The Pegasus Media Project has announced the has announced the film lineup for the 10th Anniversary edition of the Pegasus Film Festival (June 20-22). The celebrated film festival highlights the creativity and innovation of young filmmakers with screenings and events at Alamo Drafthouse, and a special presentation of the inaugural Pegasus Inspiration Award to groundbreaking director Cierra Glaudé, at the Majestic Theater in Dallas, Texas.
Led and organized by high school students, the Pegasus Film Festival has become a beloved event in the DFW area as it features a diverse selection of short films produced by student filmmakers, panels with industry professionals, and networking opportunities putting young filmmakers front-and-center in an effort to foster the future of film.
This year’s edition of PFF will include short films presented in multiple programming categories with Narrative projects (Drama, Horror, Comedy, Fantasy, Futuristic, etc.), Mash Up (combined genres), Documentary, Animation, Experimental, Music Video, and International Film. The Pegasus Film festival will also feature a networking panel, and Q&A session allowing students to speak to filmmaking professionals and industry veterans to help them better understand both the filmmaking process, as well as the prospects of making a career out of their filmmaking ambitions.
Additional opportunities for the attending young filmmakers are a screenwriting workshop to further their skills, as well as a red carpet event to give them their “rock star moment” in front of the photographers and interview crews to give them a fun “taste of Hollywood” and celebrate their achievement of having a film selected by the film festival.
“This festival is more than just a screening; it’s a launchpad for young creatives,” said Madeleine Beck, Festival Lead. “We want to give students real opportunities to share their work and connect with professionals who can help them take the next step in their careers.”
Highlights within the short film blocks include the “Light & Loss” block which features Savanna Chun’s Jjigae, a film following Mi Young, a Korean-American girl who connects with her culture through recipes in her mother’s cookbook. Also featured is India Anne Mitchell’s suspenseful documentary Guiding Light, covering the mysterious kidnapping of Polly Klass and how it has affected the filmmaker and her town, 30 years later. “Light & Loss” closes with McKenna Clinkscales’ Taking a Breather, an animated film about reminiscing on childhood.
The “Between the Lines” block features Syrus Gupta and Aria Kutty’s Burgers & Butter Chicken, about an Indian-American girl struggling to live in both cultural worlds. Also featured is Vishwajit Yogaraj’s experimental short, Stuck, an experimental short about the struggles of feeling weighed down as a teenager, and Morgan Vaught’s Hands, spreading awareness about the deaf community and the importance of sign language.
PFF’s “Growing Pains” category is led by New Zealand filmmaker Maxwell Andrew’s Sunny Days, an unforgettably adorable film about the companionship between a boy and his dog and what friendship can mean in this world. Melissa Azzarito’s Found is also featured, telling the story of two sisters in foster care. When one of them turns 18, the other grapples for any chance she may have to be with her sister again, sending her on a captivating treasure hunt. The block closes with Dilan Koganti and Winston Lin’s Dreams Unpainted, which follows a budding young artist whose dreams clash with his Chinese immigrant mother’s wishes.
Ciara Palmieri’s A Test Through Time starts off the “You had To Be There” with the story of a girl struggling to stay motivated in school, finds herself transported 200 years into the past, pushing through rigid education and societal obstacles. Davis Knocke’ comedy Tinkle follows two brothers and one’s night terrors, as well as Brendan Lane’s No Tine Like the Present, a “sharp” action-comedy, following a widower trying to avenge his murdered wife.
The “Late Night” block at PFF will have audience members on the edge of their seat, opening with Syrus Gupta’s experimental film Seventh Heaven, a dreamy thriller about self-control and the dangers of drug use. Alex Marczewski’s Brains, a comedy horror film about a zombie substitute teacher trying not to blow his cover while subsiding his craving for human brains, is another highlight, as well as Charles Denechaud’s Stamping Scars, a film about self-image and healing.
On Saturday, June 22, at the historic Majestic Theater, the Pegasus Film Festival will present the inaugural Pegasus Inspiration Award to groundbreaking director Cierra Glaudé, known for P-Valley, The Chi, Queen Sugar, and Riverdale. Her bold, boundary-breaking work celebrates Black and queer voices—continuing a vital cultural legacy. Taking place just days after Juneteenth, this celebration will recognize the power of storytelling as a force for liberation and visibility. PFF will pay tribute to the legacy of Black storytellers—past and present—who have shaped cultural consciousness through art.
For more information about the Pegasus Media Project, or to purchase tickets for the Pegasus Film festival, go to: www.pegasusfilmfestival.com
The 2025 Pegasus Film Festival official selections:
SHORT FILMS
A Nobody With Two Faces
Director: Xavier Alexander
Location: Stratford High School; Running Time: 9 minutes
A Nobody with Two Faces is a real life super hero story. A documentary that tells the story of Camilo, a teenager with Tourette’s syndrome, as he finds acceptance and confidence as the high school mascot.
A Test Through Time
Director: Ciara Palmieri
Location: Mamaroneck; Running Time: 9 minutes
This film is a period piece about a high school student stressed over the college application process, especially her SAT. On her way home from tutoring she passes by the 1816 Mamaroneck School House. While visiting this museum she learns how fortunate she is to live in this day and age.
Adult
Director: Elina Myshanych
Location: n/a; Running Time: 8 minutes
Wartime winter Kyiv. Maryna, a girl detective, is searching for missing people with her partner, an IT expert. This time a little girl has disappeared, and searching for her Maryna has to go through a mysterious quest. This is a mystical detective story about a childhood lost in the war.
After Hours
Director: Alex Marczewski
Location: St. Mark’s School of Texas; Running Time: 10 minutes
Carson Griggs and Mike Cather thought breaking into the school library at night would be easy: Grab the answers to a test, prove their friends wrong, and call it a win. But a month ago, Jake Wei vanished in that very library – and the teachers’ frantic warnings to stay away suddenly make sense.
Afterglow
Director: Riley Walsh
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 8 minutes
As a girl reminisces on her friend through old DVD videos, a new clip plays that she has never seen before…
Alan!
Director: Dylan Weiss
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 7 minutes
When three high schoolers come across a unique, mysterious, worm-like creature, they discuss and debate what step they should take next in this riff on a ’50s alien B-movie.
Album of Films
Directors: Olivia Lu, Sofia Rahimi
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
Experimental stop motion music video
Alien Explosion
Director: Kate Sanders
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
A short animation of a meteor crashing into the Earth
An Unfinished Oath
Director: Pranav Arsid
Location: Rock Hill High School; Running Time: 6 minutes
A happy couple who stuck together and enjoyed being together suddenly split up. Aaron, the protagonist has flashbacks of how he was with Victoria, his wife, and how his life has darkened.
Blind Date
Director: Juliana Peretti
Location: n/a; Running Time: 5 minutes
When an unknown entity attacks two students after a horrible date, they must learn to work together.
Body Parts
Director: Skye Noisiri
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
It’s a crying thing
Bow Tie
Directors: Ariana Kincheloe, Hallie Kashmar
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
Experimental Stop Motion
Brains
Director: Alex Marczewski
Location: St. Mark’s School of Texas; Running Time: 7 minutes
A Zombie substitute teacher struggles with shaping young minds…or eating them.
Bunnies
Director: Emily Thomas
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
Bunnies curious about the cosmos
Burgers & Butter Chicken
Directors: Syrus Gupta, Aria Kutty
Location: Greenhill USA; Running Time: 7 minutes
A young Indian-American girl finds herself between a clash of two cultures: which one will she choose?
Charles.2004
Director: Jackson King
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 7 minutes
Things quickly go wrong as two scientists attempt to revive a synthetic human with generative AI.
Come Together
Director: Jadyn Pruitt
Location: Lake Dallas High School; Running Time: 10 minutes
Two teens learn what it’s like to grow up and come together.
Contemplations
Director: Kelsey Plaisier
Location: Lake Dallas High School; Running Time: 2 minutes
After finding a 100 dollar bill, a girl has a hard time deciding how to use it.
Dancing Petunias
Director: Isabel Saenz
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
Dancing animation
Desfase
Director: Huguette Garcia De Alba
Location: Hiroshima Global Academy; Running Time: 2 minutes
After being heartbroken by the one he believed was his forever, a young man finds himself lost in memories of their time together. As he navigates the waves of grief and nostalgia, he slowly begins the journey of healing and rediscovering himself.
Distraction
Director: Isla McKenna
Location: The Hockaday School USA; Running Time: 6 minutes
carmen struggles to learn where she stands on political issues
Do Not Answer
Director: Mateo leal Vargas
Location: Kinkaid; Running Time: 4 minutes
A phone call leads to disaster for a group of friends.
Dolphin
Director: Liv Kane
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
animated dolphin
Dreams Unpainted
Directors: Dilan Arjun Koganti, Winston Lin
Location: St. Mark’s School of Texas; Running Time: 11 minutes
A budding young artist’s dreams clash with his Chinese immigrant mother’s wishes; they later seek reconciliation.
Fine Dining
Director: Riley Walsh
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 1 minutes
A micro short about a seemingly perfect meal.
Fishbowl
Director: Anya Desai
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
short animation about life in a bowl
Found
Director: Melissa Azzarito
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 7 minutes
A girl hunts for treasure in order to be adopted by her sister.
Freedom
Director: Riley Walsh
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 5 minutes
A boy catches a spider who reminds him of his past relationship.
Guiding Light
Director: India Anne Mitchell
Location: Petaluma High School USA; Running Time: 5 minutes
Through the compelling interviews of the lead prosecutor, the defense attorney and the police chief, Guiding Light tells the story of a young teen (Polly Hannah Klaas) in a small town in America who was kidnapped from her bedroom during a slumber party while her family was in the house.
Hands
Director: Morgan Vaught
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 10 minutes
Hands is a documentary that explores deaf culture and identity at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. It highlights both faculty and students who are part of the deaf community to varying degrees, showcasing their struggles and experiences. The film examines how individuals discover their deaf identity at different stages of life, as well as the challenges of engaging in theatre, dance, and music without the ability to hear.
Interlude
Director: Isla McKenna
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 5 minutes
Jack of all Trades
Director: Xzander Major
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 5 minutes
A short documentary about a mans work and life.
Jjigae
Director: Savannah Chun
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 5 minutes
Disconnected from her roots, Mi Young reminisces on her mother’s homemade Korean meals, recalling a distant memory of when she aided her mother in making jjigae and reminding Mi Young of her Korean heritage.
Journey To Candyland
Directors: Vivi Saye, Mackay Slade
Location: The Hockaday School; Running Time: 1 minutes
Experimental Stop Motion made with sugary treats!
just say yes
Director: Savannah Chun
Location: The Hockaday School USA; Running Time: 3 minutes
brittney grapples with pressure from her friends to go to a homecoming dance at any cost
Let Go
Director: Isabella Huval
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 8 minutes
Claire, a senior in high school, finds herself struggling to let go of her childhood bear as graduation looms closer.
Lucid
Director: Cameron Douple
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 7 minutes
A young woman wakes up every morning with mysterioud pictures on her camera
Macaroni and Cheese-Fish Stew
Director: Tiffany Zhang
Location: Benton High School; Running Time: 4 minutes
A young man prepares for a date with an unconventional dish; a metaphor for love.
The Making Of Arcadia 9
Director: Cole Davis
Location: Sachse High School; Running Time: 5 minutes
Arcadia-9 follows the Sachse High School Animation class as they create animatics for a sci-fi film. The students master storyboarding, timing, and post-production skills while overcoming challenges together, forming a tight-knit team, and celebrating the power of creativity and collaboration.
No Tine Like The Present
Director: Brendan Lane
Location: R.L. Turner; Running Time: 6 minutes
A man pushed to the brink after the murder of his wife. He seeks vengeance, so he looks for a way to find the suspect as it just falls into his hand, starting his path to some familiar faces.
Pictures
Directors: Xavier Alexander, Alice Hakalenko
Location: Stratford High School; Running Time: 5 minutes
Alyssa tries to get her best friend Laura’s attention back from her evil Boyfriend.
Pirouline
Director: Kismet J. A Hudson
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 8 minutes
While going through a breakup, a young girl dives into her own mental landscape of dissociation.
Prepping for the Mulitcultural Show
Director: Maia Taylor
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 9 minutes
A short documentary about the lead up to a highschool’s multicultural show.
The Puzzle
Director: August Zimmerman
Location: Waco High School; Running Time: 6 minutes
A father struggles with the missing piece to his puzzle
Room 202
Director: Matthew Kaufman
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 6 minutes
2 girls grapple with their situation in a motel after killing a man.
Santa’s Cookies
Director: Nico Amelio
Location: Kinkaid; Running Time: 4 minutes
A young teenage boy takes Santa’s cookies and gets chased.
Seventh Heaven
Director: Syrus Gupta
Location: Greenhill USA; Running Time: 9 minutes
A boy transcends into a dreamlike state of ecstasy, only to discover the fragility of his control as the lines of dream and reality start to blur.
Sisyphus vs. Narcissus
Director: Riley Walsh
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 2 minutes
A girl caries suitcases up 26 flights of stairs instead of waiting for the elevator
Socks
Director: Riley Walsh
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 4 minutes
After her socks go missing, a girl passionatey searches for the theif.
Stamping Scars
Director: Charles Denechaud
Location: The Kinkaid School; Running Time: 2 minutes
A boy sees himself differently (scarred) than other people.
Starting From Scratch
Director: Levi Walker Marsh
Location: High Tech High School; Running Time: 5 minutes
Baking a pie for the first time, a lonely widower with quiet determination, rediscovers hope and the sweetness of starting over.
Still There
Directors: Johan Arias, Rudy Arevalo Salazar, Giovanni Arias
Location: New Tech at B.F Darrell; Running Time: 10 minutes
A kid, traumatized by his past attack against him and his teacher, is forced to re encounter his attacker a week later, causing him to ensure that him and his friend make it out alive and at the same time, hide his relations with the past.
Stuck
Director: Vishwajit Yogaraj
Location: Heritage High School; Running Time: 4 minutes
Teenagers often find themselves lost in memories of a simpler past, a time when happiness came easy, before the weight of expectations pulled them under. This is Stuck.
Sunny Days
Director: Maxwell Andrews
Location: Remuera Intermediate School, Auckland, New Zealand; Running Time: 10 minutes
A boy, a dog and his friend navigate through a turbulent world, discovering that scary times aren’t so scary when you have a friend by your side.
Surpassing Suburbia
Director: Matthew Kaufman
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 3 minutes
A girl grapples with the downfalls of suburban society.
Switched
Director: Tyler Bialowas
Location: NTPA Studios; Running Time: 7 minutes
Inspired by the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde stories. Switched centers on Dr. Henry Jekyll, a well-respected scientist in Victorian London, who becomes obsessed with the idea of separating the good and evil aspects of his personality. Through a series of experiments, Jekyll creates a potion that transforms him into a malevolent and ruthless alter ego.
Taking a Breather
Director: McKenna Clinkscales
Location: Sachse High School; Running Time: 1 minutes
A young girl reminisces about an emotional connection from her childhood.
Tell Me About Yourself
Director: Morgan Vaught
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 5 minutes
Tell Me About Yourself is a a short experimental film which follows a man reflection on his life through an intense afterlife checkers game.
Time Marches On
Directors: Gabriel Nierman, Camila Gonzalez
Location: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; Running Time: 6 minutes
A short documentary about a man and the art of woodworking.
Timeless
Director: Yosgart Lopez
Location: New Tech at B.F Darrell; Running Time: 8 minutes
A scientist discovers the hope of living one day at their lowest point.
Tinkle
Director: Davis Knocke
Location: Greenhill; Running Time: 4 minutes
Two loving brothers, Derian and Charlie, are snuggling up, like every other night. When Derian has a nightmare, he guides Charlie through the horrors of his imagination. As the two face his dream, their horrors begin to manifest.
Vida Querida (Dear Life)
Director: Amalia Ayelen Diaz
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 5 minutes
A Chilean couple living in Dallas, Texas face culture shocks and personal struggles while they continue to push forward and make this country their home.
Within
Director: Amalia Ayelen Diaz
Location: Booker T Washington High School; Running Time: 4 minutes
An experimental film that follows a theme of what goes on within anything or anyone.
The Yolk’s On You
Director: Paige Olsen
Location: Rock Hill High School; Running Time: 6 minutes
Alex and his friend Casey join their school’s senior splashin in order to take revenge on their classmate Levi.
SCREENPLAYS
Snowed In
Writer: Maxine Ray Louthan
Location: Booker T Washington High School;
On a snowy night in Bozeman, Montana, Jessica offers shelter to Paul, a hitchhiker recently hit by a car. As she tends to his injury, they share personal stories: Paul’s fiancé just left him, and Jessica is new to town. As the storm rages on, Jessica invites Paul to stay the night, and the two begin to bond over their unexpected connection.
Borrowed Time
Writer: Zoie Campbell
Location: Lancaster High School;
The Clock
Writer: Morgan Vaught
Location: Booker T Washington High School;
“The Clock” is a short screenplay set in the 1960s. It follows a group of scientists in charge of a doomsday clock. After an atomic attack on New York, the scientists must deliberate whether to move the clock and whether the end of the world has arrived.
The Club of Motherless Daughters
Writer: Savannah Chun
Location: The Hockaday School;
“The Club of Motherless Daughters” centers around a group of young women who have lost their mothers, finding solace and understanding in each other’s company. As they gather, they share their personal stories, revealing the profound impact of their mothers’ absence in their lives. From a young ballerina driven by her mother’s dreams to a rebellious teenager yearning for her mother’s love, each character’s narrative is raw and emotionally charged. Through sharing their experiences, the girls navigate their grief, expose their wounds, and ultimately discover the strength to cope with the loss of their mothers.
The Palace Hotel
Writer: Abigail Sarah Giroux
Location: Interlochen Arts Academy;
A young thief who targets immoral hotel guests forges an unlikely friendship with a vengeful hotel receptionist.
ABOUT PEGASUS MEDIA PROJECT
Pegasus Media Project champions diversity with a holistic perspective in transformative storytelling in film and media arts, empowering diverse communities with comprehensive education, collaborative works, and career pathways. Pegasus Media Project envisions a future where the next-generation of artists are the driving forces behind a thriving film and media arts industry. We strive for a narrative landscape where every voice is celebrated, underserved artists lead, innovate, and contribute to an equitable and authentic media environment.
