DFF 2026 | Session 10 | DFF Student Short Films
The following films have been selected for the 2026 DFF Student Short Films Festival (subject to change due to schedule and time constraints):
ARACHNE (2026, Crestwood Elementary 4th & 5th Graders, 11 min) — A delightfully askew interpretation of a well-known Greek myth by the 4th and 5th grade students of Crestwood Elementary school in Madison. The tale of a girl with a talent so great it threatens the gods, told with just the right amount of Gen Alpha twistedness.
PRESSURE MIXTAPE (2026, Lindbergh Elementary 2nd-5th Graders, 7 min.) — Off-kilter and inventive animation by 2nd-5th graders at Lindbergh Elementary School in Madison Wisconsin, set to music from the Madison East High School Hip Hop Studies program. Working alongside teaching-artist Dawry Ruiz (D.A.R.S.), the high school students found samples, produced beats, wrote verses and put together a mixtape called “Da Pressure.” Students at Lindbergh meanwhile, listened to the tracks, created their own art, and brought it to life with stop-motion animation.
DALIA (2026, John David Sanchez, DePaul University, 27 min) — When a Latin Immigrant girl, Dalia, is invited into the home of an English-speaking family, they must learn what it means to empathize and connect without speaking the same language.
PARTY FOUL (2026, Anders Finholt, DePaul University, 5 min) — Reid, a love-lorn young adult with a balloon for a head, works up the courage to talk to a girl at a party. But when he finally crosses the room, he has a fateful encounter.
PEBBLE (2026, Salma Mohamed Anas, Helwan University, 5 min) — In a world where moss-covered rocks depend on a flowing spring to survive, a massive stranger takes control of their only source of water. When the spring begins to dry, a brave pebble must find the courage and ingenuity to challenge the giant and restore life to his community and bring back peace to his world.
RIPTIDE — (2026, Michele Schmitz, DePaul University, 13 min) — Alex and Julie’s friendship, allyship, love, and lust gets swept up in a whirlpool of confusion.
SOLDIERS — (2026, Jonas Serpa Souza, DePaul University, 14 min) — In a time of political turmoil, a striking factory worker struggles to find sexual satisfaction. As unrest turns to violence, his desire takes him down an unexpected path.
PIANISSIMO (2026, Chan Woo Kim, DePaul University, 13 min) — After a dedicated pianist suddenly loses the rest of his hearing on the day of the biggest performance of life, an audition with a live audience and a full orchestra, Kevin must race against time to adapt his music or risk losing everything he spent his whole life working for.
DUST OF SUMMER (2026, Minkyo Park, DePaul University, 19 min) — Following her mother’s death, a 19-year-old Yujin moves in with her estranged 25-year-old half-brother Khoa in his studio apartment above their fathers’ restaurant. Amidst the quiet days and unspoken routines, they slowly unearth and confront the intricacies of a bond they never fully understood.
ROSES (2026, Artur Wysocki, University of Silesia, 10 min) — The film tells the story of a young waiter and a female photographer. The young woman’s camera bears witness to their story. This small device serves as a vessel for the feelings and memories that matter most.
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With its mission of screening the best in Wisconsin independent cinema in a theater that is worthy of the art that it is showcasing, the Driftless Film Festival returns for its 17th edition this fall.
Founded in 2009 by filmmakers Darren Burrows and Nicholas Langholff, the Driftless Film Festival has been the center of independent film in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. From hard-hitting documentaries to thought provoking features to timely short films, the DFF strives to highlight local, regional, and world cinema alike. Join us for this year’s festival, taking place November 4-8, 2026.
DFF screens each of its films in the Mineral Point Opera House. Beautifully restored in 2009, and with its new marquee finally in place, the theatre retains the atmosphere of its origins as a 1915 vaudeville house. Brought to life by film screenings and live performances year round, the Opera House is both an elegant testament to Mineral Point’s passion for preservation and a showcase space for some of the best entertainment in the region.
Each year the festival hosts filmmakers from across the country. Special guests have included Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Seinfeld, Little Red), Anthony Arendt (Muscle Shoals, Avatar), and Matt Adams (We Cause Scenes) among many others. Not only do visiting filmmakers present revealing Q&A discussions during the festival, but the weekend provides an opportunity for filmmakers and attendees to mingle outside the screenings. Friendships form over coffee at the local diner and drafts at the main street bars. This opportunity for one-on-one connection kindles the union of film and community at DFF.
From popular festival hits to locally-produced art, the Driftless Film Festival seeks to showcase the most thought-provoking, innovative, and creative independent cinema of our time. These films will hit home in a place that feels like home. We welcome you to join us.
ARACHNE (2026, Crestwood Elementary 4th & 5th Graders, 11 min) — A delightfully askew interpretation of a well-known Greek myth by the 4th and 5th grade students of Crestwood Elementary school in Madison. The tale of a girl with a talent so great it threatens the gods, told with just the right amount of Gen Alpha twistedness.
PRESSURE MIXTAPE (2026, Lindbergh Elementary 2nd-5th Graders, 7 min.) — Off-kilter and inventive animation by 2nd-5th graders at Lindbergh Elementary School in Madison Wisconsin, set to music from the Madison East High School Hip Hop Studies program. Working alongside teaching-artist Dawry Ruiz (D.A.R.S.), the high school students found samples, produced beats, wrote verses and put together a mixtape called “Da Pressure.” Students at Lindbergh meanwhile, listened to the tracks, created their own art, and brought it to life with stop-motion animation.
DALIA (2026, John David Sanchez, DePaul University, 27 min) — When a Latin Immigrant girl, Dalia, is invited into the home of an English-speaking family, they must learn what it means to empathize and connect without speaking the same language.
PARTY FOUL (2026, Anders Finholt, DePaul University, 5 min) — Reid, a love-lorn young adult with a balloon for a head, works up the courage to talk to a girl at a party. But when he finally crosses the room, he has a fateful encounter.
PEBBLE (2026, Salma Mohamed Anas, Helwan University, 5 min) — In a world where moss-covered rocks depend on a flowing spring to survive, a massive stranger takes control of their only source of water. When the spring begins to dry, a brave pebble must find the courage and ingenuity to challenge the giant and restore life to his community and bring back peace to his world.
RIPTIDE — (2026, Michele Schmitz, DePaul University, 13 min) — Alex and Julie’s friendship, allyship, love, and lust gets swept up in a whirlpool of confusion.
SOLDIERS — (2026, Jonas Serpa Souza, DePaul University, 14 min) — In a time of political turmoil, a striking factory worker struggles to find sexual satisfaction. As unrest turns to violence, his desire takes him down an unexpected path.
PIANISSIMO (2026, Chan Woo Kim, DePaul University, 13 min) — After a dedicated pianist suddenly loses the rest of his hearing on the day of the biggest performance of life, an audition with a live audience and a full orchestra, Kevin must race against time to adapt his music or risk losing everything he spent his whole life working for.
DUST OF SUMMER (2026, Minkyo Park, DePaul University, 19 min) — Following her mother’s death, a 19-year-old Yujin moves in with her estranged 25-year-old half-brother Khoa in his studio apartment above their fathers’ restaurant. Amidst the quiet days and unspoken routines, they slowly unearth and confront the intricacies of a bond they never fully understood.
ROSES (2026, Artur Wysocki, University of Silesia, 10 min) — The film tells the story of a young waiter and a female photographer. The young woman’s camera bears witness to their story. This small device serves as a vessel for the feelings and memories that matter most.
--
With its mission of screening the best in Wisconsin independent cinema in a theater that is worthy of the art that it is showcasing, the Driftless Film Festival returns for its 17th edition this fall.
Founded in 2009 by filmmakers Darren Burrows and Nicholas Langholff, the Driftless Film Festival has been the center of independent film in the Driftless Area of southwestern Wisconsin. From hard-hitting documentaries to thought provoking features to timely short films, the DFF strives to highlight local, regional, and world cinema alike. Join us for this year’s festival, taking place November 4-8, 2026.
DFF screens each of its films in the Mineral Point Opera House. Beautifully restored in 2009, and with its new marquee finally in place, the theatre retains the atmosphere of its origins as a 1915 vaudeville house. Brought to life by film screenings and live performances year round, the Opera House is both an elegant testament to Mineral Point’s passion for preservation and a showcase space for some of the best entertainment in the region.
Each year the festival hosts filmmakers from across the country. Special guests have included Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Seinfeld, Little Red), Anthony Arendt (Muscle Shoals, Avatar), and Matt Adams (We Cause Scenes) among many others. Not only do visiting filmmakers present revealing Q&A discussions during the festival, but the weekend provides an opportunity for filmmakers and attendees to mingle outside the screenings. Friendships form over coffee at the local diner and drafts at the main street bars. This opportunity for one-on-one connection kindles the union of film and community at DFF.
From popular festival hits to locally-produced art, the Driftless Film Festival seeks to showcase the most thought-provoking, innovative, and creative independent cinema of our time. These films will hit home in a place that feels like home. We welcome you to join us.
Where is it happening?
139 High St, Mineral Point, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53565
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Host or PublisherDriftless Film Festival
