A new retiree’s world is upended when she is tasked with chaperoning her daughter’s abortion. Lucy Sandler directs “the weight of a dog,” a dramatic look at a mother and daughter relationship through the lens of generational disconnect. Mariah, in a complicated break period with her partner, need...

A camping trip puts a platonic friendship to the test. “Mountain Friends,” directed by Jon Mackey, is an intentionally stilted comedy that follows two friends into the Angeles Forest and one man into a flailing attempt to become more than friends. After hiking to their campsite, night falls quick...

A young man becomes suspicious of his downstairs neighbor after letting her use his fire escape. Camille Casmier directs “Intruder,” a compelling drama that graphs exponential unease and distrust that may be racially complicated. While preparing dinner, Sam, a white man, hears a knock at the door...

A filmmaker builds a self-portrait of her two relationships with men and the objects they left behind. Abigail Holland’s “kid with a pearl earring” offers a snapshot of young love and grief told through forthright narration over vivid images of New York City. Retracing the arc of her relationship...

A man seeks answers when he finds a pair of golden truck nuts mysteriously affixed to his Honda Civic. Zach Romeo directs “This is Nuts,” an absurd account of local fate and fable told through a low-polygon animation style. While a guitar is pensively plucked, we hear a man narrate—a destructive ...

When a struggling artist returns to her stifling hometown, she must confront who she is now and what she left behind. “It Will Happen to Us Again,” directed by Sarah Bloom, is a wintery, coming-of-age drama about a bittersweet homecoming. It’s a few days ahead of Christmas and Fernanda returns to...

A travel vlogger persuades his "friend" to embark on a 36-hour journey aboard the Amtrak Coast Starlight with the hope it will finally bring them closer. “We Took a Train,” directed by Austin Zollars, is a docu-fictional piece that reveals an increasingly tumultuous dynamic in a male friendship. ...

A young woman is meeting her friend for a movie when a voice from another place tries to reach her. Pat Mooney directs “DX350,” a silvery, 16mm slice-of-life with lowkey bursts of sci-fi. Elena descends a shopping mall escalator. Her iPod classic and wired headset are relics threatening the moder...

When a wealthy white man’s young black escort stops seeing him, he tries to find a replacement. “The Rentals,” directed by Nicholas Andre, is a darkly comedic snapshot of an aging man’s demand for desire and intimacy. The picture begins slightly unclear. Fred seems to be dozing off as James, his ...

A fourteen-year-old girl experiences a sleepwalking episode, leaving her haunted and determined to solve its mystery. Molly Longwell directs “Disco,” a careful, psychological thriller involving youth friendship and abuse. Jojo sleepwalks to an undisclosed barn in the middle of the evening. A whit...

When a college student comes home for break, they find a ghost in their childhood bedroom. Skye Schoenhoef directs “The Curtains Glow at Night,” a moody observation of one’s reflection on their youth and past self. Wren returns home for the break, catches up with an old friend, and spends time wi...

A young man, on-edge, tries cycling as a way to make friends. Noah Kentis directs “Pedestrian,” an expressionistic character study of a highly volatile call center employee. Working at United Auto Loan Trust, Kehlani gets aggressive on phone calls with people short on cash. A coworker tells Kehla...

A girl tells her crush that she loves him and then second guesses herself. “Sweet,” directed by Isabela de la Grana, warmly embraces the excitement and angst of young romance in the aftermath of such a confession. Judy sits across from Danny in her bedroom. He wears a cowboy hat and plays a tende...

A literary translator from Sao Paulo moves to New York to work on the novel of a dying author, but, adrift in an unfamiliar city, she struggles to stay grounded. Lucas Manuel-Scheibe directs “Terra Natal,” a dramatic observation of homesickness told through low-key magical realism. Upon her arriv...

A man discovers the suicide note of an acquaintance, only to find the drafts that were left behind. Eli Speigel’s “Gone Fishin” is a dark and unsettled portrait of disassociation. A man stands inside a flower shop. As he tells the florist, he’s there to purchase a bouquet of flowers to conceal a ...

A man's compulsion to know his partner's secrets leads into underworld contact with the non-human. Judd Myers directs "Destroyer,” a psychological horror piece where consequence lurks behind insecurity and skepticism. Joan has evening plans with a friend, but her boyfriend, Cary suspects otherwis...

A young woman’s birthday surprise for her friend collides with a father and son’s attempt to leave ashes at Universal Studios Hollywood. “Aaron and His Dad Try to Find Closure & Lucy Celebrates Andie’s Birthday at Universal CityWalk Hollywood,” orchestrated by Brad Roelandt, wears its title liter...