Esther Kong - 22, Vivian Xiao - 20 | USA

“Ancestry is such a topic of fascination that we’re tempted to mail our spit to corporations just to get some answers about those who came before us. How to Smell Without a Nose brings them, living and breathing, to the forefront. I felt this film work my senses like the heightened calm of an adrenaline rush, and at the same time, cause me to wonder about the echoes of time, what prayers our ancestors have sent for us, and what curses of theirs we carry.”

Experimental Visions

Roxy Sophie Sorkin - 23, Chelsea Eisen - 24, Brian Niles - 24 | USA

“Raunchy, bold, and immensely stylish, “Swollen” is a gothic camp classic that plays with the grotesqueness and hilarity of modern beauty and luxury. And yet, on top of the infectious joie de vivre of the lead characters, delightfully absurd dialogue detours, and needle drops so perfect you can't even see the surgery scars, this film is a feat of aesthetic excellence with levels of detail and taste that reveal the filmmakers’ talent not only for poking fun at beauty, but creating it. “

Friday Night Spotlight presented by MUBI

Eion Nunez - 17 | USA

“A mind-bending, risk-taking, electrifying journey that must be experienced, THE MECHANIZATION OF A MAN plunges headfirst into the meat of its themes— fear, death, tech, meds, God. At the heart of the film is Cillian, whose suffering and striving to transcend saturates the entire film. The rhythmic pulse of his near non-stop narration paired with hi-octane visuals evokes the agony and the ecstasy of a life hurtling full speed ahead towards oblivion and drags you kicking and screaming towards the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Wired In presented by Blackmagic

Harshith S. Kotni - 24, Julie Zhao - 24 | USA

“It’s hard to feel the love when we are stuck inside our minds, which often want to criticize, analyze, and improve upon their victims. Kana, a young Bharatanatyam dancer, is not lacking in discipline or skill, yet is frustrated that she cannot seem to reach the heights she is aiming for because her dance lacks prema; love. Watch as prema finds Kana in the form of her mother and transforms not only her art, but her world. The vicarious experience might be enough to have you evangelizing about love as a gift we give to others and to our selves.”

Growing Through It

Chi Tran - 22, Skylar Kim - 23, Jason Wang - 21 | USA

“With the state of the world being what it is in 2025, feelings of defeat are undoubtedly pervasive; I know I recognize them in myself. VISA follows Kevin, a young creative professional living in New York and seeking an H-1B visa so that he can stay there. Watching him game the system and fight to keep the life he has created for himself is equal parts exciting and cathartic.”

Gray Areas