DEBUT Films: Shorts Schedule

This “love letter to grandma” is voiced by a third-generation Dominican-American filmmaker as she uncovers her family heritage by examining the life of her grandmother who immigrated to the U.S in the 1960s.

In Mexico City, Juan Daniel García Treviño and Sasha Gonzalez explore their connection as a passage to different dimensions.

Opening up the infinite possibilities of dream states through the lens of real couples, director Ariel Danziger captures Mexican actors Juan Daniel García Treviño and Sasha Gonzalez in a parallel world for short film Despierto. An intimate portrait, told from a different dimension, Despierto journeys deep into Dani and Sasha’s relationship as they marvel at the dreams accessed through their connection, contemplating the profound forces that bring them together in the present.

LETTER TO ROSIE captures an intimate portrait about survival, self worth, self love, and overcoming all of life’s obstacles. Matt’s tormented past sexual and physical abusive life finds its way into this visually depiction. Matt’s last letter he wrote to his deceased mother. Narrated by MATT SANCHEZ. Who at the young age now of 21 has lived through more pain and suffering than most young men. But this story isn’t about MATT The VICTIM it’s about MATT the survivor. Our story is told to help heal others. To inspire, to trigger something within.

all the love i could handle is a re-imagining of the filmmaker’s mother’s young diary, unraveling the raw complexities of motherhood, artistic ambition, and the enduring sacrifices women have to make as mothers and artists. Based on the true family story of pioneer filmmaker Kathleen Collins (Losing Ground, 1982).

GAPS follows the story of Sydney Bailey, a 12-year-old struggling with her self-esteem and obsessing over her two gapped front teeth.

Showing the highs and lows of a Black adolescent navigating loving herself – which is no easy challenge in a world of beauty standards stacked against her. Sydney views her unique smile as a barrier to beauty and seeks out a dangerous method to change her grin. Only through turning to the Black women in her life, does she begin to shift her perspective to accept her gap as a gorgeous trait that’s been passed down through family generations. Through self-acceptance, Sydney begins to love her gap, for it makes her smile real.

Bygones is a powerful short film that explores the evolving relationship between a young basketball player, Charissa, and her unexpected mentor, JJ, a former coach with a complicated past. As JJ helps Charissa regain her confidence on and off the court, their bond deepensuntil a painful secret from JJ’s history surfaces, one that’s tied directly to Charissa’s own family.