2026 Girls Night Out
Short Film Festival
In Order of Appearance
Film Lineup
Film Summary-Two brothers on a food delivery detour uncover their uncle's bizarre crime cult operating in the heart of Florida's underbelly, where crime, ego, and absurdity collide in a darkly comedic coming-of-age story.
Director Bio-Elliot Etheridge is a Florida native with a fascination of the state's 'rough and rural' culture. Comedy lover and editor, Elliot currently suffers in New York, away from his sunshine paradise.
Film Summary-"I Don't Dance for You" follows four dancers in a pole studio that serves the Daytona Beach area. They share their personal stories along with their thoughts on the feminine experience and the negative perception of pole dancing.
Director Bio-Madeira recently graduated from Flagler College with a degree in Cinematic Arts. This is her senior film.
Film Summary-Through her camcorder, Ellie revisits a night of drinking with friends that left her feeling excluded. By morning, she is met with their excuse- “they were just buying us drinks”- the uneasy question of what truly happened, and the uncertainty of the friendship itself.
Director Bio-Juan Sebastián de Lima Torres is a film artist born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Colombia. Developed his film skills and earned a B.F.A. in the U.S. at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He explores the seventh art in a socially experimental and collaborative manner.
Film Summary-In a packed cafe, an introverted woman finds herself in a silent standoff with a stranger over the only open table. What begins as a quiet race turns into an unexpected connection.
Director Bio-Jodie Cordell is a storyteller at heart, kicking off her career by earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Arlington. She made a name for herself with human interest stories and later utilized her skills in marketing and content creation. Returning to her love for story, she recently acquired an MFA in Film Production from Full Sail University. Jodie is passionate about extracting stories from everyday life, invoking deep emotions, and driving social commentary through filmmaking, especially as a writer/director. She is particularly thrilled to empower women by elevating their voices. Collaborative and driven, Jodie breathes stories to life—usually fueled by a good cup of coffee.
Film Summary-Two young Pakistani-American women fight prejudice while reclaiming their agency in their own ways: one is looking to remove her headscarf, while the other longs to be a hijabi.
Director Bio-Dr. Nyla Hazratjee is an American-Muslim filmmaker. As a first generation Pakistani American, her work focuses on the minority subculture experience in America. She is an award winning filmmaker (The Persian Version-Winner Sundance 2023, The School Duel- Winner Deauville American Film Festival 2025, Six stars- Hollyshorts 2025) host, lecturer, TEDx and key note speaker and founder of NY/LA Production, a non profit production house dedicated to changing the narrative of the Muslim American Female in film and television through independent media. She is also a double board certified specialist physician, and an involved mother of two sons. She recently directed a feminist film with a female BIPOC crew which will have major impact. She recently directed a feminist film with a female BIPOC crew which will have major impact.
Film Summary - The Rabbit Ballet is an animated, multimedia student short film that deals with change, control, and choice.
Filmmakers Bio-Aalia Khan is a story driven artist who loves to focus on concept and character design. Kelsey Prudente is a multimedia artist with a passion for bringing unique stories to life. Samuel Rodarmel is an aspiring 3D artist with a focus on environment and prop design. Layne Sovereign is an aspiring artist who gets her inspiration from fairy tales and all things fantastical.
Film Summary-Getting a shy and quiet friend back into the dating world requires some unconventional strategies, after all, this ain't oz!
Director Bio:Native to Dallas, TX, but now residing in Brooklyn (NY), C.Faz received her bachelor’s degree in Radio/Television Production from Texas A&M University at Commerce, and her MFA in writing at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She is also a graduate of the "Made In NY" Production Assistant Training Program, and is a member of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority. Carina spends her time traveling back and forth between the Lone Star State and the Big Apple. If you let her pick what’s for dinner, it will always be tacos!
Director Summary and Film Synopsis- Joan Ferebee grew up in Brooklyn, New York, graduated with an accounting BA and at 41 moved to Washington State. She retired as Court Administrator at 67 then attended Olympic College and graduated with a BA Digital Filmmaking with Cum Laude award. Joan scripted, edited, filmed, directed, and produced three mini movies (Two Guys Making a Movie, What’s So Funny, A Muse), two short movies (Neurotically Compulsive, and Civic Duty).
Ms. Ferebee interviewed four subjects, and produced a trailer documentary, “Breaking the Façade”. During the third semester a stroke, left her with high blood pressure, heart disease, as well as memory loss and a host of speech impediments that challenged adversity daily.
After 18 months of therapy, Joan returned and completed a documentary of her real-life journey and how she continues to overcome adversity. Joan hopes her documentary will inspire viewers to grab every moment, and enjoy all aspects of life while also encouraging others feel empowered, energized and inspired with hope. That is why Joan named it, "Living Moments",
Film Summary-Believing herself to be a failure as a painter, Renée works at a pigment shop instead. However, when a disaster threatens her friend's exhibition, she must pick up the paintbrush again and prove her past wrong.
Director Bio-Vlada Evtushenko grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she graduated from the School of Academic Art. She graduated from the University of Central Florida (UCF) in 2025 with her MFA in Emerging Media – Animation and Visual Effects. Her background in traditional art shaped her perception of color and light in digital media. Now she is using the medium of animation to create art that helps people find connection in the loneliness of the modern age.
Film Summary-When her teenage daughter is abducted and the police refuse to act, a desperate mother turns to a shadowy underground network known for delivering justice on its own terms. In exchange for their help, she accepts a brutal bargain that will test the limits of her morality and her resolve. But as the rescue unfolds, she learns that not everyone is who they seem… and salvation comes with a heavy price. Producer Bio-Jen Potcher is an award-winning filmmaker, actress, and founder of the Female Film Slayers of Idaho, an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering women in film. She has produced and acted in numerous female driven independent projects, including the award-winning Bluebird. Jen is passionate about creating opportunities for independent filmmakers and building a collaborative, inclusive film community in Idaho.
Film Summary- Frustrated with dating apps, an eager young man ventures into speed dating but fate steps in and the night takes an unexpected turn.
Director Bio-Dezmond Gilla is an actor/writer/director native to Hawaii. His experience as an actor in theater, television, and film has helped him sharpen his other two facets. Latest works, The New West, Save the Date, and Coming for You, earned second, third, and third (again) place awards respectively.