THE VERMONT FILM & FOLKLORE FESTIVAL
MAY 13-18, 2025
Come join us in the Green Mountains!
THE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
The 2025 Films
Narrative Features
-
1 hour, 39 minutes
Directed by Nick Cassidy
A 30-year-old musician questions his resolve to marry his longtime girlfriend when he meets a free-spirited woman on a cross-country road trip.
Playing at 4:00pm on Wednesday, May 14th at the Latchis Theatre.
Playing at 6:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
1 hour, 36 minutes
Directed by Avi Federgreen
On their fiftieth anniversary, Herb and Audry Homur have a few surprises for their three estranged daughters; Rain, Ivy, and Daisy. Herb, having been diagnosed with a brain tumor, announces that he is choosing to die on his own terms and is not seeking treatment. He wants to spend his remaining days trying to find a way to clear the air between his daughters. What should be a weekend celebration of life turns into a darker reality as everyone is forced to look at themselves in ways they never have.
Details & trailer at Federgreen Entertainment
Playing at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
1 hour, 34 minutes
Directed by Evan Matthews
In an alternative present where all children are raised from birth through age twenty in official Children's Centers, a Motherland Enforcer learns the identity of her estranged daughter and secretly fights to protect her from a dangerous new policy to regulate women's bodies.
Playing at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 15th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
1 hour, 36 minutes
Directed by Brady Bryson
After finally escaping the trauma of her childhood and escaping to New York, a young woman struggles to reconcile her past and present selves as she comes face to face with a sexual predator.
Watch the trailer at filmfreeway
Playing at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Manchester Community Library.
Documentary Features
-
1 hour, 35 minutes
Directed by Mye Hoang
Qatar has a street cat population equal to the nation's human population – where disease is rampant and local adoption is rare. The documentary film follows a network of multinational rescuers and a cat cafe owner, all working to fly out 25 lucky cats to the US.
Playing at 4:00pm on Thursday, May 15th at the Latchis Theatre.
Playing at 6:00pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
1 hour, 48 minutes
Directed by Jill Campbell
Jule Campbell's 32-year reign as editor of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue, transforming it into a media empire. Exploring changing beauty standards, feminism's evolution, and interviews with Campbell and supermodels she championed.
More information on imdb.com
Playing at 7:00pm on Wednesday, May 14th at the Latchis Theatre.
Playing at 7:00pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
1 hour, 33 minutes
Directed by Joshua Zeman
Checkpoint Zoo documents a daring rescue led by a heroic team of zookeepers and volunteers, who risked their lives to save thousands of animals trapped in a zoo behind enemy lines in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
Playing at 7:00pm on Tuesday, May 13th at the Latchis Theatre.
Playing at 12:00pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Manchester Library.
-
1 hour, 26 minutes
Directed by Justin Schein & Robert Edwards
An exploration of a wealthy man's obsessive refusal to pay taxes, serving as a case study on the costlier ramifications of America's tax benefits for the rich.Playing at 12:00pm (noon) on Friday, May 16th at the Manchester Community Library.
-
1 hour, 25 minutes
Directed by Charles Light
Far Out tells the story of two rural New England communal farms. It traces fifty years in the lives of a group of writers, activists and artists and conveys not only how these “hippies” transformed Vermont and western Massachusetts, but also how rural life and the people they met changed them.
Playing at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 15th at the Southern Vermont Arts Center.
Playing at 4:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
1 hour, 40 minutes
Directed by Jake Sumner
Follows Ron Delsener one of the most influential concert promoters in New York. Now that he is 86-year-old but still has a spring in his step.
Playing at 8:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Manchester Community Library.
Playing at 9:00pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
1 hour, 27 minutes
Directed by Nicole Betancourt
A lyrical tapestry of life and landscape, THE UNFIXING reveals one mother's path from illness to healing and from climate despair to environmental awakening.
Watch the trailer at theunfixing.com
Playing at 2:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Manchester Community Library.
Vermont Mixtape [Shorts]
-
15 minutes
Directed by Ronan Furuta
A School of Trout is the heartwarming and charming story of the next generation of stewards of the earth, nurturing and attempting to release baby trout from their public school into the river. The film provides a genuine look at the experience of these young fourth graders as they discover the ecosystems around them and engage in their unique school.
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
10 minutes
Directed by Annika Murdock
A young woman goes through a journey of introspection in a therapy session after her likeness is turned into deepfake pornography without her consent.
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
13 minutes
Directed by Mariel Eve Bennett
When a teenage girl tries to leave behind a fading friendship, she gets her wish but not without some scars.
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
9 minutes
Directed by Shannon Lyons
In 1960, Bob Pallesen began construction on a remote cabin on Lake Champlain. After falling ill, he left it in the hands of Corliss Blakely, the daughter of his dear friend. Over a lifetime of restoration and care, Corliss dedicated herself to preserving Pallesen's vision. Now, she must entrust a new steward to safeguard the cabin’s legacy, ensuring its perpetuity.
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
15 minutes
Directed by Susan Weiss
In this sequel to Lia: A Bodybuilding Story, Lia Taylor is preparing for her final bodybuilding competition to be held in June, 2024 in Toronto. The film documents her training process, diet and weight struggles, and determination to give her best performance at the competition.
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
3 minutes
Directed by Brice Goldberg
A child's recollection of springtime flowers. Shot on 16mm film through a pinhole lens on a Bolex H16 Reflex camera.
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
13 minutes
Directed by Adam Benay
A dedicated middle school teacher in Vermont fights for a troubled student after he cheats on a test.
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
-
19 minutes
Directed by Andy Comeau
In the near future, when AI is prolific in daily life, Brad is alone after losing his mom and just wants a traditional relationship, but it proves more difficult to come by than he thought. Are we who we decide to be, or is our fate predetermined?
Playing at 4:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Playing at 7:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Latchis Theatre.
Documentary Mixtape [Shorts]
-
34 minutes
Directed by Tom Bell
For anyone who yearns for a human connection to music, this is the story of a quirky little radio station in Maine and the volunteer DJs who defy algorithms with passion.
Playing at 6:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Manchester Community Library.
-
22 minutes
Directed by Colter Olmstead
A group of Montana hip-hop artists led by Salish rapper Shadow Derereaux (Foreshadow), come together to create a collaboration album and uplift the Montana sound.
Playing at 6:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Manchester Community Library.
-
30 minutes
Directed by Hosein Fattahi
Penosar is about Hemat, an old shepherd who lives with his wife on the Alborz mountain in Iran. He has a talent from his childhood. He likes colors and used to paint on everything.
Playing at 6:30pm on Saturday, May 17th at the Manchester Community Library.
Narrative Mixtape [Shorts]
-
13 minutes
Directed by Daniel Maggio
The last living descendent of Beethoven tries to capitalize on their heritage, but they have no musical talent whatsoever.
Playing at 11:30 am on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
13 minutes
Directed by Damian Trapp
Deep in the Styrian Alps, a tight-knit Austrian Krampus group gears up for a weekend of chaos, costumes, and tradition. This short documentary goes beyond the demonic masks and clattering bells to reveal the real people behind the Perchten—craftsmen, friends, and cultural
keepers.
Playing at 11:30am on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
9 minutes
Directed by Katy McCarthy
In Neches we join an older woman who experiences a quiet telepathy with the Neches River. She is our guide, although she can’t promise us answers. The river offers us the woman’s memories, as she recalls being a young girl warmly introduced to the spirit of the landscape by her mother. The film conflates time, slowly assembling a puzzle that is missing a final piece. The missing piece of Neches may be a decimated forest adjacent to the banks, or perhaps it’s the resolution we all crave about the past.
Playing at 11:30am on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
13 minutes
Directed by Jessica Barr
The day a woman discovers her at home abortion was successful she is forced to relive her decision in an acting class.
Playing at 11:30am on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
8 minutes
Directed by Mark Kiefer
A comedy mockumentary about a lighthouse keeper named Cliff who works the lowly daytime shift, when you can’t even tell if the light is on.
Playing at 11:30am on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
14 minutes
Directed by Peter Pasyk
An understudy actor receives a call that he must go on last-minute to replace the star of a major stage production of Shakespeare's The Tempest, all while caring for his young granddaughter.
Playing at 11:30am on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
-
20 minutes
Directed by Pablo Pagan
A socially anxious night janitor, cleaning up after Barcelona's affluent party crowd, discovers a mysterious drug that lets her shed the boundaries of her physical self.
Playing at 11:30am on Saturday, May 17th at the Riley Center.
Animal Instincts [Shorts]
-
20 minutes
Directed by Michelle Fenn
Woven between day-in-the-life ranch footage and wild horses on the range, 'Beyond the Herd' follows Mexican-American equestrians Amber and Isidro and their kinship with wild mustangs, reflecting on their own encounters with discrimination and 'otherness.'
Playing at 6:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Manchester Community Library.
-
30 minutes
Directed by Vicki Topaz & Wynn Padula
BY MY SIDE celebrates our veterans and their love of country and family. And shows how and why service dogs–who match their loyalty and commitment–can heal broken hearts and quiet the wars within. That is the message our veterans and their families want others to know. There is hope, and it can be found at the end of a leash.
Playing at 6:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Manchester Community Library.
-
40 minutes
Directed by Carrie Lederer
A homeless man recovering from alcoholism escapes to a remote southern Colorado mesa and forges a new path living amongst wild horses.
Playing at 6:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Manchester Community Library.
Dark Visions [Shorts]
What’s Your Relationship? [Shorts]
-
12 minutes
Directed by Loren Norby
Jennifer loves to craft and scheme. With the gun show in town, it's a perfect time to rent out the spare room to see if she can trick someone into testing out their new gun ... on her husband.
Playing at 3:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
15 minutes
Directed by Tiffany Jackman
Married for 25 years, Dave and Angie have hit a rough patch in their relationship. Bad advice from their friends, the internet, and podcasts has them believing life is better in the streets. Unable to come to a resolution, their bohemian life coach suggests a solution—if you think life is better without your mate, go on a date with someone else and see.
Playing at 3:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
5 minutes
Directed by Patrick Smith
A girl attempts to swipe her way to happiness. After an exhaustive search, and astronomical body count, she resorts to assembling her dream boy from left over parts.
Playing at 3:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
11 minutes
Directed by Allyson Morgan
A woman is ghosted by the man she’s dating … and then the haunting begins.
Playing at 3:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
17 minutes
Directed by Michele Noble
What starts as disagreements about Lysol Wipes and Febreze scented trash bags turns into something bigger than a dirty pan as The Yellow Sponge is the Dish Sponge looks at a couple's conflict as old as time … fighting about household chores.
Playing at 3:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
12 minutes
Directed by Mattias Olsson
A short horror story about a young woman who wakes up to discover that her husband hasn't come home from his night shift. Now she needs to find out why.
Playing at 3:30pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
5 min, 45 sec
Directed by Tim L. Glover
How do you escape the forgotten secrets of Appalachia once they see you? A child’s moonlit walk took her deep into the mountains, where paths disappeared and lost things wander. That’s where she found it. Found Her and heard her song. Now the little girl has grown into a woman that’s haunted by loneliness and loss. One night, the full moon brings the darkness directly into her home.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
14 min, 25 sec
Directed by Molly Longwell
A ghost story about the enduring love nestled inside of grief. Through a smoke-and-mirrors series of daydreams, nightmares, and memories, JoJo attempts to solve the mystery of a sleepwalking episode that leaves her haunted by the ghost of her late best friend, Nat.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
25 min, 30 sec
Directed by Neil Ferron
In this supernatural dark comedy, a pathetic Irish fishmonger must survive a sex pact with an ancient sea creature in order to save his mother's soul from burning in hell.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
11 minutes
Directed by Jarrod McCarthy
In a post-apocalyptic world where skunks terrorize the remaining pockets of humanity, one hero's song has the power to put those skunks back to sleep. "Stone Soup!” loosely adapts the European fable that is my film's namesake to a surreal, post-apocalyptic American town across three time periods while staying true to the folk story's hopeful message.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
14 min, 53 sec
Directed by Bryan Lee
After pooping his pants at a world-leaders’ conference dinner, President Richard Liu, the first Asian-American President of the United States in history, must escape the situation undetected before his reputation and legacy are ruined forever.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
13 min, 34 sec
Directed by Bruno Mattos Rubeiz
A lonely man spends his days searching for a mythical animal his late mother once photographed.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
13 minutes
Directed by Sara Friedman
A mythical sea creature who shape shifts between seal and woman forms comes ashore and falls under the sway of a charismatic lighthouse keeper.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
-
8 minutes
Directed by Sarah Wisner & Sean Temple
A secluded family encounters a dreadful presence emerging from the water.
Playing at 9:00pm on Friday, May 16th at the Riley Center.
THE VENUES
The Riley Center for the Performing Arts at Burr and Burton Academy
57 Seminary Ave, Manchester, VT 05254
“If you are in a movie theater, you can look two people down and they are laughing while you are laughing or you can look three people down and they love that song that you love. It is living proof that you are not alone.”
— Steven Chbosky, Filmmaker
MANCHESTER
Manchester Vermont is a vibrant, year round vacation destination in the southern Green Mountains.
Travel Info:
Manchester is located about a 4 hour drive from New York City. The nearest airport is Albany, NY, one hour and 15 mins away. There is regular direct train service from Penn Station to Albany with multiple options every day. Boston is a 3.5 hour drive and Hartford, CT is 2.5 hours.
LODGING
Welcome to the open arms of Southern Vermont. Breathe in the refreshing air in our little corner of paradise as you experience the sights, sounds, and delicious scents of late Spring in Manchester. Above all, reach out and experience the warmth of our wonderful sponsors as they revel in your presence and offer you the fruits of their passions.
The 2025 Vermont Film & Folklore Festival is proudly sponsored by:
3835 Main Street
Manchester, Vermont 05254
(802) 362-0147
Up to 15% off your stay at Kimpton Taconic Hotel.
*Discount is subject to change
based on dates & availability
For additional information on lodging and dining in Manchester, go to manchestervermont.com.