Finding Humor and Hope in “4th Dementia”
The short film “4th Dementia” manages to do something incredible: make a film about Alzheimer’s Disease that is funny. It may seem like an unlikely premise, but this 16-minute short film manages to bring humor and dignity to a topic that is often portrayed as tragic and depressing. The film starts with a more typical […]
EXCLUSIVE: Love, Paralysis and Control: Boni Mata, Karim Saleh and Andrea Riseborough on Crafting Their New Short “Mariposa Traicionera”
“Mariposa Traicionera” (“Treacherous Butterfly”) marks one of the most arresting and mysterious short films currently seeking a world premiere on the 2026 festival circuit. Shot in Spain and distributed worldwide by Italian outfit Allegorie, the 20-minute chamber piece is produced by John Henry Hinkel and Zico Judge for Liaison Pictures and Blur Films. As intimate […]
“Holding Two Truths at Once”: A Conversation with Lauren Melinda on “Before You” and the Mission of Simbelle Productions
In the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (June 2022) decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, Lauren Melinda’s “Before You” emerges as an intimate, unflinching, and profoundly human film. Drawing from her own experience, Melinda tells a story of love, loss, and the complexities of women’s health with both cinematic elegance and […]
Cinema Femme presents F*CK THAT GUY Short Film Virtual Premiere
F*CK THAT GUY stars Carys Douglas in her breakout role, alongside Victoria Pedretti (YOU, Origin, Ponyboi) and Micheál Neeson (Somewhere Quiet, On Our Way), and Dagmara Dominczyk (Priscilla, Bottoms, Succession) with Sydney Lemmon (Succession, TÁR) F*CK THAT GUY stars Carys Douglas in her breakout role, alongside Victoria Pedretti (YOU, Origin, Ponyboi) and Micheál Neeson (Somewhere Quiet, […]
Interview with John J. Budion and Elizabeth K. Budion on their animated short film “you.matter”
“you.matter” is an animated sci-fi drama about an astronaut dislodged from her mothership, left with only her final thoughts as she grapples with why this has happened to her. The film, created by John J. Budion and Elizabeth K. Budion, blends hand-drawn animation with photo-real visual effects to tell a story that feels both intimate […]
First Look: Tiffany Tenille’s “A Woman’s Body” Confronts Love, Faith, and the Silence Around Female Pain
“What happens when love meets the limits of the body?” That’s the quietly devastating question at the center of “A Woman’s Body,” the new short film from writer-director Tiffany Tenille. Set on a single wedding night, the film follows newlyweds Jolene and Clyde as their joyful celebration gives way to an unexpected reckoning: Jolene, suffering […]
Tribeca 2025: Forged in Fractures, Connie Shi on “The Rebirth”
Connie Shi’s newest short, “The Rebirth,” premiered at Tribeca Film Festival on June 6th. The story follows Hana, a waitress who takes a black market abortion pill in a near-future world where it’s nationally outlawed. Forced to go to work in spite of the abortion taking place, Hana comes to find that the pill has […]
Hannah Welever on shaking things up with her sex positive short “Soirée”
Hannah Welever is a queer filmmaker based in New York, but her roots are Midwestern. In her newest short, “Soirée,” Welever creatively holds space for women’s bodies, and how often they are misunderstood. After an unfortunately awkward hookup gone awry, Reed (Naomi Walley) takes a literal trip inside her body, and meets the personification of […]
Florence Bouvy on examining themes of human connection, pain, loss, and love, in “Where We Stay”
From writer and director Florence Bouvy, “Where We Stay” is a beautiful and touching examination of human connection and unspoken truths. The film was partially inspired by Florence’s own story of loss, when her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and the period of pain, grief, and love that followed. She noticed how in those […]
This Was the Fight: Emily Sheskin on “JessZilla”
One of my favorite films I saw in 2024 is finally kicking off its limited theatrical run before arriving on VOD. Last year, I had the privilege of serving on the documentary nomination committee for Slamdance’s inaugural awards ceremony, The Indies. As a result, I screened numerous magnificent pictures, yet none delivered a knockout punch […]
Producer Tara Sheffer on her timely Academy Award nominated short film “A Lien”
I had the great pleasure of speaking with producer Tara Sheffer on her timely Academy Award nominated short film “A Lien.” The film is directed by Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, and is nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Live Action category. WILLA is leading the impact campaign and creative distribution. Tara is an […]
Sundance 2025: Alex Heller on her Short Film “Debaters”
One of my favorite things to do at Sundance is hop around to different restaurants and coffee shops, and just chat with people. When I went to a pizza place in the downtown area of Park City, I saw the young cast of the short film, “Debaters,” directed by Alex Heller (“The Year Between”). They were […]