THE PULSE OF
CINEMA NOW

WINNER · STUDENT FILM

The Stolen Mind

Dir. Lee-San Gayle · Burbank, CA

A young woman wakes up bound in the back of a dark car with five years of memories erased — and must confront her kidnapper to escape with the truth of her own identity.

WINNER · MICRO SHORT

One in the Hand

Dir. Max Radbill · South Pasadena, CA

A man thinks he's alone. But is he? Ninety seconds of controlled dread from a director with an ear for the unsaid.

WINNER · SHORT FILM

Off The Deep End

Dir. Martin J Del Castillo

Haunted by recurring dreams of towering waves, Danny's substance abuse has shattered his family. As his life spirals, his oldest friend Gus begins to see the cracks in his own picture-perfect world.

WINNER · DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Headless Creatures Being The Greatest Headache

Dir. Thomachan

Students sit down with a reclusive old man for a recorded interview that drifts into unsettling territory — a quiet, philosophical encounter that blurs wisdom and delusion.

WINNER · MUSIC VIDEO

Kenny's Angels™ presents All For You

Dir. Kendrick Samuel · Queens, NY

Set to Janet Jackson's "All For You" — a visual exploration of movement, femininity, and collective presence, where performance becomes world-building.

POSTER TBD PAPER ANIMAL

WINNER · EXPERIMENTAL

Paper Animal

Dir. Jacob Benedetti

A man moves through a series of strange moments over the course of a week. The 15th short film from Jacob Benedetti — a patient, disquieting study in tone.

WINNER · ANIMATION

Roommates — City Pool

Dir. Mark & Scott Spurlock · Yerington, NV

The boys head down to the City Pool for swim lessons. Gordito gets promoted, Blake doesn't get recognized, Ickey gets demoted. Nobody said swimming was easy.

WINNER · INTERNATIONAL FILM + SCREENPLAY

Tshangyang — A Love Beyond Dharma

Dir. Jigme TG, Jigme Wangchuk · Thimphu, Bhutan

Inspired by Tshangyang Gyatso — a soul chosen by faith but undone by love. Not a story of rebellion, but of humanity, loneliness, and a heart that refused to be silenced.

SELECTED OFFICIAL · LOCAL

Her Heart

Dir. Karla Guy · Van Nuys, CA

He's in love with her, but her heart is beating for someone else. A music video on longing at arm's length.

SELECTED OFFICIAL · LOCAL

The Chip

Dir. Jack Curby · Simi Valley, CA

Peer-pressured into eating the world's spiciest chip, teenager Seth Huake runs the length of his school in a desperate search for milk.

POSTER TBD DEAD? IN A SNOWBANK?

SELECTED OFFICIAL · LOCAL

Dead? In A Snowbank?

Dir. Eric Thomure · Claremont, CA

Rose is the head medical examiner in a small town chasing a quiet life after Minneapolis. Then she meets her new assistant — and something is not quite right.

SELECTED OFFICIAL

FIGURES

Dir. Cameron Berry · San Diego, CA

As laughter echoes around a bonfire, one friend hides behind what he thought would help him belong — until a simple conversation starts to unwind what he's been carrying.