In order to finally be seen, a forlorn teenager takes the biggest action of her life: auditioning to be church cantor at her Christian high school. Kate McCarthy directs “Look, Mira,” a coming-of-age comedy delivered with colorful verve, a sweet-natured take on not fitting in. Overly sensitive fr...
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...
A L.A. couple takes a shortcut down a steep staircase while playing a question-and-answer exercise designed to rekindle intimacy. “Hellmouth,” directed by Gus Reed, is a dramatic vignette that’s vaguely unsettling, almost dream-like in tone, and shouldered by performances from Rhian Rees and Shan...
A mechanic in a small midwestern town would do anything to leave her boring life but she can’t seem to break free. Tipper Newton directs and stars in “The Dangerous Type,” an entertaining throwback to 80’s (and before) tropes that renders its snappy banter and B-movie characterizations with style...
When Sandy and Mitra get into trouble, they come to their friend Alyssa for help. “Alyssa Learns to Drive,” written by and starring Sandy Honig, Mitra Jouhari, and Alyssa Stonoha, is an ingeniously silly sketch that cycles through a smorgasbord of random accents, absurd phrasings, botched languag...
While making an animated film, a filmmaker must decide whether to stop working with his assistant or stop sleeping with her. “Brontosaurus,” directed, animated, and voiced by Jack Dunphy, is a brutally honest and darkly funny portrait of a messy relationship, presented as a series of pencil drawi...
Celeste and Aurora have lived together for awhile but sometimes their friendship finds them bickering over mundane issues. “Dye Red,” directed by Vittoria Campaner, is a character study filled with vivid color and atmosphere, presented in vignettes that flow into one another with hidden cuts. The...
A group of disillusioned L.A. couples compete in an obscure sport to obtain money and social status. “Hill Hikers,“ directed by Elizabeth Godar and Mitch deQuilettes, is a mockumentary about a hiking “race” started by a couple trying to keep their sexual chemistry alive. Vague as the competition ...
After a night out in Miami, a young woman reckons with the dwindling chemistry between herself and her ex-boyfriend. Paula Andrea González-Nasser directs “Limestone,” a relationship study that paints a complicated portrait from an ordinary night out in the city. At a club, the woman reunites with...
Inseparable sisters, Henriette and Anais, find their relationship being torn apart under mysterious circumstances. “Perfect as Cats,” directed by Kevin Vu, is an atmospheric drama that moves in dreamy ripples, crafted with stylish visuals, costuming and production design. At an austere boarding s...
A small time travel vlogger’s tour of Coney Island is interrupted by an unexpected phone call. Amber Schaefer directs “NYC Tips and Tricks,” a satirical portrait of a man so preoccupied with filming his frivolous-seeming video that he struggles to fulfill basic fatherly responsibilities. With his...
An aged ex-Club Kid prepares to re-enter queer nightlife after years of leading a nomadic crust-punk lifestyle in the squats of New York City. “Supernova,” directed by Jacob Kessler, is a docu-fiction portrait of Astro, as she moves through a series of spontaneous interactions. Of utmost concern ...
During a routine smog check, an eastern European mechanic discusses racism in a very uncomfortable way with a black man. A dry comedy set in L.A., “Smog,” directed by Derek Milton, tackles an awkward exchange about skin color and the term African American in wry, understated fashion. The chatty m...
A new roommate moves into Xena's apartment, changing the dynamic with their current partner. Arielle Bordow directs and co-stars in “Craigslist Roommate,” a free-spirited 16mm snapshot of fluid relationships and shared living. When the wandering Addie moves to Madison, Wisconsin, she responds to ...
Two stoner BFFs engage in an unusual routine to accrue the capital needed to sustain their lifestyle. “Salesmanship,” directed by and starring Brooke Bundy and Helen Rogers, is a stylized snapshot of being broke and aimless. Minimally plotted but energetic, it’s built with flashy musical sequence...
A group of Alaskan fishermen do everything it takes to stay awake and not crash their boat. “Cold Bull,” directed by Ben Gordon, is a deranged commercial for Red Bull (not really), or a loopy experimental documentary about “living the sweet life” (also not really). It’s the summer and the fishing...
