Short Block | Courage

These films depict characters who dig deep to find the courage to stand up for themselves, face challenges, and follow their hearts. With a blend of humor, tenderness, and introspection, each story highlights the bravery needed to confront (or crawl through) life’s uncertainties—love, loss, and new beginnings—reminding us that true growth often comes from embracing the unknown.

My Tomato Heart (alt. Mon cœur de tomate) | Dir. Benoît Le Rouzès Ménard | 15 min | Short | Canada

Madeleine is forced to quit her position at the neighborhood grocery store. Except that her job is her whole life; her colleagues, her only family. The quinquagenarian spends her last days of work fighting to save what is near and dear to her heart…

Tea | Dir. Blake Winston Rice | 12 min | Short | USA | Romance, Drama, Comedy

While rehearsing asking out the girl of his dreams, a lonely and highly allergic Circuit-Shack employee gets stung in the throat by a hornet.

All Boys | Dir. Nic Inglese | 11 min | Short | USA | Drama, Comedy

Four high school boys and a Catholic priest play a disastrous game of telephone.

Replay | Dir. Phil Mazo | 3 min | Documentary, Short | USA

A man has the chance for redemption over a humiliating TV show appearance from his childhood in this docu-comedy.

This Boy's Vida (Made in America) | Dir. Adrienne Acevedo Lovette | 26 minutes | Short | USA

Based on true events, with the help of his imaginary future self, an American Latino boy who dreams of being an actor turns "Robinhood" to feed his starving sisters, until the system catches up with him and forces him to choose between his family or dreams.

Lillo | Dir. Andrea Figueroa | 8 min | Mexico | Fantasy, Drama

After the death of his father, a little boy has to do the cornfield harvest on his own, overcoming his loss with the help of his imagination.

Virgencita | Dir. Ana Isabel Dow | 12 minutes | Short | USA

After moving in with her ailing ABUELA after her mother’s death, six-year-old LUCÍA comes face to face with an insatiable god. Can Lucía find a way satisfy the god’s hunger in order to be granted her wish?

Host or Publisher Bushwick Film Festival