Program Description

An eclectic collection of stories from across the world, this documentary block brings forth experiences of individuals and larger communities bound together by the tumultuous and often uncertain times that we are living in. Encompassing wide-ranging topics from housing crises to environmental concerns, each of the filmmakers and participants demonstrate how to combat these issues while also offering tender windows into their resilience in the face of loss. The subjects don’t shy away from harsh reality, but they also reach toward a brighter future for themselves and the communities they hold dear. —Jordan Klein

Films are in alphabetical order rather than order of play. Total runtime 92 min. All of the films below are in competition.

Filmmakers from Camp Widow, Clara's Fruit, Firefighter Goats, Fragmented, The Hemingway, and Waska: The Forest Is My Family are expected to attend for a post-screening Q&A.

Camp Widow
Bay Area Premiere
Laura Green, Anna Moot-Levin (USA 2025, 15 min)
This documentary offers a compassionate window into gatherings where widowed people have the space to speak candidly of their losses, finding solace in the bonds they forge with one another.

Clara's Fruit
World Premiere
Morgan Mathews (USA 2024, 15 min)
A principal lovingly reflects on the 90-year legacy of his great-grandmother, Sister Clara Muhammad, who founded the first Muslim private school system in the country.

Firefighter Goats
International Premiere
Phoebe Dobey, George McCann (Norway 2024, 11 min)
Consuming shrubs that could otherwise become fuel for a devastating wildfire, a herd of goats feast on Orinda, California’s dry vegetation.

Fragmented
International Premiere
Tanya Marar, Balolas Carvalho (State of Palestine, Portugal 2025, 7 min)
From the shores of Malta, a pioneering journalist from Gaza, Qassem, contemplates his experiences as a political prisoner and his painful decision to leave his homeland.

The Hemingway
Bay Area Premiere
Patrick Sean O'Brien, Evan Mathis (USA 2024, 10 min)
Filmmaker Patrick Sean O’Brien brings forth a dose of levity, magical realism, and the undeniable truths of his experience living with ALS.

Losing Your Home
California Premiere
Emmanuel Rioux (Canada 2024, 19 min)
Victims of Montreal’s housing crisis, Jeannette and Frances candidly share their stories of eviction.

Waska: The Forest Is My Family
US Premiere
Nina Gualinga, Boloh Miranda, Elizabeth Swanson (Ecuador 2025, 15 min)
Nina Gualinga of the Kichwa People of Sarayaku, investigates the ongoing environmental destruction and cultural appropriation of her Indigenous land in the Amazon.

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