NoBudge is happy to present nine new narrative short films made by New York filmmakers, all in attendance for a post-film Q&A and after-party. Seven are New York premieres. Loosely connected by characters longing for rejuvenation, or finding unexpected connections, this set of unique visions is presented with a vivid playfulness and offbeat sense of humor, ranging from the surreal (Daydreaming, Mata Laya Pata and Outer Space Love Story) to the desirous (Catherine, Medusa, and Intimacy).

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 helping audiences find their new favorite movies and filmmakers.

The movies:
Mata Laya Pata
New York Premiere. Director Kevin Vu present.
An underachiever participates in a self-help program. Will she succeed?
(13 minutes)

Daydreaming
New York Premiere. Director Eren Gulfidan present.
A young woman daydreams of escaping a mundane day at the office with her boss and co-worker.
(6 minutes)

Intimacy
New York Premiere. Director Jess Magee present.
We follow Lulu as she contemplates her inner desires and the paradox of close relationships.
(7 min)

Medusa
New York Premiere. Director India Donaldson present.
A woman lusts after a marble statue, but has to settle for her human boyfriend.
(11 min)

Yanvalou
Director Angeline Gragasin present.
An awkward computer programmer learns to dance to impress his next-door neighbor.
(5 min)

Outer Space Love Story
Director Iva Gocheva present.
After an unspoken line is crossed, three women are forced to navigate strange passageways and painful secrets.
(10 minutes)

May
New York Premiere. Director Julian Turner present.
A weary French professor and a young drug dealer share an impalpable connection on a single night in Philadelphia.
(11 min)

Catherine
New York Premiere. Director Jake Kolton present.
A woman momentarily evades her discontent by adopting a stranger’s identity.
(20 min)

In Color
New York Premiere. Director José Andrés Cardona present.
A woman on the run goes to a 24 hour barbershop to get a midnight makeover and befriends a young barber’s apprentice.
(10 minutes)