California Women’s Film Festival
#whitehairdontcare: A New Era in Beauty
Dir. Aishah Iqbal
In #whitehairdontcare: A New Era in Beauty, Aishah Iqbal, a Marketing Executive & Filmmaker, embarks on a deeply personal journey to uncover the truth behind society's relentless pressures on women to conceal their natural signs of aging. Struggling with her own fears of her daughter growing older in this culture, she interviews women from diverse backgrounds who have chosen to embrace their aging hair, discovering the transformative power of defiance and self-acceptance.
A Call From You
Dir. Denise Gosdinski-Espinoza, Anneliesse Gosdinski-Espinoza
A woman is having a hard time accepting a major change. After a rough day at work and being misunderstood by her co-workers, a woman feels lonely. She vacillates on making a call to a person no longer in her life. When she does call, an unlikely interaction occurs.
A Matter of Poultry
Dir. Nandini Bapat
When an ordinary guy on the cusp of starting his dream job finds out he's pregnant with an alien parasite, he flashes back to the time he told his teenage girlfriend to not get an abortion.
A Princess's Plea
Dir. Brooke Thornton, Madison Hubler
Princess Circe awaits in her tower when Vince Davenport, crown prince of a rich kingdom, comes to claim her as his wife. But with the beast left unslain and the princess left unimpressed, Vince’s quest takes a dark and unexpected turn.
Alyssum
Dir. Alex King
Alyssum follows Alyson, a young woman who’s struggling with perfectionism as she attempts to craft the perfect bouquet for her wife, Lilith. Overwhelmed by anxiety and self-doubt, she battles her inner critic, represented by corrupting vines. As she spirals deeper into self-doubt, she must decide: will she push forward and embrace imperfection, or will her fears consume her?
Better Fate Than Never
Dir. Isabella Blake -Thomas
When a 50 something LA Magazine writer is forced to pivot or quit, fate rewirtes her story with an unexpected twist.
Birds of a Feather
Dir. Cat Rendic
Birds of a Feather follows a woman who leaves everything behind to venture into the unknown.
BIRTHDAY MONTH-ER
Dir. Rhys Stover
After Tiara misreads her besties' intentions to bail on the 14th day of her 23rd annual bday-month, she must overcome her delusions to learn what really makes a birthday happy or else risk tarnishing her friendships forever.
Catcall
Dir. Lily Alexander, Mickael Gold
Lucy and Chase celebrate their first anniversary with dinner. However, Lucy struggles to cope when Chase gets more attention. This film satirizes gender roles while exploring the modern ego.
Confessions
Dir. Veronica Valenti
A serial killer reveals the dark secrets of her past crimes.
Creatures of Chaos
Dir. Asavari Kumar
When emotional turmoil takes physical form, four strangers learn their new companions refuse to stay hidden
Crossing Tahoe
Dir. Lis Bartlett
Against all odds in the early days of 2020 lockdown, one open water marathon swimmer trains for and attempts to swim 21 miles across Lake Tahoe at night.
Don't be late, Myra
Dir. Afia Serena Nathaniel
Myra must find her way home after missing her school van but she runs into trouble as some men start harassing her on the streets.
Earthworms
Dir. Caitlin Noah
Earthworms is a short Sci-Fi adventure film about a Martian girl who steals a spaceship and travels through the stars in an attempt to prove to her skeptical neighbor that life on Earth exists. She discovers a land left barren from decades of climate change, but meets a teenage boy wandering the desert on his motorcycle and the two make an exchange that will change their lives.
ESP
Dir. Cole Quirk
When Christine tours a church for her upcoming nuptials, she has one big hurdle—can the venue accommodate her unique emotional support animal?
Extra
Dir. Nikita Safia
After moving to Los Angeles to become an actress, Sofia gets lost in her obsession for fame and success, forgetting what truly matters. Eventually, she'll need to face reality and realize that her success is based on an illusion.
Folded
Dir. Ari Kraiman
Two roommates, desperate to escape their realities, accept the unthinkable
Ghosted
Dir. Jamie Dee Lyons
'Ghosted' follows wannabe fitness influencer, Morgan Chase, as she housesits for her mysterious new talent agent. As Morgan creates content throughout her stay, she begins to find strange things in the house and her followers see.....something......hiding in the background of her videos. 'Ghosted' is a chilling tale of vanity, jealousy, and the horrors of social media.
God Is Good
Dir. Jeff Deverett
God is Good tells the true story of Margaret Liu Collins, a Chinese-American woman who finds strength in her faith while overcoming profound personal struggles. From discovering Christianity in Hong Kong to navigating an abusive marriage in the U.S., Margaret faces the weight of traditional values and societal expectations.
Hair Dream
Dir. Romel Nusdorfer
Following the work of sister stylists Sharie and Tonya, this film explores Black Hair past and present , challenging myths while celebrating the resilience and beauty of Black women's hair.
Hollow
Dir. Leah Lin Grossmann
A girl discovers her lover is really––truly––empty inside.
HUGO
Dir. Rianne Cloudie
A indie short that follows a young woman dealing with the affect's of narc abuse, depression and substance abuse. Based on true experience's told through symbolism.
If the Shoe Fits
Dir. Rafaela Goncalves, Leandro Stephan
A young dancer is torn between her life-long love for ballet and her new found passion. Is this passion really new, or a mere reflection of years of trauma? She falls in love at first sight with the most beautiful pair of red high heels she has ever seen, but the only pair available is too small for her feet. The more she wears it, the more it hurts her until she has to make a big decision: ballet pointe shoes or red high heels?
If You Need Me
Dir. Sarah Rebottaro
Nora's life, marked by a regimen of self-improvement and recovery from codependency, is interrupted when Callie appears on her doorstep, suitcase in tow, emanating vulnerability and chaos.
Love & War
Dir. Amy Johnston
Kalie and Connor, two lonely assassins, form an unlikely bond when they meet on an online dating app and find themselves on the run from the hitmen and women hired to kill them both.
Love Is Blind
Dir. Parneille Walker
Love is Blind is a Short Romantic Comedy set in the bustling heart of Los Angeles, where dating is already a challenge. Chris, a cautious germaphobe—reluctantly agrees to a blind date set up by his best friend Bobby’s no-nonsense fiancée. To his surprise, his date is drop-dead gorgeous, and for a moment, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot. But what starts as a promising evening quickly spirals into chaos.
M
Dir. Christina Burchard
M is a psychosexual film about two women navigating power dynamics in their new relationship.
Meet Me in the Dirt
Dir. Xinyi Ren
Can soil mend a broken heart? In response to the grief and loss from the passing of her mother, Barbara Lawson decided to create “Meet Me in the Dirt.” This business helps those who are struggling by teaching customers a unique form of self-care.
My Right
Dir. Jennylyn Caterina, Kellie Christensen
A loaded gun. A tragic accident. An excruciating close up view of a family unraveling.
Oceanbone
Dir. Lani Cupchoy
Stolen ancestors lie in museum vaults, waiting to return home. Oceanbone is a poetic reckoning with history, confronting the colonial theft of Indigenous remains and the urgent fight to bring them back.
Old Girl in a Tutu: Susan Rennie Disrupts Art History
Dir. Cheri Gaulke
Feminist scholar, Susan Rennie, seizes her iPhone and sneaks her queer, octogenarian body into master works of art, disrupting the narrative of the male gaze.
On The Verge
Dir. Laura Park
A woman questions her sanity when her friends see a different reality.
Only You
Dir. Lauren LALA Robbins
Greg never thought much about the woman he went on a single date with—until he comes home to find Lily in his house, dressed to impress, dinner prepared, and a chilling belief that they are meant to be together. What starts as an uncomfortable surprise quickly turns into a waking nightmare when he realizes Lily has planned everything down to the last detail, ensuring he won’t leave until he accepts her love.
Ownership
Dir. Yvonne Huff Lee
When an innocent invitation to an antiques reality show unearths shameful skeletons between two families --one black, one white -- three multi-generational women are forced to take painful ownership of their present reality.
Play, Then
Dir. Isabel Li
Lucas, a 17-year-old Chinese American cellist, must face his relationship with music when asked to play for his grandmother.
Poloma
Dir. Daniel Luján
Upon his monthly supply run into town. Manaba, a young Native American trader, finds Poloma, a Native American woman, laying beaten and unconscious, on the desert sand. After cleaning her wounds, Manaba warms Poloma by a fire as she shares tales about how she ended up lost in the desert. It is a common story about the treatment of the Natives during the late 1800s, but it is also a story of resilience, and a woman's fighting spirit. A woman who refuses to be tamed.
Rash
Dir. Lyssa Samuel
Days before her board exam, a stressed medical student develops a mysterious rash and must decide between pursuing success or saving her health and sanity.
Return to the Earth
Dir. Amy Smyth
This intimate micro-documentary tells the story of Betty Seaman—a mother, builder, and teacher—who constructed her family's cob home with her own hands. What began as a quest for affordable, sustainable shelter grew into a living classroom for resilience and community.
Sequoia
Dir. Michelle Künzler
Sequoia, a diligent AI maid, works for the captivating yet mysterious Mrs. Terrance. Although not designed to harbor any emotions, Sequoia starts developing sentience, when a certain sound triggers a feeling inside her that feels oddly familiar - and human. Forced to conceal her newfound emotions to evade shutdown, Sequoia embarks on a dangerous quest for truth, tearing at the seams of her own identity and re-evaluating the intricate power dynamics that govern her place within the household. As Sequoia's hidden desire to uncover the truth collides with her need to survive, this sci-fi thriller short starring Elsha Kim and Amber Koval explores the relationship between technology and human nature and the consequences of technological advancement.
She Devil
Dir. Allie Perison
Gemma and Mae attend a break-up party for one of Mae’s new friends, a group of women who unironically refer to themselves as the “Femmes.” This group has been cultivated by Lake Evans, the hostess of our party and a quintessentially effortless it-girl.
Silenced
Dir. Hisonni Johnson
Dr. Nova Fields battles desperately to save the life of her best friend, Amila Bell, who teeters on the edge of death during a high-risk pregnancy. As Amila slips in and out of consciousness, her thoughts unravel in a frantic attempt to piece together her final moments and protect her unborn child.
Silhouette
Dir. Lauren Finerman
When a successful lawyer goes missing in the night, her fiance must look for clues around her disappearance, but what he finds leaves him to question if he really knows her
Single Buffalo
Dir. Laura Anastasia Jones
As Catherine tries to keep her composure in hopes of finding a connection, her date ticks her off to where she has no other option, but bursting into a musical dance number.
Sitting In Silence
Dir. Steph Martinez
After Emmy goes through a traumatic experience at a New Year's party, her lifelong best friend, Claire, brings her to a secret spot to help her heal.
Sorry, She Can't Help Herself
Dir. Roqiye Tavakoli
Amidst the clutter and chaos of her new American home, Somayeh, a young Iranian mother battling postpartum depression and paranoia, struggles to preserve her identity while facing the rigors of immigration, an unsupportive spouse, and judgment from visitors, revealing the intricate challenges of adapting to a life far from home.
St Georgia Hotel
Dir. Angela Manke
A woman returns to the St Georgia Hotel - a vibrant retreat filled with memories of carefree summers. She arrives to the untouched hotel with a suitcase packed for anything.
Sugar Beach
Dir. Noely Mendoza
Rosalyn, a wealthy and talented high school senior, grapples with immense grief after the loss of her brother in a surfing accident. The void left behind by his absence consumes her, and she begins a descent into addiction—alcohol becoming her solace as she numbs the pain and confusion. Amidst her downward spiral, she finds herself in a complex relationship with two other people, Isaac, and Emma. Drawn to the comfort and sweetness of their affection, the throuple provides a fleeting sense of escape, but Rosalyn's internal struggle with grief and substance abuse complicates her search for self-love, growth, healing and identity.
Sybil
Dir. Stella Bleau
When his sister’s doomed fortune telling business leads to a near foreclosure of their family home, an uptight accountant struggles to convince her of their dire situation. While she insists on a happy future.
Talk to Me Like the Rain
Dir. Eloise Lola Gordon, Rose Trimboli
This is a story about the lies we tell in the name of love. In this adaptation of Tennesse Williams’ one-act “Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Lie Here and Listen”, a couple grapples with opening up about their deepest desires while knowing that the truth of what they both want would hurt the other more than anything. This short film explores how people lie to themselves and each other in order to not feel the pain that the truth sometimes brings with it. In relationships, whether we minimize the gravity of a situation or deny ourselves the extent of our desires, it’s simpler to avoid honesty and stay in comfortable cycles than to face the unknown that comes with picking up and moving on.
The Distance Between
Dir. Minda Harts
Over three decades, childhood friends Elaine and Yasmin navigate the evolving landscape of their relationship through intimate conversations in a car. From carefree teenage years in 1994 to the challenges of adulthood in 2025, their bond endures even as their paths diverge. When life circumstances separate them, they discover that the true distance between them isn't measured in miles or years, but in their capacity to find their way back to each other.
The Last Horse
Dir. Farah Dinga
Against the backdrop of an apocalyptic future, two parents, wrung out by recent catastrophic events, are haunted by their only daughter.
The White Shoes
Dir. Gina Marie Inverso
SUSIE has just moved into her new apartment. Upset and exhausted over her numerous attempts to get a hold of her "situationship" fling, MIA, on the phone, she goes about unpacking. As she is unpacking things in her closet, she comes across a mysterious black shoe box. Just as curiosity takes hold of her to see what's inside, a jarring knock at her door snaps her attention. It's Mia who finally shows up at her door, and to Susie's ever-growing frustration, Mia pays special attention to the mysterious shoe box. And what they both find inside changes their relationship forever.
Three Wishes
Dir. Shawna Khorasani
Taylor, a burnt out insurance agent who secretly dreams of opening a bakery, discovers a magic mug that grants wishes. She uses it as revenge against her work nemesis Wendy, who steals a long-coveted promotion from her.
Three's A Crowd
Dir. Chanessa Richa'rd
A teenage overachiever attempts to reconcile the relationship between her dad and newfound brother while dealing with sexual abuse in the mother's home.
Tits Up
Dir. Selene Huang
Collette, an aspiring ballet dancer, is lured into the darker side of burlesque. She soon discovers the sinister reality of the adult entertainment industry, where power is wielded through manipulation and violence. Forced into a life of exploitation, she must find the strength to break free from the clutches of her abusers and reclaim her autonomy.
Urban Cowboy
Dir. Dustin J Robison
Music video by Cali Tucker. It's a modern day fairy tale reminiscent of "The Wizard of Oz" with Cali as our Dorothy searching for the Urban Cowboy with Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and a Leprachaun.
When It Hits
Dir. Veronica Mitsuk
Two siblings clash while navigating their own journeys through grief.
Wish I Would've Said Something
Dir. Amanda Ward
Three college roommates—Jane, Lily, and Jordan—navigate unspoken tensions and learn about vulnerability and forgiveness as they rewind time, each having the chance to say the things they wish they’d said but didn’t. Through their rewound conversations, they discover deeper truths about themselves and each other.
With Love
Dir. Kellie Christensen
She's making the world a better place–one victim at a time.
All Rights Reserved. California Women’s Film Festival 2014-2026
Call For Entries Now Open
13th Annual California Women’s Festival trophies provided by
Saturday Night Filmmaker Mixer
January 10th 2026
9pm-10:50pm $30
Wine, refreshments, music, networking and the presentation of the Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay awards.
All ticket sales are final. Tickets will be held at box office and can be picked up on the day of the event.
CWFF - Jan. 9th -11th 2026