Short / Dramedy / US / 17 minutes
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.
Director: Grant M. Johnson
Writers: Grant M. Johnson, Allison Dayne
Producers: Grant M. Johnson, Britlynn Allen, Allison Dayne
Cast: Stephen McKinley Henderson, Austin Pendleton, Veanne Cox, Charles E. Gerber, Allison Dayne
Program 6 – Drama Shorts: Through The Ages – Self, Acceptance | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30 pm
West Coast Premiere / Student Short / Dramedy / US / Southern Methodist University / 8 minutes
A young breakout black female director named Sonya St. Claire is invited to a popular podcast. She must answer the hard-hitting questions the host throws her way and come to terms with the true meaning of her art from the public’s perception.
Director: Juan Andres Davalos
Writer: Bri Woods
Producers: Juan Andres Davalos, Bri Woods
Cast: Bri Woods, Caleb Mosley
Program 10 – Student Drama Shorts: Close Encounters | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Documentary / US / 30 minutes
A journey through a community shaped by memory, creativity, and resilience – where Black culture, history, and the arts converge to define a place that refuses to forget its past or surrender its future.
Director: Eric Dyson
Writer: Eric Dyson
Producers: David Conolly, Eric Dyson
Cast: Keni Arts, Jeffrey Bernstein, Zaire Calvin, Kentura Davis, Courtney “suNWhoa” Linsey, Peggie Davis, Gilberto Espino, Akil Grant, Pastor LaKeith Kennebrew, Alejandro Lopez, Darrin Lyons, Edgar McGreggor, Norman Nelson, Irene H. Nelson, Floyd Norman, Dr. Allison Rose Jefferson, Kevin Sandbloom, Aimeny Thomas, Phillip Williams, Evan Zieganmeyer, Alan Zorthian
Program 14 – Documentary Block: Altadena Love | Friday, September 25, 2026, 5:15 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / San Jose State University / 7 minutes
Alyson, a young woman who’s struggling with perfectionism as she attempts to craft the perfect bouquet for her wife, Lilith. Overwhelmed by anxiety and self-doubt, she battles her inner critic. As she spirals deeper into self-doubt, she must decide: will she push forward and embrace imperfection, or will her fears consume her?
Director: Alex King
Writer: Alex King
Producer: Destiny Oleson
Program 2 – Animation Shorts #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:45 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 20 minutes
A man who laments “not even feeling like the main character of his own story” suddenly finds himself aware of the camera that’s watching him, eliciting a mind-bending journey of self(less) discovery.
Director: t.j. peters
Writer: t.j. peters
Producers: t.j. peters, Elisha Yaffe, Eric Sheehan
Cast: Elisha Yaffe, Kelsey Gunn, Curt Neill
Program 19 – Dark Comedy Shorts: Dire Consequences | Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Feature / Documentary / US / 65 minutes
An Auschwitz Album Story shares the extraordinary survivor story of Mike and Joe Kreitenberg and their life-changing discovery in the Auschwitz Album: the only existing photographs of their family and neighbors who were lost in the Holocaust.
Director: Jeffery L. Gary
Producers: Mitchell Kreitenberg, Ernie Kreitenberg, Steve Kreitenberg, Dari Kreitenberg
Writer: Jeffery L. Gary
Cast: Mitchell Kreitenberg, Ernie Kreitenberg, Steve Kreitenberg, Harold Kreitenberg, Nancy Kreitenberg, Rena Kreitenberg, Kaylee Kreitenberg, Gillian Kreitenberg, Benjamin Kreitenberg, Shira Kreitenberg, Gila Kreitenberg, Pamela Kreitenberg, Christopher Ambrose, Daniel Zagroski, Danny Mills, Saskia Bauer, Jackson Janowicz, Ben Kreitenberg, Jaron Feldman
Program 8 – Documentary Block: Preserving The Past | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 7:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Documentary / Canada / 26 minutes
Through archival footage and visual effects, Anchor Points explores Victor Quijada’s personal and artistic evolution from street dancer to contemporary choreographer, showcasing the foundations of the RUBBERBAND Method.
Directors: Victor Quijada, Samuel Greffe
Producers: RUBBERBAND, Mathematic Studio
Cast: Jean Bùi, Daniela Jezerinac, Jessica Muszynski, Brontë Poiré-Prest, Rion Taylor, Paco Ziel
Program 20 – Shorts Block: Art In Motion | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 12:25 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 3 minutes
A long haul trucker has a close encounter.
Director: Emi Baumgardner
Writer: Emi Baumgardner
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 6 minutes
An individual replaces a past version of himself.
Director: Mohe Pinkston
Writer: Mohe Pinkston
Cast: Mohe Pinkston, Leah Booth
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:20 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Horror, Drama / US / 22 minutes
When a devout young preacher’s faith is shattered by a traumatic childhood tragedy, his attempts to rebuild his life as an adult are upended by haunting visions, supernatural warnings, and the reemergence of unresolved guilt, forcing him to confront the demons of his past… before they destroy his family.
Director: Andrew Arguello
Writer: Samuel Lee Taylor
Producers: Samuel Lee Taylor, Ly Taylor
Cast: David Gamble Jr., Dan Morrison, Ivan Woods, Gregory Klino, Sandra Dee Richardson, Kenneth Anglemire, Amaya Chapman, Quintin Vassel, Nick Josten, Krystal Lynn
Program 18 – Horror Shorts | Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 pm
World Premiere / Feature / Documentary / US / 90 Minutes
In backyards across Los Angeles, teens have come together to create a community centered around live music. This DIY scene involves artists, writers, photographers, and amazing musicians. BACKYARDS: L.A.’s Gen Z Music Scene dives into this world and explores 12 of these incredible bands.
Director: Paul Covington
Writer: Paul Covington
Producers: Paul Covington, Keith Myers, Ainslie Covington
Cast: Finn Cragen, Marc Mangabat, Lena Joy Embry, Magnus Bjorgum, Chase Timmons, Charlotte Door, Bug Nachmanoff, Sequoia Branson, Cillian Leddy, Wiley Bouchard, Oliver Janss, Morrison Bauer, Henry Dearborn, Sebastian Yu, Jonathan Woodruff, Pierce Lee, Nami Conness, Riley Arce-Riolo, Eli Williams, Chloe Haack, Ethan Gonzales, Mae Gad
Program 23 – Documentary Feature #3 | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 3:05 pm
Glendale Premiere / Feature / Documentary / US / 63 minutes
In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, Altadena’s historic Black community confronts devastating loss – and a high-stakes fight to preserve a cultural legacy generations in the making.
Director: Hrag Yedalian
Producer: Brandon D. Lamar
Program 14 – Documentary Block: Altadena Love | Friday, September 25, 2026, 5:15 pm
World Premiere / Feature / Drama / US / 72 minutes
A devastating car crash causes a young mother to resort to selling drugs in small town Ohio.
Director: James Francis Flynn
Writer: James Francis Flynn
Producer: Dave Sholle
Cast: Sasha Gioppo
Program 17 – Narrative Feature #1 | Friday, September 25, 2026, 7:55 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 3 minutes
A field biologist reminisces about his encounter with a bird species on the brink of extinction. Based on John Sincock’s experiences in Kauai (1960s-80s).
Director: Michelle Cheng
Cast: James Cheek, Maddie Rivera
Program 2 – Animation Shorts #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:45 pm
Feature / Dramedy / US / 99 minutes
A lonely man discovers he has an ability to talk to dogs after a sudden illness strikes. Through a series of adventures, mishaps, and conversations with his new “friends,” Bob rediscovers life’s joys. It’s a story of love, loss, and renewal. A drama/comedy for all ages.
Director: Randy Kent
Writers: Bill Redding, Randy Kent
Producers: Bill Redding, Kym Abrams, Eric Leukert, Christine Mahaney
Cast: Stephen Root, Leah Remini, Judy Greer, Tyler Posey, Keith David, Bill Redding, Gail Rastorfer, Heidi Drennan
Program 24 – Narrative Feature #3 | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 4:40 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Experimental / US / 3 minutes
A three minute nightmare.
Director: Vito Trabucco
Producer: Joanna Fang
Cast: Joanna Fang
Program 18 – Horror Shorts | Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Feature / Comedy, Action / US / 90 minutes
A struggling actor working as a waiter unwittingly becomes involved in a violent heist gone wrong, where his boss – deep in debt – has been stealing from employees and running the restaurant as a front for the mob.
Director: James Cullen Bressack
Writers: Jacqueline Donelli, Kerry Donelli
Producers: Sasha Yelaun, Henry Penzi, Micah E. Brandt
Cast: Dane Cook, Cam Gigandet, Jesse Metcalfe, James Duval, Hana Mae Lee, Richard Riehle, Mindy Sterling, Martin Kove
Program 38 – Narrative Feature #8 | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 7:30 pm
World Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes
Failing writer Julie Winters is suddenly struck with inspiration when her fantasy creations leap off the page and into her life. The price of her creativity comes at a high cost however when she discovers her visions are the result of a brain tumor.
Director: Chelsea Spirito
Writer: Chelsea Spirito
Producers: Chelsea Spirito, Jordan Paley, Vince Tennan
Cast: Chelsea Spirito, Scott Hamby, Mayur Chauhan
Program 34 – Dramedy Shorts: Falling Apart | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Comedy / US, India / New York Film Academy / 5 minutes
Two strangers meet on a day when they fake their identities, but reveal their true selves.
Director: Rahul Hansraj
Writer: Rahul Hansraj
Producer: Avani Sanalkar
Cast: Mari Blake, Dilion Cain
Program 12 – Student Comedy Shorts: Relationships 101 | Friday, September 25, 2026, 3:35 pm
California Premiere / Short / Animation / US / 6 minutes
A heartwarming, animated short film about a mama otter learning to let go as her baby becomes ready to swim on his own. Told from her perspective, the 6-minute 3D film follows the otters through the joys and challenges at different stages of life.
Director: Nathanael Shoemaker
Writer: Nathanael Shoemaker
Producer: Hustlin Backward Entertainment Company
Program 2 – Animation Shorts #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:45 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dark Comedy, Horror / US / 18 minutes
In 1965, a young secretary and a janitor at an insurance office plagued by misogynistic staff join forces for a deadly vengeance against their male colleagues.
Director: Zoe Xandra
Writer: Zoe Xandra
Producer: Zoe Xandra
Cast: Annie Batista, Michelle Cefalo, David Ogrodowski
Program 19 – Dark Comedy Shorts: Dire Consequences | Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 pm
Feature / Documentary / US / 77 minutes
A man traveling with three mules fights to maintain his nomadic lifestyle in the American West.
Director: John McDonald
Producer: John McDonald
Cast: John Sears
Program 30 – Documentary Feature #5 | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 12:00 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 8 minutes
A Christian summer camp is thrown into upheaval when a piece of Jesus x Judas fan fiction is found outside the cabins.
Director: Oz Zhang
Writer: Oz Zhang
Producer: Oz Zhang
Cast: Mav Brennan, María Jurado
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Comedy / US / 17 minutes
In a dystopian world where a community worships an air conditioning unit as a deity, two disillusioned siblings, Lily and Brooks, struggle to survive the oppressive heat and bizarre rituals. When an outsider arrives, secrets about their society unravel, forcing them to confront their dependence on the unit and fight for their future.
Director: Micah Schiff
Writers: Micah Schiff, Oliver Scherick
Producers: Lily Darragh Harty, Willis McCord
Cast: Sara Eklund, Kyle Prue, Ivan Klousia, Aaron Oberst
Program 25 – Comedy Shorts: Tick Tock | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 5:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Sci-Fi, Fantasy / US / 16 minutes
A young mother’s fleeting wish to abandon her family comes true in an instant that ends up being the rest of her life.
Director: AJ Lambert
Producers: Rebekah Sherman-Myntti, Briana Bursten
Writer: AJ Lambert
Cast: Serena Mello, Michael Neeson, Hilary Dennis
Program 29 – Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Comedy / US / Loyola Marymount University / 3 minutes
When runner Tony comes upon a curiously competitive runner, Eva, their encounter turns into a fierce race of athleticism and wits. Who might Eva be?
Director: Sal Ardongde
Writer: Sal Ardongde
Producers: Sal Ardongde, Sofia Miera
Cast: Jonathan Lee, Lindsey Wagstaffe, Rebecca Stoughton, Keita Murray
Program 12 – Student Comedy Shorts: Relationships 101 | Friday, September 25, 2026, 3:35 pm
Short / Comedy / US / 11 minutes
THE ONLY CRIME IS A MESSY HOUSE. A meticulous thief breaks into a home and tidies up instead of robbing it.
Director: Patricia Rigney
Writers: Kevin Carrao, Patricia Rigney
Producers: Kevin Carrao, Robin Leabman, James Pomichter, Patricia Rigney, Karen Ryan
Cast: Robin Leabman, Pennie Promise, Jennifer Bobiwash, Kevin Carrao, Kimbra Westervelt, Victoria Blackburn, James Pomichter, Patricia Rigney
Program 25 – Comedy Shorts: Tick Tock | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 5:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Dramedy / US / New York Film Academy / 21 minutes
On her way to the opportunity of a lifetime, an overly careful astrophysicist teacher finds herself stuck on a plane in a turbulent debate with a passionate flat-earther.
Director: Vanessa Lavoie
Writer: Vanessa Lavoie
Producer: Kartikay D Pawar
Cast: Amber Tiara, Dwight Evans
Program 10 – Student Drama Shorts: Close Encounters | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Comedy / US / 13 minutes
Committee Animal offers a twist on evolution: what if the quirkiest animals – like platypuses, giraffes, and armadillos – were the result of an overworked design committee battling red tape, tight deadlines, and supply chain shortages?
Director: Robert Redfield
Writer: Robert Redfield
Producers: Robert Redfield, Anastasia Tharp, Hilary Nagler, Elizabeth Gilcreast, Dave Haws
Cast: Leslie Zemeckis, Rick Reischman, Riley Conrad, Lukas Dziemidok, Alec Reusch
Program 25 – Comedy Shorts: Tick Tock | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 5:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Feature / Documentary / US / 98 minutes
A groundbreaking look at Phil Sharp’s rise from being a rural Kentucky farm boy who battled dyslexia to Nobel Prize-winning scientist. Narrated by Mark Ruffalo with insights from Walter Isaacson, Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution reveals how Sharp’s RNA discovery transformed biology and launched the biotechnology revolution leading to life-saving treatments for millions.
Director: Bill Haney
Writer: Bill Haney
Producers: Carina Chavda, Maura McCarthy Haney, Bill Haney, R. J. Cutler, Tim Disney, Michael & Barbara Eisenson, Reed & Elena Jobs, Sean & Jennifer Reilly
Cast: Philip A. Sharp, Mark Ruffalo, Walter Isaacson, Noubar Afeyan
Program 33 – Documentary Feature #6 | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:10 pm
Student Short / Drama / US / John Burroughs High School / 3 minutes
A short film about a young woman who escapes a sex trafficking ring after being drugged at a nightclub.
Director: Hannah Hope O’Briant
Writer: Hannah Hope O’Briant
Producer: Hannah Hope O’Briant
Cast: Lily Brooks O’Briant
Program 10 – Student Drama Shorts: Close Encounters | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:30 pm
Short / Documentary / US / 34 minutes
A powerful and eye-opening film that brings awareness to the dangers of illicit substances, particularly fentanyl, and the devastating impact they can have on individuals, families, and our community.
Directors: Peter Bahlawanian, Nairi Bandari
Producers: Peter Bahlawanian, Silva Harapetian
Cast: Marco Khan, Andrew Lazzaretto, Bryan Duncan, Dr. Angelica Loza-Gomez, Blake Tyler Malone, Victoria Malone, Jerry Lee Butt, III, Sam Babayan, Erwin Khachikian, Manny Cid
Program 36 – Documentary Short #1 | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 6:05 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 8 minutes
A bewildered protester finds himself detained in police custody as the political landscape shifts.
Director: Zeena M. Pliska
Writer: Zeena M. Pliska
Producer: Zeena M. Pliska
Cast: Bryan Staggers, Tiffany M. Crosby
Program 32 – Drama Shorts: The Many Faces Of Fear & Trauma | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:05 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 3 minutes
When a girl’s breakup letter to her girlfriend gets stolen, the ensuing chase leads her to realize her true feelings.
Director: Celine Hung
Cast: Elena Cianciolo, Abby Burkholder, Lauren Kong, Corey Wilder
Program 2 – Animation Shorts #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:45 pm
California Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 9 minutes
On the eve of her daughter’s first day of preschool, a mother’s attempt to write the perfect comfort note for the “earthquake kit” spirals into an all-night reckoning with mortality and motherhood itself.
Director: Kat Foster
Writer: Kat Foster
Producer: Emily Maya Mills
Cast: Kat Foster
Program 34 – Dramedy Shorts: Falling Apart | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 10 minutes
A jaded New York writer and a laid-back California surfer navigate the murky waters of a first date, in this letter to San Francisco, a paradoxical place, where hearts have been left, lost, and occasionally found.
Director: Nada Djordjevich
Writer: Nada Djordjevich
Producers: Mayra Padilla, Vera Djordjevich
Cast: Tyler Ritter, Laura Yumi Snell, Molly Wood, John Dylan Keith, David Bach, Troy Takaki
Program 21 – Comedy Shorts: Love, Possibly – It’s Complicated | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes
When the Eaton fire torches her house, a woman moves her family into an RV perched on the crispy remains of their lot. Now she’s juggling grant paperwork, an eye-rolling teen, a developer who won’t take a hint, and an unpredictably odd neighbor. Sanity? Optional.
Director: Jeannette Godoy
Writer: Kristen O’Meara
Producers: Vicki Syal, Lauren Brooks
Cast: Kristen O’Meara, Ian Roberts, Ata-Han Erentok, Dieterich Gray, Henry Dittman, Gaby Sandoval, Rebecca Metz, Mariel Suarez, Lance Paullin, Chase Kim, Matt Patrick Fox
Program 34 – Dramedy Shorts: Falling Apart | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 10 minutes
He just wants to spend Christmas alone, but his son’s girlfriend is determined to make him some holiday spirit(s). What starts as a recipe for disaster becomes a sweet way for them to bond over a shared loss.
Director: Heather Hillstrom
Writer: Ashna Sharan
Producer: Ashna Sharan
Cast: Ashna Sharan, Wayne Jay
Program 15 – Drama Shorts: Love & Loss | Friday, September 25, 2026, 6:25 pm
West Coast Premiere / Student Short / Drama / South Korea, US / New York Film Academy / 15 minutes
A year after her father’s funeral, a Korean American daughter returns home for the first time, only to find her immigrant mother has erased every trace of him and has chosen faith over memory.
Director: Youil Kim
Writer: Youil Kim
Producers: Yeji Shawn, Joeun Jang, Jungyun Shin
Cast: Hannah Kwon, Sienna Sohn
Program 11 – Student Drama Shorts: Holding On, Letting Go | Friday, September 25, 2026, 2:40 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes
A struggling musician is plagued by feelings of insecurity when he discovers he was never a target of his music teacher’s predatory behavior.
Director: Josh Litman
Writer: Josh Litman
Producers: Josh Litman, Jason Nott, Yifen Low
Cast: Jason Nott, Sam H. Clauder II, Hally Smith, Jacques-Henri Hutchinson, Joe Nassi, Yifen Low, Noella Akwiri
Program 32 – Drama Shorts: The Many Faces Of Fear & Trauma | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:05 pm
Glendale Premiere / Feature / Comedy / US / 94 minutes
Danny, a Brit-Spaniard living in L.A., travels to Madrid to renew his visa, just as the pandemic shuts down borders. Stuck 6k miles away from, Ana (Mex-American), he must navigate bureaucracy, culture shock, and long-distance heartbreak.
Director: Gerald Fillmore
Writer: Gerald Fillmore
Producers: Gerald Filmore, Jorge Alonso, Victor Corrales, Horacio Alcala
Cast: Gerald Fillmore, Vanessa Benavente, Tito Valverde, William Miller, Mela Green, Carlos Santos, Beau Bowker
Program 22 – Narrative Feature #2 | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 2:10 pm
Student Short / Animation / Mexico, US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 5 minutes
Join the road trip of a lifetime! A family of cats and their trustful car, what could go wrong?
Director: Demian Guzman Gonzalez
Cast: Demian Guzman Gonzalez
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 3 minutes
Two sisters fight a giant fish monster for a sweet cash reward.
Director: Genevieve Funes
Writer: Genevieve Funes
Producer: Genevieve Funes
Cast: Jonna-Lynn Alonso, Danny Brown
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Comedy / US / 9 minutes
A young man is visited by “ghosts” of girlfriends past, and forced to grapple with his dating life.
Director: Will Ahrens
Writer: Will Ahrens
Producer: Roe Moore
Cast: Jared Boghosian, Jasmine De La Fuente, Mariana Arôxa
Program 21 – Comedy Shorts: Love, Possibly – It’s Complicated | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1:00 pm
California Premiere / Student Short / Dramedy / US / University of Southern California (USC) / 14 minutes
An actor known only by his role as Tater Tot, the world famous human-size cat, has his personal life put on full display during a late night show interview, causing his reality to collapse as he confronts whether this is the role he still wants to play.
Director: Julian Barahona Rhi
Writer: Laura Furniss-Roe
Producers: Sparrow Nicole, Bien Bagui
Cast: Christopher Hatsfield, Rafael Petardi
Program 10 – Student Drama Shorts: Close Encounters | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:30 pm
Short / Music Video / US / 5 minutes
Inside of Bob Baker’s Marionette Museum, a puppet begins to notice human emotion and realizes there is more to life than he ever knew possible. He convinces the other puppets to join him on an adventure out into the real world, questioning the greater importance of imagination vs reality.
Director: Lauren Hoover
Writers: Lauren Hoover, Travis Warner
Producer: Travis Warner
Cast: Travis Warner, Siri Miller
Program 34 – Dramedy Shorts: Falling Apart | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4:10 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 11 minutes
God’s pet dog sneaks into Hell. Chaos ensues. GiRL DOG, a 10-minute animated student short directed, animated, and produced by Marissa Brennan, follows the journey of three college-aged demons in Hell who discover an angelic puppy from the heavens.
Director: Marissa Jane Brennan
Writer: Marissa Jane Brennan
Cast: Marissa Brennan, Adriana Lopez, Judah Esquivel
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes
When an encounter with her high school boyfriend, Eric, reveals life shaking news to Callie, a woman hiding out from life by working as a desert diner manager, she must decide if she will stay in her safety bubble or change a decision she made 25 years ago that will set her life on an unknown course.
Director: Marissa Vonn
Writer: Glory Simon
Producer: Sami Bass
Cast: Glory Simon, John Charles Meyer
Program 15 – Drama Shorts: Love & Loss | Friday, September 25, 2026, 6:25 pm
Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 3 minutes
A young girl has an unexpected encounter with her favourite mascot at an amusement park.
Director: Yoyo Zhu
Writer: Yoyo Zhu
Producer: Yoyo Zhu
Cast: Norah Liou, Ryan Rodriguez, Elise Jung, Hanaka Oyama
Program 2 – Animation Shorts #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:45 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Comedy, Sci-Fi / US / 9 minutes
When a lonely and self-destructive self-help book writer starts hearing her electronic devices talk to her, she has to decide whether or not to trust them to help her fix her life.
Director: Tamara Hernandez
Writer: Tamara Hernandez
Producer: Tamara Hernandez
Cast: Tamara Hernandez, Willie Macc, Jerry Garcia, Big Mickey, Sally Mullins, Ai Yoshihara, Joe Manente, Stoner Rob, Mike Eaton, Harry Ralston
Program 34 – Dramedy Shorts: Falling Apart | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4:10 pm
Los Angeles Premiere / Feature / Thriller / US / 91 minutes
HARMLESS tells the story of Grace Norway, and her struggle for answers in the disappearance of her husband and her neighbor. The easiest thing to believe is that they ran away together. The hardest thing to face is the bone-chilling truth. Most of the people we know in life are quiet, unassuming, ordinary, average. Average does not mean innocent; even if someone has never done you any harm, that doesn’t make them harmless.
Director: Charles Box
Writer: Eric Player
Producers: Eric Player, Kanarose Oonhateparuk
Cast: Scott Christopher, Owen Wilson, Marissa Rivera, Gary J. Klavans, Boz Wells, Anthony J. Potter, Briana Watson, Britton Webb, Sheila Sawhny, Evan Vihlen, Douglas K Harrison
Program 35 – Narrative Feature #6 | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4:40 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Drama / US / University of Southern California (USC) / 13 minutes
When tragedy strikes during Cecilia’s big baseball game, 15-year-old Cecilia and her mom, Gloria, face an uncertain future.
Director: Martha Rodriguez
Writer: Martha Rodriguez
Producers: Hector Martinez, Chirsten Vanderbilt Ellis, Martha Rodriguez
Cast: Grecia López, Yahaira Valdés, Stephen Sherman, Sofia Martinez, Glenn Rivera, Jon Nathenson, Franco Vidal, Karolina Esqueda, Eugenio Rodriguez
Program 13 – Student Drama Shorts: Life, Interrupted | Friday, September 25, 2026, 4:55 pm
World Premiere / Student Short / Experimental / US / Glendale Community College (GCC) / 8 minutes
Her Anima is Anna’s apocalyptic catharsis as she fights through different versions of herself to find one that sticks within her new environment. A surrealist commentary on the constant need to change into different versions of ourselves, when in fact the whole is enough.
Director: Benjamin Nicholas Madoyan
Writers: Benjamin Nicholas Madoyan, Azniv Baberian
Producers: Monika Tumanian, Catherine Ramirez, Nat Yoo
Cast: Harmony Elise Jones, Joshua Christopher Reade, Benjamin Elias Salmeron, Nina Elmoyan
Program 9 – Student Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts: Uncharted Territory | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:10 pm
Student Short / Documentary / US / Pepperdine University / 15 minutes
An autistic college senior seeks to grow closer to his father for a more genuine and affectionate relationship, but they find it challenging to connect, as his father is also autistic.
Director: Joshua Pitney
Writer: Joshua Pitney
Producer: Joshua Pitney
Cast: Emmett Dennis, Jack Pitney, Joshua Pitney, Lisa Pitney, Thalia Markowski
Program 1 – Documentary Shorts: Examining the Human Condition | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:10 pm
Student Short / Drama / US / Ithaca College / 21 minutes
A desperate father returns to underground boxing to save his terminally ill daughter, but as the fights grow bloodier, he risks losing the one thing he’s fighting for: time with her.
Directors: Michael Bernardi, Michael Fischer
Writer: Michael Bernardi
Producers: Michael Bernardi, Emma Barstow, Tessa Dill, Sam Smith
Cast: Jesse Wakeman, Beth Ann Leone, Hannah Werts, Whitney Werts, Erin Allen
Program 11 – Student Drama Shorts: Holding On, Letting Go | Friday, September 25, 2026, 2:40 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 12 minutes
In a near future where it literally costs money to leave the house, a burnt-out woman risks fraud when she pays her live-in boyfriend’s ‘exit toll’ to get some alone time.
Director: Rachel Olson
Writers: Jorja Hudson, Ethan David
Producer: Drew Brandon Jones
Cast: Alyssa Limperis, Andre Hyland, Sam Richardson, Martha Kell
Program 34 – Dramedy Shorts: Falling Apart | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 4:10 pm
California Premiere / Student Short / Animation / US / Brigham Young University / 7 minutes
A ginormous grizzly bear finds himself in a sticky situation when his paw gets caught in the wrong beekeeper’s hive.
Director: Dallin Clarke
Producer: Adin Gates
Program 2 – Animation Shorts #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:45 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Experimental / US / 6 minutes
In the Quiet is a meditation on stillness, memory, and presence, where love and connection live between moments.
Director: Liana Grigoryan
Cast: Christina Wen, Emeka Nwoye, Jimmy 2 Times
Program 20 – Shorts Block: Art In Motion | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 12:25 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Drama / Mexico / New York Film Academy / 16 minutes
On the Day of the Dead, a 10-year-old kid anxiously awaits a visit from his grandfather from the afterlife to finally meet him. He has to confront the skepticism of his parents, who discover that memory transcends life and death.
Director: Aristides Mantilla
Writer: Aristides Mantilla
Producers: Aristides Mantilla, Paola Mantilla, Eli Zavala
Cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Memo Villegas, Jesús Ochoa, Leonardo Nájar
Program 11 – Student Drama Shorts: Holding On, Letting Go | Friday, September 25, 2026, 2:40 pm
World Premiere / Student Short / Comedy / US / Glendale Community College (GCC) / 14 minutes
Director: David Shuck
Writer: David Shuck
Producer: David Shuck
Cast: Gabe Vachon, Douglas Wallace, Candra Baizan, Gabriela Machuca, William Sibley, John Lee Whitener, Erik Dylan Matibag, Esteban Tino Romero, Hannelore Berlin
Program 9 – Student Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts: Uncharted Territory | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:10 pm
West Coast Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 14 minutes
Marci’s arrival to a new city finds her facing a crippling fear that conflicts with her determination to fulfill a promise.
Director: John Schwert
Writers: John Schwert, Cameran Bellamy
Producers: John Schwert, Cameran Bellamy, Erik Murphy
Cast: Cameran Bellamy, Kyle Riggs
Program 15 – Drama Shorts: Love & Loss | Friday, September 25, 2026, 6:25 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 20 minutes
Two estranged friends, who made a wildly successful kid’s video 30 years ago, are forced to work together again to capture the same magic… that is if they can keep from killing each other.
Director: Thomas Ian Griffith
Writer: Thomas Ian Griffith
Producer: Amber Neukum
Cast: Thomas Ian Griffith, Mary Page Keller, Eamon Griffith, Robert Meltzer, Bridge Stuart
Program 31 – Comedy Shorts: Across Generations | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 12:00 pm
Student Short / Animation / Taiwan, US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 5 minutes
A downfall boxer, long past his prime, returns home one night to find his only companion gone. The next day, in the ring, something breaks…
Director: Pincheng Kuo
Writer: Pincheng Kuo
Producer: Pincheng Kuo
Cast: Daniel Forgione, Peanuts Kuo, Lindsey Pollard, Kidequip
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
World Premiere / Short / Music Video / US / 4 minutes
A visually driven music video depicting a phone call to an ex-lover, where the song is sung as a plea to be taken back and not left behind, while the ex-lover exists only as a fading memory.
Director: David Alexander Ambrose
Cast: Jenny Maryn Sierra, The Spins
Program 21 – Comedy Shorts: Love, Possibly – It’s Complicated | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1:00 pm
Short / Sci-Fi, Drama / US / 15 minutes
A husband and wife preparing for their first child seem to have the perfect future ahead of them – until cracks in their reality reveal that nothing is quite what it seems.
Director: Setareh Samandari
Writer: Sargon Yoseph
Producers: Katie Taylor, Habib Zargarpour, Brandon Stacy, Sargon Yoseph, Ford Bowers
Cast: Brandon Stacy, Cheyenne Isabel Wells, Tracie Thoms, Sofia Grace Clifton
Program 29 – Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes
Director: Wilandrea Lynette Blair
Writer: Wilandrea Lynette Blair
Producer: Gabi Velis
Cast: Wilky Lau, Kenya Stewart, Liris Crosse
Program 31 – Comedy Shorts: Across Generations | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 12:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Drama / Mexico, US / New York Film Academy / 13 minutes
Director: Alejandra Rosales
Writer: Alejandra Rosales
Producers: Alejandra Rosales, Andrés García, Chucho Morales
Cast: Courtney Scheuerman, Kimberly Prendergast, Catherine Jean Moberly, Sandi Mcbride, Allison Linker, Kyle, Jeffrey Allan Waid, Meredith Kay Aldridge, Sarah Welborn, Maria Fernanda Rico
Program 11 – Student Drama Shorts: Holding On, Letting Go | Friday, September 25, 2026, 2:40 pm
US Premiere / Student Short / Drama / US / University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) / 27 minutes
After a long search for the right spouse, Ibrahim and Hawa must either succumb to — or overcome — the obstacles standing in the way of their blissful union.
Director: Kunle Fasasi
Writer: Kunle Fasasi
Producers: Hamoun Dolatshahi, Shazia Mian, Kunle Fasasi
Cast: Yetide Badaki, Jonima Diaby
Program 3 – Student Drama Shorts: Family Ties | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:05 pm
Short / Drama / US / 23 minutes
An adventurous time traveler befriends Marilyn Monroe and struggles with adhering to the rigid rules of time travel.
Director: Remi Gangarossa
Writer: Remi Gangarossa
Producers: Stephanie Stuart, Gary Vitacco-Robles, Scott Fortner
Cast: Stephanie Stuart, Addelyn Workman
Program 20 – Shorts Block: Art In Motion | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 12:25 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Sci-Fi / US / Los Angeles City College (LACC) / 10 minutes
Unwittingly binding his soul to an AI through a prompt, a grieving artist trying to save his wife gets trapped in an endless time loop.
Director: Indy Gott
Writer: Indy Gott
Producer: Maxwell Marcus
Cast: Indy Gott, Veronica Bruce, Emma Kotos
Program 9 – Student Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts: Uncharted Territory | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Documentary / US / Glendale Community College (GCC) / 4 minutes
An unserious Attenborough-esque portrait of a muddy wetland at low tide in Baja, Mexico.
Director: Ben Do
Writer: Ben Do
Producer: Ben Do
Cast: Ben Do
Program 1 – Documentary Shorts: Examining the Human Condition | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dark Comedy / US / 14 minutes
A risk-averse actuary’s all-nighter spirals into absurdity when an unexpected visitor claiming to be Death, forces him to reevaluate his life choices as the clock ticks down.
Directors: Larry Ziegelman, Terry Ziegelman
Writers: Larry Ziegelman, Terry Ziegelman
Producer: Aaron Wertheimer
Cast: Greg Pragel, Steve Rozic, Ronald Conner
Program 19 – Dark Comedy Shorts: Dire Consequences | Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Drama / US, Palestine / 15 minutes
A young girl in a war torn country suffering daily attacks is critically injured, and with the help of her courageous father, must face a tragic treatment or die.
Director: Iyad Hajjaj
Writer: Iyad Hajjaj
Producers: Iyad Hajjaj, George P. Saunders, Mabrouka Ghanmi, Romane Simon
Cast: Maya Hajjaj, Iyad Hajjaj, Amy Byrd, Ali Saam
Program 32 – Drama Shorts: The Many Faces Of Fear & Trauma | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:05 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / UK / 30 minutes
Director: Elisabeth Silveiro
Writers: Marion H von Loewenstern, Elisabeth Silveiro
Producer: Marion H von Loewenstern
Cast: Hervine De Boodt
Program 6 – Drama Shorts: Through The Ages – Self, Acceptance | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 18 minutes
Haunted by the Nahua deity Tlazolteotl, 4 cousins in Northeast LA try to protect each other from the violence and family strife threatening to tear them apart.
Director: Jon Ayon
Writer: Jon Ayon
Producer: Estevan Padilla
Cast: Natalia Dominguez
Program 5 – Drama Shorts: Lives Altered – Before & After | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:15 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Documentary / US / Petaluma High School / 6 minutes
Director: India Anne Mitchell
Producer: India Anne Mitchell
Program 1 – Documentary Shorts: Examining the Human Condition | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 4 minutes
You’re trying out a new optometrist to update your prescription, but his reality-bending prescriptions aren’t quite what you were looking for. And you’re beginning to suspect he’s a wizard.
Directors: Ava Azarmi, Matthew Lei
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
West Coast Premiere / Student Short / Comedy / US / Yale University / 15 minutes
A gay screen-addict jeopardizes his closest friendship in this experimental comedy where queer, Gen-Z, internet subculture interrupts real life. Yass, unfortunately.
Director: Dean Farella
Writer: Dean Farella
Producers: Dean Farella, Lelah Shapiro
Cast: Dean Farella, Tess Romero, John Colbert
Program 12 – Student Comedy Shorts: Relationships 101 | Friday, September 25, 2026, 3:35 pm
West Coast Premiere / Student Short / Documentary / US / University of Southern California (USC) / 9 minutes
After a college student returns to China and his grandparents, he begins exploring the idea of death in an introspective journey to understand what it means to exist.
Director: Jiayang Liu
Writer: Jiayang Liu
Producer: Jiayang Liu
Cast: Jiayang Liu
Program 1 – Documentary Shorts: Examining the Human Condition | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:10 pm
Short / Animation / US / 9 minutes
A boy learns to let go of his paper face.
Director: Sull Devries
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Short / Comedy / US / 11 minutes
A woman unwittingly reveals her desire for a romantic “partner in crime” to an actual criminal looking for an accomplice.
Director: Alex Wood
Writer: Alex Wood
Producer: Halley Lamberson
Cast: Morgan Nalley, Noah Silver
Program 21 – Comedy Shorts: Love, Possibly – It’s Complicated | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 1:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 11 minutes
A man at the crossroads wanders into the dark woods where he encounters a mysterious woman. In this liminal space, what begins as a descent into darkness shifts into an unexpected passage toward light, where the strangest of offerings can alter the course of a soul.
Director: Sheila Sawhny
Writer: Gary J. Klavans
Producers: Laney Brabson, Graeme Finlayson, Sheila Sawhny
Cast: Gary J. Klavans, Bellina Logan
Program 6 – Drama Shorts: Through The Ages – Self, Acceptance | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30 pm
California Premiere / Feature / Documentary / US / 97 minutes
Profiles grassroots leaders in Nevada, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, Alaska, and Washington, DC trying to place citizen initiatives on the 2024 ballot to enhance people power through open primaries and ranked choice general elections.
Directors: Robert M. Pease, Carol A. Wingard
Writer: Robert. M. Pease
Producers: Carol A. Wingard, Robert M. Pease, Mary Claire Kogler, Julia Hoppock
Cast: Lisa D. T. Rice, Luke Mayville, Cesar Marquez, Rebecca Himschoot, David Oclander, Lisa Feret, Kenyatta Smith
Program 7 – Documentary Feature #1 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 7:30 pm
Southern California Premiere / Short / Horror, Drama / US / 14 minutes
An innocent 20-something Clem is courted by charming Kevin, but as Clem falls deeper, he begins to realize their relationship isn’t just imperfect, but something far more sinister.
Director: A.B. AllenWriter: Chris Lam
Producer: Chris Lam
Cast: Chris Lam
Program 29 – Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 pm
World Premiere / Short / Comedy / US / 9 minutes
Director: Donald McQuade
Writers: Donald McQuade, Matthew Barnette
Producer: Katheryn Heffelmire
Cast: Paul Tigue, Olivia Graham, Austen Moret, Erika Moret, Sandra Macarelli
Program 31 – Comedy Shorts: Across Generations | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 12:00 pm
World Premiere / Short / / South Korea / 30 minutes
A young man struggling financially accepts a friend’s offer to work as a proxy giving up his identity. Feeling guilty about accepting illegal and high value request, he tries to escape from the organization.
Director: Sungho Phillip Moon
Writer: Sungho Phillip Moon
Program 5 – Drama Shorts: Lives Altered – Before & After | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:15 pm
West Coast Premiere / Student Short / Drama / US / University of Georgia / 20 minutes
In a remote 17th-century village, a widowed mother accused of witchcraft is interrogated by a charming but ruthless inquisitor, forcing an impossible choice to save her daughter.
Director: Dylan Miller
Writer: Dylan Miller
Producers: Dawna Miller, Nicole Toren
Cast: Tara Kaye Burgh, Will R. Muller, Mila Rose, Ethan Konner Post
Program 13 – Student Drama Shorts: Life, Interrupted | Friday, September 25, 2026, 4:55 pm
Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes
The unsolved disappearance of his daughter prompts a grieving father to take matters into his own hands, giving rise to myriad consequences.
Director: Kelsey Nerrie
Writer: Kelsey Nerrie
Producer: Kelsey Nerrie
Cast: Rick Bickel
Program 5 – Drama Shorts: Lives Altered – Before & After | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:15 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Drama / US / New York Film Academy / 11 minutes
A young actor develops a profound character for a stage performance – only to discover that the theater manager has other plans.
Director: Mikhail Cherkasov
Writer: Mikhail Cherkasov
Producer: Yulia Arispe
Cast: Andy Kim
Program 10 – Student Drama Shorts: Close Encounters | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:30 pm
Short / Comedy / US / 10 minutes
Caught between her insatiable Gen Alpha child and her boundary-lacking Baby Boomer parents, a burnt-out Millennial Mom tries to reclaim her sanity.
Director: Meg Swertlow
Writer: Tiffany Chandon
Producers: Sami Kolko, Tiffany Chandon
Cast: DaJuan Johnson, Tiffany Chandon
Program 31 – Comedy Shorts: Across Generations | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 12:00 pm
Student Short / Animation / China / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 4 minutes
A young girl opens the café window for a coffee-loving seagull, throwing her older sister’s barista shift into chaos.
Director: Yunqing Pan
Cast: Maya Wechsler, Leah Booth, Yunqing Pan, Luke Lee
Program 2 – Animation Shorts #1| Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:45 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 5 minutes
After an irreversible act, two sisters reckon with their lifelong dynamic that finally begins to shift.
Director: Tobin Sanson
Writer: Meg Aldridge
Cast: Meg Aldridge, Autym Sanson
Program 5 – Drama Shorts: Lives Altered – Before & After | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:15 pm
Student Short / Animation / US / California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) / 4 minutes
It’s finals week at St. Augustine’s School for Redeemable Boys. Edward must do what he can to not fall behind academically.
Director: Judah Joel Esquivel
Cast: Judah Esquivel, Kabir Kukathas, Luke Lee
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Student Short / Comedy / US / New York Film Academy / 16 minutes
A socially awkward college student wants to win over his crush, but his imagination plays out every text exchange as a crisis inside his mind, where he’s the President of the United States.
Director: Ken Edwards Offodile
Producer: Ken Edwards Offodile
Writer: Ken Edwards Offodile
Cast: Drew Fawcett, Melissa Rokuskie, Michael Brewer
Program 12 – Student Comedy Shorts: Relationships 101 | Friday, September 25, 2026, 3:35 pm
Student Short / Drama / US / University of Southern California (USC) / 14 minutes
Following an unintended pregnancy, a troubled Chinese-American boy faces the crushing responsibility and emotional weight of fatherhood, past and present.
Director: Jiayang Liu
Writer: Jiayang Liu
Producers: Jiayang Liu, Richard Li, Adam Bloodgood, Boris Liu
Cast: Jackie Tran, Katie Brown, James Sico, Felix Garcia, Maya Dutea, Michel Euliss, James Forbis, Ranen Navat
Program 3 – Student Drama Shorts: Family Ties | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:05 pm
West Coast Premiere / Short / Dark Comedy / US / 11 minutes
A very important company audit is jeopardized when a staff member reveals the fates of his co-workers’ eternal souls.
Director: Jon Rizik
Writer: Jon Rizik, Evan Rindler
Producers: Jon Rizik, Evan Rindler
Cast: Devon Werkheiser, John Patrick Hayden, Jaime Schwarz, RJ Brown
Program 19 – Dark Comedy Shorts: Dire Consequences | Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Dramedy / Costa Rica / 12 minutes
After delivering a rousing speech on immigration, Rep. Jim Coolidge goes to sleep – only to wake up on the wrong side of the border.
Director: Raymond T. Williams
Writer: Raymond T. Williams
Producer: Jodi Beck, Mark Pellegrino
Cast: Tom Humes, David Vergnani, Jairo Flores Rivera, Greyvin Aldolfo Brizuela Hurtado, Alexa Masís, Tai Boshart, Ana X Garcia
Program 29 – Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Drama / US / Rochester Institute of Technology / 18 minutes
Inspired by true events, The Cadenza tells the story of a once award winning teacher, who finds his life unraveling and decides to do something about it.
Director: Andrew Ragan
Writer: Andrew Ragan
Producer: Caitlyn Robbins
Cast: Marco Scapillato, Miki Reaume, Ron Dufort
Program 11 – Student Drama Shorts: Holding On, Letting Go | Friday, September 25, 2026, 2:40 pm
Short / Comedy / US / 18 minutes
Divided over the fate of their rundown pool, the Osgood family is visited by a nocturnal stranger who convinces them to take one last plunge.
Director: Derek Frey
Writer: David Amadio
Producer: Derek Frey
Cast: Gil Damon, David Amadio, Steve Kuzmick
Program 25 – Comedy Shorts: Tick Tock | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 5:30 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Documentary / US / 21 minutes
A quirky Italian-American family attempts to innovate their third-generation funeral home in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Director: Joe Duca
Writer: Joe Duca
Producers: Savanna Duca, Joe Duca, Lana Link
Cast: Frank Duca Jr., Bradley Duca, Frank Duca III, Alexis Peifer
Program 1 – Documentary Shorts: Examining the Human Condition | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:10 pm
Student Short / Experimental / US / Pasadena City College / 8 minutes
A colorful choose your own adventure where the audience watches God make a person, but even God makes mistakes.
Director: Isabella Ersoz
Writer: Isabella Ersoz
Producer: Isabella Ersoz
Cast: Isabella Ersoz
Program 9 – Student Sci-Fi / Fantasy Shorts: Uncharted Territory | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Animation / China, US / University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) / 6 minutes
Director: Yujie Liu
Writer: Jie Yu
Producer: unknown
Cast: Jess Reed, David Goldstein, Gloria Ho, Kevin Todd, Jie Yu
Program 4 – Animation Shorts #2 | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 3:25 pm
Glendale Premiere / Feature / Documentary / US / 119 minutes
The Heroism and Resiliency of 9/11 is a deeply moving documentary narrated by actor Gary Sinise. Produced by Gier Productions in collaboration with SoldierStrong and directed by Michael Gier, an award-winning director/producer, the film goes beyond the tragedy of September 11 to showcase the incredible acts of bravery, humanity, and resilience that followed.
Director: Michael Gier
Writer: Michael Gier
Producer: Michael Gier
Cast: Gary Sinise, Andrew Card, Tom McMillan, Alexander Vesely, Scott Strauss, William Jimeno
Program 26 – Documentary Feature #4 | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 7:10 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Dark Comedy / US / California State University, Long Beach / 10 minutes
A 16-year-old girl finds the truth out about Santa.
Director: Nicholas Geraci
Writer: Nicholas Geraci
Producer: Joshua Baldwin
Cast: Chanda Davetas, Ben Solenberger, Sydney Skye
Program 19 – Dark Comedy Shorts: Dire Consequences | Friday, September 25, 2026, 10:00 pm
Glendale Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 18 minutes
Director: Paige Henderson
Writer: Molly Flanagan
Producers: Molly Flanagan, Lady Maggie Anwer, Kelsey Fordham, Maddy Murphy
Cast: Molly Flanagan, Ari Hader, Phoebe Holston, Samantha Cutaran, Joseph Callari, Eileen Grubba
Program 32 – Drama Shorts: The Many Faces Of Fear & Trauma | Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:05 pm
Glendale Premiere / Feature / Drama / US / 107 minutes
Brown Beret 1960’s activists reunite for a funeral. At the after party, one of them waylays the others into the garage where they used to meet. They attempt to come to terms with what they changed for the good, and what was left undone.
Director: Del Zamora
Writer: Del Zamora
Cast: Daniel E. Mora, Randy Vasquez, Vance Valencia, Linda Lopez, Del Zamora, Ingrid Oliu, David Castro, Karen E. Wright, Alex Cox, David Rangel, Jessica Figueroa, Martin Chavero, Abel Gutierrez, Tristan Domani, Xander Morales Hemenway, Maribel Chavez, Iris Gonzalez, Dina Acebo
Program 27 – Narrative Feature #4 | Saturday, September 26, 2026, 7:20 pm
Short / Drama / US / 14 minutes
A desperate young man enters a laundromat on the eve of a crucial interview, only to find himself in a silent standoff with a homeless drunk over a single missing coin.
Director: Minjia Du
Writer: Minjia Du
Producer: Frances Chiu
Cast: Josiah Hand, Jose Degracia
Program 5 – Drama Shorts: Lives Altered – Before & After | Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:15 pm
Glendale Premiere / Student Short / Comedy / US / University of California, Berkeley / 10 minutes
A humble delivery driver, late for his son’s birthday party, hurries to complete his last order of the day. A series of mishaps and confrontations ensue!
Director: Hasmik Jasmine Tumasyan
Writers: Hasmik Jasmine Tumasyan
Producer: Milena Ataian
Cast: Val Hovanesian, Kristine Kumuryan, Andy Karandganian
Program 10 – Student Drama Shorts: Close Encounters | Friday, September 25, 2026, 1:30 pm
Starring Blair Underwood, with original music by Jon Batiste, The Listeners follows David, a once-brilliant jazz musician, who can no longer hear music. Doctors search for a diagnosis while debating whether his condition is neurological or psychological, but answers remain elusive.
Director: Joslyn Rose
Writers: Joslyn Rose, Dominique Mouton
Producers: D’Angelo Louis, Dominique Mouton, Blair Underwood, Vernon Davis, Joslyn Rose
Cast: Blair Underwood, Bechir Sylvian, Simone Leanora, Cindy Herron
Finalist / Short Screenplay / Canada
Told entirely through the eyes of six-month-old Vyom, who believes his first-time parents need a manual. Through small acts, accidental breakthroughs, and a child’s unwavering determination, he discovers that love doesn’t disappear under the weight of parenthood – it simply changes shape.
Writer: Arjun Dinakar
Finalist / Short Screenplay
Writer: Paul Corricelli
Finalist / Feature Screenplay / US
Assigned to a hospital plagued by opioid overdoses, a clairvoyant assassin hunts the mushroom cult behind a diabolical scheme, shielding an orphaned girl from its grasp, only to discover Satan – the killer of her parents – waiting for her.
Writer: Robert C. Hall
Finalist / Short Screenplay
He thought his arduous odyssey was over until he faced his greatest challenge: the woman he had left behind.
Writer: Donald Tongue
Finalist / Feature Screenplay
A newlywed couple dealing with intimacy issues brings in a threesome for their wedding anniversary that turns the night into a deadly series of events that causes them to run afoul of the Russian mob.
Writer: McKinley Bundick
Finalist / Short Screenplay
Writer: Kamran Zamanian
Finalist / Feature Screenplay / US
After losing his father in a drunk driving accident, an impoverished high school football player with dreams of playing at college must decide whether to go along with his coach’s cheating scheme or risk failure by following the advice of the school’s marching band director.
Writer: John Cummerford
Finalist / Student Screenplay / US / Dwight School
A simple handwritten grocery list slowly reveals a teenager living in the aftermath of loss, becoming a physical reminder of Eli’s lingering connection to his late mother.
Writer: Amitav Lahiri
Finalist / Short Screenplay / US
Once an exceptional runner, a paraplegic man who struggles with self-loathing connects with a shy woman on a dating app, triggering a challenging journey to find happiness and acceptance.
Writer: Enrique R. Carrasco
Finalist / Student Screenplay / US / University of California, Berkeley
Afraid to engage with her grieving father after her mother’s death, a young woman must confront her beliefs about struggle and growth when she meets her determined but sensitive younger self.
Writer: Olivia Kang
Semi-Finalist / Short Screenplay
Facing an impossible deadline, a struggling writer enlists the help of an AI muse – only to discover that each draft costs him a piece of himself, trapping a grieving father in a simulation mining his pain for profit.
Writer: Michael H. Moore
Semi-Finalist / Short Screenplay
Grant has something very important to tell his new girlfriend, Dani. The Universe, however, is having absolutely none of that.
Writer: Kevin Machate
Semi-Finalist / Feature Screenplay / US
Jackalope follows Noah and Caleb, former childhood friends, on a quest to find a mythical creature of American folklore. Along the way, Noah and Caleb are each forced to confront their own personal issues, and in the process rekindle their bond of friendship.
Writer: Luke Guidici
Semi-Finalist / Feature Screenplay / US
After a mysterious alien organism transforms into a plant that grows authentic currency, financially struggling scientist Valentina Alvarez secretly uses it to help her family and rebuild her life. But as her impossible wealth attracts criminals, corrupt federal agents, and powerful institutions, Val is forced to confront the dangerous consequences of greed, power, and humanity’s obsession with money.
Writer: Jon C. Carlson
Semi-Finalist / Short Screenplay / US
In a world obsessed with perfect vision, a young woman seeking a cure for her deteriorating eyesight stumbles upon OpticBloom, a company with the revolutionary ability to grow you new eyes – only to discover that its promise of clarity comes at a horrifying cost.
Writers: Isabella Ersoz, Ben Do