BFF 2026: It's in the Blood and Q&A

Join us for our opening night of 10 incredible short films by women, trans-masculine and non-binary directors at the Paradise Theatre! Ten short films across two curated screening programs, showcasing bold storytelling by emerging women, trans-masculine, and non-binary filmmakers. Theme: REBIRTH IT'S IN THE BLOOD Some things run in the family. Others refuse to stay buried. These films explore intimate family portraits, unexpected encounters, and crossings between worlds. Together, they consider rebirth not as a clean break from the past, but as an ongoing negotiation with it. Sometimes becoming ourselves means confronting everything that made us who we are. About the Films: 1. Dough Man Directed by Brittney Gavin & Amy Mielke In 1970s Halifax, a mysterious newcomer catches the attention of three sisters in the Black community, raising questions of romance, mischief, and the supernatural. 2. Never Sleep Directed by Ayo Tsalibatha A nonbinary teen who communes with spirits through dreams grapples with their father’s death, gendered mourning rituals, and an unexpected family visit. 3. The Portrait Directed by Julia Hogg A late-night portrait on a date forces Elma to confront an unsettling possibility: that someone else may see her more clearly than she sees herself. 4. Seconds Directed by Beth Warrian A former high-school swimming champion returns to the pool and confronts embodied memory while trying to match an old lap time. 5. My Mother, The Zombie Directed by Samantha Pineda Sierra After her father dies, a teenage girl struggles to care for her grieving mother as loss takes on a haunting physical presence in their home. 6. My Name Is Lilith Directed by LeoLuna ROBERT-TOURNEUR Lilith, the first woman created alongside Adam, encounters Eve and challenges the stereotypes imposed upon them. 7. People Live Here Directed by Gabrielle Côté As AI-driven towers transform Montreal into a cyberpunk landscape, resistance and ecological renewal give rise to a new community. 8. Blood or Water Directed by Kristina Mileska As thirteen-year-old Dara navigates puberty, conflict with her immigrant father and a fractured friendship reveal a temper she may have inherited. 9. My Grandmother’s Tipi Directed by Lindsay Chewanish A sensory immersion in a grandmother’s tipi captures memories of everyday life, the joy of cooking, and the passage of time. 10. A Spinner Directed by Ava Shahnavaz Following the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising, plainclothes agents use intimidation to enforce compulsory hijab laws in Iran. Q&A with all attending Filmmakers.