Warriors reveals the story of Mobile’s 2009 Davidson High School football team which featured the first high school duo drafted by the same NFL team, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt. The reminiscences of the players, coaches, and family members of this dynamic team overlap to reveal the combined pressures of young athletes doing everything to follow their NFL dreams.
Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
Warriors reveals the story of Mobile’s 2009 Davidson High School football team which featured the first high school duo drafted by the same NFL team, Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt. The reminiscences of the players, coaches, and family members of this dynamic team overlap to reveal the combined pressures of young athletes doing everything to follow their NFL dreams.
Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
MEX, FRA, USA • 1 hour 58 minutes Directed by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig
Jaripeo offers a nuanced exploration of queer identity within the deeply traditional world of hypermasculine Mexican rodeos. Set in rural Michoacán, the film captures the eclectic lives of rancheros that navigate this secret subculture which both honors and defies the rigid cowboy mythology. Lensed beautifully on Super 8, Jaripeo is the feature directorial debut of Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig.
MEX, FRA, USA • 1 hour 58 minutes Directed by Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig
Jaripeo offers a nuanced exploration of queer identity within the deeply traditional world of hypermasculine Mexican rodeos. Set in rural Michoacán, the film captures the eclectic lives of rancheros that navigate this secret subculture which both honors and defies the rigid cowboy mythology. Lensed beautifully on Super 8, Jaripeo is the feature directorial debut of Efraín Mojica and Rebecca Zweig.
MEX • 1 hour 16 minutes Directed by Alejandra Alcala and Alex Garcia Martinez
Once a grim prison, now a Malawi migration camp. Asylum seekers convert hardship into inspiration, which is meant to crush the human spirit. The camp, on fire with resistance against inhumanity, empowers young people to host a vibrant festival that draws tens of thousands. Spoken word speaks truth to power, weaving strength and unity. Even in oppression, dreams are reborn and an unbreakable sense of community flourishes, defying every hardship.
MEX • 1 hour 16 minutes Directed by Alejandra Alcala and Alex Garcia Martinez
Once a grim prison, now a Malawi migration camp. Asylum seekers convert hardship into inspiration, which is meant to crush the human spirit. The camp, on fire with resistance against inhumanity, empowers young people to host a vibrant festival that draws tens of thousands. Spoken word speaks truth to power, weaving strength and unity. Even in oppression, dreams are reborn and an unbreakable sense of community flourishes, defying every hardship.
Award-winning, lifelong environmental activist Dr. Jackie Echols is dedicated to protecting Atlanta’s South River, the largest freshwater system in the state. When planned construction of “Cop City” (the largest police training facility in America) threatens the ecosystem and forest that serves predominately Black communities, activism and politics intersect into a story of environmental defense and grassroots activism. This observational documentary shows how environmental issues affect us all while also serving as a call for immediate action.
Award-winning, lifelong environmental activist Dr. Jackie Echols is dedicated to protecting Atlanta’s South River, the largest freshwater system in the state. When planned construction of “Cop City” (the largest police training facility in America) threatens the ecosystem and forest that serves predominately Black communities, activism and politics intersect into a story of environmental defense and grassroots activism. This observational documentary shows how environmental issues affect us all while also serving as a call for immediate action.
The hilarious directorial debut from John Wilson follows our eponymous hero on a journey through a Hallmark writing class, to filming New York potholes, to visiting the oldest street in America on a mission to know more about concrete. From Vimeo Staff Picks to HBO’s How To with John Wilson, we now find John documenting mysterious characters and urban locations (as only he can) to help us uncover more clues to one of life’s greatest mysteries.
USA • 44 minutes Directed by Frederick DeShon Murphy
Film director, Sidewalk alum and mental health therapist Frederick DeShon Murphy brings together families of both the enslavers and enslaved connected to the Forks of Cypress plantation in Florence, AL, to share their deeply personal histories and to create an opportunity for community and reconciliation.
USA • 1 hour 31 minutes Directed by Nico Lopez-Alegría and ZZ
For those who couldn’t get enough of the successful Artemis II mission, comes a space documentary unlike any other. Director Nico Lopez-Algeria invites us along on a deeply personal journey and a look behind the curtain of what families of career astronauts experience when their loved ones dedicate their lives to space exploration.
USA • 1 hour 39 minutes Directed by Aaron Schock and Mark Becker
In a David-and-Goliath fight over one of the world's most recognizable toys, the widow of the Sea-Monkeys creator battles for control of her husband's legacy. What starts as a quarrel over quality control uncovers an unexpected history and the troubling affiliations buried beneath the packet of instant pets.
USA • 45 minutes Directed by Brian "B+" Cross and Eric Coleman
As a means to reframe outdated half-truths, this vibrant narrative illustrates a new chapter of Birmingham’s legacy. This story aims to linger beyond our stained reputation by highlighting the people and places that embody the essence of what makes this city “Magic.”
Ariel Gary - Screening Committee USA • 46 minutes Directed by Michele Forman Birmingham's Front Lawn explores the creation of Railroad Park in the heart of Downtown Birmingham. Watch as the park, which has become an integral part of life downtown, transforms from unassuming acreage to a lush urban green space and hear from the park's champions who turned their dream into a reality in order to uplift Birmingham.
USA • 1 hour 40 minutes Directed by Ken William Kwapis
After a father in rural New Hampshire is inspired by his own mother’s prophecy that his three daughters will be world famous rock stars. The problem was that the daughters, Dorothy, Betty, and Helen Wiggin, had no interest in playing music. This did not stop their father who bought them their own recording studio which produced music that was once called the worst band in rock history.
Mike Lobel of Degrassi: The Next Generation fame makes his directorial debut with this true crime tale about his own family. Lobel sets out to uncover the truth about his father that his parents kept hidden for 35 years. During his entire childhood, Lobel’s family had two major rules: Don’t ask what Dad does for a living and never go upstairs when he’s working.
A transgender teen and his family document the two-decade transitioning process with care and honesty. A counterpoint to the hostility often shown towards those in transition, this film shows the family and the thoughtful way they communicate their needs and their love of one another.
You may know Punkie Johnson from several seasons on SNL, but PUNKIE creates a raw, behind the scenes portrait of a stand up comedian and Saturday Night Live star as she deals with life, touring on the road, trying to protect her artistic voice, and true self.
When an Ohio man builds a fake Facebook profile mocking his local police department, the joke lands him in real legal trouble, escalating to the Supreme Court. To his rescue comes The Onion, a group familiar with parody, resulting in a legal brief so ridiculous that it became a legend.
Evacuating the 2025 California wildfires, director Tamra Davis unearthed long-lost tapes from 1995, featuring concert footage and backstage interviews she had shot of the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, Foo Fighters, Bikini Kill, and many others. This time capsule offers a rare glimpse of bands on the edge of fame.
For centuries, Stan Rennie’s family has worked the same stretch of coastline in northeast England. When a tide of poisoned crabs and lobsters washes up like a biblical plague, all signs point to an industrial development along the River Tees that empties into the once-teeming waters. Stan becomes a reluctant spokesman for his community, with a cool head and a heart of rage.
USA • 1 hour 24 minutes Directed by Noah Dixon and Ori Segev
After being forced to evacuate after a train carrying carcinogenic chemicals derails in the small community of East Palestine, Ohio, community members return to their homes with lingering doubts and questions about what their already struggling community will be like.
KEN • 1 hour 33 minutes Directed by Andrew H. Brown and Bea Wangondu
The central highlands in Kenya is one of the most verdant, fertile agricultural lands in the world. A land rights dispute attracts Kenya-based journalist Bea Wangondu to uncover the depths to which multinational corporations have exploited this veritable “Garden of Eden” and its inhabitants. The secrets she uncovers and the struggles she documents reveal the undying legacy of a wicked past.
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes Directed by Maya Annik Bedward
One of cinema’s greatest subgenres also has one of its most complex histories: the origin of the Zombie. Through the lens of cinema history, this doc chronicles the advent of the horror trope from spiritual Haitian Vodou rituals through the evolution of contemporary Hollywood horror. The film dispels rumors and attaches significance to the entity of the walking dead.
USA • 1 hour 34 minutes Directed by Kenny Dalsheimer and Rafael Samanez
An endearing look at Jazz musician Yusuf Salim through his voice and the artists he inspired over the years. Salim was the core force behind the development of a beautiful music community in Durham North Carolina. A community built on connection and support which shows the power of music.
USA • 1 hour 40 minutes Directed by Sienna McLean-LoGreco
Three Black men retrace the harrowing slave route, walking through sites of historical suffering and resilience. As they confront the lingering brutality of colonialism, they retrieve lost stories and power, transforming generational trauma into pride. Along the way, they connect with communities, honor their ancestors, and forge a vibrant, revitalized sense of connection and identity. Their journey evolves into a powerful act of remembrance, healing, and cultural affirmation.
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by Jacob Hatley and Tom Vickers
Glimpse into the lives of several regulars of Clovers, a strip-mall casino in Asheboro, North Carolina. The film follows a community grappling with their material conditions and the hope for a better future. With an incredibly honest portrayal of its subjects, the film presents a judgment-free, nuanced exploration of family, community, and the enduring pursuit of an ever-unreachable American Dream.
USA • 1 hour 37 minutes Directed by Kelsey Ianuzzi
When an Alabama court jeopardizes access to IVF and her own embryos, artist Abbey Crain refuses to surrender her creative power. In this triumphant tour de force, Crain and a group of fertility patients reckon with the threats to their family future, unearthing hope from an unsettled legal landscape.
USA • 1 hour 34 minutes Directed by Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel
In 1980, a gambler who'd lost a fortune at a Lake Tahoe casino decided to get revenge, forcing his two sons to help him build a bomb and hold the casino hostage for millions. What they assembled in the family garage became the most diabolical device the FBI had ever seen.
Ric Routledge covered the dog-show world for a living, mailing subscribers a VHS tape from every ring on the circuit, decades before streaming. When he died, his old friend Jesse Carfield inherited the entire archive and assembled the story of Ric's rise and fall, told in Ric's own voice.
AUS and USA • 1 hour 32 minutes Directed by Daniel Jarvis and John Kassab
The film follows Compton’s Clutch Gang mini-bike club after the death of their beloved leader in an illegal street race. Left fractured and grieving, the group’s unlikely hope rests with the club’s homeless black sheep, who must step forward if they are to stay together and compete in the GTS — the biggest mini-bike tournament of the year.
Star Wars fandom meets competitive fencing in this moving documentary. Part underdog sports story, part celebration of fandom, part touching story of friendship through competition. The best time you will have watching nerds whack each other with glowsticks.
Leaving Angola follows Justin Singleton, a man serving life without parole for murder at Louisiana's infamous state penitentiary, and Derek Moss, a young father preparing for early release who he has taken under his wing. When Derek returns home, he must put Justin’s life lessons to the test as both of the men’s lives take unexpected turns. Filmed over seven years with rare access inside America’s largest maximum-security prison, this film is a powerful exploration of family, redemption, and the realities of reentry in America's most incarcerated state.
Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
USA • 1 hour 17 minutes Directed by Rachael J Morrison
Meet the charming Josef Carl Engressia Jr, an early hacker aka a “phone phreak” from the 1960s, who although blind, could whistle with perfect pitch to make long distance phone calls for free. While definitely illegal, it enabled him to chat with and inspire people all over the world. (Audio description and captioning devices available upon request.)
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by Tommy Nickoloff
As a songwriter who gave us, in his own words, “one continuous thread” throughout his work, Jason Molina (1973-2013) meant so much to so many people. This film gives us the beginning of a haunted legend and quietly leaves us in the middle of his story, one that only his friends and collaborators can help decipher. “Every night pain comes from a different place,” indeed.
A sharp take on AI’s dark side—where eugenics fears and human worth clash in a tech-driven world. It dares us to ask: What happens to people’s value when those who build AI decide who matters? The risks of AI go far beyond what most expect.
USA • 1 hour 20 minutes Directed by Rustin Thompson
Bittersweet love letter to small town movie theaters in the American West. Beautiful visuals and enchanting music underscore the stories of the struggles of independent cinemas. If you love going to the movies, don't miss it.
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes Directed by William David Caballero
After a series of successful short films, director William David Caballero has evolved his storytelling techniques and crafted a unique debut feature that doubles as an ode to his own family. Centered around his own Puerto Rican parents’ struggles with loss and acceptance, this hybrid animated documentary is unlike anything else you will see this year. Deeply personal stories are rarely told with such imagination, and TheyDream is a shining example of creating as an act of healing.
As three elite female bodybuilders pursue their dream of a Ms. Olympia title, they confront the difficult realities of a male-dominated sport. Balancing physical demands with relationships, careers, and motherhood, they each question what sacrifices are worth it and how much space to take up in a world that tries to keep women small.
FRA • 1 hour 11 minutes Directed by Jean-Jacques Cunnac
A lost New York artist visits Selma, Alabama searching for himself and inspiration. He explains his experiences, explorations, and the history to his son while he visits the town for the Jubilee highlighting the contrasts of the city’s past and history to current daily life.
USA • 1 hour 20 minutes Directed by Michael LaHaie
"Hey everybody, it's Bob and David!" From Mr. Show to movie and TV stardom, witness two legendary comedians risk their lives, careers, and friendship to hike one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Will they survive? Will they achieve clarity? Will they argue over bedding? Yonder lies adventure!
USA • 1 hour 5 minutes Directed by Jacob Koestler and Michael McDermit
Latin Clowns Evolution chronicles an annual weeklong convention where Latino clowns gather in South Los Angeles. The documentary seamlessly juxtaposes their joyful performances with stories of immigration, sacrifice, and resilience. As they learn new tricks and share deeply personal backstories, these artists remind us that spreading joy and laughter is a radical healing force.
USA • 1 hour 7 minutes Directed by Amy Scott and Dena Fisher
Carpenter Shelley Halstead trains a group of three young, Black women in construction skills by rehabbing vacant and abandoned houses in West Baltimore, challenging generations of racism and sexism in housing. When tensions arise within the diverse group of young women she's teaching to build and a suspicious fire destroys one of her buildings, Shelley is forced to rethink her vision of community.
Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
USA • 1 hour 30 minutes Directed by Shalon Buskirk and Drew Swedberg
A parent and a poet convene to build a vulnerable vignette about grief, remembrance, and the future of their ever-changing environment. Linking the topics of gun violence and housing injustice, they highlight the impacts of displacement and the desire for communal stabilization.
USA • 1 hour 45 minutes Directed by Caron Creighton
Award-winning director Caron Creighton gives an inspiring look into Oakland, California’s largest unhoused encampment. The film follows John and LaMonté, two of the encampment’s residents, as they work to organize their neighbors against the state and local governments’ efforts to displace their community.
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by Viacheslav Rakovskyi and Jeremy Chilnick
A film that shows love and kindness in action for animals displaced by the Ukrainian War with Russia. It starts with one soldier heading to war asking his friends to take in his 37 goats. They do and their home quickly becomes a refuge for hundreds of animals in need. Their home opens up to include cows, sheep, pigs, peacocks, even a crocodile and a sweet donkey.
The Marion County Record in Marion, Kansas was raided by the police in 2023 for very dubious reasons. "Seized" examines the events of that day along with the fallout, including personal tragedy. It's a story of small town politics resulting in an international look at press freedom and journalistic ethics.
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by Bowie Alexander and Matthew Syrett
Tender, urgent, and hopeful, Admission Possible follows seven New York City high school seniors applying to college as first generation students. Guided by their determined and caring college admissions counselor, they grapple with the complex cultural, social, and political factors influencing higher education today. Debates over testing, legacies, and family loyalty muddy the waters of their decisions.
USA • 1 hour 25 minutes Directed by Jennifer Kroot
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are known for inserting bawdy humor and zany satire into unique queer activism. Explore this entertaining closeup on their San Francisco origins and following a riveting set of campy nuns during an over-the-top Easter in the Park 2023 celebration set against a beautiful sunny afternoon backdrop in Dolores Park.
How powerful is childhood imagination? Costa Karlalis’ Frogtown draws us into a world where myth is reality. Set in a small Southern town, this feature reminds us about the art of collective dreaming. In this film, you’ll see complex family dynamics along with a reverence for the mystery of the natural world. Suspend your disbelief and amplify the amphibian!
New York City has about five million pigeons and eight people who really truly love them. Some race their pigeons. Others rescue sick and hurt ones, while a few just think pigeons are beautiful, even though most people call them dirty. This movie shows why they care so much.
USA • 1 hour 39 minutes Directed by Daniel Christian
Through the lens of prolific photographer O. N. Pruitt, Possum Town introduces us to Columbus, MS during the Jim Crow era. Nearly a century later, the citizens of Columbus' lives are juxtaposed against the images of the past and the perspectives of today as we are guided through Pruitt’s photographic archive. This film invites us to engage with history, its preservation and its influence on the present.
Jessica Chriesman - Director of Education and Outreach
USA • 1 hour 28 minutes Directed by Jonathan Nastasi and Vivian Sorenson
Come along with Nick Offerman as he visits farms, gardens, and fisheries across the United States to engage with those who work daily to keep fresh food on our tables. With an affable spirit and an intelligent eye, the benefits and innovations of independent farming are contrasted with the inherent perils of mass-produced, ultra-processed foods in a palatable, easy-to-digest manner, serving as a call to action as well as an appreciation of the best versions of the salad or burger on your dinner plate.
A story about what freedom could look like--beyond the vote. 145 relational organizers mobilize millions of Black voters in Eastern North Carolina, reclaiming "woke" as a call to action to build lasting community power.
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by John Spottswood Moore
Go back in time to when Austin, Texas was weird and its public access television in the 1980s was even weirder in the best ways possible. When We Were Live is a collection of the actual footage that helped give a voice to a colorful assortment of Austinites.
Director Jeremy Xido does the near-impossible by constructing an autobiographical film with a detective story about his own upbringing while delving deep into the last gasp inside Detroit’s working class of the 1960s and ‘70s. An honest conversation 20 years later about family and race develops as he digs deep after returning home to a community gripped with conflict, silence and clouds of mystery.
CAN • 1 hour 30 minutes Directed by Kenya-Jade Pinto
One journalist. One man seeking a better life. One tragedy. Experience the hidden connections between surveillance technology and migration, greedy corporations and corrupt governments exploiting the lives of vulnerable people. These events reflect a wider pattern of exploitation and tragedy in a system focused on profit rather than on protecting asylum seekers. As borders tighten and technology becomes more invasive, human rights are eroded, and compassion fades. This film aims to expose this profit-driven system, but a question remains: What will it take for the world to see migrants' humanity?
USA • 1 hour 35 minutes Directed by Eric Alexander Foss and Brandon Pickering
Two enthusiastic dreamers with practically no cash set out on what’s sure to be a brilliant venture. James, fueled by his ever-present ambition, bets his entire house on Francis’ indie film—because who needs stability when you could be a cinematic legend? But of course, such reckless pursuits tend to blow up in your face, reminding us that sometimes, having endless ambition is just a fancy way of shooting yourself in the foot.
