During a winter of record-breaking cold, a blackout of apocalyptic proportions strands a group of Brooklynites in a remote country farmhouse. Benjamin Dickinson directs “First Winter,” a twenty-tens drama where yoga, free-spirits, and blurred romances implode on one another with the first sign of...

As she tries to wrangle her two-year-old daughter and an old dog, a young, single mother collects recyclables. Jefferey Liu’s “Hustle Mode” is a textured, New York City story shot on 16mm rendered with flustered charisma. With a waddling Beagle by her side, Lexi takes a bag of cans and bottles to...

In the relentless pursuit of productivity, a young woman undergoes a transformation that jeopardizes her humanity. Isabella Ivoš’s “Robotica” is a lowkey sci-fi that grapples with the demands of a highly competitive metropolitan space. Jeanne gets summoned into the office where she’s told over a ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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 ...

After a breakup, a young woman pays an online psychic to draw a portrait of her soulmate. Stella Gatti directs “Twin Flame,” a tone poem on the feeling of being adrift after a relationship. When Ofelia receives the drawing, she discovers that it eerily resembles her ex-boyfriend. Unsure how to mo...

Over the course of a muggy summer day in New England, two friends meander from place to place, getting high and avoiding the aftermath of a recent family tragedy. “Out of Body,” directed by Miles Dixon, is a moment-to-moment observation of both the joy and aloofness of a youthful bond. Cam and Ry...

A young man is pressed to help his older brother rob a rural farmhouse. David Call’s “Coach” is a dramatic thriller following the tense moments leading to a point of no return. Parked at the bottom of the hill, Sean sits in the driver’s seat and hands his little brother a ski mask. The younger br...

Ruby has what seems like a sex dream about her best friend but can't tell if it actually happened. Allison Bunce’s “Ladies” is a 16mm drama observing female friendship and the intimate moments of a low-key bachelorette party weekend. Cheese boards and glasses of white wine spread across the kitch...

In Corona, Queens, two Ecuadorian siblings are placed at odds when one reveals an urge to leave their home. Emilio Subia’s “Naños” drops us into the bumbling lives of two brothers and the high-stakes drama that allures them. Fleeing a petty heist, Diego sprints through the subway alongside his pa...

On the precipice of a breakup, a couple briefly reunites to euthanize the cat they fostered together. “Cathy Doesn’t Know,” directed by Gregg Kearns, is a naturalistic drama where the hurt of saying goodbye to a pet meets with a fraught relationship. As another friend hovers in the kitchen for mo...

A young woman teeters on the brink of adulthood while trying to grapple with the heartbreak that comes from a drifting friendship. In “It’s All Happening,” Sammy Grand contends with the realities of adult friendship, observing shifts in emotions and perspective. Their current form of friendship i...

A young woman runs away from home and acquires a dog. Marie Mottet’s “1-800-QUIET-LIFE” is a quiet exploration of ennui and decisions to drift. Unnamed, the young woman drives aimlessly in her car; we hear a voice message left by a man’s voice insisting she return to where she’s recently left. Sh...

A retired magician turned aquatic fish salesman is visited by an obsessed fan. Ben Gordon’s “Stigmata” is a bizarre, fever-dream drama witnessing a man’s persistent effort to learn a forbidden spell. Brad Christian closes up his fish and supplies store for the night, but there’s a knock at the do...

While making a documentary about a heavily polluted town, a filmmaker takes interest in a neighborhood teenager as a compelling subject. Max Drexler’s “Phillips” is a docu-fictional portrait of an American town and the grim anxieties cast over a particular resident. The filmmaker walks us through...

An immigrant couple caring for their grandchildren receive an unexpected visitor after hours, threatening to upend their lives. “In Freedom,” directed by Jorge Sistos Moreno, is a tense drama that pinpoints an ever-present paranoia regarding fears of deportation and harassment. Maria is rattled t...

At a night festival in India, two former school friends reunite after years of being apart. Tanmay and Tanvi Chowdhary direct “Madhu” (Honey), a heartfelt look at a reunion and the feelings that simmer deep into the evening. In the city of Kolkta during the Hindu festival 'Durga Pujo,' Satakshi a...

While battling breast cancer, a filmmaker reexamines her relationship with art and self. Kailee McGee directs and stars in “Can,” a liberating self-portrait with insights extending far beyond just the filmmaker’s condition. Kailee, aka McGee, has breast cancer. She also has an unclear idea of how...