ALWAYS FOREVER (2024) - SHORT FILM (16 MINS)

A law student whose loan application is denied due to a "karmic score" severely impaired by her previous life's crimes is given a limited-time travel service to convince her past self to cease criminal activity, only to discover a much darker truth about the system she's trying to follow.

A law Student named Robin’s loan application is denied because her "karmic score" is “subthreshold." This score measures a person's actions and predicts their fate based on moral deeds across multiple lives, and Robin's score was "severely impaired" by organized fraud crimes in a previous life. Recognizing her potential, the loan officer, Mr. Thornton, offers her a limited "time jumping” service to persuade her past self, Judith, to stop her criminal activities and improve her score.

Robin takes the “time jumping” service accompanied by a bank representative, Colton. However, soon after jumping to 1942, she is captured by her past self, Judith, and her group. Robin is questioned about her motives. Judith explains she began her organized crime—forging ration stamps, smuggling goods, and creating false employment records—to help those neglected by a system "designed to sustain itself," not people. When Robin fails to convince Judith, Colton reveals a darker truth: the "weird little wooden statues" in Mr. Thornton's office are actually "real people trapped in there." These individuals are "soul trapped" because they either "failed to cheat the bank" or "failed to deliver while they were time jumping." Upon hearing this, Robin chooses not to return to her time, realizing that the happiness she sought had always been hers to share. Robin and Colton attempt to "time jump out of here" together.

Synopsis

Behind-The-Scene Stills

“It's easy to fall into the illusion that time is "always forever" when you're young. I suppose this short film is my way of expressing an observation: we become so focused on chasing big accomplishments to feel fulfilled at a young age that we often overlook a simple yet profound truth — the pursuit of happiness begins within, here and now.”

  • Tibet Karayazgan

Director’s Statement

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The Art of Becoming (2025)

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Peace of Mind (2024)