Austin's Independent Short Film Festival - Austin Shortsfest
Saturday, 8/16 at Hyperreal
Austin Shortsfest
Shorts #1- Threads of Humanity - Saturday, 8/16 at 2:15 PM
Each of these films captures a moment when life shifts. Through loss, love, survival, or discovery, these stories follow characters who rise to meet change and find meaning in it. From a post-apocalyptic romance to a portrait of an artist obsessed with death, each film offers a different path through transformation.
120 min. total run time
2025 Austin Shortsfest August 16 at Hyperreal
Nan
Director Lily Ellora Newton
Narrative Short, USA, 16 min.
It’s 1964, and when Nan’s husband skips town, she’s left with three daughters, no car, and no income. Determined to hold her family together and maintain the appearance of a perfect mother, she steps into the workforce for the first time—and she begins to find her voice.
Death: The Life of Mike Egan
Director Doug Helmick
Documentary Short, USA, 12 min.
The theme of death is so prevalent in Egan's art. It symbolizes the transformative nature of change, where a part of ourselves dies to make way for something new. Throughout the doc, Egan is painting a custom built coffin. with every brushstroke, he reveals his deepest memories. The images on the coffin serve as a visual representation of his journey, capturing pivotal moments, emotions, and experiences from his life.
What a Beautiful Day
Director Cherise Keown
Narrative Short, Canada, 10 min.
A film about the struggles families have trying to connect with their loved ones, due to the unfortunate disease of Alzheimer’s. It is shown through a single moment between a mother and daughter one beautiful afternoon in a park.
Day One
Director Daniel Buckley
Documentary Short, Ireland, 15 min.
Day One covers the final scramble to open the newest location of The Dead Rabbit in Austin. Following the leadership team as they operate on the ground, the film offers a unique insight into the work, stress, and collaboration involved in executing the first stage of their national expansion, a monumental achievement in the history of the bar.
SARAH
Directors Audrey Goff, Sarah Webster
Documentary Short, USA, 13 min.
In an intimate vignette, Sarah reflects on young adulthood, her experience with personal identity, and her deep connection to nature throughout a day in San Marcos, Texas.
Princess Party Pandemonium
Director Alejandro Barrera
Comedy Short, USA, 15 min.
When a determined super mom wants to make the best princess themed birthday party for her six year old daughter and get through the day: her pessimistic son, her cougar mother, her drunk ex husband and new younger girlfriend make it all the harder.
Jake and Angelica
Director Glenn Maxwell
Narrative Short, USA, 10 min.
462 days into a world where society ceased to exist, two lost souls share a day together.
Finding Comfort
Director Sameer Butt
in Narrative Short, USA, 29 min.
Set in the heart of New York City, the story follows Marty, an isolated diner owner whose anguish and loss as a young man have ossified into a permanent grief, defining him in his old age. When a young refugee and her son enter his life, Marty is faced with an unexpected opportunity for connection. However, as the pain of his past resurfaces, it threatens to overshadow the present and unravel his already fragile future.