2025 FESTIVALApril 2-12, 2025Lansing, MI

American Film Institute Shorts Showcase (FREE)

FREE, DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE

The American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women (DWW) is a hands-on film training program that educates and mentors its participants. Increasing the number of women working professionally in screen directing is the primary goal of this tuition-free program. All of the short films in this block are directed by DWW alumnae. This event is free of charge at the 2016 Capital City Film Festival.

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  • Zelos
  • The Haircut
  • Share
  • Ma/ddy
  • Election Night

Zelos

A competitive mother orders a clone to outshine her flawless friend, but soon realizes she purchased an unbeatable rival.

  • DIRECTOR
    Thoranna Sigurdardottir
  • YEAR
    2015
  • RUNTIME
    15 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA

Up Here

In a world where people float when they fall in love, we meet Elizabeth who seems to be perpetually floating alone.

  • DIRECTOR
    Kantu Lentz
  • YEAR
    2014
  • RUNTIME
    11 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA

The Tortoise

A short film about Daniel, a recovering sex offender, who breaks parole on Halloween to go on an adventure with his estranged daughter.

  • DIRECTOR
    Jean Jee
  • YEAR
    2014
  • RUNTIME
    14 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA

The Haircut

It’s 1976, and petite eighteen-year-old Amy is among the first class of female cadets accepted into military service academies. Under incredible emotional and physical strain, Amy struggles to survive her first day, battling vicious sexism, swallowing self-doubt, and fighting to prove she has what it takes in “The Haircut.”

  • DIRECTOR
    Alexis O. Korycinski
  • YEAR
    2014
  • RUNTIME
    14 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA

Share

A 15-year-old girl returns to school after someone shares an explicit video of her.

  • DIRECTOR
    Pippa Bianco
  • YEAR
    2014
  • RUNTIME
    11 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA

Rita Mahtoubian is not a Terrorist

When Iranian-born, lifelong loner Rita Mahtoubian sets out to change her life from ordinary to extraordinary she accidentally captures the attention of a homeland security agent in this satirical comedy about romance terrorism and trying to be a better person.

  • DIRECTOR
    Roja Gashtili & Julia Lerman
  • YEAR
    2014
  • RUNTIME
    8 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA

Ma/ddy

Like many couples, Katie and Skylar were trying to conceive a baby using in vitro fertilization. Unexpectedly, Katie passed away. Now a year later, Skylar approaches insurmountable grief with enduring love and decides to use one of Katie’s fertilized embryos to start their family. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Yet, with a gender

  • DIRECTOR
    Devon Kirkpatrick
  • YEAR
    2014
  • RUNTIME
    11 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA

Election Night

A politician’s family waits in the green room on election eve – will the speech be a celebration or a concession? The last 350 votes have yet to come in, and the nerves rattle the family into a comic whirlwind of wild theories, long-held secrets, and a revelation that nobody saw coming.

  • DIRECTOR
    Tessa Blake
  • YEAR
    2014
  • RUNTIME
    12 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    USA
Check out other upcoming events
  • Fri, April 8 8:00 PM
  • Lansing Public Media Center
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  • Fri, April 8 10:30 PM
  • Old Town Temple
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  • Fri, April 8 8:00 PM
  • Old Town Temple
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  • Fri, April 8 6:00PM
  • Old Town Temple
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  • Fri, April 8 6:00 PM
  • Lansing Public Media Center
More Info