Two strangers meet by chance and form a romantic connection. Julissa Yasmeen Ramirez directs “Future Memory,” an experimental short (just over 1 minute long), shot on Super 8mm filmed primarily in close-ups of hands. Under a pressing electronic score, the young couple moves through New York City ...

A man returns a letter meant for his neighbor but it’s not what it seems. In this satire by Johnny Frohman and Jeremy Levick, the topics of pandemic masking and modes of shaming are explored in prickly fashion. Wearing a bright yellow vest and double-masked, a man turns up at a woman’s door and s...

Two undergraduates discuss the status of their relationship and their sexual experiences. Jinho Myung directs “The Pressure of Sweetness,” a spontaneous conversation that accurately reflects the nascent modes of expression between two young adults evaluating a fling. While hanging out one day, th...

A man loses his dog but finds something else. “HEINEKIN,” directed by Will Duncan, is a two minute experimental burst of frantic energy and physical comedy. Duncan stars as the man desperately searching for his dog, Heinekin, trudging through the park in an orange polo and blue shorts, having no ...

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...

Awakening in a field far from home, two sisters embark on a magical and bizarre adventure through the pastoral Midwest. “Prairie Girls,” directed by Benett Holgerson, is a lighthearted romp through past and present detailed with antiquated costumes and props, and colorful animation sequences. Aft...

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...

Wading through a sea of memories, a young real estate agent attempts to do her job. “Total Transportation,” directed by Boothe Carlson, is an experimental oddity where cryptic anecdotes disrupt a recorded apartment tour. As our tour begins, it becomes apparent that we’ll be seeing more into the a...

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...

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 ...

A colorful compendium pairing musical genres with varieties of flowers. Luke Strickler directs and animates “Music for Plants,” which visualizes a series of melodic mash ups — “Sunflower Ska,” “Punk Petunias,” “Dandelion Dubstep,” et al. Morphing seamlessly between styles and tones, each chapter ...

In their early twenties, a Brooklyn couple contemplates the ramifications of unprotected sex. Jinho Myung directs “When it comes to the inside of you,” a candid discussion between friends that authentically captures the perspective and foundational knowledge / naivety of four young friends. Dual ...

Recalling a story from her youth, a grandmother reckons with a life-changing decision and tries to reconnect with a mystical source. Tatiana Tift directs “Penny for your Thoughts,” a magical realist hybrid fiction about memory and identity. What at first appears to be a straightforward portrait o...

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...

During a weekend getaway, Alex meets her boyfriend's friends and it doesn’t go well. Alex Forrest and Joe Gleason, known as Home Planet, are the writers of “Boyfriend’s Boyfriends,” a sketch comedy film that unfolds as a three day extravaganza of juvenile antics. From the jump, the boys are obliv...

A would-be Hollywood mover and shaker meets up with an actress at a cafe to spur a collaboration. Written, directed and starring Gabriel Bernini. Co-directed and produced by Clara McHale-Ribot. Cast: Andrea Bambina, Alexandra Jade, and Lena Redford. Filmed by Andrew Gibson and Jeremiah Durian-Wil...

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...

A young boy in rural America moves through a typical day trying to keep himself entertained and out of trouble. The observational documentary, “Mason,” directed by Oliver Shahery, follows the titular subject as he shoots at squirrels, plays with toy cars, and drinks Coke. Shahery refrains from ex...

Intro by director Oliver Shahery: This is a little mini short film I made on one of the days I spent hunting for an interesting subject for the project, which at the time was just a music video with no specific direction other than it had to be in Florida. I spent many days alone texting ex-girlf...

Two sisters fight to save their digital utopia from demise. “Welcome to the Enclave,” directed by Sarah Lasley, is an inventive experimental animation framed as an absurdist crowdfunding video. The Enclave is a virtual street created by a woman named Moni, but at the moment she’s under attack fro...

Wandering through the Portuguese countryside, two brothers add a third companion to their travels after coming across a missing-person sign. George Daniell directs “The Windmill of Death,” a playfully ragged DIY adventure film filled with surreal flourishes and lo-fi style points. Dead Eye is a d...

A poetic rumination on a former relationship told through the locations it took place in New York City, part personal reflection, part film essay. “Lucky Strike,” directed by Benjamin Ades, frames its meditations on love and film with memories of the romance and philosophical musings on fate. Hav...

A frustrated husband spirals during his pre-planned fight with his wife at Ruby Tuesdays. Luke Strickler directs “I Decided To Fight With My Wife Over Salmon,” a constantly morphing digital art collage about love, hate, and death. The misogynistic man sees fine dining as the perfect opportunity t...