2026 POSTERS/TRAILERS

Ant Girl directed by Amanda Besl (WNY Experimental Short, 3 mins, Q&A)  - This experimental short is the story of Ant Girl, an insect loving six-year-old who gets her very own ant farm but has some decisions to make when she’s not allowed to send away for the ants. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm 

Awake directed by Kelsey Tarantino (US, Narrative Short, 5 mins)  - Two kids wake up in a locked room—only to discover they're not who they thought they were. 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #2: 8:30pm 

Babysitting the Demons on Maple Street directed by Amanda Woomer (WNY Short, 18 mins, Q&A)  - Less than a year after her daughter died from cancer, Darcy decides that she wants to try her hand at babysitting again. But after answering an unusual ad in the local paper for an "au pair," she finds that her new gig has brought her to the home of the mysterious Mr. Abaddon, and the rumor is that it's haunted. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #2: 8:30pm 

Bait & Switch directed by Sarah Falkiner (US, Narrative Short, 5 mins, Q&A) - Four Americans find their choices to have far reaching consequences. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #5: 6:00pm   

Basedball directed by Ryan Elizabeth Brady (WNY Student Film, 9 mins, Q&A) - When his team's legitimacy is questioned, a washed-up baseball coach must rally his players for a display of dominance in America’s favorite pastime. 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #10: 6:00pm 

BLESSED ARE THE UNCLEAN directed by Olivia Billings (WNY Short, 13 mins, Q&A) - BLESSED ARE THE UNCLEAN is a horror short that centers two students in a remote Catholic boarding school who experience a spiritual encounter that reframes their thoughts around Queerness. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #5: 6:00pm   

Burning in the Garden directed by Catalina Cielo (US, Narrative Short, 13 mins) - Refusing to see her relationship for what it has become, Sarah is visited by a strange Creature in her bathtub who begins scratching at her carefully controlled life. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #2: 8:30pm 

Cardboard directed by Julie Hoang (US, Narrative Short, 11 mins, Q&A) - The Presidential Fitness Test is every middle schooler's nightmare. For one self-conscious girl, it only worsens when she gets her period. Between bullies, school expulsion, and the terrifying mechanics of a cardboard tampon, she scrambles to survive the blood sport that is adolescence. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #4: 3:30pm   

Close Your Eyes directed by Hope Muehlbauer (WNY Short, 5 mins, Q&A) - A young couple has a conversation that will change their relationship forever. 

Screening Tuesday, August 11th, Block #12: 6:00pm    

COSMOS directed by Gabrielle Nunzio & Marissa Graves (WNY Short, 15 mins, Q&A) Tess is a hopeless romantic trying to piece together the events of last night's crazy party with help from her roommate Ben. All they have to go off of is a mixtape left behind by her crush, the elusive Veronica. 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #10: 6:00pm 

Trapos Sucios (Dirty Clothes) directed by María Barragán (Spain, Experimental Short, 3 mins) - A woman feels trapped and dreams of another love. In the end she has to make a decision. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm 

Dolls and Monsters directed by Margot Miriam Moore (US, Narrative Short, 25 mins, Q&A) - A group of friends receives a strange doll from a neighbor, an innocent gift that quietly begins to change everything. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #6: 8:00pm   

En duda, siempre a la izquierda (In Doubt, Go Left) (US Puerto Rico, Student Short, 17 mins) directed by Mariana S. Belaval - After his first sexual encounter with his best friend, Maco finds his dead grandmother on the couch in his home. Trailer 

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #8: 4:00pm   

Eviction. directed by Ashes Homon-Rahall (US, Narrative Short, 9 mins, Q&A) - A woman attempts to advocate for herself in the hellscape known as the American Healthcare System, only to take matters into her own hands. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #5: 6:00pm   

exception(al) directed by Michelle Bossy (US, Narrative Short, 13 mins) - A young Asian American university student grapples with what it means to be the only woman of color in her class when a film professor extends unwanted attention toward her. Based on a true story. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #1: 6:00 pm. 

FIREBALL directed by TK James (WNY Student Film, 15 mins, Q&A) - There’s a storm brewing in the Wild West, and bounty hunter Fireball seeks refuge in the wall of the Silver Spoon - a saloon owned and operated by Valentine, Beau and Eloise. 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #2: 8:30pm 

Forever Hold Your Peace directed by Paige Cummings (WNY Short, 10 mins, Q&A) - On her wedding day, Josie gets a reveal from her maid of honor she never expected. Trailer 

Screening Tuesday, August 11th, Block #12: 6:00pm    

Friends We Hate directed by Kimberly Te (US, Narrative Short, 13 mins, Q&A)  - Fiona and Rosemary couldn't be more different, but they don't have any other friends at the moment so this will have to do. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #1: 6:00 pm. 

Georgina directed by Ana Marazzi (US Puerto Rico, Narrative Short, 21 mins) - In 1937 Puerto Rico, under the domain of a U.S. military government, thirteen-year-old Georgina works alongside her mother, Petra, in a tobacco factory. When her father, Andrés, abruptly leaves after uncovering a family secret, Georgina's once-stable world is thrown into turmoil.

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #8: 4:00pm   

Home directed by Sara Mokhavat (Iran, Narrative Short, 10 mins) - An elderly couple is preparing to attend their young granddaughter’s birthday party while also attempting to conceal a secret from their children. Trailer 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #11: 8:00pm 

House Haunting directed by Allison Courtney (WNY Short, 6 mins, Q&A) - A couple tour a house for sale where everything is not what it seems. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #6: 8:00pm   

I am not afraid directed by llana Alazzeh (US, Music Video, 5 mins, Q&A)  - “I am not afraid” are the words of a Palestinian boy that inspired an Armenian-American songwriter, and grandson of genocide survivor, to tell the story of Gaza’s children in song.

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #7: 1:00pm   

Inward directed by Jo O'Donnell (WNY Short, 3 mins, Q&A) - Friends discover they didn't know their one friend as well as they thought. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #2: 8:30pm 

JAMEELA directed by Zainab Malik & Mina Isabella JafriMalik (Pakistan, Narrative Feature, 1 hour 32 mins) - Jameela follows a transgender woman in Karachi navigating love, loss, and survival in a society that often refuses to accept her. 

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #9: 6:00pm 

Kissing The Lipless directed by Amanda Besl (WNY Experimental Short, Psychological, 4 mins, Q&A) - A psychological experimental short in which a woman discovers that what draws her like a moth to a flame could be destroying her. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm 

Late Fall directed by Abigail Jean Lucas (US, Narrative Short, 18 mins, Q&A)  - In a working-class Boston apartment, a toddler's demands are pulling two new parents under. Tina carries the weight of everything, certain she's the only one holding it together. 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #1: 6pm 

Los Changos directed by Gala Rodríguez Belén (US Puerto Rico, Student Animation Short, 4 mins) - In a not-so-distant future, the grackles govern Puerto Rico after promising to have freed the people from corruption. They impose order and harmony with one condition: not to ask questions.

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #8: 4:00pm   

Manic directed by Amelia Favata (WNY Short, 15 mins, Q&A) - A mentally unstable former police detective plagued by trauma from her encounter with a serial killer is persuaded by her remote psychiatrist to undergo an in-person treatment in attempt to finally get some relief. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #2: 8:30pm 

Mélisande directed by Victoria Hutton (WNY, Music Video, 2 mins, Q&A) - Creative interpretation of a song from Claude Debussy's opera "Pelléas et Mélisande" sung by title character Mélisande, performed by Victoria Hutton. 

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #7: 1:00pm   

Miriam directed by Karla Condado (Mexico, Documentary Short, 20 mins) - Through this performatic video letter, the director talks with her aunt, who was a victim of femicide years ago, about what it has been like for her to grow up in fear in a country that is dangerous for women, trying to forge her path as the only woman in her family and cope with the grief of the femicide. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm 

Moral of the Story directed by Heaven Gebremedhin (WNY Student Film, 9 mins, Q&A) - A teenage girl faces the ramifications of her parents' toxic relationship and the sacrifices women make for each other, as she struggles to protect her younger sister from the cycle of abuse. 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #10: 6:00pm 

Mulata directed by Yarilis Ramos López (US Puerto Rico, Student Short, 16 mins) - In 1850 Puerto Rico, a mixed-race girl raised as a Spaniard faces rejection as she seeks to connect with her late African mother through an afro Puerto Rican dance called La Bomba.

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #8: 4:00pm    

My Long Covid Story directed by Sabrina Peña Young (WNY Experimental Short, 3 mins, Q&A) - 2021 Omicron wave sickened an already weary US populace. By 2022, she knew. Long Covid was barely whispered then. 5 years later, disabled by an unknown plague, she explores the thoughts, pain of dealing with a virus that destroyed lives. Her life. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm   

myself & i directed by M.K. Scanlon & Alisha Yi (US, Student Film, 18 mins) - Hannah’s need to please everyone but herself fractures her identity — and an unsettling version of herself begins to take over…something (or someone) uncanny. Trailer 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #10: 6:00pm 

Mystery of the Keeper directed by Elina Myshanych (Ukraine, Student Film, 15 mins) - The fate of Ukraine and the world is in a girl's hands. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm 

Nastell directed by Cydney Jade Ramos (WNY Student Film, Narrative Feature, 51 mins, Q&A) - Ivan Popov explores a complex newfound friendship with his best friend’s younger sister, Nastell Klein, in the city, while Maz Klein continues to stay stuck in their country hometown. Trailer 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #11: 8:00pm 

NINA'S EYES directed by Lukia Costello (WNY, Documentary Short, 13 mins, Q&A) - Two Ukrainian women, an artist and a filmmaker, explore migration, memory, and the healing force of art. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm 

No Bar directed by Jo O'Donnell (WNY Short, 2 mins, Q&A) - The Detectives and the case of the 10-inch dagger.

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #2: 8:30pm 

Nunca lleves mahones a una primera cita (Never Wear Jeans On A First Date) directed by Ady Ocasio (US Puerto Rico, Narrative Short, 17 mins) - After ending a relationship Raquel tries to change her style in order to have better luck in love.

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #4: 3:30pm   

Planet Heart directed by Samantha Zotara (WNY Student Film, 10 mins, Q&A) - Dolled up and mysterious Marsia 555 spends a night catching up with an old friend in small town America’s favorite dive bar. 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #11: 8:00pm 

Recao directed by Dayra Ferrera (US Puerto Rico, Narrative Short, 15 mins) - Anna grows up learning how to prepare sofrito alongside her grandfather Exio in their home in Villa Palmeras, Puerto Rico. Years later, Anna faces the double loss of her grandfather and her home after the forced displacement of the community. Trailer 

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #8: 4:00pm   

Reminisce directed by Leslie Morris (US, Narrative Short, 12 mins) - 25 years younger than her husband, a woman's world is turned upside down when her husband's college classmates come to visit. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #5: 6:00pm   

Repercussion(s) directed by Kelsy Nerrie  (US, Narrative Short, 14 mins, Q&A)   - The unsolved disappearance of his daughter prompts a grieving father to take matters into his own hands, giving rise to myriad consequences. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #1: 6:00 pm. 

Se Fue La Luz (The Power's Out) directed by Laurie Cruz (US Puerto Rico, Student Animation Short, 4 mins) - Two sisters indulge in a game of cards while they wait for the power to come back on. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #4: 3:30pm   

SHIFT directed by Bridgette Cannell (US, Narrative Short, 8 mins, Q&A) - Alone in the wilderness, a resilient forest ranger faces a sinister presence stalking her through the night, testing her resolve and sanity in a chilling battle for survival. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #6: 8:00pm   

Specter Nectar and the Death Machine directed by Emily Sugar (WNY Student Animation Short, 4 mins, Q&A) - Tragedy befalls rising band Specter Nectar on the way to their first headlining gig. They won't leave their fans disappointed though! Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #6: 8:00pm   

STRIPPER MOMS directed by Tricia Horyath (US, Narrative Short, 14 mins, Q&A)  - DeeDee, a former stripper turned suburban housewife and PTA president, thinks her life is perfect, until she discovers that her husband, Mike, is cheating on her with a stripper half her age. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #4: 3:30pm   

SUGARCRASH directed by Eva Rose Young (WNY Student Film, 1 min, Q&A) - Shitty DNA Labs is excited to share our latest product: Type 1 Diabetes! 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #3: 1:00pm 

Telaraña directed by Nicola Ríos (US Puerto Rico, Narrative Short, 16 mins) - In a remote mountain estate in Puerto Rico, a teenage daughter confronts the parasite entwined with her family’s secrets and must choose between inheriting their identity or forging her own. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #6: 8:00pm   

The Audition directed by Samara Von Rad (Canada, Music Video, 8 mins) - The Audition is a short aerial circus film that shows the emotional roller coaster that is the process of auditioning. 

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #7: 1:00pm   

The Chexorcist directed by Erica Stockwell-Alpert (US, Narrative Short, 7 mins) - When Jacob starts acting odd -- speaking in tongues, levitating, not calling his mother -- a local rabbi comes to perform an exorcism. 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #6: 8:00pm   

The Girl, The Hare, and The Sun directed by Rosemary Runk & Ali Guzman (WNY Student Animation Short, 7 mins) - A young girl is thrown into the unknown when a mysterious train shows up at night, leading her to a magical circus. 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #10: 6:00pm 

The Hitman's Laundromat directed by Kelly Kimbis (US Student Film, 15 mins) - Cassie Cosenza, hitman and daughter of a notorious crime boss, faces a moral roadblock when she's ordered to kill her uncle in his beloved laundromat. Her faith and family bonds are tested in an exploration of genre conventions, loyalty and love. 

Screening Monday, August 10th, Block #11: 8:00pm 

The Paradox Payout directed by Erika Frase (WNY Short, 11 mins, Q&A) - When a daring heist takes an unexpected turn, one woman must navigate the blurred lines between reality and consequence. Trailer 

Screening Tuesday, August 11th, Block #12: 6:00pm    

The Piano Tuner directed by Nicole Giroux (US, Narrative Short, 22 mins, Q&A)  - Trapped in a lonely marriage, Antonia finds unexpected connection when a mysterious piano tuner named Angelo arrives. As music awakens old memories and hidden truths, a quiet afternoon leads to a life-changing decision. Trailer 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #5: 6:00pm   

The Showffeür directed by Taylor Martin (WNY Short, 38 mins, Q&A) - 2 couples are kidnapped by a mysterious rideshare driver and taken to the country to attend his sadistic birthday party. Trailer 

Screening Tuesday, August 11th, Block #12: 6:00pm   

TURN UP THE NIGHT directed by Melodie Roehrig (WNY Narrative Feature, 1 hr 57 mins, Q&A) - TURN UP THE NIGHT is a drama about the meteoric rise and the catastrophic fall of 80's hard rock/"hair band," Boy Elroy. Trailer 

Screening Tuesday, August 11th, Block #13: 8:00pm   

Untamed directed by Gleryxbelle Feliciano Ramos (US Puerto Rico, Student Film, 8 mins) - Marisol is a girl who pays special attention to make sure not a hair on her head is out of place. Then, on the day of a very important job interview… it just so happens to be raining.

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #4: 3:30pm    

We Can Never Go Back directed by Aminah Hughes (US, Narrative Short, 18 mins)  - Two old friends seek refuge from a terrifying mass-extinction event, one desperate to reunite with his family, the other pushing them both towards a utopian future. Trailer 

Screening Friday, August 7th, Block #1: 6pm 

Wooly Bully directed by Kristen Buckels Cantrell (US, Narrative Short, 21 mins, Q&A) - "Wooly Bully" follows Becca, a young woman coping with her Alzheimer’s stricken mother, Jane. Becca is thrown for a loop as Jane’s delusions veer into the paranormal! 

Screening Saturday, August 8th, Block #4: 3:30pm   

YAPs directed by Miriam Gordon-Stewart (US, Documentary Feature, 1 hour 21 mins, Q&A) - A traditional career as an opera singer seems less and less viable. And yet: in spite of a system stacked against them, young singers continue to follow their calling. In this searing, intimate documentary, 5 of America’s most compelling Young Artists share a year of their lives with unprecedented access. Trailer 

Screening Sunday, August 9th, Block #7: 1:00pm