GIFF 2024 Films & Screenplays

GIFF 2024 Official Selections

A Better Place 

Student / USC / Short / Drama / US / 17 minutes

Director: Shih-Chun Hsiao
Producers: Chris Merola, Dalton Zongshian Lu, Shih-Chun Hsiao, Luna de Buretel
Writer: Shih-Chun Hsiao
Cast: Sam Song Li, Jen Kuo Sung, Lydia Look

After an oil company offers handsome money for his family farm, Henry comes home to convince his immigrant, aging parents to sell the home for good. All his parents want is to leave something for their son – a better future.

Program 2 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 pm

A Dream of Fire 

Student / Savannah College of Art and Design / Short / Drama / US / 8 minutes

Director: Lingxuan Zhang
Producer: Jiachen Li
Writer: Lingxuan Zhan
Cast: Elias Wettengel, Nathan Herren

A 9-year-old boy, Wren, living with his mom, suffering from low self-esteem and the absence of a father’s love, tries to set fire to draw the attention of his dad, who is a firefighter.

Program 2 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 pm

AKILLES 

Student / Emerson College / Feature / Experimental, Sci-Fi, Mockumentary, Dramedy / US / 1 hour, 3  minutes

Director: Maximus Papsadore
Producers: Maximus Papsadore, Jack Sullivan, Patrick Morahan
Writer: Patrick Morahan
Cast: Jack O’Haire, Maximus Papsadore, Patrick Morahan, Frank Papsadore, Henry Komar  

Our hero faces an existential crisis competing in the AKILLES Games, a televised dystopian bloodfest where its global audience values savage entertainment over life itself. Meanwhile, the broadcast crew led by a maniacal production manager deals with its own mind-blowing on-air challenges. The film parodies the over-exploited battle royale genre. Think mockumentary-style Hunger Games.

Program 1 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 pm

Amor Manet 

Short / Dramedy / US / 9 minutes

Director: Will Ahrens
Producer: Will Ahrens
Writer: Will Ahrens
Cast: Victoria Ippolito, Jared Boghossian

Chance meeting in cemetery leads to…

Program 6 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 5:20 pm

Anguish as a Second Language  

Short / Music Video / US / 4 minutes

Director: Denise Gentilini
Producer: Denise Gentilini
Writer: Denise Gentilini
Key Cast: Denise Gentilini

As Armenian Genocide descendants – we carry the pain and trauma of our ancestors in our DNA. This song recognizes that pain.

Program 22 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 12:00 pm

As the Earth Turns 

Feature / US / 45 minutes

Director: Richard H. Lyford
Producer: Richard H. Lyford, Ed Hartman
Writer: Richard H. Lyford
Key Cast: Richard H. Lyford, Barbara Berger

Set in the late 1930s, As the Earth Turns is about war, future-technology, and climate change. Richard H. Lyford plays a mad scientist who desperately wants peace. Lead actress Barbara Berger (AKA Berjer) portrays Julie, a hard-working newspaper reporter.  Presented for the first time after 80 years with a professionally mixed orchestral soundtrack by NW film composer Ed Hartman.

Program 28 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 6:50 pm

Baggage Claim 

Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes

Director: Eric Dyson
Producer: Eric Dyson
Writer: Eric Dyson

Jimmy finds out, the hard way, that all of his life’s decisions must be accounted for.

Program 10 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 10:00 pm 

Blood Orange Tree  

Short / Horror/Thriller, Sci-Fi / US / 12 minutes

Director: Dennis Donovan
Writers: Walker Hare, Dennis Donovan
Producers: Diana Rivera Vera, Walker Hare
Cast: Walker Hare, Brian Rivera, William Hodgson

A conspiracy theorist believes he’s uncovered a plot where people are being systematically replaced, but the more he digs, the closer he gets to the terrifying truth.

Program 10 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 10:00 pm 

Boiling Over  

Short / Comedy / Brazil / 11 minutes

Director: Paulo Miranda
Producer: Paulo Miranda
Writer Paulo Miranda
Cast: Nathalia Lorda, Kiko Vianello

Wife asks for a divorce from her husband, and he accepts it. From there, an unusual and amusing conversation takes place between them, exposing each other’s secret desires and unknown personas.

Program 14 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 1:45 pm

Burst the Silence  

Feature / Experimental, Musical / US / 1 hour, 41 minutes

Director: Eric D. Schaeffer
Producer: Mark Maxey
Writer: Robbie Schaefer
Cast: Dylan Silver, Nick Blaemire, Susan Rome, Declan Fennell, Bobby Smith, Robbie Schaefer

The true story of an aging father, haunted by a secret, and his son, as they reconcile the past, forgetting and remembering, and a musical gift that reveals the one story the father could never tell. Film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre stage production.

Program 21 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 12:00 pm

Casual Vignettes of Gilded Vulgarity  

Short / Dramedy / US / 12 minutes

Director: Paul Kaiser
Producers: Joanna Fang, John Charter
Writer: Paul Kaiser
Cast: Carrie Bernans, Granville Ames, Dominic Hoffman, Matthew Shaffer

An allegorical account told through a series of vignettes that connect the origin of American systemic and structural racism to its contemporary manifestations. The film’s 12 characters are flawed archetypes found within English aristocracy and classism that carried over to form our American foundations. Through historical satire, CVGV is a blunt indictment of America’s English peerage roots which created the culture of white privilege, entitlement, and racism that continues to perpetuate today.

Program 14 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 1:45 pm

Celine  

Short / Horror/Thriller / US / 8 minutes

Director: Humberto De Luna
Producer: Concepts Unlimited Ltd
Writer: Humberto De Luna
Cast: Maya De Luna

AI therapy goes horribly wrong for a college-aged trauma survivor.

Program 10 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 10:00 pm 

Chorus Notes  

Short / Experimental, Comedy, Musical / US / 10 minutes 

Director: Casey de Fremery
Producers: Melody Carey, Regina Pigsley
Writer: Casey de Fremery
Cast: Kelby Keenan, Leah Voysey 

While browsing through a vinyl record store, Jenny and Natalie meet and bond over a shared love of music. They spend the day together, communicating only through the language of music.

Program 6 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 5:20 pm

Clair de Lune  

Short / Experimental, Horror, Suspense, Thriller / US / 8 minutes

Director: A.W. Smith
Producer: Maya Lawson
Writer: A.W. Smith
Cast: Sika Lonner, Matt Hasle 

A young man and woman encounter their true nature, which also happens to be their greatest fear.

Program 10 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 10:00 pm 

Cold Soda 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 3 minutes

Director: Huayi Yu
Producer: Huayi Yu
Writer: Huayi Yu

Your dog is always thinking about you and wants to get you a cold soda.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

CopyCataclysm  

Short / Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy / US / 7 minutes

Director: Joe Rechtman
Executive Producers: Neal Rechtman, Neal Rechtman, Caron Clancey, Marissa High
Producers: Joe Rechtman, Cara McKeown
Writer: Joe Rechtman
Cast: Anna Long, Nayomi Van Brunt

Things quickly get out of hand when two women begin to show symptoms of a mysterious disease.

Program 12 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 pm

Crunch 

Student / Clark Magnet High School / Short / US / 13 minutes

Director: Jack Schofield
Producers: Alex Muradian, Galina Arakelian
Writer: Jack Schofield, Gavin Marquis
Cast: Mingjie Zhai, Chris Fine, Joshua Taback, Matthew Schofield

As a string of killings carried out by a mysterious culprit armed with a colossal spoon ravages a renowned cereal corporation’s executive pantheon, it’s up to street smart detective Talia Rivers and her bumbling sidekick Ryan Marshall to track down the perpetrator and bring them to justice.

Program 3 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 2:50 pm

CYCLES  

Short / Thriller, Drama, Black Comedy / US / 14 minutes

Director Will Darbyshire
Producers: Greg Porper, Arden Rose
Writer: Will Darbyshire
Cast: María Gabriela de Faría, Anthony De La Torre, Iliana Raykovski, Tyler Young

When a dinner with the new neighbours goes awry, an antisocial and severely codependent couple reignite the spark in their relationship by covering their tracks.

Program 18 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 5:55 pm

Darcine’s Day  

Short / Drama / US / 17 minutes

Director: Aaron Goffman
Producer: Jeaneth Goffman
Writer: Aaron Goffman
Cast: Kyla Diane Kennedy, Brent Huff, Elizabeth Lamboy-Wilson, Joe Hackett, Vicki Browder-Johnson, Karla Paola Cortez

Darcine Thomas, divorced and jobless, struggles to get back on her feet in post-pandemic Los Angeles. She plans to start a new business to help those living on the streets, but struggles to find her own new job and hits obstacles at every turn.

Program 23 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 2:30 pm 

Discharge  

Short / Drama / US / 14 minutes

Director: Ryan Metcalf
Producer: Ken Schwarz
Writer: Ken Schwarz
Cast: Ken Schwarz, Jamie Askew, Gabrielle Lee, Danish Farooqui, Ross Alden, Maya Benharush, Nadia Ramdass

As his world begins to crumble around him, a troubled police detective, who has tried to ignore the effects from trauma he suffered, must finally confront his past in order to begin healing and reclaim his present.

Program 25 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:35 pm

DOW 

Student / University of Toronto / Short / Drama / US / 10 minutes

Director: Sofi Abou-Assali
Producer: David James
Writer: Sofi Abou-Assali
Cast: Arsh Parekh

In 1915, a Syrian immigrant grapples with race-based naturalization and fights the Supreme Court to attain citizenship. Meanwhile, a modern day family is observed.

Program 2 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 pm

Dunes  

Short / Experimental / France / 10 minutes

Director: Virginie Kahn
Producers: Xavier Plèche, Orianne Vilmer
Writer: Virginie Kahn
Cast: Marie Simon, Barima Osei 

A duet based on the dance show Cabanes. It could be a Harlem theater in the ‘50s. Two strangers share the same emotion while watching a movie. The cinema exit door opens onto an imaginary desert where they will meet, alone in the world around a dance that is sometimes tender, sometimes dramatic, and soon playful. A tribute to the feelings we share when going to the cinema.

Program 12 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 pm

El Aleluya  

Short / Drama / US / 30 minutes

Director: Juan Diego Ramirez
Producer: Juan Diego Ramirez
Writer: Juan Diego Ramirez
Cast: Tom Sandoval, Oscar Basulto, Adria Saldivar, Raquel Sanchez

Antonio Moreno’s world is disrupted when a controversy sparks a protest against his favorite baseball team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers invited the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group that dresses as Catholic nuns, to their LGBTQ+ night, and as a result a backlash from the Catholic community sprung against the Dodgers. Now, Antonio must decide whether to continue to support his team or stay true to his faith and stand against his religion being mocked.

Program 11 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 pm

Elmer 

Short / Dramedy / US / 7 minutes

Director: Stephen Anderson
Producer: Richard Turke
Writer: Stephen Anderson
Cast: Sean Bolger

A mannequin in an amusement park ride tells the truth about who he really is – the mummified corpse of Elmer McCurdy, a bank robber from the old west.

Program 14 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 1:45 pm

Enough of You  

Short / Music Video / US / 3 minutes

Director: Joseph McClure
Producers: Maggie McClure, Shane Henry, Joseph McClure
Cast: Maggie McClure, Shane Henry

A couple sings to each other and the camera and grooves to the fiery rock vibes of the tune singing they “can’t get enough of each other” (as heard in Mending The Line, feature film starring Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Wes Studi, and Patricia Heaton).

Program 12 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 pm

Erlkönig 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation – Drama, Action, Fantasy / UK / 2 minutes

Director: Annie Han
Writer: Annie Han

A rider in the night takes desperate measures to evade his pursuer.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

EZ LIVIN’  

Short / Dramedy / US / 12 minutes

Director: Paloma Esparza Rabinov
Producer: Paloma Esparza Rabinov
Writer: Paloma Esparza Rabinov
Cast: Paloma Esparza Rabinov, Heather Craig, Laksmi Hedemark, Chess Lopez, Eric Tucker

A young cancer patient in the middle of a surgery preparation is catapulted into a shit storm (literally) when her dog is stolen from under her nose. She is forced to call upon friends and higher spirits to help return peace to her world.

Program 6 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 5:20 pm

Face Blindness 

Student / New York Film Academy / Short / Suspense / US / 17 minutes

Directors: Xiang Cao, Lying Wang
Producer: Ashley Hsiung
Writer: Zongying Liu 

After a car accident, Yong’s face is transformed into another person by his surgeon Su, and becomes her revenge tool. With the implementation of the revenge plan, Yong falls in love with Su and gradually falls into her well-designed trap. With the truth getting close, a car crashes into Yong again…

Program 2 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 pm

Faye&Lexi 

Student / Loyola Marymount University / Short / Drama / US / 10 minutes 

Director: Olivia Lige Wuri
Producer: Olivia Lige Wuri
Writer: Olivia Lige Wuri
Cast: Maya Haughawout, Niah Andino, Billy Hirsch

Living with her control freak father, submissive teen girl Faye never gets the courage to stand up for herself, even if she’s teased by her classmates. Meeting with a rebellious teen girl named Lexi, Faye questions her weakness, starts to feel love and courage, and finally breaks free.

Program 3 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 2:50 pm

Fielding Dreams: A Celebration of Baseball Scouts  

Feature / Documentary / US / 1 hour, 30 minutes

Director: ​​H. James Gilmore
Producer: Tracy Halcomb
Narrator: Jerry Blevins

An intimate profile of a uniquely American profession, documenting up close the men and women searching for the ballplayers of tomorrow. Director H. James Gilmore goes beyond the “Moneyball mindset” and features dozens of interviews with some of the scouting legends of the game, including five who helped build the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers. Narrated by former MLB pitcher Jerry Blevins.

Program 13 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 1:25 pm

Finding Happy 

Feature / Documentary / US / 1 hour, 12 minutes

Director: Maria Bertrand
Executive Producers: Jim Greenbaum, Tom Bergeron
Producers: Kelly King, Maria Bertrand
Writer: Maria Bertrand 

After losing her relationship, income, home, and her dog, a heartbroken woman saves an injured day-old sparrow not realizing how he would change her life. Finding Happy takes you on a journey across oceans to explore the healing power of connection told through other unlikely human-animal bonds. The film is centered around one tiny sparrow, named Happy, and how his rescue story became a beacon of hope for millions worldwide. 

Program 16 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 3:50 pm

First Love, Last Love 

Student / Loyola Marymount University / Short / Drama, Comedy / US / 14 minutes

Director: Anabella Mortenson
Producer: Anabella Mortenson
Writer: Anabella Mortenson
Cast: Anne Alexander Sieder, Lise Porter

A bitter widow and her late husband’s first love decide to ditch his funeral together. They soon discover they knew very different versions of the man they both loved.

Program 3 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 2:50 pm

First Time Machine 

Short / Sci-Fi / US / 17 minutes

Director: Jay Woelfel
Producers: Paulo Miranda, Jose Cardenas
Writer: Jay Woelfel
Cast: Anthony Baldasare, Wehseh Juty, Ma’ Lon Smith, Dar’ Jon Bentley 

African American scientist Dr. Grainger gathers his closest friends to show them his new invention: the world’s first time machine. However, one of his friends has hidden and dangerous intentions for traveling back in time. An adaptation of the classic sci-fi short story by Fredric Brown.

Program 10 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 10:00 pm 

Go! I Need Space 

Short / Musical, Comedy / US / 20 minutes

Director: Sergei Stern
Producer: Sergei Stern
Writer: Sergei Stern
Cast: Andrew Landecker, Camila Llano, Brendon Dice, Christofer Sands

John and Sarah have a perfect plan to get rid of their annoying Russian roommate Andrey, who is a total cock blocking parasite with his ridiculous OCD, by buying him a one-way ticket to Mars, but, as we all know, perfect plans usually don’t work out as expected…

Program 6 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 5:20 pm

Guiding Light 

Student / Kenilworth Junior High School / Short / Documentary / US / 5 minutes

Director: India Anne Mitchell
Producer: India Anne Mitchell
Writer: India Anne Mitchell
Cast: India Anne Mitchell

The story of Polly Hannah Klaas, the young teen in a small town in America who was kidnapped from her bedroom during a slumber party while her family was in the house, told through compelling interviews of the lead prosecutor, defense attorney, and police chief in the case. India Mitchell, a teen growing up in the same town 30 years later, brings a fresh perspective and highlights the importance of this case’s legacy to the continuing endeavor to keep children safe.

Program 3 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 2:50 pm

Heart Problems 

Short / Drama / US / 9 minutes

Director: Rebecca Demeter
Producer: Rebecca Demeter
Writer: Rebecca Demeter
Cast: Tiffany Nicole Brevard, Me’Tra Carter, Jennifer Cheung

A mother and daughter spend a long night at the emergency room after the mom thinks she is having a heart attack.

Program 23 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 2:30 pm

Hope For The Holidays 

Feature / Documentary / US / 1 hour 

Directors: Nathan Cribari, Yuri Omar Shariff Williams
Producers: Yuri Omar Shariff Williams, Rodney Smith Jr.
Writers: Yuri Omar Shariff Williams, Rodney Smith Jr.
Cast: Yuri Omar Shariff Williams, Rodney Smith Jr.

This participatory documentary follows the mission of two men devoted to bringing hope to families and individuals with difficult circumstances in every US state during the holidays. Dressed as Santa’s helpers, Yuri and Rodney bless animal shelters, homes with special needs, and more this holiday season by providing gifts and devoting time to hear the stories of these individuals. Driving through everything from snow storms in remote landscapes to the weathered side streets of major cities, doors will open across America to two men committed to bringing hope for the holidays.

Program 26 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 5:00pm

How We Met 

Short / Comedy / US / 5 minutes

Director: Roe Moore
Producer: Meg Parker
Writer: Leigh Cesiro
Cast: Alex Otis, DuShaun Thompson, Zach Dulin, Sylvie Wang, Marissa High, Colette Prosper

Brian and Claire are setting up their wedding website. When they have to share how they met, they know the true story…isn’t the most happily ever after story. 

Program 6 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 5:20 pm

It Gets in Your Blood 

Short / Documentary / US / 15 minutes

Director: Ed Hartman
Producer: Ed Hartman
Writer: Ed Hartman

Short documentary about Richard Lyford, a filmmaker who made 9 films before he was 20 years old, worked for Disney on Fantasia, Dumbo, and Pinocchio, and went on to direct an Academy Award-winning documentary. In spite of all of this, very few know who he is, or why he is important to filmmaking, today.

Program 28 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 6:50 pm

Just One Bite 

Short / Comedy, Horror Comedy / US / 4 minutes

Director: Paloma Esparza Rabinov
Producer: Paloma Esparza Rabinov
Writer: Paloma Esparza Rabinov
Cast: Paloma Esparza Rabinov, Chris Tse, Ryanna Dunn

A vegan vampire couple is forced back into indulgent habits after eating a popular dish at an overly hyped Los Angeles restaurant.

Program 18 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 5:55 pm

LAKAY 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation – Fantasy, Adventure / US / 4 minutes 

Director: Amarise Rose-Zhané DeFranco
Writer: Amarise Rose-Zhané DeFranco
Cast: Sarah Lubin, Dahana Regis, Breanna Michel 

When a girl travels to her home country in a dream, she’s whisked along on a journey with a familiar stranger where she learns a little bit more about who she is and where she came from…

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

Le Charade 

Student / Savannah College of Art and Design / Short / Animation – Comedy / US / 3 minutes

Director: Erika Totoro
Producer: Erika Totoro
Writer: Erika Totoro

A psychological comedy set in a run-down 1950s diner that follows the final performance of a lonely mime and the psychotic episode that ensues after his imaginary friend breaks up with him and he is forced to re-enter society.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

LIKE ASHES IN YOUR COFFEE 

Feature / Drama / Israel / 1 hour, 33 minutes 

Director: Yael Segal
Producers: Gal Kadosh, Moran Kedem Tal, Amit Eran
Writer: Yael Segal
Cast: Noa Koler, Angel Bonanni, Dvir Benedek, Omri Laron

We barely see Mrs. Segal without a cup of coffee in her hands. She needs something strong and daily while she takes care of her husband, who fights an aggressive brain cancer. Her will to keep him alive, and his will to remain human, are eventually defeated, as nature wins and Mrs. Segal is left alone with us, and with our shared sense of grieving these feelings.

Program 24 | Sunday, September 29, 2:35pm

Like You 

Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes

Directors: Eddy Martin, Jhuliann Chiri
Producer: Fabian Martin
Writer: Eddy Martin
Cast: Marco Pineda, Fernando Lopez

Julio is a sheltered and eager young man who becomes fascinated with the edgier world around him. He finds himself drawn to Raul, a troubled individual dealing with his identity and inner confidence, who enjoys the company of the young Julio and relishes feeling idolized. Together, they become entangled in a world of violence and betrayal, and must confront their own moral compasses to make choices that will shape their future.

Program 15 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 3:45 pm

Live from The Geneva! 

Student / Northwestern University / Short / Thriller, Mystery, Drama / US / 13 minutes

Director: Nick Leahy
Producers: Anna Castagnaro, Aluna Herrera
Writer: Nick Leahy
Cast: Casey Bond, Ellsworth Sullivan, Adelaide Ray Young, Oliver Tam, Nathan Hiykel, Dillon Nashelsky

Amidst the hysteria of the Red Scare in 1953 Chicago, a nightclub staff becomes entangled in a political scandal when their star performer’s iconic red-and-gold pocket square becomes the focal point of media chaos.

Program 3 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 2:50 pm

Look At Me 

Feature / Drama, Comedy / Canada / 1 hour, 29 minutes

Director: Taylor Olson
Producers: Taylor Olson, Koumbie, Kirsten Bruce
Writer: Taylor Olson
Cast: Taylor Olson, Koumbie, Stephanie MacDonald, Sam Vigneault

A fictional autobiography about an insecure, awkward, and lonely bisexual actor who goes on an unwitting journey of self-love in the midst of an eating disorder relapse.

Program 27 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 6:50pm

Look Out Below 

Short / Documentary / US / 15 minutes

Director: Michael Dispenza
Producers: Michael Dispenza, Jacobo Ruhane
Cast: Colette Miller

The origin story of Colette Miller’s ‘Global Angel Wings Project’ and what it takes to make it as an artist living in Los Angeles.

Program 12 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 pm

Love and the All Night Horror Show 

Short / Horror/Thriller / US / 37 minutes

Director: Gregory Derasmo

After losing his beloved partner to cancer, Roger is getting back into the comically brutal gay dating scene. Sick of the anonymous hookups and superficial standards of the community, Roger is looking for genuine human connection, and he finds it, with homicidal maniac Abe. Abe has a plan for getting Roger over his lost love, and it involves a box cutter. Blending humor, warmth, and blood drenched practical gore effects for a wild ride, this is the first date from hell.

Program 18 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 5:55 pm

LYZ 

Short / Dramedy / US / 10 minutes

Director: Darnell Brown
Producers: Randy Becker, Darnell Brown, Angela Lewis
Writer: Darnell Brown
Cast: Angela Lewis, Tyee Tilghman, Tom Ayers, Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, Kai Mahalyn Tampol, J. Mallory McCree

A fresh, off-beat dramedy that follows a passionate mental health worker as she struggles to balance her uniquely challenging job with keeping a promise to her daughter. Inspired by the writer/director’s experience as a former mental health professional.

Program 25 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:35 pm

Madness Unplugged 

Short / Drama, Thriller, Fantasy, Sci-Fi / US / 17 minutes

Director David St. Clair
Producer: Jim St. Clair
Writer: David St. Clair
Cast: Jon Oshei, Brit Landa, Jeff McDonald

A man with a history of mental illness begins to hear the electric outlet plugs in his apartment talking about him and a plot to destroy the building. He struggles to separate fact from hallucination while deciding what to do to avert disaster.

Program 25 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:35 pm

Man’s Best Friend 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 5 minutes

Director: Jaimi Qiu

A variety of animals are interviewed about their experiences with humans.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

Mother Father Sister Brother Frank 

Feature / Comedy / Canada / 1 hour, 25 minutes

Director: Caden Douglas
Producers: Michael Lomenda, Matt Schicter
Writer: Caden Douglas
Cast: Enrico Colantoni, Mindy Cohn, Melanie Leishman, Iain Stewart, Juan Chioran

The Jennings family couldn’t be more painfully suburban, but when asshole Uncle Frank crashes their weekly Sunday dinner with a nasty surprise, murder turns up on the menu. Can the Jennings’ overcome secrets and dysfunction to learn that, the family that slays together, stays together?

Program 8 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 7:20 pm

Nerot Shel Shabbat 

Student / California State University Northridge (CSUN) / Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes

Director: Lital Mizrahi
Producers: Maya Bellew, Sofia Ribeiro, Gisselle Olmedo-Torres
Writer: Lital Mizrahi
Cast: Hovhannes Johnn Babakhanyan, Sera Heywood-Rakhimova, Emiline Bell, Lila Dunham, Willow Hale, Nancy Van Iderstine, Saana Laigren Campana, Murphy Towne

A young expecting Jewish couple, Rivkah and Chaim, have to flee the Soviet Union on Shabbat, the holiest day of the week in Judaism, for the sake of their family.

Program 2 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 pm

NUUNZAYA 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation – Drama / China / 8 minutes 

Director: Lan Wang
Producer: Fanfan Zhou

Animated short centered on the dilemma faced by generations of Mongolian women – their struggle against the harsh environment, and the conflicts between their nomadic lifestyle and traditional marital constructs.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

Oh My Sweetheart 

Student / New York Film Academy / Short / Mexico / 10 minutes 

Director: Aristides De Jesús Mantilla Artigas
Producer: Aristides De Jesús Mantilla Artigas
Writer: Aristides De Jesús Mantilla Artigas
Cast: Fernando Hernandez Polito

Joaquin, a lonely homeless kid, finds a life friend in a little puppy, only to later find out the dog is lost and has an owner. Joaquin must find the owner to bring the puppy back home and finally finds a true friendship.

Program 2 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 1:00 pm

Once More, Like Rain Man 

Short / Dramedy / US / 15 minutes

Director: Sue Ann Pien
Producers: Suzann Ellis Spurgeon, Darren Dean, Bella Zoe Martinez, Melissa Jean Martinez-Areffi, Andrew J. Areffi
Writer: Bella Zoe Martinez
Cast: Bella Zoe Martinez, Matt Jones, Joe Mantegna, Sue Ann Pien, Sosie Bacon, Kristen Hager, Vella Lovell, Tracy Reiner, Tal Anderson, Alex Plank, James Paxton, Scott Krinsky, James Ponsoldt, Jenee LaMarque, Glory Simon, Andrew Carillo, Felix Pire, Naia Schroder, Tyler Sopland

It’s up to you to make a future that has you in it…’ We follow Zoe and her dad, Gerry, in a ‘day in the life’ of an autistic actress running the gambit of stereotypes she has to deal with – and her dad’s battle in supporting her forging that path for herself – in a funny, frustrating, painful, and sometimes triumphantly sarcastic kind of way.

Program 14 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 1:45 pm

Open to It – Season 2 

Web Series / Comedy / US / 2 hours

Directors: Tim Wardell, Jules Dameron, Frank Arthur Smith, Matt Hartman, Benjamin-Shalom Rodriguez
Producers: Sarah Whitaker, Josslyn Glenn, Frank Arthur Smith, Matt Hartman, Troy Barboza, Afrika Jonée, Jason Caceres, Bryan Schaub
Writers: Tim Wardell, Kristy Thomas, Frank Arthur Smith, Matt Hartman, José Maria Luna, Ben Kahn

In a continuation of Season 1’s Episodes 1-6, Cam and Greg re-examine why they’re open – with lots of sexy shenanigans. Princeton gets a look in the mirror, and doesn’t love what he sees, even though it’s toned. Elsa and Reggie must figure out whether threesomes are better in theory, practice…or both!

Program 9 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 9:40 pm

Or, The Whale 

Short / Comedy / US / 7 minutes

Director: Mark Kiefer
Producer: Mark Kiefer
Writer: Mark Kiefer
Cast: Eddie Nason, Jack Bulger 

The not entirely true story of how the American edition of Herman Melville’s famous epic got its unusually awkward, and ridiculously over punctuated, full title.

Program 14 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 1:45 pm

Peace for Armenia 

Feature / Documentary / US / 1 hour, 29 minutes

Director: Douglas Kalagian
Producer: Douglas Kalagian
Writer: Douglas Kalagian
Cast: Andre Marcarian

Peace for Armenia weaves together the stories of Christian Armenians living in the United States, Armenia, and Artsakh in the three nerve-racking months leading to the end of the 35-year-long conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Beginning in the US, the film examines the context in which Armenian-Americans have maintained their cultural identity following the Ottoman Empire’s genocide of their people. Unfortunately, history appears to be repeating, as Azerbaijan blockades 120,000 Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh from receiving supplies essential to their survival. In the backdrop of a brewing war, the story is transported to Armenia through the main character, a second-generation Armenian-American who visits his homeland for the first time to connect with his roots and learn about the modern challenges faced by the nation.

Program 22 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 12:00 pm

Rise From It 

Short / Documentary / US / 9 minutes

Director: Tara Dorabji
Producers: Tara Dorabji, Jamie DeWolf
Writer: Tara Dorabji

Filmed in the most densely militarized land on earth, Rise From It is one of the only international documentaries that captures the complexity and vibrancy of the Kashmiri resistance movement.  Featuring exclusive interviews with young men blinded by pellets fired by the Indian Army, the film provides a global lens on issues of police and military violence. Indian military forces routinely use pellet guns as forms of crowd control in Kashmir. Rise From It captures the stories and resilience of Kashmiris and provides a rare window into life under occupation.

Program 17 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 5:55 pm

Roadkill Jamboree 

Student / San Jose State University / Short / Animation, Music Video, Comedy Musical / US /  6 minutes

Director: Meghan G. Graham
Producer: Meghan G. Graham
Writers: Angelina Macedo, Bencio Roybal, Meghan Graham
Cast: Vincent Walke, Brian Klem

Stop-motion/2D hybrid music video about how roads and drivers affect animals, featuring music from ska-punk band Suburban Legends. This grim yet humorous story centers around a band of five undead animals encompassing various species along Interstate Highway 5. Each animal in the band represents a different type of creature native to California while embodying different reasons why roadkill happens.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

ROSE 

Short / Drama / US / 19 minutes

Director: Honglin Zhou
Executive Producers: Arthur Liu, Woody Lin
Producers: Pingchun Tian, Qinmeizi (Maggie) Le
Writer: Honglin Zhou

A girl falls in love with her father’s ex-boyfriend.

Program 15 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 3:45 pm

Sanchi’s Decision 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / China / 7 minutes 

Director: Yorick Cao

Sanchi, who has just graduated from high school, participates in a graduation trip organized by his teacher. Unexpectedly, an accident takes the trip in an unpredictable direction.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

Shame 

Short / Drama / US / 5 minutes

Director: Kelly Lynn Warren
Producers: Ashna Sharan, Deidra Kathleen
Writer: Ashna Sharan
Cast: Sophia Cofino, Ashna Sharan

After a woman is assaulted by a mutual friend, she struggles to communicate with her best friend about what happened, leading to tragic consequences.

Program 25 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:35 pm

Silent Suffering – How Endometriosis Affects Teens 

Student / John Burroughs High School / Short / Documentary / US / 14 minutes

Director: Hannah Hope O’Briant
Producer: Lily Brooks O’Briant

Powerful and evocative documentary that delves into the often-overlooked struggles of teenagers living with endometriosis. This debilitating condition, recognized as one of the most painful diseases, affects 1 in 10 women yet remains underdiagnosed and misunderstood, especially in teens. Through the poignant stories of young women and interviews with leading medical professionals, the film sheds light on the physical and emotional toll of endometriosis and aims to raise awareness and advocate for better education, research, and support for teens affected by this chronic illness.

Program 3 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 2:50 pm

“Sleepless” – Trashkat 

Short / Music Video / US / 3 minutes

Director: Matthew Hardesty
Producers: Matthew Hardesty, Taylor Gibson, Garret Martin, Nolan Kerbert, Ray Rodz
Writer: Matthew Hardesty
Cast: Prescylia Mae, Ana CQ

As a tired employee closes up a bar, they dance to relieve their loneliness. But they are soon joined by an otherworldly spirit that seems familiar to them.

Program 12 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 12:00 pm

Smoke 

Short / Drama / US / 15 minutes

Directo: Joshua Gallas
Producers: Seehum Isa, Lizette Barrera
Writers: Lizette Barrera, Joshua Gallas
Cast: David DeLao, Anna Antonia

A firefighter returns home after the most difficult shift of his life.

Program 25 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:35 pm

So Shot 

Feature / US / 1 hour, 21 minutes

Director: Bryan Ferriter
Producers: Troy Guthrie, Ben Goglia, Meg Wright, Justin White
Writer: Troy Guthrie
Cast: Troy Guthrie, Meg Wright, Ben Goglia, Antonio Chicco, Ulysses Randolph, John Snow, Zachary Roozen, David Guthrie, Dominique Fatu, Michael Sturgis, Nicole Wolf, Ethan Haslam, Esmee Ko, Taylan Tural, Manny Spero, Brandon Warfield

Doug, a mid-20s bartender, is dealing with the long-suppressed regret of breaking up with his first love, Abigail. After four humdrum years spent bantering with his co-worker buddies and cussing over Sunday football with his dad, Doug finds that his comfortable routine, formed more or less out of habit, is triggering the thought of his ex. Now he is forced to deal with the emotional fallout he’s buried for so long and the ache that comes from suffering caused by one’s own mistakes in this “feel good the hard way” story.

Program 20 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 8:25 pm

Somewhere 

Short / Drama, Musical / US / 13 minutes

Director: Alexander Craven
Producers: Jeff Pifher, Shane Collins, Alexander Craven
Writers: Alexander Craven, Jeff Pifher
Cast: Jon Robert Hall, Natalie Hanna Mendoza, Richard Rivera, Scott Kruse

When Elena and Cameron are ripped apart by an act of racism, both must stand up for what they believe to keep the door of love open.

Program 12 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 pm

Split Ends 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / Drama / US / 6 minutes

Director: Karly Phuong Kim Nguyen
Cast: Ylan Chu, Emily Buza, Triet M Tran

A woman gets a haircut in the midst of her divorce.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

STAMPILA 

Feature / Drama / Republic of Moldova / 1 hour, 30 minutes

Director: David Larson
Producers: Neil Irwin, Mariana Pasarenco
Writer: David Larson

A middle-aged woman decides to overthrow the powerful oligarch who controls her country. Armed with only her wit and a stolen government stamp, she must outsmart the oligarch’s henchmen, evade the secret police, and trick her countrymen into sparking a revolution. Facing off against armed riot police, water cannons, and deep fakes, she must stop the oligarch from stealing the people’s money and making her country the poorest in Europe. Along the way she’ll need to face her past and uncover the secret weakness of the system that keeps oligarchs in power.

Program 17 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 5:55 pm

Star Shower 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 2 minutes

Director: Jun Koh
Producer: Jun Koh
Writer: Jun Koh

Big, bright shooting stars, zooming across the night sky, are in fact, having a very competitive race of their own, without knowing what beautiful light-bursting magic they can bring to the dark underneath.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

Stay With Me 

Short / Drama / US / 22 minutes

Director: Graeme Finlayson
Executive Producers: Sheila Sawhny, Kanarose Oonhateparuk, Eric Player
Producers: Eric C. Player, Kanarose Oonhateparuk
Writer: Eric C. Player
Cast: Gary Klavans, Sheila Sawhny

A couple on the brink of collapse experiences their last drive home. A story of love, loss, and love lost. We all have our conflicts. We all worry that it’s too late. But it’s not. Let love be your legacy.

Program 15 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 3:45 pm

The Activated Man 

Feature / Thriller, Drama, Supernatural / US / 1 hour, 55 minutes

Director: Nicholas Gyeney
Producer: Kelsey Aho
Writer: Nicholas Gyeney
Cast: Tony Todd, Jamie Costa, Ivana Rojas, Sean Young, Andrew Keegan, Sab Shimono, Kane Hodder, Vladimir Kulich, Sonia Jackson, Scott Brown

As Ors Gabriel struggles with the grief and pain from losing his best friend and beloved dog, Louie, to cancer. The shock from the trauma brings on strange visions only Ors can see. While he questions whether his mind has fractured or if it’s actually real, a mysterious rise in murder-suicides takes hold of the city, and Ors becomes haunted by images of a shadowy figure known to many as ‘The Fedora Man.’ Through torments and terror, Ors uncovers dark secrets from his past, forcing him to embrace who he really is, and what he is meant to do. But, with escalating visions of ‘The Fedora Man,’ Ors must face his fears as he spirals downwards, testing the very limits of his sanity.

Program 7 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 7:15 pm

The Composer 

Short / Drama / US / 12 minutes

Director: Gigi Grigorian
Producers: Gigi Grigorian, Haley Johnson
Writer: Gigi Grigorian
Cast: John Moschitta Jr., Mariam Meliksetyan

John’s life has lost meaning, and each day blends into the next without bringing him any joy. His dementia is getting worse and holding on to the few memories he has left of his life is getting harder as the line between what’s real and what’s imagined is blurred. John’s perception of himself starts to change as his obsession with a memory keeps him up at night and becomes a catalyst for a new beginning.

Program 23 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 2:30 pm

The Constructor 

Short / Drama, Comedy / US / 10 minutes

Director: Scott Morris
Writer: Scott Morris
Cast: Eliza Foss

Elizabeth, an impossibly precocious seven year-old Lego constructor, struggles with “imagination blur” as her three year-old sister attempts to free her from her rigid thinking. 

Program 14 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 1:45 pm

The Gourd, The Brad, and The Ghostly 

Short / Horror, Comedy / US / 10 minutes

Director: Jillian Terwedo-Malsbury
Producer: Annie McGrath
Writers: Annie McGrath, Rob Knoll
Cast: David J. Castillo, Elester Latham

After causing a tragic accident on Halloween night, Brad is haunted by his guilty conscience as he takes the elevator down to the scene of the crime. Is he heading to the lobby… or straight to hell?

Program 18 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 5:55 pm

The Little Poet 

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 5 minutes

Director: Justine Yixuan King
Cast: Cindy Matthys, Tyler Sanders

A love letter to a girl in a painting. The Little Poet travels around their imagination and visits all the different paintings and art periods throughout a museum, showing the innocence of a child’s love, as well as thoughts of growing up and learning to face reality.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

The New Raymond 

Student / Columbia College Chicago / Short / Drama, Dark Comedy, Horror, Thriller / US / 14 minutes 

Director: Joe Blaugrund
Producer: Miles Madsen Borden
Writer: Joe Blaugrund
Cast: Chris Hill, Crystal Sharp Bauer, Shawn Dodd

A burglar breaks into the home of two parents grieving the loss of their young son who kidnap the burglar and force him to act like their deceased child. The strange thing is… the burglar grows to love their bizarre care and affection.

Program 3 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 2:50 pm

The Rain Cloud

Student / California Institute of the Arts / Short / Animation / US / 2 minutes

Director: Yunqing Pan 

A young boy’s dreary day is interrupted by a playful raincloud.

Program 4 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 3:25 pm

The Scalpel 

Short / Horror/Thriller / US / 20 minutes

Director: Richard H. Lyford
Producers: Richard H. Lyford, Ed Hartman
Writer: Richard H. Lyford
Cast: Barbara Berger, Eystein Berger, Richard H. Lyford

Classic horror film in the tradition of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. Doctor Howard Van Cleve, played by Richard H. Lyford, experiments outside the traditional and ethical bounds of the institute using himself as a test subject. His injections transform his body into a raging monster attacking his fellow colleagues. Nurse Cummings, played by Barbara Berger, researches his experiments and discovers the doctor’s dangerous experiments. The monster creates mayhem in the facility, and the film climaxes as the staff operates on a critically injured nurse while battling the monster.

Program 28 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 6:50 pm

The Seductress from Hell 

WORLD PREMIERE / Feature / Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy / US / 1 hour, 42 minutes

Director: Andrew de Burgh
Producers: Oleksii Strykun, Andrew de Burgh, Roberta Sparta
Writer: Andrew de Burgh
Cast: Jason Faunt, James Hyde, Andy Lauer, Rocio Scotto, Raj Jawa, Kylie Rohrer, Isaac Levi Anthony, Emily Roslyn Villareal

A Hollywood actress undergoes a horrific transformation after being pushed to the edge by her psychopathic husband.

Program 19 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 8:10 pm

The Serena Variations 

Short / Drama / US / 29 minutes

Director: Warren Fischer
Producers: Warren Fischer, Tyler Ben-Amotz, John Walter
Writers: Nathan DeZur, Sam Kahn
Cast: Dylan Brown, Renata Friedman

A young female violinist with undiagnosed autism spirals out of control as she works on a new opus with a domineering composer, embarking on a psychedelic journey that both pushes her to the edge of mental collapse and fuels her creative power.

Program 23 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 2:30 pm

The Usual 

Short / Animation, Sci-Fi, Comedy / US / 3 minutes

Director: Rachel Brewster
Producer: Rachel Brewster
Writer: Yeni Alvarez
Cast: Alessandra Levy, K Beau Foster, Victor Clarke

When a solar storm interrupts Skye’s daily coffee routine, hilarity and chaos ensues. Will she get her cup of joe?

Program 6 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 5:20 pm

Thin Air 

Short / Animation / US / 5 minutes

Directors: Mary Posatko, Chance Davis, Afton Quast Saler
Producer: Mary Posatko
Writers: Jesse Aquilar, Jen Gutierrez, Natalia Perez-Gaytan, Lorraine Hackett, Daniela Chompa, Jacklyn Butac
Cast: Scott Whyte, Katelyn Jack, Esmerelda Ortega

With the help of her trusty robot Newman, teenaged Charlie must confront Thin Air, the powerful spectral force threatening to derail her quest to win an invention contest and make her mom proud. Created, written, and voiced by teens working with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services in Los Angeles, with support from and under the creative supervision of a team of professional filmmakers and artists.

Program 25 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:35 pm

Unforgiven 

Short / Experimental, Music Video, Musical, Drama, Thriller / US / 22 minutes

Directors: Justin Suttles, Bryan Tan, Jesse Scimeca
Producer: Yoav Goren
Writers: Justin Suttles, Bryan Tan, Jesse Scimeca
Cast: TD Lind, Audrey Deitz

A hardened fugitive flees from sinister forces across the American West, in a last ditch effort to reconnect with his estranged daughter. A Music Film in three acts.

Program 15 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 3:45 pm

Universe 25 

Short / Thriller, Sci-Fi, Drama / US / 20 minutes

Director: David Tappan
Producers: Andrew Reisfeld, Juan Herrera, David Tappan, Victor Lord
Writers: Kelly Tappan, David Tappan
Cast: Kelly Tappan, Kalen Parrot, Josephine Valentina Clark

A mysterious entity. A bizarre psychological experiment. Imprisoned in “The Room,” a woman can’t know anyone longer than 30 days. It’s difficult to say what’s worse: knowing that anyone she cares about will disappear, or that they might be replaced by someone worse. With no hope of escape, she must confront the absurdity of her new existence. Universe 25 is an allegory for a universal human dilemma: how can you find happiness when everything (and everyone) in life is transient? Where is hope in the face of relentless adversity?

Program 10 | Friday, September 27, 2024, 10:00 pm 

Wandering Room 

Short / Dramedy, Horror / US / 7 minutes

Director: Faith Abraham
Producers: Nikki Nguyen, Julie Sprankle, Autumn Palen, Floriane Andersen, Nina Seul, Faith Abraham, Vanessa St. Clair
Writer: Faith Abraham
Cast: Floriane Andersen

The sanatorium is open for all patients, including the ever difficult woman, Agnes. Agnes finds herself receiving unorthodox treatments that leave her in a compromising position. 

Program 25 | Sunday, September 29, 2024, 4:35 pm

WHERE THE F*CK ARE YOUR TEETH? 

Short / Horror, Dramedy, Musical / US / 17 minutes

Director: Tony J. Rivas
Producers: Tony J. Rivas, Sharon Reza
Writer: Tony J. Rivas
Cast: Tony J. Rivas, Charla Bocchicchio, Kate Noel, Michael Todd Behrens, Ariana Bagley

A man’s suspicions of his wife’s infidelity reach a horrifying climax.

Program 18 | Saturday, September 28, 2024, 5:55 pm