While shopping at a local grocery store, a man’s attention drifts to a beautiful girl who passes him in the isle. Can the protagonist work up the courage to chat up the mystery shopper, or will he just embarrass himself? Original music and crafty camera work result in an unforgettable story of spontaneous grocery store romance from stand-out El Molino High School director Ryan Philips. (USA, 4 min.)
When a young man’s father dies unexpectedly, he embarks on a emotional journey through time and space in an attempt to understand his grief. In A Lost and Found Box of Human Sensation, filmmakers Stefan Leuchtenberg and Martin Wallner craft a visually stunning animated journey into the depths of a troubled psyche. (Germany, 15 min.)

When a shepherd gets lost in the city, he calls out to his flock so that they might return home. But when he attracts a crowd of people, a confrontation ensues that threatens the cohesion of the herd. Beautifully shot in sharp black and white, this visual study of our animal nature probes the meaning of group behavior in modern society. (Spain, 8 min.)
ET TOIS? (And You?), Meliane Marcaggi

When a loving boyfriend is unable to say a few essential words, he triggers a torrent of emotions that could complicate his life in unexpected ways. Director Meliane Marcaggi stars in this wry comedy that cleverly utilizes visual jokes and witty dialogue to show how a simple miscommunication can have drastic repercussions. (France, 10 min.)
LITTLE CHILDREN, BIG WORDS, Lisa James-Larsson

When it’s Alex’s turn to tell his seven-year old classmates what he wants to be when he grows up, an uncomfortable discussion begins about the meaning of an unknown but loaded word. And when his teacher has to explain a concept beyond Alex’s understanding, long repressed memories and scars are awakened. This perfectly shot and well acted drama from Sweden reveals how a glimpse of a world of suffering just below the surface might be an opportunity for both education and healing. (Sweden, 12 min.)
LEBENSADER, Angela Steffen

When a girl discovers an entire world in one leaf, she is taken on a magic journey into a vibrant, patterned space where reflections of self become images to behold. Angela Steffen delivers a rhythmic, colorful expression of human emotion and pure imagination in this delightful animated short. (Germany, 6 min.)
GAYBY, Jonathan Lisecki

The gayby boom has hit, as Jenn (straight) asks her best friend from college, Matt (gay), to be her sperm donor. Deciding to take the cheap route, they plan to make a baby the old fashioned way, setting off a chain of hilariously awkward events as they find that consummating the act proves more difficult than either thought. (USA, 12 min.)
AFGHAN, Pardis Parker

When a filmmaker faces discrimination in his community, he sets out to gain something positive from his experience by constructing a series of visual puns ridiculing bigotry using his camera and his vandalized car. This short drama shows the necessity of humor and friendship in the face of hatred and the relationship of creativity to self-identity. (USA, 10 min.)
MOORE STREET MASALA, David O’Sullivan

Baba has a song in his heart and on his lips as he longs for the sexy real estate agent across the street. Music, motion, and color make for a fun, cinematic tribute to the power of love and the magic of the movies in this extravagant bollywood-style musical. (Ireland, 5 min.)
GLENN OWEN DODDS, Frazer Bailey

Heading for his bus stop one day, Michael is intrigued by a line of people in front of an alley door painted red. Thus begins a chance meeting with both the girl of his dreams and God. Fate works in mysterious ways in this cleverly executed comedy from Australian director Frazer Bailey. (Australia, 16 min.)