This week we were afforded the opportunity to preview a few shorts from the upcoming New York City Independent Film Fest, which is set to take place in early May. We cannot speak to the quality of every film playing the event, but the following three titles captured our imagination in a way we felt compelled to share.

A Song For Your Mixtape is written and directed by Brandon Zuck. Zachary Kemper plays “The Boy” and has a hand in the story, which revolves around his character and what he’s been through. It tells a story of heartbreak, truth, and love. The short opens up with him walking into a party and making his way up to the roof where he finds Blair (Allison Scagliotti). The rooftop is where he tells the majority of his story and it’s one worth listening to. The narration falls a bit flat at times since it’s mostly told in a monotone voice, but the words themselves are powerful enough to set that aside. When the credits come around, the short puts up a message about the Trevor Project. This short won’t take up too much of your time, so give it a watch. The message more than makes it worth it. You can watch the short over on Vimeo.

What’re You Scared Of, Kid? takes a look at some kids and what their fears are. It’s a candid look at how a child’s brain works and we’ve probably all seen similar videos making their way around the internet. The narrator ties it in to his childhood and being afraid of a man in his attic. It’s a nicely told story and the narrator goes on to include his current fears, even as an adult. They’re drastically different from his childhood fear. The short incorporates a home video and has a very documentary feel to it. This could easily be turned into something that goes much more in depth about fears. This short is directed by Alex Coppola and you can find the short over at his site.

Finally, A Done Deal is a foreign short, but don’t let the presence of subtitles keep you away. It’s a story of a hitman who needs to pull a job that should be easy, but as distractions build up, it becomes slightly more difficult. It has some entertaining moments, the main one being an argument over whether or not lightsabers are in Star Wars or Star Trek. It’s a fairly simple short, too. The majority of it takes place in a diner and the camera is switching from one person to another as they talk. Despite that, it still looks well done. It also has a bit of a Pulp Fiction feel to it in the end, which can easily be appreciated. However, if you aren’t a fan of gore or blood, maybe skip this one, or consider yourself warned, at least. This short was directed by Pierre-Marc Drouin and Simon Lamarre-Ledoux.

These shorts might not be for everyone, but there is something in each to admire. They tell some great stories that are worth hearing. You can find more information on the New York City Independent Film Fest over on their website. There are many more shorts and films to check out, so if you’re in the area and can go, definitely buy some tickets and support indie film making and the indie film fest.