Lucy Blumenfield - 19, Arielle Friedman - 25, Camila Grimaldi - 22 | NY, USA

“Created by a female writer/director duo, this film plays with time and takes you in reverse through a relationship caused and altered by a parent with Alzheimer’s. It has beautiful, grainy cinematography and the two leads have an undeniable chemistry and charm. Grab a cappuccino and enjoy this playful, yet somber romance story.”

Family Ties

William Bermudez - 23, Sam Friedman - 23, Nathan Ginter - 22, Caden Ghen - 22 | CA, USA

“Another writer/director duo bring to life a boy’s difficult childhood. Leo’s mom is a drug dealer on the run. We watch him cope as he’s forced to deal with her consequences. The film lets the characters live and breathe on the screen, flaws and all, with excellent use of silence and voyeurism. Pop in for a gritty and surprising story about what a mother will do for her son.”

Family Ties

Sienna Crosby - 15 | FL, USA

“A heartbreaking realist and experimental film that follows a young person healing from childhood trauma. The vulnerable narration pairs with paint splattered handprints on their body and the empty spaces where the harmful events happened. The film is thought provoking on what can happen to people close to us when we keep our heads turned.”

Pedal to the Mettle

Solstice Harris - 24 | UT, USA

“Solstice Harris’s piece is intimate and sweetly melancholic. She bends genre fearlessly with autobiographical documentary style footage and a poem as narration. The film discusses a break-up through a beautiful metaphor about a lost earring – you know where you lost it, but you can’t get it back. This personal and powerful LGBTQ+ film is a must-see.”

From the Heart

Dan Lesser - 23, Kimberly Vela - 23, Neema Sadeghi - 24, Hayley Stablow - 24 | CA, USA

“The only comedy of my picks! Thinking of this film brings a grin to my face every time, it’s a masterfully crafted hoot. Bernadette clicking her retainer around in her mouth and moping over getting dumped by her pretty boy boyfriend is so classically teen. We follow Bernadette and her best friend through a vengeful pizza delivery plan and let me tell ya, you’re in for a surprise!”

Happy Hour Shorts