April 5th

FRIDAY NIGHT SHORTS SHOWCASE

The Bishop Bar | Doors 6pm | Lights 6:30pm 

6:30pm Shorts Block I

Headcase (US)

A quirky and fearless environmental investigator is determined to crack the case of a town plagued by explosive tea. (Winner of the 2023 Pittsburgh 48 Hour Film Project)

Physical Matters (US)

A pair of married, marine scientists get the job of a lifetime; to dissect a freshly deceased blue whale. The issues that exist in their marriage seep into the project. And the gift this whale has to offer may not just be to science, but also matters of the heart.

Games People Play (US INDIANA)

One person witnessing the death and destruction of war has to make a split-second decision to stop the madness before getting off the Paris Metro...

7:00pm Shorts Block II

Out of the Equation (CA)
Upon realizing art often doesn't pay the bills, a young musician is forced to decide between pursuing a stable living, and his passion for music and the woman he loves.

Fitting Descriptions (US)

Dina, an aging CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) stage actor haunted by a past humiliation, tries to jump-start her failing on-camera career by rebranding. Outside a Chicago coffeehouse Dina begrudgingly solicits passersby for first impressions, then weathers the resulting IRL likes, comments, and plain indifference of strangers and her industry alike. But when her past and present collide, Dina’s authorial CODA “voice” awakens.

7:35pm Shorts Block III

Neon Banana (US INDIANA)

A seemingly innocent online interaction quickly turns precarious.

Director Samuel-Ali was named a PBS Wyncote Fellow in 2023 and will be an adjunct professor at Indiana University this upcoming semester teaching documentary filmmaking.

NEON BANANA is Samuel-Ali's debut fiction film.

The Therapist (UK)

In every neighborhood of every city, there's a safe haven for Black Men.

Dead End Dreams (US INDIANA)

Down on his luck and struggling to make ends meet, Fenner agrees to help his estranged and wannabe-actor friend film a new reel in exchange for cash.

FILMMAKERS PANEL

8:55pm Shorts Block IV

I Remain, (US INDIANA)

A girl stuck in the cycle of heartache finds the strength to go on with her life, even after what she has lost, and is able to move forward with a newfound sense of hope.

Director Rebekah Steffen is a student filmmaker based in Huntington, Indiana, focused on honing her craft and making art that is both fun and inspiring.

My Devotion (US INDIANA)

Damien is a man going through crisis, when Karla intervenes.
As they grow closer, Damien's past starts to haunt him. Where will his devotion lie? With Karla, or with his past?

Thick as Thieves (US)

A partnership based on juvenile crime comes quickly to a close with the reality of consequences, and one character takes the lesson to the next level of thivery.

Nothing in the Middle of Nowhere (US INDIANA)

Midwestern microwave salesman, Clement Supple, has the worst birthday, full of bad luck with work, relationships, and killers, and is faced with eternal doom unless he can find a way to break the cycle.

Director Statement

"Nothing in the Middle of Nowhere" describes the unobserved life as one that simply needs a bit of a kick in the pants. Although our film surrounds Clement Supple, a microwave salesman who struggles to assert his purpose, his sheer lack of charisma makes those around him excuse themselves from his life. Ironically, it isn't until his accidental kidnappers "Martha" and "Stuart" confuse him for a dead body that he begins to find new life. Writing and directing this short film has been not only an exploration of what happens when you don't stick up for yourself, but also how a single string of unfortunate events doesn't always have to lead towards a permanent dead end.

Filmmakers Panel

9:50pm Shorts Block V

Darkside of the Moon (US INDIANA)
A lawman and a prisoner play a deadly game beneath a full moon.

Key Cast: Thomas Casey Zellers, Jordan Mullins

Directed by Lincoln Reed

Cheeseburger Cinema (US INDIANA)
Written & directed by Michael Pappas (2nd yer BIFF Selection), starring Simon Hoyt & Jeremy Pierce…
Cheeseburger Cinema beneath all the chaos and uncertainty is a story all about the importance of friendship in today's age…

Echoes From the Merge (Argentina)
"Echoes from the Merge" is a NXTID.TV in-house production that explores the integration of humans and machines. It uses Formula 1 racing as a metaphor for overcoming human limitations through technological advancements. The production itself utilizes AI tools to accelerate the creative process and involves both human and AI collaboration. The project raises questions about authorship and the ethical boundaries of AI in artistic creation. It also delves into the potential of general artificial intelligence (AGI) surpassing human cognitive abilities. The production reflects on the governance and implications of AI development for human identity, creativity and future.

Gunslinger (US INDIANA)

After receiving a lifeline to chase his dream and play college baseball, high school benchwarmer Colt Hale must decide to follow his heart or settle for less. Directed By Lincoln Reed

Starring: Ethan Kleiman, Darren Lee Cupp, and Jordan Mullins

Salt Lake Jake (US INDIANA)

In the Old West, a bounty hunter visits a dying friend, which leads to a deadly circumstance.

Directed By Andrew Huxley Miller | Starring Bennett Huxley Miller

10:00pm

GRAND BIFF AWARDS CEREMONY

10:30pm Shorts Block VI

The System
Mr. Jordan, played by Terence Knox, and his wife spent their life on the farm. Just three months after she dies, he's told he is cancer-free and sent home with new medications. But Bokamoso, the African intern, questions whether parasites could be to blame for the cancer. Sadly, the doctors are stuck in The System.

Carrots For Conrad

After a curse is placed upon Conrad, he suspects he might be turning into a carrot. He has to race against time and find the person responsible for the curse before it's too late.

Top Rope (US)
The unresolved tension in their DL (down-low) relationship takes a perilous turn when Brooks joins Mickey and his friends rock climbing in Colorado.

Gold Rush
In this surrealist satire of the Ozempic era, a young woman must decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve the skin of her dreams.