Opening Night
Tuesday, June 18 6:30 PM, Regal 5, 72 Minutes
Join us for an evening of celebration and cinema as we officially kick off the 30th edition of the festival, ShortFest style!
CAN
USA, Kailee McGee , 16 min.
As filmmaker Kailee McGee grapples with late stage breast cancer, she begins to reevaluate reality, love, and identity, resorting to the only way she knows how to heal: figuring out how to watch a version of her journey on screen.
FAVOURS
Sweden, Agnes Skonare Karlsson , 11 min.
In a bustling train station, Sonja struggles to get help to take care of a baby she claims has been abandoned. But is there another mother, or is this Sonja’s baby?
FISHBOWL
USA, Isabel Perry, Adam Yates , 14 min. Two late-twentysomethings–and former high school theatre department legends–house-sit in the Hamptons where they try to avoid their exes and attempt to keep a goldfish alive for the weekend.
LUMEN
Canada, Stéphanie Bélanger , 13 min.
It has been raining heavily for months and the sixth wave is depressing humanity. In this prevailing darkness, Claude, 70 years old, compulsively buys lamps online to break her solitude and bring light into her life, at any cost.
PAUMO D’AMOUR
France, Ian Halley, Nathan Hermouet, Luka Croisez, Laurène Vaubourdolle, Jade Van De Veire , 6 min. Instead of giving his wife the attention she deserves, Dédé sends all his love to his vegetable garden. One day, all his delicious tomatoes mysteriously disappear.
VIAJE DE NEGOCIOS
Mexico, Gerardo Coello Escalante , 12 min. When 10-year-old Daniel arrives at school to see another boy wearing the exact same sneakers his father brought him home from a business trip, he begins to suspect that his new shoes may be the key to a terrible secret.
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FATHER FIGURES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 11:00 AM
REG5, 81 MINUTES
Dads and fatherhood take center stage in this collection, showcasing the full spectrum of love, frustration, and cheesy jokes.
ALLÉGRESSE
Belgium, Gillie Cinneri , 18 min.
Serge, a funeral agent, finds himself entrusted with the custody of his daughter, Inès, as well as the ashes of a stranger. Together, they seek to pay tribute to this unknown person and end up weaving unexpected bonds.
DEAR DAD
South Korea, Noah Kim , 12 min.
A self-portrait documentary film about writer/director Noah Kim’s first time visiting Seoul, South Korea, his late father’s homeland.
IN THE ABSENCE OF FRUITS AND FLOWERS
USA, Kali Kahn , 11 min.
Old wounds are laid bare on Eli’s 23rd birthday when he pays a visit to his estranged father and is met with an awkward surprise celebration.
N3YMAR
Germany, Maximilian Bungarten , 11 min.
A group of boys have been meeting every week for a year on a football pitch in Hamburg’s Mundsburg district.
SARAJIN
USA, Justin Kim WooSŏk , 16 min.
In a remote Alaskan town, a Korean snow crab fisherman struggles to make ends meet for his immigrant family. When the crabs begin disappearing due to climate change, he must decide if they stay or leave their new home behind.
THOMASVILLE
USA, Alex Woodruff , 13 min.
Trapped in a rainswept car, a young man and his ailing father confront their fractured history before it’s too late.
LIVE & LEARN
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 11:30 AM
REG1, 75 MINUTES
That’s the bell! These shorts set in classrooms, hallways, and young minds prove what a difficult, worthy process it is to have lessons learned.
BLOOMED IN THE WATER
USA, Joanne Mony Park, 14 MIN.
When school picture day gets lost in translation between Korean-American single mom Min and her kindergartener son Noah, Min tries to course-correct with the ragtag help of her assimilated sisters, a sharp new outfit for Noah, and an ocean’s worth of determination to give him better.
ESSEX GIRLS
United Kingdom, Yero Timi-Biu , 15 min.
After an incident at her high school pulls her into the orbit of the only other Black girl in her year, “Essex Girl” Bisola is plunged into a journey to discover a whole new side of herself.
FIVE WAYS TO GET RID OF A HICKEY
Chile, Colectivo Niñita Perversa , 19 min.
After being suspended for the day for giving each other hickeys in the school bathroom, two teen girls embark on a journey to the outskirts of the city, exploring desire, guilt, and farewells.
IT’S OKAY
USA, David France , 10 min.
As hate and violence grow around the globe, Drag Story Hour has emerged as a way to promote reading and acceptance among kids. We step into the experience of two young brothers in this quiet exploration of a deafening subject.
THE REAL TRUTH ABOUT THE FIGHT
Croatia, Andrea Slaviček , 14 min.
Between school trouble, mean girl drama, catchy lyrics, and a mysterious blue car, teenage Lena, sometimes distracted or interrupted, tells us the real story behind The Big Fight. But what isn’t she telling us?
SHINY ISLAND
Chile, Pedro Fontaine , 17 min.
During a school trip to the beach, Adrián experiences a glistening revelation after sparking a fight with Isma in this vibrant fable about self-discovery.
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A CITY SYMPHONY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 12:00 PM
REG6, 88 MINUTES
From London to Manhattan to Saigon, allow these films to take you through the streets, sounds, and stories of metropolises real and imagined, historic and contemporary.
ANOTHER DAY: A BEAUTIFUL CHAOS
USA, Eugene Serebrennikov, Vicente Garcia Morillo , 5 min. An artfully comedic tale chronicling the misadventures of a Pigeon, a Rat, and a cast of “only-in-New-York” type characters trying to make it another day in the big city.
BEEN THERE
Switzerland, Corina Schwingruber Ilić , 10 min.
Weekend trips, city breaks, a detour into nature. Never before has the desire to travel been so widespread and visited places so overloaded. What do we get out of it, other than the picture proof that we have been there?
A BIRD CALLED MEMORY
Brazil, Leonardo Martinelli , 15 min.
A bird called Memory has forgotten how to come back home. Lua, a trans woman, tries to find Memory in the streets, but the city can be a hostile place.
NOMAD
USA, Lucas Chengze Li , 11 min.
An Asian American cowboy travels to New York City for a rodeo competition, but finds himself out of place and alienated. After days of wandering the concrete jungle, his quest takes a turn after intervening in a distressing situation.
REMEMBER, BROKEN CRAYONS COLOUR TOO
Switzerland, Urša Kastelic, Shannet Clemmings , 13 min. Shannet’s voice echoes in the darkness. She is lost. The night scenery of a modern city opens up. She remembers it was a sunny summer day. As she wanders the empty streets, memories begin to haunt her.
SAIGON KISS
Vietnam, Hồng Anh Nguyễn , 22 min.
While roaming through rush hour traffic to avoid an unwanted phone call, Mo meets Vicky by the side of the road with a broken motorbike. A visceral connection unfolds between them on the loud streets of Saigon.
THE VEILED CITY
United Kingdom, Natalie Cubides-Brady , 12 min. Merging reality with fiction, this speculative city symphony explores London’s Great Smog of 1952 in the context of the present-day climate crisis.
AMAZING ANIMATION
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2:00 PM
REG5, 73 MINUTES
A unique collection of animated films that run the gamut–from moving, hilarious, and strange–and always visually evocative.
APHASIA
Canada, Marielle Dalpé , 3 min.
A striking and unsettling sensory experience that offers a moving foray into the heart of aphasia—a devastating neurocognitive condition that progressively destroys the ability to speak and understand words, afflicting many people with Alzheimer’s disease.
BRAIDED
USA, Chenxi Zhang , 6 min.
A mother one day decides to cut off her daughter’s meticulously tightened braids, and severs more growth between them than just hair.
DRAGO
USA, Daniel Zvereff , 16 min.
A young boy’s dream of becoming a doctor is challenged when war forces him and his mother to flee their village and start a new life in New York City.
LA PERRA
Colombia, Carla Melo Gampert , 14 min.
In Bogota, a bird-girl leaves behind the family home, her domineering mother and faithful dog to go and explore her sexuality.
MATTA AND MATTO
Switzerland, Bianca Caderas, Kerstin Zemp , 10 min.
In a dystopian world where touch is forbidden, Matta and Matto offer refuge to the lonely at Hotel Vaip. In the labyrinth of a mind-bending room, deepest desires are fulfilled and surpassed, but this comes at a price.
RUTHLESS BLADE
China, Bo Zhang , 12 min.
A heroic white tiger named Eleven disrupts an impending execution to rescue his comrades, the Five Tigers of Songtang. In the heat of battle, he discovers that the merciless adversary, Ruthless Blade, is actually a woman he once held dear.
[S]
United Kingdom, Mario Radev , 12 min.
An artwork that exposes the lifespan of infinity. The film delves into an immersive loop of organic forms, reflecting on the entangled nature of life and art.
PUBLIC SPACES, PRIVATE LIVES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2:30 PM REG1, 83 MINUTES
How we present ourselves in public isn’t always who we are in private. Personal secrets, hidden desires, and public personas clash in this selection of films.
ALL THE WORDS ON THE PAGE
USA, Hunter Gause , 7 min.
Throughout a conservatory audition, clues of Arlo’s reading disability become uncomfortably clear.
BEVERLY HEIGHTS
USA, Alyssa Aldaz , 19 min.
Young actress Marci, who stars as a cheerleader in the hit television series Beverly Heights is seen by everyone as head cheerleader dating the football team captain, but behind closed doors she’s in love with a mysterious girl named Emily…
LOSER
USA, Colleen McGuinness , 12 min.
Loser follows 22 year-old Alice, who works at a frozen yogurt shop, on what turns out to be an unforgettable day of her life.
MOTHERLAND
Canada, Jasmin Mozaffari , 24 min.
During 1979 at the height of the Iran Hostage crisis, Babak goes on a trip to meet his fiancé’s parents and ends up confronting the realities of what it means to be an Iranian immigrant in a patriotic post-Vietnam America.
THE RED SEA MAKES ME WANNA CRY Jordan, Faris Alrjoob , 21 min.
A haunted Ida travels to the liminal site of her partner’s disappearance in an attempt to feel his presence one last time, and to say goodbye.
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ALONE TOGETHER
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 3:00 PM
REG6, 86 MINUTES
These shorts live in the distances from which we are able to reach one another. They remind us we are never alone - even if we are simply united in solitude.
THE BIG WAIT
Australia, Yannick Jamey , 15 min.
A remote desert town, with a population of two, is kept in pristine condition waiting for visitors that never seem to arrive.
FAN FICTION
USA, Ben Lederman , 11 min.
After a local comics convention, two cosplayers struggle to connect.
ORDER FOR PICKUP
USA, Jackie! Zhou , 13 min.
Trapped in a cycle of work and self-isolation, burnt out Kelsey’s reality starts to blur until an irregular order for pickup disrupts everything.
OYU
France, Atsushi Hirai , 22 min.
On the last day of the year in a small town in Japan, a man arrives at the public bath to retrieve a forgotten object. But once inside, the promise of a hot bath compels him to stay.
TENNIS, ORANGES
USA, Sean Pecknold , 11 min.
A robotic vacuum suffering from burnout quits its job at a hospital and sets out to find community and a greater purpose on a quiet street where two lonely rabbits are stuck in perpetual loops.
WHAT DO WE CALL THIS?
USA, Anna Mikami , 14 min.
After the sudden death of her husband, Julia is left a single mother and forms an unexpected kinship with the only other person who can truly understand her grief.
DREAMS & DESIRES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 5:00 PM
REG5, 84 MINUTES
In this collection of stories, we follow the emotional journeys of characters driven by their not-so-secret hopes and desires.
BAHAMAS
Belgium, Maxime Bultot , 14 min.
If they manage to shoot the best video for a competition, Mike and his little brother, Tom, will win a trip to the Bahamas, where their father left to long ago.
CHAN IS FISHING
USA, Jacqueline Chan , 14 min.
A middle-aged Hong Kong immigrant fisherman searches for the perfect spot–his only clue, an old postcard promising a desert paradise.
CITY OF DREAMZ
USA, Imani Celeste , 12 min.
Four Black art students tell stories of community, divine intervention, and the artistry that led them to this very moment...smoking weed in a cramped NYC apartment trying not to get caught.
EILEITHYIA
USA, Dan Fromhart , 3 min.
After receiving startling news from a fertility clinic, two partners separately inspect their fears, while living in a onebedroom apartment.
HONEYMOON
Greece, Alkis Papastathopoulos , 24 min.
After a traumatizing event, Fay is leaving Greece for good. Sandra accompanies her to the bus station, taking this time as a chance to say goodbye. As they travel by bus across the country, a transphobic attack leaves them stranded.
LADIES
USA, Allison Bunce , 17 min.
On an idyllic girls trip, Ruby has a sex dream about her best friend and can’t tell if it actually happened or not.
IN THE COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 5:30 PM
REG1, 90 MINUTES
Follow this program into the countryside where a sense of place and the people within them crash together against beautiful rural backdrops.
CALF
Ireland, Jamie O’Rourke , 15 min.
An accident that suddenly strikes a remote Irish farm, right as a calf is about to be born, reveals a secret that has long been deafened, which leaves Cáit with a terrible decision to make.
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CAMPING IN PARADISE
Norway, Eirik Tveiten , 24 min.
A philosopher and his girlfriend involuntarily must spend a night at a nudist campsite, which is far beyond their comfort zone. At the campsite they meet a friendly couple, and this reveals underlying conflicts and creates tension in their relationship.
IN SILENCE EVERYTHING ROAR
France, Akaki Popkhadze , 24 min.
In a Georgian mountain village still governed by ancient customs, two young people are caught making love. The news spreads, and the situation quickly becomes uncontrollable. Tensions rise as desire, family, honor, and tradition collide.
A JOYFUL PROCESS
USA, Alex Goldberg , 11 min.
Two old-timey fellas meet up by the pond to do some fishing. Joe, the book-smart one, aims to find out why Bruce, the town’s big-hearted tramp, ran off to live in the woods. A Steinbeck-esque dark comedy.
THE ROBBERS
Austria, Isa Schieche , 16 min.
Three trans women meet in a country house to plan a robbery. The trick of the heist is that they disguise themselves as men. In practicing their masquerade, they reach their emotional and physical limits.
SIBLING STORIES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 6:00 PM REG6, 84 MINUTES
The bond between siblings is stronger than ever in this eclectic selection of shorts that oscillates between shenanigans and unconditional support, reminding us that blood is thicker than water.
BEAUTIFUL MEN
Belgium, Nicolas Keppens , 19 min.
Three bald brothers travel to Istanbul for a hair transplant. Stuck with each other in a hotel far from home, their insecurities grow faster than their hair.
A CRAB IN THE POOL
Canada, Alexandra Myotte, Jean-Sébastien Hamel , 11 min.
In a run-down neighborhood, Zoe and her little brother Theo are left to fend for themselves. During a scorching summer day, the two will have to burst the abscess of their relationship so as not to lose each other.
JEDO’S DEAD
USA, Sara Nimeh , 11 min.
When a young Middle Eastern girl finds her grandfather dead, she is forced to grapple with the earthly rituals and spiritual loose ends of loss.
MAISON BLANCHE
France, Camille Dumortier , 28 min.
In the absence of their mother, nine-year-old Zélie is dragged by her older brother whom she idolizes into helping him shoot his guerilla film. But things don’t go as planned and Zélie is faced with a completely different reality.
THE SHELL COVERED OX
Brazil, Daniel Barosa , 15 min.
Mourning the disapperance of her sister, Rayane balances a difficult routine of helping her fisherman father while practicing for her school’s music festival–provided she doesn’t become an ox first, a misfortune mysteriously befalling several teenagers in the area.
GETTING IT ON
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 8:00 PM
REG5, 91 MINUTES
A selection of films about love, sex and everything in between. This one’s got a little steam.
BUG DINER
USA, Phoebe Jane Hart , 7 min.
A dissatisfied marriage, a secret crush, and workplace fantasies come to a head in a diner run by a mole with a hot ass.
COMPLICATIONS
Norway, Ivar Aase , 14 min.
An innocent cam session turns into a life-and-death drama, and leads Lotte to some unexpected realizations about her own relationships.
I COULD DOM
USA, Madison Hatfield , 15 min.
A people-pleaser recently back in the dating pool goes on an ill-advised date with a sexually submissive man to prove to her doubtful friends that she could totally be a dom.
LET
USA, Alyssa Loh , 16 min.
An isolated law student wrestles with a compulsion toward self-harm and pain. A surprising night carries her, and a stranger, into new territory.
MAKING BABIES
Canada, Eric K. Boulianne , 20 min.
After many years together, a couple decides to have a baby. Throughout their relentless efforts, they try to maintain their love and unity, resulting in a bittersweet look at a couple’s doubts, challenges and resilience.
TALKING HEADS
United Kingdom, Dario Attanasio, Dom Danielewicz , 6 min. When Jay lands in bed with his ex, his most trusted tool isn’t up to the task. Excusing himself, Jay gives his penis a pep talk–but his back-chatting member engages him in a debate over lust and emotion.
TIGHT
USA, Jessica Barr , 13 min.
A woman grappling with difficulty finding sexual pleasure after childbirth falls back on an old coping habit.
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THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 11:00 AM
REG5, 95 MINUTES
Explore the transformative and provocative influence of art through an assortment of documentary, fiction, and animated short films celebrating the creative process and its ability to heal and challenge.
ARTWORK
Spain, Rafael Nieto , 11 min.
After the cleaning lady at a well-known contemporary art museum throws a whole installation in the trash, the artistic director seeks to find out why.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FEMALE FRAME
Netherlands, Ilke Paddenburg , 7 min.
While a large painting of a naked woman is being transported from the studio to the exhibition, she seems to fall victim to a harsh and masculine outside world.
ESTEBAN CABEZA DE BACA’S TIME TRAVELS
USA, César Martínez Barba , 10 min.
From his studio in Queens, to on-site painting at the USMexico border, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a painter strives to give form to both his personal story and the still-present legacy of colonialism.
FLOATERS
United Kingdom, Mocong Yuan , 6 min.
A woman’s life has been turned upside down ever since she noticed those strange floating strings in her sight.
THE GARDEN OF HEART
Hungary, Olivér Hegyi , 11 min.
A young aspiring painter with low self-esteem is in his last round of interviews at the painting department of the Academy of Fine Arts. While waiting for his interview, his demons appear to him in the form of garden pests.
HARPIES
USA, Molly Kirschenbaum , 10 min
Disguised with a fake mustache, Nora is the first woman to attend the Royal Academy of the Arts in London in 1894. Her ruse is upended when the Academy admits its first official female student, insufferable heiress Margueritte Durand.
THE MASTERPIECE
Spain, Álex Lora , 20 min.
A wealthy couple meets two scrap dealers at a recycle point. She invites them back to her house to pick up more junk, but there, she realizes that they might actually have something valuable she wants.
A PUBLIC THING
USA, Lauren Mahoney , 5 min.
By combining never-before-heard audio from a private lecture in 1989 with footage shot by a student, this retrospective piece shares the intimate advice Keith Haring shared with ArtCenter College students in Los Angeles a few months before he passed away.
A STUDY OF EMPATHY
Denmark, Hilke Rönnfeldt , 14 min.
Dana wants to show empathy. Penelope wants to explore empathy. Penelope’s artistic experiment unfolds and Dana’s feelings are whirled around.
ACTS OF DEFIANCE
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 11:30 AM
REG1, 84 MINUTES
With these films about facing adversity and holding firm against the powers that be, this program highlights the lengths some are willing to go to to fight for themselves, thier principles and others.
BACKBONE
USA, Lucas Hames , 14 min.
Cole, a teenager with a broken back, lives with his domineering alcoholic mother who cannot retire because of his condition. At the expense of his own health, Cole will have to deal with the consequences of her actions.
FRANCIS BACON
USA, Darcy Cagen , 15 min.
When a disillusioned young woman drops out of college, she wanders around Chicago searching for meaning and connection.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
USA, ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby , 8 min.
A Native American man takes a Happy Thanksgiving wish from a bank teller so personally, his rage drives him to carry out a bizarre revenge plan.
MARA HAS THREE JOBS IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO
USA, Ana Verde , 11 min.
After the death of her father, a young woman takes on a third job to make ends meet in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
THE QUEEN
VS.
TEXAS
USA, Emil Lozada, Raemonn James , 14 min.
In the face of Texas’ oppressive stance on LGBTQIA+ communities, Hermajestie the Hung, a resolute queer activist and drag queen, leads a movement to empower her community through the art of self-expression and the fight for social justice.
SANGRE VIOLENTA / SANGRE VIOLETA
USA, Edna Diaz, Arturo R. Jiménez , 15 min.
Why does the Mexican government consider the feminist movement a bigger threat than most drug cartels? Three narratives illuminate the motivations behind their activism, including a radical feminist collective, an inspiring survivor of an acid attack, and a grieving father.
THE SMALLEST POWER
Iran, Andy Sarjahani , 7 min.
Recorded in secret in Iran at the height of the women-led uprising, an Iranian medical resident risks her life to protect a fellow doctor from arrest by the country’s secret police.
26 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST | 2024
ATTACK
ART
UNBOUND VISIONS
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 12:00 PM
REG6, 86 MINUTES
From surreal landscapes to abstract narratives and emotional excavations, experience the boundless creativity of filmmakers pushing the limits of storytelling and perception.
APT MGR
USA, Ian MacInnes , 14 min.
A short documentary about a problematic landlord.
THE INESCAPABLE DESIRE OF ROOTS
Singapore, Mark Chua, Li Shuen Lam , 6 min.
A man with hair growing wildly over his body is taken by manic expressions of ecstasy and anguish. He struggles with the hair becoming a mode of his subjugation, while being overwhelmed by the explosive jubilance of its sprouting.
LIVE FROM THE CLOUDS
USA, Mackie Mallison , 16 min.
A kaleidoscopic journey through the imaginations of the filmmaker’s family and their longings to find home.
LIVING REALITY
USA, Philip Thompson , 16 min.
A tonal shift occurs inside the world of an American sitcom resulting in the disruption of the show’s rhythm. As it evolves, a looming presence of banality casts a shadow on the show’s bright lights and bubbly personalities.
NOTHING BUT SHADOWS
USA, Kathy Mitrani , 18 min.
On the anniversary of Marisol’s husband’s death, her neighbor’s construction uncovers human remains. The coincidence of this discovery forces Marisol, a superstitious visionary, to face her mortality.
THE OCEAN IS CLOSED ON MONDAYS
Switzerland, Laura Gauch , 6 min.
A short film that explores what is lost through assimilation while reflecting on the challenges that come with immigration in the Latinx community in NYC.
TEEN GIRL FANTASY
Canada, Marisa Hoicka , 10 min.
From marching bands and track meets, to courtrooms and reasonable doubt, using archival footage, Teen Girl Fantasy combines unsentimental dreaminess with mid-century touchpoints to examine what teen girls fantasize about and what fantasies are placed upon them.
A DOSE OF REALITY
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2:00 PM
REG5, 100 MINUTES
This collection of nonfiction shorts captures stories from real life, which can sometimes be stranger than fiction.
AMERICAN GRAIL: A QUEST FOR THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER
USA, Andy Sarjahani , 16 min.
Captivated by the elusive Ivory-billed Woodpecker, selftaught expert Mark Michaels seeks to prove its persistence against insurmountable odds. The quest leads him to chart the depths of his psyche, uncovering the collective grief engendered by environmental destruction.
BIG MOVES
Scotland, Sarah Grant , 14 min.
A personal documentary about dancing as a plus size woman through the lens of pop culture. A radical, joyful reimagining of beloved dance scenes with the bodies that traditionally get pushed to the back, taking up space front and center.
CHRISTMAS, EVERY DAY
USA, Faye Tsakas , 14 min.
Christmas, Every Day gives a slice-of-life glimpse of preteen influencers Peyton and Lyla Wesson, ages 11 and 12, as they perform for their online fans under their mother’s watchful guidance.
I AM THE NATURE
Ecuador, Taliesin Black-Brown , 5 min.
A poetic documentary honoring the philosophy and cultural expression of the Achuar people from the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador.
JARDINES
Mexico, Alfredo Torres , 24 min.
While waiting in limbo, displaced LGBTQ+ folks hoping to cross into the United States find support and healing with one another, as they process the heartbreak and joy of a queer family on the move.
KOWLOON!
USA, Mona Xia, Erin Ramirez , 16 min.
As the biggest Chinese restaurant in the US, Kowloon is a fantasyland that represents the Wong family’s American Dream come true. However, as third-generation owner Bobby Wong approaches his seventies, he considers the weight of this family and community legacy.
THE SCHOOL OF CANINE MASSAGE
USA, Emma D. Miller , 11 min.
The Ojai School of Canine Massage devotes itself to providing professional training in the art and science of dog massage therapy. This portrait of this singular school and its participants reveals how people and dogs heal each other.
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WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2:30 PM
REG1, 87 MINUTES
Take a peek over the fence with this collection highlighting the significance and allure of local community, hometown belonging, and the impact of outsiders.
BOLÉRO
France, Nans Laborde-Jourdaà , 17 min.
Fran is in his hometown to rest and visit his mother. Following the jerky rhythm of “Bolero,” this journey along the paths of memory and desire will lead him and the whole village to a joyfully chaotic climax.
BYE BYE, BOWSER
Austria, Jasmin Baumgartner , 20 min.
Luna rebels against the indifference of her artsy friends by writing a song about Laugo, the construction worker from across the street. The collision of the worlds of affluent neglect and everyday work leads to a dramatic downfall.
SCAPEGOAT
France, Nicolas Séry , 21 min.
Ibrahim is bullied by a neighbor as the time of the sacrifice for the Aïd el-Kebir approaches. Wanting to prove he isn’t an animal killer, he decides to save a goat being delivered to the housing project where they live.
SCORCHED EARTH
Greece, Markela Kontaratou , 16 min.
It is summer in Greece and Stela escapes to her summer house in coastal Attica. Procrastinating while writing her thesis, she starts spying on her neighbour and his girlfriend. Before long, Stela will bear witness to a horrible crime.
À TOI LES OREILLES
Canada, Alexandre Isabelle , 13 min.
While the townsfolk are celebrating their village’s anniversary parade, Étienne tries the impossible: to show them how beautiful his family’s cacophony really is.
PARENTAL CONTROL
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 3:00 PM
REG6, 83 MINUTES
There are few spaces richer for mining stories than in between parents and their children - whether they span oceans or let in no light.
THE EIGHTH DAY
USA, Jonah Weinstein , 11 min.
Noah and Jonah are gay Jewish husbands and new parents to a baby boy. When their parents arrive expecting a traditional bris for their grandson, the couple is forced to reveal they had something very different in mind: no circumcision.
FAVOURITES
Australia, Nick Russell , 5 min.
Two parents face an impossible choice when their family camping trip goes terribly wrong.
IMOGENE
USA, Katie Blair , 19 min.
Imogene is a single, free-spirited New Yorker in her forties. Unprompted, her absurdly traditional family thrusts a pregnancy on her. But all that can be expected from Imogene is the unexpected.
LEMON TREE
USA, Rachel Walden , 18 min.
At a Halloween carnival, a young father steals a magician’s rabbit to impress his 10-year-old son. The thrill quickly dissolves when the young boy is tasked with getting himself, his father and his new pet home safe.
MAR MAMA
Palestine, Majdi El Omari , 15 min.
Haunted by her mother’s passing and the attacks on her city, a young girl becomes obsessed with death. Fantasy and imagination cross paths as her father tries to distract her with stop-motion filmmaking.
PEEPING MOM
France, Francis Canitrot , 15 min.
At the age of 50, Éli’s daily life consists of caring for his bawdy, outrageous wheelchair-using mother. Intrusive when it comes to her son’s sex life, she would like him to make the intimate acquaintance of her neighbor.
A WORLD IMAGINED THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 5:00 PM
REG5, 83 MINUTES
An intriguing blend of science and speculative fiction through a collection of eclectic films that explore imagined futures and offer fresh perspectives on our present reality.
THE EXPERIMENT
France, Aurélien Peilloux , 19 min.
Camille has trouble recovering from her recent breakup. On the verge of breaking down, she seeks her neuroscientist best friend who lets Camille try the experiment she is working on: a revolutionary device to treat anxiety.
MIS-ALIGNMENT
USA, Pablo Riesgo Almonacid , 20 min
When an engineer who destroys malfunctioning androids encounters a shocking abnormality in a rebellious patient, she risks everything to save her new friend and herself.
MY HEART IS GOING TO EXPLODE!
South Korea, Jung Inhyuk , 20 min.
After a failed romance, Soojin is haunted by thoughts of her one night stand from the drunken night prior. Suddenly a UFO appears in the sky of Seoul and starts attacking everyone. Can she find her lover amidst the chaos?
VOICE EVER
France, Pauline Archange, Céline Perreard , 13 min.
Over the course of an evening, four individuals connect on Voice Ever, a new dating app where you choose your date based on their voice. Their weaknesses and vulnerabilities will surface in their desire to meet.
WILDMEN OF THE GREATER TORONTO AREA
Canada, Solmund MacPherson , 12 min.
In response to the rising cost of living, the citizens of Toronto begin renouncing their personhood en masse to legally become animals, forming a society of “Wildmen” in the city’s vast ravine network.
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HIGH ANXIETY
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 5:30 PM
REG1, 84 MINUTES
Clench your jaw and whiten your knuckles with these tense, tight rope walking shorts that take place in moments of peak pressure.
ANY SIGN AT ALL
USA, Faryl Amadeus , 9 min.
Clutching at straws and running on fumes, a desperate young woman’s indecision about the future of her unborn child has her looking for signs from the universe. Stranded at a crossroads, will the future finally reveal its plan?
DEEP TISH
USA, Dave Paige , 13 min.
A.J.’s massage could have been better.
EVERYTHING GOES DARK
USA, Alex Casimir , 15 min.
A Black high school student prepares to take her senior yearbook photo when insecurities and a tense friendship push her towards a breaking point.
POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
USA, Gustavo T. Astudillo , 16 min.
In a world where intrusive thoughts come with crippling consequences, a hapless musician attempts to conquer the often impossible task of getting out of his own way to be the man he wants to be.
A WOMAN IS MANY THINGS (JUST FINE ISN’T ONE OF THEM)
USA, Chase Musslewhite , 17 min.
Jeanie has found herself exactly where she did not want to be–in her early 40s, divorced, and at her ex-husband’s engagement party. Set amidst a perfect storm of anxiety, Jeanie can’t help but begin to spiral.
YOU’RE INVITED TO TUSCAN’S 5TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!
USA, Lee Eddy , 13 min.
Tabitha wants her only son’s fifth birthday party to be perfect. But things don’t go as planned.
FAILURE TO LAUNCH
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 6:00 PM
REG6, 89 MINUTES
While being an unavoidable part of life, adulting can be a harder process for some.
ANGEL & PERLA
Argentina, Jenni Merla, Denise Anzarut , 14 min.
Paula, a neurotic 35-year-old real estate agent, launches a crazy plan to avoid breaking up with her boyfriend. The plan? To bring together their respective psychologists to solve their problems.
THE BULLFIGHTER
USA, Giselle Bonilla , 17 min.
A farcical comedy about an ex-bullfighter who gets a job as a flag waving parking attendant to stage a redemptive final bullfight.
CRY ME A RIVER
Taiwan, Suman Sen , 16 min.
A professional mourner, Xixi, is hired to cry at funerals, but becomes disconnected from her emotions and is no longer able to cry. Constantly isolated in both life and profession, she finds herself caught between two contrasting worlds.
HOLLYWOOD
Austria, Leni Gruber, Alex Reinberg , 29 min.
Rejected from her most recent audition, up-and-coming actress Anna returns home to find that her dad has made other plans for her career. Her last chance: playing the victim in training exercises for the local fire department.
ILY, BYE
USA, Taylor James , 13 min.
Siobhan is a quirky, socially anxious mess who can’t seem to keep a job. Her best friend gets her an interview with his boss. But when her call goes to voicemail, Siobhan panics and leaves a series of unhinged messages
GAYLA
THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 8:00 PM
REG5, 76 MINUTES
Queer life takes center stage on silver screen in this varied program showcasing the lives–political, artistic, and otherwise–of a kaleidoscopic community.
MANTING
China, Shuyao Chen , 15 min.
Manting, a Chinese woman in her early 60s, reconnects with a lover from her adolescence when one of her old classmates passes away. After their classmates’ reunion event, they end up spending a night together roaming in the city.
MERMAN
USA, Sterling Hampton IV , 11 min.
A 58-year-old Black queer man speaks about his life as an emergency nurse, leather title holder and civil rights advocate.
REALNESS WITH A TWIST
United Kingdom, Cass Virdee , 12 min.
A talented footballer is forced to battle between his secret passion for voguing and the fear of his teammates disapproval.
SATURDAY RITUAL
USA, Sydne Horton , 12 min.
High school soccer players Cammie, Em, and Kara have a tradition of visiting a new psychic after every Saturday match. Cammie soon finds herself in over her head when a highly recommended psychic unveils an unknown secret.
SEAT 31: ZOOEY ZEPHYR
USA, Kimberly Reed , 15 min.
When Zooey Zephyr was expelled from the Montana House of Representatives for speaking on a bill banning transgender medical care, she made a nearby bench her “office.”
STUD COUNTRY
USA, Lina Abascal, Alexandra Kern , 11 min.
Stud Country, the largest queer country western line dancing event in America, was created to continue Los Angeles’ 50-year tradition. In 2023, the event lost its venue.
ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 11:00 AM
REG5, 85 MINUTES
Whether touching or comedic, these stories traverse the world of motherhood, spotlighting the enduring impact our mothers leave on our lives.
BRUNO & ELENA
Argentina, Javier Hirschler , 18 min.
On the last day of high school, Bruno finally manages to charm the girl of his dreams and invites her over to his house. But his mother, Elena, won’t stay in her room.
FESTIVAL OF SLAPS
United Kingdom, Abdou Cissé , 12 min.
One fateful night, a Nigerian mother serves her son a set of slaps so powerful that it changes his life forever. An action-packed emotional rollercoaster explores the misconceptions of African parenting and the clash of modern life.
MOTHER
Ukraine, Mariia Felenko , 7 min.
At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Katya decides to leave her hometown and take her mother. But mother is getting her nails done.
PRELUDE
Finland, Arman Zafari , 19 min.
After an unexpected knock on the door, Helena is forced to question the truth about her seemingly perfect family.
SHEEP AND WOLVES
Peru, Alex Fischman Cárdenas , 17 min
At the height of the Peruvian armed conflict, a mother’s world shatters when her son vanishes without a trace.
THE WAVES
France, Charles Grammare , 11 min.
Tomorrow, Dylan is taking his mother on vacation to see the ocean. As he comes home from work, a gunshot rings out in the neighbor’s barn.
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GROWING PAINS
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 11:30 AM
REG1, 84 MINUTES
Sensitive, fantastical and sobering, these coming-of-age shorts encapsulate the delicate and diverse experiences of today’s youth.
EBB & FLOW
Lebanon, Nay Tabbara , 19 min.
A first kiss is interrupted by the reality of living in Lebanon in the early 2000s, where children fight to hold onto their innocence and experiences amidst a crumbling environment.
TRANSYLVANIE
France, Rodrigue Huart , 15 min.
Ewa is convinced she is a vampire and dreams of turning a neighborhood boy into a vampire as well. When Ewa opens up to him, she is humiliated. Crushed, she finds herself desperate to prove her identity to the world.
UNIBROW
Canada, Nedda Sarshar , 14 min.
In an attempt to get rid of her unibrow, Leyla accidentally makes things worse. Fortunately, the new girl at school offers to help.
WHERE INSECTS HIDE AT NIGHT
Brazil, Lucas Acher , 17 min.
A 12-year-old boy’s obsession with insects and a borrowed MiniDV camera takes him on an unexpected journey during a countryside vacation in 2006, revealing hidden secrets within his family and challenging his perception of innocence.
WINTER
Belgium, Jean-Benoît Ugeux , 19 min.
Every year, the Seghers go to Tignes, where they own a chalet. Rosa accompanies them to take care of chores and cleaning. This year, Rosa has been offered to bring her son so he can experience the joys of skiing.
STRICTLY BUSINESS
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 12:00 PM
REG6, 91 MINUTES
The 9 to 5 is dead - these shorts explore the ever expanding, never ending, shapeshifting workday and how working people live their actual lives within it.
CRAFTWORK
Spain, David Pérez Sañudo , 20 min.
While struggling to keep his fledgling business afloat, Manuel notices his daughter is suddenly spending well above her means. Suspicions unleashed, Manuel seeks to find out where she’s getting all this money.
CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO DIE
Philippines, Sam Manacsa , 17 min.
While Mila struggles with being unpaid at work, a new love interest becomes a source of comfort through his constant phone calls. But the promise of hope may also lead to tragedy.
I DON’T CARE IF THE WORLD COLLAPSES
Egypt, Karim Shaaban , 20 min.
A dilemma ensues when a career-driven line producer finds herself in a position where she has to choose between the job responsibility and being a human being, trying to save the one-day commercial shoot from collapsing.
PAPER
Canada, Charles Wahl , 20 min.
Follow interweaving stories about the vicious cycle of debt and desperation: A widow who has fallen behind on life’s expenses, a professional debt collector with his own expensive habits, and a loan shark’s enforcer trapped within his own obligations.
PRIMETIME MOTHER
The Philippines, Sonny Calvento , 14 min.
The audition process for an exploitative game show becomes the latest test of a long-suffering mother’s fortitude and tenacity.
COUPLING & UNCOUPLING
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2:00 PM
REG5, 85 MINUTES
A captivating collection of stories that explore the dynamics of human relationships – from coming together to breaking apart, all conveyed with a blend of passion, humor, and wistfulness that feels just right.
HEDGEHOG’S DILEMMA
Poland, Mateusz Rybiński , 16 min.
As a new patient in a rehab center for deaf youth, a young man finds himself drawn to a long-term resident and struggles to navigate their growing connection amidst the challenges of recovery.
HOW DID I GET HERE
USA, Kate Hamilton , 18 min.
Sardonic Cynthia walks us through a play-by-play of a recent “squicky” date, requiring her to confront some uncomfortable truths.
MANUAL FOR A DIVORCE
Belgium, Peter Ghesquière , 12 min.
Father and mother form a happy family until one day their children decide to divorce. The house is cut in two, half for brother, half for sister. The parents are involuntarily torn apart, forced to weekly swap children and homes.
PAIRING
Australia, Matthew Burns , 12 min.
A young woman goes on a date with a newly divorced, ageing member of the children’s music group, The Giggles.
RELATIONSHIP TO PATIENT
USA, Caroline Creaghead , 13 min.
A woman arrives at the hospital to visit the man she’s dating, but in navigating her way to his bedside she begins to question whether she really belongs there.
SOLID
USA, Grace Gregory , 14 min.
Coles, recently uncoupled, tries to distract herself from her discomfort being alone in her new apartment all day. That night, a resonant interaction with her neighbor helps her realize that settling in after a breakup is supposed to be painful.
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THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2:30 PM
REG1, 83 MINUTES
Embrace the summer spirit with these warm-weather films replete with sizzling tension, fleeting romance, and scorching holidays.
THE MIRACLE
Belgium, Nienke Deutz, 15 min.
Fourty-year-old Irma goes on a vacation to an all-inclusive resort. Soon after her arrival, she realizes the place is meant for young families, causing her to find her own place in this holiday paradise.
PIGEONS ARE DYING, WHEN THE CITY IS ON FIRE
Greece, Stavros Markoulakis , 21 min.
On the warmest day of the year, two boys meet. A few hours later a pigeon gets trapped with them. During this heatwave, all creatures dream of escaping from the city that’s burning.
PRIMOS
Puerto Rico, Ricardo Varona , 22 min.
During a teenage road trip to the west coast of Puerto Rico, 16-year-old Cristóbal begins to suspect that his crush, Yazmín, and cousin Marcos are secretly seeing each other.
WE MET AT CAMP
USA, MC Plaschke , 17 min.
Hayden’s camp counselor Alison makes her feel special in a way that she doesn’t quite understand. But in an attempt to fit in with the other girls, she invents a fake crush on the music teacher, Mr. Kyle.
YEAH THE BOYS
Australia, Stefan Hunt , 8 min.
Six young Aussie men sink beers over an afternoon and into the night. Emoting only through movement–lewd gestures, chokeholds, crowd surfs, and chugging shoeys, they somehow say everything without uttering a single word.
THE HISTORY OF US FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 3:00 PM REG6, 85 MINUTES
From personal to shared histories, this collection of films looks at the stories that shape us - the choices, the moments, the people.
AND GRANNY WOULD DANCE
United Kingdom, Maryam Mohajer , 10 min.
Marmar listens to the stories told by her grandmother’s friends. Based on childhood memories and shared stories, this is a tale of love, grief and resilience, and a tribute to the solidarity of Iranian women.
BITA JOON
USA, Sara Boutorabi , 14 min.
On a seemingly prosaic day in the life of Bita, an Iranian woman with terminal cancer comes to grips with her changing relationships with her family as life transforms, evolves and slips away.
THE CAR THAT CAME BACK FROM THE SEA
Switzerland, Jadwiga Kowalska , 11 min.
Six friends drive to the Polish Baltic coast and back in a small, dented car. During their trip, their car and their country fall apart. Nevertheless, life goes on.
IS THIS NOW THE TIME I SHOULD LET YOU GO?
Taiwan, Tsai Yi-Chin , 9 min.
Mixing digital and analog footage with animation, a young woman strives to hold onto the evasive and shifting memories of her late father.
THAT NIGHT
United Kingdom, Emma Miranda Moore , 14 min.
A young writer repeatedly replays the last night he spent with a friend and reflects on whether things could have turned out differently.
WHERE WE STAY
Netherlands, Florence Bouvy , 23 min.
Longtime friends Carry and Daniel have never acknowledged their underlying feelings for each other. Now that Carry is dying, time is running out.
& YET HERE WE ARE...
USA, Andy Clay Huey , 4 min.
A lifetime passes through a couple as they sit on the deck of a ferry, holding each other in the sea breeze.
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COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWNS
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 5:00 PM
REG5, 76 MINUTES
Some hilarious and some heartbreaking, these misunderstandings change the trajectory of conversations, relationships, and lives.
BIBI’S DOG IS DEAD
Canada, Shervin Kermani , 13 min.
When Bibi’s dog dies, there’s only one shoulder she wants to cry on. It just belongs to her hot-tempered ex.
FIRST NIGHT
USA, Haneol (John) Lee , 12 min.
A newly immigrated Korean father walks into a deli trying to order food for his family, with only the help of a dictionary.
GREAT CANYON
USA, Ella May Sahlman , 7 min.
A live-action, animated hybrid chronicles a queer first date through the lens of the anxieties and insecurities that exude from the main character.
I NEED IT YESTERDAY
USA, Chris W. Smith & Jack De Sena , 11 min.
When the boss says he needs a report and “needs it yesterday”, one employee assumes this means the job needs to get done quickly, while the other takes it literally and goes down a rabbit hole into theoretical time travel.
JANE AUSTEN’S PERIOD DRAMA
USA, Julia Aks, Steve Pinder , 13 min.
England, 1813. In the middle of a long-awaited marriage proposal, Miss Estrogenia Talbot gets her period. Her suitor, Mr. Dickley, mistakes the blood for an injury, and it soon becomes clear that his expensive education has missed a spot.
LEA TUPU’ANGA / MOTHER TONGUE
New Zealand, Vea Mafile’o , 17 min.
A young speech therapist disconnected from her Tongan heritage lies about her Tongan language skills to get a job. Out of her depth, she must find a way to communicate or risk her patient’s life.
PAPER TOWELS
USA, Ethan Kuperberg , 3 min.
Josh is on the phone with customer service. Josh is about to make a mistake.
POWER PLAYS
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 5:30 PM
REG1, 73 MINUTES
Tense standoffs, risky gambits, and subtle manipulation characterize these stories about the lengths we go to control our own lives-and sometimes those of others.
AZI
USA, Montana Mann , 14 min.
During a weekend vacation with her best friend’s family, 17-year-old Azi gets caught up in an unexpected game with another guest.
CHICKENSHIT
United Kingdom, Ellie Rogers , 8 min.
At the height of summer, two rowdy young boys spend the afternoon tearing through the countryside. But when they come across an electric fence, a competitive game sparks something unexpected between them.
FRENCH
Israel, Dylan Joseph , 18 min.
A nail appointment takes a dramatic turn as Sari, Alona’s manicurist and confidante, suspects her of betrayal.
TRAPPED
USA, Sam & David Cutler-Kreutz , 15 min.
A high school janitor runs into a set of unexpected obstacles.
WE DID NOT CONSENT
United Kingdom, Dorothy Allen-Pickard , 17 min.
For decades, a secret unit in London’s Metropolitan police infiltrated local activist groups and formed romantic relationships with their targets. Now, three women revisit scenes from their lives in order to reclaim the narrative and make sense of what happened.
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BEHIND THE CAMERA
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 6:00 PM
REG6, 83 MINUTES
It’s Hollywood baby! Pull back the curtain and follow these films into behind the scenes shenanigans.
BORDER HOPPER
USA, Nico Casavecchia , 14 min.
When a Latinx filmmaker is offered a dream job abroad, she discovers a supernatural way to navigate the U.S. immigration system and get the coveted travel permit she desperately needs. But what seems like a magic solution soon shows unexpected consequences.
THE NOMINEES
Lithuania, Birutė Kapustinskaitė , 15 min.
Having lost out on the award for the best actress of the year, Aldona becomes the hero of the day.
RAPT
USA, Margot Budzyna , 12 min.
A young woman navigates a surreal audition process where her limits are tested in pursuit of success, fame and winning the game.
ROOM TONE
USA, Michael Gabriele , 9 min.
When a sound guy’s attempt to capture “room tone” is constantly thwarted by the noisy antics of his coworkers, he takes extreme measures to achieve silence.
THE SELF TAPE
USA, Michael Covino , 7 min.
Michael helps Emily with her latest self-tape
SPECIAL DELIVERY
USA, Emily Everhard , 11 min.
A foley artist for pornography falls in love with a porn star during an ADR session.
THE TALENT
United Kingdom, Thomas May Bailey , 15 min.
On the set of a luxury car commercial, an overlooked assistant seizes his chance to get noticed by the star in this lyrical meditation on masculinity, desire and becoming.
LATE NIGHT
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 8:00 PM
REG5, 89 MINUTES
The absurd and the surreal converge in this collection of after-dark shorts, featuring a wild range of stories with peculiar situations.
CALLER NUMBER NINE!
United Kingdom, Sandy Honig , 8 min.
A telemarketer accidentally calls into a radio show and wins a radio contest.
GAS STATION SUSHI
USA, Chad Corhan , 16 min.
A woman having a pregnancy scare faces an existential crisis during a weekend away at her boyfriend’s insane, weird, rich friend’s house.
LET’S PLAY PRETEND!
USA, Sam Lane , 4 min.
An adult animated comedy that explores the world through the imaginations of children.
LODE
United Kingdom, Theo Watkins , 10 min.
An overworked single mother encounters a bloodthirsty inter-dimensional demon—and possible salvation—in the laundry basket.
MAKE ME A PIZZA
USA, Talia Shea Levin , 13 min.
A bored housewife seduces her hot pizza delivery guy for a free pie. But is desire worth $29.99?
QUAYLE
USA, Kyle Kenyon , 6 min.
After a going-away party, two roommates realize they might have feelings for each other.
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
USA, Dimitri Simakis , 13 min.
Tina and her elderly dog visit a mysterious clinic offering human-to-pet communication. However, they soon get more than they bargained for when two sinister doctors uncover a bond between them that transcends time and space.
ROADKILL JAMBOREE
USA, Meghan Graham , 6 min.
This stop-motion/2D hybrid music video–about how roads and drivers affect animals–centers around a band of five undead animals, each representing a different type of creature native to California and how they are killed.
WANDER TO WONDER
Belgium, Nina Gantz , 14 min.
After the creator of an ‘80s children’s TV series dies, the show’s miniature stars Mary, Billybud and Fumbleton are left alone in the studio, and continue to make increasingly strange episodes for their fans.
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BRIEF ENCOUNTERS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 11:00 AM
REG5, 85 MINUTES
Our most profound and memorable experiences occur in the shortest of time spans. These films examine the abiding impact of terse exchanges and fleeting interactions.
AFTER DARK
Norway, Iain Forbes , 10 min.
On his way home one night, Kristian encounters a young woman in desperate need of help. He agrees to accompany her to the train station, but soon begins questioning her story.
BLUEBERRY
Sweden, Emil Brulin, Hampus Hallberg , 15 min.
At a Burning Man-inspired festival in the Swedish woods, Oscar wakes up half-naked in the forest with an injured foot. After two days of despair, he encounters a berry picker and convinces her to help him return to the festival.
FÁR
Iceland, Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter , 5 min.
A bird hits the window of a café and disrupts its customers. A woman faces a decision on whether to ignore nature or to react.
GUTS
USA, Margaux Susi , 11 min.
Desperate for help, a woman in recovery asks an unlikely stranger on a dinner date.
I CAN’T BE SORRY
USA, Robert Machoian , 15 min.
A woman waits at a diner to meet someone she’s been waiting a long time to meet.
IN OUR OWN WAY
USA, Jason Headley , 5 min.
A man misses his chance to say goodbye to his dying brother.
SADNESS
USA, Henry Jinings , 11 min.
Set against the unraveling milieu of late-’60s America, two people forge a connection through the mysterious ether of a radio signal.
SPEED QUEEN 51
USA, Sarah Nocquet , 12 min.
Alone in a laundromat at night, two strangers realize they’ll never see each other again and decide to trade secrets.
TWO WOMEN MAKE A LUNCH PLAN
USA, Elizabeth Archer , 2 min.
Two women who have neither seen nor heard from one another in quite some time, run into each other while out and about and make a plan to get lunch sometime in the future.
SHORTIES
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 11:30 AM
REG1, 59 MINUTES
Films for kids and the young at heart, this mix of family-friendly fare features a variety of animated and live-action tales.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Japan, Saki Muramoto , 3 min.
The twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac are celebrating and welcoming the Year of the Rabbit. They’re trying to take a photo together, but…
INTERGALACTIC CAFE
USA, Mike Mitchell , 2 min.
Welcome to The Intergalactic Cafe, a docking bay for smugglers, bounty hunters, tourists, and space travelers crisscrossing the universe.
MOG’S CHRISTMAS
United Kingdom, Robin Shaw , 23 min.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and their children Debbie and Nicky are busy making preparations for Christmas. Mog, the cat, is feeling ignored and confused. Looking for peace and quiet, Mog steps outside to enjoy the winter sun.
MY NAME IS EDGAR AND I HAVE A COW
Czech Republic, Filip Diviak , 8 min.
Edgar’s ordinary life is disrupted by a newborn calf he sees on a tourist trip to a slaughterhouse.
SCRUMPY
Ireland, Dan Holmwood , 8 min.
Scrumpy grapples with the impending arrival of his birthday, an annual milestone that casts a shadow over his spirits, as he navigates a whimsical yet tumultuous journey to reconcile his disdain for this cherished day of celebration.
SHELLFISH
France, Justine Aubert, Cassandra Bouton, Grégoire Callies, Maud Chesneau, Anna Danton, Loic Girault, Gatien Petrude, Justine Raux , 6 min.
In a rocky French inlet, a small and selfish hermit crab named Bernard loses his shell, and must face the dangers of the beach to find another.
THE TORNADO OUTSIDE
United Kingdom, Maria Tomazou , 8 min.
Anna lives in a perfect house, but living on the edge of a tornado can be difficult. When she ventures outside, she is forced to face the chaos that she usually hides away from.
FACE THE MUSIC
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 12:00 PM
REG6, 93 MINUTES
Be it through instruments, dance, or playlists, these shorts explore the role music plays in our lives, our memories, and our imaginations.
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DAYS OF HATE
USA, Oliver Shahery , 16 min.
A broken-hearted filmmaker finds meaning as he documents punk band Show Me the Body, as they record their latest album.
ECHOES OF HOME: THE BURUNDI DRUMMERS (MURIMIGWA) OF KAKUMA
Kenya, Peter Gitau , 10 min.
A captivating and poetic documentary that explores the remarkable journey of a group of Burundian refugees living in the Kakuma refugee camp.
MINISTRY OF JINGLE
New Zealand, Maddie Dai , 11 min.
The Ministry of Jingle is a department in charge of creating public safety jingles about the nation’s issues of the utmost importance: seatbelts, condoms, littering… Melody is the new hire and today is her first day on the job.
MUNA
United Kingdom, Warda Mohamed , 19 min.
When her grandfather dies back in Somalia, British-Somali teen Muna must navigate a confusing mourning period for someone she never really knew–all while desperately hoping to persuade her mother to allow her to go on a school trip.
THE ONE NOTE MAN
United Kingdom, George C. Siougas , 21 min.
Every day, a lonely bassoonist plays a single note in an orchestra and then leaves the stage while the rest continues. One day, his exit is accidentally delayed and he hears a breathtaking violin solo, which changes his life forever.
THEN COMES THE BODY
USA, Jacob Krupnick , 15 min.
A short documentary about underdogs, globalism, and dance following Daniel Ajala, a self-taught ballet dancer, who opens the first ballet school in Nigeria. He works there to be a bridge for the next generation.
CODES OF CONDUCT
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1:45 PM
REG5, 82 MINUTES
The unwritten rules of society can exasperate and confuse at every turn. From pathological liars to an unwanted surprise party and a philosophical 9-1-1 call, these shorts examine how we follow–and break from–prescribed norms.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU
Australia, Eliza Scanlen , 10 min.
In an attempt to overcome her incessant guilt complex, a young woman goes a step too far.
PATHOLOGICAL
USA, Alison Rich , 17 min.
A pathological liar wakes up one day to discover her lies have become true.
PUN INTENDED
USA, Jack Turits , 19 min.
A man hires strangers to mourn his late father. A room full of immigrants contend for citizenship. Five altruists compete to donate the most blood. Through these scenarios, Pun Intended explores the common cruelty behind our collective reality.
SCHRÖDINGER’S BROTHER
USA, Elizabeth Perla , 5 min.
A dark comedy about a young woman who must call 911 for help because she can’t tell if her little brother is dead… or just taking a nap.
SURPRISE!
USA, Caroline Falls , 13 min.
A young woman unravels on her birthday when her boundaries are violated by a best friend’s good intentions.
WHAT YOU LEFT IN THE DITCH
USA, Tucker Bliss , 18 min.
Facing a lack of attraction to her husband after he returns from war without any lips, a woman explores an affair with a much-younger, plump-lipped grocery clerk.
CLOSE-UPS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2:15 PM
REG1, 86 MINUTES
These documentary portraits take you inside the lives of a wide range of fascinating people with intimacy and beauty.
ALOK
USA, Alex Hedison , 19 min.
Executive produced by Jodie Foster, this thought-provoking portrait of internationally acclaimed non-binary author, poet, comedian and public speaker Alok Vaid-Menon explores the limitless expression of self, challenges societal norms, and inspires viewers to embrace personal freedom.
FRANK
USA, David Gauvey Herbert , 15 min.
At 99 years old, Frank Lucianna is America’s oldest practicing attorney. He’s now preparing for his final criminal trial.
OLD LESBIANS
USA, Meghan McDonough , 29 min.
For the last quarter century, Houston native Arden Eversmeyer has journeyed across the country recording hundreds of oral “herstories” with a rapidly disappearing community. This inventive portrait brings her project’s legacy to exuberant life.
WE EXIST IN MEMORY
Brazil, Darian Woehr , 13 min.
How do you rebuild “home” from nothing but memories?
In this poignant verité documentary, Maria and her grandchild, Marucha, navigate displacement, confronting the complexities of land, identity and memory.
WINDING PATH
USA, Alexandra Lazarowich, Ross Kauffman , 10 min.
Jenna Murray is an Eastern Shoshone medical student. When her active, 70-year-old grandfather suddenly dies of a preventable health issue, Jenna grapples with her dream of a career in tribal health while facing her own mental health crisis.
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THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2:45 PM
REG6, 91 MINUTES
Extremity and intimacy meet in these stories of momentous efforts mounted in the name of love.
AUGANIC
Canada, Krit Komkrichwarakool , 20 min.
A man strikes gold when he discovers a special ability during an intimate moment with his husband.
IF I DIE IN AMERICA
USA, Ward Kamel , 14 min.
A young man fights for a chance to grieve his husband after his traditional Muslim in-laws demand their son’s body be sent back to the Middle-East mere hours after the untimely death.
PALESTINE ISLANDS
France, Nour Ben Salem & Julien Menanteau , 22 min. Maha is part of the last generation of Palestinian refugees in the Balata camp. When her blind grandfather falls ill, she hatches an elaborate plan to convince him that a return to his homeland is possible.
SAVING ART
United Kingdom, Remi R.M. Moses , 15 min.
Instead of telling his son that he has leukemia, Brian tells Arthur his chemotherapy will give him superpowers. Brian is haunted by his lie, but sometimes fighting darkness with joy can be a form of medicine. Inspired by true events.
WHEN WINTER COMES
USA, Yuan Yuan , 19 min.
A mother from China searches for her daughter who has gone missing in New York.
7 DEADLY SINS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 4:30 PM
REG5, 100 MINUTES
Make your way through these seven selections that touch on each cardinal crime–gluttony, lust, greed, wrath, sloth, vanity, and pride. Transgression, depravity, and sinfulness abound.
THE FEAST
Chile, Simon Bucher, Claudia Saldivia, Amanda Rivera , 9 min. In a dystopian world, a creature attends a feast hosted by a magical fridge. Thus begins his downfall in a spiral of unbridled food consumption. Corrupted and transformed into a beast, he faces a macabre final course.
HE RAN ALONGSIDE HIS COMRADE
Spain, Genís Rigol Alzola , 14 min.
An elderly business tycoon in search of popularity decides to practice his version of philanthropy by concocting problems for his working class employees with the aim of being able to help them.
HOODIE
USA, Renée Felice Smith, Chris Gabriel , 21 min.
A young woman enters into a toxic, co-dependent relationship with her cozy, comfy, heather grey hoodie.
NEPOTISM, BABY!
USA, Tij D’oyen , 12 min.
After her nepotism fails her, a fame obsessed young woman entertains her melancholic wiles.
PLACES OF WORSHIP
USA, Bridget Frances Harris , 13 min.
After an incident at Sunday mass, a Catholic altar server begins having visions of The Virgin Mary, forcing her to confront queer feelings for her movie theater co-worker.
SHÉ (SNAKE)
USA, Renee Zhan , 16 min.
Fei Li is the top violinist in her elite youth orchestra. When another Chinese violinist arrives to challenge her place, Fei’s internalized racism and anxieties grow to take monstrous physical form.
UNSETTLED
USA, Bella Thorne , 15 min.
A young man who is drugged and abducted from a gay club, escapes and seeks to bring his tormentors to justice in a deeply conservative Bible Belt Oklahoma.
LIKE
& SUBSCRIBE
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 5:00 PM
REG1, 80 MINUTES
Dive into the swirling maelstrom of social media with these shorts exploring the drama, vanity, and the eternal quest for validation in the digital era’s labyrinth.
#DOUDOUCHALLENGE
France, Julie Majcher, Alexandra Delaunay-Fernandez, Sixtine Emerat, Marine Benabdallah-Crolais, Scott Pardailhé-Galabrun, Noémie Segalowicz , 6 min.
On the road to her family vacation, 10-year-old Olivia is hooked on her phone and social media. When she is abandoned by her parents in a highway service area alone with her plushie, things take an unexpected turn!
HOLIDAY HOUSE
USA, Alex Heller , 13 min.
A content creator feels obligated to let her internet benefactor visit her workshop. His arrival explores the uncomfortable boundaries of a parasocial friendship.
THE INFLUENCER
USA, Lael Rogers , 10 min.
A social media influencer describes her perfect day harvesting the eyes and minds of her followers to achieve immortality.
MAKING IT UP
United Kingdom, Alice Guymer , 6 min.
A girl trades in her face to be beautiful.
RAT!
USA, Neal Suresh Mulani , 17 min.
When a disgruntled music journalist accuses a global pop star of queerbaiting, the singer’s devoted fans descend on his remote cabin to wreak havoc and seek retribution.
38 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST | 2024
TRAGEDY BABES
USA, Christa Haley , 11 min.
A young woman takes her obsession with social media live-streaming to a dangerous extreme.
VLOG
USA, Yvonne Strahovski , 17 min.
Our heroine juggles her chaotic #momlife and blossoming Mommy Vlog. Walking the line between her real self and her social media personality, she and her husband get a surprise–she is pregnant. Again!
WHO I AM
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 5:30 PM
REG6, 79 MINUTES
Time to get existential. Meet these shorts who introduce their characters in ways that interrogate and illuminate how we define our identities.
A BODY CALLED LIFE
USA, Spencer MacDonald , 15min.
A self-isolated young human named “James” delves into the hidden world of microscopic organisms, forging a tender connection with these nearly invisible creatures and developing a massive online following, as he seeks to understand his own place in the universe.
HAFEKASI
Australia, Annelise Hickey , 16 min.
A 10-year-old girl begins to realize she’s different to her single, white mum and family. Mother and daughter navigate identity and belonging in ‘90s Melbourne suburbia.
HELLO STRANGER
Canada, Amélie Hardy , 17 min.
Between loads of laundry at the corner laundromat, Cooper shares the tumultuous story of her gender reassignment journey.
I’M NOT A ROBOT
Netherlands, Victoria Warmerdam , 22 min.
After several unsuccessful attempts to complete a CAPTCHA, feminist Lara sets out to answer the disturbing question of whether she’s a robot.
XIE XIE, OLLIE
Canada, James Michael Chiang , 9 min.
Feeling split between his Chinese heritage and Canadian upbringing, Ollie attempts to learn Mandarin as a means of connecting with his family history. But as an adult, he discovers that his path to understanding his biracial identity is unexpectedly complicated.
THRILLS & CHILLS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 7:30 PM
REG5, 92 MINUTES
Buckle in for this hair-raising and unsettling series of disturbing genre shorts! Expect some unforgettable and gross moments.
AGONIST
USA, Annie Marie Elliot , 15 min.
A grieving young man falls into the final act of a cult leader’s ritual.
DORIS
Ghana, Edem Dotse , 17 min.
When her livelihood is threatened by her disruptive fits, a reticent young woman struggles to escape the control of mysterious beings while harboring a growing jealousy of a close friend.
DREAM CREEP
USA, Carlos A.F. Lopez , 13 min.
A couple awaken in the night to sounds emanating from an unlikely orifice.
ME OVER YOU
USA, Efrain Flores , 6 min.
An aspiring YouTuber goes to the extreme in their quest for internet fame.
ÓBITO
Spain, Fernando Amador , 15 min.
Eugenia & Mauricio are a young couple struggling financially. Everything changes when Eugenia’s boss offers her €50,000 in exchange for marrying her late son. Despite the unusual situation, she ends up accepting the macabre proposal, with unexpected consequences.
ROBBIE AIN’T RIGHT NO MORE
USA, Kyle Perritt , 18 min.
A young girl’s brother returns from war with a most disturbing souvenir.
STORM
USA, Lena Tsodykovskaya , 8 min.
A couple wakes on a stormy night to find themselves trapped in the mechanisms of a horror movie.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: FICTION SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 7:45 PM REG1, 62 MINUTES
A collection of films showcasing our Desert, featuring local productions and works by folks who call it home.
EMBRYO
USA, Alex Russek , 11 min.
When geneticist Dr. Miranda Barrett, who creates human/ alien hybrids, is given termination orders, she teams up with an ex-lover to race across unforgiving deserts to save her creations, confronting the mysterious extraterrestrial force orchestrating it all.
HALF OF NOTHING
USA, Justin Aftab , 21 min.
A woman is set down a dark path after discovering a fault in her marriage.
HONEYWELL
USA, Jill V. Dae , 18 min.
When Sophia Honeywell wakes up in a desert-like afterlife, she must compete with a selfish loner for her spot back on Earth and a second chance at her life.
SHOOK
USA, Valentina von Klencke , 12 min.
In this Californian dark comedy, an idyllic weekend getaway is disrupted by a devastating earthquake.
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BENEATH THE SURFACE
SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 1:00 PM
REG1, 79 MINUTES
Whether encouraged or denied, with intention or by accident, something is brewing and bubbling up beneath the surface of these films.
14 IN FEBRUARY
Australia, Victoria Singh-Thompson , 9 min.
A hard-of-hearing 13-year-old student’s reality closes in the more she spends time with her teacher.
SHELLSHOCK
France, Rafi El Watik , 24 min.
Haunted by the desire to do good, an injured military doctor struggles with physical pain and emotional isolation. As she becomes obsessed with her past accomplishments, her reclusive life takes a dark turn, blurring the line between heroism and obsession.
SUCH A LOVELY DAY
United Kingdom, Simon Woods , 17 min.
Seen through the eyes of 11-year-old Sam, we are taken on a journey through the loveliest of days— a family gathering in a perfect English summer garden. And then, this being a brilliant party, there’ll of course, be a surprise.
TAKEAWAY
Denmark, Darshika Karunahara , 14 min.
Like many times before, delivery person Sheena is delivering food in a Tesla-filled summer cottage neighborhood. When she encounters her childhood friend Calvin and his new life in the upper class, she invites herself in for a rather unusual dinner.
THREE
USA, Amie Song , 15 min.
At her birthday party, a Chinese woman who has recently moved to the United States to live with her daughter strives to keep her daughter’s private life from her new friends.
THICKER THAN WATER
SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 1:30 PM
REG5, 85 MINUTES
These films explore the connective tissue and complicated dynamics of bloodlines–all about family.
BABY BROTHER
Germany, Berthold Wahjudi , 21 min.
Eleven-year-old Benni always has to take crap from his older brother Pascal. But when Pascal has a moment of weakness on New Year’s Eve, Benni senses his chance to finally get even.
CHANGING ROOMS
France, Violette Gitton , 18 min.
César is 12 when his older sister Lou is sexually assaulted. In his fencing class changing rooms, everything is measured by the yardstick of violence. César would like to take part in every fight, but he doesn’t have the weapons.
FIDEL
USA, Luke Lace , 13 min.
A young Filipino man learns to be the caregiver of his abusive grandmother who suffers from dementia, only to be mistaken as her old lover.
LIGHTS IN THE NIGHT SKY
Mexico, Octavio Daniel Carreño , 16 min.
Manu searches for his sister in the city and discovers why the two became estranged.
SIRENA
Dominican Republic, Olivia De Camps , 17 min.
A young Dominican woman is forced to reconsider her journey to the United States to be with her fiancé when a dark family secret is exposed.
CROSSROADS
SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 2:00 PM
REG6, 80 MINUTES
The characters in this program stand at a crucial juncture, facing pivotal decisions and life-altering events.
BOGOTÁ STORY
Colombia, Esteban Pedraza , 16 min.
In 1992, as Colombia faces an era of drug violence, car bombs, and daily power outages, a young mother in Bogotá receives an internship opportunity in the U.S. and eventually must decide between her dreams and her family.
FISH OUT OF WATER
USA, Francesca Scorsese , 25 min.
Lexi, a struggling young mom, has an opportunity to reconnect with her estranged family after she’s approached by her now-sober father with news of her mother’s failing health.
PUNTA SALINAS
Puerto Rico, María del Mar Rosario Ruiz , 16 min.
After having sex for the first time, 16-year-old Alba searches for a strength she has never exercised before.
WATERBIRDS
USA, Hangcheng Xu , 14 min.
After a breakup, a Chinese woman in her late twenties embarks on a search for a new apartment in New York City.
WRONG BATHROOM
USA, Ragini Bhasin , 9 min.
A transgender high school student is pressured into a misogynistic conversation with his peers in order to be considered “one of the guys.”
40 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST | 2024
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: DOCUMENTARIES
SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 3:30 PM
REG1, 73 MINUTES
Spotlight on local documentaries featuring the arts, nature, and impactful non-profits.
ASCENDING: SOUTH ASIAN ARTISTS
AT COACHELLA 2023
USA, Zoe Malhotra, Meghna Chakraborty , 25 min.
A Goldenvoice short documentary showcasing the vibrant stories of six South Asian artists gracing the stage at the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
I THOUGHT THEY WERE PROTECTED
USA, Casey Kiernan , 33 min.
Apparently, not everyone “loves” Joshua Trees, but there are people locally and across the Mojave Desert who are taking action to protect the shrinking Joshua Tree habitat. This film is dedicated to those folks who make their voices heard.
LEADING THE WAY
USA, Anndee Laskoe, David Ian Hughes , 15 min.
A compelling documentary showcasing the profound impact of Guide Dogs of the Desert, a non-profit organization that provides custom-trained guide dogs to the blind and visually impaired at no cost.
CLOSING NIGHT
SUNDAY, JUNE 23, 6:30 PM
Join us for closing night as we screen a collection of award-winning gems, reveal the crowd favorites, and bid adieu to an epic ShortFest.
A grand finale NOT TO BE MISSED!
Monday, June 24 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM 6:00 PM, 8:00 PM
PSFILMFEST.ORG 41 Best Of
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42 PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL SHORTFEST | 2024 125+
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