Music is the sound of truth, the sound of hope. It is the sound of unity and courage. During this critical time in history, the profound truth remains that music is the great, universal language. "The Sound of Us" chronicles a series of wide-ranging, diverse stories that exemplify the power of music and the triumph of the human spirit.
2021
Official Selection
Documentary Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
57 minutes
55 seconds
Director:
Chris Gero
REIFF 2021
Official Selection
Narrative Short
Israel
Runtime:
18 minutes
51 seconds
Director:
Eyal Tzadik, Yotam Kislev
REIFF 2021
This is a tale of two beggars.
A friendship that could end miserably. Sasha prepares Simon for a meeting with the woman who ran him over with her limousine. A ridiculous heir. If they succeed, Simon could live a better life, and Sasha will stay alone in the streets.
Official Selection
Documentary Short
United States
Runtime:
44 minutes
55 seconds
Director:
BiLan Liao
REIFF 2021
It’s the true story of an immigrant artist and her family living through the dark and terrifying days in communist China to overcome separation, discrimination, starvation, forced marriage and death. Decades later, her memories still haunt her as she paints away her deepest feelings and nightmares on the canvas. It’s the journey about a mother’s love for her daughter, and the courage to find the truth, and freedom to share through her artwork. “Never give up your dream!"
Official Selection
Narrative Short
United States
Runtime:
21 minutes
16 seconds
Director:
Ross Kagan Marks
REIFF 2021
Two men form an unlikely bond during Covid in an assisted living facility in the last days of their lives.
Official Selection
Documentary Feature
United States
Runtime:
54 minutes
Director:
Paul Zehrer
REIFF 2021
Parents and teachers around the world struggle with their kids’ dependence on devices today. As Covid has forced our kids to rely on technology more than ever, “#KidsOnTech” looks at the impact on children’s developing bodies and brains, and asks: “How might we better prepare our kids for this digital world?” Voices from India to the U.S., France to China, Mexico to Japan explore what children need to truly excel in a future dominated by tech, including a Google designer, a German brain scientist, and New York Times journalist, Matt Richtel, whose story on a Silicon Valley school created an international media frenzy.
Official Selection
Narrative Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
33 minutes
Director:
Dane Sears
REIFF 2021
After being threatened to be ran out of town for repeatedly refusing to help a strange and frightened young couple, a lonely and miserable old preacher must learn to move forward from his troubling past and face the terrifying reason why the couple had fled their rural, dilapidated home in terror.
Official Selection
Documentary Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
23 minutes
Director:
Kathy Kuras
REIFF 2021
Meet quarterback Sami Grisafe, San Francisco 49ers coach Katie Sowers and other legends of women’s tackle football who played for the love of the game against all odds. With commentary from Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris and 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, OPEN FIELD tells the story of the women who leave everything on the field in their drive for greatness, earning recognition and respect.
Official Selection
Narrative Short
India
Runtime:
13 minutes
5 seconds
Director:
Nischhal Sharma
REIFF 2021
Rimi, a housewife, stuck in the mundane life of domesticity finds herself on the threshold of leaving everything behind and embracing liberation when a desire awakens in her after she encounters young and attractive Riya.
Official Selection
Narrative Short
United States
Runtime:
7 minutes
45 seconds
Director:
Josh Funk
REIFF 2021
A man wakes up locked in a strange bathroom where something is lurking behind the walls.
Official Selection
Narrative Feature
United States
Runtime:
1 hour(s)
39 minutes
25 seconds
Director:
Kiel Thorlton
REIFF 2021
After losing his wife during the birth of his second child, Levi is thrust into raising two young girls, alone. However, when forced to borrow money from a ruthless loan shark, he must fight to save his family and the home his family was made in.