Welcome To The 25th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival!!

The Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF)
Established in 2000 in the backyard of the entertainment capital of the world, the Beverly Hills Film Festival is considered among the most exclusive and influential film festivals globally. Through linking the groundbreaking talent of emerging filmmakers and exposing the community to the latest innovations in the cinema field, the Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) exists as a cinematic and cultural patron. The Beverly Hills Film Festival's objective is to merge today's filmmaking pioneers with the wealth of cinematic heritage of Beverly Hills by edifying and developing the cinematic community and enhancing the impact of the arts.

Schedule of Events:

Block 1 at 11:15 am

Unforgotten
Short (5 mins) China
Directed By: Stanley Hao Wen Yu
Written By: Stanley Hao Wen Yu
Produced By: Yin Qiao, Jia Shi, Xiaoming Yu
Cast: Xinli Yuan, Bin Hong

Synopsis: In 2035, due to an over reliance of online socializing and a deterioration in social skills, the government created and enforced a countdown APP, where if you fail to meet someone in person in under 365 days, they will be erased from your memory forever.

The Demiurge
Short (8 mins) Italy
Directed By: Daniele Girardi
Written By: Daniele Girardi
Produced By: Daniele Girardi
Cast: Pino Quartullo

Synopsis: The Demiurge is the story of a designer overwhelmed by nagging memories, and a creative power that instead of being a pleasure, is an addiction that absorbs his energies. His works are the mirror of his will, and above all, of the dissatisfaction of his deepest desire.

Adelaida
Short (11 mins) Nicaragua
Directed By: Tamara Hernandez
Written By: Tamara Hernandex
Produced By: Juan Hernandez Jr.
Cast: Flavia Carbone

Synopsis: Based on a conversation I heard with my grandmother when I interviewed her at 103 years-old, Adelaida is the story of a young Nicaraguan woman as she flees into the jungle, pursued by the ones who love her the most.

Kill An Ant
Short (11 mins) Syria
Directed By: Al Hasan Ismail
Written By: Al Hasan Ismail
Produced By: General Cinema Corporation
Cast: Bashar Ismail

Synopsis: Through the film's story, we present…the impact of money on human behavior and the actions that a person can take in order to achieve wealth.

Hot Elephant
Short (13 mins) SPAIN
Directed By: JORDI CALVET
Written By: Jordi Calvet
Produced By: ANTONINA MATYASH
Cast: OCTAVI PUJADES, ANNA SENAN, AINOA TRAVE

Synopsis: A young girl who aspires to become an actress goes through a casting that gradually escalates until she receives a proposal that surpasses the limits of a normal casting.

Iva-Leo (≠Jewels and Guns)
Short (15 mins) Japan
Directed By: Taisei Kashima
Written By: Taisei Kashima
Produced By: Takahiro Furukado, Taisei Kashima
Cast: Takahiro Furukado, Miku Hiramatsu

Synopsis: In a near-future where the elements of love (IVA-LeO) are visible, Man calls it highly toxic and Woman holds up a gun. IVA-LeO flows from the lovers' eyes. A gunshot. He called the sea eternity, she freedom. The geese were crying.

The Red Stone
Short (24 mins) Mexico
Directed By: Jaime H. Jasso
Written By: Jaime H. Jasso
Produced By: Rodolgo Guzman
Cast: Denisse Corona, Guadalupe Ortiz

Synopsis: In 1909 an archaeologist is sent to restore pre-Hispanic artifacts for the Independence Day anniversary. Amid rumors of curses and disappearances, she explores a grand mansion alongside Leonor, the enigmatic housekeeper. Unknowingly, she has awakened something ancient—a grotesque entity woven from human limbs lurks in the shadows. As a mysterious pre-Hispanic idol emerges as the key to the horror, the house turns into a deadly trap.

Block 2 at 11:30 am

No Escuchado (Not Heard)
Short (7 mins) Puerto Rico
Directed By: Jazmín Caratini
Written By: Jazmín Caratini
Produced By: JosE G. Molinari-Rosaly, Jazmín Caratini, Jesús Romero, Natalie Droz
Cast: Jazmín Caratini, Jorge Armando Rivera

Synopsis: No Escuchado follows a woman who feels increasingly uneasy during a movie.She seeks help from an usher in hopes of alleviating her discomfort. However, a breakdown in communication leaves the usher unable to understand her request. As the situation unfolds, what begins as a simple misunderstanding evolves into a deeply transformative encounter, altering both their lives in unexpected and lasting ways. The film explores themes of connection and the profound impact of being truly heard.

Epiphania
Short (9 mins) Greece
Directed By: Antonis E. Voultsos
Written By: Antonis E. Voultsos
Produced By: Antonis E. Voultsos
Cast: Nick Mellos

Synopsis: It is the dawn of Epiphany. A swimmer prays before diving into the sea for the Cross. A perpetual loop. A test in man's irrational, persistent effort to resist the inevitable fall. Homelands and religions fall gloriously before his eyes, every time a ""Cross"" drowns in their waters. Somewhere far from here, another hell exists.

Retrogression
Short (10 mins) Germany
Directed By: Merlin von Garnier
Written By: Merlin von Garnier
Produced By: Wassily von Koslowski
Cast: Svenja Jung, Wolfgang Michael, Filippa Baumeister

Synopsis: Kleo returns to the place of her childhood with the impending death of her father. In doing so, she plunges into an old trauma and, together with her younger self, manages to forgive her father.

Puti
Short (15 mins) New Zealand
Directed By: Aroha Awarau
Written By: Aroha Awarau
Produced By: Louisa Tipene Opetaia
Cast: Mia van Oyen, Tuakoi Ohia

Synopsis: A teenage girl living in poverty in an urban city in New Zealand loses her innocence while making the ultimate sacrifice to help her family.

Sunflower
Short (17 mins) Poland, United Kingdom, United States
Directed By: Mateusz Balcerek
Written By: Mateusz Balcerek
Produced By: Pinar Binay, Mateusz Balcerek, Vicky Witowska
Cast: Martyna Zozula, Sylwia Boron, Helena Mazur, Wieslaw Zanowicz

Synopsis: Inspired by a true story from 1944, "Sunflower" is a wartime fairytale told through the eyes of a young girl. As she flees war-torn Ukraine with her family, she clings to childhood innocence, transforming the horrors of war into a game of hide-and-seek. Through magical realism and poetic imagery, "Sunflower" blends history with fantasy, capturing a child's resilience, the fragility of hope, and the enduring power of imagination in the darkest of times.

Teddy
Short (20 mins) Norway
Directed By: Nini Bull Robsahm
Written By: Nini Bull Robsahm
Produced By: Axel Mustad
Cast: Beck Bull

Synopsis: Max, a lonely boy bullied at school, finds solace in a discarded teddy bear. As his bond with Teddy grows, strange and violent incidents befall his tormentors-eerily mirroring what Teddy experiences. Realizing a dark force is at play, Max must choose between his only friend and stopping the harm. Teddy explores social rejection, the cycle of violence, and the cruelty of childhood, where innocence and destruction intertwine.

The Remaining Ones
Short (24 mins) Norway
Directed By: Filip Koren
Written By: Filip koren
Produced By: Filip Koren, Andreas Sørli
Cast: Tord Kinge

Synopsis: Peder reflects on his childhood memories when he attends to his father's funeral. His older half siblings expects him to honor their father, but Peder's memories are telling him otherwise.

Block 3 at 12:45 pm

Maud et Luna
Short (11 mins) France, United States
Directed By: Alec Huggins
Written By: Alec Huggins
Produced By: Matthieu Moerlen
Cast: Chloe Groussard, Lary Muller

Synopsis: After weeks of secretive work, Luna finally unveils her painting to her girlfriend, Maud. The portrait is of a nude women. Maud is less than thrilled.

Astronaut
Short (12 mins) Canada
Directed By: Kevin Cheng
Written By: Kevin Cheng, Stephanie Joan
Produced By: Stephanie Joan, Luke VandenBerg
Cast: Tobi Wong, Victor Young, XiaoQing Ye

Synopsis: A young Chinese-Canadian boy is visited by his absent father who builds him a spaceship out of cardboard and launches him on a fantastical mission to connect with the neighbourhood kids.

Charlie
Short (15 mins) Australia
Directed By: Mel Poole
Written By: Mel Poole
Produced By: Dan Macarthur, Mel Poole
Cast: Bryan Probets, Finn Treacy, Brittani Clark

Synopsis: Inspired by true events, "Charlie" portrays the poignant journey of a homeless man grappling with self-loathing and traumatic memories. Amidst his solitary existence, only the kindness of soup van volunteer, Angie, offers solace. When a street kid named Eddie seeks companionship, Charlie's past resurfaces, prompting a transformative confession. Through Charlie's catharsis, the film challenges perceptions of homelessness, inspiring empathy and action towards social change.

Verflechtung
Short (19 mins) Switzerland
Directed By: Philip Hofmänner, Simon Pflanzer
Written By: Philip Hofmänner, Simon Pflanzer
Produced By: Philip Hofmänner and Simon Pflanzer
Cast: Jana Selina Cocivera, Gregory Reymont

Synopsis: In the near future, Susana's fiancE Marco decides to have a chip implanted in his brain. Marco, who suffers from severe depression and has professional problems as a result, sees this new technology as his only chance, not to lose touch. Susana, who originally drew his attention to the chip, soon begins to have doubts, when Marco begins to change dramatically.

Alitisal
Short (19 mins) Canada
Directed By: Sabine Kahwaji
Written By: Sabine Kahwaji
Produced By: Jonathan T Akkawi
Cast: Omar Sidani

Synopsis: As a deadly explosion shatters their hometown of Beirut, three Lebanese siblings living abroad confront their mental health struggles amid uncertainty about their parents' fate.

Obscura (????)
Short (22 mins) Canada
Directed By: Arnold Lim
Written By: Arnold Lim, Claire Mulligan
Produced By: Lynne Lee, Claire Mulligan, Arnold Lim
Cast: Andrew Woo, Viva Lee, Kyu Nam Cho

Synopsis: Sang-Ook, a Hikikomori (shut in) whose locked himself in his room for a year, builds a camera obscura from his room as a conduit to the outside world.

Mind of Thoughts
Short (23 mins) Belgium
Directed By: Charlotte Verminck
Written By: Charlotte Verminck
Produced By: Charlotte Verminck, Martin Dewitte
Cast: Brienne Mizell, Berthe Tanwo Njole

Synopsis: Mind of Thoughts follows an artist ensnared in the labyrinth of her own mind, where thoughts sculpt reality and self-doubt blurs the boundary between truth and illusion. As she wrestles with relentless inner voices, she must confront the invisible forces shaping her existence before they consume her. A visually arresting exploration of the mind's fragile power, where perception distorts, reality fractures, and the most profound battle is the one waged within.

Block 4 at 1:15 pm

Rumble
Short (7 mins) United States
Directed By: John Frost
Written By: Alexis Acevedo, John Frost
Produced By: John Frost
Cast: Trevor Tordjman, Jordan Clark

Synopsis: When a young aspiring actor has to sell his dog to feed him and his pregnant wife he writes a screen play that will change his life, and the history of cinema, forever.

In The Ring of Brotherhood
Short (14 mins) United States
Directed By: Hayden Livesay
Written By: Hayden Livesay, James Topmiller, Tony Vinci
Produced By: Paul Critzman III, Hayden Livesay, Tony Vinci
Cast: Tony Vinci, Hayden Livesay, James Topmiller, Zach Sale

Synopsis: Days before his biggest fight, MMA fighter Casey is brutally assaulted, leaving him torn between his desperate brother, who has bet everything on his victory, and his loyal trainer, who wants to protect him. As Casey struggles with trauma, In the Ring of Brotherhood explores the bonds of brotherhood, the silence of male vulnerability, and the harsh reality that dreams don't always come true in this intense, emotionally charged short film.

Darling
Short (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Finola Hughes
Written By: Mandy Mills
Produced By: Susan Gallagher, Spooner Greenbird, Finola Hughes, Mandy Mills, Michelle Vaineharrison
Cast: Kristina Klebe, Mandy Mills

Synopsis: After months of suspicion, Fiona follows her husband to a seedy motel where her worst fears are confirmed. Accepting an invitation from Liza, the sex worker, to enter the motel room, Fiona learns that not everything is as it seems.

June
Short (17 mins) United States
Directed By: Ben Holland
Written By: Ben Holland
Produced By: Taylor Burke
Cast: Hannah Sulak, Kelton White

Synopsis: On a trip home to scatter a loved one's ashes, childhood friends June and Paul process their shared grief and navigate the complexities of their relationship.

Lea
Short (17 mins) United States
Directed By: John L Puma
Written By: John L Puma
Produced By: John L Puma, Mitch Camarda, Louisa Erlich
Cast: Louisa Erlich, Julio Lourido

Synopsis: A young woman grieving the loss of her mother copes in a unique way and is ultimately confronted about it, forcing her to make a change.

Wes + Kyra
Short (21 mins) United States
Directed By: Kevin V. Doan
Written By: Kevin V. Doan
Produced By: Kevin V. Doan, Anna Gurvits, Jessie Li White, Henry Wolf
Cast: Sidney Rose White, Ryan O'Dell

Synopsis: A vampire couple in New York City who rent a room for three days to drown out their addiction, face the toxicity in their relationship, and grapple with the idea of death as it circles all around them.

Block 5 at 1:25 pm

Third Wheel
Short (5 mins) Japan, Switzerland
Directed By: Kevin Haefelin
Written By: Hikari Onodera
Produced By: Youmi Haefelin-Roch
Cast: Yoshihiko Bito, Amane Kimura, Keigo Matsutani

Synopsis: Edo Period. Following his abrupt death, Gohei, a master carpenter, returns as a ghost to make peace with his wife, Sachi but finds out he is invisible. He must rely on Sakichi, his once-neglected apprentice gifted with psychic abilities.

Evol
Short (6 mins) England
Directed By: Hayley Reeve
Written By: Hayley Reeve
Produced By: Hayley Reeve, Debbie Sweeney
Cast: Amelia Clarkson

Synopsis: A poetic short film about a young woman, Dolly, who's grappling with the
haunting echoes of past relationships and her unraveling sense of self.

Dolly navigates a journey of love and self-discovery, reflecting on key moments in her romantic past. Each chapter explores a different relationship, from infatuation and passion to heartbreak and fleeting connections. Dolly's introspective journey leads to growth, culminating in a powerful realisation of beauty born from adversity.

Inferno In Paris
Short (14 mins) France, United States
Directed By: Quentin Dupuy
Written By: Tora Kim
Produced By: Tora Kim, ThEophile Champaloux, David Joussain
Cast: Tora Kim, Guillaume Rumiel Braun

Synopsis: Inferno In Paris takes inspiration from the opening lines of Dante's Inferno by asking the question: what if Beatrice, the embodiment of true love, descended into the Eternal Fire? An antidote to Emily In Paris, this is the dark, surrealistic story of Beatrix who hears a strange breathing coming from beneath the City of Light. She then sets off on a journey of obsession and redemption to find its elusive, elemental source.

My Late Summer
Feature (98 mins) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
Directed By: Danis Tanovic
Written By: Nikola Kupresanin, Anja Matkovic, Danis Tanovic
Produced By: Lana Matic, Boris T. Matic, Jovan Marjanovic, Mirsad Purivatra, Jelena Mitrovic, Miha Cernec, Anamaria Antoci
Cast: Anja Matkovic, Uliks Fehmiu, Goran Navojec

Synopsis: The story of a young woman who, in search of her roots on a small island, experiences an unexpected romance in late summer, which evolves into a tale of acceptance, forgiveness, and love towards others, towards the island, and most importantly, towards herself.

Block 6 at 3:00 pm

Capturing The Carbon
Documentary Short (38 mins) United States
Directed By: Jack Winch/Janice Overbeck
Written By: Janice Overbeck, Jack Winch
Produced By: Janice Overbeck, Rob Riggle, Jack Winch
Cast: Rob Riggle

Synopsis: Follow host, Rob Riggle, on a journey around the globe to understand how innovators plan to accomplish net zero by 2050. This docu-series focuses on the environmentally friendly inventions that are being implemented on a worldwide scale.
Through his trademark optimistic and curious personality, Rob brings a fresh perspective to the critical issue of climate change and inspires viewers to take action toward a more sustainable future.

I Hope This Helps!
Documentary Feature (52 mins) United States
Directed By: Daniel M. Freed
Written By: Daniel M. Freed
Produced By: Daniel M. Freed, Matthew Modine, Adam Rackoff
Cast: Daniel M. Freed, Bard

Synopsis: From executive producers Matthew Modine and Adam Rackoff, "I Hope This Helps!" is a humorous, genre-bending hybrid documentary that invites viewers to ponder the evolving relationship between humanity and technology. In the film, investigative journalist Daniel Freed enlists the help of Google's AI chatbot, Bard, to collaborate on a documentary…about AI. Appearing in the blue, furry form it requested, Bard helps Freed explore the benefits and risks of this world-changing innovation.

Block 7 at 3:45 pm

An Imminent Threat
Short (7 mins) United States
Directed By: Chris Crampton
Written By: Chris Crampton
Produced By: Chris Crampton, Kelsey Rain
Cast: Keishianna Peterson, Dakin Stone, Patrick McElligatt, Kevin Anthony

Synopsis: Kaila grapples with her unease over her son growing up Black in America as he faces a monstrous adversary that blurs the line between childhood imagination and terrifying reality.

Quiet Please
Short (8 mins) United States
Directed By: Nic Stanich
Written By: Nic Stanich
Produced By: Ross Buran
Cast: Anna Sitar, Simran Jehani

Synopsis: Emma Woods is a fiercely competitive tennis player desperate for her first tournament win. As her rivals mysteriously collapse, Emma inches closer to victory—but at a cost. With each match, her facade unravels, revealing the dark lengths she'll go to win. Quiet Please is a psychological horror that explores obsession, ambition, and the terrifying descent into madness when winning is all that matters.

Broccoli
Short (8 mins) United States
Directed By: Ben Ubiñas
Written By: Ben Ubiñas
Produced By: Jesse Gallagher
Cast: Rhett Ramírez

Synopsis: After an unfortunate encounter with an ancient god, a male model wakes up to discover a broccoli growing out of his face. Having lost his pretty privilege, he must relearn how to navigate the world.

Clementine
Short (11 mins) United States
Directed By: Zoe Davidson
Written By: Zoe Davidson
Produced By: Ana Tenewitz, Zoe Davidson
Cast: Rivkah Reyes, Alyson Gorske, Alex Collyard

Synopsis: After rediscovering her childhood doll at her parents' yard sale, a young woman finds the doll is better at her social life than she is.

Chow
Short (16 mins) United States
Directed By: Kevin Armento and Jaki Bradley
Written By: Alex Hacker
Produced By: Carolyn Levine
Cast: Ben Platt, Paulina Chalamet

Synopsis: The story of a man as his life begins to unravel after eating an unsettling meal abroad and becoming obsessed with recreating it at home.

Baby Blues - Going Dark
Short (20 mins) United States
Directed By: James P Gleason
Written By: James P Gleason
Produced By: Cynthia Gravinese, Gavin Glennon, James P Gleason
Cast: Tyler Poelle, Aliya Victoriya, Shanti Lowry, Jim Ortlieb

Synopsis: Barney needs a tooth out. His regular dentist is not in the office, but that's OK - Dr Carroway and her assistant Penny will take care of him today … He really should have rescheduled. This is not going to go well, especially after the power goes out.

Spermicide
Short (20 mins) United States
Directed By: Scott Nuñez-Peterman
Written By: Cat Davis, Scott Nuñez-Peterman
Produced By: Cat Davis, Katie Nuñez-Peterman, Scott Scott Nuñez-Peterman, Chris Papagapitos
Cast: Cat Davis, Kimia Behpoornia, Thomas Hobson

Synopsis: Bailey and Amanda want to have a baby. They've got the perfect list of sperm donors lined up and force ranked. There's just one problem…

Their potential baby daddies won't stop dying.

Falling tree branches, fatal spin classes, art installations gone wrong, skydiving accidents. Even their "celebrity stretch goal" meets a gruesome fate. Are these two would-be moms just that unlucky? Are they cursed?

Or is there something even more sinister going on?

Sink or Sin!
Short (20 mins) United States
Directed By: Jason Sanchez
Written By: Jason Sanchez
Produced By: Teagan Barnes, Simon Kienitz Kincade, Olivia Wong
Cast: Dan Stransky, Olivia Coca Bermejo, Derick Gonzalez Robles

Synopsis: In the top-rated game show in Hell, contestants compete for the chance to win ultimate prizes, or meet their untimely demise. When two siblings are forced to play, their unbreakable bond will change the show forever.

Block 8 at 4:30 pm

Injected
Short (13 mins) United States
Directed By: Jake Skrok
Written By: Savannah Elmer, Jake Skrok
Produced By: Liz Meinders/Savannah Elmer/Jessica Orcsik
Cast: Savannah Elmer/Clayton Royal Johnson/Kevin Czako/Melanie Specht/Jazmine Waller

Synopsis: Piper, an easily influenced teen who is desperate to fit in, is determined to rebel against her aunt. She invites her best friend, Rosie, and a couple college guys over, and when "a couple college guys" turns into an entire party, she panics, leading her and her friend to be coerced into taking oxycodone. Soon after, Rosie is discovered unconscious and Piper must make a decision, save her friend or salvage her future social life.

I Used to Love the Night
Short (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Malak Dabcha
Written By: Malak Dabcha
Produced By: Sofia Masson, Lauren Elizabeth Harris
Cast: Malak Dabcha, Capri Campeau

Synopsis: After becoming the victim of an armed robbery, Audrey tries to cope with her trauma, but only starts to become increasingly terrorized by her new reality.

Ed
Short (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Victor Del Rio
Written By: Victor Del Rio
Produced By: Victor Del Rio, Anthony Pedone, Connor Rickman
Cast: Victor Del Rio, Jackie McCarthy, Jake Robert Robbins, Stephen Moore

Synopsis: A cyclical day in the life of Ed, a college aged internet addict. While his peers believe this is the prime of their lives, Ed struggles with isolation, anxiety, and his inability to connect. In an attempt to improve his recent shift in behavior, Ed's best friends host a house party where he is forced to confront his compulsion head on.

Mecanica
Short (16 mins) United States
Directed By: Mike Harris
Written By: Olivia Sandoval, Mike Harris
Produced By: Olivia Sandoval
Cast: Haley Joel Osment, Olivia Sandoval, Megan Rippey, Joe Adler, Joss Glennie-Smith, Tomas Canseco

Synopsis: One boozy, drug-filled night after a show, the touring group Mecanica relaxes in a cabin somewhere in California, when founding member Liz receives startling news. The man who raped her years ago in New York has committed suicide, and as her bandmates move on to other topics of conversation, Liz is violently borne back into the past and questions both her present and future.

The Nature of Death
Short (17 mins) United States
Directed By: Sean Cruser
Written By: Tyler Beveridge
Produced By: Tyler Beveridge, Sean Cruser, Murphy Martin
Cast: Murphy Martin, Tyler Beveridge, Bix Krieger, Torean Thomas

Synopsis: When an eccentric park ranger crosses paths with a grieving hiker, he offers his help in finding the perfect spot to scatter the hiker's father's ashes. As they venture deeper in the remote wilderness, the ranger's true intentions begin to blur.

Ranger
Short (17 mins) United States
Directed By: Daniel E. Catton
Written By: Aramis Knight, Garrett Ryan
Produced By: Aramis Knight, Allen Ling, Caroline Mehki
Cast: Alex Neustaedter, Presciliana Esparolini, Sal Lopez

Synopsis: Ralph is a young park ranger who finds himself trapped between his conscience and his greed. In an attempt to outrun his traumatic past, he turns to a life of crime. As the gravity of the operation begins to eat him alive, he looks for an escape that might not exist.

Jeff
Short (25 mins) United States
Directed By: Julia Hebner
Written By: Julia Hebner
Produced By: Julia Hebner, Madison King, Michael Zumaya
Cast: Nicole Elliot, Brian Villalobos, Rebekah McLamb, Christine Cochrane

Synopsis: On a quiet night, phone sex operator Marcia receives a call from Jeff, a man seeking refuge in the anonymity of the hotline in order to relieve himself of confessions. Marcia is inured to the sometimes unsettling proclivities of her callers, but Jeff's increasingly disturbing admissions unmoor Marcia's sense of truth and memory and test her limits of empathy and forgiveness.

Block 9 at 5:30 pm

Legend Has It
Feature (112 mins) United Kingdom
Directed By: Niall Johnson
Written By: Cory Brusseau, Rob Weston
Produced By: Rob Weston, p.g.a. , Cory Brusseau, Sam Baldoni
Cast: Rupert Everett, Tamsin Greig, Emilia Fox, Harry Gilby, Robyn Cara, Imani Yahshua, Georgina Sadler, Huw Novelli

Synopsis: After his mother disappeared when he was a child, Daruosh, has always struggled to find his place in the world. But when this misfit teenager, stumbles upon a magical portal to the mythical Hidden Kingdom, the very same place his mother used to tell him stories about when he was a child, he soon discovers his true destiny: To become a prophesied warrior, who as legend has it, must destroy an ancient evil curse.

Block 10 at 5:45 pm

Prisoner No More
Documentary Short (34 mins) United States
Directed By: Jeff Wolfe
Written By: Jeff Wolfe
Produced By: Carole Middleton / Jennifer Wolfe
Cast: Jerzy Gregorek / Tae Jin Park

Synopsis: Jerzy Gregorek escaped communism in Poland in 1986 and dreaming of a better life, became a four time Olympic champion weightlifter, an author, and founder of the UCLA Weightlifting team. Tae Jin Park was born with Cerebral Palsy and believed in a life that wasn't limited by his diagnosis. This is true the story of what they accomplished together…

I'm Only Blind
Documentary Feature (65 mins) United States
Directed By: Kamelya Alexan
Written By: Kamelya Alexan
Produced By: Kamelya Alexan
Cast: Tim Paul

Synopsis: At 66 years old, Tim Paul is redefining what it means to live fully. Blind since childhood, Tim has completed 23 marathons, skis downhill, sails, swims, bikes, and even plays the flute and piano. He works full-time, serves his church, and refuses to let his disability limit his passions or pursuits.

Block 11 at 6:45 pm

Dusty
Short (17 mins) Australia
Directed By: Jeremy Lindsay Taylor
Written By: Travis Jeffery
Produced By: Travis Jeffery, Elizabeth Middleton, Valentin Lang, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Ari Haralambis, Craig Cowdrey
Cast: Shannon Ryan, Travis Jeffery

Synopsis: After the death of his best friend, Dustin spirals into a grief-fuelled bender for one - going to great messed-up lengths to keep her memory alive.

What Remains for Tomorrow
Short (17 mins) Uruguay
Directed By: Federico Casal
Written By: Federico Casal
Produced By: Joaquín Mauad
Cast: Camila Vives, Emanuel SobrE

Synopsis: A real estate agent and a lawyer, who have been having an affair in an old empty house for sale, must erase all traces of their presence before a potential buyer shows up.

Inevitabilis
Short (17 mins) The Netherlands
Directed By: Arjen Schotel
Written By: Arjen Schotel
Produced By: Eva Wulp, Charlotte Cattel
Cast: Steve Wall, Lucas Tavernier

Synopsis: A lonely writer who has fallen on hard times, is stuck in the last act of his book, but also in that of his life. Suddenly a stranger appears, who turns out to be a literal copy of the writer. This intruder helps him see how the writer can complete his final act.

Good Morning Mom
Short (17 mins) Turkey
Directed By: Oben Y?lmaz
Written By: Nuri Cihan Özdo?an, Oben Y?lmaz
Produced By: Hasan Do?anay
Cast: Özgür Yi?eno?lu

Synopsis: At a very huge farm in the middle of nowhere, two sisters engage in a secret struggle with
each other in order to win their mother's love. The family is irreparably shaken on the day the sister
gets stuck in the swamp due to an unfortunate accident.

Our Last Day As Kids
Short (22 mins) Canada
Directed By: Dylan Hryciuk
Written By: Dylan Hryciuk
Produced By: Style Dayne, Jeff Evans-Todd, Jeremy Ratzlaff
Cast: Axel Hansen, Maggie Robertson, Miles Fieldgate, Andromeda Atkins

Synopsis: A coming-of-age story set in the mid-2000s underground music scene, that follows quiet and naive punk, Casey, as he tries to piece together the broken memories recorded on his camcorder.

Miracles
Short (25 mins) Moldova, Ukraine, United States
Directed By: Ivan Nevesenko
Written By: Ivan Nevesenko
Produced By: Alex Falcon, Kathleena Yiting Lin, Sergiu Pascaru, Ivan Nevesenko
Cast: Nataliia Babenko, Oleksii Gorbunov, Alexandr Melnic

Synopsis: In a war-ravaged Ukrainian town on the brink of a nuclear strike, Mira, a troubled young woman, desperately seeks ways to preserve her hope and sanity as the looming threat of imminent death hovers.

Block 12 at 7:30 pm

BeforeHand
Short (9 mins) United States
Directed By: Alphonso McAuley
Written By: Alphonso McAuley
Produced By: Jonathan Goldfisher, Martin Russell Johnson
Cast: Eddie Blackwell Williams, Paris Scott Allen

Synopsis: As a local artist is in search of a vintage jacket for an upcoming photoshoot, he ultimately encounters a first hand experience while shopping at a second hand store.

Fragments
Short (9 mins) United States
Directed By: Jessica Burns
Written By: Jessica Burns
Produced By: Sarah Sawyer, Jessica Burns
Cast: Jessica Burns, Rowen Kahn, Kira Guchko

Synopsis: When a trigger thrusts Janie into an emotional flashback, she finds herself physically in the present but emotionally overtaken by her younger self—riddled with fear and trauma— causing her to relive and project her worst fears onto the present. Only by acknowledging and nurturing her younger self, can the hold she has taken on the present release and allow Janie to re-root herself in reality.

The Runner
Short (11 mins) United States
Directed By: Nic Inglese
Written By: Matt Bryce, Nic Inglese
Produced By: Matt Bryce and Ginette Neveu
Cast: Matt Bryce, Livia Scott, Roy Schuler

Synopsis: A young and ambitious production assistant fights to keep the chaotic first broadcast of a new streaming news show from total disaster. As absurd tasks pile up and everything goes wrong, he scrambles to salvage the show—only to realize that in the world of live TV, failure might be inevitable.

Allergic To Love
Short (11 mins) United States
Directed By: Steven Cornfield
Written By: Rick Cornfield, Steven Cornfield
Produced By: Steven Cornfield, Stacy Kane, Clark Kegley, Daniel Turner, Andy Zanto,
Cast: Austin Fortune, Anthony Lounsbury, Laurin Jones

Synopsis: Calvin wants nothing more than to fall in love. He longs for the deep, heart-stirring connection that he's seen in his favorite romantic comedy movies, but there's just one problem: Calvin's extremely allergic to love.

Determined not to spend his life alone, and with a push from his roommate Tod, Calvin embarks on an unconventional journey to find romance without triggering his medical condition or facing his worst fear: embarrassing himself in front of others.

Trumpet Gumbo
Short (14 mins) United States
Directed By: Brad Courtemanche
Written By: Brad Courtemanche
Produced By: Miguel Antonio, Brad Courtemanche, Brit MacFarland
Cast: John Fiore, Brandon Scales

Synopsis: Hot off of a win of the country's largest television cooking show, Chef Buddy Bontemps finds himself under the tutelage of one of the greatest chefs in modern time. Having never been in a perfectionist's kitchen, he gets devoured.

Don't Pick Up
Short (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Jeremiah Kipp
Written By: Susannah Nolan
Produced By: Nick Candido, Lina Lansky
Cast: Keith David, Kathryn Erbe

Synopsis: Louisa enters a Children's Bookshop to escape a humiliating day. When Chris, the sweet and lonely store manager, attempts an awkward flirt, it both excites and terrifies her, awakening old compulsions. Which is stronger? Love?…or the wild need to escape with the book in her purse?

Ma ChErie
Short (17 mins) United States
Directed By: Colleen Donovan
Written By: Colleen Donovan
Produced By: Colleen Donovan
Cast: Colleen Donovan

Synopsis: A young woman, ChErie, returns home after the grandmother who raised her suddenly passes away. Surrounded by relics from the past, she struggles to move on from her frustrations with her career and the way her own past demoralizingly defines her. But when she forges a connection with an unlikely new friend, he helps her finally start to process her grief and ChErie learns to define herself on her own terms.

Emma's Dilemmas
Short (18 mins) United States
Directed By: Anya Migdal
Written By: Anya Migdal
Produced By: Phil Viardo, Drew Moerlein, Anya Migdal
Cast: Ciara Hanna, Amy Carlson, Drew Moerlein, Michael Lombardi, Clayton Dean Smith

Synopsis: When Emma's romantic escapades leave her broke and heartbroken, she discovers the path to finding herself just might just run through her meddling mother's wisdom.

Block 13 at 7:45 pm

The Wheels of Heaven
Feature (110 mins) Bulgaria, United Kingdom
Directed By: Ben Charles Edwards
Written By: Ben Charles Edwards, Dessy Tenekedjieva
Produced By: Dessy Tenekedjieva
Cast: Mickey Rourke, Gary Stretch, Dessy Tenekedjieva, Geoff Bell, Eleonora Ivanova, Dimitar Nikolov.

Synopsis: A troubled young girl meets a charming older boy who gradually gives her the strength to stand up to her abusive stepfather. But is the boy, as he claims, The fallen angel Lucifer sent to guide Iva in her destiny to save the human race? Or adeluded and dangerous young man?

Block 14 at 8:50 pm

There's Something I Have to Tell You
Short (16 mins) United States
Directed By: Jamie Savarese
Written By: Jamie Savarese
Produced By: Spencer Drees, Jamie Savarese
Cast: Reagan Kelly, Suzanne Kovi

Synopsis: There's Something I Have to Tell You is the story of Anna, a reserved woman in her 20's who's temporarily living in a small town in the Bahamas to help her mom build a house. But beneath the surface, Anna is haunted by the memories of her past. During her stay, she struggles to release a devastating truth that has kept her and her mom divided for as long as she can remember.

Rubi
Short (17 mins) United States
Directed By: Janice Picconi
Written By: Janice Picconi
Produced By: Janice Picconi, Kimberly Bass, Cameron Linly-Robinson, Thomas Picconi, Sam Hankins
Cast: Karla Hernandez-Gonzalez

Synopsis: On the first day of her new self-care routine, Rubi embarks on a meditative journey within her mind, crafting a sanctuary of solitude to explore creativity, navigate anxiety, and confront inner demons in her quest for self-love.

The Ninth
Short (18 mins) United States
Directed By: Matt Ferrucci
Written By: Lauren Cantell
Produced By: Matt Ferrucci, Lauren Cantell, Angela Calero
Cast: Lauren Cantell, Andrea Grano, Danielle Dallacco, Lane Compton

Synopsis: An alcoholic's recovery is jeopardized when she accidentally sends a damaging email to her boss, forcing her to confront her past to save her job and sobriety.

Growing Daisies
Short (34 mins) United States
Directed By: Alessandra Gaia Williams
Written By: Alessandra Gaia Williams
Produced By: Alessandra Gaia Williams, Arielle Raycene
Cast: Arielle Raycene

Synopsis: Daisy is captivating. Haunted. Sexually obsessed by no fault of her own. We follow an erotic journey through her tormented mind. Her obsessive behavior and inner life are on display, as we learn more about her perversity, and why for some people, this is reality.

Block 15 at 9:30 pm

Love Lockdown
Short (15 mins) Australia
Directed By: Nicole Fantl
Written By: Nicole Fantl
Produced By: Nicole Fantl, Veronika Beck
Cast: Nicole Fantl, Ryan Johnson

Synopsis: A darkly twisted love story about lonely people who go to desperate lengths to find love in a disconnected world; and a woman who is finally ready to take control of the narrative of her own reinvention. How far will she go to have the life of her dreams?

The Sluggard Clan
Feature (93 mins) Slovakia
Directed By: Rastislav Boroš
Written By: Rastislav Boroš
Produced By: Rastislav Boroš
Cast: Milan Ondrík, Milan Mikul?ík, Samuel Teicher, Anežka Petrova, Kristína Spa?ova, Jana O?hova, Eva Bandor

Synopsis: At the end of the world, there's yet another village where the living live along with the dead, and dreams are more real than reality. Somewhere in the hills of central Slovakia three brothers live lost in time, dreams, naïvetE and folly that blur the boundaries between the real world and that of their late ancestors. A magical realist allegory about love beyond grave confronts Slovakia's Nazi and communist past.

Block 16 at 10:00 pm

Building Blocks
Short (20 mins) United States
Directed By: Scout Taylor-Compton
Written By: Scout Taylor-Compton
Produced By: Anthony Del Negro, Tom O'Connell, Owsley Robinson
Cast: Sierra McCormick, Sam Palladio, Tammy Townsend, Scout Taylor-Compton, Kynlee Heiman, Penelope Dukes, Tyler Gallant

Synopsis: In the heart of a dilapidated trailer park, Desariee, a young girl burdened by her mother's erratic bipolar episodes and the scars of her father's desertion, must forge a path through her tumultuous past. As she struggles to find stability and hope, she discovers strength in the most unexpected places, unraveling the hidden resilience within her fractured family.

Rowdy Friends
Feature (92 mins) United States
Directed By: Jacob Hatley
Written By: Jacob Hatley, Tom Vickers
Produced By: Tom Vickers, Jacob Hatley, Adair Moorefield
Cast: JD Cranford, Shay Walker, Brian Maynor

Synopsis: Residents of a North Carolina halfway house take matters into their own hands when a roommate suspiciously disappears. Led by a cast of first-time actors, recovering addicts and ex-cons, this blend of fact, fiction and genre offers an unhinged look at life on the American margins.