Adrian Hui’s Soyboy is a sharp, unsettling, and oddly tender short film that captures the alienation of a generation drowning in convenience. But what makes this surreal meditation on self-image and disconnection truly linger is the performance by Jack Johnstone as Killian, a performance that’s as raw as it is magnetic. Johnstone commands every frame. His Killian is a product of the algorithm: numb, curated, detached, yet there’s an aching vulnerability beneath his blank stare.

There’s a moment in Sign Your Name when Xavier Edwards’ character, Artist X, quietly mutters, “I’m evolving as an artist.” It’s a telling line that not only defines his character’s arc but mirrors the film itself, a personal, often intimate short about change, artistic freedom, and staying true to oneself in the face of industry pressure. Inspired by the journey of real-life musical icon Sananda Maitreya, Sign Your Name tells the story of Artist X, a breakout R&B star struggling to break free from the formulaic expectations of his record label.

There are performances that portray adolescence, and then there are performances that embody it—raw, volatile, and terrifyingly real. Megan Osyen’s turn in Lottie is the latter: an unflinching, aching portrayal of a teenage girl teetering on the edge of reality. Under the delicate yet daring direction of Bella Rieth, Osyen delivers a performance so immersive it doesn’t feel like acting—it feels like confession.