Careening through a day in the life of a high schooler, a teenager and his friends experiment with a mysterious drug-like substance. Mitchell Clark directs “Plastic Glass,” a coming-of-age mood piece set in New York City, unique in its depiction of substance use and high school malaise. On a snow...

Two Chinatown coin dealers try to make a deal of a lifetime. David Huang and Albie Smith-Chang direct “We Buy Gold,” a buddy comedy set in New York City with a unique, docu-fictional approach. In a vlog style format, we watch from David Huang’s point of view. David and his friend, also named Davi...

A delusional real estate agent living out of a rented Tesla reinvents himself to boost his sales and fulfill his ultimate destiny. Max Swanson directs “Archie Banks,” a dark comedy profiling a grind-set con man in his twisted endeavors to find self-worth. Archie, a British, turtle-neck wearing re...

After the loss of his dog, a teenager takes out his troubles on the local townspeople. Jordan Alexander’s “Bubblegum and the Texas Belt Buckle,” is a 16mm coming-of-age film, darkly funny yet sincere in its tenderness. The scene sets as a soft piano plays. Garret lives with his aggravated older b...

On the last night of his life, a struggling, young firecracker takes to the streets to prove his mother wrong. Jacque Rabie directs “Freddie,” an off-kilter, character piece following a young man as he self-destructs on the streets of Los Angeles. Freddie Callahan has plans to go out with his fri...

As a technology company uses human spies to generate suggested content, one data analyst struggles with a matter of musical taste. Eli Speigel directs “Tastemaker,” a satire set in an alternate reality dystopia where a man finds it hard to believe that a fan of the musician Tim Buckley would not ...

A woman’s gift transforms into something darker when reality picks up the phone. Josie Charles directs “Blue Violet,” a found-footage snapshot of a volatile ex and the self-mutilating extremes they take. Speaking directly to their camcorder, Blue addresses Violet—a thought-to-be girlfriend. It’s ...

A young woman descends into madness when her girlfriend, a sex worker, becomes entangled with the wealthy patron funding their life. Mia Daniela Alejo directs “Teeth of Fawn,” a relationship drama confined to a grimy motel room exploring a young woman’s fragile psyche. As Laura attends to one of ...

His dad is dying, but a young man has a mouse to catch. Grayson Goga directs “Field Mouse,” a heavy drama where a 20-something wades through impending grief in a cold, upstate New York town. In his dimly-lit basement apartment, Leonard fiddles between his guitar and French horn. He sips liquor, p...

An elderly man spends his days watching livestreams as his upstairs neighbors quarrel. “Rolling By,” directed by Nicholas Facchini, is a poignant portrait of loneliness that slowly creeps towards an emotional wallop. Toggling between livestreams on a dated desktop computer, the man checks in on b...

An American living in Rome takes a trip to Umbria after a spontaneous invite from a childhood friend. Daniela Garza directs “A Place Between us,” a stylish summer excursion that portrays a couple of days of warm weather pleasures mixed with nostalgia and ennui. When Fiore decides to leave a work ...

In a city where the sun never shines, a young skeptic helps his scientist uncle conduct an experiment that could give his people hope. Made in Kazakhstan by Batyrkhan Jussipov, “Helios” is deadpan dystopian sci-fi with an inventive DIY spirit. Nurseit is a disaffected young man living in a remote...

In need of a place to stay, a young man poses as the son of a woman with Alzheimer’s. Sam Severin directs “Niko & Eleanor,” an understated drama about an unlikely relationship that fleetingly forms between two people with different struggles. Niko enters the home of Eleanor wearing a safety vest ...

As an online roleplaying game approaches its final days, two teens embark on a cross-country trip to meet each other in real life. “Love192,” directed by Haydon Mayer, is a tender romance and sign-of-times saga that captures and transcends the digital realm. Jude goes by the username “M4yJud3July...

A young woman arranges viewings for her one-bedroom house, which she may not be genuine about actually renting. Ryan Leedu directs “No Bedroom,” a character study that builds intrigue with an ordinarily mundane task that raises questions of intent. At first it seems like a typical situation: a wo...

A recent graduate poaches rare books from his geriatric roommate. Sam Brodsky directs “Mint Condition,” a NYC story tracking a young Irish lad in his quiet quest through a niche enclave of the literary world. Oscar makes breakfast for his roommate and landlord, Jerry. They sit across from each ot...

A nomadic musician embarks on a road trip up the pacific coast to spread his mother’s ashes. Daniel Freeman directs “Teddy, Out of Tune,” a docu-fictional portrait—part road movie, part meditation on grief—brought to life with vivid detours and musical bursts. Teddy doesn’t have (or need) much as...

Lila’s growing relationship with Luca is threatened by self-sabotaging fears, forcing her to confront her past. “Venusia,” directed by Angela Sari, is a lovely 16mm tone poem capturing a young woman in a moment of indecision set against an idyllic French countryside and village. On a getaway to L...

An emotionally exhausted nurse revisits the comforts of childhood when she hires a babysitter to take care of her for the evening. Isabel Pask directs “Goodnight,” a weighty drama about a hospice worker looking for relief. After an intense day on the job, Daria returns to her New York City apartm...

A fragmented road trip becomes a portrait of love, loss, and memory. Antoine Pret and Elena Bonhomme direct “Cinq étapes,” a black-and-white, 16mm snapshot that connects a French road map with five steps of grieving. Monica pulls off to the side of the road. She pays her respects to a small memor...

A young woman makes a documentary about her affair with an older filmmaker. Shae Sennett directs “The Honest Movie,” a docu-fictional satire driven by self-absorbed creatives and their snappy exchanges. Finch and her friend, Agnes, watch TikToks while talking about filmmaking pursuits. Finch fina...

When a young line cook hears the voices of his favorite podcasters beckoning him like sirens, the mundane becomes macabre. Ahmad Bakrin directs “Happy Ending,” an account of a young man quietly reckoning with his loneliness, precise in its dark tone and heavy atmosphere. Pete doesn’t feel too goo...

A sound artist at a residency in the woods becomes increasingly paranoid after an eerie discovery and bizarre run-in with conspiracy theorists. Linda Mai Green directs “Mondegreen,” a mysterious portrait about an artist’s spiraling state of mind. Maggie attends a residency in isolation, lodged in...

A young woman recounts her most recent relationship, coming to grips with the highs, lows, and what she may have missed. Ella Gibney directs “Move with Me,” a breakup story told through seasonal vignettes and Mini DV playback. Peal records Sarah, her girlfriend, while she makes spaghetti. Sarah s...