Blue Hour – Directed by Lemuel Worrell
Runtime: 22:17
Milo, a young man living in Brooklyn, is forced to question his fastidious routine and re-examine his fading past when his partner, Ona, becomes frustrated with his lifestyle and her part in his life.
Boxes & Elephants – Directed by Leon P Jackson
Runtime: 14:55
Confronted with the aftermath of a one-night stand, a Woman and a Man discuss whether to have or not have an abortion. Throughout the story, the word abortion, pregnant, or pregnancy is never mentioned, leaving it up to the viewer to determine what the couple is discussing as well as the conclusion of the conversation. The story is told through the Woman’s point of view. There’s a duality about the short film. One part of the film is told through a series of colorful romantic flashbacks of a budding relationship that leads to a one-night stand. The other part of the film is told through a hard, black and white reality as the Woman deals with the aftermath of the one-night stand.
Juliette at 2pm – Directed by Chloe Van Landschoot
Runtime: 10:10
Juliette returns her biological father’s phone call for the first time. A fully improvised film, meditating on moments lost and moments found.
Red Lilies – Directed by Benjamin Knoebl
Runtime: 14:00
In a small house in the middle of nowhere, 6-year-old Lily lives a beautiful and sheltered life with her mother. One day, a stranger appears at the house and tries to lure the little girl away. Now, everything will change forever.
The key – Directed by Sharo Shorsh Muhammad
Runtime: 11:39
A child becomes seriously ill and eventually dies as a result of his father’s actions. The father overcomes guilt and grief, withdraws from reality, and retreats into a living world of his imagination. In this self-created realm, her child is still alive, and they share a life she couldn’t provide in the real world. As Father clings to this illusion, grief and regret deepen, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The story becomes a poignant exploration of loss, denial, and the lengths a broken heart will go to escape unbearable pain.
Bita Joon – Directed by Sara Boutorabi
Runtime: 14:00
Actors slowly reveal themselves to be members of the filmmaker’s family, in an Iranian-American story centered on the terminally ill matriarch, Bita. Over a deceptively ordinary day, Bita grasps at her central relationships, and an accordion offers a brief respite.
Papi Chulo– Directed by Anthony Rojas
Runtime: 15:00
After getting kicked out of his girlfriend’s apartment, Yani, a charming Afro-Dominican playboy, embarks on a chaotic journey through the streets of Washington Heights to win her back.