Thursday, September 25
The 11th edition of the Glendale International Film Festival begins here! Celebrate the kick-off of GIFF 2025 with fellow filmmakers and a mix of new and returning faces at our Opening Night Party – guest starring the sweeping city views from The Glenmark Hotel’s MYA Rooftop.
Each ticket includes hors d’oeuvres and 1 beer/wine ticket (soda and water are complimentary). A no-host bar is available to purchase additional beverages.
Convenient parking is available at the hotel’s valet stand and on surrounding streets.
Friday, September 26
Scary Marian, the Scariest Librarian
Student / Glendale Community College / Short / Horror / Thriller / US / 6 minutes
Two students make too much noise in the library, and pay the price…
Director: Brian Thomas Fagan
Producer: John C. McKay
Writer: Brian Thomas Fagan
Cast: Robby Dewey, Alex Hall, Damian Neto, William Sibley, John Fagan
The Diary of Nightmares
World Premiere / Student / Los Angeles City College / Short / Horror/Thriller / US / 5 minutes
The girl finds a horror book titled The Diary of Nightmares. As she starts reading the book, she finds herself in a world of terrifying stories, where a horrifying creature chases her, intent on killing her. To save herself and return to the human world, she must share her nightmare with the book.
Director: Elizaveta Manina
Producer: Elizaveta Manina
Executive Producer: Ekaterina Melnikova
Writer: Elizaveta Manina
Cast: Ekaterina Melnikova
Human Trial
World Premiere / Student / Glendale Community College / Short / Thriller / US / 8 minutes
MK Ultra in the Tinder era. A pharmaceutical lab tech accidentally ingests an experimental drug during a first date and we all get to monitor the side effects.
Director: David Shuck
Producer: Julia Lopez, Malena Wilson, David Shuck
Writer: David Shuck
Cast: William Sibley, Sharukh Khan, Annie Reznik
Secrets Kept
World Premiere / Student / Elon University / Short / Thriller / US / 15 minutes
A detective pair hunts down a murderer targeting criminals, but the truth is not what they expected.
Director: Griffin Powell
Producer: Griffin Powell, Ben Ohlmeyer, Ariel Turobiner
Writer: Griffin Powell
Cast: Mason Seel, Isabella Shaffer, Nick Brillo, Ben Ohlmeyer, Meghan Carroll, Griffin Powell
Dahlia’s Monsters
Student / Cal State University Northridge / Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes
When a young woman prepares to move away from her hometown and her sister, the trauma that she thought was in her past finds its way into her present. She knows she can claim her independence, but she doesn’t understand that battles are fought better when we have allies at our side.
Director: Abigail Salmon
Producer: Celeste Bird, Yuliia Zolina, Abigail Salmon
Writer: Abigail Salmon
Cast: Allison Landis, Abigail R. Blythe, Skylar Grace, Charlie Belle Parsells, Amy S. Johnson, Eric E. Johnston
Sequoia
Student / New York Film Academy / Short / Thriller / US / 15 minutes
Director: Michelle Künzler
Producer: Michelle Künzler, Rui Dong
Writer: Michelle Künzler
Cast: Elsha Kim, Amber Koval
Sleep
Student / Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts / Short / Drama / US / 9 minutes
In the dead of night, a father attempts to comfort his child, who believes their deceased mother is tapping on the bedroom window.
Director: Logan Kishi
Producer: Gabriella Graves, Logan Kishi
Writer: Logan Kishi
Cast: Tyler Tackett, Maya Manko
The Pink Skirt
World Premiere / Student / John Burroughs High School / Short / Drama / US / 11 minutes
The Pink Skirt is about a single mom and her 10-year old son who wants to be a ballerina for Halloween. The short delves into themes of acceptance and the struggles of raising a child as a single mom.
Director: Hannah Hope O’Briant
Producer: Hannah Hope O’Briant
Writer: Hannah Hope O’Briant
Cast: Mary Faber, Henry Witcher
Soultones
Student / Loyola Marymount University / Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes
George lives in a hazy world of guitar riffs and old vinyls, under the watchful eye of a caretaker stretched too thin. When an estranged visitor arrives and challenges their fragile rhythm, tensions rise and questions emerge about what’s really going on inside George’s mind. However everything changes when a figure from the past shows up with a guitar in hand—and a song that could bring George back to himself. Soultones is a music-infused psychological drama about identity, legacy, and the healing power of a song.
Director: Austin Jeffrey Bourdages
Producer: Stanley Frederick Alger, Austin Jeffrey Bourdages
Writer: Austin Jeffrey Bourdages
Cast: Bradley Ash, Katie Kelley, Glenn Kennedy, Bruce Burns, Dennis Holland
Caesar’s Cache
California Premiere / Student / Sarah Lawrence College / Short / Drama / Switzerland / 37 minutes
Set in 1890s Switzerland, after discovering Roman gold in the Alps, a Civil War veteran is confronted by a visitor from his past whose uncertain intentions threaten his peaceful existence.
Director: Ralph C. Schulz
Producer: Ahmad Al Lawati, Ralph C. Schulz
Executive Producers: Paul Darrell McGuire, Jerald J. Silverhardt
Writer: Paul Darrell McGuire, Ralph C. Schulz
Cast: Paul Darrell McGuire, Jona Zeschke, Dominik Ellwanger
Natural Selection
Student / California State University Fullerton / Short / Comedy / US / 16 minutes
Natural Selection tells the story of a young woman’s journey to find love- backed by a nature documentary narrator observing her every move. Through Nicole’s idealistic and overly romanticized view of love and finding a partner, the film offers a female perspective on navigating the proverbial jungle of the dating scene.
Director: Amanda Ryan D’Ambrosio
Producer: Coral Lomeli, Martina Tucker
Writer: Amanda Ryan D’Ambrosio
Cast: Nicole Anneliese Smith, LaToya Blakely, Lo Weaver, Matt Tang, Vincent Doud, Collin Riley
El Bar De Hernando
Student / New York Film Academy / Short / Romance / Colombia, US / 9 minutes
Yiyo works at a Salsa Bar as a bartender, but tonight before starting his shift he falls in love with a woman who has attended the venue. We see how shy he is and his incompetence with women. During the night he must take a step out of his comfort zone when he realizes he might have a chance with this beautiful woman.
Director: Andres Felipe Bernal Farias, Maria Gomez
Producer: Andres García
Writer: Andres Felipe Bernal Farias
Cast: Nicolas Marin, Osmara Rojas, MJ García, Tomas Mejía
Don’t Forget To Live
World Premiere / Student / New York Film Academy / Short / Drama / France, US / 7 minutes
Thalia’s pursuit of artistic excellence collides with her yearning for love when she succumbs to the intoxicating pull of Ethan, only to discover the devastating consequences of chasing a fleeting connection.
Director: Rohan Aggarwal, Maya Tannous
Producer: Bita Laura Arefnia
Writer: Maya Tannous
Cast: Maya Tannous, Nick Garabedian
Jalopy
Student / Loyola Marymount University / Short / Drama / US / 12 minutes
To rekindle their relationship, Mark and Loretta drive to Yosemite for an anniversary trip in Mark’s vintage jeep, which starts to show signs of mechanical problems.
Director: Sal Ardongde
Producer: Sal Ardongde, Ben Foley
Writer: Sal Ardongde
Cast: Lauren Birdsall, Benedikt Sebastian
F*CK ME!
Los Angeles Premiere / Student / USC / Short / Dramedy / US / 6 minutes
After a heartbreaking and eye-opening attempt to rekindle their intimacy, Evelyn and Gary make an effort to revamp their love-life as they embark on a sex therapy journey.
Director: Jo Branson
Producer: Malani Fenner-Smith
Writer: Brooklyn Jo Branson
Cast: Lise Porter, Ted Wells, Jenny Branson
Second Chance
Student / Petaluma High School / Short / Documentary / US / 9 minutes
An inspired young filmmaker who witnessed a disturbing incident at school looks inside Juvenile Hall and Court, through the moving account of a juvenile offender and his parents, as well as the insights of the judge, attorneys and probation officer. Second Chance takes a step towards better understanding, compassion and ultimately, hope for juveniles who are some of the most vulnerable in our society, and who are also part of its future.
Director: India Anne Mitchell
Producer: India Anne Mitchell
Writer: India Anne Mitchell
RESTLESS
World Premiere / Student / UCLA / Short / Documentary / US / 6 minutes
Three third culture kids talk about their restless legs.
Director: Ender Waters
It’s an Art
World Premiere / Student / Harvard University / Short / Documentary / US / 7 minutes
An elderly cobbler and a young shoemaker reflect on the labor, artistry, and shared humanity behind an item we wear everyday.
Director: Kiana Pan
Producer: Kiana Pan
Cast: Christos Soillis, Ives Barrera
Palmas
Student / USC / Short / Documentary / US / 21 minutes
Rooted in the subversive tradition of Mexicanidad, Palmas confronts viewers with the haunting histories of the Kizh-Gabrieleño tribe, the Chavez Ravine evictions at Dodger Stadium, and the Palm Tree, presenting a triptych experience of the buried voices of Los Angeles.
Director: Aric Lopez
Producer: Dhruv Patel, Ana Flávia Veiga
Writer: Aric Lopez
Offspring
Student / UCLA / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
A spider is born in a cave.
Director: Hannah Mutz
Producer: Hannah Mutz
Writer: Hannah Mutz
Do Not Disturb
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 2 minutes
Dazey the groundhog prepares for hibernation. However, when Shaggy the bear encroaches on her burrow, she has to stand her ground.
Director: Apoorva Dasari
Producer: Apoorva Dasari
Writer: Apoorva Dasari
The Boulder Theory
California Premiere / Student / Savannah College of Art and Design / Short / Animation / US / 4 minutes
After falling in love with a boulder, two glyptodons brawl over their shared romantic interest.
Director: Quinn Tisdale
Producer: Ella Vaccaro
Writer: Quinn Tisdale
Outlandish
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 4 minutes
A sheltered child ventures out of their safe house into a dangerous forest in search of their missing friend.
Director: Christina Wu
Producer: Christina Wu
Writer: Christina Wu
family dinner
Student / California Institute of the Arts/ Short / Animation / US / 4 minutes
Tonight, dinner starts with a slice of tomato.
Director: Huayi Yu
Producer: Huayi Yu
Writer: Huayi Yu
Cast: Emily Gin, Lauren Kong
The Princess is Missing!
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
The Rajah and his troop of warriors search far and wide to rescue their beloved princess from an evil beast.
Director: Kabir Azul Kukathas
Producer: Kabir Azul Kukathas
Writer: Kabir Azul Kukathas
When The Skies Are Blue
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
A young artist and a child traverse the crystal rain apocalypse in search of… art supplies?
Director: Matthew Lei
Producer: Matthew Lei
Writer: Matthew Lei
Cast: Stacy Sterling, Emily Lane
Together
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 2 minutes
An old man’s shadow helps him to take one step.
Director: Gyumin Choi
Producer: Gyumin Choi
Writer: Gyumin Choi
Grandpa’s Stamps
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
A young girl bonds with her grandpa as he introduces her to his cherished stamp collection.
Director: Yunqing Pan
Producer: Yunqing Pan
Writer: Yunqing Pan
Cast: Peter Trivelas, Alessia May
The Lonely Life of Lint
Student / UCLA / Short / Animation / US / 4 minutes
An unexpected discovery sends a lonely lint creature on a quest for companionship.
Director: Sarah Sklar
Producer: Sarah Sklar
Writer: Sarah Sklar
Goddamn’s Great Big Adventure: The Dating Crisis
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
Goddamn an adorably naive sock ventures out to find love and runs into a few problems along the way.
Director: Lulu Arrow Mckown
Producer: Lulu Arrow Mckown
Writer: Lulu Arrow Mckown
Cast: Jonna-Lynn Alonso
Essence of Yourself
Los Angeles Premiere / Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / Poland / 2 minutes
In a moment of turmoil, stress, and overwhelm, Celly, the brain cell escapes her body seeking excitement in the outside world, unaware that her body is in grave danger, if she doesn’t take a break.
Director: Patrycja Kupczyk
Producer: Patrycja Kupczyk
Writer: Patrycja Kupczyk
FIGHTER
California Premiere / Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
A girl who’s tired of life finds refuge and passion within the gaming world. However, her will to fight only extends to her VR boxing matches, rather than the outside world.
Director: Lauren “Reni” Park
Producer: Lauren “Reni” Park
Writer: Lauren “Reni” Park
Cast: Fel Chen
MISMATCH
Student / UCLA / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
A seemingly ordinary matchstick, repeatedly dismissed and denied recognition as a military veteran, slowly ignites with emotion—until it finally flames up, revealing the true weight of the micro aggressions it endured.
Director: Luna Lee
Producer: Luna Lee
Writer: Luna Lee
Cast: Matt Haro, Brianna Yi, Madeline Palmer, Emily Newland, Edwin Zha, Jess Reed
Escape Artist
Student / USC / Short / Animation / US / 7 minutes
Kubus Bots traverse the galaxy pillaging civilizations of their creative energy, but interacting with the Artos civilization they discover they can’t capture or control everyone…
Director: Kieran Barker
Producer: Kimblerly Joseph
Writer: Kieran Barker
Feathers and Silver
Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 2 minutes
Chasing a rumor, Nightclaw boards a mysterious airship in pursuit of the legendary outlaw Blackbeak. But inside its shadowy bar, he walks straight into a deadly trap—and a secret that could change everything.
Director: Junyoung Kwon
Producer: Junyoung Kwon
Writer: Junyoung Kwon
God Dam
Student / Savannah College of Art and Design / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes
A mockumentary about two beavers that work in a post office. The camera crew observes a typical work day for Clint Eatswood, the energetic manager, as he attempts to clean up the mess created by his unenthusiastic employee, Humphrey Damiels.
Director: Abigail Hill
Producer: Abigail Hill
Writer: Abigail Hill
Cast: Brian Cloutier, Wesley Mills
How We Hamsters Die
Student / San Jose State University / Short / Animation / US / 6 minutes
A comedic 2D animated short film in which hamsters recount the tragic tales of their wacky deaths – based on true stories.
Director: Phoebe Burdick, Mio Gribskov
Producer: Mikayla Hatchell
Writer: Phoebe Burdick, Mio Gribskov
Cast: Alethea Anderson, Phoebe Burdick, Mio Gribskov, Annika Magbanua, Joe Schwall, Oliver Woody, Tom Austin, David Chai, Mattea Muzzy, Jillian Stephenson
Love & Gold
West Coast Premiere / Student / Brigham Young University / Short / Animation / US / 10 minutes
Two thieves enter the same dungeon searching for a gem worth incredible wealth, but what they find along the way is worth more than all the treasure in the dungeon combined.
Director: Connor Van Dyke
Producer: Jaysen “Ducky” Duckworth
Writer: Connor Van Dyke
Passholders and individual ticket buyers – You’re invited to mingle and connect with filmmakers and fellow festivalgoers at our GIFF Happy Hour Mixer! Join us from 5:30-7:00pm at the Festival Lounge at ace/121 Gallery. Enjoy complimentary beverages and light bites while expanding your network and soaking in GIFF’s creative energy.
Aliadas
Short / Drama / US / 28 minutes
Laura, a college professor, is contemplating participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration during commencement as an act of solidarity. Her co-workers approach her with concern about what that might do to her job security. Laura now must decide whether to follow her beliefs or keep her job.
Director: Juan Diego Ramirez
Producer: Juan Diego Ramirez
Cast: Raquel Sanchez, Adria Saldivar, Tom Sandoval
THE PROFESSIONAL PARENT
Short / Drama / Romania, Slovakia / 15 minutes
Ingrid, a single mother living with her daughter and grandmother in an eastern Slovak village where Roma face stigma, becomes a professional parent to a Roma girl to survive.
Director: Erik Jasaň
Producer: Erik Jasaň, Marian Crisan
Writer: Erik Jasaň, Marta Parlatore
Cast: Ela Lehotská, Oľga Solárová, Klára Sviteková, Mariana Kroková, Andrej Šoltés
Watching Walter
Short / Drama / US / 17 minutes
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.
Director: Mitch Yapko
Producer: Mitch Yapko, Cynthia Gravinese-Brown, Mark Dylan Brown, Mark Aznavourian
Writer: Mark Dylan Brown
Cast: Stephen Tobolowsky, Gareth Williams, Benjamin Stockham, Andrew Elvis Miller, William Leon, Maxfield Lund, Allen Rueckert, Cynthia Gravinese-Brown
3 MINUTOS
Short / Drama / US / 5 minutes
Under the time pressure of a potentially life changing test, a young couple unexpectedly takes a quick but meaningful look at their past, present and potential future.
Director: Douglas Ryan
Producer: Douglas Ryan, Alexandra Grace
Writer: Douglas Ryan
Cast: Alexandra Grace, Austin Barnes
Solo Trip
West Coast Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 9 minutes
A woman has an out-of-body experience on the beach. She meets a young soul, a soul mate, and an old soul before returning to her body.
Director: Travis Roman
Producer: Jane McGinnis
Writer: Travis Roman
Cast: Christine Fiala, Chiedu Mbonu, Constantine Taylor, Henry Larsen-Solomito
Motherload
West Coast Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes
A mother’s artistic dreams clash with the demands of motherhood until a chance encounter with a gentle stranger during a rare moment of peace pushes her to redefine her life’s possibilities.
Director: Jennifer Berry
Producer: Jennifer Berry, Kyla Garcia
Writer: Jennifer Berry
Cast: Kyla Garcia, Jonah Jacobson
Toby
West Coast Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 14 minutes
While Michelle cares for her terminally ill mother, she also has to contend with her mother’s tiny, overprotective dog, Toby. As Michelle navigates the challenges of caretaking and confronts her own fears and insecurities, she learns valuable lessons about love, loss, and the enduring power of canine companionship. Toby is based on a true story.
Director: Olivia Nash
Producer: Brandie Louck, Olivia Nash
Writer: Brandie Louck
Cast: Brandie Louck, Taco, Elise Ogden, Tommy Lee Rhodes IV
Two Step Forward, One Step Back
World Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 13 minutes
Director: Cici Liu
Producer: Tina Lin, Wenhan Zhang
Writer: Ruixue Chen, Wenyu Huang
Cast: Ruixue Chen, Yaoyao Qi, Chen Lee, Ana Mendoza, Katherine Ni
Waiting
Short / Dramedy / US / 22 minutes
While a cynical, aged-out rock star and his fiercely independent maybe-daughter await the results of a paternity test, they struggle to find a connection that goes beyond the biological.
Director: Saric Cooper
Producer:
Writer: Saric Cooper
Cast: Robert Fleet, Kaylee Garrett, Danny Cooper, Jalana Phillips
Eugene O’Neill’s – The First Man
Los Angeles Premiere / Feature / International / UK, US / 2 hours, 24 minutes
World renowned anthropologist Curtis is consumed by grief over his young daughters’ deaths. He finds solace in immersing himself in preparations for his upcoming expedition to Asia, where he aims to unravel the mystery of “The First Man.” However, he must confront an undercurrent of family conflict as he battles against his relatives’ unsettling suspicions that his wife Martha is carrying his best friend Bigelow’s child.
Director: Hardeep Giani
Producer: Hardeep Giani, Matthew Pitts-Tucker
Writer: Eugene O’Neill, Hardeep Giani
Cast: Vincent Andriano, Charlotte Asprey, Alan Turkington, Rebecca Lee, Josie Kidd, Charlie Roe, Kate Copeland, Richard Emerson-Gould, Martin Lear, Alex Francis, Nesba Crenshaw
Mother
World Premiere / Short / Horror/ Thriller / US / 14 minutes
An unnerving and unsettling look at a woman’s desperate attempts to become a mother despite her inability to conceive. Entirely from Lizzie’s perspective as an unreliable narrator, we see what goes on in her mind which is very distinct from reality.
Director: Elizabeth J. Musgrave
Producer: Elizabeth J. Musgrave, Frank J. Forte
Writer: Elizabeth J. Musgrave
Cast: Elena Afanasiev, Garrett Edell, Lauren Flynn
I-Scream
World Premiere / Short / Horror, Comedy / US / 21 minutes
What was once a carefree, easygoing summer day, suddenly turns into a thrilling, fast-paced rescue mission as best friends Brandy and Bailey must save their younger siblings, Ben and Jerri, from a paranormal ice cream truck.
Director: Jordan Beltz, Carlee Coulehan
Producer: Kelly Beltz, Rich Beltz, Jack Coulehan, Sarah Durham, Tim Lender
Writer: Jordan Beltz, Carlee Coulehan
Cast: Jordan Beltz, Carlee Coulehan, Mia Kopischke, Camden Kleba, Christian Barker, David Lemmink
Buzzkill
Short / Comedy, Horror / US / 9 minutes
A jealous vibrator will do whatever it takes to secure its spot in its owner’s life.
Director: Amanda Griswold
Producer: Michelle P. Carter
Writer: Julie Dare
Cast: Katherine Cozumel, Aubrey Duncan, Spencer James Hammerstad, Meghan Sinclair
Sewing Machine
Short / Horror / Thriller / US / 6 minutes
Heather, a young fashion designer, is working on her latest collection when a knock at the door changes everything. Left on her doorstep is a mysterious sewing machine, seemingly a gift – but it carries a lot more than just bad vibes.
Director: Tyler Hagen
Producer: Alex M Kennedy
Writer: Tyler Hagen
Cast: Heather Briganti, Emilia Bryan
They Slay
Short / Horror, Comedy / US / 26 minutes
Longtime friends begin to butt heads at a Halloween party when an unruly demon unearths the group’s uncomfortable truths.
Director: Maddie Macloud
Producer: Lennon Carter, Lo Lundeen, Maddie Macloud, Justin Stirewalt
Writer: Lo Lundeen, Lennon Carter
Cast: Charlie Jackson, Jalina Brown, Lo Lundeen, Lennon Carter, Cameron Jackson
Saturday, September 27
Invisible Basketball
Short / Comedy / US / 4 minutes
In this comedic short film, a basketball coach teaches his players about teamwork by having them practice without a ball. Then the real challenge begins.
Director: Harry Valentine
Writer: Harry Valentine
Cast: Harry Valentine, Alyssa DeVries, Christine Stemmer, Karla Espino, Mackenzie Horras
DAD-rahpy – EP 1- It was dads at first site
West Coast Premiere / Short / Comedy / US / 13 minutes
DAD-rahpy follows two Afro-Latino fathers who randomly meet on a bench at a children’s park. As they build a friendship they confront their internal conflicts, and the joys of fatherhood while juggling the obstacles of life.
Director: Rick “Wind” Herrera, Alexandra “Cloud” Gutierrez
Producer: Alexandra “Cloud” Gutierrez
Writer: Rick “Wind” Herrera
Cast: Jerry Diaz, Rick “Wind” Herrera
Fairy God Bro
Short / Comedy / US / 6 minutes
When needing to reveal her biggest secret to her normal fiancé, a witch turns to her fairy god mother for help only to be surprised by her fairy god bro.
Director: Stephanie Williams
Producer: David Cameli, Stephanie Williams, Jules Quaas, Evan Morton
Writer: David Cameli, Bailey Castle, David Hartley
Cast: David Cameli, Bailey Castle, David Hartley, Michelle Persoff
Folded
Short / Comedy, Horror / US / 8 minutes
Two roommates, desperate to escape their realities, accept the unthinkable.
Director: Ari Kraiman
Producer: Erika Lebby
Writer: Erika Lebby
Cast: Erika Lebby, Kilee Rheinsburg
End of Things
Short / Comedy / US / 5 minutes
End of Things tells the story of Walter Brown on the day he gets his divorce papers handed to him and sets off on a journey of self discovery.
Director: Timothy Hautekiet
Producer: Alexander Arntzen
Writer: Timothy Hautekiet
Cast: Bethany Struble, Shannon Lee Barry, Ryan Blewett
Beethoven’s Great Great Great Great Great Grandchild
Los Angeles Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 10 minutes
The last living descendant of Beethoven tries to capitalize on their heritage, but they have no musical talent whatsoever.
Director: Daniel Maggio
Producer: Daniel Maggio, Hunter Hawkins
Writer: Daniel Maggio
Cast: Hunter Hawkins, David Fleming, Olive, Stephen Siemens
We Were Young
Short / Drama / US / 12 minutes
Lydia gets an unexpected knock on the door— Mark, her high school sweetheart. As they navigate the memories of their youthful love, Mark confronts the choices that led them apart. Lydia, now content with her new life, struggles with resurfaced feelings. Through it all, Lydia finds closure and peace with her past, allowing her to embrace her new life without Mark.
Director: Roe Moore
Producer: Roe Moore, Meagan Parker
Writer: Johnny Walsh
Cast: Johnny Walsh, Patrick Cronen
Ride Share
World Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 11 minutes
A ride share driver gets a fare, which turns out to be his ex and her new man. She takes the opportunity to address unresolved issues.
Director: Will Ahrens
Producer: Will Ahrens
Writer: Will Ahrens
Cast: Tony DeNiro, Jasmine De La Fuente, Dorian Burks, Jeffrey Delfin
Reminisce
Short / Drama / US / 12 minutes
25 years younger than her husband, a woman’s world is turned upside down when her husband’s college classmates come to visit.
Director: Leslie Morris
Producer: Ashna Sharan
Writer: Ashna Sharan
Cast: Ashna Sharan, Wayne Jay, Elisa Nixon, Roger Gutierrez, Anupam Dhyani
To Engage
Short / Drama / US / 8 minutes
A romantic picnic is derailed by a marriage proposal.
Director: Le Chau
Producer: Seth Allyn Austin, Barbara Austin
Writer: Jenni Nicole Bloom
Cast: Jenni Nicole Bloom, Seth Allyn Austin, Varenna Salvo, Elen Orleans, William Bremer
Penguins In Paris…A Love Story?
West Coast Premiere / Short / International / US / 13 minutes
A romantic drama about two lovers – an American woman and a French man – deciding whether to stay together and have a child or to split, allowing the man to follow his dream, to voyage to Antarctica to study penguins, which are at risk because of global warming.
Director: Kenny Hargrove
Producer: Kenny Hargrove, Ophelie Bazillou
Writer: Kenny Hargrove
Cast: Genia Michaela, Christopher Fournier
Someday
Los Angeles Premiere / Short / Drama / Hong Kong / 11 minutes
One day in Hong Kong, two childhood friends spend an evening wandering the city before one of them leaves for good. Through silent moments, playful banter, and a deep undercurrent of unresolved feelings, Someday captures the tension of what could have been — a love story never acted upon, narrated by an introspective voiceover that’s interrupted by reality. It’s a story of memory, yearning, and the beauty of ambiguity.
Director: Justin Baggio Cheung
Producer: Justin Baggio Cheung, Jonathan Linux Cheung, Ki Ki Ng
Writer: Justin Baggio Cheung, Jeffery Lee
Cast: Jonathan Linux Cheung, Stephanie Kuo
INFINITY!
Short / Drama / US / 11 minutes
A famous Japanese American ballroom dance duo must choose between their passion or their lives as WWII concentration camps begin to rise in the U.S.
Director: Benjamin To
Producer: Catherine WenChun Cheng, Benjamin To
Writer: Benjamin To
Cast: Olivia Cordell, Jonathan Tanigaki
The Magic of Santa Claus
West Coast Premiere / Short / Animation / US / 9 minutes
Despite receiving a heartbreaking diagnosis, Santa Claus moves on with his life as if nothing happened.
Director: Andrew de Burgh
Producer: Andrew de Burgh, C. Diamant, Ananya Chopra
Writer: Andrew de Burgh
Cast: Piedmont’s Children’s Choir
Hullabaloo: The Curse of the Cheshire Cat
Short / Animation / US / 8 minutes
A young aristocrat, who fancies herself to be a super-sleuth, attempts to apprehend the elusive cat-burglar known as “The Cheshire Cat”.
Director: James Lopez
Producer: James Lopez, Evelyn Kriete, Grant Viklund
Writer: James Lopez
Cast: Claudia Lenz, Valarie Arem
Guys Next Door
Short / Animation / US / 26 minutes
Three normies get their lives mixed up with three government assassins on the run and end up in a world of bio-technological intrigue and philosophical lunacy.
Director: Noel Belknap
Producer: Sam DelPilar
Executive Producers: Wolfgang Hammer, Eric Kaplan
Writer: Eric Linus Kaplan
Cast: Simon Helberg
Why Dogs Howl
Short / Dramedy / US / 5 minutes
After meeting online, a BOY and GIRL are out on their first date. It rapidly devolves into the BOY vomiting out his life in a Howl that ultimately encompasses the entire universe.
Director: Sandi Johnson
Producer: Gary Teitelbaum
Writer: Gary Teitelbaum
Cast: Gary Teitelbaum, Hayley O’Connor
TOTALLY SICK
California Premiere / Short / Comedy / US / 8 minutes
Two potty-mouthed, abrasive, and cynical New Yorkers have the worst one-night stand ever only to discover that one of them is seriously ill.
Director: Adam Nadler
Producer: Phil Rivo
Writer: Adam Nadler
Cast: Kerri Louise, Phil Rivo
Spitting Image
West Coast Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 12 minutes
When cynical 17-year-old Anne learns that her adoptive parents, Liz and Phil, are actually her birth parents, she sits them down at the kitchen table for a rigorous interrogation.
Director: Dimitri Dyó
Producer: Erwick D’Souza, Dimitri Dyó
Writer: Dimitri Dyó
Cast: Emma Hart, Annette Saunders, Greg Paroff, Ollie Andree Bowen
Exposé
Short / Dramedy / US / 13 minutes
A wine-soaked night leads to a twisted game of “Truth or Dare” that has Jack, Hank and Susan hiding a secret that could shatter their lives. Angie scrambles to uncover the devastating lie at the heart of her life. Can Angie’s crazy game sabotage their night? Their marriages? Their lives?
Director: John Webb
Producer: Anthony Mora, Virginia Schneider
Writer: Ann Convery
Cast: Virginia Schneider, Abby Relic, James Elden, Pyar Anderson
Blackberry Winter
West Coast Premiere / Short / Dramedy / US / 17 minutes
A fairytale Valentine’s Day takes a turn when Amber, our Georgia Peach living in the Big Apple, sees an unexpected text message on her boyfriend’s phone. Launched into a journey of self-discovery, with a future that is uncertain, Amber questions whether to follow her head or her heart to find her way forward.
Director: Jason Hightower
Producer: Jason Hightower, Arizona Newsum, Amber Iman
Writer: Amber Iman
Cast: Amber Iman, Phillip Johnson Richardson, Cynthia D Barker, Angela Robinson
Burt and Hathaway
Short / Dramedy / US / 7 minutes
David Koechner plays a pernicious businessman who has a habit of losing employees to factory fires and, through a chance encounter, rekindles a bromance with a former colleague.
Director: Julien Lasseur
Producer: Jamie Thalman, Emma Fazzuoli, Julien Lasseur
Writer: Brian Groh, Julien Lasseur
Cast: David Koechner, Larry Clarke
The Opener
Feature / Documentary / US / 1 hour, 13 minutes
After a struggling street musician goes viral playing songs from his bedroom, he’s invited on tour by one of his heroes, Grammy-winner Jason Mraz, and given the chance to prove himself on the big stage.
Director: Jeff Toye
Producer: Sunya Mara
Cast: Philip Labes
Passholders and individual ticket buyers – You’re invited to mingle and connect with filmmakers and fellow festivalgoers at our GIFF Happy Hour Mixer! Join us from 5:30-7:00pm at the Festival Lounge at ace/121 Gallery. Enjoy complimentary beverages and light bites while expanding your network and soaking in GIFF’s creative energy.
Symptoms
Short / Dramedy / US / 14 minutes
A middle-aged woman is determined to win the biggest deal yet for a mindfulness app company, but brain fog, her erratic period and a douchebag boss upend her day.
Director: Eliza Gibson, Todd Eric Valcourt
Producer: Jennifer Sherer
Writer: Eliza Gibson
Cast: Pinky Jones, Frankie Kevich, James Austin Kerr, Leslie Thurston, Shaw Purnell
SIENNA AND THE SIT
Short / Comedy / US / 17 minutes
Sienna, a heartbroken LA seeker ready to try any spiritual remedy, has tried everything to get past her ex, to no avail. When her friend Ruthie says there’s nothing left for her to do but sit Shiva, Sienna takes her metaphorical comment literally, and hosts a Shiva for her ex.
Director: Scottie Thompson
Producer: Scottie Thompson, Sarah Ivy
Writer: Scottie Thompson
Cast: Meta Golding, Brett Dalton, Kathy Najimy, Scottie Thompson, Alyshia Ochse, Rupak Ginn, Stephen Bowman, Lisa Lee Cooper
AIMEE COMES FIRST
Short / Comedy / US / 17 minutes
Three days from turning 40, Aimee Garcia is proof women can have it all. A thriving career, loving family, hot fiancé; what more could she want? Um … an orgasm.
Director: Aimee Garcia
Producer: Aimee Garcia, AJ Mendez, Diego Cabrera
Writer: Aimee Garcia
Cast: Aimee Garcia, Alfred Molina, Lamorne Morris, Olga Merediz, Noel Gugliemi, Yvette Monreal
Not Today, Not Tomorrow
Short / Thriller, Drama / US / 17 minutes
After a daring prison escape, childhood besties Bo (Amanda Holquin) and Olivia (Katrina Steele) find themselves stranded in the desert with no water. With the odds stacked against them, Bo and Olivia need to find a way to settle their differences, survive the desert and elude possible capture, all in order to reach Uncle Roger’s safehouse. One thing is certain, if they’re going to die it’s Not Today, Not Tomorrow.
Director: Neil Miguel Watson
Producer: Matthew Levin, Katrina Steele, Neil Miguel Watson, Veronica Paige Smith
Writer: Katrina Steele, Neil Miguel Watson
Cast: Amanda Lynn Holquin, Katrina Steele
The Junction
Short / Drama / US / 40 minutes
A mother and daughter try to navigate their strained relationship while running from a haunting that follows them wherever they go.
Director: AJ Lambert
Producer: Katherine Croft, Natalie Peyser, Harriet Cauthery
Writer: AJ Lambert
Cast: Alicia Blasingame, Emily Gateley, Frania Del Carmen, Matthew Marzo
The Queen’s Jewels
Los Angeles Premiere / Feature / Action, Adventure / US / 1 hour, 44 minutes
The Queen’s Jewels is a classic and timeless tale of adventure. Small-town surfer Beau, our story’s protagonist is thrust into a hunt for Queen Elizabeth of Spain’s long, lost treasure. When Victoria, a rich and ruthless art and antiquities collector orders her crew after Beau, who holds the key to the missing treasure, Beau finds himself embarking on a journey to the Bahamas.
Director: Joshua Friedman
Producer: Linda Duncombe
Writer: Joshua Friedman
Cast: Carson Rowland, Katherine McNamara, Michael Evans Behling, Natalie Martinez, Mike Vogel, George Akram, Marlon Aquino, Tom Everett Scott
Nate and Moriah in Venice
West Coast Premiere / Feature / Dramedy / US / 1 hour, 40 minutes
A young, struggling couple goes on vacation to rekindle their happiness, but their past catches up with them as they wander the streets of beautiful Venice for a day.
Director: Austin Balke
Producer: Austin Balke, Francis Dillon
Writer: Austin Balke
Cast: Corrinne Mica, Michael Ridley
Head Sighs’ – Jumprope
Short / Music Video / US / 4 minutes
Two friends mettle with dark forces, summoning a creature from their nightmares.
Director: Matthew Hardesty
Producer: Matthew Hardesty, Taylor Gibson, Chris Dunaway, Nolan Kerbert
Writer: Matthew Hardesty
Cast: Julia Sell, Sarah Jean Campbell
Visitant
West Coast Premiere / Short / Thriller / US / 5 minutes
During a late-night rendezvous between a straight-laced man and an androgynous sex worker, secrets emerge and it becomes clear that these two may know each other from the past.
Director: Cameron J. Kic
Producer: Angie Guo
Writer: Cameron J. Kic
Cast: Joey Sorce, Luke Stoddard
The Spot
World Premiere / Short / Horror/ Thriller / US / 7 minutes
A woman’s obsession with a spot she cannot make clean drives her to madness and beyond.
Director: Gabriella Westwood, AJ Starzak
Producer:
Writer: Gabriella Westwood
Cast: Gabriella Westwood, Daniel Van Thomas
Forgive Me
Short / Horror/ Thriller / US / 19 minutes
Jessica is the only Asian girl in her American suburb. While navigating cultural expectations and casual racism, she is stalked by a menacing shadow with a tragic past.
Director: Cameron Sun
Producer: Ryan Blewett
Writer: Cameron Sun
Cast: Savira Windyani, Hana Wu, Allison Gabriel, Jack Seavor McDonald, Mike Peebler, Kitana Turnbull
HER HOUSE
Short / Horror/ Thriller / US / 12 minutes
A young woman and her estranged mother are forced to reconcile their differences when they discover an evil presence lurking in the home of their recently deceased matriarch.
Director: Will Lee
Producer: Katrina Ungewitter, Ian Hedman
Writer: Will Lee, Ian Hedman
Cast: Taylor Joree Scorse, Gloria Gruber, Lexa Gluck
Sunday, September 28
Darling
Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes
After months of suspicion, Fiona follows her husband to a seedy motel where her worst fears are confirmed. Accepting an invitation from Liza, a sex worker, to enter the motel room, Fiona learns that not everything is as it seems.
Director: Finola Hughes
Producer: Finola Hughes, Mandy Mills, Susan Gallagher, Spooner Greenbird, Michelle Vaineharrison
Writer: Mandy Mills
Cast: Kristina Klebe, Mandy Mills
When It Hits
Short / Drama / US / 9 minutes
Two siblings clash while navigating their own journeys through grief.
Director: Veronica Mitsuk
Producer: Veronica Mitsuk, David Terry
Writer: Veronica Mitsuk
Cast: Veronica Mitsuk, David Terry
Muscle Beach
World Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 12 minutes
A brother travels across the country to fulfill his sister’s last dying wish.
Director: Eliot Charof
Producer: Eliot Charof
Writer: Eliot Charof
Cast: Love Almqvist, Anne Windsland, Alan Charof, Ron Gordon, Granola The Dog
NO LEFT TURNS
Short / Drama / US / 32 minutes
Natural Selection tells the story of a young woman’s journey to find love- backed by a nature documentary narrator observing her every move. Through Nicole’s idealistic and overly romanticized view of love and finding a partner, the film offers a female perspective on navigating the proverbial jungle of the dating scene.
Director: Amanda Ryan D’Ambrosio
Producer: Coral Lomeli, Martina Tucker
Writer: Amanda Ryan D’Ambrosio
Cast: Nicole Anneliese Smith, LaToya Blakely, Lo Weaver, Matt Tang, Vincent Doud, Collin Riley
STREET SMART: Lessons from a TV Icon
Los Angeles Premiere / Feature / Documentary / US / 1 hour, 26 minutes
STREET SMART: LESSONS FROM A TV ICON is a feature documentary about Sonia Manzano — known to millions as “Maria” from SESAME STREET. The film follows Sonia’s remarkable journey, from a young girl in the South Bronx finding refuge in television, to becoming the first Latina on American TV in a regular role, through 44 years on screen on SESAME STREET, and now as a creator of ALMA’S WAY.
Director: Ernie Bustamante
Producer: Steven Canals, Maor Azran
Writer: Ernie Bustamante
Cast: Sonia Manzano, Stephen Schwartz, Sonia Sotomayor, Carmen Osbahr-Vertiz
Erebus
Short / Drama / US / 16 minutes
A haunting tale about the indelible and irrevocable power of memory, love, and loss. Nestled in the twisted woods of their private and broken world, Miles and Sarah must consider the cost they are willing to pay to keep their love alive.
Director: Brian Reynolds
Producer: Steve Cubine, Eve M. Cohen, Shawna Pevec, Daniel M. Bennett
Writer: Aleks Pevec
Cast: Aleks Pevec, Grace Gregory
Carriage Return
Short / Drama / US / 19 minutes
Half-drunk and hardly working, playwright Lane Williams is in desperate need of inspiration to finish his latest script when a knock at the door escalates to ferocious pounding. His old writing partner, Charlie Marlow, has sought him out with violent accusations of plagiarism.
Director: Ferguson Sauvé-Rogan
Producer: Daniel Sauvé-Rogan, Lexi Giovagnoli
Writer: Daniel Sauvé-Rogan
Cast: Jeremy Parr, Carlos Sanchez
ANACHRONISM
Short / Drama / US / 13 minutes
On the brink of perfecting his latest creation, a young inventor is visited by his future self. Via his time-traveling watch, his older self urges him to leave his relationship as it will lead to his personal and professional demise.
Director: Nick Talarico
Producer: Sofia Ribeiro
Writer: Nick Talarico, Sofia Ribeiro
Cast: Ryan Hennessy, Anton Nassif, Nevada Grey, Sophia Delphi
Stone Garden
Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes
After running away from home, a young boy happens upon a mysterious stone garden. Through the help of the enigmatic Stone Witch, caretaker of the garden, he learns a painful lesson about regret, sacrifice and ultimately what it means to love and be loved.
Director: Alysha Daniele Haran
Producer: Bryan Bihari, Jacquelyn Ryan, Daryn Okada
Writer: Alysha Daniele Haran
Cast: Laurel Nicole Blairsden
Church Bell
Southern California Premiere / Short / Music Video / US / 4 minutes
A music video for Tongo Eisen-Martin, the Poet Laureate of San Francisco, and his band LOAN.
Director: Naftali Beane Rutter
Producer: Naftali Beane Rutter, Ellen Westberg
Writer: Tongo Eisen-Martin, Naftali Beane Rutter
Cast: Tongo Eisen-Martin
In Loving Memory Of Our Transgressions
World Premiere / Short / Experimental / US / 10 minutes
Adrian, a teenage boy wrestles with his identity. Feeling out of place and isolated he reflects on David, a neighboring teen who recounts his transgressions growing up in Rock Island, Fort Worth, TX.
Director: Jorge.
Cast: Jacob Tobias, David Ortiz, Alma Viramontes, Arek Thompson, Amanda Cecilia, Daniel Hernandez, Kamber Alme, Alondra Gonzales, Galissa Gonzalez, Aleeya Ciacelli, Jovanny Parga, Pedro Lopez, Carlos Lopez, Richard Zacarias, Aaron Avelar
Good Boy
World Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 8 minutes
A journey of how two wandering souls find exactly what they are looking for.
Director: Brett Robert Culbert
Producer: Shadow C. LaValley
Writer: Shadow C. LaValley
Cast: Roberto Hasbun, Shadow C. LaValley
Stranded
Short / Drama / Brazil, US / 10 minutes
A frustrated investment banker finds purpose in the hair that he is losing.
Director: Luca Floris
Producer: Luca Floris, José Eduardo Lins
Writer: Luca Floris
Cast: Luca Floris
Routine
World Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 8 minutes
A young man slogs through his workweek amid a mental health crisis.
Director: Jake Bernstein
Producer: Jake Bernstein
Writer: Jake Bernstein
Cast: Justin Ferante
Life Support
Short / Drama / US / 11 minutes
Inspired by true stories, an emergency doctor struggling under the weight of life-and-death decisions must confront his own hidden traumas as he teaches a young medical student what it truly means to save a life.
Director: Jamon Tolbert
Producer: Bonnie Kim
Writer: Andrew Chu, Jamon Tolbert
Cast: Abigail Johnson
Homeward Dawn
Short / Drama / US / 20 minutes
A long night in jail leads to a catharsis and a new day for a veteran trying to outrun his painful past.
Director: Alysha Daniele Haran
Producer: Jacquelyn Ryan-Krichevsky, Bryan Bihari
Writer: Alysha Daniele Haran
Cast: Justin Jesso, Jason Kelley
Ectropy
Short / Experimental / US / 20 minutes
Ectropy follows the Artist, a member of the Timeless Presence species who struggles to see his potential. Aided by the young Gaia, the Artist faces existential challenges and immense pressures as they paint the fabric of nature.
Director: Jordan Schulz
Producer: Jordan Schulz, Andrew Crème, Randall J. Slavin
Writer: Andrew Crème
Cast: Sir Daniel K. Winn, Vivienne Lucille
THE OTHER SIDE
California Premiere / Short / Drama / US / 30 minutes
Set in the heart of Mumbai, The Other Side is a compelling portrayal of the struggles endured by a Mumbai street artist aspiring to attend one of the country’s finest art academies. When he is faced with the decision between his desires and a friend’s needs, he must choose between his heart and his conscience.
Director: Nikita Hattangady
Producer: Nikita Hattangady
Writer: Nikita Hattangady
Cast: Swapnil Kanase, Arpita Ghogardare
Water Lilies
Feature / Drama / Republic of Korea / 1 hour, 59 minutes
The water lilies bloom, even in the filthiest waters. Amid the mire of selfish desires and the indifference to others’ suffering, hope begins to bloom anew in the fleeting moment when we recognize the humanity within one another.
Director: Chanho Lee
Producer: Jiyoon Oh
Writer: Jungbum Park, Chanho Lee
Cast: Hyowon Lee, Eunseo Choi, Seungyeon Lee, Incheol Park
Heart Full of Hope
World Premiere / Feature / Drama / US / 1 hour, 19 minutes
Whitney, a determined woman in her 30’s, refuses to let renal kidney failure stop her from earning a college degree, while Lynette, her lively and devoted younger sister, is always by her side. But beneath Lynette’s unwavering support, she quietly struggles with the pain of knowing she isn’t a match to be Whitney’s kidney donor.
Director: Dale Fabrigar
Producer: Nicole Menendz, Suzanne DeLaurentiis
Writer: Tricia Aurand
Cast: Chelsea Rose Cook, Julie Taylor, Sebastian Armani
Monday, September 29
Join us at the beautiful Glen Arden Club as we honor the talents and artistry of our GIFF 2025 filmmakers and screenwriters with a special reception and awards ceremony.
Each ticket includes hors d’oeuvres and 1 beer/wine ticket (soda and water are complimentary). A no-host bar is available to purchase additional beverages.
Doors for the reception will open at 6:00pm. The awards program will begin at 7:30pm.
Free parking is available across the street and on surrounding streets (please be sure to check parking signs).
Tuesday, September 30
Check back soon for details