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International Spotlight

A broad overview of award-winning international films, this category brings stories from all over the world. Films like Destined to Play tell the story of Saudi women fighting to play football, while Behind the Mask follows an Uyghur family grappling with their past in a Chinese internment camp. These films offer a window into diverse cultures and experiences, from intimate personal narratives to large-scale societal issues.

Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

13 Driver’s Licenses

Film 13 Driver’s Licenses Directed by Ryoya Terao The discovery of 13 confiscated driver’s licenses from 1938 leads a band of high-school students and their tenacious...
International Spotlight, J. Kim & Sharon Tucci Italian Focus, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

A Dark Tale

Film A Dark Tale Directed by Vincenzo Lamagna A brother and sister, separated by a tragic event, reunite at a crime scene, reviving a violent past....
Asian Focus, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

A Move

Film A Move Directed by Elahe Esmaili Elahe returns to her hometown in Mashhad, Iran, to help her parents move to a new place after...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

A Summer’s End Poem

Film A Summer’s End Poem Directed by Lam Can-zhao Shortly before the end of the summer holidays, a country boy spends his savings on his dream of...
American Indie Spotlight, Free Programs, International Spotlight, Race in America

African Giants

Film African Giants Directed by Omar S Kamara Over a weekend visit in Los Angeles, two first-generation Sierra Leonean American brothers navigate the changing dynamics of...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

All Things Metal

Film All Things Metal Directed by Motoki Otsuka In the Patterson brothers’ metal shop, they lead a double life: by day, crafting beautiful heirloom ironwork, and...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus, Women in Film Spotlight

ALL WOMEN DO IT

Film ALL WOMEN DO IT Directed by marina ziolkowski Lola and Fred go on a trip to a remote house for a photo shoot. On the journey,...
Asian Focus, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight

Amma’s Pride

Film Amma’s Pride Directed by Shiva Krish “Amma’s Pride” chronicles Valli’s trials and tribulations as she watches her trans daughter Srija, fall in love, marry,...
Fine Arts Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

ANAGAMA

Film ANAGAMA Directed by Guillermo Asensio Born in Taiwan and raised in Scotland by her adoptive British parents, Chen su li (Nancy Fuller) is...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus

Anaïs

Film Anaïs Directed by Hélène Hadjiyianni At 32, Anaïs’s body is her weapon as much as her shield, to conquer the battle of life....
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Aquatic

Film Aquatic Directed by Shiva Sadegh Asadi A woman’s ability to give birth to marine creatures is exploited for commercial purposes.
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Beer

Film Beer Directed by Milda Baginskaite In a charming Lithuanian village, a father and son’s delicate bond is tested as they carry on an...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Behind The Mask

Film Behind The Mask Directed by Håvard Bustnes This Documentary follows Abduweli, a Uyghurs refuge, as he must choose between shedding light on the genocide in...
Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight

Bender Defenders

Film Bender Defenders Directed by Ira Putilova Four members of the queer martial arts club “Bender Defenders” in East London celebrate trans people in sports...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Blackmoll

Film Blackmoll Directed by Alessia Mandanici A seven-year-old girl sets out to justify the mysterious world of her dementia-suffering grandmother.
Cinema for Students Programs, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus, Women in Film Spotlight

Boy’s things

Film Boy’s things Directed by Raquel Colera Every summer Marta enjoys an idyllic routine of football, swimming, and riding her bike with her all male...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Calf

Film Calf Directed by Jamie O'Rourke A sinister farm accident leaves Cáit with a terrible decision to make.
Animation Spotlight, Cinema for Students Programs, International Spotlight, SLIFF/Kids Family Films, Spanish-Language Focus

Captain Avispa

Film Captain Avispa Directed by Jean Gabriel Guerra, Jonnathan Meléndez In the first ever animated feature film from The Dominican Republic, Capitán Avispa, hero of Avispatrópolis and the...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Center of Life

Film Center of Life Directed by Jacob Arenber The Israeli authorities question the authenticity of Wissam’s real life on his citizenship application leading to rejection. How...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Ceres

Film Ceres Directed by Amelia Sears A daughter seeks refuge from her emotionally abusive partner at the home of her estranged mother.
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Clodagh

Film Clodagh Directed by Portia A. Buckley A lonely priest’s housekeeper encounters a young Irish girl of exceptional talent.
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight

Close Encounters

Film Close Encounters Directed by Ken McDonnell A dreamlike moment of reconciliation comes for two old lovers, torn apart over 20 years ago, who run...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Crease

Film Crease Directed by Demitri Zujew In a spotless classroom, a principal impresses the local TV crew with her school’s top achievements. But off-camera,...
Fine Arts Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Robert French and French-Language Focus

Dancing On The Edge Of A Volcano

Film Dancing On The Edge Of A Volcano Directed by Cyril Aris After the devastating explosion on August 4th, 2020, in Beirut, a film crew faces a tough choice: continue...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus, Women in Film Spotlight

Dead Cat

Film Dead Cat Directed by Annie-Claude Caron, Danick Audet How will Catherine and Louis replace their daughter’s distinctive cat with white spots before she finds out her...
American Indie Spotlight, International Spotlight, Spanish-Language Focus

Dead Man’s Switch

Film Dead Man’s Switch Directed by Alejandro Gerber Bicecci Dalia (42), discovers that her husband has vanished without a trace. As her life and her job as...
Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Destined To Play: The Untold Story of Saudi Women’s Football

Film Destined To Play: The Untold Story of Saudi Women’s Football Directed by John Ford For the girls who dreamt of one day representing their nation and for the women who wouldn’t take...
Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

Dimension of Absence

Film Dimension of Absence Directed by Sjors Swierstra Visual artist Aimée Zito Lema, who grew up under the shadow of Argentina’s violent past, uses her work...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus

#DoudouChallenge

Film #DoudouChallenge Directed by Alexandra Delaunay-Fernandez, Julie Majcher, Marine Benabdallah-Crolais, Noémie Segalowicz, Scott Pardailhé-Galabrun, Sixtine Emerat On the road to her family vacation, Olivia, a 10-year old girl hooked on her phone and social...
International Spotlight, J. Kim & Sharon Tucci Italian Focus, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus

Eldorado

Film Eldorado Directed by Mathieu Volpe Originally from Cameroon, Awa works as a snow groomer in La Thuile, Italy. During her shift, she encounters...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

End of Infinity

Film End of Infinity Directed by Flora Charlotte Lopategui Two young women share jokes and quiet moments on a bus ride through the English countryside, revealing their...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Enmity Djinn

Film Enmity Djinn Directed by Mohamed Echkouna A matriarch is forced to confront a malevolent djinn that once haunted her past. A Djinn folktale reimagined.
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Eternal Father

Film Eternal Father Directed by Ömer Sami Fearing he won’t see his children grow up, Nasar chooses to be cryogenically frozen after death, prompting his...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Fracti

Film Fracti Directed by Lavinia Petrache Humans live their routines inside a village floating in the sky. What happens when one of them causes...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Headphone

Film Headphone Directed by Ilia Azizifard A man awakens in a medieval prison, where music is played through headphones to calm him as he...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Hi Mom, It’s Me, Lou Lou

Film Hi Mom, It’s Me, Lou Lou Directed by Atakan YILMAZ Hakkı, a university student working his way through college as a drag performer in Istanbul, is stunned by...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

HoleY

Film HoleY Directed by Bavly Soliman Mark, a 32-year-old Christian Orthodox, is determined to lose his virginity while visiting NYC from Egypt, so he...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

In the Shadow of the Cypress

Film In the Shadow of the Cypress Directed by Hossein Molayemi, Shirin Sohani Struggling to connect with his daughter, a former captain suffering from PTSD, experiences an unforeseen event that could...
Asian Focus, Cinema for Students Programs, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Instruments of a Beating Heart

Film Instruments of a Beating Heart Directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki Ayame is determined to play a major part, the big drum, in herToyko public elementary’s first grade performance...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

It’s Not About Ketchup

Film It’s Not About Ketchup Directed by Nasser Saeed It’s Not About Ketchup is a Documentary about a couple facing a challenge in their relationship through the...
Free Programs, International Spotlight, Women in Film Spotlight

JUST A FARMER

Film JUST A FARMER Directed by Simon Lyndon When Alison’s beloved and hard-working husband, Alec, dies unexpectedly, she must manage a failing farm, care for her...
Cinema for Students Programs, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Just Kids

Film Just Kids Directed by Alessandro Riconda Nine-year-old Alisha is tired of being the only girl on the rugby pitch, but after clashing with yet...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Little Potato

Film Little Potato Directed by Chen Chen This Documentary offers a poetic portrait of the film-maker’s grandmother, Shou Ai Xia, who suffers from dementia. It...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Manting

Film Manting Directed by Shuyao Chen Manting, a Chinese woman in her early 60s, rekindles a connection with her teenage love after the passing...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Milimo

Film Milimo Directed by Kemane Bâ Attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea for a better future, young Ahmadou finds himself bridging the line between...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Monsoon Blue

Film Monsoon Blue Directed by Ellis Kayin CHAN, Jay Hiukit WONG The dream of a goldfish to return to its wild form unearths her long-forgotten memories.
American Indie Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Morningside

Film Morningside Directed by Ron Dias Morningside explores personal struggles, relationships and societal challenges faced by community members amid emerging threat of gentrification.
Environmental Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Moving Mountains

Film Moving Mountains Directed by Renko Douze Follow Walter Immerzeel and his team as they venture to the high peaks of the Himalayas, where few...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Murals

Film Murals Directed by Alex Topaller, Daniel Shapiro Using 3-D scanning, “Murals” gives viewers an opportunity to immersively experience the personal impact of the warfare and...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Na Marei

Film Na Marei Directed by Lea-Jade Horlier Zaid, a 15-year-old living near Kabul, appears to be thriving despite the city’s post-war devastation. However, when his...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

On the 8th Day

Film On the 8th Day Directed by Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, Théo Duhautois It took 7 days to create the world; it only took one to disrupt its balance.
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Places I’ve called my own

Film Places I’ve called my own Directed by Sushma Khadepaun After several years in the US, Tara returns to India for her father’s funeral amid her IVF process,...
American Indie Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight

Poyyamozhi

Film Poyyamozhi Directed by Sudhi Anna Poyyamozi follows Jayson, a runaway guided by Chachan through a mysterious forest. As Chachan’s vengeful intentions surface, Jayson...
Free Programs, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

Ray of Hope

Film Ray of Hope Directed by Nikila Cole, Ryan Singh Ray of Hope follows Rathika Sitsabaiesan, a former Canadian MP who fled Sri Lanka’s conflict as a child,...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Recursive Dreams

Film Recursive Dreams Directed by Max Vanderspuy In a world where screens don’t exist and curated memories are uploaded directly to one’s mind, Zin, desperate...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Reviving Eman

Film Reviving Eman Directed by Feras Awad Inspiring story of an Emirati paramedic whose career was unexpectedly terminated by a debilitating injury.
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Rock Paper Scissors

Film Rock Paper Scissors Directed by Franz Böhm Based on a true story – A father and son running a makeshift hospital on the front line...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

Romeo

Film Romeo Directed by Sara G. Cortijo Maria and Kevin, two teenagers, find themselves pregnant. Pulled in opposite directions by their families, they ultimately decide...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Room Taken

Film Room Taken Directed by TJ O'Grady-Peyton Set in Ireland, Isaac, unhoused and desperate, becomes a secret house guest to Victoria, an elderly blind woman....
International Spotlight, New Filmmakers Forum

Run

Film Run Directed by Bernard kordieh JB, a struggling writer, runs to escape memories of a toxic relationship. His encounter with a man living...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Satomi

Film Satomi Directed by Rayner Wang A inadvertent encounter with her favorite star, a living anime, may be the key to helping a passionate...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

SAUNA DAY

Film SAUNA DAY Directed by Anna Hints, Tushar Prakash “Sauna Day” invites you into the world of Southern Estonian men who go to the dark-intimate space of...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Screentime

Film Screentime Directed by Alexandrena Parker “Screentime” is a social commentary narrative illustrating the contrast between digital screens and the tactile world in childhood,...
Environmental Focus, Free Programs, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Searching for Amani

Film Searching for Amani Directed by Debra Aroko, Nicole Gormley A 13-year-old aspiring journalist investigates his father’s murder in Kenya’s largest wildlife conservancy. As a severe drought worsens,...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Shimmer

Film Shimmer Directed by Andrés Palma Cast away on a desolate beach, Ricardo toils tirelessly on a massive lighthouse that he believes holds the...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Son

Film Son Directed by Saman Hosseinpuor In a village in Kurdistan, an old mother waits for her son to return from military service. After...
American Indie Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, New Filmmakers Forum

Stampila

Film Stampila Directed by David Larson Determined to overthrow the powerful oligarch who controls her country, a middle-aged woman, armed with only her wit...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Stills Moving

Film Stills Moving Directed by Kevin Tsung Hsuan Yeh After learning of her ALS diagnosis, a sculptor puts her heart and soul into her next work, a...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Submarine

Film Submarine Directed by Oliwia Zakrzewska In Submarine, a single mother navigates the challenges of raising her 2-year-old son alone, from unsuccessful dating to...
American Indie Spotlight, International Spotlight, Spanish-Language Focus, Women in Film Spotlight

Supporting Actresses

Film Supporting Actresses Directed by Arturo Dueñas Shot in a single sequence with mixed formats, the film highlights the role of supporting actresses in theater...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus

Sweeter is the night

Film Sweeter is the night Directed by Fabienne WAGENAAR In the early 1960s, during West Africa’s push for independence, a young French officer is sent to find...
Free Programs, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

The Animal Thing

Film The Animal Thing Directed by Adam Linzey Through his filmmaker son’s lens, an intimate portrait of Animal Rights pioneer and theologian Andrew Linzey is revealed—a...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Castle

Film The Castle Directed by Chris Grubb, Stephen Williams The Castle is a Welsh folk story about an Afghan war veteran with PTSD who fought homelessness and...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Fall

Film The Fall Directed by Ghasem Shishegari Does what happen in the forest, stay in the forest?
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

The fire of a firefly

Film The fire of a firefly Directed by Augusto Reyes Pedro, an indigenous migrant, returns to his village for his mother’s funeral. When he learns of a serious...
Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

The fishing boats of Kayar

Film The fishing boats of Kayar Directed by Álvaro Hernández Blanco After 15 years in Spain, Thimbo returns to his Senegalese fishing village, feeling nostalgic, disoriented, and frustrated. He...
Environmental Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Last Observers

Film The Last Observers Directed by Maja Karlsson This is the story of the last remaining manual weather station in Sweden and the couple who operate...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

The Masterpiece

Film The Masterpiece Directed by Àlex Lora Leo and Diana, a rich couple, think they are only recycling, until they realize the scrap collectors have...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Mediator

Film The Mediator Directed by Dean Leon Anderson Chris, bedridden and paralyzed after an accident, is cared for by his sister Olivia. When Olivia hires Mary,...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

The Night Inside

Film The Night Inside Directed by Antonio Cuesta Belén, a young nurse, wakes up after an attack to find herself accused of causing a child’s death...
Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Presidents’ Tailor – From Auschwitz to the White House

Film The Presidents’ Tailor – From Auschwitz to the White House Directed by Rick Minnich Martin Greenfield learned to sew while mending Gestapo shirts in Auschwitz, and went on to make suits for...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Shortest Relationship in the World

Film The Shortest Relationship in the World Directed by Xiaoxuan Han This may be the Shortest relationship in the world.
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, Cinema for Students Programs, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Song of Flying Leaves

Film The Song of Flying Leaves Directed by Armine Anda A magical journey unfolds as twelve-year-old Suna, who uses leaves as a blanket, meets an old man with...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

The Source Of All Beauty

Film The Source Of All Beauty Directed by Rachel Lévy Yaeli, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish young woman, carries a terrible secret that may destroy all her chances of future...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Steak

Film The Steak Directed by Kiarash Dadgar A birthday party preparation is thrown into chaos by an awful event.
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

The Strange Case Of The Human Cannonball

Film The Strange Case Of The Human Cannonball Directed by Roberto Valencia One morning, a mysterious man is discovered lying in the square of a village with only six residents,...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, New Filmmakers Forum

The Strangers’ Case

Film The Strangers’ Case Directed by Brandt Andersen In “Sir Thomas More,” Shakespeare wrote a speech in which More makes a passionate defense for refugees, pleading...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, New Filmmakers Forum, Women in Film Spotlight

The Umesh Chronicles

Film The Umesh Chronicles Directed by Pooja Kaul A woman questions the nature of freedom as she contrasts her privileged life with that of those who...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Understudy

Film The Understudy Directed by Peter Pasyk An understudy actor receives the call that he must go on last-minute to replace the star of a...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

This Is Not Norway

Film This Is Not Norway Directed by Alicia Albares, Paco Cavero Eugenia’s late husband wished for a Viking funeral, but his sons, Jorge and Nico, end up staging an...
American Indie Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Women in Film Spotlight

Those Were the Good Days

Film Those Were the Good Days Directed by Hong-rae Lee This is the story of intersections between past and present, memory and forgetting, inner peace and healing. We...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Three Hares

Film Three Hares Directed by Paloma Baeza Three Hares weaves an enchanting creation myth and the mystical origin story of the ancient three hares symbol...
International Spotlight

Traumnovelle

Film Traumnovelle Directed by Florian Frerichs Set in modern kinky Berlin woman tells her husband that she has fantasies with other people, triggering his...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Umm Salama The Matchmaker

Film Umm Salama The Matchmaker Directed by Mariam Alawadhi As Umm Salama finally persuades her stubborn daughter Salama to consider marriage, she embarks on a journey to...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus

Via Dolorosa

Film Via Dolorosa Directed by Rachel GUTGARTS Between drug addiction, first discoveries of sexuality and a permanent state of war, the filmmaker searches for her...
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Volcelest

Film Volcelest Directed by Eric Briche With the arrival of winter, Fuseline, the little ermine, forced by lack of food, flees her wild environment...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus, Women in Film Spotlight

Waltz for Three

Film Waltz for Three Directed by Oriana Ng A rich woman picks up a male prostitute and asks for more than what he usually sells.
Animation Spotlight, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Wander to Wonder

Film Wander to Wonder Directed by Nina GANTZ Mary, Billybud, and Fumbleton – miniature human actors from the ’80s kids’ TV show “Wander to Wonder,” –...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

#WAY_Aurelio

Film #WAY_Aurelio Directed by Alan Rexroth With an image of society shaped by his smartphone, Aurelio sets out from Guatemala toward the U.S. on...
International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Weree

Film Weree Directed by Tal Amiran Haunted by the horrors of the Liberian war, renowned self-taught artist Johnson Weree longs for a brighter future...
International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

What Men Do For Love

Film What Men Do For Love Directed by Sai Karan Talwar An aging dentist kidnaps a young man with intentions of killing him because he’s had an affair with...
American Indie Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight

What’s Next?

Film What’s Next? Directed by Taylor Taglianetti At 100 years old, Dr. Howard Tucker holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s oldest practicing doctor....
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Wings

Film Wings Directed by Jonghee Kim Soo-jin, an elementary school homeroom teacher, visits her student Han-wool’s home where she faces the true nature of...
American Indie Spotlight, International Spotlight, Spanish-Language Focus

Wingwalker

Film Wingwalker Directed by Alonso Alvarez-Barreda A young widower is deported just as his daughter is scheduled for a heart transplant, leading him to...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Zebras That Don’t Exist

Film Zebras That Don’t Exist Directed by Qiuchi Wu An asthmatic girl’s energy grows as her love for the athletic boy who runs past her house each...