Screening Details
Date: Friday - October 16, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Duration: 55:17 MINS
Venue: Plainfield Public Librrary
800 Park Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060
Block Description
The past lives within us—in the memories we cherish, the losses we carry, and the questions of identity and belonging that shape who we become. When grief unsettles our world or guilt challenges the stories we tell ourselves, we are called to confront truths we might rather leave unseen. These Opening Night films explore that fragile space between who we believe we are and what our experiences reveal, where nostalgia offers refuge, pride clouds accountability, and connection opens a path toward self-acceptance. Together, they invite us to consider the courage it takes to live with loss, answer for our choices, and embrace ourselves fully—even when the journey leaves us with more questions than answers.
Dir. Quilan Cue Arnold/ 10:00 minutes
Agui Luz, survivor of the Tower of Aeries collapse, seeks refuge from his survivor’s guilt at a mysterious clinic—only to find himself caught in a deeper test, one that may reveal a calling he’s spent years trying to escape.
Dir. Carlos Ramon Advincola Jr. / 3:51 minutes
A man, steeped in nostalgia, strolls along The Bronx River. As he progresses, he reminisces about cherished memories from days gone by.
Dir. Will McCormack & Michael Govier / 12:00 minutes
In the aftermath of tragedy, two grieving parents journey through an emotional void as they mourn the loss of a child.
Dir. Parker Croft / 12:30 minutes
Academy Award-nominee Abigail Breslin presents:
The Liars of Black Mountain Road.
When a couple runs over a stranger's dog, they compete for the moral high ground at any cost.
Dir. Maya Cameron-Gordon/ 17:36 minutes
Alexis, a 14-year-old biracial girl growing up in San Francisco in the early 2000's. When her black father relocates to Los Angeles, Alexis is left to grapple with her biracial identity while residing with her white mother and attending a predominantly white school. Struggling with popularity and a strong dislike for her natural hair, Alexis's life takes a transformative turn when she encounters seventeen-year-old “it girl” from Hunters Point—Precious. Hired by Alexis's mother to straighten her hair, Precious takes Alexis under her wing, exposing her to her social circle and neighborhood, while imparting lessons in confidence and self-assertion. With themes of identity, friendship, and self-empowerment at its core, 'What’chu Mixed With?' is a heartfelt portrayal of one girl's journey to embrace her biracial heritage and find her place in the world amidst the challenges of adolescence.