Cannamas Festival Screening 2025 Program
1Pm: Stoner movie Script pitch contest
2:30PM: Short Film Program 1
Panic Switch
Animation - TRT 5:30
Director / Writer: Cameron Red Howe
Film Synopsis: Stop motion animation of a standup performance telling the story of the speaker, a highschool teacher, managing his class when a student finds a bag of weed. His class gets excited and speculates about who the drugs could belong to until the culprit returns to try and find the bag.
A Christmas Eve Tale
DRAMA - TRT 30:00
Director / Writer: Mathew Bonta
Film Synopsis: A young man desperate to fulfill his child's Christmas wish runs out on Christmas Eve to get that perfect Christmas present. Unfortunately for him he runs the gauntlet of bad luck, from psychotic motorists to Santa's elves, angry shop keepers and a wannabe gangster. Will Santa show up to help him in his hour of need?
News Desk
Comedy - TRT 22:00
Director / Writer: “Papa” Neil Blitstein
Film Synopsis: Parody of a News Station.
4PM: Short Film Program 2
The Xmascist
Comedy/Horror - TRT 7:00
Directors / Writers: August Umi Schaller & Cade Carroll
Film Synopsis: Christmas meets The Exorcist in this horror comedy for the festive season. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Next
Comedy/Horror - TRT 12:30
Directors / Writers: August Umi Schaller & Cade Carroll
Film Location: Wilmington, NC
Film Synopsis: Two college stoners try buying from a new dealer and find much more than they bargained for. In this cross between Cheech & Chong and Goosebumps, strap in for the worst case smoking scenario.
The Crimes of Santa Claus
Comedy/Holiday/Noir - TRT 51:00
Directors / Writers: Tony Calkins & Mychael Calkins
Year the film was released: 2024
Film Synopsis: When someone who knows all of Santa's secrets goes missing, it is up to private detective Ricky Ryder to track him down and learn the truth.
6PM: Short Film Program 3
The App <<Be happy!>>
Drama - TRT 23:00
Director / Writer: Igor Kolosov
Film Location: Belarus
Film Synopsis: A mysterious corporation offers everyone the chance to install a mobile app, promising to make them feel happy for as long as they wish.
Young Again
2019 CCFF Winner - Comedy/Horror/Sci-fi - TRT 7:00
Director / Writer: Evan j. Shafran
Film Location: Orlando, FL
Film Synopsis: Elijah and Chandler try out a new strain of "grass" that makes you feel young again.
Slay Bells Ring
Horror/Thriller - TRT 13:00
Director: John Martinez
Writers: Cassiah Joski-Jethi & Robert Martinez
Film Location: San Antonio, TX
Film Synopsis: On Christmas eve night, a young couple must fend for their lives when a ruthless killer dressed as Santa clause invades their home.
We Have Rats
Comedy/Horror - TRT 25:30
Director / Writer: Peter Angelinas
Film Location: NYC
Film Synopsis: Sophie faces the growing issues of an unwelcoming landlord and the rats staking a place in their home. One day, they awaken to an even more distressing situation, a new next-door neighbor looking to burrow into their life.
Walking Stereotype
2019 CCFF Best Comedy Short - Comedy - TRT 6:00
Director / Writer: Brett Puglisi
Film Location: Brooklyn, NY
Film Synopsis: Trevor gets nagged by his step-brother D'Angelo about smoking pot, drinking vodka and eating Taco Bell. Trevor suspects D'Angelo stole something from him.
8PM: Short Film Program 4
Tower
Animation - TRT 5:15
Director: Siqi Wei
Film Location: Kobe, Japan
Film Synopsis:
This work takes as its central theme the problematic phenomenon of binge-eating livestreams in contemporary internet culture, and represents it through the metaphor of a towering structure rising from the desert—an allegory of exploitative internet corporations. The protagonist, a man suffering from prolonged poverty and unemployment, is portrayed as perpetually hungry, while the bird accompanying him functions as a projection of his inner self.
In the early stages of the narrative, the man, though emaciated, devotes himself to nurturing the bird with genuine affection. However, once targeted by a predatory internet company, he begins livestreaming under the guidance of the bird—an embodiment of his subconscious impulses. As his audience grows and revenue increases, his body fails to endure the excessive consumption demanded by the broadcasts. The bird offers him a tube for vomiting, symbolizing both physical survival and psychological degradation. The man continues to vomit and eat in pursuit of profit, gradually losing control and descending into madness under the domination of monetary desire. It even felt like experiencing hallucinations similar to having taken marijuana.
Space Christmas
Comedy/Horror/Experimental - TRT 20:00
Director/Writer: Oscar Barrouyer
Film Location: Paris, France
Film Synopsis:
Two friends in their twenties gather around a Space Cake on Christmas Eve, hoping to revive the Christmas Spirit they long lost.
Muddy Goes to College
Comedy - TRT 11:30
Director/Writer: Alex Reinhard
Film Location: Kutztown, PA
Film Synopsis: After sleeping through his finals, high school senior, Walker Lee, ponders a bleak academic future. That is, until he discovers Muddy, a highly intelligent dog with an electronic, chew-toy, talking device. Together, they get accepted into Kutztown University, a financially struggling state school in the middle of Amish country, where they go to parties, meet girls, and learn the truth behind Muddy's intelligence. The trouble is the college's Dean of Admissions, Dean Flob, knows the value of an intelligent dog and secretly unfurls a plan to claim Muddy as his own scientific discovery. An American college comedy filled with adventure, beer and profanity.
Gobbits
Animation - TRT 3:15
Director: Nick Zweig
Film Location: Brooklyn, NY
Film Synopsis:
A series of not stories, but not not stories? Enjoy the ride.
The Podcast
2024 CCFF Best Comedy Short - Comedy - TRT 20:00
Director: Garrett Pahl
Writers: Garrett Pahl & Nick Carbonara
Film Location: Montclair, NJ
Film Synopsis:
In the aftermath of their first podcast recording, two best friends make the most out of getting canceled. While their relationships and careers are at stake, the Podcast could be their golden ticket.
9:30PM: Award Ceremony
