An avant-garde self portrait following a young woman through her daily life as her own muse. Jessie Rabideau directs and stars in “jean-luc rabideau” (co-directed by Leland Bankowski), which offers a rare combination of banality and free-spiritedness carried by Rabideau’s striking screen presence...

First of all, it’s not a typo. That's the actual name of the movie. Got it? Okay, so the movie is about a group of friends trying to remake "The Matrix" in a Brooklyn apartment. They take the harebrained scheme very seriously though every element of the production is utterly unconvincing, from th...

The free-spirited, Arkansas-born entertainer, Tav Falco, has been touring the world for over three decades. In this low-key documentary snapshot by directors JP Olsen and Kristen Nutile, we follow as the 71-year old Falco prepares for a new North American tour. Directed by JP Olsen, Kristen Nutile.

Through an autobiographical video essay, a dance artist muses on her transition from restaurant work to full-time teaching. Miriam Gabriel’s “Verbal Diarrhea” is a self-reflective journal entry about career shifts during a particularly manic period of the pandemic. We first find Miriam in the out...

A faithfully recreated 1970s cigarettes advertisement unspools into a surreal satire on melodramatic marketing. “Ralph Styles Ultra,” by director Nic fforde, is an exquisitely-realized mockup complete with period-perfect performances, music, art design, costuming, and hair and make up. A debonair...

This stylish super 8mm film poem by director Lauren Rothery is a lovely, wistful portrait of Alice, her joys, anxieties, the way she looks when she’s a little drunk. A French-speaking narrator introduces us to the woman as we watch simple moments throughout her day, the voice remarks on her feeli...

An army of Catholic high school girls prepare for their upcoming play while dealing with the ugliness of adolescence and the intrusion of a boy into their drama troupe. Chloe Xtina directs “The First Taste,” an expressive coming-of-age character study about the passions and fascinations of a grou...

A young man becomes suspicious of his downstairs neighbor after letting her use his fire escape. Camille Casmier directs “Intruder,” a compelling drama that graphs exponential unease and distrust that may be racially complicated. While preparing dinner, Sam, a white man, hears a knock at the door...

When Nina fails to meet her goal in the final week of weight loss camp, she considers drastic alternatives. “Bye Bye Body,” directed by Charlotte Benbeniste, is a tender snapshot about body image and self-esteem delivered with wonderfully natural performances and lovely 35mm images. At a weigh-in...

A knight in an accursed and shattered world tempts fate with a mysterious song. Albert Birney’s “Gruenfeld” boards a medieval quest where fantasy is suddenly met by horror. Told from the deep voice of an anonymous narrator, we observe the weathered knight, Sir Garreth, as he desperately searches ...

In this surreal odyssey, a young boy walks through a series of doors opening up visions of the past and future. “Mi,” made by Masayoshi Nakamura and Zak Engel, is beautifully animated, vibrating with color, shape and possibility. Emerging from abstract geometric landscapes, we lock in on a boy wi...

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...

Over the course of a year, a young woman spends time with a group of friends. “Like A Fire That Consumes All Of It,” directed by Juli Wert, is a docu-fictional, mumblecore featurette capturing the mundane ups and in-betweens of one’s mid-twenties. Set in Philadelphia, Juli and her camera venture ...

A young man has second thoughts about the nudity in his film. “I'm Going Full Frontal For My NYU Student Short Film,” directed by and starring Elliot Connors, is a comedy about youthful vulnerability and trying to maintain an uncompromising vision, even if questionable. Ahead of the shoot, Elliot...

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 security guard walks his old beat in an abandoned strip mall, contemplating his purpose in guarding the vacant property. “Portrait 001: Security Guard,” directed by Tanner D. Masseth, is an existential portrait rendering a 3D-animated subject in a dismal suburban landscape. With a distinctive a...