UnLonely Film Festival 7

Welcome to the 7th UnLonely Film Festival!

Here, you’ll find a collection of 30 powerful short films that bring diverse perspectives on loneliness. We invite you to watch, share, and discuss this curated collection as an unlonely step towards connection.

Choose A Film By Category

This year’s collection of films focus on themes across five overlapping “Territories of Loneliness.” Our experiences with Trauma, Aging, Illness, Difference, and Modernity shape our sense of belonging in the world. When we find ways to connect with ourselves and others, we find strength in the face of challenging circumstances.

Learn more about the territories below, and explore the films that bring these diverse experiences to life.

Trauma

Trauma can lead us to self-isolate and create a smaller world for ourselves in an effort to protect our mind and body. These films showcase the resilience and healing of survivors, through stories of connection.

After (A Love Story)

A married couple survives a traumatic event - but their relationship might not. 14:19 mins.

A Ghost Story

A World War II veteran on his deathbed tells a hospice worker about his ghost. 16:45 mins.

On the Ride

On his morning bike ride, a man grapples with the memories of a traumatic event. 13:23 mins.

A Field Guide to Losing Your Friends

When Tyler Dunning’s best friend is killed in a terrorist attack, he decides to visit all the U.S. national parks. 14:05 mins.

The Lonely Store

After a tragic loss, Maggie helps Jack move forward as she struggles to overcome her own suppressed grief. 14.58 mins.

Into the Circle

"Into the Circle" tells the story of a resilient Indigenous family, their journey through life-altering tragedy, and the community that helped them reconnect with their Lakota heritage. 17:25 mins.

The Moment

A story about an artist who learns about the importance of the things unseen as she gets to draw a stranger’s portrait. 2:29 mins.

Illness

Physical or mental illness can isolate us and make it harder to relate to others. Stories about navigating illness inspire compassion and understanding by normalizing a common human experience.

Bechora

Maya comes to learn that caring for her brother has always been a matter of her own volition, unlike before when she believed it was a burden imposed on her. 8 mins.

The Moment

A story about an artist who learns about the importance of the things unseen as she gets to draw a stranger’s portrait. 2:29 mins.

Begone Love

Mr. Zhao finds a cure for his Alzheimer's partner. 4:46 mins

The Caretaker

A short film about the relationship between an immigrant caretaker and an elderly woman in the last months of her life. 7:08 mins.

Who’s Paisley? (An Expression of Love)

A young, spiraling manic songwriter confronts herself and her conscience-stricken Vietnam veteran father. 17:28 mins.

A Ghost Story

A World War II veteran on his deathbed tells a hospice worker about his ghost. 16:45 mins.

Aging

Getting older can have many positive benefits, but it can also lead to challenges, including feelings of loneliness. In these short films, people are finding unique ways to connect with themselves and others as they age.

Out There, In Here

A story of a woman and her loss. 7:01 mins.

Wendy’s Shabbat

Shabbat is typically observed at home with family, but here these seniors share in the celebration at a fast-food Wendy’s. 9:54 mins.

A Poem by Alba

An elderly woman, Alba, faces loneliness and independence as she grapples with how to deal with her illness on her own terms. 5:37 mins

Pier 35

A senior Asian dancer from Chinatown lives her life with humor and lightness, even as loneliness and old age catch up with her.

The Caretaker

A short film about the relationship between an immigrant caretaker and an elderly woman in the last months of her life. 7:08 mins.

Begone Love

Mr. Zhao finds a cure for his Alzheimer's partner. 4:46 mins

The Simple Path

An elder care nurse struggles emotionally when one of her long-term elderly female patients no longer has the financial ability to support the costs associated with the care facility for which she works. 16:06 mins.

When Day is Done

A sojourn into the memories of a life shared, this film is a portrait of a grandmother’s recollection of her late husband. 5:06 mins.

Difference

The experience of feeling different, of not belonging, of not being part of a group– can lead to loneliness. The characters in these films are searching for a sense of belonging, finding their community, or discovering ways to connect to their identity.

Prosopagnosia

An animator’s experience of Prosopagnosia is explored through the contents of a memory box. 10:14 mins.

Life in the Between

Sarruh, a six-year-old in biracial limbo, looks to her father and sisters to piece together where she belongs in the U.S. 8:34 mins.

Frankie

Frankie, a non-binary trans person, crashes their ex-partner’s men-only 12-step meeting, determined to be heard... no matter the cost. 10:30 mins.

RESIST: The Resistance Revival Chorus

In the midst of a country divided, a diverse group of women and non-binary individuals unite through the historic power of music to create a movement ignited by song. 19:33 mins.

Shipwreck

A lyrical portrait of a young Black girl navigating grief, loss and sense of identity while living in a transracial adoptive family. 9:53 mins

The Coronation

A young boy sneaks out from his parents’ home in New Jersey to see his drag queen friends in New York City. 12:59 mins.

A Real Job

13-year-old Mia just wants to fit in and walk home with the cool girls at school, but with ICE Raids taking over her neighborhood, she is stuck walking home with her paranoid mother. 10:03 mins.

Where Has Sam’s Shadow Gone?

Sam and his faithful dog Duke go on an amazing adventure to try to find Sam's shadow. 5:15 mins.

Out In Alabama

A captivating journey into the lives of LGBTQ+ members in Birmingham, Alabama–and a celebration of the friendships formed within Pride events. 13:07 mins.

Grizz

After a young boy's father passes away, his gift to his son comforts and looks after him in his father's absence. 4:48 mins.

Into the Circle

"Into the Circle" tells the story of a resilient Indigenous family, their journey through life-altering tragedy, and the community that helped them reconnect with their Lakota heritage. 17:25 mins.

Ari

After a humiliating quest to become someone else, Ari finds that he is of surprising value. 9:27 mins.

Modernity

Our world is at once highly-connected and uniquely disconnected. The films in this category explore the ways we interact with one another– and find community– in our modern world.

The Lonely Orbit

Leaving for his dream job, a satellite technician keeps solitude at bay by constantly texting with his old friends. After neglecting his duties a satellite leaves its orbit which causes the worlds network to collapse. 9:22

Wendy’s Shabbat

Shabbat is typically observed at home with family, but here these seniors share in the celebration at a fast-food Wendy’s. 9:54 mins.

Into the Circle

"Into the Circle" tells the story of a resilient Indigenous family, their journey through life-altering tragedy, and the community that helped them reconnect with their Lakota heritage. 17:25 mins.

RESIST: The Resistance Revival Chorus

In the midst of a country divided, a diverse group of women and non-binary individuals unite through the historic power of music to create a movement ignited by song. 19:33 mins.

Shipwreck

A lyrical portrait of a young Black girl navigating grief, loss and sense of identity while living in a transracial adoptive family. 9:53 mins

A Ghost Story

A World War II veteran on his deathbed tells a hospice worker about his ghost. 16:45 mins.

Host Your Own Film Screening!

Watching a film together can be a great way to build connection with your friends, family, or in your community. Our films are screened nationwide in workplaces and on college campuses! Click here to learn more about film programs!

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Inspire Connections

Interested in film screenings for your organization? Click here!

Join Our Film Club!

The Foundation for Art and Healing’s Project UnLonely promotes opportunities for connection using creativity and the arts. To stay in the loop, sign up for the free Film Club, and every Friday you’ll get our Featured Film delivered right to your inbox. We’d love to stay in touch!

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About Project UnLonely

In response to the growing public health concern of social isolation and loneliness, the Foundation for Art & Healing launched Project UnLonely in 2016. This signature initiative is focused on creating awareness of how prevalent the issue is, helping to reduce the stigma associated with it, and offering creative solutions for connecting with others. One of our most popular channels for doing this is our annual UnLonely Film Festival. With over 100 films available for free viewing year-round, we help the public empathize with themselves and others by sharing diverse perspectives and situations. Through these resonant, evocative videos we are able to raise awareness of loneliness, increase understanding of the challenges it presents, and remind viewers that they are not alone.