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2025
Festival Films

A single, large clay pot sits on a wooden shelf in front of a weathered, partially crumbled brick and plaster wall. The outdoor scene feels rustic and quiet, with muted colors and rough textures highlighting the handmade pottery against the aged structure.

A Kind Favor

In the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, ceramicist Jessie DuBois and her grandmother, Marcia, engage in a heartfelt conversation about life, death, art and the pottery school Marcia and her husband built in the 1960s.

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A person in a bright pink shirt and red life jacket is rowing a boat through a dramatic canyon landscape. Towering reddish rock walls rise on either side of the muddy river, and another rower wearing a blue jacket and tan life vest sits behind. The scene conveys a sense of adventure and teamwork among the striking natural formations.

About Damn Time

Amidst the roar of rapids and the serenity of the Grand Canyon, ABOUT DAMN TIME chronicles the journey of trailblazing boatwomen who, guided by legacy and determination, challenge a male-dominated world, protect sacred rivers, and pass the oars to the next generation.

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Three children and an adult sit closely together, displaying a sense of warmth and intimacy. The adult wears a gray headscarf and dark patterned clothing, while the children gather near, partially leaning on one another. Their expressions and posture suggest comfort and family affection, set against a softly lit brick-patterned background.

Aisha’s Story

“Food is the most precious part of Palestinian heritage.” Aisha Azzam and her husband started their family grain mill in Baqa’a refugee camp, Jordan, 35 years ago. She treasures her role in safeguarding culture by milling the wheat, grains, and herbs e…

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People participate in an expressive and energetic ceremony inside a church, surrounded by stained glass windows and pews. Some individuals wave purple and white fabric streamers, creating a sense of movement. Others, including a woman wearing a fringed shawl, stand attentively or watch from the congregation, contributing to a vibrant, communal atmosphere.

All God’s Children

In an unprecedented attempt to heal centuries of racism and antisemitism, and combat the rising racial and ethnic tension in their Brooklyn communities, the largest reform synagogue and the oldest black Baptist Church attempt to unite their congregatio…

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A woman wearing a traditional dress and bonnet stands on a small step, hanging laundry on an outdoor clothesline. Dresses, shirts, and pants are clipped to the line, and a white laundry basket sits beside her. The grassy yard, garden, and fields stretch out under a partly cloudy sky, creating a peaceful rural scene.

Arrest the Midwife

The arrest of trusted midwives ignites an unexpected rebellion, as Amish and Mennonite women break from tradition and emerge as fierce political activists — joining the broader fight for reproductive justice.

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A person with long hair sits in a wood-paneled room, while another individual in formal attire gestures with an open hand in the foreground. Office furniture and a chart with printed diagrams are visible behind them, suggesting an official or professional setting.

Baby Doe

At 22, Gail gave birth alone and left her newborn in the woods. Decades later, she’s arrested for murder, even though she says the baby was stillborn. BABY DOE explores the fallout when young women cannot accept the reality of an unplanned pregnancy.

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A pair of gloved hands perform a medical demonstration or simulation on an anatomical model resembling pelvic anatomy. The model is partially dressed with fabric and accessories, and a syringe is being used. Various medical instruments and containers are visible on the side.

Bloody Mess

When a documentary filmmaker's period goes nuts, she confronts her uterus to try and stop the bleeding.

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A large, diverse group stands in a circle reaching their hands into the center for a unified gesture, conveying teamwork, solidarity, and collective spirit. Some people wear blue shirts or have visible tattoos, and a professional video camera records the moment, highlighting a significant, energetic gathering or team event.

Classroom 4

CLASSROOM 4 follows a course taught inside a prison, involving students from a nearby college and incarcerated students, about the history of crime and punishment in the US.

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A crowd gathers outdoors for a protest or demonstration, with people holding signs in Hebrew and waving both Israeli and Palestinian flags. The central figure in a light pink coat raises a fist and speaks passionately into a microphone, while others clap and display supportive gestures. Buildings and a clear sky fill the background, creating an atmosphere of collective action and activism in a public space.

Coexistence, My Ass!

Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up the literal poster child for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process before making a hard pivot to stand-up comedy and political satire. But as the region sinks deeper into devastating violence, she must meet the moment by challenging her audiences with hard truths that are no laughing matter.

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In a sunlit studio with tall windows, four people sit in a row—two on crates, one on a stool playing a guitar decorated with flowers, and one at the left on a standard chair. The group is surrounded by objects including fabric, crates, and a dress form, creating a creative and intimate setting that suggests rehearsal, performance, or a collaborative workshop.

Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call

Danielle Scott, a legally blind Afro-Cuban, Polish-Jewish, and Asian mixed-media artist at the cusp of international fame, risks her wellbeing by exposing herself to the intergenerational trauma of the Atlantic Slave Trade.

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Person in dark clothing sits on a bench in a subway-themed space with a "REALSONGS" sign and colorful graffiti on the tiled walls.

Diane Warren: Relentless

From humble beginnings and early doubts to superstardom behind the songs everyone knows, Diane Warren: Relentless is an intimate portrait of the Grammy- and Oscar-nominated songwriter whose idiosyncratic drive, unshakeable work ethic, and unfiltered vulnerability transformed rejection into a lifetime of hits and legacy.

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A group of elderly women and a young man are intently looking at a tablet in a cozy room.

Four Mothers

Edward, a novelist saddled with caring for his elderly mother, finally finds himself on the brink of literary success. With pressure to go on a US book tour mounting, the last thing Edward needs is his friends jetting off to Spain for an impromptu Prid…

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The image shows a climber in a yellow puffer jacket sitting at a rocky ledge, surrounded by climbing ropes and equipment, holding up a smartphone with a stopwatch timer reading over 21 hours. The climber is in a rugged outdoor setting, conveying endurance and determination likely during a multi-day climb or expedition.

Girl Climber

To cement her legacy in a male-dominated world of elite rock climbing, professional climber Emily Harrington sets her sights on a career-defining 24-hour ascent of Yosemite’s El Capitan, forcing her to confront the risks of ambition against the biological clock and proving she’s not just a great “Girl Climber,” but one of the best, period.

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This vintage photograph captures a birthday celebration with three children gathered around a table in an ornately-papered dining room. A chocolate cake decorated with two "4" candles sits in front, while a tall white candle and glassware are set on the table. The children are dressed in attire typical of the era—one in a striped shirt, one in a dress, and one partially visible in a red sweater. The scene evokes a warm and nostalgic family atmosphere.

Her/Mine

An intimate meditation on memory and motherhood that follows a filmmaker as she explores the secrecy surrounding the childhood loss of her mother, while reckoning with her own diagnosis of breast cancer.

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A person stands centered in front of an ornately carved wooden wall with marble inlays, wearing a bold red and burgundy striped collared shirt and a silver chain necklace. The image features warm, refined tones and a formal setting, emphasizing a dignified and polished presence.

I’m Carl Lewis!

The uncompromising and extraordinary life of legendary athlete Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic Gold Medallist and voted 'Sportsman of the Century’, who fought to revolutionize his sport and inspire change on and off the field.

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It's Dorothy!

It’s Dorothy!

A magical remix of art and human experiences, this feature documentary celebrates Dorothy Gale, the iconic heroine from Oz, as she defies boundaries to evolve through the eras.

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Three women in regency-era dresses stand and sit in an elegant living room with vintage furniture and framed art, conveying a period drama atmosphere.

Jane Austen’s Period Drama

England, 1813. Miss Estrogenia gets her period during a long-awaited marriage proposal. Mr. Dickley mistakes the blood for an injury, and it becomes clear that his expensive education has missed a spot.

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A man works at a cluttered desk in an art studio filled with hanging wooden animal sculptures and various art supplies.

Jimmy & The Demons

A magical journey into the artistic life and inner mind of celebrated sculptor, James Grashow, who, at age 79, devotes four years to creating his magnum opus.

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A group of adults stand at the entrance of a house, holding two toddlers dressed in festive clothing and garlands. The adults appear to be performing a traditional Indian welcoming ceremony, offering a plate with colored powders and fruit (bananas) as part of the ritual. Blossoming trees and residential houses are visible in the background on a sunny day.

Love Chaos Kin

An unexpected pregnancy compels an Indian immigrant mother to help her adopted twin daughters reconnect with their White birth mother and estranged Native American father, exposing raw class divides while transforming their understanding of identity and belonging.

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A person's hand is pointing at a group photo printed on paper. At the top of the photo, text reads "The Children's Theatre Company." The image is black and white and shows a large group of people gathered in front of a brick wall.

Magic and Monsters

MAGIC & MONSTERS uncovers the long-buried story of widespread sexual abuse at America’s preeminent children’s theater. In the aftermath of litigation, four survivors attempt the unthinkable: working with the very institution that harmed them. The f…

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A person wearing colorful bead necklaces, sitting indoors with warm ambient lighting, looking at the camera intently.

Nawi

Sold for livestock by her own father, a young girl escapes her impending marriage and embarks on a journey to reclaim her dream of joining high school.

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A diverse group of teenagers walk together on a city sidewalk, chatting and smiling. The group includes both boys and girls dressed in casual, expressive clothing like overalls, graphic tees, plaid skirts, and backpacks. One person is looking at a phone, while others are engaged in conversation. The background shows a tree-lined urban street with buildings and parked cars.

Quaker

During the last Quaker meeting of the year, Brooklyn high school seniors share their unfiltered feelings with each other.

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Black and white photograph of artist Augusta Savage in her studio, sculpting her monumental work The Harp. She stands in a white dress, shaping one of the many figures that form the strings of the harp-like sculpture. Surrounding her are large sculpted heads and figures, as well as studio tools and materials.

Searching for Augusta Savage

SEARCHING FOR AUGUSTA SAVAGE is a 24-minute documentary about one of America’s greatest sculptors whose footprint in the art world appears to have been erased.

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A woman stands in a warmly lit, brick-walled space, looking determined.

Set Menu

Denied the coveted set menu for dining alone at a famously exclusive restaurant, Frances strikes an unexpected deal with a stranger to access both the menu and a night of peace and solitude.

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Two people sitting outdoors with mountains in the background, dressed warmly in jackets. The person on the left wears a furry hat and a grey jacket, and the person on the right wears a magenta jacket and several lanyards with photo ID badges. Both are sitting closely together, with one person's arm around the other.

Snow Leopard Sisters

SNOW LEOPARD SISTERS tells the inspiring story of an unlikely yet powerful friendship between two Indigenous women in one of the most isolated corners of the Himalayas.

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A smiling person sits in front of vibrant red curtains, wearing a colorful shirt with floral patterns, conveying a mood of joy and anticipation.

Speak.

Five top-ranked high school oratory students spend a year crafting spellbinding spoken word performances with the dream of winning one of the world’s largest and most intense public speaking competitions.

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The Librarians

As an unprecedented wave of book banning is sparked in Texas, Florida, and beyond, librarians under siege join forces as unlikely defenders fighting for intellectual freedom on the front lines of democracy.

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Man in a park wearing a headband and wristbands, triumphantly clenching fist. Woman indoors with colorful shirt holds a phone, both smiling slightly.

The Pic

Single mom Jen gets an unexpectedly provocative pic from her friend Steve. Through the course of a phone conversation, she tries to figure out what's going on in this modern screwball romantic comedy.

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A man, facing the camera, holding a photo of a little girl.

The Secret of Me

When 19-year-old Kristi discovers a secret her doctor and parents have kept from her all her life, her search for truth uncovers a radical psychological experiment, a global media scandal, and a legacy of harm towards intersex people.

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Person with sunglasses looks out from a car window, reflecting urban landscape.

The Shadow Scholars

Tens of thousands of young and well-educated Kenyans are hired online by undergraduates and doctoral students at Western universities to write their essays and theses, in a multi-billion dollar underground industry. Oxford professor Patricia Kingori embarks on a search for these ‘shadow scholars.’

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A person wearing a white headscarf with handwritten blue text sits among others in a solemn gathering.

The Stolen

After a brutal dictatorship takes over Argentina, grandmothers band together to search for their missing grandchildren.

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They Call Me The Tattoo Witch

In Hanoi, Vietnam, a tattoo artist transforms scars into works of art, confronting social stigma and empowering her clients to reclaim their bodies and stories.

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A stylized movie poster for the film "Through Thin Ice" features a large white sketch of a dog sitting on dark ground, gazing at a distant figure in a snowsuit. The background displays a dramatic, painterly night sky with orange and blue streaks. The film's title "Through Thin Ice" is centered at the top, with laurels for various film festival selections lining both sides. Credits at the bottom read "a film by Gabrielle Kardon and Arthur Veenema" and the Instagram handle @throughthinice.

Through Thin Ice

On the shores of the Great Salt Lake, a scientist’s twilight run is upended when her dog plunges through rare lake ice, catalyzing a desperate series of choices.

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Two women stand on a hillside overlooking a reservoir and dam, surrounded by dry grass, shrubs, and rolling hills. Both wear patterned beanies and jackets, with their backs turned toward the camera, gazing at the water and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.

Undammed

Amy Cordalis and the fight to free the Klamath

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Uvalde Mom

When a school shooting shakes a small Texas town, a mom desperate to save her sons goes viral. The community confronts the systems that failed their kids.

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A person holds a black-and-white photo of a woman with a serious expression and shoulder-length hair.

Vivien’s Wild Ride

After a long career in cinema, film editor Vivien Hillgrove starts losing her sight, forcing her to reexamine past traumas and relationships, and to reinvent herself and her art.

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Who in the Hell is Regina Jones?

From teenage mother in 1965 Watts through the birth of Soul Newspaper, 80-year-old Regina Jones revisits the trail she blazed, confronting a past she thought she'd left dead and buried. Jones tells a story of the invisible labor, the turmoil, struggle, and the joy of a modern-day Black woman.

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A child in a blue and yellow dress jumps rope outside a rustic building.

With Grace

Grace dreams big, but will she and her family weather the storm?

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A group of five people sit together in an ornate room decorated with patterned walls and arches. The central figure sits behind a table covered with a lace cloth, with an open book in front, while the other four are seated in chairs facing each other in pairs. The room features luxurious chairs, patterned carpet, and elaborate wall designs, suggesting a formal or ceremonial gathering, possibly in a religious or cultural setting.

Witness

A revered small-town imam faces a crisis of faith when he must choose between upholding the values of his mosque or protecting the safety and spiritual belonging of a trans man congregant.

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