A sad, stoic man trapped in a nightmare existence finds a strange book which seems to offer some relief. Writer, director, editor, music: Anthony Oberbeck. Cast: Nathan Min, Andrew Tisher, Devin Bockrath, Lucy McMichael, Jo Firestone. Cinematographer: Johnny Frohman. Audio mix: Matt Giordano

An office worker calls into a radio show to set the record straight about the nine to five work day. Sasha Lebedeva’s two-minute film, “Eight to Five,” observes an unsettled man during his lunch break airing a grievance about the Dolly Parton song/film, “9 to 5,” and the “real business world.” Co...

A frustrated husband spirals during his pre-planned fight with his wife at Ruby Tuesdays. Luke Strickler directs “I Decided To Fight With My Wife Over Salmon,” a constantly morphing digital art collage about love, hate, and death. The misogynistic man sees fine dining as the perfect opportunity t...

While stuck at home during lockdown, a Russian woman living in L.A. ponders how to stay busy and convince herself everything’s okay. “Stay At Home Movie,” made by Sasha Lebedeva — she writes, shoots, edits, color grades, and stars — is a simple but stylish self-portrait of boredom and restlessnes...

A young woman comes to terms with the role she plays in society as an Adderall dealer. Margos Margossian directs a script by Ani Tatintsyan, who also stars — crafted with stylish visuals and acerbic wit, “Adderall Cowboy” is a contemplation of the current pharma state and the condition of the Ame...

In the future, a data limit is reached causing the internet to spill out into the real world. Luke Strickler directs and animates “2064,” an absurdist art video using stock 3D models of common American products and brands to paint a ridiculous future. A giant floating Mario becomes the Earth’s ne...

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...

A world decimated by a meteor tries to put itself back together. “Le Saucier,” directed by Eric Paschal Johnson and Liana Finck, is a lovely assemblage of hand-drawn illustrations, narrated by Tom Felton telling a story of the rediscovery of some of mankind’s finest achievements. Digging through ...

A woman endures frequent nightmares of her own death while finding it impossible to determine what’s real. Directed by Lexx Truss, “Zarina” is potent horror, a disorienting trek into the deep recesses of the mind — terror is alleviated with momentary blips of relief only to return stronger. Zarin...

A dogged reporter is determined to get to the bottom of a mysterious town's secrets, as well as her own. Amy Zimmer writes and stars in “A Riveting Thriller” (dir: Doron Max Hagay), a satirical mini-noir tracking a weary woman holed up in her car, snacking on white chocolate pretzels, sipping on ...

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a mother returns her son’s missed phone call. “It’s Your Mother Calling,” directed by NoBudge favorite Travis Wood, is a touching animated micro-short that uses a real voicemail message over a series of colorful visuals. It’s a portrait of longing and motherly advice...

Eric's strategy for crossing the street raises some big questions for Megan about the future of their relationship. “Lifehack,” directed by Will Dennis, is a quick-hitter, one-shot comedy set on the streets of NYC (Soho, to be precise). The bickering couple heads to a wedding while quarreling on ...

A woman searches for meaning in her life, where all days seem to blend into one. Varya Rootwood directs “Groundhog Year,” an experimental film poem rendered with striking, darkly funny compositions and sarcastic monologue. She spends her day gardening, drinking coffee, and reading. Except, she’s ...

Two friends enjoying a night to themselves realize they're not the only ones in the apartment. “Mean Spirit,” directed by Nick Funess, is a darkly funny snapshot of gossiping pals, bad roommates and getting caught in an awkward situation. While drinking wine one night, one of the friends, played ...

Zablah, a demon baby boomer, seeks to convince a millennial to eat at Applebee’s. Ryan Betschart and Rachel Nakawatase direct “Zablah,” a gritty comic oddity shot on 16mm (using a film stock that looks almost like 8mm) that uses a clickbait headline as a springboard to tackle a generational divid...

A young mother finds a key that opens the door for her son’s escape. A kinetic experimental film made entirely from still photographs, Thea Lorentzen’s “A Key for the Kid,” is a small marvel in abstract ingenuity. The year is 2100 and the task is to find a blinking red key hidden in the forest. T...

A woman fantasizes about a romantic night at a bar, including a fling with her bartender. “Queendom,” directed by Nat Gee, is a lighthearted music video shot on 16mm and filled with colorful production design and costuming. A woman and a man make eyes, he makes her a drink and offers her a rose, ...