OFFICIAL SELECTION
2025
FINAL 2025 SELECTION SLATE
WAR COLORS USA - Sepbastopol, CA / Documentary / 5 min.
WORLD PREMIERE: A Lebanese art therapist confronts her war-torn childhood while helping traumatized refugee kids fleeing the Syrian civil war.
THE PATH OF PUMA-36
USA / Documentary / 16 min.
An adventurous young mountain lion’s treacherous odyssey through Northern California. Monitored with a tracking collar and trail cameras, P-36 travels over 1,400 miles in just 16 months, making his way through a mosaic of human-developed land and wild spaces as he searches for a territory of his own
#RELATIONSHIPGOALS
USA / Comedy / 8 min.
An unhealthy obsession with social media sends a man into a downward spiral.
CHICKENTOWN
USA / Drama / 13 min.
A strong-willed woman is hitchhiking in the open desert and accepts a lift from a truly unsettling stranger. The short journey unravels into forboding tension and it becomes chillingly clear: this isn’t just a ride, it’s an agenda.
RISING ABOVE THE ASHES
USA / Student / 15 min.
A documentary about the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires addresses the question of how people move forward after large-scale natural disasters, looking at the powerful positive effects of resilience, gratitude, and community art in supporting individuals and communities as they heal and move forward.
PORTRAIT
Romance / Spain / 1 min.
A young couple, glowing in the early days of love, sets out to capture their joy in a portrait. But when unexpected trouble interrupts their moment, they prove that love isn’t just beautiful—it’s powerful. In just sixty seconds, this adorable microfilm delivers heart, humor, and a reminder that love can steal the scene.
PATRIOT
(WORLD PREMIERE)
USA / Student / 19 min.
Filmmaker Audrey Maxon (17) returns for the second year in a row with an incredibly timely and solidly produced student drama: “PATRIOT.”
A normal high school day devolves into chaos when an ICE raid shatters the lives of two young lovers from opposite sides of the deportation conflict..
A normal high school day devolves into chaos when an ICE raid shatters the lives of two young lovers from opposite sides of the deportation conflict..
MY WEEK WITH MAISY
UK / Dramedy / 18 min.
When uptight retiree Mrs. Foster begins chemotherapy, she’s thrown together in the treatment room with Maisy, a whirlwind inquisitive child. As treatment progresses, the pair’s fortuitous bond offers healing and newfound hope in unexpected places. Starring renowned British actress Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous, Motherland).
DALE
USA / Documentary / 9 min.
Dale Hikawa was the first Asian American woman to ever join the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Taking stock of her long career, this trailblazing violist reflects on her life and work.
LUISA
(WORLD PREMIERE)
USA / Student / 2 min.
Escaping the discord of her parents’ arguments, a young girl discovers solace and inspiration in nature, empowering her to mend her fractured family.
TEXT TALK
USA / Comedy / 2 min.
In the age of texts, likes, and 30-second TikToks, it has become increasingly difficult to find the patience for actual conversations—especially when you need to tell your friend that her behavior at last night’s party landed her on the @whatisnewyork Instagram feed.
THE WILD-TEMPERED CLAVIER
Germany / Animation / 7 min.
In a delightfully fresh style of animation, an pianist insists on playing despite the world’s disasters.
The animation is painted on rolls of toilet paper in an homage to the tradition of drawing directly on 35 mm film.
SHANTI RIDES SHOTGUN
USA / Documentary / 8 min.
On Manhattan’s jam-packed streets, NYC’s most iconic driving instructor prepares students for the road ahead.
AREPAS EN BICI
USA / Documentary / 14 min.
Chef Victor Aguilera cycles across San Francisco, weaving through memories of his immigration and dreams of sharing
traditional Venezuelan cuisine.
DRESSED TO THE NINES
UK / Drama / 6 min.
Luke goes on a journey of self-discovery in his mum’s bedroom, trying on her clothes and losing himself to the connection. But when dad catches him, tensions in the house reach a boiling point.
HANK
USA / Documentary / 16 min.
More than a decade ago, scientists relocated a white pelican named Hank from her home in Oregon to Oakland’s Lake Merritt for rehabilitation. Disabled by an accident as a young bird, she is unable to fish for herself or fly, and previously relied exclusively on city employees for food and care. When the city of Oakland abruptly stopped feeding her in 2018. Steve, a former city employee, who fed Hank for years, refused to leave her side when she was abandoned by the city.
CONTOURS
USA / Romance / 12 min.
Against a backdrop of sublime artwork in a hushed museum, two deaf individuals with extraordinary communication skills meet. An instant, longed-yearned-for spark ignites between them… but can it truly flourish? Perhaps some barriers, however silent, remain insurmountable.
BETWEEN US
USA / Student / 9 min.
An anxious high schooler is caught between his toxic best friend and the girl of his dreams, changing their friendship forever.
The filmmaker, Colin Miller, is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach and Santa Rosa Junior College and returns to the wine country to present this film on his home turf.
ASHER BABY
USA / Dramedy / 14 min.
A picture-perfect influencer couple, eagerly anticipates the arrival of their unborn son, Asher, as cracks appear in their seemingly flawless facade.
B!TCH, I'M EARLY
USA / Comedy / 6 min.
In the corporate world, being FIRST is all that matters. Two women, a generation apart, find themselves locked in an absurd battle for a coveted promotion. The film hilariously skewers corporate culture while reminding us that in the rat race, we’re all running in circles.
LITTLE GOODBYES
Canada / Drama / 15 min.
A cold December night: After a series of peculiar encounters, two little girls cling to the last remaining glimpses of Christmas magic.. and their childhood.
THE GRIEVANCE
USA/ Comedy / 8 min.
Hatched on the picket line during the 2023 writers’ strike, this sharp comedy flips the script when an AI sitcom writer files an HR complaint against its human colleagues. When the lines between creator and creation blur, workplace chaos ensues. Starring Rosie O’Donnell and Kevin Pollak, written by comedy powerhouses Carol Leifer (“Seinfeld,” “Hacks”) and Andy Gordon (“Big Bang Theory”), directed by Richie Keen (“Always Sunny in Philadelphia”).
ANOTHER LIFE TO LIVE
USA/ Documentary / 10 min.
An evocative portrait of Lorraine Dipaolo, a lifelong Brooklynite and her husband who was paralyzed shortly after their engagement. Together, they transformed adversity into a life rich with meaning and connection.
AUSTRALIA, THE BEAUTIFUL
Australia/ Documentary / 5 min.
From the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and from the Southern Ocean to the Arafura Sea, it is a unique and beguiling place.
DAD PROJECT
Norway/ Documentary / 28 min.
Camilla’s dad is a pick-up artist who teaches other men how to succeed on Tinder, and who seeks self-development through ice-cold topless walks inspired by Wim Hof. Camilla is an artist and a feminist, and there’s not much she and her father agree on. How can they maintain a strong bond?
THE MAN WHO COULD NOT REMAIN SILENT
Croatia / Drama / 13 min.
February 27, 1993, Strpci, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A passenger train from Belgrade to Bar is stopped by paramilitary forces in an ethnic cleansing operation. As they haul off innocent civilians, only one man out of 500 passengers dares to stand up to them. This is the true story of a man who could not remain silent.
ICK
USA / Student / 11 min.
Anais knows what she wants — to lose her virginity on prom night.
ICK is a dark dramedy about the painfully awkward experience of losing one’s virginity (and hopefully a reminder of why you shouldn’t fake your first orgasm). The film was a master’s project at the University of Texas at Austin.
ICK is a dark dramedy about the painfully awkward experience of losing one’s virginity (and hopefully a reminder of why you shouldn’t fake your first orgasm). The film was a master’s project at the University of Texas at Austin.
KILL THE VIDEO STAR
USA / Thriller / 14 min.
1997. A Pop star comes face to face with her biggest fan in this thriller with an ethereal and poetic touch.
GO DOWN RIVER
USA / Documentary / 17 min.
A young investigator uncovers the dark legacy of PFAS contamination in local waterways, revealing a nationwide crisis lurking in our bloodstreams. Will the next generation rise to fight, or is it already too late?
BROONO
Scotland / Drama / 20 min.
In 1970s Glasgow, an unlikely friendship develops between a bereaved 11-year-old lad and the local bully until tragedy strikes again.
GERT'S BOYS
USA / Documentary / 20 min.
Known as the “Mother of the Quilt,”Cindy “Gert” McMullin, co‑founder of The AIDS Memorial Quilt, helped launch this grassroots memorial in San Francisco’s Castro in 1987 as a bold call for public and governmental action. Today, the Quilt—over 50,000 panels commemorating some 110,000 lives lost—is the world’s largest piece of community folk art.
WATCHING WALTER
USA / Drama / 17 min.
A short biopic starring Stephen Tobolowsky set in both 1995 Philadelphia and World War II Nazi occupied Poland. Based on the true story of Holocaust survivor-turned watchmaker Wladyslaw “Walter” Wojnas, it’s a slice of life story that touches on several poignant moments in his life during those times.
QUOTA
Netherlands / Animation / 3 min.
When every global citizen is required to have their CO2 emissions tracked, it makes little impact…that is, until they discover the consequences of reaching their designated QUOTA.
FAVOURS
Sweden / Drama / 11 min.
In the chaos of a crowded train station, a young woman pleads for help with an infant she insists isn’t hers. As suspicion builds, the line between truth and desperation begins to blur.
THE LAST TAKE
USA / Drama / 14 min.
Facing the end, a movie star from the golden age of Hollywood must reconcile with the only man he ever loved.
WHERE MOTION HAS NOT YET CEASED
Czechia / Documentary / 17 min.
Prague – Having found refuge from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, two women and their young daughters face the waiting and hope of an imminent return to Ukraine. Shelved in this city, these women tell the story of their past and give access to their daily life, their present, in which they try to learn how to live again.
This documentary tries to give a voice to those who live war differently.
This documentary tries to give a voice to those who live war differently.
MY DAD AND THE VOLCANO
Scotland / Documentary / 15 min.
A story of a father and son and a volcano. Gavin built a 6-foot volcano. He asked his Dad, if he could store it in his dad’s shed for ‘a wee while’ until he figured out what to do with it but that ‘wee while’ turned into five years, testing his Dad’s patience as he threatened to destroy it over the years.
Gavin’s aspiration is to bring him and his Dad together through the volcano, to help his father see it as he does. However, there’s a challenge – his dad holds no interest in modern art and has declined any involvement in the documentary.
Gavin’s aspiration is to bring him and his Dad together through the volcano, to help his father see it as he does. However, there’s a challenge – his dad holds no interest in modern art and has declined any involvement in the documentary.
THEY GROW UP SO FAST
USA / Comedy / 10 min.
When Brian meets Amy after a night out on the town, things move a little faster than he’d anticipated.
REVENGE OF THE LANGUAGE MASTER 1757B
USA / Comedy / 7 min.
Three young students discover a machine that lets them say whatever they want.
ARMAN & ELISA
Luxembourg / Drama / 15 min.
In Luxembourg, an Iranian boy finds an unlikely connection with a local girl, transcending the barrier of language. But their innocent friendship faces unforeseen challenges when the adult world intrudes.
THE COCKROACH
USA/ Drama / 20 min.
After a body-altering accident, a woman must find a way forward in her new reality.
MADDEN
Sweden/ Drama / 13 min.
A story about relating to your herd. About duty versus longing. About high-heeled
shoes stepping in dung and heavy animal bodies thundering across a Scandinavian landscape. A
forest of tall tree trunks between our protagonist and the outside world.
YUCK!
France / Animation / 13 min.
For young Léo and his fellow summer campers, the sight of couples kissing is met with universal disgust. The telltale sign – lips suddenly pink and glistening – is an unavoidable source of childish mockery. Beneath his outward disgust, a secret desire to explore the very act he mocks is beginning to surface.
A CALIFORNIA ORIGINAL
USA / Documentary / 3 min.
There are controversial people and there are controversial trees. The gray pine has often been insulted and persecuted, yet it gives an incredible fruit to its homeland of California. When this tree succeeds through the rough terrain and lack of ideal conditions, it reminds us of what is possible in ourselves. As the Lakota people say Mitakuye Oyasin We are all related.
A GOOD BOY
France / Drama / 19 min.
Maxime, A promising swimmer, is shaken when his team’s coach is accused of sexual abuse by his fellow swimmer. These accusations will shatter the silence Maxime has carefully maintained, exposing the scars of the abuse he endured himself.
SECOND CHANCE
Petaluma, California / Student / 9 min.
14-year-old filmmaker joins the official 2025 selection with her film “Second Chance.” The filmmaker takes us inside juvenile hall and court, offering a better understanding, compassion, and ultimately, hope for juveniles who are some of the most vulnerable in our society, and who are also part of the future.
THE 10 DRAFTS OF THE PLAY
Santa Rosa, California / Student / 10 min.
A writer struggles to write the ending to his play, each draft failing for one reason or another.
DNHMUZIC: MY MUSIC, MY JOURNEY
USA / Documentary / 10 min.
Phoenix Neo-Hop artist, DnhMuzic, shares his music and reflects on the heart spaces that history, human connection and perseverance hold for him as a Black artist.
ALDO'S BUG EXTRAVAGANZA
USA / Documentary-Family / 6 min.
Join 5-year-old Aldo and his dad on a backyard safari filled with tiny wonders and big laughs. Armed with a camera and boundless curiosity, Aldo embarks on a bug-hunting escapade, narrating his discoveries with adorable wit and charm..
OF WIND AND WATER
Sebastopol, California / Documentary / 6 min.
Ned Kahn, renowned large form kinetic sculptural artist, tells the story of his creations.
OASIS
Canada / Documentary / 14 min.
At the dawn of their teenage years, Raphaël and Rémi are twins who see their fusional attachment crumble while one of them, suffering from an increasingly marked disability, remains a prisoner of childhood. During one last summer surrounded by nature, time seems to want to stand still.”
MIMINE
Canada / Drama / 13 min.
A disheartened father watches his son bond with his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend. Desperate to preserve his special place in his child’s life, he orchestrates a magical moment between them.”
CALLIE AND BEE : HOOP DREAMS
USA / Animation / 1 min.
A short exploration of 1930’s rubber hose animation in 3D. Callie gets her dog Bee to jump through a hoop with surprising results.”
A NEWLYWED STORY
USA / Drama / 14 mins.
Naina celebrates her #quarterversary attempting to restore a wedding-night-gone-wrong… chasing the “happily ever after” she was promised. Will Monty accept her need for social validation? Can they embrace a path forward, or will it be over…forever?”
CALF
Ireland / Drama / 14 mins.
In this shocking and stylistically assured drama, a calf is about to be born, when a sinister farm accident leaves Cáit with a terrible decision to make. A gut-wrenching film from way out in the countryside, a place where the worst things are silenced.”
THE ADVANCE
France / Drama / 18 mins.
A rising student at the Beaux-Arts in Paris, sells a painting of his deceased mother for 3,000 euros to a renowned collector. The delivery of the painting then becomes a long journey during which he will realize the weight of the money he earned.”
MEARCSTAPA
UK / Student / 15 mins.
Moving back home with his parents after a major upset in his life, trapped within the contentedness of suburbia, Sean is haunted by visions from his past and finds himself slowly becoming ‘Mearcstapa’.”
HOPE IS ON THE WAY
USA/ Documentary / 11 mins.
A documentary that explores the power of hope through the voices of everyday people. As an Uber driver named Hope (a translation of the filmmaker’s Russian name), she asks her passengers one simple question: “What is your hope?” Through candid conversations, the film captures a wide range of responses, from personal dreams to hopes for the world.”
FIEGO AND THE MAGICAL FISH
Belgium / Animation / 11 mins.
A happily married Italian fisherman named Fiego catches a magic fish and makes wishes to give his wife the good life. A reimagining of the German fairytale “The Fisherman and his Wife”
MONOCHROME
France / Drama / 14 mins.
After months of a long-distance relationship via a dating site, Thomas asks Marie, who lives on the other side of the country, to finally meet in person. But before that, she will make a shocking revelation for the young man.
EAT SURF LOVE
USA / Romance / 9 mins.
A jaded New York writer and a laid-back California surfer navigate the murky and occasionally painful waters of a first date. Set in San Francisco, it’s also a love-hate letter to that paradoxical place where hearts have been left, lost, and also found. By returning filmmaker, Nada Djordjevich, who delighted the audience with a heartwarming animated film in the 2024 festival!
SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL AGES
Germany / Animation / 3 min
Iconic moments from Shakespeare’s greatest plays flow seamlessly into one another, creating a dynamic visual journey through the Bard’s theatrical legacy.
SWEET BOYS
USA / Drama / 15 mins.
A love letter to the youth of East Harlem, inspired by a poem and the spirit of the early 2000s, we follow two friends who go down different life paths.