CINDY

CINDY is a quiet, character-driven short film about two strangers whose lives briefly intersect during a late-night rideshare trip. Alex, a weary driver navigating the monotony of long hours and personal uncertainty, picks up Cindy, a passenger carrying emotional weight she doesn’t immediately explain. What begins as a routine ride slowly unfolds into an intimate, restrained conversation—one shaped as much by what is said as by what is left unspoken.

Set almost entirely within the confined space of a car, CINDY explores themes of loneliness, connection, and the human need to be seen, even if only for a moment. The film resists spectacle in favor of subtlety, allowing small gestures, pauses, and glances to carry emotional meaning. Rather than presenting dramatic revelations, the story focuses on the tension between distance and closeness, and how fleeting encounters can leave lasting impressions.

The film is intentionally minimal in scope, mirroring the everyday interactions many people experience but rarely reflect on. CINDY asks whether brief, unplanned connections can offer comfort—or clarity—during periods of quiet emotional isolation. The rideshare becomes a liminal space where both characters momentarily step outside their routines and confront feelings they may not fully understand themselves.

CINDY is less concerned with resolution than with authenticity. It captures a snapshot of two lives in transit, emphasizing emotional honesty over explanation. By keeping the story grounded and intimate, the film invites the audience to project their own experiences onto the characters, recognizing pieces of themselves in a conversation that feels both deeply personal and universally familiar.

This film contains mild adult language, themes of emotional vulnerability and loneliness. Suggested MPAA rating: PG-13 for brief language and mature themes.

Plays in

Narrative Shorts Block

This collection of shorts explores a range of human emotions and cinematic styles, from experimental to animation, period drama to present day narratives.