OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2026

IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPING...
ALL SEASON LONG UNTIL JULY 10, 2026

WITHOUT KELLY
Drama / 15 min. / Sweden

Forced to leave her baby daughter with the child’s father, young mother Esther is caught in desperation and longing. Through the night she chases touch and comfort, seeking ways to hold on to who she loves the most.

LOVISA SIRÉN
Director

Lovisa Sirén is a director, screenwriter, and editor known for her short films Pussy Have the Power (2014), Audition (2015), and Baby (2016). Her work has screened at major festivals including Sundance, Locarno, and Göteborg, earning awards such as Startsladden/Best Swedish Short and multiple nominations for the Guldbagge Award—Sweden’s top film honor. In 2022, she made her feature debut with Maya Nilo (Laura), which was also nominated for Best Screenplay and Best Actress. Across all formats, her films explore intimate relationships, power dynamics, and complex female characters with a light touch and sharp humor.

KNOWN TO THE GARDAI
Comedy / 7 min. / Ireland

Two local scallywags dare each other to commit an increasingly severe series of crimes.

GARETH STACK
Director

Gareth Stack is a writer and performer who has created numerous comedy series for Irish radio, and performed at events like the Edinburgh Fringe and Electric Picnic. His previous short comedies include Lads, Spaghetti D*ck, and the web series Little Black Lies. His first feature documentary, ‘Sightless Cinema’ screened this Summer on RTE 1.


This film was created in 48 hours as part of the Offline Film Festival, with an entirely local cast, some of whom were first time actors. Stack was inspired to develop the story after meeting Kane and Jack, who were volunteering at the festival. Their energy, humour and natural chemistry made them a perfect fit, and they helped devise many of this films funniest beats.

MRI: MICHAIEL RETURNS INDEFINITELY
Thriller / 14 min. / USA

When Michael’s frustrations with the healthcare industry cause him to openly question his doctor’s motives, he awakens shadowy forces that threaten to fight back.

JOHN BEACH
Director

Louisiana native John F. Beach is an award-winning filmmaker and actor currently based in Los Angeles, CA. Beach’s solo-directing debut, “They Grow Up So Fast”, screened in competition at the 2023 Tribeca Festival, in addition to winning the 50K Grand Prize at the 2022 Louisiana Film Prize. It won over a dozen awards on its festival run, including Jury & Audience Awards for Best Comedy Short at the Oscar Qualifying Indy Shorts and Cleveland International Film Festivals, respectively, and Best of Fest at the HollyShorts Comedy Film Festival. It’s been picked up for distribution and is currently available on Canal+, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, and the new Tribeca Festival channel on DirecTV.

Previously, Beach co-directed and produced the international award-winning and Fantastic Fest favorite short film “The Accomplice”, also starring opposite Evan Peters.

He also co-directed the music video for lovelytheband’s record-breaking Billboard smash single “broken”, which has received over 50 million views on YouTube.

As an actor, Beach is recognizable as a two-decade mainstay in national commercials, including Super Bowl spots for Ram Trucks, Bud Light, and Diet Pepsi, among others. His film and TV credits include a supporting role in the Dayton/Faris film “Ruby Sparks” and a memorable guest star turn as ‘The Shusher’ on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”.

 

JOHANN'S STORY: REWRITING LIFE
Documentary / 13 min. / USA

A Korean American disabled veteran rewrites his life and reflects on the power and connection of sharing pain

CINDY LEE
Director

Cindy Lee is a Korean American independent short documentary filmmaker living in Arizona. Her film, DnhMuzic: My Music, My Journey, won Best Documentary Short at the 2025 Rock the Shorts Film Festival and was an Official Selection in the 2025 Phoenix Film Festival, Detroit Black Film Festival and 7 other festivals in the U.S., Canada and Australia. Her film, The Stories They Didn’t Tell Us – Nina’s Story, was an Official Selection at the 2024 Phoenix Film Festival, where Cindy was named Arizona Filmmaker of the Year 2024. Cindy is a Master of Liberal Studies (Film & Media Studies) graduate from Arizona State University. This is Cindy’s second film as an official selection of the festival.

#INTIMACY
Comedy / 5 min. / Sonoma County, CA

A happy couple might be having problems connecting.

JARED N. WRIGHT, ERIC IVEY
Directors

Jared N. Wright is a writer/director/actor from the North Bay Area. This is his second year in the official lineup!

"OWL HILL"
Documentary / 15 min. / Petaluma, California

A documentary shining a light on the community of owl box keepers and preservationists in the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding areas.

SEAN RESTIVO
Director

Sean Restivo is Writer, Director, and Editor who graduated from San Francisco State University with his B.A in Cinema. He has helmed personal projects and has worked as an editor with El Dorado Films, a documentary corp for the last 4 years. He has edited 4 projects for the studio, directing two of them.Sean had success with his college thesis film, Together, with won the award for Best College film at the SFO Awards and being selected to 6 other festivals.With his newest project Owl Hill, he dives in deep to the Owl Box keepers of Sonoma and Marin counties to uncover the hidden world of Barn Owl nesting.

"TO HAVE AND TO HOLD"
Animation / 5 min. / USA

Two hopeless romantics must grapple with the complexities of their relationship and decide whether or not to part ways.

 

JULIANNE MARTIN
Director

Julianne Martin is a Los Angeles based animation professional with credits on television shows and films such as Bojack Horseman, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies and Bob’s Burgers.

"UNCONDITIONAL"
Documentary / 22 min. / Petaluma, CA

A veterinarian journeys throughout Northern California, providing free animal care to help domestic violence survivors and their pets escape abuse together.

ALBERT GREGORY / DANICA SIMONET
Directors

Albert Gregory has worked as a journalist since 2018, and his experience reporting on issues such as sex work, child marriage in the U.S. and deaths among San Francisco’s unhoused population aided him in covering the topic of domestic violence, a subject matter which often only occurs behind closed doors. Gregory has a passion for nonfiction filmmaking and its ability to allow the viewer to witness the human condition. He is determined to keep reporting on sensitive topics and to shine a light on underreported issues in society.

Danica Simonet has believed in the transformative power of nonfiction filmmaking since she started producing films in undergrad about the global harms of electronic waste, the spiritual and cultural significance of water, and the concept of home and belonging for migrant and receiving communities. During a brief pause from the world of filmmaking, Simonet worked as the Director of Development and Communications for a Minnesota nonprofit focused on empowering survivors of sex trafficking to rebuild their lives after escaping trafficking. The stories she heard in her work motivated her to return to the power of film. Her stories now focus on underreported social issues and barriers, especially those preventing women from living free lives.