Vara || ᴀ Runwayreel ͏s͏h͏o͏r͏t ͏f͏i͏l͏m || Directed by Vidyadhar

A paleontologist battling a chronic illness digs up a fossil that turns out to hold one of the universe's biggest secrets, and the discovery starts to unravel more than his career. Vidyadhar Kagita's twenty-two-minute short leans on visual effects and sound design to sell an idea bigger than its budget.

Why it's free: Free on RunwayReel's own YouTube channel; RunwayReel is credited as producer.