Welcome to the home of stories “aching to be told.” We are a nonprofit organization in California and Massachusetts recognized by the Mass Cultural Council as a multiple grant recipient. We are a “Top 100 Best Reviewed” festival on FilmFreeway, and our 175+ Five-Star Reviews put us in the top percentiles of best-reviewed film festivals worldwide. Discover the unparalleled blend of tradition and innovation at The Lonely Seal International Film, Screenplay & Music Festival. Our event occurs at the Regent Theatre, a 109 year-old Vaudevillian gem in Arlington, Massachusetts (Boston), renowned for its culturally diverse content.

2025 Schedule

Wednesday, August 20

Opening Night Showcase 7:30 PM-10:00 PM [BLOCK 1]

Hello, Beautiful (1:38:00)  The cornerstones of Willow’s life begins to crumble. At the hight of her career, Willow is diagnosed with breast cancer. Hello Beautiful is the story of a woman who peels away the layers to find her inner warrior, a woman who faces insurmountable odds and learns to treasure the gift of self worth and unconditional love.

Thursday, August 21 

6:00 PM-7:50 PM [BLOCK 2]

Stealing Ash (12:49) After their best friend dies, four friends plan to steal their ashes and take them on a final joyride.

Growing Pains (1:37:00) Two childhood best friends, Zoe and Nat, face the tumultuous changes of transitioning from middle to high school as their friendship drifts apart.

Animation Showcase 8:00 PM-10:00 PM [BLOCK 3]

Sock Quiz (2:07) After nearly giving up on filling out her study guide, Caroly’s wish for geometry to be as easy as making sock puppets comes true! One of her puppets, PySockoras, comes to life to educate her on the magic of geometry.

Orange Blues (4:54) “Almost everyone around the world deals daily with the insanity of Trumpocracy,” says composer and lead vocalist Chris Oledude. “As an artist, my job is to acknowledge the oppressive and depressing nature of the President’s behavior and policies, but I have to do it through the lens of the Blues writers and performers who have done this for years.”

Agoraphobia (4:13) What’s out there trying to get inside isn’t always as scary as you think. An adorably spooky and wild animation for the song Agoraphobia by Lillian.

Everything is Shattered (2:30) Animated music video with vocals by Jack Grisham (from legendary punk band TSOL) and amazing new Seattle based singer Max Galbreath.

The Full Fungus (1:42:00) Embattled LA private eye Chino Diamond is hired to track down Wilt, a mysterious man on the run with a set of fabled jazz tapes from late jazz legend Mink Fungus. From dive bars to back-alley sushi joints, this animated noir romp blends wild characters, dry humor, and unexpected twists through a city as strange as its inhabitants.

Friday, August 22

6:00 PM-7:50 PM [BLOCK 4]

Touch Grass (11:52) Fed up with the digital status quo, a nerd forces his socially inept friends to face their greatest challenge yet: a day offline at the park.

Badmouth Grandma (5:20) Down and out comic John gets the opportunity of his life to headline a show at LA’s biggest comedy club. But the show’s tonight and he’s only got four hours to prepare new material.  Badmouth Grandma takes on the world of being a comedian in the midst of “cancel culture.”

Love Bug (1:30:00) Set in 1980s Los Angeles, a young man, Douglass, finds himself entangled in a relationship with Gracie, an eccentric hustler down on her luck. After their first time gettin’ jiggy, Gracie convinces the naive Douglass to become an adult film star under her management.

8:00 PM-10:00 PM [BLOCK 5]

Passenger Seat (13:34) An up and coming novelist is abysmally stuck after her engagement ends in the wake of her new found success. She’s seriously leaning into pessimism, when her very loud best friend drags them both into a night of teenage inspired antics to force her out of her shame spiral.

Dead Pet Shark (13:18) Arthur walks the beach with his grandfather Zachariah. Zachariah entices Arthur to explore and look for the legendary queen conch shell, but instead, Arthur discovers a massive dead shark.

Wander (3:45)  Roger Jaeger searches for a destination in the mountains of Northern California.

Resilience & Sacrifice (1:26:54) An artist who shelved his musical aspirations to raise his family has a spark to find his passion again. He sets out on a  journey to navigate the pitfalls of life, the music business, and an unexpected medical condition that threatens to end his career. This isn’t just a story about AN artist – it’s about ALL artists.

Saturday, August 23

Film Accessible Showcase 10:00 AM-11:45 PM [BLOCK 6]

Film Accessible is dedicated to showcasing cinema and filmed products with accessible themes and/or main characters, as well as projects made by accessible filmmakers. Lonely Seal Founder Hammad Zaidi is disabled, and one of his life’s missions is to promote accessible content.

The Walking List (13:59) A woman diagnosed with terminal MS  tries to finish her off her bucket list.

The Blind Reggaetonera (28:00) A blind reggaeton artist defies societal barriers to pursue her musical dreams, redefining disability perceptions while mentoring young disabled students.

Our Island (7:33) A young man losing his sight due to a congenital condition does everything to avoid being a burden.

In the Eye of the Beholder (11:29)  Ever since her senior year of high school, Taylor Leigh Aguilar pursued a career in filmmaking. That is until, halfway through earning her MFA in film production, she went completely blind.

EverForward (31:00) Denise Gorondy-Toderico was living an extraordinary life balancing it all – a wife, mother, triathlete and successful owner of a Veterinary practice. That all changed on June 5th, 2016. While she was out for her morning jog, Denise was struck by an under-the-influence driver. She was left for dead with a litany of life-changing injuries. EVERFORWARD follows Denise’s journey after this incident.

Teenage Dick: The Making Of (12:14)  A behind the scenes making of the Curtin Theatre department’s production of Mike Lew’s stage play Teenage Dick, inspired by Shakespeare’s Richard III.  The film promotes discussion about the importance  of improving access and inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities.

Creative Strategy Session w/Hammad Zaidi 11:50 AM-12:50 PM [BLOCK 7]

The point of this interactive seminar is to shave years off of your creative journey. Whether you are trying to sell your script, finance your  film, land distribution, go on a festival run or explore film school, Hammad Zaidi will instill you with strategies, insights and resources to accelerate your career.

Related Press:

WIFVNE SHOWCASE 1:00 PM-3:30 PM [BLOCK 8]

Women in Film & Video New England (WIFVNE) is dedicated to empowering our members, those in front of and behind the camera, and transforming the media and entertainment industry to reflect the diverse and inclusive world we envision. We “Widen the Lens” and advance the goals of our membership by offering educational and career development opportunities, access to our community partners, and the space to collaborate. We seek to amplify our members’ voices and stories with deep respect and appreciation for the rich diversity of experiences and perspectives that they bring. By providing hands-on training, mentoring, and networking, WIFVNE creates a lasting legacy of excellence and equity in the media and entertainment industry. Please join us for a wonderful showcase of our members. 

Maeve’s Mirror: (6:22) Paul Odgren Maeve’s reflection in her bedroom mirror begs to be set free into the real world.

Labor of Love: (3:00) Kim DiVincenzo

Followers: (2:50) Miriam Olken Experiencing FOMO one night, Bella takes matters into her own hands, but attracts more attention than she bargained for.

The Rewind: (11:00) Diana Porter Josh is desperate to get back his wife, Nina. He turns to a new technology that allows users to re-live a difficult moment in hope of learning lessons.

Pumpkin Pie: (10:30) Karin Trachtenberg Bakery owner Margot finds her solitude interrupted by a frantic customer, who refuses to be turned away.

Only Me on TV: (1:08) Jaina Cipriano As you flip through channels you realize every channel…is me.

Born at Night: (5:34) Joshua Echevarria (member: Shahjehan Khan) A prisoner communicates telepathically to stop a death cult.

Writer’s Block: (8:00) Stephen Schloss

Guest on Topsfield Road: (9:45) Luke St. Germaine

Dissection Day: (14:58) Rachel S. Thomas-Medwid When a traumatized college student is paired in a biology lab with her assailant, a routine pig dissection transforms into an unusual battleground.

Family Business (11:37)  A bar owner struggles to deal with regulars and an eager businessman. Throughout the chaos of the night, characters are exploring complicated familial connections and relationships.

Short Film Drama Showcase 3:45-PM-5:20 PM [BLOCK 9]

The Pictured Man (11:07) A photographer finds a picture that can move, so he attempts to catch it coming alive.

Blue Desire (15:00)  Three girlfriends plan to steal the “Blue Desire” from City Cultures of New York Museum.

A Good Mother (5:00) A young mother must protect her baby from an  intruder.

Feedback (4:30) A young woman gets fitted for hearing aids after a car accident, but her mother’s presence makes it difficult to move on.

Geriatric Millennials (9:57) When her best friend Alexis gets a staff writer job in L.A., stand-up comedian Jess is forced to face the complacent life they have built together.

Solutions (17:17) In a last ditch effort to extricate herself from the farce of her suburban existence a woman caught between her dysfunctional husband and her densely loyal lover attempts to off one while framing the other.

I Appreciate Your Concern (14:53) A daughter makes a desperate attempt to get him to stop drinking.

Rendezvous (8:00)  Two friends, divided by their views of cultural tradition, reconnect at a pivotal moment.

Divide (9:13) Two estranged siblings of opposing political persuasions cleaning out their mother’s home after her death, fight over the inheritance of a sentimental souvenir.

Saturday Evening Cinema 5:30-PM-7:20 PM  [BLOCK 10]

Introducing Mimi (14:23)  A young Chinese American woman meets her tutor at the library to relearn a language. The film explores the humor and frustration of losing your voice and finding it again.

Loving Day (15:30) An interracial couple’s wedding plans take an unexpected turn when the Loving v. Virginia case, which legalized interracial marriage, is overturned, leaving them to navigate the fate of their child.

More Dead Than Living (17:30) A bitter widower is visited by Death. He’s ready and happy to die but not without having one last “magic” adventure with his estranged daughter, whom he never got it right with.

SilverSizzle (13:35) Two recent widowers enlist the aid of a cemetery caretaker to find new love among widows visiting their departed spouses.

The POMtastics (14:00) Discover the unexpected emergence of a “seasoned” pom-pom troop.

MBTA Rap (1:46) Enjoy the musical stylizing of Boston’s MBTA.

The Shadow of the Sun (16:58) After a life of crime, a father attempts to repair his relationship with his estranged son, but his criminal past catches up and threatens to tear them apart. “The Shadow of the Sun” is a raw and heartbreaking story about redemption, forgiveness, and the fragility of hope.

Mayor of Lowell (14:55) This short documentary chronicles the culture and arts of the Cambodian American community through the eyes and influence of the first Cambodian American Mayor in the United States, Mayor Sokary Chau of Lowell, Massachusetts.

Saturday Night Showcase 7:30 PM-10:00 PM [BLOCK 11]

Pace (15:13) Struggling with dysphoria, a boxer wrestles with the decision to transition at the potential cost of their marriage.

So To Speak (29:00) A Filipina American college student uses art to encourage new sexualities for herself and other Asian American women. In class with a powerful professor, Morena revisits her childhood as she experiences the stirrings of desire in coming of age. By making a “house her sexuality,” she creates the art of sex, recognizing the traumas and joys of brown girlhood. And realizes sexuality as a site of passion, power, politics, and pleasure. She refutes, refuses and rebuts how her sexuality intertwines with servility and possession by others so as to forge different sexual futures, freedoms and autonomies.

Buldoser (139:42) A veteran bulldozer operator becomes makeshift friends with a much younger female drifter days before his Filipino bride is set to arrive.