It is very rare that an entire short film is made so accessible right before voting begins, but you can catch the Oscar-qualified live action short exclusively on The Contending. It will be available to stream through the rest of the month of December.
Check out some words about the film below and enjoy!
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On 17 July 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17 was traveling over conflict-hit Eastern Ukraine when it was shot down by Russian forces. This tragedy is the basis of the powerful short drama MOEDER from director/co-writer Salomon Ligthelm, which explores the disaster at ground-level when a miner on the Ukrainian-Russian border discovers a ringing phone in his backyard. This incredible film has qualified for the 2025 Oscars®.
A miner on the Ukrainian-Russian border discovers a ringing phone in his backyard.
Salomon, a son to missionary parents who opened his eyes to the world, is a self-taught filmmaker whose international background figures strongly in his distinctive, visceral yet meditative work. His work has garnered recognition across the world, with inclusion in both the Saatchi & Saatchi and 1.4 New Directors Showcases, two Golds and three Silvers at the YDAs, a Gold Cannes Lion, multiple AICP wins with work featured at the MOMA, shortlists for Music Video of the Year at Shots, Best Alternative Video and Best New Director, with wins for Best Editing and Best Color Grading at the UKMVA’s – and a growing list of awards from the industry including the British Arrows, Cannes and D&AD. Salomon currently lives in New York City with his young family, where he is in the early stages of putting together his debut feature, MOTHERLAND and writing his second, ICONOCLAST.
Daniel Linnik-Zhuravliov is a London based producer with 10 years of experience in short and long-form production. Hailing from Ukraine, he studied film & TV at University of the Arts London. While working in Kyiv, Daniel worked with a host of internationally acclaimed directors, many of whom count on him for his meticulous planning and creative insight. After the full scale invasion of Ukraine, Daniel left his hometown and traveled west of the country to keep his wife and mother safe. He then drove all the way across Europe, and ended up in London, where he currently lives and works.
This thought-provoking film has qualified for the 2025 Oscars®
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