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 young woman mourns a tragic loss while her sister relentlessly tries to lighten her spirits. Brenna Power directs “Cold & Sara,” a dramatic character study on grief and sisterhood that pinpoints a period of raw emotion. In a state of shock after the death of a close friend, Emmy doesn’t feel mu...

An acting class and its bold leader rumble and rise within the walls of a New York City building. Solange Sai directs “Acting Class,” a vivid, black-and-white snapshot documenting an ensemble of studying actors and their emotional exhaustion. The filmmaker rides the R train to Midtown. She enters...

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 small time travel vlogger’s tour of Coney Island is interrupted by an unexpected phone call. Amber Schaefer directs “NYC Tips and Tricks,” a satirical portrait of a man so preoccupied with filming his frivolous-seeming video that he struggles to fulfill basic fatherly responsibilities. With his...

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 ...

After being fired as a school administrator, a man turns to modeling to spread the word of God. “Seth’s Prayer,” directed by Danny Scharar, is a ludicrous comedy about unblinking faith and Christian ambition. Canned from his job for trying to indoctrinate children with his religious beliefs, Seth...

On the eve of Three Kings Day, a boy answers a forbidden phone call and begins to understand his place among family secrets. “Gift of the Magi,” directed by Casiano R. Hamer, is a 16mm portrait that weaves together a tapestry of family history, Biblical stories, painful absences, and the possibil...

While checking on her father’s foot, where an unsightly and painful corn has formed, an unfortunate occurrence sends the focus elsewhere. | Directed by Edy Modica.

A young woman becomes flustered when her boyfriend refuses to help prepare for an upcoming trip. Surreal moments begin to add up — Alex’s tooth falls out, an entire body of water lies just outside her window. Dauterman nails the feeling of a nightmare, say when your partner becomes inexplicably u...

A woman gets dumped by her boyfriend as everyone else in the world is deeply in love. Fareeha Khan writes and stars in “Break Up, Baby,” a sharply written and performed comedy that weaves in colorful touches of animation and surrealism. After a painful conversation at a diner ends their relations...

An actress’s discreet plans for her Thursday take an unexpected turn. “Thursday,” directed by Bren Cukier, is a drama set in Poland where a young woman proceeds with an at-home abortion. Maria tries to take her mind off the heavy decision, rehearsing lines in the bathtub for an upcoming audition,...

An anxious woman navigates an archipelago of isolation. Matthew Ericson directs “Pink Elephant,” a disconcerting slow-burn drama that toils in the domestic household with issues of mental illness and caretaking. Within the walls of a quaint suburban home lives Mandy, her husband Bruce, and Bruce’...

A mysterious woman finds her way into a stranger’s apartment resulting in an oddly unsettling encounter. India Donaldson directs “Hannahs,” a darkly funny, increasingly uncomfortable character study led by two wonderfully nuanced performances from Amy Zimmer and Brenna Palughi. Hannah returns hom...

On the edge of adolescence, a little brother visits his sister in the big city for the first time. This documentary snapshot directed by Dominique van Olm (who also stars) is a beautifully intimate account of their weekend in Toronto. The low-key course of events makes an effective case for the p...

Although money is tight, a former stadium headliner plans to skip another dive bar show in a small town. “The Rock Star,” directed by Niels Blumel, takes us to the American outskirts where we observe a slacked-out musician in his endeavor to feel desired. The rockstar, Babyface Jones, has no inte...

A young woman mourning the loss of her cat receives an unexpected visitor. “Catlady” directed by Max Roux is an atmospheric elegy, a portrait of grief that spins into the surreal, carried by a spellbinding performance from Jade Louise. With tears streaming down her face, she buries her beloved ca...

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...