BIFF Shorts: Crossing Paths

An ode to all manner of encounters. 99 minutes.

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“Holding on Forever”

Chelsea Christer (Dir), 9 minutes, USA, New York State Premiere

A night out with friends at karaoke isn't quite like Stephanie (Lindsey Rose Naves) remembers it in this musical encounter.

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"Over The Hill"

Ryan Canney (Dir), 11 minutes, USA, New York State Premiere

Director Ryan Canney in attendance.

When an old dilapidated truck breaks down on the side of the road, a junkyard owner is put in the rare position of comforting a stranger in this moving rustbelt drama.

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“Shiner”

Nora Marris (Dir), 12 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

Director Nora Marris in attendance.

Self-destructive in the aftermath of her best friend's suicide, a college senior crashes her older sister's party, sporting a black eye she sustained in a fist fight and seeking any reprieve from her isolation. Director Nora Marris is a BIFF 2022 (Her Habitat) and BIFF 2023 (Tail Between Her Legs) alumni.

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“Okay Boomer"

Julian Stamboulieh (Dir), 17 minutes, Canada, World Premiere

Director Julian Stamboulieh and Producer Beatrice Warner in attendance.

A professor (Laura Mitchell) facing arbitration with a student finds herself grappling between her resume of fighting for equality and knowledge, her pride, and a new world where priorities (and values) have changed.

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“Trying”

Emily Alpren (Dir), 7 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

Director Emily Alpren in attendance.

Abby Wathen stars in this painfully honest story about a woman who thought getting pregnant would be easy. Until she started trying.

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“Coyotes”

Vashti Anderson (Dir), 15 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

Director Vashti Anderson in attendance.

Daruk (Macc Plaise), a Caribbean man develops an intense connection with real estate agent Colleen (Mel House) once the house starts to take on a life of its own in Vashti Anderson’s work of magical realism.

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“Matinee Baby”

Thom Hilton (Dir), 19 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

In this raunchy and outlandish queer comedy, best friends Robby (Harrison Sheehan) and Noah-Lee (John Henry Ward) – employees at Portland's historic Clinton Street Theater – find themselves confronted by a parade of increasingly wacky, genre-tinged suitors.

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"Handle with Care"

Michael Glover Smith (Dir), 8 minutes, USA, Western New York Premiere

A woman and a man go on a date, both for the first time in years. Each faces the dilemma of how open and honest they should be. Director Michael Glover Smith is a BIFF 2019 (Rendezvous in Chicago), BIFF 2022 (Relative), and BIFF 2023 (Paper Planes) alumni.