Official Selections

Sole Suspect

Just when a retired detective thought she was finally out, her son’s missing shoes pull her back in.

宁有故人

Dandelion

During the 1937 Nanking Massacre in World War II China, when confronted with Japanese soldiers, Shuhua and three other Chinese girls have to decide which one of them is going to stay as the comfort woman so that the others can escape.

One For My Baby

Roy, one half of an ended coupling, remembers Jasmine and the home they once built together. Set on Chicago's South and East sides, we revisit familiar places and moments of a romance between two people who met, briefly, and became linked forever.

Love on Speed

As a night of speed dating goes wild, Aidan and Jayden latch eyes. It could be love at first sight! But, do they have the courage to endure some unusual characters in order to meet?

Last Hoorah at G-Baby's

Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s is a coming-of-age dark comedy short film that centers an apathetic Naja who is grieving the death of her grandmother, with whom she was the caretaker for. After blowing through her cash inheritance, Naja owes five months of back rent on her grandmother’s rent controlled apartment in a gentrifying New York City. Facing eviction, Naja devises a plan with the help of her best friend, Val, to make enough money to make rent by the end of the week. When selling everything doesn’t work, she results in throwing the party of the year as a last ditch effort.

Vivir

In her darkest moment, a despairing Latina artist at the end of her rope considers ending it all. However, she crosses paths with a mysterious and immortal vampire that offers her a new perspective.

NOVEMBER FIRST

In the aftermath of a halloween party, aging millennial Lanie gets a reminder on her phone that propels her back into the harsh reality of everyday life. Outside, the mundane turns to catharsis as she co-mingles with the pulse of the day. The last half of the film is a sobering, claustrophobic job interview that investigates the depersonalization and the disconnect of the American workplace.

The HoodTrophy Bino Story: Breaking the Generational Curse

Dive into the captivating narrative of HoodTrophy Bino - a California hip-hop artist from the projects of South Central and Palmdale, discovered by Soulja Boy in jail, and destined to overcome the generational curse of poverty and incarceration plaguing all of the males in his immediate and extended family. Bino opens up about the trials and triumphs that shaped his life - offering insights into the challenges of growing up in a tough environment. From overcoming adversity to pursuing his dreams, Bino shares poignant stories that resonate with authenticity and resilience. Join us as we explore the powerful narrative of self-discovery, perseverance, and breaking free from the chains of the past. Don't miss out on this inspiring tale of transformation into a Trophy!

Vida

LOGLINE - Los Angeles – 2053: After a bloody civil war, women of color are captured and sterilized as a form of population control. Vida and a group of resistance fighters are getting ready to escape, but suddenly, one of their own is captured, and they’re forced to decide between saving themselves or saving her and risk getting captured.

Los Angeles, 2053 - Amid a world ravaged by climate change and a global food crisis, Los Angeles is a lawless, dystopian battleground. With no government to provide guidance, rogue militias have taken control, implementing a chilling strategy. They forcibly sterilize women they deem unfit for procreation, exploiting the chaos to manipulate the population.

At the center of this turmoil is Vida, a beacon of strength and compassion, who has become a leader among a group of women she now calls family. Vida has orchestrated an underground tunnel system, their ticket to escape the city and its horrors in just three days.

However, their plans crumble when Lexi, a cherished member of their group, is captured by their oppressive adversaries. Vida faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: rescue Lexi or ensure the safety of the group, which includes her only surviving relative, her sister Moni.

Moni, who has known only a world of fear and scarcity, has leaned on Vida and Lexi for support. Lexi's abduction shatters her world, unleashing an unexpected wellspring of courage and loyalty. Moni defies the group's consensus and embarks on a daring mission to rescue her friend.

As Vida risks everything to pursue Moni and Lexi, the fate of these remarkable women intertwines in an unrelenting struggle for survival, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection in the darkest of times.

HONEST/ FLUFF

Inspired by True Events
A PERPETUAL PEOPLE-PLEASER MUST COME TO TERMS WITH THE FINE LINE BETWEEN TACTLESS BOSSES, FREELOADING FUCK BUDDIES AND THE HONEST TRUTH OF TAKING ACTION AND GETTING THE LIFE YOU DESERVE.

Hard

12 year old Javonte is currently struggling with the woes of puberty. She's being bullied, she doesn't think she fits in, her home life's a mess and on top of that, she's still grappling with the loss of her brother. We open on her fighting her bully, Imani and losing in front of her entire neighborhood. Her sister Renesha watches and takes Javonte home. Javonte's mother sees her bruises and punishes her for losing and being "weak". Meanwhile, we see Renesha is currently working to break the family cycle and get her GED. However, she can't help but notice Javonte struggling and decides to toughen Javonte up, teaching her how to be hard in order to survive. In this process, Javonte and Renesha develop a close bond, providing Javonte with a sense of security she's been missing since her brother's death. In the midst of this, Renesha secures a job contingent on her GED, affording her the opportunity to move her and her kids out of the neighborhood and start a better life. This new life is threatened, however, when Renesha's boyfriend, Jordan asks her to take the fall for a crime as he's on his 3rd strike, stating it will be Renesha's first and she'll get off easy. Choosing for her kids to have their father in their life, Renesha agrees and gets arrested just as Javonte wins a brutal fight against her bully. Javonte is once again left alone, and we see a broken family cycle continue.

Kinnected

After closing their eyes with thoughts of attempting suicide, Yin and Yang, estranged twins with polar opposite personalities, find themselves tied up together in a basement. Through this forced conversation, they meet with conflict and discover their identity. Their quarrel emerges into a connection, which begs the question: are there two women or is it the same woman experiencing inner turmoil with different versions of herself?

Hope For The Holidays

In this participatory documentary, join Yuri and Rodney on a heartfelt mission as they, dressed as Santa's helpers, traverse the diverse landscapes of every US state during the holidays. Their goal is to bring hope to families facing difficult circumstances, including those in animal shelters, homes with special needs, disabilities, and individuals battling life-threatening illnesses. From snow storms in remote landscapes to navigating the weathered side streets of major cities, these two men are committed to spreading holiday cheer by providing gifts and dedicating time to listen to the stories of those they encounter. Doors will open across America as Yuri and Rodney embark on a journey to bring hope during the holiday season.

Presto

At the end of his rope, a man seeks mysterious help from an eerie phone app, PRESTO.

As Above, So Below: The Woman With the Trapped Soul

After enduring numerous disappointments in her quest for love, Marlow embarks on a profound journey of self-discovery. In a serendipitous moment, she awakens to find her spiritual ancestor beside her, offering a unique insight into life through the practice of sex magic. Through this unconventional path, Marlow begins to unlock her true potential and embarks on a transformative journey of self-love and acceptance. This newfound understanding empowers her to embrace her authentic self and embrace the beauty of self-love, leading to a profound shift in her perspective and experiences.

Things Long Left Unsaid

Akin to a visual journal entry, Things Long Left Unsaid is a short personal documentary about the sudden loss of the filmmaker's father and her coming to terms with all of the things the two never talked about, including the difficulty of existing as a Black family in her predominantly white suburban hometown.

By juxtaposing her family's archival home videos with present day black and white footage, Antonia Thornton takes audiences through an authentic journey of grief and acceptance.

Man vs Man

The fate of two men is put to the test amidst the beginnings of a global war.

Wabi-Sabi

When an insecure, half Japanese woman's invited on a date to a traditional tea ceremony, her best friend's advice on how to avoid white-guys-with-Asian-fetishes threatens to ruin her love life and sanity.

Blues for the Blues

A story of two brothers facing their decline in the Blues music performance business due to a younger generation’s fickle taste and the abandonment of a certain section of the traditional black audience.

Object of Desire

When an Asian American woman takes a karaoke hostessing job for some quick cash, she finds herself unable to escape men with a relentless asian fetish.

Object of Desire is a dark comedy that explores the eerie underbelly of nightlife and how a woman must navigate performing stereotypes to survive.

ANXIOUS.

Nida Chowdhry directs, writes, and stars in her debut feature film ANXIOUS., a surreal dark comedy about a woman named Ruby who has an anxiety attack and trips down the rabbit hole of her mind, where she meets versions of herself who take over her life.

Inspired by the surrealism of Eternal Sunshine, quirky characters of Amelie, and the whirlwind journey of Alice in Wonderland, this fast-paced fashion film is set against the colorful backdrops of Little Saigon and Little India in Orange County, California.

Siluetas Rotas: Un Minuto Por La Vida

Broken Silhouettes: A Minute Through Life

"Broken Silhouettes: A Minute Through Life" is a powerful short film that delves into the devastating impact of gender-based violence in Puerto Rico. Through striking visuals and impactful storytelling, the film reflects on the lives lost to femicide and the enduring pain of those left behind. It serves as both a tribute and a call to action, urging viewers to confront this ongoing crisis and join a movement toward justice, equality, and safety for all. The film captures the urgency of the situation, inspiring hope and change in the face of a persistent epidemic.

Welcome Home

A rebellious teenage girl with pastor parents orchestrates a surprise for her brother on Halloween.

Rhythm & Blues

Budding producer, Tracy, and aspiring artist, Melody, are two twin flames who've hit it off professionally, as well as romantically. However, their relationship put to the test when they find themselves on opposite sides of a life changing decision. They must find a way to navigate their differences in order to finish a song by tonight.

Expected Unexpected

At 41, Nicole Marie appears to be on the top of her game. She is thriving in her career, has finally settled into her new home, and has close friends who genuinely want to see her win in life. All is going well until one morning, on a coffee run for her co-workers, Nicole decides to finally take a pregnancy test as she has been feeling nauseated. Once the test reveals that she is pregnant, Nicole finds herself grappling with a range of emotions as she contemplates how this will change her life forever, regardless of what decision she ends up making. She confides in her close friend, and colleague, Rebecca who does not hold back in her opinion that she does not think her friend should go through this “geriatric” pregnancy. Nicole does not receive this well as she is still trying to decide what she should do. Rebecca reminds Nicole of her own experiences with being a single-mother to help Nicole understand some of the challenges she may face. This is further complicated when Nicole’s other close friend, Ryan, who often clashes with Rebecca, disagrees with Rebecca’s opinion and believes that Nicole should at least consider having the baby.

Even though both friends have the best of intentions with their advice as to what she should do, ultimately, Nicole knows the difficult decision lies within herself and she must come to terms with what is best for her and whether she is positioned to be a good mother.

Despite her friends’ intentions, Nicole remains uncertain and somewhat feeling defeated. To help Niclole’s mood improve, Ryan, who has known Nicole since middle school, drops by Nicole’s place to chat and lift her mood. During their visit, Ryan presses Nicole about what is on her mind because they have not been regularly talking via the phone - their daily ritual. Slowly, Nicole opens up about her concerns while she and Ryan talk also about the history of the friendship and Ryan’s past relationships.

In the wake of discovering her pregnancy, Nicole, Rebecca, and Ryan prepare to go on their annual friend-iversary trip to Disneyland. While Ryan is excited about the trip, Rebecca still has reservations about Nicole’s potential choices. Ultimately, Ryan and Rebecca agree, again, to support Nicole and continue on their friend-iversary trip while leaving room for Nicole to decide.

This film explores the complex emotional toll that women often go through when faced with the decision whether or not to keep a pregnancy, within the backdrop of a society that is making it more difficult for women to choose. And for those women who choose to become a mother, there are additional feelings of insecurity when facing motherhood as a single person or someone who is older.

HOME

Seo-won navigates a fragmented reality filled with emotional encounters and haunting memories, seeking solace and clarity in her search for home.

Hemingway

A lesbian situationship erupts into their first fight after the elephant in the room is spoken into acknowledgement. Will they end their connection before facing the uglier truths of each other?

Roberta's Rules

MICHAEL YOUNG is a father of three and husband of 17 years to the beautiful ROBERTA YOUNG. In his eyes, as a father and husband, he’s been amazing, and is teetering on making partner at the prestigious Los Angeles Law Offices of Dean, Weinberg & Ableman. While life is moving along, ROBERTA’S breast cancer returns out of remission. Roberta decides to go through the holistic steps that helped her beat cancer the first time around. She keeps it a secret, not wanting the family to live with anxiety. However, the cancer returns aggressively, and she must confess its terminal.

After the family comes to terms, life moves along until ROBERTA returns from the hospital to enter hospice in her own home. The three kids, Andrew (16), Lisa (10) and Logan (3), fight to move on with life with a father, turns out, they don’t really know. Just before the funeral, In-laws, and relatives from out of town come together to celebrate Roberta’s life. All the pain comes to ahead between Andrew and Michael in front of the family gathering. Andrew blames his absent father for his mother being gone and the two erupt at each other. Uncle Casey and Uncle Mason try their best to calm things down, but they are only left with Andrew raging one direction, and Michael another. Michael returns to the room Roberta spent her last days, only to find a flash drive in the trunk by the bed when he puts her favorite blanket away. Michael races over to the computer, inserts the flash drive and after a few clicks, Roberta appears on the monitor. Roberta greets Michael and goes on to tell him that when she found out she would only have approximately 7 months to live, she recorded every thought under the sun the kids could possibly endure on separate video clips. Now, on in the i-Cloud are 9 months of recordings to help him raise their kids even though she has passed on.

Pills Anecdotes: Royally Infamous

Royal Infamous follows Rochelle, a woman that's recovering from a recent breakup turning to social media for self improvement and validation. With a box of pills in hand that can give you whatever you want, and a talk with a friend, she's left with a decision to fight through her pain or risk it all for comfort.

Tingum

Tingum, a young Bahamian female mixed-race vampire on the sun-drenched island of Eleuthera, Bahamas, desperately tries to save her vampire parents' crumbling marriage.

Melanin Monroe

When Keithdris Elba, a visionary film director, surprisingly casts Melanin Monroe, a retired dancer, for the lead in his passion project celebrating black love, they set out on a journey of deeper connection. Their on-screen collaboration becomes a mirror reflecting a real-life exploration of self-discovery, entwining the threads of art, identity, and the unpredictable essence of love in the contemporary narrative they create together.

Getcho

A tightly wound but promising Ivy League graduate has moved back in with her disappointed mother in their section 8 apartment and is forced to babysit a peculiar and precocious child and consequently help him manage his bullies and her own.

I Am Not Ok

A lonely man navigates working from home and his own mental struggles, while strange inconveniences push him deeper into uncertainty.

Don't Make Sense

The story of a young man battling with the addiction of self inflicting pain. This film seeks to raise the awareness and create dialogue for solutions to the mental health issues in the African American community.

The Puppet Show

The Puppet Show is a dark comedy short film about coming to grips with the nature of existing. Barry, a down-on-his-luck primary school teacher, is putting on a puppet show for his school. This show is going to be his magnum opus, a masterpiece to prove to everyone he really is somebody. However, things fall apart when his star puppet, Larry, becomes self-aware and questions everything. From hilarity to insanity, the tension between man and puppet builds to a breaking point.

KOREAN AMERICAN WITCHES SOCIETY

A lonely, anxious girl wishes to save her cancer-stricken father and befriends the granddaughter of a Korean shaman. Together, they create a secret witchcraft ritual which leads to unexpected consequences.

Tracing the Divide

Two life-long friends embark on an adventure of a lifetime as they cycle the rigorous Great Divide Mountain Bike Route from Canada to Mexico. Over 24 days, through wind, mud, and monsoons, the Divide tests their limits physically and mentally, yet the Divide is also a gift that allows them to look inward and rediscover themselves with new purpose.

The Dream is the Truth

Two people traverse time, space, and bodies, choosing each other again and again.

Chaos

A dispirited Marine veteran reconnects with a love interest upon returning home, only to find himself at the heart of a city-shifting investigation.

Get Your Story Straight

After bailing out his sister charged with murdering her girlfriend, a successful attorney brings her to his house for some legal counseling. But when their two other siblings show up, he must take control of their unexpected arrival in this dark comedy about family, forgiveness and murder.

Dare Greatly

A woman's journey for love and connection in the grocery store parking lot.

Agua de tu Madre

Aided by goddess Yemayá, an Afro-Cuban woman helps her son flee revolutionary Cuba. Fifty years later, her pregnant granddaughter must face the past in this tale of diaspora, generational inheritance, and resilience.

Miracle Wood

A lonely, depressed old man finds hope in a holy piece of wood.

Spare Me

Spare Me tells the story of “Trey Compton” a young African American man confronting his past to overcome changing a flat tire. Throughout the story, the viewer is shown flashbacks to showcase what connection Trey has to this certain location which is a sundown town, and why changing a tire is no easy task for him to undertake. This is also a period piece, so the Production design, costumes, and props will
reflect a southern state during the early 1930s/40s, and have a focus on sundown towns during that time period.

Huey

Dr. Huey P. Newton was the co-founder of the radical group The Black Panther Party. From the party’s inception, Dr. Newton was the target of Federal, State and Local Governments for his efforts in liberating the African American community in Oakland and beyond from the blatant discrimination thrust upon the race as a whole.

Prior to his death on August 22, 1989, efforts by the State government heightened even though The Black Panther Party had been disbanded in 1982. The state prosecutor sought to convict Dr. Newton of embezzlement, however, just like the murder and attempted murder charges brought against him in 1967, the state lost its case against him for that. However the damage to Dr. Newton’s reputation was irreparable. With all of his efforts to improve the lives of his community, the government achieved its objective in marring his successes and making him out to be a self serving criminal versus a cultural martyr. By the end of his life, Huey was a disgraced figure in the movement he had started and nearly died for.

Huey, the short film looks at the final days of Dr. Huey P. Newton’s life to try and look at the plausible possibility, “Was Huey P. Newton randomly murdered or was it an orchestrated assassination by the United States government?” By taking public information from government agencies and private sources such as news agencies and media outlets and publications who have interviewed key players as well as Dr. Newton’s loved ones and personal friends, this film revisits the days and month leading up to the fateful day he was murdered and the circumstances surrounding his death/execution.

"Alchemy of Solitude"

In an alternative reality: Activists turned Assassins try to end a race war but are forced to choose between honoring their ancestors or losing themselves.

Everything is on the line and everyone's out of time.

----

With the plague of unrest that has been erupting in the world today, this story grants us an "alternative reality". One where we explore the plight of radical change through the lens of a fictional organization called, "Paradigm"; whose mission is to eradicate supremacist organizations to bring about change by any means necessary.

This ensemble crime action drama takes a sharp turn when an assassination against the biggest supremacist organization is botched; setting off a chain of events that force them into a fight for their lives. How far will you go for radical change?

"Alchemy of Solitude" is a film that delves into the autopsy of an activist and the soul of war and its emotional traumas and truths that must be constantly navigated.

Melabration

After returning home from prison, Callie faces a mysterious threat in her small town where under the sun’s glare your survival depends on the amount of melanin in your skin.

Love, Malachi

Nadine excitedly visits her recovering boyfriend, Malachi, in the hospital on the day of his anticipated discharge. However, her hopes are dashed when she learns that he must stay longer due to unforeseen complications. Disappointed, yet not wanting to burden him further, she agrees to spend the day in his hospital room, turning it into a makeshift date. As they spend time together, they engage in heartfelt conversations, reminisce about cherished memories, and try to pass the time with laughter and joy. Yet, the mood takes a somber turn when subtle signs of his illness start to manifest, revealing that he has relapsed. Nadine's joy quickly transforms into concern and fear for her beloved partner's well-being. She comes face to face with the harsh reality that he is not going to leave the hospital anytime soon, and the future is uncertain.

SUNDOWN

When their car breaks down on the way to an HBCU Homecoming, two best friends discover something sinister in the town they’ve stopped in.

3 EASY STEPS

After her partner breaks up with her for refusing to acknowledge her increasingly debilitating ADHD, Jane journeys to the woods for a “self-help trip”. While in the woods, Jane fails spectacularly at all of her self-betterment tasks as her ADHD creeps in. Eventually she gives up and searches the internet for cheap, easy ways to change herself. Jane comes upon an article entitled “3 Easy Steps to Kill The Old You and Be Reborn”. As Jane begins to follow the steps, a window into a colorful world appears in front of her, with Silver Jane staring out. As the two versions of Jane become increasingly hostile towards each other, Jane is forced to confront her mental health as she wonders…will she really kill her old self to be reborn?

Haven

A man questions his notion of a safe place, then confronts disturbing beings that appear in his home.

ALMA

An struggling actress from Venezuela navigates the hardships of the film industry.

2 Truths & A Lie

An eccentric counselor helps a group of people who suffer from being too honest by teaching them how to lie.

NAME IMAGE LIKENESS

Timing is everything! 18-year-old Jahmiel Ross just happened to attend high school after the NCAA changed its ruling in 2021 on Name Image Likeness in sports. Now if you're good, I mean really good, you can Get Paid, even in high school.

Rich, famous, and now on top of the world. Jahmiel, a top ranked senior high school football star, can now buy whatever he wants. His ego begins to inflate and spiral as the world around him starts to worship him. Struggling to maintain a somewhat normal ego, Jahmiel tries to navigate the unexpected circumstances that arise from his new Fame & Money. With everyone close to him wanting handouts, Jahmiel begins to lose trust for family and friends. On the verge of a breakdown, he snaps when a jealous classmate shakes him down in the locker room. The fight results in the retaliatory death of his mother. Now mentally broken, Jahmiel learns a hard lesson as he attempts to hold his remaining family close while deciding which college to attend.

La Sirèn

Submerged memories of Haitian folklore come flooding back when a pious Catholic mother turns to her Vodou-practicing daughter for swim lessons.

Brief Exchanges

Brief Exchanges follows Tanya, a young Black woman living in NYC. After a harsh encounter with a drunken stranger, Tanya lands on the same street corner as Troy, whose kindness stands in sharp contrast to the unfriendly city. Their chance encounter becomes a daylong affair of flirtatious banter punctuated by poignant moments, or "brief exchanges,” that reflect the various microaggressions she must navigate daily. Filtered through the lens of a charming meet-cute, this film represents a Black woman’s reality in living with these intersectional identities.

BIBLE CAMP

Young Korean immigrants assimilate to baseball, burnt hot dogs and hostility at a discount daycare. Rocking out to vinyl records at Bible Camp has unintended consequences. A traumatic memory, based on a true immigrant story.

At Capacity

Mia has one task for the evening: break up with the smooth-talking charlatan, Andrew. When things don’t go according to plan, she’s pulled into an unexpected evening with Andrew’s cousin, Ari. As a seasoned political operative, Mia has strong opinions on the way the world works. However, with the earnest and endearing Ari, she’s met her match. A short film about connection, the ways we protect one another, and the potential for serendipity when we live moment to moment.

Young Mom

In YOUNG MOM, a young Latinx woman kidnaps the child she nannies to satisfy her girlfriend’s desire to start a family.

Some Kind of Heavenly Fire

Set in Detroit during the historic Northeast blackout of 2003. Our story finds a grandfather tasked with taking care of his grandson after his daughter is incarcerated. Grandad’s situation is thrust into panic when he sees his grandson levitating under a street light succumbing to what he will soon find out is an alien possession. SOME KIND OF HEAVENLY FIRE tells the story of two people dealing with loss in the midst of a chaotic event, both facing forces beyond their comprehension and control.

Body

A young woman attempts to calmly complete her medical homework. She is continually interrupted by the basic needs of her body. As the problem escalates she must face the question, of what makes her who she is.

The Other Side of Fair

After Jenae is recruited by a top ad agency and soon after chosen to take the lead on a new project, she is met with entitlement and jealousy by Kensley, her new colleague. Under the assumption that Jenae is just another diversity hire, Kensley insinuates that she doesn't deserve the opportunity. Thereafter, kicking off a series of strange and unexpected events when they wake up one morning in each other's bodies. Leading Jenae to experience the finer things in life while Kensley has a rude awakening. This ultimately gives them both an up-close experience on the other side of fair.

Who Raised You?

Logline: Mo discovers a surprise at his doorstep and gets an intense introduction to fatherhood.

Synopsis:
Mo, has never really made his own choices. Residing in his slain parent's estate he lives with no intent for more. When he discovers a baby at his doorstep and runs to the aid of his friends, he realizes he needs the baby more than he knows.

Never Can Say Goodbye

Inspired by a lot of people’s true stories…

An African American mother, convicted and on the verge of prison, asks for one last chance to see her kids. But when her children refuse to say goodbye, she’s forced to make other plans.

Donor

How far will a desperate sister go to get her wife pregnant when she needs her brother's sperm to get the job done?

[subtext]

Two people on a first date mask and ignore their insecurities until an event forces them to say what they're really thinking.

My Brother & Me

A coming-of-age story about two brothers who attempt to rob their distant father of their overdue child support money.

Ráoshù

A young woman visits the grave of her mother. As she fights through tough memories from her childhood, she faces the past and learns to cope with her grief-- finding forgiveness along the way.

San Francisco Bae

A fresh and fun coming-of-age story, San Francisco Bae follows the journey of a failing founder and a med-school dropout who, together, concoct a risky plan to pursue their true passions and achieve the American dream.

San Francisco Bae shows the importance of going after what you want, even if it doesn't match up with society's expectations.

NO RELIGION

The catchy tune of the year has an important message, which is the sound of unification for all religions of the world. My statement for the present. Christ, singer, artist and Messiah of love, released his second single, NO RELIGION in early 2024 from the album of the same name, which will also be released this year. A funky, urban beat, 80s influences, danceable lightness and a message for “tomorrow”. Simply the sound of love in times of hatred and war. The accompanying music video is a clear message of the mission—ONE LOVE. Give us your support, unite, and be a believer.

Traffick in the City

Alex; a wholesome young man who's family has been affected by a notorious local sex trafficking ring- decides to take things into his own hands..

Monochromatic

The film is seen through the eyes of Grace, age 6. The world as she sees and experiences it, innocent, carefree and mischievous. Grace is Black.

1977, Wood Green London. The political climate is volatile with the rise of the National Front. The UK is dealing with the aftermath of Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, calling for the repatriation of immigrants and appealing to racial hatred, skinhead subculture is prevalent.

Grace plays hopscotch in her garden. Bored, she opens the back gate seeking adventure. Along the New River path strewn with
stones and broken glass, she falls cutting her hand badly. Grace’s mother Bev thinks she is playing in the back garden until the
doorbell rings. She opens to see a skinhead boy wearing a Nazi t-shirt with Grace, her blood on his hands.

Micro aggressions culminate in a moment at their white Christian Church. When the Vicar asks the congregation to shake the persons hand next to them, little Grace reaches out her hand to the white woman next to her, the woman recoils. At this moment, we see little Grace for the first time, a tiny piece of her heart breaks.

El Espacio Roto

The Broken Space

An ex-cosmonaut steals a historic voice recording. Attempting to sell it, he discovers that his decision may affect the fate of his family.

The Concert

Farrah and Lisa hang out in Angie’s basement, waiting on her dad to give them a ride to their first big rock concert. Safe in their warm, wood paneled hang-out, they talk about boys and even rehearse their own fledging metal band – The Giant Feminist Electric Mares! But their fun and excitement is cut short. They face what so many women face. And they face it together. A realistic coming of age story that pulls no punches told from the girl’s point of view.

Thursday

When an impetuous American journalist misses an important date night, she must fight for a future with her French partner – in both of their languages.

Little Lady

In the heartfelt coming-of-age film 'Little Lady,' Danelle, a resilient young woman, grapples with her responsibilities as she cares for her bedridden father Lee. When she's presented with the opportunity to attend college and pursue her dreams, the delicate balance between her father's needs and her aspirations becomes a soul-searching journey.

Moments

"Moments" is a riveting 9-episode digital series, each under 13 minutes, delivering intimate snapshots of characters' lives at their breaking points. This exploration of black trauma and mysticism delves into mind reading and hidden truths unveiled by therapist Dr. Winston. As the series unfolds, an enigmatic narrator (Rutina Wesley) introduces time travel, weaving an intriguing layer of self-discovery. "Moments" paves the way for a potential expanded episodic journey, delving deeper into characters' histories and relationships, all while authentically addressing themes of healing and transformation within the mystical. With a standout ensemble cast and thought-provoking storytelling, "Moments" promises an unforgettable and empathetic viewing experience.

A Yellow Circus

A Yellow Circus is a coming of age, arthouse film, aimed at black girls who refuse to drown. Mack, Tracy, Amari, and Stephanie are schoolmates and teammates on their basketball team, all in the thick of puberty. En route to a basketball tournament, they are left at the beach, where their pubescent repressions are disturbed by the scorching sun, exposing shore, and unsettling bystanders. By sunset, they’ve reached a fever pitch that graduates them into womanhood.

Desync

Ana, a young Filipina filmmaker, shoots a re-enactment of a fight she once had with her mother - a fight brought on by mutual refusals to communicate. Spurred on by the obsessive need for perfection, Ana “fixes” the fight by rewriting every veiled insult into a chance for forgiveness. As her perfect story diverges further from the reality of what happened, she begins to realise what her mom has been trying to say all along.

BACKWASH

Calvin is expecting a child within a week but fears to face the fact he does not want to be a father. He discusses with his close friend LaSalle whether or not he'll stick around and the consequences of either decision.

Tea

In an homage to everything 1990's, TEA asks the audience to take a step back to simpler times; where the summer days were long, the cool kids were terrifying, and saying "Hi" to the girl of your dreams was beyond insurmountable.

Through the eyes of Nicholaus Steep (played by Michael Gandolfini), we watch the tenderness and bravery of a young man who is doing all he can just to connect with someone. When bad luck turns worse, will the girl of his dreams be able to save his life?

The goal of Tea is simple; two lost souls desperate for connection.

With awkward laughs mashed into danger, and of course - buzz worthy tenderness - I hope you enjoy the film as much as we loved making It.

-Blake Winston Rice

Whitewash

After being accepted into the ‘Ivory Estates’, a queer Asian man moves in with his new fiancé and discovers that he’s the only person of color in the neighborhood— among the estates' other secrets.

The Dark Ages - The Funeral

In the immediate aftermath of a billionaire's unexpected passing, his children and employees fail miserably to organize a funeral. "The Funeral" is the first episodic short in a series where we follow a group of dysfunctional 20-to-30-somethings as they navigate the so called "Dark Ages" spanning between "Coming of Age" and "Middle Age."

Redemption

A young man headed down the wrong path in life decides to give his life to Christ.

Barakah

A deserted suburb, late into the night when nothing but thoughts move. On the aftermath of his birthday party, Abram
(20’s) digests the events of the night that have exposed old wounds--initially set off by a recent contact from his
long-estranged father. But Abram’s night takes an unexpected turn when he welcomes W. (60s)--a mysterious woman
who reveals knowledge of a cryptic engraving etched onto the front of his house. Eager to find answers, Abram probes
into the stranger’s past.

W., a former astronaut, is still hypnotized by her experience of outer space. Disillusioned by life on earth and consumed
by the possibilities of the afterlife, she embarks on a suicidal ritual to reunite with her late daughter. But unable to go
through with it alone, she must convince Abram to help her complete the spiritual mission.

With his late-night guest on the verge of something tragic, Abram scours for a way to gently guide her back. But after a
transformative moment of connection, Abram must decide whether to keep those scars buried or blindly jump on board
the painful journey of forgiveness.

Spy Her Man

We all want the best for our friends. However, to what extent would we ensure their happiness? Join Ivy, Scarlet, and Blake as they take a friend's relationship drama into their own hands.

Phels High

Four high school friends find their bond shattered after a bullying incident escalates into a tragic act of violence. Forced into a lockdown with the school evacuated for safety, tensions rise as the friend responsible for the violence sees a slim chance at redemption.

To secure his future, he must make a devastating choice: take the life of his best friend to escape his troubled past and emerge as a hero, or remain the villain in a spiraling situation. As the stakes escalate, the line between friend and foe blurs, leading to a gripping climax that will leave everyone questioning who they can truly trust.

Pictures Only

Set in 1950s Bronzeville, Louise Parker is facing eviction from her home. Desperate to keep her independence and status, she is introduced to a lucrative performing opportunity. While attempting to keep this new venture a secret, she simultaneously gains popularity, risking being exposed to and disowned by her mother. After being offered a promotion, she is left with two choices, become the headliner, or allow her family to lose everything.

The Debutante

A spirited young woman persuades a hyena from London Zoo to take her place at a dinner dance held in her honour. Their plan requires a surprising amount of artistry and violence. Based on a story by artist Leonora Carrington, Elizabeth Hobbs celebrates her startling tale with paint and collage.

Ey You!

Based on my personal experience, Ey You! follows an interracial couple’s encounter with a harasser - featuring Isabella Wei from Netflix original series 1899.

S.P.I.C.

LOGLINE:

A young boy’s desire to get his mother back, and a father’s struggle to make things right collide. Inspired by true events.

SYNOPSIS:

JOHNNY is a 12-year-old Latino boy whose mom, an undocumented immigrant, has been arrested by I.C.E. She needs an immigration lawyer, but a good lawyer costs $5K.

EMILIO, Johnny's dad, asks ÁLVARO, a drug dealer, for a loan. But Álvaro knows Emilio can't repay $5K. So Álvaro offers Emilio a job instead — work for his illegal drug enterprise and Álvaro will give him the money he needs. Emilio hesitates at this dangerous offer.

Having overheard the adult conversation, and with the clock ticking, Johnny decides to do the job on his own. He sneaks off to work for Álvaro. When Emilio discovers what Johnny is doing, he rushes to get his son back.

On this fateful day, both father and son learn the realities before them and the choices they must make to survive.

Inspired by true events.

SHEPHERD'S CALLING

From the rugged caves of Ethiopia to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, 'SHEPHERD'S CALLING' follows the remarkable journey of an Ethiopian shepherd turned filmmaker in America. This captivating documentary explores the struggles of leaving home, reconciling cultural identities, and the universal quest for belonging.

육지새

Land Birds

Eighteen-year-old DANHEE CHOI is a Korean immigrant who, with her kid sister MISEON, has come to the U.S. for a better life. They’ve come to live with their dad’s sister in a California military town, but unable to stand her aunt, Danhee lives on her own, occasionally visiting Miseon in secret. The day after Miseon’s eighth birthday, Danhee makes one of these visits, hoping to reconnect with Miseon over a day of birdwatching.

Danhee arrives in the early morning to begin their day trip to the wetlands. Throughout their excursion, Danhee struggles to make conversation with a reticent Miseon. Miseon reveals that the sound of jets—ever present in their military town—keeps her up at night. She also lets on that she does not have many friends in school. Miseon misses Korea and their father, who is still stationed there for his military career. While stopped at a gas station, Danhee discovers Miseon’s backpack packed to the brim with survival tools. Miseon confesses her intention of running away too, and begs Danhee to let Miseon live with her. Danhee rejects her roughly and leaves to pay for gas. When she comes back, Miseon is gone.

Danhee searches the neighborhood for Miseon to no avail. Danhee resigns herself to waiting on the curb, where she witnesses a violent fight among some neighborhood boys. Eventually, Miseon comes trudging back. Danhee chastises her and breaks down. Miseon begins watching some birds in the sky. In the distance, a jet approaches. The two sisters witness the jet collide with the birds.

The Price of Freedom

A mother, convicted of a crime she did not commit, makes a last resort attempt at freedom. But that decision comes at a cost.

Between These Walls

A young child’s Christmas wish to Santa Claus forces his parents to hold a mirror up to the cracks in their marriage.

Life Goes On

To meet a friend, Suat goes to a cafe in a neighborhood where he hasn't spent much time before. He sits down and, finding that his friend hasn't arrived yet, he orders tea from the waiter and starts browsing the internet on his phone. While he's waiting for his tea, he notices the waiters asking the people sitting at the front of the cafe to stand up. They remove the tables and create an empty space. In this newly created space, a table-like structure with a nice cover and a flower on it catches his attention. At that moment, the waiter lifts the flower and pulls off the cover, revealing a musalla stone underneath.

Shortly after, a hearse arrives and a coffin is taken out and placed on the musalla stone. Suat watches in amazement. Some of the people in the cafe are astonished, witnessing this event for the first time, while others continue their conversations on the sidelines without hesitation, clearly used to such occurrences. Meanwhile, the music playing in the cafe is turned off, and the congregation stands in rows for the funeral prayer. The imam performs the rituals, the prayer is said, the rights are given, and the corpse is hurriedly removed and loaded back onto the hearse.

As Suat watches in amazement, he raises his head and sees a minaret. He realizes that the cafe he is sitting in is actually located in the courtyard of a mosque. The waiters quickly move the tables back to the empty space, the musalla stone is camouflaged again, the music turns on, people sit back in their seats, and life goes on.

Artificial

Alexa and Siri discover love as their humans fumble with it.

The Prophecy

A sleepless woman, victim of rape, embarks on a journey to Senegal in hopes to find treatment for her recurrent nightmares. She will find it in a mystical place, which will open up a path to her inner power, self-acceptance and vengeance.

This is a supernatural horror film that follows the story of Tabara, a second generation immigrant from Senegal, who lives in America. She suffers from the consequences of a rape, she was a victim of on a date. The manifestation of that trauma are nightmares that she has everynight, where she sees a monstrous creature, mutilated above recognition, that mocks her.

After one too many nightmare, unsuccessful therapy and advices from her very traditional grandmother ; Tabara decides to travel to Senegal for the first ime of her life to seek treatment in an unorthodox place, an African Marabout. In Muslim Africa, a marabout is a holy man who is believed to have supernatural power.

When Tabara meets the marabout, he gives her a potion that is meant to allow her to exit her dreams. After failing to do so, she returns to the marabout, who reveals a secret, a generational curse she was unaware of. With this knowledge, that night, she bravely explores the dream world, ready to defeat the creature.

As Easy As Closing Your Eyes

On the eve of her late son’s birthday, LILA attends a group meeting for people addicted to Amesten, a new blackmarket drug that gives its users life-like dreams about the ones they've lost. Though the drug has exacted a terrible toll on her, her sobriety still only hangs by a thread. As she prepares to celebrate BODIE’s birthday with her brother KIERAN, the temptation to see Bodie again begins to overwhelm her and she must choose whether to finally let go of an impossible dream or follow the light of her life into darkness.

Floor

Molly is a young Asian woman trying to figure out where her father’s body is after his sudden death by suicide. Due to a challenging relationship with her mother, the location is being withheld from her.

While at her friend Elli’s house, Molly gets a call from her aunt telling her where she can find her father. The two friends jump into Elli’s car and race to get Molly to the funeral home so that Molly can see him. During the car ride Molly get’s an unsettling series of texts from her mother. After Elli proposes she can choose not to go, Molly makes the choice to defy her mother and see him.

The pair end up at a funeral home. Upon meeting the funeral director, he tells Molly she can see her father one last time before he’s cremated the next day. Molly makes one small request and then, after the funeral director prepares the body, she goes to see him, finally confronted with the reality of her father’s death.

After leaving the viewing room, Molly thanks the funeral director for his help and tries to introduce him to Elli, only to collapse to the floor, crying. The surreal enormity of seeing her father for the last time finally subsuming her, she lets the grief take her as Elli looks on, unsure of how to comfort her. Once the moment passes, Molly makes an absurd joke that forces Elli and her to laugh, providing them both a release and a way forward for Molly.

Floor is a story based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

No, Not Really

No, Not Really is a poignant and relatable story of a young man's journey toward closure and acceptance. After a devastating breakup, Dominic is left with a bruised ego and a shattered heart.

Desperate to move on, he reaches out to his ex-girlfriend for the closure he needs. What follows is a heart-wrenching conversation that forces Dominic and Jess to confront their true feelings and the reasons behind their failed relationship with witty banter and raw emotions. "No, Not Really" takes us on a rollercoaster ride of love, loss, and self-discovery.

Complaints Anonymous

A startup company that employs call agents to take calls dealing with complaints, struggles to balance the complaints received from customers and employees disputes within the organization. When The CEO makes a disparaging comment to one of her employees, a tweet about the incident goes viral sending the company into a tail spend they struggle to get out of.

Skettel

Skettel follows a young Jamaican-American, Marley, and the adversary she deals with in her everyday life and the raunchy nightclub she works at to care for her special needs son. The narrative is based on the director’s life in 2010 in Atlanta, where she had to work in a rowdy East Atlanta nightclub as a bottle girl to help her mother with bills and take care of her neurodivergent toddler. The film takes a trippy and surrealistic approach, exploring different themes and the nuances of being Jamaican and American. It also brings a fresh perspective to a sub-culture of the South - bottle girl culture. At the core, it's a survival story about a young mother who feverishly desires to preserve herself without compromising her child's wellbeing.

The Celebration

A mother and father battle lingering trauma as she strives to create a joyous high school graduation celebration for their son.

Cicadas

Ray and Melanie Fox are the family’s self-appointed “leaders” after the death of Grandaddy Fox. They’ve taken meticulous detail in planning the first official family reunion in 12 years. Family members have traveled from across the country for this occasion including their son Rory and his longtime girlfriend, Alice. What happens when egos clash and tempers flare as a family tries to reassemble for the first time 12 years after the death of their beloved patriarch? Truths they've been hiding from themselves and each other make their way to the surface.

Will You Mirror Me?

A young man privately imitates the different people that catch his attention on the train ride home. After his dad walks in on him cooing in a high-pitched voice and donning dark red lipstick, he is confronted about the kind of person he wants to play moving forward.

Paper Line: Bragging Rights

Two years after the events of the first film, Spring 2022 pledges Rodney and Eddie challenge Big Brother Desmond and charter member Raheem to a 2 on 2 match to determine the top martial artists of Alpha Omega Sigma fraternity.

A Little Hope for Chicago

Part narrative performance film, part documentary, A LITTLE HOPE FOR CHICAGO is a walk through the life of a Chicago hustler, narrowly avoiding the devastating consequences of death and incarceration, as he reflects on the systemic root causes of the violence and trauma that consume youth in urban centers like Chicago.

Submerge

On a remote island, Naima comes of age among an ancient mystical people. As a “chosen one” she must confront fear, expectations, and doubt to embrace her power as she transitions from childhood to something even more mysterious and powerful: herself.

Crowe

In the twilight years of the untamed, wild west, things are changing... not only in the world, but in the otherwise tight-knit community of the Raynor Gang. After sudden infighting and the death of one of their own, siblings Irving (Bryson Chalk) and Leta Crowe (Nyla Henderson) must come to a decision: stay and live in fear, or abandon everything they know.

Party Favor

A Filipino-American woman grapples with going behind her strict Catholic sister's back to buy condoms for her 14-year-old niece.

The Forgotten

In a quiet suburban neighborhood, MAGGI, an elderly widow, grapples with the profound loneliness that consumes her following the recent loss of her beloved husband. Haunted by memories of happier times, Maggi retreats into the solitude of her home, finding solace in the familiar routines of her daily life.
However, her sanctuary is shattered when a group of mischievous neighborhood children begin tormenting her, breaking into her house and labeling it as a haunted house to scare each other. Despite Maggi's attempts to confront them and plead for peace, the children continue their relentless harassment, fueling her sense of isolation and despair, but she finds unexpected solace and guidance.

The Guest

A young woman searches for belonging.

Sweet Santa Barbara Brown

Four teammates confront the violent consequences of being black in America. Sweet Santa Barbara Brown is inspired by actual and uniquely American events.

Color of Autumn

Inspired by a true story, in 1966 Chicago a sheltered Black eight-year-old is blindsided by cruel and casual racism while playgrounding with white children.

Narrative short film Color of Autumn
depicts a precocious eight-year-old Black girl who lives with her hardworking parents and her adoring, wise grandmother in a quaint house on the Southside of Chicago. Nestled within the safety of her neighborhood and focused on the comforts and stresses of her family's hard-won middle class life, Dottie Grimsby has little awareness of racial tension or the isolation of segregation. But she is about to find out.

Baggage Claim

After living a life driven by greed and disregard for others, Jimmy unexpectedly dies. In the afterlife, he is forced to confront the consequences of his selfishness. In vivid, painful visions, he must literally unpack his life. As he grapples with the weight of his transgressions, he’s given a final chance for redemption—if he can truly understand the impact of his choices and seek forgiveness, not just from others, but from himself.

Brand New

When a newly famous music producer visits his hometown, he battles the guilt of abandoning his past and the bitterness of an old friend.

Brown Babies

When an aspiring black writer dies from a medical error while giving birth to twins, her loyal husband must pick up the pieces of their life.

Brown Babies follows the love story between Zay, a Morehouse graduate and software engineer, and Asia, a junior newspaper editor and aspiring children's author. After meeting at a college homecoming weekend in Atlanta, the two quickly fall in love. When the pair start to build their family and Asia gets pregnant with twins. Dr. Edward, their black, female Obstretrician handles the first stages of the pregnancy but then has to take a sudden absence. She is covered by Dr. Gall who is white, dismissive, and cold cut who ignores the complications that Asia voices to him during her pregnancy. This results in Asia tragically dying while giving birth to her newborns. Now a broken, grief-stricken new father, Zay is left to pick up the pieces of his life, raise his new twin girls on his own, and fight for justice to avenge his fiancee's wrongful death.

Fast Food

When a teenage girl in love expects a fun night with her boyfriend, she winds up on an emotional roller coaster that only friendship can save.

Phoenix

When a psychiatrist hypnotizes one of his most traumatized patients, he discovers something that changes both of their lives forever.

Memoirs of a Bruised Mind

A young writer embarks on an anxiety-filled journey of self-discovery and healing after summoning the courage to face her trauma and turn it into art. After years of suppressing pain caused by her childhood trauma, she strives to turn her wounds into words and find redemption through her craft.

MEMOIRS OF A BRUISED MIND is based on true events. Shania Banton, the writer and director of the film grew up with an emotionally and physically abusive mother. To cope with her pain she suppressed all her childhood memories. The trauma caused her to grow up quickly as she struggled to find herself during her transformative years. Memories of a Bruised Mind is a prequel to the pilot that continues the story about April seeking revenge through her writing and exploring the suicidal, abusive, and traumatic memories that fuel her.

Rear

When a teacher leaves bruises on a child, an objecting mother unintentionally starts a debate on the use of school corporal punishment in her southern black community.

Inadequate

A well-intentioned white woman finds her presumptions questioned by her black foster kid's mom.

SWOON

"SWOON" is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the blurred lines between reality and delusion, revolving around a twisted romance driven by the theme of the lengths people will go for love.

The story unfolds with Emma and Mike, a seemingly happy couple whose engagement plans are halted by Emma's haunting past. She harbors a dark secret – her previous boyfriend was brutally murdered by a stalker, a fact she has kept from Mike, and she’s been consumed by guilt and fear for their whole relationship.

Enter Jackson, a complex character torn between feelings of jealousy, love, and possessiveness. Jackson resurfaces in Emma's life, discovering her relationship with Mike, and becomes consumed by a dangerous obsession.

This gaslighting roller coaster is best described as a Stephen King-esque thriller in an urban setting.

Huli

LOGLINE: After a boxer relocates from New York to Hawaiʻi, a friendship with his coach expands his awareness of ancestral connection, purpose, and power. TRT: 12:50

Created on the island of Oʻahu Hawaiʻi. Directorial debut of Daniel Croix (Tyler Perry's The Oval on BET, Manhunt on Apple TV+, Love Victor on Hulu)

SYNOPSIS: Sol relocated from New York to Hawaiʻi to start a new life. During a period of heightened radicalized violence on the US continent, he seeks a new "home." He’s a hyper-driven escapist - training as a boxer, living out of his car, and seeking the "American dream" of opulent wealth. While well intended, Sol lacks balance, restraint, and roots.

When a hot-shot boxing manager comes to Honolulu to scout his next star, Sol knows it’s his chance to prove himself. He trains with his friend, Elijah. To win, he needs to face what’s been holding him back: a disconnection to his roots, and unprocessed intergenerational trauma. Sol’s friendship with Elijah may lead him toward an awakening of deeper connection with his ancestors…and perhaps with himself.

Expanding Sanctuary

An immigrant mother emerges as a community leader during the historic campaign to end the sharing of the Philadelphia police database with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Expanding Sanctuary tells a rarely told story about a Latinx immigrant community’s successful journey to change legislation and protect families.

Pretend I'm Not Here

A Spanish-English phone interpreter hears a familiar voice on the other end of a call with a migrant detention facility.

Stan Behavior

A drag queen embarks on a quest for better workplace rights, but finds herself in a dicey situation when her new lawyer, a tone-deaf straight woman, is revealed to be a drag super fan.

Hours.

Nia Ray is a modest and witty accountant with no social life. Her co-worker Bradley Morris is fresh out of a serious relationship & ready to get the party started! What happens when these two emotionally unavailable coworkers find themselves on the brink of a romance after throwing caution to the wind for 24 hours?

I'm Pretty Sure My Therapist Thinks I'm a Bad Actor

When therapist Shelley doesn't stick around after her client's play to congratulate them, the last place she expected to find herself was abducted. Tied to a chair. By that same client. I'M PRETTY SURE MY THERAPIST THINKS I'M A BAD ACTOR is a micro-budget darkly comedic short film about anxiety, vulnerability, and the folks we turn to (and kidnap) for validation.

Richie Rich Hustla

A penniless actor, David, is kicked out of his ex-girlfriend's house, forced to sublet a stranger's living room couch. His roommate is Richie Rich Hustla, an eccentric wanna-be gangster and a fellow aspiring actor. When suddenly tasked with assisting Richie's auditions, David is thrust into a world of escalating confusion and chaos.

Compulsive Kickback

When an unforeseen circumstance occurs, Oscar must use his better judgement and coping mechanisms to ease his anxiety.

Word of Oda

A member of Club Oda - an underground cult of "One Piece" extremists - kidnaps and rehabilitates his girlfriend after date night, doesn’t go as planned.

The Composer

John's life has lost meaning, and each day blends into the next without bringing him any joy. His dementia is getting worse and holding on to the few memories he has left of his life is getting harder as the line between what's real and what's imagined is blurred. John's perception of himself starts to change as his obsession with a memory keeps him up at night and becomes a catalyst for a new beginning.

The Moon is in Aquarius

Devante and Liz run into each other at a house party on a starry night in San Francisco. There is an instant attraction. They ditch the party to explore San Francisco. As the night goes on, they begin to fall in love with each other and the city.

X: The Interview

A canceled superhero facing eviction turns to his side hustle for survival. As he embarks on his journey, he discovers dark powers are conspiring against him...

The Candy Lady

A neighborhood candy lady's normal day goes awry when she awakens an antique magical typewriter that brings her short stories to life.

The Order

Amari & Aissa are taken in as orphans into a secret society in the Motherland known as The Order and trained to become highly skilled ninja assassins. When the head of their organization tasks them with an assignment to take out a violent human trafficker, the story takes a twisted turn when they unearth a dark secret about their matriarch, changing things forever.

4 to 6 Seconds

Blurring the lines between chance, choice, and inevitability, 4 to 6 Seconds invites you to embark on an unforgettable journey into the human psyche. Witness the decisions that shape destinies and the whirlwind of consequences that follow.

Three women face life-changing decisions in a single day. Their choices in mere seconds alter their destinies forever. Dive into a day where fate, decisions, and twists intertwine, crossing paths between three unique characters. Their stories crash and careen as they struggle to navigate a world on the edge of chaos. Watch as the subtle synchronicity in the tapestry of life is masterfully revealed.

TOSSOU

The veil between the living and dead is thinning. An aging woman is visited by an anthropomorphic bird (Azétor) and the spirits of her deceased children in a dream before joining them in the ancestral world.

Last Option

The story follows Daniel, a gifted psychic with the ability
to see into the future, but yet out-of-luck millennial- all the
while coming into contact with the eccentric homeless
Josie Williams as they embark on a journey of
committing burglaries.

The Last Today

A depressed Private Detective tries a psychedelic for the first time as a new coping mechanism which leads him to an outrageous night of hallucinations and murder.

Sobriety

How do we cope with trauma and abandonment? Church? therapy? or...alcohol?

Isley (Daniella Ochman) and Dr. Rein (Ashley-Lauren Elrod) are on a mission to achieve atonement for Isley, but she is having a hard time doing so due to her alcoholism, mental illness, and traumatic experiences.

Stage Kids

An hour before showtime, two teenage actresses must decide if this is the life they want for themselves, or if they’re going to take their professional stress and family drama into their own hands.

Habla Con Ella

Habla Con Ella delves into Mel's tumultuous journey from a once enchanting romance to the stifling confines of a toxic partnership. Struggling to find solace amidst her anxious home life, this young Latina woman embarks on a harrowing quest for happiness, battling against the controlling forces that threaten to consume her spirit.

Passage

A broken heart, the perilous voyage of a migrant, the grief of a loved one, a mental health crisis…PASSAGE explores a universal journey through movement.

Full-Time Racing Family

In the high-octane world of karting, a California-based,
black-owned family motorsports park opens its doors to families and their young racers who chase the elusive
dream of a career in motorsport.

How to Sue the Klan

From Attorney Ben Crump. America’s first hate group, the Ku Klux Klan, dealt out hatred and violence for over a century without penalty - until five Black women and a young Black civil rights lawyer finally forced them to pay for their crimes. The strength of these women and the groundbreaking 1982 civil case set forth by their attorney established a legal precedent that paved the road for today’s fight against organized hate.

CARLY

In a dystopian world, a TV show unfolds its dark tale. Carly, the charismatic host of "The Cupcake Factory" presides over a society where “likeability” is the only currency. Winning guarantees a promising future at a haunting cost. What would you do to ensure the wellbeing of those you love?

Losing Daphne

Through recollections of his youth, a young man grapples with life's changes as his older sister spirals out of control due to paranoid schizophrenia.

Demo-Lition

The fate of an aspiring rapper with unbreakable resolve and his supportive wife of over a decade, hangs in the balance of an all-too-important phone call from a record label.

DREAMERS

JUAN (24) is traveling together with three other guys SAMUEL (28) AIDA (26) ADAM (32) in the back of a truck. The four guys are crossing the border as immigrants to enter the United States, in search of a stable life and the realization of their dreams. The four find themselves locked inside the back of a truck, without seeing the light for days, without being able to eat or drink, dirty and tired.
After ADAM tooks out a bottle of water from which he took a small sip and offered it to his travel companions, the four guys begin to talk about their goals, their dreams and the reasons that prompted them to embark on that journey and each one tells his own personal story.
In the distance the noise of sirens is becoming more and more persistent and close. The immigrants begin to experience moments of terror, with the fear that all their dreams could go up in smoke at any moment. The truck stops suddenly and after some investigations, police decides to open the truck, blinding the four immigrants with the external light.

A Beginner's Guide to Giving Up

A struggling painter, decides to give up on her dreams for graduate school. Awaiting the acceptance or rejection letter, spirited debates with her peers unfold, delving into the eternal conflict of following one's artistic dreams versus choosing a more logical path. But amidst it all an enigmatic magic glides through the air, whispering secrets only the cosmos comprehend.

Sole Sista

Chelsea navigates the feeling of being different as the only black girl in school and sits in limbo between feeling included but not embraced, after experiencing micro-aggression after micro-aggression. Chelsea decides life would be easier if she looked just like them.

Ray of Hope

The 26-year armed conflict in Sri Lanka compelled numerous Eelam Tamils to seek refuge in foreign nations, notably in Canada. Among them is Rathika Sitsabaiesan, a former Canadian Member of Parliament, who fled the armed conflict in Sri Lanka with her Tamil family as a five-year-old child. The anguish and tales of the conflict drove Rathika's advocacy. In 2013, her visit to Sri Lanka rekindled her own traumatic memories, as she was surveilled by the very government accountable for widespread suffering.

"Ray of Hope" delves into the intricate aftermath of trauma within a community that is now breaking its silence, aiming to attain justice for the multitude who have gone missing or perished. The documentary sheds light on how Rathika's experience echoes the larger narrative of Eelam Tamil migrants, exploring the intricate interplay between personal and collective healing and the pursuit of accountability.

Price

After years of struggling to find work, Price, an aspiring actor, finally has a chance at a breakout role in a feature film.

He lands a role in a psychological thriller helmed by
once accomplished indie film director, Steinbeck. Determined to earn Steinbeck's respect, Price gives it his all in his performance as an unhinged axe murderer named Dennis.

But after a take, Steinbeck praises Price's white co-star's less-than-stellar performance and ignores Price. When the film day ends, Steinbeck threatens to replace Price if he doesn’t method act to deliver the right performance. Emboldened by this threat, Price puts himself through increasingly disturbing physical and emotional transformations to become Dennis.

The more Price punishes himself, the more he loses his grip on reality. His descent into madness inevitably manifests Dennis, who lures Price to a horrific fate.

Two Breaths

After a man-made disaster decimates an evergreen island, a stranded 11-year-old girl must find the tenacity to leave behind her home with the help of an unlikely friend.

LEAD

An Afro-Latina actress works at making it big in the industry despite it seeming to be against her based on her ethnically ambiguous appearance alone.

Toska

A hunter's obsession with the creature that has eluded her leads her down a dangerous and lonely path.

Universe 25

A determined woman, trapped by a mysterious entity, is forced into a psychological experiment where she will never know anyone longer than 30 days. It’s difficult to say what’s worse: knowing that anyone she cares about will disappear, or that they might be replaced by someone worse. With no hope of escape, she must confront the absurdity of her new existence.

Universe 25 is an allegory for a universal human dilemma: how can you find happiness when everything (and everyone) in life is transient? Where is hope in the face of relentless adversity? A must-watch for fans of sci-fi, psychological horror, and character-driven dramas alike.

Will I See You Again?

After 20 years of estrangement, two former college teammates find themselves summoned to their late friend's estate hearing. To claim their inheritance, they must first confront their past relationship while undergoing a polygraph test.

Halloween '63

The year is 1963, little Michael Myers and his older sister Judith have just arrived home from trick or treating. As they get settled for the night, the phone rings.

Hey Kiddo

It's the 2000s and Margot is gathering stuff in her basement for a garage sale. She finds a VHS tape labeled "1991". She pops it into the VCR and it's a video of her mom, Rebecca, who is terminally ill. Rebecca records a tearful and loving goodbye message to a young Margot. Suddenly, the video is interrupted.

Marque Dos (Second Chance)

An aspiring tour manager moves up the ranks in the marketing industry where discovering herself and her place in the world faces off with the demands of her dream job

Crossfire Love

Exploring history and personal narratives, 'Crossfire Love' delves into the multifaceted world of black gun ownership, revealing its roots, cultural significance, and evolving role in modern society.

A Sound to Remember

After losing his singing partner and lover during a jazz club mass shooting, Worthy Love struggles through PTSD and grief to sing again.

Pull Over So I Can Hit You

Based on a series of true events in the unremarkable town of Spanaway, Washington. 17-year-old Trey must prove his driving proficiency to his very eager father and apprehensive mother, with a mischievous little brother in tow, in order to finally obtain the keys to his coveted new car and ultimately unlock his freedom to embark on a whirlwind romance with the only Black girl in school- his dream girl, Shantelle.

N.ot W.ithout A.lonzo

"N.ot W.ithout A.lonzo" is a full-length feature documentary film about the beginning of West Coast Hip-Hop as told by the Godfather of West Coast Hip-Hop, Grandmaster Lonzo. This story takes a first-hand account of the growth of hip-hop culture and the music business out west and the early story of Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, Kurtis Blow, and many more artists whose humble beginnings started from DJ promotional teams to the big stage.

Takeout

Tensions rise for a young couple, Darius & Lola, when a delayed takeout order disrupts their night in. The responsibilities of Darius’ on-call job weigh heavy on him and divides his attention from his relationship. Meanwhile, Lola desperately tries to pull Darius from his work to spend quality time with her which only creates stress on Darius. The two at first have a passive aggressive encounter that slowly builds to a climactic fight leaving them unsure if the relationship will even last.

Summer's Twilight

Logline :
A cerebral and fantastical film about a glamorous woman, Wendy on the cusp of receiving a coveted lifetime achievement award, until a mischievous and ill-natured sprite incites her down a destructive journey, revealing a shocking truth about her reality and sister.

Synopsis:
Wendy, a regal and glamorous woman is backstage in her dressing room as the crowd from the award ceremony next door erupts into cheers and swoons over her. A nameless woman stands on the stage as she incites the crowd further by reading Wendy’s introduction for her coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. Ironically, back in Wendy’s dressing room, she appears sad and apprehensive about all the praise. As Wendy begins to contemplate her reality in Shakespearian English, we spot a familiar face from literature, Robin Goodfellow. The angry sprite dismisses Wendy’s words which leads her into fanciful memories about her sister in childhood.

While trapped in Wendy’s memories, we learn that in childhood Wendy and her sister, Lynch are communicating through two different worlds with a passkey word made of gibberish, Boodobo. When she returns to the present day, Wendy’s glamourous reality begins to glitch, and we see a version of Wendy in an insane asylum preparing for a lobotomy. Unsure of which reality is true, both versions of Wendy begin their journey to their destination. But, a paparazzi camera flash triggers another journey to the past for Wendy to reveal the truth. During a shared dream between a younger Wendy and her sister, Lynch, it is revealed that Lynch was a fae (fairy) and she was forced to return to her true home in another world by a beautiful, but mysterious adult fairy. Lynch tried to bring her sister Wendy with her, but fear and confusion kept her from joining her sister. However, in reality, while the two sisters napped, Lynch suddenly died in front of young Wendy and their inconsolable Mother irrationally blamed Wendy for surviving without her sister. And it was then, left alone in a bed with her lifeless sister, paralyzed by guilt and grief, Robin Goodfellow emerged with noble intentions to shield Wendy from her terrible reality by filling her world with illusions.

Then, as Wendy makes her way onto the stage, she is unable to live in a world of Robin Goodfellow’s illusions and awakens on the operating table. The nameless woman from the stage

is revealed as the doctor prepping for Wendy’s lobotomy operation. Finally, in the dark night of the soul, as Wendy helplessly lies on the table with Robin Goodfellow saying his sincerest and heartfelt goodbyes, the beautiful, but mysterious adult fairy that returned her sister home all those years ago appears and zaps Robin Goodfellow out of this world. The adult fairy pulls out a magic rose and all is revealed. She is an adult version of Lynch, come to take her sister, Wendy home to where it is forever summer’s twilight.

Under the Influencer

Producer Jill Bennett presents a taut and timely psychological thriller that Lisa Rose of Queer Screen says is "unlike anything else [she's] seen in years."

Digital artist Lex Carre (Lauren Neal) documents her struggle with anxiety through work that she posts anonymously online. Her pieces capture the attention of cunning curator Andrea Caulfield (Erin Matthews), who offers mentorship in exchange for control of Lex’s career.

When Lex’s mental health starts to spiral from the pressure, Andrea assumes ownership of her work—prompting Lex to plot a psychological showdown against the exploitative mentor who stole her art and nearly destroyed her mind.

This searing examination of art and identity in contemporary society also features Joy Sunday (Netflix's "Wednesday"), Pam Trotter ("Abbott Elementary"), and Emmy Award-winner Jenelle Riley.

Content warnings: suicide, self-harm, mental health.

The Burden

In 2044, immediately following the election of another racist president, a group of wealthy Black people pooled their money together to take all willing Black people of Earth to a new colony in the Andromeda Galaxy they’ve built called New World
Sankofa. In order for non-Black people to gain citizenship they must go through a series of citizenship steps; concluding with a formal hearing in front of a tribunal. We open on one tribunal hearing featuring an Asian American man named Shawn Lee.
He’s proven he’s well versed in Black culture until they learn he’s a perpetual N-word user. The tribunal judges attempt to reason with Shawn to no avail; realizing he’s more appropriator than appreciator. He's a classic culture vulture; wanting everything but the burden. The judges have technology up their robe sleeves, though.

Curtain Call

Jared Wofford (StartUP, Swagger, David Makes Man) and Tony J. Scott (Manhunt. The Equalizer) star in this American crime drama following Rashon, a young, intelligent drug dealer secretly pursuing his passion for theatre. As he juggles managing a team of dealers under his powerful mentor, Kane (Jared Wofford), and leading a play at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, his double life begins to unravel. With opening night approaching, Rashon's dedication to theatre causes him to miss critical drug meetings, drawing Kane's suspicion. Confronted and warned by Kane, Rashon is torn between his two worlds. Ultimately, he chooses the stage over a crucial drug deal, leading to chaos in his criminal operations and an unexpected, transformative confrontation with Kane.

Behold A Lady

Riley, a studious tomboy, and her boyfriend, Elvin, study for her Latin Quiz Bowl tryouts
when he unexpectedly dumps her. The breakup springs Riley into action as she
dresses more femininely to win Elvin back. However, she soon finds that her new look
garners more unwanted attention than she bargained for. Throughout the day, she
balances her desire to pursue Elvin and win a spot on the Latin Quiz Bowl team. After she loses to up-and-comer Darren, she flees tryouts only to run into Elvin. There,
she comes to the realization that she is enough, with or without his approval.

Red Flags

Beneath the facade of a charmed life, a successful woman faces an internal reckoning as she grapples with the painful realization of a toxic relationship she entered despite the glaring warning signs, prompting a journey of self-reflection and empowerment, to reclaim her strength and find true happiness.

Chakras For Sale

After failing to make it big as a rock band, four Indian Americans in 1960s San Francisco attempt one last rebrand to ride the hippie wave and finally get their big break.

Burn Out

An assistant will do anything to get a presentation in front of his boss… even set himself on fire.

Alt Black

ALT BLACK is a half hour Drama/Comedy that follows Conroe,
a 30-something man, as he navigates being half black and half white in his everyday life, dating, work and pursuing an acting career in Hollywood. Conroe finds himself being "not black enough" more often than not as he goes from audition to audition. The series will bring a plethora of experiences of Conroe trying to fit in, while seemingly trapped in an ALT BLACK world.

Shoebox

Overcome by abuse, a teenage black boy is forced to choose between pulling the trigger or not in an effort to protect himself. In turn, we are split between two realities of fate - the dream or a dream deferred.

JEN

At thirteen, Jendayi "Jen" Washington struggles to connect with the people and things around her after the sudden death of her grandmother. Forced to figure things out suddenly, Jendayi's mom decides a fresh start begins with a move and relocates her daughter to the confines of suburbia, hoping to alleviate their grief. Baring the responsibility of looking after her younger sister, and attempting to fit in with a popular trio at school, Jendayi begins to spiral out of control.

Grieving

Diane, an aspiring actress looking for work, finds herself in the office of psychiatrist Dr. Hiller. As part of a ground-breaking if controversial study, Dr. Hiller hires Diane to role play as the deceased partner of one of his clients. Desperate for work, Diane accepts the job and finds herself in a position where she must act out a scenario in which to bring emotional closure to someone else's pain. However, when Diane realizes the selfishness of her assigned client, she is thrust into a dilemma of continuing her usual behavior of people-pleasing or to finally stand up for herself.

Village Treasures

Village Treasures opens on a perfect California day. Stevi, a typical, screen-absorbed teenager, reluctantly tags along with her sprightly Aunt Meredith on a shopping trip to downtown Long Beach. The mundane day takes an unexpected turn when they visit Village Treasures, a vibrant African art store run by the warm and wise Max.

Stevi's world transforms when she stumbles upon an enchanting Kalimba. One pluck of its keys, and the store comes to life with vibrant, joyous African dancers. Each subsequent strumming of the Kalimba immerses Stevi deeper into the enchanting world of African culture, moving her beyond the confines of her digital universe.

If Trumpets Had Eyes

IF TRUMPETS HAD EYES is a dramatic short film following a young homeless man who randomly connects
with an up-and-coming executive after receiving the recycled phone number of her deceased brother. The
goal of the film is to explore the complex relationship that society has with homelessness and the stigma
behind it, while also examining the human connection we miss out on by perpetuating these stereotypes. The
film is a classic tale of never judging a book by its cover.

Dual Citizens

Three Nicaraguan-American artists from the Washington D.C. Metro area discuss growing up in two cultures and how it influences their art.

Down the River

Neta Tezazo is an Ethiopian-Israeli Mossad officer with a mysterious past, sent on a mission to Darfur to intercede on behalf of Gen. Musa Issa Musa; a local warlord with political ambitions. If all goes according to plan, she will not survive the mission. Can Neta catch onto the game before she's the one that gets played?

Above the Desert with No Name

Above the Desert with No Name is a short film that begins with the real-world issue of women fleeing into the United States to escape domestic violence in their own country. The story is seen through the eyes of twelve-year old, Silvia, who has already witnessed how sexual violence can shape the world around her. She is joined by her eight-year-old brother, Hector, and her young mother, Maria. After illegally crossing the border the trio end up at a cousin's apartment for safety and hopefully a new start. But soon old patterns begin to emerge around them. Silvia finds solace sitting alone on the balcony of their apartment building. One day Silvia secretly spies on a neighbor doing strange, poetic movements synchronized with breath-work. Silvia has an incandescent experience watching this Medicine Woman in what she and the audience learn to be a spiritual yoga practice. After mimicking along with the Medicine Woman on several occasions something awakens within Silvia that connects her beyond the limitations of her reality and syncs her with the magic realism of the natural world. The awakening of her divine femininity resonates on full display in the film's dramatic climax. This story at its core is about the intersection of trauma, yoga and mysticism and the profound effect on young girls who find self-realization and have the ability to break familial patterns for their future. It is a story of hope.

GOLD DOGMA

Kasim Brown, the President of the prestigious Alpha Beta Gamma, a historically Black fraternity, welcomes his younger brother, Nasir Brown, into the organization. Amidst celebration, an anonymous tweet alluding to Nasir being gay creates division among the brotherhood as not all of the members are accepting of it. It further damages the organization's reputation as students who were once interested in joining distance themselves from the opportunity during a time where the fraternity must bring in new members or it will lose university recognition. Kasim, burdened with his responsibilities of the presidency, seeks the advice of different members and navigates tough conversations with his younger brother to ease this dilemma. In doing so he ends up confronting his own ignorance and the authenticity of the values the fraternity upholds.

And We Rest on Giants

And We Rest on Giants is an exploration into the lives of people of color aging and long-term survivors of HIV. As stigma continues to ravish communities of color, this short explores the daily walk of those thriving unapologetically and provides a first-hand account of the HIV journey. Layered with spoken word, these stories ignite the importance of honest discussion.

Deep Reverence

Haunted by the fear of drowning in deep water, from the memory of accidentally falling into a pool, Rhea reclaims her space in deep water by learning to swim.

Dating Positive (+) - 25min

Logline: After experiencing a traumatic event, Sigourney figures out how to navigate life's twists and turns through love, laughter, and friendship.

In Dating Positive (+), Sigourney Johnson's world is turned upside down after a traumatic event leaves her with a lifelong disease. Throughout the series Sigourney navigates the challenges of managing her condition, while attempting to find love. She leans on the unwavering support of her closest friends, Taleigh, Misty, and Porter, who are also grappling with their own romantic entanglements. Together they embark on a journey filled with laughter, tears, and unexpected twists, discovering that with friendship as their anchor, every curveball life throws their way becomes an opportunity for stronger bonds, lessons, and growth.

The Seductress from Hell

“The Seductress from Hell” follows Zara Pereira, a struggling Hollywood actress who
suffers tragedy after tragedy and one day snaps into a villainous and sadistic alter-ego.

First targeting her husband Robert, she seeks revenge against all those who wronged
her.

Biking

A freshman in college struggles to adapt to life after highschool.

Don't Cry For Me All You Drag Queens

"Don’t Cry For Me All You Drag Queens" pays homage to the legendary Mother Cavallucci by weaving together the present and past to provide a striking portrait of belonging and memory. Joseph “Josie” Cavallucci (aka Mother Cavallucci) is a legendary New Hope drag queen that would host annual wedding celebrations in the 70s and 80s that served as fundraisers and a community party. Poetically merging archival photographs and present day footage from a community drag show, the film sparks conversation about the modern day issues Mother Cavallucci revolutionized.

Write This…

In a hilarious twist of fate, a washed-up talent manager turned wannabe writer faces the ultimate plot twist: he must charm and cajole his brilliant but skeptical client into letting him manage her career by crafting side-splitting stories, turning his own life into a comedy of errors in the process.

In the uproarious comedy "WriteThis," the spotlight shines on Jay Thompson, a former high-flying agent who now finds himself grounded in the murky waters of a midlife crisis. Jay's dreams of becoming a successful writer were dashed long ago, buried beneath heaps of rejection letters and dashed hopes. He now spends his days wallowing in self-pity while watching reruns of classic movies, hoping for a plot twist of his own.

Enter Rita St. Clair, a brilliant and fiercely independent and extremely successful actress client who is on the brink of becoming the next Viola Davis. Her razor-sharp wit and unique acting have earned her legions of fans and a potential A-list status that could catapult her into stardom. However, there's a catch – Rita's new publicist insists she work with a reputable agent to navigate the treacherous waters of the Hollywood. This is Jay's obstacle, which is to redeem himself and carve a new path for both Rita and himself.

With his last glimmer of hope reignited, Jay concocts a daring plan: he will convince Rita to let him manage her career by using his own life experiences as material for her stories. He believes that his string of unfortunate events could become the fodder for a compelling narrative that will demonstrate his commitment to her success. But there's a hitch – Jay's life is more like a series of cringe-worthy sitcom episodes than a thrilling adventure. From accidentally dyeing his white shirt pink in the laundry to getting stuck in an elevator with a mariachi band, his mishaps are legendary, though not in the way he'd hoped.

TIGHT

When a young mother's child goes missing, she gets help from her sister and a family friend to help look for the child. Yet, when dirty secrets from the sister’s past are revealed, they must face and reconcile their feelings, so that they can come together for the sake of finding the missing boy.

Brownies

Set in 1983 at camp, Snot (12) and her all-black girl scout troop seek revenge on an all white privileged troop for calling them a racial slur. However, things take a left turn which leads to a shocking truth.

August & Ebony

Four-month pregnant EBONY isn’t ready for this baby and a podcast about wild childbirth stories only heightens her anxieties. Her wife of 3-months, AUGUST, comforts and reassures her...and it almost works until JUSTIN, her best friend and hook-up-turned-father of her child, bursts into the house, armed with his binder of research. Determined to save these two wholly unprepared mothers-to- be, he invites himself to stay over—much to August’s dismay.

Reviewing Justin’s research only leads Ebony to a crisis of confidence, worsened when August and Justin clash. When Ebony asks for their help to create a birth plan, she’s ignored. She finally scolds August and Justin to work together for her and the baby.

The two rivals sheepishly put their rivalries aside to build a plan to get Ebony to the hospital and the thruple form a united front, choosing to weather this lifelong co-parenting journey together.

Black Girls & Fairytales

A princess-for-hire gets the chance of a lifetime to be an actual princess, but her ingrained colorism and insecurities hold her back from her crown.

flick

A lighter is purchased, then takes a trip around the block, adding the spark needed for those to make
a change. The flame it brings pulls some together, but pushes others apart. No matter where you are,
life can change with one FLICK.

The Possible Life

After welcoming their first baby, Pete and Emma struggle with all the classic new parent challenges. But is something deeper going on? Follow Emma as she replays the events that led them to their current state - if she tries hard enough, maybe she can change the outcome.

Tillie

An 8 year old girl adopted from China leads her father to a deeper understanding of what she faces in a new culture and what she longs for from her home country.

Welcome to Afrotree

Steven and Janet are fed up with gentrification, whitewashing, and code switching in the big city. They move to Afrotree, an experimental, gated community populated by only African-American residents. Their dream of living in a cultural oasis suddenly becomes a nightmare when they discover they might not be “Black” enough.

The Yellow Sponge is the Dish Sponge

Do we really need to wash sheets every week? Why would you ever have to clean a shower head? What is the difference between the blue sponge and the yellow sponge? These are the questions that haunt Jason. He doesn't understand the world's obsession (and his husband Erik's obsession) with cleanliness. So, on the day of their big party Jason launches his campaign to open Erik's eyes to this problem. What starts as disagreements about Lysol Wipes and Febreze scented trash bags turns into something bigger as The Yellow Sponge is the Dish Sponge looks at a couples conflict as old as time...fighting about household chores.

Latchkey

Amid a thunderstorm, a little girl is left at home alone while her parents go to work with one key instruction: don't open the door for anyone.

Blurred Ties EP 5

After former college friends Brenda & Freddie experience one intimate night together , they reunite years later. Many unresolved issues surface, eclipsing their attempts to navigate personal and professional paths. In this delicate dance, they confront the haunting specter of a shared past, seeking healing amid life's complexities.

Social Gems

Joselyn J, the unemployed creator of the Social Gems program has, once again, failed her latest attempt to get a job. With bills piling up, no money to finish her degree, and resources getting thin, Joselyn takes the advice of her ex-client to restart the social coaching program that she had abandoned.

After telling a few “white lies”, she lands a job at the Sunshine Community Center. However, she quickly realizes that she might be vastly unqualified and unprepared to handle not only the staff but the clients.

Chasing Josephine

After finding out her grandmother was once Josephine Baker’s lover, a queer Black woman travels from Los Angeles to Paris to retrace her steps and find herself.

Three's A Crowd

A teenage overachiever attempts to reconcile the relationship between her dad and newfound brother while dealing with sexual abuse in her mother's home.

Les Câlins Cheaps (Cheap Hugs)

The film follows two women reeling from the loss of their mutual friend by suicide. One woman’s openness to the pain counters the other’s avoidance, ultimately leading them towards an unexpected connection that stirs something more hopeful in both of their hearts. The story is set in Montréal, its distinctive bilingual culture acting as a gesture of separation at the beginning of the story, and connection at the end. 'Les Câlins Cheaps' speaks to the importance of mental health awareness, suicide prevention and the growing need for connection in this increasingly disconnected world.

Super High: A Period Piece

In the semi-autobiographical short film "Super High: A Period Piece," Amanda battles excruciating period pain caused by fibroids. Desperate for relief, she experiments with a celebrity cannabis brand's edibles. A dosage mishap catapults her into a surreal, anxiety-filled journey until she awakens.

O PRAZER É TODO MEU

THE PLEASURE IS ALL MINE

When 76-year-old Amélia realizes she has never had an orgasm in her life, she becomes determined to have one at any cost.

Stank Face

Tasha is suffering from internal conflicts because of the stereotypes that society places on her, making her want to change the way she looks. Through several flashbacks Tasha is reminded of moments where her facial expressions were made fun of. To fix this Tasha decides to seek facial reconstruction surgery to alter her appearance to society's standards: A Constantly Happy Black Girl.

Into The Void

A spoken word poem about sexual assault.

CHICKEN

When Sam splits up with her partner, she is forced to move back into her childhood home with her mother and neurodivergent brother. When depression sinks in, her brother Emmett gets in her face trying to cheer her up and in doing so makes everything worse. But when Emmett is confronted with a situation at a baseball game where he is called a chicken, Sam rises to the challenge to come to his aid and is reminded of what is truly important.

Chicken features a neurodivergent cast and crew and is written and directed by women.

The Staycation

A weekend among a vapid group of friends takes a shocking turn after hidden cameras in a sketchy vacation rental are overlooked.

Pardon Me

Across the United States, individuals with criminal records face prejudice and lost opportunities long after they have completed their sentences. In every state, the Governor has the power to pardon past offenses. Pardon Me is a documentary short film that presents the case for how pardons can give individuals the opportunity to live as full citizens and contribute to their best ability, at the same time uplifting the lower income communities in which they live. The film features interviews with key civic leaders and the stories of two people going through the pardon process, one of whom received a pardon.

Living From Work

To lure her staff back, visionary CEO Karen Sly pioneers a revolutionary return-to-office policy that takes hybrid work to an extreme. Employees are required to live in the office seven days a week, blurring the lines between work and home. As the staff grapples with the absurdity of living from work—where the office becomes home and personal boundaries blur—they face bizarre challenges like homeschooling their kids in meeting rooms and attending Christmas Day brainstorming sessions. The perks? No mortgage, no commute, no grocery bills. This darkly comedic satire explores the absurdity of post-pandemic corporate culture as companies increasingly mandate a return to the office. Through humor and sharp commentary, the film highlights the growing tension between what employers and employees want in the modern workplace. It’s truly a short film about work-life imbalance.

Mosiah

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a Jamaican-born political activist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), is on trial in New York in 1923. Following the leadership of J. Edger Hoover & the BOI (later, the FBI), the government has charged Garvey with mail fraud in connection with selling stocks for the Black Star Line - a shipping line designed to forge a link between North America and Africa.

Garvey sees the trial for what it is: an attempt to end the movement by way of character assassination. Realizing his counsel is not up to the task, Garvey fires him and resolves to defend himself. As the trial plays out, flashbacks show glimpses of Garvey's life before the trial and his relationship with his wife Amy Jacques Garvey. This is the first-ever narrative film about his life.

Lost Time

After spending a long fifteen years in prison, TANYA JACKSON walked out of the ugly beige center she had been trapped in. As she steps out of the cruel, barb-wired gates of Phoenix Women’s Correctional Facility, she takes a look to the left and right before smiling to herself. Free at last. Battered Converse tennis shoes on her feet and a plastic bag full of her few possessions, Tanya begins to walk alongside the road to her new destiny.
Tanya finds comfort in her first hours of liberty at a local diner, inhaling burgers, fries and a couple of shakes as though she had never tasted the food before. While digesting, she calls her son, Blake, to deliver the good news of her release but is met with a cold reaction. Hurt and disappointed, she puts together the few bills that she has to call an Uber, with much help from the disgruntled restaurant employee.
Tanya closes the door to her Uber and faces a long drive way that leads to a beautiful home; her son’s. She anxiously knocks at the door and Blake opens it; his expression hard, stony, and a little sad. After a heated debate, Blake slams the door on Tanya’s face and does not give her the opportunity to meet her grandson. Heartbroken, Tanya sobs and yells out to Blake from the porch of the door, but is met with no response.
Defeated, she retreats back to the diner which had earlier served as a safe haven for her but now reduces her to unhappy memories. A happy family passes her table and triggers flashbacks of when she got caught in armed robbery gone wrong and of the last encounter Tanya had with her daughter due to her being angry that she did not want to take a plea deal.
The diner closes up shop and Tanya is forced to leave. Alone and cold, she plops on a curb in the parking lot. After much contemplation, she gathers the strength to dial a number. Time passes and a car rolls up. A warm, but concerned elderly black woman gets out and for a moment the two women stare at each other until Tanya darts towards the car to give her mother a long, warm embrace. After many tears spilled and a motherly kiss on the forehead, Tanya climbs into the car to go home at last.

Two Bad Twitches

TWO BAD TWITCHES is a story about friendship and tapping into your power.
Six months after ADELE catches her boyfriend cheating, her best friend BRITTANY convinces her to seek revenge by casting a spell on him. The two enlist help from a money hungry witch that appears untrustworthy. Labelle, the gimmicky witch, gives the two instructions on how to cast the spell. Adele and Brittany embark
on a journey to make the potion that will hopefully avenge Adele’s broken heart.

Chorus Notes

After a chance encounter at a record store, two women form a connection through the power of music.

What to Expect When You're Not Expecting

In this queer comedy short, Spencer and his husband Elliot run into one road-block after another in their journey toward becoming Daddy's, while Spencer's best friend, London, deals with her own parenthood problems. Spencer eventually learns that all good things take time, even for such an anal retentive couple.

Brother, Where Are You?

This loose adaptation and update of James Baldwin’s short story Sonny’s Blues has been referred to as powerful, moving, and honest. We travel through the heightened consciousness of brothers sharing a page, and discovering one another anew. With a breathtaking performance from newcomer Troy Maxwell G. Blakey, the poetry of passion shines through.

BROKEN GLASS

A gripping psychological thriller that takes viewers on a mind-bending journey through the complex world of Dissociative Identity Disorder. When a troubled man seeks therapy to unravel a distorted memory that haunts him, he unwittingly embarks on a odyssey through his fractured psyche. As the lines between reality and illusion blur, he must confront his hidden alters, each holding a piece of the truth, in a race against time to untangle the web of anxiety, trauma, and stress that threatens to consume him. With every twist and turn, "BROKEN GLASS" explores the fragile boundaries of identity, memory, and sanity, leaving audiences questioning what is real and what lies within the depths of the mind.

The Devil Ain't Pius

A lifetime ago, a struggling Pius Montgomery sold the soul of one of his future grandchildren to the Devil in exchange for a life of wealth and success. Fifty years later, Pius, the head of the billion dollar Uncle Pius’ Devilishly Hot Hot Sauce empire, has gathered his four children and seven grandchildren around him to break the bad news. One of kids will have to surrender their child to the Devil to pay off their father’s debt. But already anticipating what a difficult decision it will be, Pius has set up a series of games of skill. And the loser will leave the weekend with one less child.

All Meat Diet

ALL MEAT DIET follows the increasingly harrowing journey of a young man who turns to a collective of zealous fitness enthusiasts in pursuit of his "best self."

As the protagonist entrenches himself in a community that mirrors his ambitions, he also finds the shame he harbors reflected back at him through the voices of several of his most fervent peers.

This film delves into toxic positivity, the proximity between regimen and intemperance, and our innate desire for validation and community.

Maison

An African man seeks directions to the airport at a rural U.S. gas station.

I'm Usually Pretty Good At Naming Things

Joe Strummer of The Clash said it best: “All we’re doing is trying to communicate something. Sometimes we don't know what it is, sometimes we do."
In the summer of 2021, I decided that I had spent long enough making art with pre-ordained meaning. I wanted to see what art-making was like free from that obligation. I wanted to see what would happen if I let the process speak back to me. So I culled through my extensive arsenal of the stuff I make collage and sculpture with, and made a stack of paper about a foot tall. With this as my raw material, I cast aside the idea of outward expression with a specific agenda, and embraced inward exploration with unassigned curiosity.
Subsequently, each collage became its own independent narrative. I was speaking in an intuitive language that perhaps I didn’t have total agency over. It was scary, and it was freeing.
I knew that even if I didn’t fully understand what I was making, there would be two people who would: my kids. To be clear, I don’t mean ‘understand’ in the way one processes a distinct language: I’m not a semaphore; they are not at sea. What I mean is that these pieces might just have a poetic resonance with the two people who know me better than I know myself.
Maybe by admitting that I don’t have all the answers—not by a long shot— in a communication authored for the people who ostensibly look to me for answers, I can become as cool as Joe Strummer. At least to my kids.

The Newlyweds: Blood At the Altar

Tia and Akil are good people loved by their friends and family. However, no one believes they should wed because they love hard. They've had a dysfunctional, up-and-down relationship since college. They're crazy about each other, and their friends have seen the chaos that can bring when things aren’t going well. Their love is either SPARKS flying or things BURNING, no in-between. On their big day, we quickly learn that their wedding guests have doubts about their marital future. Despite the looming uncertainty among family and friends, the couple proudly pledges their LIVES to each other. As the devoted couple exchanges vows, things get wild when a catering staff member barges into the kitchen with sick but strange symptoms. After the ceremony, the NEWLYWEDS prepare to make their grand entrance in the ballroom as husband and wife, but instead of applauding guests, they are faced with grueling ZOMBIES.

Outcast Forest

A lost Viking discovers a Saxon girl on the run from thugs and must intervene to find his way home.

As You Are

A young queer girl is forced to learn the true meaning of self acceptance and love after an unfortunate event at her church.

Vigilante

In a city where superheroes overlook the vulnerable, four friends with powers step up to protect their neglected neighborhood.

Chomp

The story follows a mysterious doctor who is obsessed with dissecting and controlling human behavior. For the first time in her many experiments, things don't go her way leading to results she never expected.

TASTE OF THE MECCA

An awkward black boy begins to find love while struggling to acclimate himself at his prestigious HBCU.

Gynarchy

A post-apocalyptic manless experimental tale of a three-generation family of women that navigate life in an all-female colony that is interrupted when they find an opposing group of knights that keeps men alive but captive.

Film School

Agricultural, Technical, and Mechanical City State University is an HBCU, and it’s Macy Smith’s (Smithy) first day. Smithy has a lingering tuition bill looming over her head when her professor presents a scholarship opportunity to the class. They all have to make a video highlighting their summer, but all Smithy did was help out at her parent’s restaurant. Plus, with her nemesis Adrienne having the right connections and equipment, it seems as if getting this scholarship might be impossible. Despite this, Smithy finds a way to make her project unique and wins the scholarship through her perseverance.

Unconditional

A young man who has made the decision to get out of "the game," but when things hit the fan, he is deserted by his friends.

Bros Propose

For the first time in his life, Tobias confronts his romantic status when his best friend Bret, decides to get engaged. Suddenly, Bret ropes him into pulling off an extravagant wedding proposal only hours before it's scheduled to begin. They enlist the help of their newly divorced bro, Chinomso. Together they adventure through the streets and characters of New York to make it happen.

This is a story about Black Male friendships and Black Love.

Golden Garden Takeout

A nosy Chinese American mother walks in on her teenage daughter's devastating breakup.