Based on a true story from the ongoing conflict between Ukraine-Russia, writer-director Franz Böhm’s ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS explores themes of human resilience, courage and sacrifice in the face of the cruel randomness of war. The story follows the harrowing journey of Ivan, a 17-year-old Ukrainian boy, and his father, who find themselves trapped in a makeshift bunker as war rages on around them. The short was nominated for Best International Film at the Oscar-qualifying Show Me Shorts Film Festival 2024 and has been nominated in the British Short Film category for the 2025 BAFTAs.
Ivan and his father, operating a makeshift hospital at the frontline of war, are tested when a platoon of soldiers approach their building, forcing them to make a difficult decision to protect their patients and their own lives.
Writer-director Franz Böhm from Stuttgart, Germany, directed his first film, HARMONIE DER ANDEREN, at age 16. For the German TV Channel ZDF, Franz created the documentary CHRISTMAS WISHES, showcasing homeless youth’s lives which was selected as the opening for the German Youth Film Awards. Franz then directed a short drama, GOOD LUCK, which premiered at the British Independent Film Festival. Franz’s debut feature film, DEAR FUTURE CHILDREN, won the audience award at its world premiere at the 42nd Max-Ophüls- Preis Film Festival. DEAR FUTURE CHILDREN was nominated for the First Steps Award and won audience & main jury awards at the 2022 German Documentary Awards. The film was distributed in over 40 countries and watched by over 90,000 cinema- goers before being released on Netflix DACH.
Hayder Hoozeer is a BAFTA-nominated producer developing and producing a slate of short, feature, and TV projects under his production label, WHO’S HERE PRODUCTIONS. His work focuses on complex relationships and multi-faceted characters, challenging everyday perspectives and audience perceptions. Having experienced homelessness in his youth, Hayder is deeply inspired by how life experience shape identity and perspective. He believes in the power of film as escapism, providing a voice to those enduring hardships. Awarded a BAFTA Kirsh Scholarship and the Toledo Scholarship by renowned producer and former BAFTA chairman Duncan Kenworthy, Hayder pursued a Producing Fiction MA at The National Film & Television School, graduating in 2023. His film Rock, Paper, Scissors earned a BAFTA nomination and premiered at the Academy Award® Qualifying Show Me Shorts Film Festival 2024. It was also an official selection at BAFTA and BIFA qualifying festivals, including Aesthetica 2024 and the British Urban Film Festival 2024. Hayder’s films have screened at Academy Award® and BAFTA-qualifying festivals worldwide. Sayeh (Shadow) was nominated for the Audience Award at ShortShorts 2024, Ocras was long-listed for Best Student Short Film, Best British Director, and Best Production Design at the British Short Film Awards 2023, Kathy & Jeb was nominated for the Méliès d’Argent at Lund 2023, and Claudia was long-listed for a British Short Film Award 2024 after selections at S.O.U.L & MADRIFF 2024. Before the NFTS, Hayder built his career from the ground up in film and high-end TV drama production. His credits include ‘Blue Story’, ‘Brian & Charles’, ‘Everybody’s Talking About Jamie’, and ‘County Lines’. He started as a runner/driver, later advancing to production coordinator/manager and associate producer on feature films, before stepping into producing short films, music promos, and commercials. Now at the helm of WHO’S HERE? PRODUCTIONS, Hayder is dedicated to crafting bold, thought-provoking, and inspiring narratives that push creative boundaries and resonate worldwide.
This incredible short has been nominated for a 2025 BAFTA.
