BHFF
Archives

2025

Filmmaker Selection

2024

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BLOCK 1 @ 11:30 AM

Selfiesh

Director: Jose Cura

Country: United States

RT: 3min

Synopsis: The intense journey of a young woman trapped in the grip of social media addiction and the obsessive pursuit of the perfect selfie. Her fixation spirals out of control when she encounters a sinister doctor who offers the illusion of aesthetic perfection. This film serves as a stark critique of society’s relentless quest for digital validation, exposing the devastating impact on self-worth and reality in the age of social media....

The Ordinariness of Being Deaf – as Told by Alex

Director: Karmel Graham

Country: United States

RT: 3min

Synopsis: Alex is deaf, but it doesn’t define him. Instead, it defines the perception of him by others. This AI generated short film using Midjourney, Runway and Speechify takes us on a journey led by Alex, who shares what it’s like – and what it’s not like – being hearing-impaired. Through his lens we learn that the human experience has many similarities, despite what some consider as significant differences....

Love Photosynthesis

Director: Alisa Zolonz

Country: United States

RT: 4min

Synopsis: Within the microscopic realm of a leaf, Water embarks on an improbable love story with Chloroplast with the duo struggle to overcome their differences. Battling to unify it triggers a transformative journey for the pair, and others around them...

Darkness Falling

Director: Marcin Nowrotek

Country: United States

RT: 5min

Synopsis: An animated, music-driven short film delving into themes of vulnerability and the repetitive cycles of violence. Written, directed and animated by Polish filmmaker Marcin Nowrotek, the piece is an artistic response to Ceiri Torjussen’s track DARKNESS FALLING (which comes from his 2024 album SOUL IN THE MACHINE)....

Mnemonade

Director: MetaPuppet

Country: United States

RT: 5min

Synopsis: As her mind fades, a woman with dementia discovers that each bite of food from a mysterious diner’s menu unlocks fragments of her forgotten life, forcing her to confront bittersweet memories and rediscover her true self before the last dish is served....

The Faith of Joe

Director: Steve Dawson

Country: United States

RT: 6min

Synopsis: As the mandatory implant signifying defiance against God looms on the horizon, Joe emerges as a defiant figure, willingly sacrificing everything to uphold his beliefs. Alone beneath the shelter of a solitary apple tree, he remains steadfast, dedicating himself to helping others—no matter their choice regarding the implant....

Flip

Director: Ivailo Boliarov

Country: United States

RT: 7min

Synopsis: Somewhere out there, through the lonely streets and corridors of personal searches, questions and building attempts, lies the way out to be able to change our lives and our surroundings, in the way we want. The key turns out to be not only finding the right door, but also how to turn everything upside down to open it. Or maybe the journey isn’t over yet....

Land of Darkness

Director: Chad Reininger

Country: United States

RT: 8min

Synopsis: An epic fairy tale about love at first sight. The coward demon Wrothren meets the angel warrior Aerna in a battle above the clouds, and together they fall into the Land of Darkness. Surrounded and outnumbered, Wrothren must discover his courage in order to defend someone he has just met. Someone that was supposed to be his enemy. Can love alone be light in the dark?...

One Giant Waddle

Director: Kevin M Jones

Country: United States

RT: 8min

Synopsis: A group of penguins watching the moon landing gets jealous of the astronauts’ constant bragging about taking giant steps. While the penguins watching are stuck on Earth, with gravity keeping their steps so tiny that their walking style is mockingly referred to as waddling....

Happy Life

Director: Sara Caldwell

Country: United States

RT: 9min

Synopsis: Happy Life is a stop-motion animation about an old woman who turns her loneliness into joy with the help of three balloons and a mysterious stranger....

Fast Forward to Forever

Director: Dylan Martin

Country: United States

RT: 10min

Synopsis: Fast Forward to Forever is a story that tackles the grieving process and the questions we ask ourselves when someone passes away. The film follows Josh, a wallflower-type of sorts. He is pulled into Anna’s world as he recognizes someone who feels alone too. After her eventual passing, we follow Josh as he looks back at the past and begins to reflect on what it means to grieve for a lost loved one...

The Sacred Society

Director: Benny Zelkowicz

Country: United States

RT: 13min

Synopsis: An evocative animated documentary about the volunteers who clean and dress bodies for burial according to Jewish custom. Using moving sand to Illustrate a little-known ritual, the film explores the value of tradition in how we grapple with our own mortality....

Disabled: A Love Story

Director: Sheila M. Sofian

Country: United States

RT: 14min

Synopsis: An animated documentary exploring the affect Multiple sclerosis (MS) has had on Terry and her husband/caregiver, Jon. Beginning with the diagnosis and continuing through their +35 year marriage, Terry struggles to continue working as a city planner and teaching while losing her mobility. Jon works as a writer, and together they learn to adapt to each stage of the disease while maintaining their relationship....

Fruckus

Director: Evan York

Country: United States

RT: 26min

Synopsis: Award-winning animated short about redemption: The life of Chuck LaVallee—street hustler turned Hollywood agent. A junkie at 13, he rose to sign legends like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Alanis Morissette at William Morris. Now battling cancer from a dirty needle, Chuck asked me to record his journey—sex, drugs, rockstars, and mobsters—to leave something behind....

BLOCK 2 @ 11:45 AM

After the Bomb

Director: Heather Brumley

Country: United States

RT: 19min

Synopsis: In an era where the violence of war often leaves victims forgotten, a woman whose life was devastated by a bomb in Northern Ireland joins with fellow victims and survivors to fight for restitution and acknowledgment from a negligent government. Amidst her fight, she finds new healing in a friendship based on shared need, where one walks and the other sees....

Tiny Tree Concert

Director: David Neptune

Country: United States

RT: 13min

Synopsis: Ryoji Inatsugi isn’t just a musician. He’s a rockstar… for babies. This short documentary tells the story of how he found his calling playing music classes with babies and their families in parks around Los Angeles....

Dreamful

Director: Sarko Meené, Vahan Khachiyan

Country: United States

RT: 15min

Synopsis: Dreamful follows an 80-year-old art collector dreaming of transforming Chiliomodi Island, Greece, into a sanctuary for artists and pilgrims, reflecting on life’s simplicity and beauty....

Las Mariachis

Director: Francesca Hill

Country: United States

RT: 16min

Synopsis: A short documentary profiling the director of one of LA’s finest all-female mariachi groups, Mariachi Lindas Mexicanas. In a male dominated world of mariachi, she fights for recognition and carries the weight of fifty years of family tradition on her shoulders, while also seeking to empower future generations of women in mariachi — hoping to forge her own legacy as both a musician and a mother....

500 Years of Friendship

Director: Abby Mohaddes

Country: United States

RT: 49min

Synopsis: In 500 Years of Friendship, director Abby Mohaddes explores her father’s decades-long bond with a group of Iranian men, formed during their time as foreign students at the University of Nebraska in the 1970s. Amidst the Iranian Revolution and the Iran Hostage Crisis, their friendship provided strength and solace. Abby returns to Nebraska with her father, witnessing how their enduring connection has transcended generations, offering a poignant exploration of connection, resilience, and cultural identity....

BLOCK 3 @ 1:30 PM

The Rider

Director: Roberto Serrini

Country: United States

RT: 27min

Synopsis: Unsafe, uncomfortable, unreliable and the only vehicle where you are the windshield, The Rider is an extremely experimental, savvy & sassy cinematic exploration of why on earth real riders entertain insanity and mount these literal death traps....

Isky

Director: Cheyanne Kane

Country: United States

RT: 70min

Synopsis: Ed Iskenderian, also known as Isky, is the motorsports legend whose groundbreaking innovations revolutionized racing. Isky is a driving force behind high-performance camshafts, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in the pursuit of speed. Ed shaped an entire automotive era and became an eternal icon in the process. Today, at 103 years of age, Isky’s passion and drive continues to inspire generations, while reminding us that age is no barrier to innovation and success....

BLOCK 4 @ 1:45 PM

Jacob de Haan – A Voice Out of Time

Director: Zvi Landsman

Country: Israel

RT: 72min

Synopsis: The death of Jacob Israel de Haan is commemorated annually by both the ultra-Orthodox Jews of Neturei Karta in Jerusalem, and the LGBTQ community in Amsterdam. He is a pioneer for both. In the early twentieth century, he published the first LGBTQ novel in the Netherlands. He then returned to his Jewish roots, migrated to Palestine as a Zionist, but became the spokesperson for the Orthodox community, spearheading its fight against Zionism. He was still publishing queer poetry in Dutch. He was killed in Jerusalem in 1924, and his assassins were never caught. Today, never-before-heard audio recordings shed new light upon the mystery of the first Zionist political assassination....

Dawn Ready

Director: Jennifer Cawley

Country: United States

RT: 12min

Synopsis: Big wave surfer Laird Hamilton and Military Jet Fighter Pilot Daniel Robinson are on a mission to constantly revolutionize their equipment and the readiness required to achieve their goals. This documenytary intertwines the extraordinary worlds of two modern day heroes, and the parallels that exist within their relentless focus on pushing the boundaries of their careers and training....

World Changers

Director: Spencer Stander

Country: United States

RT: 23min

Synopsis: World Changers is a gripping journey into resilience, where hope fuels transformation. Hosted by former NFL player Zach Sudfeld, this documentary dives into Uganda to uncover fearless changemakers—an HIV+ advocate revolutionizing healthcare, a rebellious nun rescuing trafficked children, and a leader reimagining education. Blending adventure, purpose, and unfiltered storytelling, World Changers doesn’t just document change—it dares audiences to be part of it....

BLOCK 6 @ 3:30 PM

3 Minutos

Director: Douglas Ryan

Country: United States

RT: 5min

Synopsis: A young couple at potential crossroads in their lives, quickly evaluate their relationship as an unexpected question leads to the start of a deeper conversation....

Buckets

Director: Dan Lubetkin

Country: United States

RT: 7min

Synopsis: A workaholic dad joins his basketball-obsessed daughter at the park. They discover the court is a physical impossibility when every shot – no matter how ridiculous – goes in....

Crudo

Director: Tom Wilson

Country: UK

RT: 7min

Synopsis: Foodie culture comes to blows when two couples meet in an LA restaurant. Shot in Beverly Hills, CRUDO is a satire on the central place restaurant culture has taken when it comes to keeping up appearances. The foodie “one-upmanship” that usually bubbles away under the surface suddenly explodes into physical violence in this comedy short....

Raging Doll

Director: Ruthie Marantz

Country: United States

RT: 8min

Synopsis: Lee, a vapid and delusional woman-child, drags herself through another uninspired boxing workout with Coach. When a confident teenage champion shows up to train like a boss, she baits Lee into her first ring match by savagely roasting her appearance....

Cake for Two

Director: Andre Enzensberger

Country: United States

RT: 8min

Synopsis: A young man of lovable character anxiously awaits his perpetually late date. As he practices speeches to confront his love interest about her tardiness, a series of increasingly absurd events lead him down a path of chaos and surprises....

Shut Up, Jack

Director: Alec Bewkes

Country: United States

RT: 9min

Synopsis: After his joke bombs at a party, Jack’s anxiety spirals out of control as he argues with his subconscious about the best path to social redemptio...

Misses Pickles

Director: Jennifer Plante Johnson

Country: United States

RT: 11min

Synopsis: When Donna attempts to rescue an abandoned kitty for a local shelter, she finds her ex-girlfriend June on the same mission. Will lingering feelings and open wounds get in the way of saving the cat?...

Contra

Director: Bradford Jackson

Country: United States

RT: 13min

Synopsis: Bill and Lance, two ripped, no-nonsense American commandos, have been called upon by their grizzled old Commander, Colonel Blood, for one last death-defying mission. But when their chopper crash-lands in the heart of the Last Frontier, they’re left stranded, outnumbered, and outgunned. With nothing but their bare fists, oversized weapons, and an insatiable thirst for destruction, they carve a path of carnage through their enemies, leaving behind one simple reminder: Real men don’t reload....

Loganberry Lane: a Book Gets Banned

Director: Cathy Cahlin Ryan

Country: United States

RT: 14min

Synopsis: When the Regan School’s PA decides to ban “offensive” books – the ladies of Loganberry go into action to fight city hall and the school’s hierarchy that bonds them in their united front....

Virgin Murder

Director: Sam Erokhin

Country: United States

RT: 15min

Synopsis: Two lifelong friends, both over 35 and still virgins, set off on a journey to finally lose their virginity. Their plan takes an unexpected dark turn, and they find themselves in increasingly chaotic situations as they try to avoid the consequences of their actions. Each step only drags them deeper into trouble, testing their friendship and resolve....

Night Shift

Director: Pranav Bhojwani

Country: United States

RT: 9min

Synopsis: A security guard is tasked with guarding the most rare Ferrari Collection in the world. On his first night watch…things start to go wrong…...

BLOCK 6 @ 5:15 PM

Motherhood: A Day in the USA

Director: Danielle Lurie

Country: United States

RT: 4min

Synopsis: Filmmaker Danielle Lurie has spent several years documenting the days-in-the-lives of over 45 mothers across America which she will turn into an episodic series. This short collection of her vast footage highlights a typical day-in-the life of mothers in America and pays homage to the invisible work done everyday to care for and love our nation’s children, all while doing so – as the main musical track suggests – under enormous pressure....

The Original Badass

Director: Simantini Chakraborty, Godfrey Reggio

Country: United States

RT: 12min

Synopsis: A group of award-winning filmmakers has created a powerful film titled THE ORIGINAL BADASS that celebrates American ingenuity, innovation and influence. The apolitical film was made at a critical time during the momentous 2024 election year to inspire hope and bring people together in a deeply divided nation full of hate, anger and vitriol. This bold film is an urgent reminder that it is our collective responsibility to cherish and preserve the great American experiment....

Resurgo: Detroit

Director: Stephen McGee

Country: United States

RT: 105min

Synopsis: A $1 house? Detroit, once home to America’s greatest ruins like Michigan Central Station is now the comeback story of the century. Between 1910-1960 Detroit became known as the richest cities in the world. When the main industry left town so did 2 million white people and Detroit’s narrative shifted to its’ post industrial ruins. So what about the people who chose to stay? A documentary film 20 years in the making....

BLOCK 7 @ 6 PM

This is Ira Richer

Director: Rick Knief

Country: United States

RT: 7min

Synopsis: Explore the mind, life, and influences of this visionary artist who landed in SOHO, NY during the 1980’s amongst notable figures in the art world. Discover how a critical early event inspired the breakthrough that shaped his foundational works....

You TV

Director: Von Kochar

Country: United States

RT: 11min

Synopsis: A documentary exploring YOU-TV, the groundbreaking 1988 video-sharing platform that predated the internet and pioneered user-generated content. Conceived in Paris by Norman Solomon during Helmut Newton’s promotional tour and launched in Los Angeles, YOU-TV/WAT (World Access Television) quickly gained a global following, becoming the earliest attempt at social media....

Fugue

Director: Maria Alice Arida

Country: Brazil

RT: 25min

Synopsis: The Brazilian photographer Marcio Scavone revisits his career and his iconic portraits from the past. In “Fugue”, portraits and landscapes appear alongside images of his childhood and youth. For Scavone, searching for the meaning of photography is also telling his life story. At the age of 70, Scavone discusses the relevance of his work, reveals his fear of death and questions what the final frame of his life will be....

Martin Scorsese, My Life in Music

Director: Clara Kuperberg, Julia Kuperberg

Country: United States

RT: 54min

Synopsis: Martin Scorsese is renowned for his masterful use of music in his films. His relationship with music is deep and complex; he considers it a crucial element of cinematic storytelling. In many of his films, music plays a role almost as important as the characters themselves. It can serve to underscore the characters’ emotions, reinforce the film’s themes, or evoke a particular era....

BLOCK 8 @ 7:30PM

Stealing the Sky

Director: Megan Follows

Country: Canada

RT: 100min

Synopsis: STEALING THE SKY is a bitingly funny and brutally honest look at the modern gig economy, the housing crisis, and the changing face of a major North American City. A mosaic of interlocking stories, the film centers around a lovingly appointed loft, home to artists and oddballs, across the street from a refugee center. Holly, a struggling actress, earns her income by renting out the loft. But the building is marked for demolitio...

BLOCK 9 @ 8 PM

Rocancourt, The Film

Director: David Serero

Country: France

RT: 62min

Synopsis: Director David Serero takes us on a journey through the life of Christophe Rocancourt, a character of mystery and audacity. A new cinematographic style involving documentary, thriller, action film, and spontaneous interview, captivated audiences at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Rocancourt’s rise from humble beginnings to international conman in Beverly Hills, stalking the American press as a member of the Rockefeller family and going on the run, having the FBI and Interpol on his tail....

BLOCK 10 @ 9:30PM

The Grand Strand

Director: Luke Lowder

Country: United States

RT: 113min

Synopsis: Burdened with choosing his legal guardians, Levi spends the summer before he starts high school with his cousins at their family’s trailer in Myrtle Beach, SC....

BLOCK 11 @ 9:45PM

Her First Time

Director: Mikaela Brown-Cestero, Malia Aniston

Country: United States

RT: 4min

Synopsis: July 12th 1964; Alice Graham’s first ever first date, and a moment that will change her life forever. A girl never forgets her first time....

Break

Director: Jose M Tenorio

Country: United States

RT: 6min

Synopsis: A vagrant breaks into a home and discovers a dead body and abandoned child. They must then make the moral dilemma of stealing what they can or staying and ensuring the child’s safety. At the end, police sirens are heard approaching and the vagrant decides to take the child and surrender themselves to the authorities....

A Sip Of Coffee

Director: Andres Felipe Bernal Farias

Country: United States

RT: 7min

Synopsis: Jenna is trying to close the dinner for the night but a man comes in at the last minute and a mysterious conversation between them reveals the true identities and intentions of our two characters....

The House of Solomon

Director: Samuel Benitez

Country: United States

RT: 9min

Synopsis: Post-Apocalypse, USA: Solomon, a man of faith, is trying to keep his family safe. When danger arrives at his door, can he forsake his beliefs and kill in order to guarantee his family’s safety?...

Golden Hour

Director: Shiyu Zhou

Country: United States

RT: 10min

Synopsis: In the near future, an overly enthusiastic art teacher’s life begins to slowly unravel when she’s confronted by a rebellious student with more than a few dangerous secrets....

Subject To Memory

Director: Evelyn Kircher

Country: United States

RT: 13min

Synopsis: When a grieving young woman seeks spiritual healing at a rustic retreat, she learns that she may not just be a participant, but a target....

The Shadow in the Mirror

Director: Katie Ann O’Keefe

Country: United States

RT: 13min

Synopsis: In the midst of a diabetic crisis, a young woman faces the ghosts of her past with a former addict boyfriend who revisits her life....

Family Reunion

Director: Sarah Jo Carré

Country: United States

RT: 15min

Synopsis: When a young girl is stalked by what she believes to be a lake monster during a family reunion, she is forced to face what is truly frightening her…...

Basketcase

Director: Justin Lord, Katelyn Wagner

Country: United States

RT: 22min

Synopsis: Kaylin has never met someone outside her family. She has also never been told why everyone in her family has to wear baskets over their heads. Unable to bear her parents’ mysterious rules any longer, she secretly invites a boy she met online over to visit....

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Thu

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BHFF Archives

Filmmaker Selection

BLOCK 1 @ 11:30 AM

BLOCK 2 @ 11:45 AM

BLOCK 3 @ 1:30 PM

BLOCK 4 @ 1:45 PM

BLOCK 6 @ 3:30 PM

BLOCK 6 @ 5:15 PM

BLOCK 7 @ 6 PM

BLOCK 8 @ 7:30PM

BLOCK 9 @ 8 PM

BLOCK 10 @ 9:30PM

BLOCK 11 @ 9:45PM

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