On a hot day in Israel, a young female soldier named Ari goes from having fun with her girlfriend on a bus trip to slipping into a tense face-off with a man named Khaleel whom she suspects is a suicide bomber in the 2024 Academy Award qualifying short film Perspectives, written and directed by Neer Shelter.  

Ari must now choose between the other passengers’ lives and a potentially innocent man, with the world watching via live streams. Blending found footage with movie cameras, Perspectives is a 9-minute thriller that sends viewers on a choose-your-own-adventure journey while delving into the intricacies of how social media and cultural biases influence the narratives to the point of people being unable – and in some circumstances, unwilling -- to separate reality from fiction. 

Carmel Bin and Joy Rieger star in 'Perspectives' a 2024 Academy Award qualified short film directed by Neer Shelter. For Your Consideration in the Live Action category for Best Short Film.From the onset of the film, the two main characters seem glued to their cell phones and so fixated on snapping selfies that at first glance, it’s easy to wonder whether they are YouTubers or long-lost lovers. 

 As the plot thickens, we're quickly reminded that even in this hyper social world, many people remain stuck in their ways, living within narrow minded social bubbles while consuming propaganda from the news and social media feeds that keep people fearful and angry. 

Khaleel is silent throughout the entire movie, communicating only through body language. Ari thinks he’s weird and is concerned about him looking at her. Yet, she didn’t care about the older woman passenger who seemed annoyed with her making out with her girlfriend earlier during the bus trip.

Carlos Gharzuzi and Joy Rieger star in 'Perspectives' a 2024 Academy Award qualified short film directed by Neer Shelter. For Your Consideration in the Live Action category for Best Short Film.So, what makes Khaleel innocent, or is he a suicide bomber as Ari suspects?

If you’ve concluded that the latter applies in this situation when you watch the film, then what led to him becoming that way?

As a soldier, is Ari just trying to do her job or is she hateful or Anti-Arab?

Or, is she paranoid based on past experiences and/or teachings that have informed her thoughts and beliefs, and as a result, how she behaves in this particular situation? 

Perspectives illustrates how biases rooted in conflict that appear to have lasted from one generation to the next, leads to harassment and discriminatory acts as well as racial, ethnic and religious profiling that too often escalates into violent attacks – especially now in a time when social media tends to instigate drama, exploit harmful narratives and hinder pathways to peaceful resolutions between people from different cultures. 

Watch Perspectives here at this link to make up your mind about whether this interaction went well or sideways! 

Perspectives is currently vying for a spot on the Oscars shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film, following its premiere at BAFTA and Academy Awards qualifying Flickerfest.  

Perspectives also won Best Screenplay and Best Film at the Academy Awards qualifying St Kilda Film Festival.