FILM FEST PETALUMA

May 2, 2026, Mystic Theatre

Film Fest Petaluma returns to the historic Mystic Theatre with its 18th annual showcase of the best short films from around the world. Filmmakers will be in conversation at all four programs (12pm, 3pm, 7pm, & 9:45pm). Patrons can make a day of the fest with a $50 Shorts Pass or purchase tickets to individual shows. 

SATURDAY MATINEE SHORTS - 12pm

BLACK COUNTRY MUSIC MAVERICKS

La Reva Myles, USA, 12 minutes

Singer/songwriter La Reva Myles examines the unsung history of Black artists in the world of country music. The film, which combines her personal narrative with investigative research, advocates for greater recognition of Black artists in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Awarded Best of Fest at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A CRUSH

Omer Ben-Shachar, USA, 11 minutes

After finding a phone, accidentally left behind by an astronaut, a lonely alien develops an all-consuming crush that tests its hold on reality. Full of heart, humor, and incredible art direction, Omer Ben-Shachar crafts a poignant and visually inventive sci-fi allegory that explores the universal ache of loneliness through an absurdly charming lens.

HA HA HA

Matt Klug & Josh Harding, USA, 13 minutes

Sonoma County filmmaking duo Matt Klug and Josh Harding (Chasin’ Butterflies, All Tied Up) return to the festival for the third year in a row with a raw, unfiltered portrait of stand-up comedy. The film follows six regional comedians, onstage and off, as they deal with the constant grind of chasing the next laugh. Funny, messy, honest — this is what comedy looks like behind the mic.

MOTHER OF DAWN

Clara Trevisan, Brazil, 8 minutes

Engulfed in the ocean of night, a monstrous entity seeks sustenance from the stars, setting in motion a process that will bring forth new light, and new life. Innovatively constructed with felt and fabric, Clara Trevisan presents a dream-like meditation on the profound and ephemeral nature of creation in this stunning stop-motion animation.

PUNTER

Jason Adam Maselle, South Africa, 14 minutes

Young Brett must navigate the underbelly of the Johannesburg gambling world when a seemingly harmless horse-racing bet jeopardizes the surprise he’s prepared for his father’s birthday. Featuring a standout performance from child actor Tiago Marques and a visceral kinetic energy from director Jason Maselle, Punter is a gut-wrenching look at the universal problems of addiction and child neglect.

CHECK PLEASE

Shane Chung, USA, 10 minutes

Two headstrong Koreans can’t agree on who’s treating whom to dinner, causing their casual restaurant outing to spiral into a martial arts deathmatch. Shane Chung’s inventive action comedy pays homage to ’90s Hong Kong action flicks while also examining the “in-betweenness” of holding an Asian-American identity. Audience Award Winner at the 2025 Fantasia Film Festival.

THE VOICE OF THE SIRENS

Gianluigi Toccafondo, France/Italy, 20 minutes

At once alluring and unsettling, this experimental animation captures the seductive and wondrous call of the sirens with unrivaled vision and intensity. Mixing pre-existing imagery with acrylic paints, Gianluigi Toccafondo creates a mesmerizing and meditative journey examining myth and the mysteries of the sea. Official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival and the International Festival of Animation in Annecy.

THE INSPECTOR

Jandro, Spain, 12 minutes

When a fake gas inspector who preys on elderly people visits Carmen’s house, he encounters much more than he bargained for. Inspired by true events, veteran Spanish comedian Jandro delivers a masterful comedy thriller full of unexpected twists and turns.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON SHORTS - 3:00pm

THE PREY

Alexa Aguila Gutierrez, USA, 4 minutes

In this poetic allegory, a young woman is caught in an internal battle shaped by her own reflection. Awarded Best of Fest at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

THE SPECTACLE

Bálint Kenyeres, Hungary, 17 minutes

Set in a remote and desolate landscape, a young Roma boy possesses the inexplicable ability to levitate—a “miracle” that quickly becomes a commodity. With a stark, realist lens, filmmaker Bálint Kenyeres creates a haunting and visually arresting allegory that examines the intersection of the divine and the predatory. Official selection at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

UNCONDITIONAL

Albert Gregory & Danica Simonet, USA, 22 minutes

Chronicling the work of the Sonoma County organization Ruthless Kindness, filmmakers Albert Gregory and Danica Simonet follow veterinarian Sarah Reidenbach as she journeys through the county providing free animal care to help domestic violence survivors and their pets escape abuse together.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD

Julianne Martin, USA, 5 minutes

Two characters must grapple with the complexities of their relationship and decide whether or not to part ways. Julianne Martin (The Space Between Us, FFP 2023) returns to the festival with another brief but dense animated short that probes our relationship with modern technology. 

MILAGRO

Eric J. Adams, USA, 12 minutes

A small miracle changes everything for an undocumented landscaper confronting ICE agents on Día de los Muertos. Penngrove-based filmmaker Eric Adams skillfully interweaves ancient traditions and contemporary issues in this tense, timely, and locally shot drama.

SEX AT 70

Vanesa Romero, Spain, 18 minutes

Marga’s predicatable and monotonous routine takes an unexpected turn when her tech-savvy granddaughter uses a dating app to set her up on a blind date. Filmmaker Vanesa Romero strikes the right balance of humor and humanity in this charming and heartfelt reminder that desire and new beginnings don’t have an expiration date. Nominated for Best Short Film at the 2026 Goyas, Spain’s National Film Awards.

DRAGFOX

Lisa Ott, UK, 8 minutes

In this exquisite stop-motion animation, Sam’s search for identity gets suddenly interrupted by a mysterious neighborhood fox named Ginger Snap (voiced by Ian McKellen). Together they embark on a magical journey to the attic to discover the surprising things they have in common, and how to celebrate their differences. Awarded Best Student Animation at the 2025 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

SUNFLOWER

Fran Mendez, USA, 12 minutes

Drawn in by a cryptic tale from his eccentric grandfather, a restless young man wanders into an abandoned cabin in search of answers. Fran Mendez masterfully mixes memory and mystery in this gorgeously shot and intricately edited tale about the transcendent power of family lore.

WORLD SHORTS SHOWCASE - 7:00pm

MORE LIKE ME, LESS LIKE YOU

Elliot Robinson, USA, 4 minutes

Through an amalgamation of personal effects, journal entries, and archived stills, SRJC student Elliot Robinson creatively explores his subconscious in this beautifully executed experimental animation.  Awarded Best of Fest at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

THE HICKS HAPPY HOUR

Kate McCarthy, USA, 17 minutes

Set in 1972, the ever-smiling mother of a family band struggles to keep their TV variety show and wholesome image going when Dad doesn’t turn up to the taping. Juxtaposing their bright, over-the-top “on air” personas with the stark backstage reality of their private struggles, director Kate McCarthy peels back the shiny veneer of 1970s television to reveal a family in freefall. Awarded a student Emmy in 2025 for Best Comedy Series.

AFRICAN FAMILY DINNER

Ibrahim Mursal, Norway/Sudan/Somalia, 13 minutes

Mona, a Norwegian blonde, meets her Ghanaian boyfriend’s family for the first time. What starts as a simple dinner with both sides eager to impress each other, quickly escalates into the most awkward dinner in history! Ibrahim Mursal’s sharp, cringe-inducing dramedy masterfully explores the perils of performative allyship in an excruciatingly funny manner. Awarded Best Comedy Short at the 2025 Cannes Indie Shorts Awards.

THE SNIP

Alain Delannoy, Canada, 10 minutes

With poignancy and humor, Canadian men examine their own masculinity and belief systems through their experience of vasectomies. FFP Alum Alain Delannoy (The Talk: True Stories About the Birds and the Bees, 2018) returns to the festival with another animated documentary, this time exploring the concept of what makes a man.

AN ISLAND

Ricardo Muñoz Senior, Venezuela, 11 minutes

Amidst the uncertainty of emigration, a family takes refuge in imagination and fantasy. Mixing naturalist cinematography with a vibrant, dream-like narrative, filmmaker Ricardo Muñoz Senior (Puzzle, FFP 2023) crafts a timely and thought-provoking tale of psychological resilience. Audience Award Winner for Best Social Justice Film at the 2025 Charlotte Film Festival.

BUDO

Amanda Aagard & Alexander Toma, Sweden/Japan, 15 minutes

When Miho, a lonely old widow living on the outskirts of Tokyo, discovers a hungry stray cat at the supermarket, it follows her home to her little apartment and makes itself more comfortable than she could ever imagine. Awarded Best Animated Short at the 2025 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

LEMONADE

Diego Fandos, Czechia/Spain, 8 minutes

A couple in Prague meet up in a park for their one-year anniversary when a surprise revelation endangers their future. Last year’s Best of Fest winner Diego Fandos (29th of February) delivers a short and sweet comedy satirizing the state of modern romance.

RETIREMENT PLAN

John Kelly, Ireland, 7 minutes

At odds with his life, Ray dreams of the beauty and joy he will find in retirement. Beautifully animated in a minimalist style with witty narration voiced by Domhnall Gleeson, John Kelly’s acclaimed animation reminds us that life is what happens while we are making other plans. Awarded Best of Fest at the 2025 Palm Springs International Shortfest. Nominated for Best Animated Short at the 2026 Academy Awards.

CANDY BAR

Nash Edgerton, Australia, 6 minutes

Nash Edgerton’s hilarious and heartfelt tale follows a young girl who thinks a man in the movie theatre concession line resembles her dad. Official selection at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

LATE NIGHT SHORTS - 9:45pm

DANCE WITH DEATH

Oziel Calfinkilmer, USA, 6 minutes

In this late night horror comedy, a teenage girl, dealing with a rare medical condition, engages in a fight for her life with a recently escaped serial killer. Awarded Best of Fest at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

COYOTES

Said Zagha, Palestine/Jordan, 20 minutes

A Palestinian surgeon drives home after a long night shift, but little does she know that a commute through a desolate West Bank road will change her life forever. Director Said Zagha delivers a gripping neo-noir thriller about the pressures of living under occupation. Awarded Best Short Film at the 2025 London Film Festival.

/HAAW/

Joey Scoma, USA, 12 minutes

A typical day at a ski resort takes a bizarre turn when a xenophobic guest shares a gondola with an unusual family. Shot in a claustrophobic 4:3 aspect ratio and sporting an ’80s ski-movie aesthetic, /HAAW/ builds to unbearable suspense. Official selection at the 2025 London, Tribeca, and San Francisco International Film Festivals.

MANGO

Joan Iyiola, UK/France, 11 minutes

Zadie is an independent florist who is suffering from fibroids but is determined to take her career to the next level. When a dream job arrives, Zadie searches for help in order to control her morphing body but the unwanted growths threaten to take over. Poetic and powerful with a body horror aesthetic, the film offers an incisive critique of medical misogynoir. Awarded Best Midnight Short at the 2025 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

YOUR OWN FLAVOR

Alisha Ketry, USA, 11 minutes

After Renee gets ghosted, she receives comfort from Chompers, the ‘Ice Guy’ in the park. Alisha Ketry’s genre-bending comedy shifts from musical to romcom to smart social satire without ever missing a beat. Awarded Best Comedy Short at the 2025 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

MEDUSA

Sarah Meyohas, USA/France, 15 minutes

When a young Swedish perfumer gets stung by a jellyfish while swimming at a remote beach in France, an attractive older French man with questionable intentions comes to her aid.  The result is a highly intense and expertly crafted exploration of desire, consent, and ambiguity. Awarded Best Live Action Short at the 2025 Seattle International Film Festival and the Palm Springs International Shortfest.

THE BIG GRATE

Clark Barclay, USA, 8 minutes

The quiet ritual of preparing the pre-Columbian soup pozole unravels into a visceral reflection on cultural identity, memory, and violence in this reimagined take on Martin Scorsese’s early-career film, The Big Shave.

PLAYING GOD

Matteo Burani, Italy, 9 minutes

A clay sculpture comes to life in the darkness of its creator’s workshop and finds itself surrounded by strange creatures. Featuring jaw-dropping craftsmanship and a chilling, hyperrealistic soundscape, Matteo Burani’s acclaimed body horror evokes themes of autonomy and authoritarianism in the modern world. Awarded Best Animated Short at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.

WHITCH

Hoku Uchiyama, USA, 6 minutes

After putting her daughter to bed, Aura discovers an elderly intruder in her house who acts strangely familiar until the encounter devolves into a visceral nightmare. Pithy and powerful, Hoku Uchiyama’s wicked horror comedy perfectly balances unsettling tension with sharp modern satire. Awarded a special jury prize at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival.