Selected films
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Debaters
Congressional debate attracts some of the most brilliant high school students in the country, and the most unqualified adults to judge. This is Anubhav's first tournament and he's terrified of speaking. When a bitter judge puts him on the spot about minimum wage, he must prove himself in front of a bloodthirsty chamber of debaters.
Directed by: Alex Heller | Starring: Sripadh Puligilla, J. Smith Cameron, Kenneth Lonergan, Anhubav
Short, Comedy Proof of Concept
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Ponderosa
When the buffet where his mom works closes down, Zeke must fend off a rich regular, George, who seems bent on becoming Zeke’s mentor and benefactor.
Directed by: Rob Rice | Starring: George Camp, Jack Dylan Grazer, Alexis Bledel
Feature, Dark Comedy
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Enough: Reckoning with Redress
Teenage Erika witnesses her dad, Brian, struggle with whether or not to share his story at the Chicago Redress movement hearings. Based on the true history of the CWRIC hearings, where Japanese-Americans for the first time testified about the impact of being sent to concentration camps by the U.S. government during WWII.
Directed by: Brian Tee | Starring: Brian Tee, Amy Hill, Aurora Adachi-Winter, Netta Walker
Short, Historical Drama
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Desire Lines
An Iranian-American transman, Ahmad, searching for his place in history, finds more than just a link to the past in the archives. Drawing from first-person accounts, as well as fictionalized segments, filmmaker Jules Rosskam explores the lines of desire as they intersect with identity for many transmen. Next Special Jury Prize award winner, Sundance 2024.
Directed by: Jules Rosskam | Starring: Aiden Hakimi, Theo Germaine
Feature, Hybrid Narrative-Doc
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Son Singer
In 1960s rural Illinois, Maude is commissioned to serve as interpreter for Hank, a Deaf artist living on an opulent estate. Much to her surprise, she discovers that he and the man known publicly as his “father”, Leo, are lovers. What she doesn’t know is Hank and Leo plan to secure their union, and their ability to live publicly as a family, through adult adoption.
Directed by: Luzzo | Starring: Bri Sudia, Andrew Morrill, Robert Gerard Anderson
Short, Historical Drama
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Mexican Delight
When Luz, a devout Catholic, is plagued by unsettling dreams, she becomes desperate to stay awake at all costs.
Directed by: Andres Perez-Duarte | Starring: Zuleyma Guevara, Leonel Garza
Short Film, Dark Comedy
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Sam Wants Her Sweater Back!
Three queer friends launch a half-witted heist to steal back a beloved sweater from Sam’s ex. But recovering from heartbreak is not quite the slick-lit, neon-noir adventure one of them imagines.
Directed by: Whitney Chitwood | Starring: Sam Rocha, Marlene…
Short, Comedy Proof of Concept
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Jumps
Set in 1990s Chicago, Javi, a young Latine boy, is bullied while playing basketball for not having the latest shoes. He’s comforted by his Mom who turns out to have her own slick moves.
Directed by: Armando Hernandez | Starring: Xavier Perez, Karla Serrato
Short, Drama
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Hair
It’s just another day in Mari’s salon, women come to share their struggles, boost each other up, and gossip. But today Christina comes in late with a truly terrible dye job. The women rally around her when they find out the truth behind it.
Directed by: Lorena Diaz and Wendy Mateo | Starring: Miranda Gonzalez, Jessi Realzola, Claudia Quesada, Gwen La Roka
Short, Comedy
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Pornacopia, Inc.
The Pornacopia Inc. team has a big dream to make it into Porn Con and finally be recognized as the Porn powerhouse that they are. The problem? No one on set actually knows what they’re doing.
Directed by: Sarah Kopp | Starring: Kris Flanagan, Jojo Brown, JJ Nolan, Claudia Michelle Wallace
Short, Comedy
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Take 290
A defeated artist from the Westside of Chicago finds inspiration in the common ground she discovers through a spontaneous interaction with an art curator from the Southside.
Directed by: Alexie Young | Starring: Chavalier Gilmore, Jared Pittman, Marlene Slaughter
Short, Drama
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Ask a Punk
A non-binary queer teen cultivates community, individuality, and resilience through the subculture of the DIY punk scene in Chicago’s Little Village.
Directed by: | Starring: Mariana Elena Del Carpio, Charin Álvarez
Short, Drama
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Artista
An immigrant child finds a new way of being and belonging through arts integration at their new school.
Directed by: Laura Sáenz
Short, Coming-of-Age