The films in A Love Not Owed explore the profoundly human need for relationships that are chosen and bravely earned, rather than being determined by circumstance or duty. This program presents a collection of emotionally resonant narratives centered on characters who must intentionally break away from rigid routines, emotional isolation, or past fractures to find genuine connection.

The program contrasts external struggles—like the young man battling his fear of the unknown while trying to flee a trapped existence with his sweetheart (Scarecrow)—with unexpected connections forged in moments of crisis, such as the unlikely, unearned intimacy that blossoms between a runaway thief and a suspicious woman (Far from). The themes extend to the necessary work of repairing bonds, whether by navigating the nostalgic currents of the past to reconnect with memory (Hawr) or through the modern, delicate intervention of a used smartphone to mend a fractured couple (Silkworm). Ultimately, these films celebrate the messy, difficult, and essential human endeavor of claiming the love that truly defines us.