A Death in Progress A Death in Progress
DIRECTOR: Don Bitters III
USA, 2008, 9 Minutes
Language: English
Death has writer's block. The Grim Reaper is having a little trouble deciding how to kill his next victim. Too bad for Daniel, the guy he's trying to kill.
The idea…. Very clever. The film, not so much. Maybe it was to long for its simple plot, I am not sure. But, something in this little film did not work. I wanted to laugh, the idea…. Well it makes me laugh. But all I got was a few chuckles.
Apple
DIRECTOR: Jonas Rudström
Sweden, 2006, 6 Minutes
Language: No dialogue
A young boy finds the apple of his eye is as unattainable as it is desirable, until a kindly neighbor surprises him by helping him to reach the object of his desire.
This was an extremely well shot film. Visually stunning, but I didn’t feel much connection to the story. It was cute. The child performer was incorrigible and fun to watch. If it would have been any longer, I might have been even more puzzled. But as it was, I enjoyed watching this little film, but was left a little hollow by the end.
Fathom
DIRECTOR: Vladimír Jedicka
Switzerland, 2007, 7 Minutes
North American Premiere
Language: English
A man's obsessive hunt for buried beach treasure with his metal detector leads him to a predicament he'd never considered.
There isn’t a lot to this short film. Its cute and clever, but it could have been summed up in two minutes. The ending was almost worth the wait, though. A pretty film, but disturbingly odd.
Orion Slave Girls Must Die!!!
DIRECTOR: Eric Kallevig
USA, 2007, 26 Minutes
Language: English
Fanboy or Fratboy? Jules and Matt are best friends whose lives are devoted to Star Trek and devoid of girls. When Matt falls for Stacey, an alluring sorority girl, he ashamedly hides his Trek life. Outraged, Jules must take drastic measures to bring Matt back to the Trekkie fold.
Ok. I am a geek. I love sci-fi and almost anything with a ray gun. But I never got Star Trek, fortunately however, I got this film. Clever and very well written. The characters are extremely relatable, and you know them easily. Perhaps part of you even is one of them. It’s a little over the top and even more charming for it. Eric Kallevig has created a perfect love letter for the fan-boys and girls everywhere. Nice acting and slick production values make this a must see short film!
Vacation
DIRECTOR: Huy Chau
USA, 2008, 15 Minutes
World Premiere
Language: English
A dull summer job becomes bearable for a young girl when she discovers a haunting song she plays over and over. Unfortunately, her obsession with the song drives everyone crazy, particularly her brother who tries whatever he can to distract her from the music.
When something goes wrong…. Everything goes wrong. That is what the young girl in this film discovers. In 15 minutes she has so many different things happen to her it is unbelievable, and very entertaining. A very beautiful film with first rate acting. Huy Chau has created a film that makes you scratch your head and cringe in all the right places.
Lloyd Neck
DIRECTOR: Benedict Campbell
USA, 2007, 16 Minutes
Language: English
A high school athlete shares an uncommon bond with his little sister and his close friend who accompanies them on a day trip to the seashore to take pictures during an idyllic summer afternoon.
Lloyd Neck is an impressive short film that makes yearn for your young carefree days. There is a subtle underlying attraction that almost has Shakesperean power in this little film. What would happen if one of these crushes were truly reciprocated? A sharp script and a great cast keep this film upbeat and definitely a film to look out for!
Small Avalanches
DIRECTOR: Gillian Munro
USA, 2007, 16 Minutes
Language: English
Based on a Joyce Carol Oates story, this atmospheric short tells the story of 13-year-old Nancy, still a child but longing to be an adult, who encounters her first real threat as a female when an older man aggressively pursues her on her way home one sultry summer afternoon.
Adapted from a short story by Joyce Carol Oates, Small Avalanches takes place during the summer of 1971 and follows a singular event in the life of a thirteen year-old girl named Nancy. Spending her afternoons at her Uncle’s gas station in the hopes of seeing people and being seen, Nancy encounters an older well-to-do man from the city who is stopping for gas. As she is walking home at the end of the day, the man returns and follows her. Nancy soon finds herself in a situation that profoundly affects her childhood innocence forever.
A beautifully shot period piece that held true to the essence of the source content. The young girl who played Nancy was captivating to watch.
This is one of those films for me that you want to show everyone you know. It is so well made, that perhaps it should be seen as a master class for HOW to make a short film. Gillian Munro is a remarkable director that I expect to see a lot more from.
The Young and Evil
DIRECTOR: Julian Breece
USA, 2008, 15 Minutes
Language: English
A young man has a compulsion to pursue anonymous unprotected sex, frequenting a sex house where he can indulge his obsession. One night, he meets a man who lives upstairs in the house; a confrontation ensues calling everything each of them believes into question.
This is one of the best films I have seen this year. I saw the title and thought it was going to be a comedy. Though I laughed a couple times in the beginning, this film soon takes a dangerous turn and veers into serious dramatic territory. Well acted, beautifully written, and directed in exactly the right way. This film, tells a powerful and emotional story that you have to see to believe. By the end, I was startled and shaken. It is a powerful film that is perfect just the way it is!
Shane Morton