Austin's Independent Short Film Festival - Austin Shortsfest
Saturday, 8/16 at Hyperreal
Austin Shortsfest
Shorts #2 - Leave the Lights On - Saturday, 8/16 at 5:00 PM
This block leans into the weird, the creepy, and the unexpectedly funny. Whether it's a haunted hangout, a twisted love story, or a shady park ranger, or a missing water bottle, this collection blends horror, dark comedy, and drama to keep you guessing and entertained.
116 min. total run time
2025 Austin Shortsfest August 16 at Hyperreal
Water Bottle
Director David F Mewa
Narrative Short, Canada, 7 min.
A casual gathering turns into a surreal nightmare when an obsessive guest embarks on an unhinged mission to reclaim her beloved water bottle...at any cost.
One Click
Director Dallas Soonias
Narrative Short, Canada, 11 min.
Bart and his gang are hiding out, planning one final heist before skipping town. But when Charlie brings back the wrong man, things unravel fast - mistakes pile up, tempers flare, and the body count rises. With the law closing in, Bart pushes forward, chasing one last score that may already be out of reach.
The Nature of Death
Director Sean Cruser
Horror Short, USA, 16 min.
When an eccentric park ranger crosses paths with a grieving hiker, he offers his help in finding the perfect spot to scatter the hiker’s father’s ashes. As they venture deeper into the remote wilderness, the ranger’s true intentions begin to blur.
RISE OF CHOW
Director Hymnson Chan
Narrative Short, USA, 16 min.
New to Las Vegas, a young man with dreams of becoming a headlining magician is derailed by tragic events and mental health battles that cause him to spiral into the violent and deranged crime lord that we all now know as Leslie Chow.
The Itch
Director Gordon Phillips
Horror Short, Mexico, USA, 14 min.
A young man awakens in an unfamiliar apartment only to find himself under surveillance… and decaying rapidly. He relies on an enigmatic set of vaccines he discovers in the bathroom to slow his decline, but quickly plots revenge on his unseen watcher as his condition continues to deteriorate.
BUG
Director Bryan Alfonso Berrios
Narrative Short, USA, 14 min.
Peter, Luca's former college roommate, is hiking the Appalachian trail and decides to pay Luca and his Boyfriend, Sam, a visit in NYC. As Peter recaptures the attention and admiration of Luca, Sam’s paranoia rears its head as he is left to speculate on the nature of their prior relationship. Jealousy and desire intertwine as both men are unable to resist Peter’s bisexual lure. The foundation of their relationship is questioned as the acknowledgment of attraction and desire poses an unprecedented threat to what was otherwise a healthy relationship. BUG investigates our basic primal instincts: sex & territory.
Dilemma
Director Trevan Hiatt
Narrative Short, USA, 14 min.
Dilemma is a tense psychological thriller that delves into the consequences of a single, reckless decision. When high school friends find themselves trapped in a situation they can’t escape, panic sets in, and their once-close bond begins to fray. With each choice they make, the weight of their actions grows heavier, and the line between right and wrong blurs. Dilemma is a gripping exploration of guilt, fear, and where unexpected paths can lead us.
The Man Who Loved Flowers
Director Tracey Hague
Horror Short, USA, 8 min.
A wistful young man strolls the Nashville streets when an encounter with a flower vendor ultimately reveals his dark longing.
American Gothic
Director Grant Lee Bomar
Experimental Short, USA, 12 min.
A screenwriter living inside his story struggles to define his characters and himself. As he grapples to create or to procreate, his characters, twins known as brother and sister revisiting their childhood home, realize their past does not align with a reel of home film they find. They begin to question the validity of their identities and the permanence of memory, forming a world of their own.