
RUSH 2025
FESTIVAL
SCHEDULE
HERE IS THE LINEUP FOR THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FILMS WHO ARE NOMINATED FOR AWARDS A FULL LIST OF AWARD NOMINATIONS WILL BE OUT SOON.
THE SCHEDULE IS BEING UPDATED DAILY, SO IF YOU DO NOT SEE YOUR FILM LISTED, PLEASE CONTACT US, WE MAY NEED SOME INFORMATION.
THURSDAY MAY 8 \ 7PM
SHORT FILMS FROM CANADA & NIAGARA
Venue: The FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
250 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M2
CANADA / NIAGARA

DOCUMENTARY
ADAM'S APPLE
Celeste Skye Ruiz, Lex Van Es Spencer Faion
Adam's Apples is a short documentary following Adam, the passionate owner of Fonthill Family Fruit Farm, as he transitions from conventional to organic apple farming. Faced with financial strain, changing consumer demands, and the unpredictability of nature, Adam remains committed to ethical, sustainable practices. Through interviews with Adam, his family, workers, and customers, the film explores the challenges and rewards of organic farming. It sheds light on the human side of agriculture‚ rooted in resilience, integrity, and a deep respect for the land. Adam's Apples invites viewers to consider where their food comes from and the values behind it.
CANADA / MONTREAL

DRAMA
MICHEL
Maxime Divier
In the middle of the night, a spirited young vacationer finds himself lost in Montreal, a city he knows nothing about. Stubbornly trying to find his papers, he is caught up in the afterglow of his drunken evening. Judgment and distrust are the order of the day in his urban encounters, and will derail his return to his friend's home.
CANADA / NIAGARA

DRAMA
THE REVISION
Nicholas James Roses
Lenon, a once-acclaimed author, is mired in grief and alcoholism after the death of his wife, Sadie. His life and career are in shambles, with his only support coming from Marc, his agent and friend, who warns him that his writing career is on the verge of collapse. In a desperate bid to reignite Lenon's creative spark, Marc arranges for him to lead a writer's workshop.
Reluctantly stepping into this role, Lenon meets Max, a young writer whose passion and struggles with his own draft mirror Lenon's tumultuous past. As Lenon mentors Max, he confronts his own demons and begins to see the harmful impact of his drinking. Max’s earnest desire for guidance and improvement inspires Lenon to take the first steps towards sobriety and self-acceptance.
However, when Lenon claims Max’s work as his own in a moment of weakness, he risks losing everything he has begun to rebuild. This betrayal forces Lenon to fully confront his addiction and the underlying pain driving it. Through acceptance, Lenon not only helps Max find his voice but also rediscovers his own, finally stepping onto the path of recovery and redemption.
CANADA / NIAGARA

DRAMA
BEFORE YOU GO
Connor McCartney
Two highschool best friends, Felix and Susan graduates and prepares for their next steps. But Felix drops the bomb that he will be moving to Germany for Uni in two days. Will they tell each other how they truly feel or let each other go for their own good?
CANADA / NIAGARA

DRAMA
GOOD LUCK, JAMES
Spencer Hillhouse
In this original short film based on "Good Luck, Babe" by Chappell Roan, Travel along with James, as his train ride is hijacked by a mysterious yet familiar stranger, Marshal. Together, Marshal helps James reconcile with things from his past, and even things about himself, he preferred to leave behind. Will James ever find the courage to have what he wants, instead of settling for what he needs?
CANADA / VANCOUVER

DOCUMENTARY
THUNDERBIRD AND THE KILLER WHALE: S-HWUHWA, ÄÔUS & QUL-LHANUMUTSUN
Jason Cheng
Stz’uminus Master Carver John Marston embarks on a journey to revitalize the traditional art of canoe carving in his community. This film chronicles John's creative decisions on the “Thunderbird and Killer Whale” canoe and its journey to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, where it is now on permanent display.
FRIDAY MAY 9 \ 7PM
FIGHT! NIGHT
Venue: The FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
250 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M2


DRAMA
FIGHT!
FROM JARICO FILMS FOR YOUTH
A struggling writer pens a best seller about a single mother struggling to support her family by getting caught up in the world of underground bare knuckle fighting while her 14 year old adopted daughter searches for her estranged mother. Starring: Erica Sherwood Jennifer Farrugia Jeff Mallysh Gabriella McAlpine Eve Russell-Cochrane

SATURDAY MAY 10 \ 3PM
FOR THE LOVE OF FILM PANEL DISCUSSION
NOTE THE TIME CHANGE: THE PANEL IS NOW AT 3PM RIGHT BEFORE THE AFTERNOON SHORT FILM SCREENING BLOCK.
From passion projects to creative communities, this panel dives into the heart behind the hustle—why we tell stories, and who we tell them with. Hosted by the FilmHouse Youth Film Club, featuring special guests including: Adam Jack (Jackknife, A Farewell to Youth), Brooklynn Prince (Florida Project, Cocaine Bear) and Lucian E Austin (Pretend).
Venue: The FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
250 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M2
SATURDAY MAY 10 \ 3PM
SHORT FILMS FROM CANADA & THE WORLD
Venue: The FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
250 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M2
CANADA / NIAGARA

DRAMA / ROMANCE / LGBTQ+
PROMISES
Kayla Neves
During a heated argument, Lexi tries to get Auden to remember all of the highlights of their‚ relationship‚ in order to distract her from Lexi's hidden truth. Auden gets sick of Lexi's attempts and blows up, revealing why their argument occurred in the first place.
SATURDAY MAY 10 \ 7PM
SHORT FILMS FROM CANADA & THE WORLD
Venue: The FilmHouse at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
250 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON L2R 3M2
USA

DRAMA / COMEDY
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Brooklynn Prince
The holidays can be torture, or maybe even murder! On Thanksgiving a fight about orange juice leads to the shocking murder of a member of the Evan's family. Happy Thanksgiving explores generational issues pressing the boundaries of how we think, unspoken love, unearths a murderer, and reminds us that at the end of the day, family can put the FUN in dysFUNctional!
CANADA

Documentary
BUTTERFLIES
Zav Jenabian
A celebration of love and resilience, Butterflies follows Quinn and Josh, who met in their high school special education program. They reflect on their prom night which turned a mother's fears into a moment of triumph. Through heartfelt stories and reflections, this short documentary challenges perceptions of disability, demonstrating that love knows no boundaries and those little moments of joy are always worth celebrating.
UNITED KINGDOM

DRAMA / THRILLER / COMEDY
HOLLYWOOD NIGHTS
Liam Sanderson
Nick Hollywood is a young school boy who works at his Uncle's video shop. He pirates the tapes and sells them at school to staff and fellow pupils.
When one of his customers turns up dead and another disappears. Nick finds himself at the centre of a murder mystery with a starring role.
CANADA / NIAGARA

THRILLER
THE PERFECT PICTURE
Jayde Sobota
Melissa, a young artist, longs for the perfect partner. She uses paint as an outlet to express her loneliness and defeat until it one day turns to lust... Jake matches with Melissa on a dating app and she doesn't look back. Her days of crying into her canvases are long gone as she channels her artistic skills into the love she feels for her "new man". Melissa's innocent and hopeful intentions can only go so far as her obsessive nature takes over.
CANADA / OAKVILLE

DOCUMENTARY
A-OKAY
J FITZPATRICK
Sex. Something that is part of human nature. Everyone does it and strives to have their happily ever after… Right?
In a society where intimacy and romance are constantly everywhere, someone breaks from the mould after years of self-discovery. They send a letter to their past self full of their experiences and lessons learned, in the form of a short documentary. A-Okay brings attention to the hyper-sexualized and romanticized society we live in and how it’s expectations, stigmas, and stereotypes can be harmful to individuals on the aromantic and asexual spectrums.
CANADA / MONTREAL

DRAMA / THRILLER
IT TAKES TWO
Éric Arsenault
Estranged friends Ethan and Skyler couldn't be more different‚ Ethan, a weary office worker, and Skyler, a reckless rebel. When a shared secret from their past resurfaces, they reunite to cover their tracks, embarking on a journey that is as much about necessity as it is about rediscovery. As old bonds reignite, their friendship is tested in ways they never expected.
SUNDAY MAY 11 / 11AM

HANDMADE FILMMAKING WORKSHOP
Venue: NAC STUDIO SHOP
433 St. Paul Street St. Catharines, ON L2R 3N2
Join us for a hands-on small gauge motion picture film workshop! Dive into cameraless avant-garde techniques like direct animation and film scratching, creating frame-by-frame art without a camera. Together, we’ll explore the expansive possibilities of experimental filmmaking, while gaining a deeper understanding of analog film technology.
All materials included. Only 8 Spots Available.
Workshop Fee: $5, register below!
SUNDAY MAY 11 / 3PM

Black Frame Studios Tour
Venue: BLACK FRAME STUDIOS
112 Hartzel Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2P 1N6, Canada
Go behind the scenes at one of Niagara’s most exciting new production spaces! Join us for a guided tour of Black Frame Studios, a full-service film and photography facility equipped for everything from indie shoots to commercial productions.
You’ll get an inside look at the gear, spaces, and resources available to creators in the region — and hear directly from the team behind the studio about their work supporting local talent and building a creative hub in Niagara.
Whether you're a filmmaker, photographer, or just curious about how the magic gets made, this is a great opportunity to see where stories come to life.
Free to all Festival Ticket Holders
