STRAW 2025: A Mother’s Silence Was Louder Than a Siren
A haunting look at grief, survival, and a mother’s quiet collapse in a world that never gave her room to fall.

Selma, a wealthy woman, is taken to hospital following what looks like a car breakdown on the road. From then on, she suffers from psychological problems. Selma crashes her car on a rainy night, and car mechanic Orhan finds her, and takes her to the hospital. She becomes enamored with him. But as Selma recalls further details of the accident, she realizes that the real rescuer is a gypsy musician named Ekrem. Selma begins to lead two separate lives, torn between Ekrem and Orhan.
A haunting look at grief, survival, and a mother’s quiet collapse in a world that never gave her room to fall.
Adapted from a 2014 novel by Atticus Lish, Preparation for the Next Life is the feature film debut of documentary filmmaker Bing Liu. With the help of screenwriter Martyna Majok, he paints a realistic and somber portrayal of Aishe, a Uyghur immigrant, as she struggles to make a living while undocumented in the United States.
Though 'Bound' technically falls under the genres of crime and thriller, the film's heart is a romance between two women.
"The Mitchells vs. The Machines" captures the eternal struggle between kids who want to pursue the arts and their practical parents who think they'll fail.
Izzy and Prince Thomas learn that taking control of their own destiny requires following their hearts and making their own decisions.
A Black woman centered in a box office rom-com with a happy ending and no struggle love.