22nd Annual RIFF Official Selections
ANIMATION
Chocolate and Flowers
Dir. Damaris Unat Almanza | USA
Runtime: 0:01:58
Sol, an enthusiastic florist who runs her own vendor stall in a bustling plaza, lets her insecurities get the best of her when a new business sets up.Demi-Goddesses
Dir. Martin Gerigk | Germany
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 0:07:25
‘Demi-Goddesses’ is a surreal anti-patriarchal thought experiment and raises important questions about gender, power, and social change, prompting us to reflect on how historical patterns of discrimination and oppression might be either repeated or overcome in a reversed gendered world.Disappearing Jewels
Dir. Will Kim | USA
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 0:15:00
Remembering the filmmaker's grandfather who was a blind man and walking weather forecast, Will Kim interviews ocean experts and brings his perspective on the impact of climate change and ocean warming.The Little Rat
Dir. Maddy Benson | USA
Runtime: 0:02:31
An insecure mouse must learn to be the bigger rodent after being teased by some local rat teens.Mother
Dir. Kaleb Leino | USA
Runtime: 0:03:00
A young boy alone in his home is relentlessly pursued by a dangerous creature.DOCUMENTARIES
An Open Door – Temple Grandin
Dir. John Alexander Barnhardt | USA
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 0:59:30
An Open Door is the international award-winning documentary that reflects on the influential life and work of Dr. Temple Grandin as a champion of the humane treatment of livestock, autism rights, and inclusive neurodiversity by employing her gifted insights from her personal experience with autism and visual thinking. The film speaks with Dr. Grandin, her colleagues, industry professionals and those she has influenced to celebrate her groundbreaking life, lessons learned and lasting legacy.Cruising in el Barrio
Dir. Selvin Esteban | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:08:00
A short documentary that focuses on the Lowrider community as seen throughout the eyes of a older woman lowrider and her husband.Flowing Air
Dir. Seth Dahl | USA
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 0:40:00
Lane Lamoreaux was seriously injured in a paragliding accident and over a five year period he struggles to get his old life back again. As he's thrust deeper into the world of the disabled, Lane's escape from his crumbling world is the same sport that nearly took his life. Eventually he's forced to come face to face with his situation and the biggest decision of his life; to amputate his injured leg or to keep it.King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
Dir. Harriet Marin Jones | France
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 01:38:00
A filmmaker searches for the truth about her grandfather, Edward Jones, a charismatic African American who rose to the heights of financial and political prominence in Depression-era Chicago. Love, success, violence, revenge, mafia, murder, betrayal, prison, kidnapping... Edward Jones’ story holds all the best ingredients of gangster movies. Add segregation and you have a very explosive cocktail! Industry titans Quincy Jones and Debbie Allen have teamed up as executive producers to tell 60 years of an American story through the eyes of one family who almost had it all.
Locals Only - The Big, Little Pub.
Dir. Gareth Kelly | USA
Trailer | Runtime: 0:12:40
The Press Room - a British Cocktail pub in the heart of Santa Barbara may only be 850 sqft but it has the soul of a big pub. The home for local football (soccer) fans the pub is more than just a watering hole. Over the past 25 years, it has become a home away from home for people from all walks of life thanks to its owner, James Rafferty, and his family. Abruptly faced with demolition to make way for luxury housing the community rallies to its side to save it.The Mayor of Idyllwild
Dirs. Riley Mandell, Ben Bailey | USA | 2018
Runtime: 0:13:25
A small town in California has an unlikely leader.More Than Just a Party Band
Dir. Robert Redfield | USA
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 1:21:00
Growing up in the idyllic 1970s Santa Barbara, surfing basketball-playing tango-dancing musician, Spencer Barnitz, effortlessly achieves a flash of early fame, but is then forced to rewrite his definition of success when faced with a harsh music industry, unrelenting personal obstacles, and cultural shifts. The result is 40 years of his own enduring and quirky brand of music and entertainment style that some say sounds like the soul of Santa Barbara.Twitch: The Life and Times of Daniel Franco
Dir. Sterling Hampton IV| USA
Website | Runtime: 1:17:00
A professional Latin-American boxer almost loses his life during the biggest fight of his career competing for the I.B.F championship. After being in a coma for 10 days, Daniel "Twitch" Franco must learn how to talk, eat, walk and live from scratch all over again.Tuhaymani'chi Pal Waniqa (The Water Flows Always)
Dirs. Nils Cowan, Gina Milanovich | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:20:15
A father seeks to reconnect his daughter with her indigenous roots and with the ancient springs of the Mojave Desert, just as a new water-mining project threatens their very existence.The Wamp Vs. The Wall
Dir. Charlie Winn | USA
Runtime: 1:58:27
Wheelchair–bound man born with severe cerebral palsy, Stephen Wampler, makes a statement about disability, taking chances, and making something of your life by attempting to climb the prolific ‘El Capitan’ in Yosemite, CA accompanied by a team of rock climbing junkies.We Rise
Dir. Michael A Afendakis | USA
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 1:04:05
Driven to the cause of social justice, Sofia, Jessica, Sammi, Angela, Celia, and Lucas, the impressive rising stars of a high school mock trial team from the heart of Silicon Valley, navigate the defense and prosecution positions of a murder case while sharing their personal challenges, crises, and long fought for victories that have molded them into the strong, powerful, resilient young adults they have now become.White Buffalo Presents: Voices of the West
Dir. Cam Mackey | USA
Runtime: 0:48:44
Set against the majestic landscapes of Montana and Wyoming, “Voices Of The West” celebrates the contributions of Native Americans to the origins of American cowboy culture. Long viewed as the domain of white men and women of European descent, this documentary follows the lives of modern Native Americans as they work their land and livestock, participate in regional rodeo events, and reflect on the rich history of the “Indian Cowboy.”FEATURE FILMS
Abouna
Dir. Andrew Ishak | USA
Trailer | Runtime: 1:01:00
Just after being ordained, a young priest of an old-world church quickly finds he's in over his head--and decides to try something that will fly in the face of 2000 years of tradition.The Business of Pleasure
Dir. Goce Cvetanovski | Republic of Macedonia
Website | Runtime: 1:36:55
After losing her best friend as a victim of human trafficking, a journalist works obsessively on her goal to dismantle the sex slavery network. But as her accomplices draw closer to the boss, the situation spirals out of control.The Hunt
Dir. Paweł Chmielewski | Poland
Runtime: 2:00:00
In a provincial city, Michał runs for mayor's office to fix the authorities' incompetence that he has observed as a councilman and resident. But he soon finds his life unraveling as he falls into the dark world of politics.Love Gov 3: The Metaverse of Madness
Dir. John Papola | USA
Riley
Dir. Benjamin Howard | USA
Website | Runtime: 1:33:00
The life of a disciplined high school athlete begins to unravel when his queer identity competes against the idea of who he was supposed to be.SHORT FILMS
All My Love is Gone
Dir. Shuqi Yan | China
Trailer | Runtime: 0:09:28
A woman feeling neglected by her husband decides to try out an AI lover.Bare Luxuries
Dir. Armando Smith | USA
Runtime: 0:08:48
With her landlord only offering a few hours to pay her late rent, Anya, a free-spirit music lover, must find a way to sell off her prized possessions before being evicted.The Big Book
Dir. Daniel Maggio | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:18:44
Darwin works as a fraud surveillance investigator; spying on those with workers' comp claims to see if they are faking their injury or not. When he’s not working (and sometimes while on the job) he sponsors young men in Alcoholics Anonymous. His strict code of conduct gets thrown for a loop when his next surveillance target is his own AA sponsor.The Cloud
Dir. Dean Walton | UK
Runtime: 0:18:00
An everyday man is struck by a world-changing idea. Whilst in the grip of inspiration, he races to understand the potential consequences of his epiphany before it disappears, not only towards greater society but also those closest to him.Cosmos on the Alley (路地裏のコスモス)
Dir. 憲和 小田 | Japan
Trailer | Runtime: 0:19:26
Rinka Asano is a social media influencer who is used to fielding questions from her male fanbase on her type of man. However, unknown to them, Rinka has a girlfriend named Sae Maruyama.Cross
Dir. Hyunjin Lee | USA
Trailer | Runtime: 0:15:41
A Korean immigrant in the US goes through a journey against her religious faith as she grapples with her only son’s sexual orientation.Dos Mujeres (Two Women)
Dir. Shankey Srinivasan | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:16:35
Dos Mujeres examines the broken US immigration system through the lives of the Two Women, Raima, a techie from India on a non-immigrant work visa, and her house cleaner Maria, who is from Mexico.Dreaming of Venice (Sognando Venezia)
Dir. Elisabetta Giannini | Italy
Trailer | Runtime: 0:15:00
Vittoria, an exuberant thirteen-year-old girl who dreams of becoming an influencer, prepares to attend a red carpet event in Venice with her father. But is everything as it seems...?The Family Business
Dir. Matt Webb | USA
Runtime: 0:07:58
Carter's first day on the job doesn't go as planned as he fails to impress his dad's old partner, Jack.Fitting Descriptions
Dirs. Tiffany Bedwell, John Mossman | USA
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 0:09:55
Dina, an aging CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) stage actor haunted by a past humiliation, tries to jump-start her failing on-camera career by rebranding. Outside a Chicago coffeehouse Dina begrudgingly solicits passersby for first impressions, then weathers the resulting IRL likes, comments, and plain indifference of strangers and her industry alike. But when her past and present collide, Dina’s authorial CODA “voice” awakens.Kombucha!
Dir. Jake Myers | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:07:03
Luke dreams of being on stage while doing B2B marketing work that feels completely meaningless. His coworkers all sip a red kombucha beverage and seem to have found purpose in this place. When his job seems threatened, and his future as a musician seems bleak, Luke decides to give the free kombucha a try, a decision that gives new meaning to being consumed by your work.let me out
Dir. San Kim | Republic of Korea
Runtime: 0:37:00
The identical twin brother of a notorious serial killer finds it impossible to live a normal life. He finds solace in observing a young woman every day through his window as she passes by. But one day she drops her scarf, an incident which cracks the monotony of the man's daily life.Noteworthy
Dir. Michele LaBrucherie | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:16:49
This grungy urban drama recalls an ex-heroin addict's attempt to help an old friend who lost his way on his journey to recovery. One simple act of kindness leads them both back to the path of sobriety... for now.Old Days
Dir. Morgan Bass | USA
Runtime: 0:13:56
Pete and Jerry used to make movies together, but haven’t seen each other in years. So it’s a little awkward when, under the guise of catching up, Pete arrives at Jerry’s doorstep. As the day unfolds, it soon becomes clear that Pete has ulterior motives for his visit and Jerry nurses old resentments from their past.SENTINELS
Dir. Matthew Luhrman | USA
Runtime: 0:14:58
Determined to save her father from a worsening illness, an imaginative girl attempts to conjure magical guardians to protect him. But when her tempestuous younger brother sabotages her mission, she must find a way to heal the rift before her whole family crumbles apart.Straight to the Moon!
Dir. Nathan San Filippo | USA
Runtime: 0:03:09
A couple of Newlyweds attempt to make whoopie with the help of a VHS tape.Suspicious Minds
Dir. Imelda O'Reilly | Ireland
Website | Runtime: 0:15:00
A romance at a trippy Halloween rave goes wrong... Lola's public breakup is disrupted when an Elvis impersonator comes to the rescue. Sharing confidences and ghosts from their past, they reminisce about their homeland and discover meaning in their newly shared bond.STUDENT FILMS
Boys
Dir. André Vaara | Sweden
Trailer | Runtime: 0:08:45
At a hotel room in Stockholm, five teenage friends prepare for a boys' night out when their masculine identities are challenged.El Halcón (The Falcon)
Dir. Arlene Torres | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:15:17
El Halcón follows Fernando De La Cruz, an ex-gang member and aspiring tattoo artist, who is trying to turn his life around and help his immigrant mother return to the United States. When he meets a young boy named JP and his abusive, racist father, Mike, Fern is faced with a difficult decision. Will he risk everything to help the young boy and stand up to the abusive father, or will he choose to stay out of trouble and focus on his own goals?Chroma
Dir. Taoquan Fu | USA
Runtime: 0:11:45
With a crucial basketball tryout just days away, Felix, a 17-year-old transfer student, is determined to shine on the court, despite his color blindness.Downwind
Dir. Nathan Rivers | Canada
Website | Runtime: 0:08:53
An obsessive kid tries to successfully make a paper airplane fly, all while mending the challenging relationship with her Mom.Dragonflies (蜻蜓)
Dir. Angeline Klarissa| Singapore
Website | Runtime: 0:19:58
In 1980s Singapore, Yu Qi, a young secret society member, finds her devotion called into question when she has to choose between her blood-forged family and her estranged mother.Focus
Dir. Qingyang Huang | China
Runtime: 0:04:58
A man who spends his time monitoring hotel guests through hidden cameras is shocked when he sees his daughter and an unfamiliar young man eager to commit suicide together. We watch as he struggles between saving his daughter and exposing his criminal voyeurism.Happy?
Dir. Grandt from Savages| USA
Runtime: 0:10:12
In 2030, Happy and his friend flee the city, only to be separated. Happy, now alone, must confront his persecutors.The House That Stood (Ciò Che Resta)
Dir. Antonella Spirito | Italy
Trailer | Website | Runtime: 1:00:25
San Pietro Avellana, southern Italy, 1943. Camillo, a teenager, sees his life being turned upside down when, one day, some retreating German soldiers begin using his family's inn as a base of operation. Amid a war that seems never-ending, Camillo has much more in mind; and first things first, to ask Bianca, his longtime crush, on a first date. The world seems a little less ugly, even for a moment, until something changes their lives forever.Life is Like a Play
Dir. Olivia Carter | USA
Runtime: 0:15:22
After losing their childhood best friend, a teen learns that moving on doesn’t have to mean forgetting.Strangers Under My Skin
Dir. Yifan Xiang | USA
Runtime: 0:03:58
An old, blind painter living life alone in his trailer, during whose last breaths, suddenly regains his vision and picks up his painting brush, fantasizing about his younger self and his lovers.SUPERCRIME
Dir. Joaquim Coelho | Brazil
Runtime: 0:26:40
In a world where superheroes are illegal, ordinary cops are responsible for solving mind-bending supervillain murder cases. Luci, a fearless blind detective, must overcome her insecurities to catch an invisible serial killer and a shape-shifting criminal.Tied Up!
Dir. Liam Fineout | USA
Website | Runtime: 0:09:21
Patrick Lake, a bumbling, asthmatic employee at B&D Accounting, has a big job interview for a promotion - the only thing in the way is his off-putting, egghead boss, a knife, and himself.Tooned Out!
Dir. Joey Edivan-Hernandez | USA
Runtime: 0:10:37
A young man with the house to himself wants to watch cartoons but makes a perilous mistake. Now his whole life is a cartoon.Two-Lane Bike Trail
Dir. Mingen Tan | USA
Runtime: 0:15:22
A biker and runner butt heads on a hot day.