October 9-13, 2025

October 9-13, 2025
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Apocalypse

With no companions, food, or shelter, a young Rohingya girl finds solace in a little ant inside a small sugar jar as she embarks on a journey of life or death, in hopes that together they will find a safe haven. Inspired by true events.

A film screening of Apocalypse will be followed by an open discussion with its award-winning directors: Samah Safi Bayazid and Muhammad Bayazid.

The Bayazids will discuss the challenges they faced producing a professional narrative film on a budget. They will share some anecdotes from their filming set in the remote jungles of Kuala Selangor. They will be also sharing some of their secret formulas to create visually stunning and award-winning films without breaking the bank.

All on a Mardi Gras Day

In a gentrifying New Orleans, Demond participates in a secret culture known as Mardi Gras Indians, where African-American men from the city’s roughest neighborhoods sew feathered suits and compete over who’s “the prettiest.”

100% of ticket sales from each screening will be donated to Kids in the Spotlight.

Beach Day

Lexi and Sam’s normal day at the beach takes a dark turn when Sam suspects Lexi may have more sinister motives.

Max Silver (Director, Writer, Producer) and Rachel Sklar (Producer) will participate in a Q&A following each screening.

100% of ticket sales from each screening will be donated to Kids in the Spotlight.

Camp ALEC

In the woods outside of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Camp ALEC is a sleepaway camp for kids who are non-speaking. Despite being smart, capable individuals, disabilities like autism, cerebral palsy, and verbal apraxia have made it impossible for these campers to vocalize their thoughts. To express themselves, kids instead use augmentative and alternative communication devices that translate their composed messages into audible speech.

Tina Moreno (Subject) and Mateo Moreno (Subject) will participate in a Q&A following the screening.

100% of ticket sales from each screening will be donated to Kids in the Spotlight.

Oh Baby!

Oh Baby! is an entertaining and imaginative interpretation of what goes into the making of a human being. Start with a dash of Busby Berkeley dance spectacle, add a pinch of wacky Rube Goldberg engineering, top it off with a sprinkle of serendipity and behold, here comes the little bundle of joy.

Oh Baby! uses a mix of live action, stop motion, and visual effects to tell its fantastic story. The result is a beautiful world where intricate choreography, a metaphorical machine, and a cosmic trip all combine in a feast for the eyes, the ears and the heart.

This is a family-friendly film.

Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (if you’re a girl)

This film tells the story of young Afghan girls learning to read, write – and skateboard – in Kabul. After years of conflict, and with Afghanistan still dubbed ‘one of the worst places to be born a girl’, an organization called Skateistan recruits kids from poor neighborhoods and teaches them skills so they can return to public school and get a start in life.

For girls, the chance to skateboard presents a unique experience – to compete, to play, to learn their strength and to gain courage. We follow a class of girls at Skateistan growing through the joy of skating and the warmth of the women who teach them.

100% of ticket sales from each screening will be donated to Kids in the Spotlight.

Westfalia

A couple embarks on an epic road trip in an attempt to gain more followers after their Instagram rival’s fame doubles overnight.

Haley Finnegan (Director, Writer, Producer, Cast) and Montana Loran (Editor) will participate in a Q&A following each screening.

100% of ticket sales from each screening will be donated to Kids in the Spotlight.

Shorts Program: Get Creative

Stop motion, marionettes, visual effects, and live action are just some of the methods used to tell these stories in the most creative way.

This is a free, family-friendly program.

Christine Papalexis (Amaterasu) will participate in a Q&A following the screening.

Bullies

A 10-year-old boy is relentlessly bullied until he discovers a secret beneath his school that promises to keep him safe—if he’s willing to play by the rules.

Headway

An eleven-year-old boy deals with the singularities of autism, and a late thirties MMA fighter faces the delicate moment of retirement. Both stories converge in a deep and exciting encounter that triggers within each the solutions to overcome their issues. The film is based on true characters.

Camila Rizzo (Director & Writer), Bruna Cabral (Producer), Ligia Osorio (Co-Producer), and Connor Chess (Actor) will participate in a Q&A following each screening.

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