Festival Director’s Choice Shorts Program

Narmook
Directed by Ghazal Zoghiniya, 2025, Iran, 19:38 Min

Malalai is a teenage girl from the Baloch community in Iran, due to a traditional cultural practice, has been wearing boys’ clothing for years. Now that she has reached puberty, she must return to the world of girls, but she is experiencing an identity crisis.
Balochi with English subtitles
Happy Birthgay
Directed by Niv Manzur, 2025, Israel, 16 Min

Mom throws her son a grandiose surprise BirthGay party, celebrating a year of his coming out of the closet.
Hebrew with English Subtitles
Little Genes
Directed by Amy Redford & Skye Emerson, 2025, United States, 16 min

On a warm summer weekend in the 1980s, Orson and Geneva Murphy head to the Utah mountains with their three children to help oldest son McKay earn merit badges.  As the weekend unfolds, so do everyone’s true intentions and quiet reckonings.
ASHA
Directed by Moitri Ghosh, 2025, United States, 11:11 Min

Amidst the chaos of her daughter’s 10th birthday party, Asha must face her estranged mom who shows up unannounced bearing the ultimate gift.
Rag Dolls
Directed by Amy Adler, 2025, Mexico, 12:17 Min

Two women living with disabilities in Mexico face challenges yet find ways to love and care for each other.
Spanish with English Subtitles
Final Frame
Directed by Andrew Nuno & Adrian Nuno, 2025, United States, 14:12 Min

Carlos, a film editor, is quickly trying to finish editing a film when he gets a call from a friend urging him to get to the hospital where his partner, Ben, is about to have a critical surgery. Carlos hesitates because he and Ben need the money from this job to keep them afloat financially. As the countdowns between the project deadline and Ben’s surgery collide, Carlos finds himself torn between turning in the film and being there for his partner.
Promises Promises
Directed by KC Schomas, 2025, United States, 14:48

When a closeted Brooke meanders into a 1980’s underground party and meets wild-card Rio, the duo finds themselves in a week-long whirlwind relationship.
Unicycle
Directed by Keith Allan, 2025, United States, 6:38

Brian desperately tries to swipe his way to happiness when a strange encounter reveals that he may be looking for love in all the wrong places.