Beacon

In a world where admiration and status are given to whomever can carry the heaviest books on their head, a man hopes his son will achieve what he himself couldn't.

Host Scott Forrest presents a curated compilation of eight independent short films in this rapid-fire science-fiction feature. Genres collide, narratives twist, aesthetics clash, and even humor, both campy and dystopian, showcase the vast creative possibilities of each story's individual world, offering the viewer a brief glimpse into the lives of every character's attempt to survive the otherworldly chaos around them. Released in 2001, the selected shorts span original creation dates of 1997 to 2001; most of the featured filmmakers also appear as themselves in short video interviews to talk about their inspirations, creative process and motivations while working on their individual shorts.

A Peacemaker, who rejects his final mission to save an endangered planet, is believed to be cursed when a solar storm hits his spaceship.

196X. Anna, an enigmatic and attractive professional kidnapper, abducts The Professor during his wedding ceremony on request from one of the latter's former girlfriend. This woman, whose face Anna has never seen, wishes to die with The Professor before he marries. Leaving the church with The Professor on the back seat of her motor-bike, Anna starts on the journey to the fictional city of 'Alpha Paris'.

In a desolate future, one small town has survived because of a large windmill dam that acts as a fan to keep out pollution. The dam's operator, Pig, works tirelessly to keep the sails spinning and protect the town, despite abuse from classmates and an indifferent public. When a new student joins Pig's class, nothing will be the same again.

When a far-right political commentator discovers she has inspired a mass shooting, she must contend with her conscience – by any means necessary.

Mara Malicky's pristine image is threatened when her ASMR channel is hacked and she finds herself forced to do her blackmailer's bidding. It isn't long until she realizes that more than just her reputation is on the line.

Humans use technology to improve their lives, to forge connections, to create time that doesn’t exist, to replace real interactions. When we devise a second version of ourselves on social media, do we lose a piece of our true selves in the process? Do our digital connections threaten our real life relationships? What happens if the filtered characters we’ve imagined take on a life of their own?

Mime Your Manners is an animated shirt film about an arrogant man is given a taste of his own medicine when he's transformed into a mime and in order to be freed must grow to be a better person

A father tries to stay connected with his unconscious daughter through music. He plays a windup music box and hopes she can hear it while fighting with his own emotions to stay strong. Meanwhile, his daughter follows the melody in her dreams and looks for a way back.

Emme, a 12-years-old girl, is surviving alone in a post-apocalyptic world, where plants and animals have gone through a monstruous mutation. She's starting to mutate herself and is desperate for a cure.

One of the most exciting and memorable stories in the history of the World Trade Towers is that of Philippe Petit, a French man who walked a tightrope between the massive monuments in 1974. Narrated by Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, this is an animated adaptation of the lyrical Caldecott Award-winning book by Mordecai Gerstein. Directed and animated by Michael Sporn, with music by Michael Bacon (of the Bacon Brothers).

The evil Dr. Wong abducts prominent scientist Dr. Edwin Millstone. Bumbling bank guards Tom and Monte search through Chinatown to find Dr. Wong and rescue the professor.

During a post-Christmas play date, the gang find themselves in uncharted territory when the coolest set of action figures ever turn out to be dangerously delusional. It's all up to Trixie, the triceratops, if the gang hopes to return to Bonnie's room in this Toy Story That Time Forgot.

Chain, starved for beauty in her desolate underground community of scavengers, appears to commit the crime of growing a flower by using scarce water. As Munk, who oversees the roulette type death punishment breathes in this world’s only flower she pauses in awe of the miracle, but the gun is loaded and the trigger is squeezed…

While going for a casual jog on bright yet cloudy morning, a young girl discovers the dead body of a teenager. But when she recognizes the face of the cadaver, she comes face to face with her own dark secrets.

A short suspenseful horror film of the found footage genre, following two students through a media project turned sour after a mysterious book leads them to an unknown part of the country.

In an unstable marriage, Marion worries for her husband, Frank, as his behavior grows more and more erratic.

A man confronts his past during an experiment that attempts to find a solution to the problems of a post-apocalyptic world caused by a world war.

An animatronic Santa head has a different kind of present to give.