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NARRATIVE FEATURE FINALISTS DCIFF 2025

BitterSweet directed by Steven Martini (USA/2024/84mins) Key Cast: Steven Martini, William Baldwin, Andrew Leeds, Barry Joel Michael, Nic Novicki, Gabriela Kulaif. A rom-com story of a new father on the verge of losing his family to an overprotective government system that sees him as the root of the problem.

God is an Astronaut directed byBailey Kobe (USA/2025/120mins) Key Cast: Brandee Steger, Michael Steger, Stephanie Erb. Adapted from the Oprah’s-Booklist novel of the same name written by Alyson Foster.  Tragedy unfolds at a space launch company, and a botanist’s missives to her friend reveal unraveling secrets and personal conflicts, questioning humanity’s quest for the stars.

Maxxie LaWow: Drag Super-shero directed by Anthony Hand (USA/2024/90mins/animation) Key Cast: Grant Hodges, Terren Wooten Clarke, Erika Ishii When drag queens start disappearing, a shy young barista must summon his inner super-shero to rescue them from an ambitious evil drag queen bent on harvesting their magical anti-aging tears.

Paper Marriage directed by Jeff Man (USA/2024/91mins) Key Cast: Jeff Man, Effy Han Fanny, a Chinese immigrant desperate for a green card, pays Jeff to be her fake husband. They must  convince everyone that their love is real.

Sideways for Attention directed by Brady Bryson (USA/2024/96mins)Key Cast: Courtney Campbell, Ted Sutherland, Brady Bryson.  After testing positive for HIV,  Chloe struggles to deal with her diagnosis, past trauma, and an uncertain future. 

Spelonk: A World Undone directed by Desmond Denton (South Africa/2024/77mins) Key Cast: Kristine Tesco, Eric Uys, Greg Kreik, Abduragman Adams. A gritty futuristic film. It is 2044 and the world has run out of fresh water. 

The Other You directed by Shoshana Rosenbaum (USA/2025/78mins) Key Cast: Beth Hylton, Kris Arnold, Vivienne Sievers, Staci Dickerson, Dennis Courtis, Jules Kanarek. A writer, wife and mom of three discovers a tiny door in her closet that leads to another version of her life.

Water Lilies directed by Lee Chan-ho (Korea/2024/91mins) Key Cast: Hyowon Lee, Eunseo Choi, Seungyeon Lee, Incheol Park. Hyo-won, who dreams of becoming an actress, arrives at Seoul Station after running away from home with Eun-seo, who dropped out of high school.

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