Blackmagic Collective Film Festival 2025!

presents a festival solely catering to short narrative films and the filmmakers that make them. We encourage networking before and after the event!

Tickets are by donation only, so you decide the price you want to pay. Thanks to our sponsor ; we give 100% of ticket sales to the non-cash winning filmmakers who screen in the competition. Thus, by choosing to buy a ticket you are supporting indie filmmakers.

Schedule:

6pm Check In Begins
630pm Doors Open + Networking & Photos
7pm Program begins
815pm Q&A + Awards
845pm - Networking
915pm - Event ends

IF SALES HAVE ENDED, PLEASE COME TO THE DOOR WITH A CASH DONATION OR SEND VIA VENMO TO @HEARTONFIREPRODUCTIONS
Parking: free street parking after 6pm; affordable lot down the block (validate at theatre)

Blackmagic Collective (BMC) is a non-profit dedicated to the education of filmmakers by promoting training in production and post, gatherings with industry experts, networking opportunities, initiatives to advance filmmakers' careers, events throughout the year, and more. All of our events and initiatives are free for members. Membership is free also. Join at BlackmagicCollective.com.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION:

THE OUTCASTS (TRT 14:51)​
After escaping a sinister intergalactic regime, a gifted crew of misfit kids hides on Earth, hoping to disappear. But when mercenaries close in, their fragile refuge shatters—and they must once again harness their powers to fight for justice, testing the limits of friendship, family, and sacrifice.

Director: Jenn Page
Cinematographer: Nick Ramsey
Writer: Jenn Page & John Curtis
Colorist: Will Raee
Special Effects: Some Guy In Anaheim (aka Rick Cortez)
Stunt Coordinator: Casey Lloyd
Composer: Chris Edgar
Ensemble: John L. Curtis, Summer Walters, Harleen Quinzel, Anthony Ruggieri, Claire Kresser, Kiran Jackson, Zaela Rae, Eva Huang, Chase Simone, Jaimes Timas, Adron Duell, Ethan Clark, Malachi White

SHORT FILMS IN COMPETITION:

B!TCH IM EARLY (TRT 6:21)​
​Two women, a generation apart, find themselves locked in an absurd battle for a coveted promotion. Desperate to outshine each other, the ladies escalate their rivalry from petty arguments to an all-out race to the office. Watch the trailer ​.

Nominees
Director: Jesse Cowell
Cinematographer: Jesse Cowell
Writer: Jesse Cowell
Color Grading: Jesse Cowell
Lead Actors: Michelle Batista & Jesenia
Ensemble: Michelle Batista & Jesenia, Cary Hite, Shari Ellis, Hilary Walker, Elizabeth Tsung

DEATH IN TRAINING (TRT 14:24)
On his first day as a trainee, Death mistakenly takes the wrong soul and embarks on a hilarious journey trying to correct his mistake. Watch the trailer ​.

Nominees
Director: Miguel Angel Duran
Cinematographer: Iliana Ipes
Writer: Miguel Angel Duran
Color Grading: Iliana Ipes
Lead Actor: Jared Treviño
Ensemble: Jared Treviño, Mariel Martinez, Carlo Allen

L(ong)A(ss)ST Day (TRT 5:35)
A simple recording session faces a challenge when the hired talent is not right for the job. Watch the trailer ​.

Nominees
Directors: Jenny Curtis & Jillian Cantwell
Cinematographer: Paul W. Sauline
Writer: Jenny Curtis
Color Grading: Paul W. Sauline
Ensemble: Jenny Curtis, Jo Osmond and Shane Salk

R.E.W.I.N.D. TO HER (TRT 5:59)
A grieving woman risks her sanity to relive a critical moment with her lost partner using experimental technology, only to find that love—and reality—may not be as final as she thought. Learn more about the creator and star ​here.

Nominees
Director: Melissa Blue Ward
Cinematographer: Steven Strobel
Writer: Stephanie Arapian
Color Grading: Melissa Blue Ward
Lead Actor: Stephanie Arapian
Ensemble: Stephanie Arapian, Alice Assef, Aris Alvarado

A STUPID MAN (TRT 8:27)
Owen wants his ex-girlfriend back but he needs his best friend Milly’s help. Will she come through or does she have other ideas? More on the production company that brought this to life ​here​.

Nominees
Director: Amy Frear
Cinematographer: Rick Cook
Writer: Jeny Batten
Color Grading: Kathria Tizon
Lead Actor: Shannon DeVido
Ensemble: Shannon DeVido & Matteo Scammell

SUPERMAN DOESN'T STEAL (TRT 17:00)
Based on a true story and set during the 1970’s Atlanta Child Murders, comic book obsessed siblings make critical choices which put them in danger and cause them to question their definition of heroes, villains, Superman and themselves. More on the film ​here.​

Nominees
Director: Tamika Lamison
Cinematographer: Erin G. Wesley
Writer: Tamika Lamison
Color Grading: Apache Digital
Lead Actor: Ellis Hobbs IV
Ensemble: Ellis Hobbs IV, Jordyn McIntosh, Tamika Lamison, Mustafa Shakir, E. Roger Mitchell, Kellen Boyle, Mark Totty

ZERO CHILL (TRT 2:04)
When an enthusiastic caddy, a pretentious socialite and a baffled pro golfer gossip about an actress at the country club, the laughs tee off. More on the creator and star ​here.
Nominees
Director: Marc Martinez
Cinematographer: Marc Martinez
Writer: David Demena
Color Grading: Michael Ryan Wilson
Lead Actor: Lauren White

The full short film program is just over one hour.

Host or Publisher Blackmagic Collective