Our life is like a yolk: a small touch is enough to break it. However, the tastiest part of the egg remains. Four different sotries, which have in common more than you can expect. A gray Rome, precariousness, violence, addictions and disappointments form the backdrop to the lives of four characters seeking redemption.
In the mountainous region of Oltu in Eastern Turkey, the silent journey of a stone shaped over millions of years begins. The film unfolds without dialogue or narration, following the stone as it is taken from narrow, fragile tunnels, shaped by the hands of village craftsmen, and finally worn as an ornament that touches the human body. A quiet tension runs beneath these images: the darkness of the earth against the stone’s polished surface; the harsh physical labor against the high value it holds in the city; the slow formation of a fossil against the speed with which it is consumed today. Though Oltu stone has been prized by many cultures throughout history, the film stays in the present—where veins grow thinner, conditions remain harsh, and a natural heritage fades, piece by piece. Black Amber lets the images speak, revealing the fragile connection and the ongoing struggle between human labor and the ancient landscape that sustains it.
"Mirror of Memories" is the song composed for the short film Riflessi, by Emiliano Imondi. The music video addresses the delicate and profound topic of Alzheimer's disease. The narrative revolves around the concept of reflection and fragmented memory: the mirror becomes a visual metaphor for a mind struggling to hold on to its childhood memories, loved ones, and identity before they vanish into thin air. The video explores the pain of self-loss and the emotional impact the disease has on both the patient and their loved ones.
The Ciak Film Award is an International Film Festival dedicated to Short Films no longer than 40 minutes, of any genre or theme, created in an original or surprising way. The festival is divided into three categories:
NARRATIVE SHORT FILMS
DOCUMENTARIES
MUSIC VIDEOS
The Short Films are selected by an internal jury, and the Winners are screened in a Theater located in one of Rome's most characteristic neighborhoods: the Teatro Trastevere.
Ciak Film Award
Teatro Trastevere in Rome
Via Jacopa de' Settesoli, 3
00153 Roma (Italy)
Short films can be submitted through the FilmFreeway portal by clicking the button below, where you can read the official rules in English.
Submissions for the 2027 edition close on April 30th.
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