Manhattan Film Festival

Only a few tenacious human writers (Brian, Edward, and Alice) remain in the realm of creation while flawlessly beautiful sentences created by Athena (AI writer) bombard human writers every minute. Now, human writers must decide whether to survive until death as writers or leave the realm of creation to live as human beings.

"Down's Paradox" is a short film about a teenage boy who succumbs to the bad influences of his new friends. Keyshawn, a 16 year old living in Harlem, befriends a group of older boys who are the most popular kids at his high school. The boys get high, have sex and listen to drill music. After hanging out with the boys for a while, Keyshawn becomes one of them. He goes to buy drugs with them and even smokes for the first time. One day after school, the boys ask him if he's "down". Then, they give him a gun and invite him to break into their drug dealer's apartment on the weekend. Hesitant to join them, he goes home, stashes the gun and faces his mother who can sense that something's going down.

Bill and Mare are having trouble maintaining their farm, which has been passed down generation to generation. Bill and Marie protect their home from invaders, attempting to take the already scarce number of resources left in their farm. A letter arrives from the United States Government and the Georgia Railroad Company, announcing that their land is in direct collision course with the plans created for a new railroad, while stating that a U.S Marshal would come and give them a check for the property. Bill’s bravery quickly turns into fear and confusion. Later that night the two discuss as Marie says that the option is to leave the house, but Bill decides to stay and fight. Bill and Marie argue, making it clear that Marie won’t bend her will, especially with their child’s life in the line. Bill will have to choose between his legacy and his family...

Shamma Al Bastaki, a poet, writer and artist from Dubai, graduated from NYU Abu Dhabi in 2018. In May 2023, Shamma graduated from Harvard University with an MA in Middle East Studies. As a surprise and as a tribute to the extraordinary John Sexton, President Emeritus, NYU, and Co-Founder of NYU Abu Dhabi (& NYU Shanghai), Shamma recited two of her poems, “A Bridge in Space” and “Woven” at the Sheikh Zayed Founder’s Memorial. An incredibly moving experience.

You think you could do whatever you want with her, but you are wrong.