Category: Films in Competition

One summer, in a little fishing village in China, teenage boy Leaf’s quiet life is interrupted by the return of childhood friend Qing Chen. Youth, friendship, and love blossom in the summer breeze.
Directed by Meicen Meng (China)

A girl is nervous about having her first kiss while filming a Shakespeare scene for a high school project. But, nothing is exactly what it seems.
Directed by Haley Pine (USA)

Suicide is not the only solution to problems.
Directed by Shivv (India)

A mother dealing with a regretful family past involving domestic abuse on the fathers side. It’s about learning to stand up for yourself to protect the ones you love, and dealing with the consequences when you fail to do so.
Directed by Chris Vermeulen (Canada)

A struggling young musician while facing his own inner demons faces an even more difficult decision, when he discovers his partner is having a baby.
Directed by James Daniel (Australia)

The official music video for Fay Gauthier’s electro-pop single “Fade” is a quick-cut, visual celebration of the power of finding one’s voice and using it.
Directed by Jonathan Levit (USA)

She’s an actress, she’s a sex symbol, she’s a superstar, she’s my mother. Sandie “The Goddess Bunny” Crisp is the last truly glamorous star left in Hollywood…

Born in Santa Monica, CA, stricken with polio, the transgender cult diva is a she-devil on six wheels. She’s a ballerina with a perfect pirouette and it wouldn’t be hard to find her in a gold lamé dress belting love ballads to garbage men or liquor store clerks.

This is my love letter to her. I love you, mom.
Directed by Hunter Ray Barker and Tucker Tripp (USA)

A nurse is assisting with a scientific study on a patient with an unknown illness. Things take a paranormal turn as she finds herself at the center of the experiment.
Directed by Kevin Harvey (USA)

“Gift I’ve Provided” is the story of a bicycle, a family, and a song, told through phone calls, animations, home videos, and other experimental elements. This project is the senior thesis film by Aiden Berglund for the Bard College Film and Electronic Arts department.

Special thanks go to Ed Halter and Jackie Goss for helping to shape this project, as well as longtime collaborator Rain Johannes for his help in mixing “Will He Ride (My Bike).”

“Will He Ride (My Bike)” as well as all of Aiden Berglund’s music is available for download at https://aiden.bandcamp.com/ 
and for streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, etc.

Aiden Berglund is the recipient of the 2019 Sidney Peterson Prize for exceptional service in the spirit of the late experimental filmmaker.
Directed by Aiden Berglund (USA)

After a year of loneliness and anxiety, a young German musician reunites with his estranged uncle to face his fear on foreign soil.
Directed by Tori Layne (USA)