
Jessica Sanders’ I WANT TO FEEL FUN is a chaotic, charming ode to the modern search for love, connection, and—of course—Niki Minaj. Infused with the spirit of Scorsese’s After Hours, this punchy, character-driven comedy captures one night in the life of Esther (played with perfect neurotic energy by Esther Povitsky), as she stumbles through awkward encounters and emotional…

Beck Williams’ Cleveland selected Pace delivers on multiple fronts, delivering a triumphant study of trans-identity, queer relationships and self-acceptance. This powerful short follows Remy (Williams), a transmasculine boxer grappling with dysphoria. When Joey (Bex Taylor-Klaus), a trans man post-transition, returns to training at Remy’s local boxing club, Remy invites him to train together after hours,…

Fireflies in the Dusk is a clever, mind-bending short film that explores the complexities of love and expectation through a unique time-travel narrative. A couple – one a young woman living in Victorian England, and the other a strapping office-worker from the modern day – have fallen in love through heartfelt letters sent via time-portal.…

A Twitch-streaming grandmother is at the center of Emily Sheskin’s heartwarming film Livestreams with GrandmaPuzzles, which is set to screen at this year’s Cleveland International Film Festival. This touching documentary short follows Adele Tiffith, affectionately known by her followers as “Gma”, as it explores her journey from isolated jigsaw puzzler to three-time BIPOC Streamer Award-winner. A…

Lauren Melinda’s deeply personal short film, BEFORE YOU, is a powerful and timely meditation on resilience in the face of impossible choices. Inspired by true events, the film delicately navigates the emotional terrain of a woman reflecting on her first pregnancy and the life-changing decision to undergo an abortion when the pregnancy was deemed non-viable. The…

Making its international debut at SXSW, Lucy Davidson’s short film Baggage offers a clever, humorous, and touching outlook on female friendship, vulnerability, and the struggles we often keep hidden from the world. Through the art of stop-motion animation, Davidson brings to life a story that is both simple and profound, highlighting how emotional baggage can…

Inspired by the director’s own experience, Montana Mann’s Azi is a gripping and evocative short that deftly delves into the intricacies of human connection and a teenager grappling with her own identity. On a weekend away with her best friend’s family, Azi catches the eye of an older woman forming an uneasy connection between the…

Directed by Julien Lasseur and written by Brian Groh, the 2025 Sundance selected SOMEBODY CARES is a sharp, witty bitesized treat that manages to tell a brilliantly riotous story in a punchy 5-minute film. The madcap story follows Barry (Shawn Parsons), a middle-aged lonesome layabout with piles of gambling debt. After he is taken hostage…

What drew you to the story of Clodagh and her extraordinary promise? We have always been fascinated by priests housekeepers in Ireland. They are so crucial to the church and to the community but rarely have families themselves. We liked the idea that Clodagh’s dance ability offered our housekeeper Mrs Kelly a chance to take…

Set against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Franz Böhm’s short film Rock Paper Scissors is an evocative exploration on the hidden casualties of war. Inspired by a true story, the film recounts the journey of 17-year-old Ivan and his father, Borden, as they operate a makeshift hospital bunker near the frontline. When Russian soldiers…