2025 FESTIVALApril 2-12, 2025Lansing, MI

Forbidden Future Shorts

*FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE*
Technology has overtaken the world. Humanity relies on it to stay connected, and there is no end in sight to this progress. Is this the digital future we were promised, or a dystopian depiction of our reality?

*NOTE: This program contains films with the Content Warnings: Self-Harm and Sexual Abuse

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A young boy’s life is thrown into new light after discovering a mysterious sound on a synthesizer.

  • DIRECTOR
    Mack Hastings, Shane Sleger
  • YEAR
    2024
  • RUNTIME
    13 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    United States

Lover

This story tells about the relationship between a companion robot, ALICE, and her owner, Hana. Hana, suffering from depression, often releases her stress on ALICE, causing the robot to frequently malfunction. ALICE begins to question her own emotions and purpose, but ultimately chooses to believe that her love for Hana is real. After Hana’s suicide, only the deactivated ALICE and the empty room remain.

  • DIRECTOR
    Ching-Wen Yang, Shao-Hua Wang, Zhi-Kou Zhai
  • YEAR
    2024
  • RUNTIME
    5 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    No Dialogue
  • COUNTRY
    Taiwan

The Chronocular Device

A shadowy figure, upon breaking into an abandoned home, finds a strange device which allows him a glimpse into the home’s past. Screener file with hardcoded English subtitles available upon request Open captions for the hearing impaired are available in English by selecting ‘Other’ in the subtitle settings

  • DIRECTOR
    Edward Loupe
  • YEAR
    2024
  • RUNTIME
    16 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    United States

Locations

An American locations scout in France is haunted by his surroundings, while vying for approval from his expecting girlfriend’s mysterious parents.

  • DIRECTOR
    Danny Bellini, Gore Abrams
  • YEAR
    2024
  • RUNTIME
    15 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English, French
  • COUNTRY
    United States

Stargazing. A dialogue on creation between serial silence-killers

Lying in total darkness, two young immortals discuss whether it is time to create the World once again. A cosmogonic screwball comedy.

  • DIRECTOR
    Niccolò Buttigliero
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    7 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    Italian
  • COUNTRY
    Italy

The Fish Tank (La Pecera)

A mysterious fish woman flees from her exploiters who keep her in a fish tank. Out in the real world she witnesses how society views her kind and returns her fish tank so that she can be consumed as society dictates.

  • DIRECTOR
    Victoria Garza
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    12 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    Spanish
  • COUNTRY
    Mexico

Universe 25

A mysterious entity. A bizarre psychological experiment. Imprisoned in “The Room,” a woman can’t know anyone longer than 30 days. It’s difficult to say what’s worse: knowing that anyone she cares about will disappear, or that they might be replaced by someone worse. With no hope of escape, she must confront the absurdity of her new existence. Universe 25 is an allegory for a universal human dilemma: how can you find happiness when everything (and everyone) in life is transient? Where is hope in the face of relentless adversity? A must-watch for fans of sci-fi, psychological horror, and character-driven dramas alike.

  • DIRECTOR
    David Tappan
  • YEAR
    2023
  • RUNTIME
    20 Minutes
  • LANGUAGE
    English
  • COUNTRY
    United States
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