerful sense of human kindness often left unexpressed. We want to pointr its powerful and coherent construction of complex and socially relevant themes. The writing balances raw realism with emotional depth, creating a narrative that is both impactful and deeply human.
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JURY AWARD
for Best Director
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Samah El Kadi |
Lebanon / 2025 / 0:15:00 |
A young boy from Mount Lebanon grapples with his mother’s sudden death, questioning the foundation of his faith and whether God punishes or saves people. In a series of mischievous challenges spreading anarchy in his tight-knit village, he attempts to hear back from God, yet hears nothing. His growing frustrations turn sinister and violent, as he rejects the religious traditions that once shaped his life. In the absence of God’s response, he realizes the absurdity of the world around him. His rebellion spirals into darkness in this modern spin on the myth of Prometheus through the eyes of an eight-year-old Druz child from Baadarane.
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JURY DECLARATION
The jury chose to award this short film for its compelling portrayal of the loss of faith, explored through the unconventional perspective of a young protagonist. The decision to use black and white cinematography further strengthens the narrative, intensifying both the atmosphere and the emotional depth of the character’s journey.
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