A biracial girl caught between worlds prepares for her Bat Mitzvah and adulthood. Radiating with warmth and lived-in specificity, “Broken Bird,” directed by Rachel Harrison Gordon, is a tender coming-of-age drama about a divided upbringing. Birdie has reached a vulnerable age of anxiety and self-...

What begins as a documentary about surfing evolves into a tale of a guy trying to get rid of a surfboard. Jack Galvin’s lengthily-titled “NADIR: A documentary about surfing in Newport, Rhode Island in the summer and most of the other times as well” is a comedic look at a New England town and a ma...

Two estranged sisters reckon with the truth of their relationship. “Ludere” is a haunting portrait of grief and guilt told with measured simplicity, and spare but potent visuals. Written, Directed by Ryan Henry Knight. Starring: Camara Bomani, Kayla Dixon, and Zipporah Dorsey.

While dealing with sexism and mistreatment at work, Lee finds solace in her relationship with her best friend, Evelyn. One of the more off-the-wall selections we’ve featured of late, this short feature (42 minutes) by Mitch F. Anderson is perhaps most notable for a striking absence — an on-screen...

A lonely man sets out in search of his soul mate after what he believes to be a fateful encounter with a banana. “Loveseat,” directed by Grace Kim, expresses its tale of longing with quirky, surreal gestures. The crossword-puzzle obsessed Jared is going about his daily life when he gets a mysteri...

Sacha gallops around Florida and gets his heart crushed by an older female. Harleigh Shaw directs “The Day that Sherrie Stopped,” a 3D animated film that’s both dreamy and somber, its surreal visual landscapes filled with color and youthful energy. After getting popsicles in the park with his fri...

On his way to Brad's animal-themed housewarming party, Richard stops at CVS and calls a close friend for advice about his costume. “The Woodpecker,” made by the directing team of Courtney Bush, Will Carington, and Jake Goicoechea, is a subtly funny slice-of-life sequence. In other hands, it might...

A young man caught underneath the thumb of his crazed parents makes a break for freedom. Isabella Nemcik directs “Fever,” an absurd drama where a case of domestic imprisonment pushes a man to a skin-crawling breaking point. Ziggy’s parents, dolled with monstrous prosthetics, spoon-feed their son ...

A dogged reporter is determined to get to the bottom of a mysterious town's secrets, as well as her own. Amy Zimmer writes and stars in “A Riveting Thriller” (dir: Doron Max Hagay), a satirical mini-noir tracking a weary woman holed up in her car, snacking on white chocolate pretzels, sipping on ...

An inter-dimensional fever dream about DMT and the margins of human perception. Ian Clark’s “Animal in Ascension” is a psychedelic documentary that follows a young man as he shares his thoughts and reflections on life while we also observe his day-to-day living in Miami. Julian, our subject, invi...

A young woman recalls her lover and children. Written and Directed by Ryan Henry Knight. Creative Direction by Ryan Henry Knight and Luigi Thomas. Cast: Gelilla Mekonnen, Amira Nailah, Scott Moon, Ben Spencer, Paris Howard, Luigi Thomas.

When Nina fails to meet her goal in the final week of weight loss camp, she considers drastic alternatives. “Bye Bye Body,” directed by Charlotte Benbeniste, is a tender snapshot about body image and self-esteem delivered with wonderfully natural performances and lovely 35mm images. At a weigh-in...

A feminine being reflects on a dispiriting sexual experience. Alexandra Neuman directs “Semen Retention For A Better Tomorrow,” a claymation musical that displays a colorful landscape of flora and fauna while reckoning with the patriarchy and the climate crisis. After making love, the woman refle...

Rachel grows anxious and introspective after overhearing her neighbors having sex.

A young woman comes home to her roommate sitting on their sofa topless. Andy Hones and Shelby Alayne Antel direct “Organic Girl,'' a satirical piece examining the diplomatic approach of a roommate confrontation. Anissa doesn’t quite know how to react when she comes home to her roommate, Shelby, s...

Vincent, a neurotic millennial with a middling credit score, needs work bad. A life of crime could certainly pay if he ever gets a chance, and one night he does. “Auxiliary Man,” directed by and starring Max Roux, infuses its 90’s style crime tale with bumbling humor and energetic soul tunes. The...

A young woman tries to navigate issues of intimacy in a unique relationship after an unsettling incident. “F*ck Bunny,” directed by Wesley Wingo, is a layered tale of concealment and discontent about two people in animal costumes engaged in anonymous role play. A women in a bunny suit meets up wi...