2026 MINI-FEST/
FRIDAY APRIL 3/
'EYE ON OHIO' PROGRAMMING SLATE
ALL OHIO PREMIERES. ALL OHIO FILMS & FILMMAKERS
UNION COUNTY (OHIO PREMIERE)
Drama | 97 Minutes
Directed by Adam Meeks
FRIDAY APRIL 3 @ 3:30PM
Little Art Theatre, Yellow Springs Ohio​
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Assigned to a county-mandated drug court program, Cody Parsons embarks on the tenuous journey toward recovery amid the opioid epidemic in rural Ohio. Director Adam Meeks stays close to home in his debut feature, setting this recovery story in his hometown. His roots plunge this film to a subterranean depth, operating with an authenticity that gives great dignity to this portrait of a community engaged in profound struggle. Lending gravitas to the cyclical patterns of recovery brings the audience into the quietude and frankness of the battleground with addiction, illuminating the triumphs and failures that unfold daily in the fight to stay alive and the even more audacious struggle to live fully. This groundedness is supported by incredibly deft performances by Will Poulter (Glassland, 2015 Sundance Film Festival) and Noah Centineo. The leads embedded themselves in the community they portray for months and are joined on screen by local nonactors — a uniquely honest approach that lays bare consummately intimate truths. WORLD PREMIERE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.​​
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THE BULLDOGS (OHIO PREMIERE)
+ Q&A with Director Noah Dixon
Documentary | 84 Minutes
Directed by Ori Segev & Noah Dixon
FRIDAY APRIL 3 @ 5:45PM
Little Art Theatre, Yellow Springs Ohio​
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On February 3rd, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in the village of East Palestine, Ohio, leading to the release and burn of 1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate. In the weeks that followed, the community found itself thrust into a media whirlwind. Overnight, the town faced a maelstrom of uncertainty and controversy, raising questions about safety, corporate responsibility, and the economic future of an already strained community. The Bulldogs picks up as the news cameras leave, and residents resume their lives in the aftermath of the derailment. From a chiropractor-turned-activist, to the leader of an elderly dance group, The Bulldogs paints a rich and nuanced picture of a tight-knit community in crisis.​ WORLD PREMIERE SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.
FREELANCE (OHIO PREMIERE)
+ Q&A with Directors Julien & Justen Turner
Episodic | 41 Minutes
Directed by Julien & Justen Turner
FRIDAY APRIL 3 @ 8:30PM
Little Art Theatre, Yellow Springs Ohio​
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A young filmmaker documents his journey toward his first movie as he moves in with a friend group of ambitious creatives, all trying to support one another’s dreams in an oversaturated market. This inexperienced crew of 20-somethings takes on unorthodox jobs to build their brand and pay rent. WORLD PREMIERE SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL.
SATURDAY APRIL 4/
SANDRA BERNHARD
IN-CONVERSATION
+ MEET AND GREET
SATURDAY APRIL 4 @ 7PM
The Brightside, Dayton, OH​
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Join us for a moderated conversation, Q&A + meet and greet with Sandra Bernhard who will be discussing her exceptional career in film, comedy and TV. Sandra Bernhard has been a performer, actress, singer, and author for nearly five decades. She defies categorization. Past television credits include American Horror Story and the Emmy Award winning POSE, Broad City, Difficult People, 2 Broke Girls, Brooklyn 99, You’re the Worst, Will & Grace, The Sopranos, and Roseanne. Bernhard’s most notable film credit in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy opposite Robert De Niro, won her Best Supporting Actress by the National Society of Film Critics. She is also currently cast to film Season 4 of The White Lotus. Bernhard gained attention in the late ‘70s with her stand-up comedy and continues today with live stage performances throughout the U.S. and overseas. A pioneer of the one-woman show, Bernhard brings a completely unique and raucous mix of cabaret, stand-up, rock-n-roll, and social commentary. PRESENTED BY YSFF & THE BERRY FAMILY FOUNDATION
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