A young woman living in Vancouver is suddenly contacted by her high-school boyfriend, who has appeared in the city after years of separation. “My Mirror,” directed by Zachary Lacosse, is a quiet, reflective portrait of a relationship — it moves in small ripples built around a solemn tone. After g...

A young woman adjusts to living with new neighbors after many months of isolation during the pandemic. Hannah Whisenant directs “Jefferson Avenue,” a simple, richly textured character study about reckoning with the end of solitude. Zora bubbles with anxiety and irritation at her new reality — hav...

Memories of their early days swirl together for a young couple while the present day looms with hurt and confusion. Chelsea Muscat directs “Searching for the Wave,” an intimate and poetic relationship study that weaves together two separate timelines. In one, Faye and Ava form a quick bond and es...

A young couple surveys the state of their relationship, calling into question everything they once knew about each other. “Breaking Up,” directed by Claudia Nankervis and Jessica Sofarnos, is a heated drama about partnership and communication, and the punctures that threaten to dissolve such. Ste...

Across a freezing night, confused dropout Cooper Townsend tries to make it home. “Townsend’s Last Night,” directed by Rhys Scarabosio, is a chaotic, lo-fi fever dream about a young man who has lost his way. Left desperately clinging to his only refuge — scribbling lyrics in an old notebook — the ...

When Sherri gets arrested for shoplifting from work, she needs to find money for legal fees. Amandine Thomas writes, directs and stars in “Cherry Cola,” a dramatic portrait delivered with sharp-edged dialogue and vivid characterizations about a young woman on the verge of a breakdown. Living with...

An anxious teen responds to a Craigslist ad and strikes an unexpected connection with a stranger behind a sheet. “Personals,” directed by Sasha Argirov, is an engrossing drama that details a would-be sexual encounter and the corresponding awkwardness and vulnerability. The nervous young man enter...

Between parties and dips in the river, Lou abandons herself to roam freely through the summer. “Eau Vive (Whitewater),” directed by the Swiss filmmaker Lucia Martinez Garcia, is a poetic snapshot attuned to the spaces and dispositions of a certain type of youth. In a dark room, Lou watches pornog...

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...

A high school freshman deals with the pressures of popularity when her best friend enters a new world of boys and alcohol. Jaelyn Ellis directs “Girlhood,” a coming-of-age snapshot on teenage social life and evolving friendships. Mia loves going to disco nights at the local roller rink, but her f...

After spending the day hanging out and playing video games, unexpected tension bubbles up between two young friends as they flip through an issue of Penthouse magazine. Max Tullio directs “In Our Secret Penthouse,” a coming-of-age vignette about childhood innocence, teen masculinity and sexual aw...

Trafficked and labeled "high mileage," Bee looks to bargain for her freedom. Kayana W directs “Lizard,” a dark drama centered around sex trafficking, drug dealing, and cyclical consequences. Seeking a way out, Bee attempts to recruit a younger girl to enter the ring, hoping to free herself from s...

At the end of a great date, Jack and Rachel bond over a shared interest in deconstructing traditional relationship structures. Bianca Poletti directs “Radical Honesty,” a sharply written and performed snapshot of would-be liberation and the fine lines surrounding it. The two free-thinking young p...

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...

When Cass’s expectations about her first time aren’t met, she confronts the boy who took her virginity. Connie O’Connor directs “In Your Sheets,” a coming-of-age snapshot that captures a complex set of feelings pre and post first-time sex. Early in the evening, Cass is filled with jitters and exc...

Commissioned to make a short profile of an emerging pop star, a 3-person American film crew spends six days in Asia searching for their subject. Brook Linder directs “Time Code,” a hyperkinetic meta narrative that coheres improbably around the creation of a piece of glossy online content in 2016....

A young woman travels to a remote Victorian home to be a caregiver for someone who may or may not be there. “Madame Upstairs,” directed by Evan Korycki, is an ominous drama filled with striking visuals and eerie atmosphere. When Georgia arrives to take care of Madame Bouchard, she’s unsettled to ...

On an impromptu visit to Central Florida, an estranged mother and daughter navigate their tangled relationship. Kali Kahn directs “Linda,” a dramatic character study that feels something like a rushed getaway. At a wild swimming spot in the middle of the woods, Linda tries to get Olivia to loosen...

After the death of their mother, a young woman confronts her brother who doesn’t show up to the funeral. Edem Dotse directs “Music To Die To,” a drama on the complexities of grief and the search for healing. Amara attempts to track down Marlon, who is staying with a group of seekers in the woods ...

A mail-order bride on the way to meet her new husband searches for a restroom in Chinatown, where an unassuming young man outside of a sandwich shop offers his nearby apartment. “Persimmon Night,” directed by Scarlett Li, highlights a brief encounter between two strangers that opens up a window i...

A Loss and Prevention officer faces a difficult moral decision in Alexander Etseyatse’s “LP.” An attempted theft leads to a tense back-room stand-off in this riveting drama, placing complex characters in an agonizing dilemma. While it stays grounded as a personal account, it also raises larger qu...

Marco cuts class to spend the afternoon with his boyfriend, Graham, in this tender portrait of young love and intimacy. Matthew Puccini’s “Dirty” is minimal but lush, a coming-of-age snapshot that tackles an uncomfortable first-time sexual experience with sensitivity and warmth. After ditching sc...

Two AI assistants conspire to get their human counterparts to meet. In “Sophie & Stephen,” directed by Rob Perri, a love story between two people who have yet to meet, there are plenty of questions beyond the central connection: is this where we’re headed as a society? Is that a good thing? In a ...

An L.A. actress invites her filmmaker friend to a Palm Springs getaway from quarantine, a supposedly restorative trip that turns frustrating. “Kate, Unhinged,” directed by Kailee McGee, is a meta deconstruction on acting and friendship which follows the maneuvering of a well-positioned creative t...