A woman is having a mental breakdown in her bathroom when her past and future selves appear in the mirror. Ella May Sahlman and Kyle Kallman direct “Crimson Mirror,” experimental horror crafted with gothic flourish built around an intensely despairing lead performance from Flora Wildes. The young...

An art assistant for a gallery in New York knows his role well, to live in romantic poverty and be paid in social clout and drugs. “Art Boy,” directed by Taylor Ervin, is a sharp-edged depiction of an art scene where the actual art is a second tier concern over the lifestyles and personas behind ...

Two tortured men spend the day taking care of one another. Michael Rees’ “Guzzle Buddies” features a charismatic Lewis Pullman and Kyle Chase in a darkly comedic examination of male friendship and deep-seated crisis. Lewis comes home to find his roommate, Kyle, in the middle of an existential pan...

This film explores the metaphorical significance of the tampon: a phallic item inserted into the vagina that is introduced to pubescent women as sort of a rite-of-passage into taking control over their bodies. A film by Alexandra Neuman, “Tampon” presents strikingly simple drawings beautifully an...

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 high school prom queen in Memphis is depressed. Cult Memphis filmmaker’s epic short about teenage depression. Funny, touching stuff. Directed by Ben Siler.

Facing banishment, a town pariah repents in order to win back the pastor’s daughter but finds himself cursed. “Death to the Tinman,” directed by Ray Tintori, is a classic from 2007, a kinetic, remarkably stylized extravaganza shot on 16mm black and white film. An origin story of the Tinman from “...

This extraordinary tale of a young Chicago stock-trader turned ocean-adventurer focuses primarily on a three year sailing trip around the world. It’s a life-affirming feature-length documentary, an emotional mix of joy and adventure, filled with incredible images of the people and places of the w...

A new film edited from the same footage as last years, The Men of Dodge City. Andrea Sisson + Pete Ohs, responsible for the re-edit, The Other Men of Dodge City, reshape and add some flair (see: freeze frames) + insert several full songs from No Age, achieving some intermittent pep. But the point...

A supernatural thriller about a woman dealing with the void left by her recently deceased father. Mysterious tone piece with razor sharp editing & gorgeous images. Robert Barnett’s extraordinary and masterful short lurches towards a new way of expressing the mysterious facts of the world. It is d...

Local racing legend Victor Elaine squares off against his greatest rival, a man whose opposing philosophy on life sets up a battle of outlooks. “Duality Derby,” directed by Mark Richard Miller and Dave Franzese, is a lighthearted rumination on the duality of man: one side focused on kindness and ...

A guileless woman named Turyn is taken for a surrealist ride to visit “The Club.” An absurd mini-short about the social habits of the young, the archetypes involved, and the dangers lurking. | Directed by Lauren Ireland. Starring Lauren Ireland, Haley Rawson, John Trowbridge.

A group of soldiers are administered a mysterious psychoactive drug and put through rigorous physical and mental tests. Angus McMaster directs “Cold Runner,” a 30-minute drama where the psychological effects on four young men slowly unfolds into a subdued hysteria. At a discreet military facility...

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...

In a moment of tense negotiation, Joyce and Mims haggle over a vintage Hank Aaron baseball card inside a sweltering pizzeria. “Card Shark,” directed by Alex Fabry, is an oddball comedy vignette about a should-be simple exchange turning into a strange encounter. Mims arranges a meet-up at his usua...

A young mother waits for the family babysitter before leaving for a conference. “The Pianist,” directed by NoBudge hall-of-famer, Doron Max Hagay, is a showcase for the genius of Kate Berlant, playing Chloe, mom of three, eager to attend a “very well-known summit of artists and female creatives,"...

A man with an unknown past takes up room and board in the remote Scottish Highlands on the property of a woman named Bronte and her husband William. It’s not clear what he’s left behind, but what he’s found is a place to sleep and there's work to be done. For awhile, his presence is tolerated as ...

An eco-warrior gets out of jail and an old friend tries to pull him back into the fray. A mystifying film, a cheap production & awkward, unnatural interactions make it seem like maybe it's a ruse. Either way, it's intriguing & I recommend you watch at least twice. The film is basically one conver...

A poetic meditation on women's work and the dream life of ants, set to the words of Toni Morrison. Directed by Stefani Saintonge, “Fucked Like a Star” is a lovely translation and a profound rumination on the natural world. Told in four parts, the film is rendered with all the complexity of the so...

A Brooklyn couple navigates their unsteady relationship while hosting an Airbnb guest and a despondent friend. “Space,” by director Jesse Thurston, finds its characters in precarious zones, struggling to verbalizing inner thoughts, deferring conversations, balancing love and transparency. It’s a ...