3 DIALOGUES ABOUT THE FUTURE

Program 2: Midnight Sessions

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 14 min
Directed by: Alina Manolache

What is it like to navigate our world as an artificially intelligent robot? What is there to learn about homo sapiens in order to become as 'human' as possible? Three pairs of robots take us through their learning process. They track, analyse and draw information by watching people in different life situations. But their algorithmic vision comes in contrast with a meditative, rather poetic dialogue in which they deconstruct and reassemble the definition of humanity as we know it.

APHONIA

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 12 min
Directed by: Marta Z. Nowak

The daily routine of a boarding school for deaf children is disturbed by the arrival of a new student, who doesn't know sign language. A deaf girl helps him find his way into the new world. Their special friendship will soon be put to the test. The film features deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

ASI ES LA VIDA

Program Special Shorts: Latin Film Series

Genre:
Running Time: 13 min
Directed by: George Ortega

Danny has the worst day of his life at school. His uncles come over to console him with stories of their worst day.

BAD HOMBREWOOD

Program Special Shorts: New Western Cinema Series

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 24 min
Directed by: Guillermo Casarin

Guillermo Casarín, an aspiring young filmmaker, came to the United States from Mexico to pursue his dreams of becoming a film director. Now, he is on the verge of graduating from one of the best film schools in the world, but after experiencing racism in the country and film industry, he finds himself questioning his place in Hollywood. Through compelling interviews--such as Academy Award-winning directors Phil Lord, Lee Unkrich, and Guillermo Del Toro, and Melissa Fumero from the Golden Globe-winning show "Brooklyn Nine-Nine"--and archival footage, Bad Hombrewood reveals the dark side of Hollywood’s history and the challenges Latinx filmmakers face while trying to succeed in the entertainment industry.

BEAR

Program 6: Female Gaze

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 19 min
Directed by: Morgane Frund

An amateur filmmaker who has filmed bears for years, contacts a film school looking for someone to edit his images into a film. A student comes forward. But when she digitises his archive, she discovers that the recordings are not only of bears. A discussion ensues about the power of a gaze and its voyeuristic violence.

BENTO BANANA 1-4

Webseries Program 2

Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy
Running Time: 27 min
Directed by: Ari Grabb

An animated web series about a talking artificially intelligent banana and his eggplant sidekick existing within a procedurally generated anime that appears to be mysteriously glitching. With the progression of the series, the themes move from the absurdity and conventions of anime into existential questions about the nature of reality, The role of AI in art and Capitalism, and how much of ourselves exist within our animation.

BIRTHING JUSTICE

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 1 hr 26 min
Directed by: Monique N. Matthews

America’s medical inequities has turned giving birth into a battlefield for too many Black women and their babies. BIRTHING JUSTICE flips that narrative, centering the expertise and lived experiences of Black women and their advocates as they fix a broken system and transform the future, one birth at a time.

BLACK GIRLS PLAY: THE STORY OF HAND GAMES

Program 6: Female Gaze

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 18 minutes
Directed by: Joe Brewster

BLACK GIRLS PLAY: THE STORY OF HAND GAMES takes a historical look at the significant effect that Black girls have had on popular culture and Black musical aesthetics. Tracing back centuries, through an examination of African Culture, the film takes a deep dive into the use of hand games and other artistic communications to combat cultural language that was forbidden. The cultural aesthetics of hand games have permeated modern American culture and Black girls are often left uncredited for the impact that they have left on society. PLAY looks to examine this often forgotten world.

CAN'T HELP MYSELF

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre:
Running Time: 19 min
Directed by: Anna Ansone

Estere spends her days by the sea selling ice cream. Trying to find peace, she listens to meditation podcasts and self-help audio-books. Meanwhile, strangers caressed by the summer sun look for the same in tarot cards, fortified drinks, and the Bible. Estere starts to repeat their chit chat, slowly beginning to believe what they are saying. A mournful passage of time where those you’ve met by chance and those you’ve long forgotten are destined to meet.

CIVIC

Program 1a: LA Stories

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 19 min
Directed by: Dwayne LeBlanc

CIVIC is a short film that follows Booker on his first trip back home to South Central, L.A. after several years of self-imposed exile. Without any clear motive, or even a warning, Booker returns to the place that holds his origins and the people who shaped him. Framed almost exclusively inside of his car, CIVIC tracks Booker’s fleeting and fragmented encounters around his old streets. Booker spends most of his time with his childhood best friend, Tee. They ride around to liquor stores and lingering in parking lots after closing time. Closeness and distance ebbs and flows between them as they talk about their lives, old and new. The repaved ground between them allows Booker to dive deep into the past, seemingly letting go of the tension in the present. However, we soon realize Booker is avoiding his responsibility to his family members across this trip. Just as he plans his disembark from L.A., he has an unexpected encounter that helps to reframe his perspective in the world. CIVIC is an introspective film, giving life to the wordless exchanges, the mundane and the familiar shorthand of unfettered Black life.

CONFESSIONS

Program Special Shorts: Latin Film Series

Genre: Thriller, Drama
Running Time: 22 min
Directed by: Evette Vargas

CONFESSIONS is a grounded, present-day, one-hour, supernatural thriller franchise, exploring the multi-layered facets of sin and atonement. After committing a sin in heaven, Manuel de Castillo, an angel and former Spanish conquistador, is banished and must roam the earth until fulfilling his penance, which is to compel sinners to carry out a penance of their own, to right their wrongs and cleanse their souls. Fallen angel Manuel has been earth bound for 500-years and today, he initially contacts sinners by using the one thing they all possess- a phone.

CUXBALL

Program 3: Queer it Up!

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 12 min
Directed by: Dave Paige

Sam finds something in the dirt.

DARLA IN SPACE

Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy
Running Time: 1hr 34 min
Directed by: Susie Moon, Eric Laplante

Darla Peterson lives with her mother and runs her business, Kitty Kasket, out of the garage. She works hard and keeps her nose clean, so how did she end up with a $349,000.22 tax debt? Leona Peterson's nose is less clean. She suggests they hunt carburetors in the neighborhood and sell off the valuable platinum found within. With this plan, they'd have the debt paid off in two weeks. Darla is frustrated with her mother's insane notions, but she tries to make the best of her work day cleaning the warehouse overseen by Arnot Pickens. Arnot Pickens is an absentee boss at best. His work seems to be guarding a shipping container and not answering the telephone which perpetually rings. Poking around the place, Darla topples upon the discovery of a lifetime, locked tight inside the shipping container: a sentient kombucha scoby, and it can talk! Or at least, Darla can hear this scoby, whose name is Mother, loud and clear. This is not the topper in the list of Mother's unusual qualities, however. Darla discovers Mother's ability to grant mind-blowing orgasms. If Darla will help Mother fulfill her dream of going to space, Mother will help Darla with her debt. As quick as that, Darla puts her plan in motion: All she needs is to find 350 people to orgasm, or "Menage", with Mother at $1,000 a pop and the debt is paid. Totally straightfoward.

DAVEY'S LULLABY

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 9 min
Directed by: Adam Deyoe

A spirited, middle-aged man with Down Syndrome faces an uncertain future when his mother, who lovingly cares for him as he struggles with bouts of dementia and growing physical infirmity, is no longer able to help him.

DUST TO LIGHT

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 12 min
Directed by: Erika Houle

Dust to Light is a 12 minute documentary about what is really going on under the surface when we are cleaning. The film listens as four Zen practitioners reflect on the transformative process of cleaning when it is approached as a meditation rather than burdensome chore.

FINDING FILMAN

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 13 min
Directed by: Kevin Anglin

A documentary team follows a delusional soft-core porn actor who seeks to cross over into the mainstream acting world. Regis Filman is a soft core porn actor who has recently been submitted for consideration for an AVN Award for his performance in an adult film entitled 'The Buttler’. The potential nomination leads him to believe that he is ‘more’ than just a soft core star and he seeks to 'cross over' into the mainstream performance world by showcasing his skills as a ‘method actor’. When the AVN nomination doesn’t go as planned Regis must rely on help from his roommate JAKE and the rest of his friends to keep him focused on his method acting dreams.

GIRL AT A BAR

Webseries Program 1

Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 55 min
Directed by: Angela Cohen

Girl at a Bar is a short form series about a young woman's journey to bars alone for a year to reclaim her identity after half a decade debilitated with Lyme disease. Gabby spent years disabled with Lyme and now significantly recovered, she is ready to get her life back, so she plans a party to celebrate her improved health. But everyone flakes. So she goes to the bar up the street and there she realizes no-one treats her like she’s sick and for once, her health is not the focus. Gabby decides to keep going to bars alone, to explore her city and herself as a more able-bodied woman- still grappling with her past and managing her illness, but redefining her future. Made possible by Bay Area Lyme Foundation, the project is inspired by the writer and creator Tracy Mulholland's blog and true story of being disabled with Lyme.

HAIL MARY

Genre: Horror, Drama
Running Time: 1 hr 40 min
Directed by: HAIL MARY: Rosemary Rodriguez

HAIL MARY is a genre-bending retelling of the Mary and Joseph story that begs the question – who are the real monsters? Maria is a 17-year-old girl from Belize who finds herself mysteriously pregnant. We find her walking, following the north star, to safety across the US/Mexican border. She’s trying to escape a deadly virus and being chased by the right-hand man of the devil (Baal). Along the way she meets Jose, a mediocre carpenter who happens to have helped build a tunnel under the Rio Grande for the Cartels. As they join forces with Gabrielle (the Angel Gabriel), the cartels and US Border Patrol join the chase. This subliminally subversive monster movie might just have unexpected fans cheering for an undocumented pregnant migrant to make it safely across the US Border. Plays with THE WOLF'S LAMENT (3 min) by Scott Cardona, the story of what happens when a new neighbor moves into the woods and disrupts the wolf's week.

HAND ME DOWNS

TV Pilots Program

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 21 min
Directed by: Blaise Beyhan

HAND ME DOWNS is episodic ensemble series that explores the consequences and nuances of American masculinity on a group of friends. This programming is handed down generation to generation, father to son, brother to brother, friend to friend. we follow the group of friends through everyday life with their hand me downs guiding each step they take.

HEADPRICKLES

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre:
Running Time: 8 min
Directed by: Katarzyna Miechowicz

If you are being bothered by intrusive thoughts, such as: How many plastic bags are optimal for packing one banana?; What ensures victory in the skeleton competition?; Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Or Should I shower with my socks on? Will I face any consequences?--then - that's great! “Headprickles” will give you an answer to at least one of these questions. The film consists of over a dozen animated enigrams connected by the motif of being trapped in a loop of absurdity. In visually colorful labyrinth of observations, the protagonists try to make sense of nonsense - or they stay mindlessly in it. HEADPRICKLES probably won’t change the world, will not cause a shock or a revolution, but - maybe – it will make audience’s heads a little itchy during the projection?

HERITAGE DAY

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 20 min
Directed by: Lara Everly

After Evie dresses up like her estranged grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, on HERITAGE DAY at school, she becomes increasingly obsessed with this dark part of her family history.

HIT MAN

TV Pilots Program

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 19 min
Directed by: Elias Plagianos

A lonely hitman from New York City travels to small towns around the country trying to find meaning in his inconsequential life as he fulfills his contracts and eliminates his targets. Based on the best selling "Hit Man" book series by Grand Master of mystery Lawrence Block. Starring Richard Kind, Karen Allen, William Sadler, and Peter Riegert.

HOW NOT TO DATE WHILE TRANS

Program 3: Queer it Up!

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 12 min
Directed by: Nyala Moon

HOW NOT TO DATE WHILE TRANS is a break-the-fourth-wall, dark comedy that follows the dating life of a black trans woman and the problematic men she meets along the way. Andie searches for romance and self-love but ends with heartbreak.

HOW TO DEAL WITH FAME

Program 1a: LA Stories

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 21 min
Directed by: Tiffany Ike

When a masculine-presenting actress gets cast as the leading lady in a play where her character dresses the opposite of her, her mother’s arrival for the performance reminds her of the womanhood she lacks.

I ONCE WAS LOST

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 11 min
Directed by: Emma Limon

One night in 2008, my father, John, got lost in a Boston suburb.

IN THE SHADOWS OF PALMS

Program 1b: LA Stories

Genre: Documentary, Drama
Running Time: 12 min 24 sec
Directed by: Mischa Meyer

IN THE SHADOWS OF PALMS is an intimate portrait of three lives on the outskirts of Los Angeles. A father, mother and son each tell their individual stories of struggle in the concrete jungle, and the creative ways they find hope in this cinematic documentary.

INGLORIOUS LIAISONS

Program 3: Queer it Up!

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 11 min
Directed by: Chloé Alliez, Violette Delvoye

Tonight is the night for Lucie, Maya and their friends. Even Jimmy came : he is here for Maya and everybody knows it. But at the moment when everything is supposed to happen, Maya and Lucie finds out they have hidden feelings for each other, tender and confused, who trouble to find their place in this evening punctuated by alcohol that flows freely, the compilations that rock and the hormones that boil.

IT'S A DATE

Program 3: Queer it Up!

Genre:
Running Time: 5 min
Directed by: Nadia Parfan

IT'S BASIC

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 1 hr 17 min
Directed by: Marc Levin

IT'S BASIC looks at several Basic Income pilot programs launched in the US that test the effects of giving everyday people an extra $500 to $1,000 monthly, with no strings attached. The film presents an unbiased account of the benefits, criticisms, and outcomes of giving money to people in need. It explores a simple idea: Can unconditional cash payments be the most effective way to stem poverty in America? This concept has been up for discussion many times throughout history and we highlight recent events that explain why it is happening now. Multi-award-winning Director Marc Levin is at the helm, with commentary by Michael Tubbs, and interviews with program recipients and participating mayors across the country, the real-life challenges of trying to get by are at the heart of the film.

JILL, UNCREDITED

Program 4: Dystopia Now

Genre: Documentary, Drama
Running Time: 18 min
Directed by: Anthony Ing

Prolific background actor Jill Goldston takes centre stage in this unique portrait. Constructed entirely from Jill’s performances – captured fleetingly in everything from Mr. Bean to The Elephant Man – the film is a lyrical journey through popular culture, and a haunting study of a life lived out of focus. Based on interviews with Jill Goldston. Produced by Loop and supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival 2023.

LET IT OUT

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 2 min
Directed by: Scott Talbot

A man suffering from depression finds something unexpected at his lowest point.

LILY'S MIRROR

Program 6: Female Gaze

Genre: Thriller, Horror, Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 17 min
Directed by: Linnea Frye, Adam Pinney

Lily is out on a dinner date with her boyfriend Bart, expecting a proposal, when he unexpectedly chops off her hand. As Lily works on recovering, she begins to feel phantom pains where her hand used to be, so her doctor gives her a therapeutic mirror box to help with the discomfort. However, as she begins to use the box, she realizes there's a side effect: she can see real phantoms in the mirror. Specifically, she begins to see the obituaries of multiple dead women who experienced recent and mysterious deaths come to life. As Lily learns these women's stories, their lives and deaths begin to intertwine in a journey of self-discovery, female empowerment, and the quest for justice.

LIVESTREAM

Program Special: Asian Film Series

Genre: Thriller, Action
Running Time: 30 min
Directed by: Tanxuan Shi, Ziyuan Wang

Isabella, an out- of- date girl group idol who is experiencing a double crisis of career and age, decides to make a comeback with live-streaming; she plans to become a Chinese head influencer by selling an emerging medical bio-sector fund in North America. But her live stream spiraled out of control with the intrusion of a hacker who threatens to release a deadly biochemical virus...

METHOD SAMPLING: HOW TO BUILD THE FUTURE TOGETHER

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 56 min
Directed by: Josh Nesmith, Matt Boman

Method Sampling is the principle used by an Oakland, CA globetrotting orchestra which fuses hip-hop and classical music to magical effect. JooWan Kim, its Korean born composer, believes that any paradigm shifting change only happens by sampling and reframing differences and sparking innovation. To test his hypothesis, he meets a disabled choreographer who revolutionized modern dance, a self-taught Black mycologist who wrote the first books on Cordyceps cultivation, and a tiny house builder with a shipbuilding background who looks at houses as inverted boats. In addition, he meets the Italian Critical Theorist, Fabio Vighi, to explore how Method Sampling may allow society to overcome the challenges it faces today.

MIA & THE SKELETONS' NIGHT FROM HELL

Program 2: Midnight Sessions

Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy
Running Time: 4 min 35 sec
Directed by: Ryan Maples

A spec teaser short horror comedy about a punk band dealing with a rival group whose music just so happens to turn anyone who hears it into demons. Now the punk group must band together to survive a literal night from Hell. This is a short teaser film, setting up the larger story.

MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE

Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance, Comedy
Running Time: 1 hr 32 min
Directed by: Michael Lukk Litwak

MOLLI AND MAX IN THE FUTURE is a Sci-Fi Romantic Comedy about a man and woman whose orbits repeatedly collide over the course of 12 years, 4 planets, 3 dimensions and one space-cult.

NEON RAGE

Program 6: Female Gaze

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 13 min
Directed by: Alejandra Parody

Camila, a young aspiring-and-struggling illustrator, meets Madison, a teenage girl, when Camila is hired by Madison’s (very) wealthy family as her tutor. Unlike Camila, Madison is confident, popular, and has never experienced rejection. Though Camila initially dismisses the teenager as vapid and out-of-touch, they connect over their shared struggles as artists at heart. Camila becomes seduced by Madison’s can-do-attitude and naïve drive. The short interaction ultimately sparks a new fire inside of Camila. There’s a low key, slice-of-life feel to the story. It moves us to reflect on the themes of wealth, privilege, and what it takes to be successful.

NUMB

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 1 hr 31 min
Directed by: Cai O'Leary

Having lost her own mother to suicide at a young age, Jess, a young single mother suffering with postpartum depression, now finds herself in a similar position. She lives in a small town with her older brother, working an aimless 9-5 job in a cafe, without dreams and without hope of any of this changing.

OH GREAT, RILEY'S DEPRESSED AGAIN

Program Special Shorts: New Western Cinema Series

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 11 min
Directed by: Charia Rose

Riley’s self-medication of choice right now is weed and lots of it. As she sits in her car trying to find the energy to attend an annual brunch hosted by her damn near perfect sister Jasmine, she is visited by Lee, the visual (and more put together) representation of her consciousness. Lee attempts to guide Riley through the brunch, coaching her on how to hide her “crazy” but it all comes to a head when the friend group realizes Riley is, in fact, depressed again. An intervention follows, and Riley is painfully confronted with the reality that no matter how good she thinks she is at hiding her depression, it’s impacting all those that love her. She’s left wondering how is she supposed to handle her pain and the impact it has on the ones she loves the most.

OVERWATCH: GENESIS

Webseries Program 2

Genre:
Running Time: 18 min
Directed by: Brian Horn, Doug Gregory

With Anubis unleashed, the Omnic Crisis takes hold. Humanity faces demise as only a select few, codename: Overwatch, have what it takes to fight back.

PADRE

Program Special Shorts: New Western Cinema Series

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 8 min
Directed by: ML Post

A young priest returns to Sicily to make amends with his dead mother. Grief-stricken, he contemplates the traumatic event that forced him to leave - the mysterious disappearance of his father at sea.

PALESTINE 87

Program 6: Female Gaze

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 13 min
Directed by: Bilal Alkhatib

During the First Intifada, Atef is chased by the Israeli army and finds himself trapped in an entrance of a house. The owner, an old lady, hides him in her bath. Atef is surprised that there is another person inside, who helps him not to be arrested.

POWER SIGNAL

Program 2: Midnight Sessions

Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Running Time: 20 min
Directed by: Oscar Boyson

While trying to navigate a city that won’t provide him a bathroom, a delivery worker discovers an unearthly presence infecting women all over New York.

Program 1a: LA Stories

Genre:
Running Time: 40 min
Directed by:

This program paints a cinematic portrait of Los Angeles, touching on themes of homecoming, womanhood, the artistry of dance and music, and the challenges faced by teachers amidst pressing social issues. CIVIC is a short film that follows Booker on his first trip back home to South Central, L.A. after several years of self-imposed exile. Without any clear motive, or even a warning, Booker returns to the place that holds his origins and the people who shaped him. Framed almost exclusively inside of his car, CIVIC tracks Booker’s fleeting and fragmented encounters around his old streets. Booker spends most of his time with his childhood best friend, Tee. They ride around to liquor stores and lingering in parking lots after closing time. Closeness and distance ebbs and flows between them as they talk about their lives, old and new. The repaved ground between them allows Booker to dive deep into the past, seemingly letting go of the tension in the present. However, we soon realize Booker is avoiding his responsibility to his family members across this trip. Just as he plans his disembark from L.A., he has an unexpected encounter that helps to reframe his perspective in the world. CIVIC is an introspective film, giving life to the wordless exchanges, the mundane and the familiar shorthand of unfettered Black life. HOW TO DEAL WITH FAME When a masculine-presenting actress gets cast as the leading lady in a play where her character dresses the opposite of her, her mother’s arrival for the performance reminds her of the womanhood she lacks.

Program 1b: LA Stories

Genre:
Running Time: 47 min
Directed by:

IN THE SHADOW OF PALMS is an intimate portrait of three lives on the outskirts of Los Angeles. A father, mother and son each tell their individual stories of struggle in the concrete jungle, and the creative ways they find hope in this cinematic documentary. WHEN WE FIGHT In the second largest school district in the United States, 98% of teachers vote to authorize a strike. Watch as one of the largest educator strikes in modern U.S. history unfolds in real-time, highlighting the stories and leadership of some of the women who led it, from union leaders to classroom teachers. From strike vote to contract vote, When We Fight goes behind the picket lines, documenting how and why teachers strike.

Program 2: Midnight Sessions

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 16 min
Directed by:

Welcome to a thrilling blend of cult films, horror and NSFW dark comedy that explores the eerie world of midnight anxiety. TABERNACLE A wandering tramp falls in with a crowd of religious zealots, led by a bumbling preacher who sermonizes, "Hellfire is a real place!" In the back pew, the tramp imagines grandiose visions of snickering devils and orgiastic torture. The unnamed hero is then baptized in the ocean and does janitorial work for the church, but idiotically causes a fire. There are devils hiding in the carpet! The preacher catches him in the act, resulting in a scuffle which leads to the demise of both. POWER SIGNAL While trying to navigate a city that won’t provide him a bathroom, a delivery worker discovers an unearthly presence infecting women all over New York. THE BUYERS A new homeowner grows suspicious of a neighborly couple eager to help her unpack. MIA AND THE SKELETONS' NIGHT FROM HELL A spec teaser short horror comedy about a punk band dealing with a rival group whose music just so happens to turn anyone who hears it into demons. Now the punk group must band together to survive a literal night from Hell. This is a short teaser film, setting up the larger story. WHAT A TRIP! Two downtrodden strangers go on a vision quest to cure their depression but end up trying to figure out why they have matching visions of a manic, talking wolf-bear named Kevin. 3 DIALOGUES ABOUT THE FUTURE What is it like to navigate our world as an artificially intelligent robot? What is there to learn about homo sapiens in order to become as 'human' as possible? Three pairs of robots take us through their learning process. They track, analyse and draw information by watching people in different life situations. But their algorithmic vision comes in contrast with a meditative, rather poetic dialogue in which they deconstruct and reassemble the definition of humanity as we know it.

Program 3: Queer it Up!

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 22 min
Directed by:

A vibrant showcase of LGBTQ+ narratives filled with humor, wit and love, even amid the complexities of war and identity conflicts. IT'S A DATE THAT DARK DAY City councilor Victor mysteriously disappears in Sao Paulo during a day that turns night because of meteorological phenomena and smoke from forest fires. Weeks go by, and Fabio grows closer to Louise. He is a trans man and a caregiver for the elderly. She is ill and living far from her family in France. While aiding Louise (a cis woman), Fabio's relationship with her matures into understanding, affection, and exchange. He becomes her rock. Fabio's memories and dreams offer a closer look at his coming-of-age and his dilemmas about sexuality and gender. The story unfolds in a country with a polarized society and under political and financial turmoil. While Fabio must overcome the recent end of a romantic relationship, Louise feels the pangs of loneliness and her near death. Now Fabio and Louise have each other to rely on and learn to say their goodbyes. “That Dark Day” has won the “Silver Rabbit” award - Audience’s Choice for Best Brazilian Short Film - at MixBrasil Festival of Diversity Culture 2022 INGLORIOUS LIAISONS Tonight is the night for Lucie, Maya and their friends. Even Jimmy came: he is here for Maya and everybody knows it. But at the moment when everything is supposed to happen, Maya and Lucie finds out they have hidden feelings for each other, tender and confused, who trouble to find their place in this evening punctuated by alcohol that flows freely, the compilations that rock and the hormones that boil. UNNAMED Zainab is a successful girl who supports her family financially, but considers herself a boy in spirit, and now she has decided to undergo gender transition, but in addition to her family's opposition and the society's inappropriate view of this issue, she has more difficulties There is something more important to come. she, who played in the country's national volleyball team for a while and is now in the Bartar league, if she does this, she will be removed from professional volleyball forever due to her short stature compared to men, and not only will she lose her professional future, but also her livelihood and her family who are under her care will be in trouble. CUXBALL Sam finds something in the dirt. HOW NOT TO DATE WHILE TRANS is a break-the-fourth-wall, dark comedy that follows the dating life of a black trans woman and the problematic men she meets along the way. Andie searches for romance and self-love but ends with heartbreak.

Program 4: Dystopia Now

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 13 min
Directed by:

In the films of this program, boundaries blur between humanity and nature, identities merge with artificial realities, and isolated souls find solace amidst haunting shadows of injustice. STILLNESS IN LABOR In the film Stillness of Labor, Chris Larson replicates 12 full-scale rooms using objects extracted from an abandoned garment factory in Tennessee to mirror the environment of the laborers. When labor was outsourced in 1998, the rural community was left without work in a town centered around industry. Larson recreates the architecture of the factory as a study of the anthropogenic imprint humans leave behind in spaces of heavy repetition. WILD SUMMON A natural history fantasy film, following the dramatic life cycle of the wild salmon in human form. Narrated by Marianne Faithfull. A Bfi short film by Karni and Saul. VISAO DO PARAISO SAFE AT HOME A stop motion short film about two roommates being "safe at home" during the COVID-19 pandemic. JILL, UNCREDITED Prolific background actor Jill Goldston takes centre stage in this unique portrait. Constructed entirely from Jill’s performances – captured fleetingly in everything from Mr. Bean to The Elephant Man – the film is a lyrical journey through popular culture, and a haunting study of a life lived out of focus. THE FOURTH Eager to celebrate the 4th of July, a group of young black and Latino friends experience a police encounter that shatters the meaning of the holiday.

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 19 min
Directed by:

Through the lens of mental health and self-discovery, these short films delve into the intricate tapestry of the mind, exploring subjects such as disability, meditation, alienation, and the power of human connection. APHONIA The daily routine of a boarding school for deaf children is disturbed by the arrival of a new student, who doesn't know sign language. A deaf girl helps him find his way into the new world. Their special friendship will soon be put to the test. The film features deaf and hard-of-hearing children. DUST TO LIGHT A documentary about what is really going on under the surface when we are cleaning. The film listens as four Zen practitioners reflect on the transformative process of cleaning when it is approached as a meditation rather than burdensome chore. DAVEY'S LULLABY A spirited, middle-aged man with Down Syndrome faces an uncertain future when his mother, who lovingly cares for him as he struggles with bouts of dementia and growing physical infirmity, is no longer able to help him. CAN'T HELP MYSELF Estere spends her days by the sea selling ice cream. Trying to find peace, she listens to meditation podcasts and self-help audio-books. Meanwhile, strangers caressed by the summer sun look for the same in tarot cards, fortified drinks, and the Bible. Estere starts to repeat their chit chat, slowly beginning to believe what they are saying. A mournful passage of time where those you’ve met by chance and those you’ve long forgotten are destined to meet. THE GIFT OF COLOR Deeply rooted in their routine of avoidance an adolescent teen and their grandmother unexpectedly find themselves on a path of self-reflection and acceptance. I ONCE WAS LOST One night in 2008, my father, John, got lost in a Boston suburb. LET IT OUT A man suffering from depression finds something unexpected at his lowest point.

Program 6: Female Gaze

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 20 min
Directed by:

Exploring the concept of the female gaze, these films navigate the realms of horror, social conflicts, black culture, and class, offering unique insights through the lens of both female and male directors. BLACK GIRLS PLAY: THE STORY OF HAND GAMES Black Girls Play takes a historical look at the significant effect that Black girls have had on popular culture and Black musical aesthetics. Tracing back centuries, through an examination of African Culture, the film takes a deep dive into the use of hand games and other artistic communications to combat cultural language that was forbidden. The cultural aesthetics of hand games have permeated modern American culture and Black girls are often left uncredited for the impact that they have left on society. PLAY looks to examine this often forgotten world. NEON RAGE Camila, a young aspiring-and-struggling illustrator, meets Madison, a teenage girl, when Camila is hired by Madison’s (very) wealthy family as her tutor. Unlike Camila, Madison is confident, popular, and has never experienced rejection. Though Camila initially dismisses the teenager as vapid and out-of-touch, they connect over their shared struggles as artists at heart. Camila becomes seduced by Madison’s can-do-attitude and naïve drive. The short interaction ultimately sparks a new fire inside of Camila. There’s a low key, slice-of-life feel to the story. It moves us to reflect on the themes of wealth, privilege, and what it takes to be successful. PALESTINE 87 During the First Intifada, Atef is chased by the Israeli army and finds himself trapped in an entrance of a house. The owner, an old lady, hides him in her bath. Atef is surprised that there is another person inside, who helps him not to be arrested. LILY'S MIRROR Lily is out on a dinner date with her boyfriend Bart, expecting a proposal, when he unexpectedly chops off her hand. As Lily works on recovering, she begins to feel phantom pains where her hand used to be, so her doctor gives her a therapeutic mirror box to help with the discomfort. However, as she begins to use the box, she realizes there's a side effect: she can see real phantoms in the mirror. Specifically, she begins to see the obituaries of multiple dead women who experienced recent and mysterious deaths come to life. As Lily learns these women's stories, their lives and deaths begin to intertwine in a journey of self-discovery, female empowerment, and the quest for justice. BEAR An amateur filmmaker who has filmed bears for years, contacts a film school looking for someone to edit his images into a film. A student comes forward. But when she digitises his archive, she discovers that the recordings are not only of bears. A discussion ensues about the power of a gaze and its voyeuristic violence.

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 19 min
Directed by:

Where does humor draw its boundaries? Exploring taboo subjects like the Holocaust, the N-word, or simply reveling in absurdity, these films offer a fresh perspective on what society might deem off-limits for laughter. PROOF OF CONCEPT An aspiring auteur tries coaxing her dad and uncle into financing her first short film but winds up raising more questions than dollars. THE FAVOR "Death doesn't become her." When the Angel of Death comes to collect a woman who is just not ready to go, things take a surprising turn. FINDING FILMAN A documentary team follows a delusional soft-core porn actor who seeks to cross over into the mainstream acting world. SUMMER'S LAST SWIM Magazine quizzes, summer camp crushes, and awkward funerals fill the world of 15-year-old besties Shawna and Juno who spend one last day at the beach as they await the uncertain future of an in-person sophomore year. “Do you really think I’m a cauliflower?" HEADPRICKLES If you are being bothered by intrusive thoughts, such as: How many plastic bags are optimal for packing one banana?; What ensures victory in the skeleton competition?; Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Or Should I shower with my socks on? Will I face any consequences?--then - that's great! “Headprickles” will give you an answer to at least one of these questions. The film consists of over a dozen animated enigrams connected by the motif of being trapped in a loop of absurdity. In visually colorful labyrinth of observations, the protagonists try to make sense of nonsense - or they stay mindlessly in it. "Headprickles" probably won’t change the world, will not cause a shock or a revolution, but - maybe – it will make audience’s heads a little itchy during the projection? HERITAGE DAY After Evie dresses up like her estranged grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, on “Heritage Day” at school, she becomes increasingly obsessed with this dark part of her family history. THE WORD Billionaires decide to give African American's reparations for slavery...bit there's a catch.

Program Special Shorts: Latin Film Series

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 35 min
Directed by:

In this series, Latin/Latinx American filmmakers create work in many genres with stories encompassing the past, present, or the future. The filmmakers unite in powerful artistry of portraying unique experiences. CONFESSIONS is a grounded, present-day, one-hour, supernatural thriller franchise, exploring the multi-layered facets of sin and atonement. After committing a sin in heaven, Manuel de Castillo, an angel and former Spanish conquistador, is banished and must roam the earth until fulfilling his penance, which is to compel sinners to carry out a penance of their own, to right their wrongs and cleanse their souls. Fallen angel Manuel has been earth bound for 500-years and today, he initially contacts sinners by using the one thing they all possess -- a phone. RAZÓN DE SER: LUIS C. GARZA is a documentary that chronicles the story of this rare Chicano photographer who uniquely documented activist movements on both coasts, and internationally, during the 1960s and 1970s. Perhaps best known recently for his work in co-curating the blockbuster LA RAZA exhibition at The Autry as part of The Getty's Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, Garza's work spans from the Chicano civil rights movement in Southern California to New York where he captured scenes of his South Bronx neighborhood, demonstrations on women's rights, and rallies by the Young Lords Party who sought to empower Puerto Ricans and other colonized people. It also includes his 1971 travels to Eastern Europe for the World Peace Conference where, as a young Chicano student, he met renowned Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Currently, 80-year-old Garza is seeking an institution to properly archive his nearly 8,000 film negatives of his life's work. VIDA Los Angeles – 2053, After a bloody civil war, women of color are captured and sterilized as a form of population control. Vida and a group of resistance fighters are getting ready to escape, but suddenly one of their own is captured, and they’re forced to decide between saving themselves or saving her. ASI ES LA VIDA Danny has the worst day of his life at school. His uncles come over to console him with stories of their worst day. THE GIANT KILLER A Mexican American reporter uncovers a plot to resegregate just a few years after the Civil Rights Movement. His worldview is challenged as he is thrust into a conspiracy too large for him to handle alone. Adapted from the 1978 novel by Richard Vasquez.

Program Special Shorts: New Western Cinema Series

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 47 min
Directed by:

In this series, new and seasoned filmmakers create powerful new works that span across comedy, drama, and documentary. THE FIRST COWBOY Based on historical events, this epic story recounts the collision of two powerful and equal cultures, the Mexicans and Americans, told through the eyes and lives of two families, the genteel Southern Palmers and the educated and progressive vaquero ranchers, the Velascos. It narrates the initial mistrust, the slow and reluctant interaction, the affections which formed between them, the agreements made, and the eventual betrayal, followed by dehumanizing domination. All playing out against the backdrop of tumultuous times, culminating in the Texas Revolution and its aftermath. OH GREAT, RILEY'S DEPRESSED AGAIN Riley’s self-medication of choice right now is weed and lots of it. As she sits in her car trying to find the energy to attend an annual brunch hosted by her damn near perfect sister Jasmine, she is visited by Lee, the visual (and more put together) representation of her consciousness. Lee attempts to guide Riley through the brunch, coaching her on how to hide her “crazy” but it all comes to a head when the friend group realizes Riley is, in fact, depressed again. An intervention follows, and Riley is painfully confronted with the reality that no matter how good she thinks she is at hiding her depression, it’s impacting all those that love her. She’s left wondering how is she supposed to handle her pain and the impact it has on the ones she loves the most. THE LOCKET Amy, a troubled young woman answers an ad to live with a kindly woman, Grace, and her very old - and very odd - mother, Ms. Nan. Amy begins to experience strange occurrences in the house and Grace and Ms. Nan are not quite what they seem. BAD HOMBREWOOD Guillermo Casarín, an aspiring young filmmaker, came to the United States from Mexico to pursue his dreams of becoming a film director. Now, he is on the verge of graduating from one of the best film schools in the world, but after experiencing racism in the country and film industry, he finds himself questioning his place in Hollywood. Through compelling interviews--such as Academy Award-winning directors Phil Lord, Lee Unkrich, and Guillermo Del Toro, and Melissa Fumero from the Golden Globe-winning show Brooklyn Nine-Nine--and archival footage, Bad Hombrewood reveals the dark side of Hollywood’s history and the challenges Latinx filmmakers face while trying to succeed in the entertainment industry. PADRE A young priest returns to Sicily to make amends with his dead mother. Grief-stricken, he contemplates the traumatic event that forced him to leave - the mysterious disappearance of his father at sea.

Program Special: Asian Film Series

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 30 min
Directed by:

LIVESTREAM Isabella, an out- of- date girl group idol who is experiencing a double crisis of career and age, decides to make a comeback with live-streaming; she plans to become a Chinese head influencer by selling an emerging medical bio-sector fund in North America. But her live stream spiraled out of control with the intrusion of a hacker who threatens to release a deadly biochemical virus... VARIEGATE In recent years, the mental health of teenagers has received widespread attention. This work is a visually animated short film about hypnotherapy in psychological treatment. It tells the story of a young person with a mental illness and the changes in their inner world during psychological therapy. The imagery of a bird is used to express their inner self, and a post-apocalyptic style is employed to depict the transformation of their mental world. The aim is to guide teenagers to face psychological issues, seek help bravely, self-rescue in a timely manner, and rediscover the colors within their hearts.

PROOF OF CONCEPT

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 6 min
Directed by: Max Cohn, Ellie Sachs

An aspiring auteur tries coaxing her dad and uncle into financing her first short film but winds up raising more questions than dollars.

RAZÓN DE SER: LUIS C. GARZA

Program Special Shorts: Latin Film Series

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 15 min
Directed by: Alessandro Gentile

RAZÓN DE SER: LUIS C. GARZA is a documentary that chronicles the story of this rare Chicano photographer who uniquely documented activist movements on both coasts, and internationally, during the 1960s and 1970s. Perhaps best known recently for his work in co-curating the blockbuster LA RAZA exhibition at The Autry as part of The Getty's Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA, Garza's work spans from the Chicano civil rights movement in Southern California to New York where he captured scenes of his South Bronx neighborhood, demonstrations on women's rights, and rallies by the Young Lords Party who sought to empower Puerto Ricans and other colonized people. It also includes his 1971 travels to Eastern Europe for the World Peace Conference where, as a young Chicano student, he met renowned Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Currently, 80-year-old Garza is seeking an institution to properly archive his nearly 8,000 film negatives of his life's work.

REVELATION

Program Special Shorts: New Western Cinema Series

Genre:
Running Time: 15 min
Directed by: Jamielyn Lippman

Jacob (30's) a devout Mormon must face his truth that he can longer hide his homosexuality. Still reeling from the shock of his family casting his brother out. Jacob owns his truth and prepares to return home to come out to his family no matter the cost.

SAFE AT HOME

Program 4: Dystopia Now

Genre:
Running Time: 4 min
Directed by: Zoö DeLeon

A stop motion short film about two roommates being "safe at home" during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SHUDDERBUGS

Genre: Thriller, Drama
Running Time: 1hr 46 min
Directed by: Johanna Putnam

Sam returns to her childhood home in the wake of her mother’s mysterious death, spiraling down a rabbit hole of grief, suspicion and isolation.

STILLNESS OF LABOR

Program 4: Dystopia Now

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 9 min
Directed by: Chris Larson

In the film STILLNESS OF LABOR, Chris Larson replicates 12 full-scale rooms using objects extracted from an abandoned garment factory in Tennessee to mirror the environment of the laborers. When labor was outsourced in 1998, the rural community was left without work in a town centered around industry. Larson recreates the architecture of the factory as a study of the anthropogenic imprint humans leave behind in spaces of heavy repetition.

SUMMER OF VIOLENCE

Genre: Romance, Drama
Running Time: 1 hr 44 min
Directed by: Nicki Micheaux

In 1993, a college grad feels the wrath of her father when she refuses law school to focus on her poetry. Disowned, she moves to Denver and uses her creativity to speak out against the gang violence. When those close to her die, she finds herself in deep and spirals out of control. Reconciling with her family she self-acceptance, and within her a passion to live and honor those that can’t.

SUMMER'S LAST SWIM

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 12 min
Directed by: Eliza Bent

Magazine quizzes, summer camp crushes, and awkward funerals fill the world of 15-year-old besties Shawna and Juno who spend one last day at the beach as they await the uncertain future of an in-person sophomore year. “Do you really think I’m a cauliflower?”

TABERNACLE

Program 2: Midnight Sessions

Genre: Thriller, Comedy
Running Time: 13 min
Directed by: Dante Capone

A wandering tramp falls in with a crowd of religious zealots, led by a bumbling preacher who sermonizes, ""Hellfire is a real place!"" In the back pew, the tramp imagines grandiose visions of snickering devils and orgiastic torture. The unnamed hero is then baptized in the ocean and does janitorial work for the church, but idiotically causes a fire. There are devils hiding in the carpet! The preacher catches him in the act, resulting in a scuffle which leads to the demise of both.

THAT DARK DAY

Program 3: Queer it Up!

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 29 min
Directed by: Daniel Guarda

City councilor Victor mysteriously disappears in Sao Paulo during a day that turns night because of meteorological phenomena and smoke from forest fires. Weeks go by, and Fabio grows closer to Louise. He is a trans man and a caregiver for the elderly. She is ill and living far from her family in France. While aiding Louise (a cis woman), Fabio's relationship with her matures into understanding, affection, and exchange. He becomes her rock. Fabio's memories and dreams offer a closer look at his coming-of-age and his dilemmas about sexuality and gender. The story unfolds in a country with a polarized society and under political and financial turmoil. While Fabio must overcome the recent end of a romantic relationship, Louise feels the pangs of loneliness and her near death. Now Fabio and Louise have each other to rely on and learn to say their goodbyes. THAT DARK DAY has won the “Silver Rabbit” award - Audience’s Choice for Best Brazilian Short Film - at MixBrasil Festival of Diversity Culture 2022.

THE ACTIVATED MAN

Genre: Thriller, Drama
Running Time: 1 hr 55 min
Directed by: Nicholas Gyeney

As Ors Gabriel struggles with the grief and pain from losing his best friend and beloved dog, Louie, to cancer, the shock from the trauma brings on strange visions only Ors can see. While he questions whether his mind has fractured or if it's actually real, a mysterious rise in murder-suicides takes hold of the city, and Ors becomes haunted by images of a shadowy figure known to many as ‘The Fedora Man’. Through torments and terror, Ors uncovers dark secrets from his past, forcing him to embrace who he really is, and what he is meant to do. But, with escalating visions of ‘The Fedora Man’, Ors must face his fears as he spirals downwards, testing the very limits of his sanity.

THE BUYERS

Program 2: Midnight Sessions

Genre: Thriller
Running Time: 8 min
Directed by: Felicia Manning

A new homeowner grows suspicious of a neighborly couple eager to help her unpack.

THE CONSPIRACY

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 1 hr 30 min
Directed by: Maxim Pozdorovkin

This startling animated documentary addresses an insidious, centuries-old conspiracy theory that continues to rear its ugly head today: the idea that Jews have a secret international plot to control the world. Filmmaker Maxim Pozdorovkin ("Our New President") and a host of talented voice actors including Mayim Bialik, Liev Schreiber, Jason Alexander, and Ben Shenkman connects the dots of hate and fear to walk us through almost 250 years of anti-Semitic ideology, focusing on how times of uncertainty give rise to anxieties in marginalized populations.

THE COUNTDOWN

TV Pilots Program

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 29 min
Directed by: Melanie Renfroe

A dark comedy about two best friends staring down the barrel of 40, facing the painful truth that their individual hopes for motherhood have been bested by dead-end careers and unfaithful partners. At the end of their collective ropes, a rage- and alcohol-fueled science experiment becomes their dark solution to the genetic injustice of their biological clocks.

THE FAVOR

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 10 min
Directed by: Wanjiru Njendu

"Death doesn't become her." When the Angel of Death comes to collect a woman who is just not ready to go, things take a surprising turn. (Winner of the Inaugural Freestyle Cinema Rentals Short Script Competition Presented By The Chimaera Project)"

THE FIRST COWBOY

Program Special Shorts: New Western Cinema Series

Genre:
Running Time: 19 min
Directed by: Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz

Based on historical events, this epic story recounts the collision of two powerful and equal cultures, the Mexicans and Americans, told through the eyes and lives of two families, the genteel Southern Palmers and the educated and progressive vaquero ranchers, the Velascos. It narrates the initial mistrust, the slow and reluctant interaction, the affections which formed between them, the agreements made, and the eventual betrayal, followed by dehumanizing domination. All playing out against the backdrop of tumultuous times, culminating in the Texas Revolution and its aftermath.

THE FOURTH

Program 4: Dystopia Now

Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama
Running Time: 12 min
Directed by: Johnny Kirk

Eager to celebrate the 4th of July, a group of young black and Latino friends experience a police encounter that shatters the meaning of the holiday.

THE GIANT KILLER

Program Special Shorts: Latin Film Series

Genre:
Running Time: 26 min
Directed by: Frank Velasquez

A Mexican American reporter uncovers a plot to resegregate just a few years after the Civil Rights Movement. His worldview is challenged as he is thrust into a conspiracy too large for him to handle alone. Adapted from the 1978 novel by Richard Vasquez.

THE GIFT OF COLOR

Program 5: Life, Unscripted

Genre: Drama
Running Time: 10 min
Directed by: Daniel Nathan Nunley

Deeply rooted in their routine of avoidance an adolescent teen and their grandmother unexpectedly find themselves on a path of self reflection and acceptance.

THE HIDDEN POWER OF PURPOSE

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 1hr 9 min
Directed by: Elliot V. Kotek

The Hidden Power of Purpose," narrated by Debbie Allen, bridges inspiring stories of individuals who have found purpose in their lives with the insights of leading scientists whose work affirms that living with purpose improves health and longevity.

THE LAST ASSASSIN

Genre: Action
Running Time: 1 hr 27 min
Directed by: Yinghuai Qian

The story of an assassin who stops killing because of his goodness, but is used by others in a conspiracy that results in irreparable killings, after which he sees through human nature and returns to the Ghost Assassin Alliance.

THE LOCKET

Program Special Shorts: New Western Cinema Series

Genre:
Running Time: 29 min
Directed by: Christopher Yohe

Amy, a troubled young woman answers an ad to live with a kindly woman, Grace, and her very old - and very odd - mother, Ms. Nan. Amy begins to experience strange occurrences in the house and Grace and Ms. Nan are not quite what they seem.

THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 1 hour 41 min
Directed by: Chris Cottam

Two distant cousins who’ve never met - one in NYC, the other in the smallest town there is in Ireland - come together to finally put an end to a generations-long family feud. It doesn’t go well. The Problem With People, set in beautifully lush Irish countryside, is a heartwarming comedy about family, world peace ... and sheep.

THE WOLF'S LAMENT

Short Film

Genre:
Running Time: 3 min
Directed by: Scott Cardona

The story of what happens when a new neighbor moves into the woods and disrupts the wolf's week.

THE WORD

Program 7: Funny Threads

Genre: Comedy
Running Time: 10 min
Directed by: Rob M Neilson

In THE WORD, billionaires decide to give African American's reparations for slavery...bit there's a catch.

THIS IS YOUR SONG

Genre: Romance, Drama
Running Time: 2 hr 5 min
Directed by: Hassan Said

Set in contemporary San Francisco, Jules, a dedicated bohemian theatre actress struggles and confronts what seems to be an unhappy stifled marriage, a dead end theatre industry, and a city that is outgrowing her. Jules realizes she needs to escape her current life. On a beautiful winter night of their seven year anniversary, James, her husband, an inspired beatnik writer, surprises Jules with a well prepared romantic dinner, yet Jules had forgotten all about it. Later on that cold evening, James hands Jules a letter that is addressed from New York, she realizes it has been opened. Jules reads it anxiously and discovers that she has been accepted into an off-Broadway show and they look forward to having her in the Spring. As the night progresses, their marriage unravels secrets they both kept from each other. James confesses about a one-night stand admitting infidelity. Jules' response is unexpectedly forgiving and gentle. The truth of how they feel for each other spills out intensely through quarrel after quarrel revealing a false reality of their union. Jules and James realize that their marriage has become a place unrecognizable to what they had always imagined as their future together is put to the test. Will their love in the end conquer all?

TV Pilots Program

Genre:
Running Time: 1 hr 38 min
Directed by:

WHO'S ANNIE? After jail-time, 12-step programs and five marriages, Annie begins her acting career in her mid-fifties with the help of a young director she met at a Burger King. In this show within a show, Annie tackles both her gigs as an actor and the role of herself in her own life story. HAND ME DOWNS is an episodic ensemble series that explores the consequences and nuances of American masculinity on a group of friends. This programming is handed down generation to generation, father to son, brother to brother, friend to friend. we follow the group of friends through everyday life with their hand me downs guiding each step they take. HIT MAN A lonely hitman from New York City travels to small towns around the country trying to find meaning in his inconsequential life as he fulfills his contracts and eliminates his targets. Based on the best-selling "Hit Man" book series by Grand Master of mystery Lawrence Block. Starring Richard Kind, Karen Allen, William Sadler, and Peter Riegert. THE COUNTDOWN A dark comedy about two best friends staring down the barrel of 40, facing the painful truth that their individual hopes for motherhood have been bested by dead-end careers and unfaithful partners. At the end of their collective ropes, a rage- and alcohol-fueled science experiment becomes their dark solution to the genetic injustice of their biological clocks.

UNNAMED

Program 3: Queer it Up!

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 13 minutes
Directed by: Iranmehr Salimi

Zainab is a successful girl who supports her family financially, but considers herself a boy in spirit, and now she has decided to undergo gender transition, but in addition to her family's opposition and the society's inappropriate view of this issue, she has more difficulties There is something more important to come. she, who played in the country's national volleyball team for a while and is now in the Bartar league, if she does this, she will be removed from professional volleyball forever due to her short stature compared to men, and not only will she lose her professional future, but also her livelihood and her family who are under her care will be in trouble.

VARIEGATE

Program Special: Asian Film Series

Genre:
Running Time:
Directed by:

In recent years, the mental health of teenagers has received widespread attention. This work is a visually animated short film about hypnotherapy in psychological treatment. It tells the story of a young person with a mental illness and the changes in their inner world during psychological therapy. The imagery of a bird is used to express their inner self, and a post-apocalyptic style is employed to depict the transformation of their mental world. The aim is to guide teenagers to face psychological issues, seek help bravely, self-rescue in a timely manner, and rediscover the colors within their hearts.

VIDA

Program Special Shorts: Latin Film Series

Genre: Drama, Action
Running Time: 20 min
Directed by: Maria Valdez

Los Angeles – 2053, After a bloody civil war, women of color are captured and sterilized as a form of population control. Vida and a group of resistance fighters are getting ready to escape, but suddenly one of their own is captured, and they’re forced to decide between saving themselves or saving her.

VISÃO DO PARAÍSO

Program 4: Dystopia Now

Genre:
Running Time: 16 min
Directed by: Leonardo Pirondi

Webseries Program 1

Genre:
Running Time: 55 min
Directed by:

GIRL AT A BAR: A young woman journeys to bars alone once a week for a year to reclaim her identity after half a decade debilitated with Lyme disease. Gabby, early 30s, a singer in LA, spent the last seven years with Lyme disease, bed-ridden for years and losing the use of her arms and voice. Now significantly recovered, she is ready to get her life back. Gabby gets the okay from her doctor to have a drink for the first time in over half a decade, so she plans a party to celebrate her improved health! But everyone flakes. So Gabby goes to the bar up the street. There she realizes no-one treats her like she’s sick and she’s free to not let her health be the focus of her life. Gabby decides this cannot be a one-time event and commits to go to a bar alone once a week, to explore her city and herself as a more able-bodied woman- still grappling with her past and managing her illness, but looking forward to a new future. Made possible by a grant from the nonprofit Bay Area Lyme Foundation, the project is inspired by the writer and creator Tracy Mulholland's blog and true story of being disabled from Lyme.

Webseries Program 2

Centerpiece Film

Genre:
Running Time: 45 min
Directed by:

BENTO BANANA An animated web series about a talking artificially intelligent banana and his eggplant sidekick existing within a procedurally generated anime that appears to be mysteriously glitching. With the progression of the series, the themes move from the absurdity and conventions of anime into existential questions about the nature of reality, The role of AI in art and Capitalism, and how much of ourselves exist within our animation. OVERWATCH: GENESIS With Anubis unleashed, the Omnic Crisis takes hold. Humanity faces demise as only a select few, codename: Overwatch, have what it takes to fight back

WHAT A TRIP!

Program 2: Midnight Sessions

Genre: Sci-Fi, Comedy
Running Time: 15 min
Directed by: Collin Kornfeind

Two downtrodden strangers go on a vision quest to cure their depression but end up trying to figure out why they have matching visions of a manic, talking wolf-bear named Kevin.

WHEN WE FIGHT

Program 1b: LA Stories

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 34 min
Directed by: Yael Bridge, Yoni Golijov

In the second largest school district in the United States, 98% of teachers vote to authorize a strike. Watch as one of the largest educator strikes in modern U.S. history unfolds in real-time, highlighting the stories and leadership of some of the women who led it, from union leaders to classroom teachers. From strike vote to contract vote, WHEN WE FIGHT goes behind the picket lines, documenting how and why teachers strike.

WHO'S ANNIE?

TV Pilots Program

Genre: Drama, Comedy
Running Time: 30 min
Directed by: Sophia Peer

After jail-time, 12-step programs and five marriages, Annie begins her acting career in her mid-fifties with the help of a young director she met at a Burger King. In this show within a show, Annie tackles both her gigs as an actor and the role of herself in her own life story.

WILD SUMMON

Program 4: Dystopia Now

Genre: Documentary, Drama
Running Time: 15 min
Directed by: Karni Arieli, Saul Freed

A natural history fantasy film, following the dramatic life cycle of the wild salmon in human form. Narrated by Marianne Faithfull. A BFI short film by Karni and Saul.

WOMEN IN FIRE

Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 1 hr 5 min
Directed by: Deborah Attoinese

WOMEN IN FIRE, they rappel out of helicopters into burning hell to protect our forests, our wildlife, our future. But who protects them? This is the story of Abby Bolt, a former Rodeo Queen and single mom who climbed the ranks to Battalion Chief of an elite team of firefighters for the U.S. Forest Service. In 2012, this incredibly brave 22-year-veteran was sexually assaulted and raped by a fellow firefighter. But the assault didn’t stop there. She subsequently filed a police report and found she was now a pariah within her own ranks. Unsupported. Unappreciated. And unsafe. WOMEN IN FIRE is the story of this one woman's battle against a monolithic foe. It begins to reveal the drastic dysfunction and gender discrimination that exists within the U.S. Forest Service, an organization whose firefighting members must rely on teamwork, support, and unconditional dependability to survive. To females in the U.S. Forest Service, the fight doesn’t end with the fire.