When the leader of a friend group abuses her power during a game, her friends turn against her. Mathilde Hauducoeur directs “Angel Wings and Open Wounds,” a dynamic coming-of-age film from France following an energetic 7th-grade friend group. In class, Maud nods off and doodles in a journal with ...

A bodybuilding fever dream fueled by childhood trauma, food porn and acid techno music. Raymond Knudsen directs “Prep,” a highly-stimulating portrait of a man who goes to extremes with his mind and body. Surrounded by rubber floor mats and stainless steel, we meet an unnamed bodybuilder with head...

At a dystopian grade school, a determined 11-year-old girl struggles during her final exams. Wylie Anderson directs “How to Cry on Command,” a hilarious satire looking at the requirements and consequences of pursuing stardom. At “Celebrity Preparatory for Girls,” there are classes on how to speak...

An amateur electronic-drum enthusiast travels to a housewares trade show looking to strike up the perfect business partnership. “Hardware” is an out-there drama/comedy about a desperate man in search of opportunity, bolstered by cheesy drumbeats and awkwardly earnest performances. Directed by and...

A hauntingly beautiful 16mm short about a young man seeking adventure or escape or both. A striking collection of images that seemingly materialize out of nowhere, there is no dialogue and no need for any — the evocative visuals and soundscape fill in everything you need to know, or rather everyt...

A satirical look into a male filmmaker's creation, and the repercussions of his narcissistic behaviors that span across four realities. “Staff Pick,” directed by Mitch deQuilettes, is a mind-bending series of vignettes on art and life, both melodramatic and deeply self-aware. A straight man in L....

A troubled teen girl spends her time trolling men online and bowling with her grandfather while becoming increasingly medicated. “Bowling 4 Eva,” directed by Aelfie Oudghiri, is a bracingly original portrait of depression and pharmaceuticals rendered with satirical bite and punctuated by animated...

A mysterious woman finds her way into a stranger’s apartment resulting in an oddly unsettling encounter. India Donaldson directs “Hannahs,” a darkly funny, increasingly uncomfortable character study led by two wonderfully nuanced performances from Amy Zimmer and Brenna Palughi. Hannah returns hom...

A slapstick comedy in super slow motion. An unnamed tourist with a leg injury searches for physical and spiritual healing on a week long Carnival cruise vacation from Baltimore to the Bahamas. Floating between narrative, documentary, and experimental tendencies the film creates an atmosphere simi...

A titillating California drama with splashes of unexpected humor. Or maybe it’s the other way around. The gist: a divorced mother attempts to break up her daughter’s relationship. Maybe it’s to protect her... or maybe it’s out of jealousy. The handsome, smooth-talking boyfriend named Whit seems t...

The bond of a ceramics duo is threatened by a conniving pottery studio head. “Pots N’ Tots" is an absurd tale of love, artistic collaboration and the powers that be. Writer, Director: Kati Skelton. Cast: Ruby McCollister, Andrew Ryder, Abbey Siegworth, SJ Son, Steve Arons.

A woman invites an old acquaintance to live with her after a devastating loss. Director Doron Max Hagay, fresh off his induction into the NoBudge Hall of Fame, is in Hall of Fame form with “Company,” his latest collaboration with Blair Beeken and Katy Fullan. In it, Dana, an L.A. woman reeling fr...

A western novelist makes a noise complaint to his neighbors before getting sucked into their strange orbit. “A Man’s World,” directed by Jens Josephs, is a loopy, rapid-fire comedy wherein a man enters a rabbit hole and struggles to find his way out. After the cowboy-hat-wearing writer slides a n...

An art assistant for a gallery in New York knows his role well, to live in romantic poverty and be paid in social clout and drugs. “Art Boy,” directed by Taylor Ervin, is a sharp-edged depiction of an art scene where the actual art is a second tier concern over the lifestyles and personas behind ...

Henry loses his vision after being exposed to an unknown toxic gas. “Gas Gets In Your Eyes,” by director Madeline Leshner, is an imaginative experimental drama full of startling images and unsettling developments. The grim prognosis is delivered by an ominous robotic voice, and, before Henry can ...

A Catholic school boy trying to understand his budding sexuality looks to the animal kingdom for answers. The ingeniously devised, “Premium Pornography,” directed by Simon Ruscinski, is a comedic exploration of masturbation, condom purchasing, and alien psychology. It takes the form of a deadpan ...

A starving wolf finds a suit of human skin, crawls inside, and becomes a man. “Wolf in Dude’s Clothing,” directed by Solmund MacPherson, is an absurd experimental comedy about trying to fit in and controlling one’s urges. Once the wolf enters the human world, he has a new set of problems. Studyin...

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 “...

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...

A new roommate moves into Xena's apartment, changing the dynamic with their current partner. Arielle Bordow directs and co-stars in “Craigslist Roommate,” a free-spirited 16mm snapshot of fluid relationships and shared living. When the wandering Addie moves to Madison, Wisconsin, she responds to ...

An awkward guest shows up to a party and makes things weird for everyone. Written by Kate Berlant, Andrew DeYoung and John Early, “Rachel” is a hilariously creepy portrait of a strange evening in the lives of a group of L.A. creatives. Early stars as the man throwing a party for his boyfriend, Go...

Nick’s existential pondering is interrupted by the arrival of his girlfriend’s new intern and muse. Samuel Centore directs “Tyler Works at the Gas Station,” a stylish dry comedy about a family unit of cultured young creatives which places its sharply drawn characters in an appealing fashion magaz...

A small time travel vlogger’s tour of Coney Island is interrupted by an unexpected phone call. Amber Schaefer directs “NYC Tips and Tricks,” a satirical portrait of a man so preoccupied with filming his frivolous-seeming video that he struggles to fulfill basic fatherly responsibilities. With his...

High-powered executive meets high-rise window-washer for an erotic rendezvous on opposite sides of her skyscraper window. “Squeegee,” directed by Morgan Krantz, is a sexy comedy that explores an unlikely connection nine stories up. Lori blows off her work responsibilities to prepare for a run-in ...