Synopsis

During her shifts supervising a wild swath of southern Irish terrain, park ranger Jen is fierce when it comes to fending off the poachers who attempt to encroach on the wildlife inhabiting the forests she safeguards. But shorts when an old boyfriend returns after a long absence, bringing with him memories of a tragedy that changed the course of their lives, cracks begin to show through her tightly controlled demeanor. As the past rears its head, Jen is faced with reconciling deep-seated traumas with new threats lurking both at home and in the woods.

Crackling with intensity, Whitetail is both a white-knuckle thriller and a meditation on the possibility of redemption for past sins. Anchored by a riveting lead performance from Natasha O’Keeffe, writer-director Nanouk Leopold’s probing character study is amplified by its rugged woodland setting, reflecting the unexplored depths of Jen’s fractured psyche.

Synopsis

These films showcase the richness of the documentary form. Through observation, testimony, and poetic reimagining, six different complex corners of the world come into view.

In Dooni, preacher Walter Hawkins delivers the moving eulogy for legendary singer Sylvester, who died of AIDS in 1988. In Visiting Hours, Tony pays daily visits to his mother at a care facility, helping her ailing memory. Koki, Ciao is a humorous autobiography of a parrot named Koki, who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous people of the 20th century. In Lanawaru, a community grapples with the disappearance of one of their own, as a young boy receives spiritual guidance from his grandfather. Through audio recordings created by a couple over the course of a season, Hold Me Close portrays and celebrates the love shared between two women. Hoops, Hopes, & Dreams is an investigation into how basketball has played a crucial role in the political lives of two of the defining figures of American history, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama.

Synopsis

This deeply singular short film is a humorous autobiography of sorts about a parrot named Koki, who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous people of the 20th century. Developed by having Koki verbally react to archival footage presented to him, this film is a fascinating portrait of pets, their strangely fascinating lives, and their relationship to power.

This film screens as part of Shorts Program 7: Documentary.

Synopsis

Jaap Peter, a lively 16-year-old boy, eagerly prepares for his older sister’s wedding at their grandfather’s country home. As the family rallies together to create the perfect celebration, Jaap Peter falls in love for the first time. When he realizes the girl of his dreams is smitten with his younger sister, he must rediscover his footing in the family and in the world.

Synopsis

Adrift and searching, Nina wanders Europe in an attempt to flee her painful past. While taking refuge at a rest stop, she befriends Matthias, a German trucker and the two form a bond. As their intimacy intensifies, memories of her former life begin to haunt her. What is she running from? Steeped in mystery, Zurich is a nuanced portrait of trauma, love, and healing.