| FILM | DIRECTOR | COUNTRY | LENGTH | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¡TAXI! | Pamela Restrepo | United States | 3 min | |
In 1980s Manhattan, a taxi driver named Ruben reminisces when his cab hosted an ever-changing cast of characters, including a director that offered him an acting gig on a film set. The bustling crowd and vibrant energy amaze Ruben- imagination strikes as he wonders about his role. Will he whisk away a runaway bride? Drive from a horde of rats? Lead a high-speed taxi gang? Ruben recounts he only played as himself, driving an actress down the street and getting two hundred bucks- just enough to celebrate and buy lunch for his friends. Film Block: Slice of Life & Everyday Surreal: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Active Imagination | Jordan Fouts and Amanda Garabedian | United States | 6 min | |
 Grab your magnifying glasses and follow Amelia, a young detective want-to-be, as she puts her sleuthing skills to the test after overseeing some suspicious activity while on vacation. Film Block: Worlds Beyond: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Afternoon Snack | Jillian “JP” Powell | United States | 5 min | |
 On what seems to be a beautiful, sunny afternoon, Haco’s journey to find the most delectably delicious snack is quickly thwarted by a conniving caterpillar and unending obstacles. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Alley | Sophie Wu | China | 7 min | |
 The girl inadvertently walked into a quiet alley. As she wandered aimlessly, she suddenly caught sight of a person lying on the ground not far away, while a slender, suspicious figure crouched beside him, gripping a hammer in his hand. The air was thick with tension, and it seemed the depths of the alley were whispering, revealing secrets that were hidden from the world. Film Block: Worlds Beyond: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Alpacas! | Austin Geiger | United States | 5 Min. | |
 Do you know what an Alpaca is? Film Block: Windows to the World: Documentaries for Everyone | ||||
| Backseat Girls | Kelsey Zhen and Alize Abdelhak | United States | 16 min | |
Childhood friends run a beach radio while navigating through moments of doubts in their roles. The film builds on their childhood, young adulthood, and real-life interviews exploring the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Film Block: Slice of Life & Everyday Surreal: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Bike Lane Ends | Noah Glenn | United States | 8 min | |
An anxious 8-year-old must rescue her adventurous BFF from an alternate dimension at the end of a bike lane. Film Block: Worlds Beyond: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Billy and Skippy: Vacations Are Not For Heroes | Asher XT Gordon | United States | 4 min | |
 The duo Billy and Skippy go to water park island for a fun vacation, but in his hubris Skippy gets stuck at the bottom of a kiddie slide leaving Billy to figure out a way to get him out. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Birds of a Feather | Katie Cobos | United States | 5 min | |
A talkative parrot attempts to befriend a boy with Tourette’s syndrome. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Blobtown and the Mysterious Wave |
| United States | 2 min | |
 FC Academy student-made films in Newton, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Breaking the Feed | Rukshana Tabassum | India | 23 min | |
Two lifelong friends, bonded by their shared passion for MMA, find themselves on divergent paths when the allure of social media enters the cage. As their training intensifies, so does the competition—not in the ring but for the spotlight. One’s rise as a social media sensation sparks envy, while the other grapples with feeling overshadowed and forgotten. As likes and followers pile up, their once-unshakable friendship teeters on the edge, forcing them to confront whether they’re fighting for the sport—or for validation on screen. Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for tweens and teens | ||||
| Captain Princess | Michael E. Peter | United States | 6 min | |
In a galaxy made of cardboard, glitter, and wild imagination, two sisters, Lois and McClane, explore the cosmos without ever leaving their playroom. But when big sis is away, it’s up to little Lois—joined by Lovey, her stuffed unicorn—to take charge. As the fearless Captain Princess, Lois explores new planets, encounters alien creatures and journeys into the unknown Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Coole Jungs | Tajo Hurrle | Germany | 15 min | |
 In the hottest summer he can remember, eleven-year-old Caspar sweats profusely in his school uniform trousers. The strict headmistress, Mrs. Gardé, stands at the school entrance, meticulously enforcing the dress code. When she announces, “Trousers or skirts! Otherwise, there will be anarchy!” Caspar decides to take her at her word and shows up in a skirt the next morning. A decision that causes quite a stir. Will Caspar be able to withstand the pressure? Film Block: Finding My Brave: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Death, Taxes and Apple Juice | Tamar Halpern | United States | 7 min | |
 Two young girls have an existential crisis while filing their taxes. Film Block: Slice of Life & Everyday Surreal: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Dog & Pony Travel the World | Mike Annear | United States | 1 min | |
Tag along on the playful journey of Dog & Pony, two energetic farm animals who are super curious about the world around them. Eager to explore life beyond their farm, Dog & Pony pack their things, hop on a plane, and travel the globe. Their first destination? London! However the precocious travelers get themselves into all sorts of trouble as the farmer (who misses them very much!) pursues them across the globe. Dog & Pony Travel the World is a non-dialogue, physical humor driven animated short that fosters exploration, world geography, and adventurous spirits. Next stop, everywhere! Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Down Safe | Fédor Benton | United States | 8 min | |
When 10-year-old Fédor discovers a locked safe buried in his backyard, his world transforms into a thrilling quest to uncover its secrets. Film Block: Worlds Beyond: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Eloise's Summer | Lize Cuveele | Belgium | 16 min | |
 In Eloise’s Summer, a nine-year-old girl discovers the world of her curly hair and Cameroonian roots. Eloise is mixed: her mom is Belgian and her dad is from Cameroon. Though her hair can sometimes be challenging and even painful, she learns to love it and explores the endless possibilities of her hair. She captures her summer adventure in a self-drawn book. Film Block: Windows to the World: Documentaries for Everyone | ||||
| EX1L3D | Simon Finkel, Cameron Janitschke | United States | 5 min | |
 Deep in the reaches of space, Alex Rourke searches planet after planet for his missing father. With dwindling supplies and no leads, hope seems lost—until his ship’s AI, M.A.R.I.A (Machine Assistant for Reasoning and Intelligent Analysis), unexpectedly reactivates with new information. Film Block: Worlds Beyond: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Forget-Me-Not | Sahyla C. Durbois | United States | 10 min | |
A group of literary characters refuse to be forgotten and take matters into their own hands. Film Block: Worlds Beyond: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Foxman Adventures |
| United States | 2 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in Boston, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Fractured Grace | Ellis Lennon | United States | 5 min | |
 A young girl passionate about ballet is haunted by her music box after she gets frustrated that she’ll never be good enough. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| GET ON WITH IT! | Grace Rodgers | Australia | 11 min | |
‘Get On With It’ follows Frankie, an eight year old girl with a very active imagination. In this film, we follow Frankie, as she discovers for the first time in a game of ‘Death Stuck In The Mud’ that everyone dies in real life. As humans, we’re constantly working through that certainty, and in this film, we get to cut straight to the heart of it, through a child’s perspective. We stay with Frankie after she finds out, at her Grandad’s 73rd birthday party, and become witness to her fear, fuelled by erratic imaginings on all the ways people can possibly die… Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for tweens and teens | ||||
| Girl No. 60427 | Shulamit Lifshitz, Orial Berkovits | Israel | 22 min | |
Tel Aviv, 1998, summer vacation. Reut finds and reads her grandmother’s secret notebook from the Holocaust. Grandma’s story resonates in Reut’s well-developed imagination, and the fun week in Tel Aviv with Grandpa and Grandma turns into something else entirely. Reut’s relationship with her Grandma is changed forever. Film Block: Slice of Life & Everyday Surreal: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Graduation Day | Charlene Moore, Tasha Hubbard | Canada | 12 min | |
 The power to dream beats strongly in the heart of Connie Stonestand. At the age of 63, Connie has spent a lifetime caring for her family and instilling in them the importance of pursuing one's dreams, including to her 18-year-old grandson Sage Stonestand- Checkosis. As the school year nears its end on the James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, an important annual event gains deeper significance as Connie and Sage prepare to graduate high school together and share the spotlight to inspire generations of others. Film Block: Windows to the World: Documentaries for Everyone | ||||
| Honesty | Erik Jimenez Reyes | United States | 5 min | |
 Abby is a confident but dishonest student. She finds and keeps things that don’t belong to her, but one day when she loses her own wallet, she learns the importance of honesty and decides to return what she’s taken. Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| I dream about Colorful Earth | Will Kim | United States | 2 min | |
Using watercolor animation technique, “I dream about Colorful Earth” brings to life the director’s dreams and memories of Earth. Blending fluid motion and vibrant imagery, the film explores themes of connection, resilience, and unity. As colors merge and transform, the dream unfolds a poetic reflection on humanity’s shared journey. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| I'm Fine | Aidan Sinconis | United States | 11 min | |
I’m Fine is a 1st-person tale of struggle with teenage depression told through private journal entries. The film lifts the covers on the distorted perception of reality that comes from depression and gives a realistic view of improvement. Film Block: Windows to the World: Documentaries for Everyone | ||||
| Illumination | Charlotte Anthony | United States | 3 min | |
 In the animated short film, Illumination, a burned out worker rediscovers his creativity. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Introducing Mimi | Emai Lai | United States | 14 min | |
A young Chinese American woman meets her tutor at the library to relearn a language she once knew as a child. A playful and awkward lesson ensues, as they use a messy mix of Mandarin and English to translate book titles and invent stories about other library patrons. Introducing Mimi explores the humor and frustration of losing your voice and finding it again. Film Block: Finding My Brave: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Jim and the Bread |
| United States | 1 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in Hingham, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Kid President | Yadid Hirschtritt Licht | United States | 5 min | |
No more lettuce, no more artichokes… no more broccoli! This is the future that Kid President envisions as he rolls out his most daring policy yet: a ban on all vegetables. In this 2D animated mockumentary, viewers get an inside look as Kid President attempts to strongarm his policy past his rag-tag administration and an alarmed White House press corps. Can Kid President make his vegetable-free dream a reality? Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Let Me Go | Jayden Chen | United States | 4 min | |
 Samantha goes on a journey to a new environment, much to her parents’ chagrin. Film Block: Slice of Life & Everyday Surreal: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Lost Memories | Sherylynn Sanchez | United States | 21 min | |
 In a dystopian future where everyone’s memories have been taken, Maribel seizes a rare opportunity to learn her true past after stealing her memories back from the state. She must work with her brother Alex, and the help of some friends, to unlock their history before the merciless Memory Officers hunt them down. Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| love, mum | Stella Moira Atmadja | Indonesia | 5 min | |
 A daughter navigates life with the absence of her busy mother. But a visit from a neighbor reveals that her mother was never there. Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for tweens and teens | ||||
| Lovestruck | Nate Dyer | United States | 4 min | |
 Ellie is a scruffy teenager who stumbles into a bookstore looking for something to read. Instead, she finds something she didn’t expect… love. Film Block: Slice of Life & Everyday Surreal: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Luna Theater Doc |
| United States | 8 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in Lowell, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Lux Labs: Back to the Drawing Board | Anton Wittkop | United States | 2 min | |
 The ever-determined Professor Lux enters his state-of-the-art laboratory once more. Will his latest experiment be a stroke of genius, or will it be back to the drawing board? A short stop motion film filled with explosive humor and mild disaster. Film Block: Worlds Beyond: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Mamó & Me | Jack Desmond, Cian Desmond | Ireland | 15 min | |
On the day of his grandmother’s wake, a boy in rural Ireland mourns a dead sheep with the help of his grandmother’s spirit. Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for tweens and teens | ||||
| Marta, Aisha, and the Volcano | Alexandre Peralta | Spain | 7 min | |
Film Block: Windows to the World: Documentaries for Everyone | ||||
| Meevil the Weevil: Breakfast of Champions | Kyle Arneson | United States | 4 min | |
Meevil the Weevil is a little bug with big dreams of being a stuntman. “Breakfast of Champions” mixes stop motion animation with live action footage where we follow Meevil’s thrilling ride across a 1970s breakfast table on rocket roller skates. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| My Turn! | Isabelle Tumboimbela | United States | 5 min | |
My Turn! is a short film about the importance of sisterhood through a wacky, slapstick-filled morning race to the bathroom. One sunny morning in Jakarta, Indonesia, Beth and her younger sister Liz become fierce rivals in their race to the bathroom. Beth regrets unintentionally hurting her little sister during the scuffle, and they both realize how much they care about each other. This short film embraces the charm of 2D animation, paying homage to the classic styles of Saturday morning cartoons. At its core, My Turn! is about the childhood experiences of director Isabelle Tumboimbela growing up with her younger sister. This film hopes to provide Southeast Asian representation to the animation medium. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| NAOMI | Ella Deutsch | Israel | 8 min | |
Thirteen-year-old Naomi is one of a group of girls who break in to the local swimming pool one night as a prank. But their adventure will force Naomi to come to terms with how far she is prepared to go to hide her disability. Film Block: Finding My Brave: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| One on One Kickball |
| United States | 2 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in Berwick, ME Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| One Shot |
| United States | 3 Min. | |
FC Academy student-made film in Boston, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Playing House | Maria Alvsaker Næss | Norway | 7 min | |
 The best friends Astrid and Kristin are playing as usual, but something unexpected happens, and they start to argue. Can they become friends again? Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for tweens and teens | ||||
| Red Death |
| United States | 5 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in North Andover, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Red Wolf in Time Out | Dave Russo | United States | 4 min | |
 Someone tattled on the Red Wolf for something it didn’t do and now it’s in time out. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Rodrigo Branquias | Andrés Guevara Espinosa | Colombia | 17 min | |
A 9-year-old boy with an extraordinary talent for holding his breath underwater dreams of participating in a freediving championship and, at the same time, he wants to prove to his mother that dreams, with passion and perseverance, can come true. Film Block: Finding My Brave: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Snap | Sophie Gabriel | United States | 6 min | |
 Two siblings make a curious discovery together, only to find their priorities diverging. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| SnowBugs | Jenny Schuermann | United States | 3 min | |
During a snow day, three girls find themselves in a tricky situation after one of them accidentally goes too far during their snowball fight. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| Stolen Apples |
| United States | 3 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in Lexington, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| The Apricot | Alex Z. Avila | United States | 9 min | |
The Apricot” tells the story of a 10-year-old boy and his first summer working on the family’s apricot farm. This project is based on real childhood memories that the director holds dear to his heart. Film Block: Short, Sweet, and Animated for 10 & Under | ||||
| The Mountain Knows | Yiwei Cheng | China | 18 min | |
The Mountain Knows is a short documentary that explores green economic development in Nanping Village. It focuses on three main characters: an elderly beekeeper, the owner of a century-old B&B, and a clerk at an organic farm. Each of them runs their own business while prioritizing environmentally friendly practices. The film concentrates on their daily routines and attitudes toward the ecological economy through interviews. Film Block: Windows to the World: Documentaries for Everyone | ||||
| The Old King | Lilli Bravo | United States | 6 min | |
 This is a story of an Old stubborn king who must give up his throne. He puts his kingdom at risk of attack due to his stubbornness. A young knight named Henrietta must help protect the king and the kingdom. The Old king soon realizes that he must give up his throne and passes it down to the knight Henrietta. Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Tropical Fish | Shirley Xie | China | 7 min | |
 Growing up in a broken home, Xiao Su yearns to escape reality and see the tropical fish by the sea. However, when his journey is unexpectedly cut short, he finds himself back home, gazing in silence at the captive fish in the dim light, where dreams and reality blur into one. Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for tweens and teens | ||||
| Two Places One Heart |
| United States | 6 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in Boston, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Unconditional | Joely Hurkman | United States | 9 min | |
 Tag along with Laura and Marie as they enjoy the spring weather and the added thrills of roller-skating. Against her mom’s warning to play safe, Laura is persuaded to roll down the park’s broken-down, rickety old bridge – only to end up landing flat on her back. A parent’s warning is usually ignored, but no matter how hard and often they fall down, Laura learns that a mother’s love is unconditional and that she’ll always be there to welcome them home. Film Block: Slice of Life & Everyday Surreal: Shorts for Everyone | ||||
| Underdog |
| United States | 5 min | |
FC Academy student-made film in Melrose, MA Film Block: FC Academy Presents: The Film School Showcase | ||||
| Untouchable | Kendra Ann Sherrill | United States | 17 min | |
 Inspired by writer/actress Aimee Paxton’s childhood, untouchable tells a story of navigating limitations, bullying, and trying to be a “good” person. From her picture-perfect 2000s childhood room, Aimee recalls stories from elementary, middle, and high school. Being small had perks when she was young but as she ages through adolescence, her body starts to deteriorate -along with her social status. She takes us through crushes and being crushed, peer (and teacher!) bullies, youth group confusion and guilt, and trying to be a cheerleader. Throw in some rheumatoid arthritis, a mysterious hip diagnosis, and a crutch and you have the perfect recipe for an awkward childhood! Film Block: Finding My Brave: Shorts for Teens | ||||
| Voices of Hope | Francesca Varese | South Africa | 5 min | |
Film Block: Windows to the World: Documentaries for Everyone | ||||
| Walk Beside Me | Taehyun Heo | Republic of Korea | 3 min | |
 All the good actions that we take for the sake of society–recycling diligently, picking up trash, and trying to be a vegetarian–often seem futile and meaningless in the grand industry scale of our planet Earth. Does that mean our actions are truly meaningless? If so, how can we deal with this blatant meaninglessness? Inspired mainly by Camus and our high school’s philosophy teachers, this film aims to investigate the ultimate question of existentialism. Film Block: Reel Reflections: Shorts for tweens and teens | ||||
