A young woman’s birthday surprise for her friend collides with a father and son’s attempt to leave ashes at Universal Studios Hollywood. “Aaron and His Dad Try to Find Closure & Lucy Celebrates Andie’s Birthday at Universal CityWalk Hollywood,” orchestrated by Brad Roelandt, wears its title liter...

When a wealthy white man’s young black escort stops seeing him, he tries to find a replacement. “The Rentals,” directed by Nicholas Andre, is a darkly comedic snapshot of an aging man’s demand for desire and intimacy. The picture begins slightly unclear. Fred seems to be dozing off as James, his ...

A young woman kills the vibe when she confronts her ex-boyfriend at a party. Michael Calciano directs “But He’s Gay,” a biting comedy about an unraveling social kerfuffle. Maeve arrives to a party eager to make the rounds but everyone is uncomfortable with her presence; eyebrows raise, heads turn...

An exploration of the "man on the street" interview industry through the POV of an editor. Andrew Bourne directs “Man on the Street,” a satire putting short form content, and its creators, into bleak perspective. We open to a series of short-form spoofs scrolling one after the other. Names includ...

A young couple discuss being new parents and their own mortality. In “When I Get Home,” Nuala Sanchez compiles the audio-visual journal entries of her own parents, forming an intimate and expressive reflection on parenthood. Electronic hums hiss at a low frequency. DV footage comes into focus. On...

A fourteen-year-old girl experiences a sleepwalking episode, leaving her haunted and determined to solve its mystery. Molly Longwell directs “Disco,” a careful, psychological thriller involving youth friendship and abuse. Jojo sleepwalks to an undisclosed barn in the middle of the evening. A whit...

A girl tells her crush that she loves him and then second guesses herself. “Sweet,” directed by Isabela de la Grana, warmly embraces the excitement and angst of young romance in the aftermath of such a confession. Judy sits across from Danny in her bedroom. He wears a cowboy hat and plays a tende...

A literary translator from Sao Paulo moves to New York to work on the novel of a dying author, but, adrift in an unfamiliar city, she struggles to stay grounded. Lucas Manuel-Scheibe directs “Terra Natal,” a dramatic observation of homesickness told through low-key magical realism. Upon her arriv...

A man discovers the suicide note of an acquaintance, only to find the drafts that were left behind. Eli Speigel’s “Gone Fishin” is a dark and unsettled portrait of disassociation. A man stands inside a flower shop. As he tells the florist, he’s there to purchase a bouquet of flowers to conceal a ...

A man desperately fights for his place in the world by defeating a child in a game of basketball. “Public Park,” directed by Alosha Robinson, features Brian Fiddyment as a meandering man caught in a series of peculiar exchanges. Dan begins his day purchasing unlabeled shampoos and creams from an ...

A man finds a woman washed up on shore; when she reveals her identity, he goes to great lengths to become part of her world. “Dolphin Boy,” directed by Arielle Bordow and Tyler Zonies, is a lo-fi fantasy film—a snapshot of longing rendered with deadpan campiness and body-horror elements. While sm...

A man's compulsion to know his partner's secrets leads into underworld contact with the non-human. Judd Myers directs "Destroyer,” a psychological horror piece where consequence lurks behind insecurity and skepticism. Joan has evening plans with a friend, but her boyfriend, Cary suspects otherwis...

Struggling to keep his own mental health stable, a disability support worker spends the day with the young man he assists. “Carer,” directed by Oliver Wicks, intimately observes two men, their friendship, and the modes at which they confront their lives. Waiting for Mitch, his caretaker, to arriv...

In the aftermath of an audition, a delusional actress takes her positive outlook to the extreme. Ava Hase’s “Thank You” explores a cycle of rationalization and overcompensation while discussing her performance with a casting agent. The audition has ended but the camera stays rolling. In a ramblin...

An emerging filmmaker asks himself whether it's possible to make something meaningful in 10 minutes. “Kar,” directed by Nick Allen, is a self-reflexive film about trying, failing, and trying again to make a film. Under a looming cloud of anxiety, Nick gears up to make his road film about a bright...

A biracial student and sex worker confronts the difference in her lifestyle between night and day. Crosbie Roper directs and stars in “Epinephrine,” a psychological-horror piece processing racial identity, trauma, and sex-work. During the day, “Lil Bit” goes to class to study architecture. In the...

A group of young people in Montreal participate in a DIY dating show. Maurane presents “Love in the Mile-End,” a lo-fi satire of reality TV where contestants compete for a $500 prize by answering a series of questions about their love life. It’s an eccentric cast of skaters, unemployed lovers, co...

A group of young people in Montreal participate in a DIY dating show. Maurane presents “Love in the Mile-End,” a lo-fi satire of reality TV where contestants compete for a $500 prize by answering a series of questions about their love life. It’s an eccentric cast of skaters, unemployed lovers, co...

When a man loses a couple’s dog while house sitting, he’ll do whatever it takes to get their beloved pup back. “DogHouse,” directed by Jon Plester, takes consequences to an extreme, sending a normally nonchalant individual into an uncharted human experiment. In a rush, Chris and Hannah depart for...

A fight between a dismissive man and his unhinged girlfriend draws the attention of the man’s pestering sister. “No Concept,” directed by Vogue Giambri, accounts a high-octane, aggro afternoon of stomach pain and pettiness. Waiting in the front yard of his father’s New Jersey home in anticipation...

Four young friends go on a holiday in the French countryside and fall in love with each other. Andrea Studinger directs “Tomorrow, My God,” a candid observation filled with dry humor and lovely visuals of a friend group and their messy romantic feelings. On a visit to a vacation home, cousins Mat...

Two girls weaponize the digital gaze to turn a stranger into content. Logan Fields’ “Normie” is a snappy scrutinization where shit-talking gets put into perspective in a Los Angeles park. Two girls, with Erewhon smoothie and Juul in hand, observe an innocently unbothered man as he waits for the b...

A young woman struggles with grief following the loss of her mother. Zimam Alem directs “Geza,” an observation of mourning told through reflective narration, an old voice message from her mom, and a day-in-the-life observation. The young woman (played by Zimam Alem) wakes up to start her day in N...

Abandoned by the roommate she'd been expecting to live with, a young woman finds herself stuck in an apartment she can’t afford. Justin Senkbile’s 16mm slice-of-life film, “We Live Here Now,” follows a newly arrived Chicago transplant caught adrift in wintry solitude. Carolyn wheels her single lu...