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 emotional triggers for Kate, who can’t be around others in pain without feeling the pain herself. Seeing a psychiatrist results in a prescription for mood stabilizers but when she comes across a flyer for an alternative method — an Empath Support Group — she considers the later option, though it soon becomes clear the group’s methods are quite unorthodox. With wall-to-wall tears, Moeller’s film captures its vulnerable subjects in darkly comedic scenes propelled by an entrancing score. -KA. Writer, director: Alec Moeller. Cast: Betsey Brown, Nadi Lee, Johnny Ray Meeks, Ally Davis, Michelle Simms, and introducing Leanne Tarrab. DP: Ben Mullen. PD: Phil Steiger. Wardrobe: Janet Gomez. Editor: Andy Ruse. Producers: Andy Ruse, Jesy Odio.
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...
