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...
In this collection of anonymous stories shared by queer men, a connection is drawn between queer life and nature. “I Wish There Was a Guy Term for I Love You,” directed by Andy Motz, is an experimental documentary narrated with tales of first time flings and intimate meet-ups framed as a series o...
On the eve of Three Kings Day, a boy answers a forbidden phone call and begins to understand his place among family secrets. “Gift of the Magi,” directed by Casiano R. Hamer, is a 16mm portrait that weaves together a tapestry of family history, Biblical stories, painful absences, and the possibil...
Estranged ex-step-siblings reunite over dinner but find themselves with opposing views on the future of their relationship. Eliza Jiménez Cossio and Lexi Tannenholtz direct “We Should Get Dinner!” a dark comedy about fractured bonds and lingering resentments. Abby and Sean grew up together but ha...
We curate a shorts block of 8 shorts films from our archives. You watch at least 4 of them and "Review" them on Letterboxd. You get a free 1-Year subscription to NoBudge ($54.99 value), which gets you access to all of our Exclusive Films and bonus content like director intros and deleted scenes. ...
Two men in bloody shirts watch a French film and chat about Cheese-Wiz as a shell-shocked woman tries to make sense of it all. “Be Leaving,” directed by Brandon Wilson, is a surreal avant-garde film oozing with uncertainty as it reveals surprising doses of humor. Via deadpan banter, the two men d...
While navigating a busy work day, a woman reflects on a profound personal decision. “Polished,” directed by Colleen Dodge, is a sensory vignette tracking a vulnerable woman through a difficult day in New York City. Jane attends to incessant needs from her job but she is mentally elsewhere. Trying...
An anxious teen responds to a Craigslist ad and strikes an unexpected connection with a stranger behind a sheet. “Personals,” directed by Sasha Argirov, is an engrossing drama that details a would-be sexual encounter and the corresponding awkwardness and vulnerability. The nervous young man enter...
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...
Afflicted by a mysterious case of hyper-empathy, a young woman stumbles across a group that claims to treat the disorder. “Empath,” directed by Alec Moeller, is an engrossing character study lifted by a powerhouse performance by Betsey Brown. Moving through everyday life is a minefield of emotion...
A man is confronted by his violent past while living in a limbo of his own making. “The Seventh Circle,” directed by Alexandra Velasco, is a frenzied experimental horror film soaked in isolation and ambiguity. Whispering to himself in Spanish, a man called El Minotauro moves through a cavernous h...
In this subversive mockumentary, a queer Latine new media performance artist is interviewed by a “woke” magazine editor set on defining her story and the meanings of her art. “Griselda,” directed by Denisse Griselda Reyes, tackles a host of themes related to identity, aesthetics, and Christian ic...
Commissioned to make a short profile of an emerging pop star, a 3-person American film crew spends six days in Asia searching for their subject. Brook Linder directs “Time Code,” a hyperkinetic meta narrative that coheres improbably around the creation of a piece of glossy online content in 2016....
Born into a life of opulence, Anna finds herself stuck in a plagued dream state. Horace Martins directs “The Duchess of Zion,” a striking experimental film capturing a life of beauty and decay, a mix of the haunted and the ethereal. Soon after her birth, Anna’s wealthy parents split, her dad ditc...
Trafficked and labeled "high mileage," Bee looks to bargain for her freedom. Kayana W directs “Lizard,” a dark drama centered around sex trafficking, drug dealing, and cyclical consequences. Seeking a way out, Bee attempts to recruit a younger girl to enter the ring, hoping to free herself from s...
A fashion-forward model questions his self-image when he crosses paths with the "cooler" version of himself on a photoshoot. “Coolguy,” directed by Nicky & Z, is a pop comedy sketch about overthinking one’s appearance. A man struts onto set exuding confidence and swagger, owing to his carefully c...
An uninvited houseguest makes herself at home. “Sticky,” directed by Aisha Schliessler, is a stylish experiment — an exploration of a living space inhabited by somebody who doesn’t live there. With unclear intentions, the woman makes her way through the house: in the kitchen, she drinks from a bo...
After spending the day hanging out and playing video games, unexpected tension bubbles up between two young friends as they flip through an issue of Penthouse magazine. Max Tullio directs “In Our Secret Penthouse,” a coming-of-age vignette about childhood innocence, teen masculinity and sexual aw...
On an impromptu visit to Central Florida, an estranged mother and daughter navigate their tangled relationship. Kali Kahn directs “Linda,” a dramatic character study that feels something like a rushed getaway. At a wild swimming spot in the middle of the woods, Linda tries to get Olivia to loosen...
Two undergraduates discuss the status of their relationship and their sexual experiences. Jinho Myung directs “The Pressure of Sweetness,” a spontaneous conversation that accurately reflects the nascent modes of expression between two young adults evaluating a fling. While hanging out one day, th...
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...
Kailee McGee is an award-winning artist, filmmaker, and writer. She makes content for screens of all sizes and real life too. Her work frequently blurs the line between reality and fiction and life and art. In 2019, Kailee wrote/directed/starred in The Person I Am When No One Is Looking, an appla...
When two friends accept an invitation to see the new couch of an up-and-coming comedian/actor, it turns into an evening of heavy drinking and idiosyncratic self-expression. Kailee McGee directs “The Idea of a You,” a self-referential portrait of the lives and romantic inclinations of three L.A. a...
Awakening in a field far from home, two sisters embark on a magical and bizarre adventure through the pastoral Midwest. “Prairie Girls,” directed by Benett Holgerson, is a lighthearted romp through past and present detailed with antiquated costumes and props, and colorful animation sequences. Aft...
