A personal essay film about a man who uprooted his life in India to move to the U.S. in pursuit of making films. “Reflections at 29,” directed by Tanmaya Shekhar, merges old home videos and photos with newly shot footage, narrated by Shekhar himself in vulnerable musings about the status of his e...

Brent struggles with the meaning of his girlfriend's suicide, which she acted out with her ex-boyfriend who she seemed to continue loving in secret. “Dearly Departed,” directed by Ester Song Kim, is a painfully dark comedy about being blindsided by someone you thought you knew. It’s a fine line b...

In this lighthearted PSA, a narrator walks us through the process of shaking off daily doses of small-scale trauma. “Wiggle Your Worries Away,” directed by Tamar Levine, takes the format of a dated educational film and injects it with stylish production design and verve. All mammals, informs the ...

A long-haul trucker builds community and a new life on YouTube as @MsDivaTrucker43. Dana Reilly directs “Ms Diva Trucker,” a documentary portrait about the life of a female truck driver. Understated but expressive, the film captures a woman defined more by her independence than from her unusual l...

An unexpected visit from her super sends an anxious woman scrambling to hide evidence of her cat. “No Pets,” directed by and starring Billie Michael, takes a simple conceit and finds plenty of tension, awkwardness, and humor. Arriving to her apartment, the woman discovers that her building’s supe...

A stylish exploration of movement and attitude that reflects a spirited response to a chaotic world. “TriKE,” directed by Giselle Bonilla and performed by Brianna Mims, is an experimental portrait, wonderfully expressive and attuned to texture, color, and mood. A woman dances on a roof; she poses...

Jonas turns to his sister, Jules, for advice on how to fire someone. Mike Lars White directs “How to Fire Someone (with Jules and Jonas)," an improvised, one-take comedy that role-plays a series of scenarios. The goal for Jonas is to come up with a respectful way of letting an employee go, but Ju...

On the outskirts of a Mexican village, a former elementary school teacher emerges badly bruised on the shore of a remote lake and must find her way back to town. “La Oscuridad,” directed by Jorge Sistos Moreno, is a visceral portrait of Marina, a woman left for dead. She somehow survives the orde...

Anxiously convinced his flu-like symptoms could be something much worse, a luckless Brooklynite searches for medical care. Byron Leon directs “Sickly,” a tense ride through New York City that was unbelievably made before the Covid-19 pandemic. After coming down with a bad cough and a high fever, ...

Local racing legend Victor Elaine squares off against his greatest rival, a man whose opposing philosophy on life sets up a battle of outlooks. “Duality Derby,” directed by Mark Richard Miller and Dave Franzese, is a lighthearted rumination on the duality of man: one side focused on kindness and ...

Maggie invites friends, acquaintances and total strangers into her home for what they think is a party, but she has other plans in store. “Maggie So Low,” directed by Michael Borowiec and Sam Marine Borowiec, is an improvised comedy about toxic friendships and harebrained schemes. An old college ...

A couple discovers they don't know as much about each other as they thought while they move into a new apartment. Chidi Amadiume directs “Are We Here Yet?”, an astutely observed and performed relationship drama that explores a host of issues related to sexual identity. Ezra and Jonah lug boxes up...

An American couple worries about the safety of a Parisian girl after a drunken night out. Jerzy Rose directs “Nobody Likes You As Much As I Do,” a relationship drama teeming with incisive exchanges, communication breakdowns, and arguments over youth and sexuality. After a lively evening that ends...

In this instructional magic video gone awry, a young magician comes to terms with the difficult reality that doing coin tricks may not be enough. “Do You Want to Learn Magic?” directed by and starring the real-life magician, Chris Fanelli, is a free-roaming mixture of infomercial, personal histor...

A woman who's not an artist attends an artist retreat. Allison Johnston directs “Artist Retreat,” a comedic character study and lighthearted satire written by and starring Sara Hennessey. The Maple Farm’s Mindful Women’s Artist Retreat is now in its second year — there are some familiar faces fro...

Two gay men struggle with depression in a ruined environment, and a botanical glassblower mourns his wife. “Flora Borealis,” directed by Casey Friedman, is a striking animated film that uses a post-apocalyptic setting to explore themes of destruction and perseverance. The young couple survives in...

On Halloween night, a woman dressed as a hot dog delivers marijuana to a series of weirdo customers. “Bite Me” is a night-in-the-life of a broke and aimless gig worker that’s based on director Jessi Rayom’s own experiences working at a L.A. weed dispensary. Filmed like a documentary and starring ...

When three friends take a road trip to an idyllic forest and drop acid, one is lured into a mystic web of hallucination and nightmare. Jimmy Joe Roche directs “Skin of Man,” an experimental horror film that creates vivid textures with avant-garde technique. The black and white film is free of dia...

A troubled young woman's date at a Tiki bar reveals itself in disturbing ways. A pitch black tone piece by Wesley Wingo, “Date Night Look” paints a dire picture of desperate youth with flashes of glitchy soundscapes and elements of body horror. The woman has pulled herself together for her date w...

An illustrator prepares for an assignment while his new plant demands his attention at home. “Plant Daddy,” directed by Peter Ferris Rosati, is a stylish, quietly surreal portrait. After bringing home a new houseplant, Rocca is surprised to feel a fatherly bond. The more he fixates on it, the mor...

A sad, stoic man trapped in a nightmare existence finds a strange book which seems to offer some relief. Anthony Oberbeck directs “Book,” a dark comedy about feeling lost and without purpose, and not only feeling that, but everyone in your life telling you that you definitely are. Joe finds a boo...

After the death of her high school boyfriend Lou, Nicole returns home to New Jersey where she finds herself directing Lou’s unproduced screenplay. “The Ultimate (By Lou Fescano),” written and directed by Daniel Jaffe and co-written and starring Michelle Uranowitz, crafts a delicate balance of fun...

At a late night laundromat, a young woman questions her current life path. “Spin,” directed by Jorge G. Camarena, is a visually rich character portrait that merges an ordinary night with surreal turns. There’s no dialogue — the film gets by on its vibey atmosphere (DP: Kadri Koop) and air of unea...

A man is caught with his pants down when terrorized by a force outside his bathroom stall. “Someone’s In Here,” directed by Ben Kitnick, is a horror vignette, minimal, well-executed and open for metaphorical interpretation. A man dressed in Khakis, a polo, and a fleece vest, takes care of busines...