Interviews

In Food for the Soul, filmmaker Chisom Chieke turns questions of family, cultural expectations, and identity into a warm romantic comedy rooted in the Black diaspora. Following its world premiere at the 2025 BlackStar Festival, the short has continued to connect with audiences through its portrait of Nigerian-American artist Ada and her Black American partner Trey.

Better Together: Furman’s Championship Quest begins with heartbreak. After Furman’s devastating last-second loss in the 2022 Southern Conference Championship, director Richmond Weaver saw something larger than basketball: a story about failure, resilience, and what it takes to come back together.

With Pangea, filmmaker, writer, and actor Mimi Davila transforms a deeply personal story into an intimate exploration of identity, race, longing, and the search for belonging. Set over the course of a single day and night in New York City, the 15-minute short follows two Latina artist ex-lovers whose emotionally charged reunion forces them to confront old wounds, shifting perceptions, and the complicated idea of what "home" really means.

David St. Clair's feature debut, The Lonely Crowd, takes the familiar discomfort of a first date and transforms it into an emotionally driven thriller that explores modern relationships, loneliness, and the assumptions we make about one another. Blending romance, suspense, and social commentary, the independent feature proves that compelling character work can be just as gripping as high-stakes action.

With Màquina, writer-director and cinematographer Joaquim Adrià Pujol transforms an intensely personal family story into a powerful exploration of addiction, codependency, and healing. Following a father and son on a road trip across the American West in search of psychedelic-assisted treatment, the documentary refuses easy answers, instead embracing vulnerability, emotional complexity, and hope. Fresh off its selection at the 2026 Brooklyn Film Festival, Pujol spoke with IndieWrap about making such a deeply intimate film, balancing the roles of filmmaker and family member, and why the conversations sparked by Màquina are just as important as the journey itself.

With The Closet, writer, director, producer, and editor Olivia Jean Hamilton delivers a witty and heartfelt comedy that challenges familiar coming-out narratives by exploring a conversation that is rarely portrayed on screen. Inspired by her own experiences, the five-minute short shines a light on the nuances of bisexual identity, the complexities of acceptance within queer spaces, and the power of humor to tackle deeply personal subjects.

With his debut short On Guard, filmmaker Will Calkins transforms the world of competitive saber fencing into an intimate psychological drama about ambition, obsession, and the search for self-worth.

Some love stories bring people together. Nate and Moriah in Venice explores what happens when two people who once meant everything to each other struggle to find their way back. Written and directed by Austin Balke, the intimate relationship drama follows Nate and Moriah as they spend a day wandering the streets, bridges, and cafés of Venice, Italy.

Violet Vendetta is the kind of film that reminds audiences why they fell in love with movies in the first place. Blending high-energy action, sharp comedy, and a heartfelt appreciation for the filmmaking process, Ted Hayden's festival favorite follows two aspiring filmmakers whose dream project spirals into a real-life action adventure.

Haibei Wang has built a distinctive career by bridging cultures, genres, and storytelling traditions. Originally from China and now based in New York, the composer has worked across film, musical theatre, animation, documentaries, and video games, developing a voice that combines cinematic orchestration with contemporary textures and Eastern influences.