SHORT FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BLOCK 1
Big stories don’t need big runtimes. Explore the world through the lens of international filmmaking. From breathtaking dramas to boundary-pushing animation, experience the best global short-form cinema right here.
WHAT WE HAD WAS NOISE
to save the music, she has to face the noise.
Jamey is a sarcastic misfit. Her band fell apart a year ago. Now, she has a desperate plan to get them back together and win battle of the bands. But she has to fix the friendships she broke first. It’s a story about mending the past and stepping into the light.
AFTER DARK SHORT FILMS BLOCK 1
Big thrills don’t need big runtimes. Step into the shadows with our After Dark collection. From spine-chilling horror and psychological thrillers to bizarre sci-fi and dark comedy, experience the best of global midnight cinema right here.
Beyond the Burnout: Reimagining "The Grind" in Independent Film
The indie film industry has long romanticized the "tortured artist" and the 18-hour-day hustle. But the reality for young creators is a quiet epidemic of burnout, isolation, and anxiety. This panel is an open space to admit that filmmaking is hard on our minds, and to figure out how we can look after ourselves while still making uncompromising art.
SHORT FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BLOCK 2
Big stories don’t need big runtimes. Explore the world through the lens of international filmmaking. From breathtaking dramas to boundary-pushing animation, experience the best global short-form cinema right here.
A FAREWELL TO YOUTH
A washed-up screenwriter, desperately clinging to his fading youth, is forced to confront the realities of fatherhood when his estranged, pregnant teenaged daughter unexpectedly appears on his doorstep, seeking his help and support through the adoption process.
TICKETS ON SALE SOON
AFTER DARK SHORT FILMS BLOCK 2
Big thrills don’t need big runtimes. Step into the shadows with our After Dark collection. From spine-chilling horror and psychological thrillers to bizarre sci-fi and dark comedy, experience the best of global midnight cinema right here.
The Safe Set Experiment: Co-Creating a Non-Toxic Production Culture
Traditional film sets are notoriously hierarchical and high-stress. As indie filmmakers, we have the unique power to throw out the old Hollywood rulebook and build a completely new culture from scratch. Using projects like RUSH's own What We Had Was Noise as a collaborative blueprint, this conversation explores how to build sets rooted in kindness, equity, and mutual respect without sacrificing artistic quality.
SHORT FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BLOCK 3
Big stories don’t need big runtimes. Explore the world through the lens of international filmmaking. From breathtaking dramas to boundary-pushing animation, experience the best global short-form cinema right here.
SHORT FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BLOCK 4
Big stories don’t need big runtimes. Explore the world through the lens of international filmmaking. From breathtaking dramas to boundary-pushing animation, experience the best global short-form cinema right here.
JESUS COP
A man learns that his immortality comes with severe mental consequences.
TICKETS ON SALE SOON
AFTER DARK SHORT FILMS BLOCK 3
Big thrills don’t need big runtimes. Step into the shadows with our After Dark collection. From spine-chilling horror and psychological thrillers to bizarre sci-fi and dark comedy, experience the best of global midnight cinema right here.
Sticking Together: Building Film Communities That Outlast the Festival Circuit
Filmmaking can feel incredibly lonely once the festival lights go down and everyone goes home. The future of independent film shouldn't depend on faceless algorithms or distant gatekeepers; it should rely on the networks we build right here in the room. This panel is an open brainstorming session on how we can create regional, decentralized support systems to share resources, crew, and emotional support year-round.
ULTIMATE FILM CHALLENGE SCREENING
The clock was ticking. The cameras were rolling. Back in May, we challenged creators to make the ultimate short film under a brutal deadline. Now, it’s time to see what they built. Stream the official challenge screening and experience high-stakes filmmaking at its finest.
SHORT FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BLOCK 5
Big stories don’t need big runtimes. Explore the world through the lens of international filmmaking. From breathtaking dramas to boundary-pushing animation, experience the best global short-form cinema right here.
SHORT FILMS FROM AROUND THE WORLD BLOCK 6
Big stories don’t need big runtimes. Explore the world through the lens of international filmmaking. From breathtaking dramas to boundary-pushing animation, experience the best global short-form cinema right here.
SCENES FROM A PLACE WHERE RAILS AND WATER MEET
Dee wanders through the place that he calls home, taking in his surroundings and contemplating life. Consumed by an ambient sadness, Dee bears witness to many strange sights, culminating in a chance encounter with another soul that is just as lost and lonesome as he is.
Awards Gala
Celebrate the end of RUSH with an epic Closing Night Gala. The night kicks off with our official awards presentation recognizing standout films, performances, and creative achievements from across the festival. Then we turn down the lights and turn up the music for a post-awards after party. Come hang, dance, and toast to a weekend of incredible storytelling.
MORE DETAILS TO COME.
Ultimate Short Film Challenge
The Ultimate Short Film Challenge is a filmmaking competition where teams race against the clock to create a short film from scratch in just four days. Whether you're a first-time filmmaker or an experienced creator, this challenge is your chance to showcase your storytelling skills and compete for awards, prizes and cash money.
It's a Fundraiser Not a Phase
DOORS OPEN AT 6PM. SHOW STARTS AT 7PM.
THIS IS A LICENSED EVENT/VENUE
Break out the skinny jeans, stud belts, band tees, and eyeliner — this is a full-on Y2K pop-punk throwback night in support of the feature film What We Had Was Noise, with special guests MAGE.
Scene Study Year 4 Screeenings
Each year, the actors from our Scene Study program step in front of the camera to put their work to the test. The result is a series of intimate, powerful performances captured on film and screened at a private end-of-year showcase. It’s a quiet celebration of risk, growth, and the moment an actor stops practicing and starts becoming.
WHAT WE DO!
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![Poster for the RUSH Youth Film Festival featuring a red background, film strip border, and white text.]()
RUSH YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL
RUSH is a multi-day takeover of the Niagara Region — packed with short film screenings, panels, live feedback sessions, special events, and moments that only happen when filmmakers and audiences share the same room.
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![Poster for the horror film 'RUSH', presented by Jarico Films, celebrating an after-dark festival. The background features a red and black grungy, splattered design.]()
RUSH AFTER DARK FILM FESTIVAL
RUSH After Dark is a, celebration of horror, grindhouse, and genre films that live on the edge of mainstream cinema.
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![A graphic promoting the 'RUSH' 48-hour film challenge presented by Jarico Films for Youth, featuring a dark background with orange film strip borders at the top and bottom, and white text in the center.]()
ULTIMATE SHORT FILM CHALLENGE
The Ultimate Short Film Challenge is a worldwide 4 day filmmaking challenge where teams write, shoot, and edit a short film. With creative restrictions, filmmakers race the clock to submit their film before the deadline. Top films will screen at the RUSH Youth Film Festival in Niagara, Canada.
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![A film strip with black and yellow background featuring the logo for a short film titled 'Boot Camp' by Jarico Films, with a grungy, distressed style]()
SHORT FILM BOOTCAMP
With mentors by their side, participants will learn the art of storytelling, film production, and post-production, resulting in a cinematic masterpiece that's showcased at a glittering red carpet gala attended by family, friends, and the public.
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![A film strip with the title 'Pitch Night' and the text 'Jarico Films Presents.' The background is pink with black splatters.]()
pitch night
Pitch your projects to industry professionals for a chance to win a Development Assistance Package Each Pitch Night winner will advance to the year-end competition, where one filmmaker will have their film produced by Jarico Films for Youth.
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![A graphic with a filmstrip border showing the text 'Scene Study with Erica Sherwood' in bold white and turquoise letters.]()
Scene Study
Designed to give students a comprehensive introduction to the world of acting. This class covers the basics such as script analysis, character development, working with a director etc.
