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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.

schedule

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 / TORONTO

DRAMA

DELIVERANCE

Hailey Hickens-Mcleod

Charlie writes an apology letter to Laurie Kain after her boyfriend ruins her painting during one of their painting lessons.

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.

USA

DRAMA / ROMANCE / SUPERNATURAL

PHANTOM HEART

Josephine Spanier

When a mischievous poltergeist escapes, a shy supernatural researcher must recapture it before it reveals the crush she harbors for her coworker.

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?

TAIWAN

ANIMATED

MORTAL FLAME

Rin Yu

It was not a blazing forest fire, but embers holding together only for survival...

The shot film is about a special relationship between two young girls. They tried to maintain their relationship and survive under inexpressible pressure.

CANADA

COMEDY

SCATTER BRAIN

Katie Elizabeth Solomon

The process of coming up with a film idea goes haywire.

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

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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

DRAMA

DRAMA

CLOUD.

Lucas Minosso Kulka

Two women lie beneath shifting clouds, weaving dreams of love and home. As whispered wishes dissolve into silence, reality blurs — leaving solitude, ephemeral hope, and the fragile line between dreams and truth.

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

USA

ANIMATED

INTO THE REDS TAIL

Alisdair Zhang

An abomination mimic creature enters the story of 'Little Red Riding Hood' and disguises itself as her, tricking the Big Bad Wolf into walking into a trap

PORTUGAL

DRAMA / COMEDY

IN THE BACKSTAGE

Rui Paulo Silva

A band lets the pressure of their first concert get the best of them.

CANADA / TORONTO

THRILLER / ACTION

PATIENT 45

Cohen Hulcoop

An escaped test subject with telekinetic powers fights to survive against relentless pursuers in a final bid for freedom.

CANADA / NIAGARA

DRAMA

THE HAPPINESS ACT

Katrina Gilbert-Bernard

A sorrowful clown, masking their emotions, embarks on a journey to rediscover joy. Along the way, they realize that in order to find true happiness, they must confront and overcome their grief.

CANADA / TORONTO

DRAMA / COMEDY

WET NOODLE

Julia Lalonde

13-year-old Evelyn longs for the attention of her class crush Justin. When she notices his fascination with their female teacher's bouncing chest, she determines that boobs are the key to his heart.

CANADA / MONTREAL

DRAMA

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Catherine Marois

Struggling with anxiety, a young woman opens up about her perception of human relationships.

FRANCE

DRAMA

ON THE PATHS AWAKENED

Axel Dahan

During WW2, under the German Occupation in France, Two French teenagers are recruited by the Resistance . They are going to face dangers and intimate conflicts on the paths for Freedom…

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.

CANADA / IRAN

DRAMA / WAR

THE STEAK

Kiarash Dadgar

A birthday party preparation is thrown into chaos by an awful event.

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 / WINDSOR

DRAMA

PLEASER

Olivia Patricia

When thrown an unwanted birthday celebration, Reese has to overcome their social anxiety.

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.

USA

DRAMA

FLOATING DAISIES

Craig Ienne Pedroza

As grief-stricken Charlie struggles to stay above her own demons, her dear friend Grace must fight to keep her friend from drowning before she sinks to a place of no return.

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.

CANADA / TORONTO

DRAMA

PRETEND

Lucian E Austin

Two Gen Z teens use their date as an attempt to escape reality.

CANADA / MONTREAL

THRILLER

YOUR FOREVER LOVER

Harrison DiCresce

A perfect couples' night - if only they were alone...

SUNDAY MAY 11 / 11AM

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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

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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

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SUNDAY NIGHT

5PM - SHORT FILMS FROM the 48 HOUR SHORT FILM CHALLENGE
7PM - AWARDS PRESENTATIONS
9PM - AFTER PARTY

Venue: Blackframe Studios

112 Hartzel Rd, St. Catharines, ON L2P 1N6

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