Documentary Shorts 2025: Program 2
As an Academy Award®-qualifying festival, RiverRun is proud to present a powerful selection of documentary shorts that shine a light on untold stories, diverse perspectives, and impactful moments from around the globe.
Eastern Western
Set in the 1880s, “Eastern Western” follows Igor, a recent immigrant and widower who struggles to raise his two-year-old son Ivo in the mountains of the American West. The harshness of winter brings new challenges, testing Igor’s parenting and survival skills.
Everything and the Universe
Two strangers en route to a wedding in North Carolina discover they are both in love with the bride.
Films With Class Shorts Program 2025 – Elementary School
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. Sponsored by Duke Energy and The Lovett Foundation.
Fisherman, The
Atta Oko has spent his life as a proud traditional fisherman in rural Ghana. When he is suddenly forced into retirement, his life takes a whimsical turn as he is partnered with a modern, bougie, talking fish. As fishy chaos ensues, Atta and his three quirky “associates” navigate the vibrant streets of Accra, chasing their shared dream of owning a fishing boat.
Grand Strand, The
Burdened with choosing his legal guardians, Levi spends the summer before he starts high school with his cousins at their family’s trailer in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Inferno of the Living, The
A teenager escapes a violent home, embarking on the search for her father and forging inner strength.
Inheritance
Estranged sisters Lucy and Paige reunite to bury their father, becoming entangled in the complicated web of their past as they realize that they have inherited more from their father than just money.
Jungle, The
Unraveling centuries of greed and exploitation in America’s meat industry, this modern-day take on Upton Sinclair’s shocking 1906 novel calls into question the profiteering of ecosystems and reveals how indigenous knowledge may hold the key to creating an equitable food system for both people and the planet.
Late Night Shorts 2025
RiverRun’s Late Night Shorts program is all about the weird, wild, and unexpected. Packed with dark humor, creepy vibes, and plenty of surprises, these films are perfect for anyone who loves stories that go off the rails — in the best way possible.
Lena and Vladimir
Immersed in the profound pain of their pasts, Lena and Vladimir discover a fragile yet resilient connection that transcends their individual tragedies. Set against the backdrop of a forest sanctuary, their journey of healing and redemption unfolds as they navigate the complexities of trauma, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love.
Motherland
In an alternate present society where the state frees parents from the burden of raising children, a rule enforcer learns a shocking truth that sparks her rebellion.
Move Ya Body: The Birth of House
In the beginning, there was house music, and it was born in Chicago. “Move Ya Body” tells the story of how house music outsmarted the forces of Chicago’s backlash against Queer Black, Brown, and Femme dance culture through the life experience of the first person to record a house song, Vince Lawrence. This hybrid documentary mixes archival recreation and interviews with the founders of house music, casting the events of Vince’s creative life against the
Narrative Shorts, Program 1: A Break for Laughter
Considering how many of us are feeling about the state of the world right now, a moment to take a breath to smile and laugh is necessary. These shorts are a welcome respite and opportunity to take that breather.
Narrative Shorts, Program 2: Time to Grieve
While program one is about taking the time to laugh, this shorts program is all about acknowledging the various forms of grief many of us often experience, be it the loss of a loved one, a loved place, or a period in your life.