Shorts Program 5: African Film Festival Atlanta 2026

Shorts Program 5: CROSSING QUIET LINES.

A collection of 4 films that explores intimate stories of movement and the unseen boundaries people navigate as they search for and explore their own identity.

The Will Beneath Synopsis

United States | 23 minutes 27 seconds | Thriller, Drama, Historical, period piece

In this bold reimagining of African history, Naomi has spent years silently enduring Cecil Rhodes’ cruelty, but beneath her obedience lies a plan for revenge. Turning his own excess into a deadly weapon, she joins forces with another woman trapped in his grip to orchestrate his downfall and reclaim the power stolen from them.

Get a taste of the film by watching the trailer

Diag is a South Asian filmmaker born and raised in South Africa whose storytelling is deeply influenced by his cultural roots and his education in film at Syracuse University in New York.

Bridging three worlds, his work often explores themes of identity, displacement, and resilience, shaped by his experiences navigating life between South Africa and the U.S. His films aim to spotlight underrepresented voices through visually expressive narratives that spark conversation and reflect the complexity of lived experiences.

Trinidad Remains Synopsis

United States | 23 minutes 27 seconds | Thriller, Drama, Historical, period piece

In this bold reimagining of African history, Naomi has spent years silently enduring Cecil Rhodes’ cruelty, but beneath her obedience lies a plan for revenge. Turning his own excess into a deadly weapon, she joins forces with another woman trapped in his grip to orchestrate his downfall and reclaim the power stolen from them.

Get a taste of the film by watching the trailer

KAREN MARTINEZ is a dual national British-Trinidadian filmmaker based in London, UK. She has worked extensively in the film world both in the UK and the Caribbean. In 2013 she wrote and directed her first narrative fiction, After Mas, that won the Short award at ttff13 and was screened at a number of international festivals.

Awards: Best Narrative Short - Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival (TTFF)

Untold Stories Synopsis

United Kingdom | 37 minutes 11 seconds | Documentary

A powerful documentary that delves into the experiences of the Somali community in Tower Hamlets, London, United Kingdom. Among the earliest settlers were Somalilanders, who arrived as seamen and soldiers. This film shares the stories of both first and second generations of the Somaliland community, exploring their identity and community.

Get a taste of the film by watching the

Suher is a British-Somali freelance producer, director and founder of newly formed JanFirst Productions. A production company platforming global majority stories across stage and screen. Under JanFirst, she produced the sold-out play Crush, which debuted at Somali Week Festival 2025.

She previously produced the acclaimed play Desperate Times by Amal Abdi and works full-time in TV, with credits including The One Show, Educating Yorkshire, Amol Rajan Interviews, and Life & Death Row.

Beyond Ustoppable Synopsis

United States | 20 minutes 19 seconds | Family, Drama

In the heart of DeKalb County, Georgia, a young Somali refugee struggles with grief and anger after losing his father and sister back home. His mother, working two jobs to keep them afloat, longs to be present for her son but is too overworked to be the steady presence he needs. On long train rides to escape his circumstances, he glimpses a soccer field, a flash of hope in a life overshadowed by loss.

Get a taste of the film by watching the trailer

Korstiaan "Kors Vandiver is a filmmaker and educator that hails from Atlanta where he took a serious interest in filmmaking after he served as an apprentice and eventually received some serious mentoring advice from educator and filmmaker Spike Lee.

Kors, is currently producing his first feature film along with the help of his wife and closest producer partner Kimberly Vandiver with support of his partner company Innervision Filmworks w/ Dwight Wilson II as well as Phantom Four Films who were instrumental in the Dark Knight trilogy as well as other films.

Category: Narrative & Documentary

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Host or Publisher African Film & Arts Foundation