An aspiring pop star travels to Hollywood to meet a music producer she met over Instagram. Samantha Carroll directs and stars in “Love Liz,” a dryly comedic take on an evergreen tale — dreamer seeks fame. From Delaware, Liz has just flown into L.A. with the hopes of making it big. After a pit sto...

On a duck hunting trip, two friends head to the lake. Auden Lincoln-Vogel directs “Bill and Joe Go Duck Hunting,” a quietly assured, gently funny, portrait of man and nature. An old, faded friendship centers the character study: Joe is the chatty one to Bill’s stoic reserve; Joe shows up in stree...

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...

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 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...

A woman returns home to a constantly shifting domestic and mental landscape in this retelling of “Meshes of the Afternoon,” Maya Deren’s landmark avant-garde film. Meg Case and Brad Porter direct “Meshes of the After,” swapping 1940’s Hollywood for Brooklyn current day, and grainy black and white...

When Sandy and Mitra get into trouble, they come to their friend Alyssa for help. “Alyssa Learns to Drive,” written by and starring Sandy Honig, Mitra Jouhari, and Alyssa Stonoha, is an ingeniously silly sketch that cycles through a smorgasbord of random accents, absurd phrasings, botched languag...

Inseparable sisters, Henriette and Anais, find their relationship being torn apart under mysterious circumstances. “Perfect as Cats,” directed by Kevin Vu, is an atmospheric drama that moves in dreamy ripples, crafted with stylish visuals, costuming and production design. At an austere boarding s...

Two con women in a romantic relationship take a man prisoner in his own home. “Bandits,” directed by Natalie Fält, is a stylish pulp crime drama, a darkly poetic noir about dissociation and twin flames. After kidnapping and robbing a man, two lovers - Sweetie and Rose - keep him captive in his be...

[Online Premiere]. Desperate to be desired in her long-expired relationship, Jen becomes embroiled in a sextual encounter with her co-worker. “Nudes,” directed by Evan Daves, is a provocative relationship drama about a young couple experiencing doubts and trust issues, and possibly drifting into ...

A satirical look into a male filmmaker's creation, and the repercussions of his narcissistic behaviors that span across four realities. “Staff Pick,” directed by Mitch deQuilettes, is a mind-bending series of vignettes on art and life, both melodramatic and deeply self-aware. A straight man in L....

A young woman decides to carry on the family tradition of attending the county fair, this time with her dead parents. Kate Jean Hollowell directs and stars in “Are They Smiling?” a comedy about an unusual grieving process: spending the day alone at a fair carrying the ashes of your dearly departe...

A young woman is left stranded at an abandoned house in apocalyptic rural America to search for a mysterious object. “Abbygail Was Here,” directed by Keaton Smith, is enigmatic horror delivered with minimal plotting but vivid atmosphere and creeping tension. We don’t know the circumstances that b...