OFFICIAL SELECTION - 2026

IN PROGRESS AND DEVELOPING...
ALL SEASON LONG UNTIL JULY 24, 2026

#BLESSED
Comedy / 11 min. / USA

A love-obsessed woman becomes a martial-arts master in order to save the busboy at a local club from getting bullied by two Mexican wrestlers. It’s loud! It’s absurd! It’s a ridiculous neo-screwball, martial-arts romantic comedy. Think RAISING ARIZONA meets KUNG FU HUSTLE, dipped in fuschsia and leopard print,; with a 90s Mexi-Pop soundtrack.

GABRIELA GARCÍA MEDINA
Director

Gabriela Garcia Medina is a Cuban-American filmmaker. Her short film Little Con Lili (2019) won Best of Fest at HBO Women in Comedy Festival (2019), Best Short Contest NBC (2019), winner of LALIFF Best Short Film (2019), nominated for Best Short Comedy at Palm Springs ShortFest (2020), and was distributed by HBOMax.

Gabriela’s short film The 90 Day Plan (2019), won Best of Fest at HBO Women in Comedy Festival (2020), Best Short Film – Powderkeg/Feigco Entertainment (2020), official selection at LAAPFF (2020), official selection PBS LatinXperiene (2020), acquired by WarnerMedia OneFifty (2020), and was distributed by HBOMax.

Gabriela’s musical comedy Bertie the Brilliant (2022) was made in collaboration with WarnerMedia OneFifty and Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB). Bertie the Brilliant premiered at the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences as part of the NFMLA In Focus: LatinX & Hispanic Cinema, it was an official selection to PBS Short Film Festival (2023), Pride LA, Outfest Family Fusion (2023), and the Oscar-qualifying Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (2023) and Hollyshorts Film Festival (2023), and is available on PBS.

THE PEARL COMB
Thriller / 21 min. / USA

In 1893, a fisherman’s wife becomes the first person to cure someone of tuberculosis. A doctor, intent on proving a woman’s place is in the home and not practising medicine, investigates – only to discover the source of her unearthly power.

ALI COOK
Director

The Pearl Comb is Cook’s directorial debut. Also and actor, his credits include the BAFTA nominated & BIFA winning film KAJAKI (Dir. Paul Katis), MUSCLE (Dir. Gerard Johnson), HOW TO FAKE A WAR alongside Katherine Parkinson (Dir. Rudolph Herzog) and as series regular DCI Simmons in RAGDOLL for AMC/BBC1

He made “The Pearl Comb” after hearing the unjust, true story of the ‘Edinburgh Seven’. In the 1890’s, seven women qualified to become doctors. However, instead of being celebrated, male doctors perceived them as a threat to their livelihood. The public pelted the women with mud, and they were denied the right to practise medicine. He was thinking about the ‘seven’ around the time he visited Cornwall with his daughters, where they heard the legend of the ‘Pellar family’ – an ancient lineage of esoteric ‘healers’, who claimed that their powers were granted to them by a mermaid.

From there, he concocted a tale about a Victorian, female, doctor who practiced medicine under the guise of being a witch, blessed with healing powers – a narrative her rural community preferred to believe…

EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER
Documentary / 17 min. / USA

It’s the touching story of a group of neurodivergent performers who put on a stage production of the book Stellaluna, and all the growth and inclusion they discover in the process with the guidence of Samantha Ginn. The perfectly balanced unfolding of the documentary is not only enlightening and entertaining, but also deligfhtfully captured by cinematographer Athena Kulb.

ALEX ASTRELLA
Director

Alex is a visual artist based out of Orange County, California. Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 2, Alex was told that he’d never be able to hold a job as an adult. 24 years later, Alex has won numerous awards and has garnered nationwide praise for his documentary films.  Finding film has helped Alex realize his purpose in life. Whereas he struggled in other areas of life due to his disability, film always remained a constant source of joy and inspiration.

MÁRCIA
Documentary / 16 min. / USA

Márcia’s story is told through never-before-seen archival images and the voices of her lovers and friends, from a childhood saved on the streets of Brazil in the 60s until she became one of the first and most talented capoeira practitioners in the world, paving the way for women and queer people in this art. Márcia’s story spans decades. It is big, and queer, and crosses all kinds of borders.

CLAUDIA A. ESCOBAR
Director

A Colombian visual artist and filmmaker based in San Francisco. For over 15 years, she has produced, directed, filmed, and edited award-winning work for institutions such as SFMOMA, The Oakland Museum of California, KQED/PBS, Al Jazeera, alongside independent documentaries and experimental films. Raised in Medellín during a period of intense violence, Claudia discovered art as a refuge and a portal into more imaginative worlds. After migrating to the United States in 2004, she turned to documentary filmmaking to explore themes of migration, identity, and belonging. Her work continues to evolve across mediums, offering intimate, visually rich portraits of people and places shaped by movement and memory.”

THE LONG CON
Drama / 14 min. / USA

A desert-set crime romance about a runaway bride and her grifter lover reunited at a roadside motel after a con goes sideways. With stolen cash, sirens on the horizon, and betrayal simmering between them, their love plays out as foreplay, power struggle, and survival tactic. Violent, tender, and darkly funny, the film builds toward a single truth: no matter how badly they hurt each other, running alone was never an option—they were always destined to choose each other.

AITCH ALBERTO
Director

Aitch Alberto is an award-winning Cuban-American writer and director born and raised in Miami, Florida. Her bold, deeply personal storytelling blends intimacy with myth, often centering themes of identity, transformation, and survival. A Sundance Episodic Lab alum and Momentum Fellow, she is also a Rideback Rise Fellow and has received residencies and fellowships from Skowhegan, Yaddo, Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative, Highways Lab, and the Latino Screenwriting Project.

Alberto adapted and directed the GLAAD-nominated feature Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, based on the novel by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eugenio Derbez producing. The film premiered to acclaim, earning a Guild of Music Supervisors nomination, the Citizen’s Prize, and the Audience Award at the Mons Film Festival, and appeared on year-end “Best Of” lists from Vanity Fair, TheWrap, and Los Angeles Times.

Her television writing credits include Duster for HBO Max and Little America for Apple TV+, and her short-form work includes Hara Kiri, Whittier Blvd, and She Kills He. Recognized for her singular voice, she has been featured on The Black List’s inaugural Latinx List, Tracking Board’s Hit List and Young & Hungry List, and NALIP’s “Directors You Should Know,” and was named one of Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch and IndieWire’s 22 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch, with Vogue Poland calling her “one of this generation’s defining female voices.”

EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY
Drama / 7 min. / South Africa

A detailed observation of a small event that relies on warmth, charm, and character rather than scale and spectacle to tell the story of a little dog and its owner.

LINDSAY VAN BLERK (1961-1924)
Director

Lindsay James van Blerk (1961–2024) was a pioneering South African director, animator, and character designer whose career spanned 45 years. A master of stop-motion and a cornerstone of the South African animation industry, van Blerk passed away on July 17, 2024, leaving behind a profound legacy of character-driven storytelling and technical innovation.

Early Career and the Klaybow Era
Born on December 3, 1961, Lindsay began his professional journey in 1979 at Klaybow Films. Initially hired as a character designer and storyboard artist, he quickly transitioned into animation, eventually rising to the position of lead animator. During this formative decade, he contributed to foundational South African stop-motion projects for the SABC, including The Adventures of Dr Clayman and Bimbo’s Books.

Xyzoo Animation and Award-Winning Mastery

In 1991, Lindsay established Xyzoo Animation, where he served as producer, director, and lead animator. It was during this period that he created some of the most celebrated short films in the region’s history for Billy Budd Films. His meticulous craftsmanship earned him significant international acclaim:

● The Chimes (1998/2000): An adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story, narrated by Derek Jacobi, which won the Cine Special Jury award for Best Children’s Film in 2002.
● The Velveteen Rabbit (2001/2003): Named Booklist Children’s Film of the Year in 2004.
● The First Christmas (1997/98): A traditional holiday classic narrated by Christopher Plummer.

Lindsay’s expertise extended far beyond stop-motion. He was a versatile artist who adapted to the digital age, directing 20 episodes of the Flash 2D series Urbo: The Adventures of Pax Africa for Clockwork Zoo. In 2010, he joined Triggerfish Animation Studios as the Storyboard and Animation Director for the global feature film hit Zambezia.
For over a decade (starting in 2009), Lindsay was a vital creative force behind the satirical series Zanews. He designed and sculpted the show’s iconic puppets and caricatures, and directed several episodes, proving his unique ability to blend high-level artistry with sharp political commentary.

Final Work: “Every Dog Has Its Day”

Lindsay’s final directorial project, the stop-motion short Every Dog Has Its Day (2025), serves as a poignant “swan song” for his storied career. Produced in collaboration with Luma Animation, the film is a heartwarming, observational story about a dog and its owner. Even in his final years, Lindsay’s commitment to the “warmth, charm, and character” of hand-crafted animation remained undiminished; the film has been honored as an award winner and official selection at the 2025 Los Angeles Animation Festival (L.A.A.F.).

Throughout a career that included hundreds of commercials for brands like WWF, Nestlé, and Visa, Lindsay van Blerk remained a mentor and a beacon for the South African creative community. He was known for his humility, his deep love for the craft of physical performance through puppets, and his ability to find the soul in every character he sculpted. He is remembered as a visionary who helped define the aesthetic and the heart of South African animation.

SOMETHING POINTLESS
Drama / 15 min. / Wales,UK

When a bullied young boy discovers an elderly man quietly covering a forgotten brick wall in painted eggshells, an unlikely friendship forms — and a “pointless” act becomes something transformative.

ASA BAILEY
Director

Asa Bailey is a Welsh filmmaker, director, and technology pioneer whose career sits at the intersection of cinematic storytelling and cutting-edge production innovation. Recognized internationally for leading virtual production and AI-native workflows on major series for platforms such as Apple TV+ (Silo), Netflix (100 Years of Solitude, El Eternauta), Disney/Nat Geo (When Sharks Attack 360) and more, Bailey has helped redefine how films and television are made in the 21st century. Founder of BAI-LEY Studios and creator of the .DAVE metadata standard — a system that embeds authorship, rights, and creative provenance at the point of capture — Bailey is widely credited with pioneering the Camera-to-Compute™ pipeline, uniting real-time visual effects, AI, tracking, and creative control into a single, on-set workflow.

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN DINOSAURS
Student / 15 min. / USA

Two childhood sweetheart’s once-playful love is put to the test by the stresses of adulthood– exposing to them the funny and painful truth about needing to grow up… Literally

 

TYLER COON
Director

Tyler Coon is a writer/director/producer whose previous film THE HANGUP, had its world premiere at Austin Film Festival 2025. He graduated from the University of Southern California with an MFA in Film and Television Production in 2025. Tyler comes from the great state of Massachusetts and loves sports, cooking, and home-improvement projects. With over seven years of experience in narrative writing, producing, directing, editing, and acting, he specializes in energetic stories told with stylistic and visual flair. Whether it’s for zero-budget passion projects or highly supervised corporate video, Tyler has worked efficiently and creatively to tell all types of stories in a timely and professional manner. Prior to and during his studies in USC’s Film Production program, Tyler has written, directed, edited, acted in, and produced over 15 independent short films in various above- and below-the-line roles.

RAIN IN THE BATHROOM
Drama / 7 min. / India

Priya, a housemaid’s daughter, yearns to bathe in the client’s extravagant bathroom, but her mother, fearful of losing the work, insists they stay invisible and accept the life they’ve been given.

ROHIT RELAN
Director

Rohit Relan is a Student Emmy-nominated director and writer from Mumbai, India, based in Los Angeles. His work explores identity, culture, and self-discovery through emotionally grounded characters. A 2024 graduate of the directing program at the American Film Institute and a Television Academy alumnus, his work has been recognized at festivals such as Giffoni Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, and AFI Fest. In 2025, he participated in the Storylines Lab at Cine Qua Non Labs and the Rickshaw Writers Room: Features. Relan has worked in various industry roles on projects for Netflix, Amazon, Dharma Productions, and Maddock Films. He is committed to bringing South Asian and distinctive narratives to a global audience, aiming to spark conversation and inspire change.

MY MOTHER IS. A COW
Drama / 15 min. / Brazil

Left in her aunt’s care on a family ranch at the edge of the burning Brazilian wetland, 12-year-old Mia is desperate for the touch of her mother’s love – but in this volatile natural world, with the impending threat of a deadly Jaguar consuming the family, love comes in unexpected form.

MOARA PASSONI
Director

Moara Passoni is a Brazilian writer & director. She wrote and directed the feature-length essay film “Extase” (CPH:DOX, MoMA’S Doc Fortnight, Visions du Réel) which received critical acclaim and won a gamut of international awards. Moara was co-writer of the Academy Award-nominated “The Edge of Democracy”. She was named one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Filmmaking” by Filmmaker Magazine, is an alumna of TorinoScriptLab, La Fémis-Cannes Producing Atelier, GOTHAM Week and NYSCA. She is developing her narrative feature debut Cost of Living (Torino Script Lab, Berlinale Talents Market), and her TV series Strikers.

JOHN
Student / 18 min. / USA

A University of Southern California Thesis Film: A Black female lawyer navigating systemic racism and discrimination in a predominantly white and male corporate law office.

 

AMIRAH ADEM
Director

Amirah Adem is a filmmaker originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia. She holds an MFA in Film and Television Production from USC and a BA in Media Studies from Pomona College.



Amirah’s produced work has been longlisted for the Student BAFTA awards, showcased at the American Black Film Festival, and supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. She was also one of four finalists to direct a Coca-Cola commercial through the Refreshing Films Program, which screened in Cinemark theaters nationwide.



Her USC thesis film, John, is currently on the festival circuit and was a finalist in the Annapolis Film Festival Short Film Pitch Competition. She has previously worked with the Peabody Awards, Tyler Perry Studios, and 2.0 Entertainment.

SHE'S NOT COMING BACK
Comedy / 15 min. / USA

A  down-on-his-luck astrophysicist makes a series of bad decisions until he does the math.

 

 

ROBERT SEBREE
Director

Robert picked up his first camera in high school in Japan and never put it down. He worked his way through Texas A&M as a photographer before moving to NYC to assist his heroes and hone his “professional skills” (because why follow your major when you can choose something that guarantees confusion at family gatherings?). Eventually, he migrated to L.A., as one does, and carved out a career in celebrity portraiture. After years of being a well-oiled cog in the Hollywood machine, he decided to fully lean into the chaos and founded S.O.S. — a platform for making films where he could tell stories lasting longer than 1/125th of a second.

FITTING
Comedy/ 6 min. / UK

An offbeat comedy about Toni, a self-conscious young woman experiencing her first-ever bra fitting, which unexpectedly evolves into a unique bond with her bra-fitter

 

KASRA FIROUZYAR
Director

Kasra Firouzyar’s work explores class, identity and life in London, often through humour and intimate character studies. In 2023, he co-created the award-winning short That’s Life with Jane Ryan, which screened at BIFA-qualifying festivals. He has since completed Fitting, a coming-of-age comedy set in a lingerie fitting room, and Thief, a mockumentary about a North West London thief. When I first read Jane Ryan’s script for “Fitting”, , he was struck by how funny and painfully honest Toni’s inner voice was.Kasra is currently developing a feature documentary on UK rap pioneers London Posse, and also produces Top 10 podcasts, including An Architect’s Perspective.

THE GROUND WE KEEP
Documentary / 9 min. / USA

Set in the hills outside Healdsburg, California, this documentary follows John Mills, an off-grid homeowner who has come to realize that fire season demands personal attention, preparation, and the daily work of caring for a place enough to change your life for it—a commitment to his neighbors, his community, and the living landscape around him.

RALPH BLOEMERS
Director

Ralph Bloemers is an Oregon-based fire expert and documentary filmmaker. As Director of Fire Safe Communities for Go Alliance, he works to help people realize that they can be their own heroes and protect their homes by taking action before fire comes. He has worked on fire issues for over 25 years and has produced several features including the award-winning films Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire and Inside the LA Firestorm for PBS Weathered. He is currently working on a feature film about NASA’s FireSense program and a job documentary series entitled Fire Safe People, while at the same time telling short stories about regular people doing what they need to do to prepare to live in fire country.

NICKY AND NICK
Drama / 6 min. / USA

From New York, we welcome filmmaker Louise Bartolotta to the official 2026 selection with her short drama, Nicky and Nick. Something happened at a party between college basketball players Nicky and Nick, but it didn’t mean anything. It was no big deal. No, really—they’re good.

LOUISE BARTOLOTTA
Director

Louise is a filmmaker from the Hudson Valley and has directed 4 short films there. In 2022, she was awarded the HUDSY community content grant to direct her last short, ‘Javelina’.

LITTLE REBELS CINEMA CLUB
Family Drama / 17 min. / Indonesia

Set in 2008, Doddy, a 14-year-old boy, tries to recreate an iconic scene of a zombie film with three of his best friends, using a handycam belonging to Anji, his sad and angry emo brother

KHOZY RIZAL
Director

Khozy Rizal (Indonesia, 1995) is a filmmaker based in Makassar, Indonesia. He started making films in 2021 with a short film “Makassar is a City for Football Fans” and screened at Sundance, BFI Flare and several film festivals. In 2023, he made a short film titled “Basri & Salma in a Never-ending Comedy ” which had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival and was the first Indonesian short film that competed for the Short Film Palme d’Or. The short film was also screened for more than 100 festivals including Sundance, Clermont-Ferrand, AFI Fest, Fribourg and SXSW Sydney. He’s also an alumnus of Busan Asian Film Academy and Locarno Filmmakers Academy.

ALBATROSS
Drama / 14 min. / USA

A woman slowly disappearing into the thankless role of longterm caregiver for her ailing husband is jolted back to life by a simple party invitation — forcing her to reckon with everything she’s sacrificed and everything she still hungers to be.

AMANDINE THOMAS
Director

Amandine Thomas is a writer, director and editor. She is one half of THUMPER, a creative duo with collaborator Gerardo Coello Escalante. Their first short film Viaje de Negocios premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2024 and was nominated for an Ariel Award in Mexico. Their second short, SUSANA, premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2025 and has won top awards at Provincetown, Palm Springs Shortfest, Desertscape, and Hollyshorts. Her documentary short hello beautiful please follow back premiered on Vimeo Staff Picks and was an official selection at Palm Springs Shortfest 2025 and The Smalls 2025. Her first short film, Cherry Cola, which she wrote, produced, directed, and acted in, played nationwide at a number of festivals including Palm Springs ShortFest, Tallgrass Film Festival, Hollyshorts Film Festival, and Richmond International Film Festival, where it won Best Narrative Short and Best Actress.

iCHILD
Sci-Fi / 15 min. / USA

In a near dystopian future, a desperate woman joins a high stakes A.I. program that forces her to relive the past she swore she’d left behind, and the little girl trapped inside it.

MARTA MÉNDEZ CROSS
Director

Filmmaker, writer, and director based in Los Angeles, committed to telling stories that shift the narrative for Latinx communities in film and television. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Marta began her career as an actress before moving behind the camera to create bold, emotionally resonant stories. She wrote and directed the sci-fi short iChild as part of the Sony, Women In Film, Broken English initiative, and is currently developing Hallmark’s first Latinx Christmas drama. Her feature, Las Tres Sisters, a bilingual, intergenerational dramedy, was written, produced, and starred in by Marta, and had its theatrical release in 2025. She also produced and co-wrote Land of Shadowed Sand, a noir drama that earned the Audience Award at the prestigious Austin Film Festival. Her short We Breathe was recognized at the Oscar-qualifying Hollyshorts Festival, and she continues to advocate for inclusive storytelling as both a creator and community leader.

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.