2025 Run of Events
Saturday August 16
10:10 – 10:30: Live music: hand pans and didgeridoo, Shelba Purtle and Corey, Stein Playhouse
10:30-12:00: Drama Film Block, Playhouse.
Sins of a Father, dir. by Nuekellar “Nuek” Hardy
Amidst echoes of his past, Bryan embarks on a heartfelt quest to rewrite his future, confronting his father to break the chains of generational trauma and carve out his own legacy of love and growth. “Sins of a Father”; is now an Africa Movie Academy Award nominee for the Best Short Film category.
Bita Joon, dir. by Sara Boutorabi
Actors slowly reveal themselves to be members of the filmmakers family, in an Iranian-American story centered on the terminally ill matriarch, Bita. Over the course of a deceptively ordinary day, Bita grasps at her central relationships, and an accordion offers a brief respite.
Sage, dir. by Max Blustin
The right words can oppose even the most destructive hate.
Kamikaze, dir. by Ray Smiling
Knives, an aspiring photographer, becomes embroiled in the unraveling relationship of Max, a self- absorbed influencer, and his girlfriend Lily, a controlling fine art photographer during a beach photo shoot. What begins as a glamorous shoot descends into jealousy, betrayal, and emotional conflict, all captured by Knives’ camera. The film explores themes of ambition, power, and the performative nature of image in the age of social media.
Full month, dir. by Ash Goh
Following the birth of her niece, Jing returns to Singapore for the newborn’s full month celebration. Here she is forced to confront her contentious relationship with her estranged mother and a traditional family politic—the causes of her departure a decade prior.
En memoria, dir. by Roberto Fatal
In a dystopian future, a mother struggles to finish making her daughter’s Quinceañera dress.
Iron lung, dir. by Andrew Reid
When a storm knocks out the power to her iron lung, a polio survivor and her caretaker sister find themselves in a race against time to find a new way for her to breathe.
12:40 – 1:00 Live music, Piano, Andy Roberts, Playhouse
1:00 – 2:30: Horror Film block, Playhouse
Roach, dir. by Angelica E. Gayle
Bonnie shows up at the eerie house of Mr. Roach to answer a cleaning job she found in the paper. She stumbles upon something hidden in Mr. Roach’s abode that she shouldn’t have, and this changes the way she now sees her seemingly innocent employer...
Who’s Crazy Now?, dir. by Samantha Kennedy
A young waitress uncovers a series of unsettling events around her, leading to a confrontation with her best friend, who reveals a dangerous obsession that threatens to expose dark secrets from her past, forcing them into a chilling debate over who is truly losing their mind.
The Queue, dir. by Michael Rich
An internet content moderator confronts the darkness within the videos he screens.
Very Pig Trouble, dir. by Chris Ruppert
A meteor passing the earth for the next 13 hours is making animals become violent, will a father and daughter survive the night when the bloody thirsty guinea pigs decide to attack?
Insight, dir. by Ben Stansbery
A surrealist puppet horror short. An eerie exploration of identity with shades of Lynch, Lovecraft, and of
course weird puppets
Diakonia, dir. by Erik Souilliard
Diakonia brings the superhero concept to life in a whole new way that’s relatable to young and old. In this
scene two of our heroes are being chased and only through the combination of Miriam’s gift of miracles and
Vonn’s gift of faith do they escape.
Reversion, dir. by Don Muritz
A man desperately searches for a missing mythologist before he is charged with her disappearance. When he finds the object of her research, time becomes his enemy.
Lily, dir. by Kate Siegel
After being embarrassed by a vicious teacher, a young third-grader discovers a tiger in his school bathroom. Directed by Kate Siegel, Written by Stephen King, Designed and Animated by Pete Scalzitti, and Produced by Mali Elfman.
2:40 – 3:00 Live music: hand pans and didgeridoo, Shelba Purtle and Corey Stein, Playhouse
3:00 – 4:15 Comedy Film Block
Bird drone, dir. by Radheya Jang Jegatheva
A heartfelt story of unrequited love explored through a lonely seagull struggling to accept that his newfound object of affection is a human-operated drone with a limited battery life.
Goodbye Neverland, dir. by Jeremy Kessler
Chatting with his publisher, a doubting author takes a side step into a critique of modern society.
Remember Me, dir. by Claire Lory Titelman
Claire’s not one to let a little midlife crisis keep her down. She puts on a brave face, slips on her in- case-of-existential-emergency bikini dress, and puts her best foot forward as she rehearses for her first date in a long, long time.
Le Charade, dir. by Erika Totoro
A psychological comedy set in a run-down 1950s diner. Le Charade follows the final performance of a lonely mime and the psychotic episode that ensues after his imaginary friend breaks up with him and he is forced to re-enter society.
Joey Earns Rewards, dir. by Brad Roelandt
Captured in a single aerial shot, Clev’s proposal to Megh at a McDonald’s drive-thru is interrupted by an eager customer offering help with their order.
Apocalypse Monday, dir. by Ben Wenger
Just another Monday morning: Coffee, exhaustion, and the apocalypse.
Such Good Friends, dir. by Bri Klaproth
After ending a toxic friendship, a people-pleaser finds herself falling into old patterns with her ex-best friend’s family.
The Callback, dir. by Kara Herold
A comedy about following a dream into a waking nightmare.
4:30 – 5:45: Jay Rosenblatt presentation, Playhouse
Jay will show and discuss his two Academy Award nominated films.
When We Were Bullies
When We Were Bullies begins with a mind boggling “coincidence” from 25 years ago which
ultimately leads the filmmaker to track down his 5th grade class (and 5th grade teacher) to see
what they remember of a bullying incident from 50 years ago. In a playful yet poignant way he
begins to understand his complicity and all its implications.
How Do You Measure a Year?
For 17 years, filmmaker Jay Rosenblatt filmed his daughter Ella on her birthday in the same
spot, asking her the same questions. In a mere 29 minutes, we watch her grow from a toddler
to a young woman with all the beautiful and sometimes awkward stages in between. Each
phase is captured fleetingly but makes an indelible mark. Her responses to her father’s
questions are just a backdrop for a deeper story of parental love, acceptance, and ultimately,
independence.
Sunday, August 17
10:40 – 11:00 Live music, Piano, Andy Roberts Playhouse
11:00 -12:30: Documentary Film block, Playhouse
Tiger, dir. by Loren Waters
Dana Tiger was just five years old when her father, legendary Muscogee Creek artist Jerome Tiger, passed away. She turned to his art as a way to know him, the richness of her culture, and the bounty of her family’s artistic tradition. Dana’s mother and uncle started a booming t-shirt printing business in the 1980s. Then, Dana’s younger brother, Chris Tiger, was relentlessly murdered and their business was brought to a halt. Dana and her family have been working for nearly 30 years to revitalize the iconic Tiger t-shirt company, through immense grief and suffering from Parkinson’s.
The Brothers Who Broke Bread, dir. by Victoria Wilcox
A young Black saxophonist in Philadelphia navigates the hardship of finding his voice as a musician in a predominantly White college. Through a battle of self-doubt and determination, Josh finds his place in the Philly jazz scene through brotherhood and resilience.
Abstract Tendencies, dir. by Daniel Freeman
An abstract painter embarks on a technicolor, soul-searching journey to recover his lost art and confront past demons.
View From the Floor, dir. by Megan Griffiths and Mindie Lind
In pursuit of a life on stage, a singer without legs confronts exploitation and imposter syndrome as she chases her dreams and those around her chase inspiration porn.
Llevo Mi Patin, dir. by Alice Norrell, Grace Ross, and Tahra Khanuja
Llevo mi patín is a mosaic-style documentary that follows four female-identifying Madrileñas at Legazpi skatepark. This short film explores how skateboarding intersects with individual stories of resilience and womanhood.
Noggin, dir. by Case Jernigan
No sugarcoatin’ it, you’ve got brain damage from multiple sclerosis. Your memories are fading so gather everything left in that noggin, like paper and ink and photos and love of course. Start with the foundation and don’t give up. Soon you’ll have a palace.
40’24.2983’N, dir. by Tony Buba
A four-channel video that immerses the viewer on the effects of corporate decisions on front line communities.
We Were the Scenery, dir. by Christopher Radcliff
The story of Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che, who, in 1975, after fleeing the Vietnam War by boat and docking in the Philippines, were utilized as background extras in the filming of APOCALYPSE NOW.
1:10 – 1:30 Live music, piano, Beth Trez
1:30 – 3:00 High School Filmmakers block
The Photographer, dir. by Gracen Matai Meyers and Jacob Kautzky
The Photographer is a moving piece about a young artist mourning the loss of a loved one, struggling between inspiration and despair as she searches for how best to honor him. It’s a beautiful poetic work about grief and the transformative power of art.
Until Tomorrow, dir. by Noah Bensing
Carter is laying on his couch, unable to move on past the lost of someone important to him. His friends reach out trying to offer help, but the only real help he can get is from his father. He visits her grave everyday and reads his favorite book, and brings her favorite flower, to her to always keep her in his memories.
Guiding Light, dir. by India Ann Mitchell
Through the compelling interviews of the lead prosecutor, the defense attorney and the police chief, “Guiding Light” tells the story of a young teen (Polly Hannah Klaas) in a small town in America who was kidnapped from her bedroom during a slumber party while her family was in the house. A teen growing up in the same town thirty years later brings a fresh perspective to the continuing endeavor to keep children safe.
Surpassing Suburbia, dir. by Melissa Azzarito
This film is coming of age story addressing some of the existential challenges of teen life.
Judy Williams Henry: Goodwill Through Dance, dir. by Olivia Wickenheiser
Goodwill explores the impact of a dance teacher on her students’ lives.
Result, dir. by Jie Sun
In a post-apocalyptic world filled with toxic air, a woman survives alone behind sealed walls. Her life is reduced to routine—until one day, a voice crackles through the radio. She risks everything to follow the signal—only to find a corpse at its source. Left with no hope, she chooses death. But in the silence that follows, she hears: “You made it”. Result is a quiet scream about choice, pressure, and surrender. It explores the irony that sometimes giving up is the only way forward.
AI and Deepfake - A Future or a Threat?, dir. by Gyeol Han
In this student documentary, I have explored the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence and Deepfake technology on modern society. I have explored how the appropriate use of such technologies could be very beneficial as well as highlighted the darker side of AI and Deepfakes, such as misinformation risks, ethical concerns, societal implications and much more. This Double-Edged Sword invites viewers to reflect on the opportunities and challenges posed by these groundbreaking advancements.
Mrs. Tireseas , dir. by Iris Zhao
Mrs Tireseas wakes up one day, and realizes her husband has turned into a woman
The Parallel, dir. by Eden Leshem and Olivia Sobolevsky
A cinematic short film thriller inspired by the Steven King movies of the 80s. A high school student finds herself trapped in a world where everyone has vanished.
The Man in the Green and Gold Suit , dir. by Kady Serlin and Sean Miles
Follow James Williams, Glenbrook North Class of 2010, on his journey to becoming the ultimate Spartan superfan. From cheering on every game to embodying school spirit like no other, his passion for GBN knows no bounds. But what drives his dedication, and how has he earned his title as the biggest fan in Spartan history?
3:15 – 3:45 Fact or Fiction game with comedian Earl David Reed
3:45 – 4:30 Awards
1st 2nd 3rd in each category, craft awards, Hometown, Audience, Young Contributor, Vita Maxima
4:30 - 5pm Farewell Reception, Playhouse, with Live music, piano, Beth Trez
"Please note: These films are intended for mature audiences and may contain challenging content, including sexual and violent themes expressed through explicit language, imagery, and sound. They are not suitable for children and viewer discretion is advised."