SHORT FILMS
Session 1,
Sat, Oct 26th 12:45pm
Director: Jamal Hodge
The actions of the past have followed him home.
After escaping the self-destructive grip of street life, Jamaal embraces metaphysics and finds his footing in the world as a black entrepreneur, with his guiding light, Samaya, at his side. But the past refuses to die quietly. Supreme - a childhood comrade, incarcerated for murder is set free. Bringing a brutal prison war into his once tranquil life, that leaves Jamaal confronted by the choice of loyalty to his past, or his own spiritual redemption.”
Director: Mario Corry
Loosely based on a true story. After thirty years in prison Black Mike goes back to his old roots and is finally making money. What he finds is a new world order in life and on the streets where he grew up. Disrespected and threatened by a rising star in the New York City mob, Black Mike, an old school mobster goes to his dark side.
Director: Daryl Denner
I live on the fifth floor on fifth street. I climb it every day. Five flights to nowhere. I’ll grow up and run away. These haunting words of a 10-year-old girl set the scene for this tragic tale of domestic abuse and serve as a warning about the dangers of guns in the home. As the little girl ascends the stairs, she hears the voices of her parents as they engage in yet another verbal brawl that pierces the usually silent hallway.
Director: Kate Kelsen
A teenage girl desperate for an abortion faces off with a physician assistant.
Director: Lawrence Watford
Tensions rise during an acting class when the teacher's preferred method of instructing one of his students involves pulling her emotional triggers.
Director: Nicole Tay
Tensions rise during an acting class when the teacher's preferred method of instructing one of his students involves pulling her emotional triggers.
Session 2, Sat, Oct 26th 3:15pm
Director: Dainique Jones
A jaded dancer takes a journey through a alternative reality to find answers.
Director: Miki & Yoni Benyamini
Malik is a New York City actor who moonlights as a realtor. Or maybe it's the other way around?
We follow him throughout a day as he hustles from gig to gig when a meeting with an old friend makes him reevaluate his life choices.
Director: Levon Manoukian
Virginia and Abraham are a very presentable and well mannered couple in their late 30’s, who are heading towards an upscale restaurant for a dinner date. All is well until the young gentleman makes an overly-playful comment during the main course order.
Director: Harry Waldman
James and Rob are hiding out in isolation to fix their mutual issues. As time progresses, the two reveal facts regarding their disturbing past relationship. An acquaintance of James', Jessica, finds herself in an uncomfortable position as she contemplates the best way to handle the situation.
Director: Laura Sweeney
Our new short film TINA is a heartfelt, story about two people who knew each other back when and are surprised to meet up again. We think viewers will absolutely relate, especially if they’ve ever encountered someone from their past who influenced them at a key juncture in their life, or if they’ve gone searching online for an old friend, teacher, boss, whoever…and been surprised by how much they’ve both changed!
Director: Matt Levy & Aaron Bryan
When a filmmaker receives a rejection note from a film festival, he heads to the organization's screening room to take matters into his own hands.
WEB SERIES
Web Series, Thursday, Oct 26th 6:15pm
Director: Brittany Franklin
A couple's big night takes a turn as important truths are discovered.
Director: Steven St. Pierre
Steven tries his hardest to rent a room in order to live a rent paid stress free existence in NYC. A series of head-scratching encounters with roommates and potential suitors leads him to have to rent the room again and again and...you get it.
DOCUMENTARIES
Friday, Oct 25th 6:15pm
Director: Crosby Tantum
Told from the viewpoints and perspectives of protestors on differing sides, this raw, sprawling account of a movement for change visually explores the worldwide protests sparked in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, set against the global COVID-19 pandemic and the contentious 2020 US election season
Saturday, Oct 26th 5:30pm
Director: George Hernandez
Documentary highlighting the literacy crisis within the poorest congressional district of the nation that resides in the South Bronx.
Feature filmS
Thursday, Oct 24th 7:30pm
Director: Robert Cividanes
One man, an actor experiencing discontent with his life and who is also in relapse from drug & alcohol recovery invites himself to head to Los Angeles from New York with a free spirited stand up comedian who is hitting the road to do what he does on stages from PA to the west coast.
Friday, October 25, 8:15pm
Director: Joshua R. Pangborn & Nakia Reynoso
Mateo's fears of getting older manifest as his 46 birthday looms, and all the hours in the gym and miracle elixirs can't stop the ticking clock. Except for one. Now he just needs to decide if the cost is worth it. A Taste of Youth is the world's first queer, fat-positive horror feature film, from the twisted mind of Joshua R. Pangborn and SideKick Productions. Starring Mark-Eugene Garcia, and co-directed by Pangborn and Nakia, filmed by Catalin Stelian, with special makeup effects by Paul Antzoulis, with Sound Design by Roman Chimienti and Ryan Miller, an original score by Andy Nolte, and music supervision by Nakia.
Saturday, October 26,
7:45pm
Director: Filippo M. Prandi
NYC. March 2020. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, two men, both named Walter Stoyanov, watch their lives unravel as one of them falls ill and the other one is being investigated by FBI Agent John McCallany.
MUSIC VIDEO
Music Video will screen at the opening & closing night of the festival and before select movies.
