2024 Film Synopses
THURSDAY – February 29
9:00 AM – Alley Cat - Doc Block 1
Pure and Undefiled Religion - 00:08:19
Pure and Undefiled Religion follows the story of the Varvoutis family as they listened to God’s call to become foster parents.
Window Treatment - 00:10:40
The long-standing American military occupation of Okinawa is poetically explored in this essay film about an elderly man receiving new windows
Rodney - 00:08:48
Rodney has a developmental disability and lost his home simply because of his and his family's advocacy for him to be able to choose a basic human right of what he wanted to eat.
10:00 AM – Alley Cat - Alabama 1
The Seal of Death 2 - 00:17:46
When Tony Han, a former detective, receives a “Seal of Death” letter threatening his honor and life, he ventures out to New York to take down the one person responsible, Shang Lee, The Head of the Yakuza.
Cain - 00:01:42
An android named Cain is in hiding after allegedly killing his boss.
The Old Lady and the Boxer - 00:19:45
Set in the mid-80’s, Baltimore, The Old Lady & The Boxer follows former Texas roughneck and current amateur boxer - Joe Saturn as he battles his ghosts and searches for respect. The neighborhood’s scrappy, foul-mouthed old lady, Audrey, spends her days and nights drinking Irish whiskey on her front stoop. She takes an interest in Joe, and they forge a friendship built on sarcasm, boxing, and an unspoken desire to be understood.
Banned - 00:03:34
A state senator passes a measure banning books with controversial content, only to covertly seek out one of those very titles for personal reasons.
11:00 AM – Alley Cat - Alabama 2
The Crying Boy - 00:12:00
When a violent murder shakes a rural town, a boy's nightmares take a seemingly prophetic turn when he claims to have identified the murderer.
Stiff Expectations - 00:03:20
A young woman has a job interview... but not a typical one.
2:00 PM – Mane Room – Alabama 3
Polaris - 00:02:33
Experimental film about the stars and the end of the world.
A Confusing Truth, A Comforting Lie - 00:17:31
Kamran is called to meet with HR where he finds that he has been framed for a crime. He is given 2 options, help the company save face against racist allegations or risk imprisonment and career suicide. The journey to make the decision forces Kamran to discover what he stands for, who he is, and how to answer the ever so complicated question for children of immigrants – where are you from?
Don’t Worry About Me - 00:22:44
This film explores a man's journey of finding the good in life after his wife passes.
Devil’s Tree - 00:05:40
A young couple, Antonio and Madison, set out on a hike in Devil’s Tree Park, where their friend Chip disappeared several weeks before. When they stumble upon some potential evidence regarding Chip’s disappearance, it becomes apparent they are being watched by a threatening presence. Antonio films the events that follow, documenting them in hopes that someone will find the footage.
In the Closet - 00:22:23
As young adult Quinn cleans out their childhood closet, they reflect on the keepsakes they associate with their gender identity struggle. We watch from the closet as they encounter parental coercion, a loveless marriage, and a pregnancy, all of which contribute to their gender dysphoria. This series of flashbacks results in their decision to identify as trans and achieve that gender euphoria they've been searching for.
4:00pm – Mane Room – Alabama 4
The Smortal - 00:01:00
A jogger accepts an unexpected invitation transporting him to someplace exotic, colorful, and... pungent.
God Hospital - 00:15:00
A reflection of the healing journey - the existential dread that comes with it, and learning who your angels are along the way.
Don’t Look in the Closet - 00:03:40
After spending a debaucherous night out, Tommy arrives home to find his wife missing...
A Box of Ghosts - 00:17:35
After the sudden death of her sister, Elizabeth, Amber inherits a mysterious box that her sister found shortly before she died. Once she opens the box, Amber starts to see her sister everywhere. At first she believes that Elizabeth is reaching out for help, but as the sightings begin to take on a more sinister nature, it becomes apparent that a malicious entity, taking the form of Elizabeth, may have been unleashed from the box.
Veal - 00:09:00
A strange young man seeks a twisted sort of salvation in the home of a stranger.
4:00pm – Alley Cat – Southern Exposure
Lullaby for Sipsey - 00:02:23
In this micro-short film, enjoy as a captivating poem unfolds, gently celebrating the profound beauty found in the intricate details of the Sipsey Wilderness in Alabama.
THEY NEVER LEFT: INDIGENOUS RETURN AND RECLAMATION IN THE SOUTHEAST - 00:17:31
"We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams, and we are still here".
Some Indigenous people were never forced to leave what is now known as Alabama, and many across the continent are still intimately connected to their sacred homelands. Meet three Indigenous people who are answering their ancestor’s prayers to reclaim traditional lifeways, protect the environment, and teach us all how to better our relationships with the natural world and Native Nations.
Wherever You Go, There You Are - 00:13:45
Director Lily Ahree Siegel goes on a playfully sardonic escapade as she ventures beyond city limits – and air conditioning – into the Sipsey Wilderness in Northwest Alabama. It is her home state, after all; a land she once passed, but never knew. Will meeting others who are in tune with the spell this area cast help reconcile that Wilderness is for her too?
Trashed - 00:20:59
Landfills are an out-of-sight, out-of-mind part of everyday life in America, but in Alabama, they have long been a case for noxious odors, air and water pollution, and a lax regulatory environment that leaves communities vulnerable to environmental and health hazards. In the aftermath of a 2022 landfill fire near Birmingham that raged for months, suffocating multiple counties in smoke and odor, nearby residents demanded answers. This film holds ADEM’s feet to the fire, as non-profit organizations like Cahaba Riverkeeper, Gasp and Friends of Pinchgut Creek lead the charge to protect the water and air for nearby residents.
Mussel Memory - 00:21:25
Dams have completely altered the species makeup, flows, and habitat of many of our most important river systems. In Alabama, home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the nation, Claiborne and Miller’s Ferry Locks and Dams have prevented migratory fish, like the sturgeon and Alabama Shad, from accessing their historic runs from the Gulf of Mexico up the Alabama River to their spawning grounds in the Cahaba River since they were built in the 1970s. These barriers have also left endangered and threatened mussels unable to reproduce and in peril of dying out. MUSSEL MEMORY explores the significance of reconnecting river systems and protecting Alabama's freshwater mussels, our natural water filtration system.
Fl*shing Injustice - 00:19:25
Sherry Bradley and Perman Hardy met on an ordinary Friday afternoon. Amid national and international media recognition of the egregious sanitation and health challenges facing counties across the Black Belt, they helped create an extraordinary consortium of community members, academic institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies dedicated to finding practical solutions for wastewater issues throughout the Black Belt in Alabama. This consortium is utilizing historic state and federal infrastructure funding to implement real solutions on the ground, transforming communities through education and bringing justice to areas that have long been overlooked and underserved for these basic needs.
5:00pm – Mane Room
Don’t Die - 01:20:04
Jenks has been pushed to the brink by a system that does not care about him. Desperate for life-saving medicine, he resorts to robbing a small-town drug store. But when he injures a mysterious woman involved in a black market pharmacy, his attempts to save her life may end up jeopardizing his own.
6:30pm – Alley Cat – Alabama Doc
The Wintering Grounds - 00:21:00
For most of the year, bands of world class freestyle kayakers roam the land in search of waves. But when the rivers freeze, everyone finds their way to a special spot on the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama-Georgia border. Squatting in an abandoned parking lot, they spend the winter training for the next world championships on North America’s best winter whitewater. Although called “certifiable lunatics” by the locals, this tight knit group is proof of the power of family and that indeed everything is more fun with friends.
9:00pm – Mane Room – Opening Night
Handle With Care - 00:07:59
A woman and a man go on a date, both for the first time in years. Each faces the dilemma of how open and honest they should be
Sam’s World - 01:05:00
Sam's World follows its main character over the course of one weekend in New York City. Sam is a mid- 20s, nonbinary sex worker, who faces an impending decision related to a pregnancy. Through immersive subjectivity, the audience gains a window into a hyper niche social milieu while still relating to the universal themes of identity, jealousy and belonging.
FRIDAY – March 1
9:00am – Mane Room – Alabama Youth Films
Followed – CHTV – Carmel High School
Time is Ticking - CHTV – Carmel High School
Cooking - CHTV – Carmel High School
Kevin - CHTV – Carmel High School
Teen Killer - CHTV – Carmel High School
Fascimile - CHTV – Carmel High School
The Lost Report - CHTV – Carmel High School
Show Up Ozark! - CHTV – Carmel High School
The Brek Up
Maybe This Time
Until It Does
I Loved It
10:00am – Mane Room – Finalist Youth Films
Bus Stop - 00:08:52
A girl misses her bus and ends up meeting an old friend who might just change her life.
Late Night Edit - 00:04:25
An exhausted editor is up late at night, working on a film. However, when even his red bull fails to keep him awake, the footage in his editing software begins to move on its own.
Pickles - 00:05:58
After suffering his greatest defeat, a player must discover the true meaning of pickleball
9:00am – Alley Cat – Alabama Student Films 1
Dying to Put it into Words - 00:25:00
Wrestling with grudges and an insurmountable bout of writer’s block, a young artist has until sunset to create her magnum opus.
Too High A Cost - 00:04:45
ZEAL - 00:16:23
After a turn of events during an office party, Mat’s frenzied daily routine inspires Violet to avenge her professional life.
Day and Night - 00:04:39
A man goes on a road trip to reconcile his relationship with his bitter, angry, and really short girlfriend who is clearly pissed about something but we don't know what exactly. We can imagine that it's something that Zac said to her off-screen but we can't be certain, because the actress is ReLee and she's been known to cut a bitch for looking in her general direction.
Ofrenda - 00:14:11
A young woman finds herself at odds with grief and tradition as she prepares for Dia de los Muertos.
Unseen - 00:09:02
NEPHALEM - 00:12:28
In this horror/ thriller, A man begins dating a woman, but things shortly go south when he uncovers her true identity.
11:00am – Mane Room – UNA CAT Showcase
Poetry Night
Clancy’s Puppet Club
Dear Deer
Extraordinary
Thank You For Shopping
There the Time Goes
Perfection
A Couple of Notes
12:30pm – Mane Room – UNA Alumni Spotlight
Honeybun Runner - 00:20:53
In a reality where track athletes are treated like thoroughbred horses, a veteran track runner struggles with his self worth as his body begins to fail him days before a big race.
The Chair at the Edge of the Woods - 00:09:53
A guilt-ridden man's attempt to cover up his infidelity leads him on a desperate search for a mysterious chair, as he struggles to come to terms with the consequences of his actions.
The Performance - 00:08:15
1:30pm – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Shorts 1
Lakebed - 00:10:50
After relocating for her husband’s job, Patty struggles to find anyone or anything that makes sense.
Half Sisters - 00:13:36
Half sisters who live apart discover they share something every day that's right in their own front yards.
Paper Planes - 00:17:00
A woman with agoraphobia and the Airbnb guest across the hall strike up a correspondence that becomes something more for the holidays.
2:00pm – Alley Cat – Alabama Student Films 2
The View - 00:02:00
RUSSELL AND REBUILDING - 00:14:31
Gasbags - 00:18:15
A punk band goes on tour while the guitar player struggles to get over his ex.
2:30pm – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Shorts 2
Room Tone - 00:09:17
When a sound guy's attempt to capture “room tone" is constantly thwarted by the noisy antics of his coworkers, he takes extreme measures to achieve silence.
It’s Murder - 00:22:00
In this interactive short film, things start out innocently enough... It's all fun and games when three friends get together until one of them turns up dead -- with the police closing in, you get to guide the characters! Will you get caught, or will you survive through the explosive finale? It's Murder is an interactive short film that will have you questioning everything you know - from who killed the victim to who is next.
3:00pm – Alley Cat – Doc Block 2
NUMB: Dealing with Abuse – 00:11:28
No one knew. He told no one about the night the youth pastor everyone trusted asked him to sleep over. For years he tried alone to numb the shame of what happened to him, until one day, the man’s face was all over the news—It hadn’t ended with Brandon. Through the unfairness of evil, guilt replaced shame, followed by a different kind of abuse. It would take a prayer army led by his family to carry him out of the darkness to where he is now, and as he emerges, his story lights the way for others to follow him to the One who redeems stolen lives.
Second Chances – 00:10:47
“Second Chances” shares the story of three men, Ronald McKeithen, Joe Bennett, and Lee Davis, who were sentenced to life without parole for crimes with no physical injury under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act. These men were sentenced to die in prison until Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice won their release.
3:30pm – Mane Room – Vanguard
Good Condition - 00:09:35
Barry's starting over.
Rad Dad - 00:13:12
A sesh with the boys would make dad glad. But if dad can't get rad, then will he be sad?
A Body Appeared at the Lake Today - 00:04:44
A found footage examination of what happened at the lake today. Images randomly selected from found footage; poem written without images; music written without images or words.
Where were you?
4:00pm – Alley Cat
Thank You Kindly - 00:15:00
It's 1970-something and the glamourous, mysterious, perfectly mannered Gloria Darling is on her 6th marriage. Leo has done her wrong and she will stop at nothing until he's paid, just like all the rest. With help from her mother, disguises, a motel rendezvous, and a bank robbery Gloria pulls off yet another perfect con.
4:30pm – Mane Room – Student Narrative
Blue Hour - 00:15:00
Two personal journeys intersect when a struggling young photographer is hired for a cheap last-minute portrait gig. The unfolding photo session, while transient, leaves an indelible mark on both women.
The Spirit Became Flesh - 00:17:29
An unbeliever returns to his old religious community, only to find that they have fallen prey to a sinister monster that they believe is the Holy Spirit of God.
The Spirit Became Flesh - 00:17:29
An unbeliever returns to his old religious community, only to find that they have fallen prey to a sinister monster that they believe is the Holy Spirit of God.
5:30pm – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Documentary
Homeschooled - 01:11:50
A group of high schoolers prepare for prom and navigate the intriguing world of homeschooling in this heartwarming documentary.
9:00pm – Mane Room – Night 2
35205 - 00:15:00
A short documentary about the DIY punk scene in Birmingham, Alabama and how it has reinvented itself post Covid as a community that combines the violence and self-expression of moshing with inclusivity and diversity.
Hell of SE - 01:11:54
Momo Amano, a middle school student, is in love with his classmate Niniko Hayasaka. Yoshiyuki Rocco, Momo's best friend, is opposed to his feelings for Hayasaka. Hayasaka is Menophilia, and one day she stole all the used sanitary pads in the school and ran away. She never came to school again from that day...
In a town near the sea, students sometimes fall in love, or out of love...
SATURDAY – March 2
9:00am – Mane Room – CAT Case Study
The Devil I Reckon (Work in Progress)
9:00am – Alley Cat – Professional Documentary
An Open Door - 00:59:30
An Open Door reflects on the influential life and work of Dr. Temple Grandin as a champion of the humane treatment of livestock, autism rights, and inclusive neurodiversity by employing her gifted insights from her personal experience with autism and visual thinking. The film speaks with Dr. Grandin, her colleagues, industry professionals and those she has influenced to celebrate her groundbreaking life, lessons learned, and lasting legacy.
10:00am – Mane Room
Cotton Candy Sky - 00:16:00
White Nights in Alabama. A young man, a young woman, and an older man-- this is the way the world ends.
11:00am – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Feature
Failed State - 01:25:44
Dale spends the majority of his time transporting various goods to people while attempting to carve out a social life in-between. Eventually the weight of work, his declining health and decaying social relations become too heavy to bear.
12:00 – Alley Cat – Alabama 5
Trashy Waters - 00:12:35
Alabama is not a dumpster.
Litter washing into our waterways is a problem not only affecting our pocketbooks and well-being, but it also spoils our enjoyment of Alabama’s great outdoors.
Join a passionate group of watershed guardians as they address the enormous issue of litter accumulating in our creeks, streams and rivers.
The Odyssey of Cleve & Mike
Animated musical tribute to bass legend Cleveland "Cleve" Eaton with Mike Watt on an odyssey of surreal bass-centric salvation.
1:00pm – Mane Room – Student Documentary Finalists
Forward Fast - 00:02:40
While embarking upon a process of archival and preservation, a filmmaker dives into a stark exploration of self as she discovers the seeds of patriarchy and misogyny already planted and steeping the imagery of her childhood films.
Remembering John A Andrew Memorial Hospital - 00:20:42
The Community of Tuskegee, Alabama reflects on the legacy of John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital and the drastic changes after the hospital closed in 1987.
Portrait of MeMe - 00:23:03
Ten years after the sudden death of her grandfather, Alabama-born filmmaker unravels her grief by going to Coosada, Alabama for a visit with her 76 year-old grandmother “MeMe.” A gentle snapshot of Southern womanhood, Portrait of MeMe is an intimate examination of familial grief and an exercise in unpacking the intergenerational effects of death.
2:30pm – Alley Cat
Darwin Nix - 01:24:53
Darwin Nix is an artist living and working in the small town of Evergreen, Alabama. Darwin grew up in Evergreen and has returned after living in Memphis, Philadelphia, and Santa Fe as an accomplished fine art painter. His current work strives to subvert the overt confederate sentimentality he has witnessed since returning to the south. Living alone and with very few funds, Darwin has created a series of radical protest paintings and sculptures that reflect and antagonize what he deems to be a cultural inbreeding of ignorance and stupidity.
4:00pm – Alley Cat
Now & Then: Notes from a Fragmented Life - 00:29:59
A picaresque compendium of autobiographical video poems… tackles life, love, tragedy, redemption, family, bizarre twists of fate, aging ... and the mundane absurdities of life in the 21st century.
8:30pm – Late Night
The Sweet East - 01:44:00
A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.
9:00 AM – Alley Cat - Doc Block 1
Pure and Undefiled Religion - 00:08:19
Pure and Undefiled Religion follows the story of the Varvoutis family as they listened to God’s call to become foster parents.
Window Treatment - 00:10:40
The long-standing American military occupation of Okinawa is poetically explored in this essay film about an elderly man receiving new windows
Rodney - 00:08:48
Rodney has a developmental disability and lost his home simply because of his and his family's advocacy for him to be able to choose a basic human right of what he wanted to eat.
10:00 AM – Alley Cat - Alabama 1
The Seal of Death 2 - 00:17:46
When Tony Han, a former detective, receives a “Seal of Death” letter threatening his honor and life, he ventures out to New York to take down the one person responsible, Shang Lee, The Head of the Yakuza.
Cain - 00:01:42
An android named Cain is in hiding after allegedly killing his boss.
The Old Lady and the Boxer - 00:19:45
Set in the mid-80’s, Baltimore, The Old Lady & The Boxer follows former Texas roughneck and current amateur boxer - Joe Saturn as he battles his ghosts and searches for respect. The neighborhood’s scrappy, foul-mouthed old lady, Audrey, spends her days and nights drinking Irish whiskey on her front stoop. She takes an interest in Joe, and they forge a friendship built on sarcasm, boxing, and an unspoken desire to be understood.
Banned - 00:03:34
A state senator passes a measure banning books with controversial content, only to covertly seek out one of those very titles for personal reasons.
11:00 AM – Alley Cat - Alabama 2
The Crying Boy - 00:12:00
When a violent murder shakes a rural town, a boy's nightmares take a seemingly prophetic turn when he claims to have identified the murderer.
Stiff Expectations - 00:03:20
A young woman has a job interview... but not a typical one.
2:00 PM – Mane Room – Alabama 3
Polaris - 00:02:33
Experimental film about the stars and the end of the world.
A Confusing Truth, A Comforting Lie - 00:17:31
Kamran is called to meet with HR where he finds that he has been framed for a crime. He is given 2 options, help the company save face against racist allegations or risk imprisonment and career suicide. The journey to make the decision forces Kamran to discover what he stands for, who he is, and how to answer the ever so complicated question for children of immigrants – where are you from?
Don’t Worry About Me - 00:22:44
This film explores a man's journey of finding the good in life after his wife passes.
Devil’s Tree - 00:05:40
A young couple, Antonio and Madison, set out on a hike in Devil’s Tree Park, where their friend Chip disappeared several weeks before. When they stumble upon some potential evidence regarding Chip’s disappearance, it becomes apparent they are being watched by a threatening presence. Antonio films the events that follow, documenting them in hopes that someone will find the footage.
In the Closet - 00:22:23
As young adult Quinn cleans out their childhood closet, they reflect on the keepsakes they associate with their gender identity struggle. We watch from the closet as they encounter parental coercion, a loveless marriage, and a pregnancy, all of which contribute to their gender dysphoria. This series of flashbacks results in their decision to identify as trans and achieve that gender euphoria they've been searching for.
4:00pm – Mane Room – Alabama 4
The Smortal - 00:01:00
A jogger accepts an unexpected invitation transporting him to someplace exotic, colorful, and... pungent.
God Hospital - 00:15:00
A reflection of the healing journey - the existential dread that comes with it, and learning who your angels are along the way.
Don’t Look in the Closet - 00:03:40
After spending a debaucherous night out, Tommy arrives home to find his wife missing...
A Box of Ghosts - 00:17:35
After the sudden death of her sister, Elizabeth, Amber inherits a mysterious box that her sister found shortly before she died. Once she opens the box, Amber starts to see her sister everywhere. At first she believes that Elizabeth is reaching out for help, but as the sightings begin to take on a more sinister nature, it becomes apparent that a malicious entity, taking the form of Elizabeth, may have been unleashed from the box.
Veal - 00:09:00
A strange young man seeks a twisted sort of salvation in the home of a stranger.
4:00pm – Alley Cat – Southern Exposure
Lullaby for Sipsey - 00:02:23
In this micro-short film, enjoy as a captivating poem unfolds, gently celebrating the profound beauty found in the intricate details of the Sipsey Wilderness in Alabama.
THEY NEVER LEFT: INDIGENOUS RETURN AND RECLAMATION IN THE SOUTHEAST - 00:17:31
"We are our ancestor’s wildest dreams, and we are still here".
Some Indigenous people were never forced to leave what is now known as Alabama, and many across the continent are still intimately connected to their sacred homelands. Meet three Indigenous people who are answering their ancestor’s prayers to reclaim traditional lifeways, protect the environment, and teach us all how to better our relationships with the natural world and Native Nations.
Wherever You Go, There You Are - 00:13:45
Director Lily Ahree Siegel goes on a playfully sardonic escapade as she ventures beyond city limits – and air conditioning – into the Sipsey Wilderness in Northwest Alabama. It is her home state, after all; a land she once passed, but never knew. Will meeting others who are in tune with the spell this area cast help reconcile that Wilderness is for her too?
Trashed - 00:20:59
Landfills are an out-of-sight, out-of-mind part of everyday life in America, but in Alabama, they have long been a case for noxious odors, air and water pollution, and a lax regulatory environment that leaves communities vulnerable to environmental and health hazards. In the aftermath of a 2022 landfill fire near Birmingham that raged for months, suffocating multiple counties in smoke and odor, nearby residents demanded answers. This film holds ADEM’s feet to the fire, as non-profit organizations like Cahaba Riverkeeper, Gasp and Friends of Pinchgut Creek lead the charge to protect the water and air for nearby residents.
Mussel Memory - 00:21:25
Dams have completely altered the species makeup, flows, and habitat of many of our most important river systems. In Alabama, home to some of the greatest biodiversity in the nation, Claiborne and Miller’s Ferry Locks and Dams have prevented migratory fish, like the sturgeon and Alabama Shad, from accessing their historic runs from the Gulf of Mexico up the Alabama River to their spawning grounds in the Cahaba River since they were built in the 1970s. These barriers have also left endangered and threatened mussels unable to reproduce and in peril of dying out. MUSSEL MEMORY explores the significance of reconnecting river systems and protecting Alabama's freshwater mussels, our natural water filtration system.
Fl*shing Injustice - 00:19:25
Sherry Bradley and Perman Hardy met on an ordinary Friday afternoon. Amid national and international media recognition of the egregious sanitation and health challenges facing counties across the Black Belt, they helped create an extraordinary consortium of community members, academic institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies dedicated to finding practical solutions for wastewater issues throughout the Black Belt in Alabama. This consortium is utilizing historic state and federal infrastructure funding to implement real solutions on the ground, transforming communities through education and bringing justice to areas that have long been overlooked and underserved for these basic needs.
5:00pm – Mane Room
Don’t Die - 01:20:04
Jenks has been pushed to the brink by a system that does not care about him. Desperate for life-saving medicine, he resorts to robbing a small-town drug store. But when he injures a mysterious woman involved in a black market pharmacy, his attempts to save her life may end up jeopardizing his own.
6:30pm – Alley Cat – Alabama Doc
The Wintering Grounds - 00:21:00
For most of the year, bands of world class freestyle kayakers roam the land in search of waves. But when the rivers freeze, everyone finds their way to a special spot on the Chattahoochee River on the Alabama-Georgia border. Squatting in an abandoned parking lot, they spend the winter training for the next world championships on North America’s best winter whitewater. Although called “certifiable lunatics” by the locals, this tight knit group is proof of the power of family and that indeed everything is more fun with friends.
9:00pm – Mane Room – Opening Night
Handle With Care - 00:07:59
A woman and a man go on a date, both for the first time in years. Each faces the dilemma of how open and honest they should be
Sam’s World - 01:05:00
Sam's World follows its main character over the course of one weekend in New York City. Sam is a mid- 20s, nonbinary sex worker, who faces an impending decision related to a pregnancy. Through immersive subjectivity, the audience gains a window into a hyper niche social milieu while still relating to the universal themes of identity, jealousy and belonging.
FRIDAY – March 1
9:00am – Mane Room – Alabama Youth Films
Followed – CHTV – Carmel High School
Time is Ticking - CHTV – Carmel High School
Cooking - CHTV – Carmel High School
Kevin - CHTV – Carmel High School
Teen Killer - CHTV – Carmel High School
Fascimile - CHTV – Carmel High School
The Lost Report - CHTV – Carmel High School
Show Up Ozark! - CHTV – Carmel High School
The Brek Up
Maybe This Time
Until It Does
I Loved It
10:00am – Mane Room – Finalist Youth Films
Bus Stop - 00:08:52
A girl misses her bus and ends up meeting an old friend who might just change her life.
Late Night Edit - 00:04:25
An exhausted editor is up late at night, working on a film. However, when even his red bull fails to keep him awake, the footage in his editing software begins to move on its own.
Pickles - 00:05:58
After suffering his greatest defeat, a player must discover the true meaning of pickleball
9:00am – Alley Cat – Alabama Student Films 1
Dying to Put it into Words - 00:25:00
Wrestling with grudges and an insurmountable bout of writer’s block, a young artist has until sunset to create her magnum opus.
Too High A Cost - 00:04:45
ZEAL - 00:16:23
After a turn of events during an office party, Mat’s frenzied daily routine inspires Violet to avenge her professional life.
Day and Night - 00:04:39
A man goes on a road trip to reconcile his relationship with his bitter, angry, and really short girlfriend who is clearly pissed about something but we don't know what exactly. We can imagine that it's something that Zac said to her off-screen but we can't be certain, because the actress is ReLee and she's been known to cut a bitch for looking in her general direction.
Ofrenda - 00:14:11
A young woman finds herself at odds with grief and tradition as she prepares for Dia de los Muertos.
Unseen - 00:09:02
NEPHALEM - 00:12:28
In this horror/ thriller, A man begins dating a woman, but things shortly go south when he uncovers her true identity.
11:00am – Mane Room – UNA CAT Showcase
Poetry Night
Clancy’s Puppet Club
Dear Deer
Extraordinary
Thank You For Shopping
There the Time Goes
Perfection
A Couple of Notes
12:30pm – Mane Room – UNA Alumni Spotlight
Honeybun Runner - 00:20:53
In a reality where track athletes are treated like thoroughbred horses, a veteran track runner struggles with his self worth as his body begins to fail him days before a big race.
The Chair at the Edge of the Woods - 00:09:53
A guilt-ridden man's attempt to cover up his infidelity leads him on a desperate search for a mysterious chair, as he struggles to come to terms with the consequences of his actions.
The Performance - 00:08:15
1:30pm – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Shorts 1
Lakebed - 00:10:50
After relocating for her husband’s job, Patty struggles to find anyone or anything that makes sense.
Half Sisters - 00:13:36
Half sisters who live apart discover they share something every day that's right in their own front yards.
Paper Planes - 00:17:00
A woman with agoraphobia and the Airbnb guest across the hall strike up a correspondence that becomes something more for the holidays.
2:00pm – Alley Cat – Alabama Student Films 2
The View - 00:02:00
RUSSELL AND REBUILDING - 00:14:31
Gasbags - 00:18:15
A punk band goes on tour while the guitar player struggles to get over his ex.
2:30pm – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Shorts 2
Room Tone - 00:09:17
When a sound guy's attempt to capture “room tone" is constantly thwarted by the noisy antics of his coworkers, he takes extreme measures to achieve silence.
It’s Murder - 00:22:00
In this interactive short film, things start out innocently enough... It's all fun and games when three friends get together until one of them turns up dead -- with the police closing in, you get to guide the characters! Will you get caught, or will you survive through the explosive finale? It's Murder is an interactive short film that will have you questioning everything you know - from who killed the victim to who is next.
3:00pm – Alley Cat – Doc Block 2
NUMB: Dealing with Abuse – 00:11:28
No one knew. He told no one about the night the youth pastor everyone trusted asked him to sleep over. For years he tried alone to numb the shame of what happened to him, until one day, the man’s face was all over the news—It hadn’t ended with Brandon. Through the unfairness of evil, guilt replaced shame, followed by a different kind of abuse. It would take a prayer army led by his family to carry him out of the darkness to where he is now, and as he emerges, his story lights the way for others to follow him to the One who redeems stolen lives.
Second Chances – 00:10:47
“Second Chances” shares the story of three men, Ronald McKeithen, Joe Bennett, and Lee Davis, who were sentenced to life without parole for crimes with no physical injury under Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act. These men were sentenced to die in prison until Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice won their release.
3:30pm – Mane Room – Vanguard
Good Condition - 00:09:35
Barry's starting over.
Rad Dad - 00:13:12
A sesh with the boys would make dad glad. But if dad can't get rad, then will he be sad?
A Body Appeared at the Lake Today - 00:04:44
A found footage examination of what happened at the lake today. Images randomly selected from found footage; poem written without images; music written without images or words.
Where were you?
4:00pm – Alley Cat
Thank You Kindly - 00:15:00
It's 1970-something and the glamourous, mysterious, perfectly mannered Gloria Darling is on her 6th marriage. Leo has done her wrong and she will stop at nothing until he's paid, just like all the rest. With help from her mother, disguises, a motel rendezvous, and a bank robbery Gloria pulls off yet another perfect con.
4:30pm – Mane Room – Student Narrative
Blue Hour - 00:15:00
Two personal journeys intersect when a struggling young photographer is hired for a cheap last-minute portrait gig. The unfolding photo session, while transient, leaves an indelible mark on both women.
The Spirit Became Flesh - 00:17:29
An unbeliever returns to his old religious community, only to find that they have fallen prey to a sinister monster that they believe is the Holy Spirit of God.
The Spirit Became Flesh - 00:17:29
An unbeliever returns to his old religious community, only to find that they have fallen prey to a sinister monster that they believe is the Holy Spirit of God.
5:30pm – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Documentary
Homeschooled - 01:11:50
A group of high schoolers prepare for prom and navigate the intriguing world of homeschooling in this heartwarming documentary.
9:00pm – Mane Room – Night 2
35205 - 00:15:00
A short documentary about the DIY punk scene in Birmingham, Alabama and how it has reinvented itself post Covid as a community that combines the violence and self-expression of moshing with inclusivity and diversity.
Hell of SE - 01:11:54
Momo Amano, a middle school student, is in love with his classmate Niniko Hayasaka. Yoshiyuki Rocco, Momo's best friend, is opposed to his feelings for Hayasaka. Hayasaka is Menophilia, and one day she stole all the used sanitary pads in the school and ran away. She never came to school again from that day...
In a town near the sea, students sometimes fall in love, or out of love...
SATURDAY – March 2
9:00am – Mane Room – CAT Case Study
The Devil I Reckon (Work in Progress)
9:00am – Alley Cat – Professional Documentary
An Open Door - 00:59:30
An Open Door reflects on the influential life and work of Dr. Temple Grandin as a champion of the humane treatment of livestock, autism rights, and inclusive neurodiversity by employing her gifted insights from her personal experience with autism and visual thinking. The film speaks with Dr. Grandin, her colleagues, industry professionals and those she has influenced to celebrate her groundbreaking life, lessons learned, and lasting legacy.
10:00am – Mane Room
Cotton Candy Sky - 00:16:00
White Nights in Alabama. A young man, a young woman, and an older man-- this is the way the world ends.
11:00am – Mane Room – Professional Narrative Feature
Failed State - 01:25:44
Dale spends the majority of his time transporting various goods to people while attempting to carve out a social life in-between. Eventually the weight of work, his declining health and decaying social relations become too heavy to bear.
12:00 – Alley Cat – Alabama 5
Trashy Waters - 00:12:35
Alabama is not a dumpster.
Litter washing into our waterways is a problem not only affecting our pocketbooks and well-being, but it also spoils our enjoyment of Alabama’s great outdoors.
Join a passionate group of watershed guardians as they address the enormous issue of litter accumulating in our creeks, streams and rivers.
The Odyssey of Cleve & Mike
Animated musical tribute to bass legend Cleveland "Cleve" Eaton with Mike Watt on an odyssey of surreal bass-centric salvation.
1:00pm – Mane Room – Student Documentary Finalists
Forward Fast - 00:02:40
While embarking upon a process of archival and preservation, a filmmaker dives into a stark exploration of self as she discovers the seeds of patriarchy and misogyny already planted and steeping the imagery of her childhood films.
Remembering John A Andrew Memorial Hospital - 00:20:42
The Community of Tuskegee, Alabama reflects on the legacy of John A. Andrew Memorial Hospital and the drastic changes after the hospital closed in 1987.
Portrait of MeMe - 00:23:03
Ten years after the sudden death of her grandfather, Alabama-born filmmaker unravels her grief by going to Coosada, Alabama for a visit with her 76 year-old grandmother “MeMe.” A gentle snapshot of Southern womanhood, Portrait of MeMe is an intimate examination of familial grief and an exercise in unpacking the intergenerational effects of death.
2:30pm – Alley Cat
Darwin Nix - 01:24:53
Darwin Nix is an artist living and working in the small town of Evergreen, Alabama. Darwin grew up in Evergreen and has returned after living in Memphis, Philadelphia, and Santa Fe as an accomplished fine art painter. His current work strives to subvert the overt confederate sentimentality he has witnessed since returning to the south. Living alone and with very few funds, Darwin has created a series of radical protest paintings and sculptures that reflect and antagonize what he deems to be a cultural inbreeding of ignorance and stupidity.
4:00pm – Alley Cat
Now & Then: Notes from a Fragmented Life - 00:29:59
A picaresque compendium of autobiographical video poems… tackles life, love, tragedy, redemption, family, bizarre twists of fate, aging ... and the mundane absurdities of life in the 21st century.
8:30pm – Late Night
The Sweet East - 01:44:00
A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.