2026 Annual Forum

THE 2026 DCIFF Annual FORUM

Wednesday, February 11th – Monday, February 16th

Welcome to the 2026 DCIFF Annual Forum! This year’s festival will run from Wednesday, February 11, to Monday, February 16. We are excited to welcome over 50 filmmakers from around the world! This year, we’re showcasing over 60 films, including feature films, documentaries, shorts, web series, and animations—each with exciting filmmaker Q&As! Click to explore our program, buy passes, or purchase tickets, which can be found on the individual film pages below. Tickets start at $14 each, and we’ve got many types of Festival Passes to help you see as many films as you want. Please also check out our selection of seminars, masterclasses, and workshops with filmmakers and industry professionals. Printable schedule coming soon.

27 years, 6 days, 62 films, 14 seminars, 85+ filmmakers from around the world, and 1 amazing film festival!

It’s been another successful year for the DC Independent Film Festival Annual Forum—a week-long cinematic adventure. And what a festival it was!

Congratulations to this year's festival Award winners

Best of Fest

Forever Free and the Illiteracy Playbook

directed by Dion Johnson

Best Feature Film

DARA (A Port Harcourt Love Story?)

directed by Kingsley Bobby Okey-Ejiowhor

Best Feature Doc

Child of Dust

directed by Weronika Mliczewska

Best International

DOUBLE OR NOTHING

directed by Tokay

Best of DMV

The Fig Trees of Washington, DC

directed by Stretch Green

Best Animation (Juried)

jaderabbitjaderabbit

directed by Lily Xie

Best Animation (Audience)

The Ottoman

directed by Mike Stamm

Best Short

Something Else Tonight

directed by Tyler Brooks

Best Short Doc

The Flowers That Bloomed Through Concrete

directed by AJ Cabbagestalk

Best Web Series

Jam Boy

directed by Sriram Emani

Impact Award

The Magic Lantern

directed by Eli Brown

Staff Choice

MAGAS (Fly)

directed by Ashkan Nasseri

ARIA: Opera On the Edge

ARIA: Opera On the Edge

directed by Karen Day
( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 30 mins )

Diversity and opera rarely appear in the same sentence. Dull, stuffy, and inaccessible are the adjectives most often applied to this 300-year-old singing spectacle usually performed in Italian, French, or German. Today, an unlikely group of four young artists is breaking barriers on world stages to create a place for themselves and cultural relevancy in the obscure and mysterious art of opera. Special guest, Priti Gandhi, recent Associate Director of the Laffont Competition at the Metropolitan Opera, will join director, Karen Day, immediately following the screening for a Q&A session.

Thursday, February 12 · 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm, The Avalon Theatre (TICKETS)

About the Director

Karen Day has written, produced and directed 11 documentary films and hosted and produced more than 50 features for national television. Her exclusive news segments from Iraq, Afghanistan and Myanmar have appeared on NBC NIGHTLY NEWS, BBC, CNN and LINK TV.

Child of Dust

Child of Dust

directed by Weronika Mliczewska
( Poland / 2025 / 1 hour 30 mins )

Sang is one of hundreds of thousands unwanted and discriminated children left behind by the American soldiers after the Vietnam War. When his lifelong dream of finding his father comes true, Sang's only mission is to race against time to meet his ailing dad and break the cycle of war trauma that has plagued generations. After a long and challenging journey, Sang can finally go to the USA, but without his wife, daughter, and beloved grandson. Reuniting with his father is a healing experience for both, but far from easy. Even though 50 years have passed since the last American soldier left Vietnam, many wounds remain open.

Saturday, February 14 · 5:45 pm - 8:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Weronika Mliczewska is a director and producer with a background in anthropology. She has worked on projects for CNN, France2, Deutsche Welle, SVT, and Polish Television. Her film ""Child of Dust"" is her feature-length debut and has been selected for Dok.incubator and participated in markets like DOK Leipzig, EFM, EDP, CEDOC Market. In her work she is exploring identity, minorities and cultural encounters. She is also a published author and a frequent public speaker.

DARA (A Port Harcourt Love Story?)

DARA (A Port Harcourt Love Story?)

directed by Kingsley Bobby Okey-Ejiowhor
( Nigeria / 2025 / 1 hour 59 mins )

TikTok sensation Dara gains admission into school but campus life is nothing like what he expected. Trapped in a web of toxic love, cultism, and campus violence, his only escape? Dance. His only strength? Passion. But one dangerous moment threatens everything. His freedom, his girl, even his life...

Sunday, February 15 · 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Kingsley Bobby Okey-Ejiowhor, known professionally as Bobby Rak, is a Nigerian filmmaker, director, cinematographer, editor, and fight choreographer. Born and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and now based in Abuja, Bobby Rak is a versatile storyteller whose work spans action, drama, documentaries, short films, and music videos. With a growing body of work that balances artistry, technical skill, and cultural authenticity, Bobby Rak continues to craft stories that resonate with audiences in Nigeria and beyond.

Easy Digging

Easy Digging

directed by Marissa Macy
( United States / 2024 / 1 hour 39 mins )

A documentary crew follows Ed Brown, a middle-aged building inspector, as he returns to his childhood dream of digging a hole to China. When Ed’s plans go viral and a billionaire investor gets involved, the whole world tunes in. Ed must face why he’s digging this hole, the loss of a childhood friend, his strained relationship with his father, and what it means to attempt the impossible.

Wednesday, February 11 · 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm, The Miracle Theatre (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Marissa Macy is a children's author, filmmaker, and improviser in Austin, TX. She has been making DIY films since 2011, including the local cult hit Bed Eater: The Movie (2017). Her directing process heavily incorporates improv, and she loves to write complex characters and absurd, high-concept ideas. Marissa also helps run We Luv Video, a non-profit video store in Austin.

Eugene O'Neill's The First Man

Eugene O'Neill's The First Man

directed by Hardeep Giani
( United States / 2025 / 2 hours )

This is the first-ever film adaptation of The First Man - an early and rare story from the pen of Nobel laureate and Pulitzer prize winner, Eugene O'Neill. World renowned anthropologist Curtis is consumed by grief over his young daughters' deaths. He finds solace in immersing himself in preparations for his upcoming expedition to Asia, where he aims to unravel the mystery of "The First Man." However, he must confront an undercurrent of family conflict as he battles against his relatives' unsettling suspicions that his wife Martha is carrying his best friend Bigelow's child.

Friday, February 13 · 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Hardeep Giani is a renowned Director and Producer in Film and Television. He has worked for the BBC, Channel 4, Talkback, RDF and Silver River television companies. Having studied film directing in New York at the NYFA and Motion Picture Pro - he has also gained qualifications from NFTS, London Film School, Raindance and Dov-Simens Producers course. His Short films Rose, Mary and Time, If You Go Away and The Years of Laughter and Forgetting have won numerous awards at film festivals. His long form documentary 'F**K It, It's Over' also won many awards at film festivals and he directed the TV documentary 'Megan and Harry: A Revolutionary Romance'. His First Feature 'Eugene O'Neill's - The First Man' is due for release in 2025.

Forever Free and the Illiteracy Playbook

Forever Free and the Illiteracy Playbook

directed by Dion Johnson
( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 36 mins )

Millions of Americans—especially in marginalized communities—struggle with basic literacy, a crisis rooted in generations of educational inequity. This documentary confronts that deliberate reality head-on, weaving archival footage, expert insights, and deeply personal stories into a powerful narrative about literacy as a gateway to civic participation, economic mobility, and personal dignity.

Saturday, February 14 · 3:15 pm - 5:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (SOLD OUT)
Sunday, February 15 · 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Dion Johnson, a longstanding resident of Prince George’s County, MD and Morgan State University graduate in Electrical Engineering, is an award-winning filmmaker, media entrepreneur, international speaker, photographer, and published author. After founding two successful IT businesses, Dion co-created JayMedia Group with his wife, where he established publishing processes and created the layout for the company’s first book. He has since carved out a niche in personalized magazines, web and graphic design, photography and film.

Halmeoni

Halmeoni

directed by Lenny Maréchal
( France / 2025 / 45 mins )

As a heat wave devastates the country, a residence for elderly people finds itself cut off from the world, subjected to brutal water rationing. The director, Phil, imposes an authoritarian regime where water distribution becomes an instrument of power. Josephine, 82 years old, a former activist, refuses to submit. In secret, she rallies other residents for a sabotage operation.

Sunday, February 15 · 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Born on January 20, 2005 in Bourges, Lenny Maréchal discovers his passion for the cinema through the writing of short films and the cinema option at the Marguerite high school in Navarre. There he realized his first collective projects and staged a musical presented at the Maison de la Culture in Bourges, confirming his taste for directing actors and visual narration. Selected twice in competition at the Festival du Film de Demain (FFD) of Vierzon, he gradually asserts a singular perspective combining formal requirement and sense of the collective. He is currently preparing a new short film more social and frenetic, while developing the film adaptation of a novel and working on several audiovisual projects. His cinema is part of an approach both committed, sensory and deeply human.

Mercy at the Gates

Mercy at the Gates

directed by Dan Tarrant
( United States / 2025 / 46 mins )

Can mercy make a difference in the life of an addict? Follow Nick's harrowing journey from addiction to mercy on the streets of the world's largest open-air drug market in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. Learn about his life on the streets and how it collides with the lives of the residents and those who serve the addicted at Mother of Mercy House. You will never see the addicted, the residents or those who serve them both the same way again after watching this Philadelphia Catholic film with universal appeal. This film is raw, honest and yet still inspiring. The goal at Mother of Mercy House: giving mercy to the neighborhood. The impact is up to the recipient. This film contains drug use. In recognition of the film’s focus on dignity, mercy, and compassion, $8 from each ticket sold will be donated to Samaritan Inns, a Washington, DC–based nonprofit that has provided holistic, faith-based addiction treatment and recovery services for nearly 40 years. We are proud to support Samaritan Inns and its vital work in our community.

Saturday, February 14 · 12:30 pm - 2:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

The Immigrant's Wife

The Immigrant's Wife

directed by Jon Lutz
( United States / 2025 / 52 mins )

1959. Pyotr admires the intelligent, creative television personalities on his favorite science fiction shows. He's got a few ideas of his own, so why not him, too? Well, for starters, his recently acquired mail-order-bride may have some unexpected opinions of her own!

Friday, February 13 · 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Jonathan Lutz lives in Washington DC with his amazing family of 4. His favorite movie is a tie between "Floating Clouds" by Mikio Naruse and "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" by Charles M. Schulz.

The Magic Lantern

The Magic Lantern

directed by Eli Brown
( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 16 mins )

Marijke Brown receives a mysterious letter revealing details about her rescue as an infant by the Dutch Underground. The letter sparks a 30-year odyssey for her and her son, a filmmaker, as they connect to family lost in the Holocaust—and each other.

Thursday, February 12 · 5:30 pm - 7:45 pm, The Avalon Theatre (TICKETS)
Saturday, February 14 · 6:30 pm - 8:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Velvet Vision

Velvet Vision: The Story of James Bidgood (and the Making of Pink Narcissus)

directed by Bart Everly
( United States / 2025 / 1 hour 37 mins )

Velvet Vision is the story of photographer/director James Bidgood whose 1960’s beefcake photographs were unlike any others. Depicting elaborate fantasy scenarios drenched in lush color they transcended the genre. His film Pink Narcissus was initially credited to ‘Anonymous’ on its 1971 release date shrouding it in mystery. Falsely attributed to Kenneth Anger and Andy Warhol, among others, it wasn’t until almost twenty years later that it was revealed to be Jim’s work.

The following film contains mature content and is not recommended for audiences 17 and under.

Saturday, February 14 · 8:15 pm - 10:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Bart Everly is an award-winning American filmmaker and photographer. His films and photographs - documenting art and culture, society, and politics - have been screened and exhibited internationally.

Archie Banks

Archie Banks

directed by Max Swanson
( United States / 2025 / 16 mins )

A delusional real estate agent reinvents himself in order to boost his sales.

Program: Is it Love? Comedy Shorts Program
Saturday, February 14 · 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Max is a self-taught writer, director and editor. His films have screened at festivals nationwide, several of which have premiered online on NoBudge. A classically trained actor who lost out on parts in “Spider-Man,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Jennifer’s Body” and several unaired pilots, Max was most recently seen in an NFL commercial with Deion Sanders and Jake from State Farm that helped pay for a short vacation. He is currently developing his first feature film, "Auxiliary Man" starring Lewis Pullman, Gideon Adlon and Ron Perlman. In his free time, he can be found frantically rearranging his DVD collection and waiting tables to maintain his health insurance.

Back Then

Back Then

directed by Junhyeok Kim
( United States / 2025 / 13 mins )

Haneul greets his parents and heads to college. While in a taxi to New York, a diminishing past memory is brought up — through one old, crumbled Leche Frita wrapper.

Program: Personal Stories. Intimate Dramas. A Shorts Showcase
Saturday, February 14 · 2:15 pm - 4:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Junhyeok [Eric] Kim is a 19-year old Korean filmmaker at New York University Tisch School of the Arts majoring in Film & TV. His first short film "Well-dying," has won over 20 awards and nominations including Audience Award at the Oscar®-qualifying Indy Shorts Film Festival, Special Presentation at the Oscar®-qualifying 32nd Heartland International Film Festival, Oscar®-qualifying deadCenter Festival, Remi Winner at the 56th WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival, and many more.

Bollard City

Bollard City

directed by Jeffrey N. Johnson
( United States / 2026 / 12 mins )

When our nation’s capital has a problem, we have the solution (whether you like it or not). And we might just rename the city in the process. Welcome to Bollard City!

Program: Is it Love? Comedy Shorts Program
Saturday, February 14 · 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Jeffrey N. Johnson is a writer, poet, playwright, background actor and film maker. His novel, THE HUNGER ARTIST, was a finalist for the Library of Virginia's People's Choice Award for fiction. His short story collection, OTHER FINE GIFTS, won the Ippy Award Silver Medal for Best Regional Fiction: Mid-Atlantic, which included the Andrew Lytle Fiction Prize winning story first published in The Sewanee Review. His fiction and poetry have appeared in over thirty-five literary journals. His play, AFFAIR AT THE HOTEL OPAL, had a full production at the Potomac Players 4th Annual One-Act Festival in Hagerstown, Maryland. He's acted in three short films in the DC area, and his background acting work includes Silo, Special Ops: Lioness, Messiah, Harriet, and We Own This City. His first two films were accepted to a dozen film festivals. He is a fellow of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) and a recipient of a Creative Fellow grant from the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Domestic Animals

Domestic Animals

directed by Sandy Siquier, Alex Mendez Giner
( United States / 2025 / 19 mins )

Domestic Animals is a haunting drama that peels back the silence surrounding domestic violence. Through the intimate story of a couple trapped in a cycle of pain, the film explores the emotional complexity and nuances of domestic partner abuse. A silent cat watches from the sidelines—an unsettling metaphor for our collective inaction. Inspired by real survivor testimonies, Domestic Animals is a bold, unflinching call to awareness and empathy.

Program: Personal Stories. Intimate Dramas. A Shorts Showcase
Saturday, February 14 · 2:15 pm - 4:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Sandy Siquier is an actor, screenwriter, director, and mother with over 20 years of experience. Her work has been showcased in various countries in galleries, museums, and international film festivals of the caliber of Berlin, Clermont-Ferrand, Milan, Durban, Shanghai, Vancouver, Sapporo, Guadalajara, Viña del Mar, Miami, among others. As an artist, she is driven by the exploration of the everyday, delving into characters in their daily lives, in the decadence of intimacy when observed by another. Alex Mendez Giner is a filmmaker who pushes the boundaries of storytelling, exploring complex narratives that blend subjective experience, reality, and the marvelous real. His carefully crafted images present a fragmented world, challenging our perception of reality.

Goin' The Distance

Goin' The Distance

directed by Bailey Oliver, Nathan Henry
( United States / 2025 / 7 mins )

A disgruntled office worker struggles to avoid the nightmarish hellscape of social interaction on his quest for serenity and solitude while vacationing in the great outdoors.

Program: Friday the 13th: Unlucky for Some Shorts Program
Friday, February 13 · 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Bailey is an award-winning independent filmmaker, striving to entertain by making films that tell authentic stories, whether it be about giant monsters in the suburbs or demonic whiteboards. Bailey prides himself on connecting with talented creatives to work with and encouraging a collaborative process that brings out the best work in everyone, as well as stroking his ego by devising unique ideas for films. Nate Henry is a cinematographer and director based in Jersey City after moving from the DMV. He received his Bachelor of Arts from George Mason University in Film and Visual Studies. Nate is a full time freelancer filmmaker and has worked professionally as a cinematographer, camera operator, 1st and 2nd assistant camera, gaffer, grip, and videographer. Nate is also an award winning director and has had several short films go on to have success in their respective festival circuits. He loves directing action/comedy films and his most recent film, “In Your Dreams” is currently screening in festivals across the globe.

MAGAS (Fly)

MAGAS (Fly)

directed by Ashkan Nasseri
( United States / 2025 / 12 37 mins )

In a surreal and satirical world, a refugee family from Absurdistan accidentally sets their new home in the United States of Fabrica on fire, only to discover that Fabrica’s firefighters are utterly useless and don’t know how to turn off fire caused by a spice from Absurdistan. As chaos unfolds, three bumbling firefighters from Absurdistan embark on a bureaucratic and comically impossible journey to reach Fabrica and put out the flames—if they can ever get past the red tape.

Program: Is it Love? Comedy Shorts Program
Saturday, February 14 · 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Born in Tehran, Iran, and now based in New York, Ashkan is an emerging director and writer who came to filmmaking through a nontraditional path. Influenced by Elia Suleiman, MAGAS explores immigration, distance, and the quiet tensions of modern life. It is Ashkan’s first professionally produced short film.

Opting In

Opting In

directed by Susan Dynner
( United States / 2026 / 13 mins )

Burned out on dating apps, a hopeful romantic woman gives love one last shot—only to find her latest match might be perfect in all the wrong ways. A darkly comedic tale of modern love and digital obsession

Program: Is it Love? Comedy Shorts Program
Saturday, February 14 · 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Susan Dynner is an award-winning Director, Producer, and Writer whose storytelling ignites where grit and beauty collide. A Sundance Stories of Change Directing Fellow, Blackmagic Studio Feature Directing Fellow, Sony TV Directing Fellow, Film Independent Producing Fellow, Trans-Atlantic Producing Fellow, Stowe Story Labs Fellow, and Producers Guild Power of Diversity Mentor, Dynner’s films have premiered at Cannes, Sundance, AFI, and beyond.

Shedding

Shedding

directed by Ethan Chu
( United States / 2025 / 10 mins )

Over a long winter stay at his reclusive uncle's remote home, a 17-year-old boy begins to uncover chilling secrets about the man and his intentions.

Program: Friday the 13th: Unlucky for Some Shorts Program
Friday, February 13 · 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Ethan Chu is a Chinese-Vietnamese-American film director and cinematographer from Orange County, California. With a deep passion for exploring new places, he dreams of traveling around the world to create films that inspire and connect people. His narrative short film, “Pho”, was a YoungArts finalist, won nine awards, and was an official selection at over twenty film festivals around the world including Indy Shorts and the American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival. Ethan strives to expand his understanding of the world to create meaningful work that positively impacts his community.

Something Else Tonight

Something Else Tonight

directed by Tyler Brooks
( United States / 2025 / 14 mins )

It's a typical night of work for lonesome, by-the-book triggerman, Cade. Until he meets the lovely Billie. Then it's not.

Program: Friday the 13th: Unlucky for Some Shorts Program
Friday, February 13 · 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Tyler Brooks is an actor, writer, and director from Paterson, New Jersey. Since graduating with a degree in Creative Writing from American University, he has acted in numerous films and television shows, including CBS's Blue Bloods, the STARZ crime drama Power Book II: Ghost, Peacock's Poker Face, and the new FOX medical drama Best Medicine. He recently completed his debut narrative directorial project, Something Else Tonight. Tyler is represented by KEY Talent Management; Amsel, Eisenstadt, Frazier & Hinojosa Talent Agency; and BookEnds Literary Agency.

STAY IN

STAY IN

directed by Michael Buran
( United States / 2025 / 11 mins )

A recluse is forced to confront a dark secret from years past that has kept him from going outside after midnight.

Program: Friday the 13th: Unlucky for Some Shorts Program
Friday, February 13 · 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Michael Buran is a writer and director based in NYC. A film school graduate, Michael got his start editing commercials and independent films. After two decades of working with some of the top creative agencies in the world, Michael was inspired to make his first short film in years after becoming a father during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Stop Taking Pictures

Stop Taking Pictures

directed by Arlin Godwin
( United States / 2025 / 14 mins )

Inspired by the surreal works of Lynch, Cronenberg, Lanthimos, and others, Arlin Godwin's 5th short film, STOP TAKING PICTURES, follows a photographer who becomes increasingly alarmed when his dead wife begins showing up in photos shot at the subway station where she died.

Program: Friday the 13th: Unlucky for Some Shorts Program
Friday, February 13 · 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Arlin Godwin works as a designer for the ABC TV affiliate in Washington, DC. He lives about 5 blocks from the big white mansion but does not attempt to borrow sugar. In his spare time, he composes a great deal of music and makes movies and television shows.

The Celebration

The Celebration

directed by Jacek Wladyslaw Kudas
( United States / 2025 / 20 mins )

When a college babysitter takes a last-minute job in a quiet Maine town, she discovers the house is haunted not by dolls but by two masked killers an unholy pair bound by blood, ritualistic games, and relentless pursuit. Maya must fight for her life and the baby’s survival as innocence collides with cruelty, while the masked killers never intend to harm the child, they use him as leverage to force Maya the babysitter into their sick ritualistic game.

Program: Friday the 13th: Unlucky for Some Shorts Program
Friday, February 13 · 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Jack Kudas is an award-winning filmmaker and author from Kennebunkport, Maine. Trained at Maine Media Workshops + College and mentored by industry giants including Steven Spielberg’s lighting designer and a director from Game of Thrones, Jack has quickly emerged as a bold new creative voice.

The Companions

The Companions

directed by José María Flores
( Spain / 2024 / 12 mins )

A young couple walks down the street, they have left the children at home and are going out to dinner. A crowd gathers around something.

Program: Personal Stories. Intimate Dramas. A Shorts Showcase
Saturday, February 14 · 2:15 pm - 4:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

José María thrives alongside renowned figures in the film and creative industry. His work, "La Fièvre," gathers numerous national and international accolades, earning him a spot among Forbes' 2022 list of the 50 most talented Spaniards globally, alongside luminaries like Almodóvar and Trueba. His direction captivates not just for the narrative but for its ability to touch the subconscious. Flores has proven to be part of the new generation of creators making Spanish cinema more visible internationally.

The Gun Machine

The Gun Machine

directed by Ryan McDowell
( United States / 2025 / 6 mins )

A young man cruises the desert in search of a place to purchase a gun. When he comes across an odd gas station he encounters a vending machine full of guns but in order to purchase one he has to wait his turn in a line full of children.

Program: Is it Love? Comedy Shorts Program
Saturday, February 14 · 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Ryan is a Writer/Director from Northern California. His work can be found via movies on the big screen, commercials on the small screen and viral videos on the screen in your pocket. He draws inspiration from seemingly insignificant personal experiences and conversations that stick in his conscience longer than they should. He loves to combining elements that don’t go together, e.g. a vending machine that sells guns. Ryan currently resides in San Francisco California where he runs a commercial production company while working on his next film.

Way Back Home

Way Back Home

directed by Chad Hamilton
( United States / 2024 / 20 mins )

Jared and Van inherit their grandmother’s dilapidated brownstone. The siblings have opposing views on what to do with the house until a surprise offer forces one to make arrangements behind the other’s back.

Program: Personal Stories. Intimate Dramas. A Shorts Showcase
Saturday, February 14 · 2:15 pm - 4:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Chad B. Hamilton is a filmmaker based in Philadelphia, PA. His films Not Yet (2016) and On Our Own (2018), have screened at festivals all over the world and have earned him Best Director honors at the Freedom Shorts Film Festival and Rough Cut Film Festival respectively. In 2019, Chad was selected to participate in the Philadelphia Film Society Filmmaker Spotlight series. In 2024 he graduated with honors from Columbia University's Film MFA program.

Yummy Cuisine

Yummy Cuisine

directed by Wenhwa Tsao
( United States / 2025 / 15 mins )

As an undocumented immigrant, Wei's livelihood depends on delivering food, his car being his most crucial possession. When carjacked, he fights to retain his job, driven by the urgent need to fund his toddler son's heart surgery.

Program: Personal Stories. Intimate Dramas. A Shorts Showcase
Saturday, February 14 · 2:15 pm - 4:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Born and raised in Taiwan, Wenhwa Tsao is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and industry leader whose work delves into immigration, identity, and social justice. Her films have screened at over 100 international festivals across six continents, reaching audiences in North America (Canada, Mexico), Asia (China, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Iran, Turkey, Japan), Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Ireland, the UK), South America (Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela), Africa (Nigeria, South Africa), and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), as well as the Caribbean (Bermuda). With a global presence, her storytelling continues to engage and inspire diverse audiences.

In Her Court

In Her Court

directed by Abby Cannon
( United States / 2025 / 16 mins )

“In Her Court” dives into the rapidly changing field of opportunity in women’s sports, following rising star Jaylah King, a 14-year-old basketball player who began drawing Division I attention before entering high school. As she chases her dream of playing at the highest level, Jaylah navigates the mounting pressures to succeed, not only for herself, but for her family, while making sacrifices far beyond her years. Through her own eyes and those of her father, Armon King, her AAU coach Talen Watson, and her personal trainer Martez Vaughan, the film offers a portrait of the dedication, discipline, and resilience it takes to turn potential into greatness as women's athletes increasingly hold their own fates in their hands.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 2: Between Noise and Silence
Sunday, February 15 · 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Abby Cannon is a documentary filmmaker whose work explores themes of resilience and societal pressure, particularly in relation to identity. She is currently pursuing her MA in Film and Media Production at American University, where she has had the opportunity to further develop her skillset. As she finishes her studies and begins her professional career, Abby is dedicated to making films that prompt people to see the world and the people in it a little differently.

Meet Me in Silence

Meet Me in Silence

directed by Lucy Mathews Heegaard
( United States / 2025 / 14 mins )

Fueled by fear and curiosity, a filmmaker undertakes a year-long experiment sitting in silence and darkness with strangers in the extreme quiet of an anechoic chamber, a room engineered to absorb all sound.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 2: Between Noise and Silence
Sunday, February 15 · 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Lucy Mathews Heegaard is an interdisciplinary artist who uses sound design, video collage, and personal documentary to share stories that are an invitation to self-reflection. She deftly weaves her multiple forms of media into an immersive, intimate, visceral story experience for viewers. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2023. Born in New York, raised in Alabama, Lucy has lived and worked in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul Minnesota since the late 1980s, working in the non-profit affordable housing community before her shift to the creative arts.

Never Stand Down: The Quraishi Family

Never Stand Down: The Quraishi Family

directed by Elena Chang
( United States / 2025 / 16 mins )

For Indian Pakistani American Khalid Quraishi, his daughter Zunaira’s announcement that she was ready to marry the woman of her dreams was a joyous, even miraculous, occasion. Having lived through the Partition, persecution, and the harrowing threat of nearly losing Zunaira to illness, Khalid never once doubted what his Muslim faith had taught him to believe was most important of all: his love for his family.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 2: Between Noise and Silence
Sunday, February 15 · 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Elena Chang is 2nd generation Korean American who grew up on Staten Island, NY. She has organized multiple national efforts amplifying the stories of underrepresented communities by way of theatre, film, and visual arts. Previously, Elena served as program director of the Asian American Arts Alliance, where she managed artist-focused programs and community-centered initiatives. She was honored for her work by the White House AAPI Champions of Change Initiative for her artistic advocacy, has served on the advisory committees of API Rainbow Parents and KQTCon, and has produced projects for National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance and Act to Change. Elena received a BFA in Theatre from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and continues to be inspired by the intersections of art, culture & activism.

Right to Die

Right to Die

directed by Wren Rene
( United States / 2024 / 15 mins )

Barbara Mancini had been working as an ER nurse for more than thirty years when her father fell ill and landed in hospice. While caring for him, she provided a dose of morphine that caught the attention of a hospice nurse. Barbara was arrested and prosecuted by the state of Pennsylvania for assisted suicide. Although the charges were eventually dropped, Barbara was forced to relive the traumatic experience ten years later during her mom’s last days. Despite decades of experience and a robust understanding of the legal framework, Barbara’s story shines a light on the American medical system and how dedicated it is to keeping patients alive, even when their final wish is to pass peacefully.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 1: Stories That Stand Up
Wednesday, February 11 · 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, The Miracle Theatre (TICKETS)

About the Director

Wren Rene is a filmmaker, photographer, and second generation storyteller dedicated to the spirit of true collaboration. Working across documentary, fiction, and experimental projects, he seeks to explore a deeper understanding of what it means to be human in an ever-individualistic world. He is particularly drawn to strong visual narratives that raise questions of identity, belonging, connection, and resistance. His work is nurtured by deep relationships with the communities he works for and alongside, as well as an unrelenting curiosity and desire to stoke the flames of hope and joy.

She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley

She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley

directed by Abby Ginzberg
( United States / 2025 / 28 mins )

Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) has been serving in the House of Representatives since January 2019. But just because Pressley was talented and experienced did not mean her path to politics was smooth. Pressley has broken through quintessential barriers for women of color in a state mostly known for dynastic politics. An activist politician, who believes “those closest to the pain, should be closest to the power”, her own path reflects the lessons learned as a Black woman and a committed representative in Congress.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 1: Stories That Stand Up
Wednesday, February 11 · 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, The Miracle Theatre (TICKETS)

About the Director

Abby Ginzberg, a Peabody award-winning director and EMMY® Silver Circle inductee has been producing compelling documentaries about race and social justice for over 35 years. Recently honored with induction into the Silver Circle of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) in recognition of her 25 years of commitment to the film and TV community, Abby has created an impressive portfolio of award-winning films.

The Fig Trees of Washington, DC

The Fig Trees of Washington, DC

directed by Stretch Green
( United States / 2025 / 4 mins )

The Fig Trees of Washington, DC is a Super 8 documentary contemplating urban fig trees around Northwest DC and the many other fruiting trees that can be found here. It also explains how to best prepare figs for eating.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 2: Between Noise and Silence
Sunday, February 15 · 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Stretch Green makes Super 8 movies about ostensibly ordinary objects to showcase their understated beauty.

The Flowers That Bloomed Through Concrete

The Flowers That Bloomed Through Concrete

directed by AJ Cabbagestalk
( United States / 2025 / 29 mins )

The Flowers That Bloomed Through Concrete follows the transactional bond between incarcerated Men and Special Olympics athletes. Along with shedding light on the road to rehabilitation.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 1: Stories That Stand Up
Wednesday, February 11 · 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, The Miracle Theatre (TICKETS)

About the Director

AJ Cabbagestalk is a Director and Producer from Washington, DC.

Underground Sounds: The New Thousand Story

Underground Sounds: The New Thousand Story

directed by Emma Keatley
( United States / 2025 / 28 mins )

"Underground Sounds: The New Thousand Story" focuses on the life and artistry of Adrian Jusdanis, a mesmerizing violinist and street performer, and his collaboration with drummer Alan Zavodsky (aka Go Alan Go) in their musical project "New Thousand." The film highlights Adrian's vibrant performances in NYC and traces his roots back to street performing in New Orleans. Audiences will gain insight into Adrian's musical background, his distinctive performance style, and what makes "New Thousand" unique in the world of street performance.

Program: Doc Shorts Program 2: Between Noise and Silence
Sunday, February 15 · 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Emma Keatley is an award winning director/editor. In May 2024, she graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Film and Television Production and a Minor in Documentary. She is a documentarian focused on telling emotionally provoking and captivating non-fiction stories. As Co-Founder/Director of Greyrock Pictures, she is currently focused on directing/editing her mini docuseries, "Sidewalk Stories of NYC" featuring fascinating NYC street performers. She is most widely known for her documentary called "The Face Behind the Rat", which she directed, shot, and edited herself that was selected at 7 film festivals worldwide. Beyond her academic pursuits, she works as a freelance videographer/editor for TikTok star, Jonothon Lyons, AKA Buddy the Rat and founder of Pala Creative. Emma's versatility extends to her role as a script supervisor on narrative film sets, showcasing her passion for both documentary and narrative storytelling.

35 Days

35 Days

directed by Heidi Kumao
( United States / 2025 / 6 mins )

“35 Days” is an experimental, stop motion animation about what happens when a coalition of strangers answers the call to locate a missing cat during the pandemic lockdown of 2020.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Heidi Kumao is a visual artist who creates animations, stitched fabric works, video installations, photographs, and machine art to give physical form to the emotions underlying everyday conversations and relationships. She has exhibited her artwork in solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally and has been awarded fellowships and grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, Creative Capital Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

A Grieving Heart

A Grieving Heart

directed by Wendy Cong Zhao
( United States / 2025 / 12 mins )

An immigrant woman examines her past in the wake of her American ex-boyfriend’s death. The film explores how love and loss impact the ways she confronts her identity, memories, insecurities, and regrets.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

A Guest from Elsewhere

A Guest from Elsewhere

directed by Ethan Anderson
( United States / 2024 / 8 mins )

A stop motion 1930s fairy tale follows a monster that yearns to be a part of civilized human society. After an unfortunate mishap, the monster’s hopes of being one with the humans is put on trial.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Ethan Anderson is a Chicago based animator, director, and sculptor. Heading every department on his projects, Anderson interweaves his fine art sensibilities with his love of classic cinema and vaudevillian performance into cutting edge stop motion short films. Anderson is a recent graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he received his BFA in Studio Art with an emphasis in animation.

After Ark

After Ark

directed by Chih Hao Shen
( Taiwan / 2025 / 4 mins )

Life awakens after the flood. Creatures wander through ruins, searching, discovering, and sometimes, simply surviving. A journey of hope, memory, and the quiet wonders that endure.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Chih Hao Shen is a writer-director and multidisciplinary creator. His films explore human existence and the relationship between individuals and the world, reflecting on loss, memory, and the passage of time through visual poetry and restrained storytelling.

April Departing

April Departing

directed by Tan Tunçağ
( Turkey / 2025 / 7 mins )

April Departing follows April, an artificially intelligent tour guide, as she leads passengers on what should be a routine journey above the oceanic world of Mesonia. But when April takes the ship off course, what begins as a scenic tour turns into a tense voyage through unknown space, testing the boundaries of human ingenuity, trust, and the mysteries that lie beyond the familiar.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Tan Tunçağ is first and foremost a musician. He began his career with the electronic duo Portecho before continuing under his solo project, Cava Grande. Alongside his musical path, he has worked in the film industry for over two decades, specializing in teasers and opening credit designs for television projects. In the past ten years, Tan expanded his practice into 3D animation and video game design, creating both personal works and commissioned projects. His portfolio includes contributions to world expos and international productions, where he often combines his skills in visual storytelling with original sound design and music.

Cast Out

Cast Out

directed by Kayla Wimer
( United States / 2025 / 19 mins )

Young Rita Stargrove, abandoned by humanity in a deserted city, builds a robot to keep herself company.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Kayla Wimer attended Emerson College for a degree in Media Arts Production, with a concentration in Directing Narrative Fiction. Ever since she was young, Kayla was most impacted by animated stories, and aspires to use the medium of animation to create movies that make kids feel seen and understood. She is honored to be the director and co-writer of the critically-recognized stop-motion short Cast Out, which is her first foray into directing for animation. Kayla has experience working in feature development at multiple major studios: Whitaker Entertainment at Walt Disney Studios, and DreamWorks Animation. In addition to her work in the industry, Kayla is an avid photographer and videographer, specializing in portrait photography, and has also worked as a documentarian.

Dobrina

Dobrina

directed by Hannes Rall
( Germany / 2025 / 5 mins )

Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone in this animated short, where desire burns as bright as the desert sun.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Hannes Rall is President’s Chair Professor in Animation Studies at Nanyang Technological University Singapore. He is also a successful director of animated short films. They have been shown at over 900 film festivals worldwide and have received 95 international awards. His previous animated short SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL AGES film has been selected for over 250 international film festivals worldwide and won 25 awards. His successful books “Animation: From Concept to Production” and “Adaptation for Animation Transforming Literature Frame by Frame” (CRC Press) can be found in over 160 important university libraries, including Stanford, Yale, Cornell, UCLA and Columbia.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING

DOUBLE OR NOTHING

directed by Tokay
( Switzerland / 2025 / 9 mins )

Inspired by an anecdote from booming Tokyo in the 1980s, the film tells the glamorous story of the real estate shark Akio Kashiwagi. Akio's great passion is illegal gambling in the underworld. An American is on his trail and tries to track down stolen money. He realizes that he can only win it back at the gambling table. The master gambler Akio accepts the challenge. However, he doesn't realize that his only really dangerous enemy in the game is himself with his insatiable greed for more and more.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Tokay, born in 1999, is a Swiss-Turkish director, creative producer & animator based in Bern. He started to experiment with stop motion animation at a very young age and specialised in this field. After his first profession as a carpenter, he achieved his Bachelor in Animation from HSLU (Lucerne University of applied Arts & Film) in 2021. With his Bachelor Film DUDE he won the Bernese film price and several awards during the festival tour. Besides his studies he had the chance to work on different stop motion projects for Cartoon Network & Adult Swim and directed a music video intro for Coldplay in 2024. Tokay graduated from HSLU (Lucerne University of applied Arts & Film) in 2025 with his master film DOUBLE OR NOTHING and is looking forward to new challenges and projects.

DUBIOUS GARDEN, ON THE BEAUTY OF THINGS

DUBIOUS GARDEN, ON THE BEAUTY OF THINGS

directed by Noée Butz, Léonie Minh Xuân Codet, Manoa Tetuanui, Candice Bègue, Manon Aprin
( France / 2025 / 5 mins )

Strange gardens are being grown in a strange space; and their gardener will have to fight for their beauty.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

jaderabbitjaderabbit

jaderabbitjaderabbit

directed by Lily Xie
( United States / 2025 / 4 mins )

Jade Rabbit, symbol of immortality, discovered a past version of herself. A time-warping chase ensues.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Mein Fuhrer BLUES

Mein Fuhrer BLUES

directed by Jim Hall
( United States / 2025 / 3 mins )

Canary Canard Studios has the Blues…
A song from the heart, for the Soul of America.
It's time to get in good trouble, necessary trouble.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Jim Hall is a 2-time Peabody Award winner for his work as part of an investigative team in television. The Peabody is considered the Pulitzer Prize of broadcasting. A National Commendation from the N.A.A.C.P. for “Generous & Invaluable service to the organization” highlighted a career and commitment dedicated to telling stories with conviction and compassion on social issues. The Idaho native is currently the Executive Producer of Canary Canard Studios based in France.

MISOPHONIA

MISOPHONIA

directed by Michelle Gruppetta
( Malta / 2025 / 2 mins )

“Misophonia” is a risograph animated project designed to unsettle an audience through combined sounds and visuals. This project is inspired by an aural disorder, and intends to distress the audience with a soundscape composed of these trigger noises and accompanying visuals through risograph animation. In an era where individuals, especially in Malta, are constantly bombarded from every side by an excess of noise pollution that infringes on their personal space and peace, this project highlights that even the most innocuous sounds can have an effect on people, more than we might ever realize.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Michelle Gruppetta is a Maltese previz artist and animation director. She graduated from The Animation workshop in January 2021 with a BA in Character Animation and has been working as a previz and storyboard artist ever since. She has worked mostly on 3D TV series and feature films, the latest projects being "Krolle Bolle," with Hydralab studio, and on an unannounced TV series with Blue Zoo. "Misophonia," is her first short film directorial debut, and is drawn from her experience of struggling with Misophonia while living in Malta.

Reset

Reset

directed by Sara Caldwell
( United States / 2025 / 4 mins )

When a tech-obsessed woman’s world goes dark during a blackout, she’s forced to face the silence... and discovers the warmth she’s been scrolling past all along.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Sara Caldwell teaches film production, animation and screenwriting courses at UC Santa Barbara and College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita, CA. As a filmmaker, she specializes in the sci-fi/horror genre and has won numerous awards for her work, including Best Screenplay at the Burbank International Film Festival; Best Animation Short, Santa Clarita International Film Festival; and Best Stop Motion Animator, Los Angeles Short Film Festival. Sara is the author of Splatter Flicks: How to Make Low Budget Horror Films (2025, Encyclopocalypse Publications), amongst other industry books. She is a member or the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

Seeing Each Other, Seeing Things

Seeing Each Other, Seeing Things

directed by Ben Taman
( United States / 2025 / 11 mins )

BILLY, an anxious and dedicated late twenty-something, awakens to just another day with his not-so-trusty companion–a bird chained to his shoulder. Thrown for a loop by a diner server, he begins to wonder what’s real and what’s not. What does it even mean to have a crush? Using his own strange methods, he tries to see what’s really there. Maybe it’s love, maybe it's nothing.

Program: Personal Stories. Intimate Dramas. A Shorts Showcase
Saturday, February 14 · 2:15 pm - 4:30 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

BEN TAMAN (He/Him) is a trans film director originally from Eau Claire, WI. At present he lives and works in Los Angeles. As a trans man with schizophrenia, it's easier for him to embrace the weirdness in life rather than fight against it. With a keen eye for the beauty in the unconventional and a heart firmly rooted in authenticity, Ben's work challenges audiences to reconsider their perceptions of normalcy and weirdness. His approach to filmmaking is a testament to the power of cinema as a medium for empathy, understanding, and change.

The Mill | Minsk, Maine

The Mill | Minsk, Maine

directed by Mike Stuttman
( United States / 2025 / 12 mins )

On a river. Processed trees, rocks, earth and sweat into other stuff. Built in the late 19th century. Continuously operated until 1981 when it was sold then mothballed. While mysterious pockets of industry persist, the site is now mostly abandoned. Preservationists covet The Mill, but it is littered with over a century of industrial junk and toxic waste. The pace is much slower than when it ran continuously on three shifts, but there’s almost always something still going on at the Mill…

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

An animator, educator and digital arts evangelist, Mike is the Creative Director of Vacationland Animation. Reared on developer, stop-bath, fixer and grains of silver on film — with degrees in Mathematics and Computer Art & Animation, he has been an enthusiastic participant in a content creation revolution that has irrevocably transformed the worlds of business and art. Creativity and technology have been at the core of Mike’s personal and professional interests. His work has been shown at an assortment of odd and interesting film festivals including the Coney Island Film Festival, the Big Apple Film Festival and the Atlanta Underground Film Festival. His current work, The Mill – a series of animated shorts - is set in the fictional town of Minsk, Maine.

The Ottoman

The Ottoman

directed by Mike Stamm
( United States / 2025 / 12 mins )

The Ottoman, a hotshot mechanic and amateur robot gladiator, is looking forward to proving himself in the arena against the reigning Tournament champion and his massive mechanical Scorpion. But when his obsession with winning endangers the lives of his wife and son, the Ottoman must face some harsh lessons about what victory truly requires.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

An independent film/animation director based in Brooklyn, Mike Stamm focuses on stories of unconventional people surviving on the fringes of their fictional worlds.

The Pangs of Mu

The Pangs of Mu

directed by Elena Kuznetsova
( Portugal, Singapore / 2025 / 2 mins )

A young musician, suffering from the Pang of Music, dreams of climbing the mountain of fame. But on his way to the top, he somehow falls victim to a side effect of his work. As a result, a crazy and extremely restless bird suddenly moves into his head. But as it turns out later, the bird didn’t come alone!

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Elena Kuz (Kuznetsova) (Russia / Singapore) animator, designer, and Art-teacher. Born in Russia (on November 4, 1981). Elena has lived in Singapore for a long time. She believes that Soviet, Russian and Disney animation had the greatest influence on her In her projects. Also Elena tries to blend the traditions of Soviet animation, the style of the Zagreb School of Animation and minimalism. Before graduating from the animation school @merinovschool, Elena had already gained plenty of experience in graphic design and game creation. She worked as a UI, web designer, a character and environment designer for games, an art director, and even taught Art&Craft to little kids at an international school.

The Synthetic Age

The Synthetic Age

directed by Dimitris Armenakis
( Greece / 2025 / 7 mins )

In a city where people consume cartoons, a dog reconciles with its old friends, and together, they try to escape from humans.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Dimitris Armenakis is an animation director, born in Athens, Greece. He graduated from the Department of Audio Visual Arts at Ionian University, where he directed his first animated short film entitled 'Absorbed'. In 2019, he completed the MA Animation program of the Royal College of Art in London. During his studies, he directed two animated short films: 'First Thirst' and 'All You Can Eat'. 'All You Can Eat' participated in more than 40 animation and film festivals around the globe, including: London Short Film Festival, ReAnimania, Berlin British Shorts Film Festival, Animateka and Athens International Film Festival. The film was nominated for Best Sound Design at Watersprite Film Festival and for Best International Animated Short Film at UWPG Film Festival and Los Angeles Greek Film Festival.

Theft in the shadows

Theft in the shadows

directed by Anna Oleksandrivna Kovalchuk
( Poland / 2025 / 3 mins )

"Theft in the Shadows"- is an animated film created using a frame-by-frame drawing technique that combines traditional methods with modern computer animation. The plot focuses on the mysterious disappearance of the "Mona Lisa" paintings, from an exhibition four hours before its opening. The curator is faced with a mystery: how did the theft happen despite efficient security systems?

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Anna Kovalchuk was born in Kyiv and currently lives in Poland. She is a graduate of Animation at the Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź and Cosinus School in Film and Television Production Administration. She also holds a bachelor's degree in Digital Technologies in Animation Culture from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. She completed an internship at the regional TV station TOYA in Łódź, gaining practical experience in television production. She creates commissioned charcoal portraits, illustrations, animations, and also teaches drawing and painting to children.

TURBULENCE

TURBULENCE

directed by Christopher Rutledge, Magnus Igland Møller
( Denmark, United States / 2025 / 3 mins )

First flight. No parents. Total panic. A terrified boy just wants to survive takeoff, but the plane—and its deranged passengers—have other plans. One guy treats turbulence like a free massage, another is way too at peace with crashing, and sanity is nowhere to be found. As the plane bucks and twists, so does reality—faces stretch, limbs flail, and gravity calls it quits. Trapped at 30,000 feet in an airborne freak show, the boy must hold on for dear life… or completely lose it.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

WHERE LOVE LIED

WHERE LOVE LIED

directed by Chalmet Giselle, Guinet-Elmi Evan, Hatef Sizi, Saksham Kumar, Leriche Olivia, Léo Maestracci, Joel Kidangan, Việt Hà Nguyễn, Marcel Vanderweyen
( France / 2025 / 8 mins )

Follwing the murder of his spouse, Don Sorrentino hosts a dinner with his henchman Alberto and Mirabella, the latter's wife. The events take a turn when Angelo, the Don's son, murders his own father and goes on a manhunt after the couple.

Program: Awesome Animation Shorts Program 1
Friday, February 13 · 9:00 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)
Sunday, February 15 · 12:30 pm - 2:45 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Whereabouts

Whereabouts

directed by Suejee Lee
( United States / 2025 / 2 mins )

Whereabouts is a riso-printed animated short following a woman’s journey through NYC—unfolding through small, intimate moments. An observation on presence, connection, and the quiet magic of simply moving through the world.

Program: Amazing Animation Shorts Program 2
Saturday, February 14 · 8:45 pm - 11:15 pm, Regal Gallery Place (TICKETS)

About the Director

Suejee Lee is an award-winning Korean American animator and illustrator based in Brooklyn. Her art practice is rooted in a commitment to sequential art and telling human stories, guided by a DIY, independent approach. Her work is sensitive, tender, and intimate—often poetic in nature, inspired by the emotional landscapes of everyday life. Her films have screened at festivals and animation showcases around the world. With a diverse portfolio spanning commercials, television, and live show visuals, she has collaborated with clients including Google, Netflix, Riot Games, and HBO. She also contributed animation and storyboards to an Emmy-nominated docuseries, is a recipient of the 2024 Anthem Award and was a RisoLAB Artist-in-Residence for Spring 2025.

City Don't Sleep: Pilot

City Don't Sleep: Pilot

directed by Nich Esposito
( 2025 / 31 mins )

An aging lounge singer, a narcoleptic sage, a hardboiled lady detective, a sentient ball of rats, a corrupt mayor, and a giant talking penis alien must join forces to save the world’s greatest City from a shadowy tech corporation.

Program: Web Series Program
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Regal Gallery (TICKETS)

About the Director

A BFA graduate of the SUNY Purchase Dramatic Writing conservatory in 2012, Nich Esposito created and produced sketch comedy and short films in and around New York and Philadelphia through 2014. He co-wrote "Vocabulary of the Mysteries," Audience Award winner at the 2014 Brooklyn Film Festival and Best Student Film Award winner at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival. After moving to Los Angeles, he co-created, wrote, and produced the interactive cross-media "Makeson Drinxon Universe" comedy series from 2014-2018. With animated short “A Street Dog Named Desire,” Esposito has now featured in Silverlake Shorts, Show and Tell, and won the audience choice award at the LA Lift-Off Sessions for July 2024. “Street Dog” serves as a proof of concept for currently in-production adult animated pilot “City Don’t Sleep,” which demos of are currently screening in Primetime monthly at Channel 101.

Jam Boy

Jam Boy

directed by Sriram Emani
( United States / 2025 / 22 mins )

Sriram has always played by the rules, the perfect model minority in a near-future America, where obedience is currency and freedom must be earned. Every immigrant needs “travel credits” to leave the country, and Sriram has spent years chasing enough to visit his sick mother in India. Then he discovers the truth: the system is designed to keep people like him trapped, feeding workers flavorless “lunch cakes” that erase memory and resistance. When Sriram smuggles in his mother’s recipe for tamarind rice, something inside him wakes up. Taste becomes rebellion, and food becomes freedom. Jam Boy is a sharp, fast-paced sci-fi thriller about breaking the algorithm, reclaiming memory, and finding revolution in the most unexpected place - the kitchen.

Program: Web Series Program
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Regal Gallery (TICKETS)

About the Director

Sriram Emani is an actor, filmmaker, and founder of the global arts platform IndianRaga. His creative work blends cultural heritage with bold, contemporary storytelling. As an actor, he recently appeared alongside Kathy Bates in Matlock (CBS) and Heather Graham in Chosen Family (Verdi Productions). As a filmmaker, Sriram’s work draws from his personal journey as an immigrant and his deep interest in dystopian futures, identity, and freedom.

Unbreakable Soul

Unbreakable Soul

directed by Alexander Kwanje
( United States / 2026 / 38 mins )

Unbreakable Soul is a three-episode docuseries chronicling the journey of Shirin Behzadi, At just 17, she fled Iran during the 1979 revolution to escape the threat of execution for her anti-regime activities. She crossed the border into Turkey, living as a refugee before immigrating to the United States in search of safety and opportunity. Starting from nothing, she worked behind bulletproof glass at a gas station to make ends meet. Through unwavering determination and hard work, she rose to become the CEO of a billion-dollar company. Years later, she faced another life-threatening challenge — a brain tumor — and once again, she survived after a long and difficult recovery.

Program: Web Series Program
Sunday, February 15 · 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Regal Gallery (TICKETS)

About the Director

Alexander Kwanje was born in 1986 in Iran to a Cameroonian father and an Iranian mother. His passion for filmmaking began at the age of 12 in 1998, when he started experimenting with storytelling by lining up video game demos on his PlayStation. That early spark of creativity led to a lifelong dedication to visual storytelling.

Contact Tracing

Contact Tracing

directed by Amy Tofte
( United States / 2025 / 90 mins )

Inspired by the true story of a public health nurse assigned to track covid-positive cases for the CDC during the early days of the pandemic. Just as the task becomes overwhelming, she encounters a conspiracy theorist and—in saving her—finds a purpose and a friend. At times serious, at times absurd, Contact Tracing paints a picture of a historical moment and the invisible labor of women of all ages and all backgrounds who got us through it.

Saturday, February 14 · 1:00 pm - 3:15 pm, Regal Gallery (TICKETS)

About the Director

Amy Tofte (writer/director) was awarded a Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She co-directed/co-wrote the short film Other Side which was awarded Best Independent Short at the 2016 IFS Film Festival in Los Angeles and has completed several additional short films as a producer including 2019’s award-winning IMPASSE. Her feature film, the zombie- apocalypse love story Better Off Zed (screenplay), was released in 2018. She is currently developing several projects for independent producers. She also an award-
winning playwright with plays produced around the country and internationally.

Printable schedule coming soon

Getting Around Washington, DC:

Washington DC has a vibrant filmmaking community. This area map, from the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, known as Metro, explains the public-transportation rail system.

Five Metro Stops Closest to Venues:

Arlo Hotel: Gallery Place/Chinatown station (Red line)
Regal Gallery Place: Gallery Place/Chinatown station (Red line)
German-American Heritage Museum: Gallery Place/Chinatown station (Red line)
The Avalon Theatre: Friendship Heights station (Red line)
The Miracle Theatre: Eastern Market station (Silver line)

Still holding on to the retro way of buying tickets? Not to worry, TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BOX OFFICE on the day of the screening.

Note: ALL-ACCESS, 2-DAY WEEKEND, 1-DAY WEEKEND, and YOUNG ADULT passholders with priority access are not required to reserve individual tickets or RSVP for any screening, seminar, or event. For priority access, you must be in the passholder line at the entrance to the film at least 15 minutes before a film’s published start time. After that time, pass holder admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Film/Event Title	Date & Time	Location	Category	Buy Tickets
On the Hill	Wednesday, February 11, 9:30 am	South Congresstional Congress Building	Events	RSVP
STORIES THAT STAND UP: DOC SHORTS PROGRAM #1	Wednesday, February 11, 6:00 pm	The Miracle Theatre	Documentary Shorts	TICKETS
Opening Night Party – EASY DIGGING	Wednesday, February 11, 7:00 pm	TBD	Events
EASY DIGGING	Wednesday, February 11, 8:30 pm	The Miracle Theatre	Features	TICKETS
THE MAGIC LANTERN	Thursday, February 12, 5:30 pm	The Avalon Theatre	Features	TICKETS
ARIA: OPERA ON THE EDGE	Thursday, February 12, 8:00 pm	The Avalon Theatre	Features	TICKETS
Grantsmanship & Film-Focused Foundations	Friday, February 13, 2:00 pm	Arlo Hotel	Seminars	TICKETS
Film Financing: Strategies for Independent Producers	Friday, February 13, 3:30 pm	Arlo Hotel	Seminars	TICKETS
Grants & Financing	Friday, February 13, 5:30 pm	Arlo Hotel	Events
EUGENE O'NEILL'S THE FIRST MAN	Friday, February 13, 6:00 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
Creating Compelling True Crime & Premiere of the New Hulu Series: The Scream Murder: A True Teen Horror Story	Friday, February 13, 6:00 pm	Arlo Hotel	Seminars	TICKETS
THE IMMIGRANT'S WIFE	Friday, February 13, 6:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
FRIDAY THE 13TH: UNLUCKY FOR SOME SHORTS PROGRAM	Friday, February 13, 8:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Narrative Shorts	TICKETS
AWESOME ANIMATION: ANIMATED SHORTS PROGRAM #1	Friday, February 13, 9:00 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Animated Shorts	TICKETS
Lights, Camera‚ SOUND! A Kids Fun-with-Foley Workshop	Saturday, February 14, 10:00 am	Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library	Seminars	TICKETS
Women Behind the Lens: Directing, Cinematography & Craft	Saturday, February 14, 12:00 pm	German-American Museum	Seminars	TICKETS
MERCY AT THE GATES	Saturday, February 14, 12:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
CONTACT TRACING	Saturday, February 14, 1:00 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
The Business of Filmmaking with Kirk Wolfinger	Saturday, February 14, 1:30 pm	German-American Museum	Seminars	TICKETS
PERSONAL STORIES. INTIMATE DRAMAS. A SHORTS SHOWCASE	Saturday, February 14, 2:15 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Narrative Shorts	TICKETS
Demystifying Distribution: A Masterclass with Sana Soni	Saturday, February 14, 3:00 pm	German-American Museum	Seminars	TICKETS
FOREVER FREE AND THE ILLITERACY PLAYBOOK	Saturday, February 14, 3:15 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
Voice, Music & Motion: The Sound of Animation	Saturday, February 14, 4:15 pm	German-American Museum	Seminars	TICKETS
IS IT LOVE? COMEDY SHORTS PROGRAM	Saturday, February 14, 4:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Narrative Shorts	TICKETS
Animation Happy Hour at the Festival Bar	Saturday, February 14, 5:30 pm	German-American Museum	Events
CHILD OF DUST	Saturday, February 14, 5:45 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
THE MAGIC LANTERN	Saturday, February 14, 6:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
VELVET VISION: THE STORY OF JAMES BIDGOOD (AND THE MAKING OF PINK NARCISSUS)	Saturday, February 14, 8:15 pm	German-American Museum	Features	TICKETS
AMAZING ANIMATION: ANIMATED SHORTS PROGRAM #2	Saturday, February 14, 8:45 pm	German-American Museum	Animated Shorts	TICKETS
Verticals, Verticals, Verticals: Filmmaking in a Mobile-First World	Sunday, February 15, 10 am	Apple Store / Carnegie	Seminars	TICKETS
CHILD OF DUST	Sunday, February 15, 12:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
AWESOME ANIMATION: ANIMATED SHORTS PROGRAM #1	Sunday, February 15, 12:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Animated Shorts	TICKETS
Casting: A Creative Force in Filmmaking That Makes or Breaks the Story!	Sunday, February 15, 12:30 pm	German-American Museum	Seminars	TICKETS
The Invisible Half of Filmmaking: Challenges in Sound Production by Heidi Gerber-Salins	Sunday, February 15, 2:00 pm	German-American Museum	Seminars	TICKETS
FOREVER FREE AND THE ILLITERACY PLAYBOOK	Sunday, February 15, 2:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	SOLD OUT
DARA (A PORT HARCOURT LOVE STORY?)	Sunday, February 15, 3:00 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
Cinematic Worlds: Immersive Sound & Film	Sunday, February 15, 3:45 pm	German-American Museum	Seminars	TICKETS
HALMEONI	Sunday, February 15, 4:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
Happy Hour at the Festival Bar	Sunday, February 15, 5:00 pm	German-American Museum	Events
WEB SERIES PROGRAM	Sunday, February 15, 6:00 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Web Series	TICKETS
IS IT LOVE? COMEDY SHORTS PROGRAM	Sunday, February 15, 6:00 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Narrative Shorts	TICKETS
EASY DIGGING	Sunday, February 15, 8:00 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Features	TICKETS
BETWEEN NOISE AND SILENCE: DOC SHORTS PROGRAM #2	Sunday, February 15, 8:30 pm	Regal Gallery Place	Documentary Shorts	TICKETS

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