BFF 2026: Make a Scene 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 MAKE A SCENE Who gets to decide our new selves? Through absurdist comedy, experimental animation, intimate drama, and unconventional storytelling, these ten films explore the messy, exhilarating, and sometimes unsettling process of becoming something new. Rebirth is not always gentle. Sometimes, you have to make a scene. About the Films: 1. Man Eating Pussy Directed by Lee Lawson A dying man seeks the ultimate release: a birth in reverse. 2. The Gumball Directed by Steph Wong Ken Two workplace best friends investigate a missing beloved gumball and uncover a conspiracy. 3. Girl Found Dead Directed by Molly Shears After another schoolgirl is murdered, eleven-year-old Angel confronts the fear and restrictions that reshape her sense of freedom. 4. Run From It Directed by Racha (Kory) Kongsommart A curious dog follows a friend into a decaying mansion in a dialogue-free animated horror film made with puppetry and hand-painted animation. 5. The Line Between Us Directed by Leo Dean A father and son attempt to reconnect over a late-night phone call, with archival footage and photographs illuminating memory and mortality. 6. She’s Nonbinary Directed by Jess McLeod When Max celebrates getting off the waitlist for top surgery, their partner Jake must confront his assumptions about gender and his own identity. 7. Stone Lions Don’t Roar Directed by Le Hang Whalen In a world where emotions become stone beasts, a young refugee must release her repressed anger to protect her younger sister. 8. Fantas Directed by Halima Elkhatabi Tania introduces her horse, Fantas, to friends in her working-class neighbourhood, bringing two worlds together unexpectedly. 9. Between Late April and Early May Directed by Sophia Smith A docu-fiction portrait of the absurdities of human behaviour during Toronto’s annual High Park cherry blossom bloom. 10. Leili’s Photo Directed by Maral Mostafavi A young girl’s pinhole-camera assignment requires her family to sit still together for one minute—a surprisingly difficult task. Q&A with all attending Filmmakers. Award Ceremony after screening!