When a man suffers from severe stomach problems during a disastrous date night, he makes an unexpected connection with a stranger. “Irritable Bowel,” directed by Joseph Agredano, is a dramatic comedy set in Los Angeles where spontaneity, in various forms, tests a man’s relationship. Glen reads wo...

A young woman copes with heartbreak, blackheads, and bad therapy. Emily Ann Hoffman directs “Blackheads,” a study on relationships and gender roles, melding stop motion and 2D animation with a nuanced sense of realism. Sofia has just broken up with her boyfriend and she’s struggling with anxiety ...

Amidst a mandatory quarantine, a young woman living in isolation battles her growing paranoia and deteriorating mental health. Meg Case and Brad Porter direct “Wrath,” a craftily devised and executed homemade project, which in any other year would fall firmly in the sci-fi horror realm; in 2020, ...

A young woman comes to terms with the role she plays in society as an Adderall dealer. Margos Margossian directs a script by Ani Tatintsyan, who also stars — crafted with stylish visuals and acerbic wit, “Adderall Cowboy” is a contemplation of the current pharma state and the condition of the Ame...

Pressured into giving away his clothes, an emasculated young man obsessively attempts to reclaim a cherished sweater. Directed by and starring Maziyar Khatam, “The Sweater,” utilizes lo-fi, handi-cam filmmaking for an off-the-cuff search for a lost item. Khatam plays a man living with his frustra...

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 ...

An isolated sick girl and a curious boy strike up a hidden relationship at a roadside motel. “Proxy,” directed by Eric Schuman, lands in unique territory — part unsettling mystery, part coming-of-age drama about loneliness and the desire for connection. Russ lives and works at a motel run by his ...

In West Berlin in 1989, Manny Jumpcannon prowls his dingy apartment phoning various degenerates from his past. Maxwell McCabe-Lokos directs and stars in “Midnight Confession,” a darkly funny character study which paints a remarkably full backstory of deceit from a series of unsolicited phone call...

A young man talks himself through a panic attack. In “Doomscrolling,” Santi MacLean layers multimedia documents and data moshes on top of a vulnerable outcry. With bulging eyes and spaghetti-like green hair, the young man speaks in the form of a 3D-animated figure. In a high pitch voice, the char...

Mandy is excited to see her old friend, Lisa, but when she arrives in L.A., something is different. They spend the day together but something keeps coming between them. Lisa has grown obsessed with her dog, Rodney, and it’s the only thing she can talk about. What was supposed to be a fun trip of ...

Ryan McGlade is a writer, director, and editor. His films have been featured in film festivals around the world, including Palm Springs International ShortFest, Montclair Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, and the Bushwick Film Festival, where Hoss was awarded the Programmer's Choice Award fo...

A young man writes to his maybe-lover from his uncle's castle complex. Fergus Campbell directs, animates, and narrates “Telling George" (2020) and “Telling George Again” (2024), two animated films composed as adult storybooks about a young man’s romantic experiences with art, literature, and recr...

Celeste and Aurora have lived together for awhile but sometimes their friendship finds them bickering over mundane issues. “Dye Red,” directed by Vittoria Campaner, is a character study filled with vivid color and atmosphere, presented in vignettes that flow into one another with hidden cuts. The...

A woman receives a phone call regarding her fertility results before a night out. Emma Pillsbury’s “I am Never Having Kids” is a melancholic silhouette that looks at young adulthood in respect to maternity and womanhood. Through a 4:3 frame and discrete points of view, we observe the young woman ...

A documentary about the end of a young man’s musical project told through the anecdotes and recollections of everyone who helped along the way. “The Death of Art Slob,” directed by musician Amar Ahmad, is a poignant ode to suburban scenes, house shows, college towns, and the American enclaves whe...

An aspiring entrepreneur hires two interns to help him start an online business, if only they could figure out what the company does. A deadpan satire on start-up culture, and a slow-burn character study of a delusional, wannabe boss.

Two sisters dig up their mothers grave in the Australian Outback. “Min Min,” directed by Stephanie Ellis, establishes itself as an atmospheric relationship drama before veering into the supernatural. It’s beautifully shot and cut, and features the compelling performances of Ellis and Anna Cordell...

An existential struggle to make an elaborate Halloween costume, set to 80's synth beats, carried by Eric Yevak, who exists in the frame without really acting, just goes about his work. A procedural with a simple trajectory: make a costume, go to a party. But the costume isn't some half-baked last...