We are delighted to be presenting the following short form films in association with the participating filmmakers at the DC Independent Film Festival’s Annual Forum of screenings, discussion, celebration and learning.
ANIMATION SHORTS
Dobrina directed by Hannes Rall (Germany/2025/5mins) Lotte Reiniger meets Sergio Leone as desire burns as bright as the desert sun.
A Guest from Elsewhere directed by Ethan Anderson (USA/2025/8.40mins) 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.
Cast Out directed by Kayla Wimer (USA/2025/19.32mins) Young Rita Stargrove, abandoned by humanity in a deserted city, builds a robot to keep herself company.
Dubious Garden: On The Beauty of Things directed by Noée Butz, Léonie Minh Xuân Codet, Manoa Tetuanui, Candice Bègue, Manon Aprin. (France/2025/5.09mins). Strange gardens are being grown in a strange space; and their gardener will have to fight for their beauty.
A Grieving Heart directed by Wendy Cong Zhao (USA/2025/12.17mins) An immigrant woman examines her past in the wake of her American ex-boyfriend’s death.
Jaderabbit directed by Lily Xie (USA/2025/4.30mins) Jade Rabbit, symbol of immortality, discovered a past version of herself. A time-warping chase ensues.
Reset directed by Sara Caldwell (USA/2025/4.10mins) 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.
April Departing directed by (Turkey/2025/7.18mins) An artificially intelligent tour guide leads passengers on what should have been a routine journey above the oceanic world of Mesonia.
Theft in the Shadows directed by Anna Oleksandrivn (Poland/2025/ 3.17mins) The mysterious disappearance of the “Mona Lisa” paintings, from an exhibition four hours before its opening.
Misophonia directed by Michelle Gruppetta (Malta / 2025 / 2.50mins) Even the most innocuous sounds can have an effect on people, more than we might ever realize.
Where Love Lied directed by Chalmet Giselle, Guinet–Elmi Evan, Hatef Sizi, Saksham Saksham, Leriche Olivia, Maestracci, Việt Hà Nguyễn, Marcel Vanderweyen (France/ 2025/8.07mins) Following the murder of his spouse, Don Sorrentino hosts a dinner with his henchman Alberto and his wife Mirabella.
Double Or Nothing directed by Tokay (Switzerland/2025/ 9.40mins) The glamorous story of the real estate shark Akio Kashiwagi who’s great passion is illegal gambling in the underworld.
After Ark directed by Chih Hao Shen (Taiwan/2025/4mins) Life awakens after the flood. Creatures wander through ruins, searching, discovering, and sometimes, simply surviving
Mein Fuhrer Blues directed by Jim Hall (USA/2025/3.40mins) Canary Canard Studios has the Blues…
The Mill directed by Mike Stuttman (USA/2026/11.50mins) On a river. Processed trees, rocks, earth and sweat into other stuff.
Turbulence directed by Christopher Rutledge, Magnus Igland Møller (Denmark and USA/2025/3.52mins) First flight. No parents. Total panic. A terrified boy just wants to survive takeoff, but the plane—and its deranged passengers—have other plans.
The Ottoman directed by Mike Stamm (USA/2025/12mins)A hotshot mechanic and amateur robot gladiator, is looking forward to proving himself in the arena but must face some harsh lessons about what victory truly requires.
The Synthetic Age directed byDimitris Armenakis (Greece/2025/7.39mins) In a city where people consume cartoons, a dog reconciles with its old friends, and together, they try to escape from humans.
35 Days directed by Heidi Kumao (USA/ 6.49mins) What happens when a coalition of strangers answers the call to locate a missing cat during the pandemic lockdown of 2020.
Viscous directed by Bradford Andrew Pattullo (USA/2025/7.34mins) Small, soft alien creatures live their lives.
Whereabouts directed bySuejee Lee (USA/ 2025/2mins). A riso-printed animated short following a woman’s journey through NYC—unfolding through small, intimate moments.
The Pangs of Mu directed by Elena Kuznetsova (Portugal and Singapore/2025/2.25mins) A young musician dreams of climbing the mountain of fame but falls victim to a side effect of his work.
SHORT FICTION FILMS
The Celebration directed by Jacek Wladyslaw Kudas (USA?2026/19.28mins) When a college babysitter takes a last-minute job in a quiet Maine town, she discovers the house is haunted by an unholy pair bound by blood, ritualistic games, and relentless pursuit.
Shedding directed by Ethan Chu (USA/2025/10.45mins) 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.
Goin’ The Distance directed by Bailey Oliver, Nathan Henry (USA/2025/7.39mins) 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.
Stay In directed by Michael Buran (USA/2025/11.34mins) A recluse is forced to confront a dark secret from years past that has kept him from going outside after midnight.
Stop Taking Pictures directed by Arlin Godwin (USA?2025/14.33mins) A photographer becomes increasingly alarmed when his dead wife begins showing up in photos shot at the subway station where she died.
Something Else Tonight directed by Tyler Brooks (USA/2025/14.40 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.
Domestic Animals directed by Sandy Siquier, Alex Mendez Giner (USA/2025/19.16mins) 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.
Way Back Home directed by Chad Hamilton (USA/2025/20mins) Siblings Jared and Van Siblings have opposing views on what to do with their grandmother’s dilapidated brownstone.
Back Then directed by Junhyeok Kim (South Korea/2025/13.15mins) While in a taxi to New York as Haneul heads to college, a diminishing past memory is brought up — through one old, crumbled Leche Frita wrapper.
Yummy Cuisine directed by Wenhwa Tsao (USA/2025/15mins) 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.
The Companions directed by José María Flores (Spain/2025/12mins) 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.
Seeing Each Other directed by Ben Tamin (USA/2025/11.23mins) 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.
Archie Banks directed by Max Swanson (USA/2025/16.45mins) A delusional real estate agent reinvents himself in order to boost his sales.
The Gun Machine directed by Ryan McDowell (USA/2025/6.29mins) When a young man 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.
Bollard City directed by Jeffrey N. Johnson (USA/2025/12.28mins) Stay in your lane. A mockumentary.
MAGAS (Fly) directed by Ashkan Nasseri (USA/2025/12.39mins) In a surreal and satirical world, a refugee family from Absurdistan accidentally sets their new home in the United States of Fabrica on fire.
Opting In directed by Susan Dynner (USA/2026/13.45mins) 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.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Right to Die directed by Wren Rene (USA/2025/15.52mins) Barbara Mancini’s story shines a light on how the American medical system is dedicated to keeping patients alive, even when their final wish is to pass peacefully. She was arrested and prosecuted by the state of Pennsylvania for assisted suicide.
The Flowers That Bloomed Through Concrete directed by AJ Cabbagestalk (USA/2026/29mins) The transactional bond between incarcerated men and Special Olympics athletes and the road to rehabilitation.
She Dared to Dream: Ayanna Pressley directed by Abby Ginzberg (USA/2025/28mins) Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) has broken through quintessential barriers for women of color. 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.
Never Stand Down: The Quraishi Family directed by Elena Chang(USA/2026/14.46mins) 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.
The Fig Trees of Washington, DC directed by Stretch Green. (USA/2025/4.26mins). A montaged contemplation about urban fig trees shot on Super 8.
Meet Me in Silence directed by Lucy Mathews Heegaard (USA/2026/13.56mins) A year-long experiment sitting in complete silence and darkness with strangers leads to an intimate contemplation on connection to self and others through silence.
In Her Court directed by Abby Cannon (USA/2025/16.01mins/out of competition). Jaylah King, a 14-year-old basketball player began drawing Division I attention before entering high school. Jaylah navigates the mounting pressures to succeed, not only for herself, but for her family, while making sacrifices far beyond her years.
Underground Sounds: The New Thousand Story directed by Emma Keatley. (USA/2025/28mins) 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.”
