Due to an overwhelming amount of submissions we are unable to showcase all the films we received. Thank you to everyone who participated; we love seeing you all share your creativity and can’t wait to see what you showcase in the future <3
AND THE WINNERS ARE…
first place
Directed by Cecelia Hubbard (@cc.hub)
Location Orlando, FL
Synopsis
A man name Nat creates a documentary about his best friend, Kade, before his suicide. We unravel their memories together as they aspired to be famous writers and filmmakers.
SECOND PLACE
Directed by Hana Jade Gardner (@hanafilmss)
Location Redondo Beach, CA
Synopsis
Sadie, a young girl, is suffering the loss of her best friend, Annie, who passed away due to a tragic accident a year prior to the film taking place. Annie visits Sadie through the power of her bathwater, helping her revisit the happy memories they once had together. Sadie immerses herself in the water fully and finally sees Annie in her angelic form, for she is coming back to send her an important message about letting go of her grief. This film highlights the idea that if one is in a bad place mentally, it will always get better, and that grief is never easy. It also plays with supernatural and otherwordly ideas as well as spiritual presences.
THIRD PLACE
Directed by Spencer Tsang (@yungyello)
Location San Francisco, CA
Synopsis
A student photographer reminisces about finding the one.
NOMINEES
Directed by Griffey Hamilton (@griffenhamilton)
Location Orange, CA
Synopsis
Allison is a 16-year-old girl in the summer of 2005. Shes has always been a badass at karate but shes started to recently get stronger, for no apparent reason. She must go on an adventure, one that will start the beginning of an era for her. With notorious mob leader Baxter Bernt on the loose, Allison must try and stop him with her best friend Tegan on her side!
Directed by Marjorie Matamoros (@what.theysay)
Location Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Synopsis
A teenager falls into an existential crisis after opening her last birthday present. As she dives in her frustration caused by the social construct of what a birthday should be, she recounts the tragedies of her past birthdays.
Directed by Jasmine Li (@jvsli)
Location Hong Kong and Boston, MA
Synopsis
Inspired by George Orwell's essay of the same name, "Books vs. Cigarettes" follows a lonely restaurant worker who discovers an opportunity to give meaning to his monotonous everyday life. It contemplates the choice between momentary satisfaction and delayed gratification. It also offers commentary on the exclusivity of education and the cyclical nature of addiction.
Directed by Jessica O'Donoghue (@lesbyanka + @jessodon)
Location New York City, NY
Synopsis
A young woman using Tinder as a way to entertain herself during quarantine. She matches with people, 'dates' them until she feels she's learned everything there is to know about them, then block them without a second thought. She does this for a while, content to not investigate her own feelings and use others for amusement, until she comes across someone she actually really does like.
Directed by Daniel Lee (@torranceproductions)
Location Summit, NJ
Synopsis
Carter and Suzy both wait to be picked up by their parents. We hear their awkward inner thoughts as they debate whether or not they should talk to each other.
Directed by Nicole Lipp (@flowerhitstheBIGtime)
Location Los Angeles, CA
Synopsis
Nat arrives at her friend's party to find out it's actually an intervention. Because turns out Nat has an imaginary pet dog.