OFFICIAL SLATE OF SHORT FILMS ANNOUNCED:
5TH ANNUAL BELOW THE LINE
FILM FESTIVAL IN NYC
Celebrating Five Years of Honoring the Unsung Heroes
On Screen and Behind the Camera
with In-Person Screenings and Global Virtual Streaming
NEW YORK, NY — Chill Bucket Productions is thrilled to announce the official film selection and ticket availability for the 5th Season of the Below the Line Film Festival, returning to New York City on October 2–3, 2026 at the historic Episcopal Actors Guild Hall.
Screenings will begin each evening at 7:30 PM EST, followed by an extended global digital streaming window running October 2–11, 2026. This year’s curated lineup features bold narratives, student breakthroughs, international selections, dance, and documentaries—celebrating both above-the-line talent and the vital craft of cinematographers, editors, gaffers, set designers, and crew members.

Official Festival Lineup
Eleven:Eleven (USA | Drama)
Director & Screenwriter: Katherine Mary Jane Quinn
Cast: Sasha Sinel, Ryan Killenbeck, Elaina Pecora, Alyssa Pitter
Synopsis: A poignant look at vulnerability, young adulthood, and fleeting connection, centering on the emotional world of a waitress.

He’s Not Alone — PREMIERE (USA | LGBTQIA, Student – Emerson College)
Director & Screenwriter: Andrew Glener
Cast: Noah Maitland, Zachary Collins, Charlotte Pernicone, Whitney Rogers, Jordan Berke
Synopsis: A psychological queer drama following a young man whose grip on reality fractures as he navigates the surreal boundaries between grief, memory, and love.

Killer Instincts — PREMIERE (USA | Thriller, Under 18 Student – Smithtown High School East)
Director & Screenwriter: Julie McDonald
Cast: Jackson Kolman, Olivia Marchese, Mirabella Fattibene, Allie Constantino
Synopsis: A dark comedy slasher where an awkward horror fanatic attempts to become a serial killer, only to discover his targets are far deadlier than anticipated.

The Company We Keep — PREMIERE (USA | Horror, Student – Manhattan University)
Director: Jason T. Silva | Screenwriters: Jason T. Silva, Aureliano Morales, Henry Medrano
Cast: Sam Wofford, Rafael Romano, Sami Abauad
Synopsis: A lonely college student is haunted by a mysterious presence during hallucinations that force him to confront his deepest fears of abandonment.

St. Vincent Health Sciences Center (USA | Documentary)
Director: Elijah Croom
Synopsis: A documentary detailing the origins, community impact, and state-of-the-art educational programs inside the newly opened $106-million academic facility.

More Than Life Itself (USA | Student – Hofstra University)
Director & Screenwriter: J.J. Vogt
Cast: Aidan Thomas Dyson, Sheila Warnock
Synopsis: On the cusp of graduation, a college senior gathers with friends for one final getaway while an unexpected crisis unfolds back home.

Tarik (Serbia | Drama)
Director: Adem Tutić | Screenwriters: Adem Tutić, Mario Nikolić
Cast: Dimitrije Stanković, Igor Borojević, Vahid Dzanković, Milica Janevski, Emina Tutić, Haris Djerlek
Synopsis: Following his expulsion from school, a young man is forced to leave his mother and rebuild his life with his estranged father’s family in Novi Pazar.

The Kendama Club (USA | Student – University of Denver)
Director & Screenwriter: Kassia Fundoukos
Cast: Madeleine McCormick, Hyo Vinny Carty, Malea Kinnison, Vivian Ko, Paul Askedall, Amanda Corrales, Elaine Gisette
Synopsis: Recovering from a painful first heartbreak, a prickly college freshman joins a campus kendama circle and discovers an unexpected path to healing.

Mammon (USA | Dance)
Director: Lucas Ruderman
Cast: Judith Rose, Igor S, Kenney DeCamp
Synopsis: A movement-driven morality tale examining the perils of greed and power, inspired by Charlie Chaplin’s speech in The Great Dictator.

The Bag (USA | Comedy)
Director & Screenwriter: Robert M. Snyder
Cast: Robert M. Snyder, Robert M. Snyder, Jr., Gamal El Sawah Jr., Richard Brundage, Elizabeth Snyder, Shane McGowin, Nicholas Kaminsky, Lukas Kaminsky
Synopsis: A satirical environmental comedy following a desperate man confronting the end of the world caused by floating plastic bags.

Still Here (USA | Drama)
Director: Talya Dayan | Screenwriter: Maria Koronellou
Cast: Maria Koronellou, Stephen Lewis, Megan Naymik
Synopsis: A subtle domestic drama exploring the quiet routines of a marriage, where hidden cracks begin to disrupt the peace of the everyday.

Stall Buddies (USA | Comedy)
Director & Screenwriter: Glenn McBride Jr
Cast: Glenn McBride Jr, Brannon Brass, Elizabeth Brandon, Kyle Grant, Jenna Alise, Giovanni Lozada, Kevin Martin, Jennifer Elyse Feldman, Vaughn Johnson, Cheron Bey, Cindy Brown, Sal Salanitri
Synopsis: Two corporate coworkers strike up an unconventional friendship from opposite sides of adjacent bathroom stalls.

Development Hell II (USA | Under 18 Student – Xavier High School)
Director: Roman Espinosa
Synopsis: A creative trapped within the confines of production red tape fights for a breakthrough.

Xavier Monster (USA | Under 18 Student – Xavier High School)
Director: Sebastian Gomez
Synopsis: An unexpected alliance forms among high school students following a strict campus-wide energy drink ban.

Gold Hearts (USA | Comedy, Student – Messiah University)
Director & Screenwriter: Ryan Gross
Cast: Ethan Dyrli, Sierra Emery, Reed Milliken, Sunny Almeyda
Synopsis: An earnest film student debuts his cinematic masterpiece, completely unaware that his audience sees it as an unintentional comedy.

Festival Passes & Ticketing
VIP Festival Pass ($45): Access to both Friday and Saturday in-person screenings, front-row seating, and the official Season 5 gift bag.
Individual Screening Ticket ($27): Single-night admission for Friday, October 2 or Saturday, October 3.
“Bring Your Crew” Group Pass ($105): Admission for groups of five ($30 total savings).
Global Digital Streaming Pass ($35): Full on-demand streaming access available worldwide from October 2 through October 11, 2026.
Sponsor a Filmmaker ($35): Direct community funding initiative supporting entry fee waivers for emerging and underrepresented creators.
All passes, tickets, and sponsorships are available now via FilmFreeway.

About Below the Line Film Festival
Produced by Chill Bucket Productions, the Below the Line Film Festival is an international NYC showcase dedicated to short cinema and the entire ecosystem of filmmaking talent, celebrating both on-screen storytellers and behind-the-scenes artisans.