South Dakota!!

Thrilled to announce that two shorts by Mailuki Films have been chosen to be screened at the Black Hills Film Festival Oct. 2 – 4, 2026 at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD:

AITÄ, by Ibon Landa / Spain
LEAF, by Horatiu Carpiuc / Romania

Both films will compete for the BRONZE FEDORA and the RISING STAR awards.

The screenings will be at the gorgeous Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD.

AITÄ and LEAF are two of the most successful short films of the year on the international film festival circuit.

Ibon Landa about AITÄ

AITÄ was born from a desire to explore the weight of silence, trauma, and the hidden family secrets that shape who we are. Through the story of Beñat and his daughter Malen, we wanted to portray how guilt, loss, and the need for redemption can coexist within the same emotional space.
We were drawn to the way past wounds echo through generations — and how, even in the midst of pain, moments of love and connection can emerge. AITÄ delves into the complexity of family bonds, the tension between inherited loyalties and chosen ones, and the pursuit of truth as the only path toward reconciliation.
The Basque landscape, with its rough beauty and emotional restraint, became more than a setting — it mirrors the characters’ inner worlds. Every stone Beñat lifts represents the weight of memory: what we try to carry, and what we must finally let go.
Our goal was to create an intimate and emotionally charged film that reflects both the fragility and the strength of the human spirit. A story that invites the audience to face their own truths and to believe that, even in the darkest moments, there is always room for redemption.

Horatiu Carpiuc about LEAF:

Frunză (Leaf) encourages communication, rational debate, and the willingness to embrace new ideas and perspectives — ones that may differ from the realities we are accustomed to.
I wish I could say that my motivation was to explore the theme of coming of age, which is a challenge faced by both characters. On one hand, there is the impulsive, naturally rebellious nature of the daughter, shaped by her age and on the other hand, there is the father, who is struggling with the fear of a third possible abandonment. Beyond reconnecting with his daughter, the father ultimately gains a deeper understanding — that sooner or later, every child must choose their own path. That is his own personal growth.
I could also say that I wanted to portray what healthy communication should look like, or to reflect an education rooted in culture and values, or even to shed light on the reality of domestic violence in Romania — an issue that remains widespread. The truth is, Leaf is my message in a bottle, cast into the ocean of time, addressed to my own daughter. A reminder that every conversation left unspoken shapes who we become.