With a mission to champion “new voices and fresh perspectives”, Sundance Film Festival serves as a vital platform for independent filmmaking. Over the years, it has launched the careers of countless emerging filmmakers and played a pivotal role in shaping the future of cinema. As the first major film event of the year, this Utah-based festival often sets the tone for what to watch out for in the cinematic landscape over the next 11 months, making it an undeniable highlight of the film festival circuit. That’s why, at Directors Notes, we’re always excited to explore what Sundance has in store – particularly in the short film category. This year’s selection features 57 titles chosen from over 10,000 submissions, offering a truly eclectic lineup. And even though we’re only a few weeks into 2025, I’m confident I’ve already seen some of my favourite shorts of the year.

If you’re attending the festival or simply curious about what’s worth keeping an eye on in the world of short films, here are my top recommendations:

Are You Scared to Be Yourself Because You Think You Might Fail? – Bec Pecaut

Synopsis: While recovering from top surgery, Mad struggles with wanting their partner’s attention and accepting help from their mother.

Why to Watch: Immersion is often highlighted as a key ingredient in a successful short film, but Pecaut takes it to another level here. I winced when they fell in the kitchen, groaned when they hurt themselves in the bathroom, and tensed with every painful movement. It’s a stunning example of filmmaking where the conventional approach doesn’t detract — instead, the strength of the story and performances shines through brilliantly.

Screening: Short Film Program 5

A Round of Applause for Death – Stephen Irwin

Synopsis: Death takes center stage and faceless spectators applaud the inevitable in a series of murderous dreams.

Why to Watch: A regular on Directors Notes and one of my favourite animators in the short film world, Irwin returns with a darkly twisted ode to Death. Blending his signature animation style with a series of nightmarish vignettes, A Round of Applause for Death is provocative, humorous, and unlike anything else you’ll see in 2025.

Screening: Short Film Program 1

Azi – Montana Mann

Synopsis: During a weekend vacation with her best friend’s family, 17-year-old Azi gets caught up in an unexpected game with another guest.

Why to Watch: Azi begins conventionally but takes an utterly captivating twist. A tense cat-and-mouse game between two women at different stages of life, Mann’s short stands strong on its own while hinting at clear feature potential.

Screening: Short Film Program 2

Bunnyhood – Mansi Maheshwari

Synopsis: Innocent Bobby discovers whether her mom would ever lie to her when she is surprised by a last-minute trip to the hospital.

Why to Watch: We previously highlighted Bunnyhood in our 2024 NFTS and Manchester Animation Festival round-ups and even featured an interview with its director, Mansi Maheshwari, on our site earlier that year. So it should already be evident how highly we regard this distinct animation. Bursting with energy and humour, in both its storytelling and visual style, Bunnyhood plays in the midnight screening at this year’s Sundance, where its vibrant, untamed spirit is sure to captivate audiences.

Screening: Midnight Short Film Program

Hurikán – Jan Saska

Synopsis: Hurikán rushes to save his favorite beer stand from closure by fetching a new keg to impress the bartender he has a crush on. In a wild Prague district, he faces robbers, cops, and his own thirst.

Why to Watch: Already a festival favourite and a film we highlighted in our Annecy round-up last year, Saska’s black-and-white animation follows its titular character on a quirky quest through Prague to fetch a new keg for his beloved beer stand. Strange, funny, and surprisingly relatable, Hurikán delivers high entertainment value that theatre audiences are bound to enjoy.

Screening: Animated Short Film Program

Jesus 2 – Jesse Moynihan

Synopsis: In a future where no one can die and no one wants to live anymore, two space pirate brothers must destroy an evil messiah to break the curse of immortality and deliver humanity to its final resting place.

Why to Watch: If you’re craving some WTF-level originality in your festival lineup, Jesse Moynihan’s Jesus 2 delivers. This vivid animated short, set in a future plagued by immortality, follows two space pirate brothers on a mission to destroy an evil messiah.

Screening: Midnight Short Film Program

Suo Jiang – Chien-Yu Lin

Synopsis: A locksmith gifted with the ability to open any lock is unwilling to return home. He pursues a hostess who has no intention of keeping him company. Facing a profound sense of emptiness, he turns himself toward another path.

Why to Watch: This slice-of-life story, infused with a touch of magic realism, follows a locksmith grappling with a deep sense of emptiness and stands out as one of my favorite shorts from this year’s lineup. Beautifully shot and filled with intrigue, it masterfully condenses a feature-length narrative into just 16 minutes, yet still leaves you yearning for more.

Screening: Short Film Program 5

Susana – Gerardo Coello Escalante & Amandine Thomas

Synopsis: A middle-aged American tourist finds herself alone in Mexico City. When she encounters a group of young Americans, she jumps at the opportunity for a little adventure.

Why to Watch: A rich character study anchored by an exceptional central performance, Susana takes viewers on an emotional journey as its protagonist rediscovers her adventurous spirit. With Mexico City sharing the spotlight alongside the captivating Bonnie Hellman Brown, this film from Escalante and Thomas is a transportive experience that seamlessly blends humour and heart, delivering a wholly satisfying watch.

Screening: Short Film Program 1

Sweet Talkin’ Guy – Spencer Wardwell & Dylan Wardwell

Synopsis: A trans woman goes on three consecutive dates with straight men. As the men grapple with their fragile masculinity, their sexual identities unravel in frantic monologues ironically delivered to the object of their desires.

Why to Watch: Short, sharp, and impactful, Spencer and Dylan Wardwell’s Sweet Talkin’ Guy unfolds like a comedy sketch but delivers themes with much greater depth. In just five minutes, it explores masculinity and the trans experience, taking viewers on a powerful and poignant journey.

Screening: Short Film Program 4

Unholy – Daisy Friedman

Synopsis: Noa attends her family’s Passover Seder for the first time since being put on a feeding tube for a gastrointestinal disorder. There, she is confronted with pushy family members, malfunctioning medical devices, and a room of food she can’t eat.

Why to Watch: One of the things I’ve always loved about short films is their ability to tell stories that might not find a platform elsewhere. Unholy exemplifies this perfectly. This immersive tale of a young woman with a complex gastrointestinal disorder, attending her family’s Passover Seder for the first time after being put on a feeding tube, draws you deeply into her frustration and fosters genuine empathy for her experience. Friedman, a director we previously celebrated in our National Film Festival for Talented Youth article, solidifies her talent with Unholy.

Screening: Short Film Program 1

Vox Humana – Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan

Synopsis: An eccentric biologist interrogates a wild man who was found in the forest after an earthquake hit a small mountain town.

Why to Watch: My favourite short from this year’s lineup, Eblahan’s enigmatic film stands out for its originality in every aspect. With a distinct and mysterious storyline paired with exceptional filmmaking craft, it delivers an unforgettable viewing experience from a director destined for greater recognition.

Screening: Short Film Program 3

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