DIY First Time Filmmakers presents “514: Emerging Directors Showcase” 2025

The DIY First Time Filmmakers initiative supports emerging directors and artists creating their first independent works made by an individual or a collective, and curating collective showcases as part of our AEW Ecology. AEW Ecology’s mission is to develop the artistic growth of emerging and first time filmmakers and artists.
This program emphasizes networking while creators and participants have total freedom to independently curate, develop and present their works created entirely with their own resources in the spirit of "Do It Yourself."
This year, we are proud to introduce first-time director Susan Liu who will lead the DIY Directors Lab, showcasing her debut short film, Street Haul, directed and produced by Liu with help from her friends. This hour-long, collective program will also be curated and showcased by Liu, followed by a networking event.

DIY First Time Filmmakers at 12th KFFC
First time filmmaking from all backgrounds. This program is open to all genres.

Schedule:

May 24th, 2025
5524 Rue Saint-Patrick #210 Montréal, QC H4E 1A8

6:00 PM - Doors open
7:30 PM - Screening of first film

Tickets can be found on the 514: Emerging Directors Showcase’s Eventbrite page.

La proposition
Short Film
Director: César Camán Starring: Amélia Jean et Ilias Benhaddi
15:00min
Street Haul
Short Film
Director: Susan Liu Starring: Kylie Sharman, Jorge Esparza
7:42min
Wait List
Music Video
Director: Veen Manathan Singer: Jeffrey Atsuson Starring: Jack Schaffhauser, Marie Dubois
4:50min
Bridges & Boughs
Short Film
Director: Ho-Lisa Nguyen, Spencer Beaulne Starring: Zoë Heffring, Sophie Heffring
14:58min
La muse
Short Film
Director: John Kingma Starring: Amelia Jean, Loïk Fortin
10:14min
Name
Type
Credits
Length
La muse
Short Film
Director: John Kingma
Starring: Amelia Jean, Loïk Fortin
10:14 min
Bridges & Boughs
Short Film
Director: Ho-Lisa Nguyen, Spencer Beaulne
Starring: Zoë Heffring, Sophie Heffring
14:58 min
Wait List
Music Video
Director: Veen Manathan
Singer: Jeffrey Atsuson
Starring: Jack Schaffhauser, Marie Dubois
4:50 min
Street Haul
Short Film
Director: Susan Liu
Starring: Kylie Sharman, Jorge Esparza
7:42 min
La proposition
Short Film
Director: César Camán
Starring: Amélia Jean et Ilias Benhaddi
15:00 min
La muse (Short Film)
Synopsis
A painter hunts for a new source of inspiration.
Director's Notes
Artistic inspiration and authenticity are two themes that always seem to work their way into my writing. "La Muse" attempts to explore these themes, using colour (or the lack of it) to represent the struggle for creativity, while telling a story about the lengths one might go to in its pursuit.
Film Stills
Bridges & Boughs (Short Film)
Synopsis
Two sisters return to their childhood home as one intends to sell the property and the other advocates for its preservation.
Director's Notes
For sisters and siblings.
Film Stills
Wait List (Music Video)
Synopsis
In Waitlist by Atsuson Jr., a lovestruck late teen gets ready to confess his feelings to a girl that he likes on prom night, but a surprising truth changes everything.
Director's Notes
In this music video, I wanted to capture the theme of tragic or unspoken love. My goal was to show the audience the emotions of the characters and tell the story through visual language using images rather than words. The fashion shoot sequences serve as a metaphorical lens to express the characters’ personalities, emotions, and inner worlds. Each outfit reveals a layer of who they are, creating a visual diary through styling, posing, and mood. This blend of fashion and film allows the video to balance realism with surrealism. Prom night serves as the emotional centrepiece of an event filled with anticipation, uncertainty, and memory. I wanted to make it feel relatable to people of all ages, especially those who’ve experienced the tension of wanting to say something meaningful but being afraid of the outcome. Visually, I leaned into dreamy lighting, vibrant color, and nostalgic tones to blur the line between reality and memory. At its core, Waitlist is about vulnerability, timing, and the courage to speak your truth. The protagonist’s journey reflects a universal feeling: wanting to say something important but hesitating out of fear. The twist challenges him, but the appearance of the mysterious man who guides him represents hope and growth.
Film Stills
Street Haul (Short Film)
Synopsis
Two roommates, drunkenly returning home from a party, find an abandoned wooden wardrobe containing an unlikely surprise.
Director's Notes
Film Stills
La proposition (Short Film)
Synopsis
Un jeune couple discutent sur les avantages et les inconvénients du mariage lors de leur souper d’anniversaire dans un café. Un argument qui pourrait changer leur avenir, leur perception de l’amour et le sens de leur relation.
Director's Notes
La proposition est née suite à des tempêtes d’idées qu’Ilias Benhaddi et moi avions eu suite à de nombreuses rencontres vers la fin de l’été dernier. Notre intérêt de collaborer ensemble s’est manifesté suite à notre rencontre au Festival court’un soir. Passionnées par des histoires qui font réfléchir, notre objectif était de trouver un sujet connu et à la fois intéressant à aborder. C’est ainsi que l’idée d’une demande de mariage est venue. Un sujet qui est très complexe mais qui suscité beaucoup d’intérêts, des questionnements et d’attentes au niveau de notre société. C’est justement cette complexité qui m’a inspiré à rédiger le scénario en illustrant un jeune couple ; un homme et une femme; qui réfletent des points de vues sous un régard libéral et conservateur. Je tiens à souligner le travail acharné d’Amélia Jean et Ilias Benhaddi comme un de plus grands atouts qui ont permis de mettre en scène un huis clos avec des personnages qui ont une discussion très dynamique. Chaque répétition nous a permis d’explorer cette couche de complexité qui a été le moteur de notre mise en scène et notre motivation à rester éveillés pendant de longues heures de répétitions afin de rendre un travail présentable. Mais, soyons honnête entre nous, il n’y a pas de réponse ultime par rapport au mariage. Seulement beaucoup de questionnements et peut être quelques déceptions. La vie réelle n’est pas un conte de fées. Peu importe leurs points de vue, le but n'était pas de montrer qui a tort et qui a raison lors de cette discussion; mais plutôt d’ouvrir la porte aux dialogues sur un sujet complexe qui exige beaucoup de maturité et de respect. Tout ça pour dire que La proposition est le résultat d’un travail de réflexion qui ne prétend pas à être la réponse ultime à un sujet mais plutôt un appel aux dialogues. Sans oublier que c’est aussi le fruit d’un travail d’équipe acharné provenant d’un groupe de personnes passionnées qui font leurs premiers pas dans l’industrie cinématographique.
Film Stills

Return back to All Content.