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Drama Films:
Two Breaths (18:29)
Drama
After a man-made disaster decimates an evergreen island, a stranded 11-year-old girl must find the tenacity to leave behind her home with the help of an unlikely ocean friend.
Director
Kateryna Kurganska
Kateryna Kurganska
Assistant Directors
Jared Mayerson
Jared Mayerson
Writer
Kateryna Kurganska
Kateryna Kurganska
Producer
Timur Guseynov, c Craig Patterson, Don John, Kateryna Kurganska
Timur Guseynov, c Craig Patterson, Don John, Kateryna Kurganska
Cinematographer
Timur Guseynov
Timur Guseynov
Production Designer
Morel Malcolm
Morel Malcolm
Editor
Shih-Chun Hsiao, Kateryna Kurganska
Shih-Chun Hsiao, Kateryna Kurganska
Sound
Yo Chang
Yo Chang
Starting Line (14:53)
Drama
Sibling rivalry flares when a high school cross country star's younger brother challenges his place as the best on the team, forcing him to push back or risk being left behind.
Director
Brenton Bender
Brenton Bender
Assistant Directors
Bissa Burr
Bissa Burr
Writer
Brenton Bender
Brenton Bender
Producer
Andy Yi Li, Joey Cheng
Andy Yi Li, Joey Cheng
Cinematographer
Luke Sargent
Luke Sargent
Production Designer
Wenting Liang, Yao Wen
Wenting Liang, Yao Wen
Editor
Haoyue Yang
Haoyue Yang
Sound
Yorkson Yuxuan Liu
Yorkson Yuxuan Liu
MOURNING MOLLY (12:42)
Drama
A grieving drug addict fights to deliver his best friend's eulogy, much to the collective cringe of the town, the heartbroken mother, and their friends, causing the service to spiral into bizarre chaos no one could have predicted.
Director
John Say
John Say
Assistant Directors
Kate Hanson
Kate Hanson
Writer
Meghan Campbell
Meghan Campbell
Producer
Hannah Gibbons
Hannah Gibbons
Cinematographer
Jonathan McCormack
Jonathan McCormack
Production Designer
Sean May
Sean May
Editor
Shih-Chun Hsiao
Shih-Chun Hsiao
Sound
Ben Grimes
Ben Grimes
The Last Sonata (17:58)
Drama
A formerly incarcerated father, who seeks to reconnect with his estranged son, is rejected. He then resolves to attend his son's concert—no matter the cost.
Director
Sche-Hao (Thomas) Wang
Sche-Hao (Thomas) Wang
Assistant Directors
Justin Roh
Justin Roh
Writer
Sche-Hao (Thomas) Wang
Sche-Hao (Thomas) Wang
Producer
Ziyu (Arwen) Wang
Ziyu (Arwen) Wang
Cinematographer
Lan Yang
Lan Yang
Production Designer
Non-USC
Non-USC
Editor
Sche-Hao (Thomas) Wang
Sche-Hao (Thomas) Wang
Sound
Non-USC
Non-USC
Brooklyn (20:32)
Drama
After saving an abused pit bull, a troubled Brighton Beach teenager who makes ends meet through crime while raising his little brother, must protect the dog from its nefarious owners.
Director
Timur Guseynov
Timur Guseynov
Assistant Directors
Dalton Lu
Dalton Lu
Writer
Timur Guseynov
Timur Guseynov
Producer
Kateryna Kurganska, Timur Guseynov, Dalton Lu
Kateryna Kurganska, Timur Guseynov, Dalton Lu
Cinematographer
Timur Guseynov
Timur Guseynov
Production Designer
Kateryna Kurganska
Kateryna Kurganska
Editor
Kateryna Kurganska
Kateryna Kurganska
Sound
Yo Chang
Yo Chang
Goodbye Stranger (16:25)
Drama
After a botched scam, a seasoned con-man faces a moral crossroads: abandon his 10-year-old daughter or risk her following in his footsteps.
Director
Neil Zafar Haeems
Neil Zafar Haeems
Assistant Directors
Franco Vidal
Franco Vidal
Writer
Neil Zafar Haeems
Neil Zafar Haeems
Producer
Mark J. Sanchez
Mark J. Sanchez
Cinematographer
Ziqi Yang
Ziqi Yang
Production Designer
Annabella Gaspar Del Real
Annabella Gaspar Del Real
Editor
Xinhui Wang
Xinhui Wang
Sound
Maya Klemens
Maya Klemens
Neither Donkey Nor Horse (28:29)
Drama
Amidst the outbreak of the 1910 Manchurian Plague, a young Chinese doctor must defy prejudices of both the East and the West to champion his groundbreaking theory of the disease and seek the truth that will heal it.
Director
Robin Wang
Robin Wang
Assistant Directors
Tony Shi
Tony Shi
Writer
Robin Wang, Jesse Aultman
Robin Wang, Jesse Aultman
Producer
Jesse Aultman, Chirsten Vanderbilt Ellis
Jesse Aultman, Chirsten Vanderbilt Ellis
Cinematographer
Devon Johns
Devon Johns
Production Designer
Shan Jiang, Joy Tan
Shan Jiang, Joy Tan
Editor
Ted Beck, Avo John
Ted Beck, Avo John
Sound
Yorkson Yuxuan Liu, Anthony Muffoletto
Yorkson Yuxuan Liu, Anthony Muffoletto
Barbie Boy (15:33)
Drama
Simon reflects on the shared tenderness and tumultuousness of a fall day living with his Abuela. Painful memories both real and heightened surface, as he tries to reconcile the woman who loved him deeply with the one who left so much unsaid.
Director
Remi Gabriel
Remi Gabriel
Assistant Directors
Morgan Montgomery
Morgan Montgomery
Writer
Remi Gabriel
Remi Gabriel
Producer
Karolina Esqueda Rocha
Karolina Esqueda Rocha
Cinematographer
Devon Johns
Devon Johns
Production Designer
Melissa Housos
Melissa Housos
Editor
Julian Bridges
Julian Bridges
Sound
Doris Shen
Doris Shen
Into Dust (13:36)
Drama
The day before her 15th birthday, an angsty teenager is forced to come to terms with the secrets her mother has been keeping from her and become her own person.
Director
Luna de Buretel
Luna de Buretel
Assistant Directors
Malak Krayem
Malak Krayem
Writer
Luna de Buretel
Luna de Buretel
Producer
Jeffrey Dahvid Carr Jr., Adam Bloodgood
Jeffrey Dahvid Carr Jr., Adam Bloodgood
Cinematographer
Daeil Kim
Daeil Kim
Production Designer
Bella Lee
Bella Lee
Costume Designer
Margaret Seid
Margaret Seid
Editor
Khana Tillman, Lauren Blazey
Khana Tillman, Lauren Blazey
Sound
Doris Shen, Jeffrey Dahvid Carr Jr.
Doris Shen, Jeffrey Dahvid Carr Jr.
For Mr. Johnson (17:34)
At a competitive arts high school, a sheltered 17 year old pushes herself to extreme ends to win the approval of her demanding drama teacher.
Director
Khana Tillman
Khana Tillman
Assistant Directors
Candace Williamson
Candace Williamson
Writer
Khana Tillman
Khana Tillman
Producer
Tola Omilana, Harlow Brooks, Coleman Weimer
Tola Omilana, Harlow Brooks, Coleman Weimer
Cinematographer
Miley Luo
Miley Luo
Production Designer
Camila Rodriguez
Camila Rodriguez
Editor
Srishti Chakraborty, Chad Buley
Srishti Chakraborty, Chad Buley
Sound
Maya Klemens, Lu Lu
Maya Klemens, Lu Lu
Multo (16:05)
In the Philippines, a cleaning lady is hired to help American missionaries whose plans to start a new church unsettle a ghost occupying their new home.
Director
Coleman Weimer
Coleman Weimer
Writer
Coleman Weimer
Coleman Weimer
Producer
Xiaowen (Daisy) Wu
Xiaowen (Daisy) Wu
Cinematographer
Surui Guo
Surui Guo
Editor
Coleman Weimer
Coleman Weimer
Sound
Coleman Weimer
Coleman Weimer
Trois (14:43)
After sustaining a career-pausing injury, Chrissy, a young dancer, must lean on her brothers-an OnlyFans model and a drug-addicted Nursing student-to support her through her emotional and physical recovery.
Director
Redd Coltrane
Redd Coltrane
Assistant Directors
Andrew Kovac
Andrew Kovac
Writer
Redd Coltrane
Redd Coltrane
Producer
Kaylee Hayes, Shandaeya Caldwell
Kaylee Hayes, Shandaeya Caldwell
Cinematographer
Daeil Kim
Daeil Kim
Production Designer
Erica Johnson
Erica Johnson
Editor
Iris Sang, Redd Coltrane
Iris Sang, Redd Coltrane
Sound
Lu Lu
Lu Lu
Saturn's Return (12:53)
When Elena runs into her high school prom date Austin 10 years later, old emotions resurface.
Director
Halley Lamberson, Sabina Alcocer
Halley Lamberson, Sabina Alcocer
Assistant Directors
Morgan Montgomery, Adrien Hoppenot
Morgan Montgomery, Adrien Hoppenot
Writer
Halley Lamberson, Sabina Alcocer
Halley Lamberson, Sabina Alcocer
Producer
Zadig Perrot, Jonathan Ealey
Zadig Perrot, Jonathan Ealey
Cinematographer
Young Li
Young Li
Production Designer
Kai Hoffman, Jose Daniel
Kai Hoffman, Jose Daniel
Editor
Abhinav Tiku
Abhinav Tiku
Sound
Sean Condie
Sean Condie
Mr. Floof (14:20)
A precocious little girl and her trusty side-kick, Mr. Floof, concoct a misguided scheme to get rid of her mom's loser boyfriend.
Director
Claire Taback Sliney
Claire Taback Sliney
Assistant Directors
Jared Mayerson
Jared Mayerson
Writer
Brittany Wang
Brittany Wang
Producer
Tori Kotsen, Maanvi Jalota
Tori Kotsen, Maanvi Jalota
Cinematographer
Daeil Kim
Daeil Kim
Production Designer
Alexander Honey
Alexander Honey
Editor
Dariush Ghaffari
Dariush Ghaffari
Sound
Kevin Remy
Kevin Remy
Aura (16:07)
A once-promising concert pianist must confront his past when faced with losing the final remnant of his former life: his piano.
Director
Tarun Kanakamedala
Tarun Kanakamedala
Assistant Directors
Morgan Montgomery
Morgan Montgomery
Writer
Tarun Kanakamedala
Tarun Kanakamedala
Producer
Barento Taha, Mark J. Sanchez, Ari Johnson
Barento Taha, Mark J. Sanchez, Ari Johnson
Cinematographer
Jonathan E. McCormack
Jonathan E. McCormack
Production Designer
Willa Cuthrell-Tuttleman
Willa Cuthrell-Tuttleman
Editor
April Liu
April Liu
Sound
Maya Klemens
Maya Klemens
Trife (12:44)
After a basketball exercise gone wrong, a homeless father resorts to robbery to pay for his young son's medical care. However, the man he robs changes the father's life forever.
Director
Christian Yosef
Christian Yosef
Assistant Directors
Andrew Kovac
Andrew Kovac
Writer
Christian Yosef
Christian Yosef
Producer
Neil Zafar Haeems, Shandaeya Caldwell, Bunthoeun Real
Neil Zafar Haeems, Shandaeya Caldwell, Bunthoeun Real
Cinematographer
Matty Beavers
Matty Beavers
Production Designer
Kaylee Hayes, Erica Johnson
Kaylee Hayes, Erica Johnson
Editor
April Liu
April Liu
Sound
Yang Liu, Sean Foster
Yang Liu, Sean Foster
LOCK (18:16)
During China's strict COVID lockdown, Yufei, a repressed woman inspecting her marital apartment, finds herself unexpectedly confined with a rugged construction worker. As frustration turns to rebellion, a fleeting romance blossoms, only to dissolve as soon as the lockdown lifts.
Director
Yishan (Monica) Wu
Yishan (Monica) Wu
Assistant Directors
Lisa (Ranran) Hu
Lisa (Ranran) Hu
Writer
Yishan (Monica) Wu
Yishan (Monica) Wu
Producer
Wenting Liang, Chirsten Vanderbilt
Wenting Liang, Chirsten Vanderbilt
Cinematographer
Miley Jie Luo
Miley Jie Luo
Production Designer
Yao Wen
Yao Wen
Editor
April Luoxi Liu
April Luoxi Liu
Sound
Borna Moinpour, Victoria Dong
Borna Moinpour, Victoria Dong
M87 (13:00)
When physicist, Leonard Euler, is diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor, he is forced to confront all that he's lost as a result of his unrelenting pursuit to know more.
Director
Erica Johnson
Erica Johnson
Assistant Directors
Dhruvraj Singh Bhati
Dhruvraj Singh Bhati
Writer
Don John
Don John
Producer
Kaylee Hayes, Redd Ingram
Kaylee Hayes, Redd Ingram
Cinematographer
Miley Luo
Miley Luo
Production Designer
Yimeng Zhou
Yimeng Zhou
Editor
Johnna Lambert, Peter Rocca
Johnna Lambert, Peter Rocca
Sound
Jacob Piller, Su Lee
Jacob Piller, Su Lee
A Thousand Years (30:26)
After a disastrous summer of glider testing shakes their confidence in the race to the world's first airplane, Wilbur and Orville Wright must decide if risking their livelihood is really worth the dream of flight and find a way to persevere against all odds.
Director
Bryce Ferendo
Bryce Ferendo
Assistant Directors
Jared Mayerson
Jared Mayerson
Writer
Bryce Ferendo
Bryce Ferendo
Producer
Bobbie Green
Bobbie Green
Cinematographer
Jonathan McCormack
Jonathan McCormack
Production Designer
Suzy Schofield
Suzy Schofield
Editor
Sebastian Vignau
Sebastian Vignau
Sound
Jackson Daneluk
Jackson Daneluk
The Custodian (13:38)
With his Abuela's life on the line, Pablo, a desperate custodian at a corrupt boxing gym must risk his morals and life in a fight to win it all.
Director
Amaris Pueyes Méndez
Amaris Pueyes Méndez
Assistant Directors
Braulio Hernandez
Braulio Hernandez
Writer
Alejandro Okun
Alejandro Okun
Producer
Ana Flavia Veiga, Tracey Gibbs
Ana Flavia Veiga, Tracey Gibbs
Cinematographer
Liam Hoole
Liam Hoole
Production Designer
Dulce Mejía Morales
Dulce Mejía Morales
Editor
David Deiser, Graham Reicher
David Deiser, Graham Reicher
Sound
Martha Rodriguez, Julieta Villalpando
Martha Rodriguez, Julieta Villalpando
Traingazing (14:10)
When Connie and Kai meet on a train headed to the airport, sparks fly in an electrifying 'meet-cute', but with Connie's imminent departure looming, their budding romance faces uncertainty.
Director
Alexia Howard
Alexia Howard
Assistant Directors
Cami Smith-Dahl
Cami Smith-Dahl
Writer
Josh Oh
Josh Oh
Producer
Qingyi Song, Tanishq Aasha Reddy
Qingyi Song, Tanishq Aasha Reddy
Cinematographer
Theo Fernandes
Theo Fernandes
Production Designer
Nic Skrabak
Nic Skrabak
Editor
Khanh Doan, Eljin Yoo
Khanh Doan, Eljin Yoo
Sound
Rebekah Chun, Mason Woodard
Rebekah Chun, Mason Woodard
Corazón en el Diamante / Heart on the Diamond (12:56)
When tragedy strikes during Cecilia's big baseball game, 15-year-old Cecilia and her mom, Gloria, face an uncertain future.
Director
Martha Rodriguez
Martha Rodriguez
Assistant Directors
Franco Vidal
Franco Vidal
Writer
Martha Rodriguez
Martha Rodriguez
Producer
Hector Martinez, Chirsten Vanderbilt, Martha Rodriguez
Hector Martinez, Chirsten Vanderbilt, Martha Rodriguez
Cinematographer
Daeil Kim
Daeil Kim
Production Designer
Lizzete Flores
Lizzete Flores
Editor
Daniel Farias
Daniel Farias
Sound
Borna Moinpour, Aric Lopez
Borna Moinpour, Aric Lopez
Hand-Me-Downs (13:31)
On the eve of her sister's wedding, an offbeat young woman unexpectedly derails the night. As both sisters are pushed to their limits, they must find a way to confront their differences and reconcile before the big day.
Director
Kayla Wong
Kayla Wong
Assistant Directors
Alysha Wang
Alysha Wang
Writer
Megan Dang
Megan Dang
Producer
Natalia Bryant, Josey Cuthrell-Tuttleman
Natalia Bryant, Josey Cuthrell-Tuttleman
Cinematographer
Alani Marie Smith
Alani Marie Smith
Production Designer
Faithe Nguyen
Faithe Nguyen
Editor
Sylvie Lodish, Diego Jose Mercado
Sylvie Lodish, Diego Jose Mercado
Sound
Serafina Jacobson Walsh, Eileen Marshall
Serafina Jacobson Walsh, Eileen Marshall