Trying to get ahead in Hollywood, a struggling actor claims to be the illegitimate son of a celebrity. Ariel Gardner directs “Let’s Keep the Party Going,” a comedic glimpse at a man’s desperate attempts to become a working actor. Stuck in a loop of preparation and unsuccessful auditions, Hunter m...

A retired CIA agent fakes being abducted by aliens so that he can abandon his family. Taylor Cohan directs “Vibrations,” an absurdist sci-fi comedy stuffed with ludicrous plotting, off-key performances, and a child-like silliness. The ex-government worker, Vincent, lives with his wife and son, a ...

Affable instructor Bill visits a reluctant 7th grade class to run a drill with the teacher's new firearm. “Gather in the Corner” is a troubling snapshot of what it would look like to have armed teachers in American classrooms (unbelievably it’s a solution that’s been considered). Director & co-wr...

Local enthusiast accused of putting up cat stickers continues to create havoc for his former and current neighbors. “Cat Stickers 2,” the ludicrous follow-up to the already ludicrous “Cat Stickers 1,” doubles down with more absurdity! more stickers! more neighbor outrage! Director / Editor: Joe B...

After a disillusioned EMT quits his job in Newark, he becomes entangled on a wild adventure that begins with a mysterious Craigslist ad. Fiona Kane’s “There’s No Werewolves in Newark” is a moody character study of a modern floater. Dead-ends double down for Bill when he’s dumped by his girlfriend...

A journey through a sleepless night directed by and starring Anna Salinas. “Insomniac” is a stream-of-consciousness experimental film where a flood of disconnected images and thoughts flash through a tired mind. A voiceover introduces the primary concerns of the night - unpaid parking tickets, bi...

A man tries to steal from his friends at game night and then things get infinitely worse. Alex Sovoda’s “Circumstantial Forgiveness” follows a frantic friend group as they erupt in outcry when the dirty laundry of two friends is laid out on the table. While the gang engages in a game of dice, Wil...

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...

Two best friends retrace their steps in hopes of locating a missing item after a seemingly average night. “Journal,” directed by Alex Bliss, takes what should be a mundane scenario and pumps it full of anxiety and paranoia. The friends spend the night getting high and watching TV. The next day, o...

A high-schooler named Larry tries to embrace the harsh reality that he may never be one of the “Great Larrys.” Oszkar Nosek directs “A Reason to be Larry,” a surreal character study of a young man trying to conceptualize his persona. Larry struggles to find confidence toward his own name, especia...

The third film we’ve featured from Norwegian director Henry K. Norvalls (although this one was actually released first), “Shower” is another riveting short about identity and sexuality. In it, a young man showering in a locker room hears a faint noise and decides whether or not to respond. Viscer...

After clearing a scattered archive of voicemails, a woman reconnects with a frequent caller. Allie Viti’s “Your Mailbox is Full” is a candid 16mm snapshot of Brooklyn, narrated by a colorful spectrum of voices. There are spam messages from Publisher’s Clearing House and auto insurance companies, ...

A father writes an online review for a pair of herb scissors. An actress gets bad news while filming a credit score commercial. A football team psychs themselves up for a game with a prayer. Directed by Abigail Horton, “A Few Activities” highlights a series of small, absurd moments in the lives o...

Lacking chicken wraps and condoms, a man heads to Kroger. An absurd music video / experimental free-for-fall that mimics the disorienting effects of the internet, where little context is provided, and the crazier, the better. | Director, Writer, Editor, Producer, Actor: Jacob Gregor. Producer, Wr...

A queer sci-fi about 10 aliens in human host bodies learning how to be men. Joseph Sackett directs “Dominant Species,” a profound and strangely funny exploration of what it means to be a man, and a commentary on social conformity and masculinity as dictated by narrow cultural and biological stand...

A strange and hostile girl is visited by universal love in its personified form. Ava Hase directs “A Person Named Universal Love,” a dark comedy that looks at a young woman’s relationship with a persistent, unconditionally loving being. Universal Love, played by Oscar Falcon, comes knocking at Av...

A flailing Artist and her Muse host a photography exhibition attended by incensed critics and peers from their tainted art world past. “Tasteful Nudes,” directed by Sofia Dobrushin and Emma Rogers, is a playful satire combining mockumentary and performance art, taking aim at the self-obsessed, hi...

A man finds himself at a sketchy 24 hr dental clinic after having his wallet stolen and his tooth knocked out. “Central Dental,” directed by Lindsay Thomas Robinson, is an exercise in surreal atmosphere building, a noir-ish vignette, darkly clever and carefully composed. After getting mugged in a...

A therapy session digs deep as a couple pursue the impossible. Kathleen Winter directs “Jebivetar,” a playful, free-spirited mini-comedy on love, facing fears, and fucking the wind. During a revealing exchange, a young woman comes clean about her unusual desire. Her partner vows to accommodate he...