Short Film Program

Stay Here with Me

Directed by Thato Mwosa (USA, 2022, 17 min.)

Despite her mom’s objections, a distressed young woman escapes her house to meet the love of her life in an enchanted garden.

Fifty-Four Days

Directed by Cat White and Phoebe Torrence (UK, 2022, 17 min.)

When tragedy strikes, a spirited young woman turns to swimming in search of answers. By swimming each day at dawn and forming an unlikely friendship, she learns to accept her grief and the grief of those around her.

From the Ledge

Directed by James Jones (USA, 2023, 4 min.)

Pete is on the verge of succumbing to depression, but his journey takes a turn when a friend stops by. Pete struggles to conceal his pain while his friend, unaware of Pete’s dire situation, tries to lighten his spirits.

Little Trumpet

Directed by Megan Trufant Tillman (USA, 2022, 30 min.)

A nine-year-old loner growing up in the 7th Ward of New Orleans dreams of playing the trumpet like his older brother. But as he navigates the precarious social terrain of his neighborhood, he uncovers a hard truth: where he lives some kids don’t just get to be kids, and if he wants to play the trumpet he’s going to have to teach himself.

Jerome

Directed by Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz (USA, 2023, 15 min.)

Jerome struggles with feelings of inadequacy when an annual fathers and sons event forces him to confront the absence of his own father. He deals with it the only way he knows how: by playing basketball.

Alone

Directed by Nicholas Andrew Silva (USA, 2021, 1 min.)

Made a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, this short film is a reflection on the intense feelings of isolation many people felt over the course of 2020.

Sneaker Therapy

Directed by Keith “Kswooosh” Mascoll (USA, 2023, 8 min.)

At the intersection of sneaker culture, mental health, and healing, this short film follows director Keith “Kswooosh” Mascoll on a journey to discover how his sneaker collection helped him recover from childhood trauma.

After the Program

Q and A Discussion

Enjoy a Q and A session with some of the filmmakers after the screenings.