Section

Animation Spotlight

This spotlight highlights innovative animated films and shorts that push the medium’s boundaries. These selections represent a broad array of animation techniques and genres, from whimsical and playful to thought-provoking and poignant.

Animation Spotlight, Fine Arts Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Robert French and French-Language Focus, The Immigrant Experience, Women In Film Spotlight

Ana, en passant

Film Ana, en passant Directed by Fernanda Salgado After the death of her grandmother, Ana, a young black French woman, finds herself adrift in the city…

Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, Environmental Focus, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

Anyone lived in a pretty how town

Film Anyone lived in a pretty how town Directed by Daniel Kreizberg In a picturesque town, a man named “anyone" rejoices in the beauty of everyday life and celebrates the…

Animation Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Race In America: The Black Experience

Apart

Film Apart Directed by Pola Maneli Amid the harsh realities of South African apartheid, two boys—Themba and Joel—form a dangerous friendship. As hate and…

Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Brain Space

Film Brain Space Directed by Laura Tofarides Propelled into her own mind, Rhi explores the thoughts, fears and impulses that shape our internal world. When…

Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, Human Ties, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

Creature Mountain

Film Creature Mountain Directed by Loring Weisenberger Creature Mountain is the first chapter of a feature film (currently in production) that tells the tale of…

Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Dear Upstairs Neighbors

Film Dear Upstairs Neighbors Directed by Connie He A young woman desperate for a good night’s sleep is kept awake by her exceedingly noisy neighbors. As…

Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

Dog Ear

Film Dog Ear Directed by P√©ter V√°cz After witnessing his parents' violent fight, eleven-year-old Berci struggles with his anger and emotions, finding a way to…

Animation Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Flamingo in the Garden

Film Flamingo in the Garden Directed by Xinhui Ma A young Chinese woman recovers from a traumatic injury in a Moroccan hospital, where isolation, pain, and morphine-induced…

Animation Spotlight, Environmental Focus, Human Ties, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

Hell

Film Hell Directed by Parker Croft A place where dreams are real, wishes come true, and everything is always awful for everyone.

Animation Spotlight, ARCHIVAL, Cinema For Students Program, Fine Arts Spotlight, Human Ties, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition

Let’s All Go to the Lobby: The Story of Filmack Studios

Film Let’s All Go to the Lobby: The Story of Filmack Studios Directed by Justin Atkinson Robbie Mack, the third-generation owner of Filmack Studios, takes us behind the scenes of the world’s oldest producer…

American Indie Spotlight, Animation Spotlight, Fine Arts Spotlight, Human Ties, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

Living with a Visionary

Film Living with a Visionary Directed by Stephen P. Neary After 50 years of marriage, John must care for his wife while learning to live alongside her vivid…

Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Robert French and French-Language Focus, Women In Film Spotlight

Marble & Lemons

Film Marble & Lemons Directed by Anna Katalin Lovrity During a vacation on the Italian coast, a classy woman and her free-spirited adult daughter are struggling to…

Animation Spotlight, Human Ties, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

Moticos

Film Moticos Directed by Paige Meakin In rural Texas, a driver embarks on a solitary road trip where she is overcome with memories of…

Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, Cinema For Students Program, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

See you tomorrow.

Film See you tomorrow. Directed by Keiya Ando A five-year-old boy wakes to find his beloved dog has died in the early morning. As he drifts…

Animation Spotlight, Fine Arts Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

Small Hours

Film Small Hours Directed by Oscar Wyndham Lewis Struggling with alcohol addiction and mental illness, an artist reaches out to an old friend.

Animation Spotlight, Studio Spotlight

Tangles

Film Tangles Directed by Leah Nelson When Alzheimer’s disease begins to strip away her mother’s vibrant personality, a headstrong young woman is forced to...

Animation Spotlight, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spotlight on Inspiration Documentary Competition, Women In Film Spotlight

That Night

Film That Night Directed by Hoda Sobhani When Iran's Evin prison caught fire on October 15, 2022, activist Neda was locked inside a smoke-filled cell,…

Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, Spanish-Language Focus

The Scarlet Tamagochi

Film The Scarlet Tamagochi Directed by Francisco 'Visceral' Rivera A priceless toy has been stolen: The Scarlet Tamagochi. Iñaki and his turtle friend Cecilio become private detectives…

American Indie Spotlight, Animation Spotlight, Cinema For Students Program, Human Rights Spotlight, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition, The Immigrant Experience

The Whistle

Film The Whistle Directed by Greg Franklin A Jewish doctor and his family are living a comfortable life in Cologne, Germany when, in 1938, the…

Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, Cinema For Students Program, Human Ties, International Spotlight, Oscar-Qualifying Shorts Competition

Trading Cards

Film Trading Cards Directed by Radheya Jang An enigmatic man journeys back in time to find his younger self, seemingly to revisit the nostalgia of…