Admission includes the after party in Trees Lounge! 

The first program of our 2023 festival includes themes of complex family relationships and intense grappling with bodily urges, in the form of wildly inventive animation, playful documentary, lived-in fiction and narrative fantasy. Seniors seeking romance, brothers balancing familial obligations with the need to move forward, and a body builder obsessing over sugar are just a few of the characters that are sure to move you.

Post-Screening Q&A moderated by Cristina Cacioppo, Nitehawk Cinema

BACON ‘N’ LACES
Stephen Michael Simon / U.S. / 2021 / 19 min. / English
A single dad of three boys manages a diner. But, there’s more to John than meets the eye.

SIERRA
Sander Joon / Estonia / 2022 / 16 min.
A boy accidentally turns himself into a car tire. Loosely inspired by the director’s childhood.

ÑAÑOS
Emilio Subía / U.S. / 2021 / 15 min. / English, Spanish
In the heart of Corona, Queens, two Ecuadorian siblings are placed at odds with each other when one reveals a sudden urge to leave their home.

MONSIEUR LE BUTCH
Jude Dry / U.S. / 2020 / 12 min. / English
Jude wants top surgery, Mom wants an “old lady pass” on the whole pronouns thing.

NO OTHER GODS BUT ME
Alex Spott / U.S. / 2022 / 7 min. / English
In the midst of a sexual awakening, a religious teen musters up the courage to kiss her crush, but will lust will send her straight to h-e-double-hockey-sticks?

PREP
Raymond Knudsen / U.S. / 2021 / 14 min. / English
A bodybuilding fever dream fueled by childhood trauma, food porn and acid techno music.

THE SINGLES RETREAT
Jo Firestone / U.S. / 2023 / 17 min. / English
Two old friends try to keep an open mind while attending a seniors-only singles retreat in the Poconos.