The New York Shorts International Film Festival is about to host a moment of cross-cultural reckoning — and it comes with serious awards-season weight. The Soldier and the Butterfly, the latest project from Rosso Films International, will make its official New York City debut at a festival that carries Canadian Screen Awards qualifying status, placing it in the same conversation as Canada’s highest film honors.
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 9, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Rosso Films International has confirmed the New York City Premiere of The Soldier and the Butterfly, directed by AFI Award-winning filmmaker Stefano Da Fre, at the New York Shorts International Film Festival.
What elevates this screening beyond a standard festival slot is the festival’s standing as an official qualifying event for the Canadian Screen Awards — frequently described as the Canadian equivalent of the Oscars.
The film unfolds against the harrowing backdrop of World War II, tracing an unlikely bond between a Japanese soldier and a Korean woman forced into comfort service. The narrative leans on visual poetry, restrained performances, and a sweeping musical score to examine compassion, humanity, and redemption amid devastating circumstances.
Laura Pellegrini serves as executive partner and producer under the Rosso Films International banner, continuing the company’s track record of visually rich, emotionally charged storytelling.
Early reactions from critics and festival audiences have already branded Da Fre’s work a “cinematic triumph” and “a must-see masterpiece.”
“This film is a labor of profound reverence and narrative commitment,” says director Stefano Da Fre. “We sought to tell a story that honors the dignity and humanity of those who endured unimaginable hardship, offering a vision of empathy, remembrance, and artistic truth. To share this project at a festival recognized as a Canadian Screen qualifier makes me incredibly proud. It is a milestone for our company Rosso Films International, and further a highlight of Canadian/Korean cinema for a film that recently went through QEPC (Quebec English Language Production Council)”
PREMIERE & SCREENING DETAILS
Event: New York Shorts International Film Festival — NYC Premiere
Film: The Soldier and the Butterfly
Director: Stefano Da Fre
Producer: Laura Pellegrini | Rosso Films International
Date & Time: October 14th, 2026, 2pm
Location: Cinema Village – Address: 22 East 12th Street (corner of University Place) New York, NY, 10003
Tickets: https://www.nyshorts.net/event-details/weds-oct-14-2-00-pm-prog-32
Official Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BksArvEZ0uU&feature=youtu.be
ABOUT ROSSO FILMS INTERNATIONAL
Rosso Films International is an award-winning independent production company focused on impactful, visually striking, and socially relevant cinema. Led by Stefano Da Fre and Laura Pellegrini, the company produces narrative features, shorts, and documentaries that explore complex human truths for international audiences.
MEDIA CONTACT & PRESS INQUIRIES
Mark L. Goldman
Goldman McCormick PR, INC
+1 (516)639-0988
mark@goldmanmccormick.com
Why it matters: This premiere positions a Canadian-Korean co-production on an international stage at a festival that feeds directly into Canadian Screen Awards eligibility, signaling growing cross-border recognition for stories that confront historical trauma. For audiences, it’s a chance to see a film that pairs festival-circuit prestige with a deeply human narrative before awards season momentum builds.
