CAA Unveils 2025 Moebius Film Festival Lineup

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The College Art Association (CAA) is planning for the 10th annual CAA Moebius Film Festival, which will be a two-day event featuring films by graduate student filmmakers, to happen on May 28-29, 2025.

In celebration of its 10-year milestone, this year’s festival showcases the most diverse array of film programs yet, featuring graduate student films from an expanding roster of prestigious institutions. For the initial time, Columbia University is part of a lineup that encompasses returning schools like Chapman University, the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory, New York University (NYU), England’s National Film and Television School (NFTS), and CalArts, among others.

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This year marks the 10th anniversary of our festival and we are presenting a wider variety of film programs than ever before, with student films from an increasing number of esteemed institutions. For the very first time, Columbia University has joined our roster alongside returning schools such as Chapman University, the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory, New York University (NYU), England’s National Film and Television School (NFTS), and CalArts, among others.

The upcoming Moebius Film Festival will highlight ten exceptional short films chosen from over 170 submissions, featuring a mix of live-action and animated pieces. This year’s selection focuses on various topics such as personal growth, growing up, and family ties, with genres ranging from drama, comedy, to horror. The festival aims to promote cultural and artistic diversity by presenting these diverse themes.

Moebius, established in 2015, has gained respect as a stepping stone for aspiring filmmakers, providing early visibility that has kick-started many successful careers. Notable examples include Felipe Vargas, whose short “Rosario,” a supernatural story based on Latin American folklore, was selected by Moebius and paved the way for a feature adaptation that received praise on the global festival circuit. Similarly, Oran Zegman’s short “Marriage Material” was screened at Moebius before her debut feature “Honor Society,” starring Angourie Rice and Gaten Matarazzo, premiered on Paramount+. The festival has also nurtured talents like Max Barbakow, who made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed “Palm Springs” and recently directed “Brothers” for Legendary, featuring Glenn Close, Peter Dinklage, and Josh Brolin.

The idea for Moebius was originally developed by trainees Christina Chou, Zach Kaplan, and Pete Stein, who are now agents at CAA Motion Picture. Alongside Lingie Park, they have structured Moebius under the leadership of a youthful team within the agency, consisting of Odessa Chiklis, Olivia Guevara, Sidney Jaet, Brendan Kim, Jessica Lee, Cameron Mendez, Jack Spencer, Saundarya Thapa, Lex Torrington, Jordyn Walker, and Nick Wnuk.

Celebrating our tenth anniversary, Moebius Film Festival is a testament to the potential and creativity flourishing among new filmmakers,” stated Chou, Kaplan, and Stein collectively. “Over the years, the festival has expanded in size and ambition, showcasing an international assortment of innovative concepts, unique perspectives, and captivating visual storytelling. We take great pride in offering a stage for the up-and-coming generation of filmmakers to be discovered and applauded.

Moebius aligns with CAA’s broader mission of fostering inclusivity, collaboration, and a sense of belonging, not just within the agency, but also in the wider industry. Over the years, CAA has introduced several programs and initiatives to empower creators and executives from various backgrounds. One such initiative is the Full Story Initiative, which is an industry-driven project aimed at promoting more genuine storytelling in television and film. Another is CAA Amplify, a platform that links leaders from diverse fields like media, entertainment, sports, technology, and beyond, to discuss professional prospects, social impact projects, and collaborations designed to catalyze significant change in the realms of business and pop culture.

The 2025 Moebius programming line-up is as follows:

NIGHT 1 – WEDNESDAY, MAY 28TH

  • THE WRATH OF OTHELL-YO! directed by Kwesi Jones (NYU)
    • When the lead of an erotic Othello adaptation fails to get erect, a PA volunteers to double-in but discovers that rising to the occasion is harder than he thought.
  • GIRLS IN REAL LIFE SITUATIONS directed by Ofre Sparrow Vaknin (CalArts)
    • Sam, Lexi, and Jane spend the first day of eighth grade plotting a scheme to get the ultimate lunch table. Their plans unravel when Katy, a preppy sixth grade TikTok influencer, beats them to the coveted post.
  • BRUNO & ELENA directed by Javier Hirschler (Columbia)
    • On the last day of high school, Bruno finally manages to charm the girl of his dreams and invites her over to his house. But his mother, Elena, won’t stay in her room.
  • DANDELION directed by Fiona Obertinca (AFI)
    • In 1970s Los Angeles, rebellious queer teen Margaret gets thrown out of yet another foster placement and finds herself in the company of a mysterious social worker who is tasked with finding Margaret a new home before the break of dawn.
  • NERVOUS ENERGY directed by Eve Liu (NYU)
    • On the cusp of success/failure, two unhinged female filmmakers decide to break up with their boyfriends, and for once, make a bold decision with their lives.

NIGHT 2 – THURSDAY, MAY 29TH

  • FOLLOW ME WHEREVER I GO directed by Maxwell DeFalco (Chapman)
    • A deeply religious single mother is determined to start her life anew and will stop at nothing until she gets what she wants—her son’s best friend.
  • A VERY NORMAL-SEEMING MAN directed by Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty (NYU)
    • A man pitches movie ideas to his filmmaker son… all starring himself.
  • DAD SWAP directed by Ethan Mermelstein (Columbia)
    • Ethan Mermelstein’s dad is a dick, and he’s had enough. So, he swaps him out with his dad’s best friend/nemesis, Ron.
  • FAWN directed by Molly Mayhew (NFTS)
    • Following the sudden passing of her parents, Fawn is forced to return to a house she hasn’t called home in a very long time. As painful memories begin to seep through, Fawn is thrown onto the difficult path of reconnecting with a past she thought she had left behind.
  • TEEN MARY directed by Ali Rosenthal (AFI)
    • Mary is a teenage girl living in Nazareth in the year Zero (but speaking in modern dialogue). She’s a normal teen: horny. But when Mary gets knocked up by a hot, married shepherd and might get stoned to death for adultery, she and her gay best friend Joseph hatch a plan to save their lives. They’ll convince everybody that God made Mary pregnant—with the new Messiah.

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2025-05-21 21:47