A young woman struggles with grief following the loss of her mother. Zimam Alem directs “Geza,” an observation of mourning told through reflective narration, an old voice message from her mom, and a day-in-the-life observation. The young woman (played by Zimam Alem) wakes up to start her day in N...

In the mountains of North Carolina, a young boy lives with his troubled mother. “August” directed by Cameron Morton, is a slice-of-life portrait of rural living that merges into a heavy family drama of lost innocence. Spending his days zipping around on this bike or feeding his dog cereal, the ki...

A struggling actor in L.A. goes in for an audition. It doesn’t go well. Presented as an eight minute single-take, “Everything Happens to Me” is a funny and painful glimpse into chasing your dreams well past the point of no return. When he arrives, he’s frazzled and unprepared, having just got off...

A lonely chatterbox, fed up with the anti-social nature of the world, seeks to find himself a friend at all costs. Set in sunny Los Angeles, “People Person,” directed by Taylor Thompson, is an upbeat character study looking at social connections and interpersonal expectations. Immensely desperate...

After getting rejected from space camp, Dan is forced to hang out with his “dark energy” cousin and discovers something far stranger than he ever would at camp. A silly but somewhat earnest comedy reminiscent of bad 80’s movies, "Serf’s Up" is a welcome antidote to “smart” movies everywhere. Litt...

The screening event for a debut indie feature gets turbulent. Allie Viti and Zach Schiffman present “Blue Summer,” a purported document of the technical and natural disasters that occur during the screening of their first feature film. Amongst a sold-out audience of eager indie film watchers, eve...

On a hot day in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, a young woman paints her Nanna’s pergola before the house is auctioned. Pat Mooney’s “Lime Parfait” is a steady slice-of-life possessing a sentimental outlook on early adulthood and familial responsibilities. Atop a step ladder under a bright summ...

A retired soccer referee reflects on his old job, why he still likes to wear the uniform, and how he now spends his free time. | Directed by Eve Axness. Cast: Wayne Pepper.

A young man achieves success on the internet. Alex Sovoda of Enzo the Magazine directs “Compounding Negativity,” a character comedy where a young man, played by Will Duncan, drops a drill freestyle that opens some new doors. After walking his date home, Will is approached by two young men who are...

A man’s talent for playing a 1990’s video game makes him famous in the Los Angeles arcade community. Zac Weathers and Brooke Palmieri direct “Time Crisis,” a vivid documentary capsule of the physical arcade space following one of its most devout patrons. Recognized in the leaderboards as “E.E.,” ...

A Japanese-American woman travels to Tokyo to find a very specific can of paint for a friend’s boss. “Space White,” directed by Isaac Ravishankara, is a quiet character study of Sam who arrives in Japan without knowing the language or culture. The store she’s been told will have the paint she’s l...

An actress is challenged by an eccentric director when rehearsing a gruesome kill scene for his horror movie. Taryn Segal’s “Up and Coming” is a handheld satire that pokes fun at the expectations of performance and the day-to-day lives of actors. As Taryn lies on the floor of what looks like any ...

An awkward teenager in Park Slope, Brooklyn goes out one night in search of a boy, any boy, to bring home and prove to her sister she’s actually normal. Sophia Bennett Holmes directs “Big Crush,” a coming-of-age vignette that captures the tentative expressions of a teen girl on a weekend when her...

In need of a place to stay, a young man poses as the son of a woman with Alzheimer’s. Sam Severin directs “Niko & Eleanor,” an understated drama about an unlikely relationship that fleetingly forms between two people with different struggles. Niko enters the home of Eleanor wearing a safety vest ...

During a lonely summer break, a teenage girl explores her sexuality via a dating app. Matthew Brennan directs “Summer Vacation,” an intimate snapshot of Alice, a high school runner who goes on a series of dates and struggles to feel any sort of passion. When Alice runs into an old friend, Jill, h...

In a small east coast town, two teenage boys ruminate on their first stirrings of desire. “Albedo or Apples and Oranges,” directed by Yiro Hu and Sean Dahlberg, is a mood piece that explores longing without sex and the silences between friends. First, we observe Shane. He sits quietly in the pass...

A soft-spoken father takes refuge in yoga classes to escape parenting responsibilities and leer at women in tight yoga gear. Anchored by a hilariously low-key Paul Gordon (a veteran on the no-budget scene), the short wears its juvenile heart on its sleeve, and for a comedy, delivers surprisingly ...

During the 2020 BLM protests, a white protester loses his head trying to corral a group of fellow demonstrators. Alex Bliss directs “Close the Gap,” a satirical character study that boldly examines the loose ends of a young man’s mind amidst a high-tense moment. As he marches, he broadcasts live ...