The 24th Oakland International Film Festival - Sept 17 - Grand Lake 9:30 PM

OIFF Day 9: 9/17, Session 3: 9:30-11:30PM Cities Like Oakland Director: Jarod Backens Runtime: 00:13:00 An Oakland therapist's life unravels as she struggles to care for her clients in an increasingly fractured world. Dawn Director: Shia Shabazz Smith Runtime: 00:30:00 On the anniversary of her parents’ death, Dawn awakens to the quiet ache of a life unfulfilled. She’s spent years drifting — her dreams of becoming a therapist buried beneath grief, her heart walled off behind the comforting rituals of pouring wine at a cozy San Francisco bar. Every glass is a distraction. Every evening, a delicate detour around the pain she refuses to face. But when Kamari — a magnetic, free-spirited nomad – unexpectedly appears, dormant complex emotions surface. Their connection once felt destined, but the secret that shattered them still lingers. As Dawn moves through the echoes of their memories, she’s faced with a choice: hold tight to the safety of certainty and walk away or lean into love to finally reclaim her future and the possibilities in her forever. This is the story of one transformative day — the day she realizes closure isn’t found, but chosen. Shangri - La Director: Dylan Gary, Ethan Maniquis Runtime: 00:19:54 Aging showgirl Alice and her aspiring boxer lover Angelo are taking a midnight bus out of their crumbling seaside town, toward Alice's last chance at her dream of becoming a respected, professional dancer... But first she'll need to get through her last night at the burlesque club, her meddlesome roommate Ruby and her own crippling self-doubt. Inspired by the films of Doris Wishman and Douglas Sirk, and featuring a cast studded with fixtures of the NYC burlesque scene, Shangri-La explores whether our dreams are stronger than our destiny. I Thought You'd Never Ask Director: Jamal Trulove Runtime: 00:23:42 During a night out with her friends, Lisa meets Nathan, and they share an instant, undeniable connection. As their relationship blossoms, Lisa dreams of marriage but wrestles with anxiety about aging and whether Nathan will ever propose. After two years of waiting and nearly losing hope, Nathan finally asks the big question, creating a magical, unforgettable moment. Disclaimer: Schedule subject to change