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Pillow Talk
Two unnerving experiences with “good guys” highlight the different ways that two young women react to men and the gray areas of sex and desire. Written by and starring Elizabeth O'Donnell and Annalisa Plumb, “Pillow Talk” is a candid exploration of the dynamics of sexual intimacy, and the dialog...
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Brain Job: Perception
Parodying a psychology edutainment program, this fictional broadcast explores the world of optical illusions and beyond. Clare Ruddy’s “Brain Job: Perception” is a hilarious spoof on pop psychology filled with absurd animations and non sequitur riddles. Ruddy plays the host and offers a stream of...
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The Arbiter
Two teams of men compete in a game of their own invention until a problem arises and an arbiter steps in to solve their dispute. Kati Skelton directs “The Arbiter,” a comedy made of dramatic prose, friars, and fishermen. In the banquet hall of a motel, two teams of men stand divided. They’ve been...
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A Kidnapping In Echo Park
A young woman goes on a ride, witnesses a kidnapping, and runs into an old friend. “A Kidnapping in Echo Park,” directed by Elijah Guess, is a Los Angeles day-in-the-life through the eyes of an idling individual. Laid out on a yoga mat, Claire scrolls on her phone. She takes a scooter ride to Ech...
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Wire & Cloth
A young woman reflects on her youth in Queens during the early 90s. Swetha Regunathan directs “Wire & Cloth,” a second gen, coming-of-age account with the feeling of re-enacted memories aided by a meditative narration. Anika, the child of Indian immigrants, spends the day with her mother. The you...
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Excursion
A first date is disrupted by car trouble and a mysterious hitchhiker. Boothe Carlson’s “Excursion” is a lo-fi voyage from the inside of a navy Prius where a trio of odd characters are locked in a series of awkward exchanges. May and Thomas have their first date at a mall in Queens. In the parking...
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On God
A near death experience grants a man the ability to see angels. Andrew Theodore Balasia directs “On God,” an edgy comedy starring Al Warren, Edy Modica and Bambina. Kream (played by Warren) had plans to put his homie, Big Mike, in check for killing his brother’s dog, but it backfired and sent Kre...
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Dot on Earth
A lonely actress forms new relationships with her drug dealer (an aspiring poet), and a once cancelled podcaster with addiction issues. Jack Dunphy directs “Dot on Earth,” a dramedy contending with the creative aspirations and complex affections amongst a trio of young people living in Chicago. D...
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Oops! I've Been Driven Mundane
A hermitic stop-motion animator is tasked with caring for a collection of strange plants and a bullfrog. Nick Schoenbrodt directs ”Oops! I’ve Been Driven Mundane,” an eerie dramedy driven by its frantic lead and bold visual storytelling. Morkie rises in the morning, stretching her arms and lettin...
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Test Shoot 2
A group of friends and collaborators theorize about their recent test shoot. Filmmaking collective, Babbling Brook, presents “TEST SHOOT 2,” a satirical mumblecore snapshot on half-baked creative endeavors and meandering procrastination. Over a FaceTime call, two filmmakers discuss the film we’re...
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Over Easy
After getting badly sunburned, a young woman’s misfortune leads her on a strange and unexpected journey through Palm Springs. Maria Belafonte’s “Over Easy” savvily and playfully accounts the adventures of a mysterious young woman in a southern California landscape. Her back is scorched. She walks...
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Hindsight
Through his parents’ VHS-recorded journeys following the fall of the Iron Curtain, the son of two Ukrainians embarks on a meditation of roots, memory, and culture. Max Rykov’s “Hindsight” is a poignant piece of personal documentary with historical insights on heritage and the effects of geopoliti...
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Beyond Failure
After falling down a YouTube fitness rabbit hole, a woman dives deep into a new obsession. Marissa Losoya’s “Beyond Failure” is a comedic docu-fictional study of a spontaneous foray into sculpting a new ass. What starts as a simple online search for stretches to fix her lower back becomes an all-...
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Aitana Needs a Gun
When two reckless best friends get evicted from their sublet apartment, they embark on a road trip upstate with a pair of Germans attempting to trap them into green-card marriages. “Aitana Needs a Gun,” directed by Chris Martinez and Alex Sulock, is a screwball comedy meets road film carried by a...
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Termite
After a man receives notice he’s slated to be executed for no discernible reason, he looks for a ride to the injection site. Ian White’s “Termite” is a dark comedy bleakly reflecting on a seemingly arbitrary bureaucratic decision, and the universal dilemma of finding a ride. Hank receives the att...
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PONYTAILHEAD
A tipsy young woman calls her ex over to kill a bug. “PONYTAILHEAD,” written by and starring Piper Verbrick and Brent Michal, is an unfiltered slice-of-life about the clumsy reconnection between recently separated partners. He isn’t thrilled to be summoned to her apartment to take care of a bug b...
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Everything Tastes Strange Today
On an endless summer day in the privacy of their garden, a twelve-year-old girl vies for the attention of her older brother. Kristina Spassovska directs “Everything Tastes Strange Today,” a 16mm coming-of-age set in a lush Bulgaria. The young girl takes a big bite out of a freshly-picked tomato. ...
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We Are Always Hiding
A young man and his girlfriend seek a resolution amid a life filled with confusion and ennui. With an unorthodox portrayal of its two leads, Marcus Soltzberg’s “We Are Always Hiding” delicately looks at a romantic relationship as it occurs in time and space. Trevor and Skye try to get back into t...
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Almost Fantasy
After four months of traveling, a young woman returns to her hometown of Los Angeles and catches up on her mail. “Almost Fantasy,” directed by Nancy Chidi, is a 16mm slice-of-life portrait on friendship and passing time. The young woman named Lake reads postcards from different friends as she asc...
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Third Wheel
A drunk girl chats with her Uber driver after leaving a work happy hour. Sari Rae Eichenblatt’s “Third Wheel” comically portrays a scene of oversharing from the backseat. Hannah, a job recruiter, dives deep into the details of what’s currently going on at work, getting very specific about her com...
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Citric Acid
Two artists find their friendship at a breaking point as they compete for the same fellowship award. Elenie Chung’s “Citric Acid” is a portrait of competition in the art world and the shifting intimacy within a close relationship. Aino and Yu Xing are friends and sometimes collaborators who share...
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Nell
As the date of her first televised appearance draws near, a cello prodigy and her stage mother grapple with public expectations. Clara Mamet directs and stars in “Nell,” an enthralling dark comedy dissecting and disassembling themes of fame and physical appearance. A slow punch-in brings us into ...
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Your Mailbox is Full
After clearing a scattered archive of voicemails, a woman reconnects with a frequent caller. Allie Viti’s “Your Mailbox is Full” is a candid 16mm snapshot of Brooklyn, narrated by a colorful spectrum of voices. There are spam messages from Publisher’s Clearing House and auto insurance companies, ...
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The Role
A cook is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to act in a film. “The Role,” directed by Paolo Chianta, is a hand-drawn animated film that traces a quiet man’s foray into an unfamiliar world. After discovering that he bears a striking resemblance to their father, a pair of siblings ask the co...