Rock City Film Festival is proud to announce our Official Selections for this year’s festival, to be held May 16-18, 2025 at the beautiful CALS Ron Robinson Theater in downtown Little Rock. Congratulations, Filmmakers! We can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Schedule

May 17, 2025

Documentary Short Feature | COLBERT: All Students Can Learn

10 - 11 AM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

Almost 70 years after Fayetteville, Arkansas Public School’s integration, Dr. John L Colbert, the city’s first African American superintendent, cements his historic legacy with a school named after him. | Almost 70 years after Fayetteville Arkansas Public School’s integration, Dr. John L Colbert, the city’s first African American superintendent, cements his historic legacy with a school named after him.

Shorts Block | The Unseen Thread

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

In moments of grief, guilt, and revelation, what connects us is often invisible—yet deeply felt. The Unseen Thread weaves together four emotionally charged stories of ordinary people navigating extraordinary moments. From deciphering cryptic signals to confronting personal loss, and from silent guilt to unspoken fears between best friends, each film invites us to explore the spaces between reality and the emotions we try to outrun.

Filmmaker Panel | The Self-Sustaining Filmmaker: Building a Career Without Permission Featuring Marty Lang

1 - 2 PM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

What does it take to make films consistently without waiting for the industry’s green light? Filmmaker, educator, and author Marty Lang shares insights from his book and career on how to thrive as a creative entrepreneur. This panel will break down how to make films sustainably, build community, fund projects outside traditional systems, and keep moving forward regardless of budget or location.

Feature Film | The Forest Through The Trees

2:30 - 4:30 PM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

Chloe and her step dad, Ken are dealing with the disappearance of Kathy, Chloe's mother and Ken's wife. After a painful year, and with the help of Chloe's friend Ava, they investigate a clue that leads them to a terrifying demon cult. | Chloe and her step dad, Ken are dealing with the disappearance of Kathy, Chloe's mother and Ken's wife. After a painful year, and with the help of Chloe's friend Ava, they investigate a clue that leads them to a terrifying demon cult.

Short Docs + Short Feature | True Grit, Soft Edges

5 - 6:30 PM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

This collection of documentaries shines a light on lives lived with intention, rebellion, and heart. From the trailblazing journey of one of the first female heavy equipment operators to a candid conversation about how we teach kids about their bodies, these stories speak truth in surprising ways. A bike race through the Ozarks becomes a metaphor for emotional endurance, while a master potter’s fiery kiln serves as the backdrop for reflections on art, legacy, and community.

Comedy Block | Well, That Escalated Quickly!

7 - 8 PM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

This isn’t your typical stand-up routine—these short comedies serve up awkward truths, eccentric characters, and the kind of laughs that sneak up on you. From a grandma with a sharper tongue than her grandson’s punchlines to two hitmen dissecting the art of assassination movies, this block embraces the weird, the heartfelt, and the unexpectedly hilarious. Whether it’s love, loss, or searching for the right fortune—funny happens when life doesn’t go as planned.

Horror/Thrillers | Dark Offerings

8:30 - 9:30 PM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

A collection of unsettling tales where heartbreak curdles, innocence fades, and the supernatural creeps in unseen. Whether it’s a cursed heirloom, a twisted support group, or a presence in the shadows, each story leads its characters—and the audience—deeper into the unknown. These are stories of things lost, things broken, and things that should have stayed buried. 

The WTF Block

9:30 PM - Sunday, May 18, 11:30 PM @ CALS Ron Robinson Theater

Strap in for the wildest, weirdest ride of the festival—this is the WTF Block , where nothing is off-limits and everything is on the table. From micro-moments of existential dread and cosmic gym bros to anime-fueled nightmares and twisted fairy tales, this collection of shorts is a chaotic cocktail of horror, experimental, sci-fi, dark comedy, and the downright absurd. 

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