Annual Awards 2026 | Program 6 โ€” Love & Other Complications: Romance, Longing & Desire

12:40 PM โ€“ 2:25 PM ยท Cinema 9 ยท ๐ŸŸก 13+

โ† PROGRAM 5: GROWING UP | PROGRAM 7: INNER WORLDS โ†’

Strolling Down Brighton Pier

Kenny McCracken ยท UK

A young Edwardian photographer becomes captivated by a woman he sees each day on Brighton Pier. When he finally finds the courage to approach her, he discovers there is someone else in the picture.

04:58

Max Distance

Marissa Goldman ยท USA

Stuck in all day Zoom meetings, a programmer daydreams about the stranger next doorโ€”until she finally gets a chance at love.

15:47

The High King’s Daughter

 Joรซl Gibbs ยท Ireland

Ruairรญ, a young stable boy in the Irish royal household, falls for the spirited High Kingโ€™s Daughter as their childhood friendship grows into love. But when the High King discovers their bond, he devises a plan to keep them apart forever.

05:08

Twist

Lilian Baculard ยท France
North America Premiere

A few days after meeting at a party, Maya visits William at the diner where he works. Over ice cream, the two retrace the night they met, revisiting the moments that first brought them together.

14:56

Don’t Call Me Anymore

Denis Chereukho ยท Russia
North America Premiere

On her birthday, Galya spirals into an emotional breakdown while waiting for her ex, Pasha. When their volatile reunion reveals that he has another woman in his life, Galya is forced to confront the destructive cycle between them and decide whether she can finally break free.

19:32

Kukuk: A Romani Soul Unbroken

Yonka Yancheva ยท Bulgaria

In a Roma neighborhood in Bulgaria, 18-year-old Kukuk dreams of leaving poverty and prejudice behind after graduation. But when a feared local man becomes obsessed with her, her future is thrown into turmoil. With humor, absurdity, and chaotic energy, the film follows her struggle for freedom, resilience, and hope.

24:49

Notice Me

Amy Leonard ยท UK
Los Angeles Premiere

Freshly fired and starting over in East London, awkward newcomer Em becomes instantly captivated by her impossibly cool neighbor, AJ. As she dives into Hackneyโ€™s LGBTQ+ community and a string of chaotic attempts to impress her, Em begins to discover that belongingโ€”and romanceโ€”may depend on simply being herself.

18:49

Total runtime: 1:43:59

โ† PROGRAM 5: GROWING UP | PROGRAM 7: INNER WORLDS โ†’

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