Kate Can't Swim

When Kate's best friend Em returns from abroad with a surprising new lover, they embark on a reunion vacation with their partners, but the peaceful getaway quickly becomes emotionally complicated. Nothing is as it seems in Kate Can't Swim, which explores feminine love and attraction and modern day assumptions of manhood with fresh eyes. Director/co-writer Josh Helman builds an atmosphere of tension that sneaks up on you slowly, and cinematographer Tommy Agriodimas handles an ensemble gem with grace and style. In a lakeside vacation setting, this naturalistic piece explores how the confines of proximity force authenticity, ultimately revealing the unexpected. (Slamdance Film Festival)