Personal & Drama Film Shorts Showcase + Q&A w/director —DCIFF 2026

Domestic Animals directed by Sandy Siquier, Alex Mendez Giner ( United States / 2025 / 19 mins ) Domestic Animals is a haunting drama that peels back the silence surrounding domestic violence. Through the intimate story of a couple trapped in a cycle of pain, the film explores the emotional complexity and nuances of domestic partner abuse.

Way Back Home directed by Chad Hamilton ( United States / 2024 / 20 mins ) Jared and Van inherit their grandmother’s dilapidated brownstone. The siblings have opposing views on what to do with the house until a surprise offer forces one to make arrangements behind the other’s back.

Back Then directed by Junhyeok Kim ( United States / 2025 / 13 mins ) Haneul greets his parents and heads to college. While in a taxi to New York, a diminishing past memory is brought up — through one old, crumbled Leche Frita wrapper.

Yummy Cuisine directed by Wenhwa Tsao ( United States / 2025 / 15 mins ) As an undocumented immigrant, Wei's livelihood depends on delivering food, his car being his most crucial possession. When carjacked, he fights to retain his job, driven by the urgent need to fund his toddler son's heart surgery.

The Companions directed by José María Flores ( Spain / 2024 / 12 mins ) A young couple walks down the street, they have left the children at home and are going out to dinner. A crowd gathers around something.

Seeing Each Other, Seeing Things directed by Ben Taman ( United States / 2025 / 11 mins ) BILLY, an anxious and dedicated late twenty-something, awakens to just another day with his not-so-trusty companion–a bird chained to his shoulder. Thrown for a loop by a diner server, he begins to wonder what’s real and what’s not.

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Host or Publisher DC Independent Film Festival (DCIFF)