https://www.smallrig.com/global/activity/SmallrigAwards

SmallRig Cinema, Shenzhen (2026)

08/04/2026

In a remote valley of Brazil, life moves at its own pace.

Seu Alvino and Dona Neusa work tirelessly to cultivate the land, despite drought and challenges, preserving centuries-old traditions of planting cashews and baru nuts.

The Cashew Rain is a meditation on resilience — showing how family, community, and nature intertwine, and how human determination persists even in harsh conditions.

About the Director
Alan Schvarsberg is an experienced director and cinematographer who focuses on social and environmental storytelling. His work highlights the resilience of communities living in close connection with nature.

🎬 The Cashew Rain
Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

02/04/2026

At just 15 and 16 years old, Christine and Rose are already mothers.

Living in a remote area of Cameroon, they face challenges far beyond their years — early marriage, loss, limited access to education, and the responsibilities of raising children.

GIRLS: Women Too Early explores the resilience and courage of these young mothers, showing that even in the harshest circumstances, hope and determination persist.

The film asks us to reflect:
How can societies better support girls, education, and maternal health worldwide?

About the Director
Paolo Patruno has spent over a decade documenting social issues, healthcare, human rights, and women’s empowerment across Africa. His long-term project, BIRTH IS A DREAM, raises awareness about maternal health globally.

🎬 GIRLS: Women Too Early
🎥 Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

25/03/2026

What does it mean to be free when your body refuses to follow?

Sofia is wheelchair-bound, trapped physically yet unbroken in spirit. To Fly is an intimate exploration of inner freedom, resilience, and the strength that lies within us all.

This short documentary reminds us that human courage does not depend on physical ability — it emerges from hope, imagination, and the refusal to give in.

About the Director
Catherine Mazoyer is an accomplished actress, writer, and director. Her works often focus on human emotion, memory, and personal resilience. Her first short film Hola received 9 international awards.

🎬 To Fly
🎥 Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

21/03/2026

What happens when a parent grows old — and the family is no longer there?

At 75, Hakki Ulubash lives alone. Abandoned by his six children, he continues to take care of himself every day — cooking, cleaning, and maintaining his home with quiet determination.

But behind this resilience lies a simple and painful fear:
the possibility of dying alone.

Father’s Right, directed by Nijat Gulam, is more than a portrait of one man’s life. It is a reflection on aging, family responsibility, and the emotional distance that can grow between generations.

Through Hakki’s story, the film reminds us that the question of care, dignity, and belonging is not only personal — it is deeply social.

About the Director
Filmmaker Nijat Gulam from Baku, Azerbaijan, is known for telling human-centered stories that explore social realities and dignity. He is the founder of ESA Theatre, Azerbaijan’s first inclusive theatre featuring actors with disabilities.

🎬 Father’s Right
✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

11/03/2026

When Fire Becomes a Sky Full of Stars

For centuries, the art of “Da Tie Hua” has transformed molten iron into breathtaking showers of sparks, lighting up the night like falling constellations.

《更吹落，星如雨》 documents one of the largest iron flower performances in Shanxi, capturing both the spectacle and the human stories behind it. Filmmaker 韩丰赫 and his team used aerial drone footage and ground-level cinematography to record the performance in cinematic 8K, revealing details rarely seen by the naked eye.

Beyond the visual beauty, the film also reflects on the dedication required to keep such traditions alive. Behind every burst of sparks is a craft shaped by years of practice, courage, and cultural memory.

This is not only a performance — it is a living tradition passed down through generations.

🎬《更吹落，星如雨》
Creator: 韩丰赫
✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

04/03/2026

"He Measured the World One Step at a Time

For 18 years, journalist 谭里和 traveled across towns and villages, reporting on the lives of ordinary people. Moving with the help of crutches, he went places many would find difficult to reach — not for recognition, but to tell stories that mattered.

《杖量》 follows his journey as he revisits the places that shaped his career. From small communities to countless interviews, his work focused on real issues, real people, and real change.

Created by a student team from Hunan Vocational College of Art, the film is not only about one journalist’s life, but also about dignity, perseverance, and the deeper meaning of responsibility in storytelling.

It asks a simple but powerful question:
In a time when everyone can share information, what defines a true journalist?

🎬《杖量》
Creator: 湖南艺术职业学院师生团队

✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

"

25/02/2026

When the City Moves Closer, What Happens to the Grassland?

Beyond the expanding edges of the city, there are lives that continue to follow the rhythm of the land.

《牧野有家》— Pasture Field Home tells the story of a Kazakh herding family living near the reservoir in the pastoral outskirts of Xinjiang. As urban development moves closer to traditional grazing areas, their way of life is slowly shifting.

Created by young filmmaker 张君硕, the documentary observes daily life through a calm and honest lens — from herding routines to family moments — revealing how modernization brings both opportunity and uncertainty.

This is not just a story about change.
It is about home, belonging, and the quiet resilience of people who have lived with the land for generations.

🎬《牧野有家》
Pasture Field Home
Creator: 张君硕

✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

20/02/2026

When a Craft Begins to Fade, Who Will Remember It?

A Life in Mist and Rain is more than a documentary — it is a visual record of a tradition quietly fading with time.

In Luzhou, Sichuan, the craft of oil-paper umbrella making has been passed down for generations. Once widely used and culturally significant, it now faces the reality of fewer practitioners and declining awareness.

Creator 韩丰赫 and his team spent time documenting this heritage using cinematic 8K visuals, hoping to preserve not only the process, but also the spirit behind the craft — the patience, dedication, and cultural identity carried by each handmade umbrella.

For the young filmmaker, this work was also a personal exploration: how can visual storytelling help protect traditions that risk being forgotten? And how can a new generation connect with cultural roots through film?

The result is a quiet yet powerful portrait of craftsmanship, memory, and responsibility.

🎬《一蓑烟雨任平生》
A Life in Mist and Rain
Creator: 韩丰赫

✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

11/02/2026

🛗 THE LIFT
Directed by Michał Stępnik & Tomasz Sordyl

When your biggest goal is finally reached…
and someone unexpected changes everything.

THE LIFT follows a main character who achieves a major life goal, only to be confronted with an unexpected encounter that shakes his sense of certainty. The entire story unfolds within a shared, everyday space — the elevator — where routine meets emotion, and ambition collides with vulnerability.

✨ Why this story matters
This film explores how life can shift in a single moment, even in the most ordinary places. It questions the meaning of success, the role of love, and the choices we make when our goals suddenly feel unclear.

📌 Directors Background
Tomasz Sordyl is an actor, director, and traveler, currently studying acting at the AST National Academy of Theatre Arts in Kraków.
Michał Stępnik is a writer and director who treats film as a passion, releasing several short projects each year. He sees film as a way to explore human emotions and everyday life.

🎙️ Directors’ Statement
Tomasz: “This story is about opening yourself to love and re-evaluating your goals. I hope it resonates with people in different ways.”
Michał: “Routine spaces can offer more than we think. This film is about dreams, aspirations, and refreshing your own image.”

📌 Full film available now.
✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

04/02/2026

❄️ White Ghost
Directed by Bilal Khreis

A snowstorm that takes everything.

Based on a true story, “White Ghost” follows a father and son traveling from Beirut to their village on Mount Hermon. A sudden snowstorm traps them, forcing them to continue on foot through freezing conditions. Their family waits in fear, while villagers search through the storm.

When the search ends, the father and son are found frozen under the snow, their bodies turned into haunting silhouettes of “White Ghosts” in the winter night.

✨ Why this story matters
This film explores the fragile line between survival and loss. It highlights how nature can be both beautiful and deadly, and how hope can remain even in the coldest moments.

📌 Director Background — Bilal Khreis
Bilal Khreis is a Lebanese independent filmmaker with over 20 years of experience in writing and directing. He is a member of the Lebanese Cinema Technicians Syndicate and has received an honorary doctorate from the International German Cultural Center.
He is skilled in cinematography, lighting, and editing, giving him a full range of storytelling tools.

🎙️ Director Statement
“White Ghost” is about human endurance in the face of nature’s power. The snowstorm is a living force that shapes the characters’ fate. I wanted to capture the emotional and physical reality of survival — and the haunting beauty of a harsh winter night.

📌 Full film available now.
✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

28/01/2026

🎨 Fortunale
Directed by Giulia Badalassi

She paints a boat… then destroys it.

In “Fortunale,” a young painter begins with a quiet, solitary scene — a boat floating on a calm sea. But as she continues, her emotions intensify. The painting becomes a battlefield between creation and destruction. She ultimately tears the canvas and erases the work, as if the same force that gave life to the image also became the storm that wiped it away.

✨ Why this story matters
This film explores the paradox of human creativity — how the same energy that builds can also destroy. It’s a reflection on the fragile balance of life, and the emotions that drive us to create and to let go.

📌 Director Background — Giulia Badalassi
Giulia Badalassi is a young Italian filmmaker currently completing her Philosophy studies at the University of Pisa. She began exploring filmmaking at the age of 11 and has since directed several short films and music videos. Her work often dives into philosophical and existential themes, blending her academic curiosity with cinematic expression.

🎙️ Director Statement
“Fortunale” focuses on the delicate balance between creation and destruction. The title refers to a type of wind that can bring both life and chaos. Through the film, I want the audience to reflect on the cyclical nature of existence and the forces that shape our inner world.

📌 Full film available now.
✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

24/01/2026

🎬 Running with the Turtle
Directed by Bilal Khreis

In a small village, a simple game turns into a life-changing tragedy. Ahmed, a young boy, loses his legs after stepping on a landmine while trying to retrieve a ball. What follows is not just a story of loss — but a journey of recovery and hope.

With the support of his loyal friend Layla, Ahmed learns to accept his new reality. A turtle in his garden becomes a powerful symbol of persistence — climbing slowly, never giving up. Together, they bury the torn ball and place a red rose on its grave, signifying the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Why this story matters
This film explores the human capacity to heal, even when life feels broken. It’s a reminder that resilience is not always loud — sometimes it’s quiet, steady, and patient.

Director Background — Bilal Khreis
Bilal Khreis is a Lebanese independent filmmaker with over 20 years of experience in writing and directing films and programs. He is a member of the Lebanese Cinema Technicians Syndicate and has received an honorary doctorate from the International German Cultural Center.
His expertise spans cinematography, lighting, and editing — making him a true storyteller in every sense.«

Director Statement
“Running with the Turtle” is a tribute to friendship and the strength that comes from never giving up. The turtle represents the slow, steady climb toward recovery. I want viewers to feel that healing is a process — and that hope can grow even in the darkest moments.

✨ Watch full film： https://www.youtube.com/

SmallRig Cinema

08/04/2026

02/04/2026

25/03/2026

21/03/2026

11/03/2026

04/03/2026

25/02/2026

20/02/2026

11/02/2026

04/02/2026

28/01/2026

24/01/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category