Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 announces films and events for fest in August

Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10. The festival opens with Oliver Kolker and Hernan Findling’s uplifting Argentinian music-filled drama I Had the Heart (Tuve el Corazon) and closes with the East Coast premiere of Scout and Doug Purdy’s festival hit Pilgrim

I Had the Heart, Festival of Cinema NYC 2025
I HAD THE HEART (TUVE EL CORAZON)
Pilgrim, Festival of Cinema NYC 2025
PILGRIM

  


Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10.

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North American premieres include Josh Mond’s It Doesn’t Matter, and Gregory Pellerito’s Moments of Youth. Chris De Pretis’ East Bay Confidential will make its world premiere at FOC NYC. The short films lineup adds an additional 11 world premieres and 3 North American premieres, as well.

Special Presentations include the 10th Anniversary of John Stuart Wildman’s critically-acclaimed thriller The Ladies of the House (2015), and a special “Conversation on Film” with writer/director Chris Kentis following a screening of his classic shark thriller Open Water. Members of the Los Angeles based organization, Kids in the Spotlight, featuring films from youth in foster care, will be in attendance for a special 2-day presentation and red carpet screening. The 2025 Festival of Cinema NYC will also feature a special presentation by renowned indie filmmaker Tzvi and his organization Film Underground, where 10 randomly selected unscreened films will be shown to an unsuspecting audience.

Festival of Cinema NYC will once again celebrate the film festival’s attending filmmakers with a pre-launch party inside Resorts World NYC’s famous 360º Bar and Lounge (110-0 Rockaway Blvd) on Thursday, July 31. Along with its presentation of more than 100 screenings, and FOC NYC’s multiple popular Red Carpet entrances at the Regal UA lobby flush with seemingly countless filmmakers, actors, documentary subjects, and below-the-line talent, the film festival will once again feature filmmaker-instructional presentations and script readings that will be free and open to the public at the Queens Library at Forest Hills. The jam-packed week and a half of screenings and events will conclude with FOC NYC’s famous Awards Ceremony on Sunday, August 10th at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center in Jamaica Queens. 

Festival of Cinema NYC Founder and Executive Director Jayson Simba, said, “This year’s edition of the film festival combines great world cinema, hit festival films making their way to NYC for the first time; panels for aspiring filmmakers and those looking to raise their game; youth in film presentations to put the next generation in the spotlight; and a look at a couple of critically-acclaimed thrillers that epitomize what can be achieved with true indie filmmaking. It all goes to the heart of what FOC NYC is all about: highlighting why we love to come to the movie theater and celebrating the artistic accomplishments of our filmmakers who foster that connection between us.” 

Oliver Kolker and Hernan Findling’s comedy-drama I Had the Heart (Tuve el Corazon) opens the film festival on Friday, August 1. The uplifting music-themed Argentinian film centers on a once-famous rock producer who is unexpectedly approached by his former record label and asked to find a tango singer for an upcoming city festival. The screening will be preceded by Kay Qiao’s short film, Elm.


Saturday, August 9 will feature the Closing Night presentation of Scout and Doug Purdy’s Pilgrim. The father and teenage daughter filmmaking team co-wrote, co-directed, co-produced, and co-star in the film which just played to two full houses at Dances With Films: LA. After a series of revelations, 15-year-old Joe devises a plan to cure her teen angst: a month-long pilgrimage filled with communication issues, terrible survival skills, and zero Wi-Fi—AKA a summer hiking trip with her father. Pilgrim is a funny, heartwarming story of connection and discovery. The screening will be preceded by Forest Hill local Lisa Milonaro’s short film, Incoming Call.

Open Water, Festival of Cinema NYC 2025
OPEN WATER
The Ladies of the House, Festival of Cinema NYC 2025
THE LADIES OF THE HOUSE

Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10.

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FOC NYC’s Special Presentations are led by a screening of Chris Kentis’ Open Water, followed by a “Conversation on Film” with Kentis. The 2004 Sundance hit is the quintessential indie survival horror thriller film and success story. The story concerns an American couple who go scuba diving while on vacation, only to find themselves stranded miles from shore in shark-filled waters when the crew of their boat accidentally leaves them behind. Another true indie, John Stuart Wildman’s The Ladies of the House was a critically-acclaimed horror thriller shot in a Dallas studio on a set that slavishly recreated the filmmaker’s house’s floorplan. The film follows the fate of three young men out on a birthday night at a burlesque club who follow one of the dancers home and get invited in for “dinner”, by the dancers who also happen to be cannibals with a fierce sense of home and family – and a taste for men. The film was described by Dread Central as “a confetti explosion of candy apple color, spinning vinyl records, rockabilly busty babes, blood spatter, and a whole lotta retro love.” Wildman and various cast members will be in attendance.

EAST BAY CONFIDENTIAL
IT DOESN’T MATTER

Gregory Pellerito’s Moments of Youth will make its North American premiere at FOC NYC. The heartfelt film follows a senior class participating in a scavenger hunt which features a massive grand prize. With their dreams on the horizon, they share one epic night of laughs and secrets before their futures begin. Making its world premiere will be Chris De Pretis’ East Bay Confidential which focuses on adisillusioned Iraq War veteran framed for a murder by a beautiful social media influencer. He must track down the only person who can testify on his behalf: a former sex worker on the run from a murderous gangster. Also making its North American premiere is Josh Mond’s documentary/narrative hybrid It Doesn’t Matter. The film follows the cross-country wanderings of a homeless man from Staten Island, and his fortuitous relationship with a young filmmaker who listens to his tales of narcotics, odd jobs, and odder acquaintances.

This year Festival of Cinema NYC has increased its short films programming this edition, showcasing short films in thematic blocks that include: Love & Family, Comedy, Sci-Fi, NY Local Filmmakers, International Shorts, and FOC NYC’s popular Midnight Madness Horror Shorts. 

Free programming at the Queens Library includes Anthony M. Laura, Artistic Director of Face to Face Films, leading the Writing the Personal Story presentation, as he speaks about how to write a story that resonates with the author personally, differentiating between biography and powerful personal storytelling in fiction. Cinematographer’s Creative Process will feature ASC panelists sharing their insight into the cinematographer’s creative process by deconstructing an excerpt from one of their feature films or TV series. 

The ASC panel includes Fred Murphy, ASC (Evil, Good Wife, Good Fight, Anamorph, Secret Window, October Sky, Hoosiers, Trip to Bountiful, The Dead), Frank DeMarco, ASC (All is Lost, Rabbit Hole, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, The Adjustment Bureau, The Dutchman, Enemy Within, 1992), and Fred Elmes, ASC (The Night Of, The Dead Don’t Die, Paterson, Blue Velvet, Olive Kitteridge, A Late Quartet, Synecdoche, NY). The panel will be moderated by Dejan Georgevich, ASC (The Virtuoso, The Blacklist, Elementary, The Enemy Within, Gossip Girl, 3lbs. Mercy). 

Additional special presentations and panels at the Forest Hills Library include readings from FOC NYC’s Top 10 Script Writer Competition featuring the work from the top 10 finalists who are up for the Best Unproduced Script Award. AI & Film: Lowering Barriers, Amplifying Creativity will attempt to cut through the hype and show how generative AI and modern film-tech let indie creators punch above their weight. From zero-budget previews to instant scheduling and marketing insights, the panel presentation, hosted by Melody D. Myers and Ian Grant, will explore the practical ways AI is reshaping every stage of the pipeline. Festival of Cinema and esteemed Casting Director Amy Gossels heads Mastering The On-Camera Audition which will teach innovative on-camera audition technique and skills to that will elevate your auditions and gain coveted industry insight to boost your career in this transformative masterclass. 

Tickets and Festival Passes for the 2025 Festival of Cinema NYC can be purchased by visiting https://festivalofcinemanyc.eventive.org/welcome. General admission tickets begin at $18 per screening block ($35 for opening and closing night films which include entry to the afterparty), with discounts offered to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Tickets can also be purchased to the Closing Awards Dinner for $80. 

Festival of Cinema NYC is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts  with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. 

In lieu of the NEA withdrawing their funding support of the 2025 Festival of Cinema NYC, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation jointly committed $10,000 in grant funding in support to lessen the burden of financial uncertainties. The Warhol Foundation recognizes the essential contributions that small arts organizations make to our cultural lifeblood by giving artists in every corner of the country a platform from which to be seen and heard,” said Joel Wachs, President of the Andy Warhol Foundation.  

Sponsors to this year’s event include Forest Hills local law firm the Aminov Law Group P.C., Resorts World NYC, Forest Hills local eatery 5 Burro Café, the Mathis-Pfohl Foundation, Ponce Bank, Ridgewood Savings Bank, Yant Tattoo and Art Studio, Friends of Maple Grove, Regal Cinemas, the Queens Library, and Target Corp. Prize Sponsors include B&H, Moviemaker Magazine, Mongo Media Solutions, Silver Sound, Videomaker, InkTip, and Soundview Media Partners.


Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10.


2025 FESTIVAL OF CINEMA NYC OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

OPENING NIGHT PRESENTATION

I Had The Heart (Tuve el Corazon)            

Directors: Oliver Kolker, Hernan Findling

Country: Argentina; Running Time: 107 minutes

Moti Cohen a one time hit rock producer discovered Bartolo, a stutterer mechanic who sings Tango like nobody. Moti will make him a star.

Preceded by

Elm                                                                

Director: Kay Qiao

Country: USA; Running Time: 16 minutes

An abandoned doll and a scarecrow scared of crows form an unlikely bond when they work together to overcome their fears and heal their mutual pain.

CLOSING NIGHT PRESENTATION

Pilgrim

Country:  USA; Running Time: 111 Min.

Directors: Scout Purdy & Doug Purdy

After a series of revelations, 15-year-old Joe devises a plan to cure her teen angst: a month-long pilgrimage filled with communication issues, terrible survival skills, and zero Wi-Fi—AKA a summer hiking trip with her father. Pilgrim is a funny, heartwarming story of connection and discovery.

Preceded by

Incoming Call                                                                       

Director: Lisa Molinaro

Country: United States; Running Time: 15 minutes

Ellie, a project manager, is stuck in a generic hotel on what feels like an endless work trip. As the construction project she’s overseeing faces delays, Ellie struggles to meet the demands of her job and her family from home. Incoming Call showcases how the challenges faced by the middle class might be pushing some people to their breaking point.

Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

The Ladies of the House (2015)

Director: John Stuart Wildman

Country: USA, Running Time: 93 minutes

The Ladies of the House follows the fate of two brothers, Jacob and Kai, who, along with their friend Derek, go to a dance club to celebrate Kai’s birthday. After Derek convinces the other two to follow one of the dancers home, things take a tragic turn. However, that is simply the beginning of the nightmare for the young men, because her roommates (Getty, Lin and Crystal) aren’t just fellow dancers, they are also cannibals with a fierce sense of home and family – and a taste for men.

Open Water (2003)

Director: Chris Kentis

Country: USA, Running Time: 79 minutes

Based on the true story of two scuba divers accidentally stranded in shark infested waters after their tour boat has left.

FILM UNDERGROUND

The “Film Underground” is a NYC-based screening series and collective run by filmmaker Tzvi, focusing on showcasing lesser-known films from around the world. For the first time ever Festival of Cinema NYC will be partnering with Film Underground and founder Tzvi to present 10 short films all under 10 minutes that have been randomly picked to screen raffle style.

KIDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Tamesha Scott’s Kids in the Spotlight is an organization based in L.A. that helps foster care-impacted and underrepresented youth heal and grow from trauma through the power of storytelling, filmmaking, and workforce development. KITS is erasing the limits of the foster system with every film released. And with Hollywood-level production and opportunities, KITS filmmakers are bringing their talent to the creative community.


ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE FILMS

BitterSweet                                                               

Director: Steven Martini

Country: USA; Running Time: 85 minutes

This romantic comedy tells the story of a new father on the verge of losing his family to an overprotective government system that sees him as the root of the problem.

East Bay Confidential                                  World Premiere

Director: Chris De Pretis

Country: United States; Running Time: 92 minutes

A disillusioned Iraq War veteran is framed for a murder by a beautiful social media influencer. He must track down the only person who can testify on his behalf: a former sex worker on the run from a murderous gangster.

I Never Said Goodbye                                                                     

Director: Yev K’banchik

Country: United States; Running Time: 70 minutes

An Eastern European immigrant’s journey through grief and self-discovery intertwines with the lives of others in Baltimore, exploring themes of loss, connection, and the shared humanity that bridges cultural and socio-economic divides.

Moments of Youth                                        North American Premiere

Director: Gregory Pellerito

Country: United States of America; Running Time: 125 minutes

On the night before graduation, the Senior Class at Winthrop Creek High partakes in a fun-filled scavenger hunt which features a massive grand prize. With their dreams on the horizon, they share one epic night of laughs and secrets before their futures begin. Unbeknownst to them, the night serves as a way to overcome a tragedy that’s been hindering their growth.

Perdido                                                                     

Director: Muhammad Bilal

Country: USA; Running Time: 49 minutes

After a tragic run-in with police, Amir Rashad tries to avoid watching the news and anything that reminds him of the encounter. But as he becomes inundated with countless news reports about police brutality, repressed memories from his past begin to resurface. Unable to escape disturbing memories that now haunt him, Amir reluctantly chooses to seek help from a therapist to face his greatest fear.

Roughhead                                                               

Director: Aurelio Galfetti

Country: Switzerland; Running Time: 68 minutes

Ela and Anao are united by their hard work on the farm. In the solitude of the foothills of the Alps, their partnership of convenience develops into love. A love that doesn’t stand a chance. When Ela discovers Anao’s secret, it is too late and the sinister surrounding become increasingly threatening. A threat that Ela confronts until …

Rowdy Friends                                                                     

Director: Jacob Hatley

Country: USA; Running Time: 91 minutes

Residents of a North Carolina halfway house take matters into their own hands when a roommate suspiciously disappears. Led by a cast of first-time actors, recovering addicts and ex-cons, this blend of fact, fiction and genre offers an unhinged look at life on the American margins.

The Premiere                                                            

Director: Jon Silver

Country: USA; Running Time: 81 minutes

A young filmmaker manages countless challenges at his first movie premiere – including high expectations, celebrity appearances, and paranoid delusions projected onto the screen.

Water Lilies                                                              

Director: Chanho Lee

Country: Republic of Korea; Running Time: 119 minutes

The water lilies bloom, even in the filthiest waters. Amid the mire of selfish desires and the indifference to others’ suffering, Hope begins to bloom anew in the fleeting moment when we recognize the humanity within one another.

Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILMS

40 Days                                                                     

Director: Peter Takla

Country: United States; Running Time: 98 minutes

Naguib and his wife Mariam decide to take over a dangerous Journey to the United States starting from central America all the way to the US – Mexico Border facing many tough life threatening obstacles.

Game On: Hoops and Dreams in Rural China                                                                 

Director: David Hamlin

Country: USA; Running Time: 80 minutes

This is the untold and surprising story of how American basketball came to rural China and is now deeply rooted in this rural culture.  And every year, there is a remarkable basketball tournament attended by 20,000 local people. It’s the Super Bowl of Rural China – and a cultural and athletic spectacle unlike anything you’ve seen before. We follow three teams of men and women as they pursue their dreams to become basketball champions and bring glory to their villages.

It Doesn’t Matter                                           North American Premiere

Director: Josh Mond

Country: USA; Running Time: 86 minutes

It Doesn’t Matter follows the cross-country wanderings of Alvaro, a homeless man from Staten Island, and his fortuitous relationship with a young filmmaker. Alvaro comes to confront the issues that have left him homeless and how he begins to heal.

Free Fernando!                                                                    

Director: Marc Wishengrad

Country: USA; Running Time: 98 minutes

Filmed over 25 years, Free Fernando! chronicles the incarceration and eventual release of an innocent man who spent 18 years in maximum security prisons after being convicted of murder in 1990‚ New York City. Initially begun as an attempt to free Fernando from prison, Director Marc Wishengrad continued to follow Fernando and his family post-exoneration. Free Fernando! offers an intimate look at the far-reaching reverberations of wrongful incarceration.

Moses                                                            

Director: Fran Guijarro

Countries: USA/Spain; Running Time: 127 minutes

In San Francisco, a man enduring homelessness for two decades connects with passersby to be seen among the invisible‚ a skill he learned from a promising music career cut short in the 70s, and one that will ultimately transform his life.

Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10.

SHORT FILMS

47                                                                   

Director: J. Warren Fletcher

Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes

Almost Home                                                            

Director: Menhaj Huda

Country: USA; Running Time: 20 minutes

An Old Friend                                                                       

Director: Nuk Suwanchote

Country: USA; Running Time: 14 minutes

ana 0091                                                                    

Director: Robert Brody

Country: USA; Running Time: 7 minutes

The Anatomy of Jane Doesn’t Exist                                                                      

Director: Kai Brown

Country: USA; Running Time: 3 minutes

Awake                                                            

Director: Elliot Kealoha Blanchard

Country: USA; Running Time: 4 minutes

The Babysitter Murders: Timing’s Off                                                                   

Director: Orin Black

Country: USA; Running Time: 8 minutes

Backseat Girls                                                                      

Directors: Alize Abdelhak, Kelsey Zhen

Country: USA; Running Time: 16 minutes

Bare (Sverlasi In Italien)                                                                 

Director: Marc-Antoine Kelertas

Countries: Canada/Italy; Running Time: 9 minutes

Betty                                                              

Director: Leticia Buchanan

Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes

Between the Two                                          World Premiere

Director: Omar Yñigo

Country: Mexico; Running Time: 12 minutes

Bloodercream                                                                      

Director: Elise Valderrama

Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes

Boundary Line                                                                     

Director: Tomoki Ota

Country: Japan; Running Time: 34 minutes

Break A Leg                                                              

Director: Thomas J. Cooksey

Country: USA; Running Time: 19 minutes

Cast & Brew                                                  World Premiere

Director: Priscilla Zanni

Country: Spain; Running Time: 10 minutes

Cheat                                                              World Premiere

Director: Jackie Mahoney

Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes

Come Out, Wherever You Are                                                                    

Director: Caitlin Presberg

Country: USA; Running Time: 30 minutes

Crōman                                                                     

Director: Henry Butler

Country: USA; Running Time: 8 minutes

Cromaescope                                                                       

Director: Alvaro Beltran

Country: USA; Running Time: 35 minutes

Dance The Pain Away                                  North American Premiere

Director: Fabio Rincones

Countries: Venezuela/Switzerland; Running Time: 5 minutes

Darcine’s Day                                                                       

Director: Aaron Goffman

Country: USA; Running Time: 17 minutes

Dark Aces                                                                 

Director: Alex Gavin

Country: USA; Running Time: 10 minutes

Deli                                                                 World Premiere

Director: Max Garcia

Country: USA; Running Time: 14 minutes

Dharm                                                            

Directors: Harsh Gupta, Dalit Merenfeld

Country: USA; Running Time: 23 minutes

Dieter                                                             

Director: Rolf Broennimann

Country: Switzerland; Running Time: 11 minutes

Filther                                                            

Director: Simen Nyland

Country: Norway; Running Time: 20 minutes

Finding Daddy                                                                      

Director: Emily Wilson

Country: USA; Running Time: 12 minutes

Flocky                                                            

Director: Esther Casas Roura

Countries: USA/Spain; Running Time: 11 minutes

The Forgotten Song                                     World Premiere

Director: Maria Braun

Country: USA; Running Time: 7 minutes

From Earth To Earth: The Lost Art of Dying in America                                                

Director: Spirit + Soil Productions

Country: USA; Running Time: 19 minutes

Galaxies                                                                    

Director: Robert Brody

Country: USA; Running Time: 24 minutes

Grave Expectations                                                             

Director: Larry Ziegelman

Country: USA; Running Time: 13 minutes

Half a Century                                                                      

Director: Jackie Mahoney

Country: USA; Running Time: 16 minutes

Have You Ever Seen A Man Die ?                                                              

Directors: Karriem Carter, Jake Tallon

Country: USA; Running Time: 3 minutes

Knawbone Creek                                                                 

Director: Scott Vandiver

Country: USA; Running Time: 24 minutes

Lab Rats                                                                    

Director: Stimson Snead

Country: USA; Running Time: 19 minutes

The Language Of Light: Ashley Gilbertson                                                                      

Director: Fiona Cochrane

Country: Australia; Running Time: 25 minutes

Life Support                                                             

Director: Jamon Tolbert

Country: USA; Running Time: 11 minutes

Loose Change                                                                      

Director: Richie Ellis

Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes

Lux                                                                 World Premiere

Directors: Jazzie Young, Tatum Bront

Country: USA; Running Time: 3 minutes

Mama                                                             

Director: Albert Rudnitsky

Country: USA; Running Time: 22 minutes

Maneater                                                                   

Directors: Jasmine Hurt, Aphrodite Armstrong

Country: USA; Running Time: 13 minutes

Marks of Majesty                                                                  

Directors: Julia Comita, Stephanie Francis

Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes

Matthew Ericson                                                                  

Directors: Matthew Ericson, Samson Jeter

Country: USA; Running Time: 10 minutes

Me, Myself, You                                             World Premiere

Director: Soorin Kim

Country: South Korea; Running Time: 19 minutes

Mind of Thoughts                                                                

Director: Charlotte Verminck

Country: Belgium; Running Time: 23 minutes

Miss Tobacco’s Manuscript                         World Premiere

Director: Yu Yang

Country: Italy; Running Time: 15 minutes

The Missing Peace                                                              

Director: Michael Raymond-James

Country: USA; Running Time: 24 minutes

More Dead Than Living                                                                   

Director: JT Doran

Country: USA; Running Time: 18 minutes

Morning Glory                                                                      

Director: Zachary Kibodeaux

Country: USA; Running Time: 5 minutes

Morning Jim                                                             

Director: Jay Graham

Country: Scotland; Running Time: 19 minutes

Niko Newark                                                             

Director: Tracey Washington-Bagley

Country: USA; Running Time: 19 minutes

Old Haunts                                                               

Directors: Ashley Bez, Shane Duckworth

Country: USA; Running Time: 21 minutes

The One Who Got Called In                                                            

Director: Louie Cortes

Country: USA; Running Time: 13 minutes

Parallax                                                                     

Director: Daryl Denner

Country: USA; Running Time: 6 minutes

Paul Tells All: The Regrets Of A Sad Slasher                                                      

Director: Nicky Lazos

Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes

The Pickup                                                               

Director: Karen Wang

Country: USA; Running Time: 19 minutes

Premiere                                                                   

Director: Omer Ben-David

Country: USA; Running Time: 17 minutes

Pretty Soon But Not Yet                                                                 

Directors: Michael Buscemi, Marika Hacking

Country: USA; Running Time: 19 minutes

The Professional Parent                                                                 

Director: Erik Jasaà

Countries: Slovakia/Romania; Running Time: 15 minutes

Punch Out                                                                

Director: Austin Herring

Country: USA; Running Time: 4 minutes

Quinn                                                            

Directors: Mike “Loco” Hoffman, Jahvon “Jex” John

Country: USA; Running Time: 4 minutes

The Red Diamond Cut                                                                     

Director: Nickolas Toth

Country: UK; Running Time: 14 minutes

The Red Market                                                                    

Director: Christopher Matthew Spencer

Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes

Runaway: A Dremariand Tale                     North American Premiere

Directors: Brian Dolan, Justin Marceus,

Alexander Bonet, Victoria Schaubeck

Country: USA; Running Time: 20 minutes

Saverio                                                                      

Director: Ellen Ancui

Country: USA; Running Time: 14 minutes

SilverSizzle                                                               

Director: Brian Russell

Country: USA; Running Time: 13 minutes

Sky                                                                

Director: Andrew Lucido

Country: USA; Running Time: 14 minutes

Staircase Stomp by The Clamor                                                                

Director: Aaron Louis

Country: USA; Running Time: 3 minutes

Sumarsólstöður                                                                   

Director: Amélie Ravalec

Countries: UK/France; Running Time: 30 minutes

The Soviet “Roswell” Incident                    World Premiere

Director: Alex Teplish

Country: USA; Running Time: 14 minutes

Static Cling                                                               

Director: Steven Lifshey

Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes

Strays                                                            

Director: Or Schraiber

Country: USA; Running Time: 13 minutes

The Super

Director: Daniel Merino Villavicencio

Country: USA; Running Time: 4 minutes

Symptoms                                                                

Director: Eliza Gibson

Country: USA; Running Time: 14 minutes

The Tent                                                                    

Director: Jared Bohlken

Country: USA; Running Time: 11 minutes

Thanks For Nothing                                                            

Director: Nick Shadix

Country: USA; Running Time: 22 minutes

To Engage                                                                

Director: Le Chau

Country: USA; Running Time: 8 minutes

Unraveling                                                                

Director: Rich Devaney

Country: USA; Running Time: 12 minutes

Velo Love                                                                  

Directors: Sam Mendez, Carlos Cruz

Country: United States; Running Time: 11 minutes

Verflechtung                                                             

Directors: Philip Hofmnner, Simon Pflanzer

Country: Switzerland; Running Time: 19 minutes

Vulnerare                                                       World Premiere

Director: Sergio Mario Illuminato

Country: Italy; Running Time: 14 minutes

Waiting on You

Director: Jazzie Young

Country: USA; Running Time: 3 minutes

When Everything Was Blue                                                            

Director: Christina Chironna

Country: USA; Running Time: 13 minutes

Wild Animals                                                            

Director: David B. Jacobs

Country: USA; Running Time: 9 minutes

The World of James Gagmy                                                                       

Director: Lon Takiguchi

Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes

Would You Rather                                        North American Premiere

Director: Fabrizio Quagliuso

Country: UK; Running Time: 9 minutes

Written in Skin                                                                     

Director: Damian Wampler

Country: USA; Running Time: 12 minutes

The Xenogender                                           World Premiere

Director: Masataka Ishizaki

Country: USA; Running Time: 15 minutes

Yes                                                                

Director: Randi Barros

Country: USA; Running Time: 21 minutes

UNPRODUCED SCRIPT COMPETITION Top 10 Finalists

“21st Century Heretic”

Writer: Alex Isbell

“The Age of the Empath”

Writer: Steve Brown

“Cast Aside Home”

Writer: Joe Paragona

“Diwata”

Writer: Shea Formanes

“Father’s Day”

Writer: Bear Kosik

“Luke & Emma”

Writer: Levi Wilson

“The Place Between our Lives”

Writer: Clay Callender

“Queen”

Writer: Peter Gibbons

“Rabbi Rifkind”

Writer: Alex Barnett

“Winnie & Clyde”

Writer: Matthew Rafferty

Festival of Cinema NYC 2025 returns to the Regal UA Midway in Forest Hills for the 9th edition of the popular Queens-based film festival, running from August 1-10.