OAK CLIFF FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2025 PROGRAM
Oak Cliff Film Festival has announced its Feature Program lineup for its 14th edition, taking place June 26-29 at the historic Texas Theatre, Bishop Arts Theatre Center, Kessler Theater, and other venues around Dallas’ vibrant Oak Cliff neighborhood. This year’s 4-day film party consists of 26 feature-length films, with 19 movies having their Texas premiere at the fest and 2 films having their world premiere. The lineup also includes over 60 vastly diverse short films, opening and closing night parties, live music events, and other one of a kind experiences.
Key Highlights:
• Opening Night Films: STREET SMART: LESSONS FROM A TV ICON. Join filmmaker Ernie Bustamante for his Texas premiere. This heartfelt documentary tells the story of Sonia Manzano and how she got to Sesame Street, becoming the first Latina on TV in a regular role as the beloved character and trusted grownup Maria. + The Texas premier of OBEX (from the co-creator of Strawberry Mansion). Musician and filmmaker Albert Birney unveils his new, surreal story about a boy searching for his dog through a living homage to 90’s video-game aesthetics. Directly following: glitch-out in the Texas Theatre lobby with a special DJ performance from PLANET B (members of The Locust).
• Special Band Performance: After the DFW of SPIRIT OF HALLOWEEN TOWN (from the team behind the acclaimed 2024 doc Butterfly In The Sky, in attendance), gather behind the screen at the Texas Theatre for a live performance from experimental Austin, Texas band and OCFF alumni THE OCTOPUS PROJECT, to close out the Friday evening showcase.
• Special Presentation: Your favorite archival, VHS-collage monsters: EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE, present the newest, insane, video-Frankenstein installment of their experimental doc series, Memory Hole: ANIMALS ARE OVER! Humankind’s arrogant expectations to forever dominate the food-chain have gotten pretty dumb. The EIT team has stitched together pre-internet chaos re-articulated to showcase the ways we are destroying all animals (ourselves included) for the sake of cheap dopamine blasts and to bolster the profits of a few loser billionaires.
• Spotlight Films: LONG LIVE THE STATE. Filmmaker Matthew Perniciaro (Producer of Her Smell, Skate Kitchen) presents the Texas premiere of his new feature highlighting the career and lasting alt-comedy impact of seminal, absurdist, 90’s MTV sketch-comedy troupe, The State as they prepare for their reunion tour + the electric new documentary, MOVE YA’ BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE, explores the meteoric rise of house music and the four Chicago friends who turned an underground sound into a musical phenomenon. Directly following, join the other bodies in motion for a Texas Theatre House DJ party.
• Closing Night Film: Filmmaker Todd Stephens (Swan Song, Edge Of Seventeen) returns to OCFF presenting the special, never-before-seen, director’s cut and restoration of his 2001 queer, coming-of-age, cult-comedy; GYPSY 83 (starring Sara Rue, Karen Black and John Doe).
Additional Festival Highlights:
• World Premiere: Short films from the fourth annual OCFF High School Filmmaking Workshop, presented by TRG and For Oak Cliff. Local high school students will showcase their short films created with equipment donated by Canon utilizing guidance from esteemed OCFF filmmaker associates.
• Special Presentation: The MAYA DEREN PROJECT curates a collage of Deren’s pioneering work. MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON, among other incredible short films from the avant-garde film artist’s groundbreaking catalog, are set to an incredible live score performed by TEN THOUSAND LAKES in this haunting and unforgettable audio/visual experience.
• Grants for Filmmakers: The 2025 Oak Cliff Film Festival, in partnership with the Austin Film Society, Ley Line Entertainment, and David Lowery, offers grant funds specifically for emerging North Texas filmmakers. Additionally, the North Texas Pioneer Film Grant of $30,000+ will promote DFW area filmmakers with underrepresented perspectives.
OPENING NIGHT
STREET SMART: LESSONS FROM A TV ICON (United States, 84 mins) 7:30 PM – THU June 26 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Ernie Bustamante
R.I.Y.L – “Sesame Street”, Butterfly in the Sky: The Story of Reading Rainbow, Won’t You Be My Neighbor
STREET SMART: LESSONS FROM A TV ICON traces the trailblazing journey of Sonia Manzano aka “Maria” from Sesame Street. From a young girl finding refuge in television in the South Bronx, to becoming the first Latina on American TV in a regular role, and now a television creator with Alma’s Way, Sonia continues to break barriers. Blending interviews with luminaries, reenactments, and animation, this heartfelt documentary invites viewers to learn once again from this beloved icon.
TEXAS Premiere
Filmmaker Ernie Bustamante in attendance
OBEX (United States, 91 mins) 8:30 PM – THU June 26 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Albert Birney
R.I.Y.L Eraserhead, I Saw the TV Glow, Hundreds of Beavers
Conor Marsh lives a secluded life with his dog, Sandy, until one day he begins playing OBEX, a new, state-of-the-art computer game. When Sandy goes missing, the line between reality and game blurs and Conor must venture into the strange world of OBEX to bring her home.
TEXAS PREMIERE
Filmmaker Albert Birney in attendance
CLOSING NIGHT
GYPSY 83: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT (USA, 138 mins) 7:30 PM – SUN June 29 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Todd Stephens
R.I.Y.L Pretty in Pink, Edge of Seventeen, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar
4K restoration and never-before-seen cut. Two goth misfits living in Sandusky, Ohio; musician Gypsy Vale (Sara Rue) and her younger queer protege Clive Webb (Kett Turton) decide to run away to New York City so Gypsy can participate in the ultimate Stevie Nicks cosplay event: Night of 1,000 Stevies. Along the way, they encounter other misfits that pave the way to their salvation including washed-up singer Bambi LeBleau (Karen Black) and a confused Amish runaway.
WORLD PREMIERE
Filmmaker Todd Stephens and guests in attendance
SPOTLIGHT FEATURES
ELECTRIC CHILD (Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Philippines, 118 mins) 6:30 PM – FRI June 27 – Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Dir. Simon Jaquemet
R.I.Y.L Ex Machina, Blade Runner 2049, Her
Sonny and Akiko’s joy upon the arrival of their first child quickly turns to panic when their doctor gives them unimaginable news. Desperate, Sonny considers using his experiment on an AI super-intelligence to prove the doctors wrong, but every action he takes risks a troubling and dangerous reaction. In German, Japanese, and English with English subtitles.
US Premiere
LONG LIVE THE STATE (USA, 110 mins) 8:45 PM – FRI June 27 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Matthew Perniciaro
R.I.Y.L The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Comedy Bang! Bang!
Members of 90s comedy troupe The State reunite for a live tour, blending classic sketches with behind-the-scenes stories from their influential journey in comedy.
TEXAS PREMIERE
Filmmaker Matt Perniciaro in attendance[a]
THE SPIRIT OF HALLOWEENTOWN (USA, 95 mins) 9:30 PM – FRI June 27 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Brett Whitcomb & Bradford Thomason
R.I.Y.L Jasper Mall, Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus
In 1998, the Disney Channel Original Movie “Halloweentown” was filmed in St. Helens, Oregon. Since then, the town has become a de facto Halloween destination with over 50,000 visitors each October. “The Spirit of Halloweentown” is an observational portrait of St. Helens 25 years later focusing on its residents as they transform the town and navigate their inescapable identity. Just as ghouls and ghosts inhabit the Halloweentown of the movie, many St. Helens residents believe their town to be truly haunted. As visitors pour into the city and specters of all kinds fill the autumn air, life for the locals in Halloweentown becomes much more than the celebration of a movie. It’s a quest for belonging and a reckoning with demons both personal and spiritual. DFW Premiere, Director Bradford Thomason in attendance.
EAST OF WALL (USA, 97 mins) 12:00 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Kate Beecroft
R.I.Y.L Nomadland, The Rider, The Unknown Country
After the death of her husband, Tabatha — a young, tattooed, rebellious horse trainer — wrestles with financial insecurity and unresolved grief while providing refuge for a group of wayward teenagers on her broken-down ranch in the Badlands.
TEXAS PREMIERE
REMOVAL OF THE EYE (USA, 93 mins) 2:15 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Artemis Shaw, Prashanth Kamalakanthan
R.I.Y.L Master of None, Fresh Off the Boat, The Farewell
Struggling with new parenthood and stalling careers, Kallia and Ram’s lives are thrown into chaos when Kallia’s blind mother goes on a mission to exorcize the family from the evil eye. Devised by an actual family, REMOVAL OF THE EYE is a darkly funny portrait of the chaos of caregiving in an individualistic society.
TEXAS PREMIERE
Filmmakers and stars Artemis Shaw and Prashanth Kamalakanthan in attendance
ARE WE GOOD? (USA, 97 mins) 4:30 PM – Friday June 27 – Texas Theatre (downstairs)
Dir. Steven Feinartz
R.I.Y.L – Sword Of Trust, Defending Your Life, American: The Bill Hicks Story[b]
The film follows the life of comic and podcast pioneer Marc Maron. Loss and growth take centerstage as he struggles to evolve in the wake of deep tragedy. The passing of his partner and filmmaker Lynn Shelton weighs on Marc, as the film picks up a year later. We follow him on a self-reflective journey as he builds an hour of comedy, while processing grief both onstage and off. It chronicles his career from the 80’s with Sam Kinison through many career obstacles that eventually led him to the legacy-defining podcast WTF with Marc Maron. Looking back over his life at 60, Marc reconciles with a declining father, a changing comedy landscape and the prospect of retirement.
DFW PREMIERE
Director Steven Feinartz in attendance
MOVE YA BODY: THE BIRTH OF HOUSE (USA, 92 mins) 9:30 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Elegance Bratton
R.I.Y.L Paris Is Burning, Summer Of Soul
In the chaos of Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, a teenage usher named Vince Lawrence witnessed the fiery backlash against disco—a sound that defined freedom and pride. Undeterred by the hostility, Vince used his earnings to buy a synthesizer, setting in motion a journey that would change music forever. Venturing into the underground sanctuary of The Warehouse, where Frankie Knuckles spun revolutionary sounds, Vince teamed up with Jesse Saunders to form Z Factor, a scrappy collective of visionaries who captured the pulse of Chicago’s underground on wax. Their track, On and On, became the first recorded house music anthem, sparking a movement that transformed a local DIY culture into a global phenomenon. From those gritty Chicago streets to festival stages worldwide, Vince’s story is an electrifying testament to how a dream, born in the ashes of rejection, ignited a genre that continues to unite and liberate people across the globe..
DFW PREMIERE. Filmmakers Elegance Bratton and Chester Algernal Gordon in attendance[c]
SEEDS (USA, 123 mins) 1:00 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Brittany Shyne
R.I.Y.L Hale Country This Morning This Evening, Gaucho Gaucho
SEEDS is a portrait of centennial farmers in the geographical south. Using lyrical black and white imagery, this meditative film examines the decline of generational black farmers and the significance of owning land.
REVERIES: THE MIND PRISON (USA, 79 mins) 10:30 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Graham Mason
R.I.Y.L Tim and Eric, Altered States, I Think You Should Leave
Two mysterious drifters wandering a strange desert find themselves thrown into a journey of self-discovery, traversing a surreal and hostile terrain in search of answers to life’s unanswerable questions. As they spiral deeper into a world of madness, they must discover the meaning of…THE MIND PRISON.
TEXAS PREMIERE
Filmmaker Graham Mason in attendance.
Preceded by
PARADISE MAN (ii) (USA, 12 mins) – Dir. Jordan Michael Blake
Paradise Man searches for meaning in an unknowable universe. AGE OF AUDIO (USA, 75 mins) 3:15 PM – SUN June 29 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs). Dir. Shaun Michael Colón
R.I.Y.L – This American Life, NPR
Age of Audio hurtles from hacked-together RSS feeds to nine-figure buyouts, tracing the scrappy rise of podcasting through the eyes—and mic—of indie host Ronald Young Jr. Exclusive interviews with Ira Glass, Kevin Smith, Kara Swisher, Marc Maron, Roman Mars, and more reveal the medium’s Wild-West origin story, the gold-rush years of corporate money, and today’s fight to keep authenticity on-air.
WORLD PREMIERE
Filmmaker Shaun Michael Colón in attendance.
MESSY (USA, 81 mins) 5:15 PM – SUN June 29 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Alexi Wasser, R.I.Y.L Girlfriends, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, “Sex and the City”
Messy follows the life of brutally self-aware, promiscuous, love addict Stella Fox, who moves to New York after a devastating breakup, and all her disappointing romantic dalliances over the course of a summer.
TEXAS PREMIERE. Filmmaker Alexi Wasser in attendance.
PEACOCK [PFAU – BIN ICH ECHT?] (Austria, Germany, 102 mins) 12:15 PM – SUN June 29 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Bernhard Wenger, R.I.Y.L The Worst Person in the World, The Square, Hit Man
Matthias is the head of a successful Rent-A-Friend agency: If you need company, want to improve your public appearance, or even manipulate someone – just rent a friend. Matthias plays every role his clients desire – like an actor – but in real life. In English and German with English subtitles.
TEXAS PREMIERE, NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
LOCKJAW (USA, 77 mins) 9:00 PM – FRI June 27 – Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Dir. Sabrina Greco, R.I.Y.L Frances Ha, Shiva Baby, Dogleg
Six weeks after getting into a drunk driving accident that leaves her jaw wired shut, Rayna tries to have a fun night out with her friends.
TEXAS PREMIERE, Director Sabrina Greco and Cinematographer Neal Wynne in attendance
THE HEDONIST (USA, 83 mins) 7:15 PM – FRI June 27 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Nick Funess, R.I.Y.L Stranger Than Paradise, Feeling That The Time For Doing Something Has Passed”
After a nervous breakdown, a young office assistant flees to his parents’ house in Arizona and hires an escort to take care of him.
DFW Premiere
Filmmaker and star Nick Funess in attendance
$POSITIONS (USA, 97 mins) 6:00 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Brandon Daley, R.I.Y.L Good Time, Friendship, Connor O’Malley
Blue-collar Midwesterner Mike Alvarado attempts to save his family from the throes of poverty by investing their savings into speculative cryptocurrencies. However, as his investment strategy decays into a full-blown gambling addiction, he sends his life into a nightmarish anxiety-inducing downward spiral, compromising his relationships with his girlfriend, his developmentally disabled brother, and his recovering addict cousin. A twitchy, hyper-contemporary comedy with equal doses of laughs and panic attacks.
DFW Premiere
Filmmakers Brandon Daley and Ben Gojer in attendance
F*CKTOYS (USA, 106 mins) 8:00 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Annapurna Siriram, R.I.Y.L The Doom Generation, Welcome to the Dollhouse, Pink Flamingos
A lush and surreal 16mm fever dream allegory of the Tarot told through the story of AP- a sanguine young woman seeking salvation from a curse. At the outset AP is promised by not one but multiple psychics that -for a cool $1000 and the sacrifice of a baby lamb- it can be lifted. So she makes money the only way she knows how, scootering her way deeper into the night, into the uncouth underbelly of Trashtown. Dark, irreverent, and sexy, AP stumbles upon new characters and absurd situations, each more unhinged than the last, as she winds her way towards the inevitable. Fucktoys is a campy romp that explores the intersection of intimacy, exploitation, and class in a pre-millenium alternate universe.
TEXAS PREMIERE, Filmmaker and star Annapurna Sriram in attendance
NO SLEEP TILL (USA/Switzerland, 92 mins) 8:15 PM – SAT June 28 – Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Dir. Alexandra Simpson, R.I.Y.L Toute une nuit, Palo Alto, Goodbye Dragon Inn
When a coastal Floridian town is threatened by an impending hurricane, a handful of locals feel strangely compelled to stay put in spite of a mandatory evacuation order.
TEXAS PREMIERE
SOFTSHELL (USA, 87 mins) 2:15 PM – SUN June 29 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Jinho Myung, R.I.Y.L Funny Ha Ha, Wayne Wang, Kim Ki-duk
Following the death of their mother, a Thai-American brother and sister from Queens navigate life in the city and beyond. Mourning in their own subdued ways, Jamie starts her new job at a Zoo while Narin continues his work at a neighborhood Ji-Jitsu gym. After Jamie has an awkward interaction with a guy she’s seeing, she decides to plan an impromptu trip for her and her brother to get out of the city. Along the way, and upon their return to New York, the two siblings face a series of unexpected accounts.
TEXAS PREMIERE, Filmmaker Jinho Myung in attendance.
MONSTRUO DE XIBALBA [XIBALBA MONSTER] (Mexico, 76 mins) 6:00 PM – SUN June 29 – Kessler Theater
Dir. Manuela Irene, R.I.Y.L Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Spirit of the Beehive
Rogelio is 8, his parents are never around and he gets his best birthday gifts from his dentist. This summer he is sent away to his nanny’s hometown, nestled in the Yucatan jungle. Rogelio spends the excruciatingly hot days obsessing over “The Book of Spirits” which awakens in him visions and dreams of ghosts, but above all, of an old man who leaves a trace of death when passing by. Rogelio recounts this to his new Mayan friends, Lucio and Juanito, who say this man is not a dream, he is real and lives in the outskirts of town, he is known as the “Xibalba Monster”. Why these dreams? Rogelio starts to spy on the monster and lives an adventure that will change forever his view on life and death. In Spanish with English subtitles.
TEXAS PREMIERE
Director Manuela Irene in attendance
Preceded by SANA (Peru, 10 mins) – Dir. Manu Larios
A young man made of mud, fragmented by the emotional abandonment of his father, takes refuge in an imaginary scenario where he tries to rebuild himself through his own pain, heal his wounds and search for answers.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
NATCHEZ (USA, 86 mins) 3:45 PM – SAT June 28 – Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Dir. Suzannah Herbert, R.I.Y.L – Descendant, 4 Little Girls, 13th
After generations of showcasing its antebellum homes and hoop-skirted docents, Natchez, Mississippi, is now reckoning with a romanticized past, an uncertain future and the debt it owes to the descendants of slavery. A cinematic portrait of a tourist town at a crossroads, NATCHEZ follows an array of historic homeowners, activists and tour guides as they tell their versions of the past, and clash over who gets to tell America’s story.
TEXAS PREMIERE, Filmmaker Darcy McKinnon in attendance
CORONER TO THE STARS (USA, 83 mins) 6:15 PM – SAT June 28 – Bishop Arts Theatre Center
Dir. Ben Hethcoat, Keita Ideno, R.I.Y.L – City of the Dead, “Forensic Files”
Coroner to the Stars chronicles the extraordinary journey of Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the former Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner whose groundbreaking autopsies forever shaped American culture. From Marilyn Monroe and Robert Kennedy to Sharon Tate and Natalie Wood, Noguchi’s outspoken expertise pushed forensic science into the spotlight—even as Hollywood elites and political adversaries sought to silence him. A Japanese immigrant who unwittingly rose to fame in a city driven by stardom, Noguchi’s fearless pursuit of truth often placed him in the crosshairs of controversy.
TEXAS Premiere, Filmmaker Ben Hethcoat in attendance
VIDEOHEAVEN (USA, 172 mins) 11:45 PM – SUN June 29 – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Dir. Alex Ross Perry, R.I.Y.L Los Angeles Plays Itself, Other Music, Kim’s Video
Since the 1980s, the video shop has been a desperately necessary space for film culture. In Videoheaven, Alex Ross Perry tells the story of the neighbourhood video shop to consider wider, changing social histories, using appropriated footage from the high and lowbrow.
TEXAS PREMIERE
A BODY TO LIVE IN (USA, 98 mins) 4:30 PM – SUN June 29 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
Dir. Angelo Madsen, R.I.Y.L All The Beauty and The Bloodshed, Modify, La Pocha Nostra
The world of queer body modification and its intersection with BDSM is brought to life through this rich portrait of an artist and his philosophy of a spirit-body connection. Merging oral history with 16mm abstraction and photographic meditation, Angelo Madsen’s new film A BODY TO LIVE IN uses the life story and artworks of Fakir Musafar to guide us through pressing questions of belonging and the search for an authentic way of being.
TEXAS PREMIERE
Preceded by THEY CALL ME THE TATTOO WITCH (USA/Viet Nam, 14 mins) – Dir. Lindsay Nyman
In Hanoi, Vietnam, tattoo artist Tran Ngoc specializes in the rare and challenging art of tattooing over scars. Despite the social stigma surrounding tattoos in Vietnam, Ngoc empowers her clients, including breast cancer survivors and women with self-harm scars, to reclaim their bodies, demonstrating that her work is a profound act of compassion and resilience.
SHORT FILM PROGRAMS, TEXAS STUDENT SHOW (85 mins) 7:00 PM – FRI June 27 – Oak Cliff Assembly
CURL JAM (University of Texas at Arlington, 20 mins) – Dir. Tonya D. Holloway
In the pulsating rhythm of 1984, amidst Michael Jackson mania, unnoticed Stacy concocts a scheme to snag a ticket to the Jackson Five’s final concert tour, and perhaps, the heart of the middle school’s most sought-after boy.
MIDNIGHT SNACK (University of North Texas, 5 mins) – Dir. Anthony Grosse
When James wakes up in the middle of the night with an insatiable hunger, he searches the kitchen for food, only to find that it has all gone missing except for a gross, old hamburger that begins talking to him. The burger guilts James into feeling bad for ordering too much food and neglecting it, which dooms it to live a life without purpose. Now feeling emotionally connected to the burger, James agrees to eat it so it can finally be at peace.
TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS (Texas State University, 12 mins) – Dir. Bryson Price
A comedy set in the world of 90s children’s Television, this film follows former detective J.R. Henenlotter, host of the informative safety program “Street Talk”. J.R.’s uncompromising attitude finally catches up with him when his show is canceled and he is replaced with the much more kid friendly host Hacky Sack Henry. Determined to get back on the air, J.R. will save his show by any means necessary.
SEE YOU AT HOME (Texas A&M University, 4 mins) – Dir. Maleah Miller
Inspired by (and starring!) the director’s stay-at-home mom, this stop motion animated documentary short weaves original interview audio with miniature handicrafts to spotlight the invisible labor of domestic care that too often goes overlooked.
MAGIC BOX (Sachse High School, 1 min) – Dir. Anastasiia Zaleshina
The hunter hires a new apprentice to pass on his knowledge. They go hunting, where Jerry, the new apprentice, finds a magic box from which a ghost inhabits him.
WORMWOOD (University of Texas at Austin, 15 mins) – Dir. Sawyer Goolsby
Set in the deep south, two best friends make a beer run at the end of the world.
MADAWA (University of Texas at Austin, 12 mins) – Dir. Musila Munuve
A young man tries MDMA for the first time to win over a young woman he likes before she moves away.
Presented by TRG, For Oak Cliff, Canon and Stuff.io
This Shorts block will be preceded by short films from our Student Filmmaking Workshop.
ANIMATED SHORTS
(63 mins) 2:45 PM – SAT June 28 – Oak Cliff Assembly
AZKENA (Spain, 9 mins) – Dir. Lorea Lyons, Ane Inés Landeta
Lorea’s reference points are her mother and her grandmother. Through these two generations she observes the bond that women have experienced around motherhood. Now it is up to her to decide whether or not to become a mother herself and to look for answers to pending questions. In Basque with English subtitles.
EXTRA CREDIT (USA, 6 mins) – Dir. Angel Yau
An autobiographical stop-motion animation about Angel Yau’s experience with school and learning as a shy and awkward kid. School was hard for her mentally, socially, and emotionally. She just wanted to be validated and be special to someone.
WANDERING HORSE (USA, 2 mins) – Dir. Emily Ann Hoffman
A wandering horse leads to a wandering mind through the extraterrestrial beauty of New Mexico. An experimental animation made as a journal during a Santa Fe artist residency.
A TIME BEFORE (United Kingdom, 13 mins) – Dir. Leo Metcalf
Trapped between waking life and dreams, Olly delves into his childhood memories, navigating the fantastical dream worlds his sister created to shield them from family strife. A journey into the buried past that shapes who we are.
SEARCHING FOR THE 5TH DIRECTION (Switzerland, 7 mins) – Dir. Matthias Schüpbach
The search for the self and the memories and emotions associated with it lead us through forgotten and dark places of an inner world. We move in an apparent interactivity, generated by the camera work, through spaces created from around 150 3D scans, torn between curiosity and resistance.
THE LAST THING I THINK I SAW (USA, 15 mins) – Dir. Justin Kaminuma
A hallucinatory journey through the eyes of a patient experiencing a profound deterioration of their senses and perceptionas they confront their uncertainty, anxiety, and the fragility of memory and identity.
THE DOLL KILN (USA, 13 mins) – Dir. Wenwen Zhu
In a surreal desert village, toys repeat mechanical labor, some replacing their arms with human ones in pursuit of efficiency. A toy bear arrives and begins to observe the strange routines. Through metaphorical worldbuilding and “imperfect 3D” aesthetics, The Doll Kiln explores themes of compliance, resistance, and systemic control. Fragmented time and dream logic reveal a quiet protest against productivity, inviting reflection on the cost of transformation in oppressive systems.
LATE NIGHT SHORTS
(105 mins) 9:15 PM – FRI June 27 – Oak Cliff Assembly
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?! (USA, 12 mins) – Dir. Zen Pace
When a broke birthday party clown finds out during the gig from hell that his mother is on her deathbed; he must do whatever it takes to afford a flight home to say goodbye, all the while slowly losing his grip on reality.
¡BESO DE LENGUA! (Mexico, 15 mins) – Dir. José Luis Zorrero
Sitting inside a coffee shop that specializes in experimental desserts, Itzcóatl and Moisés are having their first date. Both boys are nervous, they ask each other different questions to keep the conversation and date flowing. As the date goes on, they both discover their compatibility; they have a similar humor and a vast knowledge on LGBTQIA+ lingo. After multiple milkshakes, cupcakes and macarons are eaten, they “play” an unusual and riveting game created by them. Full of passion and saliva, this game strengthens their romantic chemistry.
RAT! (USA, 17 mins) – Dir. Neal Suresh Mulani
When a disgruntled music journalist accuses a global pop star of queerbaiting, the singer’s devoted fans seek retribution.
HUMANZEE (USA, 23 mins) – Dir. Taro O’Halloran
In a quiet house in the suburbs, a lonely woman’s grizzly past comes back to haunt her when an old friend knocks at the door.
SKEETER (USA, 4mins) – Dir. Chris McInroy
A backyard party goes bonkers when this one weird guy shows up.
CHERRY-COLORED FUNK (USA, 16 mins) – Dir. Chelsie Pennello
A serial grifter faces the music when seemingly everyone he’s ever wronged shows up on the opening day of his dubious Italian ice business.
THE FATAL EGG (USA, 17 mins) – Dir. Joel Mendez-Zarate
A man tries to make an egg for breakfast. The universe has other plans.
NARRATIVE SHORTS #1
(90 mins) 1:15 PM – SAT June 28 – Bishop Arts Theatre Center
RUSTY LIGHTNIN’ KICK STARTS (USA, 7 mins) – Dir. Jack Kyser
Rusty Lightnin’, a goofy cowboy spokesman for a local car dealership, peddles a crowdfunding campaign in lo-fi TV spots. But the actor who plays Rusty, Leonard, is growing disillusioned with his buffoonish alter ego… and considering becoming an informant for ATF agents looking to bust the dealership’s owner for firearms trafficking. A proof-of-concept for a forthcoming feature to be filmed in Fort Worth, Texas.
OUT FOR DELIVERY (USA, 16 mins) – Dir. Chelsea Christer
When terminally ill Joanna makes the difficult decision to pursue end-of-life options through the Death with Dignity Act, the systems set up to make her death peaceful and dignified yield the opposite.
SHE RAISED ME (USA/Canada, 13 mins) – Dir. Ben Lewis
SHE RAISED ME is a dark comedy about a struggling playwright named Louie, whose plan to break up with his boyfriend goes awry, when he discovers his boyfriend’s mother is Marilyn Muff, an actress (and gay icon) Louie grew up idolizing. Louie quickly clings to Marilyn like a childhood security blanket, but what lengths will he go to to hold onto her?
REUNION (USA, 15 mins) – Dir. Kyle Montgomery and Judd Myers
A man happens to run into an old acquaintance from high school while on a hike in the woods.
WHAT HAVE I DONE (Canada, 14 mins) – Dir. Joel W. Ballanger
A night takes a wrong turn when Sam crashes his friend Adam’s boat while drunk. As time runs out at Adam and his wife Rachel’s vacation home, they present Sam with a choice that could change their friendship, and lives, forever.
BLISTERS (USA, 12 mins) – Dir. Alia Wilhelm, Callie Keels Ju
Manhattan, 1983. Tasked with helping her father run his deli on the night of its 24/7 opening, an unassertive teenager distracts herself with dreams of superstardom, while a few blocks away her idol David Bowie embarks on his first tour in five years.
NUKE (USA, 13 mins) –Dir. Kelsea Bauman-Murphy
A struggling comedian forces herself onto the lineup of New York’s most coveted comedy showcase, using the fallout of a nuclear missile alert to her advantage.
NARRATIVE SHORTS #2
(97 mins) 3:30 PM – SUN June 29 – Kessler Theater
DONOR (USA, 11 mins) – Dir. Erin Doyle Cooper
When faced with the financial strain of IVF, how far will a desperate sister go to get her wife pregnant when she needs her brother’s sperm to get the job done?
OUTED (UA, 9 mins) – Dir. Charlie Paulin
An overbearing mother implores her horny son to resist his urges to save him from the fate she endured.
NO HANDS (USA, 6 mins) – Dir. Joslyn Jensen
Over drinks, an old friend reveals a masturbation technique that must be experienced to be believed.
I’M NOT SURE (USA, 17 mins) – Dir. Mylissa Fitzsimmons
A depressed night manager and a naive young woman engage in a conversation revealing intimate secrets that alter the course of the night.
ERECTION AND DESTRUCTION (USA, 11 mins) – Dir. Eddie Mullins
Chip (Joshua Burge) is depressed. His girlfriend insists he get treatment, but when a therapist prescribes a wonder drug that leaves him impotent, she breaks up with him. Now even more depressed, Chip joins a support group where he meets others suffering from the effects of the drug. Among them are Vollmann (Matthew Jarzyna), an awkward virgin who’s struggling to concoct a home remedy, and Loretta (Chloë Levine), who has a more aggressive scheme in mind.
BELAY ON (USA, 11 mins) – Dir. Johnny Frohman
An insecure couple navigates feelings of jealousy at the expense of those around them.
F*CKBOI, OR, IL PARMIGIANO (USA, 15 mins) – Dir. Eliana Henrich
Bobby’s a small-town DJ and professional f*ckboi, falling in love every five minutes and forgetting it before the beat drops. Lou, a no-nonsense bottle girl, is the latest crush on his roster, but he’s tired of playing the same game. Laying in bed while his side chick scrolls, he’s inspired by a TikTok video spilling the secret of ultimate romance: a homemade Italian dinner. And so, Bobby embarks on the journey of a lifetime, cooking pasta for a girl.
BOWLS (USA, 9 mins) – Dir. Steve Collins
An argument overloading the dishwasher threatens to destroy a marriage.
MELODY OF LOVE (USA, 11 mins) – Dir. Guy Kozak
A cowboy earns the favor of a rancher’s daughter, but can’t keep his eyes off his horse.
CINEMA 16 SHORTS
(90 mins) 3:30 PM – SAT June 28 – Texas Theatre (Upstairs)
A FILM WITH SOUND TAKE THREE (USA, 3 mins) – Dir. Josh Weissbach
A father and daughter make a new movie after the daughter requests to make a film with sound after making a silent one the previous year.
NEXT HER HEART (Ukraine, 12 mins) – Dir. Anna Kipervaser
Eternal recurrence and wisdom undone. The end or the beginning. Who are we that we. One and the same are the shadow cast and its cause.
A hypnotic journey through the seven valleys on the way to reach the abode of the Simurgh.
THE CALL (USA, 7 mins) – Dir. Kelly Sears
The Call is an eco-revenge film featuring unlikely protagonists who were observed and filmed over three years at airports across the United States.
The rebellion has been building for decades.
This is a call to action.
MARATEIN, MARATEIN (USA/Lebanon, 25 mins) – Dir. Julia Yezbick
Letters to a maternal ancestor reflect on identity connected to ethnic heritage, while also embracing a broader notion of family beyond bloodlines. Weaving images and sounds from the filmmaker’s personal ties to two cities—Detroit and Beirut—the film poses the central question: How do we belong to each other?
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME (POETRY MIX) (USA, 12 mins) – Dir. Tommy Becker
“The Shape of Things to Come” is a four chapter art rock film that delves into themes of nostalgia for the future, uncertainties of technological progress, and the quest for authentic human connection. Through original songwriting, poetry, performance art, and insights of Terence McKenna, the film offers a creative exploration of our innovative nature and challenges us to consider how the very technology we create might ultimately pose risks to our well-being.
THE TRAVELER (USA, 6 mins) – Dir. Christina Hahn
An experimental short film with theatrical Korean Texan flair, “The Traveler” is an exploration of an artist’s inner world. The Traveler is visited by several muses who in turn compete, collude, and inspire the Traveler’s creative process. The muses: the Fool, the Bride, the Dragon, the Lion, and the Smoking Tiger all represent different facets of an artist’s mental struggle and delight in their practice. The Traveler is joined by a steadily increasing cohort of muses until they disappear as abruptly as they entered the Traveler’s mind, before beginning the process anew. Each muse dons a mask handcrafted by Hahn, who also developed, choreographed, and directed this film
I WAS THERE (United Kingdom/Poland, 13 mins) – Dir. Kamila Kuc
A haunting exploration of familial bonds, intergenerational memory, and the enduring impact of shared narratives. Filmmaker Kamila Kuc steps into the emotional stream of inherited family history as the lines between documentary, testimony, and fiction blur.
FATHER NEVER APPROVED OF MY TOYS (Egypt, 8 mins) – Dir. Maysoon Abdelghany
The world through the lens of a child’s imagination. This experimental short film follows a passionate child as she undergoes various inconvenient situations. She turns to her favorite doll as a means of coping, using her imagination to create a familiar, ideal world that reflects her feelings and aspirations. The film combines archival footage from the director’s childhood with animated scenes to show the world from the eyes of a child.
THE DIARY OF VALERIA (USA, 6 mins) – Dir. Athena Jey
This experimental short film is an adaptation of the fictional main character’s diary entry. This diary, belonging to a transgender woman named Valeria, deals with personal and existential anxieties about her body.
CAPITOL LIMITED (USA, 2 mins) – Dir. Lily Ekimian Ragheb, Ahmed T. Ragheb
A couple’s wedding day and an Amtrak train route are intertwined in this personal exploration of marriage and contemporary America. An enormous story – a train journey, a wedding and a tragedy – all in two minutes. A remarkable example of cinematic economy of means, the film’s brevity does not deter from its impact. Based on true events.
YOU CAN’T FIND LOVE (USA, 2 mins) – Dir. Tom Bessoir
After attending The Nova Convention in New York City in 1978, I was inspired by Brion Gysin to write a few permutation poems. This experimental film is based on a permutation poem I wrote in 1979. My film explores selective viewing by overloading the brain with different presentations of the same poem.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 1
(77 mins) 4:45 PM – SAT June 28 – Oak Cliff Assembly
DON’T CRY FOR ME ALL YOU DRAG QUEENS (USA, 9 mins) – Dir. Kristal Sotomayor
“Don’t Cry For Me All You Drag Queens” pays homage to the legendary Mother Cavallucci by weaving together the present and past to provide a striking portrait of belonging and memory. Joseph “Josie” Cavallucci (aka Mother Cavallucci) is a legendary New Hope drag queen that would host annual wedding celebrations in the 70s and 80s that served as fundraisers and a community party. Poetically merging archival photographs and present day footage from a community drag show, the film sparks conversation about the modern day issues Mother Cavallucci revolutionized.
THE SHIFT (USA, 15 mins) – Dir. Sami Abdou
A documentary short unveiling the dark underbelly of animal healthcare, following one veterinarian’s battle to survive in an industry he once loved.
BENEATH THE SAME SKY (USA, 12 mins) – Dir. Christine Kane
In the borderlands of El Paso, Texas, Fidel confronts the complex reality of his life as a Border Patrol agent. Finding himself at the edge of two nations, he works to enforce the law while uncovering the human stories behind the headlines—of dreams pursued and lost, hopes carried and shattered.
EL CASCO DE CARLOS (THE HELMET) (Mexico, 10 mins) – Dir. Franz Eichelmann Kaiser
Through the lens of an old American military helmet, a voice explores feelings of grief, loss and memory. A mystery is then unfolded on the border between North and South Korea. In Spanish with English subtitles.
RED THREAD (Lebanon, 25 mins) – Dir. Ahmad Naboulsi
In the dim glow of a forgotten mall’s basement, a group of filmmakers summons three strangers to a photography studio for an unusual audition. As the camera rolls, fragments of the past seep into the present, pulling the strangers into the labyrinth of memories they’ve long buried. The echoes of the mall, once vibrant, now desolate, become a stage where hidden truths resurface, and the boundaries between reality and recollection blur. Through this haunting encounter, they unravel the threads of their past, inching toward liberation from the shadows that have bound them for decades. In Arabic with English subtitles.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS 2
(74 mins) 1:00 PM – SUN June 29 – Kessler Theater
CHIMERA (USA, 12 mins) – Dir. Daniel Cantu
A short documentary highlighting professional skateboarder James Alby in the aftermath of their mother’s passing and their journey into ceramic art.
A TELEPHONE FOR GOD (USA, 10 mins) – Nicky Tavares
A Telephone for God explores the legacy of IBM scientific researcher Marcel Vogel. During his tenure at IBM, Vogel conducted pioneering research on luminescence, phosphor technology, liquid crystal systems, and magnetic coatings for hard disk drives, earning over 100 patents for his inventions. After retiring, he turned his focus to spiritual science, delving into areas such as human-plant communication and crystal healing. He developed a distinctive method for cutting quartz crystals, inspired by the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, for use in healing and meditation.
The film follows Drew Tousley—one of the few crystal cutters personally trained by Vogel before his death in 1991—as he creates a four-sided Vogel crystal. It also features energy healer Carly Tousley, who reflects on how she uses Vogel crystals in her healing work. Award-winning artist Merik Goma stars as Vogel’s contemporary assistant.
BEHIND THE STRINGS: AMPLIFYING BLACK FEMINISM IN GUITAR CULTURE (USA, 11m) – Dir. Judah Agbonkhina
Despite being pioneers and influencers in genres that center guitar, Black women are often removed from the social narrative around guitarists and instrumentalists. To increase access and representation, Swan Strings is partnered with Pegasus Media Project to produce a short film titled, “Behind The Strings: Amplifying Black Feminism in Guitar Culture.” The film will highlight the diversity and intersectionality of Black women, girls, and femmes based in Texas through exploring history and opportunities for musicians to be confident in their identity and musicianship.
MEET THE NOISEMAKERS (USA, 15 mins) – Dir. McKinley Argyle
“Meet the Noisemakers” follows a niche community of noise artists in Denton, Texas, and their mission to reject commercialization of art and music, starring Angel Drake, Rose Kamego, Kim Hopie, and Shawn Jackson. Through their shared love of experimental art and rejection of the status quo, the film paints an intimate portrait of this tight-knit scene and the community they’ve garnered in this little pocket of North Texas.
CHARLES UMLAUF: FLIGHT AND FALL (USA, 13 mins) – Dir. Ian Van Alan
Love and hate, light and dark, sacred and profane. As a prolific Texas artist, Charles Umlauf was interested in the entire range of human nature. His career spanned multiple mediums, scales, and subject matters, and yet what makes his body of work so captivating is its many contrasts and contradictions—its dualities.
Led by the art historians Dr. Katie R. Edwards and Dr. Louis A. Waldman, “Flight and Fall” journeys through Umlauf’s deepest themes and historical references to war and immigration, illuminating urgent parallels with our world today.
ROLLING FILM, ROCKING HISTORY, AL MAYSLES CAPTURES THE BEATLES (USA, 11 mins) – Dir. Bart Weiss
Al Maysles tells the story of how he shot the Beatles coming to the USA for the first time.
MFFL (USA, 8 mins) – Dir. Sai Selvarajan
On February 1 the Dallas Mavericks traded one of the best basketball players on the planet. This film captures the fury and confusion that followed such an inexplicable trade.
LIVE MUSIC EVENTS, DJ’s AND PARTIES
WEDNESDAY JUNE 25
Pre-Festival VIP Badge Holder Welcome – 7:00 – 9:00 PM – Oak Cliff Assembly
Pick up your OCFF VIP badge and join this year’s sponsors, filmmakers, and guests for a cocktail party kick-off event! Filmmaker, Press, Jury or VIP Badge required.
Food provided by Taco Y Vino. Presented by Stuff.io
THURSDAY JUNE 26
Opening Night Party with Planet B – 10:15 PM – 12:30 AM – Texas Theatre
OCFF alumni Planet B (Justin Pearson and Luke Henshaw) return for a DJ set in the lobby to help kick off the festival.
FRIDAY June 27
VIP Badgeholder Happy Hour – 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM – Apprentice at the Oak Cliff Assembly Real human interaction is essential at the OCFF. Abandon isolation in a creative space at one of Oak Cliff’s coolest renovations. Enjoy drinks, snacks, tunes and human emotion
Filmmaker, Press, Jury or VIP Badge required
THE MAYA DEREN PROJECT (75 mins) – 6:45 PM – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
The films of Ukrainian-born Maya Deren have struck a chord in Minneapolis based lo-fi, instrumental duo Ten Thousand Lakes. Steven Larsen and Peter Bruhn gravitate towards atmospheric, emotional, ethereal, discordant and harmonious sounds—whatever it takes to touch something special. Thus it is no surprise to be drawn to Deren’s silent films…mystical, distorted, disturbing, atmospheric, mesmerizing. They touch something beyond the consciousness, something of which dreams are made. It is a labor of deep admiration and respect to create original music to these special visions. This shorts program is a collection of innovative films that delve into dream imagery and non-linear narrative. The program opens with a brief animation from German expressionist filmmaker Walter Ruttmann’s “Lichtspiel” Opus II and III (1921-23) provide a geometric feast for the eyes, as objects dance, pulse, and spin across the screen, changing shape and color. Four Maya Deren experimental films – “At Land” (1944), “Ritual in Transfigured Time” (1946), “The Very Eye of Night” (1955) and “Meshes of the Afternoon” (1943) will be accompanied by a live score from Ten Thousand Lakes
THE OCTOPUS PROJECT – Behind The Screen – 11:00 PM – Texas Theatre
Austin based, electronic art pop outfit Octopus Project return to Oak Cliff for a BTS Show
SATURDAY June 28
MEMORY HOLE presents: ANIMALS ARE OVER – 7:00 PM – Texas Theatre (Downstairs)
Stare deep into the soul of this decaying country with Memory Hole, the enigmatic spinoff of Everything is Terrible!, who bring you a surreal, anti-civilization performance and video that unfolds in a mind-melting spectacle you’ll never forget (no matter how much you wish you could). Composed entirely of found home video, it’s an uncanny blend of art, horror, hilarity, and sadness. The experience will have you giggling in terror, all while wondering if there’s a monster lurking just behind you. Memory Hole proudly presents their latest work Animals Are Over, interwoven with a live performance/score, plus previously unseen clips from their 11-year archive of madness.
Animals Are Over will turn the viewer’s blood into a viscous, demonic sludge of oil and microplastics. Everyone has been feeling it, but no one has been brave enough to say it outloud… Animals Are Over. It is a depressing truth that must be explored. Our current version of humanity is so shortsighted and clueless as to our own position in Kingdom Animalia that we are destroying all animals, ourselves included for the sake of cheap dopamine blasts and to bolster the profits of a few loser billionaires. You don’t believe us? After seeing this show you will.
Co-Presented by Parade of Flesh
Move Ya Body Afterparty – 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM – Texas Theatre
Behind the screen DJ party with local house music hero, Triico
SUNDAY June 29
Gypsy 83 Closing Night After Party – 10:30 PM – 1:00 AM – Texas Theatre
Celebrate closing night with a Gypsy 83 themed after party. Scarlett K will be spinning darkwave, post-punk, new wave and industrial.
VIP FILMMAKER LOUNGE
Safe Room of the Texas Theatre Nightly from 6:00 to Midnight
Hang out with real movie people, talking about real movies, while drinking real adult beverages. Enjoy real human emotions at this unpretentious, lounge of very important human people and featuring items selected by our real sponsors.
OCFF WELLNESS LOUNGE
Oak Cliff Cultural Center – Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Need a place to chill out during the fest? We got you covered this year in our Wellness Lounge, where you can take a break, recharge and partake in a sound bath, yoga class or meditation. Snacks and refreshments will be provided and class signups are available on our website. Filmmaker, VIP, Press or Jury badge required to enter. Humans need wellness.
Presented by Ritual Zero Proof and Seedlip
WORKSHOPS
Saturday, June 28
Oak Cliff Cultural Center
Austin Film Society Short Filmmakers Grant Workshop
11:00 AM
Since 1996, the Austin Film Society has awarded cash and in-kind grants to over 425 film and video artists across the state of Texas through the AFS Grant. Join the AFS staff to learn more about the 2022 AFS Grant for Short Projects that opens this July. Get more information about the opportunities available, the application and selection processes, and tips for a successful project application.
Co-Presented by Austin Film Society, Ley Line Entertainment and David Lowery
Women In Filmmaking: Progress, Challenges and the Road Ahead
1:00 PM
Let’s be honest: being a woman in the film industry has its challenges. While some aspects have improved, it’s still very much a work in progress. Hear from OCFF filmmakers on their experiences as women in the industry. Moderated by Dallas Film Commissioner Katie Schuck and featuring Liz Cardenas, Chelsie Pennello, Sabrina Greco, Annapurna and Manuela Irene
Co-Presented by Dallas Film Commission and the Oak Cliff Cultural Center
These free-to-the-public educational workshops are made possible with support from the Austin Film Society & The Oak Cliff Cultural Center. Panels will be limited capacity, RSVP required. Panels powered by AJA Video Systems and Sony
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PLEASE REACH OUT VIA EMAIL FOR APPROVED PHOTOS OF AWARD WINNING FILMS AND AWARDS IMAGES.
OAK CLIFF FILM FESTIVAL Links
Facebook: Facebook.com/FilmOakCliff
Twitter: Twittter.com/FilmOakCliff
Instagram: Instagram.com/FilmOakCliff
For more info on The Oak Cliff Film Festival visit www.filmoakcliff.com.
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