In Philadelphia, an aspiring rapper tries to carve out a space for himself but begins to lose hope. “Out of Focus,” directed by Alex Sulock, is a cinema verite snapshot about artistic pursuit that maneuvers in a flow of spontaneous energy. Over the course of a couple weeks, Ray roams around his h...

An inspired photographer tries to connect with the working man. “Fly on the Wall” is the third collaboration from Matt Barats and Doron Max Hagay about struggling artists with misaligned priorities. Each film pinpoints and incisively exaggerates tension between the self-serious artist and the wor...

The lives of a group of thirty-something artists weave together as they grapple with the idea of parenthood. Allegra Oxborough directs “A Blue Morning: Conversations Among Artists on Parenthood,” a slice-of-life documentary following two couples with kids, and a third contemplating a family. Capt...

A tale of sibling betrayal and revenge as told by a ranch horse. “Horse Brothers,” directed by Milos Mitrovic and Fabian Velasco, is a surreal fantasy tale and family melodrama built with inventive lo-fi visuals and a fever dream tone. After an absence, Frodo arrives back to the family farm in a ...

A man reconnects with an old friend from his days in the theater. “My Breakfast with Barf,” is an animated comedy directed by Peter Javidpour, a lighthearted send-up of the 1981 film, “My Dinner with Andre.” Leonard, a man of culture and intellect (whose head is shaped like an egg), meets up for ...

A twenty-something filmmaker and actor, Zoë, is making a movie based on her attraction to another woman. “Untitled Movie,” directed by Annie Brennen, is a layered meta comedy, an exploration of sexuality and the creative process. Currently in a relationship with a man, Zoë fantasizes about kissin...

An alien comes to Earth landing in an ordinary American backyard. Or so goes the game of imagination that a group of siblings think up and play out. Stephen Wardell directs “Uriah Plays the Alien,” a vastly original piece of avant-garde filmmaking observed in a dream-like haze of childhood creati...

*Click CC for English Subtitles* Nearing her 16th birthday, Maya tries to convince her friends to run away and party with her in a spot they call HQ. Kenz Benmosbah directs “I’m Leaving Tonight,” a coming-of-age snapshot that frames anxious teenage drama within a picturesque French countryside. A...

*Note: Click CC for English Captions* While her fish struggles to survive in a jar, a troubled young girl fixates on becoming famous on social media. “Tina,” directed by Antonio Vasaturo, is gritty realism from Italy rendered with sensory detail and richly saturated visuals. Though her dream seem...

An anniversary gift leads two young lovers into a black hole of misunderstanding. “Love Machine,” directed by Michael Rees, is a squirm-inducing dark comedy about the delusions and insensitivities of a dysfunctional couple. What at first appears to be a straightforward relationship study soon dev...

Living in a car with his fugitive mom, a young boy yearns for a normal family life. “Beneath the Grass,” directed by Sam Friedman and William Bermudez, is an artful drama carried by a terrifically natural lead performance from Joshua Garcia. With his frantic mother clawing to keep it together, Le...

On New Year's Eve 2080, a new age radiologist travels from outer space to Earth to practice some desert yoga. Grace Sloan directs “Death Valley,” a scrappy sci-fi oddity built with charmingly hand-crafted sets and analog VFX. Floating through space in a one-person capsule, Zadie video chats with ...

While pondering the need to endlessly capture her life in photos and videos, a filmmaker attempts to be present in the moment. Shereen Lani Younes directs “how can i be present when photographs exist,” a self-reflective video essay narrated with stream-of-consciousness musings over a smorgasborg ...

A young couple retreats to a glass house for two weeks of digital detox where they are disturbed by a lost hiker. “Earth Over Earth,” directed by Owen Campbell, is an enigmatic sci-fi drama that establishes itself as a convincing relationship study before wandering into an unclassifiable realm. L...

A dispirited young musician living out of her car comes to a crossroads when she reconnects with an ex-girlfriend for one night. Chloe Jury-Fogel directs “Five Song Tour,” a portrait of solitude and longing set around Christmas that highlights the flip side of holiday frivolity. Making her way t...

Two film critics discuss their profession in the park. Tynan DeLong directs “Critics,” a lighthearted satire lampooning celebrity worship, hobnobbing with movie stars, and Marvel fanboying. It stars Jeremy Levick and Rajat Suresh, playing movie geeks with podcasts — “The Dork Side” and “Are You T...

A high school senior in his final days of school must come to terms with the death of a friend. “Lay Me by the Shore,” directed by David Findlay, is a gorgeously photographed, impeccably crafted tone poem about bottled confusion, regret and shame. As graduation looms for Noah, he spends his days ...

A disoriented man tries to feed a fish in the desert. “Blue Berries,” directed by and starring Sam Millstein, is an allegory on addiction, a vividly shot dramatization of losing track of one’s basic responsibilities. His task seems simple — walk 30 yards to feed a fish swimming in a fish tank. Th...

Facing banishment, a town pariah repents in order to win back the pastor’s daughter but finds himself cursed. “Death to the Tinman,” directed by Ray Tintori, is a classic from 2007, a kinetic, remarkably stylized extravaganza shot on 16mm black and white film. An origin story of the Tinman from “...

An aspiring pop star travels to Hollywood to meet a music producer she met over Instagram. Samantha Carroll directs and stars in “Love Liz,” a dryly comedic take on an evergreen tale — dreamer seeks fame. From Delaware, Liz has just flown into L.A. with the hopes of making it big. After a pit sto...

On a laid-back summer day, a young woman spends some time with her casual partner. Irmak Akgur directs “Limerence,” a slice-of-life portrait that flows in uninhibited vignettes. Minimally plotted but tonally sharp, Akgur’s film captures a couple of free spirits in their element — spending the day...

The morning after a new love affair, a woman reflects on her past relationships. “Four Chairs,” directed by Ester Song Kim and Nika Burnett, is a poetic portrait that unfolds with sensory detail and surreal shifts. Waking up for the first time with a new man, a woman prepares coffee and tries to ...

A man at the park wants something from a group of teen skaters. Johnny Frohman directs “Trick,” a comedy from a couple of NoBudge regulars that focuses on a shady exchange. Matt Barats stars as a man loitering around a trio of skateboarders, commenting on their form, letting the kids know that ba...

On a duck hunting trip, two friends head to the lake. Auden Lincoln-Vogel directs “Bill and Joe Go Duck Hunting,” a quietly assured, gently funny, portrait of man and nature. An old, faded friendship centers the character study: Joe is the chatty one to Bill’s stoic reserve; Joe shows up in stree...