A Major General in the British Military reflects on his career, memories, and decisions.

This film explores ideas of humanity, human emotion, and the reality of coping with deadly decisions. Through reflection we see how the past can catch up with the present in everyday life. Some experiences you never leave behind.

Diego, a Mexican line cook living out of his car in Los Angeles, whose fragile routine begins to unravel when his employer cuts his hours just as his young daughter’s medical bills mount back home.

Exhausted, injured, and desperate, he contemplates a robbery that forces him to confront the cost of survival in a city that offers little margin for failure.

A teenage girl can't tell the difference between dreams and reality while trying to cope with a recent tragedy.

A despondent young woman discovers blissful detachment after she chooses to become a vampire, only to discover that her new clutch is being hunted by their primeval, nihilistic ancestor.

Animated by two-time Oscar® nominee Bill Plympton. A kind, silently grieving man volunteers at a school where he meets a third-grade boy who hasn't spoken all year. As the boy begins to trust the volunteer, will he summon the courage to utter the one word that might lift the weight of the world off his tiny shoulders?

As we all might soon discover, some of the deepest conversations can start with a single word.

"Whale 52 is a thrillingly original creation...its final revelation took my breath away."
- Sir Ian McKellen

Pete (lead singer of No More Kings) uses a DeLorean Time Machine to try to restore the correct timeline after he awakens in Hill Valley to find his band’s future has been rewritten.

This official music video for the song “1.21 Gigawatts” by No More Kings is our love letter to the beloved Back to the Future franchise.

In the spirit of their previous breakout hit video (Sweep The Leg), this narrative-driven production is an homage to all three movies and the Back to the Future: The Ride at Universal Studios theme parks.

On the eve of her first major Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament, former supermodel Monika "Jac" Jagaciak, once the face of global fashion, reveals her extraordinary transformation as she trades runways for grappling mats, confronting her past and reclaiming her life through the discipline of combat sport.

Each Morning, Guy, the newly hired Manager of THE WORK PLACE, comes to work and finds a voice mail from "Kev" explaining why he can't come into work that day.

What "Kev" doesn't know is... he was fired three years ago!

During a weekend getaway in the desert, Kira, a young woman haunted by social anxiety and alienation, struggles to fit in with a group of strangers.

As night falls over their Airbnb, an eerie presence begins to reveal itself-blurring the line between paranoia and reality. In the vast isolation of Joshua Tree, friendship fractures, trust erodes, and an unseen terror preys on those who dismiss what they cannot understand.

Martha, a housewife, arrives at community college for her first evening class in psychology.

As the sun sets, she's joined by Rick, a friendly younger student. They wait for their instructor, growing increasingly certain that no one else is coming. When Martha decides to leave, what seemed like a scheduling error reveals itself as something far more calculated - and the empty classroom becomes a trap with no escape.

RED CARPET PRESS PHOTO EVENT: 2:30pm to 5:00pm

Join our HRIFF Award Winners, Celebrity Guests, and fans of independent cinema at our Red Carpet Photo Press Event.

Press, Media Photographers including Getty and Wire Image, as well as our own staff, and any festival-approved (and officially approved) paparazzi will all be on hand at our HRIFF Red Carpet Press Photo Event.

Line-Up begins at 2:15pm.
Photos taken from 2:30pm until 5:00pm.

Festival filmmakers and attendees may show up anytime between 2:15pm until 4:45pm on Sat. March 7th to line up for the Red Carpet Photography.

This event will be the only Red Carpet Step and Repeat photo event of the festival. Additional, smaller Photo Backdrop areas, will be available sporadically throughout other days of the festival, for self-taken photos.

Red Carpet Event: 2:30pm-5:00pm
Line-Up begins at: 2:15pm
L.A. LIVE Location: To Be Announced

Written by and starring autistic actress Bella Zoe Martinez, the film follows 14-year-old Zoe as she navigates a frustrating series of auditions for autistic roles—only to be told again and again that she’s “not autistic enough.”

A dark comedy thriller about an everyday woman who falls into the dark underbelly of scammers and con artists.

Armed with a band of eccentric allies she's on a quest for vengeance while desperately trying to conceal her own secrets.

In this love letter to the beautiful mess of making theater, a well-meaning, high-strung director steers his company through a hectic final rehearsal full of fragile egos, toilet emergencies, and a Cockney clowning interlude.

With Chandra from TheTheatreLadyBlog.com set to critique their efforts, this ramshackle, lovable bunch must hold tight to the core of their art: each other.

How is the world affected by a catastrophic event?

Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic. Lead virologist Edward Bellows races to find a cure to the NIX virus as the world collapses under the weight of this worldwide horror.

Meanwhile, roommates Britt and Marnie, and Matt and Cathy, a couple separated between continents, must all deal with these newfound realities.

New York City, 1991. After a young protester is beaten for trying to carry a gay rights sign in the St. Patrick’s Day parade, he takes refuge inside an all-night diner and gets some sage advice from an old Irish waitress.

In the unforgiving world of the American Southwest at the turn of the 20th Century, two fiercely bonded sisters play a high stakes game of Texas hold 'em.

Cards aren't the only thing on the table, as the sisters hunt justice outside the law. A brutal act of vengeance forces the sisters to confront the cost of survival, trust, and blood-soaked retribution.

What would you do, and who would you become, …if someone threatened the life of a loved one?

Sally dreamed of finding hidden treasure. What she found was more than she bargained for.

This film about a theater troupe draws crowds to afternoon performances across the country. While the audience comes for the entertainment, they never see the real show.

Haunted by the past and bound by a deal made long ago, the actors convince themselves they’re serving justice in this film written and produced by Alex Feldman and directed by Jacob Strunk.

This is a cinematic, narrative-driven music video structured as a short film, and set in the Icelandic mountains.

The story explores betrayal and the speed at which people try to escape the consequences of their own choices. Action is used as a storytelling tool rather than spectacle, expressing emotional pressure and moral consequence, as the film unfolds through music, movement, and visual storytelling.

In this series pilot, even on the quietest streets, one can find a certain level of excitement, "Round the Corner".

Laurie Vandemar hosts a reality television show called 'Round the Corner' when she comes upon Cynthia Oxford and Vanessa the Contessa, two homeowners who live right next to each other.

Of course, they hate each other, in this humorous take on dealing with a zombie pandemic and what these competing homeowners go through in their daily lives, sometimes involving “cats” and a “chef” son.

After galactic invaders take humanity prisoner, three escapees take shelter on the run, and vie for the power of a mysterious stone - that can bring the dead back to life.

A psychological thriller about the relationship between the Self, Ego, and Inner Child.

Trapped in a relentless loop within his mind by his overprotective alter ego, Jon must break free or risk being lost to his subconscious forever. As memory, reality, and imagination collide, he is forced to face what he’s been running from his whole life in order to heal.

This film explores identity, trauma, and the parts of ourselves we try to outrun.

HRIFF Short Film Award Ceremony is a star-studded event not to be missed on Saturday, March 7th 2026!

Cheer on your favorite filmmakers both emerging & legendary, and get ready to be surprised, as this event always has few unexpected celebrity guests!

Pierce Brosnan, Joe Mantegna, Gary Cole, Dominic Purcell, Frances Fisher, Tyler Blackburn, John Robinson, Lee Meriwether, Dee Wallace, Uwe Boll, (as well as friends no longer with us that includes Martin Landau, John Heard, the wonderful Joe Polito, and the legendary Harry Dean Stanton being just a few of the fantastic icons who have stopped by over the years.

Join the celebration to find out who is stopping by our Award Ceremony stage this year.

Ceremony Line-Up Begins at: 5:30pm.
Doors open for seating at: 5:45pm.
The ceremony begins promptly at: 6:00pm.
No Late Entry allowed after: 6:05pm.

This year the festival will be holding two ceremonies both held on Saturday, March 7th, so make sure to buy the correct ticket - as each ceremony will sell out!

Award Ceremony II - HRIFF Short Film Awards at 5:45pm
& Award Ceremony I - HRIFF Feature Film Awards at 7:15pm

No Entry Allowed without a commemorative Award Ceremony physical ticket. All other passes or tickets NOT valid for entry to this event.

Tickets for award ceremonies sell out quickly - get your tickets today!

An inspiring story of perseverance, resilience and hope, MORE THAN SANTA BABY honors the prolific artistic legacy of “Santa Baby” composer Philip Springer.

His journey over 80 years in worldwide music history reveals a creative lifetime well beyond his renowned Christmas song, proving “it is never too late”.

By fusing narrative, sound, and emotion, BROKEN transcends traditional storytelling, offering a multi-layered, immersive exploration of grief, survival, and resilience.

Cynthia listens to walls because the foundation of her mind has deteriorated; leaving her grasping for meaning. Her perspective is often blurred; a visual manifestation of her intoxication and of her fractured reality.

“I’m Still Here”—written, performed, and co-composed by Aaron Braxton, weaves seamlessly into the film’s stormy soundscape of thunder and rain, serving as both a haunting expression of Brandon’s enduring love for his mother and a reflection of Cynthia’s fragile grip on reality.

Her hallucinations are not just illusions; they are the body’s desperate attempt at survival.

Three people have been brought together by nothing short of fate, after being thrown into a post apocalyptic age as children.

Our trio is left with little understanding of basic human emotions, such as love. He watches the love story of Jane & Bodhi unfold in front of him, fascinated by the purity and magnitude of it all.

Darren is a seasoned boxer known for his power and resilience inside the ring, as he prepares for what appears to be another defining challenge, he wrestles with doubt and fear, while being guided by the steady support of his longtime coach.

This story reminds us that courage often shows up in unexpected places.

Looking to unwind after a brutal deployment, Juniper visits her best friend Scarlett in Humboldt County, a relaxing and peaceful area, and normally a good time.

Juniper arrives and everything seems to be as promised, except one thing - Scarlett is nowhere to be found. Instead, Juniper is confronted by a strange man who claims to be Scarlett’s friend. Her search for the truth quickly takes a dark turn, as she is dragged into a dangerous web of deceit, driven by the multi-billion dollar marijuana industry.

In a town where nothing is as it seems, how do you find people who don’t want to be found and how do you save the people who do?

The HRIFF Feature Film Award Ceremony is a star-studded event not to be missed held on Saturday, March 7th!

Cheer on your favorite filmmakers both emerging & legendary, and get ready to be surprised, as this event always has few unexpected celebrity guests!

Pierce Brosnan, Joe Mantegna, Gary Cole, Dominic Purcell, Frances Fisher, Tyler Blackburn, John Robinson, Lee Meriwether, Dee Wallace, Uwe Boll, (as well as friends no longer with us that includes Martin Landau, John Heard, the wonderful Joe Polito, and the legendary Harry Dean Stanton being just a few of the fantastic icons who have stopped by over the years.

Join the celebration this year to find out who may be stopping by our Award Ceremony stage this time!

Ceremony Line-Up Begins at: 7:00pm.
Doors open for seating at: 7:15pm.
The ceremony begins promptly at: 7:20pm.
No Late Entry allowed after: 7:30pm.

Make sure to attend the correct ceremony, as this year the festival will be holding two ceremonies on Saturday, March 7th 2026:

HRIFF Award Ceremony I - Feature Film Awards at 7:15pm & HRIFF Award Ceremony II - Short Film Awards at 5:45pm Make sure to buy the correct ticket - as each ceremony will sell out!

No Entry Allowed without a commemorative Award Ceremony physical ticket. All other passes or tickets NOT valid for entry to this event.

Tickets for HRIFF Award Ceremonies sell out quickly, so make sure and get your tickets today!

It's a time before cell phones, when music plays on the radio.

In New York City for Model UN, reserved high school senior Henry and his best friend Max learn that they’ll be attending different colleges in the fall, but avoid confronting an uncertain future.

When Henry returns to his hotel room with Lucy, a girl he meets at the conference, their clumsy attempts to hook up are interrupted. Instead, they spend a night bonding over shared vulnerabilities as they explore youthful questions of intimacy, friendship, and masculinity.

An understated coming of age drama about the fleeting connections we make, which last a lifetime.

After a blacked out night of drinking, two lifelong friends and struggling actors wake up and realize they raised 22 thousand dollars falsely claiming they had the Coronavirus, and now must go to extreme lengths in order to obtain the virus and collect their cash.

When a landlady dies mysteriously on an apartment rooftop, it’s up to private investigator Scott Cooper to find her killer in this mystery drama.

When Cooper makes the unorthodox decision to live in the apartment building where she was murdered, tensions rise as a cat-and-mouse game ensues between Cooper and the killer. Against all odds, the detective won’t give up until he’s found the culprit.

In this building, everyone has secrets, and anyone could be the murderer.

Dylan is making a documentary about mankind's beliefs in government conspiracies, alien existence and our place in the universe, when he is hired to film a music video for a mysterious band called ESP.

He stumbles onto another level of reality after the music subliminally alters him. Guided by angelic beings, he frantically begins work on a new feature film project called "Dark Alien Visions" and completes the screenplay as if taking dictation.

As the angels become more involved with Dylan, they reveal disturbing news, which makes him doubt his sanity. There are numerous other interested entities, all with their own dangerous agendas for planet Earth.

Can Dylan choose the right allies and alter Earth's destiny?

After seeing celebrities on the Red Carpet and purchasing tickets to see filmmakers honored at the HRIFF Award Ceremonies - make sure not to forget to purchase tickets to the biggest and best social event of the season, the Award Night Gala After-Party!

Socialize with fellow festival attendees and meet your favorite festival filmmakers while drinking, eating, exclusive, private nightlife setting where you can chill out and have fun after a long day of film viewing and a busy evening of celebrity sightseeing. Who can say what stars may come to party and rub elbows with you?

Don't miss the biggest nighttime party extravaganza of the festival! Come and join us for our BIGGEST and WILDEST party celebration yet!

This year the Award Night After-Party is taking place at a new, secret location. The party starts just a few hours after the Award Ceremony.

All Party Events take place at (or within walking distance of) L.A. LIVE - where most of this year's festival fi lm screenings take place.

Purchase an HRIFF All-Party Ticket Package today and check out all of our party events, and make sure to get your Award Night After-Party ticket soon - as this event will sell out!

Award Night After-Party: Sat. March 7th
9:30pm-Midnight | Line begins at 9:15pm | Doors at 9:30pm
Ticket Required For Entry.
21 & up. No Minors.
Venue To Be Announced