During the Covid-19 pandemic, a mother returns her son’s missed phone call. “It’s Your Mother Calling,” directed by NoBudge favorite Travis Wood, is a touching animated micro-short that uses a real voicemail message over a series of colorful visuals. It’s a portrait of longing and motherly advice...

A lonely virtual reality actor parties with a woman sent to kill her. “Talk About Your Dreams,” directed by Robbie Barnett, is psychedelic sci-fi set in the near (?) future where hallucinogenic drugs have replaced anxiety. Kate Lyn Sheil plays the woman, a popular VR actor specializing in comfort...

A chronically online, socially inept teenager takes a leap of faith to meet up with her virtual bestie for the first time. “Thru the Wire,” directed by Bocau, is a modern coming-of-age film set in Vietnam with an honest account of where online and IRL conflict. “Fried_fish_ball” (we never get her...

A twenty-something filmmaker and actor, Zoë, is making a movie based on her attraction to another woman. “Untitled Movie,” directed by Annie Brennen, is a layered meta comedy, an exploration of sexuality and the creative process. Currently in a relationship with a man, Zoë fantasizes about kissin...

A love letter to corporate synergy in the age of COVID-19. Made entirely from stock footage, “Smiling Worker Coughs in Hand” achieves an unsettling atmosphere from its generic visuals of average Americans engaged in basic daily activities. Director Ben Kitnick taps into the mood of the moment wit...

Four music videos flow together in this dreamy and entrancing short film directed by Adinah Dancyger and Kaya Wilkins. “There is A River” includes tracks from the indie pop musician Okay Kaya’s second album, “Watch This Liquid Pour Itself,” to create an experimental work of beautifully captured m...

A Y2K teenager struggles to connect fantasy and reality when she gets a piercing on her birthday. Hilary Eden directs “Bellybutton,” a coming-of-age glance at the factors shaping a teenage girl’s self-understanding of beauty and identity. Parents out of sight, Lissy observes her older brother and...

In three New York City vignettes, a handful of characters engage (both actively and passively) with the soundtracks of their current lives. Ray Smiling directs “Play This at My Funeral,” a film that revolves around music and corresponding moments of humor or enthusiasm. A Times Square Spiderman f...

In Los Angeles, a young man working as a doumi - a host/hostess who entertains clients in private karaoke rooms - encounters a strange request. “Koreatown,” directed by Grant Hyun, is a stylish drama full of controlled tension and striking neon visuals. The handsome Kyeong sings to patrons who ha...

A medley of overheard banter and personal musings about love and the cliches of love, i.e. “the same little message every night.” Directed by Peter Wagner, “It's All Related!” is an experimental animated film where mundane conversations about nachos, bitcoin, and psychiatry are flavored with a de...

A man with shit for brains struggles to cope with his strange condition. “SHITHEAD”  directed by Riley Donigan, follows a young man on the brink of physical and psychological implosion. The opening sequence aptly foreshadows the portrait ahead. A log floats in the toilet while we overhear a phone...

Left home alone for the weekend, two sisters navigate their strained rivalry amid the horrors of adolescent sexuality. Lizzy Sanford writes and directs “The Knot,” an understated character study about sibling-hood and teenage rites of passage. The film is merely a glimpse but it’s painted with vi...

When a young couple moves to an off-the-grid farm in Vermont, they are forced to confront the challenges of self-subsistence and living in isolation. Niall Cunningham directs “Annie,” a paced drama observing the growing tension and relationship dynamics between Annie and Simon and their idealisti...

In a world where time travel is commonplace, two friends confront a secret one of them has been keeping. “When You Were Born” is mumblecore sci-fi, a high concept, lo-fi drama that defies metaphysical constraints. Writer/Director/Editor: Zephyr Sheedy. Starring Victoria Lowry, Audrey Stemann and ...

A lonely comedian prepares for a virtual stand up act. Milos Mitrovic directs “wasting time at the end of the world,” co-written by and starring Alex Ateah, a sadly funny glimpse into our new Covid reality and digital connections that fail to replicate the real deal. Just ordering a pizza becomes...

Henry loses his vision after being exposed to an unknown toxic gas. “Gas Gets In Your Eyes,” by director Madeline Leshner, is an imaginative experimental drama full of startling images and unsettling developments. The grim prognosis is delivered by an ominous robotic voice, and, before Henry can ...

A recently married woman helps her single friend shoot an introduction video for a dating service. Imogen McCluskey directs “Atomic Love,” a 1980s found-footage piece where honest truths between two friends reveal themselves. With her hot pink blazer and questionable perm, Aleea struggles to get ...

Raymond Knudsen is an award-winning Filipino-American writer, director and producer based in NYC. Knudsen founded BIG BLUE PICTURES in 2020. Knudsen has produced multiple short films including WEAPONS AND THEIR NAMES (Sundance, Palm Springs ShortFest) and MONKEY BARS (NoBudge, NFFTY). As a direct...