Nicola Rios - 23, Julie Chen - 23, Marcel Ruiz - 22 | Puerto Rico

“Not enough good things can be said about Nicola Ríos’s TELARAÑA. A masterful example of the hidden forces that shape a family, Ríos asks the audience what it means to inherit a past you may not want, and how you can forge your own path in its shadow. The film’s tension is built with precision, from quiet family moments to strikingly eerie visuals, keeping you on edge without ever feeling forced, culminating in an ending that is as unsettling as it is unforgettable.”

Centerpiece presented by Adobe Premiere Pro

John Kim - 22, Justin Nguyen - 21, Liya Yang - 23, Justin Roh - 23 | CA, USA

“Watching SWEET BOY, I was met with an intimacy so raw and familiar that it mirrored moments from my own family, at times even moving me to tears. The film inhabits the quiet, charged spaces of a household in tension, small gestures, held breaths, and fleeting glances, carrying a weight that is impossible to ignore. John Kim’s SWEET BOY urges you to confront how love and harm can exist in the same space.”

Closing Night presented by Adobe Premiere Pro

Austen Taylor Pease - 21, Robert Peddie - 21, Theo Hughes - 21, Francis Kelly - 21 | UK

“This was one of the first films I watched this year, and it still leaves me with chills every time I revisit it. It can be difficult to create a film that encapsulates themes of grief, abuse, mental health, and toxic sports culture without feeling overwhelmingly heavy. Rather than burying you in that weight, DOGBONE finds a careful balance. Set within the stark world of football in Northern England, the film allows moments of tension and vulnerability to surface naturally, trusting the audience to feel alongside its characters. What emerges is a striking portrait of how silence, expectation, and loss can shape a young boy learning how to carry his grief.”

Let’s Get Physical

Abigail Siddall - 22, Maggie Deer - 23, Lindsey Susor - 23 | GA, USA

“Whimsical, eerie, and endlessly inventive, bringing together humans and puppets alike for a wild ride. Without fail, this film lingers with everyone who experiences it, its playful, unpredictable rhythm keeping you hooked from start to finish. Within every stroke of paint on stage or stitch of fabric, co-directors Maggie Deer and Lindsey Susor have built a world so immersive it feels alive.”

Set Happens! presented by ShotDECK

Li Anne Liew - 24, Jessica Stossel - 24, Dajiana Huang - 23, Aleia Jacobs - 24 | CA, USA

“I was enamored with the entirety of this film, from the gorgeous 16mm visuals to the thought provoking narration, every element of this film works with each other perfectly. While lately headlines and media are dominated by chaos and death, Glide (All The People I'll Never Be) offers a reflective, mesmerizing exploration of what it means to watch life pass by while searching for your place within it.”

Friday Night Spotlight