Tickets & Passes

On Sale September 2023

Day passes and VIP passes available.

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Opening Night Screening

7:30pm

Join us for our opening night slate of incredible World Class Short Films. Each of these film have been specially selected to give you a glimpse into the marvelous films that will screen over the next few nights.

LAST CALL

A desperate mother who wants to reconnect with her son. On the complexity of depression and grief and search for understanding and absolution.  Directed by Harry Holland

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

Two will-they-won’t-they friends are just keeping it simple this New Year’s Eve — until their house is crashed by a man from the future who tells them that the fate of the universe rests in their hands!  Directed by Kyle Vorbach

THEY GROW UP SO FAST

When Brian meets Amy after a night out on the town, things move just a little faster than he’d anticipated. Way faster.  Directed by John F. Beach

CRARYLAKE BOATS AND FLOATS

Summer is over. At the combo hot dog stand/boat rental shop, Lane hopes to wait out her shift by getting high and avoiding the rain. The arrival of a flirty late-season boat renter, Cara, throws her plans into chaos.  Directed by Spencer Thielmann, Emily Berge

WHEN BEVERLY MET REITA

An 87-year old former Hollywood star overcomes tragedy and finds joy wallpapering Los Angeles homes with her best friend, almost 60 years her junior. Together, they spread love, light and inspiration wherever they go.  Directed by Brianna Rebecca Schatt

LOST IN THE SKY

A small rescue robot is searching for survivors when he makes a dark discovery, leaving him with a devastating choice. Six years in the making, this is a live-action space adventure created entirely with practical effects using a water tank, a real robot and miniature models. Directed by Simon Öster

Encore Screening Opening Night

9:00pm

Join us for our opening night slate of incredible World Class Short Films. Each of these film have been specially selected to give you a glimpse into the marvelous films that will screen over the next few nights.

It’s A Kind of Magic

Friday 11:30am

It's A Kind of Magic

(Drama / World Cinema)

The magic begins with these amazing World Class Short Films. Each with it’s own particular charm, these films will offer a dash a whimsy and a healthy dose of filmmaking alchemy that conjurs a special amalgamation of superb storytelling, mixed with drama, humor and more.

Oddities

15 mins / USA

When a drugged-out duo attempts to rob an antique store, they realize the older woman running the shop isn't as defenseless as she seems...

Directed by Tyler Savage

Wider Than The Sky

11 mins / UK

Jenny's father has been diagnosed with Cancer. To cope, this deeply creative child makes scenes inside shoeboxes into which she escapes. A chance encounter with a seemingly ordinary cafe owner provides the catalyst for this truly magical tale.

Directed by Philip Taylor

Rear View

12 mins / USA

A driver for a mysterious ride-share app forms a tender connection with a new passenger, which could break the balance between life and death.

Directed by Matthew Conboy

The Old Young Crow

12 mins / Japan

An Iranian boy befriends an old Japanese woman at a graveyard in Tokyo.

Directed by Liam LoPinto

Picture Day (Ireland)

12 mins / Ireland

After learning that class photo day is approaching, a young boy comes face to face with the manifestation of his insecurities in the form of a troll called Alan.

Directed by Jason Branagan

The Van

20 mins / USA

A son’s stubborn father refuses to move unless a broken down van comes with him.

Directed by Bernard Badion

Musically Inclined

Friday 12:00pm

Musically Inclined

(Drama / Music / Musicals)

Music is a core part of the story and while being a focal point for each of these captivating shorts, Musically Inclined delivers a broad selection of genres that will light up the screen in more ways than one. This block of World Class Short Films will have an encore screening on Saturday at 7 pm.

Piano Man

23 mins / USA

Having been struck with grief and loss, a legendary Jazz piano player retreats into an austere existence where he spends his days making music for his sick father and tuning the pianos of those who don’t truly appreciate the instrument. When he encounters Rosie, a saxophonist he used to play with back in the day, can a return to the stage be far behind?

Directed by Jay Zaretsky

Shatter the Glass

15 mins / USA

Alex Therien proudly posts her new status as 1st chair in her school band but is quickly mocked with cruel online comments. After arguments with her mom and boyfriend, she decides to express her true self through her music and discovers that sometimes it’s better to shatter the glass than let others dictate who you are.

Directed by Patrick Hogan

Black Metal

16 mins / USA

A black teen aspires to perform as a metal musician to an all white audience despite his father's protests.

Directed by Michael Johnson

Mysore Magic

14 mins / USA

The true story of an unlikely romance in 1982 at a disco competition in Mysore, India.

Directed by Abijeet Achar

Sometime, Somewhere

18 mins / UK

In a quiet village pub, a touring country singer must come to terms with the journey that has led him there - and the road that lies ahead.

Directed by Logan Findlay

Festival Rewind – Comedy Edition

Friday 1:30pm 

(Comedy / Dark Comedy)

The San Jose International Short Film Festival is proud to present this Festival Rewind: Comedy Edition. Join us for a hosted look at a grand fusion of incredible comedy shorts, films that we have featured over the past 15 years that still make us laugh.

Festival Rewind – A Smattering of Excellence

Friday 2:00pm

(Comedy / Drama / World Cinema)

The San Jose International Short Film Festival is proud to present this Festival Rewind: World Cinema Edition entitled A Smattering of Excellence. These international films are stunning representations of the myriad of World Class Short Films that we have hosted over the past 15 years, join us for a walk back through the archives. Don’t forget the popcorn.

A Hard DOC’s Life

Friday 4:30pm 

(Documentary Shorts)

We are pleased to screen our first block of documentary short films this weekend. Take a seat and let us reveal our first salvo of five incredible true stories.

I am Kanaka

15 mins / UK

Revealing a dark history where 5% of the native population speak the native language and 10% live in poverty, Hawaii is in danger of losing its traditions forever. This touching documentary offers a glimpse into the future and how a non-profit program is offering a return to their traditions.

Directed by Genevieve Sulway

When Beverly Met Reita

15 mins / USA

An 87-year old former Hollywood star overcomes tragedy and finds joy wallpapering Los Angeles homes with her best friend, almost 60 years her junior. Together, they spread love, light and inspiration wherever they go.

Directed by Brianna Rebecca Schatt

The Exchange Girl

9 mins / USA

Exploring the truth behind the dangerous working conditions for women in silent film post-production. The film also explores how Margaret Booth, one of the great editors, started her legendary career that way.

Directed by George Larkin

Home River

25 mins / Finland

In 2017, three Sámi women broke the law to protect their traditions. The Sámi people had fished the Deatnu River as a livelihood and spiritual practice for centuries until Finland enforced unprecedented restrictions on the river. In a monumental case for Indigenous rights, Kati, Ánne, and Heidi fought the state to keep their culture alive.

Directed by Kati Eriksen, Scott Thornton

Every Day After

36 mins / USA

This documentary provides a nuanced look at the complexities of the healing process we don’t often see and honors the invisible labor of a sister whose love and action makes it possible for her brother to experience everyday joys and struggles of growing up.

Directed by Elisa Gambino

World Cinema One

Friday 5:45pm

(Foreign Language / World Cinema / Intense Drama)

Welcome to World Cinema One. We are proud to present our initial block of International films which detail a brilliant selection of shorts from Luxembourg, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom and destinations unknown.

Chevalier

16 mins / Luxembourg

Lonely and abandoned by her father and society, Emma, eleven years, throws herself body and soul into a lost cause.

Directed by Frederic Zeimet

The Wake

22 mins / Canada

A restless 15-year-old has spent his life surrounded by death, raised in his parents' funeral business in a small town USA. He recruits his deaf-mute younger brother to join him in his capers, unaware that his lucky streak is about to run out.

Directed by Luis Gerard Gonzalez

Chandelier

12 mins / Georgia

This is a story about a woman who sold everything for her grandchild, except for the antique chandelier, still left for sale.

Directed by George Gio Putkaradze

Seasalter Road

15 mins / UK

Following the sudden death of their mother a pair of estranged siblings must revisit their family home which opens old wounds that their relationship might not withstand.

Directed by Will Kenning

Fár

5 mins / Iceland

A bird hits a window of a café and disrupts its customers. A woman faces a decision on whether to ignore nature or to react.

Directed by Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter

The Sons of God (Los Hijos de Dios)

21 mins / Mexico

In the midst of the Hispanic conquest of America, an idealistic friar plans, along with other soldiers of the crown, an escape from a devastating expedition that only seeks riches.

Directed by Sebastian Torres Greene

The Human Experience

Friday 7:00pm

(Drama / Suspense / Comedy)

Uncovering the reality behind the human condition, we can reveal the bond between ourselves and our struggle to become the best versions of who we ultimately want to be. Highly recommended.

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11 mins / USA

Two people on a first date mask and ignore their insecurities until an event forces them to say what they're really thinking.

Directed by Erin Brown Thomas

Voice Activated

12 mins / Australia

A florist with a stutter is forced to cooperate with a voice activated car on the way to an important delivery.

Directed by Steve Anthopoulos

Blue Hour

16 mins / USA

Two personal journeys intersect when a struggling young photographer is hired for a cheap last minute portrait gig. The unfolding photo session, while transient, leaves an indelible mark on both women.

Directed by J.D Shields

Somewhere in Between

15 mins / USA

Two will-they-won’t-they friends are just keeping it simple this New Year's Eve — until their house is crashed by a man from the future who tells them that the fate of the universe rests in their hands!

Directed by Kyle Vorbach

Infraction

21 mins / USA

When a prison guard is murdered on the job, his replacement and an inmate form an unlikely relationship with life-altering ramifications.

Directed by Timothy Blackwood

At Home

4 mins / Canada

An old man remembers the joyous moments of his life

Directed by Jon Joffin

Make ‘Em Laugh

Friday 8:00pm

(Comedy Short Films)

Join us for this highly recommended fan favorite. Our comedy shorts have become a tradition of sorts with an unexpected flair for the hilarious. This block of World Class Short Films will have an encore screening on Sunday at 2:30pm in case you’d like to see it again (but this time, bring a friend). Please note: drinking before and during this screening is recommended.

Vegan Table

4 mins / USA

Chef's Table covers a pioneering new restaurant.

Directed by Tyler Davis

Under My Bed

5 mins / USA

After accidentally filming a monster under his bed, Kelvin, a cowardly 9 year old, avoids being eaten the only way he can: by pretending to be a famous talk show host.

Directed by Matt Cairns

They Grow Up So Fast

10 mins / USA

When Brian meets Amy after a night out on the town, things move a little faster than he'd anticipated.

Directed by John F. Beach

Grandma Bruce

13 mins / USA

GRANDMA BRUCE is a magical short comedy about a queerdo (they/them) whose old car comes to life with the spirit of their judgmental Jewish grandmother, a backseat driver from the ever after.

Directed by Brooke Stern Sebold

Mahogany Drive

13 mins / USA

Three Black friends wake up to a nightmare — a dead white woman on the floor of their Airbnb. Tensions rise, sweat beads, and accusations fly, but they slowly come to a terrifying truth: this house is killing white women!

Directed by Jerah Milligan

Empty Nest

16 mins / Canada

With their kids out of the house, a middle-aged couple looks forward to some long-overdue quality time.

Directed by Christine Victoria Deacon

The Accent

16 mins / USA

This is a half-whimsical, half-mystery tale about an introverted young woman looking to make new friends by attending an open-invitation book club in Oakland, California (with mixed results).

Directed by Samuel Ademola, Hugo Rubin

It Was A Dark & Stormy Night

Friday 9:30pm

(Horror / Intense Drama / Supernatural)

A bump in the night, a bloodcurdling scream. You are stuck in a place both shocking and revealing, where a Dark & Stormy Night is just the beginning of the terror. This block of World Class Short Films will have an encore screening on Saturday at 10:15 pm.

The Queue

11 mins / USA

An internet content moderator confronts the darkness within the videos he screens.

Directed by Michael Rich

Black Dragon (Rồng đen)

15 mins / USA

Vietnam, 1968. A feared American colonel nicknamed “the Black Dragon” by Vietnamese locals must face his inner shadow when his platoon presents him with a captured Vietcong girl who harbors some very unusual powers.

Directed by Alexander Thompson

Butterscotch

7 mins / USA

A young Bully bites off more than he can chew when he messes with the wrong Old Man in a nursing home.

Directed by Alexander Lee Deeds

The Trunk

8 mins / USA

Deep in the desert a distraught man sits in his car and waits for dawn. Inside the trunk his wife begins to cry. Soon the morning light will reveal that things aren't always as they seem.

Directed by Logan Boettcher

Slayers of the Dead

11 mins / Singapore

Two Vampire hunters from opposites sides of the globe team must learn to set aside their differences (and ignorance of each other's cultures), to tackle an alarming increase of the wildly unique undead across Asia.

Directed by Victor Manggunio

Get Away

15 mins / USA

A group of friends spending the weekend at a remote vacation rental in the desert, play a mysterious VHS tape, and realize that there are too many strange and terrifying coincidences.

Directed by Michael Gabriele

Drawn

25 mins / USA

A widower and his young daughter fend off a predatory land speculator by any means necessary. With shifting points of view and a twisting power structure, the story delves deep into our perception of control and unravels a family mystery filled with eerie tension that abducts our expectations of good and evil.

Directed by Ty Clancey

I’ve Got A Bad Feeling About This

Friday 10:15pm

(Intense Drama / Suspense / World Cinema)

Something goes wrong. As the feeling gets stronger you hear something and then…we find ourselves in a place unexpected yet oddly familiar. These short films deliver the dramatic thrill we know you have been looking for as a hush of suspense shrouds the theater.

Hangman

22 mins / USA

Dr. Joyce Hendricks is a professor of psychiatry at the Harvard school of medicine. She and her colleague have been documenting their work, in the study of violent individuals. This is their first day in Huntsville, Texas where they meet... Bobby, a specialist in his field.

Directed by Sam Upton

Feng Shui

7 mins / USA

After being priced out of his home, a man takes on a roommate... only she doesn't know he's living with her.

Directed by Kamran Rathod

Bodies Will Tumble and Roll

15 mins / USA

When a dysfunctional black and Latinx cheer squad are sent to the woods to settle their differences, they must learn to become a team to save their coach from serial killers.

Directed by Eli Vazquez

Takbir

15 mins / Spain

After two ISIS attacks eerily resemble passages from his latest book, a TV writer finds himself under thin ice when he realizes that the new TV show he’s been approached to develop just might be the blueprint for the next terrorist attack.

Directed by Jordi Calvet

The Other Side of Fortune

17 mins / USA

In the early 1990s, a European immigrant with a young family struggles to chase the American Dream, while avoiding the life he left behind.

Directed by Blake Dew

Hit Man: Secrets of Lies

19 mins / USA

A reflective hitman from New York City travels to a small town where he is confronted with an artifact from his past that forces him to re-examine his profession and his personal history. Starring Richard Kind, Karen Allen, William Sadler, and Peter Riegert.

Directed by Elias Plagianos

World Cinema Two

Saturday 11:30am

(Foreign Language / World Cinema / Intense Drama)

Join us for World Cinema Two as we unlock another group of incredible short films from across the globe.

The Weenies

13 mins / Canada

Philomène and Carolanne are the anti-capitalist feminist punk-rock group « The Weenies ». After a fiery argument both their friendship and their highly (un)anticipated gig are put at risk.

Directed by Garance Chagnon-Grégoire

Path to Ecstacy

14 mins / UK

A lost teen is abandoned by his alcoholic stepfather, and spurred on a desperate search for connection within the same group he also wishes to escape from.

Directed by Abdullah Khan

Dog Run

24 mins / UK

A silent man is lifted out of a life of exploitation through an unexpected bond with guard dog, Sabre, and the healing power of nature.

Directed by Lorna Nickson Brown

Servir

16 mins / Germany

Lilly and Bruno are trying to enjoy the holidays while visiting his family in the beautiful city of Porto. A chance encounter with a mother and son on the side of the road, may dramatically change the course of their day and ultimately reveal the reason behind the mother's despair.

Directed by Lea Maria Kruse

Keep

23 mins / UK

Gordon, the former keeper of a lighthouse now turned into a museum, is desperate for someone to help him maintain the site. When Musa, an Afghan refugee, comes knocking on his door - Gordon must decide if he had finally found the helper he has been waiting for.

Directed by Lewis Rose

Kids and Family

Saturday 11:00am

(Family Friendly Cinema / Animation)

Join us for our Kids & Family block, a safe haven of quality films for the whole family. Includes both live action with some animated selections.

Canary

12 mins / Canada

A young boy named Sonny works in an underground coal mine with the adults, taking care of the canary that detects deadly methane gas. He teaches the bird to play dead to prank the men, risking their lives for a moment in the sunlight above.

Directed by Pierre-Hugues Dallaire, Benoit Therriault

Champion

13 mins / USA

It's 1997, and 9-year-old Jimin just moved to California. Despite her mother’s imploring, Jimin refuses to speak to her father who stayed behind in Korea. However, when a major financial crisis devastates their home country, all hopes that he can join them in America dissipates. Now, Jimin must gather the courage to take the next steps alone.

Directed by Kim J.Y. Han

Mushka

29 mins / USA

When a young Ukrainian girl, Sarah, is forced to live with her estranged father, she discovers an orphaned baby Siberian tiger and realizes she must raise him or leave him to the perils of the snowy wild.

Directed by Andreas Deja

Goro Goro

3 mins / USA

Goro Goro follows the story of Daigoro, a baby thunder god, who dreams of being as powerful as his father. Through his thunderous journey, he realizes that he can achieve his dreams in his own unique way.

Directed by Ryotaro Sawada, Agatha Tiara Christa

Career Day

10 mins / USA

A once promising 90's pop star and his boy band reunite for his daughter's elementary school Career Day and go viral.

Directed by Jason Robinson, Chris Hooper

An Uncomfortable Truth

Saturday 2:00pm 

(Drama / World Cinema / Intense Drama)

Perception is sometimes reality, reality is often whatever we make of it. These amazing shorts will provide insight between An Uncomfortable Truth that is hard to accept and the surprising facts that surround them.

The Concert

8 mins / USA

Farrah and Lisa hang out in Angie’s basement, waiting on her dad to give them a ride to their first big rock concert. Safe in their warm, wood paneled hang-out, they talk about boys and even rehearse their own fledging metal band – The Giant Feminist Electric Mares! But their fun and excitement is cut short as revealed in this realistic coming of age story that pulls no punches.

Directed by Elizabeth Bourgeois

Subsurface

8 mins / USA

Bound and alone, Jared desperately searches for an escape from the waking nightmare surrounding him. Is safety merely on the other side of a wall, or is freedom further than he imagines.

Directed by Daniel John Harris

The Naming of Things

10 mins / USA

A product of Jewish day schools and way too much education, Ike finds himself adrift after the sudden death of his wife. As he navigates his wife’s shiva, he struggles to find meaning in the world around him, which includes the Jew inside him and the helpful community who can't seem to keep trying to feed him bagels.

Directed by Gadi Rubin

The Auction

7 mins / USA

Jeremiah Wright, a top football recruit, performs a workout under the microscope of the best football programs in the country.

Directed by Jordan Hidalgo

Uncle Berry Bit It

13 mins / USA

A child's colorful perspective of a funeral as she attempts to process her uncle's murder.

Directed by Mimi Gaudet

Clear Day

14 mins / USA

On her 30th birthday, a woman grappling with her new relationship is confronted by event that will change the couple’s lives forever.

Directed by Caitlin Woods

A Rush of Peace

27 mins / USA

This is the story of vengeance out of control, a metaphor to drug addiction that looks into the soul of man who has lost everything and who seeks to fill the emptiness, but can peace be bought in blood?

Directed by Jake Lockett

Family Matters

Saturday 1pm

(World Cinema / Suspense / Intense Drama)

Life has a way of staring back at us, reflecting that which we have known all along. In Life Interrupted these brilliant short films confront choices that have the potential to change our lives forever.

Dear Oli

3 mins / Australia

After Oli is diagnosed with autism, his mother writes him a letter, capturing her complicated feelings, while affirming her unconditional love for him.

Directed by Blaise Borrer

Last Days of the Lab

13 mins / USA

A mother and daughter sift through old memories as they prepare to permanently close down their family's photo lab.

Directed by María Alvarez

Dos Bros Force

15 mins / USA

In a struggling immigrant household, a little girl’s birthday wish, and her brother’s well-intentioned mistake teach their workaholic father that being present for their family is as important as working for their future.

Directed by Jyothi Kalyan Sura

Picture Day (US)

16 mins / USA

Casey, an Asian-American tomboy coming of age on Army bases, prepares for picture day at her new school, deciding what she's willing to sacrifice in order to fit in.

Directed by Kelly Pike

Slippers

13 mins / USA

Erratic messages from her dad sends Jo deep into the California desert to sort through the remains of a frenzied, paranoid manic episode. However, along the way she makes two discoveries: the rest of her family wish to no longer support him, and the trunk of his car is filled with hundreds of slippers...

Directed by Mark Ryan Walberg

Harbor

13 mins / USA

Jay Scott, a pensive man and his father Henry reside on an old decaying fishing boat, berthed in a desolate harbor. With the clock ticking down to a mesmerizing bioluminescent phenomenon off the coast, an imploring voicemail from Henry reveals that they must renovate the boat in time to witness the spectacle. But the previous debt on the boat, which had been registered under his estranged sister Grace, must now be paid or else he risks losing everything. Can he reconcile with his sister before it's too late or have they missed that window altogether.

Directed by Keegan Duncan

Hoar

16 mins / USA

When a phone sex operator is accepted into Oxford University, she must confront her live-in mother, a codependent hoarder, about her decision to move across the globe.

Directed by Jeanette Dilone

Return of the Ink & Paint Club

Saturday 4:30pm

(Animation, CG and Mixed Media)

Our focus on animation. Whether CG and mixed media, hand drawn or experimental – you are entering the world of The Ink & Paint Club. A place where imagination, bold and vibrant meets the heart of storytelling. Highly recommended.

Canary

12 mins / Canada

A young boy named Sonny works in an underground coal mine with the adults, taking care of the canary that detects deadly methane gas. He teaches the bird to play dead to prank the men, risking their lives for a moment in the sunlight above.

Directed by Pierre-Hugues Dallaire, Benoit Therriault

Ninety-Five Senses

14 mins / USA

An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them. Tim Blake Nelson and a diverse team of animators from Latin America and the U.S. bring to life this bittersweet tale of regret and redemption from visionary duo Jerusha and Jared Hess.

Directed by Jerusha Hess, Jared Hess

The Space Between Us

3 mins / USA

A lonely spaceman's desire for company may be fulfilled when a mysterious ship arrives at his space station.

Directed by Julianne Martin

Eden

5 mins / USA

In the midst of their busy days, Alice and Paul find a moment to connect.

Directed by Kayla Keener

Goro Goro

3 mins / USA

Goro Goro follows the story of Daigoro, a baby thunder god, who dreams of being as powerful as his father. Through his thunderous journey, he realizes that he can achieve his dreams in his own unique way.

Directed by Ryotaro Sawada, Agatha Tiara Christa

Bon Odori

5 mins / USA

The story follows Kai, a young Japanese American boy struggling with the loss of his grandmother, and trying to navigate his first Obon festival without her.

Directed by Trent Osaki, Sally Thai

Gene's 6th Symphony

6 mins / USA

The original animated short "Gene's 6th Symphony" is based on a true story and was born with only six notes of music that became a symphonic magical story that defines true love and a life-long journey ending with a hope that lives forever.

Directed by Jordi Garcia

Oren's Way

17 mins / USA

A clever princess must capture a magical Golden Fox in order to save her kingdom from eternal sadness but on her journey, she conquers obstacles - the last of which reveals a hidden truth about herself.

Directed by Keika Lee

Stories We Could Have Told

19 mins / USA

A mother's bedtime stories take on a surprising and moving life, as she and her daughter process the loss of her husband.

Directed by Darcy Miller

More from A Hard DOC’s Life

Saturday 3:30pm

(Documentary Shorts)

The projector fills the screen with our second block of documentary shorts, each uncovering a broad assortment of real life stories.

Philemona Williamson: To Be Seen

6 mins / USA

For years, Philemona Williamson hid her past. In her paintings, she's ready to talk.

Directed by Sam Vladimirsky

Skilled: Cedric's Story

8 mins / USA

Taking a fresh look at today’s skilled trade workforce through the eyes of inspiring individuals who break the mold. We follow Cedric, a welder who first learned his trade while incarcerated and today is a master welder in his field.

Directed by Julio Palacio

Stamp Our Story

19 mins / USA

The achievements and struggles of the Japanese American soldiers of World War II is told in this striking documentary. It details the extraordinary story of how, after 15 years, a grassroots movement led by three elderly Nisei (2nd generation) women overcame all odds to successfully pay tribute to the brilliant men who served with such distinction.

Directed by Kaia Rose, Robert Horsting

Jack and Sam

20 mins / UK

A poignant story about two Holocaust survivors miraculously reunited after 80 years. Now in their late 90s, they are spending the precious time they have left rekindling their friendship and teaching others about the dangers of hatred.

Directed by Jordan Matthew Horowitz

Kamiyama: The Little Town with Big Ideas

14 mins / Japan

Kamiyama is a small town located deep in the Japanese mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Island. It faced challenges common to many rural Japanese towns — but in the early 1990s, initiatives to interact with the outside world sparked a chain reaction that would ultimately change Kamiyama's future. The 5,000-person town not only survived, but is now known as a thriving hub of creativity and innovation.

Directed by Kohei Watanabe, Marco Lui

They Came From All Over

15 mins / USA

This doc highlights the important role small businesses play within their local communities. A love letter to small businesses everywhere, the film follows grocery store owner, Tom Mulholland, as he confronts the possibility of losing his family business and the impact it can have on his small Iowa town.

Directed by Rayka Zehtabchi

Musically Inclined – Special Encore Screening

Saturday 7:00pm

Musically Inclined

(Drama / Music / Musicals)

Music is a core part of the story and while being a focal point for each of these captivating shorts, Musically Inclined delivers a broad selection of genres that will light up the screen in more ways than one. This is an encore presentation of a previous screening.

Piano Man

23 mins / USA

Having been struck with grief and loss, a legendary Jazz piano player retreats into an austere existence where he spends his days making music for his sick father and tuning the pianos of those who don’t truly appreciate the instrument. When he encounters Rosie, a saxophonist he used to play with back in the day, can a return to the stage be far behind?

Directed by Jay Zaretsky

Shatter the Glass

15 mins / USA

Alex Therien proudly posts her new status as 1st chair in her school band but is quickly mocked with cruel online comments. After arguments with her mom and boyfriend, she decides to express her true self through her music and discovers that sometimes it’s better to shatter the glass than let others dictate who you are.

Directed by Patrick Hogan

Black Metal

16 mins / USA

A black teen aspires to perform as a metal musician to an all white audience despite his father's protests.

Directed by Michael Johnson

Mysore Magic

14 mins / USA

The true story of an unlikely romance in 1982 at a disco competition in Mysore, India.

Directed by Abijeet Achar

Sometime, Somewhere

18 mins / UK

In a quiet village pub, a touring country singer must come to terms with the journey that has led him there - and the road that lies ahead.

Directed by Logan Findlay

The World Beyond

Saturday 6pm

(Science Fiction / Fantasy)

Our love of sci-fi shines through as we travel to the far future, explore technological advances and transcend to something more, as we are thrust into The World Beyond.

Heather's Voice

17 mins / USA

Tasked with promoting a tech company’s VR innovations, a young scientist risks her job when she decides to use her creations to faithfully serve a grief-stricken family - rather than follow the company’s wish to stage a publicity stunt.

Directed by Shicong Zhu

Autopilot

17 mins / USA

A lone pilot on a homebound space vessel finds herself trapped in a waking nightmare when her holographic “virtual companion” begins to defy his own programming.

Directed by Jennifer Zhang

Lost in the Sky

12 mins / Sweden

A small rescue robot is searching for survivors when he makes a dark discovery, leaving him with a devastating choice. Six years in the making, this is a live-action space adventure created entirely with practical effects using a water tank, a real robot and miniature models.

Directed by Simon Öster

Dropping

9 mins / USA

Dropping is based on the real-life coming-of-age tradition that thrusts teenagers into the darkened woods to find their way back home.

Directed by RJ Collins

Delete

10 mins / USA

As a woman slowly deletes photos of her ex from social media, the memories seem to delete with them.

Directed by Julianne Cross

Innermost

15 mins / China

Set in a dystopian future where a cyberpunk world coexists fantastically with the traditional world of martial arts. The story follows adversaries seeking a mystic magic lyre and what they will do to achieve their prize.

Directed by Maing Caochong

What the What?!?

Saturday 9:30pm

(Dark Comedy / World Cinema / Off the Beaten Path)

Strange. Bizarre. Different. Yet intriguing for sure. Not for the slight of heart, nor for everyone. What the What?!? grants you the wish of not conforming to the ordinary. Someone WILL BE offended, enter at your own risk and remember – you were warned.

Deadline

13 mins / Israel

Deadline is a black comedy Stop-motion short that explores the power balance between bureaucracy, death and feline devotion of the elderly. At its center is a story of a brave friendship and solidarity between two senior ladies sickened by society's disregard and disrespect.

Directed by Idan Gilboa

Under My Bed

5 mins / USA

After accidentally filming a monster under his bed, Kelvin, a cowardly 9 year old, avoids being eaten the only way he can: by pretending to be a famous talk show host.

Directed by Matt Cairns

Roadkill Jamboree

6 mins / USA

A stop-motion/ 2D hybrid music video about how roads and drivers affect animals, featuring music from the ska-punk band Suburban Legends. This grim yet humorous story centers around a band of five undead animals encompassing various species along Interstate Highway 5.

Directed by Meghan G Graham

Keyboard

10 mins / Argentina

Tomy is a gamer who receives an AI message that he has become eligilble for a prize that includes a chance to travel to the final of the F.I.F.A. World Cup next December 18th in QATAR, plus $300 thousand dollars available to spend however he wants. One catch, the prize requires that he fill out the questionnaire and time is running out.

Directed by Conrad Senn

The Special Seat

7 mins / Japan

YouTuber Ami shot an ASMR video of chewing sounds to entertain her fans. However, when she checked the video she shot, she found that there were noises in it that should not be there. Noises that still linger.

Directed by Akira Okumura

Eindis Ends It All

14 mins / USA

Eindis is a woman at the end of her rope. Figuratively. Literally, she’s still working on finding one that’s long enough. This sci-fi comedy explores one woman's mission to get her shit together by spending time in nature, but instead she finds herself inexplicably trapped in a post-apocalyptic world with only herself and her new best friend—a mop with buttons for eyes.

Directed by Tamara Rosenfeld

Dummy

13 mins / USA

A CPR educator finds unusual guest in his home and soon his his life is turned upside down.

Directed by Lukas Hassel

To The Death

11 mins / USA

When two South Asian/Australian actors in LA are forced to fight to the death for an acting role, it quite literally turns into something darker than either anticipated. As the saying goes, "There can be only one".

Directed by Rose McIver

Un Homme and a Lady

10 mins / USA

A comedic homage to love in the French New Wave. While a love of Godard or Truffaut might be in order, this primer on the existential is mixed with a healthy dose of whimsy - to be enjoyed at 24 frames per second.

Directed by Mitch Yapko

Life Interrupted

Saturday 8:15pm

(Drama / Suspense / Intense Drama)

Life has a way of staring back at us, reflecting that which we have known all along. Life Interrupted offers brilliant short films that confront our choices, as we explore the events that have the potential to change our lives forever.

I'm On Fire

24 mins / USA

The story of a toxic marriage seen through the lens of a twelve-year-old boy, as he faces the critical next steps taken in his difficult path toward adulthood.

Directed by Michael Spiccia

Bellybutton

8 mins / USA

A Y2K teen girl struggles to connect fantasy and reality when she gets a piercing on her birthday.

Directed by Hilary Eden

Please Call For An Interview

13 mins / USA

After getting laid off, Devin must find a new way to provide for her and her sick father. She receives a bizarre flyer in the mail that advertises a luxury driver position that pays thousands. With bills to pay, Devin takes up the job, but soon finds out she's in for one hell of a ride.

Directed by Luke Kreger

Crarylake Boats and Floats

10 mins / USA

Summer is over. At the combo hot dog stand/boat rental shop, Lane hopes to wait out her shift by getting high and avoiding the rain. The arrival of a flirty late-season boat renter, Cara, throws her plans into chaos.

Directed by Spencer Thielmann, Emily Berge

Savage Dawn

10 mins / USA

Tom Havis' life has been torn apart by a mysterious killer. Out for revenge, he stumbles upon a young woman with secrets that could change everything.

Directed by Tamiah Bantum

Each Lovely Thing

15 mins / USA

In the midst of setting up for a mysterious party, a woman tries to stop her flighty younger sister from making a devastating choice.

Directed by Paloma Nozicka

It Was A Dark & Stormy Night

Saturday 10:30pm

(Horror / Intense Drama / Supernatural)

A bump in the night, a bloodcurdling scream. You are stuck in a place both shocking and revealing, where a Dark & Stormy Night is just the beginning of the terror. This is an encore presentation of a previous screening.

The Queue

11 mins / USA

An internet content moderator confronts the darkness within the videos he screens.

Directed by Michael Rich

Black Dragon (Rồng đen)

15 mins / USA

Vietnam, 1968. A feared American colonel nicknamed “the Black Dragon” by Vietnamese locals must face his inner shadow when his platoon presents him with a captured Vietcong girl who harbors some very unusual powers.

Directed by Alexander Thompson

Butterscotch

7 mins / USA

A young Bully bites off more than he can chew when he messes with the wrong Old Man in a nursing home.

Directed by Alexander Lee Deeds

The Trunk

8 mins / USA

Deep in the desert a distraught man sits in his car and waits for dawn. Inside the trunk his wife begins to cry. Soon the morning light will reveal that things aren't always as they seem.

Directed by Logan Boettcher

Slayers of the Dead

11 mins / Singapore

Two Vampire hunters from opposites sides of the globe team must learn to set aside their differences (and ignorance of each other's cultures), to tackle an alarming increase of the wildly unique undead across Asia.

Directed by Victor Manggunio

Get Away

15 mins / USA

A group of friends spending the weekend at a remote vacation rental in the desert, play a mysterious VHS tape, and realize that there are too many strange and terrifying coincidences.

Directed by Michael Gabriele

Drawn

25 mins / USA

A widower and his young daughter fend off a predatory land speculator by any means necessary. With shifting points of view and a twisting power structure, the story delves deep into our perception of control and unravels a family mystery filled with eerie tension that abducts our expectations of good and evil.

Directed by Ty Clancey

The Long and Short of It

Sunday 12:30pm

(Drama / Animation / World Cinema)

Every so often we have films that are longer than our average short films, so we have taken them into their own short film block. We are proud to present these three shorts in this special collection for your viewing pleasure.

One Small Visit

30 mins / Canada

This is the incredible true story of an immigrant Indian family who unexpectedly passes through the tiny Midwest hometown of Neil Armstrong in the wake of the '69 moon landing only to find themselves on the doorstep of the Armstrong home.

Directed by Jo Chim

Mushka

28 mins / USA

When a young Ukrainian girl, Sarah, is forced to live with her estranged father, she discovers an orphaned baby Siberian tiger and realizes she must raise him or leave him to the perils of the snowy wild.

Directed by Andreas Deja

We Were Meant To

28 mins / USA

In a world where Black men have wings and their first flight is a rite of passage, Akil must defy fears, insecurities and societal barriers while discovering his perfect launch into manhood.

Directed by Tari Wariebi

A Taste of Cinema

Sunday 11:30am

(Drama / World Cinema / Comedy)

Join us for a mix of culinary excellence combined with the fantastic resonance of gourmet filmmaking as we present A Taste of Cinema. Where a taste, a sip or a bite can make all of the difference.

Vegan Table

4 mins / USA

Chef's Table covers a pioneering new restaurant.

Directed by Tyler Davis

Pioneering Spirits

25 mins / USA

A story of a most unlikely partnership between a rogue American sake brewer and a hundred-year-old-plus heritage water brand. Quite an intriguing character exploration of three very different individuals, each who pro-actively find themselves crossing boundaries and building relationships in the most unlikely of places.

Directed by Stephan Blinn

Like Mum Used To Make

13 mins / Australia

After his freezer breaks, a grieving man attempts to preserve his mother's thawing Lasagna by seeking the help of his bizarre neighbours.

Directed by Britt Jessup

Disco Sauce: The True Story of Penne Alla Vodka

35 mins / USA

Penne Alla Vodka is America's dirty little secret. You can have it hungover from the diner, or for 40 bucks a plate at the finest restaurants. While it's secret origin might surprise you, it's sordid history will baffle you, which is why two best friends decided to deep dive into what's lovingly called "disco sauce" and discover it's secret powers that polarize the culinary world like no other dish.

Directed by Roberto Serrini

Food That Saves You

3 mins / USA

A man overcomes depression and his wife's death with a passion they used to share.

Directed by Joe Vella

Make ‘Em Laugh – Encore Presentation

Sunday 2:30pm

(Comedy Short Films)

Join us for this highly recommended fan favorite. Our comedy shorts have become a tradition of sorts with an unexpected flair for the hilarious. This is an encore presentation of a previous screening. Please note: drinking before and during this screening is recommended.

Vegan Table

4 mins / USA

Chef's Table covers a pioneering new restaurant.

Directed by Tyler Davis

Under My Bed

5 mins / USA

After accidentally filming a monster under his bed, Kelvin, a cowardly 9 year old, avoids being eaten the only way he can: by pretending to be a famous talk show host.

Directed by Matt Cairns

They Grow Up So Fast

10 mins / USA

When Brian meets Amy after a night out on the town, things move a little faster than he'd anticipated.

Directed by John F. Beach

Grandma Bruce

13 mins / USA

GRANDMA BRUCE is a magical short comedy about a queerdo (they/them) whose old car comes to life with the spirit of their judgmental Jewish grandmother, a backseat driver from the ever after.

Directed by Brooke Stern Sebold

Mahogany Drive

13 mins / USA

Three Black friends wake up to a nightmare — a dead white woman on the floor of their Airbnb. Tensions rise, sweat beads, and accusations fly, but they slowly come to a terrifying truth: this house is killing white women!

Directed by Jerah Milligan

Empty Nest

16 mins / Canada

With their kids out of the house, a middle-aged couple looks forward to some long-overdue quality time.

Directed by Christine Victoria Deacon

The Accent

16 mins / USA

This is a half-whimsical, half-mystery tale about an introverted young woman looking to make new friends by attending an open-invitation book club in Oakland, California (with mixed results).

Directed by Samuel Ademola, Hugo Rubin

The Road Not Taken

Sunday 2:00pm

(Drama / Suspense / Comedy)

We have a choice and so often we need to head in a direction that doesn’t seem right. A trajectory that sends us not to where we wanted to go, but instead to where we need to be. Welcome to The Road Not Taken, five short films that will offer a fork in the road of life.

The Sperm Bank

15 mins / USA

Newly diagnosed with stage 4 testicular cancer, 23-year-old Rob must now take the first big step…masturbate into a cup to protect a future he isn’t sure exists.

Directed by Margaux Calla Susi

Aves

19 mins / USA

After a sudden encounter with a mysterious student, a tenured ornithologist and war veteran is forced to remember the dark realities of his past.

Directed by Eli Snyder

Honey

15 mins / USA

A street robbery goes sideways when the would-be victim knows more about the robbers than they could ever imagine.

Directed by Mischa Webley

Into The Valley

22 mins / USA

A woman out of place, caught between the traditionalists and the hippie movement in 1967 California, turns to robbing banks, as she struggles with the unaddressed anxiety of not fulfilling gender expectations of being a wife and mother.

Directed by Emily Sandifer

Brief Exchanges

12 mins / USA

After Tanya, a young Black woman living in NYC deals with a harsh encounter with a drunken stranger, she lands on the same street corner as Troy (whose kindness stands in sharp contrast to the unfriendly city). Their chance encounter becomes a daylong affair of flirtatious banter punctuated by poignant moments, or "brief exchanges,” that reflect the realities she must navigate daily.

Directed by Ashley Versher

It’s A Kind of Magic – Encore Presentation

Sunday 5:00pm

It's A Kind of Magic

(Drama / World Cinema / LGBTQIA Cinema)

The magic begins with these amazing World Class Short Films. Each with it’s own particular charm, these films will offer a dash a whimsy and a healthy dose of filmmaking alchemy that conjurs a special amalgamation of superb storytelling, mixed with drama, humor and more. This is an encore presentation of a previous screening.

Oddities

15 mins / USA

When a drugged-out duo attempts to rob an antique store, they realize the older woman running the shop isn't as defenseless as she seems...

Directed by Tyler Savage

Wider Than The Sky

11 mins / UK

Jenny's father has been diagnosed with Cancer. To cope, this deeply creative child makes scenes inside shoeboxes into which she escapes. A chance encounter with a seemingly ordinary cafe owner provides the catalyst for this truly magical tale.

Directed by Philip Taylor

Rear View

12 mins / USA

A driver for a mysterious ride-share app forms a tender connection with a new passenger, which could break the balance between life and death.

Directed by Matthew Conboy

The Old Young Crow

12 mins / Japan

An Iranian boy befriends an old Japanese woman at a graveyard in Tokyo.

Directed by Liam LoPinto

Picture Day (Ireland)

12 mins / Ireland

After learning that class photo day is approaching, a young boy comes face to face with the manifestation of his insecurities in the form of a troll called Alan.

Directed by Jason Branagan

The Van

20 mins / USA

A son’s stubborn father refuses to move unless a broken down van comes with him.

Directed by Bernard Badion

Closing Night Award Winners

Sunday 4:30pm

(Drama / Comedy / Suspense / Documentary)

We are pleased to present select films from our festival this weekend, these films have been awarded Best Of in various categories. Join us as we celebrate the brilliance of these World Class Short Films.

Audience Choice Screening One

Sunday 7:00pm 

(Drama / World Cinema / Comedy)

Throughout the festival the audience has had a chance to vote on some of their favorite films, here is the first of two screenings filled with the Audiences Award Winners.

The films will be presented in this screening order.

Audience Choice Screening Two

Sunday 7:15pm

(Drama / World Cinema / Comedy)

Throughout the festival the audience has had a chance to vote on some of their favorite films, here is the second of two screenings filled with the Audiences Award Winners.

The films will be presented in this screening order.

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