THE APOTHECARY (Helen Hood Scheer, 2013)

In an impoverished former mining town in the American Southwest, a beloved druggist runs the community’s main hub: the sole pharmacy within 4,000 square miles. He eagerly plays multiple roles as surrogate doctor, life counselor, and community benefactor. His sanguine public persona, however, belies a long-suffered private pain for which there is no drug, no cure, and no relief. (Gold Medal: Documentary, 18 minutes) Trailer: https://vimeo.com/100912283

INTERSTATE (Camille Stochitch, 2013)

Joaquin, a 40 year old driving instructor, struggles to survive in a city where he arrived years ago as an undocumented worker. In order to buy the house of his dreams and finally settle down, he navigates between a small illegal business and his daily routine. (Bronze Medal: Narrative, 20 minutes) Trailer: http://www.interstatethefilm.com

DOOR GOD (Yulin Liu, 2014)

A 7-year-old girl, Lingli, has been waiting two years for her mother to come home. When her family finally puts up the Door God on Chinese New Year, her mother finally returns, but brings irreversible change to Lingli and her family. (Silver Medal: Narrative, 23 min.; China: English Subtitles) Trailer: https://vimeo.com/103812589

NOCEBO (Lennart Ruff, 2014)

Christian Lukas is on the run. While taking part in a pharmeceutical study with his girlfriend, Anna, they begin to show signs of deadly side effects. Christian breaks out of the test center to get help, but no one believes his story. A perceptual thriller that explores the line between psychosis and reality. (Gold Medal: Foreign Film, 40 minutes; German with English subtitles) Trailer: https://vimeo.com/85252886

Note: Two other Student Academy Award medalist films will screen as part of the program on Saturday at 7 p.m. and another on Sunday at 3 p.m.