Photography student Stanley Cuba's (Mike Birbiglia) life has striking parallels to that of iconic director Stanley Kubrick -- except that our Stanley is neither famous nor exceptionally talented. But an upcoming photo contest may give Stanley his "Shining" moment. Filled with clever references to Kubrick's oeuvre, this first feature from writer-director Per Anderson screened at festivals in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Milan.

THE FALLEN is a three-sided story about German, Italian, and American soldiers, set in Northern Italy during the final weeks of the World War II. On the one side, a group of American supply soldiers delivers ammunition to the front line, a journey that becomes a descent into hell, the success of the mission becomes less likely with every setback. On the other, a doomed German unit and their ragtag Italian partners struggle to maintain morale and discipline amongst their beleaguered troops in the face of certain defeat. Torn between these are the divided loyalties of the Italians, both fascist soldiers and communist partisans, who have turned brother against brother in a bloody civil war. The film looks at the everyday life of the soldiers, their encounters on the road, their hopes and dreams, and the differences in values, morals, and patriotism between the cultures at the end of that era.