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Narrative Shorts Block

  • 101 mins

This collection of shorts explores a range of human emotions and cinematic styles, from experimental to animation, period drama to present day narratives. Films include “This Is My Rifle,” “ALMOST HOME,” “The Craftsman,” “Life Begins,” “CINDY,” and “Veterano.”

In this program


This Is My Rifle

Directed by Brad Bingham

A combat Marine turns to spoken word to confront guilt and grief, transforming his memories of war into raw performance in search of healing.

ALMOST HOME

Directed by Kamal Khan

A decorated Muslim-American Marine battles his inner demons, prejudice, and a fractured sense of identity as he seeks self-discovery from the haunting memory of a life-altering event at war.

The Craftsman

Directed by Devin Scott

Blending artificial intelligence with traditional storytelling, this short, animated Pixar style film explores the quiet legacy of a man whose hands told stories louder than words—offering a moving tribute to the power of reinvention, generational memory, and art born from history.

Life Begins

Directed by Oleksii Taranenko

A war veteran struggles to readjust to civilian life after participating in fierce battles.

CINDY

Directed by Al Chang

CINDY is a quiet, character-driven short film about two strangers whose lives briefly intersect during a late-night rideshare trip.

Veterano

Directed by Patrick Epino

A Filipino World War II veteran with nothing left to lose dusts off his past and his pistol for one last mission in 1981 San Francisco.