VSFF '25 Reviews | Desync, My Roommate Ahriman, Stand in

This weekend (June 13-15) is the Vancouver Short Film Festival. I was fortunate enough to get screeners for a few of the short films scheduled for the festival, and I wanted to share my thoughts on the ones I watched. So, without further adieu, here is my review of three films that are set to screen at VSFF '25: Desync, My Roommate Ahriman, and Stand in.

Desync, directed by Minerva Navasca, tells the story of Filipina writer-director Ana (Jadyn Nasato) and the process she goes through to create her scenes. In this instance, the scene she is portraying represents the relationship between Ana and her mother Celine (Jennifer Villaverde).

Navasca chooses to cut frequently between Ana filming the scene and Ana in the real-life scene that inspired the fictionalized scene. This concept sounds jarring because it is, but I thought it was an innovative and creative way for Navasca to get her story across. I must admit that the blending of the two narratives became a little too much at times, especially when the dialogue from the fictionalized scene was placed over top of the real-life scene, while the real-life scene's dialogue was silent.

It's not necessarily what is said that is important, but rather what is meant underneath the words. With such a focus on double meanings, it's no surprise that this short is dialogue heavy. The characters even go so far as to make reference to the extensive dialogue use.

Bringing this movie into the modern cinema landscape is the use of English subtitles throughout the entire movie — for all dialogue, English and Tagalog. I believe this is done for accessibility's sake and to engage with young audiences who are used to watching text-laden videos on social media. This choice makes Desync very of the now, which is one of the best things a movie can be.

The story of miscommunication between generations and between a mother and a daughter are relatable experiences. I'd suggest checking Desync out for the subtext-rich dialogue and the innovative use of image-to-language relationships on screen.

My Roommate Ahriman, directed by Nessa Aref, tells the story of Hank (Francis Dowlatabadi) whose apartment is inhabited by Ahriman, a Zoroastrian spirit of chaos — basically, like an evil spirit.

This short has funny moments and a surrealist quality. Hank's arc, other than dealing with this spirit, is related to his relationship with his father and his quest to come out as bisexual. It's implied that Hank will be set free of Ahriman if he comes out to his father.

One scene that I thought was especially impactful was when Hank reflected on his breakup with his boyfriend. I loved how this scene was shot, with the lighting split between the scene: present day Hank on one side, stuck with Ahriman and totally alone, and a previous Hank with his boyfriend Josh (Daniel Finlan) on the other side, in warm lighting where everything seemed idyllic. It was one of the multiple impressive tricks deployed by Aref.

Surrealism is prevalent throughout the short. Near the end, we receive perhaps the most puzzling shot of the film. From what feels like out of nowhere comes this shot of Hank's mother who calls out and comes toward an unseen baby Hank. Evidently, with Hank's strained relationship with his father and no sign of a modern-day mother, something happened to Hank's mom and he misses her. Maybe the shot was included to imply the longing Hank feels for the love of his mother.

I'd suggest this short for anyone looking for a surrealist comedy interspersed with identity themes. It has a unique premise, even if the end product comes off as underwhelming and inconsequential. At points, the short became muddled, as I tried to figure out the meaning behind each image and what was being said in the subtext. Still, it's a fun and bizarre ride that I don't regret taking.

Stand in, directed by Hiromu Yamawaki, felt influenced by multiple Scorsese classics. From Kenji (Ryo Mishima) auditioning for a role in Raging Fist to the story element of an Uber driver that goes too far to the element of wanting the success of someone else, it seems that Yamawaki and I are of the same mind regarding who the greatest director of all time is.

Like Desync, Stand in also exists within the world of moviemaking. Kenji is a stand in for Chris (Gabriel Takahashi Prevost), a successful actor, but Kenji believes that, given the opportunity, he could perform these roles better than Chris. The movie culminates when Kenji, who moonlights as an Uber driver, gives Chris a ride. This fateful drive leads to the movie's ironic twist ending, which is sure to have people talking at the festival.

Despite my qualms about this short, the premise of a stand in going to great lengths to replace a lead actor is interesting, and I think it would work as a feature-length thriller. I just felt that the character's decision making needed more justification.

I hope you get a chance to check out VFSS this year. The program looks amazing and it's always important to support up-and-coming filmmakers. If you do end up going, please don't forget to share your thoughts on Peliplat!

Showtimes

Stand in: Fri, Jun 13th, 6:00 PM @ SFU Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema

Desync: Sat, Jun 14th, 1:00 PM @ SFU Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema

My Roommate Ahriman: Sat, Jun 14th, 5:00 PM @ SFU Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema