When Sherri gets arrested for shoplifting from work, she needs to find money for legal fees. Amandine Thomas writes, directs and stars in “Cherry Cola,” a dramatic portrait delivered with sharp-edged dialogue and vivid characterizations about a young woman on the verge of a breakdown. Living with...

In this collection of anonymous stories shared by queer men, a connection is drawn between queer life and nature. “I Wish There Was a Guy Term for I Love You,” directed by Andy Motz, is an experimental documentary narrated with tales of first time flings and intimate meet-ups framed as a series o...

Estranged ex-step-siblings reunite over dinner but find themselves with opposing views on the future of their relationship. Eliza Jiménez Cossio and Lexi Tannenholtz direct “We Should Get Dinner!” a dark comedy about fractured bonds and lingering resentments. Abby and Sean grew up together but ha...

Two men in bloody shirts watch a French film and chat about Cheese-Wiz as a shell-shocked woman tries to make sense of it all. “Be Leaving,” directed by Brandon Wilson, is a surreal avant-garde film oozing with uncertainty as it reveals surprising doses of humor. Via deadpan banter, the two men d...

While navigating a busy work day, a woman reflects on a profound personal decision. “Polished,” directed by Colleen Dodge, is a sensory vignette tracking a vulnerable woman through a difficult day in New York City. Jane attends to incessant needs from her job but she is mentally elsewhere. Trying...

An anxious teen responds to a Craigslist ad and strikes an unexpected connection with a stranger behind a sheet. “Personals,” directed by Sasha Argirov, is an engrossing drama that details a would-be sexual encounter and the corresponding awkwardness and vulnerability. The nervous young man enter...

A house dog escapes into the woods at night to follow the psychedelic temptations of the natural world. Our take: “Dog in the Woods,” by directors Christian Chapman and Paul Jason Hoffman, is a dark and trippy adventure straying from the safe confines of domesticity for the wild woods, told from ...

Afflicted by a mysterious case of hyper-empathy, a young woman stumbles across a group that claims to treat the disorder. “Empath,” directed by Alec Moeller, is an engrossing character study lifted by a powerhouse performance by Betsey Brown. Moving through everyday life is a minefield of emotion...

A woman turning 30 returns home dejected from life not living up to expectations. Chanel Dupree directs “Next Stop,” a surrealistic dark comedy that renders a dream-like quality in its melange of annoyances. She repeats affirmations to herself (“my destiny is bright and full”) while she avoids te...

A man is confronted by his violent past while living in a limbo of his own making. “The Seventh Circle,” directed by Alexandra Velasco, is a frenzied experimental horror film soaked in isolation and ambiguity. Whispering to himself in Spanish, a man called El Minotauro moves through a cavernous h...

In this subversive mockumentary, a queer Latine new media performance artist is interviewed by a “woke” magazine editor set on defining her story and the meanings of her art. “Griselda,” directed by Denisse Griselda Reyes, tackles a host of themes related to identity, aesthetics, and Christian ic...

A medley of overheard banter and personal musings about love and the cliches of love, i.e. “the same little message every night.” Directed by Peter Wagner, “It's All Related!” is an experimental animated film where mundane conversations about nachos, bitcoin, and psychiatry are flavored with a de...

In this unsparing portrait of a contentious relationship between father and child, a young filmmaker explores family history through impromptu interviews and old photographs. A reflexive essay documentary, “Father, Can’t You See I’m Burning?”, directed by Grant Conversano, offers a penetrating st...

When Cass’s expectations about her first time aren’t met, she confronts the boy who took her virginity. Connie O’Connor directs “In Your Sheets,” a coming-of-age snapshot that captures a complex set of feelings pre and post first-time sex. Early in the evening, Cass is filled with jitters and exc...

A high school freshman deals with the pressures of popularity when her best friend enters a new world of boys and alcohol. Jaelyn Ellis directs “Girlhood,” a coming-of-age snapshot on teenage social life and evolving friendships. Mia loves going to disco nights at the local roller rink, but her f...

After spending the day hanging out and playing video games, unexpected tension bubbles up between two young friends as they flip through an issue of Penthouse magazine. Max Tullio directs “In Our Secret Penthouse,” a coming-of-age vignette about childhood innocence, teen masculinity and sexual aw...

An uninvited houseguest makes herself at home. “Sticky,” directed by Aisha Schliessler, is a stylish experiment — an exploration of a living space inhabited by somebody who doesn’t live there. With unclear intentions, the woman makes her way through the house: in the kitchen, she drinks from a bo...

A fashion-forward model questions his self-image when he crosses paths with the "cooler" version of himself on a photoshoot. “Coolguy,” directed by Nicky & Z, is a pop comedy sketch about overthinking one’s appearance. A man struts onto set exuding confidence and swagger, owing to his carefully c...

Trafficked and labeled "high mileage," Bee looks to bargain for her freedom. Kayana W directs “Lizard,” a dark drama centered around sex trafficking, drug dealing, and cyclical consequences. Seeking a way out, Bee attempts to recruit a younger girl to enter the ring, hoping to free herself from s...

Born into a life of opulence, Anna finds herself stuck in a plagued dream state. Horace Martins directs “The Duchess of Zion,” a striking experimental film capturing a life of beauty and decay, a mix of the haunted and the ethereal. Soon after her birth, Anna’s wealthy parents split, her dad ditc...

In three New York City vignettes, a handful of characters engage (both actively and passively) with the soundtracks of their current lives. Ray Smiling directs “Play This at My Funeral,” a film that revolves around music and corresponding moments of humor or enthusiasm. A Times Square Spiderman f...

Commissioned to make a short profile of an emerging pop star, a 3-person American film crew spends six days in Asia searching for their subject. Brook Linder directs “Time Code,” a hyperkinetic meta narrative that coheres improbably around the creation of a piece of glossy online content in 2016....

When two friends accept an invitation to see the new couch of an up-and-coming comedian/actor, it turns into an evening of heavy drinking and idiosyncratic self-expression. Kailee McGee directs “The Idea of a You,” a self-referential portrait of the lives and romantic inclinations of three L.A. a...

In a series of quietly absurd vignettes, a group of people move through their lives in anticipation of a punchline they can’t see. “Slow Vine," directed by Glenn Fellman, patiently explores the quotidian spaces and timelines turned askew by surreal touches. A man in a suit aggressively rides an e...