Laura Wagner

Producer, Founder at Bay Bridge Productions

Beautiful and troubled 20-something Donya, an Afghan translator who used to work with the U.S. government, has trouble sleeping. She lives by herself in Fremont, California, in a building with other Afghan immigrants and often dines alone at a local restaurant watching soap operas. Her routine changes when she’s promoted to writing the fortunes at her job at a fortune cookie factory in the city. As her fortunes are read by strangers throughout the Bay, Donya’s smoldering longing drives her to send a message out to the world, unsure where it will lead. 

Shot in black and white, and with warmth and a wry sense of humor, director Babak Jalali has crafted a loving portrait of a young woman haunted by the past but still filled with desire for companionship and connection. Featuring a cast of unforgettable, unique characters, and anchored by a beguiling debut performance from real-life Afghan refugee Anaita Wali Zada, Fremont is an ode to the curious beauty of trying to build a new life in a strange land.

Fremont

A young long-distance runner twists her ankle during her first Olympic Trials and must do something she's never done before: take a day off.

Tracktown

Sherry, a self-destructive makeup saleswoman, hopes a new man and business venture will provide her a fresh start. After her plans are foiled, she takes control of her life in a dramatic turn of events.

Easy Living

Sam's silent world confounds the fellow residents of her group home. When her only friend goes missing Sam sets out to find her, uncovering a tale of violence that shatters her fragile reality.

My First Kiss and The People Involved

Eliza Hittman's powerful debut feature tells the story of Lila (Gina Piersanti, in a stunning debut), a fourteen year old spending a hot summer in a blue-collar Brooklyn neighborhood far removed from the bustling city. Awkward, lonely, and often playing the third wheel, Lila is determined to emulate the sexual exploits of her more experienced best friend. She fixates on Sammy, a tough older guy, when she hears that "he'll sleep with anyone." Deluded in her romantic pursuit, Lila tries desperately to insert herself into Sammy's gritty world, but in doing so she puts herself into a dangerously vulnerable situation.

It Felt Like Love

Former White House climate advisor Molly Kawahata reflects on her time in the Obama Administration, her personal struggle with mental health, and her love of alpine climbing to create a positive vision of how we can respond to the climate crisis.