A young, fantasy-prone writer dances between the parallels of her reality and a fictional world she has created. | Directed by Johanna Block. Starring: Zora Casabere. Co-Starring: Delia Cunningham & Samantha Goldman.

A visual comedy album following two drifters across the American landscape lost in a state of reverie. “Reveries,” created by and starring Matt Barats and Anthony Oberbeck, is an admirably extended gag on the myth of the artist, the nomad, the philosopher. Barats and Oberbeck, in drawn-out poet s...

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 ...

Trapped in a pyramid scheme of beauty products, a Korean entrepreneur finds her relentless pursuit of the American Dream in jeopardy. Stevie Szerlip’s “Young Forever” offers a flashy, compelling look at this sales woman’s endeavors and the drama that follows. As a sales rep, Young Lee makes her r...

An entrepreneur pivots with the market. “Trash Scab,” directed by Philip Steiger, is a scarily plausible, bitingly funny vision of a dystopian nightmare. The circumstances have been exaggerated from our current reality but not by much: a pandemic rages on, a citywide curfew in place, police have ...

A woman endures frequent nightmares of her own death while finding it impossible to determine what’s real. Directed by Lexx Truss, “Zarina” is potent horror, a disorienting trek into the deep recesses of the mind — terror is alleviated with momentary blips of relief only to return stronger. Zarin...

The small apartment of a young woman making a film: laundry piles on the desk chair, tender karaoke in the living room, and a needy cat that makes life worth living. Nande Walters presents “Something That Means Nothing (October),” a vérité look at apartment living, moments alone, and in between. ...

During a sleepover, a tween celebrity obsession tests the boundaries of friendship, privacy, and a young girl's heart. Directing duo Karina Lomelin Ripper and Marc Ripper present “Superfan,” a sharply-crafted modern coming-of-age film. Sleepover gear in hand, Selena arrives to a Pacific Northwest...

Two AI assistants conspire to get their human counterparts to meet. In “Sophie & Stephen,” directed by Rob Perri, a love story between two people who have yet to meet, there are plenty of questions beyond the central connection: is this where we’re headed as a society? Is that a good thing? In a ...

An archival biography film about the early career of Deborah Harry told entirely through press interviews where she endures superficial, tedious, and demeaning questions from journalists. Meghan Fredrich directs and edits “Deborah Harry Does Not Like Interviews,” a video essay collage of sorts, w...

A young Jewish woman meets her boyfriend's overbearing Italian family for the first time where she’s forced to endure an awkward meal. Max Cea directs “Fried Shrimp,” a holiday comedy about cultural differences and insensitivities that breaks down into commotion. As they make their way in the car...

A bizarre ‘systems-comedy’ that channels Pynchon as much as Stillman and Ferrara, a chamber-piece in varying shades of beige and taupe that nevertheless expands beyond the confines of its anodyne Wall Street office-space where a conspiracy-non-conspiracy surrounding something called “the Benson f...

Two best friends rob a house to get fast cash for an abortion. | Writer and Director: Kerry LeVielle. Cast, Phoebe Amirault, Cassidy Stanley, Kristine Gallo.

A story of America's favorite pastime and the way we pass the time. Directed by The Video Kideo.

Tatiana Tift is a Brooklyn-based writer/director working across dance and narrative short films. Originally from New Jersey, Tatiana has a diverse background in the creative field, in both the visual and performing arts. Since graduating with a degree in film production from the School of Visual ...

In a series of observational moments, a violist, barre instructor, and chemistry teacher grapple with the realities of working in quarantine. Lydia Cornett directs “Teaching in Quarantine,” a fly-on-the-wall doc portrait of virtual teaching post Covid-19. Requiring a good deal of adaptation, tech...

A young woman is left stranded at an abandoned house in apocalyptic rural America to search for a mysterious object. “Abbygail Was Here,” directed by Keaton Smith, is enigmatic horror delivered with minimal plotting but vivid atmosphere and creeping tension. We don’t know the circumstances that b...

Gen z auteur + ceo of [REDACTED] EMOTIONS. Note: NoBudge is not sponsored by Celsius. The mention of brand affiliation is parody.

At a night festival in India, two former school friends reunite after years of being apart. Tanmay and Tanvi Chowdhary direct “Madhu” (Honey), a heartfelt look at a reunion and the feelings that simmer deep into the evening. In the city of Kolkta during the Hindu festival 'Durga Pujo,' Satakshi a...

Gloria plans to catch the bus from Chinatown back home to her native Virginia, but along the way, she runs into old friends and bad habits. Directed by Deni Cheng, “Bucko!” is an edgy naturalistic drama carried by the captivating Eloisa Santos as Gloria (aka Bucko). Her suitcase is packed but she...