Op-Docs is the New York Times’ award-winning series of short-form documentaries showcasing some of the freshest new work by independent filmmakers. Curated from the current library of NYT Op-Docs titles, SFFILM hand-selects five films that thematically resonate with present circumstances. This year’s group includes stories about the instrumental use of art as both a source of healing and a medium to understand one’s place in the world. The block includes refugees of war-torn Ukraine and Somalia, a Detroit community displaced by climate catastrophe, twin brothers separated by their different perceptions of the world, and two nations divided by a sea of ideology. We hope you will join us for this beloved festival event.

Neighbour Abdi
Delve into the creative process of a Somali immigrant’s innovative way of addressing his past traumas.
Douwe Dijkstra (Netherlands 2022, 29 min)

Oasis

A candid look at twin brothers and their relationship, with one coming to terms with his brother’s cognitive disability.
Justine Martin (Canada 2022, 14 min)

Away
Follows two teenage Ukrainian refugees who channel their grief through artistry.
Ruslan Fedotow (Hungary/Belgium 2022, 20 min)

Freshwater
A fluid and poetic examination of the impact of climate change on a Detroit community.
dream hampton (USA 2022, 9 min)

Island In Between
The international conflict between Taiwan and China, as seen through a peculiar vantage point on an island between both nations.
S. Leo Chiang (Taiwan 2023, 20 min)