A woman searches for meaning in her life, where all days seem to blend into one. Varya Rootwood directs “Groundhog Year,” an experimental film poem rendered with striking, darkly funny compositions and sarcastic monologue. She spends her day gardening, drinking coffee, and reading. Except, she’s ...

On a snowy night, a mysterious woman arrives at a hotel and captures the attention of a trio of men.“Through Her Eyes,” directed by Stella Gatti, is gothic noir based on the mythical archetype of Medusa. The glamorous woman with dark sunglasses and overcoat enters a candle lit lobby with faded ch...

A woman is having a mental breakdown in her bathroom when her past and future selves appear in the mirror. Ella May Sahlman and Kyle Kallman direct “Crimson Mirror,” experimental horror crafted with gothic flourish built around an intensely despairing lead performance from Flora Wildes. The young...

The quest for virtual food — infinite pizza, zero calories — hits a snag when inventors mistake a short film for competition. Malcom Mills directs the strange vision, “VR Food,” melding horror, sci-fi, and dark comedy in layers of dream-state flashes. Malcolm and Mallory are working together on a...

Two friends spend the day together, one is a floating orb. “Digital Fortune Teller,” directed by Cooper Vacheron, is a homemade sci-fi vignette that follows a human and a digital assistant through a typical day in L.A. Tracking their exercise routines, water intake, general health and well-being,...

On a never-ending channel surf through streaming platforms, TV shows, movies, and commercials, two friends talk on the phone about bad relationships and good storytelling. Jack Dunphy directs “Amanda,” an examination of media overconsumption alongside a provocative portrait of a messy friendship ...

A campy queer, 1980's-esque dating show unravels into a dreamscape chaos of relationship expectations. The music video for “Codependency,” a song by comedian/musician Sofia Dobrushin, delivers catchy indie pop with colorful visuals, handmade set design, and choreographed dance routines. Dobrushi...

Across a freezing night, confused dropout Cooper Townsend tries to make it home. “Townsend’s Last Night,” directed by Rhys Scarabosio, is a chaotic, lo-fi fever dream about a young man who has lost his way. Left desperately clinging to his only refuge — scribbling lyrics in an old notebook — the ...

When Sherri gets arrested for shoplifting from work, she needs to find money for legal fees. Amandine Thomas writes, directs and stars in “Cherry Cola,” a dramatic portrait delivered with sharp-edged dialogue and vivid characterizations about a young woman on the verge of a breakdown. Living with...

In this collection of anonymous stories shared by queer men, a connection is drawn between queer life and nature. “I Wish There Was a Guy Term for I Love You,” directed by Andy Motz, is an experimental documentary narrated with tales of first time flings and intimate meet-ups framed as a series o...

Estranged ex-step-siblings reunite over dinner but find themselves with opposing views on the future of their relationship. Eliza Jiménez Cossio and Lexi Tannenholtz direct “We Should Get Dinner!” a dark comedy about fractured bonds and lingering resentments. Abby and Sean grew up together but ha...

Two men in bloody shirts watch a French film and chat about Cheese-Wiz as a shell-shocked woman tries to make sense of it all. “Be Leaving,” directed by Brandon Wilson, is a surreal avant-garde film oozing with uncertainty as it reveals surprising doses of humor. Via deadpan banter, the two men d...

While navigating a busy work day, a woman reflects on a profound personal decision. “Polished,” directed by Colleen Dodge, is a sensory vignette tracking a vulnerable woman through a difficult day in New York City. Jane attends to incessant needs from her job but she is mentally elsewhere. Trying...

An anxious teen responds to a Craigslist ad and strikes an unexpected connection with a stranger behind a sheet. “Personals,” directed by Sasha Argirov, is an engrossing drama that details a would-be sexual encounter and the corresponding awkwardness and vulnerability. The nervous young man enter...

A house dog escapes into the woods at night to follow the psychedelic temptations of the natural world. Our take: “Dog in the Woods,” by directors Christian Chapman and Paul Jason Hoffman, is a dark and trippy adventure straying from the safe confines of domesticity for the wild woods, told from ...

Afflicted by a mysterious case of hyper-empathy, a young woman stumbles across a group that claims to treat the disorder. “Empath,” directed by Alec Moeller, is an engrossing character study lifted by a powerhouse performance by Betsey Brown. Moving through everyday life is a minefield of emotion...

Between parties and dips in the river, Lou abandons herself to roam freely through the summer. “Eau Vive (Whitewater),” directed by the Swiss filmmaker Lucia Martinez Garcia, is a poetic snapshot attuned to the spaces and dispositions of a certain type of youth. In a dark room, Lou watches pornog...

A woman turning 30 returns home dejected from life not living up to expectations. Chanel Dupree directs “Next Stop,” a surrealistic dark comedy that renders a dream-like quality in its melange of annoyances. She repeats affirmations to herself (“my destiny is bright and full”) while she avoids te...

A man is confronted by his violent past while living in a limbo of his own making. “The Seventh Circle,” directed by Alexandra Velasco, is a frenzied experimental horror film soaked in isolation and ambiguity. Whispering to himself in Spanish, a man called El Minotauro moves through a cavernous h...

In this subversive mockumentary, a queer Latine new media performance artist is interviewed by a “woke” magazine editor set on defining her story and the meanings of her art. “Griselda,” directed by Denisse Griselda Reyes, tackles a host of themes related to identity, aesthetics, and Christian ic...

A medley of overheard banter and personal musings about love and the cliches of love, i.e. “the same little message every night.” Directed by Peter Wagner, “It's All Related!” is an experimental animated film where mundane conversations about nachos, bitcoin, and psychiatry are flavored with a de...

In this unsparing portrait of a contentious relationship between father and child, a young filmmaker explores family history through impromptu interviews and old photographs. A reflexive essay documentary, “Father, Can’t You See I’m Burning?”, directed by Grant Conversano, offers a penetrating st...

When Cass’s expectations about her first time aren’t met, she confronts the boy who took her virginity. Connie O’Connor directs “In Your Sheets,” a coming-of-age snapshot that captures a complex set of feelings pre and post first-time sex. Early in the evening, Cass is filled with jitters and exc...

A high school freshman deals with the pressures of popularity when her best friend enters a new world of boys and alcohol. Jaelyn Ellis directs “Girlhood,” a coming-of-age snapshot on teenage social life and evolving friendships. Mia loves going to disco nights at the local roller rink, but her f...