If the Academy judged features by the same standards that they do live action shorts, the best picture ballot would be full of starry, quasi-political issue movies: well-meaning but manipulative films like “Father Stu” and “The Janes.” In this category, it’s the message that matters to Oscar voters, which makes this year’s “2024 Oscar Nominated Short Films: Live Action” program (available exclusively in theaters from ShortsTV) one of the most frustrating lineups in recent memory. Or it would, if not for the presence of one genuinely brilliant, liberatingly unserious nominee among them. That would be “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar,” the best of several delightful Roald Dahl adaptations director Wes Anderson cooked up for Netflix … but we’ll come to that in due time.
The slate opens with a far inferior Netflix short, “The After,” a risibly manipulative portrait of grief and finding the strength to move...
The slate opens with a far inferior Netflix short, “The After,” a risibly manipulative portrait of grief and finding the strength to move...
- 3/4/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Ahead of the Academy Awards, we’ve reviewed every short film in each category: Animation, Documentary, and Live Action. Here are the Best Live Action Short nominees:
Invincible | Canada | 30 minutes
The line “I’ll never be in your position” hits hard about halfway through Vincent René-Lortie’s Invincible. We’ve already seen it come true because of where Marc (Léokim Beaumier-Lépine) ends up––courtesy the prologue-set future that unfolds before the short film rewinds backwards in time––but those words are less premonition than tragic reality. He speaks them in response to his juvenile-detention-center case worker (Ralph Prosper’s Luc) asking what he should do about the boy’s latest transgression. Despite good grades and an empathetic heart, Marc finds himself on a path that does not lead towards authoritative roles. His past deeds have marked him. His present resentments have destroyed hope.
Based on true events, Marc’s dual...
Invincible | Canada | 30 minutes
The line “I’ll never be in your position” hits hard about halfway through Vincent René-Lortie’s Invincible. We’ve already seen it come true because of where Marc (Léokim Beaumier-Lépine) ends up––courtesy the prologue-set future that unfolds before the short film rewinds backwards in time––but those words are less premonition than tragic reality. He speaks them in response to his juvenile-detention-center case worker (Ralph Prosper’s Luc) asking what he should do about the boy’s latest transgression. Despite good grades and an empathetic heart, Marc finds himself on a path that does not lead towards authoritative roles. His past deeds have marked him. His present resentments have destroyed hope.
Based on true events, Marc’s dual...
- 2/14/2024
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
A morgue is not often a place associated with laughter or new beginnings but Danish filmmaker Lasse Lyskjær Noer’s Oscar nominated dark comedy Knight of Fortune (Ridder Lykke) is a refreshingly humorous look at the ways in which we handle grief. Emotionally crippled by the loss of his wife Karl, played by Swedish actor Leif Andrée, finds an unexpected but strangely comforting moment of solace when he meets fellow widower Torben, played by Jens Jørn Spottag in the men’s toilets. Knight of Fortune is supposed to make you laugh and Noer innately understands that even in the darkness of sorrow, laughter is a natural and common release valve which enhances rather than diminishes the film’s thematic core. Continuing Dn’s interview series with this year’s short film Academy Awards contenders, we spoke to Noer about finding an unscripted gem when filming in their disused hospital location,...
- 2/8/2024
- by Sarah Smith
- Directors Notes
“I just try to enjoy it,” declares writer and director Lasse Noer about his first brush with potential Oscar glory. Noer’s film “Knight of Fortune” has been shortlisted for Best Live Action Short at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. In an exclusive chat with Gold Derby (watch the video above), Noer and the film’s producer Kim Magnusson discuss the film’s melding of humor and grief and the important role that short films play in fostering new talent.
“Knight of Fortune” follows Karl (Leif Andrée) as he visits a morgue to say goodbye to his deceased wife. Karl encounters Torben (Jens Jørn Spottag), a fellow widower burdened by his own grief. The film deftly balances sorrow and humor, something the filmmakers said was crucial to the film’s intent. “I think that grief and laughing are not so far away from each other,” argues Noer. “I think it...
“Knight of Fortune” follows Karl (Leif Andrée) as he visits a morgue to say goodbye to his deceased wife. Karl encounters Torben (Jens Jørn Spottag), a fellow widower burdened by his own grief. The film deftly balances sorrow and humor, something the filmmakers said was crucial to the film’s intent. “I think that grief and laughing are not so far away from each other,” argues Noer. “I think it...
- 1/2/2024
- by Tony Ruiz
- Gold Derby
Soren Green makes his feature debut.
LevelK has boarded international rights to the upcoming Danish drama B.O.Y. – Bruises Of Yesterday. Soren Green, who has directed award-winning shorts including An Afternoon, An Evening And A Night, makes his feature debut.
The film is being pitched today (February 2) as part of the Work in Progress presentations at Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market.
The film follows a 16-year-old boy who has to spend the summer with his grandparents. He falls in love with an older young man but when tragedy strikes, he falls into a dark hole of self-harm, lust, and loneliness.
LevelK has boarded international rights to the upcoming Danish drama B.O.Y. – Bruises Of Yesterday. Soren Green, who has directed award-winning shorts including An Afternoon, An Evening And A Night, makes his feature debut.
The film is being pitched today (February 2) as part of the Work in Progress presentations at Goteborg’s Nordic Film Market.
The film follows a 16-year-old boy who has to spend the summer with his grandparents. He falls in love with an older young man but when tragedy strikes, he falls into a dark hole of self-harm, lust, and loneliness.
- 2/2/2023
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
In 2013, Daniel Rye, a Danish photographer in his mid-twenties, went to Syria to document the plight of civilian refugees and was kidnapped by Isis. Ransomed and held captive for 13 months, Rye was psychologically and physically tortured, starved and beaten by his captors, first on his own and then alongside several other international hostages, among them U.S. journalist James Foley.
This is the inherently dramatic true story told in Puk Damsgaard Andersen’s book “The Isis Hostage,” but it takes intelligence and paradoxical restraint from directors Niels Arden Oplev (Sweden’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) and Anders W. Berthelsen, as well as a superb, exceptionally physical lead performance from Esben Smed, to adapt it into “Daniel,” . Partly, the balance between gritty, true-life fidelity and pacy, exciting storytelling is achieved because in Rye, to whom Eric Kress’ warm, compassionate camera clings so doggedly, we have such a sympathetic, human protagonist.
This is the inherently dramatic true story told in Puk Damsgaard Andersen’s book “The Isis Hostage,” but it takes intelligence and paradoxical restraint from directors Niels Arden Oplev (Sweden’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) and Anders W. Berthelsen, as well as a superb, exceptionally physical lead performance from Esben Smed, to adapt it into “Daniel,” . Partly, the balance between gritty, true-life fidelity and pacy, exciting storytelling is achieved because in Rye, to whom Eric Kress’ warm, compassionate camera clings so doggedly, we have such a sympathetic, human protagonist.
- 7/9/2020
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
Sundance has unveiled titles for the Indie Episodic, Shorts, and Special Events sections of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 23-February 2 in Park City. Highlights include world premieres of documentaries on Hillary Clinton and Lance Armstrong in the Special Events lineup.
Among the projects chosen out of the 10,397 submissions, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmaker of color, and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia.
The 74 short films, which hail from 27 countries and were chosen from 10,397 submissions, will screen during the fest, while select festival shorts will be presented as a traveling program internationally and year-round.
Here are the lineups:
Indie Episodic
A dedicated showcase for emerging creators of independently produced episodic content for broadcast, web, and streaming platforms.
Awkward Family Photos / USA — A hilarious, odd, and heartfelt exploration of the imperfect family experience. The families behind some of the most viral photos from the archives of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com tell their unique stories and reunite to recreate their original photos, forcing them to reconcile their past and celebrate their awkwardness. World Premiere
Chemo Brain / Denmark — When Oliver is diagnosed with testicular cancer, his life is turned upside down. This lighthearted drama-series depicts the derailment of a young man that is doing everything he can to not lose his friends, his girlfriend, himself, and ultimately his life. Cast: Adam Ild Rohweder, Karoline Brygmann, Jens Jørn Spottag, Mads Reuther, Stephanie Nguyen, Mathilde Passer. International Premiere
City So Real / USA (Director: Steve James) — An impressionistic mosaic portrait of current-day Chicago which delivers a deep, multifaceted look into the soul of America’s third-largest city, set against the backdrop of its history-making 2019 mayoral campaign. World Premiere
Embrace / USA — Against the backdrop of Oakland California, Iranian-American medical student Kat tries to save her Iranian family by taking on a surprising side hustle. The show is a culturally diverse, quasi-surrealist dramedy that captures the ever-increasing need for human connection and the subsequent commodification of it. Cast: Kathreen Khavari, Eddie Huang, Mitra Jouhari. World Premiere
Hey Lady! / Canada — A fearlessly off-the-charts rampage of urban vengeance as senior-citizen Lady, along with her friend Rosie, upturns everything in her path–social norms, rules of etiquette, and even the series itself. Cast: Jayne Eastwood, Jackie Richardson. World Premiere
Laetitia / France — Eighteen-year-old Laetitia has disappeared. Police quickly arrest Tony Meilhon but investigators still can’t find the body. This story follows the repercussions for Laetitia’s family and twin sister Jessica; the police force inner workings and social services; the judicial system and government itself. Based on real events. Cast: Marie Colomb, Sophie Breyer, Yannick Choirat, Sam Karmann, Kevin Azïas, Noam Morgensztern. International Premiere
The Ride / USA — Wayne, a 40-year-old ride share driver and spiritual coach, recently moved back in with his mom and discovers the only thing that gives his life meaning is to help his passengers let go of their negative thoughts, whether they want his help or not. Cast: Linas Phillips, Maria Thayer, Alex Karpovsky, Punkie Johnson, Joslyn Jensen, Timm Sharp. World Premiere
Untitled Pizza Movie / USA (Director and screenwriter: David Shapiro) — How do you remember somebody in a disposable world? Weaving an abandoned film about pizza (NYC in the early 90s), a stunning, physical archive (thousands of objects) with a remarkable triple portrait, this series traces three lives over thirty years, three continents, and the faultlines of class, dreams, and memory. World Premiere
Special Events
One-of-a-kind moments highlighting new independent works that add to the unique Festival experience.
Hillary / USA (Director and screenwriter: Nanette Burstein) — A portrait of a public woman, interweaving moments from never-before-seen 2016 campaign footage with biographical chapters of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life. Featuring exclusive interviews with Hillary herself, Bill Clinton, friends, and journalists, an examination of how she became simultaneously one of the most admired and vilified women in the world. World Premiere
Lance / USA — This deeply personal examination of one of the world’s most controversial figures examines a man who’s both winner and loser, saint and sinner. With unprecedented access to Lance’s world, this psychological portrait is a powerful study of that 21st century phenomenon: the celebrity who falls spectacularly and publicly from grace. World Premiere
Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist / USA, Spain — A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, and an exploration of the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography. Cast: William Friedkin. North American Premiere
Love Fraud / USA — Bigamy. Identity theft. Fraud. For the last 20 years Richard Scott Smith has used the internet and his dubious charms to prey upon unsuspecting women in search of love–conning them out of their money and dignity. But now his victims ban together and seek sweet revenge. World Premiere
Max Richter’s Sleep / UK (Director and screenwriter: Natalie Johns) — Following the composer as he navigates an ambitious performance of his acclaimed 8-hour opus. Centring around an open-air concert in Los Angeles, alongside footage from Berlin, Sydney and Paris, we are plunged deep into the life and process of both the artist and his creative partner Yulia Mahr. North American Premiere
McMillions / USA — McMillions is the definitive, real-life account of the McDonald’s Monopoly game scam, which defrauded the American public throughout the 1990s, as told by the “prize winners,” criminals, government officials, and FBI agents, whom eventually took the crime ring down. World Premiere
Siempre, Luis / USA — Follow one single-minded immigrant’s improbable journey from Puerto Rico to the halls of power. Witness Luis Miranda’s unflappable idealism as he battles his health, mobilizes the mainland Latinx community, matches wits with his youngest child applying to college and brings Hamilton to his island home, all in twelve months. Cast: Luis Miranda, Lin-Manuel Miranda. World Premiere
The Trade / USA — A deeply personal and intimate portrait of human smuggling, sex trafficking, and the struggle to survive the migrant cycle between Central America and the United States. World Premiere
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme / USA — Follow the 15-year journey of the founding members of the improv hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme, as they reflect upon why this show remains such an important piece of their personal, creative, and professional history–from the basement of the Drama Bookshop in NYC to the Broadway stage. Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Anthony Veneziale, Christopher Jackson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Chris Sullivan. World Premiere
U.S. Narrative Short Films
Arabian Alien / Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Meshal Aljaser) — Saad, a Muslim married man, gets over his depression after a space Alien is introduced into his life. World Premiere
Baldwin Beauty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Thembi Banks) — Farrah, new to La, goes on the mobile styling app Get Glam, to find new clients. When she arrives at an appointment, she finds a house of girls pre-gaming for a party and maybe a new crew of friends.
Blocks / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bridget Moloney) — An existential comedy about the mother of two young children who begins to spontaneously vomit plastic toy blocks. World Premiere. Day One
Buck / USA — Caught in the throes of a depressive fugue, young Lynn resorts to debauchery to find joy — only to discover that happiness is a much more complicated proposition. World Premiere
Danny’s Girl / USA (Director and screenwriter: Emily Wilson) — Danny meets his online girlfriend for the first time, but accidentally discovers her unspeakable possession, which throws their first night together into a dizzying tailspin. World Premiere
Dirty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Matthew Puccini) — Marco cuts class to spend the afternoon with his boyfriend, Graham. Things do not go as planned. World Premiere
He’s the One / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jessie Kahnweiler) — A girl meets guy and falls head over heels, but a shocking discovery forces her to question everything. A dark comedy about falling in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate. World Premiere
How Did We Get Here? / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michelle Miles) — A visual exploration of progressive atrophy. A study in how microscopic changes can go unnoticed, but amass over time. Even as these changes become drastic, we sometimes fail to realize anything has happened at all. World Premiere
Lance (in a Neck Brace) / USA (Director and screenwriter: Chloé Aktas) — After a devastating breakup, Lance listens to instructional cassette tapes on how to heal his broken heart. World Premiere. Day One
Little Chief / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Erica Tremblay) — The lives of a Native woman and a troubled young boy intersect over the course of a school day on a reservation in Oklahoma. World Premiere
Meats / USA (Director and screenwriter: Ashley Williams) — A pregnant vegan struggles with her newfound craving for meat. World Premiere
Meridian / USA, Italy (Director and screenwriter: Calum Walter) — Footage transmitted by the last unit in a fleet of autonomous machines is sent to deliver an emergency vaccine. The film follows the machine before its disappearance, tracing a path that seems to stray further and further from its objective.
Pillars / USA (Director and screenwriter: Haley Elizabeth Anderson) — After seeing a boy she likes before church, Amber sneaks out to the Sunday school bathroom during the service and is given her first kiss. World Premiere
Place / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jason Gudasz) — Wanting a fresh start, Lauren moves into a house with her daughter and new boyfriend–but the spirits of the house have plans to turn them all against each other in very bizarre ways.
Ship: A Visual Poem / USA (Director and screenwriter: Terrance Daye) — A black boy learns contradicting lessons of manhood and masculinity on the day of his cousin’s funeral.
T / USA (Director and screenwriter: Keisha Rae Witherspoon) — A film crew follows three grieving participants of Miami’s annual T Ball, where folks assemble to model R.I.P. t-shirts and innovative costumes designed in honor of their dead.
Three Deaths / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jay Dockendorf) — Three strangers confront death in a modern interpretation of a Tolstoy short story. World Premiere
Valerio’s Day Out / Colombia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Michael Arcos) — A young jaguar goes on a killing spree when he escapes from his enclosure at a zoo. After he’s captured, sedated and relocated, he makes a video diary for his significant other, Lula.
International Narrative Short Films
Are You Hungry? / Finland — A single mother struggles to connect with her adopted teenage son, whom she believes is gay. U.S. Premiere. Day One
Backpedal / Australia (Director and screenwriter: Dani Pearce) — A collage of an American poem, exploring the universality of womanhood.
Bad Hair / Estonia (Director and screenwriter: Oskar Lehemaa) — Insecure and balding Leo has decided to try a mysterious hair growth liquid to fix up his looks. The liquid causes a series of grotesque metamorphoses, as Leo tries to get his bodily changes under control, the evening quickly turn into chaos.
Benevolent Ba / Malaysia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Diffan Sina Norman) — A devout woman’s lust for virtue thrusts her family into a sacrificial slaughter of biblical proportions. World Premiere
The Devil’s Harmony / UK — A bullied teenage girl leads an a cappella club on a trail of destruction against her high school enemies.
Exam / Iran — A teenage girl gets involved in the process of delivering a pack of cocaine to its client, and gets stuck in a weird cycle of occurrences. Day One
Former Cult Member Hears Music For The First Time / Norway, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kristoffer Borgli) — After a woman escapes the captivity of her abusive family, a magazine invites her to a journalistic experiment: to hear music for the first time. World Premiere
I’ll End Up in Jail / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Alexandre Dostie) — A stay-at-home mom gets into a murderous car crash where nobody wants to take the blame. U.S. Premiere
Leave of Absence / Russia (Director and Screenwriter: Anton Sazonov) — In Russia, supressed masculinity has led to a feeling of unfulfillment as men feel that the country rejects them, leading to a drastic decline in male life expectancy. North American Premiere. Day One
No One is Crazy in This Town / Indonesia ) — The owner of a big hotel orders Marwan and his team to remove mentally ill people from the city streets and cast them away in the forests. North American Premiere
Olla / France, United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Ariane Labed) — Olla has answered an ad on a dating website for Eastern European women. She moves in with Pierre, who lives with his old mother, but nothing goes as expected.
Paola Makes A Wish / Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Zhannat Alshanova) — On an ordinary day at work, Paola starts to feel that she is missing out something exciting in her life. U.S. Premiere
Pattaki / Cuba — In the dense night, when the moon rises, those who live in a monotonous daily life without water are hypnotized by the powers of Yemaya, the goddess of the sea. U.S. Premiere
Regret / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Santiago Menghini) — Following the death of his father, a man must survive the manifestations of his inner demons over the course of a dreary night. World Premiere
Sadla / South Africa (Director and screenwriter: Zamo Mkhwanazi) — While going on a simple errand, Nathi’s journey is marked by disturbing interactions with authority. But is he an innocent victim? U.S. Premiere. Day One
So What If The Goats Die / France, Morocco (Director and screenwriter: Sofia Alaoui) — Abdellah, a young shepherd living in the mountains, is forced to brave the snow blocking him in order to get food and save his cattle. Once he gets to the village, he faces a supernatural phenomenon. World Premiere
Song of Clouds / Nepal (Director and screenwriter: Ankit Poudel) — A haunting visual fever dream, and a meditation on the afterlife; the journey to the next world, and what gets left behind among the living. World Premiere
Sticker / Macedonia (Director and screenwriter: Georgi M. Unkovski) — After an unsuccessful attempt to renew his car registration, Dejan falls in a bureaucratic trap that tests his determination to be a responsible father. North American Premiere
A Thousand Sails / Hong Kong (Director and screenwriter: Hing Weng Eric Tsang) — Ren promises to keep a secret for her neighbor’s son–a secret she can share with no one on the island. Her only refuge from sleepless nights is her deceased husband. International Premiere
Documentary Short Films
Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa / U.S.A. — At a Philadelphia abortion helpline, counselors answer nonstop calls from women who seek to end a pregnancy but can’t afford to. In this documentary we learn how economic stigma and cruel legislation determine who has access to abortion.
All That Perishes at the Edge of Land / Pakistan — A ship berthed at Gadani and the shipbreakers coming from all over Pakistan to break it discover that they might have more in common than otherwise imagined when they enter into a conversation.
Bereka / U.S.A., Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Nesanet Teshager Abegaze) — A family history archive as told by matriarch Azalu Mekonnen and her granddaughter Samira Hooks. Shot on Super 8 film in Los Angeles and Gondar, Ethiopia, capturing the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and explores migration, memory and rebirth.
Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business / USA (Director: Christine Turner) — At age 93, there’s no stopping the legendary artist Betye Saar. World Premiere
Broken Orchestra / Canada, USA (Director: Charlie Tyrell) — The Symphony for a Broken Orchestra project collected hundreds of broken instruments from the Philadelphia public school system, fixed them and then returned them into the hands of students.
Character / USA (Director: Vera Brunner-Sung) — Actor Mark Metcalf made his reputation in Hollywood playing aggrieved authority figures. Now in his 70s, he takes a look back on his career in this meditation on power, privilege, and the perils of being a “type.” World Premiere
Church and the Fourth Estate / USA (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — A reporter uncovers a file that reveals a shocking series of child abuse allegations in Idaho’s Boy Scouts, which rattle the community and implicate the Mormon church. The story reveals long-running crimes that threaten to bankrupt the Boy Scouts. World Premiere
The Deepest Hole / USA (Director: Matt McCormick) — While the space and arms races are Cold War common knowledge, few know about the United States and Soviet Union’s race to dig the deepest hole. This is particularly surprising since Hell may have been inadvertently discovered in the process. World Premiere
Día de la Madre / USA — A band of juveniles embark on a 24-hour spree of breaking into houses and causing a ruckus. World Premiere
Do Not Split / USA, Norway (Director: Anders Hammer) — The story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, told
through a series of demonstrations by local protestors that escalate into conflict when highly armed police appear
on the scene. World Premiere
E-Ticket / Hong Kong, U.S.A. (Director: Simon Liu) — A frantic (re)cataloguing of a personal archive and 16,000
splices in the making. 35mm frames are obsessively rearranged in evolving-disorienting patterns, as a Dante’s
Inferno for the streaming age emerges, illustrating freedom of movement for the modern cloud.
Guisado on Sunset / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Terence Nance) — Missed connection regret at that one
late-night spot–the kind you keep playing back in your head but not quite ever remembering right, until it starts to
look like something else. International Premiere
John Was Trying to Contact Aliens / U.S.A. (Director: Matthew Killip) — John
Shepherd spent 30 years trying to contact extraterrestrials by broadcasting music
millions of miles into space. After giving up the search he makes a different
connection here on earth. World Premiere. Day One
Junior Bangers / United Kingdom (Director: Danny Lee) — In England, banger
racing isn’t just a sport, but a way of life. Join 11-year-olds Finn and Harley on a cold
winter race day in Birmingham. North American Premiere
Lichen / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Lisa Jackson) — An otherworldly deep dive into the hidden beauty of
lichens, asking what we might learn from them. Ancient and diverse, thriving in adversity, confounding scientists
to this day, lichen is a model of emergence. International Premiere
A Love Song for Latasha / U.S.A. (Director: Sophia Nahli Allison) — A dreamlike archive in conversation with
the past and the present to reimagine a more nuanced narrative of Latasha Harlins by excavating intimate and
poetic memories shared by her cousin and best friend.
Narcissister Breast Work / U.S.A. (Director: Narcissister) — Focusing on the exercise by women of their right to
bare their breasts in public, this film is an investigation into how prohibitions on female toplessness are grounded
in fear of, and desire to control, the female body. World Premiere
Now Is the Time / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Christopher Auchter) — On the 50th anniversary of the
first new totem pole raising on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii in almost a century, we revisit the day that would
signal the rebirth of the Haida spirit.
See You Next Time / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Kayiza) — A window into the intimate moments shared across a
nail salon table between a Chinese nail artist and her black client in Brooklyn, NY.
The Starr Sisters / U.S.A. — Patte and Randa Starr are fun specialists.
After overcoming a dark past, these sisters are inseparable. Now in their 70s, they do exactly as they please and
their candy drawer is always fully stocked.
While I’m Still Breathing (Tandis Que Je Respire Encore) / France — The blurred portrayal of a young woman as she moves
through three steps of her sexuality. North American Premiere
Animated Short Films
Daughter / Czech Republic (Director and screenwriter: Daria Kashcheeva) — Should you hide your pain, close
yourself inside your inner world, and long for your father’s love? Or should you understand and forgive before it’s
too late?
Daytime Noir / U.S.A. — A
mother and son’s journey through the exploitative world of tabloid TV. World Premiere
eadem cutis: the same skin / Germany (Director: Nina Hopf) — “I just want to be seen as who I am today!” John
shares his thoughts on identity, body and gender and gives a very personal insight into his life–and an intimate
proximity to his body. North American Premiere
Eli / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nate Milton) — A true story from the realms of high strangeness, magical
thinking, and manic delusion.
Farce / Norway (Director and screenwriter: Robin Jensen) — A man, a woman and a meat grinder. Love is messy.
Hot Flash / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Thea Hollatz) — Ace is having a hot flash, and she’s about to go live on local television. How one woman tries to keep her cool when one type of flash leads to another. International Premiere
Hudson Geese / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bernardo Britto) — A goose remembers his last migration. World Premiere. Day One
Inès / France and Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Élodie Dermange) — Inès is facing a difficult choice. Tonight, she thinks about the decision she will make. North American Premiere
My Juke-Box / France (Director and screenwriter: Florentine Grelier) — Yesterday, I overheard an old rock ‘n’ roll song that sounded familiar. This is probably the music that we used to listen to on my dad’s mechanical devices–the thousand lives man, the king of the jukebox. International Premiere
No, I Don’t Want to Dance! / UK (Director and screenwriter: Andrea Vinciguerra) — In these dark times, you may think that every hazard has been identified, but nobody has taken into consideration how dangerous dance can be…
Sh_t Happens / Czech Republic, Slovakia, France — The caretaker exhausted by everything, his frustrated wife, and one totally depressed deer. Their mutual despair leads them to absurd events, because… shit happens all the time. U.S. Premiere
The Shawl / USA (Director: Sara Kiener) After years of long distance, a pair of big and beautiful boyfriends celebrate their reunion at a Stevie Nicks concert, where they share a brush with magic. World Premiere
Slug Life / United Kingdom (Director and Screenwriter: Sophie Koko Gate) — A day in the life of Tanya, a curious woman who has developed a taste for non human lovers. Her next creation: a giant slug. Can such a perfect creature survive in this gnarly world full of freaks and beefs?.
Takoyaki Story / Japan (Director and screenwriter: Sawako Kabuki) — Always attracted to takoyaki–octopus balls, a famous Japanese street food–a girl tries them for the first time and becomes addicted.
Wong Ping’s Fables 2 / Hong Kong (Director and Screenwriter: Ping Wong) — Wong Ping urinates twice before gently pressing your head down with his right foot, giving you a closer look at your own reflection in his urine.
Wood Child and Hidden Forest Mother / UK (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Irwin) — Deep in the forest, a hunter encounters a strange creature he cannot kill. World Premiere...
Among the projects chosen out of the 10,397 submissions, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmaker of color, and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia.
The 74 short films, which hail from 27 countries and were chosen from 10,397 submissions, will screen during the fest, while select festival shorts will be presented as a traveling program internationally and year-round.
Here are the lineups:
Indie Episodic
A dedicated showcase for emerging creators of independently produced episodic content for broadcast, web, and streaming platforms.
Awkward Family Photos / USA — A hilarious, odd, and heartfelt exploration of the imperfect family experience. The families behind some of the most viral photos from the archives of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com tell their unique stories and reunite to recreate their original photos, forcing them to reconcile their past and celebrate their awkwardness. World Premiere
Chemo Brain / Denmark — When Oliver is diagnosed with testicular cancer, his life is turned upside down. This lighthearted drama-series depicts the derailment of a young man that is doing everything he can to not lose his friends, his girlfriend, himself, and ultimately his life. Cast: Adam Ild Rohweder, Karoline Brygmann, Jens Jørn Spottag, Mads Reuther, Stephanie Nguyen, Mathilde Passer. International Premiere
City So Real / USA (Director: Steve James) — An impressionistic mosaic portrait of current-day Chicago which delivers a deep, multifaceted look into the soul of America’s third-largest city, set against the backdrop of its history-making 2019 mayoral campaign. World Premiere
Embrace / USA — Against the backdrop of Oakland California, Iranian-American medical student Kat tries to save her Iranian family by taking on a surprising side hustle. The show is a culturally diverse, quasi-surrealist dramedy that captures the ever-increasing need for human connection and the subsequent commodification of it. Cast: Kathreen Khavari, Eddie Huang, Mitra Jouhari. World Premiere
Hey Lady! / Canada — A fearlessly off-the-charts rampage of urban vengeance as senior-citizen Lady, along with her friend Rosie, upturns everything in her path–social norms, rules of etiquette, and even the series itself. Cast: Jayne Eastwood, Jackie Richardson. World Premiere
Laetitia / France — Eighteen-year-old Laetitia has disappeared. Police quickly arrest Tony Meilhon but investigators still can’t find the body. This story follows the repercussions for Laetitia’s family and twin sister Jessica; the police force inner workings and social services; the judicial system and government itself. Based on real events. Cast: Marie Colomb, Sophie Breyer, Yannick Choirat, Sam Karmann, Kevin Azïas, Noam Morgensztern. International Premiere
The Ride / USA — Wayne, a 40-year-old ride share driver and spiritual coach, recently moved back in with his mom and discovers the only thing that gives his life meaning is to help his passengers let go of their negative thoughts, whether they want his help or not. Cast: Linas Phillips, Maria Thayer, Alex Karpovsky, Punkie Johnson, Joslyn Jensen, Timm Sharp. World Premiere
Untitled Pizza Movie / USA (Director and screenwriter: David Shapiro) — How do you remember somebody in a disposable world? Weaving an abandoned film about pizza (NYC in the early 90s), a stunning, physical archive (thousands of objects) with a remarkable triple portrait, this series traces three lives over thirty years, three continents, and the faultlines of class, dreams, and memory. World Premiere
Special Events
One-of-a-kind moments highlighting new independent works that add to the unique Festival experience.
Hillary / USA (Director and screenwriter: Nanette Burstein) — A portrait of a public woman, interweaving moments from never-before-seen 2016 campaign footage with biographical chapters of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life. Featuring exclusive interviews with Hillary herself, Bill Clinton, friends, and journalists, an examination of how she became simultaneously one of the most admired and vilified women in the world. World Premiere
Lance / USA — This deeply personal examination of one of the world’s most controversial figures examines a man who’s both winner and loser, saint and sinner. With unprecedented access to Lance’s world, this psychological portrait is a powerful study of that 21st century phenomenon: the celebrity who falls spectacularly and publicly from grace. World Premiere
Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist / USA, Spain — A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, and an exploration of the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography. Cast: William Friedkin. North American Premiere
Love Fraud / USA — Bigamy. Identity theft. Fraud. For the last 20 years Richard Scott Smith has used the internet and his dubious charms to prey upon unsuspecting women in search of love–conning them out of their money and dignity. But now his victims ban together and seek sweet revenge. World Premiere
Max Richter’s Sleep / UK (Director and screenwriter: Natalie Johns) — Following the composer as he navigates an ambitious performance of his acclaimed 8-hour opus. Centring around an open-air concert in Los Angeles, alongside footage from Berlin, Sydney and Paris, we are plunged deep into the life and process of both the artist and his creative partner Yulia Mahr. North American Premiere
McMillions / USA — McMillions is the definitive, real-life account of the McDonald’s Monopoly game scam, which defrauded the American public throughout the 1990s, as told by the “prize winners,” criminals, government officials, and FBI agents, whom eventually took the crime ring down. World Premiere
Siempre, Luis / USA — Follow one single-minded immigrant’s improbable journey from Puerto Rico to the halls of power. Witness Luis Miranda’s unflappable idealism as he battles his health, mobilizes the mainland Latinx community, matches wits with his youngest child applying to college and brings Hamilton to his island home, all in twelve months. Cast: Luis Miranda, Lin-Manuel Miranda. World Premiere
The Trade / USA — A deeply personal and intimate portrait of human smuggling, sex trafficking, and the struggle to survive the migrant cycle between Central America and the United States. World Premiere
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme / USA — Follow the 15-year journey of the founding members of the improv hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme, as they reflect upon why this show remains such an important piece of their personal, creative, and professional history–from the basement of the Drama Bookshop in NYC to the Broadway stage. Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Anthony Veneziale, Christopher Jackson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Chris Sullivan. World Premiere
U.S. Narrative Short Films
Arabian Alien / Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Meshal Aljaser) — Saad, a Muslim married man, gets over his depression after a space Alien is introduced into his life. World Premiere
Baldwin Beauty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Thembi Banks) — Farrah, new to La, goes on the mobile styling app Get Glam, to find new clients. When she arrives at an appointment, she finds a house of girls pre-gaming for a party and maybe a new crew of friends.
Blocks / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bridget Moloney) — An existential comedy about the mother of two young children who begins to spontaneously vomit plastic toy blocks. World Premiere. Day One
Buck / USA — Caught in the throes of a depressive fugue, young Lynn resorts to debauchery to find joy — only to discover that happiness is a much more complicated proposition. World Premiere
Danny’s Girl / USA (Director and screenwriter: Emily Wilson) — Danny meets his online girlfriend for the first time, but accidentally discovers her unspeakable possession, which throws their first night together into a dizzying tailspin. World Premiere
Dirty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Matthew Puccini) — Marco cuts class to spend the afternoon with his boyfriend, Graham. Things do not go as planned. World Premiere
He’s the One / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jessie Kahnweiler) — A girl meets guy and falls head over heels, but a shocking discovery forces her to question everything. A dark comedy about falling in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate. World Premiere
How Did We Get Here? / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michelle Miles) — A visual exploration of progressive atrophy. A study in how microscopic changes can go unnoticed, but amass over time. Even as these changes become drastic, we sometimes fail to realize anything has happened at all. World Premiere
Lance (in a Neck Brace) / USA (Director and screenwriter: Chloé Aktas) — After a devastating breakup, Lance listens to instructional cassette tapes on how to heal his broken heart. World Premiere. Day One
Little Chief / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Erica Tremblay) — The lives of a Native woman and a troubled young boy intersect over the course of a school day on a reservation in Oklahoma. World Premiere
Meats / USA (Director and screenwriter: Ashley Williams) — A pregnant vegan struggles with her newfound craving for meat. World Premiere
Meridian / USA, Italy (Director and screenwriter: Calum Walter) — Footage transmitted by the last unit in a fleet of autonomous machines is sent to deliver an emergency vaccine. The film follows the machine before its disappearance, tracing a path that seems to stray further and further from its objective.
Pillars / USA (Director and screenwriter: Haley Elizabeth Anderson) — After seeing a boy she likes before church, Amber sneaks out to the Sunday school bathroom during the service and is given her first kiss. World Premiere
Place / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jason Gudasz) — Wanting a fresh start, Lauren moves into a house with her daughter and new boyfriend–but the spirits of the house have plans to turn them all against each other in very bizarre ways.
Ship: A Visual Poem / USA (Director and screenwriter: Terrance Daye) — A black boy learns contradicting lessons of manhood and masculinity on the day of his cousin’s funeral.
T / USA (Director and screenwriter: Keisha Rae Witherspoon) — A film crew follows three grieving participants of Miami’s annual T Ball, where folks assemble to model R.I.P. t-shirts and innovative costumes designed in honor of their dead.
Three Deaths / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jay Dockendorf) — Three strangers confront death in a modern interpretation of a Tolstoy short story. World Premiere
Valerio’s Day Out / Colombia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Michael Arcos) — A young jaguar goes on a killing spree when he escapes from his enclosure at a zoo. After he’s captured, sedated and relocated, he makes a video diary for his significant other, Lula.
International Narrative Short Films
Are You Hungry? / Finland — A single mother struggles to connect with her adopted teenage son, whom she believes is gay. U.S. Premiere. Day One
Backpedal / Australia (Director and screenwriter: Dani Pearce) — A collage of an American poem, exploring the universality of womanhood.
Bad Hair / Estonia (Director and screenwriter: Oskar Lehemaa) — Insecure and balding Leo has decided to try a mysterious hair growth liquid to fix up his looks. The liquid causes a series of grotesque metamorphoses, as Leo tries to get his bodily changes under control, the evening quickly turn into chaos.
Benevolent Ba / Malaysia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Diffan Sina Norman) — A devout woman’s lust for virtue thrusts her family into a sacrificial slaughter of biblical proportions. World Premiere
The Devil’s Harmony / UK — A bullied teenage girl leads an a cappella club on a trail of destruction against her high school enemies.
Exam / Iran — A teenage girl gets involved in the process of delivering a pack of cocaine to its client, and gets stuck in a weird cycle of occurrences. Day One
Former Cult Member Hears Music For The First Time / Norway, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kristoffer Borgli) — After a woman escapes the captivity of her abusive family, a magazine invites her to a journalistic experiment: to hear music for the first time. World Premiere
I’ll End Up in Jail / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Alexandre Dostie) — A stay-at-home mom gets into a murderous car crash where nobody wants to take the blame. U.S. Premiere
Leave of Absence / Russia (Director and Screenwriter: Anton Sazonov) — In Russia, supressed masculinity has led to a feeling of unfulfillment as men feel that the country rejects them, leading to a drastic decline in male life expectancy. North American Premiere. Day One
No One is Crazy in This Town / Indonesia ) — The owner of a big hotel orders Marwan and his team to remove mentally ill people from the city streets and cast them away in the forests. North American Premiere
Olla / France, United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Ariane Labed) — Olla has answered an ad on a dating website for Eastern European women. She moves in with Pierre, who lives with his old mother, but nothing goes as expected.
Paola Makes A Wish / Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Zhannat Alshanova) — On an ordinary day at work, Paola starts to feel that she is missing out something exciting in her life. U.S. Premiere
Pattaki / Cuba — In the dense night, when the moon rises, those who live in a monotonous daily life without water are hypnotized by the powers of Yemaya, the goddess of the sea. U.S. Premiere
Regret / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Santiago Menghini) — Following the death of his father, a man must survive the manifestations of his inner demons over the course of a dreary night. World Premiere
Sadla / South Africa (Director and screenwriter: Zamo Mkhwanazi) — While going on a simple errand, Nathi’s journey is marked by disturbing interactions with authority. But is he an innocent victim? U.S. Premiere. Day One
So What If The Goats Die / France, Morocco (Director and screenwriter: Sofia Alaoui) — Abdellah, a young shepherd living in the mountains, is forced to brave the snow blocking him in order to get food and save his cattle. Once he gets to the village, he faces a supernatural phenomenon. World Premiere
Song of Clouds / Nepal (Director and screenwriter: Ankit Poudel) — A haunting visual fever dream, and a meditation on the afterlife; the journey to the next world, and what gets left behind among the living. World Premiere
Sticker / Macedonia (Director and screenwriter: Georgi M. Unkovski) — After an unsuccessful attempt to renew his car registration, Dejan falls in a bureaucratic trap that tests his determination to be a responsible father. North American Premiere
A Thousand Sails / Hong Kong (Director and screenwriter: Hing Weng Eric Tsang) — Ren promises to keep a secret for her neighbor’s son–a secret she can share with no one on the island. Her only refuge from sleepless nights is her deceased husband. International Premiere
Documentary Short Films
Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa / U.S.A. — At a Philadelphia abortion helpline, counselors answer nonstop calls from women who seek to end a pregnancy but can’t afford to. In this documentary we learn how economic stigma and cruel legislation determine who has access to abortion.
All That Perishes at the Edge of Land / Pakistan — A ship berthed at Gadani and the shipbreakers coming from all over Pakistan to break it discover that they might have more in common than otherwise imagined when they enter into a conversation.
Bereka / U.S.A., Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Nesanet Teshager Abegaze) — A family history archive as told by matriarch Azalu Mekonnen and her granddaughter Samira Hooks. Shot on Super 8 film in Los Angeles and Gondar, Ethiopia, capturing the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and explores migration, memory and rebirth.
Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business / USA (Director: Christine Turner) — At age 93, there’s no stopping the legendary artist Betye Saar. World Premiere
Broken Orchestra / Canada, USA (Director: Charlie Tyrell) — The Symphony for a Broken Orchestra project collected hundreds of broken instruments from the Philadelphia public school system, fixed them and then returned them into the hands of students.
Character / USA (Director: Vera Brunner-Sung) — Actor Mark Metcalf made his reputation in Hollywood playing aggrieved authority figures. Now in his 70s, he takes a look back on his career in this meditation on power, privilege, and the perils of being a “type.” World Premiere
Church and the Fourth Estate / USA (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — A reporter uncovers a file that reveals a shocking series of child abuse allegations in Idaho’s Boy Scouts, which rattle the community and implicate the Mormon church. The story reveals long-running crimes that threaten to bankrupt the Boy Scouts. World Premiere
The Deepest Hole / USA (Director: Matt McCormick) — While the space and arms races are Cold War common knowledge, few know about the United States and Soviet Union’s race to dig the deepest hole. This is particularly surprising since Hell may have been inadvertently discovered in the process. World Premiere
Día de la Madre / USA — A band of juveniles embark on a 24-hour spree of breaking into houses and causing a ruckus. World Premiere
Do Not Split / USA, Norway (Director: Anders Hammer) — The story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, told
through a series of demonstrations by local protestors that escalate into conflict when highly armed police appear
on the scene. World Premiere
E-Ticket / Hong Kong, U.S.A. (Director: Simon Liu) — A frantic (re)cataloguing of a personal archive and 16,000
splices in the making. 35mm frames are obsessively rearranged in evolving-disorienting patterns, as a Dante’s
Inferno for the streaming age emerges, illustrating freedom of movement for the modern cloud.
Guisado on Sunset / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Terence Nance) — Missed connection regret at that one
late-night spot–the kind you keep playing back in your head but not quite ever remembering right, until it starts to
look like something else. International Premiere
John Was Trying to Contact Aliens / U.S.A. (Director: Matthew Killip) — John
Shepherd spent 30 years trying to contact extraterrestrials by broadcasting music
millions of miles into space. After giving up the search he makes a different
connection here on earth. World Premiere. Day One
Junior Bangers / United Kingdom (Director: Danny Lee) — In England, banger
racing isn’t just a sport, but a way of life. Join 11-year-olds Finn and Harley on a cold
winter race day in Birmingham. North American Premiere
Lichen / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Lisa Jackson) — An otherworldly deep dive into the hidden beauty of
lichens, asking what we might learn from them. Ancient and diverse, thriving in adversity, confounding scientists
to this day, lichen is a model of emergence. International Premiere
A Love Song for Latasha / U.S.A. (Director: Sophia Nahli Allison) — A dreamlike archive in conversation with
the past and the present to reimagine a more nuanced narrative of Latasha Harlins by excavating intimate and
poetic memories shared by her cousin and best friend.
Narcissister Breast Work / U.S.A. (Director: Narcissister) — Focusing on the exercise by women of their right to
bare their breasts in public, this film is an investigation into how prohibitions on female toplessness are grounded
in fear of, and desire to control, the female body. World Premiere
Now Is the Time / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Christopher Auchter) — On the 50th anniversary of the
first new totem pole raising on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii in almost a century, we revisit the day that would
signal the rebirth of the Haida spirit.
See You Next Time / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Kayiza) — A window into the intimate moments shared across a
nail salon table between a Chinese nail artist and her black client in Brooklyn, NY.
The Starr Sisters / U.S.A. — Patte and Randa Starr are fun specialists.
After overcoming a dark past, these sisters are inseparable. Now in their 70s, they do exactly as they please and
their candy drawer is always fully stocked.
While I’m Still Breathing (Tandis Que Je Respire Encore) / France — The blurred portrayal of a young woman as she moves
through three steps of her sexuality. North American Premiere
Animated Short Films
Daughter / Czech Republic (Director and screenwriter: Daria Kashcheeva) — Should you hide your pain, close
yourself inside your inner world, and long for your father’s love? Or should you understand and forgive before it’s
too late?
Daytime Noir / U.S.A. — A
mother and son’s journey through the exploitative world of tabloid TV. World Premiere
eadem cutis: the same skin / Germany (Director: Nina Hopf) — “I just want to be seen as who I am today!” John
shares his thoughts on identity, body and gender and gives a very personal insight into his life–and an intimate
proximity to his body. North American Premiere
Eli / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nate Milton) — A true story from the realms of high strangeness, magical
thinking, and manic delusion.
Farce / Norway (Director and screenwriter: Robin Jensen) — A man, a woman and a meat grinder. Love is messy.
Hot Flash / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Thea Hollatz) — Ace is having a hot flash, and she’s about to go live on local television. How one woman tries to keep her cool when one type of flash leads to another. International Premiere
Hudson Geese / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bernardo Britto) — A goose remembers his last migration. World Premiere. Day One
Inès / France and Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Élodie Dermange) — Inès is facing a difficult choice. Tonight, she thinks about the decision she will make. North American Premiere
My Juke-Box / France (Director and screenwriter: Florentine Grelier) — Yesterday, I overheard an old rock ‘n’ roll song that sounded familiar. This is probably the music that we used to listen to on my dad’s mechanical devices–the thousand lives man, the king of the jukebox. International Premiere
No, I Don’t Want to Dance! / UK (Director and screenwriter: Andrea Vinciguerra) — In these dark times, you may think that every hazard has been identified, but nobody has taken into consideration how dangerous dance can be…
Sh_t Happens / Czech Republic, Slovakia, France — The caretaker exhausted by everything, his frustrated wife, and one totally depressed deer. Their mutual despair leads them to absurd events, because… shit happens all the time. U.S. Premiere
The Shawl / USA (Director: Sara Kiener) After years of long distance, a pair of big and beautiful boyfriends celebrate their reunion at a Stevie Nicks concert, where they share a brush with magic. World Premiere
Slug Life / United Kingdom (Director and Screenwriter: Sophie Koko Gate) — A day in the life of Tanya, a curious woman who has developed a taste for non human lovers. Her next creation: a giant slug. Can such a perfect creature survive in this gnarly world full of freaks and beefs?.
Takoyaki Story / Japan (Director and screenwriter: Sawako Kabuki) — Always attracted to takoyaki–octopus balls, a famous Japanese street food–a girl tries them for the first time and becomes addicted.
Wong Ping’s Fables 2 / Hong Kong (Director and Screenwriter: Ping Wong) — Wong Ping urinates twice before gently pressing your head down with his right foot, giving you a closer look at your own reflection in his urine.
Wood Child and Hidden Forest Mother / UK (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Irwin) — Deep in the forest, a hunter encounters a strange creature he cannot kill. World Premiere...
- 12/10/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Institute has announced the works selected across the Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events sections for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, which will include documentaries on Hillary Clinton and Lance Armstrong, and two Lin-Manuel Miranda films.
“Authenticity and independent voices resonate across formats – and that’s evident across the full spectrum of this year’s Indie Episodic and Special Events slates,” Kim Yutani, the Festival’s Director or Programming, said. “Defined by distinctive voices and enlightening viewpoints, these are riveting projects that find inspiration in the urgent stories and extraordinary individuals of our times.”
Of the projects announced on Tuesday, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmakers of color and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia. Seven films were supported by Sundance Institute in development.
Also Read: Taylor Swift, Viggo Mortensen and Tessa Thompson Lead...
“Authenticity and independent voices resonate across formats – and that’s evident across the full spectrum of this year’s Indie Episodic and Special Events slates,” Kim Yutani, the Festival’s Director or Programming, said. “Defined by distinctive voices and enlightening viewpoints, these are riveting projects that find inspiration in the urgent stories and extraordinary individuals of our times.”
Of the projects announced on Tuesday, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmakers of color and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia. Seven films were supported by Sundance Institute in development.
Also Read: Taylor Swift, Viggo Mortensen and Tessa Thompson Lead...
- 12/10/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Park City is with her — or will be, when an under-wraps documentary series about Hillary Clinton debuts at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
“Hillary,” directed by Nanette Burstein, is one of several projects going up in Sundance’s special events program, announced Tuesday by the festival in step with its short film and indie episodic lineups.
The four-part series, produced by Hulu, is described as “a portrait of a public woman, interweaving moments from never-before-seen 2016 campaign footage with biographical chapters of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life.” The project will feature interviews with Clinton herself, husband Bill Clinton, close friends and journalists, and represent “an examination of how she became simultaneously one of the most admired and vilified women in the world.” It premieres March 6 on Hulu.
It’s unclear if Clinton will appear at the festival in support of the project. This summer, reports said she and daughter Chelsea Clinton...
“Hillary,” directed by Nanette Burstein, is one of several projects going up in Sundance’s special events program, announced Tuesday by the festival in step with its short film and indie episodic lineups.
The four-part series, produced by Hulu, is described as “a portrait of a public woman, interweaving moments from never-before-seen 2016 campaign footage with biographical chapters of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life.” The project will feature interviews with Clinton herself, husband Bill Clinton, close friends and journalists, and represent “an examination of how she became simultaneously one of the most admired and vilified women in the world.” It premieres March 6 on Hulu.
It’s unclear if Clinton will appear at the festival in support of the project. This summer, reports said she and daughter Chelsea Clinton...
- 12/10/2019
- by Matt Donnelly and Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The Sundance Institute announced its 2020 lineups for the Indie Episodic, Special Events and Shorts programs Tuesday, featuring a slew of new talent as well as plenty of faces familiar to Park City. This year’s selections include work from Steve James (“City So Real”), Sarah Polley (“Hey Lady!”), and two entries starring Lin-Manuel Miranda.
“Authenticity and independent voices resonate across formats — and that’s evident across the full spectrum of this year’s Indie Episodic and Special Events slates,” Kim Yutani, the director of programming for the festival, said in a statement. “Defined by distinctive voices and enlightening viewpoints, these are riveting projects that find inspiration in the urgent stories and extraordinary individuals of our times.”
James makes his return to Sundance after 2018’s “America to Me,” his 10-part docuseries which was picked up by Starz. This year finds James again focusing on his beloved hometown of Chicago, capturing the...
“Authenticity and independent voices resonate across formats — and that’s evident across the full spectrum of this year’s Indie Episodic and Special Events slates,” Kim Yutani, the director of programming for the festival, said in a statement. “Defined by distinctive voices and enlightening viewpoints, these are riveting projects that find inspiration in the urgent stories and extraordinary individuals of our times.”
James makes his return to Sundance after 2018’s “America to Me,” his 10-part docuseries which was picked up by Starz. This year finds James again focusing on his beloved hometown of Chicago, capturing the...
- 12/10/2019
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
New Frontier selections to be announced on Thursday (12).
Sundance Film Festival top brass announced on Tuesday (10) content in the Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events sections featuring new work by Marina Zenovich, Steve James, and Matthew Heineman.
James (City So Real) and Sarah Polley (Hey Lady!) are among the Indie Episodics line-up, while Special Events selections include Zenovich’s (Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired) Lance Armstrong profile Lance, Matthew Heineman’s sex trafficking exposé Trade, and Love Fraud, the latest film from Jesus Camp and The Boys Of Baraka filmmaking team Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing.
All selections appear below.
Sundance Film Festival top brass announced on Tuesday (10) content in the Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events sections featuring new work by Marina Zenovich, Steve James, and Matthew Heineman.
James (City So Real) and Sarah Polley (Hey Lady!) are among the Indie Episodics line-up, while Special Events selections include Zenovich’s (Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired) Lance Armstrong profile Lance, Matthew Heineman’s sex trafficking exposé Trade, and Love Fraud, the latest film from Jesus Camp and The Boys Of Baraka filmmaking team Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing.
All selections appear below.
- 12/10/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
★★★★☆ Niels Arden Oplev's (director of the first in the original Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy and the recent Deadfall) partly autobiographical film We Shall Overcome (Drømmen, 2006) is a tender portrait of a young boy growing up in 1960s Denmark who, inspired by the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. takes a stand against tyranny. Thirteen-year-old Frits (Janus Dissing Rathke) is the victim of bullying at school but it is his headmaster, rather than his fellow pupils, who is his main tormentor. Lindum-Svendsen (Bent Mejding) rules the school with a rod of iron and strikes terror into the children's hearts.
Frits' farmer father (Jens Jørn Spottag, a regular fixture in popular Scandi-crime TV series The Protectors) has suffered a nervous breakdown and is in hospital, so Frits finds solace in the company of the school's newest recruit Freddie (Anders W. Berthelsen) a hippy, trainee teacher who introduces...
Frits' farmer father (Jens Jørn Spottag, a regular fixture in popular Scandi-crime TV series The Protectors) has suffered a nervous breakdown and is in hospital, so Frits finds solace in the company of the school's newest recruit Freddie (Anders W. Berthelsen) a hippy, trainee teacher who introduces...
- 7/23/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
ID:a
Stars: Tuva Novotny, Flemming Enevold, Carsten Bjørnlund, Arnaud Binard, John Buijsman, Rogier Philipoom, Jens Jørn Spottag | Written by Tine Krull Petersen | Directed by Christian E. Christiansen
In a trend started off by the likes of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, European thrillers seem to be quite popular right now, and of course very remarkable for the lazy people who don’t want to read subtitles. ID:a is a Danish thriller that is likely to attempt to get the same type of attention as the Millennium trilogy and show itself off as a gritty European thriller.
ID:a starts off with a woman waking up injured by a river, she has no idea how she got there or who she is, all she knows is that she’s being hunted down and that she’s carrying a lot of money. Travelling into the city she soon finds herself pulled back into...
Stars: Tuva Novotny, Flemming Enevold, Carsten Bjørnlund, Arnaud Binard, John Buijsman, Rogier Philipoom, Jens Jørn Spottag | Written by Tine Krull Petersen | Directed by Christian E. Christiansen
In a trend started off by the likes of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, European thrillers seem to be quite popular right now, and of course very remarkable for the lazy people who don’t want to read subtitles. ID:a is a Danish thriller that is likely to attempt to get the same type of attention as the Millennium trilogy and show itself off as a gritty European thriller.
ID:a starts off with a woman waking up injured by a river, she has no idea how she got there or who she is, all she knows is that she’s being hunted down and that she’s carrying a lot of money. Travelling into the city she soon finds herself pulled back into...
- 5/2/2012
- by Pzomb
- Nerdly
ID:a Trailer. Christian E. Christiansen‘s ID:a (2011) movie trailer stars Tuva Novotny, Carsten Bjørnlund, Jens Jørn Spottag, Joe Toedtling, and Simon van Lammeren. ID:a‘s plot synopsis: “Aliena wakes up in a river in France with no memory, a bag with 2 million Euro and a scar across her chest. She soon discovers that she is being stalked by mysterious men. Realizing that her accent is Danish she decides to go to Denmark and find out who she is. Aliena gradually learns that her past life was more complicated than she first thought. She is wrapped into a web of conflicting stories from her loved ones, trying to navigate her way to the truth. ID:a is a gripping and intense story with a human resonate, set in dark overgrown gardens, dollhouse-like interiors and streets with noir touch.”
This looks very good. Christian E. Christiansen’s Hollywood debut film The Roommate looked generic and resembled a doppey,...
This looks very good. Christian E. Christiansen’s Hollywood debut film The Roommate looked generic and resembled a doppey,...
- 10/19/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
In 1922, Robert J. Flaherty gave us Nanook of the North, one of my favourite silent films and an early example of a snow movie--that is, a movie that wouldn't be what it is without its wintry landscape. In some films, snow is incidental--a pretty backdrop or a minor metaphor (like the snowfall that blankets the Bride's duel with O-Ren Ishii in Kill Bill Vol. I). In others, a snowy climate is central to the story or sometimes even a character in its own right. Here are 10 movies that each use ice, snow, and cold in a specific way; together, they collectively demonstrate the range one symbol can have.
As with a typical Pajiba Guide, many genres are represented (don't worry Nanook fans -- silent film, documentary, and Inuit culture are all covered below in some form). And as with a typical Guide, apologies must be made for omitting many more...
As with a typical Pajiba Guide, many genres are represented (don't worry Nanook fans -- silent film, documentary, and Inuit culture are all covered below in some form). And as with a typical Guide, apologies must be made for omitting many more...
- 2/18/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
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