Type of Story: Literary Fiction, 871 words

Synopsis: A little boy's words aren't enough to prove the abuse he endures, so he clings to the safe smell of a purple crayon - until silence becomes its own kind of evidence.

Performed by Val Cole

Type of Story: Creative Nonfiction / Literary Essay, 771words

Synopsis: A stepmother rejects the "wicked" myth and redefines motherhood, proving that love in blended families is boundless and unconfined by blood.

Performed by Val Cole

Performed by Val Cole

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POEM:

Justice,
before you rule,
Please hear me—
not as counsel,
but as one who has stood in that midnight kitchen
through her words,
through her trembling hands,
fighting for Pêpê’s best interest—
a child the law claims to protect,

yet leaves trembling.
It is not e...

KosherSoul, 13min., USA
Directed by Ilja Sarro
James-Beard-Award-winning author and culinary historian, Michael W. Twitty emphasizes that cooking is not just about the recipe, but the people who create it. He highlights the importance of representation in the culinary world, particularly among ch...

Manly Dam Something Incredible Stirred, 4min., Australia
Directed by Malcolm John Fisher
A glimpse into the Incredible Biodiversity of Manly Warringah War Memorial Park and why it is so important to protect it.

https://manlydambiodiversityproject.org/
https://www.instagram.com/keepmanlydamwild/

Walking With Elephants, 9min., China
Directed by Yuqing Jiao
Every Asian elephants is a living archive, deciphering the rifting of the Gondwana supercontinent. Fifty-five million years ago, as the ancestors of Asian elephants began their evolutionary journey in Africa, a slow-motion collision of ...

The Inga Tree Model 2025, 10min., Honduras
Directed by Adam Wakeling
The Inga Alley-Cropping pilot is in year 13 in rural, northern Honduras and has impressive results for carbon sequestered and avoided--876,000 tons in 12 years--trained and assisted by an all-Honduran team, 500 smallholder famil...

Immersion, 93min., USA
Directed by William RA Rush
A woman in a new home must protect her family while contending with the unexpected inhabitants of her house.

https://www.instagram.com/originalcinematic

Blu's, 10min., India
Directed by Rajesh PK
Growing up freely in harmony with nature, witnessing her beautiful environment being swallowed up by industrialisation, BLU decides to fight for the wildlife, meadows, rivers and trees before they disappear completely.

https://www.instagram.com/blussho...

A Silent Cry, 2min,. USA
Directed by Donna Weng Friedman
"A Silent Cry" is a two-and-a-half-minute microfilm set in the Himalayan Mountains—one of the world’s most vital and fragile ecosystems. The film uses evocative visuals and music to highlight the urgent need to sustain and protect this uniq...

BODIES OF WORK, 25min., USA
Directed by Rabia Khan
"Bodies of Work: The Stories That Live in Jen Hyde." In this evocative documentary, journey through the emotional landscape of Emmy-award-winning documentary producer Jen Hyde. Known for her courageous and compassionate storytelling at NBC and CN...

From Waste to Wages: Tennessee's Economic Potential in Recycling, 7min., USA
Directed by Ryan Scott, Jeffrey Barrie, Shelby White
Tennessee is in the midst of a crisis. Landfills are reaching capacity, and raw materials are becoming more expensive. But all across the state, major companies are lo...

TROPOS, 131min., USA
Directed by Peter Andrew Coutavas
In the wake of sudden and alarming climate change, a team of brilliant citizens are assembled by the United States Government to counter the threat.

https://www.instagram.com/ardentroadproductions/

TALK, 8min., Australia
Directed by Dario Nadile
"TALK" starring Detroit’s Tony J Black ( Sting; Apples Never Fall) is a drama delving into the nuances of love, communication, and the mysterious impact of silence. The narrative unfolds through the complex dynamics between characters, exploring emo...

Love & War, 15min., USA
Directed by Amy Johnston
Kalie and Connor, two lonely assassins, form an unlikely bond when they meet on an online dating app and find themselves on the run from the hitmen and women hired to kill them both.

https://www.instagram.com/amyejohnston/

It Came to This, 25min,. USA
Directed by Sheldon Schiffer
It Came to This is a short romantic fantasy comedy about a woman writer and her boyfriend whose plans to move in together are interrupted. Love should inspire compromise, right? At least until an ugly lamp becomes more than just a light, b...

Roots of Resilience: Stories of Caribbean Women in Agriculture, 48min., Saint Lucia
Directed by Curmiah Lisette, Keithlin Caroo-Afrifa
Roots of Resilience: Stories of Caribbean Women in Agriculture is a moving portrait of St. Lucia’s agricultural journey, celebrating the strength of its women and...

LUCKY ALIEN, 15min., USA
Directed by Jasmin Please Haugstuen
"Lucky Alien" is a gripping short film that explores one woman's fight for love and dignity against the merciless bureaucracy of immigration, shedding light on the dark corners of a broken system. This social drama with a sprinkle of da...

Dividing Line, 28min., Georgia
Directed by Mevlud Sabashvili
A woman finds the strength to leave an abusive relationship. A woman does not find the strength to leave an abusive relationship.

https://www.facebook.com/mevludi.sabashvili

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make t...

Chronicles of The Laska Archives, 38min,. USA
Directed by Jennava Laska
A documentary about the creation of one of the largest private archival 16mm film collections in the world. A self-confessed “pack rat” father, Lewis and his filmmaker daughter, Jennava brought this archive back from the brin...

Wait Until Tomorrow, 70min., USA
Directed by Osato Dixon
This documentary follows the journeys of Black families over two years, showcasing their struggles, survival, and pursuit of success across diverse economic paths. It examines five distinct themes that shape Black economic mobility, intercu...