Program Description

Reality is fluid, memory is unreliable, and the boundaries between the known and unknown blur in this collection of shorts that is, indeed, sublime. These films immerse us in worlds where transformation is inevitable, whether through time’s subtle erosion, encounters with the supernatural, or the weight of the past pressing against the present. Characters find themselves navigating shifting landscapes, from remote wildernesses to liminal spaces where belief and truth are indistinguishable. Some face forces beyond their control as rituals, myths, and unseen energies shape their fates, while others grapple with mortality, longing, and the echoes of those who came before them. Across these dreamlike interludes, isolation and connection intertwine, revealing the delicate impermanence of existence. In these films, perception bends, reality slips, and the most profound moments emerge in the spaces between the tangible and the elusive. —Amir George

Films are in alphabetical order rather than order of play. The total runtime is 88 min. All of the films below are in competition.

Filmmakers from Across the Waters, I Lay for You to Sleep, Maputo, Rat Rod, and Vox Humana are expected to attend for a post-screening Q&A.

Across the Waters
California Premiere
Viv Li (France 2024, 15 min)
In a remote mining town cut off from radio signals and suffering water scarcity, a curious teenage girl’s fascination with a passing truck driver stirs intrigue.

I Lay for You to Sleep
International Premiere
Ali Al Hajri (Qatar 2024, 15 min)
As grieving women tenderly wash his body, Ali’s soul drifts through visions of loved ones, unraveling revelations that reshape his understanding of life, loss, and the passage between worlds.

Maputo
International Premiere
Lucas Abrahão (Brazil 2024, 15 min)
Older kids deceive a young boy, Tatu, into believing he can become a supernatural being, MAPUTO, if he completes dangerous challenges, pushing his determination to the limits.

Ordinary Life
Bay Area Premiere
Yoriko Mizushiri (France, Japan 2025, 10 min)
A meditation on time and perception, Ordinary Life explores the tension between repetition and change, as human consciousness drifts through past and future while the body remains anchored in the present.

Rat Rod
California Premiere
Jared Jakins, Carly Jakins (USA 2025, 11 min)
A haunted immigrant mechanic in rural America reflects on life, death, and his journey while resurrecting old cars, finding meaning in the machines he brings back to life.

Vox Humana
Bay Area Premiere
Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan (Philippines, Singapore, USA 2024, 22 min)
A mysterious man living in the forest becomes the prime suspect when natural disasters devastate a small mountain town. A zoologist and a news team seek the truth behind his eerie connection.

Short Film Print Sources

Accessibility Information

Closed Captions are not currently confirmed for this program
Audio Descriptions are not currently confirmed for this program
American Sign Language Interpretation is not currently scheduled for this program