2025 Summer Hot Films

A Modern-day Western film celebrating
independence, authenticity, resilience,
and the western way of life.

Inspired by: Writer Anita Waggoner’s
true story.
After a bitter divorce shatters her world, a resilient woman leaves behind a life of luxury and takes a chance on love with a rugged cowboy struggling to keep his ranch afloat. As she invests in his dreams, their whirlwind romance is tested by pride, hardship, and the unforgiving realities of the western way of life. Together, they must confront their pasts and fight for a future where love, perseverance, and true freedom reign.

The “26 Seconds” USA docuseries highlights the heartbreaking stories of young women who were trafficked as children right here in the United States, and who have all experienced similarly horrific traumas. The story is told from the survivors’ point of view and outlines the horrors of their captivity. Episode 1, “The Border Crisis,” is a poignant and unapologetic episode that takes the viewer on a compelling and emotional journey, shedding light on the 300,000 children missing from the U.S. southern border and the stories of American survivors. The docuseries strives to create awareness and serves as a call to action, with the ultimate goal of destroying this horrific global industry.

The White Scarf is a short psychological drama that explores memory, identity, and the enduring bond of love in the face of dementia. Told from the fragmented perspective of a once-famous public figure now slipping into cognitive decline, the story immerses the viewer in the disorientation, fear, and tenderness that accompany the erosion of self.

The White Scarf doesn’t try to explain dementia; it asks us to feel it—what it’s like to be unmoored in time yet held by love. As my directorial debut, the film is both artistic expression and advocacy: a tribute to devotion and a call to honor the dignity of queer elderhood in a world that too often forgets it.

Our feature film, Aimless, is a psychological mystery about a clinical psychologist who takes on a teen client traumatized from episodes of sleep paralysis, but the more she works with him, she discovers who is behind the spiritual entities invading his dreams.

When their aging father’s surgery forces them back under one roof, four estranged siblings navigate old wounds, unexpected laughter, and fleeting joy in a single messy day in New York. Between backyard water fights, stolen bodega runs, and blunt honesty, they begin to rediscover the bond they thought they’d lost, just in time to face the uncertain road ahead.

After the passing of her grandparents, Sophia embarks on a poignant journey to Taiwan to discover the untold chapters of her family’s story. Along the way, she learns about their connection to Taiwan’s most prominent hot sauce, sparking a deeper connection to the vibrant Tainan food and culture that shaped her ancestors’ lives. A Little Bit Sweet (有點甜) unravels the rich tapestry of Sophia’s cultural heritage in a heartwarming documentary exploring identity, memory, and the power of food.

A soulful exploration of gospel’s unsung heroes, “Voices of Faith” tells the story of the Salem Harmonizers — a family-rooted quartet whose harmonies shaped the sound of the South and the spirit of a community.

A brilliant science student, troubled by uncertainty, seeks to switch majors to history, but a professor challenges her to reconstruct a disordered historical speech by Scientist Bose. After the reconstruction, the student interprets the speech as pessimistic, ensuing a philosophical discussion. The professor argues that, like science, history is shaped by the observer, but the student insists there must be undeniable truths pointing to the reconstructed speech. To challenge her, the professor asks her to read the speech backward, revealing Bose's optimistic spirit instead.

When a young boy accompanies his mother on her overnight shift in a Texas hospital, a group of nurses band together to keep him hidden and his mother’s job safe.

Station 32 is a heartfelt, coming-of-age short film inspired by the early life of our director, Eddie Hemphill. Set in the 1990s, it follows a young boy, Cory, who spends an overnight shift at a Texas hospital with his nurse mother, Aleisha. With help from both patients and nurses, Cory must stay hidden from his mother's no nonsense boss, Ronnie, who would fire her on the spot. The film uplifts the power of chosen family; explores what it means to sacrifice for others; and unveils what critical moments look like for young men.

WOMEN WHO RIDE, a feature documentary, is a character-driven portrait of Tish Edwards, the founder of Oakland’s first Black women’s motorcycle club, and her unwavering commitment to keeping the club alive. In 2004, a horrific accident left her son, Chris, paralyzed from the neck down. Since then, Tish has juggled work, caregiving, and leadership of the D’Vious Wayz Motorcycle Club. Offering a glimpse into this powerful symbol of sisterhood through the eyes of its founder, WOMEN WHO RIDE highlights the strength of Black matriarchs, female camaraderie, and the resilience of women who continue to pursue their passions in addition to their caregiving responsibilities.