ALIENS ABDUCTED MY PARENTS AND NOW I FEEL KINDA LEFT OUT

2023 / 87 min / color

Itsy is a teenager who dreams of having a career as a journalist. When she moves to the small town of Pebble Falls with her parents, she’s not happy. Not only does she have to build a new life for herself, she feels like she’s farther away from her goal. The first days in her new surroundings are not easy; the only friendly person seems to be her neighbor and classmate Calvin. Because of his obsession with outer space, he’s regarded as a local freak, which actually might not be so bad from Itsy’s perspective. This could be interesting subject matter for a story, particularly since the stakes are high: she’s up for a summer internship in New York. Calvin is convinced that his parents were abducted by aliens, and his mission is to find them and join them in space. As they try to uncover the truth, a bond of unexpected, heartfelt friendship starts to grow between them. Jake Van Wagoner’s film, with the most original title among our festival entries this year, is a unique combination of comedy, drama, and science fiction. And at the same time, it’s a tender, touching story about letting go of fear of the other and doing your best to stay true to yourself.