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And So It Begins

Thursday  2pm 

(Drama / Comedy / Documentary)

Beyond limits and limitations we present our first round of screenings with an honored selection of amazing World Class Short Films.  Each with its own particular charm, these films run the gamut from a British documentary on pickled eggs to brilliant dramatic offerings from across the US. This block will return with an Encore Screening on Saturday at 9:45pm.

Distand Shore

21 mins / USA

Haunted by grief, a man finds an unexpected connection that sparks the beginning of his recovery.

Directed by Cooper Richman, Bradley Schatz

How Fast Can You Eat A Pickled Egg?

13 mins / UK

Right in the heart of Hackney, The Cock Tavern is no ordinary East London pub. Renowned for its real ales, larger-than-life regulars, and a dose of eccentric charm, it also plays host to one of the capital’s quirkiest underground traditions: the pickled egg eating competition. From local legends chasing eternal glory to wide-eyed newcomers testing their limits, the film is a funny and heartfelt portrait of a place where tradition is steeped in vinegar—and victory tastes oddly sulphuric.

Directed by Daniel England

Saverio

14 mins / USA

In this “coming of aging” dramedy, Mae, an ambitious, Korean American influencer, finds an elderly, Mexican man abandoned in her car, and must choose between her own ambition and an unsupportive healthcare system, and unwittingly journeys toward a new destination.

Directed by Ellen Ancui

Te Seguiré a la Oscuridad

12 mins / USA

Set in 2005, a driven high school student obsessively studies Spanish all year so she can test up a level into her crush’s class.

Directed by Nicholas Luciano

The Big Everything

16 mins / USA

A man finds himself in heaven’s bar, where he encounters his dog, God and his greatest loss, all in human form. Emotions run wild - from anger to higher perspective to ultimate joy…

Directed by Salvador Paskowitz

Wrestle-Off

19 mins

Tenacious high school wrestler Alex battles with the grief of her father’s passing and the hostility of her teammates as she fiercely competes for a varsity spot on an all-male wrestling team.

Directed by Sabatino Ciatti Jr.

World Cinema One

Thursday  3pm 

(Foreign Language / Documentary / Drama)

Welcome to World Cinema One with a special presentation of seven shorts including films from Indonesia, Peru, Colombia, Qatar, the United Kingdom, Poland and China. Each delivering on the promise of inspired storytelling from across the globe. Note: We will be presenting a Best Of from our three World Cinema screenings on Sunday at 9pm.

Beyond

15 mins / Canada, Colombia, USA, Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of

Zuli, a young Venezuelan migrant is forced to abandon her childhood to survive in this dangerous place, while working for a coyote to help guide other migrants within the jungle. She discovers a portal to a magical land, where she must turn to her imagination to reconnect with her innocence and, ultimately, learn how to be a kid again.

Directed by Bettina López Mendoza

Bus

9 mins / Peru

In the middle of rush hour traffic in Lima, a young student refuses to give up his seat to an elderly woman, sparking unexpected chaos among the passengers.

Directed by Andre Balbuena

Friends

5 mins / China

Children's friendships are innocent and simple, yet fragile. Two elementary school students became friends by chance after school, only to see their beautiful bond vanish as quickly as it formed.

Directed by Zihao YU

Little Rebels Cinema Club

17 mins / Indonesia

Set in 2008, Doddy, a 14 year old boy, tries to recreate an iconic scene of a zombie film with three of his best friends, using a handycam belonging to Anji, his sad and angry emo brother.

Directed by Khozy Rizal

Lost & Found

18 mins / Poland

A teenage burglar breaks into the home of an elderly man, not expecting to find him there. To her surprise, she interrupts the man in the middle of a failed suicide attempt, even more surprising is the offer he makes her.

Directed by Wiktoria Kwoka

Theatre of Dreams

13 mins / Qatar

‘Theatre of Dreams’ is a film inspired by the true story of the courage and hidden sacrifices of the first Qatar Women’s National Football Team - a team that first debuted in October 2010, but as of 2024 has not played an official match in 10 years.

Directed by Fatma Al-Ghanim

Undeletable

6 mins / UK

Emma has to inform her Dad's recently confessed lover that he has died but the painful mistakes she makes whilst recording this answerphone message confronts her with a brutal truth about the remorseless forward nature of time.

Directed by Benjamin Blaine, Christopher Blaine

A Hard DOCs Life

Thursday  4:30pm 

(Documentary Short Films)

We are thrilled to screen our initial block of documentary short films this weekend. Take a seat and let us reveal our first salvo of four untold true stories, each unique and without question another highlight of this festival. Note: We will be presenting a Best Of from our two documentary screenings on Sunday at 7:30pm.

A Strong Woman

24 mins / UK

A short documentary celebrating the strength of three record-breaking female athletes. Beyond their incredible lifts, it explores their resilience, dedication, and ability to shatter societal perceptions of female power in sport and life.

Directed by Theo Gee, Will Atherton

Breaks

9 mins / UK

A deeply personal documentary that follows Team England parasurfer and Paralympian, Hannah Dines, who lives with cerebral palsy and PSC, from the shores of Wales to California to compete in the World Championships.

Directed by Christina Yianni

Simple Machine

23 mins / USA

"Simple Machine," 2025, is part portrait of an architect who became an amputee in midlife, and part meditation on the beauty and challenges of classical mechanics in the ingenious tools of our everyday lives. The film reframes assistive technologies in the adapted wood shop of one man, but it also sets his story against the history of post-war prosthetics, industrial manufacturing, and the irreducible complexity of life with machines.

Directed by Sara Hendren

Town Square

33 mins / USA

Memory Care expert Scott Tarde is building Town Square — a replica of a 1950s “Main Street” complete with vintage Thunderbirds, a soda fountain, and classic movies playing in the theater. It’ll seem real down to the last brick. Except for its Alzheimer’s-suffering inhabitants, it won’t feel like a recreation. They’ll feel like they’re home.

Directed by Josh Izenberg

Opening Night Premiere Screening

Thursday  7:30pm

(Drama / Comedy / World Class Short Films)

Join us for our Opening Night selections of shorts, offering a grand tour across many of our curated blocks this weekend. Help us launch our 2025 festival as we explore the Limitless boundaries of World class Short Films.

The Road Not Taken

Friday 11:30am

(Drama /World Cinema)

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, six short films that will offer a fork in the road of life.

Dandelion

20 mins / USA

In 1970s Los Angeles, rebellious queer teen Margaret gets thrown out of yet another foster placement and finds herself in the company of a mysterious social worker who’s tasked with finding her a new home before the break of dawn. At odds and forced to travel the city together, Margaret realizes that running may not be her only option.

Directed by Fiona Obertinca

In Your Gaze

5 mins / USA

After decades of wandering in foreign lands, Ivan, now aged, returned to his once-familiar hometown. Stepping into the house where he and his wife had once lived, he fell into the crevices of time, caught between past and present. Each aged object, every decoration, transformed into memories, crashing over him relentlessly.

Directed by Puyu Wang

Moti

16 mins / India

One day a dog named Moti turns into a boy. Shocked and confused, Moti’s human masters take him to the hospital to find out what is wrong. Science intervenes: Moti starts to evolve. But in becoming fully human Moti loses something vital along the way: his doggy sense of smell, his canine way of navigating the world.

Directed by Yash Saraf

Sorry For Your Loss

10 mins / USA

A grieving alcoholic goes to a support group and wrecks havoc only to be forced to face the grief she’s desperately trying to numb.

Directed by Courtney Karwal

The Cockroach

20 mins / USA

After a body altering accident, a woman must find a way forward in her new reality.

Directed by Mary Pat Bentel

The Last Ride

23 mins / India

Desperate to secure a dowry for his sister's wedding and escape his exploitative boss, Aman - a migrant ride-share driver in Mumbai - decides to steal his boss's taxi. But his plan spirals into a nightmare when his last minute passenger turns out to be a Chudail (a demonic witch).

Directed by Vijesh Rajan, Yashoda Parthasarthy

World Cinema Two

Friday 12:00pm

(Foreign Language / Animation / Drama)

Welcome to World Cinema Two with a special presentation of six shorts including films from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Spain, and two from the United Kingdom. Each delivering on the promise of inspired storytelling from across the globe. Note: We will be presenting a Best Of from our three World Cinema screenings on Sunday at 9pm.

Blacky The Metal Arm Cat

15 mins / Hong Kong

In a world where martial arts have lost their value due to the arrival of alien technology, martial artists become marginalized. The protagonist, Blacky, a black cat with a mechanical arm, seeks revenge for his slain master. Determined to confront enemies equipped with alien tech, Blacky uses traditional martial arts and strives to find his own worth and redefine the meaning of martial arts in a transforming society.

Directed by Nic Ho

Cardo

26 mins / Brazil

A man, in the midst of the end of World War II, emerges into a spiral of blood and revenge in the name of his sacrificed lover.

Directed by Allan Riggs, Guilherme Suman

Collage

10 mins / Spain

A girl who works in a museum tries to convince another co-worker that two visitors are flirting. And how does she know? Scientific studies say that there are six signs that show one person's attraction to another.

Directed by Marius Conrotto

Merman

15 mins / UK

Haunted by what she has seen while carrying out humanitarian work with refugees in the Mediterranean and traumatised by her experiences, Mari returns to her parents coastal home in rural England. There, through an unlikely acquaintance, she discovers the medieval legend of the Merman. The truth behind this seemingly innocent myth is darker than Mari could imagine.

Directed by Madeleine Wynn

Rocked By The Wind

14 mins / Taiwan

Seeking his bandmates and escaping chores, high school senior Shuan headed to the city, only to be caught in a typhoon later that day. Navigating the fierce storm became an unexpected test in his pursuit of their dream.

Directed by Hsiao-Shan Huang

Romchyk

12 mins / UK

Following a deadly missile attack, Romchyk’s life is shattered forever. Despite severe burns and wearing a medical mask, he pursues his dream of ballroom dancing, embodying resilience, hope, and the enduring human spirit amidst tragedy.

Directed by Alexis Bicât

More From A Hard DOCs Life

Friday 4pm 

(Documentary Short Films)

We are thrilled to screen our second block of documentary short films this weekend. Take a seat and let us reveal our first salvo of seven untold true stories, each unique and without question another highlight of this festival. Note: We will be presenting a Best Of from our two documentary screenings on Sunday at 7:30pm.

Grit

14 mins / USA

A film about people who keep going. What does it mean to be old? Once we reach a certain age are we still being seen? How do we see ourselves? This film looks at old age with a fresh set of eyes by showing people who defy perceptions.

Directed by Vanina Feldsztein

Home From Work

11 mins / USA

In tourist towns across the United States, where housing is scarce, a growing number of workers have few options but to live in employer-provided housing. We follow two workers caught in this precarious limbo where losing a job could mean losing their home, and an employer grappling with his responsibility to his employees.

Directed by Alex Fleming-McNeil, Michael Beuttler

Saving Superman

10 mins / USA

When a local man with autism known as the town hero faces eviction, the community comes together when he needs saving.

Directed by Adam Oppenheim, Samuel-Ali Mirpoorian

Shoreline

11 mins

Dianne, a first generation Filipina, grew up around the water but never thought she would find her confidence there. After a major change in her mother’s health, she takes on more responsibility in her household and becomes an instructor at the local surf school. As Dianne spends more time in the water, she grows more confident in her abilities to lead and take on new challenges.

Directed by Paul E Overstrom

The Rider

29 mins / USA

Unsafe, uncomfortable, unreliable and the only vehicle where you are the windshield, "The Rider" is an extremely experimental, savvy & sassy cinematic exploration of why on earth real riders entertain insanity and mount these literal death traps.

Directed by Roberto Serrini

The Shift

15 mins / USA

A documentary short unveiling the dark underbelly of animal healthcare, following one veterinarian's battle to survive in an industry he once loved.

Directed by Sami Abdou

The Song of the VIllage

6 mins / China

Journey into Wengding, China’s last primitive village, in this 6-minute student documentary. Featuring rare oral histories and intimate interviews with the indigenous community, it offers a fresh lens on their songs, stories, and fading traditions—preserving invaluable anthropological insights for generations to come.

Our Flesh, Our Blood

Friday 5pm

(Dark Comedy / Drama / World Cinema)

A new block of shorts for 2025, Our Flesh, Our Blood explores the dynamics of family life from the inside. Stories hidden and secret, generational and provocative – where nothing is exactly what you think and family is everything.

Brown Bread

14 mins / Ireland

Aine's return to her rural Irish hometown from New York sparks a poignant reflection on ambition, love, guilt, family tensions and the price we pay for success.

Directed by Shaunagh Connaire

Cherry-Colored Funk

16 mins / USA

A serial grifter faces the music when seemingly everyone he’s ever wronged shows up on the opening day of his dubious Italian ice business.

Directed by Chelsie Pennello

Énouement

15 mins / USA

Set in New York City we follow Jen, a recent college grad and career-driven amateur navigating the film industry, as she struggles to balance her career and caring for her grandfather with dementia. Amidst the chaos of her demanding job, Jen is called home and is forced to reconcile her emotions and reevaluate her priorities.

Directed by Angel Lu

I Came with Earrings

11 mins / USA

This is a personal story inspired by the real-life video that Hahn Ponder uploaded to YouTube intended for her unknown birth mom in Vietnam…. It all begins when Leah’s adoptive mom gifts her a pair of diamond earrings that force her to overcome more than just a brown belt test.

Directed by Jonathan Caren

My So-Called Iraqi Wedding

13 mins / USA

As a child, Iraqi-American SAMIRA “SAMI” RAMSEY learned to be an incurable romantic thanks to her rom-com loving, mystical aunt. Now, on the verge of 40, Sami has finally met Adam, her person. But never mind love, how big is the wedding?

Directed by Ayser Salman

Such a Pretty Girl

6 mins / USA

Meg has returned to her childhood home to help her aging father. But when her twelve-year-old uncovers a long-forgotten relic from her past, Meg must decide in a matter of moments who she'll protect: her parent or her child.

Directed by Deborah Puette

The Last Sunday in May

17 mins / Luxembourg

When Jean passes by the house of his childhood years later, he faces the dramas of his family’s past.

Directed by Alejandro Bordier

I’ve Got A Bad Feeling About This

Friday 6:45pm 

(Dark Comedy / Intense Drama / World Cinema)

Something is coming, a feeling, a sense that envelopes you as you watch this block of films that have more bite to them. Join us for I’ve Got A Bad Feeling About This, as these films explore thrilling scenarios that will have you on the edge of your seat.

All Things Corrode

20 mins / USA

Josie battles with her insurance company for an expensive treatment that will stop her skin from disintegrating in this feverish, dreamy thriller. As time runs out, she decides drastic measures must be taken.

Directed by Sidney Kreitzer

Berta

17 mins / Spain

Berta wants Alex to understand the harm he caused her years ago and will do whatever it takes to explain it to him.

Directed by Lucía Forner Segarra

Foxbody

14 mins / USA

When a career-criminal (Cameron Monaghan) returns wounded to his wife (Kelli Berglund) and 6-year-old son after a failed robbery, what follows is a hallucinogenic thrill-ride where stakes are high, and bodies are piled even higher.

Directed by Cameron Monaghan

Paranoia

15 mins / UK

Gila ignores her usual paranoia and lets her charming date sleep on the couch. After setting some boundaries she locks the bedroom door out of habit. Taylor wakes her in the middle of the night saying he's having an asthma attack, but she hesitates when something doesn't feel right.

Directed by Alina Bichieva

Ride or Die

10 mins / USA

After Zoey makes a disturbing discovery involving her best friend Gaby, the two women must come together to control the situation while avoiding detection at their friend's engagement party. This dark comedy explores themes of power, control, and the complexity of female friendships, while asking the audience: how far would you go to protect a friend?

Directed by Liliana Tandon

Scope

10 mins / UK

A metaphor for OCD: With the help of her therapist, Antonia must find out why she has developed an extreme obsession with circles before it's too late.

Directed by Emma Moffat

Make ‘Em Laugh

Friday 8pm

(Comedy / Dark Comedy / Humor)

We unfurl our comedy block on Friday evening, so come join us for this highly recommended fan favorite screening with an unexpected flair for the hilarious. Please note: drinking before and during this screening is recommended.

Babka

17 mins / USA

In the heart of Hasidic Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a newly blind Jewish Orthodox baker forms an unlikely friendship with a Queer Catholic Latino guide dog trainer, embarking on an eye-opening journey to overcome personal and cultural barriers in his quest to reopen his beloved bakery.

Directed by Serena Dykman

Back in Baby's Arms

TBD mins / USA

When stuggling actor Jonathan is kicked out by his girlfriend, he finds himself the unlikely housemate of Colleen, an older woman suffering memory loss who constantly mistakes him for her dead husband. Tired of contradicting her, he decides to give in and play the part…could it be the role of a lifetime?

Directed by Jackson Giuricich

Christo the Civilized Barbarian

8 mins / USA

400 AD at the height of tension between the unruly Barbarian Clans and the imperialist Roman empire, Christo, a civilized barbarian, consistently tries and fails to bring Roman-esque decency, decorum, and cleanliness to his dim-witted yet affable brethren.

Directed by Shaddy Safadi

Gibranistan

10 mins / USA

When two Muslim comedians pull over to take instagram pics of a cornfield in rural Indiana, a small-town cop gets suspicious — putting their show, and possibly their lives — at risk. Based on kind a true story.

Directed by Gibran Saleem

Halfway Haunted

17 mins / Canada

A tenant in a haunted house teams up with a ghost to stop a real estate developer from demolishing the home they share.

Directed by Sam Rudykoff

Learning How To Drive

10 mins / USA

Bettina, a recent LA transplant and struggling actress-turned-babysitter, must chauffeur precocious preteen Wynn, to a birthday party in Laurel Canyon. There’s just one problem — she barely knows how to drive a car.

Directed by Tyler Cunningham

Night Session

11 mins / USA

When a burglar unexpectedly runs into a homeowner during a theft, a simple robbery morphs into a makeshift therapy session with the burglar helping the homeowner process his impending divorce.

Directed by Ballard C. Boyd

Sock

5 mins / USA

Carl, a sock puppet, has finally come out to their human best friend Sam as... a Sock Puppet. But, could this breakthrough in Carl's vulnerability and trust for Sam as a friend lead to romance when Carl takes the next big step and introduces Sam to the person behind the puppet?

Directed by Anna Leah Maltezos

Life Interrupted

Friday 9:30pm

(Intense Drama/ World Cinema / Animation)

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, limitless and powerful – but when does life actually go according to plan?

'11:11

15 mins / USA

When 16-year-old Noori’s wish at 11:11 to be her crush’s type goes awry, she’s magically transformed into a white, blonde, blue-eyed girl — and must undo the wish before losing herself completely.

Directed by Mahnoor Euceph

A Sisyphean Task

17 mins / UK

Lucy, a 23 year old newly qualified teacher is struggling through her first year of teaching. A bright yet unflinching glimpse into the British school system, all set within the walls of Lucy’s classroom.

Directed by Gus Flind-Henry, George Malcher

Clutter

14 mins / UK

Jean has a no nonsense attitude to both her cleaning job and her affluent clientele. But faced with the aftermath of a grieving drag queen’s night of hedonism, she is forced to confront the pain of her own loss, and the repercussions of a deep rooted prejudice.

Directed by James Card

Don't Leave Home

11 mins / Georgia

In 2012, 82-year-old Data woke up one morning, expecting a visit from his granddaughter, daughter, and son-in-law. However, he noticed something unusual outside his house, marking the beginning of a tragic ordeal that separated him from his loved ones and home country. This is the true story of Data's initial moments in a cruel new reality.

Directed by David Japaridze

Power

16 mins / Canada

Flirting leads to something more sinister in this short film based on real events.

Directed by Jordan Canning

Where the Deer Sleep

12 mins / USA

When her mother tragically dies, a girl named Zoe embarks on a physical journey through the five stages of grief. Through encounters with several forest animals that are more than what they seem, Zoe is forever changed.

Directed by Matt Udvari

It Was A Dark & Stormy Night

Friday 10:15pm

(Supernatural / Horror / World Cinema)

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.

A Drive at Dawn

7 mins / UK

Three men drive into the desert at night to wrestle with an unspeakable evil.

Directed by Joe D'Ovidio

Haint

15 mins / USA

When gentrifiers begin dying mysteriously, a Gullah Geechee handywoman who recently lost her home, must decide whether to help them or leave the newcomers to their fate.

Directed by Jahmil Eady

Loud

7 mins / Canada

When an aspiring music producer records a violent event, she becomes haunted by its sound.

Directed by Adam Azimov

Platanero

25 mins / Canada, Dominican Republic

Two Haitian brothers in a Dominican shantytown risk stealing from a plantation guarded by a mysterious beast on a desperate, full moon night to survive.

Directed by Juan Frank Hernandez

Shelf Life

9 mins / USA

A solitary woman fights her demons in the form of a creature born from leftovers.

Directed by Greg Derochie

The Littles

7 mins / USA

When 11 year old Juliet stubs her toe on a loose floorboard, she unwittingly sets off a series of mysterious events. A faint noise and an unusual glow seeping through the cracks capture her curiosity. But as she investigates, Juliet finds herself pulled into a chilling, otherworldly encounter.

Directed by Andrew Duplessie

The Pearl Comb

20 mins / UK

In 1893, an endearing Cornish fisherman’s wife captures the attention of the medical profession as the first person to ever cure someone of Tuberculosis. A doctor, hell bent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine, is sent to investigate her miraculous claim - only to discover the source of her unearthly power...

Directed by Ali Cook

FAMILY FILMS

Saturday 11am

(Family Friendly Shorts / Animation / World Cinema)

A safe haven of quality films for the whole family, join us for our initial offering of shorts on Day 3 of our festival. Good for kids of all ages.

Belief

14 mins / USA

Alongside his wife and daughter, Lennox joyously unpacks their new home but is left speechless when he finds a letter in a moving box labelled 'mom' that predestines a different life for him – it’s not as he remembers.

Directed by Christian Loubek

Bukra.

15 mins / USA

This is the story of 11-year-old Amal, whose greatest dream is to play soccer with a real ball. She and her best friend Fouad have only ever played with one they crafted from scraps of cloth and twine. But when Amal spots a message under her cola bottle cap promising a chance to win an official World Cup ball, what once felt impossible suddenly feels within reach.

Directed by Alex Aljouni

Cardboard

10 mins / UK

When an overwhelmed, single dad pig moves his piglets into a rundown trailer park, he fears he’s failed his family. But soon his kids create a wildly imaginative game from a simple cardboard box, and Dad has a choice: dwell on the past, or join them on their intergalactic adventure.

Directed by Jean-Philippe Vine

Christopher & the Bug

12 mins / Canada

A grouchy old owl learns a big lesson about friendship when a small bug moves into his house.

Directed by Vanessa Esteves, Kevin Micallef

Éiru

13 mins / Ireland

Éiru is the smallest child of an Iron-Age clan. All she wants is to be a mighty warrior who is taken seriously by her kinfolk. But when the village’s well mysteriously dries up, only she is small enough to descend into the belly of the earth to investigate and bring the water of life back to her people. Éiru is the story of a child in search of a challenge, and a goddess in search of a champion.

Directed by Giovanna Ferrari

Who Are You Nanu?

15 mins / USA, India

After her Nanu’s (‘grandfather’ in Hindi) ceremonial cremation brings her to the Holy Ganges River in India, nine year-old oddball Isha befriends the phantom of her Nanu’s own rambunctious seven year-old self.

Directed by Anjini Taneja Azhar

AN UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH

Saturday 11:15am

(World Cinema / Intense Drama)

If perception is sometimes reality, reality can often be whatever we make of it. These dramatic shorts provide insight between An Uncomfortable Truth, things that are hard to accept and the surprising facts that surround each of these tales.  Noted for intense situations and scenes of self-harm.

29 Palms

20 mins / USA

A successful Japanese interior designer travels to Joshua Tree with her American boyfriend and must confront her stagnant relationship while struggling with depression.

Directed by Brandon Shypkowski

Awit Natin (Our Song)

10 mins / USA

When their father dies during their mother's hospitalization, a Filipino family goes to extreme and absurd lengths to hide the truth.

Directed by Pacqui Pascual

Don't Be Late, Myra

15 mins / Pakistan

Myra misses her school bus and must find her way back home alone. The short thriller takes a turn as she tries to dodge men harassing her on the streets of Lahore.

Directed by Afia Serena Nathaniel

Sadness of Men

11 mins / USA

Logan Jr., a rancher grappling with the trauma of an abusive childhood, spirals when he learns he’s about to become a father, fearing he may repeat the cycle of violence. Through confronting painful memories and finding solace in his growing family, he embarks on a journey to break free from the past and build a future of love and hope.

Directed by Eli T Moss

She is Guilty

9 mins / China

In the dead of night, the daughter is suddenly awakened. Her brother has been in a car accident, and her parents hope she will take the blame for him. In the patriarchal society of China, what path will she choose to take...?

Directed by Mr.Socket

Sins of the Father

14 mins / USA

A young girl lives in isolation with her protective father, in a post-apocalyptic world where monstrous beings roam outside their cabin. When a series of disturbing events unfold, her innocent view of her world begins to crack, unveiling a harrowing truth about her father and the reality of her existence.

Directed by Dominic Fogarty

The Stress Tester

11 mins / Australia

Jess interviews Mike, a man paid to infiltrate and ‘stress test’ new relationships, pushing couples to their emotional limits under the guise of truth. As the dynamic shifts, Jess is drawn into a confrontation not only with Mike’s methods, but with the broader implications of manipulation, consent, and the quiet harms that often go unnoticed.

Directed by Harley Idris Hamer

True: Stories Inspired By Life

Saturday 1:30pm 

(Drama / Documentary / World Cinema)

Documentaries open us to real life stories we may never have a chance to experience first-hand, but these narrative shorts tell us stories inspired by real life events, actual people and the lives they had.

After What Happened at the Library

15 mins / USA

In the wake of a terrifying encounter, an overwhelmed drag queen struggles under the weight of public attention. Inspired by my viral true story.

Directed by Syra McCarthy, Kyle Casey Chu

Filming Under Fire: John Ford's OSS Field Photo Branch

TBD mins / USA

The story of how six-time Academy Award-winning director John Ford and many of its leading filmmakers - including cinematographers Harold Rosson, Gregg Toland, and Joe August; screenwriter Budd Schulberg and actor Sterling Hayden - contributed to America’s victory in World War II through their service in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Field Photographic Branch.

Directed by Dan Gagliasso

Sound of the Somme

12 mins / Belgium

Sound of the Somme tells the true story of private James C. Richardson, a 20-year-old bagpiper serving in the 16th Canadian Scottish Battalion. Despite being assigned to stay behind as stretcher bearer, James is determined to play his bagpipes in the heat of the battle.

Directed by Michaël Vermaercke

The Demon Core

27 mins / USA

A dramatization of the final days of Louis Alexander Slotin, the physicist who sacrificed his own life in order to save his colleagues during a criticality incident in 1946 involving a plutonium core known as The Demon Core.

Directed by J. Zachary Thurman

Watching Walter

17 mins / USA

Based on the true story of Holocaust survivor-turned watchmaker Wladyslaw "Walter" Wojnas (played by Stephen Tobolowsky), Watching Walter is a proof of concept short touching on several poignant moments in Wojnas' life. Set in both 1995 Philadelphia and World War II Nazi occupied Poland, it's a story of one man's triumph over tragedy.

Directed by Mitch Yapko

The Alternative Universe

Saturday 2pm

(Fantasy / Altered Realities / World Cinema)

Dropped in a moment that is different yet very familiar, these shorts explore the fantastic realms of missed opportunities and worlds similar but well beyond our own.

Em & Selma Go Griffin Hunting

15 mins / USA

Set in the countryside of depression-plagued 1930s America, our tale unfolds in an alternate past where adolescent girls are expected to fulfill a longstanding rite in which they hunt and slay a mythical beast of their mother’s choosing, and will not be accepted by society as a “proper woman” until they have fulfilled this sacred rite-of-passage hunt. Starring HEREDITARY's Milly Shapiro and WALKING DEAD's Pollyanna McIntosh.

Directed by Alexander Thompson

Rodent

8 mins / UK

A rat transports us through the last vestiges of humanity as it forages for food for its family.

Directed by Joe Fereday

Samia

19 mins / Belgium

Samia meets Farhan, who is smoking outside his home. She follows him to his apartment, where he organizes Moroccan music concerts. This joyous celebration makes her forget the distant funeral that same day of a father she never knew. As she leaves the building, she realizes she has forgotten her wallet. She returns, only to be warned by a neighbor that no one has lived here for decades…

Directed by Selma Alaoui, Bruno Tracq

The Clock

16 mins / USA

A resilient 75-year-old woman, haunted by a clock counting down in her dreams since childhood, confronts her mortality during a home invasion, sparking an unexpected conversation with a her neighbor that blurs the line between fate and free will as midnight approaches.

Directed by Cameo Wood

Two People Exchanging Saliva

35 mins / France

An absurdist tragedy set in a repressive society where kissing is punishable by death, and people pay for things by receiving slaps to the face.

Directed by Alexandre Singh, Natalie Musteata

The World Beyond

Saturday 4pm

(Science Fiction / World Cinema)

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

1 Million Deaths

16 mins / Greece

After a failed attempt by global governments to stop climate crisis, three teenagers navigate a world forever changed. Each carries a horrifying secret, their own desperate act of survival.

Directed by George Chrysanthakopoulos

Anesthesia

13 mins / USA

You’re safe honey. Mama just has a question.

Directed by Jeff Osborne

Don't Watch This

15 mins / USA

A woman slowly realizes she's a character in a movie. As she spirals in terror, everyone around her dismisses her as delusional-unaware that she's the only one who knows we are watching.

Directed by Daniel Pineros

Dreamlnk

19 mins / Australia

The crumbling relationship between an influencer mother and her neglected daughter finds an unexpected remedy in DreamLink, a revolutionary app merging dreams and reality that promises to connect them with the person they need most.

Directed by Kalani Gacon

Inventing

12 mins / USA

Alice lands a strange new job where she spends her days inventing lies for a mysterious AI guide. But when one of her “inventions” harms a new friend, she risks her own sanity to make amends.

Directed by Benjamin Myrick

Time Setters

16 mins / USA

A group of time traveling vigilantes travel back in time and attempt to rescue Emmett Till.

Directed by Oliver Mack Calhoun

What The What?!?

Saturday 4:30pm

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

This collection of strange, bizarre and shall we say different shorts are intriguing for sure. But note: this is 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 have been warned (wink, wink).

Caught in the Frame

5 mins / China

Directing is an art of orchestrated illusion, sustained by collective suspension of disbelief. What you see isn't truth—it's truth deliberately unmade.

Directed by Shaobo Chen

Chips Or Crackers

3 mins / USA

A simple goodbye turns into an awkward predicament.

Directed by Michael Gabriele

Christo the Civilized Barbarian

8 mins / USA

400 AD at the height of tension between the unruly Barbarian Clans and the imperialist Roman empire, Christo, a civilized barbarian, consistently tries and fails to bring Roman-esque decency, decorum, and cleanliness to his dim-witted yet affable brethren.

Directed by Shaddy Safadi

Fishmonger

20 mins / USA

In this supernatural dark comedy, a pathetic Irish fishmonger must survive a sex pact with an ancient fish creature in order to save his mother's soul from burning in hell.

Directed by Neil Ferron

Love, Rehearsed

7 mins / USA

In a world where love is the rule, an asexual and aromantic couple have to pretend to be in love as a government agent visits their home to assess their love.

Directed by Martim David Gomes

Satomi

12 mins / Hong Kong, Japan, USA

Mayumi has the skill, the voice and the passion to be the perfect performer. The only problem: she suffers from stage fright. After her audition at a talent show goes awry, she has an inadvertent encounter with her favorite star, who just so happens to be a living anime. An enchanting story about an unassuming girl set during the tail end of the 20th century.

Directed by Rayner Wang

Worst. Experience. Ever.

15 mins / UK

When her annoying boss makes an outrageous confession, a directionless shop worker has to question everything about the last few years of her life.

Directed by Alex Boutell

Xmas Tree

15 mins / Finland

Marco, a lovable but stubborn and stingy man, decides to steal a Christmas tree from the forest during a blizzard. Trouble arises when his girlfriend, Vera, learns about the plan, and doesn’t approve of it.

Directed by Herman Karlsson

Your Own Flavor

11 mins / USA

After being stood up on a date, Renee is grateful to find solace in an unexpected friendship with one of the good guys: a seemingly harmless puppet named Chompers.

Directed by Alisha Ketry

The Human Experience

Saturday 6:30pm

(Drama / Comedy / World Cinema)

Uncovering the reality behind the human condition, we’ll reveal the bond between ourselves and our struggle to become the best versions of who we ultimately want to be. Highly recommended group of heartfelt World Class Short Films. Highly Recommended.

Is It Like, A Date?!?

9 mins

Two teenage girls at an art museum are desperate to figure out if their meetup is a date — while their parents connect in the parking lot and wind up on a date of their own.

Directed by Eliana Pipes

Once More, Like Rain Man

15 mins / USA

We follow Zoe and her dad, Gerry (Jones) in a ‘day in the life’ of an autistic actress running the gambit of stereotypes she has to deal with - and her dad’s battle in supporting her forging that path for herself - in a funny, frustrating, painful and sometimes triumphantly sarcastic kind of way.

Directed by Sue Ann Pien

Resaca

11 mins / UK

Ryan is using alcohol to distract himself from his new sense of loss. Two years after losing her son, Ana is still very much living in her grief and seeking connection. The two of them are in different stages (represented by the languages they speak) but ultimately the same.

Directed by Joe Borg

Rise

21 mins / Zimbabwe

A charismatic young boy who lives on a rubbish dump in Zimbabwe must convince a reclusive boxing coach to teach him to fight to find safety and strength in a world that has left him behind.

Directed by Jessica J. Rowlands

The Giant Wheel of Life

20 mins / India

A pick-pocket at a local fair, is in for a shock, when one of the stolen wallets contains a suicide note. Now, he needs to find the owner of the wallet and save her before it's too late.

Directed by Mohammed Ali Rukadikar

The Ride

15 mins / USA

A ’76 Plymouth reflects on its journey, witnessing decades of human life, capturing moments of freedom, temptation, and redemption as it changes hands from one owner to the next.

Directed by Slava Denisov

Make ‘Em Laugh: After Dark

Saturday 7:15pm

(Comedy / Dark Comedy / Adult Situations)

When we receive films that make us laugh, but might be a little risqué for our regular comedy block – it is time to pool them all together and deliver them directly to our audiences, so you can determine if you are ready to laugh (even if you might get a little uncomfortable). Recommended.

Fenced

10 mins / USA,UK

An eccentric couple hashes out the terms of an open relationship while hunting for psychedelic mushrooms in the Welsh hills.

Directed by Richey Beckett

Giving Mom the Talk

14 mins / USA

In this literal "coming" of age story, an Indian daughter gives her mom "the talk."

Directed by Vidhya Iyer

Ouija Go Out With Me

16 mins / UK

Since the death of her boyfriend, Harriet has been traversing the hell that is the online dating scene but to no avail. Following yet another bad date Harriet finds an Ouija board in the basement and an idea forms - why move on when you can just channel your dead boyfriend and keep the relationship going?

Directed by James Kennedy

Some Of Us Watch The Sunset, Too

13 mins / USA

From Showrunner/Exec Producer Brig Muñoz-Liebowitz - After a couple great dates, Gina Ramirez falls hard for Matt. It seems perfect: they went to the same college, they like the same things, and the chemistry is hot! But when Gina meets his circle of friends, it becomes apparent why they never crossed paths in college: he's rich.

Directed by Brigitte Muñoz-Liebowitz

Special Delivery

11 mins / USA

A foley artist for pornography falls in love with a porn star during an ADR session.

Directed by Emily Everhard

Tacocunr

2 mins / USA

One woman's valiant attempt to log into her email.

Directed by Erin Brown Thomas

The 12 inch Pianist

7 mins / USA

A bar joke goes awry, unraveling into a surreal tale that explores the acceptance of self, others, and queer identity.

Directed by Lucas Ansel

The Pic

7 mins / USA

Single mom Jen gets an unexpectedly provocative pic from her friend Steve (Dan Lippert, "Comedy Bang-Bang," "Hacks"). Through the course of a phone conversation, she tries to figure out what's going on in this modern screwball romantic comedy.

Directed by Frances Chewning

Three Day Film Challenge

Saturday 9pm

long and short of it

(Horror / Sci-Fi / Comedy)

We are hosting a filmmaking challenge for local filmmakers. Join us for this special screening where science fiction and horror films that were created over the weekend of October 10th-13th will be screened with filmmaking teams attending. Presented by Harmony Werks.

And So It Begins Encore

Saturday 9:45pm

(Drama / Comedy / Documentary)

Beyond limits and limitations we present this Encore Screening of an honored selection of amazing World Class Short Films.  Each with its own particular charm, these films run the gamut from a British documentary on pickled eggs to brilliant dramatic offerings from across the US. This is a special encore  of the block presented on Thursday at 2pm.

Distand Shore

21 mins / USA

Haunted by grief, a man finds an unexpected connection that sparks the beginning of his recovery.

Directed by Cooper Richman, Bradley Schatz

How Fast Can You Eat A Pickled Egg?

13 mins / UK

Right in the heart of Hackney, The Cock Tavern is no ordinary East London pub. Renowned for its real ales, larger-than-life regulars, and a dose of eccentric charm, it also plays host to one of the capital’s quirkiest underground traditions: the pickled egg eating competition. From local legends chasing eternal glory to wide-eyed newcomers testing their limits, the film is a funny and heartfelt portrait of a place where tradition is steeped in vinegar—and victory tastes oddly sulphuric.

Directed by Daniel England

Saverio

14 mins / USA

In this “coming of aging” dramedy, Mae, an ambitious, Korean American influencer, finds an elderly, Mexican man abandoned in her car, and must choose between her own ambition and an unsupportive healthcare system, and unwittingly journeys toward a new destination.

Directed by Ellen Ancui

Te Seguiré a la Oscuridad

12 mins / USA

Set in 2005, a driven high school student obsessively studies Spanish all year so she can test up a level into her crush’s class.

Directed by Nicholas Luciano

The Big Everything

16 mins / USA

A man finds himself in heaven’s bar, where he encounters his dog, God and his greatest loss, all in human form. Emotions run wild - from anger to higher perspective to ultimate joy…

Directed by Salvador Paskowitz

Wrestle-Off

19 mins / USA

Tenacious high school wrestler Alex battles with the grief of her father’s passing and the hostility of her teammates as she fiercely competes for a varsity spot on an all-male wrestling team.

Directed by Sabatino Ciatti Jr.

World Cinema Three

Sunday 11:00am

(Foreign Language /World Cinema / Drama)

Welcome to World Cinema Three with a special presentation of four shorts including films from Croatia, Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom. Each delivering on the promise of inspired storytelling from across the globe. Note: We will be presenting a Best Of from our three World Cinema screenings on Sunday at 9pm.

Anno Domini

19 mins / Croatia

In the blistering summer heat of Split, war veteran Marinko watches the chaos of party-driven tourism unfold from his balcony. Resentful and isolated, he tries to ignore the world below. But when a young foreign girl collapses in front of his building after a night out gone wrong, Marinko is pulled into a moment of reckoning that forces him to confront his own disconnection.

Directed by Filip Antonio Lizatović

Carbonara for Room H203

22 mins / Denmark

Alex, a hospital chef, cooks for terminal patients, burdened by the constant presence of death. One day, a surprising order and the patient behind it change her perspective helping her rediscover hope and see life in a new, brighter light.

Directed by Selma Munksgaard Hansen

Going

28 mins / UK

Val (Genevieve O'Reilly) and Mike (Nicholas Pinnock) tour the English countryside in their camper van. But this is not a holiday and the world outside is not OK. While struggling to keep them both alive, Val hides the reality of their situation from a blissfully unaware Mike. Outside of the van the world is burning, but inside is smiles and sudoku.

Directed by Rupert Ratcliffe

Priest and The Ugly Christmas Tree

28 mins / Finland

A new pastor in the parish is worried about the local residents of the suburb, who wander around in the November cold, lonely and gloomy. He believes that a Christmas tree erected in the square of the shopping center would lift spirits and bring people together.

Directed by Maarit Lalli

Return of the Ink & Paint Club

Sunday 11:15am

(Animation / CG / 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.

113 Words For You Today

21 mins / China, Taiwan,USA

A team of workers, including Soo, is sent to planet Gliese 12b to build a gravitational portal. To conserve energy for survival on the frozen planet, each worker is allowed to speak only 138 words per day.

Directed by Bo Qing Tang, Lan Zeng

Bird Drone

9 mins / Australia, UK

A heartfelt story of unrequited love explored through a lonely seagull struggling to accept that his newfound object of affection is a human-operated drone with a limited battery life.

Directed by Radheya Jang Jegatheva

Bridge - My Little Friends

9 mins / Japan

After hearing the story of the "Rainbow Bridge" from his owner Aki, Jin, the cat decides to take Mugi to meet Shiro at the Rainbow Bridge! Can Jin heal Mugi's sadness? With the help of nearby pigeons and squirrels, Jin's great plan is now underway!

Directed by Kazuyuki Ishihara

Clay Bird

14 mins / Nepal

Clay Bird is a poignant tale of Sichu, a nine-year-old girl and her dotting potter grandfather. The young adolescent elationship with her grandfather is shaken when her more affluent classmates ridicule her potter grandfather. Sichu reacts to being the butt of the joke amongst her peers by lashing out at her grandfather.

Directed by Kiran Bhakta Joshi

Dormilón

9 mins / USA

In a quest to become the performer of his dreams, Dormilón, a starry-eyed and middle-aged janitor living in an abandoned theater, must confront his nightmares face-to-face.

Directed by Olivia Marie Valdez

Forevergreen

13 mins / USA

An orphaned bear cub finds a home with a fatherly evergreen tree, until his hunger for trash leads him to danger.

Directed by Nathan Engelhardt, Jeremy Spears

Retirement Plan

17 mins / Ireland

At apathy with his life, Ray (Domhnall Gleeson) dreams of the beauty and joy he will find in retirement.

Directed by John Kelly

The Ottoman

12 mins / USA

The Ottoman, a hotshot mechanic and amateur robot gladiator, is looking forward to proving himself in the arena against the reigning Tournament champion and his massive mechanical Scorpion. But when his obsession with victory endangers the lives of his wife and son, the Ottoman must learn some hard lessons about what true strength is all about.

Directed by Mike Stamm

The Whistle

7 mins / USA

A Jewish doctor and his family are living a comfortable life in Cologne, Germany when, in 1938, the Nazis enact a law making it illegal for a Jewish doctor to treat non-Jews. Our doctor defies that law and the consequences are harsh. Will his past determine his future? The Whistle is a testament to the power of empathy, hope, courage and integrity. Based on a true story.

Directed by Greg Franklin

Unbearable

2 mins / USA

Blaire packs away her old childhood memorabilia for storage as she heads out for college. On her way out, her dad, Philbert, goes in for one last hug until she dodges his affection.

Directed by Samantha Ho

Triggered: Stories of Survival

Sunday 1:30pm

(Dark Drama /World Cinema)

The world is a harsh place and cinema can often deliver insight into the stories and experiences that reflect our lives. These films are honest in their portrayals of survival, but could be triggering for some. Noted for intense situations.

Aria

12 mins / Italy

In this story of female redemption set in New York, a young woman learns to stand her ground after a traumatic sexual encounter.

Directed by Federica Belletti

G.S.W.

7 mins / UK

A man is dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when the paramedic treating him discovers he's the perpetrator of a school shooting at her child's primary school, which puts her in an impossible situation.

Directed by Jonny Durgan

Miles Away

22 mins / UK

Linda and her two daughters, Ali and Max, embark on their first holiday since leaving a violent household. What begins as a fun trip to a beloved caravan park quickly turns into a fragile attempt to rebuild their lives and heal from the trauma of their past.

Directed by Sarah Harkins

Millie

15 mins / Australia

With her family slowly breaking apart, a vibrant, spirited 10-year old girl escapes to a strange, magical world that helps her navigate the turbulence at home.

Directed by Pedro Greig

Public Freakout

10 mins

A group of strangers argue at a gas station.

Directed by Julia Bales

Two Sisters

19 mins / Italy

Sara is a teenager with a troubled past. On a cold winter evening, she escapes from the residential juvenile community to save her little sister from the sexual slavery to which her father forces her. The discovery of the ogre will force Sara into a real struggle to win her freedom.

Directed by Antonio De Palo

All The World’s A Stage

Sunday 2pm

(Drama /Suspense / World Cinema)

The performance is the thing and each of these uncompromising short films deliver on the pathos and eloquence that is the art of the performance. Authentic storytelling at its best.

A King's Curtain

17 mins / USA

A career woman’s love and devotion to her Shakespearean actor father are tested when his descent into Alzheimer’s jeopardizes her chance for a coveted promotion.

Directed by Grant M Johnson

Ado

16 mins / USA

Ms. Hopkins is rehearsing Much Ado About Nothing with her middle school theatre class when it is interrupted by a school-wide lockdown. Starring Jenifer Lewis in a tour-de-force as Ms. Hopkins.

Directed by Sam Henderson

I Want to go to Moscow

12 mins / USA

Mara is a disillusioned actor dealing with the terror of time. When she’s thrown into a classroom of kids rehearsing a Disneyfied version of Chekhov's THREE SISTERS — her favorite play about existential longing — she swan dives into her own crisis of aging, nostalgia, and the loss of childhood dreams.

Directed by Sarah Baskin

My Last Martini

14 mins / USA

One evening at an elegant cocktail lounge, a frustrated writer impulsively breaks a self-imposed rule and decides to have a third martini. Moments later, he is joined by a mysterious woman who drifts over from the next booth, looking for a good listener.

Directed by Rob Christopher

The Last Audition

TBD / Luxembourg

A Luxembourgish Actress gives on last audition before calling it quits on her acting career.

Directed by Michael Wang

The Witch Pricker and The Hare

16 mins / USA

During Scotland’s witch trials in the 17th century, an infamous witch pricker struggles to execute a particularly clever witch when their true identity is at risk of being exposed.

Directed by Brynn Mitchell

Blame It On My Youth

Sunday 4pm

(Intense Drama / World Cinema)

The things we did when we were young. These bold and uncompromising selections of shorts explore the intense choices made by today’s youth. Changes that could alter the course of their lives. A new block for 2025, these are stories that needed to be told. About them, about us and what their future holds.

Blue Check

19 mins / USA

After Elliot, an eighteen-year-old obsessed fan sneaks into his idol Lil Gouda's latest concert, he soon finds himself in over his head as he is pulled into Gouda's orbit and joins the entourage for a night of drugs, women, and music. Elliot soon discovers Gouda's true colors, and he wants more.

Directed by Nickolaus Swedlund, Robert Henry

Koi

18 mins / USA

A newly-divorced Chinese immigrant and his son move to the Great Lakes area. The father, Lee Huan, starts a fishing business that catches only Asian Carp in the local river. However, the son, Lee Long, can't fit into the new environment and doesn't understand his dad's motives. With help from Uncle Kuan, a family friend and biologist, the father and son must confront their differences once and for all.

Directed by Taige Shi

Never

17 mins / Israel

On the last night of their vacation, Shachar and Guy visit Nitzan and Ella's room, whom they just met. Guy urges Shachar to lose his virginity, forcing Shachar to choose between proving his manhood and adhering to his moral code.

Directed by Barak Stern

Pack Rat

18 mins / New Zealand

In rural New Zealand, a fifteen-year-old girl fights to keep her place among the pack of boys she has grown up with. As day turns to night, she falls into a power game with the pack's alpha - but it is the wrestle within herself that proves to be her hardest challenge.

Directed by Lucy Suess

Uncaged

5 mins / USA

A young NIL student-athlete, David, grapples with anxiety, identity, and survivor’s guilt, as he navigates the hidden costs of success.

Directed by Jay Richardson

You & Me (& Chaz & Rodney)

14 mins / USA

After making a fun plan to hookup with their boyfriends for the first time, two curious teens are quickly confronted by their own shifting friendship.

Directed by Lilly Lion

Closing Night Screening

Sunday 4:15pm

AUDIENCE AWARDS

(World Class Short Films)

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.

Best of World Cinema Shorts

Sunday 8:30pm 

AUDIENCE AWARDS

(Foreign /World Cinema)

This is a special Encore Presentation of shorts at the three World Cinema screenings. We will feature the best films as voted on by our audiences. This is the final screening of the 2025 festival.

Audience Choice Selections

Sunday 6:30pm 

AUDIENCE AWARDS

(Drama /World Cinema)

Throughout the festival, audiences have had the chance to vote on some of their favorite films, this special presentation delivers highlights from the winners in various categories.

Best of Documentary Shorts

Sunday 7pm 

AUDIENCE AWARDS

(Documentary)

This is a special Encore Presentation of shorts from the two Hard DOCs Life screenings. We will feature the best films as voted on by our audiences.

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