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ASPEN SHORTSFEST 2013 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS

Aspen Shortsfest 2013 was held April 9-14, at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen and the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale. More than 2,800 submissions from around the world were considered and 83 short films, representing over thirty countries and exploring more, were ultimately selected for this year's International Competition. From recognizable to emerging talent, the 2013 edition showcased a vibrant array of comedy, drama, animation and documentary film. Over 45 filmmakers from around the world plus other special guests attended.

See below for this year's winners, or download the list of winners HERE.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION JURY AWARDS
*Academy Award® qualifying category

BEST ANIMATION* $2,500
NIGHT OF THE BEAR
(Samuel Guillaume & Frédéric Guillaume, Switzerland)
An astonishing tale of social activism with incredibly rich characters.

BEST COMEDY* $2,500
DO I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING?
(Selma Vilhunen, Finland)
Warm, human portrait of a family - and fall on the floor funny.

BEST DOCUMENTARY $2,500
GRANDPA AND ME AND A HELICOPTER TO HEAVEN
(Johan Palmgren & Åsa Blanck, Sweden)
Tender, intimate embrace of the natural passage of life.

BEST DRAMA* $2,500
CALCUTTA TAXI
(Vikram Dasgupta, Canada/India)
Unconventional, multilayered storytelling with great emotional impact.

BEST STUDENT FILM $2,000
Sponsored by Film School Shorts
A WORLD FOR RAUL
(Mauro Mueller, Mexico/Switzerland/USA)
A devastating tale of class, power, and the loss of innocence.

BEST SHORT SHORT* $1,000
GIRL WITH CHILD
(Maria Abraham, USA/Ecuador)
A profound look at a deeply troubled mind.

SPECIAL JURY RECOGNITION
CICADA PRINCESS
(Mauricio Baiocchi, USA)
Moving meditation on mortality, with cute bugs.

EDMOND WAS A DONKEY
(Franck Dion, Canada/France)
Haunting, unusual story of transcendence.

IRISH FOLK FURNITURE
(Tony Donoghue, Ireland)
A delightful and original look at - of all things - furniture.

KALI THE LITTLE VAMPIRE
(Regina Pessoa, France/Portugal/Canada/Switzerland)
A poignant examination of the outsider using striking animation.

PIECES
(Xacio Baño, Spain)
Tremendously affecting tale of dementia.

SATURDAY GIRLS
(Emilie Cherpitel, France)
Beautiful story telling with multiple surprises.

AWARDS DETERMINED BY OTHER JURIES

THE ELLEN $1,500
THE MINISTRY OF THE STOVE
(Finn Yarbrough & Katherine Robinson Yarbrough, USA)
We chose this short film for its visual beauty, its serenity, and for its much-needed message. In these times of busy-busyness, of over-commitment, of expending so much energy on our daily concerns, we forget what our mothers knew so well, way back when we were children: almost any problem can be solved with a simple time out. The Quakers got many things right. Even after two centuries, their little church, a warm and crackling stove, and perhaps a number of ghosts, remind us that action is only one side of life. The other side is stillness.

THE ELLEN FILMMAKER TO WATCH $500 each
DUMPY GOES TO THE BIG SMOKE
(Mirrah Foulkes, Australia)
This film never loses its sense of humor, while giving us a strong visual metaphor and leaving us gently inspired. Dumpy, like a lot of women, self-censors her own modest dreams. Like a lot of women, she squelches her passion for learning and keeps herself penned in, tethered to her man and to an unsatisfying life - until one day, when she gets just enough courage to take her big chance. When Dumpy loaded up those cats, we all cheered.

IRISH FOLK FURNITURE
(Tony Donoghue, Ireland)
Watching cabinets and flour bins cavorting through the countryside makes us smile, for sure. But contained within those humble, utilitarian objects are the souls of the people who make and use them. The furniture reflects a culture that values practicality and thrift, a culture that doesn't change just for the sake of change. We believe that this filmmaker does a great job of portraying the heart of his native land.

YOUTH JURY PRIZE $500 shared
MOMMY
(René Frelle Petersen, Denmark)
For making us consider how difficult life decisions can be. We find ourselves trying to balance our needs and wants, and determining what is important for us.

NIGHT SHIFT
(Zia Mandviwalla, New Zealand)
For opening our eyes to an issue that should have been dealt with before the 21st century. There is no excuse for the continuation of poverty and survival should be a guaranteed right.

BAFTA Los Angeles SHORT FILM PRIZE
WHIPLASH
(Damien Chazelle, USA)

BAFTA Los Angeles CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
BEST IF USED BY
(Aemilia Scott, USA)

BAFTA Los Angeles CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
GREAT
(Andreas Henn, Germany)

AUDIENCE AWARD $500
SATURDAY GIRLS
(Emilie Cherpitel, France)

AUDIENCE RECOGNITION
DO I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING?
(Selma Vilhunen, Finland)

THE GUIDE
(Jessica Yu, USA/Mozambique)

OPEN HEART
(Kief Davidson, USA)

WALKING THE DOGS
(Jeremy Brock, UK)

ABOUT THE JURIES

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION JURY
The 2013 International Competition jury was composed of writers Dana Barrata, Diane Frolov, Lisa Kennedy and Andrew Schneider who determined awards recognizing creative excellence and honoring films they found to be the most accomplished in storytelling and distinctive in cinematic voice.

THE ELLEN AWARD
Established to honor Aspen Film Founder, Ellen Hunt, this 16th annual award recognizes originality in film.

YOUTH JURY PRIZE
For the 15th year, local high school students honor a film that opens a window on their understanding of the world in important, unexpected ways.

BAFTA LA SHORT FILM PRIZE
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Los Angeles is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization whose mission is to support, develop and promote the art form of the moving image. As the only Anglo-American professional organization founded to promote and advance excellence in film, television and games, BAFTA Los Angeles serves as the bridge between the Hollywood and British entertainment communities, and is a vital link to BAFTA in London. This is the 9th year BAFTA LA has honored Shortsfest films that deliver as many of the requirements as possible - look, narrative, overall dynamic and emotional punch - and do it with an originality of vision.

welcome to shortsfest

Greetings and welcome to Aspen Film's 22nd Annual Shortsfest.

As Aspen Film's "new guy," I'm elated to be part of this year's Shortsfest program. It's my very first!

As luck would have it, I come to Aspen Film with some small experience in the world of short filmmaking. In 1992, I produced my first and only short, titled Angel Fire. My partner Todd and I broke story, scouted locations, did casting calls and ultimately birthed a 30-minute labor of love. It was both a gratifying and a nervewracking experience, from securing financing to wrangling cast and crew on muddy locations in the Arizona desert, pleading with Skywalker Sound for late night time on the scoring stage, and finally holding an "unofficial" screening at the Telluride Film Festival.

My lesson learned: It's tough making films, no matter the length, location or content. It takes blood, sweat and beers (er... tears!) to make it happen, so I hope you will hug a filmmaker today, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts and encourage them to keep going. After all, you never know when you're going to look up at the silver screen and see their name in lights.

I would like to acknowledge and thank our many sponsors, without whom we could not bring this unique program to you: The City of Aspen, The Aspen Times, Aspen Public Radio, Stella Artois, Film School Shorts, the Hotel Jerome, the Sky Hotel, Mountain Chalet, Aspen 82 and many others.

Again, thank you for joining us and enjoy the festival.

Kip Hubbard
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Each spring we renew our commitment to wild, wonderful and remarkable cinematic voices with this showcase devoted exclusively to celebrating short filmmaking. From the backstreets of Mumbai to our own alpine valley, Shortsfest offers a richly imagined global journey with more than 80 stops in between. This 22nd edition is our most international yet with films representing over 30 countries in North and South America, Europe, the Mid-East, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Rim and beyond.

For some filmmakers, the short provides an invaluable career step. For others, it offers a refreshing detour from the rigors of feature or commercial filmmaking. For all, it is a creative laboratory where novel ideas find unique expression. Animation, comedy, drama, documentary - these smartly crafted stories are designed to engage and surprise in different ways. Inspiring, provocative, funny, moving - the descriptors are as eclectic and plentiful as the movies themselves. Their subject matter - family, war, love, loss, science, fantasy, the environment, and art - barely scratches the surface of this year's selection. Whether two minutes or 40, the finalists in this Oscar®-qualifying international competition embrace a panoply of talent and ideas. And begging Netflix and iTunes' pardon, this big screen opportunity is likely to be your only chance to see these original films.

Along with our evening screenings, you'll find a delightful matinee for the movie munchkins in your life, a fascinating conversation on dramatic writing, a producing presentation, free noontime Filmmaker Talk Backs, and, of course, dozens of visiting filmmakers who will travel to our mountains to share their beautiful films and creative spark with you.

Laura Thielen
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

sunday april 14

Wheeler Opera House
65 min.
Program order to be announced.

Room on the Broom
Based on Julia Donaldson's delightful children’s book, this magical tale of friendship and family comes from the creators of The Gruffalo and Mobile (SF11). (Max Lang & Jan Lachauer, UK/Germany, 26 min., A)

PLUS...

Her Rain
An affectionate tale of sibling chivalry in a monsoon-drenched Mumbai neighborhood. (Archana Phadke, India, 5 min., F)

Hopfrog
Silly creatures frolic together, accompanied by a fun, bouncy soundtrack. (Leonid Shmelkov, Russian Federation, 5 min., A)

Lift Off
Love isn't always easy in the wild. Sumptuous color helps tell this bright tropical tale. (Sandra Welte, Netherlands, 4 min., A)

Macropolis
A couple of misfit toys learn to stick together in this mini road movie about finding one's place. (Joel Simon, UK, 7 min., A)

Mud Crab
Youthful enthusiasm bubbles over in this hilarious animated "Kodak moment" of an in-house adventure for a family and a wild creature from the sea. (Igor Coric & Sheldon Lieberman, Australia, 5 min, A/D)

The Secret of Trees
What do trees know that we don't? Aidan, a 13-year-old aspiring solar engineer, is trying to find out. (Albert Maysles, USA, 4 min., D)

Snap
Underwater life is a challenge for little Snap Haggis until he meets an unlikely new friend. Together they discover a novel solution to his problem. (Thomas G. Murphy, Belgium/UK, 7 min., A)

The Strange World of Max X.: The New Camera
Max's camera has some internal features that would impress any photographer. (Dave Packer, UK/Germany, 2 min., F)

CARBONDALE

Crystal Theatre
95 min.
Program order to be announced.

All Souls' Day
Lena shares her 18th birthday with a holiday for remembering dear ones who've passed. The day dredges up memories that send her on a search for the past and a way to renew family bonds. (Aleksandra Terpinska, Poland, 18 min., F)

Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?
Spending a harried morning with the Ketonens will make you appreciate the comedy of errors that is family life. (Selma Vilhunen, Finland, 7 min, F)

Eddie Adams: Saigon '68
The story behind the most influential photo of the Vietnam War and how it transformed the lives of the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and the man who pulled the trigger. The newest from the director of Elliott Erwitt: "I Bark at Dogs" (SF12). (Douglas Sloan, USA, 17 min., D)

Georgena Terry
The founder of Terry Bicycles just wanted to learn how to use an oxyacetylene torch. With it, she created a Title Nine bike revolution. (Amanda Zackem, USA, 6 min., D)

The Strange World of Max X.: Office Paperwork
So much to do, so little space. An irreverent look at office work, paper cuts and all. (Dave Packer, UK/Germany, 2 min., F)

Three Light Bulbs
When a young engineer tries to introduce a bit of modernity to her Chinese village, her chief obstacle is not technology but something closer to home.
(Min Ding, Canada/Taiwan/USA/China, 16 min., F)

Walking the Dogs
The Queen's day at Buckingham Palace gets off to an unexpected start in this gentle drama about the chief royal, one of her subjects, and morning tea. Based on an actual incident, Emma Thompson and Eddie Marsan star. (Jeremy Brock, UK, 27 min, F)

Crystal Theatre
100 min.
Program order to be announced.

Best if Used By
Maggie has a unique take on what to do after her significant other expires. A touchingly amusing look at letting go set within the confines of an everyday environment. (Aemilia Scott, USA, 23 min., F)

The Guide
Teenage Tonga wants to become a tour guide in Mozambique's war-torn Gorongoza National Park, but his horizons are broadened when he meets famed biologist E.O. Wilson. An uplifting, gently humorous coming-of-age portrait from perennial Shortsfest favorite, Jessica Yu, Breathing Lessons (SF96), Meet Mr. Toilet (SF12). (Jessica Yu, Mozambique, 40 min., D)

Loot
Bringing new meaning to stealing the show, it's what you won't see in this amusing short that makes it so mesmerizing. (Greg Rom, South Africa, 11 min., F)

Saturday Girls
Arthur seems like a great guy on Friday night, but come Saturday morning Eva discovers much more about how he operates - or at least, she thinks she does. (Emilie Cherpitel, France, 15 min., F)

The Strange World of Max X.: Bicycle Pump
Max takes an epic journey, thanks to a bicycle pump that never lets him down. Until it does. (Dave Packer, UK/Germany, 2 min., F)

The Tuner
Paolo works in his father's piano restoration shop but dreams of becoming a concert pianist. An encounter with a stranger makes him ponder what he wants for his life - and why. (Fernando Camargo & Matheus Parizi, Brazil, 15 min., F)

saturday april 13

Mountain Chalet
Program runs 75 min. including Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

Meet Colorado Film Commissioner Donald Zuckerman, who will present a lively discussion on feature filmmaking from script to casting, financing, production and distribution, as well as answer questions. Zuckerman has produced several films and worked with some of Hollywood's top directors and actors. His most recent films include Casino Jack with director George Hickenlooper and starring Kevin Spacey. and Beer for my Horses, directed by Michael Solomon and starring Toby Keith. Zuckerman has also produced multiple television series, created a number of successful New York City nightlife venues, and managed recording artists and sports professionals. Location: Mountain Chalet. Time: Noon. FREE and open to everyone.

Wheeler Opera House
Program runs 90 min. including Q&A.

In partnership with The Writers Guild Foundation, we're pleased to present an insightful and entertaining discussion on the creative core of every successful screen and stage story - the script.

Critics are discovering what audiences have known for a while: Some of today's finest and most compelling writing is found on the small screen, whether TV, smartphone, or tablet. Writing for television is a lot like writing for movies - a writer sits in front of her computer and tries, seldom painlessly, to force honesty to flow from her brain into her fingers. The TV show creator hopes that once or twice in her life she'll be able to create a situation that viewers will tune into week after week to look in on the lives of the characters she's invented.

How are story and series ideas created? How do writers find their characters and motivations? What are the unique aspects and challenges of writing for dramatic television? Join us for a spirited conversation with engaging, award-winning television writers who really know their art and craft. Tickets $10 for general public, $8 for REEL PEOPLE members.

Panelists:

DANA BARRATA
Born and raised in Maine, Dana went to Los Angeles where she studied Journalism and Screenwriting at USC. After spending several years producing trailers for film and television, Dana wrote the screenplay for Andre for Paramount Pictures. It quickly became a family film favorite.

Dana was then staffed as a writer on the first season of Dawson's Creek and has continued to work in television, writing and producing many pilots and network series including Providence, Private Practice and Warehouse 13 - rising to the position of Co-Executive Producer. She is currently working on the ABC mid-season series Red Widow and the ABC pilot Big Thunder. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, David.

DIANE FROLOV & ANDREW SCHNEIDER
Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider started writing and producing television together on the Fox series AlienNation. They won Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody awards for their work on CBS' Northern Exposure. They won Emmy and Writers Guild awards for producing HBO's The Sopranos. Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider co-created and produced Showtime's The Chris Isaak Show and WB's Easy Money. They recently served as co-executive producers of HBO's Boardwalk Empire and are currently writing a pilot for AMC.

ERIC OVERMYER
Eric Overmyer has written and produced extensively for television, and is the author of a play for radio, Kafka's Radio, produced by WNYC. Nominated for Writer's Guild, Primetime Emmy and Peabody awards among others, he won Edgar and Writer's Guild awards for The Wire, Peabodys for Homicide and Treme, the NAACP Image Award for Law & Order and Treme (the latter with Lolis Elie), as well as the PEN Center Literary Award for Teleplay for the pilot episode of Treme, with David Simon.

Wheeler Opera House
90 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

American Tintype
Harry Taylor loves the slow, painstaking process of tintype photography to reveal a new side of his subjects. The latest from the maker of Mr. Happy Man (SF10). (Matt Morris, USA, 4 min., D)

Branko
Branko Lustig, producer of seminal holocaust films like The Tin Drum, Sophie's Choice and Schlinder's List, reflects as he returns to Auschwitz for the Bar Mitzvah he never had. A meditation on memory by the director of Boy (SF11). (Topaz Adizes, USA, 11 min., D)

Cicada Princess
Life as a cicada told as a fairytale: two days when insect royalty convene and dreams may come true. (Mauricio Baiocchi, USA, 7 min., A)

The Date
Tino, 16, must host a date for Diablo, his family’s stud cat. Awkward adolescence comes face to face with the birds and the bees in this dry comedy. (Jenni Toivoniemi, Finland, 7 min, F)

The Guide
Teenage Tonga wants to become a tour guide in Mozambique's war-torn Gorongoza National Park, but his horizons are broadened when he meets famed biologist E.O. Wilson. An uplifting, gently humorous coming-of-age portrait from perennial Shortsfest favorite, Jessica Yu, Breathing Lessons (SF96), Meet Mr. Toilet (SF12). (Jessica Yu, USA/Mozambique, 40 min., D)

Mommy
Emma has assumed the role of caregiver, tending to a disabled younger brother when their mother fails to cope. Today she longs just to be a normal teen and go the movies. The director of As You Were (SF12) returns with another penetrating family drama. (René Frelle Petersen, Denmark, 12 min., F)

The Music Man
Crazy about music, Professor Ge Wang believes everyone who loves it should be able to play it. (Steve James, USA, 3 min., D)

The Strange World of Max X.: The New Camera
Max's camera has some internal features that would impress any photographer. (Dave Packer, UK/Germany, 2 min., F)

Drone
A timely look at what it means to be in control of someone's fate from half a world away. (Daniel Jewel, UK, 11 min., F)

Flood
Sometimes it takes more than a good story to keep you afloat. (Katy Scoggin, USA, 15 min., F) ********************************

Great
Comic genius is complicit in this wild but true story, set in 1942 Nazi-occupied Serbia, about a young film projectionist who attempts to start a mini revolution through one small daring act of civil disobedience. (Andreas Henn, Germany, 23 min., F)

The Invisible Bicycle Helmet
Two biking enthusiasts have created a revolutionary object everyone told them would be impossible. (Fredrik Gertten, Sweden, 4 min., D)

Marcel, King of Tervuren
Imbued with a fighter's spirit, Marcel rules the roost on his home turf. Think Greek tragedy as acted out by vibrantly illustrated Belgian roosters. (Tom Schroeder, USA, 6 min., A)

The Ministry of the Stove
A quiet, crackling reflection ripe with color and texture, the bones of a New England church are warmed by nearly two centuries of silent prayers for peace. (Finn Yarbrough & Katherine Robinson Yarbrough, USA, 5 min., D)

Shelved
Two loser robots receive an unexpected surprise in this comic tale for our times. From the creator of Das Tub (SF11). (James Cunningham, New Zealand, 6, A)

Whiplash
On his first day with an elite conservatory's jazz orchestra, an aspiring young drummer gets a surprising lesson from a sardonic music director (J.K. Simmons, Juno). (Damien Chazelle, USA, 17 min., F)

A World for Raul
When 13-year-old Raul is asked to entertain the local landowner's son, a game of power and pride starts up between the two boys. A provocative coming-of-age drama about class difference. (Mauro Mueller, Mexico/Switzerland/USA, 15 min., F)

friday april 12

Get an insider's view in this FREE hour-long conversation with filmmakers
from around the world.

Taking place at the Red Onion (Cooper St. Walking Mall)
Featuring a 10% discount to attending guests.

Wheeler Opera House
100 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

Anna and Jerome
Anna hasn't always done things right but she wants to change. She dreams of taking her son far away and starting over. They could be happy... just the two of them. (Mélanie Delloye, France, 25 min., F)

Five Years
How do you say no to a friend? Can you? On his first day of probation back in his 'hood, young Will gets a call he's not sure how to answer. (Durier Ryan, USA, 13 min., F)

A Knock on My Door
Through clever animation, a son recounts his father's story, a Korean immigrant, who struggled upon arrival in the States but whose quirky personality helped him find the brighter side of life. (David Chai, USA, 10 min., A/D)

Mud Crab
Youthful enthusiasm bubbles over in this hilarious animated "Kodak moment" of an in-house adventure for a family and a wild creature from the sea. (Igor Coric & Sheldon Lieberman, Australia, 5 min, A/D)

Open Heart
One doctor's vision, the "Right to be Cured", and another’s commitment to his patients shape the premise of this engrossing Academy Award®-nominated documentary about eight Rwandan children who embark on an incredible journey to receive high-risk surgery in Africa's only free-of-charge, state-of-the-art cardiac hospital. (Kief Davidson, USA, 39 min., D)

Seafood Tester
Determined to help his troubled mother stay on track, Regi takes extreme measures to bring her face to face with herself. (Darious Britt, USA, 9 min., F)

The Strange World of Max X.: Bicycle Pump
Max takes an epic journey, thanks to a bicycle pump that never lets him down. Until it does. (Dave Packer, UK/Germany, 2 min., F)

Wheeler Opera House
100 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

Best if Used By
Maggie has a unique take on what to do after her significant other expires. A touchingly amusing piece on letting go set within the confines of an everyday environment. (Aemilia Scott, USA, 23 min., F)

Dust
Alan Rickman stars in this edge-of-your seat glimpse into one of the folktales we pass down to our children. (Ben Ockrent and Jake Russell, UK, 7 min., F)

Eddie Adams: Saigon '68
The story behind the most influential photo of the Vietnam War and how it transformed the lives of the Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and the man who pulled the trigger. The newest from the director of Elliott Erwitt: "I Bark at Dogs" (SF12). (Douglas Sloan, USA, 17 min., D)

Hopfrog
Silly creatures frolic together, accompanied by a fun, bouncy soundtrack. (Leonid Shmelkov, Russian Federation, 5 min., A)

I Am Tom Moody
A struggling musician takes a look at his own life through an inner monologue with his own worst critic - himself. (Ainslie Henderson, UK, 7 min., A)

Irish Folk Furniture
Simple pieces of furniture, some of which date back a century or more, come alive in this lyrical essay about repair, recycling and storytelling in rural Ireland. (Tony Donoghue, Ireland, 8 min., A/D)

Mobile Homes
A pregnant sex worker takes her chance to escape when she realizes her son might be taken away in this tense drama. (Vladimir De Fontenay, USA, 13 min., F)

The Pale of Settlement
Imperial Russia, 1853. Based on true events, 10-year-old Moische flees bounty hunters sent to bring him back to a military recruitment center. (Jacob Sillman, USA, 17 min., F)

The Secret of Trees
What do trees know that we don't? Aidan, a 13-year-old aspiring solar engineer, is trying to find out. (Albert Maysles, USA, 4 min., D)

This Is Ellen
Hal is eager to introduce his girlfriend to friends for the first time, but quickly realizes he should have done his homework ahead of time. A darkly comic exploration of loss from the maker of Cataplexy (SF11). (John Salcido, USA, 8 min., F)

thursday april 11

Get an insider's view in this FREE hour-long conversation with filmmakers
from around the world.

Taking place at the Red Onion (Cooper St. Walking Mall)
Featuring a 10% discount to attending guests.

Wheeler Opera House
95 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

Calcutta Taxi
Three men. Three lives. Their disparate stories converge and affect each other in this lively true tale of chance encounters in a taxi one day in Calcutta. (Vikram Dasgupta, Canada/India, 20 min., F)

Georgena Terry
The founder of Terry Bicycles just wanted to learn how to use an oxyacetylene torch. With it, she created a Title Nine bike revolution. (Amanda Zackem, USA, 6 min., D)

The Giant
A lumbering giant carries a little girl in his heart, from where she discovers the world. (Julio Vanzeler & Luis De Matta Almeida, Spain, 11 min., A)

Grandpa and Me and a Helicopter to Heaven
A deep and loving friendship has formed between young David and his grandpa, Bosse. The elder has one last secret to share so the pair embark on a final adventure into the woods. (Johan Palmgren, Sweden, 14 min., D)

Loot
Bringing new meaning to stealing the show, it's what you won't see in this amusing short that makes it so mesmerizing. (Greg Rom, South Africa, 11 min., F)

Operation Free Lunch
Need meets micro-blogging to solve a Chinese social problem. (Lixin Fan, Canada, 3 min., D)

Saturday Girls
Arthur seems like a great guy on Friday night, but come Saturday morning Eva discovers much more about how he operates - or at least, she thinks she does. (Emilie Cherpitel, France, 15 min., F)

Shale
Stubborn John and once-dutiful Sheila come to terms with their impending divorce amidst heavy machinery. (Jed Cowley, USA, 12 min., F)

Wheeler Opera House
95 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

Bird Food
Lunchtime is for the birds in this sharply animated comedy. Think twice before brown bagging it. (Richard Keane, Ireland, 5 min., A)

The Cub
A radical parenting technique doesn't go quite as planned. (Riley Stearns, USA, 5 min., F)

HowardCantour.com
Howard Cantour (comedian Jim Gaffigan), a film critic who says it like he sees it, grapples with reviewing his film hero's latest movie. (Shia LaBeouf, USA, 10 min., F)

Kali the Little Vampire
Poetically haunting visuals and a masterful narration by Christopher Plummer tell the tale of Kali, a lonely vampire who lives on the fringes but wants more. (Regina Pessoa, France/Portugal/Canada/Switzerland, 9 min., A)

Macropolis
A couple of misfit toys learn to stick together in this mini road movie about finding one's place. (Joel Simon, UK, 7 min., A)

Never Die?
Kitt's father is a former Elvis Presley impersonator who is currently unemployed. Kitt wishes his father was more ambitious, while his father has a different perspective. (Supalerk Ningsanond, Thailand, 21 min., F)

Shattered
Broken and untethered, an elite climber searches for fulfillment more lasting than a faraway peak after achieving his dream summit. (Tyler Stableford, USA, 5 min., F)

The Tuner
Paolo works in his father's piano restoration shop but dreams of becoming a concert pianist. An encounter with a stranger makes him ponder what he wants for his life... and why. (Fernando Camargo & Matheus Parizi, Brazil, 15 min., F)

wednesday april 10

Wheeler Opera House
95 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

All Souls' Day
Lena shares her 18th birthday with a holiday for remembering dear ones who've passed. The day dredges up memories that send her on a search for the past and a way to renew family bonds. (Aleksandra Terpinska, Poland, 18 min., F)

Death of the Bar-T
An evocative meditation on the transformation of the local ranching tradition as seen through the eyes of one hardworking old-timer. Set in the Roaring Fork Valley. (Anson Fogel, USA, 17 min., F)

Do I Have to Take Care of Everything?
Spending a harried morning with the Ketonens will make you appreciate the comedy of errors that is family life. (Selma Vilhunen, Finland, 7 min, F)

Night of the Bear
A compassionate bear opens his door to a ragtag group of creatures in this lyrically original approach to a timely issue. (Samuel Guillaume & Frédéric Guillaume, Switzerland, 22 min., A)

People of Dogs
A traveling South African veterinary clinic provides a beacon of hope for animals and their owners in Johannesburg's surrounding townships. (Richard Moos, USA/South Africa, 9 min., D)

The Strange World of Max X.: Office Paperwork
So much to do, so little space. An irreverent look at office work, paper cuts and all. (Dave Packer, UK/Germany, 2 min., F)

Three Light Bulbs
When a young engineer tries to introduce a bit of modernity to her Chinese village, her chief obstacle is not technology but something closer to home. (Min Ding, Canada/Taiwan/USA/China, 16 min., F)

You Don't Know Jack
The future of science is in the hands of our youth, as proved by high school dynamo Jack Andraka. (Morgan Spurlock, USA, 4 min., D)

Wheeler Opera House
90 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

Baby Steps
Joe doesn't look like the kind of guy who would be taking care of a baby all day. But looks can be deceiving as he proves he can leave his past behind. (Mark Ruka, New Zealand, 9 min., F)

Bug People
This playful essay tackles our cultural phobia about many-legged creatures. Told with a heavy dose of humor from the perspective of three professionals who understand them. (Paul Meyers, USA, 15 min., D)

Crisálida
An 86-year-old woman named Crisálida watches her small Cuban town from her window, memories of past and present converging. (Esther de Rothschild, Alejandro Enmanuel Alonso Estrella, et al., Cuba, 8 min., D)

Dumpy Goes to the Big Smoke
Save for nine cats, Dumpy and Portly live an isolated life in an unusual setting. When Dumpy spots a way out, she takes a chance on a handsome gentleman caller. An original drama about yearning for the big city and a better life. (Mirrah Foulkes, Australia, 14 min., F)

Edmond Was a Donkey
Edmond is the butt of jokes in the office, but finds solace in what begins as a practical joke. An affecting fable about outsiders vs. conformists, animated with fluid grace. (Franck Dion, Canada/France, 14 min., A)

Great Adventures
Heroes, villains, legends. Billy and his granddad make good use of the living room couch as they explore new worlds. A touching celebration of imagination and the enduring bond between generations. (Gerard Lambkin, Australia, 6 min., F)

Her Rain
An affectionate tale of sibling chivalry in a monsoon-drenched Mumbai neighborhood. (Archana Phadke, India, 5 min., F)

Penny Dreadful
Dennis assumes kidnapping a 9-year-old is going to be simple... until he meets the little girl. A dark comedy with plenty of bite. (Shane Atkinson, USA, 18 min., F)

tuesday april 9

Wheeler Opera House
95 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

After the Class
In this emotionally nuanced family drama, a high school teacher's day begins with the good news of a promotion. But later, Mrs. Ansari's independently minded daughter brings less welcome news. (Fereshteh Parnian, Iran, 12 min., F)

Lollywood
Edwin is a 15-year-old Liberian war orphan who wants to make a movie. In just two days he writes a script, builds a set, casts 30 characters, and shoots the whole thing. If you've ever wanted to make a film and copped out because of "no budget, no cast, blah blah blah," this profile should inspire you. (Todd Looby, Liberia/USA, 10 min., D)

Ms. Belvedere
Pop culture collides with the end of a relationship as a woman processes her failed marriage and what she'll do with her car. (Michael Reynolds, USA, 8 min., F)

Night Shift
In this quiet drama, Salote cleans a bustling airport, taking in the lives of strangers while rebuffing a co-worker's kindly overtures. Her fiercely guarded privacy shields a secret. What is it? (Zia Mandviwalla, New Zealand, 15 min., F)

Pieces
A mother's role in the family is captured in the seemingly small details of everyday life. (Xancio Baño, Spain, 7 min., F)

The Prodigy
An intimate portrait of a rising star whose rigorous personal standards and on-stage perfectionism embody Moscow's Bolshoi Ballet. (Michael Sugrue, Russian Federation/USA, 9 min., D)

Snapshot
Zealous about soaking up the great outdoors, a couple of enthusiastic nature lovers comically miss the big picture. (Arthur Van Merwijk, Netherlands, 3 min., A)

Walking the Dogs
The Queen's day at Buckingham Palace gets off to an unexpected start in this gentle drama about the chief royal, one of her subjects, and morning tea. Based on an actual incident, Emma Thompson and Eddie Marsan star. (Jeremy Brock, UK, 27 min, F)

Wheeler Opera House
95 min. followed by filmmaker Q&A.
Program order to be announced.

Ellen Is Leaving
On the eve of Ellen's overseas trip, her longtime boyfriend asks a favor. What is presented as a joke becomes the final check on her travel to-do list. A bittersweet romantic tale that skirts around tough emotions with humor. (Michelle Savill, New Zealand, 16 min., F)

Fire with Fire
Daring to pit one fatal disease against another - amazing science at work. (Ross Kauffman, USA, 4 min., D)

Girl with Child
A teenage girl on a bus with her toddler imagines a different past life as she travels home. (Maria Abraham, USA/Ecuador, 9 min., F)

Lift Off
Love isn't always easy in the wild. Sumptuous color helps tell this bright tropical tale. (Sandra Welte, Netherlands, 4 min., A)

The Lobster's Cry
Six-year-old Natalia waits impatiently for her brother to return from war in Chechnya. When he arrives, she hardly recognizes the man standing before her. (Nicolas Guiot, France/Belgium, 29 min., F)

Mushroom Man
Renowned mycologist Paul Stamets harnesses the power of fungi to fight the planet's leading problems. (Leslie Iwerks, USA, 3 min., D)

Snap
Underwater life is a challenge for little Snap Haggis until he meets an unlikely new friend. Together they discover a novel solution to his problem. (Thomas G. Murphy, Belgium/UK, 7 min., A)

Vaya a la Cumbre
Aspen native Anton Sponar and his father Toni have built a remote ski area from scratch in the heart of the Chilean Andes. This film about their hand-to-mouth labor of love explores family bonds, differing dreams, and temperamental equipment. (Zack Ornitz & Ollie Nieuwland-Zlotnicki, USA/Chile, 22 min., D)

Click on Program
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descriptions

NOON
FREE
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Talk Back

NOON
FREE
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Filmmaker
Talk Back

NOON
FREE
Special Event
Producing
a Film

3:30pm
Special Event
SERIOUSLY:
Writing Drama for Television

2:00pm
FAMILY FUN
Competition
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ELEVEN

5:30pm
International
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ONE

5:30pm
International
Competition
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THREE

5:30pm
International
Competition
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FIVE

5:30pm
International
Competition
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SEVEN

5:45pm
International
Competition
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NINE

8:15pm
International
Competition
Program
TWO

8:30pm
International
Competition
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FOUR

8:30pm
International
Competition
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SIX

8:30pm
International
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EIGHT

8:45pm
International
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TEN

5:00pm
International
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Program A

7:30pm
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Program B

2013

Rock Docs

-- Wednesdays January 30 - February 27 @ 7:30pm

2013

Monday Night Docs

-- Mondays January 28 - March 25 @ 7:30pm

3:15 PM
ARGO

2:45 PM
ANNA
KARENINA

3:00 PM
THE
SESSIONS

4:00 PM
THE
MASTER

5:30 PM
SILVER LININGS
PLAYBOOK

5:30 PM
HYDE PARK
ON HUDSON

6:00 PM
GINGER
& ROSA

5:45 PM
QUARTET

5:15 PM
A ROYAL
AFFAIR

7:30 PM
LINCOLN

8:15 PM
AMOUR

8:15 PM
RUST AND
BONE

8:15 PM
PROMISED
LAND

8:15 PM
ON THE
ROAD

2:45 PM
THE
INTOUCHABLES

5:15 PM
NOT FADE
AWAY

8:00 PM
ZERO DARK THIRTY

2:45pm
Wheeler Opera House

THE INTOUCHABLES

Special thanks to Mel and Paulette Blumenthal

France's most-talked-about performance and film of the year come in the shape of this emotionally involving comedy about an unlikely but true story of friendship. Paralyzed from the neck down after an accident, gloomy millionaire Philippe (François Cluzet, Tell No One) finds little worth living for until the arrival of his new assistant, Driss (Omar Sy), a Senegalese rowdy from the projects. Not quite on doctor's orders, Driss takes Philippe as far out of his comfort zone as possible and into a world he never knew existed - or, rather, always tried to avoid. More significantly, both men find someone to whom they can relate. A cultural phenomenon, as well as France's second-biggest box-office hit of all time, The Intouchables travels well beyond boundaries of country, class, and race, delving straight into hilarity and heart. (France, 2012, 112 min., Rated R, Special thanks to The Weinstein Company)

Watch the TRAILER. Read the Rolling Stone Review. Read the Time Review.

5:15pm
Wheeler Opera House

NOT FADE AWAY

Special thanks to Howard and Marcy Gross

The time is the mid-1960s, on the cusp of the Summer of Love. The place, suburban New Jersey. The music, 100-percent-pure rock and roll. For his feature filmmaking debut, The Sopranos creator David Chase has crafted a wise, tender, and richly atmospheric portrait of a group of friends trying to do what so many kids of the time dreamed of doing: form their own rock band. And these guys are good, fronted by a preternaturally gifted singer-songwriter (terrific newcomer John Magaro) who's a dead ringer for the young Bob Dylan, even if his dad (James Gandolfini) doesn’t take kindly to seeing junior strut around in long hair and Cuban heels. Masterfully capturing the era's conflicting attitudes and ideologies, and set to a killer soundtrack produced by the legendary Steven Van Zandt, Not Fade Away just might be the best coming-of-age movie since Barry Levinson's Diner - and one of the best rock movies ever. (USA, 2012, 112 min. Rated R, Special thanks to Paramount Vantage)

Watch the TRAILER. Read the Hollywood Reporter Review. Read Emanuelle Levy's Review.

8:00pm
Wheeler Opera House

ZERO DARK THIRTY

Special thanks to Esther Pearlstone

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. Infused with docudrama realism, this powerful thriller stars Jessica Chastain as a female CIA agent (based on an actual operative) with a far-out hunch that was instrumental in bringing down America's most-wanted fugitive. Zero Dark Thirty reunites director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker) as they deploy a rigorous, unflinching approach to recreate the story of the greatest manhunt of our time. The results are terrifically imposing. Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Mark Strong, James Gandofini, and Jennifer Ehle also star. (US, 2012, 149 min., Rated R, Special thanks to Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Watch the TRAILER. Read the Time Review. Read the indieWIRE Review.

3:00pm
Wheeler Opera House

THE SESSIONS

Special thanks to Stella Artois

John Hawkes (Winter's Bone) has a knack for creating deeply compelling characters. In the award-winning The Sessions, as Berkeley-based poet-journalist Mark O'Brien, confined to an iron lung, Hawkes crackles with wit, frustration, and anticipation as he determines, at age 38, to lose his virginity. With the guidance of an unusual priest (played with humor and wisdom by William H. Macy), the poignantly optimistic and always droll O'Brien swallows his fear and hires a professional sex surrogate (an effervescent Helen Hunt). What transpires over a handful of sessions transforms them both as the clinical exercise, while fairly explicit, becomes a tender, awkward, and gracious journey from isolation to connection - corporal and spiritual. Often funny and exceptionally moving, The Sessions asserts that even if the body is a cage, the mind and heart can still soar. (USA, 2012, 95 min., Rated R, Special thanks to Fox Searchlight)

Watch the TRAILER. Read the NY Times Review. Read the Chicago Tribune Review.

5:15pm
Wheeler Opera House

A ROYAL AFFAIR

Special thanks to Juliet Shield-Taylor

Illicit love, social reform, and palace intrigue form the center of this sumptuously mounted drama based on one of the most scandalous chapters in Danish history: the 18th-century romantic and power triangle among Princess Caroline Matilda, mad King Christian VI, and Johann Struensee, the King's royal physician and chief advisor. A child of the Enlightenment, the charismatic Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen, Casino Royale) finds a kindred spirit - and lover - in the progressively minded queen (Alicia Vikander, Anna Karenina.) Together they push for major reforms that stand in direct opposition to the king's conservative governing council. But the lovers' electrifying passion blinds them to the corridor conspiracies taking shape around them. With a sweeping combination of political maneuvering, lush romanticism, and rich characterization, writer-director Nikolaj Arcel (screenwriter of the original The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) makes this an affair to remember. (Denmark/Sweden/Czech Republic/Germany, 2012, 137 min., Rated R, Special thanks to Magnolia Pictures)

Watch the TRAILER. Read Roger Ebert's Review. Read the Washington Post Review.

8:15pm
Wheeler Opera House

ON THE ROAD

Special thanks to Neil Karbank

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) and based on Jack Kerouac's iconic Beat classic, On the Road tells the timeless story of Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), a young writer whose life is shaken and ultimately redefined by the arrival of the devastatingly charismatic Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund), one of American literature's great characters. Together they travel cross-country, venturing out on a personal quest for freedom from the conformity and conservatism engulfing them as they search for uncharted terrain, themselves, and the pursuit of "it" - the pure essence of experience. Also starring Viggo Mortensen and Tom Sturridge as the alter egos of William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, as well as Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, and Elizabeth Moss. Accompanied by a jazzy soundtrack, On the Road reveals 1950s American nonconformity in all its unkempt, poetic glory. (USA, 2012, 124 min., Rated R, Special thanks to IFC Films)

Watch the TRAILER. Read the Guardian Review. Read the Film.com Review.

2:45pm
Wheeler Opera House

ANNA KARENINA

Special thanks to Hotel Jerome

Imperial Russia, 1874. Vibrant, beautiful, and married to a high-ranking government official (Jude Law), Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley) is impeccably placed in lavish St. Petersburg society. Yet a chance encounter on a train bound for Moscow will dramatically transform her life, as well as the lives of those around her. Leo Tolstoy's masterful tale of family, love, and desire in the context of social mores and self-realization has been adapted for the screen more than a dozen times. Yet it is safe to say that it has never before been realized with anything close to the bold, imaginative brio of this latest incarnation from British director Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement). With a script by Academy Award® winner Tom Stoppard (Shakespeare in Love), Sarah Greenwood's glorious production design, and a stirring performance by Knightley (collaborating with Wright for the third time), this is both a faithful rendering of the novel's spirit and a brilliant piece of conceptually audacious filmmaking. (U.K., 2012, 129 min., Rated R, Special thanks to Focus Features)

Watch the TRAILER. Read the Washington Post Review. Read the Time Review.

5:45pm
Wheeler Opera House

QUARTET

Special thanks to Maurice and Jamie Emmer

Dustin Hoffman makes a winning directorial debut with Sir Ronald Harwood's delightful and poignant comedy about four opera singers preparing for an upcoming performance. Three of them (Billy Connolly, Tom Courtenay, and Pauline Collins) live in a home for retired musicians, where each year residents stage a fundraising concert on Verdi's birthday. It's usually a pleasantly nostalgic affair, but this year an aging diva (Maggie Smith), having fallen on hard times, arrives at the home and quickly ruffles the manorly calm. Before too long buried grievances resurface, rivalries resume, and tempers flare. Featuring playful banter, enchanting music, and terrific performances by a cast of veteran actors, this affecting cinematic valentine will resonate with anyone who believes that art is the spark of life. (UK, 2012, 95 min., Rated PG, Special thanks to The Weinstein Company)

Watch the TRAILER. Read the Daily Telegraph Review. Visit the official website.

8:15pm
Wheeler Opera House

PROMISED LAND

Special thanks to Adam and Melony Lewis

In this topical drama directed by Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting, Milk), and co-written and produced by Matt Damon, ace corporate salesman Steve Butler (played by Damon) is sent along with his partner, Sue Thomason (Frances McDormand), to close a deal for gas-drilling rights in a rural town key to his company's expansion plans. With the town having been hit hard by the economic decline of recent years, the two outsiders are confident their company's offer will be welcomed by the local citizens as much-needed relief. What seems like an easy job becomes complicated when the objections of a respected schoolteacher (Hal Holbrook), with support from a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski), as well as the emotional interest of a local woman (Rosemarie DeWitt) call Steve’s sales pitch, beliefs, and loyalties into question. Promised Land explores contemporary America at a crossroads where the interests of big business and the values of small-town community collide. (USA, 2012, 107 min., Rated R, Special thanks to Focus Features)

Watch the TRAILER. No Review Available. Please check back later.