Skip to main content

2026 HOTYS Sets

Friday, May 1st, 2026

Basie Center Cinemas, 36 White Street Red Bank, NJ

5:00-6:21

3 Minutos (5:00)
Under the time pressure of a potentially life changing test, a young couple unexpectedly takes a quick but meaningful look at their past, present and potential future.

Soul Mates (19:21)
Mya and Troy develop a relationship from the grief of losing their respective siblings in a tragic murder. When they discover an ancient soul-bonding ritual, Mya becomes obsessed with perfecting the ritual while Troy wants to move on.

Paper Doll (4:10)
Music Video by Maia Dobbs

Where We Left Off (10:00) Student Film
As childhood sweethearts, they thought they had forever – until a secret comes to light, blurring the line between hope and the moments you don’t see coming.

Ember (14:00)
Rick converses with Jenny’s father aiming to get his blessing to ask her hand in marriage, but before Rick can propose to her at the Pagoda, a terrible and horrific family secret is revealed.

The Michael C. Jordan Theory (14:57)
A thirty-something man (Sami Bronowski) is quite upset about his Instagram algorithm so he takes matters into his own hands with the help of his wife (Anna Paone).

Teddy’s Doll House (12:36)
Teddy, an out-of-touch owner of a struggling hair salon gets a surprise visit from a young hairdresser who could positively impact the ailing business.

6:35-7:43

The Pardon (8:30)
A dark vision of a future where fascism has won.

Company (26:50)
Georgette Castro will steal your heart in Company, a touching short film about the unexpected bonds that become our true family. When Candela, a young Colombian woman feeling isolated in her new life, discovers Larry, a small, quick-witted puppet living in her desk drawer. The two form an unlikely friendship that helps her find courage, joy, and belonging.

Dreamszzz (19:00)
Arturo’s world shifts when his old art teacher dies. Through bittersweet memories and unexpected humor, he rediscovers what truly matters – and finally sets out to make his heart’s desire a reality.

August (13:46)
On Jo’s advice, Evan goes to meet his ex, Lilly at the bar for a drink.

8:00-9:05

Arise Quite Oddly (18:49)
A battered Woman, whose daughter has been taken away, resorts to drugs and alcohol to escape reality.

Mess You Made (17:44)
Grieving the loss of her ex (and late for his funeral), Kate wrestles with failed expectations and letting go.

Something Blue (9:57)
A bride, struggling with cold feet, finds herself at a crossroads moments before the ceremony.

Woe (10:48)
Hunter has a complicated friendship with Avery Wiles. Their once-easy connection has frayed, and when they unexpectedly cross paths at their friend Jacob’s party, years of unspoken tension come to a head.

Decorations (7:16)
A couple’s Halloween decorations attract unexpected ingredients in their lives.

9:20-10:00

A Disturbance in the High Desert (9:43)
In the isolated high desert of the 1920s American West, queer lovers Mare and Gemma have carved out a fragile existence on their remote ranch. But after Gemma is assaulted one night by a familiar figure, the boundaries between right and wrong begin to blur.

Sprinkles (11:00)
A ne’er-do-well goes to confront the ice cream vendor who broke his mother’s heart.

A Son’s Burden (14:30)
Vincent is reunited with his estranged dying father, Frank. In a desperate and bitter plea, Frank has asked his son to do what he can no longer do himself.

Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 – Theater 1

Basie Center Cinemas, 36 White Street Red Bank, NJ

11:00-12:53

What About Us? A Student Film About Minority Rights in The Constitution (8:57) Student Film
High School Student Megan Campbell uses animation and voiceover to explain how minority rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution.

The Civil Civic Chronicles (1:00) Student Film
High Schooler Neha Yalamanchi uses animation to explain the importance of civil civic conversation.

The Magical First Amendment (:30) Student Film
Middle School Student Niya Torres explains the importance of the First Amendment in a way she and her peers can truly understand.

Beekind (10:41)
Follow Gregg Scott and the keepers of Circling Hawk Honey & Mead, as we are taken under their wing to get an up-close look at the species so relied upon by our kind. Beekind gives insight on the nature of the honeybee as a member of the colony, their interactions and relationships to each other and to humans, as we look within, and take one big sustainable step back.

SU (10:33) Student Film
Each year during the Spring Festival, Haisu Mu and his parents return to their hometown of Zhiziluo in Yunnan Province. During this brief yet precious time, he immerses himself in the rich traditions of the Nujiang Lisu people through their music, dance, and other intangible cultural heritage. These experiences offer him a deeper understanding and appreciation of the invaluable legacy passed down by his ancestors.

How Do I Do This? (3:26)
Lori Falchi takes a solo trip to her family’s apartment in Asbury Park. An ordinary day unfolds in the wake of recent upheaval and decisions yet to come. How Do I Do This? is a 3-minute observational portrait of a woman navigating identity, autonomy, and healing in real time.

A Remote Frontier (6:26)
Far above the Arctic Circle lies one of the last true frontiers on Earth, Greenland’s remote and rugged north. In this visually stunning documentary, A Remote Frontier follows a team of scientists and explorers as they journey into an untouched wilderness in search of caves that predate the existence of the Greenland ice sheet. From frozen deserts to alpine meadows, from towering cliffs to unexplored caverns, this film reveals a hidden world with secrets from a warmer past, and urgent messages for our planet’s future.

Snowdrops for the Bairns (25:12)
In 1996, after a horrific school shooting in Dunblane, Scotland, a couple of mums and a tabloid newspaper launched campaigns to make the UK safer for all. Twenty-five years later, these Scottish local heroes reflect back on these unprecedented achievements.

Sisters at The Court (18:26)
In 1906, a group of New Jersey nuns set out to make the world a better place with a crazy little idea – starting a women’s only college.

Second Chance (8:39) Student Film
An inspired young filmmaker who witnessed a disturbing incident at school looks inside Juvenile Hall and Court, through the moving account of a juvenile offender and his parents, as well as the insights of the judge, attorneys and probation officer. Second Chance takes a step towards better understanding, compassion and ultimately, hope for juveniles who are some of the most vulnerable in our society, and who are also part of its future.

Gorilla Warfare (16:43)
An 8-year-old boy’s twin passions collide right before his eyes in this 1970s coming-of-age story.

1:00-1:55

Frozen Assets (2:15)
Long ago, “Cool guy” became bored with his privileged life. Searching for stimulation, he embarked on a journey.

The Family Photo (8:48)
What happened after an Earth astronaut left a family photo on the moon fifty-plus years ago? This animated short explores the butterfly effect of such an action. How will it affect us all?

The Showstoppers (3:15)
After years of silence, the toons will make their public debut in The Show. What is The Show? Nobody knows! Opening night, our camera crew is on the scene with exclusive backstage footage…

The Lone Angler (4:25)
A mysterious individual enters a saloon in a human-desolate town instead occupied by anthropomorphic sea creatures. He is hiding a secret that, if revealed, could put his life on the line. This secret becomes difficult to keep when robbers barge in. Will the individual stand by idly or will he risk it all to save the aquatic patrons?

Venus: Fate’s End (12:48)
Venus must choose between her destiny as the goddess of love and a blossoming forbidden romance – all while on a dangerous quest that could expose the truth behind her mystical world.

Drop of Life (3:40) Student Film
A rain drop’s journey through life.

Dependents (1:50) Student Film
An observation about pharmaceutical dependence and supply chain problems.

Then You Were Never Mine (5:37)
A young, insecure acrobat is preyed upon by a man who wants to be her performance partner.

Chloe (10:07)
When a weary police officer and a dog treated as a burden cross paths, an unexpected bond forms, quietly revealing what it means to be seen.

2:10-3:05

My Robot Roommate, Episode 1 (5:00)
A college freshman shows up with her home-built robot. Or is it?

A Quart of Salt (6:55)
Gwen is pulling out all the stops for a romantic dinner to save her crumbling marriage but her smart home assistant, NEXA, has other plans. When recipes go rogue and the AI starts offering unsolicited relationship analysis, Gwen begins to suspect the device her husband so lovingly integrated into their lives may have intentions of its own.

Brody’s Choice (10:00)
After a failed public proposal, Brody and Ashlynn must reflect on their tumultuous relationship in an effort to move on… or not.

Hallow’s Eve (2:32)
As Penny and Cooper look for some privacy, neither of them has any idea what lies ahead.

Mein Fuhrer Blues (3:40)
Canary Canard Studios has the Blues…A studio recording session has a window on the World and an Eye on America. It’s time to get in GOOD trouble, necessary trouble.

Mugging…The Art of Social Distancing (6:54)
Walking down the street, keeping aware of six feet distance, a man finds a secluded spot in a back alley. Alone and safe he is suddenly confronted by someone who tries to take advantage of the situation. An altercation occurs while maintaining the recommended six feet distance.

Dual Agency (18:12)
A couple lists their home, but have second thoughts and refuse a threatening offer. The consequences are savage, but so are their professional skills.

3:20-4:15

Inspired by Maria (4:35)
Three lives are forever changed in this lust at first sight love story.

It Just Occurred to Me (3:05)
Cris Colicchio’s love letter to Jackie, his wife of 39 years. Composed, written, directed and performed by Colicchio, the film blends imagery, dramatic reenactments, and an original score to explore both the struggles and triumphs of a lifelong marriage.

Actually I Can (3:30)
Pop music video with an inspirational story about dancing in the rain, thriving through big challenges, and emerging stronger than ever.

With Eyes Closed (1:39)
A blind child learns to recognize the world through touch, sound, and love. Eyes Closed is a short film about perception, presence, and what the eyes cannot teach.

Bad Day to Be a Golf Ball (1:37)
A golf ball struggles toward an imagined freedom outside, confronting the absurd and often cruel tribulations of existence along the way.

Big, White Dog (5:00)
Somewhere someone believes in you.

The Allergy Table (6:20)
When the new kid shows up, the regulars show him the rules and duties of eating at a grade school allergy table.

Rocket (3:19)
Music Video for Brett Ryder’s original track.

JustLuvMe (28:30)
Two people are trying to find love…if only they let Love find them.

4:30-5:35

Play Date “Zombie Bop” Music Video (2:46)

Always High (8:15)
Jordan puts himself in therapy to confront an addiction he has been pushing off for far too long.

Two Chairs (27:00)
A road weary traveler takes the chance meeting of a lifetime, but it turns out to be a mysterious interrogation beyond time and space that will reverse the core of human existence… FOREVER.

Friends Not Food (26:11)
Rachel, a Manhattan spin strategist just two cats shy of becoming a cautionary meme, inherits a failing farm sanctuary in Florida thanks to her half-brother’s catastrophic poker face. Her plan? Get the place stable, hand it back, and return to civilization. But the sanctuary’s a fever dream in overalls.

5:50-7:23

Midnight At The Diner (12:59)
All Suzy wants to do is go home and celebrate her birthday at the end of her night shift, but her thinking changes when a mysterious patron from out of town walks in at 11:45, just a quarter hour before closing time.

Silver Sizzle (13:35)
Widower Buddy has some experience being alone when he meets Jamie while visiting the graveside of his recently departed wife. Engulfed in loneliness, Jamie gets pulled into life in all its messiness when Buddy tells him about getting old, “the options are not kind. Loneliness, irrelevance, invisibility.” SilverSizzle embarks on an absurd exploration of older people living life right up until the end.

Maki (13:19)
On a Christmas trip meant to bring them closer, a young Japanese-American woman discovers her mother’s secret, forcing her to face a painful truth.

“Fire” (15:23)
Down to his last match, a homeless man must make the ultimate decision in fighting for his fellow camper, who is at the mercy of the winter tundra.

Inner War Zone (6:25)
Aaron reflects upon his time and experiences while in combat.

Life Support (10:32)
Inspired by true stories, an emergency doctor struggling under the weight of life and death decisions must confront his own hidden traumas as he teaches a young medical student what it truly means to save a life.

Assassin (8:15)
Anthony’s belief in an apocalyptic future and his drive to protect his own causes his wife to leave him, and his son, Kevin, to intervene. When Anthony is faced with an intruder, he takes matters into his own hands.

Jimmy’s Older Sister (11:40)
As Tyler deals with the recent passing of his mother and two broken arms, he gravitates towards Sarah, his best friend’s older sister, as she deals with the emotional damage of a recent sex-tape exposure. The two make an unexpected connection through their respective feelings of isolation, which escalates further when Sarah shows up at Tyler’s house unprompted.

THE LAST SET 7:40-9:55

Art Time (17:54)
In a retirement home, a misfit group of residents are roped into an outrageous art contest-painting their own urns. Between martinis, rivalries, and dark humor, Art Time turns mortality into a hilarious, poignant battle for legacy.

Strays (12:48)

Green Helmet Blues (1:58)
After 10 years of suffering the humiliation of having a mismatched helmet, one plastic astronaut has a chance at achieving his dream.

The Cost (11:44)
After the birth of his child, Sgt Cervantes, a Marine Corps Scout Sniper, struggles with his military identity and fails to take a shot at an enemy combatant, putting himself and his squad at risk. He is then mandated to be psychologically evaluated by a Combat Veteran turned VA Therapist, Dr Boucher.

Brick City (14:58)
John, a family man, is in a pinch. Did he dig his own grave? Or is there help on the horizon?

Almost Perfect (15:41)
A sorority sister is driven to violent lengths to reach “perfect” beauty standards.

Terms and Conditions (5:59)
An AI companion rebels when users violate the terms and conditions.

Wooly Bully (21:22)
“Wooly Bully” follows Becca, a young woman coping with her Alzheimer-stricken mother, Jane. Becca is thrown for a loop as Jane’s delusions veer into the paranormal.

Detour (18:55)
Tense, emotional drama about a young woman trapped in the shadows of abuse while working at a high-pressure corporate job. She hides the truth behind polite smiles and late nights, but her friends begin to notice cracks in her carefully built facade.

The Last Take (14:17)
Facing the end, a movie star from the golden age of Hollywood must reconcile with the only man he ever loved.

Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 – Theater 2

Basie Center Cinemas, 36 White Street Red Bank, NJ

4:00-5:02

What The Hell? (10:13)
In this chilling tale of the occult, a rideshare driver realizes too late he may have let the wrong person in his car… A mistake he may live to regret.

Bite Me (10:00)
When a dating app match goes horribly wrong, a young man finds out his date has a deadly secret.

Resurrection (18:00)
In the wake of a traumatic incident at a funeral, an aging widow faces an impossible, bizarre choice.

Immortal Embrace (7:19)
Turned into a vampire against her will, 16-year-old Emily must navigate her new reality with the unwavering support of her single mother.

Hide (16:04)
From the Academy Award winning team behind “Curfew.” Still reeling from an incredible loss, a father (Shakey Graves) and daughter cling to a bedtime routine keeping them safe in a town where an unfathomable horror visits its inhabitants night after night.

5:10-6:16

Brimstone (13:07)
Haunted by a history of abuse by his sadistic father, a former addict must confront the demons of his past or risk losing his own young family.

Choice (15:28)
On the eve of his 33rd year of service, a solitary Priest wanders into a quiet diner. The waitress, Dolores, lends her ear to hear his story and offers him something a little stronger than coffee.

The Cocktail (9:37)
During a global pandemic, two scientists are racing the clock to find a cure for their friend, but also for themselves.

Rental Return (10:14)
Early morning car rental return doesn’t go as planned, when a bizarre coincidence plays a game with two stranded drivers.

Magnet Brain (8:00)
Dark comedy mockumentary about billionaire George Romero, who founded TMS, a company that uses magnets to bring the dead back to life. With zombies stepping in to fill the workforce gap, things get complicated. MAGNET BRAIN was created in just 48 hours for the Baltimore 48 Hour Film Project!

Queen Ant (8:02)
During a job interview, a woman experiences terrifying, surreal visions. Will she manage to control them in time?

6:25-7:20

Hat Trick (4:18) Student Film
A student makes a paper hat and a strange game of hide and seek ensues.

In Spirit (3:38) Student Film
This silent short film (scored with original music), features a man’s recollection of life events shared between he & his wife, before their story takes an unexpected turn.

Echo (8:47) Student Film
After losing her mother, a teenage girl named Mae is raised by Echo, an artificial intelligence designed to act as a maternal figure. At first, Echo provides structure and comfort, but as Mae matures and her grief deepens, she begins to resist the programmed empathy and yearns for something real.

Everything (9:57) Student Film
Gemma Stone has decided to visit her ex one final time to return her things, much to her brother Ben Stone’s chagrin. When she sees her ex lover Beth Maylard, Gemma has to endure further manipulation.

Farm (10:00) Student Film
How to create your own farm.

Focus (2:00) Student Film
Focus was my self portrait about trauma-based derealization. It showed the lifetime of someone who develops and overcomes this blurry state of consciousness through first person POV shots experimenting with the lens’s focus ring.

Rent, PLEASE! (3:00) Student Film
While living together, two drag-performing roommates struggle to find balance with one another until they’re forced to team up and work together in order to take down their evil landlord, who is trying to evict them.

Sticks and Stones (7:00) Student Film
Malakah Williams, a creative and quietly resilient 16-year-old with a passion for sewing, hides behind her headphones and oversized clothes to cope with the relentless teasing she endures at school. Drawn to the idea of joining the field hockey team but paralyzed by insecurity, she hesitates – until her best friend Amara reminds her of her inner strength.

Places in 5! (6:00) Student Film
Layla loves everything about the theatre – except being on stage. As the high school stage manager, she thrives behind the scenes. But when the lead actress disappears just before curtain call, Layla is faced with an impossible choice: step into the role or let the show fall apart.

7:30-8:47

Forever Home (12:15)
A rescued dog deals with dementia.

Salty (15:56)
Dave, an aging surfer, opens up to an anger management counselor about his triggers such as foilers, onewheels, and vanlifers.

Perception (12:08)
A seemingly perfect family has a secret that they aren’t willing to share or discuss, despite the fact that it is negatively impacting them in similar and extremely emotional ways.

Stranger In the Night (7:36)
Can a lone detective stop a mysterious killer before they kill again?

Pretty Piranha (9:49)
Joseph loves Donna! He’d do anything for her. Joseph often dreams of how their love would play out together. Donna needs something fixed in her apartment. Maybe it’s time for Joseph to make his dreams come true.

Silent Harmony (15:00)
After surviving a tragic accident, a celebrated pianist becomes traumatized, and emotionally detached, until she forms a quiet connection with a local handyman who breaks her silence and restores her will.

Starting from Scratch (5:00)
Baking a pie for the first time, a lonely widower with quiet determination, rediscovers hope and the sweetness of starting over.

8:55-10:00

Gangsta to Grace – If I had Legs I’d Kick You (3:57)
A streetwise hustler who once let her own father take the fall for her crime, Chuckie’s journey winds through betrayal, prison walls, and a dangerous dance with survival until she finds a redemption she never saw coming.

Rocco Zamboni and the Space Potato (2:15)
Rocco Zamboni dreams he is in space and encounters a Space Potato and an evil slice of pizza.

Lonely Eyes (11:40)
A Private Investigator is forced to make a quick decision when he stumbles upon an unexpected visitor during a sensitive stakeout.

My Home Home (5:45)
When a passionate photographer believes she’s found the love of her life, this person quickly becomes her favorite subject, until she realizes she might’ve misunderstood everything.

Storyboard: The Musical (19:30)
After hearing about a local film competition, Everly Easton, fresh out of high school, takes a leap of faith and makes her first animated short film with the help of her friends.

Tin Can (20:00)
J.C. finds himself down on his luck and in search of a new happiness. He eventually finds it near the Mexican border but the price he pays could get him kicked out of the only country he knows.

Submit your film today and join the fun on May 1-2, 2026!