United Nations Association Film Festival | Free Shorts Program

Submitted by the Event Organizer

The 29th United Nations Association Film Festival presents a free shorts program on Sunday, Oct. 18, in Palo Alto, featuring three documentaries that explore wildlife conservation, wrongful incarceration, and the global impact of cryptocurrency.

The program opens with “Crossing the Divide,” directed and produced by local filmmaker Talia Frank. The 11-minute documentary examines how roads fragment wildlife habitats and explores the potential of wildlife crossings to restore animal movement and strengthen ecosystems.

Next is “The Dreaming Game,” directed and produced by Jordan Salvatoriello. The film follows 70-year-old Raymond Gaines, a Boston native and lifelong baseball fan, as he returns to Fenway Park after spending 47 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. As he awaits a decision on his case, Gaines works to rebuild his life and pursue his long-sought freedom.

The program concludes with “The Market and the Monkey’s Paw,” directed and produced by “Graham New, Leo Safir, and Oliver Richards. Set in El Salvador, the documentary explores the country’s adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender through the perspectives of market vendors, educators and community members, examining questions of economic inclusion, tourism, gentrification and digital finance.

**Admission is free.** The special program from UNAFF offers an opportunity to see three short documentaries and discover the work of filmmakers from the Bay Area and beyond. UNAFF runs Oct. 15–25, 2026, with the theme Passion for Change. The festival features films on human rights issues like the environment, women’s rights, racism, and peace, engaging a diverse Bay Area audience.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.