BIFF SHORTS: IN COMMUNITY

Films made by and about local and global communities. Total runtime is 76 minutes.

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ROOM TO SWIM

Francesca Kustra (Dir), 24 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Francesca Kustra in attendance.

Beating around NYC in a repurposed hearse, Brenda Prohaska spends her free time saving NYC's overlooked aquatic residents - fish. We get a glimpse into the quirky world of NYC fish lovers as Brenda and her rescue partner Laboy Wiggins help rehome fish outgrowing their tiny NYC dwellings. Her network grows as quickly as her adventures, discovering new ways to connect and care for each other in the city that never sleeps.

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#UKRAINIANAMERICAN

Lukia Costello (Dir), 3 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Lukia Costello in attendance.

A snapshot of the Ukrainian-American experience - adjacent to war - connected by heart and heritage.

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KOTA HUJAN (RAINY CITY)

Olivia Ong Evans (Dir), 17 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Olivia Ong Evans in attendance.

In English + Indonesian w/ English subtitles.

Kota Hujan (Rainy City) is a collection of nostalgic memories and playful tales that trace the shifting meanings of home through time and across diasporas. The film features my mother’s narration of stories from her childhood in Bogor, Indonesia during the 1960s and ’70s. These recollections are interwoven with scenes of the city and its landscapes from our return visit to her hometown in 2024. The soundtrack for the film features recordings from a live performance by the Nusantara Arts Javanese Gamelan group in Buffalo, NY.

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PRESS RECORD: FILMING THE LIGHT BETWEEN US

Diane Almeter Jones (Dir), 15 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Director Diane Almeter Jones, Editor Robin Lazzara, and Sound Designer Jade Marciniak in attendance.

A collaborative short film created from community-submitted phone footage, photographs, poetry, spoken word, and micro-shorts gathered throughout the summer of 2025. Featuring contributions from more than 50 individuals including nonprofit organizations across Buffalo and beyond, the film celebrates positivity, creativity, and the beauty of our shared human experience.

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BARRIGA LLENA, CORAZÓN CONTENT

Jordana Rubenstein-Edberg + Marshall Hanig (Dir), 17 minutes, USA, World Premiere

Barriga Llena, Corazón Contento (Full Belly, Happy Heart) is a chorus of stories from the organizers of Fenix Community Fridge, a grassroots food pantry in Ridgewood, Queens, run out of a local car service. The film interweaves migration journeys, home-made meals, and the everyday acts of care that bind a community together.