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 ...

Debate sparks when a steadfast student challenges a guest lecturer and his presentation on metaphysics. Michael Rees directs “Middle Sized Things,” a comedic commentary on moral ambiguity and hierarchies in the higher education space. A visiting speaker, played by Al Warren, opens his lecture wit...

A Y2K teenager struggles to connect fantasy and reality when she gets a piercing on her birthday. Hilary Eden directs “Bellybutton,” a coming-of-age glance at the factors shaping a teenage girl’s self-understanding of beauty and identity. Parents out of sight, Lissy observes her older brother and...

A high-schooler named Larry tries to embrace the harsh reality that he may never be one of the “Great Larrys.” Oszkar Nosek directs “A Reason to be Larry,” a surreal character study of a young man trying to conceptualize his persona. Larry struggles to find confidence toward his own name, especia...

In a church-run town, a young woman experiments with new desires and role-play as she prepares for a Purity Ball. Gabrielle Carrubba directs “Down by the Water,” a small-town drama observing early explorations of queerness through the intimacies of female friendship. We first meet Susannah as she...

Another lazy day in Los Angeles is undermined by strange occurrences. Eric Colonna directs “Ratking,” an enigmatic drama that observes a young couple in North East L.A. as they deal with an odd visitor. Under a greenish tungsten hue, we meet the woman as she recalls a disturbing dream. Later, a d...

Deranged by a sudden death in the family, a young woman flees to the countryside in the hopes of establishing an idyllic rural life. Mick Robertson directs “How is the Dog,” a creeping psychological horror film where physical distance doesn’t seem to be enough for what a young woman hopes to evad...

An anniversary gift leads two young lovers into a black hole of misunderstanding. “Love Machine,” directed by Michael Rees, is a squirm-inducing dark comedy about the delusions and insensitivities of a dysfunctional couple. What at first appears to be a straightforward relationship study soon dev...

An actress is challenged by an eccentric director when rehearsing a gruesome kill scene for his horror movie. Taryn Segal’s “Up and Coming” is a handheld satire that pokes fun at the expectations of performance and the day-to-day lives of actors. As Taryn lies on the floor of what looks like any ...

From the desktop screen of a 2004 computer, a child dissociates into conspiracy sites, malware, porn, and anon forums. ““(ಥ﹏ಥ) ✧_My parents are cia PSY0PS_!!!* ಠ_ಠ”,” directed by Haydon Mayer, takes us through deep corners of the world wide web and slowly away from reality. Greeting us in what se...

In the midst of a sexual awakening, a religious teen finally musters up the courage to kiss her crush. “No Other Gods But Me,” directed by Alex Spott, is a sensuous comedy about lust and temptation delivered with glistening, hyper-saturated visuals. The devout Gemma spends her days praying to the...

In a small east coast town, two teenage boys ruminate on their first stirrings of desire. “Albedo or Apples and Oranges,” directed by Yiro Hu and Sean Dahlberg, is a mood piece that explores longing without sex and the silences between friends. First, we observe Shane. He sits quietly in the pass...