Survivance, coined by Anishinaabe writer Gerald Vizenor, is the combination of survival and resistance where culture, imagination and ancestral connection thrives. The heart of these films beats with the survivance derived from monumental storytelling. These shorts programs may differentiate from the shorts programs presented at our in-person festival screenings due to the various geoblocking restraints on each film.

A young Māori girl in the care of a conservative English couple savours her mother’s weekly visitations, as a custody battle driven by racial bias will ultimately decide their fate. Ira Hetaraka is an emerging Māori filmmaker based in London. Her award-winning short Womb premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.

Adult Themes, Triggering Historical Trauma (Residential Schools, Indian Act, Sixties Scoop)

Womb

Warrior turned cab driver, a living tree now a silent sculpture. Will the Guardian hear Baikal’s Spirit after many reincarnations? Did he fulfill his duty and preserve his people's traditions? Uladay N. Bayar (Bair Uladaev) is a Buryadmongolian filmmaker, director, and producer focused on Indigenous culture, identity, and environmental preservation.

Guardian of Baikal

A fisherman from Gaza is trapped in his haunting memories. Waseem Khair is a Palestinian director, actor, and producer. He is a theatre-trained, award-winning filmmaker transitioning into film with shorts and a debut feature in development.

Gaza Bride 17

Canada

Short Film Program:  SURVIVANCE

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Please note that not all films screened during the in-person Festival will be available online. Online Festival works are subject to location geoblocking and distribution rights. Access to online screenings starts on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET and ends Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET; this cutoff applies to all forms of access, including online single tickets purchased after June 11, 2026 (which is the last day to purchase for a guaranteed 72-hour access window).

Here's what's coming up soon. Can't make it? No sweat. Many live streams will be available for on-demand viewing as well.