Documentary Shorts 2026: Program 1
RiverRun is an Academy Award-qualifying festival in the category of Documentary Shorts. This is one of two shorts blocks in competition, of which the winner may submit for Academy Awards consideration.
Films With Class Shorts Program – Elementary School 2026
Teaching through film. RiverRun recognizes the unique and critical role arts education plays in reaching students both inside and outside the classroom. Through our free education program, Films With Class, we present free screenings of carefully curated films for area students at the Festival each spring.
Jaripeo
A journey to Michoacán’s hypermasculine rodeos descends into the subconscious of memory, queer desire, and longing, leading to a reckoning with the wounds and beauty of a home left behind.
Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts
After a volcanic eruption, Ramón walks the island of La Palma with his microphone, looking for ghosts.
The Apricot
The Apricot tells the story of a 10-year-old boy and his first summer working on the family’s apricot farm. This project is based on real childhood memories that the director holds dear to his heart.