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VINDICTA, A COMPELLING WW 2 FEATURE FROM WRITER-DIRECTOR DOMINIK SEDLAR, WILL MAKE ITS WEST COAST PREMIERE AT THE BEVERLY HILLS FILM FESTIVAL

Dev Shapiro
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VINDICTA, A COMPELLING WW 2 FEATURE FROM WRITER-DIRECTOR DOMINIK SEDLAR, WILL MAKE ITS WEST COAST PREMIERE AT THE BEVERLY HILLS FILM FESTIVAL

VINDICTA, a feature film written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Dominik Sedlar, will have its LA Premiere at the 26th annual Beverly Hills Film Festival on April 15th at 7PM at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters in Hollywood.

In VINDICTA, Hannah, a young woman with a haunted past, methodically pursues the killing of Nazi officers to extract her revenge for her family’s murder with great success until she meets Klaus, a handsome young officer from a special unit. He becomes enamored of her and the stage is set for a deadly denouement.

“Love and revenge, two of the most interesting aspects of the human experience are the basic inspiration behind Vindicta,” says Sedlar.

VINDICTA stars Devon Ross (Irma Vep, Depravity, My First Film) as Hannah, Jack Bandeira (The Gold, Think of England, Andor, My Policeman) as Klaus, and an outstanding supporting cast including Pip Torrens (The Crown, The Danish Girl, The Iron lady, Digger, ), Anna Madeley (All Creatures Great and Small, Fatherland, In Bruges),  Sam Hazeldine (The Weight, Peaky Blinders, The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power), Juliet Aubrey (The Constant Gardener, Middlemarch, The White Queen), and Suzanne Bertish (The Nun 2, Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Dead Ringers).

VINDICTA is written and directed by Sedlar; Director of Photography is David McFarland (Bedford Park) and the Original Score is the work of award-winning composer Dalibor Grubacevic. Producers include Zeljko Zima, Una Zima, Dominik Sedlar, Jakov Sedlar, Alan Green, Ilenka Jelowicki, and Wendy Benge.

The film will screen on Wednesday, April 15th, 7PM at the TCL Chinese 6 Theaters, 6801 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028.

OK2BX Film Festival Celebrates Five Years of Storytelling and Inclusion

Dev Shapiro
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OK2BX Film Festival Celebrates Five Years of Storytelling and Inclusion

The OK2BX Film Festival proudly announces its 5th anniversary, marking half a decade of empowering young filmmakers, elevating diverse voices, and championing the message that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. This year’s festival will take place on April 11, 2026, at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, Texas.

Founded on the belief that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for connection, the OK2BX Film Festival provides a platform for youth creators to explore themes of identity, acceptance, resilience, and community. The festival’s mission is to create a space where young people can express who they are—and know that it’s OK to be exactly that.

Over the past five years, OK2BX has grown from a small local showcase into a vibrant annual celebration that brings together students, educators, families, and community partners. This milestone year continues to highlight films that spark conversation, inspire understanding, and reflect the diverse experiences of today’s youth.

Added to the festival last year, the OK2BX Filmmakers Futures Lab features an afternoon of panels and workshops led by film industry leaders. These sessions will cover a range of topics, including getting films into festivals, gaining admission to college film programs, and technical workshops on lighting and sound. This year’s speakers include independent, award-winning filmmaker Bart Weiss and Rebekah Louisa Smith, an award-winning film festival strategist and founder of The Film Festival Doctor. The showcase events and workshops are free and will take place on Southern Methodist University’s campus. Additionally, the festival will provide a free lunch for students who register in advance. The showcase aims to highlight film programs from regional colleges and universities, allowing students to explore future opportunities and collaborate with like-minded creators. By incorporating collegiate voices, the festival broadens its mission while maintaining a core focus on youth empowerment and inclusive storytelling.

OK2BX Film Festival & College Showcase Date:                  April 11, 2026

Location:     Film Festival and Awards Ceremony: Angelika Film Center

Filmmakers Futures Lab: SMU Campus – details to follow

Admission:  Film Festival and Awards Ceremony: $15.00

College Showcase: Free.

Website:      https://ok2bx.org/ok2bx-film-presents

Lou Diamond Phillips to Accept Star Award during 20th Anniversary Dallas International Film Festival Ceremonies

Dev Shapiro
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Lou Diamond Phillips to Accept Star Award during 20th Anniversary Dallas International Film Festival Ceremonies

Actor/director Lou Diamond Phillips, who first gained attention with his roles in LA BAMBA, STAND AND DELIVER, and YOUNG GUNS, will accept the DIFF Dallas Star Award as part of the 2026 Dallas International Film Festival (DIFF).

Phillips will be honored at a luncheon hosted by Virgin Hotels Dallas on Friday, April 24. He will discuss his latest film, KEEP QUIET – which will have its North American Premiere at DIFF before its theatrical release by Lionsgate in April – onstage with NBC 5 Today anchor Deborah Ferguson.

Artistic Director James Faust says that the Festival and Phillips have a long and close relationship, which makes this award special as part of the 20th edition celebration.  Michael Cain – who was the co-founder, along with the late Liener Temerlin, of Dallas Film Society, Inc. in 2006 and the original Festival in 2007 – will present the award to Phillips.

Community leaders Tanya Foster and Lynn McBee, both of whom held previous leadership roles with the Festival’s parent organization, Dallas Film Society, Inc., are co-chairs for the 20th Anniversary Dallas International Film Festival. Foster, who served as the Executive Director, and McBee, who served as the Board Chair, will preside over the 20th anniversary events, including the DIFF Dallas Star Award Luncheon.

“We are delighted that Lou Diamond Phillips will be joining us to accept the DIFF Dallas Star Award and to share his latest film,” said DIFF Dallas CEO Beth Wilbins. “Adding his name to the list of previous recipients of the Star Award has special meaning to everyone who has known him over the years through DIFF.”

Former recipients of the Star Award include: Lauren Bacall, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, Brad Bird, L.M. Kit Carson (posthumous), Blythe Danner, Frank Darabont, Marvin Hamlisch, John Lee Hancock, Helen Hunt, Glen Keane, Ed Lachman, John Landis, Laura Linney, David Lynch, Bill Paxton (posthumous), Gregory Peck (posthumous), Wally Pfister, Eric Pleskow, Sidney Pollack, Bernie Pollack, Sarah Polley, Mickey Rooney, Gabourey Sidibe, Charlize Theron, Jack Valenti, and Todd Wagner.

Sponsorship information for the DIFF Dallas Star Award Luncheon Honoring Lou Diamond Phillips, scheduled on Friday, April 24, 2026, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. is available at https://diffdallas.org/diff-dallas-star-award-luncheon

The eight-day Dallas International Film Festival, the only Oscar® Qualifying Festival in North Texas, is set for Thursday, April 23 – Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Currently, Phillips appears on the popular HBO series THE CHAIR COMPANY. He will next be seen in STRANGER THINGS: TALES FROM ’85 on Netflix. Recent television credits include PRODIGAL SON, LONGMIRE, QUANTUM LEAP, GOLIATH, YOU’RE THE WORST, BLUE BLOODS, and BROOKLYN NINE-NINE. He received Emmy nominations for his roles in CONVERSATIONS IN LA and CROSSROADS OF HISTORY.

Phillips also stars in DC’s JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS, GET FAST, WEREWOLVES, EASTER SUNDAY, THE 33, CREATED EQUAL, and the Sundance film FILLY BROWN.

The Dallas International Film Festival is a global adventure featuring more than 120 film screenings, panels, Q&As with filmmakers and actors, nightly Red Carpets, live screenplay table reads, awards, and other events and activations where filmmakers, screenwriters, film industry leaders, celebrities, sponsors, and audiences come together to experience and discuss film. Films are curated from submissions received by filmmakers from 100+ countries worldwide, across Texas, and the United States, and include narrative features, documentaries, and short films of all genres from studios and independent filmmakers. Festival information is available at https://diffdallas.org/diff.

The Dallas International Film Festival is one of only 59 film festivals in the United States and only 181 film festivals worldwide to earn the designation of Oscar® Qualifying Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar® Qualifying short film awards at the Dallas International Film Festival are: Grand Jury Prize – Best Animated Short Film; Grand Jury Prize – Best Documentary Short Film; and Grand Jury Prize – Best Narrative Short Film.

Films that win qualified awards may be qualified to enter the 99th Academy Awards®, provided that the films meet all the requirements set forth in the official rules for that season. See https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility for details.

USA Film Festival 2026 Announces First Big Splash with Renny Harlin and Gene Simmons’ DEEP WATER

Dev Shapiro
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USA Film Festival 2026 Announces First Big Splash with Renny Harlin and Gene Simmons’ DEEP WATER

Prior to Magenta Light Studio’s new disaster thriller Deep Water splashing into theaters nationwide on May 1st, the film will preview in Dallas at the 56th Annual USA Film Festival on Friday, April 24th. Director Renny Harlin, and producer Gene Simmons will be on hand to present the film. USA Film Festival will be announcing its full lineup of films and events next week.

The long-running, year-round USA Film Festival has an established history of celebrating films ranging from art-house fare to mainstream crowd-pleasers.

“We are honored to welcome two of our favorite artists, Renny Harlin and Gene Simmons to our stage to present their new film” said USAFF Managing Director Ann Alexander, “which should especially delight our audiences who have aerophobia, thalassophobia and galeophobia.”

Alexander added, “As Hollywood continues to contract, with audiences spending less time in theaters, Renny Harlin and Gene Simmons have given us a heart-pounding action film with Deep Water that not only plays on our universal fears, but also speaks to our common, human desire to root for the imperiled and stranded.  A movie experience that is, of course, best enjoyed on the big screen in a theater full of fellow humans!”

Deep Water is directed by Renny Harlin and written by Pete Bridges and John Kim.  The film stars Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, Molly Belle Wright, Angus Sampson, Kelly Gale and Li Wenhan and is produced by Gene Simmons, Ying Ye, Neal Kingston, Grant Bradley, Dale Bradley, Adrián Guerra, Xavier Parache and Bob Yari.

Renny Harlin

Renny Harlin has established himself globally as a filmmaker with the ability to identify and develop a wide range of material.  His credits span multiple genres and include action-oriented blockbusters, horror films, comedies and critically acclaimed dramas including: The Strangers trilogy, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 – The Dream Master, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Skiptrace, The Bricklayer, and episodes of “Burn Notice,” “White Collar,” “Covert Affairs,” and “Graceland.”  In addition to his directing credits, Harlin has produced the films Rambling Rose, Speechless, and Blast from the Past and is the founder of Midnight Sun Pictures.  In 2026, the prolific Harlin is expected to release three feature films: Deep Water, the action thriller The Beast starring Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman, and the action-adventure Black Tides starring John Travolta and Melissa Barrera.

Gene Simmons

Gene Simmons is a world-renowned rock icon and co-founder of KISS, the RIAA’s #1 gold record award-winning group.  A formidable serial entrepreneur, he transformed KISS into a global merchandising powerhouse with over 5,000 licensed products.  His career is defined by historic honors, including the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2026.  A leading advocate for artist rights, Simmons is an integral partner with SoundExchange, recently championing the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) in Washington, D.C., to ensure fair compensation for all performers. His diverse business empire includes the Rock & Brews restaurant chain and the MoneyBag spirits line. A dedicated philanthropist and recipient of the 2025 World Smile Award, Simmons continues to bridge the worlds of entertainment and global industry, personifying the modern self-made mogul.

The 56th Annual USA Film Festival runs April 22-26, 2026 at the Angelika Film Center Dallas.  Schedule and other information may be found at usafilmfestival.com.

Austin’s Indie Meme South Asian Film Festival Announces 2026 Film Lineup

Dev Shapiro
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Austin’s Indie Meme South Asian Film Festival Announces 2026 Film Lineup

The 11th Annual Indie Meme Film Festival announced its film lineup and events for the acclaimed Austin-based film festival celebrating bold and innovative South Asian cinema from around the world. Gala selections begin with a Kick-Off screening of Jitank Singh Gurjar s Vimukt (In Search of the Sky). Opening Night presentation will feature Tribeny Rai s Shape of Momo, with screenwriter Kislay in attendance. The Centerpiece screening of Ali Asgari s Divine Comedy will feature an appearance by screenwriter Alireza Khatami. Concluding the festivities, the Closing Night presentation will showcase the documentary Give It a Shot, with director Vaishali Sinha joining the audience to discuss the film s impact. This year’s edition will feature a diverse slate of narrative features, documentaries, and short films highlighting voices from South Asian, and Iran. Themes explored through the highly curated selections include explorations of identity, migration, family, politics, and social change. This year’s lineup includes 27 films, (6 narrative features, 4 documentaries, and 17 short films), representing 14 countries, with all screenings taking place at AFS Cinema (6259 Middle Fiskville Road). Ananyaa Ravi, Indie Meme Board President, said, as we begin our second decade, we can see the fruits of the meaningful connections this film festival has fostered between our filmmakers and audiences. Our desire to showcase South Asian storytelling has grown into a year-long effort including screenings and events that have drawn attention to what we are doing in Austin from filmmakers and film lovers all over the world. Animon Jose, Indie Meme Programming Chair, added, this year’s ambitious lineup highlights the fearless voices of the South Asian diaspora, pushing the boundaries of storytelling while exploring universal themes of identity, resilience & human spirit, and social change.

Indie Meme will kick off the festival’s screenings and events on Wednesday, April 22, with a member mixer at Vivo at The Linc followed by a screening of Jitank Singh Gurjar s Vimukt (In Search of the Sky). The film is an exploration of the attitudes and challenges that face people with disabilities in rural India. Starring Raghvendra Bhadoriya and Meghna Agarwal as Jasrath and Vidya, as a couple struggling with the financial and social challenges of caring for their developmentally disabled son Naran (Nikhil Yadav), they undertake a religious pilgrimage to the Maha Kumba in hopes of finding a solution. The film won two NETPAC Awards at the Toronto FF.

Thursday April 23 will feature Indie Meme’s Texas Showcase, highlighting the work of locally based South Asian filmmakers. Highlights will include Rachel Immaraj’s documentary An Unquiet Mind, which explores the lesser‑known realities of obsessive‑compulsive disorder and the experiences of people living with severe OCD. Santosh Dahal’s New Moon Rain about a devoted father’s life disrupted when traditional discipline methods cause him to face harsh accusations and community judgment. Aliza Khan’s Texas Jaanu will make its International Premiere with its debut. In the film, a newlywed cinephile from India befriends a ragtag trio of experimental filmmakers in Austin, complicating her relationship with her white-collar husband.

Friday, April 24 will mark Indie Meme’s official Opening Night celebration, beginning with a Filmmaker Brunch, followed by red carpet entrances and a screening at AFS Cinema, and then concluding with an afterparty at the KMFA Studios’ Event Space (41 Navasota Street). Tribeny Rai’s festival favorite Shape of Momo. Rai’s directorial debut, and loosely based on her life, it follows Bishnu, a woman who returns to her hometown in a Himalayan village after quitting her job only to face mounting family pressures and societal expectations. She quickly discovers she must choose between conforming to tradition or claiming her independence. Kislay, who wrote the screenplay for Shape of Momo, will attend and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

Saturday, April 25 will feature the Centerpiece presentation of Ali Asgari’s sharp-witted satire Divine Comedy. The critically acclaimed film follows a 40-year-old filmmaker who’s spent his entire career making films in Turkish Azeri, none of which have ever been screened in Iran. His latest work, once again denied permission to screen, inspires him to take on an underground mission to showcase his film to an Iranian audience, dodging government censors, and an absurd bureaucracy along the way. Allreza Khatami, who wrote the screenplay for Divine Comedy, will attend and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

Sunday, April 26 will wrap up Indie Meme with a Closing Night Gala screening of Vaishali Sinha’s documentary Give It a Shot, followed by a celebratory afterparty at the Lonestar Court Hotel (10901 Domain Drive). The film looks at the development of a new male contraceptive that could revolutionize family planning and transform women’s lives worldwide. The effort to successfully launch a reversible male contraceptive would mark the first breakthrough of its kind since the modern condom was invented 200 years ago. Vaishali Sinha will attend the film festival and participate in a post-screening Q&A.

Additional highlights among the narrative features include Ishan Shukla’s animated sci-fi feature Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust. The film is set in a society where citizens wear paper bags over their heads to erase social differences. Sivaranjini J’s Victoria explores religious and cultural tensions through the story of a small‑town beautician who runs away with her boyfriend against her family’s wishes. Annapurna Sriram’s offbeat Fucktoys focuses on a sex worker determined to break a strange curse through a chaotic quest across a surreal world of eccentric characters.

The festival’s documentary slate highlights stories of perseverance, science, and human connection. Orlando von Einsidel’s The Cycle of Love, recounts the remarkable true story of Delhi street artist PK Mahanandia, who bicycled more than 6,000 miles from India to Sweden in 1977 to reunite with the woman he loved. Arjun Talwar’s Letters From Wolf Street offers a portrait of a single street in Warsaw seen through the lens of an Indian immigrant filmmaker seeking connection and understanding.

Indie Meme Film Festival’s shorts programs once again spotlight emerging voices and inventive storytelling. Highlights among the narrative shorts include Sayani Gupta’s Aasmani, which follows the efforts of a grandmother Smita and her precocious 10-year-old granddaughter to save an “old” classic car. Sayani Gupta will be on hand to participate in a post-screening Q&A. Sheryar Ali’s A Door To My Memory, is a dystopian story about a man struggling to preserve memories in a world where they must be stored on external drives; Adnan Al Rajeev’s Ali, follows a teenager in a coastal town where women are forbidden to sing; and Apurva Bardapurkar’s Blessings (Maaybaapache Aashiriwaad), a darkly comedic tale of parents determined to protect their son’s secret.

Other standout shorts include Mallika Juneja’s Little Fishies, which follows a young girl navigating grief during her father’s funeral rituals; Shubham Negi’s Hills Don’t Dance Alone, set in a Himalayan school where a dance performance sparks unexpected cultural conflict; Making its US Premiere, Mukti Krishan’s Waagh (The Leopard), a haunting story set in Mumbai where a mysterious animal death triggers paranoia and fear in a young boy’s world; and Rishi Chandna’s Kanippu (The Prediction) will make its North American Premiere. The film examines the fragile relationship between climate knowledge and lived experience through the perspectives of a grieving boatman and a meteorologist confronting the unpredictability of nature. Also making its North American Premiere is Amol Jalandhar Jadhav’s Deva Aaj Pan Vhay. The film follows the journey of Deva, a playful and inquisitive young boy who braves rough terrain and harsh weather each day to reach school, where he not only learns from books but from life itself.

For festival passes, tickets, and the full schedule, please visit: https://www.indiememe.org/

 

The 2026 Indie Meme Film Festival official selections:

GALA SELECTIONS

 

KICK OFF PRESENTATION
Vimukt (In Search of the Sky)

Director: Jitank Singh Gurjar

Country: India, Running Time: 90 min

When A 26-year-old mentally unstable son of a poverty-stricken elderly couple begins to feel like a burden and the reason for constant mockery in a village they have lived their entire life. The couple decides to travel to the Maha Kumbh, once in a 144-year pilgrimage, largest human gathering on the planet. Will this journey bring them the healing they hoped for? Or will their lives be changed forever?

 

OPENING NIGHT GALA PRESENTATION 
Shape of Momo

Director: Tribeny Rai

Country: India, Running Time: 114 min

Bishnu returns to her Himalayan village after quitting her job, only to face mounting family pressures and societal expectations. As tensions rise with her pregnant sister’s arrival and a budding relationship with a “suitable” boy from her community, Bishnu must choose between conforming to tradition or claiming her independence.

 

SATURDAY CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION
Divine Comedy

Director: Ali Asgari

Countries: Iran/Italy/Germany/France/Turkey, Running Time: 98 min

Bahram is a 40-year-old filmmaker who’s spent his entire career making films in Turkish-Azeri, none of which have ever been screened in Iran. His latest work, once again denied permission by the Ministry of culture, pushes him to the edge of defiance. With his sharp-tongued, Vespa-riding producer Sadaf by his side, he embarks on an underground mission to showcase his film to an Iranian audience, dodging government censors, absurd bureaucracy, and his own self- doubts.

 

CLOSING NIGHT PRESENTATION 
Give It A Shot

Director: Vaishali Sinha

Countries: Canada/India/United States,  Running Time: 89 mins

A funny, moving, and ultimately urgent character-driven documentary, Give It A Shot follows a global quest to launch the first reversible male contraceptive since the modern condom was invented 200 years ago. From the indomitable 83-year-old Dr. Sujoy Guha in India to a dedicated team of developers in the U.S., director Vaishali Sinha provides an intimate window into a high-stakes scientific and social experiment. The film explores why this innovation has been so long in coming and how it could profoundly reframe gender equity and men’s responsibility in family planning.

 

 

ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURES

 

Fucktoys

Director: Annapurna Sriram

Country: USA, Running Time: 106 min

There’s a curse on Trashtown, and the only way for spunky naïve sex worker AP to stop losing her teeth and lift her curse is to slaughter a baby lamb for a thousand dollars. With the help of her dependable moped, her friend Danni, a just-out-of-prison sapphic spirit, and larger-than-life clients with cash, she can raise the money to be free!

 

Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust

Director: Ishan Shukla

Countries: India/France/Germany, Running Time: 103 min

In a sophisticated near perfect society ‘Schirkoa’, citizens live with paper bags on heads to dissolve differences. Tensions rise when the whispers of a mythical land without the bags start to float and a fresh council member sparks an accidental revolution.

 

Victoria

Director: Sivaranjini J

Country: India, Running Time: 84 min

Victoria, a small-town beautician, defies her Catholic family by fleeing with her Hindu boyfriend. Her life grows more complex when she receives a rooster meant for religious purposes from a neighbor.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

 

An Unquiet Mind

Director: Rachel Immaraj

Country: USA, Running Time 76 min

An Unquiet Mind

is a documentary that sheds light on a darker side of OCD that many sufferers are too afraid to speak about. Through this film, we aim to build a movement of greater support towards those living with OCD.

 

The Cycle of Love

Director: Orlando von Einsidel

Country: UK, Running Time: 98 min

The Cycle of Love

details the incredible 1977 journey of PK Mahanandia, a Delhi street artist who cycled 6,000 miles to Sweden to reunite with his love, Lotta von Schedvin.

 

Letters From Wolf Street

Director: Arjun Talwar

Country: Running Time: 97 min

A central Warsaw street becomes a kaleidoscope of Polish society. Behind the camera is an Indian migrant who is seeking to overcome the distance between himself and a country full of contradictions and anxieties.

 

SHORT FILMS

 

NARRATIVE SHORTS
A Door To My Memory

Director: Sheryar Ali

Country: Pakistan, Running Time: 15 min

In a dystopian world where memories are stored on external drives, a 65-year-old man tries desperately to hold on to memories he no longer has space for.

 

Aasmani

Director: Sayani Gupta

Country: India, Running Time: 34 min

To save her aging vintage car from being replaced by a modern alternative, spunky grandmother Smita and her precocious 10-year-old granddaughter launch a desperate, high-stakes mission. It’s a bumpy, heartfelt journey to protect a lifelong bond and discover if this “old” classic still has a few surprises left under the hood.

 

Ali

Director: Adnan Al Rajeev

Country: Bangladesh, Running Time: 15 min

In a coastal town, women are not allowed to sing. A teenager joins a singing competition for a chance to move to the city, while hiding his true voice in a sinister way.

 

Blessings (Maaybaapache Aashiriwaad)

Director: Apurva Bardapurkar

Country: India, Running Time: 24 min

Overprotective parents will go to any length to protect their son’s childhood secret from his girlfriend.

 

Burnt Orange

Director: Sharmila Ray

Country: USA, Running Time: 11 min

A woman behind on her student loan payments is haunted by debt collectors, but one collector wants to harvest something more than just money.

 

Deva Aaj Pan Vhay                                     
North American Premiere

Director: Amol Jalandhar Jadhav

Country: India, Running Time: 15 min

Deva Aaj Pan Vhay

follows the journey of Deva, a playful and inquisitive young boy living in a rural village. Each day, he braves rough terrain and harsh weather to reach school, where he not only learns from books but from life itself. Through his school lessons, playful interactions, and small adventures, Deva begins to understand kindness, resilience, and the true value of education.

 

Family Man

Director: Kalani Gacon

Country: Nepal, Running Time: 17 min

During a storm in a remote Nepalese village, a mysterious man finds refuge in a house of a family haunted by their father’s disappearance years before.

 

Hills Don’t Dance Alone

Director: Shubham Negi

Country: India, Running Time: 24 min

At a school in the Himalayas, fifteen-year-old Sachin is bullied for cross-dressing in a folk dance performance. Anju, the middle-aged vice principal of the school, steps in, but it unravels more than she anticipated.

 

Jasmine That Blooms in Autumn

Director: Chandradeep Das

Country: Running Time: 14 min

Two women fall in love at a decrepit old-age home in the autumn of their lives. Both are aware of the repercussions of such a revelation in a society proscribing homosexuality; therefore, they exchange messages and gifts in secret.

 

Kanippu (The Prediction)                            
North American Premiere

Director: Rishi Chandna

Country: India, Running Time: 24 min

A grieving boatman and an earnest meteorologist share their knowledge of the seas and weather, but find themselves helpless in the face of unpredictable climate.

 

Little Fishies

Director: Mallika Juneja

Country: India, Running Time: 20 min

Little Fishies

follows 13-year-old Raya on the day of her father’s funeral ceremony. Faced with the absurd atmosphere of a grieving Punjabi household, Raya decides to break free by embarking on a mission to take her sister to the beach, against her family’s wishes.

 

New Moon Rain

Director: Santosh Dahal

Country: USA, Running Time: 17 min

A devoted father’s life in America is disrupted when traditional discipline methods cause him to face harsh accusations and community judgment.

 

Showtime

Director: Vivek Menon

Country: USA, Running Time: 14 min

On the day of her first live performance, a singer’s day turns upside down when a simple ask from her mom spirals out of control and she struggles to balance her day job and her dreams.

Squat N Stool

Director: Ramgopal Rajagopalan

Country: Canada, Running Time: 10:20 min

When Ria visits her boyfriend’s parents for the first time, she’s determined to make a great impression-but there’s one problem. She’s left behind her squat stool. As the days pass and desperation grows, her increasingly absurd attempts to find a substitute lead to near-disasters, awkward encounters, and mounting suspicion from Ben’s father, William.

 

Texas Jaanu                                                  
International Premiere

Director: Aliza Khan

Country: USA, Running Time: 18 min

Adrift in her new life in Austin, a newlywed cinephile from India befriends a ragtag trio of experimental filmmakers, complicating her relationship with her white-collar husband.

 

Waagh (The Leopard)                                   
US Premiere

Director: Mukti Krishan

Country: India, Running Time: 20 min

Mumbai, the only city in the world with a forest at its heart, is where leopards roam beside highways and high-rises. When one is found dead at a newly redeveloped housing society, 8-year-old Apu’s inner world begins to fracture. What starts as unease spirals into paranoia, as small everyday violences – dismissive adults, buried tensions, unseen fears — begin to close in.

DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
P For Paparazzi

Director: Divya Hemant Kharnare

Country: India, Running Time: 26 min

Amidst the chaos of crazy crowds, Manoj, an established paparazzi from Nepal, faces off against fellow photographers in a race to capture the most sensational photos. Despite the experience and connections, he confronts the harsh reality of his brother’s deteriorating health.

 

 

Oscar-nominated Viva Verdi! launches impact campaign with special screenings at Mount Sinai and NYU

Dev Shapiro
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Oscar-nominated Viva Verdi! launches impact campaign with special screenings at Mount Sinai and NYU

Following a wave of recognition and growing national interest, the acclaimed Oscar-nominated documentary VIVA VERDI! launches Impact Campaign with a series of special screenings and discussions held at Mount Sinai Health System and New York University this week.

Bringing the film into both medical and academic settings, these events mark a powerful convergence of art, aging, and intergenerational dialogue – core themes at the heart of VIVA VERDI!, which offers an intimate look inside Casa Verdi in Milan, the historic home founded by Giuseppe Verdi for retired opera singers and musicians.

Hosted in collaboration with Mount Sinai’s Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine and NYU’s Italian Studies Department with Fred Plotkin’s “Adventures in Italian Opera,” the screenings are engaging audiences of healthcare professionals, students, and community members, sparking conversations around creativity, longevity, and the role of the arts in emotional and cognitive well-being.

“Our Mount Sinai and NYU events are just the beginning. At the heart of VIVA VERDI! is not only a coming-of-age story of older adulthood, but most importantly a call-to-action for music and creativity in our lives as we age,” said VIVA VERDI! Producer Christine La Monte and Director Yvonne Russo. “As filmmakers, our goal is to provide new perspectives, inspire advocacy and showcase the remarkable model Giuseppi Verdi created over a century ago.”

R. Sean Morrison, MD, the Ellen and Howard C. Katz Chair of the Brookdale Department, added, “VIVA VERDI! shows us that vocation and creativity do not diminish with age—they deepen. Our post-film discussion, like the film, aims to illustrate how staying engaged in meaningful work and artistic expression profoundly supports emotional, cognitive, and physical health. VIVA VERDI! is an inspiring testament to what is possible when society values the contributions of older adults.”

At Mount Sinai, the film has already resonated strongly within the medical community, underscoring the importance of dignity, purpose, and artistic expression in later life. At NYU, discussions have expanded to include cultural legacy, Italian heritage, and the enduring influence of Verdi’s vision across generations.

These screenings are part of a broader impact initiative for VIVA VERDI!, which is actively engaging institutions across the country—from health systems to universities—to bring the film’s message into spaces where conversations about aging and quality of life are most urgent and meaningful.

“VIVA VERDI! is not just a film, it is a call to action,” said VIVA VERDI! Executive Producer and Founder of For Impact Productions, Simone Pero who will be spearheading the Impact Campaign. “As the world ages, the question is no longer whether we can afford creative aging models, but whether we can afford to ignore the obvious need to embrace them.”

With its focus on artists aged 77 to 107 who continue to live, mentor, and create within Casa Verdi, VIVA VERDI! challenges conventional narratives around aging and offers a deeply human portrait of resilience, community, and the lifelong power of music.

DIFF Announces Line-up for 20th Dallas International Film Festival 2026

Dev Shapiro
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DIFF Announces Line-up for 20th Dallas International Film Festival 2026

DIFF has announced the line-up for the 20th edition of the annual Dallas International Film Festival, Thursday, April 23 – Thursday, April 30, 2026. The Festival is an Oscar® Qualifying Festival, and will feature screenings of more than 120 films, Q&A sessions, and panels with filmmakers and actors, nightly DIFF Red Carpets, and special events.

Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Victory Park, located steps away from American Airlines Center at 2365 Victory Park Lane, returns as the host venue. Additional screenings and events will be held at the historic Texas Theatre and the artful Virgin Hotels Dallas – which returns for the fourth year as the Premier Sponsor of the Festival – among other world-class Dallas destinations to be announced.

The lineup of feature films for DIFF 2026 to-date includes:

FEATURE FILMS:

40 SECONDS (Narrative Feature) (Italy)

Director: Vincenzo Alfieri

Inspired by the tragic event of Willy Monteiro’s death, 40 SECONDS explores the dark side of provincial life, the small and medium ambitions, the generational conflicts, the unpredictability and insignificance of violence. Six young adults, six different stories, which in the span of 24 hours will touch and intertwine through a series of casual encounters, rivalries, and latent tensions.

 

AMERICAN BABY (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: Ellen Rodnianski

AMERICAN BABY follows Oli as she navigates the repercussions of being very young and very pregnant in small town Texas. As she seeks out the suddenly absent teenage father-to-be of her child, Oli confronts growing isolation from her community.

 

AMERICAN PACHUCO: THE LEGEND OF LUIS VALDEZ (Documentary Feature) (United States)

Director: David Alvarado

A California farmworker’s son rose from the fields in the turbulent 1960s to create El Teatro Campesino, a revolutionary artistic movement that gave voice to the Chicano experience. Defying overwhelming odds, Luis Valdez’s journey from migrant camps to Broadway with “Zoot Suit” and Hollywood with “La Bamba” forever transformed American theater, film, and our collective cultural landscape.

 

BLOOD BEHIND US (Narrative Feature) (Texas) – World Premiere

Director: Brendan Gabriel Murphy

When a battle-scarred ex-soldier reluctantly bonds with an abandoned pit bull, his fight for redemption and fatherhood takes a deadly turn as a psychotic contract killer hunts him down—forcing him to confront a violent past to protect the family he thought he’d lost forever. This was Michael Madsen’s last film, who became a dear friend to the film team that is honored to show it with his family’s blessing.

 

BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: George Roy Hill

In 1890s Wyoming, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid lead a band of outlaws. When a train robbery goes wrong, they find themselves on the run with a posse hard on their heels. This classic 1969 tale starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Katherine Ross will screen as the 19th annual Stodghill Classic Movie Night film.

 

$10 COWBOY (Documentary Feature) (United States)

Director: Patrick Heaphy

$10 COWBOY takes viewers on-the-road and front row for Charley Crockett’s record kickoff tour at home in Texas. First stop, Austin, followed by Helotes, Dallas and Houston. Director Patrick Heaphy’s intimate on-the-fly interviews capture Charley’s vision of his brand of Texas, his view of the music industry and what it means to be a Texan with a mix of live concert and behind-the-scenes interviews that offer a revealing portrait of a man who rose from panhandling in New York City subways to 2025 Best Americana Album Grammy Nomination.

 

COOKIE QUEENS (Documentary Feature) (United States)

Director: Alysa Nahmias

A celebration of girlhood and the complexities that come with it, COOKIE QUEENS is a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season. Captivating, candid, and full of heart, the film follows four girls as they navigate the annual whirlwind of selling, striving, and succeeding.

 

CRYSTAL CROSS (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: Richie James Follin

Dotty, a Christian singer in trouble, believes she’s received a sign from God when she meets James, a man who looks strikingly like Jesus. For Dotty, James is her ride out of town and a chance to reverse her fate. For James, however, the journey has a darker purpose. Broken by the loss of his daughter and after several failed suicide attempts, he is driving cross-country to California to finally end his life.

 

THE FURIOUS (Narrative Feature) (Hong Kong SAR China)

Director: Kenji Tanigaki

When his daughter Rainy is abducted, humble tradesman Wang Wei is thrust into a deadly underworld of corruption and violence. His only ally is Navin, a relentless journalist haunted by his own past. Together, they fight their way through an international criminal network in a desperate bid to save Rainy and uncover the truth.

 

GASLIT (Documentary Feature) (United States)

Director: Katie Camosy

As the world teeters on the brink of irreversible climate disaster, actor and activist Jane Fonda ventures deep into the oil and gas country, meeting the people who are exposing the fossil fuel industry’s lies.

 

IF I GO WILL THEY MISS ME (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: Walter Thompson-Hernandez

A boy sees ghostly figures of other boys in his neighborhood while grappling with his father’s distance, and the visions uncover hidden connections between them and their shared heritage.

 

KEEP QUIET (Narrative Feature) (United States) – North American Premiere

Director: Vincent Grashaw

A weathered tribal cop and his new trainee must find a ruthless fugitive, whose return to their rural Indigenous reservation has exposed its darkest secrets and could ignite a violent gang war.

 

KENNY LOGGINS: CONVICTION OF THE HEART (Documentary Feature) (United States) – Closing Night Film and US Premiere

Director: Dori Berinstein

Kenny Loggins was a shy, gawky, unpopular, big-eared kid with low self-esteem, who thought he had to create a persona to do the rock star thing. Loggins spent the subsequent 50 years reinventing himself over and over, and his career has been a journey into being himself.

 

KIM NOVAK’S VERTIGO (Documentary Feature) (United States)

Director: Alexandre O. Philippe

Exploring Kim Novak’s life, this film highlights her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s VERTIGO, and her journey from stardom to a reclusive life as an artist, using rare archival footage and Novak’s own reflections.

 

MANTIS (Narrative Feature) (United States) – World Premiere

Director: Justice Hardy

In denial after the death of her husband, Rana finds out that her precinct is partnering with a tech company to pilot a new technology, The Mantis Project is based on neuroscience suggesting that, after a person dies, there’s still electricity in the human brain for an average of 36 hours. Rana knows the tech is unethical, but it may also be her only way to catch the killer she’s been hunting for 10 years.

 

MISPER (Narrative Feature) (United Kingdom)

Director: Harry Sherriff

The employees of a dying seaside hotel have their lives upended when their colleague, Elle, vanishes. Instead of focusing on the police investigation or Elle’s close family, the story delves into the psychological impact on her co-workers.

 

A MOSQUITO IN THE EAR (Narrative Feature) (India, Italy, United States)

Director: Nicola Rinciari

Andrew and Daniela travel to Goa, India, to meet their newly adopted four-year-old daughter, Sarvari, and bring her back to the US. However, their world begins to crumble when Sarvari refuses to leave the orphanage that she calls home. The couple’s attempts to welcome their child into her new family and travel back with her prove to be a chaotic challenge that not only tests their patience but also profoundly reshapes their ideas of family, parenthood, and their relationship as a couple.

 

OBSESSION (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: Curry Barker

After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

 

ONE IN A MILLION (Narrative Feature) (United States) – World Premiere

Director: Tanner Beard

The film follows the Kassis family as they battle to save their young son’s life after he is suddenly stricken with HLH, a rare and deadly blood disorder.

 

ONE IN A MILLION (Documentary Feature) (United States, United Kingdom, Germany)

Director: Itab Azzam, Jack Macinnes

A Syrian girl’s decade-long journey to Germany and back is portrayed as she and her family face the challenges of war and life as refugees, showing both the hardships and hopes of starting anew.

 

PALYANYTSIA (Documentary Feature) (Ukraine) – US Premiere

Director: Kadim Tarasov, Julia Bolshynska

An immersion into the consciousness of two artists, Bandyt and Johnny, who have always viewed the world through the prism of their art. Their paint was an expression of freedom, a protest against the system, and they believed they understood the world — but the war tears that illusion apart.

 

PINCH (Narrative Feature) (India)

Director: Uttera Singh

A darkly comedic drama during the Navratri festival in India, the film explores societal dynamics, secrets, and familial relationships within an apartment complex. Maitri Singh is an aspiring travel blogger who has a strained relationship with her mother, and in trying to create content for her YouTube channel, her life takes a dramatic turn when she becomes involved in a violent altercation.

 

POETIC LICENSE (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: Maude Apatow

Two inseparable best friends, Sam and Ari, start to unravel as they compete for the affection of Liz, the middle-aged mom auditing their college poetry workshop.

 

POWER BALLAD (Narrative Feature) (Ireland/United States)

Director: John Carney

When Rick (Paul Rudd), a past-his-prime wedding singer, meets fading boy-band star Danny (Nick Jonas) during a gig, the two bond over music and a late-night jam session. But, when Danny turns one of Rick’s songs into the hit that reignites his career, Rick sets out to reclaim the recognition he believes he deserves.

 

REVOLUTION’S DAUGHTER (Documentary Feature) (Texas)

Director: Thaddeus D. Matula

A powerful documentary portrait of identity, legacy, and the price of dissent, the film follows Alina as she confronts the myth of her father and the reality of the revolution he led. The film explores the deep scars of displacement, the complexity of heritage, and the enduring spirit of a people divided by politics but united by culture, memory, and the hope for change.

 

STAGES (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: Ryan Booth

It’s make or break for Ben Garza as he embarks on his first solo tour after the collapse of his band with Rita, his former tour, and Parker, who joins as a utility player. Rita also secures Jessie Ramos as the opening act, a rising star whose surge in popularity will completely destabilize Ben. By the tour’s end, Ben must decide whether to keep chasing the life he once had—or chart a new path forward.

 

STAY FORTE (Narrative Feature) (Israel, United States)

Director: Doron Wran

Based on true events, the film explores the harrowing journey of Alon Shimiriz, Yotam Chaim, and Samer Tallaka, three innocent Israeli hostages who were plucked from their homes and held captive in the terror tunnels of Gaza. They were tragically killed escaping captivity and attempting to find their way home, and their story resonates as a reminder of resilience, humanity, and indomitable will.

 

THE THREE URNS (Narrative Feature) (Ireland) – North American Premiere

Director: John-Paul Davidson, Stephen Warbeck

Back in his home country to spread the ashes of his beloved wife, a man races to his destination in a milk float, while chased by a beautiful French woman in a Smartcar plagued with battery issues.

 

TOMORROW’S TOO LATE (Documentary Feature) (United Kingdom)

Director: Terry Loane

In a never before seen way, we are invited to see up close and intimately the changes a transgender person may experience during a medical transition. Having carved out a successful career as ‘Lots’ Holloway (his previous name and artist’s alias), will Dylan Holloway be accepted by his fans who fell in love with his music in the same way?

 

TOOTOO (Documentary Feature) (Canada)

Director: Michael Hamilton

Jordin John Kudl United Kingdom Tootoo is of Inuit and Ukrainian descent, and his path to the NHL defied the odds in more than one way. Raised in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Tootoo learned a traditional Inuit lifestyle including hunting, fishing, and camping. Despite facing mental and physical abuse as a child, Tootoo became both the first Inuk player, and the first player to grow up in Nunavut, to play for Team Canada and play in the NHL.

 

TUNER (Narrative Feature) (Canada/United States)

Director: Daniel Roher

A talented piano tuner’s meticulous skills for tuning pianos lead him to discover an unexpected aptitude for cracking safes, turning his life upside down.

 

VALENTINA (Narrative Feature) (Mexico/United States)

Director: Tatti Ribeiro

Valentina is a young woman caught between the small debts and daily pressures of life in a border town. After receiving parking tickets she cannot afford, she sets out to pay them, believing it will be a quick task. What begins as an attempt to settle fines grows into an honest portrait of life in El Paso.

 

THE WEREWOLF IN THE WAVES (Documentary Feature) (United States)

Director: Soleil Moon Frye

From award-winning director Soleil Moon Frye, this film is a deeply personal and poignant documentary that explores the complicated dynamics of love and addiction. Told through Moon Frye’s empathetic lens, we follow the reunion of her with her childhood friend, Seth Binzer, aka Shifty Shellshock, of the band Crazy Town, largely known for their hit song “Butterfly”, an anthem for the early 2000’s. She quickly sets out to document Crazy Town’s comeback tour, during which the connection between Moon Frye and Binzer quickly evolves into a love story, shot 90% on Soleil’s iPhone.

 

A WOMAN’S WORK (Narrative Feature) (United States)

Director: A.R. Ephraim

A young woman in rural Kentucky works as a coal miner to provide for her two younger sisters after losing her parents to the opioid epidemic.

 

SHORT FILMS:

ADDICTED TO IT — Nigel W. Tierney and Federico Heller (Argentina, Ireland, United States)

BELLY HOP — Dave Hill (United States)

BUS — Andre Balbuena (Peru)

CANDY BAR — Nash Edgerton (Australia)

COSMIC CRASH — James Smith (Germany)

DISTURBIA — Mira Yankova (Bulgaria)

ECHOES UNDER SKIN — John C. Christian and Gabriella Katsouropoulou (Brazil)

FELLOW – Martha Rivière, Laura Darras, Théo Bergougnoux, Gaspard Keller de Schleitheim, Johanne Coppier, Romane Casha (France)

FLESH & BLOOD — Nathan Presley (United States)

GUTTED — Kat Lynch (United States)

HAND — Jing Wang (Japan)

I TURN GIRLS ON – Lizzy De Vita (United States)

IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT — Aristides Mantilla (Mexico)

JUST MY LUCK — Nicholas Pitts (United States)

K-9INE! — Elliott Power (United Kingdom)

LES FORCENÉS — Guillaume Chevalier (France)

LIFE GOES ON — Kat Butterfield and Daniel Audritt (United Kingdom)

LIVING WITH A VISIONARY — Stephen P. Neary (United States)

MAKE NO MISTAKE: THESE ARE THE GLORY DAYS — Texas Smith (United States)

MEETING YOUR MAKER — Gregory J.M. Kasunich (United States)

OLIVER —Andrew Strickland (Canada)

ONE-WAY CYCLE — Alicia Núñez Puerto (Portugal, Spain)

POSTER BOY — India Opzoomer (Canada)

REPLICON — Sophia Rossetti (United States)

RESPITE — Martin Geisler (France)

SHIFT — Lucca Vieira (United States)

SOMEWHERE TO BE — Christy Chan (United States)

STATIC — Attila Tayefeh Ghalehbegi (United States)

STILL STANDING — Victor Tadashi Suarez and Livia Albeck-Ripka (United States)

STOKED BETWEEN HANDLEBARS — Markus Miarka (Spain)

SWIM SISTAS — Catherine Joy White (United Kingdom)

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING — Gene Gallerano and Bob Ray (United States)

THE APOLLOS — Andrew Valentine (United States)

THE BADDEST SPEECHWRITER OF ALL — Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry (United States)

THE FIRST LAST WORD – Hannah Dougherty (Australia)

THE SHORN LAMB – Emily Rolen (United States)

TODD & THE TOAD – Julia Mücke (Germany)

TO-GO — Bryan Poyser (United States)

TRACES — Brandon Vasquez (Mexico)

TRADING CARDS — Radheya Jang (Australia)

VALUE — Sidney Mallari (United States)

WATER COOLER — Emma V.F. (United States)

 

MUSIC VIDEOS:

99 PROBLEMS – Ori Evans

Au/Ra – CRACK! – Andy Mihov

BAR MAID – Braden Barton

BROTHER – Aryna Tsyltsyna

DEACON – JAPAN. – Grey Smoley, Michael Colombos

DIE SPITZ – PUNISHERS – Justin Wilson

DON’T JUDGE MY WAY – Kayla McHaney

FEVER – Reagan Elkins

IDEAL DISTANCE – Danny Chandia

MAKE BELIEVE – David Wells, Jimmy Lindsey, ASC, Ruthie Craft

MOVE WITH ME – Jordie, Sophie Powers

ROCKET – Jahsoulii Blain

ROLL THE DICE – SeungMin Cho

 

DIFF concurrently announced the winners and finalists of the screenplay competition, presented in collaboration with Event Horizon Films. The winning scripts will be performed live by trained actors from Dallas-based Sherrill Actors Studio during the table read sessions during the Festival. Event Horizon Films is the event host, while Michelle Sherrill, owner of Sherrill Actors Studio, will cast and direct the table reads. This marks the third season that DIFF has collaborated with Event Horizon Films and Sherrill Actors Studio for the table reads at the Festival.

 

WHY NOT HER? – Feature Winner

Writer: Taylor Bartczak

A woman leads an NFL expansion team, the Orlando Stars, through its first season as the first female head coach of the NFL.

 

Feature Finalists

GOLD MINE

Writer: Andrzej Ciesielski

BROTHERS’ COVER

Writer: Hugo André

THE BLACK ABBEY

Writers: Michael Consiglio, Alex Klein

NO WATER FOR WALK-ONS

Writer: Michael Cutler

 

SEX IS WORK – Pilot Winner

Writer: Tracee Darcelle

By day, Chloe sells aspiration to the masses. By night, she sells her time to the rich and powerful. When an anonymous blackmailer threatens to expose her secret life as a luxury escort, the high-achieving Atlanta ad executive must outmaneuver someone who understands money, secrecy, and leverage as well as she does or lose everything she’s built.

 

Pilot Finalists

THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Writer: Renn Tan

POUR INTO ME

Writer: Taelor Turner

TWEED

Writer: John Eden Heather

ON THE ROCKS

Writer: Marcus Durham

STRANGE, BUT PERFECT – Texas Winner

Writer: Carlo Lorenzo Garcia 

In the isolating chaos of 2020, a tightly wound Chicago marketing assistant quarantines at his grandmother’s rural Texas home, where he clashes with her foul-mouthed caretaker forcing two strangers to confront grief, guilt, and the possibility of unexpected connection.

 

Texas Finalists

LONG DEAD

Writer: Chad Jackson

BLACK SHROUD

Writer: Timothy Shane Stevens

THE BASEMENT

Writer: J.D. Elliby

MICHAEL HUNG HIMSELF

Writer: Matthew Kingston

 

MISSED CONNECTION – Short Script Winner

Writer: Marion Trent

A withdrawn artist and a reflective writer form a quiet, anonymous bond through sketches and Post-it notes on a cafe bulletin board—each helping the other heal in ways that could never have happened if they’d met face-to-face.

 

Shorts Finalists

VIRGIN MARGOT

Writer: Jennifer Prediger

DEAD ROOTS

Writer: Keenan Dunn

I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT

Writer: Phoebe Cleghorn

EPILOGUE

Writers: Laura Katherine Winter, Nathaniel Davis, Bob Dodd

 

New to this year’s offerings at the Festival will be the first-time DIFF Industry Conference, presented in collaboration with Dallas Film Commission. The conference will feature panels focusing on filmmaking, television production, and how to thrive in an ever-changing industry, according to Katie Schuck, the Dallas Film Commissioner, and Austin Flores, who is the Location Specialist for Dallas Film Commission and will serve as Conference Director.

The Dallas International Film Festival is a global adventure featuring more than 125 film screenings, panels, Q&As with filmmakers and actors, nightly Red Carpets, live screenplay table reads, awards, and other events and activations where filmmakers, screenwriters, film industry leaders, celebrities, sponsors, and audiences come together to experience and discuss film. Films are curated from submissions received by filmmakers from 100+ countries worldwide, across Texas, and the United States, and include narrative features, documentaries, and short films of all genres from studios and independent filmmakers. Festival information is available at https://diffdallas.org/diff.

The Dallas International Film Festival is one of only 59 film festivals in the United States and only 181 film festivals worldwide to earn the designation of Oscar® Qualifying Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Oscar® Qualifying short film awards at the Dallas International Film Festival are: Grand Jury Prize – Best Animated Short Film; Grand Jury Prize – Best Documentary Short Film; and Grand Jury Prize – Best Narrative Short Film.

Films that win qualified awards may be qualified to enter the 99th Academy Awards®, provided that the films meet all the requirements set forth in the official rules for that season. See https://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility for details.

ChaiFlicks to Release Sarah Solemani’s Award-Winning Short Film “Mashhad” Depicting Hidden Chapter of Iranian and Jewish History

Dev Shapiro
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ChaiFlicks to Release Sarah Solemani’s Award-Winning Short Film “Mashhad” Depicting Hidden Chapter of Iranian and Jewish History

The award-winning short film Mashhad, written and directed by actor and filmmaker Sarah Solemani (Bridget Jones’s Diary), will premiere on the Jewish streaming platform ChaiFlicks on April 6. Ahead of its debut, the film is now available for a limited free preview on YouTube via Reboot Studios.

Mashhad reflects a moment in Iranian and Jewish history that many people are unfamiliar with but also speaks to the long relationship between the Iranian and Jewish communities and the ways diaspora identities continue to intersect. Solemani hopes this film will “generate conversations about the possibility of a more democratic and pluralistic future for Iran, the importance of women’s leadership and participation in rebuilding civic institutions, and the ways Iranian, Jewish, and diaspora communities might imagine a more hopeful future.”

Set in the holy Islamic city of Mashhad in 1930’s Iran, Mashhad follows Miriam, a spirited young Jewish girl living in the ghetto, struggling to understand why her family conceals who they are. Unbeknownst to her, an innocent day playing with a neighborhood friend soon threatens the fragile safety of two households, putting her family’s life in jeopardy. What unfolds is an extraordinary story of religion as oppression, and faith as survival, and a retelling of Iran’s long-lost ethnic group.  Produced by Reboot Studios and inspired by writer-director Sarah Solemani’s family history in the Mashhadi Jewish community, the film offers a rare cinematic window into a long-suppressed chapter of Iranian Jewish life. The film will become available on ChaiFlicks beginning April 6. Audiences can watch the short film on YouTube here until it begins streaming exclusively on ChaiFlicks.

Winner of two FFTG awards, including the People’s Choice and The Grand Jury Choice Award, “Mashhad” also won Best Short Film at The Crown Wood International Film Festival, and Best Short Film at the Indian Independent Film Festival.

26th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival Returns April 12-19, 2026 with Record 450 Films from 65+ Countries

Dev Shapiro
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26th Annual Beverly Hills Film Festival Returns April 12-19, 2026 with Record 450 Films from 65+ Countries

The 26th annual Beverly Hills Film Festival® (BHFF) will return from April 12 – April 19, 2026, marking its largest and most internationally diverse edition to date. With a record-breaking 450 films representing more than 65 countries, the 2026 festival underscores its growing global influence as a premier showcase for filmmakers.

Celebrating more than two decades of international cinema, the Beverly Hills Film Festival continues to serve as a high-profile gathering point for established industry leaders, tastemakers, and global audiences. This year’s expansive slate spans narrative features, documentaries, shorts, animation, and experimental works, reflecting the evolving landscape of global storytelling and the increasing cross-border collaboration that shapes today’s film industry.

The festival will kick off with its signature opening night celebration at The Beverly Hilton, for a glitzy night of red-carpet spectacle and old-school Hollywood glamour, all in the heart of Beverly Hills. The weeklong celebration will culminate in the festival’s renowned black-tie Awards Gala, where standout filmmakers will be honored for excellence in cinematic achievement.

This year’s highlights, all playing at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatres, include the following titles:

  • Sock it To me: The Legend of George Schlatter, directed by Chris Coronado, starring Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal, Goldie Hawn, Martin Short, Lily Tomlin, Michael Douglas, Bill Maher, Jimmy Kimmel, Sherry Lansing, Jay Leno, Clive Davis, and many more.
  • Boris is Dead, directed by James Cullen Bressack, starring Dane Cook, Cam Gigandet, Jesse Metcalfe, James Duval, Steven Bauer, and Martin & Jesse Kove.
  • Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me, directed by Kristy Bell, starring Kiefer Sutherland, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey, Billy Idol, John Waters, Linda Perry, Sting, and Yungblud.
  • The Highest Stakes, directed by Tony Dean Smith, starring Seth Green, Kevin Dillon, Charlie Weber, and Dylan Walsh.
  • Crystal Cross, directed by Richie James Follin, starring Rubyrose Hill, Missi Pyle, Samantha Robinson, and Lukas Haas.
  • Elvis, Rocky, & Me: The Carol Connors Story, directed by Alex Rotaru, starring Carol Connors, Barbi Benton, Mike Tyson, Dionne Warwick, and Diane Warren.
  • Bonding, directed by Victoria Trofimenko, starring Jefferson White, Gloria Reuben, Tate Donovan, and Alexandra Doke.

Throughout the week, attendees can expect high-profile premieres, filmmaker Q&As, curated panel discussions, and industry networking events designed to spark collaboration and spotlight bold new voices. Outdoor programming and special events across Beverly Hills further reinforce the city’s role as both backdrop and cultural catalyst for the global film community.

“Each year, the Beverly Hills Film Festival brings together some of the brightest filmmakers working today and showcases extraordinary examples of filmmaking from around the world,” said Nino Simone, President and Founder of the festival. “There is a unique energy and spirit here in Beverly Hills that simply doesn’t happen anywhere else. The festival has grown into a true destination for the global film community, a place where exciting new voices in cinema are discovered while the legends who shaped this industry are celebrated and honored.”

In partnership and hosted at The Beverly Hilton, the festival continues to position Beverly Hills as a global destination for arts and culture, generating international visibility while supporting local businesses, hospitality, and tourism.

“We are delighted to welcome the Beverly Hills Film Festival back to The Beverly Hilton in 2026. As an iconic destination with enduring ties to film, artistry, and Hollywood history, the hotel has long served as a premier gathering place for storytellers and industry visionaries from around the world,” said David Ecija, General Manager at The Beverly Hilton. “This continued partnership reflects our shared commitment to celebrating creative excellence and honoring the craft of cinema. We are proud to once again host filmmakers, industry leaders, and distinguished guests as they come together in the heart of Beverly Hills to recognize the transformative power of storytelling and the lasting impact of film.”

The 2026 festival is made possible through the support of its distinguished partners, including The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Official Hotel and Awards Venue Partner; Love Beverly Hills, Official Host Destination Partner; Ovation Hollywood, Official Outdoor Panel Venue Partner; TCL Chinese Theatres, Official Screening Partner; Maison Perrier, Official Water Partner; Aix Rosé, Official Rosé Partner; Fever-Tree, Official Mixer Partner; and Peroni, Official Beer and Non-Alcoholic Beer Partner. Their collaboration enhances the festival experience, from world-class hospitality and iconic venues to curated culinary and beverage offerings that elevate each event throughout the week.

For more information about the festival, please visit beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com

THE 28TH ANNUAL OUTSHINE LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL SPRING EDITION RETURNS TO SOUTH FLORIDA FROM APRIL 23 – MAY 3

Dev Shapiro
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THE 28TH ANNUAL OUTSHINE LGBTQ+ FILM FESTIVAL SPRING EDITION RETURNS TO SOUTH FLORIDA FROM APRIL 23 – MAY 3

Strong. Proud. United. The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival Spring Edition returns to South Florida April 23 – May 3, 2026! Internationally acclaimed as one of the largest LGBTQ+ cultural festivals in the world, this season’s OUTshine line-up hits Miami-Dade and Broward counties with vibrant thought-provoking, entertaining and educational star-studded features, documentaries and shorts including four international, nine North American and six East Coast premieres from 20 countries. New this year is the festival’s Opening Night Under the Stars, a Community Block Party Closing Night and an extended Fort Lauderdale run adding three more days of fun, fabulous excitement to connect cinema enthusiasts.

Last year’s OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festivals drew more than 12,000 attendees from the Greater South Florida area, as well as virtual viewers statewide.

“OUTshine was created to entertain, educate, and inspire film-loving audiences of all persuasions by presenting the best of emerging international, national, and local LGBTQ+ oriented films to South Florida,” said Mark Gilbert, interim executive director, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “We strive to enrich our audiences while encouraging a sense of community by presenting international and culturally diverse films that offer historical and contemporary perspectives on the LGBTQ+ experience. Our message is that when you come to the festival, you’re with friends.”

Starting the 2026 Spring Edition off on a glamorous, outdoor note, OUTshine is thrilled to present its opening night film, The Dinner (La Cena) (Spain, 2025), a delicious blend of tension, history, and irreverent humor, on Thursday, April 23, at 7:30 p.m., at Miami Beach Botanical Gardens (2000 Convention Ctr Dr, Miami Beach). Set in the turbulent aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, a grand dinner is planned to celebrate the nationalist triumph of Franco in the iconic and luxurious Hotel Palace in Madrid. But what the victors don’t know is who’s in the kitchen. Directed by Manuel Gómez Pereira, the film stars Mario Casas (The Goldsmith’s Secret) and Alberto San Juan (Cristobal Balenciaga). Opening night tickets are $75 and include reserved lawn seating, entertainment, open bar cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a filmmaker Q & A.

“With so many new universal stories yet to be discovered, selecting this year’s Spring Edition features was truly a labor of love,” said Joe Bilancio, director of programming, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival. “Our Miami run has a strong focus on Latin America, international and foreign language LGBTQ+ films geared toward a strong multicultural audience while Fort Lauderdale features many American independent films. We are proud to share these empowering stories by today’s foremost and emerging directors whose creative visions urge us to embrace our differences and foster a sense of unity and belonging.”

The Men’s and Ladies Latin Spotlight Night will begin at 7 p.m. on April 25 in Miami at the Silverspot Cinema (300 SE 3rd St #100, Miami). This year’s films include the romantic comedy An Island Away From You (A Una Isla Deti) (Spain, 2025) and the award-winning drama Jone, Sometimes (Jone, batzuetan) (Spain, 2025).

Monday, April 27, Tuesday, April 28 and Wed, April 29 OUTshine will present its Cocktails & Cinema™ nights in BOTH Miami and Fort Lauderdale. At 7 p.m., at the historic landmark Tower Theater (1508 SW 8th St, Miami), OUTshine brings the magic of local shorts to Calle Ocho and at 7 p.m., at the historic Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale (1820 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale), a Trans Spotlight film will debut.

This year’s Centerpiece Film screening at the Koubek Center Theater (2705 SW 3rd St, Miami) at 7:30 p.m. on April 30 will be Maspalomas (Spain, 2025), an intimate story that delves into the subject of homosexuality in elder age through the journey of a 76-year-old man confronting fears and dilemmas that cross generations. Set in the iconic town and beaches of Maspalomas, on the beautiful island of Gran Canaria, the film thoughtfully explores universal themes such as family, identity and sexuality in later life, with extraordinary honesty, depth and sensitivity. The film was directed by Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi. Post-screening, audience are invited for light bites, entertainment and complimentary cocktails.

On April 27, OUTshine travels north to Fort Lauderdale with a host of exclusive screenings, fun-filled evenings and a brand-new block party spread out over three additional dates.

On Friday, May 1, Men’s Spotlight and Ladies Spotlight films, co-hosted by Wilton Women’s Week, grace the big screen at the historic Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale (1820 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale). Broward filmgoers will be treated to the action-crime thriller Lone Star Bull (USA, 2024) starring Luke Macfarlane, Sebastian Roché, and D.J. “Shangela” Pierce, and Erupcja (Poland, 2025), a romantic comedy-drama starring Charli XCX followed by an afterparty at J. Mark’s Fort Lauderdale restaurant.

Other star-studded films of note this year include Montreal, My Beautiful (Montéal, Ma Belle) (Canada, 2025) starring Joan Chen as a Chinese immigrant who begins a secret affair with a young Québécoise, I Want Your Sex (USA, 2026), an American erotic comedy thriller directed by Gregg Araki starring Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Daveed Diggs, Johnny Knoxville, Margaret Cho and Charli XCX and Rock Out (USA, 2025), directed by Dustin Lance Black, an excavation of the queer roots of rock, punk and metal featuring Roger Daltrey, Dolly Parton, John Reid, Danny Fields and more.

On Sunday, May 3, OUTshine is proud to present its first-ever Closing Night Community Block Party at Savor Cinema (503 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale). Audiences are invited to the 6 p.m. screening of We’ll Find Happiness (Canada, 2025) followed by an outdoor soiree featuring food vendors, filmmakers, live performers, entertainment and more from community partners. We’ll Find Happiness, directed by Léa Pool, tells the story of Saad, a young Moroccan exile in Quebec, who will do anything to save the man he loves, an Iranian refugee facing deportation and likely death. In a desperate move, Saad tries to seduce a high-ranking spokesperson from the Ministry of Immigration. This risky gambit sets off a chain of events that are as intimate as they are political, where every decision carries consequences far beyond matters of the heart.

OUTshine At-Home viewing will be available from May 4 – 10.

“While others might retreat, OUTshine forges forward with an even more robust schedule proving that strength, courage, and solidarity can turn even the fiercest storms into a path toward hope and pride. We will continue to showcase the bold storytelling, diverse voices, and unforgettable cinematic moments that define our community,” added Gilbert.

This year’s OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival spring edition is presented by CAN Community Health and The Warten Foundation. Premiere sponsors are Gilead and Comcast; Presenting Media are HotSpots! Media and It’s Happening Out; Grand sponsors are Google, Wilton River Suites, Silverspot Cinemas, Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale, Major Prevention 305, Fast Printz, Tito’s and Commissioner Damian Pardo; Supporting sponsors are Latino Salud J. Mark’s, Miami Beach Botanical Gardens and Media partners include Cultural Owl, The Bulletin, I Love Gay Movies, Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald, MOCHEE, TampaBayGay.com, OUTFRONT MEDIA, OUT SFL, OutClique, queerguru.com, wireman, Skirt South Florida and GPR | Goodman Public Relations.

The full film schedule for OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival Spring Edition will drop on March 27. Ticket subscription packages and individual tickets starting at $17 go on sale at the same time. OUTshine passholders and Producer Circle members receive priority advance ticket purchase opportunities. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit outshinefilm.com.

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