Starring: Kyōko Tongū, Saeko Shimazu, Chikao Ōtsuka, Katsuji Mori

It’s rough out there in outer space and when calamity strikes the hapless humans of the United Galactica Federation, there’s only one place for them to turn: Trouble Consultant team 234, codename: THE DIRTY PAIR. When the hot-headed duo gets put on a case, the problem’s sure to be solved… they’ll blow up everything along with it, but the problem? Solved.

Drawing inspiration from outer-space action flicks, city pop bangers, and Japanese pro-wrestling, this classic piece of popcorn pop brings the popular light novel and TV duo to the big screen in epic fashion. The music-packed film features songs by Miki Matsubara, and top-tier animation by Studio Sunrise. Watch out, the Dirty Pair is on the way!

Starring: Gloria Swanson, Walter Byron, Seena Owen, Tully Marshall

4K restoration

Queen Kelly opens in the imaginary European country of Cobourg-Nassau, sometime before the first World War, where the vain and cruel Queen Regina V (Seena Owen) obsesses over her feckless fiancé (Walter Byron), Prince “Wild” Wolfram. When the dissolute prince encounters an innocent but flirtatious convent girl, Patricia Kelly (Gloria Swanson), he falls in love. Desperate to see her before his upcoming wedding to the Queen, he kidnaps Kelly and brings her to his rooms in the palace. When the Queen discovers the lovers, she whips the nightgowned girl and throws her out into the night. After an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Kelly returns to the convent, where she receives a telegram, summoning her to the bedside of her dying aunt (Florence Gibson) in Dar-es-Salaam, German East Africa. There, the innocent young girl is shocked to find herself in a seedy bordello. On her deathbed, Kelly’s aunt begs her niece to wed the syphilitic brothel owner, Jan (Tully Marshall). A Milestone / Kino Lorber release.

This is the story of 7 graff hunters, individuals addicted to photographing and sharing graffiti in NYC and the world. Relentless and passionate about their obsession, they discuss why they do it, and why they can’t stop.

Short films by Joe Pera, John Early & Kate Berlant, Andrew DeYoung, Lucy Munger and Eleanore Pienta

This blissfully bonkers whatzit from unclassifiable dance-comedy trio Cocoon Central Dance Team – Sunita Mani (Glow, Mr. Robot), Tallie Medel (Everything Everywhere All At Once) and Eleanore Pienta (A Different Man) – is part psychotropic performance art spectacle, part absurdist sketch show. The three Bing Bongs lounge about, fight beach balls and periodically break into wondrously strange dance routines, with outer space interludes, a serious consideration of doctor boners and a 90s-style girl group meltdown along the way. It all plays like a live action cartoon piped in from a cotton candy-colored alternate universe.

Produced by the Academy Award-winning Daniels (Everything Everywhere All At Once). Featuring Kate Berlant (Would It Kill You to Laugh?), Joe Pera (Joe Pera Talks with You), Keith Poulson (I Blame Society) and Reggie Watts (Comedy Bang Bang). Written and Directed by Rachel Wolther (The French Italian) and Alex H Fischer (Wicker, Save Yourselves!).

From the Academy Award-winning filmmakers behind Everything Everywhere All at Once and Navalny; a father-to-be tries to figure out what is happening with all this AI insanity. The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is a hand-made, eye-opening documentary about the most powerful technology humanity has ever created… and what’s at stake if we get it wrong.

Pasha Talankin is an unlikely hero—a beloved Russian primary school teacher, known as a mentor and prankster who offers students a safe haven in his office. After Russia invades Ukraine, Pasha’s role in the school changes dramatically as he is reluctantly drawn into Putin’s propaganda machine. Forced to promote state-sanctioned messages and horrified by the transformation of his school and community, he struggles with guilt and a sense of powerlessness, leading him to become an international whistleblower.

As the school’s videographer, Pasha documents intimate and revealing footage of Putin’s regime, capturing the rise of militarized children’s groups, repressive laws, fervent nationalism, and the recruitment of graduating students to fight in the war. When he learns his own life may be at risk, Pasha is forced to plan a dangerous escape from Russia.

Directed by David Borenstein and co-directed by Pasha Talankin, this uniquely collaborative film is as captivating and joyful as it is eye-opening and sobering. Mr. Nobody Against Putin showcases rare footage that reveals the profound impact of Putin’s regime on the lives of everyday Russians, particularly its children.

Starring: Jamie Gillis, John Alderman, Georgina Spelvin, Laurien Dominique, Leslie Bovee, Serena

Jerry (Jamie Gillis) is a struggling actor who makes more money working as an escort to the rich and famous than he does in his nominal profession. His two professions collide when the wealthy J.C. Church (John Alderman) hires Jerry to seduce his sister (Georgina Spelvin) and four nieces (Laurien Dominique, Leslie Bovee and Serena in a double role) as a means of having them taken out of his dying brother’s will. One of the first hardcore features from prolific filmmaker, cinematographer and one-time Orson Welles collaborator Gary Graver, The Ecstasy Girls is a classic sex comedy with an all-star cast.

35mm print courtesy of Michael Drumbore

This XXX film is an important part of film history, and should be celebrated and viewed as such. Any inappropriate behavior during this screening will not be tolerated and will result in permanent banishment from Nitehawk Cinema. Forever. Thank you!

We wrap up this year’s festival with a strong program of pieces that find people revealing themselves in myriad ways, realizing things may not go according to plan. Some characters seek resolution only to find it is out of their grasp, while others perform versions of themselves that they can’t sustain.

Q&A moderated by Cristina Cacioppo, Nitehawk Cinema

Golden Years
Jared Meyer, 17 min.
A newly retired man has his friendship tested when he is involved in a horrifying accident.

Lesbian Jesus Is Pregnant With Vibes
Reid Pope, 12 min.
“Lesbian Jesus” (a volatile 19-year-old pop phenom) confronts a career-defining decision during a seven minute interview before her next tour stop.

Long’s Long Lost & Mini Mart
Julian Doan, 18 min.
In the seedy back rooms of a Little Saigon convenience store, a young customer seeking closure reanimates his dead father for one last conversation.

Last Knife
Allie Viti, 15 min.
Shelby is one knife set sale away from the vacation of her dreams, if her fantasies don’t get in the way.

Interloper
Kerry O’Neill, 16 min.
A troubled 16 year old girl disturbs the harmony in her new foster home.

All You Can Eat
Kelly Ann Schiesswohl, 14 min.
A small town crumbles as it prepares for the annual pie-eating contest.

NoBudge is excited to take part in the 2026 Nitehawk Shorts Festival to co-present a program of new work from a group of emerging indie filmmakers. The lineup features eight short films, a broad sampling of off-the-cuff documentaries, heavy dramas, goofy comedies and a taste of animation. Each has its own self-assured style and tone, packing a punch working with limited budgets and resources.

Q&A moderated by Kentucker Audley, NoBudge

Lotion
Bri Rodebaugh, 10 min., world premiere
On a quiet night amidst mid-80s suburban bliss, privileged couple Sherri and Mel suddenly face the biggest challenge they’ve ever encountered.

Ass Magic
Aelfie Oudghiri, 16 min., world premiere
A day in the life of magician Jack Grady, America’s Got Talent’s fastest loser.

Clean Slate
Emily May Jampel, 9 min.
Two Asian nonbinary best friends and actors must make some sacrifices when they go up for the same breakout role.

Blue
Ethan Romaine, 5 min., NYC premiere
Josh runs into an old friend.

Cafe Cafe
Dylan Waite, 14 min., world premiere
A lonely Queens professional seeks answers at his local diner after a strange piece of takeout leaves him haunted by sinister visions.

Buffalo 10
Trisha Pickelhaupt, 12 min., NYC premiere
A glamorous trans woman aching for the simplicity of her upbringing moves back to Buffalo, where she tumbles into a dalliance at the local bowling alley.

Don’t Get Me Wrong
Corey Sherman, 10 min.
A young man becomes obsessed with a mysterious device that allows him to hear every bad thing anyone has ever said about him behind his back.

The Contestant
Patrick Xavier Bresnan, 14 min.
In 1996 a young prankster entered a contest hosted by David Hasselhof to visit the set of Baywatch, the highest rated TV show in the world at that time.

For this year’s Opening Nite program we have shorts from several festival alumni and other first time filmmakers. With stories grappling with devotion and desire takes on relationships that are sometimes hilarious, other times haunting, each demonstrates a form of connection, whether it spans time or falls flat, or is complicated by outside forces.

Q&A moderated by Cristina Cacioppo, Nitehawk Cinema

Main Man
John de Menil, 10 min.
Abe and Erwin are two minor guys connected across history by their feelings of having peaked.

Crab Diane
Ryan McCown, 17 min.
A young woman, tired of working at a seaside diner, reaches out to cosmic forces.

Going Dark
Kate diRienzi, 10 min., world premiere
A catholic school girl competes with her drama teacher for her friend’s affection.

HoleY
Bavly Soliman, 20 min.
While visiting New York from Egypt, Christian-Orthodox Mark decides to lose his virginity, confronting cultural and religious restrictions.

Leaf Peeper
Vito A. Rowlands, 2 min.
A frantic frolic in Fall foliage. A stop-motion autumn adventure. A symphony in blaze orange.

Even in the Light (Hasta en la Luz)
Valeria A Avina, 15 min., NYC premiere
This visceral psychological drama follows Sofia, a tender and imaginative child navigating a fractured home filled with silence, secrets, and shadows.

Doctor Death Grip
Amber Schaefer, 20 min., NYC premiere
An autofiction writer’s viral essay about her six-fingered boyfriend’s porn addiction tests a couple’s already deteriorating relationship.