The Magpie

Three Wishes

June 2000 •German

Before Martin dies, he asks Jan to carry out three wishes. Will Jan be up to making them happen? Sometimes, one can also be faced with other, unforeseen wishes.

Dajang Soembi, the Woman Who Was Married to a Dog

February 2004 •Indonesian

Silent short (with music and inter-titles) telling an old Indonesian folk tale of a princess who ends up married to a dog.

The Sad House

July 2013 •Spanish

The story of a family told through objects found in junk shops and flea markets.

(NULL)

January 2013 •

An unknown girl breaks out of her daily grind by undergoing an intense audio-visual trip.

Hot

May 2015 •Hebrew

A rumor spreads through a small desert town that a girl has been raped. A respected veteran tries to stop the girl's cousin, a soldier in vacation, from taking the law into his own hands.

The Stolen Bride

August 1927 •English

The daughter of a count and the son of a shoemaker, both Hungarian, fall in love in America. As they're about to marry, the young woman is called back to Europe. When her betrothed goes after her, difficulties ensue.

Léo l'impassible

January 2010 •French

In Leo's world, people have a single expression face. Leo wears the mask of impassiveness. Invisible to the beautiful Suzie, he will have to employ an artifice to be noticed by her.

A Very Slow Breakfast

October 2003 •Indonesian

When a boy is too confused to speak with his non-communicative family, words eventually lose their meaning. He decides to communicate with his dandruff and a cup of cold coffee instead. His father ignores these eccentricities, assuming it is just a ploy to get attention. Meanwhile, the boy's sister likes exercising seductively in front of men and is better able to capture her father's attention than her brother. Their mother is oblivious, perpetually talking to people on her mobile phone and the space the family occupies grows narrower and narrower.

Amaretto Sour

October 2016 •French

This No Land

September 2018 •Dutch

An old cowboy mourns at a little girl’s grave. He returns to his pickup, to take a seat next to 8 year old Laura. He promises her to take her to Disneyland. It’s the beginning of a peculiar journey where they come across two couples in a gas station shop. But all is not what it seems …

The Tree and the Cat

February 1983 •Ukrainian

Away from people, animals, forests and fields stood a very tall tree. It did not need anyone, it was completely indifferent to everyone. Once a cat wanted to learn the style of life of the tree, which has allowed her to stay near it, so that she could take over its attitude to everything around. But eventually the cat affects the tree as well...

Run

March 2021 •English

Charlie is 12 and trapped inside with a bully. An unexpected connection with a neighbour broadens his world view in the most contained of circumstances.

Tiznao

January 2016 •Spanish

Under the threat of a hurricane pending over the city, Lubrini is looking for his lover, who disappeared in the streets of Havana.

All Up There

March 2023 •English

Coming-of-age tale detailing the difficulties of growing up with a chronic illness.

Arlo and the Sea

November 2023 •English

Arlo lives by the sea and spends most of his time alone, until he meets a boy named Finn.

Harmattan

Invalid date •English

Survival and paranoia will be the forces that destroy a bond between two recruits when their camp's only source of water runs out.

Fotofinish

October 1986 •German

A man in financial debt is asked by his little son if the photographer of the famous picture which shows the Hindenburg zeppelin going up in flames early this century has become rich by that. The father quickly concludes that he only has to take the right picture in order to be able to pay his debts. After contacting a underground explosives engineer he takes off to the Munich Olympic Tower with his camera...

The Bridge

February 2006 •English

A gay Australian man reflects on the immigration problems of his young Russian boyfriend.

Shakespeare's Sonnets

January 2005 •English

A Harvard dandy circa 1946 lures his best friend away from the privileges of conformity.

My Dad the Communist

January 2009 •English

Chinese men are 'inscrutable'; none more so than Tony's Dad who works in a Chinese takeaway. Tony is Chinese but has lived in the UK all of his 20 years, during which his Dad has hardly uttered more than a few sentences to him, and never once touched him. It is the Chinese way. Tony has accepted it all his life. However, when Tony's Dad has a near-escape in a car accident, Tony begins to yearn for a deeper, more expressive relationship with him. This is easier said than done as Tony recalls the few occasions on which his Dad has ever spoken to him; his Dad has never wished him a happy birthday in his entire life; he failed to say goodbye when Tony left home at 18, and even neglected to congratulate him on his wedding day! Dad doesn't even utter a word when his wife - Tony's Mum - passes away. Tony wonders if his Dad has any feelings at all. Time finally runs out for them both when his Dad has yet another car accident; this time a fatal one. Thus, Tony has his Dad taken away without ...