Annual Awards 2025-2026 | Program 6: Love in the Air

12:35 – 2:05 PM | Cinema #9 | Stories of Romance and Connection | 🟢 All Ages

Single for Life – Ava Della Pietra

Luke Orlando (USA)

When her best friend falls in love, a young woman is pushed into the awkward, bittersweet world of third-wheeling—spiraling through jealousy, humor, and self-discovery as she navigates life on her own.

03:54

Strolling Down Brighton

Pier Kenny McCracken (UK)

A young Edwardian gentleman, working as a photographer, falls madly in love with a captivating woman as she takes her daily stroll down Brighton Pier. Finally mustering the courage to approach her, he is devastated to discover that there’s someone else in the picture.

04:58

20:15 México DF

Alejandro Di Meglio (Argentina)
California Premiere

In Mexico City, two women meet and form a quiet, intimate bond, reflecting on memory, love, and the passage of time.

06:32

Coconut + Pistol

Gregory Caruso (USA)

Amidst the renovation of his secluded cottage, Dean struggles with unresolved feelings for his ex-girlfriend Carol, leading to a tumultuous encounter when she arrives with her new boyfriend.

13:33

Goldilocks

Susie Kim (USA)
Los Angeles Premiere

When 30-year-old single Sarah realizes she’s in a totally different life stage than her married BFFs, she dives headfirst into the dating pool – on a mission to find “Mr. Just Right”.

12:33

Bartogay Lake

Katya Mokolo (France)
Los Angeles Premiere

An old man crosses the boundless Kazakh steppe, driving alone. Haunted by memories of a lost love, he stops by Bartogay Lake, flowers in hand. But as he tries to step out, his car door refuses to open, trapping him between past and present.

09:19

Cottonmouth

Ama Anane (USA)

Ayo, a Black graduate student, travels to Cottonmouth Plantation to research her ancestor, confronting the legacy of slavery as she grapples with unexpected feelings for her white friend.

14:52

Stimulants & Empathogens

Mateusz Pacewicz (Poland)

Antek, a closeted teen from a wealthy family, invites his crush—a drug dealer—to his villa under false pretenses, unaware the boy is secretly investigating him. What begins as a romantic misadventure spirals into sharp social satire.

25:00