Merry Heistmas

2025 Official Selection: Feature Film – Comedy

A small-time crook recruits his estranged daughter into a fake caroling group to steal a diamond, but the holiday heist forces him to choose between family and fortune.

Director(s): Robb Padgett
Writer(s): Robb Padgett
Producer(s): Robb Padgett, Todd Norwood, Tanya Ihnen
Key Cast: Robb Padgett, Natalie Scott, Amy Segal, Kian Fan, Tanya Ihnen, Kevin Spirtas

Country: United States

Tis the season to be stealing.

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Source: SOFF

Lawyered Up

2025 Official Selection: Short Film – SciFi

In the near future, AI has infiltrated all aspects of human life. When a betrayed woman hires a crack divorce lawyer who seems to be the ideal man, he may prove too good to be true.

Director(s): Tatiana Blackington James
Writer(s): Tatiana Blackington James
Producer(s): Tatiana Blackington James, Olia Zimarova
Key Cast: Virginia Reece, June Lanston, Josh Breslow, Susan Rudick, ANDREW GE, Miranda Kathleen, Stacey Oristano

Country: United States
Los Angeles Premiere

Perfection comes at a price.

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Source: SOFF

The Re-Education of Jane Brown

2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Horror

A reticent young woman, haunted by her violent past, wakes to find herself imprisoned in a re-education facility for women who have attempted to have abortions.

Director(s): MK McGehee
Writer(s): MK McGehee
Producer(s): MK McGehee, Elizabeth Ayers, Brown Hare Pictures, Jane & June Entertainment
Key Cast: Catherine Parker, Alexandra Henrikson, Mark Huber

Country: United States

Re-education only works if you forget who you are.

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Source: SOFF

602. Johnny Galvan III “Franks In Hell”   

Happy Friday, Film Friends!

I’ve got a history with Johnny Galvan III. It started when Johnny’s screenplay “My Brother The Lion” was an Official Selection at Film Invasion Los Angeles in June, 2024. (More on that below.)                               In December, 2024, Johnny was an Official Selection at Sherman Oaks Film Festival with the screenplay, “For Misty.”

When 2025 rolled around, Johnny was once again at Film Invasion Los Angeles in June, but this time with the animated short film “Franks In Hell.”                                                                                             Thanks to its creativity and originality, “Franks In Hell” won Johnny the Programmer’s Prize for Exceptional Filmmaking.

To learn more about Johnny and his work, visit https://thewriting-company.com

Before I complete this introduction, I have to honor Johnny’s wife Misty and mention something from the first time that we met.                                                                                                                                          I was moderating the FI-LA 2024 Screenplay Awards Ceremony, which is a very cool event where each nominated screenwriter gets to stand in front of the audience and pitch their script.                                     As Johnny was talking about his screenplay, a story about his brother who he lost, he began to cry.                                                                                                                                                                                I was sitting in the front row and, well, I lost a best friend of 40 years in 2020 to Covid and know what it’s like to lose someone that you expected to be with you until your golden years.                                            I stood up and offered Johnny a hug, and he accepted it, and we hugged.                                                                                                                                                                                                                        It was a moment that I will never forget. As North American men, we failed to bring up our weeping hug during the podcast, but after recording Johnny mentioned that Misty had mentioned it.                             So… the story will live forever in these show notes!

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Discover Indie Film Podcast Links
DIF Podcast WebsiteDIF InstagramDIF BlueSky

Discover Indie Film Foundation (nonprofit for the arts) Links
DIF FoundationSherman Oaks Film FestivalFilm Invasion Los Angeles

Source: Discover Film

The Butchers

2025 Official Selection: Short Film – Action/Thriller

When two psychotic butchers fail to deliver a box of their finest human meat to a crime boss, their desperate attempt to make it right spirals into blood, chaos, and very bad decisions.

Director(s): Chad Andrews
Writer(s): Chad Andrews
Producer(s): Conni Miu, Amanda Zhou, Theo Vandergraaf, Michael Maddeaux
Key Cast: Chad Andrews, Andrew Merrigan, Conni Miu, Richard Marks, Steven Clarke, Michael Perrotti, Obi Obikudu

Country: Canada
World Premiere

They forgot the most important body part… their brains.

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Source: SOFF