The Dog That Smiled

"A socially anxious college student reluctantly heads to a party attempting to make new friends. Nande Walters directs “Who Are You Really?”, an experimental portrait of insecurity characterized by a raw, youthful energy. Anya walks into the room and immediately feels like everyone is judging her. Eventually she strikes up a conversation with a young man, but neither really knows what to say and it doesn’t go anywhere. After struggling through the awkward night, she’s surprised to learn that an extroverted friend didn’t fare much better. Walters is only 19 years old, one of the youngest we’ve ever featured on NoBudge, and her film is the work of an artist still learning her craft but she clearly knows the feeling she’s after and captures it with pops of style and a touching closing monologue." -Kentucker Audley

A group of teenagers in South Florida enact a murder plot against their mutual bully, Bobby, who has emotionally, physically, and sexually abused them for years.

As she reaches her mid-thirties and quits her lucrative job, singleton Olivia finds herself unsure about her future and her relationships with her successful and wealthy friends. She begins to envy the security of her richer friends and, although their lives may seem easier, Olivia's friends have their problems too: screenwriters Christine and Patrick are unable to collaborate on their latest project, Jane and Aaron have lost the romance in their relationship, and Franny and Matt have difficulties handling the demands of parenthood.

During a snowy winter in the small fictional town of Knight's Ridge, Massachusetts, a group of lifelong buddies hang out, drink and struggle to connect with the women who affect their decisions, dreams and desires.

Nine friends gather every year in their friend Thomas’ hotel in Hawaii. Following a nuclear attack alert, they believe that their last moments are upon them. Years of hidden truths, resentment and bitterness starts to resurface and their friendly annual meeting soon turns into an aggressive score-setting shouting match.

Large women with a zest for life gather weekly at a Montreal doctor's office to receive diet injections.

Sasha, 20, returns to her family’s sun-soaked home in the south of France with her friends—her first visit since her older sister’s death. What begins as an idyllic summer escape slowly curdles into something far more suffocating.

The year is 1968. Five teenage boys dream of running a movie theater in which they will not show pro-war films. One summer afternoon Giò, Delfo, Max, Ricky and Paolo learn to become trusted friends, indispensable to one another.

Incapable of facing the loss of Pedro, Lucas and Mari dive in past memories. Remembering of happy moments, they discover that pain can, in the end, also mean longing.

Harvest is a gripping 2026 psychological thriller short film that begins as a warm Friendsgiving celebration among close friends. What starts as a joyful evening filled with delicious food, laughter, and lighthearted secrets quickly spirals into tension and darkness when Maya (Alesia Daniele) introduces a mysterious card game that forces everyone to confront hidden truths. Blending elements of action and psychological thriller, Harvest masterfully explores escalating drama, mind games, and the dangerous power of secrets in an intimate setting. What begins as a cozy holiday hangout soon becomes a tense battle of wits where no one is quite who they seem. Directed by Emmanuel Jackson and Khadary Stephens, this sharp and twisty indie short delivers suspense, emotional intensity, and unexpected turns that will keep audiences on edge long after the final card is played.

Before heading off to college, a teenager and her two friends try to seduce a married man.

When nine-year-old Alfalfa falls for Darla, his "He-Man-Woman-Hating" friends attempt to sabotage their relationship.

For Jip, Lulu, Koop, Nina, and Moff, the dead-end jobs they endure during the week just kill the time until Friday night. That's when they cut very loose and get on the rollercoaster ride that takes them right through to Monday morning.

Carlo, a former mobster, is abducted by five privileged young men desperate to raise a $2 million ransom to save the sister of a friend. As Carlo plays mind games, however, his captors splinter -- each wondering whether one of their own had a hand in the crime.

When their beloved school is threatened with closure should the powers that be fail to raise the proper funds, the girls scheme to steal a priceless painting and use the profits to pull St. Trinian's out of the red.

Kevin has everything going for him, but his lifelong lack of confidence keeps him from recognizing love and happiness -- even if it's sitting next to him. When Kevin meets the girl of his dreams, Abbey, on Chicago's L train, they connect immediately but he lets this golden opportunity slip away by not having the courage to ask her for her name and number. Unable to find her, or forget her, Kevin and his buddies launch a massive campaign to locate Abbey.

A young girl tries to fit in with a clique of popular middle school girls after moving into the guest house of one of their homes.

Gay, alienated Los Angeles teens have a hard time as their parents kick them out of their homes, they don’t have money, their lovers cheat, and they are harassed by gay-bashers.

Popoy and Basha had been together forever. Their love story began when they first met as students at university. They had been inseparable and did everything together—eating, studying and attending parties. However, Popoy's incessant planning and nagging took a toll on their relationship leading Basha to break-up with him.

A psychological thriller about a group of friends whose friendly reunion conference call turns deadly.