An anniversary gift leads two young lovers into a black hole of misunderstanding. “Love Machine,” directed by Michael Rees, is a squirm-inducing dark comedy about the delusions and insensitivities of a dysfunctional couple. What at first appears to be a straightforward relationship study soon dev...

A man lives in a restaurant where he also works as a waiter. Ian Faria and Edy Modica direct “Waiter Movie: The Short,” a hilarious and oddly endearing portrait of a New York waiter who chops it up with patrons just as well as he waits tables. We meet our old soul Frankie, played by Modica hersel...

A struggling stand-up comedian decides to make a comedy sex tape in hopes of getting famous. This rapid-fire mockumentary — created by and starring Mary Beth Barone, Tea Hacic, and Megan Patsel — follows along as Mary Beth pitches her idea and sets out to produce the tape, trying to maintain its ...

On a laid-back summer day, a young woman spends some time with her casual partner. Irmak Akgur directs “Limerence,” a slice-of-life portrait that flows in uninhibited vignettes. Minimally plotted but tonally sharp, Akgur’s film captures a couple of free spirits in their element — spending the day...

When a conspiracy theorist’s internet goes out, he calls the cable company to fix the problem. Ft Langley directs “Steakhouse,” a bizarre sci-fi-inspired comedy where one man’s delusions lead to some questionable reactions toward his sudden visitor. Our main character wakes up at his desk; it see...

A young woman gets her back pierced and contemplates an upcoming decision. Irmak Akgür directs “Ribbon,” a slice-of-life portrait that captures a youthful relationship on a quiet but significant day. After her tattooed boyfriend gives her back piercings, he threads a pink ribbon, corset-style, th...

Two sisters fight to save their digital utopia from demise. “Welcome to the Enclave,” directed by Sarah Lasley, is an inventive experimental animation framed as an absurdist crowdfunding video. The Enclave is a virtual street created by a woman named Moni, but at the moment she’s under attack fro...

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...

Two best friends wrestle with their masculinity as they attend what they thought was going to be a typical circuit party. Bill Benz’s “A Time for Men” is a social comedy that places two unsuspecting gay men in a hive of men's rights activism. With their QR Code flyers in hand, Todd and Nathan arr...

After a series of bizarre dreams, a man turns to a computer program to decipher them. Derek Janzen and Nathan Hare work together to direct “Dream Interpreter,” a subdued sci-fi comedy where an oddly mundane cubicle world meets the anguished dreams of a young man. In khakis and a baby blue button ...

A sprawling story of love and loss, as reflected on a single face. Conor Dooley directs “Gold and Mud,” a fast-moving comedy that shifts from moment-to-moment in the life, all the way to death, of a woman contending with fluctuating intimacies in her personal life and the bleak realities working ...

An awkward New York teenager accompanies her more experienced friend to a boy’s home. Amanda Samimi directs “Tenderless,” a 16mm coming-of-age film that considers youthful city-living and meandering intimacies. Observing skaters on the blacktop and the overly-acquainted squirrels of Tompkins Squa...