This collection of shorts delves into the spectrum of emotions that can overcome us from certain life-altering events—longing, fear, uncertainty, pain, shame—and our fundamental instinct to persevere. From the frustration of navigating the immigration system to the deep struggle of overcoming personal trauma, each film underscores the transformative power of filmmaking. Through diverse stories, voices, and styles from both emerging and more established filmmakers, these works illuminate the journey of becoming oneself, revealing the profound value of art in navigating life’s complexities and finding pathways to healing and self-discovery.
Running time: 80 min
Content warning: Flashing lights. Descriptions of violence and sexual assault.
Free Admission | Guests in attendance
Girls and Boys My Age
Les filles et les garçons de mon âge
Director Giovanni Princigalli, Canada/Italy, 2024, French and Spanish with English subtitles, 19.08 min
Hector, a 14-year-old Cuban-Canadian, spends his last weekend in Montreal before moving to California with his close circle of friends. Hector is deeply attached to the housing cooperative where he grew up and is anxious about leaving his familiar world. This significant journey coincides with a first kiss and the transition from childhood to adolescence.
1(888) 242-2100
Director Eliana Aleman Reategui, Canada, 2025, English and Spanish with English subtitles, 3.26 min
A brief and highly relatable account of navigating the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Client Support Centre services.
Ruptura
Director Camila Novais, Canada/Brazil, English and Portuguese with English subtitles, 21 min
When she was thirteen, Caroline Ribeiro asked her father for a lift to a friend’s party. What should have been a simple request turned into a nightmare. She and her father were the victims of an attempted car theft that went tragically wrong. Caroline grew up wracked by guilt, anxiety, and shame. Ruptura recounts the 30-year journey Caroline embarked on after that horrific event to break with the sorrows of the past and find a way forward.
Where Light Bends
Dónde se dobla la luz
Directors Marcela Echevarría & Ximena Baeza, Mexico/Canada, 2025, Spanish, 8:31 min
Two friends journey through unfamiliar paths, lost in their own imaginaries. As they face moments of uncertainty and quiet revelation, their bond deepens through memory, imagination, and shared silence.
The Worst Kind of Aftertaste
Director/Writer/Animator Sam Chang Bravo, Canada, English, 8.20 min
The Worst Kind of Aftertaste is an evocative animated short that delves into the life of Elliot, a film student and aspiring actor. As he navigates a seemingly carefree night out with friends, the cracks of his hidden trauma begin to surface. With a delicate yet unflinching lens, the film explores the weight of PTSD and sexual assault.
Only the Tusk Remains
Solo nos queda el colmillo
Director Steve Ortiz, Costa Rica/Canada, 2025, Spanish with English subtitles, 20.14 min
23-year-old Osvaldo lives in a remote, rural town on the outskirts of San José, Costa Rica’s capital city. Tired of facing a destiny that seemingly cannot be changed, he decides to confront the world that has turned its back on him. Feeling discouraged by the limitations of his surroundings, he chooses to carve out a place for his work in his own way.
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