STATE OF THE UNION
When: April 11, 2026 | 4:30 - 6 PM
Runtime: 81 minutes
These seven films explore the complicated dynamics of romantic relationships, ranging from the thrill of school dances with your crush to the heartbreak of lost love. Every story has something unique to say about the joys and sorrows that come with matters of the heart.
Program lineup:
SILENT COURAGE
I SEE DARK
CONTOURS
FAMILIAR STRANGER
TIT FOR TAT
BETWEEN SIGNS AND TIDES
SERENDIPITY BY SOFIA
ID: Film poster for “Silent Courage”, with the title in both English text and ASL fingerspelling. An outline of a woman and a man facing each other in profile below. At the bottom is a text block of credits and several film award mentions.
ID: Film poster for “Veo Oscuro” (I See Dark) with the title on a silhouette of a lamppost. Three silhouettes of people stand on top of the lamp post. Name credits on top: Maria Garcia-Lomas, Marta De La Jara, Antonio D. JIminez. A text block of credits are at the bottom.
I SEE DARK
Narrative Short | Spain | 12 Minutes | Spanish
Director: Domingo Pisón Capellán
When leaving a nightclub, Neka, a Deafblind girl, and Raul, her sign language interpreter, run into Ailén, a mutual Deaf friend. When Ailén decides to walk home with Neka, sparks fly.
Content warnings: Mild violence (injury, blood)
ID: Film poster for “Contours” with the title in white across the bottom, with a close-up of a person’s hand grabbing the hand of another and holding it. On top in white text are names, Lauren Ridloff and John Autury II. Text block of credits on the bottom.
CONTOURS
Narrative Short | United States | 12 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Aisha Amin
A modern art museum provides the setting for a couple (played by Lauren Ridloff and John Autry II) who are desperate to break out of a marital rut.
Content warnings: Sexual situation, Profanity
FAMILIAR STRANGER
Narrative Short | United Kingdom| 15 Minutes | British Sign Language
Director: Ace Mahbaz
A Deaf man and a hearing woman meet up for a first date, but things take an unexpected twist as the two challenge each other’s expectations in new ways.
Content warnings: None
ID: Film poster for “Familiar Strangers” with the title across the bottom with a text credit block below. Above, a subtitle runs across the top: “First date. Unexpected plot twist”. An image below of a woman with her head tilted to the side as if thinking.
ID: Film poster for “Tit for Tat” with the title taking up the whole space, overlaid on an image of a person’s face tilted to the side. Text block of credits at the bottom.
TIT FOR TAT
Narrative Short | United States | 8 Minutes | American Sign Language
Director: Brian Cohen
Two lovers, Crystal (Stephanie Nogueras) and Iniya (Sarah Clifton), engage in playful pillow talk about their breasts one morning, with some unintended consequences.
Content warnings: Sexual situation, Adult theme
ID: Film poster for “Entre Sinais E Mares” (Between Signs & Tides), with the title in white on top of a blue-tinted image of two people hugging while standing on a sandy beach.
BETWEEN SIGNS AND TIDES
Narrative Short | Brazil | 16 Minutes | Portuguese
Director: Joao Gabriel Kowalski & Joao Gabriel Ferreira
When a long-distance relationship is put to the test, cracks begin to show. This thought-provoking short explores the complexities of toxic relationships in the modern world of technology.
Content warnings: Grief, Loss
ID: Film poster for “Serendipity by Sofia” with the title in center on a teal background. An outline of a book shelf is on top, with another bookshelf below the title. Text block of credits at the bottom.
SERENDIPITY BY SOFIA
Narrative Short | Norway | 8 Minutes | Norwegian
Director: Audrey Sangla
In this playful story, Sofia is a woman who uses her vivid imagination to consider different approaches on how to woo a woman she has developed a crush on.
Content warnings: None