JT Trinidad - 24, Earvic Noay - 22, Rocky Morilla - 24, Kukay Zinampan - 24 | Philippines

“Light dances with shadows as JT Trinidad’s tight direction brings life to Manila’s empty rooms with the hustle and bustle of its city; the sound tying the story’s vignettes together. Grounded in a surviving movie house, this queer coming-of-age film confronts life’s magic through questions like how to know when you love someone. Though it feels made for viewers like me - a queer Filipino with an affinity for slice-of-life storytelling - its resonance transcends matters of identity. HONEY, MY LOVE, SO SWEET reminds me of the importance of a neighborhood cinema. Really, it's the container for our own communities and self-discoveries. How beautiful it is to be alive in a SIFF theater!”

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Siwoo Kim - 23, Katie Nagrowski - 22, Emily Leeds - 20 | NY, USA & South Korea

“I’ve yet to shake this film’s opening lines from my mind. Impressive animation paired with a lively soundscape, what starts off as a suicide pact between two lonely souls, becomes a mini-odyssey after someone bails. The film tries to find warmth in fleeting encounters, as faces are lit by car headlights and cigarette lighters, presented in a striking, textured color palette. Loneliness in the city, and what it looks like in the modern age, is explored by the focal character through excellently written dialogue with an old classmate. Tackling many themes, Inside my worn out drawer, is an ocean manages to hold it all with remarkable grace.”

Pedal to the Mettle

Maryam Zuhuri - 20, Aileen Fröhlich - 22 | Austria

“It’s easy to live in this world. Transitory spaces are weird. What you take from them, is often even weirder. Maryam Zuhuri’s director's statement discusses growing up across different countries, and you can feel it in this film. Without a home base, life can be disorienting, and at worst, lonely. Home for runaway girls discusses the pain, familial expectations, and class through stunning cinematography and composition. And its most interesting feature: it’s a film you read. Seriously- no dialogue here. It’s a big swing that pays off; spending nine minutes in its thoughtful silence is one of my most rewarding watches this NFFTY.”

Breaking the Mold

Izzy Dalton - 17, Leah Fitzgibbon - 16 | Ireland

“A film that understands contrast. By day, these scenes have a saturation to them that defines their home as inviting, but not quite right. An aquarium's vibrant colors will mesmerize you before quickly realizing Jack is mysteriously losing his fish one-by-one every night. And by night, Izzy Dalton wields elements of analog horror to transform an ordinary home into something sinister. Like Skinamarink and Paranormal Activity, Dalton lingers on the unknown long enough to condition familiarity into fear. Rich soundscapes, stellar editing, and the nighttime’s dizzying grainy texture; Barracuda has it all and sustains its balancing act until the very end.”

Thrills & Chills

Pranav Dawar - 22, Vidhu Kota - 22 | India & NY, USA

After seeing this, I wanted to show everyone. This is like when people say, “There’s a whole world out there!” but really, there’s a whole world out there. Bursting with energy and rich colors, Karnama (Well of Death) builds toward a finale that'll conclude our Opening Night block like a shot of espresso. With brilliant pacing, this documentary's reflections on the importance of work and family culminate in the cinematic equivalent of a guitar riff. It’s thrilling to feel through each new shot as the film sparks yet another jolt of joy, even in moments when these people are far from home. Understanding subcultures is a great way to bring us closer to the core of what makes us human, and what drives us forward. And here: the answer is family.

Opening Night