During a bachelorette weekend at a cabin in the woods, Wendy is forced to confront the one-sided relationship with her best friend Kristin. Zoe Jarman writes, directs and stars in “Coda,” an exceedingly cringe-worthy comedy about feeling unimportant to those you thought were close friends. Though...

Pak Anggir is a rice farmer in Bali living a modest, spiritually-connected existence, intent on passing along ancient Hindu traditions to his grandchildren. This calming documentary portrait directed by Ashleigh Goh Hua captures Anggir in his element, working the fields, blessing the offerings, a...

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 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 ...

Dallas Mapleshade, a delusional actress, hires a filmmaker to make a feature documentary about her life to propel her into the spotlight. “#Blessed,” co-directed by Rich Costales and Kailee McGee, is a bonkers ‘fine line between real and fake’ romp through the life of a wannabe star, carried by a...

Bren Cukier is a Polish-American writer and director whose short film “CZWARTEK” (Thursday) has screened at festivals worldwide. Currently residing in Los Angeles, her work blends documentary perspective with narrative filmmaking, marrying her experience in fashion and art photography to fully en...

When Cass’s expectations about her first time aren’t met, she confronts the boy who took her virginity. Connie O’Connor directs “In Your Sheets,” a coming-of-age snapshot that captures a complex set of feelings pre and post first-time sex. Early in the evening, Cass is filled with jitters and exc...

Two commercial actors in L.A. navigate awkward social interactions and problematic behavior. Whit Conway directs “Mo & Bert,” a buddy comedy centered around ethnographic stereotypes. Mo, a middle-eastern American, and Bert, a Latino-American, arrive at a commercial audition. There, a receptionist...

A glimpse at the goings-on of a 21-year-old in Brooklyn interrupted by a sojourn to North Carolina. Liam Barton directs “Blatant Interest,” a 16mm hangout film comprising a series of brief vignettes and electronica interludes. Beer cans litter Lyle’s rooftop. Instead of beginning the day with a c...

Two artists find their friendship at a breaking point as they compete for the same fellowship award. Elenie Chung’s “Citric Acid” is a portrait of competition in the art world and the shifting intimacy within a close relationship. Aino and Yu Xing are friends and sometimes collaborators who share...

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 boy in rural America moves through a typical day trying to keep himself entertained and out of trouble. The observational documentary, “Mason,” directed by Oliver Shahery, follows the titular subject as he shoots at squirrels, plays with toy cars, and drinks Coke. Shahery refrains from ex...

Crushed by the tedium of her daily routine, a business woman takes a leap of faith. Directed by Candice Vallantin, this experimental dance film from Madrid, Spain is notable for its use of sound and rhythm to highlight the monotonous patterns of modern life. Her name is Clara. She gives a fake sm...

An actor living on the edge of one of the most polluted zip codes in the United States prepares for a role. Kevin Steen directs “Daron, Daron Colbert,” an atmospheric portrait of a young man’s day-to-day life while he aspires to a career in acting. We’re introduced to Delray, a heavily polluted n...

Wandering through the Portuguese countryside, two brothers add a third companion to their travels after coming across a missing-person sign. George Daniell directs “The Windmill of Death,” a playfully ragged DIY adventure film filled with surreal flourishes and lo-fi style points. Dead Eye is a d...

A poetic meditation on women's work and the dream life of ants, set to the words of Toni Morrison. Directed by Stefani Saintonge, “Fucked Like a Star” is a lovely translation and a profound rumination on the natural world. Told in four parts, the film is rendered with all the complexity of the so...