Spanning from the Prague Spring of 1968 to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, this documentary reveals what it meant to be a queer artist during a tumultuous time in European history. Entirely based on the archival work and diaries of Czech photographer Libuše Jarcovjáková, I’M NOT EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE probes how making art can free someone from repression—whether familial, structural or self-imposed. The film follows Jarcovjáková—whose work is reminiscent of Nan Goldin—as she comes into her own, discovering both her identity and sexuality. In charting this vibrant, sad and ultimately cathartic journey, I’M NOT EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE tells the story of one self-described ordinary person who became an extraordinary artist.

Starting a new high school is rough for shy basketballer Ace, especially when she is recruited for volleyball against the wishes of popular team captain Jana. But is it competition causing the tension, or the feelings that start to develop between the two athletes? As the team’s athletic performance continues to improve, Ace and Jana unite to fight for justice, both on and off the court. Director Samantha Lee (BILLIE AND EMMA, NewFest31) serves up teen romance with heartfelt charm, showing how connection empowers us to face any challenge. Come for the zingers and stay for the revelation of what it means to stand up for yourself.

Grab your best buds and join us at our annual Brooklyn Brunch as we celebrate the vibrant and vital role friendship plays in our queer lives. Good Judy’s unite around a collection of hilarious and huggable stories that feature a dream blunt rotation, transmasc skater bois, a wacky motel stay, havoc in the Hamptons, a flirty Friendsgiving meal and more! Teamwork makes the dream work, and we all need to get by with a little help from our friends.

City of Dreamz
Imani Celeste
12 min
Four Black art students tell stories of community, divine intervention, and the artistry that led them to this very moment…smoking weed in a cramped apartment trying not to get caught.

Dark Roast
Mark Maquez
9 min
When a small, Queer/Trans-BIPOC Cafe, ran BY the community FOR the community is being threatened to be evacuated by a Monstrous Franchise, it is up to our Baristas to keep their lights and bites in business before construction starts…by any means necessary.

Sydney and Kim
Hazel Katz
16 min
After 25-year old Sydney is released from the hospital following a major facial surgery, her best friend Kim cares for her at a motel during her recovery. As Kim’s flirtation with the motel manager escalates, Sydney’s resentment begins to boil over.

Lost Bois
Devyn Galindo
4 min
Lost Bois is a hedonistic and gritty exploration into the lives of three rebellious trans bois. Buckle up, and embrace chaos.

Honeymoon
Alkis Papastathopoulos
24 min
After a traumatizing event involving the cops, Fay is leaving Greece for good. Sandra accompanies her to the bus station, taking this time as a chance to say goodbye. As they are traveling by bus across the country, a transphobic attack by two co-passengers leaves them stranded on a highway in the middle of nowhere.

And Then There Was Her
Alexander King, Nyala Moon
9 min
In a heartwarming Friendsgiving dinner, two women from different worlds, one masculine and one transgender, find love and acceptance amidst the holiday chaos. Sometimes, the most beautiful connections happen when we least expect them.

Fishbowl
Isabel Perry, Adam Yates
15 min
Two late-twenty-somethings — and former high school theatre department legends — house-sit in the Hamptons, where they try their best to avoid their exes and keep a goldfish alive for the weekend.

Saira, an immigrant living in California, and Rosa, the first deaf law student in Guadalajara, Mexico, are trying to make a long-distance relationship work. As they navigate the physical distance in their relationship, the couple relies on their trust and deep level of communication to face their challenges head-on.

This empowering shorts program celebrates transgender lives with unapologetic declarations of self. Each film showcases how trans protagonists harness their inner strength to overcome obstacles and build supportive networks grounded in love and authenticity. Witness nuanced realities faced by Indigenous people and people of color as they navigate systems of care and mutual support within the trans community and tackle challenges like decolonizing womanhood, confronting transphobia in gay relationships, and advocating for transgender medical care at the highest levels of government. Each story resonates as a powerful testament to self-discovery and resilience.

Personal Mythologies
Susan O’Brien
4 min
Inspired by mythological Greek hero’s journeys, Dominique begins her filmic journey in the Philippines presenting the story of the Adarna Bird, an old Filipino folklore. Created as a continuous symbolic representation of the heroine’s journey, the movement of this piece illustrates Dominique metaphorically and physically crossing the ocean to become the present-day version of herself.

Clementine
Sally Tran
15 min
A late-blooming Trans woman reluctantly confronts an assigned-male-at-birth Trans specific life-altering dilemma. With the help of her besties, she attempts to process this debacle in order to determine which path to take on her journey of decolonizing her womanhood.

Trans Alchemy
Félix Endara
8 min
“ALQUIMIA TRANS” is a short documentary that delves into the unique experiences of trans masculine activists across Latin America. Through poignant narratives from individuals in Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Puerto Rico, the film offers a compelling testimony to the challenges and triumphs encountered by trans masculine individuals in the region.

All the Words But the One
Nava Mau
18 min
A dinner with her partner’s new boss becomes precarious when Maya realizes she’s also dining with someone from her past.

Pillow Chocolate
Charlie Tidmas
9 min
For transman Jamie, a one-night stand is more than just sex, it’s a question of self-worth.

After Hours
Star Amerasu
6 min
Two transwomen have a chance encounter in the club bathroom, one at the end of her rope, one at the end of her shift working at the bar.

The Songs of Water
Song Hà
10 min
‘The Songs of Water’ is a meditative short documentary weaving eight transgender individuals’ stories of care, chosen family, and resilience through the lens of nature, inviting viewers to see themselves as part of humanity’s evolving biodiversity.

Hi Ading
Dinaly J Tran
2 min
“hi ading” is a poetic short that provides a glimpse into a love story. Speaking to their parents’ past selves, Dinaly asks and hopes that these past versions might help them realize that the decisions they may not understand are still made out of love.

Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr
Kimberly Reed
13 min

Meet Roxii, a lovelorn teen in New Mexico looking for romance and navigating the layers they must shed to embrace their true identity. From nurturing crushes on friends to a string of flings as they fool around with skater boys, Roxii has moxie in spades, but what they yearn for most is to find connection and trust. With her auspicious debut feature, director Ryan Rox transforms personal experiences into a powerfully punchy cinematic journey that offers a fresh, bold and empathetic exploration of self-discovery. Rox presents a vivid narrative that resonates with profound authenticity and emotional depth, capturing the complexities of transformation and rebirth with stylish panache.

In the mountains of Georgia, two cable car attendants pass one another every day. As knowing glances turn to real feelings, the two women’s love story plays out like a delightfully whimsy Wes Anderson film without the dialogue. When the romantic gestures are this sweeping, no words are necessary.

Starring: Virginie Ledoyen, Paul Hamy, Sandrine Bonnaire

East Coast Premiere

Jump-started by a perplexing murder scene of absolute carnage and a group of missing children, two investigators from different departments are sent down the same dark and unforgiving trail. As the bodies continue to pile up and another child disappears, all clues lead to the local legend of The Soul Eater. A chilling crime procedural with plenty of gore to spare from directing team and horror genre mainstays Julien Maury and Alejandre Bustillo (Inside and Livid). -Joseph Hernandez