An actor is forced to take a Lyft to the Emmys and becomes embroiled in his driver's personal life. John de Menil writes and directs “Nominated,” a tumultuous comedy that targets the elevated manner which we treat celebrities, and throws one — a perfectly coiffed man in a tuxedo ready for a night...

Eric's strategy for crossing the street raises some big questions for Megan about the future of their relationship. “Lifehack,” directed by Will Dennis, is a quick-hitter, one-shot comedy set on the streets of NYC (Soho, to be precise). The bickering couple heads to a wedding while quarreling on ...

In this surreal and lighthearted mini-musical, we follow a young couple through an unusual wedding ceremony. A song by Dekunle forms “HUNNYBUNS: A Short Musical Film,” directed by John Connor Hammond, a free-flowing oddity that begins with a Honey Bun snack cake floating in a tub of milk, and rem...

An emotionally unstable outcast attempts to make a connection with three unsuspecting college students. “Angel of the Night,” directed by Nick Verdi, is a pitch black character study (darkly funny depending on your tolerance for aggressively anti-social, antagonizing behavior) that follows a 35-y...

A mysterious woman finds her way into a stranger’s apartment resulting in an oddly unsettling encounter. India Donaldson directs “Hannahs,” a darkly funny, increasingly uncomfortable character study led by two wonderfully nuanced performances from Amy Zimmer and Brenna Palughi. Hannah returns hom...

An absurd comedy about a woman exploring her own misogyny through fantasies about having a penis and hatred for traditional gender roles. “Laying Out,” directed by Joanna Arnow, casually wades into deeply uncomfortable waters with a fearless sense of humor. On a day at the beach, two women have a...

Two best friends retrace their steps in hopes of locating a missing item after a seemingly average night. “Journal,” directed by Alex Bliss, takes what should be a mundane scenario and pumps it full of anxiety and paranoia. The friends spend the night getting high and watching TV. The next day, o...

A struggling novelist throws a dinner party to announce his acceptance into a prestigious writer's program, but his plans are soon overshadowed by a more pressing matter. Joe Stankus directs “Good News,” an elegantly constructed exploration of a relationship between two men dealing with varying l...

On his way to Brad's animal-themed housewarming party, Richard stops at CVS and calls a close friend for advice about his costume. “The Woodpecker,” made by the directing team of Courtney Bush, Will Carington, and Jake Goicoechea, is a subtly funny slice-of-life sequence. In other hands, it might...

The third film we’ve featured from Norwegian director Henry K. Norvalls (although this one was actually released first), “Shower” is another riveting short about identity and sexuality. In it, a young man showering in a locker room hears a faint noise and decides whether or not to respond. Viscer...

Three devoted Cornholio enthusiasts struggle to make ends meet in New York. Presented as a direct cinema black and white documentary by the Maysles' Brothers, “Cornholios” (actually directed by Jess Lane), is an inspired low-art gag about being obsessed with a character from “Beavis and Butthead”...

An army of Catholic high school girls prepare for their upcoming play while dealing with the ugliness of adolescence and the intrusion of a boy into their drama troupe. Chloe Xtina directs “The First Taste,” an expressive coming-of-age character study about the passions and fascinations of a grou...

The relationship between a young man and woman slowly deteriorates as they struggle to come to grips with a past decision. Directed by Christian Nolan Jones. Cast: Patrick Cage, Zoë Soul, Curtiss Cook Jr., Corey Champagne & ReGina Niccole.

Lisa has been blessed with a gifted child, but must grapple with the costs of utilizing the miracle to keep a roof over her family's heads. Directed by Kristian King. Cast: Veanna Black, Jasmyn Renee Coleman.

The dad and step-dad of Branson, a 13 year old boy who loves Skippy peanut butter, try their best to connect during a visitation exchange. Directed by Tynan DeLong (our unofficial ‘18 resident filmmaker, prolific output here), “Dad & Step-Dad,” merges the mundane and absurd, call it cinéma vérité...

A group of friends spend a lazy summer working odd jobs as field recordists. The new short from Tynan DeLong ("The Matrix", "Cornholios", "Beats") is his freakiest yet, a psychedelic comedy starring Steve Girard, Caroline Yost, and Jessy Morner-Ritt as audio tape bootleggers who get paid $30 a po...

Zablah, a demon baby boomer, seeks to convince a millennial to eat at Applebee’s. Ryan Betschart and Rachel Nakawatase direct “Zablah,” a gritty comic oddity shot on 16mm (using a film stock that looks almost like 8mm) that uses a clickbait headline as a springboard to tackle a generational divid...

On the brink of adolescence, a young girl struggles with reality as she combats her fear of growing up. Directed by Sara Boldt.

A lonely insurance adjuster in Florida becomes consumed by his desire to meet his internet girlfriend, who claims to be a princess from a faraway country. Blair Waters directs “Princess Rita,” a uniquely realized portrait of an odd man dreaming of a new life. While composing a series of love lett...

A queer sci-fi about 10 aliens in human host bodies learning how to be men. Joseph Sackett directs “Dominant Species,” a profound and strangely funny exploration of what it means to be a man, and a commentary on social conformity and masculinity as dictated by narrow cultural and biological stand...

A group of young friends in New York City spend their days trying to get by working retail or coffee shop jobs while scheming for easier money or a better apartment. An endearingly shaggy depiction of the lifestyle and attitudes of three city kids. Director, Writer: Joyce Keokham. Starring: Joyce...

Jess is alone in Tarpon Springs, Florida on Christmas Eve. “Storms Named After People,” directed by Sarah Ballard, is a poetic glimpse into the headspace and disaffection of a young woman skulking around a small tourist town avoiding her father. She tries to delay and defer — instead of returning...

A young artist struggles to make a movie about a young artist who struggles to make a movie. Zenzelé Soa-Clarke directs and stars in “An Independent Movie About a Young Artist,” a meta breakdown on the tropes of slice-of-life indie filmmaking (“mumblecore, character driven, all the shit”), and an...

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a mother returns her son’s missed phone call. “It’s Your Mother Calling,” directed by NoBudge favorite Travis Wood, is a touching animated micro-short that uses a real voicemail message over a series of colorful visuals. It’s a portrait of longing and motherly advice...