exception(al)

A compelling film that is well acted, directed and written.

The film is clearly personal; it really captured the experience of being marginalized at film school. I liked that the film seemed to be about the Patriarchy, but also revealed other cracks in the structure.

Exceptional holds a mirror up to the film industry at large, beginning with the very place where many careers are born: the classroom. It doesn't offer easy answers, though. Instead, it paints a complex picture of bias, ambition, and the courage it takes to hold onto one's vision in a world that often asks for compromise.

In just under 15 minutes, Exceptional manages to be a character study, a critique of academia, and a cry for authentic storytelling. It's the kind of short that lingers long after the credits roll.