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 11:30 am

Sacrament
Student Film (13 mins) Brazil
Directed By: Renato de Castro
Written By: Renato de Castro
Produced By: Renato de Castro
Cast: Lucas Spada, Eduardo Venosa, Osmar Pereira, Gabriela Minerbo

Synopsis: With only a few hours left for a marriage ceremony, the groom, the best man and the bride's brother drink an aged whiskey while debating their relationship with the bride and their divergent values. What most of them don't expect is that this will be the last conversation of their lives.

Fragments of Yesterday
Student Film (13 mins) Argentina and United States
Directed By: iara Scherer Keen
Written By: iara Scherer Keen
Produced By: Frost Martin, Iara Scherer Keen
Cast: Chloe Clark, John Carlson, Anthony Mancini, William Murray

Synopsis: Zoe is a 22 year old woman who came to New York City with a big dream: being a dancer. However, along the way she ended up becoming a sex worker in order to sustain her lifestyle as well as her father's. One day he pays Zoe an unexpected visit which will change everything.

Kosher Test
Student Film (16 mins) Israel
Directed By: RIKI ROTTER
Written By: Riki Rotter
Produced By: Mika Rousso
Cast: CHEN ROZALES \ YGAEL SACHS

Synopsis: Tamar, an ultra-Orthodox girl
from an extremist community
is taken to the hospital by her beloved father
who thinks she has had sex
Her relationship with her father and her virginity
are tested
Synopsis

Khadda
Student Film (18 mins) India
Directed By: Rushan Jesani
Written By: Rushan Jesani
Produced By: Rushan Jesani
Cast: Nitin Guleria, Prajjval Khakharia

Synopsis: Despite a captain set against him, a wealthy soccer player battles prejudice, doubt, and his own limits to prove he belongs—no matter what it takes.

The Void
Student Film (18 mins) India
Directed By: Sashwat Mohta
Written By: Sashwat Mohta
Produced By: Sehran Khan
Cast: Thomas Cargin

Synopsis: A once brilliant teenager battling drug addiction seeks family support to heal his emotional wounds, but his conservative father's harsh discipline and mistrust risk tearing their family apart.

A Taste of Christmas
Student Film (20 mins) Germany
Directed By: Alexander Grohmann-Velchev
Written By: Alexander Grohmann-Velchev, Marcel Wiedner
Produced By: Laurenz Feidicker and Paula Tornieporth
Cast: Lars Krone, Marcel Wiedner, Anna Zangenberg

Synopsis: For Davis, Christmas is anything but peaceful - just an obligatory event where he's always overshadowed by his sister. But a chance encounter with the lonely Torsten at a rest stop changes his perspective. Amid family tensions and humorous moments, Davis learns that sometimes it's the imperfect togetherness that makes the real celebration.

Silent Cycle
Student Film (22 mins) India
Directed By: Smahi Anand
Written By: Smahi Anand
Produced By: Smahi Anand, Kaartik Jain
Cast: Akshara Padwal, Sunita Rajwar, Gandhaali Jain, Shaurya Sankhla

Synopsis: During a Navratri puja, 12-year-old Vrinda gets her first period, facing stigma and outdated traditions. Her strict grandmother, Lata, insists on unsanitary cloth rags, while her mother, Aruna, offers hesitant support. With help from her younger brother, Jai, Vrinda discovers sanitary pads, sparking a clash between tradition and modernity. As tensions peak, the family finds unity during Dussehra, symbolically burning Ravana and old taboos.

Days of night
Student Film (24 mins) Germany
Directed By: Adrian von der Borch
Written By: Adrian von der Borch
Produced By: Christoph Behr, Alexander Mayer, Alina Rhotert
Cast: Paula Schindler, Casper von Bülow

Synopsis: Eighteen-year-old Luna lives on the streets with her boyfriend Marius. They both are addicts and are prepared to do a lot to get their fix. But when Luna realizes that she is pregnant, it is not only their relationship that is at stake.

Block 2 at 11:45 am

Voyager
Short (8 mins) Australia
Directed By: Joel Stephen Fleming
Written By: Damien Mulvany
Produced By: Joel Stephen Fleming, Damien Mulvany
Cast: Matthew James French, Michael Cuckson

Synopsis: A young Australian naval officer endures the loss of five classmates in a training accident, only to be assigned to the destroyer HMAS Voyager on her tragic last mission.

My David
Short (12 mins) Canada
Directed By: Kama Sood
Written By: Kama Sood
Produced By: Kama Sood, Aidan Kyle, Ashwin Sood, Michael Thoma
Cast: Camille Mitchell, Krzysztof Bryjak

Synopsis: Rose, an elderly woman appearing to struggle with dementia, is consumed by loneliness. One day, a jittery and awkward delivery man arrives at her door, claiming payment for an overdue shipment. Drawn by curiosity, or perhaps something deeper, Rose invites him inside. What begins as a mundane encounter quickly shifts into a tense power dynamic, as the two strangers expose their vulnerabilities and secrets, turning the tables on each other.

CIALT: Caught In A Love Trap
Short (14 mins) Spain
Directed By: Aaron Jean, Sophie von Rheden
Written By: Sophie von Rheden
Produced By: Kerstin Krause, Sophie von Rheden
Cast: Carmen Molinar, Chema Coloma, CEsar Torres, Clara Ruiz, Alfredo Calvo Garcia

Synopsis: Writer Kate Williams and songwriter Tan Zander have shared years of creative collaboration—until Tan abruptly ends their longstanding relationship with a cold, unexplained text message. Determined to confront him, Kate travels to Madrid, seeking answers. But what she finds is more than she expected—a hidden past intertwined with her own, and a long-buried secret in a mysterious wooden box.

Friday Night Flop
Short (16 mins) United Kingdom
Directed By: Simon Friedberg, Elliott Gerner
Written By: Elliott Gerner, Simon Friedberg
Produced By: Dawn Laren, Sarah Shepherd, Selina Dey
Cast: Tracy-Ann Oberman, Anoushka Cowan, Mark Fleischmann

Synopsis: A mother tries desperately to reconnect with her estranged daughter in a world of digital distraction. Friday Night Flop features a debut performance by Anoushka Cowan alongside her mother Tracy-Ann Oberman.

What's Wrong, Emma
Short (23 mins) France
Directed By: Teo Frank
Written By: Teo Frank, Pichya Nimit
Produced By: Thomas Chevillon, Karolyne Sosa
Cast: Sarah Bennington, Rosie Taylor-Ritson, Edward Crook

Synopsis: After receiving a signed copy of her ex-partner's debut novel, Emma, an emerging writer visiting the south of France for her father-in-law's birthday, feels… wrong!

Engelstan
Short (27 mins) Belgium
Directed By: Manu Coeman
Written By: Philippe Blasband
Produced By: John-John Goossens
Cast: HElène Vincent, Laurent Capelluto

Synopsis: Deborah is a rather tough piano teacher. She lives in Calais, France.
Mansour is a Syrian refugee with a continual big smile on his lips.
He wants to cross the Channel to England.
By accident, Deborah welcomes Mansour into her home.
An improbable meeting, which awakens a buried and tragic past.

Block 3 at 1:00 pm

It's My Party
Student Film (6 mins) United States
Directed By: Sarah Ann Shankman
Written By: Sarah Ann Shankman
Produced By: Wesley Ahart
Cast: Courtney Berwick, Erin Rose

Synopsis: Jenny is trying to make herself a birthday cake but her chronic illness is making it difficult. Her sister, Ana shows up and makes matters worse. She wants to vlog Jenny's birthday to get back in the good graces of her followers after being canceled. Tension rises as they get into a fight only sisters could have and then realize what they both needed most of all was just a night with each other.

Inaudible Articulations
Student Film (10 mins) United States
Directed By: Julia Lipsztein
Written By: Julia Lipsztein
Produced By: Julia Lipsztein
Cast: Rowan Walter, Natalia Guedes, Jodi Prusan

Synopsis: Inaudible Articulations tells the story of Jamie, a young man grappling with bipolar disorder, whose turbulent inner world strains his relationships with his mother and girlfriend, Tara. Through moments of despair and brief solace, Jamie's journey captures the quiet resilience and support needed to face his own mental health battles.

Chasing Daylight
Student Film (11 mins) United States
Directed By: Genesis Santiago
Written By: Genesis Santiago
Produced By: Good Omen and Pico Youth and Family Center
Cast: Iesha M. Daniels, Stacey Xia, Gabe Rivas, Jorge G. Diaz

Synopsis: A story about a group of friends learning to love one another and find the joy and healing they never received in the place that was supposed to be home. All the while becoming their own found family.

Little Candy Girl
Student Film (13 mins) United States
Directed By: Una Smoole
Written By: Una Smoole
Produced By: Nikki Ghalili
Cast: Madeline Lucas, Mason Kokodynski

Synopsis: A miniature girl who tap dances in candy machines runs away with a curious and charming rescuer, only for her to realize that she must be the one to save herself.

Click
Student Film (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Jonathan Aspin
Written By: Riley Brooker
Produced By: Trent Garrett, Jacob Young
Cast: Madison Newton, Christopher O'Keefe

Synopsis: A coming of age story revolving Emaline, a Sophomore in High School who is coping with transferring to a brand new school district in the wake of just losing her father, trying to find something, anything to be passionate about.

Starting Line
Student Film (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Brenton Bender
Written By: Brenton Bender
Produced By: Joey Cheng, Andy Yi Li
Cast: Shane O'Shea, Brendan Shannon, Shaw Jones

Synopsis: When a cross country coach pits two siblings against each other, Brody pushes himself to outpace his younger brother, Archie. But restless nights and a botched practice cause Brody's frustration to boil over and he lashes out - leaving Archie injured and forcing them both to deal with the consequences.

Enouement
Student Film (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Angel Lu
Written By: Angel Lu
Produced By: Angel Lu, Danis Zhang
Cast: Angel Lu, Michael Zhang

Synopsis: Jen, an ambitious film industry amateur, struggles to balance her demanding job and caring for her grandfather with dementia. When a work crisis collides with her caregiving duties, tensions rise, leading to a moment of frustration. However, upon discovering a heartfelt letter from her grandfather, Jen is forced to reevaluate her priorities and redefine the essence of love and time in this New York City-set short film, Enouement.

Stay Here
Student Film (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Marley Rankin
Written By: Marley Rankin
Produced By: Rabbani Kaur
Cast: Kayden Tokarski

Synopsis: A coming-of-age story about a 14-year-old girl obsessed with womanhood. She eagerly awaits the milestones that come along with it and cannot wait to grow up. However, when faced with a harsh reality that she did not anticipate, she must consider whether she is really ready to be an adult.

The Blue Inside
Student Film (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Arya Jo Singh
Written By: Arya Jo Singh
Produced By: Phoebe J Yung, Winona Lu
Cast: Sendhil Ramamurthy, Samsara Leela-Yett

Synopsis: When struggling alcoholic Mo takes Naya to their town's daddy daughter dance, his daydream of reconnecting with her shifts into a nightmare as he is forced to publicly confront their strained past, and must choose between accepting reality or drowning in dangerous delusions.

Private I
Student Film (17 mins) United States
Directed By: Evan Patrick Adams
Written By: Evan Patrick Adams
Produced By: Tyler Kirkpatrick
Cast: Taylor Petracek, Avrielle Corti, Geoffrey Davin

Synopsis: A bellboy who uses his camera to spy on guests follows a mysterious woman with a dark secret, but he'll need to investigate himself first.

Block 4 at 1:40 pm

Singularity
Documentary Short (16 mins) United States
Directed By: Ali Aksu
Written By: Ali Aksu
Produced By: Ali Aksu
Cast: Jean Oelwang, Kate Kallot, Daniel Weismann

Synopsis: Filmed on Richard Branson's private Necker Island, Singularity brings together AI experts, philosophers, and innovators to explore the profound impact of artificial intelligence on humanity. Covering ethics, governance, warfare, and society's future, the documentary delves into the existential questions AI poses. As technology evolves, Singularity challenges viewers to consider the balance between innovation and control, urging us to confront the responsibility of shaping a world where machines and humans coexist.

World Without Cows
Documentary Feature (85 mins) United States
Directed By: Michelle Michael, Brandon Whitworth
Written By: Michelle Michael, Brandon Whitworth
Produced By: Susanna Elliott, Alan Henthorne, Michelle Michael, Brandon Whitworth
Cast: N/A

Synopsis: A documentary that challenges our perceptions of cows and their role in our world. Two award-winning former journalists take you from the American heartland to Kenya, India, Brazil, and beyond, unraveling the intricate cultural, economic, and environmental threads that cows weave into our lives. Explore the impact of these animals and the far-reaching implications of their absence.

Block 5 at 2:00 pm

Binge!
Student Film (3 mins) United States
Directed By: Sam David Zhang, Rohit Relan
Written By: Sam David Zhang, Umut Ipek
Produced By: Hector Martinez, Annine Fan Zhang
Cast: Clayton Farris

Synopsis: A television addict discovers a strange broadcast one day while watching TV. As he gets hooked on what he sees, he begins to have an uncanny resemblance to the horror on screen.

Behind the Face
Student Film (4 mins) United States
Directed By: Hillfigure Hwang
Written By: Hillfigure Hwang
Produced By: Hillfigure Hwang
Cast: Agatha Rodriguez

Synopsis: Street noise. Pollution. Career. Deadlines. Responsibilities. Relationships. Social Media. Comparisons… The constant overstimulation and urban anxieties push an introverted young woman to enter a world of surreal nervous breakdown.

Hide and Seek
Student Film (10 mins) United States
Directed By: Shahmeer Madni
Written By: Shahmeer Madni
Produced By: Marbod Faure, Shahmeer Madni
Cast: Nayab Hussain, Jason Arcaro, Calvin Knegten

Synopsis: After running over their son's dog, a soon-to-be divorced couple dispute hiding it before he realises.

When Anya leaves her son alone with their dog to go confront her cheating husband, things take a turn for the worst as a heated argument turns into a tragic loss. However, from grief, retribution arises, allowing Anya to find revenge and pursue the glimmer of light in her uncertain future, but at the expense of her child's innocence.

Damned
Student Film (11 mins) United States
Directed By: Lukas Anderson
Written By: Lukas Anderson, Elio Andres
Produced By: Alexus Es
Cast: Cole Kelley, C.P. Walker

Synopsis: When a desperate father breaks house arrest, his determined parole officer tracks him by his ankle monitor. When a demon surfaces from hell to collect the father's soul, he becomes the target of a violent two-pronged chase.

Good People
Student Film (12 mins) United States
Directed By: Paul Cosby
Written By: Paul Cosby
Produced By: Noah Shelton, John Landry, Joseph Simpson, Nikki Groton, Paul Cosby
Cast: Sam Uehling, Violette Remington, Zion Aguilar, Emily Joy Lemus

Synopsis: When a cynical young man meets his new neighbors, he's confronted by the fact that they may be perfect. Will he find a crack in their scheme? or can two people really be flawless?

The Things We Keep
Student Film (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Joanna Fernandez
Written By: Joanna Fernandez
Produced By: Yaxing Lin, Lilith Mo, Tim Truesdell
Cast: Rebecca Holopter, Jenny O'Hara

Synopsis: Receiving word her estranged mother is unable to take care of herself, Kate returns to pack up her mom's house and send her to a nursing home. Unfortunately, it's a big task: her mother is a lifelong hoarder. As Kate unravels the mystery of her mother's obsession and illness, she discovers that the hoarding was actually self-preservation. There is evil in the house's walls, and they must be covered at all costs.

Rain
Student Film (18 mins) United States
Directed By: Imogen McCluskey
Written By: Imogen McCluskey
Produced By: Chris Crema and Austin Chen
Cast: Kimberly Alexander, Travis Hammer, Kyla Dyan, Kate Enggren, Timothy Davis-Reed

Synopsis: The appearance of a mysterious orange light upends a fraught family Christmas, forcing their pregnant daughter to decide between the overbearing expectations of her family or her own safety.

Breaking Character
Student Film (20 mins) United States
Directed By: Joey Buzzella
Written By: Joey Buzzella
Produced By: Aria Mahmoud, Brooke Westphal
Cast: Curran Seth, Ian S. Peterson, Corey Landis

Synopsis: Theo Maddison, a struggling LA actor, blurs the line between his performance and his own malicious thoughts as he commits further to a serial killer role.

Block 6 at 3:30 pm

Afloat
Short (12 mins) United States
Directed By: Reilly Johnson
Written By: Reilly Johnson
Produced By: Margi Newquist - Johnson
Cast: Tali Papouchado, Mohammad Saleem, Candee Kramer

Synopsis: Avery, a new hire at Chicago Seas Boat Tours, attempts to stay afloat as she encounters a harrowing call to action on the Chicago River.

Shorthanded
Short (13 mins) United States
Directed By: Jack Martino
Written By: Jack Martino
Produced By: Jack Martino, Izzy Page, Miles Salzgeber
Cast: Alejandro Escamilla, Jonathan Fishman, Nick Privitera

Synopsis: A Hispanic hockey player battles through a shoulder injury as he tries to secure the last spot on a highly competitive team under the command of a coach with racist tendencies.

Stride
Short (13 mins) United States
Directed By: Alazar Aklilu
Written By: Alazar Aklilu
Produced By: Alazar Aklilu, Soibi Dagogo-Jack, Mackenzie Lyle, Sydney Malone
Cast: Darrell Battle Jr., Garland Scott

Synopsis: Mac, an 18-year-old track athlete, pushes his limits for the opportunity of a lifetime—a scholarship that could change everything. But as he ignores his father's growing concerns, he faces a challenge that tests not just his body, but his very sense of purpose.

Aperture
Short (14 mins) United States
Directed By: Julie Anne Koehnen
Written By: Julie Anne Koehnen
Produced By: Paul Bees, Steven Elbert, Rachel Weber
Cast: Taylor Mills, Sasha Andreev

Synopsis: After trying to make it in the corporate world, a young photographer with no real-world success is forced to come to terms with her creativity if she is to find her real place in life.

Traveling Mercies
Short (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Niva Dorell
Written By: Madison Trice
Produced By: Marjorie Kilpatrick, Reuben McDaniel
Cast: Madison Trice, Joseph Hanson

Synopsis: Two Black high school students have different attitudes about the daily micro aggressions they experience in an ultra wealthy neighborhood of Houston, TX. When one of them encounters a shocking outburst at their private prep school, they're both forced to reexamine their viewpoints.

Theater Kid
Short (18 mins) United States
Directed By: Liam Burns
Written By: Liam Burns
Produced By: Alena Mauhs
Cast: Curran Seth, Alena Mauhs

Synopsis: A high school senior Kenneth nearly jeopardizes his schools theater production because of his delusions of grandeur and a treatment of his fellow cast mates as well as his crush Jane.

Block 7 at 3:40 pm

Lost Wolves of Yellowstone
Documentary Feature (92 mins) United States
Directed By: Thomas Winston
Written By: Avela Grenier, Thomas Winston
Produced By: Thomas Winston
Cast: Mike Phillips, Doug Smith, Rick Schwolsky, Sierra Rosen

Synopsis: On January 12, 1995 wolves returned to Yellowstone, 50 years after their extirpation. Mollie Beattie, the first female director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, carried the first Canadian born wolf into The Park's experimental acclimation enclosure, Alpha Female Wolf No. 5. From that day forward, their lives would be forever connected. This is the untold story of Mollie's Pack and the Lost Wolves of Yellowstone.

Block 8 at 4:00 pm

Cecilia's Ship
Short (10 mins) United States
Directed By: Bret McKee
Written By: Jackie Letkowski
Produced By: Jackie Letkowski, Bret McKee
Cast: Kelly Sindell, Sandra McClean, Meah Augustyn, Nick DeKay

Synopsis: A fatigued single mother, with a young dying daughter, is plagued by insomnia and a recurring dream. Cecilia's Ship is a short film that is haunting, touching, and teaches acceptance, especially in the face of trauma. Cancer doesn't discriminate.

Wandering Glider
Short (13 mins) United States
Directed By: Ara Torosian
Written By: Solmaz Etemad, Marjan Golestani
Produced By: Alireza Attaalah Tabrizi
Cast: Ara Torosian

Synopsis: This artistic film delves into the topic of Iranian immigration and the pursuit of dreams without a clear understanding of the future. It tells the story of disappointed individuals who attempt to change their lives but find themselves disconnected from reality.

Sins of a Father
Short (14 mins) United States
Directed By: Nuekellar Hardy
Written By: Nuekellar Hardy
Produced By: Nuekellar Hardy, Esi Yamoah-Hardy, Jordan Sims, ?ukasz Dziedzic
Cast: Tongayi Chirisa, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Chris Butler

Synopsis: Amidst echoes of his past, Bryan embarks on a heartfelt quest to rewrite his future, confronting his father to break the chains of generational trauma and carve out his own legacy of love and growth.

Remnants of Nova
Short (15 mins) United States
Directed By: James Barker
Written By: James Barker and Kimmie Devereux
Produced By: James Barker, Richard S. Ormsby
Cast: Eloise Lola Gordon, Gabrielle Sarah Lewis, and Nancy Pop

Synopsis: Dani and Nova's band finally lands their first big gig—until Nova, battling depression, drops out, shattering their relationship. As Dani faces the stage alone, Nova spirals into crisis in this raw, urgent portrait of queer love, mental health, and the fragile chords that hold us together.

Bald
Short (15 mins) United States
Directed By: Monique Straw
Written By: Jessica Irvine Drake
Produced By: Jessica Irvine Drake, David Harrod Jr., Alexandra Chando, Charlene Fretz
Cast: Jessica Irvine Drake, David Harrod Jr., Devin Drake

Synopsis: After receiving life-altering news, a woman embarks on a transformative journey that pushes her beyond the safety of her comfort zone. Daring to embrace new experiences and confront hidden fears, she rediscovers parts of herself she never knew existed.

The Joke's On Them
Short (16 mins) United States
Directed By: Gary O. Bennett
Written By: Gary O. Bennett
Produced By: Alyssa Rallo Bennett
Cast: Yuyu Kitmura, Jen McCabe, Audrey Haynor

Synopsis: A driven businesswoman is forced to reevaluate her career after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. In the process, she is drawn to a subordinate whom she believes is repeating her own past mistakes.

The Second Oldest Man Alive
Short (22 mins) United States
Directed By: Jeremy Max
Written By: Ryan Delouya
Produced By: Ryan Delouya, Jeremy Max
Cast: Gerry Bamman

Synopsis: While reading a book of world records with his great-grandchildren, William Bennett discovers that the world's oldest man is just days older than he is. Seeing this as a way to cement his legacy, William attempts to outlive the oldest man.

Block 9 at 5:15 pm

America's Next Best President
Short (7 mins) United States
Directed By: Katie Cassidy
Written By: Katie Cassidy
Produced By: Katie Cassidy, Maya Ford, Stephen Huszar
Cast: Stephen Albanese, Maya Ford, Carlos The Cat, Dean Quackenbush, Linda Quackenbush, Lucy Frike

Synopsis: A spoof on American politics told as a game show. America's votes are in and we're down to the final five contestants. Watch to find out who The Next Best President of the U.S. is gonna be…

I Don't
Short (12 mins) United States
Directed By: Gabriella Kessler
Written By: Gabriella Kessler
Produced By: Georgia Velkes
Cast: Gabriella Kessler, Jens Austin Astrup

Synopsis: I Don't is about a runaway bride who decides that instead of walking down the aisle, she's running—far, fast, and toward a version of freedom she left behind. However, she must confront complicated truths in order to stop running away from herself.

O.C.D.
Short (13 mins) United States
Directed By: Luca Pizzoleo
Written By: Conor Patrick Walsh
Produced By: Luca Pizzoleo, Birdget Sonobe
Cast: Steven Ogg, Raz Fritz, Ariel Martin

Synopsis: A neurotic delivery driver named Owen battles his OCD at a local convenience store while his TikToker girlfriend plans an exposure therapy dinner date at home. But when she helps him resist his compulsion, it subsequently triggers the apocalypse.

Solutions
Short (18 mins) United States
Directed By: Dan Aid
Written By: Dan Aid
Produced By: Dan Aid, Jade Albany, Josh Gilmer
Cast: Dan Aid, Jade Albany, Josh Gilmer

Synopsis: In a last ditch effort to extricate herself from the ramshackle farce of her suburban existence a woman caught between her dysfunctional husband and her densely loyal lover attempts to off one while framing the other.

The Method
Short (23 mins) United States
Directed By: Rick Rocha
Written By: Rick Rocha
Produced By: Briana Bursten, Micheal Neeson, Rebekah Sherman-Myntti
Cast: Eric Roberts, Conlan Kisilewicz, Maia Scalia, Niall Cunningham, Ruaridh Mollica

Synopsis: A legendary acting teacher's relentless pursuit of perfection pushes an overly eager student into the dark depths of his own psyche. As the student becomes engulfed in a masochistic and obsessive acting method, the lines between reality and performance blur. Soon, the series of events takes a criminal turn, leaving the audience questioning… Where does the act end, and reality begin?

A Conscious Uncoupling
Short (24 mins) United States
Directed By: Alex J Britten
Written By: Alex J Britten
Produced By: Shelby Comstock Britten
Cast: Gregory James Cohan, Stephanie Barkley, Clayton Farris, Andy Cohen, Laura Schein, Tori Khalil, Zac Taylor

Synopsis: A couple facing the rocky shoals of their relationship chickens out and decides to ‘Consciously Uncouple', but throughout the process they're forced to face the emotions they've been avoiding.

Rock N' Rolled
Short (29 mins) United States
Directed By: John Fahy
Written By: John Fahy
Produced By: Ilise Ratner, Jason Miller, John Harris
Cast: Ava DeMary, Nicole Gut, Alex Tavis

Synopsis: Young tightly-wound accountant Harmony Hart brings her new boyfriend Felix Silva home to NYC to meet her mother, the world-famous rock star Desiree Hart.

The legendary diva and her entourage of colorful collaborators put Harmony and Felix through the rock n' roll ringer, testing the limits of their budding romance. Think Meet the Parents meets Almost Famous.

Block 10 at 5:30 pm

Call Me Shamsz
Documentary Short (11 mins) United States
Directed By: Geoff Browne
Written By: Geoff Browne
Produced By: Geoff Browne, Wilson Ebiya
Cast: Kareem ‘Shamsz' Samsudeen

Synopsis: At 15, Shamsz's world was shattered by a shocking diagnosis. Now, a decade later, this documentary follows his journey from despair to hope, as he inspires Nigeria's youth.

The Connector
Documentary Short (11 mins) United States
Directed By: Ian Mitchell
Written By: Larissa James, Ian Mitchell
Produced By: Ian Mitchell / Larissa James / Jerry Ying
Cast: Boss Watsaba

Synopsis: The Connector is a short documentary that uncovers the transformative power of bridges in underserved African communities, highlighting how these structures transcend their physical form to become symbols of empowerment, driving social change, gender equality, and sustainable development across the continent.

Hooked
Documentary Short (29 mins) United Kingdom
Directed By: Glen Fulthorpe
Written By: Glen Fulthorpe
Produced By: Glen Fulthorpe Domantas Jakubauskas
Cast: Glen Fulthorpe, Ashley Veevers, Danielle Houghton, Steven Fulthorpe.

Synopsis: Hooked follows a filmmaker's journey into his family's history of alcohol and opioid addiction, addressing generational trauma and the complexities of fatherhood while seeking redemption and understanding.

In a Box: Deported Noncitizen U.S. Veterans
Documentary Short (34 mins) United States
Directed By: Cutty Cuthbert
Written By: Rob Cuthbert
Produced By: Cutty Cuthbert, Rob Cuthbert
Cast: Edwin Salgado, Daniel Oyarzabal

Synopsis: In a Box profiles Edwin Salgado (a deported U.S. Marine Corps veteran) and Daniel Oyarzabal (a recently repatriated U.S. Air Force veteran). The film also explores the policies that enable and perpetuate the deportations of noncitizen veterans of the U.S. military. In a Box includes reporting from Tijuana, Mexico; La Mesa, California, and Los Angeles, CA.

Block 11 at 6:00 pm

Stairs of Love (Escadaria do Amor)
Short (19 mins) Brazil
Directed By: Gui Agustini
Written By: Helena Horta
Produced By: Valeria Silva
Cast: Valeria Silva and Robson Barbosa

Synopsis: Julia discovers Carlos intends to propose to her. This makes insecurities that were previously pushed aside resurface. In a struggle with love and with two strong and divergent personalities, the couple tries to survive this turbulent phase, exploring the traumas of their relationship, such as complicity, honesty, and their racial difference.

One Night
Feature (91 mins) Czech Republic
Directed By: David La?ka
Written By: David La?ka
Produced By: David La?ka, Katerina Duskova, Martin Sedivy
Cast: Adam Ernest, Vanda Chaloupkova

Synopsis: Two years ago, it seemed that Adam and Eliška could do everything. He was a successful rock guitarist. Now Adam's done two years in jail, working as a digger, can't get a proper job. And it's the whole bleak situation of their lives and the fact that Eliška has to sell herself via livechat for money that goes over Adam's head one night.

Block 12 at 7:15 pm

Sheepdog
Feature (128 mins) United States
Directed By: Steven Grayhm
Written By: Steven Grayhm
Produced By: Steven Grayhm, Joe Newcomb, Lynn d'Angona, P. Colin Kane
Cast: Virginia Madsen, Vondie Curtis Hall, Steven Grayhm, Dominic Fumusa, Lilli Cooper, Matt Dallas

Synopsis: A decorated combat Veteran is court ordered into treatment when an ex-convict shows up on his doorstep and reveals that he must put himself back together again.

Block 13 at 7:40 pm

Aliens Don't Like White People
Short (9 mins) United States
Directed By: Parker Reininga
Written By: Cameron Cowperthwaite
Produced By: Michael Murphy, Mark Cockfield, Parker Reininga, Cameron Cowperthwaite
Cast: Cameron Cowperthwaite, Keenon Rush

Synopsis: Two friends, caught in a debate about the existence of aliens and their public relations, commit to a routine break-in, only to stumble into a bizarre surprise.

The Alibi
Short (17 mins) United States
Directed By: David Chrzanowski
Written By: David Chrzanowski
Produced By: False Dice Productions, Allison Sanchez, Ken Czajkowski, Rusty Anderson, Terry Futschik, Logan Mansburger, Michele Silva-Neto, Lynn Wonchala, Rebecca Heberlein, Desiree Staples, Mary O'Keefe
Cast: Brendan Fehr, Piper De Palma, Jacob Childress, Ethan Daniel Corbett

Synopsis: In a near-empty, Detroit dive bar, circa 1984, a ten-year-old boy waits for his father to be done working. Alex's childhood hangout may not exactly be conventional, but he worships his Dad. And he's always felt safe around his crew. Until now. Because when the "job" his Pops is running goes sideways, Alex must prove his worth by completing a dangerous mission.

The Comic Shop
Feature (95 mins) United States
Directed By: Jonathan L. Bowen
Written By: Jonathan L. Bowen, Scott Reed
Produced By: Scott Reed, Ron Singer
Cast: Jesse Metcalfe, Tristin Mays, Micah Giovanni

Synopsis: A former illustrator, Mike runs a struggling comic shop in suburban Las Vegas. Disillusioned by his life at middle age, his dreams seemingly long behind him, he struggles with alcohol abuse. When a young customer, Brandon, moves to town and takes interest in his shop and illustrating skills, the two form an unlikely friendship that leads Mike back toward his dreams with Brandon hoping to follow.

Block 14 at 8:15 pm

Dwelling Among the Gods
Feature (102 mins) Serbia
Directed By: Vuk Rsumovic
Written By: Vuk Rsumovic, Momir Turudic
Produced By: Mirko Bojovic
Cast: Fereshteh Hosseini (main actress); Vuk Rsumovic

Synopsis: In 2015, as Hungary prepares to close its borders to refugees, a young Afghan woman and her family reach Belgrade during their exhausting journey to Europe. There, she discovers her younger brother Ali, who arrived in Serbia before them, has drowned and will soon be buried unnamed. While thousands rush desperately towards Hungary's closing borders, she refuses to leave Belgrade before burying her brother under his proper name. The true story of modern Antigone.