The 2026 Baton Rouge
Underground Film Festival
When and Where
Thurs., Aug. 27 - Sun., Aug. 30
Manship Theatre, Hartley/Vey Studio, and Hartley/Vey Workshop
WHO IS BRUFF
The Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival is a four-day annual event that celebrates the artistic and cultural value of the incredible indie and genre-focused talent that flows to and from the city of Baton Rouge while also fostering a vibrant, interconnected independent film community. Find out more about the organization here.
how to go
Attend the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival the way it was meant to be: no limits, no missing out.
All parties require full fest or day passes for entry.
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Full access to the festival’s best moments, from start to finish.
$75; $50 for students
This all-access pass gets you inside everything for all four days:
opening night gala
every film screening
every panel
every workshop
after-hours scene
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Thurs. Aug. 27
$30; $20 students
6:00 p.m.: Opening Gala
a red carpet event
cocktail attire
catered food; cash bar
8:30 p.m.: Screening of Sex, Lies, and Videotape
10:00 p.m.: BRUFF After Party at Hotel Indigo
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All Day Passes are $30; $20 students per day.
Please confirm that you have the correct day selected in the drop down selection on the purchase page before you check out.
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Scroll through the schedule to purchase individual event tickets.
Pro Tip: If you are buying at least two event tickets, consider a day pass or a full fest pass for the best value.
THE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY
OPENING NIGHT
An opening night pass or full fest pass is required to attend all Thursday events.
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6:00 p.m.
Attend BRUFF’s Opening Night Gala and celebrate Louisiana Film and the second year of the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival. Cocktail attire recommended. An open bar and small bites will be served.
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Manship Theatre • 8:30 p.m.
A new remaster of the Soderbergh debut shot in Baton Rouge that won the Palme d'Or and helped launch American independent film.
A sexually repressed woman's husband is having an affair with her sister. The arrival of a visitor with a rather unusual fetish changes everything. Written and Directed by, Steven Soderbergh, shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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Hotel Indigo • 10:00 p.m.
FRIDAY
FRIDAY FILM SCREENINGS
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12:00 p.m. in Manship Theatre
1 hr 47 mins
Directed by David Shadrack Smith
PUBLIC ACCESS revisits New York City’s radical experiment in open media, when uncensored voices filled the airwaves decades before the internet. Told entirely through rare archival material and first person accounts, the film charts Public Access as a social and cinematic experiment – one that tested the limits of expression, provoked legal battles, and revealed enduring tensions between freedom, power, and control that continue to shape today's battles over platforms and free speech.
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Animation and Puppetry Shorts, and Music Videos
Sorrow Doesn't Sleep At Night (9 min) Directed by Josefina Montino, Martín André
A Bird Hit My Window and Now I'm a Lesbian (8 min) Directed by Carmela Murphy, AJ Dubler
Dobrina (5 min) Directed by Hannes Rall
The Fragility Of A Lonesome Crow (10 min) Directed by Emanuel Fernandez
Gruff (9 min) Directed by Julian Curi
Sorry I Missed Your Call (5.5 min) Directed by Hae Ji Cho
Bayou Lafourche (4.5 min) Directed by Dustin Paul Robichaux
DEVOTION (3 min) Directed by Marcelle Tiblier
Wasting Away by Final Essay (5 min) Directed by Kolby Kember
HA (Gabaldon) (4 min) Directed by Nuno Belmar
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3:00 p.m. in Manship Theatre
1 hr
Jazz Infernal (16.5 mins) Directed by Will Niava
On a Sunday at Eleven (9 min) Directed by Alicia K. Harris
Spank Patrol (3.5 min) Directed by Kevin Ralston
DISC (14 min) Directed by Blake Rice
We're All Black Down Here (15.5 min) Directed by James William Mellors
Beaks (23 min) Directed by Xavier Demoulin
cowabunga! (2 mins) Directed by Jacob Staudenmaier
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6:00 p.m. in Manship Theatre
West of Greatness Directed by Jared Cliff LaReau
In a fading Louisiana town, Jerome dreams of Hollywood while Terry seeks escape from a troubled home. United by desperation, they train for a high-stakes bodybuilding competition that becomes their shot at something more. Filmed over 18 months, West of Greatness blazes a bold new trail in cinematic storytelling, blending raw documentary with scripted drama. It's a haunting, human story of ambition, survival, and the quiet bond that forms when there's nothing left to lose.
1 hr 53 mins
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6:00 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre
Will This Last Forever (16 min) Directed by Christian Naquin
In the Light of a Miracle (13.5 min) Directed by OJ Parker
$5 Margaritas (16.5 min) Directed by Abigail Lestrade
Tick (16.5 min) Directed by William Hill VanDuzee
At What Cost? (20 min) Directed by Ant Roberson
Tachyon Deliverance (21 min) Directed by Connor Wright
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9:00 p.m. in Manship Theatre
Cramps! A Period Piece Directed by Brooke H Cellars
A blossoming young woman, Agnes Applewhite, gets a job as a shampoo girl at lively beauty salon, which goes against the wishes of her traditional family which includes her sanctimonious mother and tightly wound sister. As she begins this newfound journey, she starts to deal with debilitating menstrual cramps which blurs the line between reality and nightmare.
1 hr 29 mins
FRIDAY WORKSHOPS & PANELS
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1:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Workshop
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3:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Studio
State of the Film Industry in Louisiana w/ Film Louisiana
Join Film Louisiana, and local Film Labor Unions IATSE and SAG, as they discuss the state of the Film Industry in Louisiana.
1 hr
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5:00 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Workshop
Presented by NOVAC, Behind the Lens: Inside the Camera Department is an engaging session with camera department professional Sienna Pinderhughes, offering an inside look at the people, roles, and collaboration that keep a production camera-ready.
Through real-world experiences from productions including Sinners, Where the Crawdads Sing, One Night in Miami, Queen & Slim and more, Sienna will explain how the department works alongside DP’s and Directors, and offer an in-depth look at the responsibilities of the First and Second Assistant Camera roles. Attendees will also gain practical knowledge about on-set readiness, kit equipment essentials and set etiquette. The program concludes with both moderated and audience Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to ask questions and learn directly from Sienna's experience.
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8:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Studio
1 hr
A Staged Reading by Bailey Wax and Gray Fagan
FREE ENTRY. REGISTER TO SAVE YOUR SPOT.
From the creators of Senior Prank, come participate in a live production of an Original Musical in a staged reading format! More details to be shared soon…
FRIDAY PARTY
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10:00 p.m. on the River Terrace, located on the 4th floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts (Manship Theatre’s building).
Enjoy a night of fun and relaxed glamor as we celebrate the future of the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival. Dance the night away to local artists from FREQUENCY and enjoy complementary wine and a cash bar. Pajamas STEEPLY RECOMMENDED!!
FULL FEST OR FRIDAY DAY PASS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
SATURDAY
SATURDAY FILM SCREENINGS:
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11:00 a.m. in Manship Theatre
Unseen Olympiad (54 mins) Directed by Casey Shaw
The Sight Unseen (40 mins) Directed by Shawn Antoine II
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1:30 p.m. in Manship Theatre
PU EKAW TNOD (6 min) Directed by Rebecca Culverhouse
Coffin Therapy (18 min) Directed by Zéré Turlykhanova
Shard (10.5 min) Directed by Pablo Cabel
Mukbang (11 min) Directed by Joe Grode
The Knight (10.5 min) Directed by Lotte Sweeney
LEMON-AID (15.5 min) Directed by Sumner McMurtry
Scissors (12.5 min) Directed by Hannah Alline
The Tempest (12.5 min) Directed by Jacob Allen Denton
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7:30 p.m. in Manship Theatre
She's the He Directed by Siobhan McCarthy
Before graduation, Ethan and Alex pose as trans women in a last ditch effort to quell gay rumors. It's all a joke until Ethan realizes: she really is trans. The two must reckon with their changing friendship, coming out, and coming-of-age.
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10:30 p.m. in Manship Theatre
Peeping Todd Directed by Josh Munds
When his peeping passions become compromised, Todd decides he’ll do whatever it takes to continue stalking his beloved Claire. An obsessive HOA fleet and a dense boyfriend are obstacles Todd must dance around if he wants to sing his way into Claire’s heart. As Claire gets wrapped up in the lies of her fiance and the web of her stalker, she must escape the two most toxic relationships she’s ever faced.
SATURDAY workshops and panels:
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12:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Studio
How Indie Films Get Financed, Made, and Sold Today presented by Stephen Mastrocola
As the independent film market rapidly evolves, early-stage filmmakers must rethink how they finance, produce, and position their projects for long-term sustainability.
This workshop breaks down how independent films have traditionally been financed, how soft-money incentives and projected value have shaped budgets, and where those models are actively shifting. We’ll explore what is realistically achievable for emerging filmmakers over the next five years, and how expectations around budgets, sales, and distribution are changing.
Using real-world case studies from recent films, we’ll examine outside-the-box fundraising strategies, early career-appropriate financing structures, and emerging areas of growth and opportunity. The session is designed to demystify the business side of filmmaking and help filmmakers make smarter, more strategic decisions as they move into the next phase of their careers.
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2:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Studio
How do you stay rooted while building a career that takes you around the country? Join director Cierra "Shooter" Glaude for an inspiring conversation about forging a career in television while remaining deeply connected to her Southern roots. An Alabama native with family ties to Baton Rouge, Shooter began her journey as a Production Assistant on Queen Sugar before becoming an in-demand episodic television director. Her directing credits include The Chi, Riverdale, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Walker: Independence, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Suits LA, and more.
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3:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Workshop
Speed Networking
Join Baton Rouge Film Commissioner Katie Patton Pryor for a fast paced networking event. How well can you get to know someone in a brief, one-on-one conversation?
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5:00 p.m. in Manship Theatre
Presented by Manship Theatre
Baton Rouge native Mike James Gallagher, an Emmy-nominated sound designer and creator of INDEPTH Sound Design, is bringing two-time Oscar winner Mark Mangini to Baton Rouge to headline a live INDEPTH conversation at BRUFF.
Mark Mangini is a two-time Academy Award winning and six time nominated Sound Designer known for films including Blade Runner 2049, Star Treks I,IV,&V, The Fifth Element, and Gremlins. He has spent his 45 year career in Hollywood imagining and composing altered sonic realities for motion pictures. He is a frequent lecturer, an outspoken proponent for sound as art and a guitarist and songwriter with compositions in sex, lies and videotape, Star Trek IV, Picard. and others. He is a member of AMPAS, MPSE, SAG, SMPTE, and ASCAP.
There's a full-circle twist. Mangini received a special thanks in the credits on Sex, Lies, and Videotape, the Soderbergh debut shot in Baton Rouge that won the Palme d'Or and helped launch American independent film. Mangini was Soderbergh's landlord in LA at the time, and he wrote and performed the guitar piece that opens the film. Dedicated to the success of American independent film, Mangini gave Soderbergh run of his editorial company for the duration of the film at a price that helped make this iconic indie film possible.
Mark’s Credits
Spinal Tap II • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem • Dune Part One • Blade Runner 2049 • Mad Max: Fury Road • The Men Who Stare at Goats • Star Trek • 500 Days of Summer • Anchorman • The Green Mile • City of Angels • The Fifth Element • Space Jam • Schizopolis • The Lion King • Cool Runnings • Aladdin • Beauty and the Beast • Gremlins • Poltergeist
and so much more!
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6:00pm in Hartley/Vey Workshop
Hear from NOVAC alumni working in physical production as they share how they got their start, launched their careers in Louisiana, and continue to contribute to the local film community. This conversation will highlight the behind-the-camera talent, workforce development, and opportunities available right here in Louisiana.
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7:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Studio
IIndie Filmmaker Panel: Nate Tape (Off Ramp, NPC); Andrew van den Houten (Mercy, Mercy, Me); Jared LaReau (West of Greatness); Brooke Cellars (Cramps! A Period Peace)
Join the creators of Louisiana shot feature films to hear their insight on filmmaking in the Boot!
SATURDAY PARTY:
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10:00 p.m. at Mother’s Lounge
143 3rd Street (take a right on 3rd Street when you exit Manship Theatre).
Cover charged at door. Full Fest and Saturday Day Pass holders receive free entry.
SUNDAY
SUNDAY FILM SCREENINGS:
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10:30 a.m. in Manship Theatre
Louisiana Genre Shorts
Collect Call (15 mins) Directed by Wesley Boone
Hivemind Deluxe (10 mins) Directed by Chris Alan Evans
Convulsions (22 min) Directed by Adrien Picquenot, Pierrot du Saillant
The Void Within (5 min) Directed by Adrian Jordan Jr
Hustlevania (10.5 min) Directed by Clayton Nepveux III
Bluescreen (9 min) Directed by Darrell C. Forest
American Woman (7:47) Directed by Matison LeBlanc, Ashley Wehrs
Plastic Cowboy (9 min) Directed by Jan Winters
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12:30 p.m. in the Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre
Louisiana Shorts
Batter Up, Queen! (14 min) Directed by Cameron M Brown
Dead Air (20 min) Directed by Trevor L. Poole
The Trade Off (5 min) Directed by Adrian Jordan Jr
Last of the Shrimpers (14 min) Directed by Jonathan Presson
ManBooBs (14 min) Directed by Luke Alexander Harris
So That's a Maybe (5 min) Directed by Nathan S. Hall
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1:30 p.m. in Manship Theatre
Mercy, Mercy, Me Directed by Wes Miller
In 1985, ex-criminals Mercy and Khaos are dragged back to their old life for one risky job, facing mobsters, a corrupt cop, and their past misdeeds.
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4:30 p.m. in Manship Theatre
Three Colors: Pan African Directed by Elijah Davis, Allison A. Waite, Tyler Ocascio Holmes
THREE COLORS: PAN-AFRICAN is an anthology feature film where the main theme of each chapter takes its meaning from the themes behind the colors of the Pan-African flag.
Three Black children play freely at their grandmother’s home until a hypnotic TV rerun depicting a Black family performing racist caricature captures their attention. When the kids repeat disparaging language they heard on the show at the breakfast table, their grandmother shares stories of strength, community, and character to instill pride in their Blackness. The children’s vivid imaginations bring these stories to life.
First, RED. Ahmari Rose, a 9-year-old raised by his mother, is conditioned by his uncle Steve to believe that Black men must be physically strong, emotionally closed off, and that football is the only path towards success. Thirteen years later, on the verge of the NFL draft, a knee injury puts his pro prospects in serious jeopardy. As he desperately fights to get back on the field, his pride gets the best of him and he injures himself further. Returning home distraught, Ahmari is confronted by Steve. After a physical altercation, Steve opens up to Ahmari, offering him a new guiding light towards success. Ahmari finally breaks down in Steve’s arms as he makes the decision to retire.
Then, BLACK. Joana Mensa, an undocumented immigrant new to Los Angeles, is fired after a disastrous accident with an elderly in-home patient. In financial distress and at risk of deportation, Joanna is alone as she has isolated herself from the surrounding African American community due to her own internalized prejudice. When she begins to receive mysterious care packages at her doorstep, her perception of her community shifts, leading her to embrace the community that rallies behind her.
Finally, GREEN. Jontavious Rodgers, an actor striving to support his family, faces a dilemma when the network begins to drive his sitcom into a racist caricature to boost ratings. As the show falls deeper into a negative representation of the Black family, Jontavious is forced to choose between financial stability for his family and better on-screen representation. Jonatavious becomes complicit in the degradation of the show until he sees the negative impact it has on his son, leading him to the decision to walk away and write his own story.
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5:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Studio Theatre
It Needs Eyes Directed by Zack Ogle, Aaron Pagniano
Suffering from a traumatic event, teenager Rowan is whisked away from home and taken to her estranged aunt's oceanside home indefinitely. Racked with guilt and unable to enjoy a normal summer, she drowns out the noise with increasingly bizarre, violent internet content. Soon, Rowan comes across videos of a missing woman known only as Fish Tooth, who she believes is calling out through the screen for help. Despite a budding relationship with her camgirl neighbor, Alex, Rowan’s obsession with Fish Tooth will lead her to something sinister lurking at the bottom of this twisted internet rabbit hole…
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS AND PANELS:
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11:30 a.m. the Hartley/Vey Workshop
Film USA Panel
Join Baton Rouge Film Commissioner and Co-Founder of Film USA, Katie Patton Pryor for an update on Film USA and where the industry stands on a national scale.
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2:30 p.m. in Hartley/Vey Workshop
“A Hands-On Introduction to 35mm” Presented by Shawscope
In this workshop, you’ll get a crash course in shooting celluloid film, and then you’ll be able to get your hands on 35mm movie cameras that were used on movies like “Queen and Slim”, “City of God”, “A Clockwork Orange”, and “Cramps! A Period Piece” (screening at BRUFF!). Each workshop participant will get a chance to shoot a shot on 35mm, and receive a downloadable digital file of the workshop footage for their own use.
SUNDAY awards and afterparty
Sunday day pass and full fest pass holders have access to the awards and closing party.
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Attend the final formal event of the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival to celebrate our filmmakers and discover the winners of the BRUFF Grants and BRUFF Awards!
Sunday day pass and full fest pass holders have access to the awards event.
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Following the BRUFF Awards, send off the Sophomore year of the Baton Rouge Underground Film Festival with a night of celebration in the Hartley Vey Theatre. Music by artists from FREQUENCY.
Sunday day pass and full fest pass holders have access to the closing party.
location
Manship Theatre is located at 100 Lafayette Street in downtown Baton Rouge inside of the Shaw Center for the Arts. Hartley/Vey Studio and Workshop are both located inside of the building, near the theatre, just beyond the bar.
Tickets to this event are sold directly by Manship Theatre. Any ticket purchased outside or Manship Theatre’s Website may not be valid.
All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to attend performances. Please carefully consider whether a performance is appropriate for children before planning to attend.