On the anniversary of his father’s death, Tariq dedicates a dance to him, triggering childhood memories. “Muscle Memory,” directed by Saladin White II, is a poignant tone poem about fatherhood presented in vignettes of the present day and flashbacks. We follow Tariq, himself a father to a young b...

This glimpse into the everyday moments of ordinary people is a vivid portrayal of mundanity, vulnerability, and frustration. A series of vignettes captured, for the most part, in evocative one-takes. Directed by Brandon Winters.

A high school freshman deals with the pressures of popularity when her best friend enters a new world of boys and alcohol. Jaelyn Ellis directs “Girlhood,” a coming-of-age snapshot on teenage social life and evolving friendships. Mia loves going to disco nights at the local roller rink, but her f...

A dejected man living in Los Angeles limps through a prolonged break-up and the distractions in the aftermath. Brian Follmer directs “Dys-Sympathetic,” a satirical featurette poking at casual sex, casual romance, and the emotional deterioration of it all. Tyler waits for his ex-girlfriend, Zoe, a...

A fashion-forward model questions his self-image when he crosses paths with the "cooler" version of himself on a photoshoot. “Coolguy,” directed by Nicky & Z, is a pop comedy sketch about overthinking one’s appearance. A man struts onto set exuding confidence and swagger, owing to his carefully c...

A young man decides to take control of his life by turning to cigarettes. This experimental film shot in the San Fernando Valley using an old mini-DV camera is an avant-garde curiosity directed by Justin Zuckerman. Christian smokes the titular ‘first cigarette’ but doesn’t stop there. In fact, he...

The brilliantly loony “Observatory Blues” tells the life story of Fernando Music, a writer born with no hands that becomes famous for a series of books about space and sex. Beautifully shot on 16mm and featuring a genius cast moving in all kinds of glorious directions (including a narration by Hu...

A journey of a little girl with a vivid imagination. A film by Hemali Vadalia. Song by Kori Pop.

A wannabe Zumba instructor has an encounter with an alien while driving through the desert. “Planet Fitness,” directed by Paul Emerson, is a lo-fi, lighthearted comedy carried by the awkward charm of Katy Fullan, who writes and stars as Jessie, a hopelessly unemployed woman. As she drives, she st...

A musician, a YouTuber, and a Tik Tok star battle their egos and depression in “Things That Happen,” an urgent new drama by Bobby McCoy. Filled with style and momentum, this disturbing depiction of young adults (or old kids) lost in a vapid and cruel media landscape tracks three young characters ...

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...

A dispirited young musician living out of her car comes to a crossroads when she reconnects with an ex-girlfriend for one night. Chloe Jury-Fogel directs “Five Song Tour,” a portrait of solitude and longing set around Christmas that highlights the flip side of holiday frivolity. Making her way t...

At 92 years of age, Ruth Young still maintains an active life aided and accompanied by her jolly 53 year old friend, David Matiz. Emma Baiada directs “Old Young,” a beautifully observed documentary portrait on life, death and companionship. Ruth goes about her days working in the yard, or reviewi...

Mads is 12, a young boy playing free in the picturesque snowy mountains of Norway until the arrival of the internet coincides with an onslaught of new hormones. A sexual coming-of-age tale about the 90’s and internet porn, it’s beautifully shot and ripe with nostalgia. | Directed by Truls Krane M...

The chronicles of a man and his response to three harrowing voicemails. Jack McLennan and Judd Crud’s “Glove Life” is a fast-moving comedy following a man-child on the brink of self-detonation. Still wearing his finger-lit LED gloves as he wakes up, Trent gets a voicemail from his girlfriend—he’s...

A young couple surveys the state of their relationship, calling into question everything they once knew about each other. “Breaking Up,” directed by Claudia Nankervis and Jessica Sofarnos, is a heated drama about partnership and communication, and the punctures that threaten to dissolve such. Ste...