Films

32°

This short documentary explores the economic impact of climate change on the Appalachian ski industry and offers insight into what the future holds for a…
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All My Guardian Angels

A newborn is abandoned in the middle of a Madrid street on Christmas. With only the shelter of a sports bag, the baby undertakes a…
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All You Can Carry

After his mom comes back to their hidden cabin in the woods, Anthony and his dad discover they only have minutes to leave before their…
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Animated Shorts 1

Films in this program of short animated works include: Bavure The Bird and the Whale Cat Days The Christmas Rabbit Expend Inanimate Light Work My…
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Animated Shorts 2

Films in this program of short animated works include: Anna Buzzer Five Minutes Homesick Monsters Walking The Ostrich Politic The Phantom 52 Sonolumin Take Rabbit…
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Anna

Anna explores the world of dementia-stricken Gus, a former gardener who lives with his granddaughter. Gus struggles to reconcile reality with an increasingly present past.…
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As in Death

In the wake of a community tragedy, Sidney Brodie begins the Durham Homicide and Memorial Quilt. Every time someone is killed in Durham, he adds…
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Astronaut Starbright

Taylor Richardson is a young girl of color who aspires to be an astronaut when she grows up. She advocates for girls of color interested…
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Bavure

Bavure portrays the evolution of a human being from his creation to his awareness of the mysteries of the universe. It is a metaphor of…
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Behind Closed Doors

Lana and Carter love being with each other, but appreciate their alone time equally as much. Companionship is being comfortable with one another’s whole selves,…
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Best Game Ever

When two CCTV technicians find out about an AI machine threatening their jobs, they must get out of their chairs to beat the system–leading them…
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The Bird and the Whale

Using a unique technique called paint-on-glass animation, this beautiful film tells the story of a young whale who is seperated from his family. He finds…
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Blind Adventure Camp

This uplifting and experiential film tells the story of Industries for the Blind’s Adventure Camp for visually-impaired youth. Every summer, teenagers from around the U.S.…
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Boccamazzo Construction: We Build "Walls"

Founded in 1962 and keeping people apart ever since, the Boccamazzo Wall Company have just been asked by Homeland Security to help build the U.S./Mexico…
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Bronzed

Neo-sun worshiper Martin prepares to appease the solar Gods with ritual sacrifice. But first he needs a spray tan. This work screens as part of…
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Busy

A girl tries to do her homework, but her sister keeps interrupting her. This work screens as part of the Saturday Morning Cartoons block of short…
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Buzzer

A fly is trying to have a quiet morning at home, but the buzzer won’t stop ringing. This work screens as part of the Animated…
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Calm Before...The Rising Storm

In this short film we piece together the story of Massachusetts band The Rising Storm’s unlikely rise to fame. Many years after pressing just 500…
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Cat Days

After a trip to the doctor Jiro is diagnosed with the cat flu, which his doctor interprets to mean Jiro himself is a cat. Following…
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A Cat's Tale

A pessimistic cat discovers that perspective is a choice. This work screens as part of the Saturday Morning Cartoons block of short films
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Celebrating Mr. Rogers

Set to the iconic opening song of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood this short captures the memory of the show’s nurturing, caring, and whimsical message as Mr.…
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The Christmas Gift

On the 20th of December, 1989, a few days after Ceausescu’s bloody repression in Timisoara, a father’s quiet evening turns into an ordeal as he…
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The Christmas Rabbit

On Christmas Eve, an old lady finds her beloved cat dead. All day long, she’ll try to find him a fitting final resting place, but…
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Class of '08

After living separate lives, two friends try to reconnect before their 10-year high school reunion. This work screens as part of the NC Shorts 2 block…
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Damage

A breakup is interrupted. This work screens as part of the Narrative Shorts 2 block of short films
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The Derby

Following the haves and the have-nots during Kentucky Derby weekend, The Derby explores unseen sides of Kentucky’s biggest sporting event and offers a thoughtful yet…
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Detective Avery Ebson - Hat and Everything

Nine-year-old Avery Ebson has made a documentary about her career as a detective, specializing in the recovery of lost toys. While reminiscing about a case…
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Dig Your Own Grave

Two men, one gun, and one shovel. Dig Your Own Grave hilariously tracks one horrible afternoon in two men’s lives. This work screens as part…
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Documentary Shorts 1

Films in this program of short documentary works include: The Derby Edgecombe Forced A Jew Walks into a Bar My Grandfather’s Memory Book On the…
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Documentary Shorts 2

Films in this program of short documentary works include: El Desierto Forgotten The Grey Zone Hamama and Caluna Landing on Airwaves Teeth Filmmakers in attendance…
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Drawn Apart

A young artist learns to bring life into her art. This work screens as part of the Saturday Morning Cartoons block of short films
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Edgecombe

Crafted as a character exploration, Edgecombe renders a mosaic of the lives of three residents of Edgecombe County, a predominantly African-American agricultural community in the…
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El Desierto

Amid a formidable winter drought, a lone migrant worker struggles with his task of caring for thousands of sheep in the Great Basin desert. El…
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Evelyn x Evelyn

Set in 1956, an African American couple struggles with the death of their child. This work screens as part of the Narrative Shorts 1 block of…
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Expend

A man scours a forest for elusive power sources. His search through this decaying world reflects the human tendency to continuously exploit resources in an…
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Extraordinary People

Extraordinary People chronicles a business that inspires its staff, families and neighborhood with the belief that meaningful jobs change lives. It explores the lives of…
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The Field

A poor agricultural laborer leads a double life in the village’s last remaining cornfield, but the harvest is quickly approaching. This work screens as part…
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Films With Class Shorts

This collection of varied short films shows how many great films we get for young audiences. Made up of six short films, this program takes…
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Five Minutes

Baptiste Touissant’s dreams of opening a Cajun restaurant ended when a suicide bomber detonated an explosion only feet from him in Afghanistan. Five Minutes is…
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Forced

Three women–Ruth, Esther and Saratu–were forced to flee their homes when the dreaded militant group Boko Haram invaded their village in northeast Nigeria. Their powerful…
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Forgotten

After 26 years as a professional in the sport of jai alai–the fastest ball game in the world–Tevin is trying to bring back the crowds…
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Frontier

After two days of camping alone in the woods, a ten-year-old girl’s reality begins to blend with her favorite comic book. This work screens as…
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Game Changer

A macho toy is quick to judge a young girl who wants to win him at the arcade, and goes on a life-changing journey in…
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Gelato - Seven Summers of Love

In the early 20th Century Italian mountaineers conquered Germany with a sensation: gelato! But suddenly the Italians turned into war enemies. The love story between…
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The Good, the Bad, and the Puppy

A determined young woman sets out to win back her dog’s affection after he runs away from home to play poker. This work screens as…
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The Grey Zone

The last land dispute between the US and Canada involves a 20-acre island in the Gulf of Maine, known to the lobstermen who compete over…
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Hamama and Caluna

Two young friends, Hamama and Caluna, leave everything behind to flee their home country and end up stranded in a camp in northern Italy. One…
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A Handful of Dust

Dr. Neal Goodman enables terminal patients’ right to die through the practice of mercy killing via his one-of-a-kind device. But when he sets out to…
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Holy Moses

In 1960s Ireland, during the harshest winter of the century, a pregnant nun struggles to endure life in an asylum for fallen women. One of…
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Homesick

A crisis in a young woman’s life forces her to return to her parents’ home. Her reappearance shakes the delicate balance in the family nest.…
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Inanimate

Katrine, a puppet, becomes aware she is living on a set and attempts to break free of her surroundings. This work screens as part of…
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Information Superhighway

A man participates in an experiment to test artificial intelligence in driverless cars. This work screens as part of the Late Night Shorts block of short…
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Into the Shadow

A young flame finds his inanimate friend a boring playmate–that is, until he discovers its shadow! This work screens as part of the Saturday Morning…
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A Jew Walks into a Bar

David Finklestein is an ultra-Orthodox Jew who belongs to a secluded Brooklyn sect. He’s also a talented, aspiring stand-up comedian who finds comedy an essential…
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Landing on Airwaves

Landing on Airwaves includes a series of interviews from those who remember watching the Apollo 11 moon landing on television on July 20, 1969. The…
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Late Night Shorts

Films in this program of short works include: Behind Closed Doors Bronzed Dig Your Own Grave A Handful of Dust Information Superhighway Meat Eater Other…
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Light Work

A lonely old man is entrusted with a thankless Sisyphean task that has been handed down from generation to generation. This work screens as part…
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The Little Fish and the Crocodile

The Little Fish and the Crocodile is a fable from the rainforests of the Odzala National Park in the Republic of Congo, told by the…
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Magic Play

A shy wizard boy goes a playdate with a young witch who is unpredictable with her magic. This work screens as part of the Saturday…
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Mahalia Melts in the Rain

Mahalia, a timid nine-year-old black girl, feels different from the other girls in her ballet class. Hoping to boost her confidence, her mother brings her…
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Meat Eater

A woman in the woods makes her escape–but who is she running from? This work screens as part of the Late Night Shorts block of short…
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Miles Away

Miles is a little boy whose best friend is a tree. Together they venture on a road trip and enjoy a perfect summer day at…
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The Minors

The latest film from Robert Machoian (When She Runs) is a slice of life about a grandpa and his grandsons, the future and the past.…
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Moments of Truth

Directed by 2018 RiverRun Master of Cinema honoree Chuck Workman, Moments of Truth is a short montage documentary with over 125 moments from significant documentaries…
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Monarcade

In a battle of supremacy at the arcade, only one kid can be king. Join Lil’ Bomber and Kid Emperor as they compete for the…
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Monsters Walking

Monsters Walking is just that–a short film about monsters that walk. This work screens as part of the Animated Shorts 2 block of short films
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Moondogs

After learning that her family doesn’t want to see her last show, comedian Deborah Gibbs must confront the reality of her life after stand-up. This…
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Mother Nature

Agnes, a mother beaver, sends her husband and son off to work for the day. A storm rolls in and when they don’t come home,…
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My Grandfather's Memory Book

This personal reflection animates an unusual sketchbook that captures a lifetime of memories, connecting three generations through drawings, writings and dialogue. This work screens as…
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My Moon

My Moon cleverly examines the relationship between three celestial bodies–a romance between Earth, Moon, and Sun. This work screens as part of the Animated Shorts…
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Narrative Shorts 1

Films in this program of short narrative works include: All My Guardian Angels Best Game Ever Evelyn x Evelyn The Field The Little Fish and…
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Narrative Shorts 2

Films in this program of short narrative works include: Boccamazzo Construction: We Build “Walls” The Christmas Gift Damage Holy Moses Mahalia Melts in the Rain…
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NC Shorts 1

Films in this program of short documentary works include: 32° As In Death No Sanctuary Peripheral Visions Santuario Walker’s Filmmakers to be in attendance for…
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NC Shorts 2

Films in this program of short documentary works include: All You Can Carry Class of ’08 Frontier Moondogs Nobody But Myself Pierre Poulet Tropical Gardens…
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NC Shorts 3: Close to Home

In this documentary shorts program we learn more about the people and organizations making a tremendous difference in our local community. Films featured in this…
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Nine Coo Five

In a gloomy city square, a struggling artist tries to make a living through his chalk drawings. Although he’s unable to charm the busy businessmen…
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No Sanctuary

Through a collection of interviews, trial footage, home videos and personal testimonies, this documentary explores the lives of those who lost loved ones in the…
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Nobody but Myself

Filmed and produced entirely in the high country of North Carolina, this film embodies the culture of the area and exemplifies the raw and honest…
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Nursery Rhymes

On the side of a rural highway, a bizarre encounter with a metalhead takes a profound turn. This work screens as part of the Narrative…
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On the Bit

After exhausting all medical and therapeutic efforts to alleviate her anxiety and PTSD, Jenny, an Iraq War veteran, attempts one last means of healing; working…
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The Ostrich Politic

In this sharp political satire, ostriches deal with behavioral misconceptions that lead to further issues in their society. This work screens as part of the…
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Other Side of the Box

A couple receives a mysterious package from an old friend. This work screens as part of the Late Night Shorts block of short films
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Peripheral Visions

Peripheral Visions is a look back at the work of North Carolina political cartoonist V.C. Rogers, who recently retired from The Independent after a decades-long…
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The Phantom 52

Tom Skerritt stars in this animated short film about a Texas trucker waiting for a reply on the CB radio–a ghost that haunts the lonely…
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Pierre Poulet

This whimsical, tender and nostalgic tale of love and loss illustrates the curious saga of a unique chicken and his affection for corn. Conceived, written,…
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Preserving Historic Places: Panel and Film

We are partnering with our neighbors in Elkin to highlight the great preservation work that was done on the Reeves Theater. Once a vibrant 700-seat…
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Rebooted

When Retro Owl Guy and his rebooted superhero counterpart Owl Guy come face-to-face for the first time, they must learn to put their differences aside…
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Reeves: A Home for Music

Once a vibrant 700-seat movie theater, the Reeves Theater in Elkin, NC fell into disrepair until a group of local citizens decided to renovate it.…
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Rehearsal

A film crew for an upcoming feature film pushes the boundaries of consent during a courtesy rehearsal for its female lead. This work screens as…
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Rooftop Kiters

This short documentary explores the beauty of flying kites in the Brazilian favelas, and how this simple activity has changed their hard lives for the…
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Sandoval's Bullet

Isidro Vargas reminisces on his various encounters with death as he meanders through the tropical rainforest. This work screens as part of the Documentary Shorts…
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Santuario

Juana Luz Tobar Ortega immigrated to the United States over 25 years ago as an asylum seeker from Guatemala. But in 2017, she was told…
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Saturday Morning Cartoons

Each year RiverRun presents our own version of Saturday Morning Cartoons to our young audiences. We search high and low for the best new animated…
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Shoot the Duck

Twelve-year-old Mia has her sights set on winning the local skating rink’s 8th Annual Shoot the Duck Skate Contest. With competition super fierce this year,…
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Solar Walk

Solar Walk follows the journey of individuals and their creations in space. This work screens as part of the Animated Shorts 1 block of short films
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Sonolumin

Diana Reichenbach’s latest work is a stop-frame animated film exploring the relationship of light, sound, and space. This work screens as part of the Animated…
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Sophie's Quinceañera

In the latest short from 2017 RiverRun Spark Award honoree Keith Powell, a building manager dealing with his own grief must help his tenant perform…
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Star Bard

A lonely musician sets off to find a constellation undiscovered by his late mentor, but soon learns that he can’t do it alone. This work…
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Take Rabbit

A man attempts to transport some unlikely passengers across a river in his tiny boat, but soon realizes he’s taken on more than he bargained…
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Teeth

Hawaiian grandmother Angelica’s healing from sexual abuse as a child parallels the fixing of knocked out and rotten teeth. Aloha is replacing her pain and…
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This Is Your Cuba

This Is Your Cuba is a short film inspired by the real-life stories of the children involved in Operation Pedro Pan, the mass exodus of…
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The Time Tree

Anne, a deaf girl bullied by the maids and mistresses who look after her in the year 1596, finds solace when she comes across a…
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Torn

When Scott suffers an unnerving medical situation, his anxiety spirals out of control. This work screens as part of the Late Night Shorts block of short…
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Tropical Gardens

Shot in a pseudo-documentary style, Tropical Gardens is about a down and out loner who copes with his recent heartbreak by obsessing over a mini-golf…
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Voyager Pen-15

Two quirky space station janitors accidentally launch themselves into space on the mysterious craft Voyager PEN-15, only to find that they are on a top-secret…
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Walker's

This observational portrait trains its lens on Walker’s, a historic black barbershop in Wilmington, North Carolina. This work screens as part of the NC Shorts…
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We Are Totally Fine

Three Basic Betties get together for a wellness retreat to cleanse and connect. But what they connect to is surprising, dark, and a little out…
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Weaning

After her father dies, Teresa, a 50 year old expatriate, returns to Argentina determined to sell the family farm. Excessive rain forces her to stay,…
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Welcome to the Ball

A child learns sign language in hopes of making a new friend. This work screens as part of the Narrative Shorts 2 block of short films
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Widdershins

The life of a pampered gentleman is seamlessly automated by machines, but his orderly existence is thrown into chaos when he chooses to pursue a…
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The Wrong Rock

Martin, a mushroom, was born on the wrong rock. The mushrooms on his rock look like him, but they don’t share the same enthusiasm. When…
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Your Mother is a Thief!

This stark and imaginative film offers a look at the psychological violence of parental alienation. This work screens as part of the Animated Shorts 2 block…
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