2025 Film Schedule
The 9th annual Hobnobben Film Festival is going to be incredible! With a staggering number of submissions from talented filmmakers worldwide, we have curated 32 film blocks featuring 141 outstanding films. You can purchase passes and hang out with us for a day or the full festival or grab 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.
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
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 6, 2024
FINDING HOME + PANEL DISCUSSION• Main Theater • 11:00 am - 12:45 pm
These narrative and documentary shorts explore the unique, yet universal struggles, of immigrants throughout the world as they face hurdles unique to their circumstances: from trying to follow your passion, to doing what you think is best for your children, to trying to reunite your family from a continent away.
Stay following the film for a conversation about the films and about the communities and resources available to immigrants in Fort Wayne and Indiana.
Short Films: Gabriela, Go in Peace, Expanding Sanctuary, The Poem We Sang
TOUGH TOPICS: FROM LIFE TO DEATH • Spectator Lounge• 11:15 am - 12:45 pm
Grief is a profound and transformative emotion that deeply impacts those who experience it. Each of these four fictional shorts delves into the intimate and personal journeys of individuals grappling with the death of a loved one. Through their stories, we witness the unpredictable ways in which grief can manifest, revealing the raw and often hidden struggles that accompany the process of mourning.
Short Films: Blue Hour, Scherben, As Easy As Closing Your Eyes, Last Call
LONGING TO BELONG • Main Theater • 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Grappling with the effects of colonialism and imperialism involves confronting the complex legacy of historical domination, which often includes cultural displacement, economic exploitation, and social inequality. The struggle to reclaim and redefine cultural identity becomes paramount in these documentary and narrative films as individuals and communities work to reconnect with their heritage and find their own place in the world.
Short Films: Points of Origin, Stay Awhile, Shoes, Dammi
EMBRACING THE SPECTRUM OF LIFE + PANEL DISCUSSION • Spectator Lounge • 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Whether you’re a normie, on the spectrum, or have a physical or intellectual disability, your stories deserve to be told and celebrated. These narrative and documentary films explore the full spectrum of human experience, highlighting the importance of connection and inclusion for everyone.
Stay following the film for a panel discussion about the films and about resources and communities available in Fort Wayne and the region.
Short Films: Breaking Normal, Unsorted, Can't Wait to See You, Love Sweet Sound, El color de la habitación, Saving Superman, Nuestro Reino
MAKING THE JOURNEY • Main Theater • 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm
Migration shapes societies, cultures, and economies as individuals and communities seek new beginnings in unfamiliar territories, bringing with them their unique experiences, skills, and traditions. The journey, however hopeful, can be fraught with unimaginable hardships and dangers. These five short films delve into the challenging process of migration and the courage of those who dare to make the journey.
Short Films: Forsaken, Abrazo, Beirut 2030, I Promise You Paradise, Eldorado
DADDY ISSUES • Spectator Lounge • 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
The relationships we have, or don’t have, with our parents can shape the way we navigate the world. In these five films, experience a wide representation of paternal relationships: a woman discovering a connection to music and her stepfather after his passing, a couple that is forever changed by a knock on their door, a father struggling with his morals and protecting his son, a man seeking connection with his father, and a woman grappling with her elderly father's request.
Short Films: The High Life, Simon, The Only Son, Cottage Grove, In 100 Years
This Town Rocked • Main Theater • 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
A community of misfits converged in the late 80's and early 90’s Fort Wayne, Indiana to create a punk scene that shook stages, bar floors and changed a city forever.
Game Over • Spectator Lounge • 4:45 pm - 6:15 pm
Wojtek, an unemployed gamer, receives a court order to leave the house of his mother, Joanna, within a month. Upon returning home an argument occurs between them, after which Wojtek finds Joanna unconscious at the entrance to the staircase. The diagnosis shows a brainstem injury, resulting in the so-called "locked-in syndrome. Joanna is conscious, but other than eye movements she is unable to move. Her chance of recovery can be increased by expensive rehabilitation. Wojtek is forced to take matters into his own hands.
Workshops & Special Events
Friday, October 4, 2024 • Film and Media Tax Credits in Indiana • 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
In the summer of 2022, Indiana passed the Film and Media Tax Credit. Two years later, the kinks in this process are starting to be worked out. Come speak with representatives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to learn about how you can take advantage of these tax credits for your projects.
Friday, October 4, 2024 • Filmmaker Speed Dating • 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
One of the most valuable things about attending a film festival is the opportunity to connect with other filmmakers, but starting the conversations can be awkward! Let us help!
This hour-long networking opportunity will allow you to meet other Hobnobben-selected filmmakers and local Fort Wayne filmmakers. Learn about what they do, what projects they’re working on or have submitted to the festival, and chat about your shared loved of independent filmmaking. It’s a fast, fun way to meet other filmmakers and make valuable connections before the Awards Ceremony.
Hosted by CollegeTV’s Will Beamon.
Saturday, October 5, 2024 • Unlocking Success in the Film & TV Industry with Line Producer Jennifer Haire • 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Expedite the transition from student or hobbyist to professional. Presentation includes tips on freelance employment, tips on getting more industry experience, adapting non-industry work, where to look for work, as well as guidance on networking, resumes and interviewing.
About Jennifer: Jennifer A. Haire is a Line Producer and DGA Production Manager with global feature film and television experience. She is a member of the Producers Guild of America and IATSE. She conducts film and TV production training workshops across the nation and is the co-author of “Keys to the Production Office.”
Saturday, October 5, 2024 • Music In Film: Working with a Composer and Understanding Rights & Licensing • 2:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Royalty-free music vs. sync licensing rights - how do you find music and compositions that fit your film that you know you have permission to use? And if you have found a composer of your own, what are some best practices for collaboration? Composer Eric Salazer, The Clarinet Guy, will help you answer these questions and more during this workshop focused on how music, recordings, and musicians can amplify the impact of your film.
About Eric: In addition to his work as a performer, chamber musician and career coach, Eric has composed music for several Indiana filmmakers. His recent work includes Hellbender in the Blue with Teardrop Pictures, Dirty Laundry with 12 Stars Media, and Bruce the Juice: An Abstract Biography with Dancer Lauren Curry. As a film composer, he enjoys working with independent directors to enhance their films and stories with his compositions.
Saturday, October 5, 2024 • The Comedy Nerd Presents: Characters from Every Genre • 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm
Join improv aficionado Caitlin Thompson for this genre-inspired character workshop. Learn easy tips, tricks, and exercises that will boost your creative process as an actor or director. Walk away with the skills to generate unique and motivated characters in minutes!
About Caitlin: Caitlin graduated from Purdue University with dual degrees in Communication and Theatre. After college, she trained at The Second City Chicago and performed in comedy shows throughout the city. She currently plays with Fort Wayne's premier comedy troupe Broken Pencil Improv and a new musical comedy duo, Murder House Rock. She also conducts improvisation trainings through her site The Comedy Nerd.
Sunday, October 6, 2024 • Creator Space Brunch • 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Join the Creator Space community on the final day of the Hobnobben Film Festival for an exciting brunch and brainstorming session designed to support local filmmakers with their latest projects.
Event Highlights:
Brunch and Networking: Enjoy a delicious brunch while mingling with fellow creatives from the Fort Wayne area.
Project Brainstorming: We are looking for five filmmakers to present their current projects. Each participant will have:
1 minute to introduce their project to the group.
1 minute to share a preview or clip from their project.
Constructive Feedback: After each presentation, the audience will provide constructive feedback, offering insights and suggestions to help enhance the projects. This is a great opportunity to:
Share more details about your project.
Find collaborators for your production.
Highlight something exciting you’re working on.
How to Participate: If you’re interested in being one of the five filmmakers to present your project, please fill out the submission form. We will contact you at least two weeks before the event, which takes place on October 6th, 2024. Link to Submission Form: https://forms.gle/eohF3KREDAwrZgDv8
Even if you’re not sharing a project, come hang out, network with other filmmakers, and enjoy some great food!
About Zach: Filmmaker Zach Vessels runs his own production business, TopSphere Media. He loves to work with local artists and express himself through film. He started Creator Space as a way to help like-minded individuals come together to make art in Fort Wayne.
About Creator Space: Creator Space is a monthly social and networking event where Fort Wayne creators (and visitors!) can make connections and share ideas.
