An actor living on the edge of one of the most polluted zip codes in the United States prepares for a role. Kevin Steen directs “Daron, Daron Colbert,” an atmospheric portrait of a young man’s day-to-day life while he aspires to a career in acting. We’re introduced to Delray, a heavily polluted n...

A sight-restoring surgery leaves surreal distortions to a man’s vision. Efosa Osaghae directs “Locusts Beyond a Phantasia,” a fantasy-realist film where a photographer must distinguish between reality and illusion through his Polaroid camera. As he removes the blindfolds with the help of his surg...

A van-dwelling comic stalks an industrial zone at night. Calvin Lee Reeder writes and directs “Harbor Island,” a character study where a comedian, played by Josh Fadem, experiences solitude as he paces through a spot of desolation in the Pacific Northwest. In 2020, the Census Bureau reported a to...

A filmmaker compares his love life to the German fable. Ethan Fuirst directs and stars in “Rumpelstiltskin,” a self-reflective, docu-fictional piece that comedically considers a man’s romantic, eventually turned platonic, relationships. Through 16mm grain and before a spot-lit backdrop, Ethan, su...

A young Jewish woman sleeps with a series of Catholic men and forgets the Mourner's Kaddish. Ava Burka writes, directs, and stars in “A-Men,” a fourth-wall-breaking dramatic comedy that explores the sexual escapism of its defiant character. We meet Esther as she explains her recent forays with Ja...

A woman and her ex-boyfriend reconnect at the vet after their dog gets sick, as a new boyfriend experiences jealousy. “WILK,” directed by Peg, is an experimental comedy with its own absurd cinematic language and esoteric scene-building. Joseph watches from the car as his girlfriend, Tallie, is co...

Two Nigerian cousins have a meditative evening and discuss the prospect of leaving New York. Adesola Thomas directs “Ola Ola,” a small-scale conversational piece that offers a tender specificity in the identities and relationship of its two characters. For Abisola, it starts as a quiet evening. W...

Teenage goblins navigate the uncertain waters of life after high school. Isaac Roberts directs “Goblin High,” a whimsical coming-of-age piece observing the qualms of its bright green goblin characters. The film opens with a father goblin doodling in his journal at work as we hear his existential,...

Two students have to ace their next test, but will their grumpy teacher let them pass? Adam Mirajkar’s “School’s Out” is an absurd caricature of the tween sitcom and its tropes. We meet our two students, Sage and Merlin, both wearing juggalo-esque face paint as they linger in the halls of their d...

In this experimental fashion film, a young woman enjoys a peaceful, secluded picnic before venturing into the bustling city. “Australian Sweetheart”, by Jane Inyang, is composed of a series of elegant images portraying a feeling and a style. We’re paying close attention to the clothes and the com...

An influencer prepares for a performance. Jane Inyang directs “One Shot,” a stylish experimental piece where a woman makes herself up for a ’show’ and then performs the ‘show.’ Self-described as a dystopian satire, the film reflects a somewhat troubling obsession of our modern times, and with its...

A woman receives a phone call regarding her fertility results before a night out. Emma Pillsbury’s “I am Never Having Kids” is a melancholic silhouette that looks at young adulthood in respect to maternity and womanhood. Through a 4:3 frame and discrete points of view, we observe the young woman ...

A skater is offered a job by a mysterious businessman. Jon Ryan Sugimoto directs “Full Time,” a social satire on corporate America and modern work culture where a recent high-school graduate is given a lucrative opportunity: to stand in a square all day for the rest of his life. Still in their gr...

A man with a broken arm looks for the perfect Christmas gift. David Cardoza and Griffin Conner direct “The Christmas Kid,” a festive character-study of a Manhattan gent told through run-and-gun photos and an affable voice over. It’s the morning of Christmas Eve and Gordon arises from bed in his N...

The small apartment of a young woman making a film: laundry piles on the desk chair, tender karaoke in the living room, and a needy cat that makes life worth living. Nande Walters presents “Something That Means Nothing (October),” a vérité look at apartment living, moments alone, and in between. ...

After abusing prescription medication to induce amnesia, a woman experiences childlike wonder, terror, beauty, and love. Directors Spencer Witmer and Brandi Lynn Divine present “Pair of Dice,” a MiniDV expedition through the ruins and chambers of Orlando and its surrounding area. The young woman,...

A young woman reflects on her upcoming departure from a city that has kept her in a vortex for too long. Bretton A. Miller directs “Goodbye Tallahassee, I Hope You Understand...,” a somber and whimsical farewell to a peculiar Floridian landscape. We meet Anna in a moment of sentimental cynicism w...

In 2027, the government enforces a revolutionary law that disables all tech devices at sundown in order to enhance civilians' well-being. Erin O’Connor directs ‘half-light,” a patient, future-fiction character study that observes a young woman amidst this tech-free world. We encounter the 20-year...

Wading through a sea of memories, a young real estate agent attempts to do her job. “Total Transportation,” directed by Boothe Carlson, is an experimental oddity where cryptic anecdotes disrupt a recorded apartment tour. As our tour begins, it becomes apparent that we’ll be seeing more into the a...

Hustling up quick cash and alienating her loved ones, a struggling Twitch streamer stops at nothing to make it to an influencer meetup at Buffalo Wild Wings. Bobby McCoy directs “xX_luv.kitten_Xx,” an uncomfortably current character study that captures a type of youthful desperation that amalgam...

When User's world sim is compromised, a customer service AI walks him through a perplexing account recovery process. “Recovery,” directed by Nick Lane, blurs reality and the digital world through a hyperactive first person POV. After a failed log-in attempt, our User turns to assistance from an e...

In spaces designed to be merely tolerated, a group of people engage in a series of uncanny and disconnected interactions. “This Could Be Heaven,” directed by Hope Green, uses a surreal framework to turn the mundane into the miraculous via office buildings, supermarket parking lots, dollar store a...

From the desktop screen of a 2004 computer, a child dissociates into conspiracy sites, malware, porn, and anon forums. ““(ಥ﹏ಥ) ✧_My parents are cia PSY0PS_!!!* ಠ_ಠ”,” directed by Haydon Mayer, takes us through deep corners of the world wide web and slowly away from reality. Greeting us in what se...

The screening event for a debut indie feature gets turbulent. Allie Viti and Zach Schiffman present “Blue Summer,” a purported document of the technical and natural disasters that occur during the screening of their first feature film. Amongst a sold-out audience of eager indie film watchers, eve...