The world looks a lot different than it did when NFFTY launched its first festival back in 2007. After featuring countless program blocks centered around coming of age stories, perhaps it was only a matter of time before we found NFFTY itself entering adulthood!
A lot of our high school filmmakers make plans for college when they turn 18, oftentimes enrolling in some of the great film schools we have partnered with over the years. We at NFFTY have been fortunate enough to spend the past 18 years at one of the greatest film programs of them all: encountering firsthand the art being produced by the best young filmmakers from all around the world. If only it counted for course credit…
Where do we go from here? We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing an inviting, inclusive space for filmmakers from all walks of life to have their art featured at the cinema. The community grows stronger every year, a network of fearless artists who joyfully cheer each other on and champion the work being done. Filmmakers: your stories matter, and if nothing else we hope you walk away from this weekend with renewed confidence to continue on your filmmaking journey.
We consider it a great privilege to present these 240 short films, representing work from 32 countries and 28 states. Whether you are a film fan experiencing NFFTY for the first time or a NFFTY veteran who was there on that fateful kick off screening in 2007, we hope you walk away inspired by the talent on display. Welcome to the family!
Ryan, Amy and the NFFTY Programming Team
Presenting Sponsor & Official Editing Software
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Producing Partners
Funders
Support NFFTY with our limited-edition NFFTY 2025 merchandise!
With our hybrid festival, there are now two ways to grab your new NFFTY threads — online at our Bonfire store https://www.bonfire.com/store/nffty/ or live in Seattle at our festival hub. We’ll have limited edition designs available at each, collect em all!
The NFFTY Screenplay Competition: Story Starts Here
Episodic CULTURE WAR
Celi Mitidieri
Ringling
DEARBORN
Skylar Kim
NYU
TOP VOICES
Isabelle Leonard
USC
Every great film owes its success to the quality of its story. The NFFTY Screenplay Competition: Story Starts Here is an opportunity for tomorrow’s best storytellers to get constructive critique on their script before entering production. A big congratulations to this year’s finalists!
Pilot Script
ALL GODS GO TO DEVIN
Tira Olkdari
SMITTEN
Rachel Othon
THE LAWS OF NATURALIZATION
Shea Formanes
Short Screenplay
COW
Julia Hogg
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT... YOU’RE A GREAT SINGER!
JT Trinidad
XENA
Ethan Hawthorne-Dallas
Help to decide who walks home with an Audience Award by casting your vote!
There will be one Audience Award selected from each screening in the festival. If you have our virtual pass and are viewing online, simply vote for your favorite directly on the screening page! The cut-off for voting on all virtual screenings is 6:30 PM PT / 9:30 PM ET on Sunday, April 6.
If you are attending a screening in person, our lovely volunteers will have an iPad available in the theater at every screening for you to cast your vote.
Voting for Closing Night ends at 6:30 PM PT on Sunday, April 6.
How to NFFTY
How do I attend the festival?
NFFTY is happening in-person AND online. We recommend you purchase an all access pass to get the most out of your NFFTY experience. Passes and individual tickets are available for purchase in advance at NFFTY.org or in-person during the festival.
The in-person festival events run Thursday, April 3 - Sunday, April 6, 2025 with almost all screenings and discussions taking place at the SIFF Uptown Cinema at 511 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle (unless otherwise noted).
Virtual viewing
For those purchasing our virtual festival or all access pass, NFFTY’s virtual festival runs April 3 - April 13, 2025 and takes place on the Eventive platform. You can find the full lineup at watch.nffty.org. All screening blocks listed online will become available in our virtual catalog at the time that they premiere live in Seattle.
To access virtual screenings starting April 3, simply “unlock” the screening of your choice with your All-Access, Filmmaker or Virtual Pass. Passes are good for one unlock per screening. Once a screening is unlocked, you will have five days to begin watching, and 48 hours to complete watching once you have pressed play.
All virtual content will be available online until Sunday, April 13 at 11:45pm PT.
What should I wear on the red carpet?
Dress however your heart desires! NFFTY’s red carpet is known for its vast range in style. Whether you want to show up in a ball gown or jeans, you will still fit into the NFFTY vibe.
Where can I find my red carpet and other NFFTY photos?
NFFTY posts all of our professional photos taken throughout the weekend. Our festival archive will house our program guide, photos, and more at nffty.org/festival-archive.
Where do I find the ratings or content warnings?
NFFTY features independent short films from all over the world, as such they do not undergo a rating system like a traditional movie. While our films are made by young filmmakers, nearly each screening block contains content that is not suitable for younger viewers. We suggest parents and guardians review the film synopses in these screenings to determine if it is suitable for their families. If you have additional questions or concerns about a screening or the subject of a film please find a staff member in person or online via info@nffty.org.
Workshops and Panels
WORKSHOP
9:00AM, Friday, April 4
Speed Networking
The Cornish Playhouse
Start your weekend off right at this beloved NFFTY tradition! Connect with like-minded individuals, gain valuable industry insights and build meaningful professional relationships at this exciting opportunity for young filmmakers and industry professionals. Community building starts here!
PANEL
10:45AM, Friday, April 4
Puget Sound All Girl Film Challenge
VERA Project
The mission of the Puget Sound All Girls Film Challenge is to give young women filmmakers in the PNW the opportunity to create films that showcase their perspective and screen them at high profile events. Helping to connect students with women in the media industry, the day will feature an engaging keynote presentation, a film screening, a professional panel, and a wealth of networking opportunities with over 20 professionals from a variety of roles in the film and media industry.
WORKSHOP
11:15AM, Friday, April 4
Seed&Spark: Crowdfunding to Build Independence
SIFF Uptown 2
One of Seed&Spark’s cornerstone workshops, this session lays out the steps toward a successful crowdfunding campaign, as well as a career-long action plan most likely to create a lasting, flourishing, direct relationship with your audience. You’ll learn how to find and activate your audience, structure your crowdfunding campaign and pitch video, pick the right goal and incentives, and much more beyond marketing the campaign itself. Because after all, it isn’t just about crowdfunding: it’s about career building. Your career starts here!
WORKSHOP
12:45PM, Friday, April 4
The Proof is in the Concept
SIFF Uptown 2
Some of the most beloved feature films and television shows started out as shorts films! What’s the secret sauce in a proof of concept short? How do you balance making a satisfying film while also leaving it openended enough to leave the audience wanting more? Hear directly from Imani Davis, Founder and Lead Programmer of PROOF Film Festival (the only festival dedicated to showcasing proof-of-concepts) about what it takes to make your short film stand out amongst the others. This engaging workshop will outline various approaches, common misconceptions, and action plans to find success when setting the stage for your first feature.
Presented by:
Presented by:
MASTERCLASS
1:45PM, Saturday, April 5
Rewriting in the Edit: Celia Beasley
SIFF Uptown 2
You have the final draft of the script, production has wrapped, but did you know you’ll still be writing the movie in the edit suite? In this engaging masterclass, experience a rare look into the workflow of accomplished editor Celia Beasley. Through select sequences in LANE 1974, Celia will showcase how bringing a sense of exploration helps scenes evolve from the script stage through post production. Additionally, Celia will illustrate the way audience attention can be framed within a character’s headspace through a rare glimpse of footage from the hit Netflix series PENELOPE (Sundance 2024).
COMPETITION
4:00PM, Saturday, April 5
Post Production Pitch Competition
SIFF Uptown 2
Join us for our third Pitch Competition! Six finalist projects, all works in progress directed by filmmakers 24 years old and younger, have been chosen to pitch for up to $4,000 in finishing funds. This is an opportunity for filmmakers to pitch in front of industry professionals and receive feedback on their work as they put on the finishing touches. Come get a sneak peak at these future projects in the pipeline before they premiere! Past winners have screened at Sundance, Toronto, Locarno, and more!
MASTERCLASS
3:15PM, Sunday, April 6
Sav Rodgers: Getting Personal with Your First Feature
SIFF Uptown 1
Join acclaimed documentarian, Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, and NFFTY alumni Sav Rodgers for a thought-provoking presentation on telling deeply personal, emotional, and vulnerable stories with your first feature. Drawing from his own experiences directing his acclaimed film debut, “Chasing Chasing Amy,” Rodgers explores the unique challenges and transformative power of putting personal narratives on screen. Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or an experienced storyteller, this keynote will equip you with the tools to tell your unique story with authenticity, empathy, and power.
48 Hour Film Off
Presented by:
High school teams compete to make the best possible film, from conception to post-production, in just 48 hours.
Films screen during the NFFTY festival, and winners are awarded based on a combination of audience voting and jury deliberation. The winning school gets a cash prize to help support their film program!
Watch the films in-person on:
Sunday, April 6, 2025
11:00am SIFF Uptown 1 Cinema
All submitted films will screen in our virtual festival from April 3 - April 13, 2025
PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
Ballard High School
Chaminade College Preparatory
Cleveland STEM High School
Cumberland Valley High School
Fairmont Prep Academy
Garfield High School
Lake Washington High School
Lewis & Clark High School
Liberty High School
Mount Si High School
Newport High School
Nova High School
Queen Margaret’s School
Sehome High School
St. Margaret’s Episcopal School
Tahoma High School
The Center School
Ingraham High School
Opening
Night
Thursday, April 3rd
Speeches | 6:30pm, Uptown 1
Screening | 7:00pm
Party | 9:00pm, MoPOP
Presented by:
NFFTY is back for our 18th year! Join us in celebrating an inspirational program that fuels our fervor for the fruitful future of film. An introduction to the breadth of talent and stories you’ll find at NFFTY, this collection of shorts is guaranteed to get you creatively calibrated for a worthwhile weekend.
Bubble Boy
Cameron Carr - 24 UK
A non-verbal autistic boy with a deep desire to communicate creates a world through drawing in this colorful musical.
When We Move
Jasper Fletcher - 20, Lukas Fletcher - 21 MA, USA
The youngest kid in a combined family of nine navigates moving houses for her very first time. Documented over the course of a year by her oldest brothers.
Yajñopavīta
Rahul Koul - 22, Ford Cowan - 22, Haneol Lee - 21 TN, USA
While preparing for a sacred Hindu thread ceremony, an Indian American college senior struggles to open up to his mother.
Sil-tteu-gi
Yezy Suh - 18 CA, USA
Growing up 6,000 miles away from her grandparents, a filmmaker reflects on the stories that are getting lost over time and the feeling of her culture being uprooted.
Hasta la Raíz
Nuria Schettino González - 22, Isaac Michael Ybarra - 24, Ariana de Leon - 21, Alaina Stehlin - 21 CA, USA
In 1856, at a Mexican rancho in Los Angeles, a Tongva woman fights for her land and daughter when the ranchero’s wife leaves to defend her land grant.
Awit Natin (Our Song)
Pacqui Pascual - 23, Annie Cui - 23, Carolyn Chen - 23, Nikko Wisner - 24 NY, USA
When their father dies during their mother’s hospitalization, a Filipino family bands together to hide the truth.
As Meadowvale Village and its historic charm crumbles under growing development, Terry Wilson creates a heartfelt tribute to the village in his very own backyard.
Let’s get creative! These inspiring portraits of artists working across different mediums explore the passion, cultural heritage, and individual struggles behind their unique vocations.
King of Super 8
Anthony Wegner - 24, Charlie Hill - 24, Max Mezo - 24 | Canada Delve into the world of Experimental Toronto filmmaker John Porter.
Amaranthine Divine
Kg Giroux - 20 | NY, USA
An investigation of the relationship between art, trauma, and love through the life and legacy of late Baltimorean artist Les Harris.
Thunderbird and Killer Whale: S-hwuhwa’us & Qul-lhanumutsun
Jason Cheng - 18 | Canada
Stz’uminus Master Carver John Marston embarks on a journey to revitalize the traditional art of canoe carving in his community.
Epiphany
Kate Mai Man Xu - 17 | China
A documentation of the endangered cultural heritage of the art of making Lion Dance Heads across generations, celebrating the legacy of female craftsmanship.
Timeless Voices
Christine An - 21, Rongsha Meng - 22 China
In the deep mountains of southern China, the Dong (侗族) chorus sings the struggles, resilience, and spiritual healing of Aunty Yang’s life journey.
Breaking the Mold
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 12:30pm, Uptown 1
Again and Again
Edith Chang - 20 | CA, USA
A lonely man builds a machine to live within the flickers of his happiest memories. Through a blend of super 8 film and digital footage the past and present, the real and the imagined, begin to blur.
The
Saxophone
Nathan Campbell - 19 | NY, USA
A man stumbles upon a saxophone. What might he find...inside?
MAL-AMOR
Joshua Stoker - 24, Shane Hecksel - 24, Ian Zych - 24 | GA, USA
A lost man awakens to find his former muse beckoning him into the forest, where he must confront the haunting symbols of their eroding relationship.
Throw out the artificial intelligence machine; put that prompt in the hands of an adventurous NFFTY filmmaker! You’ll see the language of cinema being reinvented in front of your eyes, just like it is in this screening of eclectic and experimental cinema.
Moving Room
Gyani Pradhan Wong Ah Sui - 23 | MA,USA Karma, an international high school student from Sikkim, struggles to fit in and hold onto his cultural identity when he is stuck at home for the day with his host sibling.
DEAR ISHAN
Ashish Prasai - 19, Alexandru Vesa - 19 Ireland
In the wake of Ishan’s passing, Ashish grapples with grief as he immerses himself in the recollection of cherished memories, finding solace in the melodies of his late brother’s guitar.
A Daisy Of Copper
Preston Lyman - 18 | MT, USA
This piece takes you on a journey into an uncanny environment where the lines between technology and organic life begin to blur.
Prisoner Of The Soul
Austin Nginga - 20, John Mark Chege20, Betty Njambi Kimani - 23 | Kenya
A raw look at what it feels like to be completely stuck and the quiet fight to break free.
Connection: Human Paradox
Alexa Whyte - 20, Apollo Bual - 20, Maggie Brill - 24 | NY, USA
This dance film, set amidst the hustle and bustle of New York, captures the deep longing for connection in an era where hyper-independence has become the norm.
Acirema
Liberty White - 18, Ren Meyers - 19 | WA,USA
Acirema reimagines America’s anthem through a Black lens, transforming its familiar pride into a distorted siren— haunting, dissonant, and surreal.
Umbral Cloak
Cade Savage Schwartz - 16 | CA, USA
A rock climber comes into contact with a creature and a force beyond and above him that opens a doorway to transformation and the mythological.
Marcus uses music as a way to push his day forward. That is until he is forced to take heed to the things surrounding him.
Traveling In Tracy
Kate Henderson - 19, Solomon Le - 19 Canada
Tracy leaves her neglectful home only to discover she can’t escape the inevitable corruption of feminine youth.
The End of a Vase
Gabi Fedoroff - 23 | CA, USA
This experiment in projection art recounts a ceramic vase’s journey from a childhood home in New Orleans through the devastation of Hurricane Katrina until its eventual demise in a mundane accident.
Rain
Craig Renaud - 24 | Canada
As the city is engulfed by a major flood, Cain attempts to reach his hospitalized brother by any means necessary.
Channel Surfing
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 2:00pm, Uptown 3
Rhythmic Exercise with Priadi Cedric Christophorus - 22, Felisitas Stella - 24, Victoria Gunawan - 23, Owen Nathanael - 22 CA, USA
We invite you to the world of early 2000s satellite television in Indonesia, with all its nostalgia, charm, along with its hidden flaws.
Echo Equinox
Jack Cosgriff - 20, Anna Dedecek - 21, Nicole Wittusen - 20, Lilli Bruksås - 23 CO, USA
An exploration of love across space and time between Nova and Echo Equinox, an astronaut marooned at the edge of the universe.
Dearborn
Leila Bustami - 22, Sarah Whittum - 22, Skylar Kim - 24, Zhanel Ibragimova - 21 NY, USA
A young woman, expelled from college and forced to return home to her tightknit Arab community, tries to restore her reputation. However, complications arise when she becomes entangled in an alien conspiracy.
Ever wish you could cycle through channels to discover exciting emerging creatives? NFFTY has you covered! No remote control (or clicker) necessary, just sit back and enjoy the various styles and modes these filmmakers are working in.
Three professors explore the history, significance, and ongoing challenges of African American Vernacular English in higher education and the United States, reflecting on its cultural impact and the fight for linguistic acceptance.
Have You Seen Me?
Aranza Bergés - 22 | Canada
In a city where young girls keep going missing, one’s paranoia increases as she feels she is being stalked from the shadows.
Portrait of Vince
Corey Joon Clark - 23, Robert Celestine - 22, Vince Brown - 23 | IL, USA
A meditation on spirit, determination, and Black identity; the reflections between the world that defines us and the world we define for ourselves.
Cutting Parallel
Shira Baron - 23, Lucia Agajanian - 24 IL, USA
Evicted from his barber shop and living “couch to couch,” aspiring rapper Cyrus must grapple with his fraught history with his father and navigate his uncertain future.
Familial Frames
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 2:15pm, Uptown 2
James
Anne Di Martino - 20 | HI, USA
A heartfelt autobiographical short film narrated by an older sister, who takes the audience on an emotional journey into her family’s life.
Small Hair 할머니
Audrey Song - 16 | CA, USA
A filmmaker attempts to piece together who her grandmother is through family memory and archives.
Miles & Ellen
Aidan J. Stebbins - 21, Abby Pellien - 22, Shannon Edgar - 21, Fox Hughes - 21 CO, USA
A young participant in competitive target shooting is given a new pistol on his birthday by the person who’s been instructing him: his mother.
Sit yourselves down and prepare for a feast of family films. From supportive siblings to complicated intergenerational relationships, this screening will leave you with a lot to chew on. We hear it’s good for your digestion!
My Baby, My Doll
Samantha Schofield - 22, Marianna Kaimakliotis - 22, Ava Burka - 22, Trevor Scholl - 23 | NY, USA
After arriving home for her sister’s birthday, a young woman struggles to share that she’s pregnant.
Ān-dé-lǔ
Alan He - 22, Makayla Leilua - 22, Rachel Chung - 22, Ethan Wen - 21 NJ, USA
A young Chinese-American baseball player must confront his internalized racism after his overbearing father comes to his rescue.
A young girl finds out that she is pregnant. In an attempt to be independent from her sister, she tries to keep it a secret.
Angelita
Amira Stone - 23 | MN, USA
An intimate attention to transformation in body and culture endured across oceans and time. From granddaughter to grandmother: what lives and dies at the other end of sacrifice?
Experience Points (XP)
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 2:45pm, Uptown 1
Auen tshil, auen nil (Who are you? Who am I?)
Frédérique Picard - 22 | Canada
A young Indigenous woman is preparing to leave her community. This departure makes her reflect that with the move into adulthood, she feels as much a stranger in her village as in her new town.
Yours and Mine
Quinn Yurasek - 18, Cooper Walton - 18, Quinn Pedersen - 21 | NY, USA
A girl studying in New York City gets knocked up and has to figure out how to tell her mom.
Glint
Sayna Fardaraghi - 23, Julian Wolf
Stoller - 20 | UK
As the fear of her impending adulthood becomes louder, a sedentary girl is asked to go to a party.
New Level Unlocked! Confronting adulthood can be daunting, but each new experience offers an opportunity for evolution. These films capture the raw, brutal, beautiful, and unexpected moments that shape our identity and help us find our voice.
2008
Maya Weldon-Lagrimas - 22, Dalin Nelson - 24 | CA, USA
A woman recounts her experience living in a dysfunctional queer household while California repealed gay marriage during the 2008 election.
The Hickey
Mir Mengi - 21, ZJ Wang - 20, Luis Figueroa Caunedo - 21 | NY, USA
Pavel finds himself in the middle of a fall afternoon that slowly reveals the uncertainty of his future, dissolving into a mark on his neck by night.
Meek
Hannah Sperling - 21, Sadie Kopacz20, Karen Han - 21, Avani More - 20 NY, USA
An eighth-grade girl on the cusp of selfawareness gets more than she bargains for after she steals her first bra.
My Child
Deniz Akyurek - 21, Mason Grammer - 22 MA, USA
A recent college grad must confront fear of adulthood, childhood nostalgia, and the supernatural entities which pursue him through the halls of his old elementary school.
The
Kit
Lame Shall Sing
- 22,
- 24, Mohammad
- 24 Canada
Ashamed to sing, a choir boy finds his true voice in the underground punk scene.
Baronas
Kirc Cohen - 23, Pietro Russolo
Zakizadeh
Wired In
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 4:30pm, Uptown 2
Moderator
Eli Staub - 21, Sofia Uribe - 22, Evie Masters - 22 | CA, USA
The day in the life of a social media content moderator as she faces her daily onslaught of disturbing content -based on true, anonymous stories.
Mannikin Parade
Phoenix Park - 19, Angel Noriega - 18, Sophia UY - 19 | CA, USA
The future of advertisements strive for a complete distortion of reality, turning the world into an overwhelming parade.
The World is on Fire and I Just Wanna Dance
Paulette Argeres - 24, Madison Wolfe21, OJ Parker - 21 | LA, USA
During the apocalypse, two best friends meet up in a virtual reality to fulfill their final desires together.
This one is for the terminally online. Those who don’t touch grass. Folks that use ‘skibidi’ on the daily. The dopamine drip of new technology lives rent-free in our brains—IYKYK. So log off from doomscrolling and lock in on some NFFTYcoded brain rot with these fantastic films!
THE MECHANIZATION OF A MAN
Eion Nunez - 17 | CA, USA
After being diagnosed with terminal insomnia after a failed experiment to achieve eternal life, Cillian attempts to find another way to connect with his past.
The Iron Mountain
Yishan Yang - 16 | China
In 2035, Xu Fang’s idyllic mountain retreat with her husband, Yang Shu, shatters when she discovers he is a humanoid with a mechanical heart.
Decksdark
Kane Wilson - 21, James Freeman - 24, Carmela Schönenberger - 24 | UK
In a dystopian realm where consciousness is encased within neural implants, Logan, a solitary Decksdark, finds himself intertwined with an ethereal entity.
Pulpitum
Caleb Reese Paul - 16 | NY, USA
Determined to find her missing sister, Claire investigates her small town’s mysterious church rituals and battles fragmented visions, cryptic encounters, ever-present surveillance, and a dangerously unorthodox society.
Happy Hour Shorts
Friday, April 4th, Uptown 1
Beer Tasting | 5:00pm
Screening | 6:00pm
Rock and Roll
Rishabh Trivedi - 24, Justin Tang - 24, Jacob Staudenmaier - 24 | CA, USA
Three friends crash their fourth friend’s funeral to spend a day with him as if he were still alive.
How Ethan Fink Became a Millionaire
Heath Dunbar - 21, Macy Friday - 20, Zane Likosky - 21, Athul Obla - 21 CA, USA
A drifting high school graduate is pulled into a dangerous plot by a wealthy teenage girl who asks him to help her murder her parents in exchange for a share of their fortune.
NFFTY 2025 Happy Hour Menu: FRIDAY ONLY!
5pm: an irl pre-screening 21+ beer tasting featuring selections from Georgetown Brewing
6pm: a lively collection of shorts brimming with escapades -- from a love letter heist to a lucky lottery ticket PLUS a lawless apocalyptic game show, friends putting the fun in funeral, and more
Gratuity
Fiona Huxley - 22, Isabella Spagnoli - 21 CA, USA
When Tammy, a single mother and waitress, receives a winning lottery ticket, her ex-husband tries to reap the rewards - by any means necessary.
The Letter
Jonah Pagenhart - 17 | CA, USA
Twin brothers Jake and Anthony go on a heist to retrieve a stolen love letter.
Plantasy
Peyton Tenison - 24, Juan Felipe Díaz24, Sam Wolf - 24 | CA, USA
When an agoraphobic plant-woman’s water supply is shut off, she must face the outside world or suffer the dire consequences.
Yarn Over
Veronika Wielach - 21 | UK
A widowed man finds solace in a local knitting group.
SHEMERGENCY
Paolo Accogli - 23 | Italy Sher is a transgender superheroine, guardian of the trans* and queer community.
Gong Gong’s Bucket List
Caitlyn Phu - 23, Drake Konishi - 24 CA, USA
Determined to help her ailing grandfather complete his bucket list, a girl hires a “surrogate body” for him to fulfill the final tasks that he physically can no longer do.
Love’s Last Stand
Sam Stewart - 21, Rachel Brownlee - 21, Joy Heller - 22, Sophia Czertak - 22 CA, USA
Two women on opposite teams of a dating game show realize they must win the show’s prize in an alternative way or risk facing the end of the world alone.
The Last Chapel
Kate Saltel - 20 | CA, USA
Mid-wedding at a Vegas-style chapel, a celebration comes crashing to a halt when the iconic, deceased pink poodle Poolvis Poodlepoodle’s greedy Estate steps in and shuts it down.
Experimental Visions
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 7:00pm, Uptown 2
Finding that the material dictates the form, these short form artists use a variety of tools at their disposal to evoke the potent images and stories within them. Landscape studies, 3D rendered memories, multi-channel video, and various formats bring these visions to life.
The Walls Were Blue
Alex Guerra - 21 | Guatemala
The walls have been repainted and nobody is home. A lone tree stands overlooking the shadows left behind.
Light Sleeper
Luke Donovan - 20, Natasha Ellis - 20 Canada
Two dreamers collide on a quiet night.
Alex Lo - 22, Justin Dong-Hyuk Im - 21, Sina Abadi - 21 | Canada
An auto-fictional experimental film about the filmmaker digging a hole from Toronto to Hong Kong.
Longing For The Unfound
Jennifer Ross - 22, Chastity Yocum - 22, Boston Enderle - 23, Ella David - 22 KY, USA
Alone in her relationship and afraid to leave it behind, distant Addie craves for something within her girlfriend to make her feel whole again.
Esther Kong - 22, Vivian
- 20 NY, USA
As a Joseon woman faces persecution, her nose is severed as punishment for alleged infidelity. Her fleeting death wish transcends through the history of Korean women from Joseon to the Korean War.
vaguely reflecting in three dimensons
Skye Schoenhoeft - 22, Nina Tartibi - 22 CA, USA
Moved into this apartment under extenuating circumstances, and life only got crazier from there. And then I graduated college and moved away before I processed any of it. Here is my processing.
Why Do Ants Go Back To Their Nest?
How To Smell Without A Nose
Xiao
Detached City
Mia Sato O’Neal - 22, Devanae Zuniga - 22, Brayden Rios - 24, Andromeda
Viramontes - 22 | CA, USA
A kaleidoscopic city symphony exploring the over-consumption of technology and human disconnection
Thank
you for Everything
Nathan Cowles - 21 | AZ, USA
A brother reads aloud two notes written in secret, at different points in time, for his sister: one after his old suicide note was discovered by his sister, the other after his sister’s own suicide attempt.
Absolve at the Water
Maia Helvy - 22, Mia Gant - 21 | GA, USA
The powerful words of the late June Jordan’s ‘Poem About My Rights’ serve as a poignant backdrop to the vibrant lives of a group of black lesbians embracing joy and solidarity amidst the serenity of nature.
The Last Thing I Think I Saw
Justin Kaminuma - 24 | MA, USA
A hallucinatory journey through the eyes of a patient experiencing a deterioration of their senses and perception as they confront uncertainty, anxiety, and the fragility of memory and identity.
Friday Night Spotlight
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 8:15pm, Uptown 1
January
Jestke Lieber - 24 | Netherlands
A twenty-something’s new year begins with heartbreak. Freshly single, he struggles through various social moments and discovers he has to reinvent himself.
Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday
Maria Paula Quesada Quiros - 23, Gabby Fiszman - 23, Doug Kerner - 23, Tre’len Johnston - 24 | CA, USA
After her 23rd birthday ends with an existential crisis and a pair of pooped pants, Aly comes home to the only thing that could make matters worse...a surprise party.
Presented by:
It’s prime time for a showcase! From laugh-out-loud chaos to quiet moments of self-discovery, this program delves into life’s unexpected twists and turns. A lineup of heavy hitters, you don’t want to miss this sensational screening.
Evel
Thibeaux Hirsh - 22 | Jamaica
Richard Reid, aka “Evel,” works at a crocodile sanctuary and tends to his beloved fighting fowls. He hopes to raise enough money to pay for his daughter to get her hair braided by entering his best bird El Chapo in a fight.
A hesitant 15-year-old considers the sacrifice he needs to make for the approval of his older brother’s friends.
Nono
Aerin Wu - 24 | CA, USA
After his birthday party, Nono waves goodbye to his friends. He suddenly feels very empty and disoriented.
Swollen
Roxy Sophie Sorkin - 23, Chelsea Eisen24, Brian Niles - 24 | CA, USA
Two bimbo besties, post plastic surgery, debate the need to call the local sexy police amidst a botched burglary for fear of being seen swollen, bandaged, bloody.
After Hours Absurdity
Friday, April 4th
Screening | 9:45pm, Uptown 2
Hamster Film
Justin Cahyadi - 24, Breann Houghton21, Blaze Richert - 21 | Canada There is no normal hamster death.
Freak
Aashish Joshi - 24, Nick Knezevich - 23 NY, USA
A man-child taunts a stranger on the NYC subway to prove himself in front of his girlfriend, but what he finds funny is no joke to the stranger.
Clyde Petri is in Trouble
Luke Gresback - 24, Jacob Staudenmaier - 23, Chris Pickering - 23 CA, USA
A terrible guy who lives to seek pleasure is forced to look inward when he smokes a moldy cigarette.”
You made it through a full day of screenings, but are you ready for the shot of adrenline this program will give you? These gonzo pieces dive straight into the subconscious; come get a glimpse of images you will never forget.
Tough Love
Sophie Lynch - 22, Oisin McKeogh - 22 Ireland
After accidentally killing one of her clients, a recently divorced housewife turned dominatrix must figure out what to do next - all while dealing with her manipulative teenage son.
Dirty
Marlena Lerner - 23 | CA, USA
Amid chaotic Thanksgiving preparations, a neurotic teenager schemes to prevent her family from learning uncomfortable news.
Sweet Sorghum
Brendan Lee Hickey - 23 | NY, USA
Three young men escape the busy world of that old city life, but the joyful reprieve of friendship and autumnal majesty isn’t all that awaits them. Something else lurks deep in the reeds.
fifty-fifty
Laurence De Vera - 23, Rhain Alcoriza - 22, Icah Fidel - 21 Philippines
A misguided prank causes Sari to choke on a goldfish and their outlook is fifty-fifty. Two friends reevaluate their friendship as they wait for the hospital’s call.
the little fangirl
Jaclyn Goldstein - 22 | NY, USA
Fantasy blurs with reality when a girl sees her favorite popstar IRL for the first time.
Tortoise and Hare
Marcellyn Fisher - 24, Summer Muster22, Billy Croston - 21 | ID, USA
In this darkly comedic take on the classic Aesop fable, a miserable Tortoise will do whatever it takes to beat the arrogant, psychopathic Hare in a footrace.
Growing Through It
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 11:00 am, Uptown 1
Prematho
Harshith S. Kotni - 24, Julie Zhao - 24, NY, USA
When a perfectionist teenage Bharatanatyam dancer is denied her Arangayram (recital), she must realize that impeccable technique alone is insufficient.
A Few More Minutes, Please
Dylan Scott - 20, Noah Manzoor - 20, Betsy Finlay-Sheil - 20 | UK
A quiet nineteen-year-old struggles to order at a restaurant while grappling with the building pressure to choose a purpose in life.
Like a flower climbing up through the crumbling cracks of concrete sidewalk, sometimes it takes all you can muster simply to grow through it! These heartfelt films cover the challenges and triumphs that come with arriving at life’s turning points.
Mateo, an 18-year-old from Mexico, considers abandoning his life in America to return to the place he once belonged, but the presence of his new friends challenges him to accept a new reality.
Taco Boy
Lizzie Han - 23, Aidan Lesser - 24, Anthony Wegner - 23, Stephanie Sakaki - 24 | Canada
Seven-year-old Maggie desperately wants to get her elderly dog, Taco, a cake for his upcoming birthday.
I’ll See You In My Dreams
Santana Aguirre - 23, Eve Robitshek24, Alex Turner - 24, Sela Pierce - 24 CA, USA
An aspiring pianist returns to her estranged family’s ranch for her father’s funeral. Upon arriving, she dreams of him and the life they lived together, forcing her to confront their complicated relationship.
Dropped
Lucy Hirschfeld - 24, Maya Zaleski - 24 NY, USA
A struggling actor gets dropped by his agent in the middle of teaching a master class to a group of children at his old Catholic Middle School.
Morning Medley
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 11:15am, Uptown 2
Airplane
Amanda Chen - 21, Rebekah Chun22, Becca Meza - 22, Eljin Yoo - 22 CA, USA
Rosie, an imaginative yet clumsy dreamer, wants to achieve her dream by flying to outer space on a homemade airplane.
Snow Day!
Kiara Lin - 22, Max Lee - 21 | CA, USA
When a spunky 8 (and a half) year old is moved across the country, homesick, she’ll go through ANY length to make it snow.
Photograph
Peer Langenheim - 19, Rio - 20, Nikolai Chalkidis - 21 | Germany
The girl with the analogue camera and the boy in the red sweater are living in their own worlds. A chance encounter leads to the search for a shared reality.
Rise and shine! Start your screening-packed Saturday right with a collection of films brimming with heart, humor, and fun for the whole family. Presented by:
LAIKA
Yann Carrillo - 19, Angel Noriega - 19 CA, USA
Cosmonaut extraordinaire Laika blasts into space! When her mission goes awry, she is forced to confront the nature of her own existence.
Disappearing
Mia Đurkan - 14, Ema Novosel - 14, Lara Đurkan - 17 | Croatia
A short film that takes you into the realms of the subconscious and gives you the impression that, just like in dreaming, you have generated the images yourself.
Balloon Girl
Dale Burgess - 16 | FL, USA
A lonely boy with his head in clouds sends daily letters through a bucket and rope to a girl who lives in a hot air balloon.
Newman’s Block
Hudson Hillin - 14 | CA, USA
A successful teenage author with a serious bout of writer’s block turns to his famous author father for guidance.
Out of the Ink
Kat Wright - 18 | FL, USA
After a frustrated artist gives up on their project their sketch comes to life to finish the job.
Berry Good Documentary
Anvi Dayal - 15 | CA, USA
A middle school math teacher transforms his school by creating a garden.
A Different Frame of Mind
Annika Kim - 18 | MN, USA
A girl tries to find her own color through the frames of the different identities she holds in her daily life.
Reel Wisdom
Ollie Cunningham - 17 | CA, USA
A young fisherman’s frantic struggle to outdo an old man’s effortless success leads to a humbling realization.
Summer Before Prague
Leesha Grant - 14 | Canada
Leesha is the very first Cree female goalie to be invited to play in the Premier Ice Prospect U15 in Prague. This is a snapshot of her summer training before the big leap.
BABO
Jane Helen Lee - 16 South Korea (Republic of Korea) Belle, a bullied tween, discovers a small dog that only she can see.
Propagate
Mika Lim - 20 | CA, USA
In a barren technological future, a thief sneaks into a super-advanced computer to steal back the spirit of creativity.
In her first queer relationship, a woman becomes entangled in a seductive game of pursuit, where love, desire, and power shift unpredictably between hunter and prey.
In a society that often marginalizes those they consider different, a spirited 16-year-old girl with an intellectual disability defies expectations as she dives into the world of horseback riding.
Faces Places
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 11:45am, Uptown 3
It Was Really Great
Martina Inostroza - 12 Czechia
An old lady reminisces about life in Smilovice while her granddaughter dreams of exploring beyond.
Sombras Del Pasado
Samuel Correa - 20, Juan Martinez - 20, Ariya Beckler - 22 | FL, USA
From Colombia’s darkest corners to Florida’s sunshine, Claudia, an ordinary mother with an extraordinary past, casts shadows on her uncertain future: the elusive American dream.
The Canadian Dream
Ilse Moreno - 24, Mateo Zambrano - 24, Ismail Alberto Ali - 23
Canada & Mexico
A poignant glimpse into the harsh realities of migrant farm workers in Canada through one worker’s journey and his daughter’s perspective.
Cruise lonely long haul highways in your big rig, protect your favorite underground boxing gym from displacement, or perhaps search the landscape of memory to understand the space of the past in these distinctly regional documentary portraits.
Per recordar (To remember)
Created collectively by a group of filmmakers between the ages of 16 and 23
Spain
A portrait of youth, of characters who think, dream, yearn and trust. A portrait of Barcelona, too: the city they share.
Roads Between Us
Matthew Donkers - 20, Molly Ruby - 19, Jesse Telfer - 21, Luke Otter 23 | Canada
A retired truck driver reflects on a life spent on the road while his children explore the emotional toll of his absence, honouring the unsung heroes who keep the world moving.
Everywhere I Look
November Nolan - 24, Cory Griffin-Fiorella - 24, Maggie Brill - 24 | IL, USA
A young trans woman travels back to places she visited as a child with her estranged mother, reflecting on memory, loss, and grief.
BMCLD
Shreela Agarwal - 24 | India
Amidst Mumbai’s relentless pursuit of progress, a boxing club fights to preserve its legacy against the backdrop of urban redevelopment threatening its existence.
Sharing Knowledge - Sanikiluaq, NU Knowledge Keeper Charlie Takatak
Jason Masty - 11, Simon Novolinga - 11, Tamasi Sala - 11 | Canada
Charlie Takatak takes viewers on a trip to harvest mussels on the Belcher Islands in Hudson’s Bay in negative 50 degrees and shares knowledge of the floes and ice safety, and his life.
This film is dedicated to the memory of Tamasi Sala who left us too soon.
All Around Us
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 1:15pm, Uptown 1
Atlas
Max Hendrickson - 19 | Ireland
A grand cosmic exodus of the flora and fauna of the Earth.
Go Down River
Frank Parkinson - 22, Okyoung Noh - 21 MI, USA
A young investigator uncovers the dark legacy of PFAS contamination in local waterways, revealing a nationwide crisis lurking in our bloodstreams.
Low Country Fishin
Angelina Plowe - 17, Burke Sullivan - 17, Annabelle Leonard - 17, Liam O’Dell - 17 GA, USA
Local fisherman Garrett Ross explores his relationship with fishing and the Lowcountry region of Savannah, GA.
Winter wildfires and dark waters; the world looks a lot different than it did when NFFTY kicked off the first festival 18 years ago. This screening promises to be restorative, flaming the fire of your eco-friendly hearts to help us create a more sustianable world.
The Deer Divide
Nate Markquart - 22, Chloe Prahl - 24, Peter Yinzhi Pan - 20, Angel Mendoza - 21 CA, USA
Opposing views around the proposed management of Catalina Island’s non-native deer species spark conflict among a tight-knit community.
Under the Overpass
James DeLisio - 21 | CA, USA
A flock of Cliff Swallows oscillates between their nest along the Interstate 5 Freeway, and the San Dieguito River.
Beef For Climate
Mona D’hertefelt - 21 | Belgium
Panic rises on a meadow when four cows are confronted by a billboard with the hard truth: they are the cause of global warming.
At The Riverbank
Matthew Wisdom - 22, Ally Smith - 22 CA, USA
As the world grows arid, a young girl searches for water to heal her injured father.
Matthew Wilbur - 19, Adele
- 19 MT, USA
A short look at Yellowstone National Park through 16mm film.
After decades of colonialism left the Blackfeet Nation without their sacred animals, redemption begins to show itself through the renewal of freeroaming bison.
Sierras
Adams
Memory Lane
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 2:15pm, Uptown 3
Splash Back
Yufei Xiao - 22, Rachel Wu - 24, Yang Liu - 24 USA
On a humid summer day, a young masseuse recognizes her client as a childhood friend during a foot massage service and enters a flashback of their withheld memory.
A Life Well-Lived
Athena Cheris - 21 | CA, USA
Ronald Chase, a 90 year old filmmaker and teacher, hangs the obituaries of his dead friends and mentors on his wall. This ritual reveals his insights on life, death, and art.
Our Unforgettable Fellow
Victor Stoll - 23 | Brazil
After many years estranged away, the last heir of a Lebanese immigrant family returns to her childhood estate.
This program dares to venture into Long Term Memory, examining the fallible, fickle, and fascinating nature of the human mind. Reflect, reminisce, and ruminate with the subjects in these temporal tales.
L’Île sans morts (The deadless island)
Jules Vésigot-Wahl - 24 | France
Annick lives with the memory of her husband Loïc, lost at sea 40 years earlier. One day, the corpse of a young sailor washes ashore.
So Long
Joe LaFrance - 21, Brenden Mascherino - 22 PA, USA
Within the fading echoes of their once-intimate bond, a long-time married couple parts ways with the familiar comforts of their home and the memories held as the move into the final chapter of life.
When
I See Roses I Think of You
Jordie Simpson - 21 | WA, USA
An abstract reflection on grief, growth, and how we choose to remember our loved ones.
Lost Media
Rebeca Spiegel - 24 | Canada
In an alternate reality where Laika the Soviet space dog survives her mission, Amandine rushes to rescue her.
Mother Tongue
Shriya Surana - 15 | CA, USA
A visual letter to the filmmaker’s Nani, or maternal grandmother, that serves as a space for her to explore the too-familiar, diasporic feeling of losing a language.
Live From the Clouds
Mackie Mallison - 23, Athan Le - 19 | TX,USA
An immersion into the intimate memories and imaginations of four women in the director’s Japanese American family, where everyday anxieties are ruptured by dreams of financial freedom and homecoming.
We’re proud to support our local communities. No one knows a community better than the people who live and work there. That’s why we empower employees at our local offices to determine the best ways to use resources and funds to meet the unique needs of their communities. It’s all about making a difference where it counts most.
Sometimes, being in a relationship can feel like a war.
Growing Pains
Giovanna Trujillo - 24, Caro Knapp - 24 CA, USA
Feeling frustrated with the growing pains of life, Trousdale takes out their frustration in the boxing ring.
Melt - The Neverminds
Angela Wang - 23, Ginny Kim - 22, Spencer Wither - 23 | Canada
A group of friends explores carpe diem, connection with one another, and turbulence.
Now That’s What I Call NFFTY 18! A treasure trove for the musically inclined, this vibrantly visual playlist will have you grooving into your Saturday evening.
ualreadykno
Minerva Navasca - 22, Sasha Argirov - 24 Canada
A man engulfed by heartbreak. His search for closure leads him down the road to madness.
Sofia Cordoba - Normal
Carter Beardmore - 23, Cate Christiansen - 23, Alexandra Mettler - 23, Sofia Cordoba - 23 UK
Filmed on a British football pitch, the music video lightheartedly imagines the potential for women coming together.
A couple’s aggressive argument before a rave, leads to a chaotic emotional outbreak and further destructiveness.
Heaven
Bridge Taylor - 22, Luciana Baldovino - 24, Sonali Chugani - 23 | CA, USA
Diving into a world that confronts the harsh reality of reaching a dead-end in a relationship, this piece acknowledges that fighting for a one-sided love is futile.
IN FEAR ETC.
Elise Schatz - 23, Bamba Kimball - 23, Taraneh Tajdini - 24, Elise Jonke - 23 CA, USA
Healing from trauma is a complex journey, but within lies the strength to embrace another dawn; what happens when you live to see that new day?
Coraline
Caro Knapp - 24, Sonali Chugani - 24, Giovanna Trujillo - 24 | CA, USA
Lyn Lapid spirals out at a party that she can’t seem to escape in her first single from her debut album, Buzzkill.
GENGAR!
Christopher Consoli - 22, Nathan Haydel - 20 NJ, USA
Nate has hit a crossroad in life. In order to find his peace, he is taken on an adventure to face his fears, his anger, and most importantly, himself.
Stainless
Benjamin McGregor - 24 | Canada
Sam Darkoh goes Stainless.
Hit the Wind
Ama Buzo - 23 | NY, USA
Adrift in the middle of the ocean, writer’s block brings the artist to the Garden of Dreams, filled with dandelions. There, a dancer, a photographer, and a painter find strength in his music.
Card Declined for Pizza and Wine
Sonora Grace Wright - 20, Roman Zen Treppa - 19, Cydney Mobley - 20, Barry Anderson - 23 | AZ, USA
A girl finds out that her lover is cheating on her with another woman.
Irish Goodbye
Caitlyn Phu - 23, Jason Quan - 24, Chris Pickering - 24 | CA, USA
After falling for a criminal, a girl leaves her normal life to become his partnerin-crime.
BREAK A LIL SWEAT
Elise Schatz - 24, Nikki Ghalili - 23, Jaeden Gomez - 24 | CA, USA
While on the night shift, a janitor is transported to a world of his own.
College Girl Music Video
Helena Augsberger - 17, Max Schneiderman - 17 | CA, USA
A high school boy is certain he’s meant to be with the college girl of his dreams - she just thinks they’re better off with a restraining order.
All The Time
Ethan Grossman - 23 | Netherlands
Music by Mood Bored. Filmed in Tilburg, Netherlands.
Caught in a toxic relationship, Katherine Nerro reclaims her power by making her partner choose what they’re really after.
Fire For You
Victoria Mezquita - 22, Anastasia Mirabelle - 22, Kevin Feng - 22, Marcus Quinn - 21 NY, USA
Karina is trapped in a seductive cycle, her movements dictated by an unseen force she can’t escape. With each eerie repetition, reality shatters, and freedom fades.
Feel the Yearn
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 5:45pm, Uptown 1
What Came And What Went
Asta Marie Liedman - 17, Marco Andersen - 18, Romeo Banjas Struve - 16 Denmark
Gudrun experiences an attraction she hasn’t faced before. Now she must choose between her boyfriend waiting outside or this new side of herself.
CHERRIES
Emma Rosman - 23, Ella Knez - 22, Linus Mogensen - 23 | Sweden
During the feverishly hot summer of 2018, Siri and Thelma navigate the highs and lows of their inseparable bond, filled with sun-drenched days, endless parties, and the bittersweet awakening of desire and change.
We can’t put this one into words, you just have to feel it. Come prepared to pine, ready for romance, and game to gaze at the lives of the longing.
COUNT MY LOV3
Ewa Japola - 21, Hanna Tarasiewicz - 22, Filip Cyran - 20 | Poland
Sara, in search of love, wants just one thing: a phone number. Well, alright, a shoe size too. And a registration number. Date of birth, body temperature, the number of teeth... Numbers don’t lie.
If We Met Now
Halen King - 24, Shani McKenzie - 22, Renée Foy - 23, Cam Barbeau - 23 Canada
A transgender man confronts his cisgender boyfriend’s disapproval towards a gender affirming procedure.
The Perfect Past
Misagh Karimi - 24 | Iran
A young couple who have been in a long-distance relationship for several years meet again a few months after their breakup.
Nun’s Beach
Kate diRienzi - 24 | NY, USA
When introduced to her fellow nun’s family, Sister Flora questions her romantic relationship with Sister Muriel and her devotion to God.
Be a Good Sport
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 6:00pm, Uptown 2
BOYS
Jacob Staudenmaier - 24, Tate Study - 22 CA, USA
An ill-fated meeting between two groups of dudes.
Ride Or Die
Cade Johnson - 16, Ryan Boulet - 16 TX, USA
After the death of a local rider, professional motocross racer Brandon Hardin is forced to realize the dangers involved with the sport of dirt bike racing.
Bury Your Nephew
Yoni Ben-Haim - 24 | UK
An uncle struggling to find common ground with his nephew eventually bonds with him over a morbid curiosity.
♫ Don’t mess with the flow, no, no / Stick to the status quo ♫ While going against the grain can be gnarly, the perils of peer pressure are apparent. This collection of shorts dives into the psyche, examining human nature, tradition and the intricacies of interpersonal relationships.
Unveiling Hour
Zeynep Su Sezgin - 22, Deniz Gonel - 22, Mitchell Clark - 21 | NY, USA
A Turkish immigrant family in New York grapples with unspoken tensions and cultural expectations that stifle their ability to connect.
RAPT
Margot Budzyna - 22, Christian Tasiopoulos - 23 | CA, USA
A young woman navigates a surreal audition process where her boundaries are tested in pursuit of a coveted spot in an elite acting program.
Scratch
Taye Alvis - 24, Josh Willick - 24 Canada
When his camera breaks during a game of basketball, Junior struggles to maintain his friendship with his fellow players.
Sugar, Sorry
Hannah Ignacio - 22, Michael Merlino22, Austin Tong - 21, Claire Frankland - 23 CA, USA
A Filipina-American girl faces two defining days: the anxious world of suburban Sunday school at age 6, and meeting her white boyfriend’s passiveaggressive parents at age 16.
Centerpiece
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 7:45pm, Uptown 1
I Didn’t Like You
Parker Fenady - 23 | CA, USA
As Emilia and Maxine spy on their best friend’s first date, they come to realize the chemistry might not be between the couple they anticipated.
City Bird
Sunny Rae Keller - 21, Martin Li - 23 CA, USA
After witnessing a tragic accident, a metropolitan pigeon spends the rest of the day questioning her life in the city.
We’re marking the penultimate day of the festival with a collection of filmmaking feats that quintessentially embody the NFFTY spirit. Join us for a screening of distinct and affecting stories that showcase the steady hands of the next generation of filmmakers.
Odessa, TX
Alex Shuryepov Witt - 22, Laura Kim - 21, Daniela Muñoz - 22, Graycen Skalecki - 22 CA, USA
A Ukrainian grandmother suffering from dementia is transported back to moments of her life in the Soviet Union.
A locksmith’s date night turns into a waking, liminal nightmare.
Fields Corner Poet
Martin Lee - 21, Airham Almonte - 23 MA, USA
An exploration of the graffiti of the elusive “Poet” in the neighborhood of Fields Corner, Boston.
Endling
Kelly Yu - 22, Connor Williams - 24 CA, USA
A documentary crew interviews the man in charge of taking care of the last goldfish on earth.
Night Terrors
Saturday, April 5th
Screening | 9:00pm, Uptown 2
CLONES/CLOWNS
Christopher Consoli - 23, Jasper Rogers - 20, Felix Bailly - 22 | NJ, USA
A gang of masked kidnappers capture the duo Fifteenøeight and take them for everything they’ve got.
Please Leave
Riley R. Scott - 21, Steven Xie - 21, Camille Brimmer - 21 | CA, USA
A late-night gas station stop becomes terrifying when a young woman’s path crosses with an unwelcome guest.
Self Clean
Jules Santamauro - 23, Luke Harris - 23 NJ, USA
When Carrie, a religiously devout girl, takes her first time drinking too far, she must “wash away her sins.”
These delightfully frightful flicks aren’t to be missed! Whether you need to wash away your sins or a spot of puke on your sleeve, we know a machine that might do the trick... just keep an eye out for any leering janitors.
When the corrupted footage of a student film project is discovered near the woods of Lake Washington, it reveals a terrifying descent into madness as four college filmmakers’ production spirals into a waking nightmare.
Coach
Orson Ford - 17 | CA, USA
A janitor compulsively watches the coach of a high school basketball team. As her fixation grows, the boundary between observer and participant begins to dissolve.
The American Bean
DC Dzoja - 23 | Canada
After rejecting a marriage proposal, Eva finds herself increasingly tormented by a sentient can of beans.
Ouija Marry Me?
Grace Stromatt - 24, Haley Salcido-Gronski - 23, Fernanda Vega - 23, Camille Remi Kirby - 23 CA, USA
One night, Margot receives an interesting proposition through her Ouija board.
Sisters of Salvation
Athena Stuebe - 20, Sydney White - 20, Isaiah Kollmansberger - 20 | CA, USA
Haunted by her parents’ death, a 14-year-old girl at a remote Catholic school fixates on proving she’s chosen by God, leading her down a chilling path of faith-fueled madness.
Strings
Ava Pearson - 17, Nina Zandvliet - 18, Eleanor Smith - 18 | Italy
During a summer trip to Sicily, Sally is confronted with her bestie’s volatile new friend Alex. Sally is strangely drawn to the traditional puppets decorating their villa, and the strings that bind the two friends threaten to rip them apart.
Reel Impact
Sunday, April 6th
Screening | 11:15am, Uptown 2
Did You Forget Mr. Fogel?
Max Karpman - 22, Franny Hill - 22, Kaylee Smith - 21, Seth Karall - 22 CA, USA
When American teacher Marc Fogel is sentenced to fourteen years in a Russian prison, his family strives to remain united as they launch a campaign to bring him back home.
Invisible in Malaysia
Ray Teoh - 21 | CA, USA, Malaysia
Jaz and Julie, siblings rendered stateless by Malaysia’s gender-discriminatory citizenship law, navigate life as invisible members of society.
One of the best ways to support activists is to document the work they do! These socially engaged and invigorating documentaries are themselves an act of radical politics, shining light on personal, institutional, and international issues.
Culture War
Celi Mitidieri - 21, Milena Montero - 24 FL, USA
A small Liberal Arts College in Sarasota, FL finds itself in a culture war against the government for the basic right of educational freedom. Now, the community must learn how to find resistance amid a reality they didn’t sign up for.
Transalpin
Léo Gatinot - 24, Clara Nicolas - 24 France & Italy
On the Franco-Italian border, a tunnel boring machine cuts through the mountain, drying up streams and fountains in its path. Transalpin is a descent from the snow-capped peaks to the valleys where the anger of the villages echoes.
Painting Resistance
Dylan Clarke - 16, Aesha Gluck - 17, Nofa Ouali - 13, Cormac Kelly - 15 CA, USA
An exploration of the life, work, and motivation of the San Francisco-based muralist, Chris Gazaleh.
In Absentia
Sunday, April 6th
Screening | 12:00pm, Uptown 3
Dear Etoile
Victoria Pham - 17 | CA, USA
A mother recites her last letter to her daughter. A daughter dreams of her last memories of her mother.
Canicas
Chris Martinez - 21, Veronica Hein - 21 NY, USA
A distraught teen attempts to track down her recently-deceased father’s missing cat, only to unearth a devastating family secret in the process.
Gone
Egill Nielsen - 20 | Iceland
A woman named Brynja frantically searches for her 7-year-old daughter after she doesn’t return home from school on time.
Explore the temporal, physical, emotional, and mental impacts an absence can have on someone through these intricately woven touching tales.
Until He’s Born
Qingxuan Wang - 18, Yimeng Wang - 20, Chris Wang - 21, Jay P, - 21 | China
After the only boy accidentally “killed” an unborn brother during the one-child policy period, an encounter between him and a little boy dissolves his years of guilt.
Red Prior
Sophia Lin - 20, Cierra Gladden - 21, John D’cruz - 21 | MD, USA
After giving away her young daughter, an incarcerated immigrant mother begins to make sense of her guilt when she connects with a kindred inmate.
Holding You With Shaky Hands
Jiaying Lin - 21 | China
Following the death of her grandfather, Jiaying Lin documents her family in Shanghai as they navigate traditional rituals of mourning.
Touching Darkness
Jamaica Kindlová - 22 | CzechRepublic
A blind boy bravely discovers the world – his inner one and the one around him.
Local Legends
Sunday, April 6th
Screening | 1:00pm, Uptown 1
John Van Deusen - Before You Fade Away
Jacob Hoxie - 22 | WA, USA
Haunted by his past while also simultaneously trying to reconnect with it, a mysterious creature roams the woods, preying on an unsuspecting family.
Squid
Asha Mary Oli Mallick - 14 | WA, USA
After starting work at a new office job, a task to report to a door is much more challenging than expected...
No matter if the mountain is out or not, our region features fearless filmmakers who show up to tell their stories! Come check out some of the best emerging artists Cascadia has to offer working in various genres and styles.
Love, Aunt Wendy
Isla McNae - 16 | ID, USA
How Aunt Wendy learned from her life alongside horses and dogs, and how they have helped her and the people around her.
Despite her poetic way with words, recent graduate Samira can’t seem to find the right ones to stand up for herself against her mother’s constant dismissal and disappointment. This results in a dance-off, the massive consumption of goat meat, and a kid figuring out how to want herself.
RUTH
Lucas Salm-Rojo - 18 | WA, USA
A small character study on Ruth Barton and her experiences in the arts and in life.
Punch-Drunk
Ellie Nishino - 17, Elena Miller - 14, Ava Carlson - 13, Journey Morrison - 24 WA, USA
At the homecoming dance, Mirabelle desperately tries to fit in with a clique of mean girls before discovering the power of self-acceptance and the courage to defy conformity.
Kindred Spirits
Mia Cullivan - 21, Grace Chuka - 21, Ava Keresztes - 21 | OR, USA
Mia returns to her childhood love of rock hunting and the ocean while navigating sobriety, college life, and the search for a community where she can truly belong.
Love Transforms
Dani León Herrera - 23 | WA, USA
An autobiographical documentary that follows the journey of a Mexican immigrant family adjusting to life in the U.S. as young adults and first-time parents.
the decision, the reaction
Daniel Heechan Lim - 18 | WA, USA
A cinematic take on the viral “college decision video.”
22
Nate Markquart - 22 | WA, USA
Every day, 22 veterans commit suicide in the United States. A northwest-based organization reconnects veterans with their community through outdoor experiences to inspire hope back into their lives.
Having a Body is Weird
Sunday, April 6th
Screening | 1:30pm, Uptown 2
I REALLY LIKE YOU TOO
Riley Street - 24, Wylie Soltes - 24 CA, USA
Bebe lets it all out.
Somewhere Out There
Julio Aceituno - 20, Barkın Öztürk - 21 FL, USA
Charlie Brouwer, a Virginia sculpture artist, shares his experience of becoming legally blind later in his career. Unexpectedly, he finds acceptance through an unlikely muse.
Old Goat
Teddy Alvarez-Nissen - 23 | CA, USA
A family struggles to care for their aging grandfather who has turned into an animal.
In this corporeal close up, the body takes center stage. From stories involving involuntary physical responses to outside influences and perceptions that shape our sense of self, the films in this program center the somatic and the toll time takes on our physical framework.
OROBORO
Huijun Wang - 24 | CA, USA
An exploration of existence that unfolds through the metamorphosis of a character as she journeys through the evolving environment.
Type of Rain
Saskia Steinberg - 24, Madison Hookway24, Scarlett Gardner - 24 | UK
In the wake of the death of her closest friend, a teenager searches for a new ally: cold water.
Stay Out of the Sun
Nidhi Kumar - 21, Zola Franchi - 20, Vivienne Ayres - 21 | CA, USA
A visual scrapbook of individuals’ memories of colorism, recounting the messages they received about skin tone during their youth and examining how these experiences have left lasting imprints on their lives today.
Wet Noodle
Julia Lalonde - 22, Sydney Beaton - 21 Canada
13-year-old Evelyn longs for the attention of her class crush. When she notices his fascination with their female teacher’s bouncing chest, she determines that boobs are the key to his heart.
Nos Entrailles (Inside Us)
Sarah Bordji - 24 | France
Once upon a time in a small village there was Lina, cornered with domestic tasks, and her sister Madeleine, living a carefree life. One day, Lina has a strange encounter that makes her darkest wish come true…
Choose Your Own Adventure
Sunday, April 6th
Screening | 2:15pm, Uptown 3
You’ve got this, Allie!
Wren Petkov - 23, Michelle Saal - 22 Ireland
An uncertain young girl takes a leap and finds herself alone in a big city, surrounded by strangers for the first time in her life. But are we ever really alone in a crowd?
The Entomologist
Nikki Ghalili - 23, Paige Broman - 22, Lauren Chappell - 23, Tate Stüssy - 23 CA, USA
Faced with an indeterminate divorce and a disillusioned daughter, Rita must navigate a Virginia winter armed with nothing but her chronic depersonalization and a rather unusual cockroach problem.
Munchies
Brittany Young - 24, Jaelyn Ellis - 23, Cassie Greer - 23 | CA, USA
After lighting up and getting the munchies, a group of vulgar teenage girls with a complicated history stumble into a botched robbery at their local convenience store.
Presented by:
These emotionally-action-packed films will have you fixated from the first frame! Seeing these stellar stories on the big screen as they bring battles with inner and outer demons to life is more than worth the cinematic stress.
Help Me!
Seven Xyst - 24 | NM, USA
A woman in crisis gets unwanted counsel from a strange figure lurking in her imagination.
Little Candy Girl
Una Smoole - 21, Nikki Ghalili - 20, Tom Bolles - 21 | CA, USA
A miniature girl who tap dances in candy machines runs away with a curious and charming rescuer, only for her to realize that she must be the one to save herself.
El Alma de la Sed
Colleen Ryan - 21, Alexander Daniels - 22, Carmen Halphen - 22, Brenden Mascherino - 21 | Panama Luis, a child of a lower income family In Panama during their impedimentary water crisis, hears the Legend of an ancient spirit that could bring nourishment to the people of a struggling community as long as they believe.
Eleanor In The Evening
Giran Findlay - 22, Lina Li - 24, Sebastian Marin - 23, Stephanie Sakaki - 23GA, Canada
When a young woman returns home to her estranged parents, a buried secret threatens to unravel the fragile reunion.
In Memoriam
Sarah Jean Williams - 22, Luna Garcia - 24 CA, USA
A girl follows her sister into the afterlife to have one last conversation.
Gray Areas
Sunday, April 6th
Screening | 3:45pm, Uptown 2
The River Between Us
Sophia Lafaurie-Muñoz - 21, Alex Miranda - 19, Myra Soto - 21, Emelin Vivar - 22 Dominican Republic
After crossing the border river, a Haitian boy and a Dominican boy accidentally meet and become unlikely friends.
Write To Exist: An Exploration into Austin’s Graffiti Scene
Mia Daniela Alejo - 21, Nick Stoner - 20, Xayda Garza - 21 | TX, USA
Three graffiti writers in Austin, Texas share a common goal: cover as many walls, buildings, ditches and underpasses with their selected aliases in multi-colored aerosol paint.
WARNING: Films in screening may be more morally ambiguous than they appear. With certainty, you’re bound to feel uncertain while watching the characters in this screening encounter disconcerting crossroads and examine the complicated motives for their choices -- how riveting!
Top Voices
Isabelle Leonard - 22, Juliette Boland - 21 CA, USA
While contestants compete to achieve their dreams on a singing competition TV show, a fading celebrity judge must square off against a ruthless, up-andcoming producer for control of the show’s future.
Victoria Capitano - 19, Jonathan Kirkpatrick20, Beckett Hobbs - 19, Luca Bevilacqua - 19 MA, USA
At a parole hearing for his older brother, a traumatized young man struggles to reconcile memories of the brother he loved with the crimes he committed, questioning if he can ever forgive him.
James
Tayler Gilbert - 22, Courtney Rowe - 22, Brittny Antillanca - 21 | MO, USA
When James, closeted preachers son in Missouri, decides to runaway. A deer collision forces him to confront cycles of generational trauma, identity, and faith.
Chi Tran - 22, Skylar Kim - 23, Jason Wang - 21 NY, USA
Faced with deportation at the end of his work permit, an Asian immigrant tries to get hate-crimed to secure a green card.
Canis Lupus
VISA
Closing Night
Sunday, April 6th
Screening | 5:30pm, Uptown 1
Award Ceremony | 7:30pm
Devon Again - deep & still can’t dress myself
Justin Nguyen - 21, Ethan Frank - 22, Devon Again - 23, Zayd Ezzeldine - 21 CA, USA
Devon does a live performance in an empty swimming pool.
Unholy
Daisy Friedman - 21, Isaak Popkin - 22 NY, USA
Noa, a chronically ill girl goes to her family’s Passover Seder for the first time since being put on a feeding tube for a gastrointestinal illness.
Paper Swords
Anjali Pulim - 21 | NY , USA
On a classic summer afternoon, two sisters ponder life, death, and everything in-between.
While the weekend is coming to a close, the future of film holds endless possibilities. To cap off the 18th festival, join us for one final film program filled with seminal stories to creatively propel you on your journey through your next project and beyond.
Salem
on the Road
Étienne Galloy - 23 | Canada
During a major depersonalization episode, Salem embarks on a solo biking journey on the road 132 all across the Gaspé Peninsula, with the intent of ending her life where the Land ends.
After
The Storm
Sungbin Moon - 23, Nicklas Beijer - 23 CA, USA
A filmmaker calls her now-sober mom, who lives halfway around the world, to confront their traumatic past. This mini-documentary explores the raw realities of addiction, the complexity of motherhood, and the healing power of distance and movie-making.
Tainted by the Visual
George Petrou - 22, Laura Calzada - 20, Geraldine Piong - 23 | UK
An exploration in how the experience of sound changes throughout the process of vision loss, using visual and aural language to interpret the subjective experience of blind individuals.
The Curtains Glow At Night
Skye Schoenhoeft - 22, Casey Donlan23, Zanna Hocker - 22, Lucian Patton - 22 CA, USA
When Wren comes home from college, they discover a ghost in their childhood bedroom.
NFFTY by the Numbers
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
China Canada
Colombia Belgium Brazil
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Amy Williams
Ryan Saunders
Romina Estrada
Stella Naymik
Abby Wright
Alan Mckenzie
Alex Guerra
Alexandria Thompson
Aminah Alhamdu
AnaMichele Morejon
Andreana Loukidis
Annabelle Augustine
Benjamin Alan Radetski
Cameron Eader
Catherine T. Nguyen
28 States
Illinois Kentucky Louisiana Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan Minnesota Mississippi
Missouri
New York
Ohio
Oregon Pennsylvania
32 Countries
Dominican Republic
Salome Seifu
Han-’Naeh Belser
Kevin Conner
Gabriel Morales
Programming Team
Lake Neill
Chloe Rankin
Theresa Robinson
Camila Rodríguez-López
Screening Committee
Celeste Yeany
Chloe Wang
Cole Pepin
Colin Sevely-Ortiz
Elijah Carnazzo
Ella Fields
Emma Ciprian
Emma Eastham
Greg Arietta
Isabel Roney
Isabelle Hahn
Tennessee Texas Virginia
Washington
Nigeria Panama Philippines Poland
South Korea
Spain
Sweden USA
Jaelyn Ellis
Jessica M. Ortiz Morales
Julie Johnson
Leka Gopal
Lorenza De Benedictis
Louisa Chard
Marguerite McHenry
Marvin Sommer
Nithin Kumar
Oliver Woolridge
Olivia Jensen
Jessica Stossel Tahina Tomaszek
Paula Milenkova
PJ Knapke
Ruby Martin
Seth Dacio
Sidharth S Nair
Skya Theobald
Sofi Alihaji
Sophie Vernon
Tris Arthur
Special Thanks
NFFTY is grateful to the following persons who have contributed since our past festival edition, without whom we would not be able to produce NFFTY 2025:
Ogugua Agu
Ben Andrews
Peter Barnes
Kate Becker
Virginia Bogert
Iona Brindle
Donna Brown
Susan Buster Thomas
Kara Ceriello
Nancy Chang
Frank Clark
Kevin Conner
Monique Courcy
Joe Dockery
Warren Etheredge
Audrey Fan
Rebeca Fons
Adrienne Fox
Maureen Gans
Griffith Gustafson
Frank Harris
Jesse Harris
Hannah Hoose
Al Hillel & Sue Wiedenfeld
Don Jensen
Melissa Jurcan
Carl Kadie & Nancy
Vaeth
Erin Katz
Todd Kaumans
Wistar Kay
John Kim
Amy Labenski
Stefanie Malone & Shan-
non Snider
Peter McKeon
Alan Nay
Christopher Newell
Paris Nguyen
Lesley Pfeifer
Julie Railey
Remick Railey
Virginia Rathburn
Jocelyn RC
Bryan Roth
Frankie Rubio
Molly Saunders
Zoe Schwartz
Kim Schwarzkopf
Kyle Seago
Philip Seneker
Jennifer Senkler
Dave Siegfried
Shannon Snider
Brent & Courtney Stiefel
Jai Suh
Laura Williams Argilla
Ray Woodhouse
Anne Yurasek
Patrick Wright
Additionally, we would like to thank the following funders and agencies who have given support:
4Culture ArtsFund
City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
City of Seattle Office of Economic Development Climate Pledge Arena Community Fund
Harley Soltes Charitable Fund
The Norcliffe Foundation
Scan Design Foundation
Washington State Arts Commission
Washington State Department of Commerce
Lastly, we are grateful to the contributions of the following individuals and organizations who are making this year’s edition possible:
All of our industry presenters and screening hosts
All of our NFFTY 2025 jurors
All of our NFFTY 2025 volunteers
All of our interns from the past year
All of our curatorial and distribution partners
Our NFFTY Alumni Advisory Board
Our NFFTY Industry Advisory Board
Our Community Partners, including host venues VERA and SIFF
Scan Design Foundation and Station Next Seattle Office of Economic Development
All of Our Friends at SIFF, especially:
Carley Callahan
Tom Mara
Beth Barrett
Andrea Stuart-Lehalle
Betty Tweedy
The Entire SIFF Projection Team
Screening Committee and Staff
NFFTY is a program of The Talented Youth, a 501c3 non-profit
Stella
Additional NFFTY Production Team
Venue Manager/Senior Programmer – Kevin Conner
Story Starts Here Intern - Shivum Saha
Marketing and Ops Support - Theresa Robinson
Festival Design – Kaitlin Martin
Trailer Editor – Amy Williams Event Management – TokitaBethune
Board of Directors
Robert Bojorquez — President — Media Producer
Alex Johnston — Secretary — Filmmaker, Scholar & Media Educator, Seattle University
Julie Railey — Treasurer — Development Finance
Stefanie Malone — Producer
Tirsh Murray — V.P., Group Director
Laura Williams Argilla — Product Management Executive
Rebecca Fons — Director of Programming, Gene Siskel Film Center
Board Emeritus
Jesse Harris - Founder
Jocelyn R.C. - Co-Founder
Kyle Seago - Co-Founder
Alumni Advisory Board
Noah Wagner – President
Adam Hersko-RonaTas
Barb Hoffman
Laura Holiday
Tiger Ji
Dennis Kim
Dan Lesser
Tiffany Lin
Morgana McKenzie Leo Pfeifer
Lindsay Sunada Vitória Vasconcellos
Ryan Saunders Managing Director
Amy Williams Program Director
Theresa Robinson Program Coordinator
Salome Seifu Programming Intern
Naymik Programming Intern
Romina Estrada Marketing Intern
Lake Neill Programming Intern
The Story of NFFTY
Alexander Zorn
2007Jesse Harris realizes the need for an organization to support young filmmakers and joins with Jocelyn R.C. and Kyle Seago to launch NFFTY as a one-night festival with 14 films, and to form a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, The Talented Youth.
2008-2009 NFFTY expands to a three-day event, screening 113 films with over 4,000 in attendance, and launches year-round programming, NFFTY 365. In 2009, NFFTY begins accepting international films.
2010 NFFTY expands again to become a four-day festival, featuring 190 films from 33 states and 16 countries and additional networking opportunities for filmmakers. A 48-Hour Film Contest is added to the festival weekend.
2011 Now the world’s largest film festival for emerging filmmakers, NFFTY 2011 screens 225 films, adds even more programming and opportunities, and is attended by over 200 filmmakers and an audience of 8,500.
2012 NFFTY adds the Future of Film Expo trade show to the festival and features eight panels, 14 workshops, and over 30 exhibitors. Festival attendance exceeds 10,000.
2013 NFFTY features 215 films from around over 30 countries and launches NFFTY Creative, connecting brands with NFFTY alumni to work on original projects. NFFTY alumni are now working for prestigious companies such as Pixar and HBO.
2014 NFFTY launches a Young Women in Film initiative, a year-round effort to address the issue of gender inequality in film. Of the 214 films that screen, over 40% are directed by women. NFFTY alumni produce award-winning original content and a national televised commercial as part of the NFFT Creative brand, which connected companies with NFFTY filmmakers.
2015 NFFTY kicks off this year by increasing the age limit to 24 years of age in an effort to better support emerging filmmakers. NFFTY features a record 248 films from 30 states and 25 countries, with over 12,000 in attendance and 48% female-directed films. The festival adds its Works-In-Progress event and launches the NFFTY Alumni Advisory Board. NFFTY alumni produce a documentary as part of NFFTY Creative, garnering both ADDY and Telly Awards.
2016 The 10th anniversary festival includes 227 films from 24 countries, as well as an inaugural screenwriting competition: Story Starts Here. NFFTY takes its first steps into VR/360° with a panel and product demos. Starting to be recognized as one of the leaders in the film festival world, NFFTY is named “One of the 50 Best Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine, TeenTix Best Film Organization,
and one of FilmFreeway’s Top 100 Rated Festivals.
2017 NFFTY forges into its second decade with the largest festival yet, featuring 257 films from around the world. NFFTYX launches with a full VR/360° event featuring a boot camp and screening gallery. The Story Starts Here Screenplay Competition and Works In Progress round out a wildly successful year!
2018 Moving to a fall festival, NFFTY received over 1,300 submissions, screening 266 films from 24 countries and 24 U.S. States. In partnership with Oculus, NFFTYX creates an entire VR/360° gallery with NFFTY Official Selections from filmmakers. Over 50% of NFFTY 2018’s Official Selections are directed by female or nonbinary identifying filmmakers!
2019 NFFTY doubles its workforce development events at the festival, and co-produces the 2nd Annual Film Career Day with the City of Seattle, including a keynote from Oscar-winning NFFTY alumna Rayka Zehtabchi. Now 13 years strong, NFFTY has developed robust juries across eight competitions, with 31 jurors from film studios, festivals, and other positions of influence in the industry.
2020-2021 With a global pandemic, NFFTY 2020 pivots to a virtual festival, expanding to 10-days to include all of the livestreamed and on-demand programming. For the third year running, 50%+ of selected films were by female/non-binary filmmakers, and over 40% of films were by non-white filmmakers. 2021 saw the launch of new programs, including an inaugural National Youth Filmmaker Summit and a reimagined Film Career Day.
2022 For its 15th festival, NFFTY returned as an inperson event, screening over 250 short films from around the world. Thirteen workforce development sessions were held for youth and young adults. The full, hybrid festival lasted for 11 days. In the fall, NFFTY launched our first ever Pop-Up in LA. The 4-day event showcased films from the 2022 and 2020 editions of the festival, including some that never had a chance to play on the big screen.
2023 Expanding its geographic reach, NFFTY featured over 32 states in the official lineup. Surpassing our equity goals, over 50% of the represented filmmakers identified as non-white for the first time at NFFTY. Robust professional development sessions charted the journey from short film to features, character creation, and self distribution strategies.
2024 The seeds planted over the years keep sprouting! Two NFFTY alumni compete in the same category at the Academy Awards for Best Documentary Short. One of these filmmakers, Sean Wang, was welcomed back to the festival to participate in a “From NFFTY to the Oscars” keynote
