PROGRAMS
Get your shorts on
Curating and presenting extraordinary short films has always been at the Heart of ncff.
This year we made the decision to create programs that defied genre and categorization. Instead, threads were woven around common stories of the human experience. Be it through drama, mystery, romance, comedy or some alchemical blend of all these elements, a spellbinding story that begins, unfolds and concludes in but a handful of minutes is a challenge to create and a pleasure to behold.
SHORTS 1:
Empowerment
The world may throw any kind of challenge at you – from everyday mishaps like gutter balls and rogue roosters on the loose to hardships like war, oppression, and ailments. These films show us how there is power in owning your narrative, in choosing to live life on your own terms, despite the forces that may be against us.
- Parker
- I Have No Tears, and I Must Cry
- Liturgy of Anti-Tank Obstacles
- Slow Light
- Metal Belt
- The Sprayer
- Chicken Stories
- The Basics of Love
- Friday Night Blind
Run time: 120 min
SHORTS 2:
Creativity
The creative endeavors that make us human. Maybe it’s a dream to be cast on your favorite TV show, to score the lead in a famous ballet, or become a canned laughter artist. But will you let unexpected obstacles stand in your way of pursuing your passions? No dream is too big for this shorts program.
- Wheel
- Chasin’ Butterflies
- The Cake
- TikTok Challenged
- Instinct
- The Black Experience
- Canned
Run time: 105 min
SHORTS 3:
Growth
Everyone loves a good coming of age story. And we think that a coming of age can happen…at any age! Whether you’re navigating the horrors of picture day, feeling the stirrings of new love, or coming to terms with what it means to be a parent, there never seem to be a lack of lessons to be learned along the way.
- Beyond the Fringe
- Paper Planes
- A Real One
- Picture Day
- The Dads
- The Feeling of Being Close to You
- Honolulu
- Memories of Youth
- The Runner
Run time: 109 min
SHORTS 4:
Laughter
It’s a little funny in a heartwarming way, a little funny in a subversive way, and a little funny in a kind of dark way. Either way, if you’re in need of a laugh sesh, we got you.
- Municipal Relaxation Module
- Best Friends on a Summer Hike
- Sandwich Cat
- Happy BirthGay
- Board Budz
- The Debutante
- Gold and Mud
- Cuxball
- Burger World
- Troy
Run time: 105 min
SHORTS 5:
Generations
A bittersweet reflection on what it means to be family, and all the messiness, absurdity, and beauty that comes with it.
- Now I’m in the Kitchen
- Seed
- Pivot Pals
- Displaced
- The Bond
- Ice Merchants
- The Family Circus
Run time: 113 min
SHORTS 6:
Whimsy
Let us whisk you away to the lands of dreams, spirits, memories, mermaids, and fantasy. While not all these films are otherworldly, they will transport you to a new reality and have you longing for a little more magic in your life.
- Ashkasha
- Out of Water
- Keep/Delete
- Censor of Dreams
- There are no ghosts
- Spring Roll Dream
- Mine Mine Mine
Run time: 100 min
SHORTS 7:
Silver Linings
That feeling when all you want is to go to the beach with your friends, but your car won’t start, and just when it seems like a futile effort, there’s a glimmer of hope. That feeling when you are faced with death and tragedy, and you find the path toward healing. Or that feeling when you must start over but find solace in a table that’s in very good condition. You know, that feeling.
- The Vacation
- A Shore Away
- Flightpath
- Good Condition
- Cold & Sara
- I Cheated
- Enlightened