2025 Film Synopses
*Times and locations are subject to change*
Thursday, February 27
9:00 - AlleyCAT - Alabama Docs
Hate Undone: Leaving the Ku Klux Klan - 00:19:40
What does it take to break the cycle of generational hate? Roger McCollum, raised in the shadow of white supremacy, defied his wife's pleas and joined the Ku Klux Klan. But when an unexpected act of grace shatters his convictions, Roger embarks on a journey of redemption that tests the limits of faith, forgiveness, and the power of change.
Toson: The Appointed - 00:29:30
Willie “Toson” Coleman is a Gadsden, Alabama-based visual artist whose work embodies a deep connection to his spirituality. His disappointing experiences as a young student and the challenges of life postponed his artistic pursuits. Eventually, Toson’s love for painting, which his mother had instilled in him as a young boy, along with what he terms a calling from a greater source, led him back to the canvas. These divine inspirations have shaped his work for the last 25 years. Toson’s paintings reveal this divine assignment – to portray his unique vision of the world.
11:00 AM - AlleyCAT - 48 Hour Films
12:00 PM - AlleyCAT - Alabama Block 1
The Birthday Party - 00:03:38
The Birthday Party is about a young girl named Avery who is waiting for her friends to show up to her party. While waiting outside for her friends it is apparent that no one is coming to her party. That’s when she thinks she sees something in the trees. Before she can look closer the doorbell rings and she runs to see her best friend at the door. Or is it?
Animation Interchange - 00:03:32
11 animators exchange backgrounds, animation, and foley work to create a cacophony of sight and sound
Supercrush - 00:02:20
A Bloody Break - 00:04:51
“A Bloody Break” is a short film about a tired young man stepping out for a smoke break while working the midnight shift at a gas station, and a friendly young woman that he meets outside with a questionable backstory. Little does he know that more surprises await him that night
Catch That Battery - 00:04:08
Catch that Battery is composed of 2D elements of animation with art and audio mixed in to make an action-packed short film! In a futuristic city, a gnome-like man is busy tinkering away at his pet project with tools at the ready to put on the finishing touches. All that was left was the battery. But something goes missing. The most important part!
Next Show in 90 Minutes - 00:07:20
A routine both natural and unnatural unfolds in the heart of one of America's most cherished landscapes.
Content Warning: This film contains mild body horror and brief violence.
Kool Hand Duke - 00:11:58
An eccentric musician named Paul has been dealt a bad hand.
The Twilight Café - 00:12:16
An unexpected, mysterious encounter between two strangers atop a bridge one stormy eve averts a tragedy, serving as a poignant reminder that in a harsh and chaotic world, we all need a soul friend to help us survive.
The Greater Good - 00:17:37
When a pair of former NASA scientists make an Earth shattering discovery that could change everything for the better they will have to contend with the forces that benefit from this world just the way it is.
Thunderclap - 00:12:10
Oliver's career misadventures are fueled by the wacky objects he finds in dumpsters and second hand shops. After stumbling upon a vintage film director's beret, a ragtag group of students mistake him for their new instructor and his life quickly spins out of control, in a poorly executed pirouette
2:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Nobody Really Knows Me - A Rock and Roll Journey - 00:53:41
Considered by many as the finest guitar player ever to come from Alabama, songwriter Wayne Perkins, who once performed with some of the world’s greatest rock and roll bands, attempts to revive his musical career
3:00 PM - Mane Room
Seniors - 01:34:00
What happens inside the walls of an American high school? This documentary acts as a living yearbook. Offering a glimpse into a rural southern high school and its 2023 senior class. Follow these students through their highs and lows. Will they achieve their goals and make it through senior year?
3:00 PM - AlleyCAT - Alabama Block 2
Killer Hand
A poker game goes awry.
Happy Birthday, Greg - 00:03:60
Cain - 00:08:54
AI takes over the world.
I’m Living in Your Attic - 00:12:11
A man is living in your attic, Lady!
Paranoia - 00:05:05
4:00 PM - AlleyCAT- Vanguard Films
The Forest (A Floresta) - 00:16:10
An experimental portrait of overlapping histories, extractive capitalism, rewilding, and the tension between nature and its representation—all within the boundaries of Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Living Reality - 00:15:48
A tonal shift occurs inside the world of an American sitcom resulting in the disruption of the show’s rhythm. As it evolves, a looming presence of banality casts a shadow on the show’s bright lights and bubbly personalities. Living Reality is an emotional exploration of television and the effects it has on its audience
5:00 PM - Mane Room - First-Year 海角社区 Films
5:00 PM - AlleyCAT- Alabama Block 3
After Prey - 00:14:57
After a brutal attack that leaves her girlfriend dead, Mia takes refuge with Ryan, a total stranger. As they wait for the police, tensions rise. Not everything is black and white.
The Party Crasher - 00:05:30
Two girls throw a Halloween party for their friends. Little do they know that the house was a scene of a murder spree that took place 50 years ago. Their plans are interrupted when a masked killer crashes the scene, ready to pick them off one by one. As the body count rises, the friends scramble to survive, but their bumbling attempts to fight back only make things worse.
You’ll Remember Me - 00:06:10
This heartfelt drama brings to light how a temporary memory loss affects everyday life and emotions. When a photographer doesn’t recognize her own husband due to Transient Global Amnesia, she must be open, in a world of confusion, to the evidence he sets before her of their love for one another.
Oops! Wrong Door! - 00:07:22
This whimsical comedy takes a light approach to the difficult art of decision making. A former ballet school director, desperate to get back into the job market, hastily makes an assumption about an opportunity at a Christian school. Disregarding sound advice, against the backdrop of accomplishments, her lofty ego gets deflated when a case of mistaken identity at the interview puts things in perspective and puts her at the crossroads of a major decision as she contemplates the door to walk through.
Not Paranoid - 00:05:25
An esteemed doctor, unable to shake an unnerving feeling, comes face to face with a distraught widow on a quest to recapture the past.
Pig Latin and Pinky Swears - 00:07:54
Two old friends find themselves reminiscing in the past.
Never Let Me Down - 00:12:01
Two friends, Teddy and Oliver, have a falling out during a journey to spread the ashes of Teddys recently deceased mother.
Case FIle: AOD - 00:12:47
Case File A.O.D. is a psychological drama about the interplay between duty, guilt, and redemption. The film explores the journey of its protagonist, Gabriella, as she confronts the weight of her responsibilities and the emotional turmoil that comes with them
8:30 - Mane Room
Crookedfinger (with Changes) - 01:32:00
After the sudden deaths of her aging parents, Maria Gallucci returns to her childhood home on Cape Cod (Massachusetts). When Maria’s estranged brother Nico (and his older girlfriend Sigrid) show up to help sort out the estate, tensions soon rise about how to best sell the decrepit house. While Maria and Sigrid forge an unexpected friendship, Nico’s emotional volatility becomes increasingly unstable. Is it the effects of an old brain injury, the toll of revisiting past family traumas, or something related to the strange vibrating hum that only Maria seems to hear?
Friday, February 28
10:00 AM - Mane Room - Student Docs
Shotgun Baby - 00:10:16
A personal documentary questioning the ways in which family imposed narratives force us into roles that we spend our lives either rebelling against or conforming to.
Uncle - 00:05:19
A day in the life of a struggling Alabama musician.
The World’s Largest Racoon Hunt - 00:10:03
For nearly 50 years, the World's Largest Raccoon Hunt, an annual tradition in Decatur County, has brought millions of dollars in charity to St. Jude's Children Hospital.
10:00 AM - AlleyCAT - Alabama Block 4
11:00 AM - Mane Room - 海角社区 CAT Showcase
The Most Peculiar Creature - 00:06:25
A shady business offers its customers the chance to see “the most peculiar creature.”
Aliens at 8am - 00:12:28
Aliens descend at dawn, and for three unlikely allies their biggest challenge isn’t surviving—it’s getting to their 9am class on time. With a baseball bat and a Ford Taurus to get them there, they will have to outwit extraterrestrial invaders and ask the question “Does class really matter when there are aliens at 8am?”
Coffee - 00:05:20
When Mikey takes issue with how Frankie likes his coffee, a hilarious debate ensues.
Sackcloth and Ashes - 00:14:51
Julia is haunted by her dead best friend and must overcome her grief and guilt.
Blanks - 00:04:20
Two students reel to finish their film and cover their crime after a death on set.
Six of Cups - 00:14:56
Trevor Together - 00:08:40
Trevor makes a documentary about living with himself, more specifically living with two identical clones of himself.
1:00 PM - Mane Room - 海角社区 Alumni Spotlight
When Things Ended - 00:12:03
Dueling Season - 00:05:26
When the squeamish narrator of an educational film about pistol dueling becomes too invested in a case study, the movie spirals out of control.
Tali - 00:27:31
A disconnected man and his imaginary daughter embark on a surreal journey of modern romance and self-awareness.
2:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Shiners: Voices from Owsley County - 01:26:00
Along with stunning original and traditional music, high school students write and perform a play about growing up in rural Appalachia. While overcoming problems of addiction in one of the nation's poorest counties, the inspiring students travel from their small town to Kentucky’s high school theater competition. The hearts and voices of the young people at Owsley County High School in eastern Kentucky shine as they share their story.
3:00 PM - Mane Room - Youth Films
To The Max - 00:11:00
“To the Max” follows Zen, a young black woman, on a quest to obtain the last tub of her mother's favorite hair product, Doo Grease, in a world where hair care is becoming increasingly commercialized. Believing Doo Grease to be the last bastion of true black liberation, Zen embarks on a journey to Gloamingdale, discovering a beauty supply store seemingly frozen in time.
Take Three Please - 00:17:12
On Halloween night, a group of mischievous kids set out on a spree of pranks and candy heists. But their playful adventure takes a terrifying turn when they become trapped in an abandoned house, haunted by the chilling consequences of their actions. As fear sets in and sinister truths emerge, childhood innocence collides with dark realities.
Moral Thesis - 00:07:25
An irreverent look at a young man's search for the meaning of life and how sometimes, the answer is right in front of you.
4:00 PM - Mane Room - Pro Narrative Short Films
Belay On - 00:11:34
An insecure couple navigates feelings of jealousy at the expense of those around them.
Where the Bullets Go - 00:13:33
When a young boy shoots at a bird and misses, he embarks on a search to find where the bullet went.
Like Me - 00:06:40
A young woman discovers the dangers of attempting to cut her own bangs.
4:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Moon Beams - 01:51:00
While on the run after killing an undercover cop, small town drug dealer Harry runs into his former flame and partner in crime, Maxine, after three years apart. Their ensuing night together in their old stomping grounds of Birmingham, Alabama consist of catching up, musing on societal norms as they come of age, and how maybe they ended their relationship too soon. A no-budget feature film.
A Secret Place - 00:11:30
A Secret Place tells the story of a punk venue in Tbilisi, Georgia, opened by a group of Russian immigrants in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Amidst the political and social tensions between Georgians, Russians, and Ukrainians, the space becomes a vibrant hub for a new punk scene that transcends national boundaries, offering a sanctuary for those facing persecution, discrimination, and loneliness. The film highlights the power of music, community, and the punk DIY ethos to foster unity and resilience in times of conflict.
4:30 PM - Mane Room - Student Finalists
5:00 PM - Mane Room
The World Drops Dead - 01:10:20
Claire struggles to cope as the shock of her father's suicide ripples through her small Quaker community. Beset by visions and desperate to reunite with the only person who seemed to understand her, Claire reaches out to her father across the boundary of death.
Motorhead - 00:08:49
Grimy, abrasive vignettes of desperate southern masculinity.
9:00 PM - Mane Room
Room SIx - 01:21:00
ROOM SIX is the story of Maxx, a college student, who is working the night shift at a vacant, rundown motel before the late night arrival of two brothers. After a few suspicious incidents, Maxx’s curiosity (or paranoia) gets the best of her and she decides to investigate the situation. Maxx quickly finds herself in danger as she uncovers what lies hidden in the brothers’ room.
Night Milk - 00:12:45
A troubled lesbian, experiencing intrusive sexual thoughts, confronts her girlfriend and the men of her nightmares.
Saturday, March 1
10:00 AM - Mane Room
The Devil, I Reckon - 00:45:00
In a small Alabama town, the rivalry between two gangs heats up when one gang kills a member of the other.
11:30 AM - Mane Room
Welcome to Jay - 01:44:20
Jay is a predominantly white town in the rural countryside of northwest Florida. Ask anyone who lives in the area – black or white – and you’ll likely hear that the town simply does not welcome black people and almost no one, inside or outside the community, knows the origins of the town’s reputation. It simply persists. In 2010, Gus Benjamin, a black teen, attends a party in Jay, only to wind up dead, a gunshot from a hunting rifle through his back. Robert Floyd, a young white man, is arrested and put on trial for second degree murder. The truths that emerge rip open deep wounds from the past between the black and white communities and lead towards reckoning with a dark history of racial violence that includes a shockingly similar fatal shooting that took place almost a century before.
11:30 AM - AlleyCAT - Student Narrative Films
Cottage Grove - 00:13:24
A young man struggles to communicate with his stroke-afflicted father, and at the same time, stay true to himself.
Check Please - 00:09:38
Dinner for two turns deadly when a Korean and a Korean-American fight over who gets to pay the check — and who gets to keep their honor.
12:30 PM - AlleyCAT
Iris - 00:10:33
A young woman uncovers and investigates something she shouldn’t.
1:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Sew Their Names - 01:18:23
Art, history, and community merge to weave a story about a retired federal judge confronting her family’s past involvement in slavery and a group of Black quilters in a rural Alabama community helping to honor previously unknown victims of American enslavement.
2:30 PM - Mane Room - Pro Docs
Cycles - 00:13:55
A single mom from rural Kentucky travels to San Diego to sell her eggs in order to support her two kids, but must grapple with the effect the process has on her body and mind.
Tessa - 00:15:47
Tessa is a documentary set in the American South about finding freedom and independence, regardless of physical limitations, disability, and perceptions. The story follows Tessa, a 7-year-old girl born with limb difference, adopted as an infant from an orphanage in Ethiopia by a loving family in Austin, Texas. What Tessa wants to do is swim. With practice, perseverance, and passion, Tessa shows the true endurance of the human spirit by competing in her first swim meet at the Endeavor Games, the premier adaptive sports competition in the United States.
London, KY - 00:12:20
A filmmaker journeys back to the significant places of his Kentucky upbringing to preserve the memories they still hold.
4:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Blue Bird - 00:18:00
"Blue Bird," a six-16mm-projection performance of the journey of a bird’s soul to find its body, holds deep personal significance.
9:00 - AlleyCAT - Alabama Docs
Hate Undone: Leaving the Ku Klux Klan - 00:19:40
What does it take to break the cycle of generational hate? Roger McCollum, raised in the shadow of white supremacy, defied his wife's pleas and joined the Ku Klux Klan. But when an unexpected act of grace shatters his convictions, Roger embarks on a journey of redemption that tests the limits of faith, forgiveness, and the power of change.
Toson: The Appointed - 00:29:30
Willie “Toson” Coleman is a Gadsden, Alabama-based visual artist whose work embodies a deep connection to his spirituality. His disappointing experiences as a young student and the challenges of life postponed his artistic pursuits. Eventually, Toson’s love for painting, which his mother had instilled in him as a young boy, along with what he terms a calling from a greater source, led him back to the canvas. These divine inspirations have shaped his work for the last 25 years. Toson’s paintings reveal this divine assignment – to portray his unique vision of the world.
11:00 AM - AlleyCAT - 48 Hour Films
12:00 PM - AlleyCAT - Alabama Block 1
The Birthday Party - 00:03:38
The Birthday Party is about a young girl named Avery who is waiting for her friends to show up to her party. While waiting outside for her friends it is apparent that no one is coming to her party. That’s when she thinks she sees something in the trees. Before she can look closer the doorbell rings and she runs to see her best friend at the door. Or is it?
Animation Interchange - 00:03:32
11 animators exchange backgrounds, animation, and foley work to create a cacophony of sight and sound
Supercrush - 00:02:20
A Bloody Break - 00:04:51
“A Bloody Break” is a short film about a tired young man stepping out for a smoke break while working the midnight shift at a gas station, and a friendly young woman that he meets outside with a questionable backstory. Little does he know that more surprises await him that night
Catch That Battery - 00:04:08
Catch that Battery is composed of 2D elements of animation with art and audio mixed in to make an action-packed short film! In a futuristic city, a gnome-like man is busy tinkering away at his pet project with tools at the ready to put on the finishing touches. All that was left was the battery. But something goes missing. The most important part!
Next Show in 90 Minutes - 00:07:20
A routine both natural and unnatural unfolds in the heart of one of America's most cherished landscapes.
Content Warning: This film contains mild body horror and brief violence.
Kool Hand Duke - 00:11:58
An eccentric musician named Paul has been dealt a bad hand.
The Twilight Café - 00:12:16
An unexpected, mysterious encounter between two strangers atop a bridge one stormy eve averts a tragedy, serving as a poignant reminder that in a harsh and chaotic world, we all need a soul friend to help us survive.
The Greater Good - 00:17:37
When a pair of former NASA scientists make an Earth shattering discovery that could change everything for the better they will have to contend with the forces that benefit from this world just the way it is.
Thunderclap - 00:12:10
Oliver's career misadventures are fueled by the wacky objects he finds in dumpsters and second hand shops. After stumbling upon a vintage film director's beret, a ragtag group of students mistake him for their new instructor and his life quickly spins out of control, in a poorly executed pirouette
2:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Nobody Really Knows Me - A Rock and Roll Journey - 00:53:41
Considered by many as the finest guitar player ever to come from Alabama, songwriter Wayne Perkins, who once performed with some of the world’s greatest rock and roll bands, attempts to revive his musical career
3:00 PM - Mane Room
Seniors - 01:34:00
What happens inside the walls of an American high school? This documentary acts as a living yearbook. Offering a glimpse into a rural southern high school and its 2023 senior class. Follow these students through their highs and lows. Will they achieve their goals and make it through senior year?
3:00 PM - AlleyCAT - Alabama Block 2
Killer Hand
A poker game goes awry.
Happy Birthday, Greg - 00:03:60
Cain - 00:08:54
AI takes over the world.
I’m Living in Your Attic - 00:12:11
A man is living in your attic, Lady!
Paranoia - 00:05:05
4:00 PM - AlleyCAT- Vanguard Films
The Forest (A Floresta) - 00:16:10
An experimental portrait of overlapping histories, extractive capitalism, rewilding, and the tension between nature and its representation—all within the boundaries of Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Living Reality - 00:15:48
A tonal shift occurs inside the world of an American sitcom resulting in the disruption of the show’s rhythm. As it evolves, a looming presence of banality casts a shadow on the show’s bright lights and bubbly personalities. Living Reality is an emotional exploration of television and the effects it has on its audience
5:00 PM - Mane Room - First-Year 海角社区 Films
5:00 PM - AlleyCAT- Alabama Block 3
After Prey - 00:14:57
After a brutal attack that leaves her girlfriend dead, Mia takes refuge with Ryan, a total stranger. As they wait for the police, tensions rise. Not everything is black and white.
The Party Crasher - 00:05:30
Two girls throw a Halloween party for their friends. Little do they know that the house was a scene of a murder spree that took place 50 years ago. Their plans are interrupted when a masked killer crashes the scene, ready to pick them off one by one. As the body count rises, the friends scramble to survive, but their bumbling attempts to fight back only make things worse.
You’ll Remember Me - 00:06:10
This heartfelt drama brings to light how a temporary memory loss affects everyday life and emotions. When a photographer doesn’t recognize her own husband due to Transient Global Amnesia, she must be open, in a world of confusion, to the evidence he sets before her of their love for one another.
Oops! Wrong Door! - 00:07:22
This whimsical comedy takes a light approach to the difficult art of decision making. A former ballet school director, desperate to get back into the job market, hastily makes an assumption about an opportunity at a Christian school. Disregarding sound advice, against the backdrop of accomplishments, her lofty ego gets deflated when a case of mistaken identity at the interview puts things in perspective and puts her at the crossroads of a major decision as she contemplates the door to walk through.
Not Paranoid - 00:05:25
An esteemed doctor, unable to shake an unnerving feeling, comes face to face with a distraught widow on a quest to recapture the past.
Pig Latin and Pinky Swears - 00:07:54
Two old friends find themselves reminiscing in the past.
Never Let Me Down - 00:12:01
Two friends, Teddy and Oliver, have a falling out during a journey to spread the ashes of Teddys recently deceased mother.
Case FIle: AOD - 00:12:47
Case File A.O.D. is a psychological drama about the interplay between duty, guilt, and redemption. The film explores the journey of its protagonist, Gabriella, as she confronts the weight of her responsibilities and the emotional turmoil that comes with them
8:30 - Mane Room
Crookedfinger (with Changes) - 01:32:00
After the sudden deaths of her aging parents, Maria Gallucci returns to her childhood home on Cape Cod (Massachusetts). When Maria’s estranged brother Nico (and his older girlfriend Sigrid) show up to help sort out the estate, tensions soon rise about how to best sell the decrepit house. While Maria and Sigrid forge an unexpected friendship, Nico’s emotional volatility becomes increasingly unstable. Is it the effects of an old brain injury, the toll of revisiting past family traumas, or something related to the strange vibrating hum that only Maria seems to hear?
Friday, February 28
10:00 AM - Mane Room - Student Docs
Shotgun Baby - 00:10:16
A personal documentary questioning the ways in which family imposed narratives force us into roles that we spend our lives either rebelling against or conforming to.
Uncle - 00:05:19
A day in the life of a struggling Alabama musician.
The World’s Largest Racoon Hunt - 00:10:03
For nearly 50 years, the World's Largest Raccoon Hunt, an annual tradition in Decatur County, has brought millions of dollars in charity to St. Jude's Children Hospital.
10:00 AM - AlleyCAT - Alabama Block 4
11:00 AM - Mane Room - 海角社区 CAT Showcase
The Most Peculiar Creature - 00:06:25
A shady business offers its customers the chance to see “the most peculiar creature.”
Aliens at 8am - 00:12:28
Aliens descend at dawn, and for three unlikely allies their biggest challenge isn’t surviving—it’s getting to their 9am class on time. With a baseball bat and a Ford Taurus to get them there, they will have to outwit extraterrestrial invaders and ask the question “Does class really matter when there are aliens at 8am?”
Coffee - 00:05:20
When Mikey takes issue with how Frankie likes his coffee, a hilarious debate ensues.
Sackcloth and Ashes - 00:14:51
Julia is haunted by her dead best friend and must overcome her grief and guilt.
Blanks - 00:04:20
Two students reel to finish their film and cover their crime after a death on set.
Six of Cups - 00:14:56
Trevor Together - 00:08:40
Trevor makes a documentary about living with himself, more specifically living with two identical clones of himself.
1:00 PM - Mane Room - 海角社区 Alumni Spotlight
When Things Ended - 00:12:03
Dueling Season - 00:05:26
When the squeamish narrator of an educational film about pistol dueling becomes too invested in a case study, the movie spirals out of control.
Tali - 00:27:31
A disconnected man and his imaginary daughter embark on a surreal journey of modern romance and self-awareness.
2:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Shiners: Voices from Owsley County - 01:26:00
Along with stunning original and traditional music, high school students write and perform a play about growing up in rural Appalachia. While overcoming problems of addiction in one of the nation's poorest counties, the inspiring students travel from their small town to Kentucky’s high school theater competition. The hearts and voices of the young people at Owsley County High School in eastern Kentucky shine as they share their story.
3:00 PM - Mane Room - Youth Films
To The Max - 00:11:00
“To the Max” follows Zen, a young black woman, on a quest to obtain the last tub of her mother's favorite hair product, Doo Grease, in a world where hair care is becoming increasingly commercialized. Believing Doo Grease to be the last bastion of true black liberation, Zen embarks on a journey to Gloamingdale, discovering a beauty supply store seemingly frozen in time.
Take Three Please - 00:17:12
On Halloween night, a group of mischievous kids set out on a spree of pranks and candy heists. But their playful adventure takes a terrifying turn when they become trapped in an abandoned house, haunted by the chilling consequences of their actions. As fear sets in and sinister truths emerge, childhood innocence collides with dark realities.
Moral Thesis - 00:07:25
An irreverent look at a young man's search for the meaning of life and how sometimes, the answer is right in front of you.
4:00 PM - Mane Room - Pro Narrative Short Films
Belay On - 00:11:34
An insecure couple navigates feelings of jealousy at the expense of those around them.
Where the Bullets Go - 00:13:33
When a young boy shoots at a bird and misses, he embarks on a search to find where the bullet went.
Like Me - 00:06:40
A young woman discovers the dangers of attempting to cut her own bangs.
4:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Moon Beams - 01:51:00
While on the run after killing an undercover cop, small town drug dealer Harry runs into his former flame and partner in crime, Maxine, after three years apart. Their ensuing night together in their old stomping grounds of Birmingham, Alabama consist of catching up, musing on societal norms as they come of age, and how maybe they ended their relationship too soon. A no-budget feature film.
A Secret Place - 00:11:30
A Secret Place tells the story of a punk venue in Tbilisi, Georgia, opened by a group of Russian immigrants in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Amidst the political and social tensions between Georgians, Russians, and Ukrainians, the space becomes a vibrant hub for a new punk scene that transcends national boundaries, offering a sanctuary for those facing persecution, discrimination, and loneliness. The film highlights the power of music, community, and the punk DIY ethos to foster unity and resilience in times of conflict.
4:30 PM - Mane Room - Student Finalists
5:00 PM - Mane Room
The World Drops Dead - 01:10:20
Claire struggles to cope as the shock of her father's suicide ripples through her small Quaker community. Beset by visions and desperate to reunite with the only person who seemed to understand her, Claire reaches out to her father across the boundary of death.
Motorhead - 00:08:49
Grimy, abrasive vignettes of desperate southern masculinity.
9:00 PM - Mane Room
Room SIx - 01:21:00
ROOM SIX is the story of Maxx, a college student, who is working the night shift at a vacant, rundown motel before the late night arrival of two brothers. After a few suspicious incidents, Maxx’s curiosity (or paranoia) gets the best of her and she decides to investigate the situation. Maxx quickly finds herself in danger as she uncovers what lies hidden in the brothers’ room.
Night Milk - 00:12:45
A troubled lesbian, experiencing intrusive sexual thoughts, confronts her girlfriend and the men of her nightmares.
Saturday, March 1
10:00 AM - Mane Room
The Devil, I Reckon - 00:45:00
In a small Alabama town, the rivalry between two gangs heats up when one gang kills a member of the other.
11:30 AM - Mane Room
Welcome to Jay - 01:44:20
Jay is a predominantly white town in the rural countryside of northwest Florida. Ask anyone who lives in the area – black or white – and you’ll likely hear that the town simply does not welcome black people and almost no one, inside or outside the community, knows the origins of the town’s reputation. It simply persists. In 2010, Gus Benjamin, a black teen, attends a party in Jay, only to wind up dead, a gunshot from a hunting rifle through his back. Robert Floyd, a young white man, is arrested and put on trial for second degree murder. The truths that emerge rip open deep wounds from the past between the black and white communities and lead towards reckoning with a dark history of racial violence that includes a shockingly similar fatal shooting that took place almost a century before.
11:30 AM - AlleyCAT - Student Narrative Films
Cottage Grove - 00:13:24
A young man struggles to communicate with his stroke-afflicted father, and at the same time, stay true to himself.
Check Please - 00:09:38
Dinner for two turns deadly when a Korean and a Korean-American fight over who gets to pay the check — and who gets to keep their honor.
12:30 PM - AlleyCAT
Iris - 00:10:33
A young woman uncovers and investigates something she shouldn’t.
1:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Sew Their Names - 01:18:23
Art, history, and community merge to weave a story about a retired federal judge confronting her family’s past involvement in slavery and a group of Black quilters in a rural Alabama community helping to honor previously unknown victims of American enslavement.
2:30 PM - Mane Room - Pro Docs
Cycles - 00:13:55
A single mom from rural Kentucky travels to San Diego to sell her eggs in order to support her two kids, but must grapple with the effect the process has on her body and mind.
Tessa - 00:15:47
Tessa is a documentary set in the American South about finding freedom and independence, regardless of physical limitations, disability, and perceptions. The story follows Tessa, a 7-year-old girl born with limb difference, adopted as an infant from an orphanage in Ethiopia by a loving family in Austin, Texas. What Tessa wants to do is swim. With practice, perseverance, and passion, Tessa shows the true endurance of the human spirit by competing in her first swim meet at the Endeavor Games, the premier adaptive sports competition in the United States.
London, KY - 00:12:20
A filmmaker journeys back to the significant places of his Kentucky upbringing to preserve the memories they still hold.
4:00 PM - AlleyCAT
Blue Bird - 00:18:00
"Blue Bird," a six-16mm-projection performance of the journey of a bird’s soul to find its body, holds deep personal significance.