DIRECTOR: Recent Awards
THE YESTERDAY - Official Poster Poster Art by Addyaga101@gmail.com
From writer/director Benita von Sass comes a film about the nature of love, our experience of reality, imagination and time… and the inter-connectedness of all influences - seemingly good and bad.
With provocative elements of surrealism and paranoia, von Sass’s often dreamlike visionary debut is a love story steeped in psychoanalytic symbolism. Non-linear glimpses blur the line between reality and fantasy - a philosophical journey from disillusionment to self-love. Set to a predominantly rhythm guitar-infused score including both 70’s San Francisco sound hits and current hits by Chris Norman and Calum Graham, THE YESTERDAY is a bittersweet ode to love.
“Grabbed me in the beginning and kept me engrossed the whole time… it’s powerful, important” May 21, 2022 — Steve Zacharias
LA California Author / Film & TV Screenwriter / Producer
THE YESTERDAY - Official Trailer
© 2022 Baronesse Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved
© 2023 Chris Norman / Baronesse Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“Our history of ‘discovery’ demonstrates that current and upcoming winners of *Worldfest are truly the Spielbergs and Ang Lees of tomorrow. Congratulations to Benita von Sass, director of THE YESTERDAY for her exceptional work…!” May 21, 2022 — J. Hunter Todd
Founder and CEO of the *Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival Houston, Texas
(World’s oldest independent film festival at 56 years, having given top first awards to such directors as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, John Lee Hancock, Brian de Palma, Randal Kleiser, John Frankheimer, Ang Lee, The Coen Brothers and many others.) *Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
Official Music Video for "Sun Is Rising" taken from the Benita von Sass movie "The Yesterday" soundtrack (2022)
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Video/Original film editor - Andrew Fegen
Original film cinematography - Alexander Harrison
Lyrics: Written by Chris Norman
Love is waiting all around us now; Love is moving, always changing now; It's believing, love is all you need; It is knowing, understanding me and you. Sun is rising high, Sun is rising - oh oh oh. Love is knowing, love is everyone; Love is feeling, all that's real is love; It is living, feel your heart is true; It is being, it's inside of you, and me. Sun is rising high, Sun is rising - oh oh oh. Love is waiting all around us now; Love is moving, always changing now; It's believing, love is all you need; It is knowing, understanding me and you. Sun is rising high, Sun is rising - oh oh oh. Love is waiting, love is knowing; Sun is rising, sun is rising.
From writer/director Benita von Sass comes a film about the nature of love, our experience of reality, imagination, and time… and the inter-connectedness of all influences - seemingly good and bad.
Two foreigners in London from differing backgrounds and ages find themselves in a love neither could have imagined. One is a young shopkeeper from India awaiting the arrival of his wife by arranged marriage; the other a mature, principled businesswoman from America.
The story is Josephine’s. A foreigner in London, she has struggled to find lasting contentment and joy. She has fought her way to worldly success, but something has kept her searching for a pure, indisputable inner fulfillment. Wherever she turns, her dismay with the world sees only exploitation and abuse.
The young Shopkeeper is likewise a foreigner. Educated and starting his life journey, he has arrived to seek a better life in England for himself and young bride. Working long hours tending a store, he follows all rules until he finds himself apprehended by love.
Neither could have known the unexpected fulfillment, realization and heartbreak to come.
AWARDS
55th Worldfest-Houston International FF (Cdn Screen Award qualifying)
Winner - Gold Remi - Directing - May, 2022 USA
Vancouver Int. South Asian FF (Cdn Screen Award qualifying)
Official Selection - Screening Nov 10-13, 2022 CANADA
25th ARPA International Film Festival
Official Selection - Screening Nov 4-22, 2022 USA
27th Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival (Academy Award/Bafta/Cdn Screen Award qualifying)
Semi-Finalist - July, 2022 - USA
Shanghai Short Film Festival
Winner - Golden Grand Jury Award - 2022 CHINA
76th Festival Internazionale Del Cinema Di Salerno
Official Selection - Screening Nov 28 - Dec 3, 2022 ITALY
11th Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival
Winner - Special Festival Mention - Dec 11, 2022 INDIA
Cannes World Film Festival
Winner - Best Actress in a Short - October, 2022 FRANCE
17th Santa Monica Film Festival
Official Selection - Best Short - 2023 Jan 22-31, 23 USA
Cannes World Film Festival
Winner - Best Women Film - Cannes, FRANCE
Winner - Best First Time Filmmaker - Cannes, FRANCE
Toronto Independent Film Festival of CIFT
Winner - Best Female Directing in Short - Oct 2022 CANADA
19th Accolade Global Film Competition
Winner - Award of Merit - August, 2022 USA
15th Jaipur International Film Festival
Winner - Special Jury Mention Best Short - Jan 6-10, 2023 INDIA
Long Story Shorts
Official Selection - Event Dec 17, 2022 R0MANIA
10th Darbhanga International Film Festival
Official Selection - Best Short - Feb. 24-26, 2023 INDIA
Kalakari International Film Festival
Best Short - Winner Award of Achievement
March 18, 2023 INDIA
13th Pune Short Film Festival
Official Selection - Best Short - May 26-28, 2023 Pune INDIA
12th Bangalore Short Film Festival
Official Selection - Best Short - June 18, 2023 Bangalore INDIA
“We received more than 800 films and works from filmmakers from all over the world […] The Grand Jury Award means that it is the jury's favorite film, the one that stands out from many other films” October 30, 2022 - Li Yaoguang
Festival Director, Shanghai Short Film Festival
Li Yaoguang: Director, Associate Professor of Cinema; Graduated from School of Media, Literature and Journalism of Chongqing Normal University, and the School of Drama, Film and Television of Communication University of China. He received his Bachelor of Science (Video Engineering), Master of Arts (Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature) and Doctor of Arts (Radio and Television Arts) degrees respectively, and was a visiting scholar at the National University of Ireland
March - Aoril 2024
Japan Indies Film Festival (JIFF) Jury includes some of Japan's top filmmakers and other famous filmmakers as well as industry leaders on the Arts as Jury members from around the world.
Jury Members (among others):
*Elliot Grove - Founder and President of Raindance Film Festival in London, England.
*Suzanne Ballantyne - Program Director of Raindance Film Festival in London, England.
“The Yesterday has been selected for the 2023 festival. It is a wonderful film and we are so proud to be screening it at this year's festival. Congratulations on a great film! Well done.” - Oct 5, 2023 - JIFF Japan Indies Film Festival
Japan Indie Film Festival 2023 - An international independent film festival certified by the UK Raindance Film Festival. For two days on November 27th and 28th, 16 indie films carefully selected from submissions from all over the world will be screened. An award ceremony, and social gathering will be held at the same time. Admission is 2,000 yen for 1 day, 3,000 yen for 2 days (If you are looking for a 2-day combined ticket, please select the 3,000 yen ticket when making a reservation on the 27th) https://theaterguild.co/movie/detail/japanindies/ Or just arrive at the venue!
“Our history of ‘discovery’ demonstrates that current and upcoming winners of *Worldfest are truly the Spielbergs and Ang Lees of tomorrow. Congratulations to Benita von Sass, director of THE YESTERDAY for her exceptional work…!” May 21, 2022 — J. Hunter Todd
Founder and CEO of the *Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival Houston, Texas
(World’s oldest independent film festival at 56 years, having given top first awards to such directors as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, John Lee Hancock, Brian de Palma, Randal Kleiser, John Frankheimer, Ang Lee, The Coen Brothers and many others.) *Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
2023 MILAN GOLD AWARDS
2023 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN FILM FESTIVAL
2023 NEW YORK MOVIE AWARDS
“As you were selected for the long list of about 100 short films you can be assured your film was highly thought of by our selection committee. We really appreciate the high standard of your filmmaking”
October 30, 2022 - Murray Woodfield
Director, UK Film Festival London
2023 FLORENCE FILM AWARDS
2023 LA INDEPENDENT WOMEN FILM AWARDS
2023 CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
“Your directing is sensational… each scene led into each other beautifully… you cast perfectly… you used music beautifully… you edited beautifully”
May 21, 2022 — Steve Zacharias
LA California Author & Film/TV Screenwriter/Producer
“We received more than 800 films and works from filmmakers from all over the world […] The Grand Jury Award means that it is the jury's favorite film, the one that stands out from many other films” October 30, 2022 - Li Yaoguang
Festival Director, Shanghai Short Film Festival
“Your film is a moving and humorous story about love. We are impressed by the surreal imagery used throughout the film. The special effects are great and used to surrealistic effect.” Dec 19, 2022 - Lindsey Arrington Programming Coordinator, True/False Film Fest Columbia, Missouri U.S.A.
Mumbai, India 1ST TIER SELECTION
*VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL SOUTH ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL
Vancouver, Canada *Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
“We received more than 800 films and works from filmmakers from all over the world […] The Grand Jury Award means that it is the jury's favorite film, the one that stands out from many other films” October 30, 2022 - Li Yaoguang
Festival Director, Shanghai Short Film Festival
Li Yaoguang: Director, Associate Professor of Cinema; Graduated from School of Media, Literature and Journalism of Chongqing Normal University, and the School of Drama, Film and Television of Communication University of China. He received his Bachelor of Science (Video Engineering), Master of Arts (Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature) and Doctor of Arts (Radio and Television Arts) degrees respectively, and was a visiting scholar at the National University of Ireland.
“Your directing is sensational… each scene led into each other beautifully… you cast perfectly… you used music beautifully… you edited beautifully”
May 21, 2022 — Steve Zacharias
LA California Author & Film/TV Screenwriter/Producer
2022 TORONTO INDEPENDENT FESTIVAL OF CIFT
19TH ACCOLADE GLOBAL FILM COMPETITION
Cannes World Film Festival 2023
Best First Time Filmmaker - Grand Winner 2023 - June 16, 2023 Cannes FRANCE
LA Independent Women Film Festival 2023
Nominated - Best Female Director - July 14, 2023 Beverly Hills, California USA
Milan Gold Awards 2023
Best Narrative Short - Honourable Mention August, 2023 Milan, ITALY
Septimius Awards 2023
Official Selection - Nominated for Best Actress - Sept 25-26, 2023 Amsterdam NETHERLANDS
Berlin International Art Film Festival 2023
Official Selection - Nominated for Best Indie Short Film - Sept, 2023 Berlin GERMANY
New York Movie Awards 2023
Official Selection - Nominated for Best First Time Director - Oct. 29, 2023 New York, USA
Toronto International Women Film Festival 2023
Official Selection - Best Narrative Short - September, 2023 Toronto CANADA
17th Berlin International Art Film Festival
Winner - Best Indie Short - September 2023 - Berlin, GERMANY
Florence Film Awards 2023
Winner - Best Drama Short - September, 2023 Florence ITALY
JIFF Japan Indies Film Festival 2023
Official Selection - Best Narrative Short - Nov 27-28, 2023 Toyko, JAPAN
11th Goa Short Film Festival 2023
Official Selection - Best International Short - Nov 4, 2023 Goa, INDIA
Milton Keynes International Film Festival
Winner - Best Cinematography - November 2023 - Buckinghamshire, UK
Hollywood Gold Awards
Best Short Film - Winner - December 2023 - Hollywood, LA California USA
IndieFest Awards
Award of Merit - Best Short Film - Nov 2023 - La Jolla California, USA
New York Independent Cinema Awards 2023
Winner - Best Actress - Nov 17, 2023 New York, USA
21st Ed - San Francisco Arthouse Film Festival
Winner - Best International Short - Dec 13, 2024 - San Francisco, USA
Chicago Indie Film Awards
Winner - Best Narrative Short - December 2023 - Chicago, USA
Toronto Indie Shorts
Official Selection - Best Experimental - January 5, 2024 - Toronto, CANADA
Toronto Film and Script Awards
Winner - Best Narrative Short - 20th Ed., 2024 - Toronto, CANADA
Buenos Aires International Film Festival
Honourable Mention - Best Long Short - 2024 - Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
New York International Women Festival
Winner - Best Female Director - Short - 2024 - New York, USA
8th Indian World Film Festival
Special Festival Mention - Short - March 10, 2024 - Hyderabad, INDIA
Snow Leopard Film Festival (WLIFF)
Official Selection - Best Short Film - Nov 3, 2024 - Stockholm, Sweden
Austin International Art Film Festival
Winner - Best International Narrative Short - 2024 - Texas, USA
Reale Film Festival
Winner - Best Experimental Short - April 24, 2024 - Milan, ITALY
9th Bengal International Short Film Festival
Official Selection - Best Short - May 20-23, 2024 - West Bengal, INDIA
Santa Barbara International Movie Awards
Official Selection - Best Short - June 6, 2024 - Santa Barbara, USA
2024 SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL MOVIE AWARDS
2024 BENGAL INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
2024 REALE FILM FESTIVAL
2024 Austin International Art Festival
2024 Snow Leopard Film Festival (WWIFF)
2024 8th INDIAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
2024 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL WOMEN FESTIVAL
2024 BUENOS AIRES INDIE SHORTS AWARDS
2024 TORONTO FILM & SCRIPT AWARDS
2024 TORONTO INDIE SHORTS
2023 SAN FRANCISCO ARTHOUSE SHORT FESTIVAL
2023 CHICAGO INDIE FILM AWARDS
2023 FLORENCE FILM AWARDS
2023 NOV HOLLYWOOD GOLD AWARDS
2023 NEW YORK INDEPENDENT CINEMA AWARDS
2023 MILTON KEYNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
12th BANGALORE SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL
2023 10th GOA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
2023 MILAN GOLD AWARDS
2023 JIFF JAPAN INDIES FILM FESTIVAL
2023 SEPTIMIUS AWARDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
2023 17TH BERLIN INTERNATIONAL ART FILM FESTIVAL
2023 BANGALORE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
2023 PUNE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
10TH DARBHANGA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
“Your movie is sophisticated… your writing is very mature… you kept it compelling with a minimum of dialogue” May 21, 2022 — Steve Zacharias
LA California Author / Film & TV Screenwriter / Producer
15th JAIPUR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
“Your film is a moving and humorous story about love. We are impressed by the surreal imagery used throughout the film. The special effects are great and used to surrealistic effect.” Dec 19, 2022 - Lindsey Arrington Programming Coordinator, True/False Film Fest Columbia, Missouri U.S.A.
17TH SANTA MONICA FILM FESTIVAL
76TH FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL CINEMA DI SALERNO
“Our history of ‘discovery’ demonstrates that current and upcoming winners of *Worldfest are truly the Spielbergs and Ang Lees of tomorrow. Congratulations to Benita von Sass, director of THE YESTERDAY for her exceptional work…!” May 21, 2022 — J. Hunter Todd
Founder and CEO of the *Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival Houston, Texas
(World’s oldest independent film festival at 56 years, having given top first awards to such directors as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott, John Lee Hancock, Brian de Palma, Randal Kleiser, John Frankheimer, Ang Lee, The Coen Brothers and many others.) *Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
*55TH WORLDFEST-HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
*Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
*27TH FLICKERS’ RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
“We try our best to make sure great work and talented filmmaking do not go unnoticed. I want to take this time to congratulate you on your fine work. Your film was highly rated by our judges [and] has struck a chord with all of us here at “Flickers.” July 29, 2022 — Shawn Quirk
Program Director, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival
*Academy Award / Bafta / Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
Rhode Island, U.S.A *Academy Award / Bafta / Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
11TH MUMBAI SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022
2022 CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL
Cannes, France
“Your movie is sophisticated… your writing is very mature… you kept it compelling with a minimum of dialogue” May 21, 2022 — Steve Zacharias
LA California Author / Film & TV Screenwriter / Producer
2022 SHANGHAI SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Shanghai, China
25TH ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Los Angeles, CA USA
2022 LONG STORY SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Bucharest, Romania
Toronto, CANADA
La Jolla, CA U.S.A.
2023 PUNE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Pune, INDIA
WHAT IS LIFE? LIFE IS WHAT? WHAT LIFE IS … THE YESTERDAY IS A FILM ABOUT LONELINESS, ABOUT SEEKING THE DEEPER HUMANITY WITHIN THE HUMAN; ABOUT AWAKENING REAL LOVE AND FULFILLMENT BENEATH APPEARANCES, CONVENTION AND FORM
THE YESTERDAY GALLERY - Film Highlights
THE YESTERDAY GALLERY - Shooting Highlights
