Here Where the Sea Shines

This quiet, reflective short film features a little pooch named Rosy, a true charmer who serves as the mascot of Marina Grande, a port area in Sorrento, Italy. A short documentary featuring a dog and the sea is a recipe for cinematic heaven, and when watching the film, one might notice a feeling of having arrived home and never wanting to leave again. 

Director Giuseppe A. Modica lived in the United States for a brief time before his parents returned to their native Italy. There is rich emotion in this film, including a sense of timeless belonging via family, tradition and the contrast of change. 

Rosy plays an important role in a town that is anchored in relationships with one another. Modica captures the spirit of Marina Grande through gazes, music, and a lead character who doesn't speak. The unspoken style of communication woven into the film speaks volumes about an old village and the undercurrents that make it special. 

Here Where the Sea Shines (Qui Dove Il Mare Luccica) will screen with English subtitles. The trailer we have at this time is in Italian without subtitles: Here Where the Sea Shines Trailer

I Hate My Love Life

When a long-married couple finds their relationship on the skids, they turn to a new age guide who is, let's be honest, delightfully perky but a bit flaky. Their new mentor, if you will, summons a bold idea that sounds crazy enough to work, and off they go to date other people—to see what else is out there. 

And wow, in the current era of online dating, racy apps and made-on-the-fly etiquette, what IS out there is really OUT THERE. Writer and Director Tiffany Jackman lends a sharp eye for people and social commentary to her comedy, and the result is riotously funny. 

For all the unfortunate, million or so souls who can relate to the title I Hate My Love Life, this film is for you. And so is the trailer: 

Don't Pick Up

When Louisa enters a children's bookstore, she has nothing particular in mind. That's not necessarily a good thing. Given her history of uncontrollable impulses, it's a dicey situation. Chris, the kind and single manager, awkwardly flirts with his equally uncomfortable customer. Neither person has a clue where this is heading. 

A budding romance would be exciting. But what if Louisa's secret albatross derails everything...again? This somewhat creepy romcom will keep you guessing from start to finish. Will Louisa walk away with a new beau, or will he have to call the police? 

New York-based director Jeremiah Kipp brings out the chemistry and inners lives of both actors in this probing, unpredictable short film. You can watch the trailer here: 

Trail Mix

The thru-hiking community doesn't get much press, and in an era when almost everyone is interconnected in a somewhat closed system 24/7, it's not hard to see why those who unplug are off the collective radar. Trail Mix is a fascinating look at long-distance hikers who traverse the entire 2,000 plus mile Appalachian Trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. 

Director Glenn Robert Sweitzer has a taste for adventure and off-grid living himself, as he spends much of his free time traveling cross country in a van. Yet Sweitzer is quick to cite his lack of backpacking experience prior to embarking on an ambitious project that involved hiking end-to-end himself. 

The people he meets along the way—and the deep, philosophical worldview they share despite the disparate motivations behind their quest—shape this film project in a manner reminiscent of nature's often unnoticed but irrepressible force. There is a sense of the trail making the film as much as Sweitzer does. As one subject of the film puts it: "The trail...it won't give you anything if you don't let it. You have to kind of let the trail break you down a little bit."

Why would people quit their careers, give up their homes and shed just about every worldly possession they own, then submit themselves to a trail? Do they have anything of value to say to the rest of us who remain plugged into a grid that sketches out a different path? These are questions worth exploring, so Sweitzer exercised his artistic freedom and made this revealing documentary. 

You can watch a teaser here: 

The Fries Rebellion

After moving from Cincinatti to the Lehigh Valley, a sullen teenager feels too lost to perform in school. The biggest stumbling block at the moment is a history report on the area, a subject about which she knows nothing. But Mom drops a hint—their family has ancestral ties to this part of eastern Pennsylvania—and from there the schoolgirl's keen sixth sense takes over. 

She begins to experience visions of historical events that took place around a 1799-1800 tax revolt known as Fries's Rebellion. Her report takes a back seat to these spectral phenomena, a change of circumstances that she finds both fascinating and terrifying. 

Director Dan Hertzog collaborated with the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society to create this imaginative docudrama. The historical reenactments are very well produced, written and directed. If education and entertainment are the main objectives of The Fries Rebellion, the project is a big success. 

By the end of the film, the high school student has quite a story to tell in her book report. You can watch the trailer here: The Fries Rebellion Trailer

Artists at the Edge

On the northern tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts sits a quaint seaside town called Provincetown. Long known as a haven for artists, LGBTQ+ culture, art lovers and foodies, the close-knit community combines an appreciation for history with a yearning for progress. 

Against this backdrop, Executive Producer and Director Patrick Riviere produced this documentary to highlight two talented local artists: Kenny Lockwood and Darlene Van Alstyne. Van Alstyne sings, dances, and acts while wearing her BIPOC LGBTQ+ identify with pride. And style! Lockwood, a senior LGBTQ+ identifying resident of Provincetown, collaborates with Van Alstyne and other artists for the greater good. 

This film is keenly interested in the big picture, with an emphasis on fostering creativity, equality and action at a time when society at large is polarized. When some people are still considered "other" on the wider stage, Director Riviere focuses his camera lens on a place where the Pilgrims landed and the quest for self-determination springs eternal. 

You can watch the trailer here: Artists at the Edge

Second Chance City

In this absorbing drama, a young man faces a callous world after his release from prison. His only safety net is his successful older brother, who tries to help, but their long gap in communication leaves this relationship tenuous. 

There are other problems, and one is pressing: a former acquaintance in prison is demanding money, and fast. There are also glimmers of hope when a girl says she's cool with his past. Good things start to develop there. But as much as this ex-con wants to leave his whole incarceration experience far behind, the vortex of the past keeps pulling him back under the waves. Now he has a decision to make: how can he overcome fate without committing a crime that will put him right back behind bars?

New Jersey-based director and co-producer Chris Cardillo tells his story with a measure of East Coast grit, which makes the film feel authentic. His inspiration was a younger sibling's arrest for a minor, non-violent offense. Although prosecutors eventually dropped the charges, the elder Cardillo gained a new perspective on ex-convicts who are free in name only, with tough stigmas that make reintegration into society extremely difficult. 

You can watch the trailer here: Second Chance City Trailer

The Root

In this disturbing short film, four women make a sacred pact. If one of them ever strikes it rich, she must share her good fortune equally with the rest. As a faith-based film, the expectation might be for someone to struggle before doing the right thing, but this is no plain-vanilla Christian story. 

When a member of the group hits a big lottery jackpot, she does precisely and only the wrong thing. The evil thing. She digs in hard, and no moral boundary will stop her from hoarding the money for herself. 

Tennessee-based actress, writer and producer Courtney Lee Simpson makes her directorial debut with The Root, and the final product is bold. The Tennesseean explores the dark side of the human soul in a way that is both terrifying and compelling, a combination that will keep moviegoers on the edge of their seats.  

You can watch the trailer here: The Root Trailer

Direct Action

An idealistic teenager named Emily Phillips leads a street protest in London. In her crosshairs is a coal mine, an enterprise that she condemns as deeply outdated and culpable for global warming. The protest is blocking traffic and creating a public disturbance, which brings the ardent environmentalists face-to-face with local police. To top it off, Emily's father is opposed to her radical spirit. 

Soon she is on trial, and the question on the court's mind is whether a principled, if misguided, young woman can learn a life lesson and gain leniency, or head down the path of a permanent criminal record. The tension is high in this true-to-life drama from the United Kingdom. 

Award-winning writer and director Tor Kristoffersen, who based the story on his own protest experiences and environmental sympathies, brings a palpable sense of realism to this narrative short film. At times, it feels almost like a documentary, and no doubt Kristoffersen wants his film to form a basis for meaningful discussion. 

You can watch the trailer here (parental discretion advised): 

Because I Love You

In this chilling short film, Marco and Joanna live the American Dream. They own a mansion, attend glittering parties, and enjoy all the finer things in life. But Joanne seems to be hiding something from her powerful husband, and no amount of material success can salve his wound of jealousy. 

Marco is used to getting his way in everything, yet now he feels three inches tall. He trusts his instincts, and within that supreme trust, there is zero room for a simple misunderstanding. Therefore, he will confront this threat head-on. He comes up with a plan and sets it in motion. 

Award-winning writer, director, and producer Bob Celli is at the top of his game with Because I Love You.  Despite an impressive number of wins and nominations, he continues to innovate and create, making this latest project a thriller that will linger in your mind after the final credits roll. 

You can watch the trailer here: Because I Love You Trailer

The EKSPATS - We're Going to Africa

In this biting satire, a quintessential American family moves to Nigeria in search of better opportunity. Their main breadwinner is Bill Diamond, a middling consultant with a dim future here in the States. He leaps at the offer to work for a Nigerian magnate, Solomon Babatunde, and informs his wife they are moving. Having not been consulted, she balks until he assures her the trip will further his career. She wants to get ahead, too, so she agrees. 

The question of whether this is a wise move, and whether their lack of worldly experience leaves them naive to many risks, will be answered after their jet lands in Africa. They may not even make it out of the airport in one piece, but they will press on anyway, because that is what strivers do. 

Helmer Ron Myrick, an animation veteran with an industry career spanning over forty years, sends two distinct cultures on a collision course in this TV pilot. The chances for laughs, insights and social commentary are high amidst this offbeat plot, and he succeeds in scoring many points. At the same time, he leaves the audience wondering what will happen to this downtrodden family as they try to rise out of their mundane existence. 

You can watch the trailer here: The EKSPATS Trailer

Come Out, Wherever You Are

Set in the verdant landscape of Montana, this narrative short features a man whose western ruggedness is tested by deep wells of regret. All Vernon Parrish wants from this rural area is a little peace and quiet, but it's not likely he will get it. When a local newspaper publishes a hit piece as he arrives in town, the retired mayor from a Chicago suburb escapes to his cabin. 

Now things are on the verge of getting a lot worse. The director of the film, Caitlin Presberg, has a penchant for surprise. As Parrish settles into the slow pace of fly fishing and the front porch, forces far beyond his control are descending on the land. 

What happens next will leave you questioning who can be trusted and where, exactly, a person can find safety. You can watch the trailer here: Come Out, Wherever You Are Trailer