shorts before films
a/perture is pleased to present selected student short films from the Ambrosia Film Festival at
UNCSA School of Filmmaking on screen before selected features.
n/ow playing – May 2023
Annette directed by Ben Carter
Ben Carter is a recent graduate in directing from UNCSA . In addition to filmmaking, he is also an avid photographer and video artist. His favorite “films” are The Other Side of the Wind and Koyaanisqatsi, while his favorite “movies” are Monty Python and the Holy Grail and The Cat in the Hat (2003).
previous Ambrosia Festival winners
(Happy Independence Day) directed by Bella Howard
Bella is from Charlotte, NC and her passion is in directing action movies starring women. She grew up watching action movies but rarely saw women playing characters that could do everything she wanted them to do. She wants to make a space for women in action and change the industry for how women are treated. Her favorite films are John Wick, Deadpool, and Kill Bill.
The Monkey at the Inn directed by Declan Duggan
Declan is from Wimberley, Texas, and is pursuing Directing at UNCSA, making more short films than he can count! He is especially interested in stories about loneliness, will, and redemption. Some of his favorite films are Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Primal Fear (1996), and The Social Network (2011). Photo by Rugile Zemaityte.
Virtual Date directed by Robbie Cook
I’m Robbie Cook and whenever I create a film, I always like to explore strong visuals, strange stories, and new editing techniques while also heightening the stakes of normal situations. My favorite director of all time is John Carpenter and some of my favorite films include They Live, Memento, and The Truman Show.
Last Looks directed by Mary Louise Renegar
Mary Louise is a third year directing student at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts; she is focused on developing a style that celebrates human gentleness and intimacy as well as love in all of its forms. Her favorite movie is Edward Scissorhands (1990)! Some follow ups are Swallow (2019), Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), and Paterson (2016). photo by Kenzie Arters
a/perture presented selected short films curated by the Out at the Movies Film Festival on screen before selected features during Summer 2022.
One More Please directed by Aleksei Borovikov precedes several film screenings in September
Aleksei Borovikov is a Chicago-based independent filmmaker. He began his career by working on regional and national television in Russia. Aleksei graduated from Moscow Film School and Columbia College Chicago, where he received an MFA degree in Cinema Directing. For his work, Aleksei draws inspiration from films by European directors, including Francois Ozon’s 5×2, Stephen Daldry’s The Hours, and Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley.
previously screened
Graduation directed by Zhongyu (Robin) Wang
Zhongyu (Robin) Wang is an award-winning director and screenwriter. He graduated from Duke 
University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English (Highest Distinction) and is now an MFA candidate in
Film & Television Production at the University of Southern California.
As a director and producer, Robin brought his works to over sixty international film festivals worldwide. Among them, Mother in the Mist, the USC Thesis film he produced in 2021, won the 27th DGA Student Film Awards for Best Women Filmmaker, and it premiered at the 20th San Diego International Film Festival.
The Man of My Dreams directed by Tristan Scott-Behrends
Tristan has worked as an actor, producer, writer, director, wardrobe stylist and waitress, appearing in feature films such as Electric Slide & Pester. His film Curtain Down, which he wrote and starred in, was a great success on the film festival circuit. Curtain Down made it’s online premiere on Paper Magazine. His music video directorial debut premiered on Dazed, February 2018. Only Trumpets, his first short film made its world premiere at the 2018 Outfest Film Festival where it was selected at “Best of the Fest” His work explores themes of identity, gender, isolation and sexuality. He is currently developing the script for a feature film version of Only Trumpets. All That Jazz, Pink Narcissus, Female Trouble, Harold and Maude, Funny Girl, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
Embrace directed by Tesha Merkel
Tesha is a fresh-out-of-school animator from the Midwest, hoping to grow as an artist and creator while sharing her first film, Embrace. While she’s interested in a wide range of visual media, her preferences lie in using illustration, video game design, and animation development for telling stories. There are countless amazing films that have influenced her work, from short films like In a Heartbeat and Foreign Bodies to feature films such as Summer Wars and Into the Spider-Verse. As she grows her skills in animation, she hopes to bring some of the same charming visual and storytelling techniques to her own work.
previously screened Ambrosia shorts from 2021-2022 academic year
Close-Up directed by Nathan Shanahan
Nathan Shanahan is a third-year directing student from Durham, North Carolina. His influences include Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, and Kanye West. His favorite films include the first West Side Story, Taxi Driver, and High School Musical 2.
Math-Bot directed by John Caudill
John is a third year filmmaking student from Laurinburg, NC, who is interested in directing and screenwriting. Some of his influences include Yorgos Lanthimos, David Lynch, Wes Anderson, and The Coen Brothers. Some of his favorite films include La Haine, The Graduate, and Spongebob Squarepants.
Stalled directed by Jacqueline Smith
Jacqueline Smith was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She is a first-year filmmaker interested in directing, producing, and screenwriting. Her influences include Paul Thomas Anderson, Christopher Nolan, David Fincher, and Dennis Villeneuve. Some of her favorite films are City of God, The Apartment, and Memento.
The Lady in the Yellow Raincoat directed by Frieda Prosono
Frieda is a third year filmmaking student with a concentration in directing. Some of her favorite movies include Akira, Harold and Maude, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Lovely Bones, and Spider-man into the Spider-Verse.