Hearts of Stone

Original Title|Hearts of Stone

Drama | 29' 55" | 2024 (Completed)

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Director	Tom Van Avermaet
Producer	Katleen Goossens
Writer	Allison Kathleen Kelly, Tom Van Avermaet

Full credits

A lonely street artist who works as a living statue becomes infatuated with Agatha, a stone sculpture.

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synopsis

In a sculpture park in the heart of a bustling metropolis, Paula, a lonely street artist, entertains people as a living statue. She longs with an impossible love for Agatha, a stone sculpture next to her regular spot. When a festival for living statues arrives in the park, Paula is dismayed to find that Agatha has been replaced by a new, modern sculpture. After a frantic search, she finds Agatha in a group of discarded statues, ready to be taken away. Almost as a farewell, she kisses the object of her affection. Later, at the festival’s closing party, Paula meets Agatha in the flesh.
Dans un parc de sculptures au cœur d’une métropole bouillonnante, Paula divertit les gens à la manière d’une statue vivante. Elle nourrit un amour impossible pour Agatha, la sculpture de pierre à côté de laquelle on la retrouve tous les jours. Lorsqu’un jour un grand festival de statues vivantes est organisé, Paula découvre qu’Agatha a été remplacée par une nouvelle sculpture moderne. Elle trouve Agatha au milieu d’un ensemble de statues mises au rebut, prêtes à être évacuées le lendemain. Au coucher du soleil, Paula revient vers la sculpture esseulée. Presque comme pour un adieu, elle ressent le désir d’embrasser la statue d’Agatha en espérant pouvoir la réveiller de son sommeil de pierre.
In een beeldenpark in het hart van een bruisende metropool vermaakt Paula mensen als levend standbeeld. Ze verlangt met een onmogelijke liefde naar Agatha, het stenen sculptuur waarnaast ze elke dag te vinden is. Op de dag dat een groot levend-standbeelden-festival in het park neerstrijkt, ontdekt Paula tot haar ontsteltenis dat Agatha is vervangen door een nieuw, modern beeldhouwwerk. Ze vindt Agatha te midden van een groep afgedankte beelden die klaar staan om de volgende dag te worden weggehaald. Wanneer de zon ondergaat keert Paula terug naar het eenzame beeld. Bijna als een afscheid voelt ze een verlangen om Agatha te kussen, hopend haar uit haar stenen slaap te kunnen wekken.

Credits

Director
Tom Van Avermaet
Producer
Katleen Goossens
Writer
Allison Kathleen Kelly, Tom Van Avermaet
Cast
Nabil Malat, Jessica Barden, Noomi Rapace, Jan Bijvoet
Editing
Ana Stulina
Photography
Hans Bruch Jr.
Art direction
Philippe Bertin
Costume
Sofie Callaerts
Sound
Thierry De Vries
Makeup
Katrien Frenssen
Music
Marko Jukić
Still photography
Kris Dewitte

Format

Creation details

Type
Film
Category
Fiction
Production share
Majority Flemish Production
Belgium
Genre
Drama
Year of production

2024
Production status
Completed
Original title
Hearts of Stone
Original language
English

Technical specs

Running time
29' 55"
Available in
2D
Aspect ratio
2.39:1
Sound format
5.1 (+sub)
Available formats
Apple ProRes 422; DCP (2K)
Colour
Colour

Contact & sales

Contact

Bulletproof Cupid

Schaliënstraat 14 11
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium

katleen@bulletproofcupid.be

www.bulletproofcupid.be

Details

Festivals & awards

Festivals

2025: Flickerfest International Short Film Festival (AU); The Momòhill Film Fair (CH); P'tits Beurres Festival (FR); Fargo Film Festival (US); Sedona International Film Festival (US); CineQuest (US); AmiCorti IFF (IT); Capital City Film Festival (US); New Bedford Film Festival (US); Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (US); San Luis Obispo International Film Festival (US); Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (US); Fantaspoa - International Fantastic Film Festival of Porto Alegre (Brazil); Landschuter Short Film Festival (DE); Venezia Shorts (IT); Brussels Short Film Festival (BE); Show Low Film Festival (USA); Festival Internazionale Corti da Sogni Antonio Ricci (IT); Lytham International Film Festival (UK); Nevada City Film Festival (US); Gen Con Film Festival (US); Trapani Film Festival (IT); Fort Myers Film Festival (US); Ariano International Film Festival (IT); International Short Film Festival Tegenstroom (NL); Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (US); Postira Seaside Film Festival (CR); Sidewalk Film Festival (UK); the Quarantine Film Festival (BUL); Stony Brook Film Festival (US); Rock the Shorts Film Festival (US); Bengaluru International Film Festival (India); Out South Queer Film Festival (US); Out Film Connecticut (US); Ravenheart International Film Festival (NW); Real to Reel International Film Festival (US): Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology (US); Cobb International Film Festival (US); River Bend International Film Festival (US); The Galactic Imaginarium Film Festival (BUL); Akida International Film Festival (SP); Aladerri International Film Festival (US); Short. Sweet. Film Fest (US); Black Hills Film Festival (US); Pigeon International Film Festival (ICE); Roscommon International Film Festival (IRE); Schockfest Film Fest (US); Tryon International Film Festival (US); NaNo Film Festival (IT); Adelaide Independent Film Festival (AUS); Kanab Film Fest (US); Santa Cruz International Film Festival (US); West Sound Film Festival (US); Flagstaff International Film Festival (US); Pottstown Film Festival (US); Shorts Mexico (MEX); International Sound and Music Festival (CR); International Tour Film Festival (IT); Temecula Valley Film Festival (US); Rehoboth Beach International Film Festival (US); Ojai Film Festival (US); Miami Short Film Festival (US) 2024: Film Festival Oostende (BE); LA Shorts (US); Rhode Island International Film Festival (US); HollyShorts Film Festival (US); The Newport Beach Film Festival (US); Naples International Film Festival (US); Sapporo Short Fest (JP); FilmQuest (US); Sulmona International Film Festival (IT); Leuven International Shortfilm Festival (BE)

Awards

2025: Directors' Choice Award for Best International Short - Sedona International Film Festival (US); Best Short Film - New Bedford Film Festival (US); Best of Show + Best Ensemble Cast + Best Original Score for a Short Film + Best Screenplay for a Short Film + Best Set Design for a Short Film + Best Editing in a Short Film + Best Costumes – The Momòhill Film Fair (CH); The Fountain Award - Ridgefield Independent Film Festival (US); Best Short + Best Director - Ravenheart International Film Festival (US); Best Professional Short – Real to Reel International Film Festival (US); Best Cinematography + Best Actress + Best Screenplay – AmiCorti Film Festival (IT); Best Narrative Short (gold), Best Narrative Short & Best Director LA Short (silver) - Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation & Technology (US); Best International Short Film – Cobb International Film Festival (US); Best International Short Film + Best of Block Audience Award - Rock the Shorts (US); Best Narrative Short - River Bend International Film Festival (US); Best Production Design - Kanab Film Fest (US); Best Fiction Short Film - Santa Cruz International Film Festival (US); Best Short Narrative Cinematography – West Sound Film Festival (US); Visionary Artist Award - Flagstaff International Film Festival (US); Audience Award - Aladerri International Film Festival (US); Best Soundtrack + Best Fiction – International Tour Film Festival (IT); Shorts TV Award – Nano Film Festival; Best International Film + Best of the Fest – Short. Sweet. Film Fest. (US); Best Short Narrative – Black Hills Film Festival (US) 2024: Best International Film - LA Shorts - oscar qualifier (US); Best Live Action Short - oscar qualifier - Rhode Island International Film Festival (US); Best Production Design - Sapporo Short Fest (JP); Audience award for best narrative short - The Newport Beach Film Festival (US); Best Fantasy Short Film + Best Costumes + Best Score - FilmQuest (US)

Partners

Co-production partners

Jaako Dobra Produkcija in association with Nukleus Film (HR)

Supported by

Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Tax Shelter of the Federal Government of Belgium, City of Antwerp, Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), Sabam For Culture