2025 Film Schedule
Celebrate a DECADE of Hobnobben! This year we had a record number of submissions from talented filmmakers locally and worldwide. There are 36 film blocks featuring 167 incredible films. You can purchase passes and hang out with us for a day or the full festival or grab individual tickets to a block that piques your interest. The in-person festival will take place at Fort Wayne Cinema Center October 23 - 26, 2025. If you can’t make it in person, we offer virtual tickets to stream the films through November 10th.
In addition to the chance to celebrate and watch all the amazing films, there are several workshops and special events to enable filmmakers to network and flex their filmmaking muscles that will be announced soon.
Thursday, October 23, 2025: OPENING NIGHT
Spectator Lounge & Main Theater • 6:00 pm - 10:45 pm
Celebrate Hobnobben 2025 and the remarkable filmmakers who make our festival possible. The festivities will kick off with an Opening Night Reception in the Spectator Lounge, where guests can enjoy a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres from 6:00 - 7:15 pm. Following the reception, we will screen a block of ten short films from local and Indiana filmmakers, followed by the feature film, Year of the Cat.
The Opening Night Reception is free to attend for all accepted filmmakers, all passholders, and for anyone who purchases a ticket for either screening on Thursday evening.
Opening Night Shorts • Main Theater • 7:15 pm - 8:45 pm
These ten shorts showcase a wide variety of stories, characters, and themes. Together, they showcase the depth and versatility of Indiana storytelling, making this block a celebration of homegrown talent.
Short Films: The Barista, Edentity Crisis, Found and Lost, Day Off, Calling the Wild, Wilderness Trip, Dusky Panther’s 5 Minute Variety Hour, Cat Nap, From the Ashes, The Fairy House
Opening Night Feature: Last Days of Summer • Main Theater • 9:00 pm - 10:45 pm
Follow filmmaker Tony Nguyen on an extraordinary quest to solve the mystery of his father, lost in the chaos of the Fall of Saigon 50 years ago. This intense documentary weaves together moments of humor and heartache, offering an intimate look at how the children of refugees are shaped by war and loss. Experience the emotional lengths some go to in confronting the past—and the possibility of healing as they reclaim and transform their futures.
Opening Night Reception will be from 6 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. followed by the screening of the Opening Night Short Films and Opening Night Feature in the Main Theater.
Friday, October 24, 2025
BY THEIR SIDE: CARING & CAREGIVING + PANEL DISCUSSION • Main Theater • 11:00 am - 1:15 pm
This poignant block of films explores what it means to care for others, for ourselves, and for those we’re afraid to lose. From the intimate realities of supporting a loved one with dementia, to the quiet resilience of living with chronic conditions, to a striking, fourth-wall-breaking exploration of assisted suicide, these stories navigate the deeply emotional terrain of caregiving.
Stay following the block of films for a short panel discussion.
Short Films: Buzz, Nothing Special, Paris 70, Pure Reality, Tenetis, The Reach
She Walks a Line• Spectator Lounge • 11:15 am - 12:30 pm
A gripping documentary that reveals the harrowing journey of thousands of young Nepali women and girls who are coerced across the border into India each year. She Walks a Line is a story of empowerment—of women fighting for justice, of traffickers manipulating the vulnerable, and of a divine calling that has inspired one woman to stand her ground in the face of adversity.
Mother Mara • Main Theater • 1:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Mara is heartbroken after her son Nemanja’s untimely death. She becomes emotionally detached, refusing to communicate with friends and family. Then she meets Milan, Nemanja’s close friend, and finds solace and comfort in their relationship. As they grow closer, they uncover more about Nemanja’s life and his passing, giving Mara an opportunity to face her life and emotions.
WINS & LOSSES: FIGHTING OUTSIDE THE LINES • Spectator Lounge • 12:45 pm - 2:15 pm
This is a sobering, emotional block that dives into the stories behind the scoreboard and highlights how the rules of sport reflect the struggles of society. Witness the cost of playing the game: an athlete and his family navigate life after a traumatic brain injury, a trans youth fights to take the soccer field, an Iranian fencer finds herself in the middle of politics over competition, and a boxer vanishes in the wake of protest.
Short Films: For Isaiah, Inside, Armata, Lunge, A Good Day Will Come
SUPERWOMEN OF THE WORLD• Main Theater • 3:30 pm - 5:15 pm
The films in this block highlight the complex struggles and successes of women from around the world. Watch an Iranian woman struggle to find something she lost prior to meeting her fiancé, another dealing with seemingly constant surveillance, see an interpretation of a matriarchal society, women in Guinea Bissau who create their own Afrofeminist space, and an exploration of women working in the Pyrenees in the 1800s.
Short Films: Spider-Zan, Voyeur, Let Me Put It This Way, Women of Bissau, Underlying, Uxina
GRIEF, GRIT & A SLICE OF PIE • Spectator Lounge • 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm
The animated and live-action films in this block show humanity’s most challenging moments and explore the weight of love, memories, loss, and survival. These are the impactful stories we carry, the ones that stay with us long after the credits roll.
Short Films: Disabled: A Love Story, Once Loved, An Old Friend, The Dreamed Father, Firmina, Kill, Encuentro Americano
FROM THE FRONT LINE • Spectator Lounge • 4:15 pm - 6:00 pm
This gripping block of seven short films explores the human cost of war through intimate, powerful storytelling. Experience moments of courage, loss, resilience, and the haunting aftermath of conflict. Each film highlights the universal toll of violence and the struggle to find meaning amid chaos.
Short Films: Draft Paper, Rotation, K’uchu: A Childhood Place, Thread, My Closet, Free Words: A Poet from Gaza, Dear Child II
Sa Rafale + PANEL DISCUSSION• Main Theater • 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
In this documentary, the director explores the journey of his friend, a schizophrenic artist, as well as his own experiences within a psychiatric hospital. Following his hospitalization, a project emerges: to paint portraits of the patients he met in the hospital, based solely on Maxime's narratives.
This project becomes a therapeutic journey, offering a window into the complexity of the human mind and the importance of human connection.
Stay following the block of films for a short panel discussion.
Awards Ceremony • Outdoor Screening • 7:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Celebrate all the nominees and the winners! Don’t miss this chance to honor creativity, talent, and storytelling at its finest during the Awards Ceremony. This event is open to all Hobnobben attendees and filmmakers. See what films the awards jury has chosen to honor and show your appreciation for the recognized filmmakers. This is an event you won't want to miss as we come together to “See and be seen.” SEE you there! 👀
This event is free and open to the public, passholders and filmmakers. Please RSVP to give us a heads up that you’re coming.
STORIES OF THE EARTH • Outdoor Screening • 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
A collection of films exploring our ties to nature, tradition, and transformation. From magical seaside summers to climate action on the Norwegian coast, these stories blend myth, memory, and survival. These visually rich shorts reflect on what we’ve lost, what remains, and how we move forward.
Short Films: Tides of Change, Single Use, The Mermaid Museum, Portrait of a Seaweed Farmer: Ana Borrero, PhD
The in-person screening is a non-ticketed event that’s FREE and open to the public.
Miranda from Friday to Monday • Main Theater • 7:45 pm - 9:15 pm
Miranda is a 48-year-old teacher who changes her perspective on life when she hears reports of harassment and abuse from the students at the school where she teaches. Over the weekend, she will decide that it’s time to hear her voice and make it heard along with many others.
Harvesting Heroes From Fort Wayne & The World • Outdoor Screening • 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm
This block delivers big energy and bold storytelling spanning from offbeat gems to those working to make positive change in their communities - including the community in Fort Wayne’s own Harvester neighborhood. These storytellers aren’t afraid to dig deep, experiment, and celebrate the wins.
Short Films: Unlikely Mermaid, Human Heart, Exception(al), Burning in Galena Manor, Handwoven, The Harvester (The East End) Neighborhood
The in-person screening is a non-ticketed event that’s FREE and open to the public.
Saturday, October 25, 2025
UNDOCUMENTED • Main Theater • 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
This block of two films, one short and one feature-length, addresses the issue of migration and statelessness as people work to find a place for themselves and their families in the world.
Stateless: An Afghan father, who entered Iran illegally without a passport or any documents, now faces a difficult choice between his deceased son's remains and staying in Iran with his family.
Giselou: Zahra is struggling to get divorced from her unofficial husband, an Afghan refugee. He abandoned her and Zahra needs him to sign divorce papers and get IDs for her two sons. She travels to Afghanistan so she can find him.
Spelkollektivet: To Build a Castle • Spectator Lounge • 11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Spelkollektivet: To Build a Castle" is the story of the world's largest co-living space for game developers, and the people living there. Follow the founder James Newnorth as he navigates the many obstacles of turning an untried idea into reality. Meet the three indie devs Leene Künnap, Matej Jan and Michal Roch as they work on their respective games, "Death and Taxes", "Pixel Art Academy" and "Lords and Villeins". Find out if Spelkollektivet fosters the next indie dev star.
Universal • Main Theater • 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
A weekend break for a couple of academics is interrupted by a woman who won’t take “no” for an answer, seeking their help with the biggest discovery in history. A small down-to-earth film about huge out-of-this-world concepts.
QUEER AROUND THE WORLD • Spectator Lounge • 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Being your true authentic self isn’t always easy - but it's always worth fighting for. This powerful collection of seven queer shorts traces journeys through joy, grief, transformation, and resistance. From the quiet spaces between family and identity, to bold declarations of self and love, this is a must-see block of films.
Short Films: Amida, For Small Creatures, Diffidence, Gillyfish, Amma’s Pride, Don’t Cry for Me All You Drag Queens, Casa Susanna
FOOD-A FEAST OF FILM • Spectator Lounge• 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Monsters, nostalgia, zombies, family dishes, the comfort of a classic bagel and lox, and the joy of a good fortune: food has a way to bring us together, just as it brings these films together in this block. This block of seven short films will satisfy all film connoisseurs.
Short Films: Feed, Cupcakez, You Can’t Beat the Feeling!, Tang Hua Sheng, Lox, Sugar Dumplin, The Connoisseur
OUR BODIES + Panel Discussion • Main Theater • 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
This powerful and important block of seven short films explores the complex journey of women trying to assert agency over their own bodies and lives. From deeply personal reflections on the choice to be a mother to defiant expressions of bodily autonomy and identity, each film offers a raw and resonant take on autonomy, choice, and survival in a world that too often tries to silence or control.
Followed by a live panel discussion with filmmakers and advocates on bodily autonomy, storytelling as resistance, and the fight for control over our own narratives.
Short Films: My Body, what it felt like, Breasts Not Included, Mango, Moon Belly, Choice, The End Was Just The Beginning
SPACE, TIME & OTHER DIMENSIONS • Spectator Lounge • 4:30 pm - 5:45 pm
Past lives, unexplained bathroom portals, the apocalypse, mysterious clones, and new dangerous technologies - this creative science-fiction block pushes the boundaries of imagination and explores what could be. A must-see for Sci-Fi fans.
Short Films: Dreams, Hopes and Rotating Dolphins, The Parallel, All That’s Left, Palindrome, The Fight of Ulick Underhill, Nap
LOVE ♥️ LOVE • Main Theater • 5:45 pm - 7:15 pm
Awkward, weird, steamy - romance has a lot of flavors, as do the films in this block. This block of quirky, uplifting films follows characters navigating dating disasters, crushes, and high-stakes misunderstandings. These stories remind us that the road to love is rarely straightforward—but the detours are worth it.
Short Films: No Time To Talk, Party Monster, Back to the Closet, Deal Breakers, A Stupid Man, Ash Wednesday, Like a fish in the water, Stimulants & Empathogens
DARK & TWISTY • Spectator Lounge • 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm
Ring… ring… ring… Does no one else hear that? Does no one else see that? Are you hallucinating or just watching this block of dark and twisty films at Hobnobben? The creative storytelling in this block is sure to delight fans of horror and suspense - without the excessive gore.
Short Films: Letter from a stranger, The Call Is Coming From Inside The House, Side Effects, If the Dogs Don’t Speak…, Against the Fate, Vasomotor Rhinitis
KILLER FILMS • Spectator Lounge • 7:30pm - 8:45 pm
From killer park views, to killing time, and dressing to kill - this block of five short films features some truly killer content. For those looking for a lighter, albeit sometimes quite bloody, block of scary Saturday shorts - this block is for you!
Short Films: Procrastinator, Paul Tells All: The Regrets of a Sad Slasher, Crack, Love and the All Night Horror Show, The Nature of Death
THESE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS • Main Theater • 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
A playful collection of offbeat stories and unlikely connections. Expect scheming characters, unexpected turns, committed artists, and most importantly - expect laughter and joy in this block that celebrates the beautifully weird and heartfelt ways we seek love, understanding, and maybe just a little validation.
Short Films: Tin Tune, The CheeseMan Auditions, Book Club, Purrseverance, Sucky, The Lift, Tina Tina Bo Bina
SCINTILLATING SHORTS FOR A SATURDAY• Main Theater • 8:45 pm - 10:15 pm
Breakdowns! Green Men! Graveyard Bullies! Talking Plants! Dodo birds! This fun, (mostly) upbeat block brings together stories of people on the brink—of a breakdown, a breakthrough, or breaking the mold.
Short Films: On the Verge, Grave Expectations, Jerry and the PLant, Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy, Cactus In Need, The Ugly Chickens
Gold• Main Theater • 9:00 pm - 10:30 pm
This documentary explores the lives of four current dancers and the owner of the Gold Nugget strip club in Spread Eagle, Wisconsin. Dusty's story, who was a dancer in the 90s, has owned the club for 30 years and runs the club in a way that empowers women. She works to guide them to further education, encourages them toward sobriety, and offers respect and support through unconditional (and sometimes tough) love. Both inspiring and at times, heartbreaking, GOLD offers a unique perspective into the world of women who work at this particular club in this rural part of the US.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
SIBLINGS: UNDER YOUR SKIN, IN YOUR CORNER• Main Theater • 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
It’s those you love the most who can also get under your skin the most. But among the sibling bickering and tension, there is often a deep love and understanding - especially when it comes to life’s hard moments. This block of six films features families coming together to support each other and come to grips with some of life’s hard realities. Expect uplifting, heartbreaking, and bittersweet stories in this block.
Short Films: The Friend of Cleopatra, Nani, Tenderheart, Cura Sana, Sometimes I Imagine Your Funeral, Hang On, Little Tomato
YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN, KID • Spectator Lounge • 11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Familial relationships are hard. But sometimes, just plain existing is harder. This block of six films addresses the complexities of navigating the world you’re born into and how sometimes the people closest to you don’t understand you at all.
Short Films: Fairground, Hot Mess, Ausente, Why Did You Come Back Every Summer, I Don’t Know If I'll Have to say Everything Again, Gyopo
Battersea • Main Theater • 12:45 pm - 2:15 pm
In the wake of their mother's death, estranged siblings--Les and Lou--reconvene at their childhood home in Nowhere, Ohio, where they spend a precarious weekend drinking and talking--uncovering the narratives and secrets that have shaped their lives.
(RE)CONNECTION • Spectator Lounge • 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Your chosen family leaves a lasting impact, whether you’ve known them since childhood, through work, or college - the connections leave a lasting mark. The eight shorts in this block explore friendship through the years and what it can mean to be truly seen and loved by others.
Short Films: Aloha Means I Love You, Lucia & Nicole, The Voicenote, For Genesis, Play Date, Beverly Shores, South Shore, City of Dreamz
THROUGH A CHILD’S EYES • Main Theater • 2:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Experience moments of innocence, confusion, strength, and unexpected clarity along with the young protagonists in this block. These six powerful short films grapple with tough issues such as grief, mental illness, addiction, and resilience - through the eyes of children.
Short Films: Crane, Punter, Love of Two, Eyelash, Anaar Daana, Nettle
IMMIGRANT STORIES + Panel Discussion • Spectator Lounge • 2:45 pm - 5:15 pm
These six short films delve into the challenging process of migration and the courage of those who dare to make the journey. The films are just a sample of the myriad experiences around the world as people journey to make better lives for themselves and their families, with all the hardships, hopes, and consequences those journeys entail.
Short Films: Dream Car Wash, A Little Regret in Helsinki, The Blue Bicycle, Turnaround, Bible Camp, Koi
ARTISTS GOTTA ART • Main Theater • 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Art: It opens our minds to fresh perspectives and has the power to show us worlds and ideas we’ve never seen before. The seven short films in this block follow artists who are relentless in their pursuit of expression. Experience visually stunning films that demonstrate the profound impact that various mediums and expressions of art can have on us and our communities.
Short Films: The Tale of Mari, A(rt)DHD, Old Girl in a Tutu: Susan Rennie Disrupts Art History, Building a Champion, Sarah Thankam Mathews: After All This, Deciso, Suddenly a Bird
Foreign Homeland • Spectator Lounge • 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
After fleeing Iran, a father and his three children struggle to adapt to their new life in Canada in the first three weeks, facing cultural clashes, language barriers, and family tensions. Ultimately, discovering the true meaning of home in a foreign land.
A Cell Phone Movie • Main Theater • 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm
A meta comedy for the (coming of) ages! Shot entirely on a cell phone, the film follows a fictional version of writer/director/star Will Sterling, a similarly out of work, struggling actor trying to impress the world by making a movie on a cell phone about an out of work, struggling actor trying to impress the world by making a movie on his cell phone.
