2025 SHORT FILMS
MAKAYLA’S VOICE: A LETTER TO THE WORLD — Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World introduces a remarkable Black teenager with a rare form of autism that leaves her mostly nonverbal. Through her parents’ unwavering belief and determination, the film reveals the profound depth of Makayla’s inner world and her inspiring spirit. [2025 ACADEMY AWARDS SHORTLIST — DOCUMENTARY SHORT]
A GOOD DAY WILL COME — Arash is a professional wrestler with dreams of representing his country and winning gold medals. The country is in turmoil and its people are suffering. Arash must decide between using his platform to stand up to tyranny, or put his head down and remain silent.
A GUEST IN MY COUNTRY — An immigrant Uber driver takes an upscale couple across town, and the drama that unfolds among them reveals truths they all would have preferred stayed hidden.
ADIDAS OWNS THE REALITY — Prankster activists perform an elaborate hoax to improve conditions for garment workers in the Adidas supply chain. Staging a shocking runway show at Berlin Fashion Week, they use humor and mischief to make the world pay attention to labor and environmental abuses that the massive sportswear brand is trying to hide.
(B)REACH — A mother struggling with postpartum intrusive thoughts confronts her mental state in a desperate phone call.
CALL ME SHAMSZ — At 15, Shamsz’s world was shattered by a life-changing diagnosis he thought was fatal. A decade later, with the help of a counselor, he has turned despair into hope, finding purpose in empowering youth while navigating his reality. Filmed in Abuja and the Niger Delta, this documentary offers an intimate look at Shamsz’s journey and the vibrant culture of Nigeria.
COME AND SAVE ME — Hugo is lured out of a lonely, self-imposed exile by nine magical fruits and the music of Danielson. Starring Fred Armisen with Andi Marie Tillman.
HERMANOS — Hermanos follows Santino and Tomás, two brothers who flee Mexico with their mother after their father’s murder, only to be separated and detained at the U.S. border. When a chance to escape arises, they risk everything to protect each other and survive as they journey across Texas on foot. Inspired by true events, this gripping story of resilience stars Jorge A. Jimenez (Narcos) and Grant Harvey (Animal Kingdom).
INDAI APAI DARAH — In the Indigenous-held forests of central Borneo, a young girl embarks on a journey guided by ancient traditions to earn the gift of a story—her people’s struggle to protect their lands from rampant deforestation.
OUR LAND, OUR LIFE — This documentary explores Ethiopia’s success in sustainable land and water management using a landscape approach to achieve food security and green growth. Produced by the World Bank and TerrAfrica, it offers lessons for addressing land degradation and climate change worldwide.
THE 21 — The 21 is an animated film that tells the story of 21 Coptic martyrs killed by ISIS in Libya in 2015. Rooted in Coptic iconography, the film follows their abduction, imprisonment, and refusal to renounce their faith, culminating in their tragic execution. Created by over 60 artists from 20+ countries, the film highlights their sacrifice and the global response of solidarity and support from religious communities. [2025 ACADEMY AWARDS SHORTLIST — ANIMATED SHORT]
THE LONGEST WALK — This film exposes the forced sterilization of American Indians in the 1970s, the exploitation of fossil fuel reserves on native lands, and other injustices. It follows the February 1978 Longest Walk, a spiritual journey across the U.S. led by American Indian Movement leaders to protest anti-Indian legislation.
THE RINK — Michael Love revisits one of his favorite Sacramento spots after being incarcerated at Folsom State Prison for 35 years, five months, and three days.
TO SOMEONE LIKE ME — To Someone Like Me shares heartfelt letters from Afghan students to girls worldwide, offering messages of hope and resilience. Produced by National Geographic Society’s Impact Story Lab, the film raises global awareness of Afghan girls’ struggles while amplifying students’ vision for a brighter, more peaceful future.
WOOD HOOD — Fifteen-year-old DeVaughn, a skateboarder from New York City, seeks an escape from the chaos of his home and urban life. On a weekend camping trip with Camping to Connect, a BIPOC-led mentorship program, he discovers leadership, brotherhood, and the transformative power of nature. As the film moves between city streets and the unfamiliar woods, it reveals the joy and growth that come from finding a much-needed “quiet place.”
YAZIDI — Yazidi offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Yazidi refugees, survivors of the 2014 ISIS genocide in northern Iraq. Through intimate storytelling, it serves as both a preservation project and a call to action, amplifying their voices and highlighting the urgent need to protect their culture before it vanishes.
UNTOUCHABLE — Untouchable exposes the lack of accountability for those driving child and youth sex trafficking in the U.S. Through survivor stories, insights from former traffickers and buyers, and expert perspectives, the film explores solutions to end this crime.
DOS SENTENCIAS — My Two Sentences follows activists into Mexican prisons to uncover the stories of Gheisel, Fabiola, Natividad, and Selene—women imprisoned due to their partners’ actions. The documentary exposes the abuse, machismo, and systemic failures that shaped their lives, calling for a judicial system rooted in gender equity and justice.
FIRELINE — Fireline follows an inmate firefighter’s desperate attempt to call home while battling a wildfire with his crew. Highlighting the 30% of CalFire’s workforce made up of prison labor, the film is a tribute to these unsung heroes fighting climate change without a clear path to employment upon release.
TIDES OF TRADITION — For nearly 10,000 years, the Unangax̂ people have lived in harmony with their environment, nourishing generations through deep connections to land and sea. In Unalaska, a remote island in the Aleutian Chain, marine heatwaves are now disrupting traditional practices like Qaqamiiĝux̂—hunting, fishing, and gathering—that have sustained their community for centuries. This short film explores how ecological shifts are threatening access to traditional foods and the resilience of an ancient way of life.
GRAVE HANDS — In a desperate plea to save his newborn son, a Vietnamese man strikes a haunting deal with God: his child’s life in exchange for a lifetime of service. Honoring his vow, he spends decades retrieving unclaimed fetuses from local hospitals, naming each one and burying them with care on his land. Grave Hands is a poignant and haunting exploration of faith, sacrifice, and the weight of unspoken promises.
CHARLOTTE SEVEN — In Charlotte, North Carolina, Professor Julia Robinson Moore—a preacher, peacebuilder, and advocate—leads a diverse team of architects, students, and historians on a mission to restore dignity to forgotten African American burial grounds. Uncovering hidden histories, they work to heal divisions between Black and white descendant communities, confronting the past to build a future of equity and unity.