Short Block | Family Compass

This block brings together films that capture the messy, heartfelt, and sometimes funny moments of family life. From reunions, weddings, and funerals to divorces and secrets, these stories dive into the ups and downs of family dynamics. Each film shows how families shape us, challenge us, and influence our path (for better or for worse.)

Good Grief | Dir. Megan Chumbley | 12 min | Short | USA 

What should be a sober memorial devolves into a chaotic frenzy as a young woman’s attempt at coping with her father’s suicide is derailed by her self-centered family. 

JASON IS MY DAD | Dir. Ashley Zukerman | 16 min | Short | Australia | Drama, Comedy, Thriller

An Uber driver finds himself helping a private school kid with a paper route while trying to get a refund for a washing machine that he says never arrived.

Something Blue (alt. 在好久好久以前) | Dir. Jinsui Song | 14 min | Short | USA 

Emily returns home to attend her cousin’s wedding. In this jovial setting, she struggles to confront the source of her past trauma.

Night Session | Dir. Ballard C. Boyd | 11 min | Short | USA | Comedy

When a burglar unexpectedly runs into a homeowner during a theft, a simple robbery morphs into a makeshift therapy session with the burglar helping the homeowner process his impending divorce - all while the homeowner continues to help the burglar rob his apartment.

Desync | Dir. Minerva Marie Navasca| 12 minutes | Short | USA

A young Filipina filmmaker attempts to overwrite a painful memory of her mother with a perfect narrative.

Cicadas | Dir. Alexandria Collins, Jared Culp | 16 min | Short | USA | Drama, Family Drama, Slice of Life, Black Stories, Black Family, African American Stories, Dramedy, Comedy

Ray and Melanie Fox are the family’s self-appointed “leaders” after the death of Grandaddy Fox. They’ve taken meticulous detail in planning the first official family reunion in 12 years. Family members have traveled from across the country for this occasion including their son Rory and his longtime girlfriend, Alice. What happens when egos clash and tempers flare as a family tries to reassemble for the first time 12 years after the death of their beloved patriarch? Truths they've been hiding from themselves and each other make their way to the surface.

Love Taps | Dir. Derrick Woodyard | 14 min | Short, Student | USA | Drama, Coming of Age, Family, LGBTQ

A young boy trying to cope with his parent's separation gains a new perspective of his father after discovering his affair with another man.

Host or Publisher Bushwick Film Festival