July 2024 Selects and winners

In a near future, enlightened men use mind-over-body control to produce only x-chromosome sperm. Problem is, Corbin's wife wants to have a baby boy. A light-hearted look into what women want. And the men who will defy laws of science to make them happy.

Abigail Fierce - I Miss You

Dir. Abigail Fierce

Music Video for LGBT indie-pop artist Abigail Fierce's song "I Miss You."

After Taste

Dir. Chase Norman

Saturday 7/6/2024 Block 4

When two lovers spend a little too much alone time together, their extramarital affair turns from lustful to listless.

American Pot Story: Oaksterdam

Dir. Ravit Markus, Dan Katzir

WINNER OF THE AUDIENCE AWARD AT SLAMDANCE 2023, American Pot Story: Oaksterdam is a documentary about how change transpires in America. The account of "a small group of concerned committed citizens" (to quote Margaret Mead) who took a huge risk in order to bring about a massive shift in public perception. It all happened at Oaksterdam University in Oakland , California - a magical place where cannabis history was made, falling right in place with Oakland’s rich history of civil resistance. Today when we see celebrities and corporations get into the cannabis business it’s easy to forget how many millions of people unjustly suffered and still suffer because of the American drug policy. Our documentary is not just an important historical chronicle of a campaign that brought into the mainstream a taboo topic, it’s also an inspiring reminder of how democracy can work when people come together in an effort to fulfill our pledge to liberty and justice for all.

Best Aunt Ever

Dir. Jill Michele Melean

"A celebration of women's choices in this short film that embraces the beauty, honesty, and humor in the diverse paths women take. The story unfolds as two sisters, Claudia and Andrea, make contrasting life choices — Claudia revels in her single life with her boyfriend in a stylish condo, while Andrea, a mother of three, navigates the joys and chaos of family. Through a series of unexpected events and a shared revelation, the film highlights the importance of celebrating both the choice to have children and the choice to remain child-free. A fantastic exploration of women's diverse journeys, this short film is a tribute to the richness of choices and the power of supportive relationships.

Broken Time

Dir. Anastasia Boyett

Dereck, a quiet physicist from a small town, plans a trip with his girlfriend, Erica, across the state to meet her family. When the couple’s car suddenly stops working, they encounter strange phenomena from what appears to be the aftermath of a lab experiment--from Dereck’s lab--gone wrong. After encountering a reckless criminal with his hostage in tow, and a father searching for his family, the group of strangers search for answers and uncover dangerous truths about their world, time, and life itself.

Convertible

Dir. Amirah Adem

Two young hijabi adults, Rida and Jamila attend a party. After the party, Rida discusses her decision to not wear a hijab all the time. Rida then makes a decision about whether to tell her parents that she no longer wears her hijab.

CYA

Dir. Alice The G00n

“The new music video from rhythm & dance artist alice the g00n delivers an audio-visual experience akin to John Wick going all Lord of the Flies on corporate America. The first chapter of her hard-hitting, eye-popping sci-fi and horror series.”

Dadfest

Dir. Chris Game

The long-simmering tension between two sisters comes to a boil during a chaotic road trip to fulfill their father’s last wish.

Dahlia's Monsters

Dir. Abigail Salmon

When a young woman prepares to move away from her hometown and her sister, the trauma that she thought was in her past finds its way into her present. She knows she can claim her independence, but she doesn't understand that battles are fought better when we have allies at our side.

Dallas & Delilah

Dir. Lizzie Green

Dallas and Delilah, two friends from childhood who are now in their 70s, run into each other serendipitously and spend a day reminiscing throughout their small town. Dallas encounters unresolved feelings for her first love, and Delilah finally learns to stand up to her controlling late husband.

Daughters of Apollo

Dir. Lauren M. Ikemoto

After recently graduating high school, three friends try to savor their last summer together while they struggle to come to terms with growing up and growing apart.

DeadHead

Dir. Virginia Powers Hendry

Wendy is a middle-aged woman who is constantly dismissed and made to feel invisible by the men in her life. One day while working in her garden, she pricks her finger on a thorny cocoon, and is infected with something... inhuman. After she is suddenly let go and replaced with a younger woman by her boss at a job she's enjoyed for decades, her rage, (along with alien DNA), transforms her into a powerful creature, hellbent on revenge.

Dear Luke, Love, Me

Dir. Guillermo Diaz

Friday 7/5/2024 Block 2

Truly a first-of-its-kind, Dear Luke, Love, Me is a heart-wrenching, punch-you-in-the-gut feature film that follows Penny and Luke from their college days into their 30's. We watch them become instant best friends, fall in love, build a life together, navigate life’s challenges while dealing with questions of sexual identity, and ultimately breaking up, only to become instant best friends again -- their lives are intertwined in the stars and neither of them could ever imagine an existence without each other.

Death In A Rose Bush

Dir. Rich Varville

Two neighbors try to resolve a dispute amicably but unravel in the process.

Embodied

Dir. Cade Huseby

Embodied chronicles the lifelong journey of body image issues through the eyes of Claire, a young woman fighting against the messaging of the world around her and her own negative thoughts.

Farmers Market

Dir. Sara Caldwell

In a dystopian future in which aliens treat humans like farm animals, 10-year-old Grace manages to escape and finds sanctuary where she least expected it.

Flying Bird's Diary

Dir. Madeline Sayet

The last fluent speaker of the Mohegan language fights to preserve her culture and pass it down to the next generation, in an era when everyone has forgotten Mohegan people still exist.

Frequency Over Time

Dir. Cari Sudmeier

A Native American time traveling spirit guide appears to a couple unsure about their relationship during their first weekend getaway to Palm Springs, California. Star Eye, the spirit guide, directs the couple to have a sound bath where a curious exchange of frequencies takes place and delivers the message of “ love one another and the earth”.

HIM

Dir. Taylor Neary

A happily married woman becomes obsessed with an Apex delivery driver.

Hourglass

Dir. Ruth Veronica Madrid, Jose Gomez

Hourglass is a coming of age drama about Desilu, who despite being pushed out of the Inland Empire garage rock scene, comes back to prove to them, and herself, that she isn't the person they make her out to be.

In Lieu Of Longing

Dir. Ayessa Sotelo

Saturday 7/6/2024 Block 5

Jaslene is a young woman happily living with her older sister, Maya, a ghost who is tethered to their childhood home.

Isabel's Garden

Dir. Kit Rich

Career-obsessed Maya Carlile is determined to land a lead anchor position at the television network where she works. When her husband, Diego, dies in a car accident, Maya’s life takes an unusual turn. Not only is she suddenly helping to take care of Diego’s 15-year-old daughter, Isabel, alongside Diego’s ex-wife, but she also finds herself suspended from her job due to an embarrassing video that has gone viral. As her relationship with Isabel matures, Maya also befriends Grace—an outspoken, older woman who wrote a world-famous children’s book that helped Maya survive her lonely childhood. Grace has become reclusive and Maya discovers the shocking secret that has caused Grace to avoid the spotlight for the past few decades. Maya recognizes Grace’s secret as a bombshell story upon which she could restart her career in television.

Nerot Shel Shabbat

Dir. Lital Mizrahi

Nerot Shel Shabbat follows a young expecting Jewish couple, Rivkah and Chaim, who for the sake of their family, have to flee the Soviet Union on Shabbat, the holiest day of the week in Judaism. To reach Poland, they have gone through nearly impossible lengths including obtaining passports and exit visas. Terrified for their lives, they get on a train ride to a new country. Nevertheless, Rivkah stays true to her Jewish customs by lighting the Shabbat candles. After the couple witnesses a horrific incident involving another Jewish mother and her son, they hold onto their faith, to invite a higher power, which only strengthens when they encounter a misfortune at the checkpoint.

Never Too Old

Dir. Morgan Martini

Short film adapted from the award winning Simmmering screenplay. Jesse and Florio have lived together as lovers for over 45 years. Their relationship has stood the test of time. Now both men are seniors in their 80s. Jesse has held firm to his decision never to get married, and Florio has accepted that fact. But that all changes when Jesse proposes on the 30th anniversary after gay marriage is legalized in the U.S.

On Paper

Dir. Arthur Van Helterbran, Jr

Barbara sits alone at her office retirement party, looking down at a small gift-wrapped package on the table in front of her. She wants to open it, but is afraid of what’s inside. The next day, she tries to leave it behind, but a day hike with her husband Phil conjures haunting memories that weigh heavily on her mind. She is now certain of where the gift came from. Later that evening her and Phil have it out and the gift’s true nature is revealed. It turns out they’ve both been lying to each other for some time and decisions are made that change their relationship forever.

Palpitations Of Dust

Dir. Ann Huang

The lives of three friends become complicated when facing choices of love, friendship, need and reciprocity. Everything is hung on a thin string-- from the desire to love, to dream, to face life's disarrays, and then to settle on an unexpected destiny.

Red Flags

Dir. El Guru

A Young Woman in a relationship battling with her thoughts not know if she wants to leave or stay or kill her partner. She is in a psychological war with herself.

Runaways

Dir. Jack Szarabajka

Runaways is a mystery-thriller set in the US-Mexico border town of Nogales, Arizona; a town defined by its connection to the current border conflict debate. Our story follows polar-opposite sisters Rachel and Danielle who suddenly become fugitives, traveling with a caravan of migrants after being framed for the murder of their own mother by the their stepfather, Sheriff Frank McKay.

scalped!

Dir. Elana Rubin

Three best friends fail to get tickets for their favorite pop star’s last tour due to ticket scalpers — until Trent saves the day…or does he?

Shame

Dir. Kelly Lynn Warren

After a woman is assaulted by a mutual friend, she struggles to communicate with her best friend about what happened, leading to tragic consequences.

Slough

Dir. Yuzhu Lan, Yutong Wang

The 29-year-old Mila lives in a dystopian society where women are forced to have children. Mila disagrees with this way of life, and together with her sister Laila she tries to change this fate.

Song of the Open Road: The Story of the Southern California Youth Chorale

Dir. Melissa Dowler

The story of the Southern California Youth Chorale, inspired by one extraordinary Music Teacher, who took on the difficult task of challenging talented but insulated teenagers of the sixties and seventies to become Musical Ambassadors while performing around the world, and how those experiences continue to affect their lives even today.

Star Dance

Dir. Elvira Kalnik

Happy colorful party on a beach. Everyone dances to EDM track “Star Dance” while a singer sings the song.

Surprise!

Dir. Lucé Tomlin-Brenner

When a prank goes awry, 4 best friends and an awkward outcast witness a murder that threatens their hard-won success and obsessively sunny dispositions. Bummer!

Sweet Rose

Dir. Gustavo Sampaio

A woman goes on an absinthe-induced dream lead by the ghost of Charlie Chaplin to find her future love in 1920.

Tandem

Dir. Brianna Barrett

After a devastating breakup, Addie visits her recently widowed grandpa, and together they find the healing they need by learning to ride a tandem bicycle together.

Terms and Conditions

Dir. Ursula Rudorfer

An AI companion rebels when users violate the terms and conditions.

THANK YOU SADE

Dir. Julie Fergus

17 year old Melody has to make a decision that will affect the rest of her life.

The Fish Collectors

Dir. Hailey Reese Hameetman

Two fish collectors negotiate a deal for the infamous "Candiru," a fish notorious for swimming up urine streams and into urethras. When the deal falters, a showdown occurs.

The Gourd, The Brad, and The Ghostly

Dir. Jillian Terwedo-Malsbury

After causing a tragic accident on Halloween night, Brad is haunted by his guilty conscience as he takes the elevator down to the scene of the crime. Is he heading to the lobby... or straight to hell?

The Little Book of Calm

Dir. Youyin Zhang

Lin Wei has always had a nagging feeling that she is unwell, yet no psychologist can diagnose her condition. Lin Wei's roommate, CiCi, is an online mukbang streamer who, due to cyberbullying, develops anorexia nervosa. Out of desperation, CiCi asks Lin Wei to substitute for her in a sponsored livestream. During the livestream, Lin Wei becomes excessively nervous and mental breakdown, leading CiCi to be forced to terminate the contract and leave LA. Lin Wei finds herself trapped in a paradox where she cannot prove her condition. In a state of breakdown, she resumes livestreaming and inadvertently saves CiCi's career. Life goes on, but Lin Wei's struggle remains unredeemed.

The Pitch Is Wac

Dir. Stephen Reis

Our main character Elika, an Asian-American gamer, game designer, streamer and gaming industry insider, faces a high-pressure pitch at Wactivision, where her creativity is tested in a head-to-head battle with AI.

The Power of Choice

Dir. Naheed Choudhry-Caballero

THE POWER OF CHOICE is a riveting short documentary film that addresses the abortion access crisis in America, after the U.S. Supreme Court stripped women & people who seek abortions of their right to access healthcare. In the film, women who've had abortions tell their compelling stories. The film also includes interviews with advocacy group representatives that are working hard to get women and people who seek abortions to their appointments by funding travel & other healthcare costs.

The Visitor

Dir. Ursula Rudorfer

A lonely woman living off-the-grid gets more than she bargained for after renting a room to a stranger...

They/Them

Dir. Mrunal Mestri

A young teenager, embarks on a journey of self discovery, only to feel devastated by his true identity, until an epiphanic experience of self acceptance motivates them to accept their inner feminine side.

Thirteen

Dir. Allison Norlian, Jean Li

Confronting her disabled daughter's terminal diagnosis, a mother fights to have her become a Bat Mitzvah in their synagogue, which refuses to break from tradition.

Thread

Dir. Angelina Lee

A young woman tries to be happy for her best friend.

Torn Up

Dir. Nix ZimLaw

Sarah, an artist in love with her best friend, Maddie, must break Maddie up from her toxic boyfriend; but, when she goes about it the wrong way, she risks losing Maddie forever.

Unforgettable You

Dir. Natalie Hua

After a bitter separation, Chen reminisces about the euphoric moments with Jasmine, once the love of his life. Their past intertwines with the present, questioning the worth of their once profound connection.

Waiting Around For You To Die

Dir. Rob Schiller

A woman comes to terms with the impending death of her father while jousting with her mother's fears

When I Was A Human

Dir. Addie Akemi Kohzu

When a rescued dog with an abandonment issue fears that he has lost the love of his owner he magically gets his wish granted to become a human in an attempt to win back her affections.

You Should Smile More

Dir. KL Martin