NoBudge is happy to present new work from a group of emerging indie filmmakers, mostly based in New York. We’re screening eight short films, an even split of the dramatic and comedic. In the first half of the program, we’re focusing on edgy character studies that hover around sexual or emotional longing. The second half opens up into a series of dark comedies about good intentions gone wrong, or featuring characters embroiled in desperation. On both sides, the work explores loneliness and isolation, or rocky relationships filled with paranoia and/or manipulation. The program kicks off with a bit of an outlier, a lovely and imaginative stop motion animated film that eases us into the evening. This is the first public screening in New York for each of the films, and in most cases, the first public screening anywhere. All directors will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A and Afterparty.

NoBudge is an online platform spotlighting the best in low-budget indie filmmaking. “One of the best places to sample what’s happening in low-budget cinema worldwide,” says Glenn Kenny of The New York Times. Its mission is to provide a supportive home for emerging indie filmmakers working with limited resources and without major industry connections, and to be a trusted discovery platform.

The movies:
Snow Angel
New York Premiere
Directors Evie Metz & Nicholas Daly present.
A journey through dreams and desires following a young woman making a snow angel and other wintry adventures.
(4 minutes)

Sincerely, Erik
New York Premiere
Director Naz Riahi present.
A lonely bookseller in Brooklyn navigates the post Covid-19 world as best as he can.
(12 minutes)

Journal
New York Premiere
Director Alex Bliss present.
Two best friends retrace their steps in hopes of locating a missing item after a seemingly average night.
(8 minutes)

Nudes
New York Premiere
Director Evan Daves present.
Desperate to be desired in her long-expired relationship, Jen becomes embroiled in a sextual encounter with her co-worker.
(16 minutes)

I’m SO Sorry
New York Premiere
Director Chester Vincent Toye present.
Two roommates struggle to decide which Black Lives Matter sign they should purchase to show their support for the BLM movement.
(5 minutes)

Maggie So Low
New York Premiere
Directors Michael Borowiec and Sam Marine Borowiec present.
Maggie invites friends, acquaintances and total strangers into her home for what they think is a party, but she has other plans in store.
(16 minutes)

The Ultimate (By Lou Fescano)
New York Premiere
Director Daniel Jaffe and co-writer/star Michelle Uranowitz present.
After the death of her high school boyfriend Lou, Nicole returns home to New Jersey where she finds herself directing Lou’s unproduced screenplay.
(17 minutes)

Nicole
New York Premiere
Directors Edy Modica and Ian Faria present.
In a small town outside of New York City, a woman desperately tries to get to Dunkin Donuts for a coffee coolatta.
(18 minutes)