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At Dawning Hoping to render last night’s dalliance null and void, a woman tries to steal away before her tryst awakes. The man in a tree outside strongly disagrees. A sly morality tale about an escaping woman meeting a falling man. (UK, 2002, 12 min. Directed by Martin Jones.)
Fake Clouds In this documentary-flavored story by Emmy-winning filmmaker Andrea Campbell, a man mulls over remembrances of his thirteenth year, when the bland veil of his suburban family's life was pierced by their looming, vapor-emitting nuclear neighbor. (USA, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Andrea Campbell.)
For Those Who Teach the Art of Peace Winner of Shortsfest’s Local Filmmakers Competition, this timely film weds compelling images and music to reflect on themes of peace. (USA, 2003, 4 min. Directed by Terry Glasenapp.)
Match Scratch Fever A lively animated story of a match that enters the world, determined to find meaning in life and fulfill its destiny. (USA, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Kristin Solid.)
The Paper Mache Chase Welcome to the Bellinger Pre-School, the center of this tongue-in-cheek look at educational opportunity. Watch as ambitious parents, their "gifted" offspring in tow, run the forbidding gantlet of headmaster Dr. Calhoun (Spaulding Gray) and PDAT (Playdate Aptitude Test) scores. This grueling competition to place toddlers among New York City’s pre-K elite makes getting into the Ivy League look like child’s play! (USA, 2003, 10 min. Directed by Dave Jordan.)
Ready From the moment she arrives at the elegantly appointed hotel with its exquisitely manicured grounds, Naomi (Imelda Staunton, Crush SF02) epitomizes cool, calm and collected. And why shouldn’t she? All her life, she has planned for this night: down to the perfect dinner, a simple omelet and crisp green salad. She tells herself that she’s ready. Is she? (UK, 2002, 20 min. Directed by Savina Dellicour.)
This Charming Man Meet young Lars Hansen, as Danish (and blond headed) as Carlsberg beer. Desperate for work, he applies for an employment program. With both a job and romantic prospect dangling before him, Lars’ life is looking up! But a distracted caseworker’s mistake sets off a cascade of hilarious coincidences that turn Lars’ world topsy-turvy. With a winning touch that deftly balances gentle humor and social commentary, This Charming Man takes on romance, prejudice, and bureaucracy. The result is a smart and, yes, charming tale. (Denmark, 2002, 28 min. Directed by Martin Strange-Hansen.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: The Autochef Nick Park’s (A Close Shave, SF96) beloved Everyman and Everydog are back! Why bother cooking breakfast when you have an "Autochef," a combined cooker and waiter on wheels? (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
The World of Interiors That all-too-familiar neurosis – procrastination – lies at the center of this whimsical animated portrait of a young man on the verge of going out, an unbelievably disheveled flat, and the siren call of a ringing phone. (UK, 2001, 7 min. Directed by Bunny Schendler.)
Fits & Starts Monty Python surrealism meets Aki Kaurismaki’s deadpan humor in this colorful valentine to the innate awkwardness of a first date. Everything’s just a bit off – the interior decorating, the songbird in the window, and, most notably, the young couple on the couch. With tape recorders, orange soda, and parlor games, they pass a wacky and unpredictable afternoon. And so do we. (USA, 2002, 11 min. Directed by Vince Di Meglio.)
Thomaschek’s Plan In the closing months of 1961, 16-year-old Jochen and the people of his small German village live in the shadow of the newly constructed Berlin Wall, the Cold War’s most ominous symbol of the separation between East and West. Out for a run one day, Jochen notices the odd behavior of the town postman, Thomaschek. Why is the middle-aged civil servant jogging through the woods with a pair of binoculars? (Germany, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Ralf Westhoff.)
The Trinket Maker Wendell’s home in the clouds is unusual and beautiful, as are the objects he creates, but his is a lonely life. When a chance encounter seems to offer him an alternative, Wendell is not sure if he dares put his feet on the ground. A lyrical animated journey. (UK, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Paul Daley.)
Turn Around When Charlie meets city girl Tiahla, he throws boring, small-town routine out the window. Sparked by her dreamboat allure, he sets off in hot pursuit, persuading his friend Glenni to drive him to the city. But Glenni has a mind – and dreams – of her own. (Australia, 2002, 13 min. Directed by Samantha Saunders.)
Twin Towers Joseph Vigiano, a young officer in an elite New York City police unit, is the center of this deeply affecting portrait of quiet heroism. Beginning in early 1991, the film chronicles Joseph’s life as a policeman, as he follows his family’s tradition of service; his brother and father were both NYC firefighters. As September 11th unfolded, both Joseph and his brother were lost while on duty. In Twin Towers, directors Robert Port and Bill Guttentag (Blues Highway, SF95) construct a moving tribute to a family uniquely marked by this national tragedy. (USA, 2002, 34 min. Directed by Bill Guttentag & Robert Port.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: The Snoozatron Poor Wallace – he suffers from insomnia. Poor Gromit – he’s an integral cog in our cheese-loving inventor’s simple but triumphant engineering feat. (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
What the Doctor Ordered Based on true events, What the Doctor Ordered recounts the poignant story of a stubborn adolescent patient, a determined pediatric psychiatrist, hospital regulations, and a restorative ping pong game that helps the boy learn to trust and believe in a future he’s afraid he isn’t going to see. (USA, 2002, 13 min. Directed by James Hawkins.)
Atomic Love Will true love find Sally and Mr. Robot? With a cool retro look, this sweet cosmic cartoon considers the possibility of romance between a woman and machine as they fantasize over space fries. (USA, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Michael Dante DiMartino.)
Evelyn: The Cutest Evil Dead Girl Anyone who ever felt the odd one out in high school will delight in this Wednesday Adams-meets-PeeWee’s Playhouse fractured fairytale of a lonely dead girl who longs to belong. Eye-popping visuals and a wicked sense of humor will get you giggle-giggling. (Canada, 2002, 9 min. Directed by Brad Peyton.)
Hyper Need more time on your side? Check out Ace Bivone’s Timesavers. His trademark methods include How to Multi-Task Each Moment, Economize Your Actions, and, of course, Create Your Own Shortcuts. And the best part is – the whole thing is over and done with in just five minutes! (USA, 2003, 6 min. Directed by Michael Canzoniero and Marco Ricci.)
John and Mia John seeks distraction from his lonely life as a truck driver with TV dinners and his favorite videos. When an evening’s viewing brings a rude shock, John is forced out of his quiet routine, setting off on an awkward quest. Highlighted by an immensely affecting and subtle performance from Dick Kayso as John, John and Mia is a touching and emotional tale of an inept father’s kind-hearted but clumsy attempt to revive contact with his child. (Denmark, 2002, 22 min. Directed by Christian Dyekjaer.)
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness In a smart spoof of 1950s educational films, this fast-paced satire uses a collage of images to ironically interweave the fictional stories of a conservative politician, a young couple, and a fundamentalist along with the decline in amphibian populations and the erosion of reproductive rights in the United States. All linked together through a Chinese dry cleaner. (USA, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Tiffany Shlain.)
The Paddock Late one afternoon, in a picture perfect setting, a young farmer recalls his life growing up on the farm. As he contemplates life as he knows it, he must make a choice about his future. Another outback tale from the director of The Gate, SF01 and Afterwards, SF02 (Australia, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Peter Carstairs.)
Promise Land With acerbic wit and visual verve, this animated tour-de-force careens through the convoluted Israeli-Palestinian labyrinth, goaded on by a microphone-toting journalist. Her on-the-spot interviews with characters from all sides of the conflict leave no faction unskewered. Director Gili Dolev serves up a provocative and ironically prophetic vision of current trends in the "Promised Land." (UK/Scotland, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Gili Dolev.)
Tom Hits His Head Tom hits his head. Tom gets dizzy. Tom is afraid to leave his house, but Tom thinks his house is haunted. Tom buys guns and a hazmat suit. Tom sees the devil in his bathtub. Tom thinks he’s the Antichrist. Tom needs help. (USA, 2003, 11 min. Directed by Tom Putnam.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: 525 Crackervac Wallace’s new labor-saving device takes the strain out of cleaning, and it has a "cracker sensor" to boot! However, things don’t go quite as he’s planned, and it’s up to Gromit to save the day. (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
Balance When matter, quietude of mind, and singleness of purpose meet, equilibrium is newly defined. From the director of Mad Boy, I’ll Blow Your Blues Away, Be Mine (SF98) comes this lyrical portrait of Kevin Morgan and his unique avenue of self-expression. (USA, 2003, 6 min. Directed by Adam Collis.)
Don’t Have, Don’t Give This bittersweet drama follows Darek as he returns to his bleak hometown, ostensibly to celebrate his brother Jacek’s birthday. At first, the two warily circle each other, like old sparring-partners probing for an opening. As they verbally bob and weave through the course of the day, reconciliation seems tantalizingly possible. (Poland, 2002, 17 min. Directed by David Turner.)
Four Simple Rules In this lively comedy, a successful restaurateur relies on "four simple rules" to balance a hectic job, a suspicious wife, and his Don Juan impulses. Like a skilled waiter bearing a precariously stacked tray, he deftly maneuvers through his overbooked life. Until the day a slip threatens to send everything crashing. (USA, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Geoffrey O’Connor.)
From the 104th Floor In this evocative vignette, director Serguei Bassine (Because of Mama, SF01) collaborates with 14-year-old writer Leda Rodis to imagine the final thoughts of a woman trapped in the World Trade Center. Narrated by Rosie Perez. (USA, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Serguei Bassine.)
I Used to Be a Filmmaker From the creator of Prayer, SF02 and Human Remains, SF98 comes this joyous ode to the loving bond of father and child. Part film primer, part family album, Rosenblatt celebrates the daily epiphanies of growing up together. (USA, 2003, 10 min. Directed by Jay Rosenblatt.)
Pa Director Neil Goodridge’s dexterous collage and creative photography conjures the fantastical world of Pa, who, as wildly imagined by his 8-year-old grandson, was quite the kooky character. (Australia, 2001, 6 min. Directed by Neil Goodridge.)
Shearing It’s lambing season again, and Yvonne’s husband is obsessed with tending the flock. When his animal husbandry invades their kitchen, her exasperation leads to drastic measures. This eloquent drama about a woman, a man, the pub, and the paddock speaks volumes about love and desire. (UK, 2002, 13 min. Directed by Eicke Bettinga.)
Waiting Aditya Assarat (Motorcycle, SF01) brings us another moving and quietly lyrical drama from Thailand. Leaving his lifelong rural home, Grandfather Koon determinedly sets off on a mysterious mission across the length of his country towards the sea and a childhood memory. (Thailand, 2002, 24 min. Directed by Aditya Assarat.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: Shopper 13 It may be just a short nip to the shops, but why bother to go out when you can send Shopper 13, Wallace’s latest loopy gadget? (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
D.E.B.S. In this fast-paced spoof of action-adventure TV shows, four high schoolers are transformed into the D.E.B.S., a quartet of crime-fighting, sweater-swapping secret agents. They fight a running battle with a notorious villain who keeps kidnapping one of them and making mischievous with her. (USA, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Angela Robinson.)
Fish Never Sleep Animator Gaelle Davis creates the captivatingly illustrated tale of Naoko. A complete insomniac, she muses wearily over fish bowls, sushi, and the vast fish market near her Tokyo home to the puzzling question: why do fish never sleep? (UK, 2002, 6 min. Directed by Gaelle Denis.)
Here Was the Anthem This suspenseful urban drama follows two cocky young men whose cruise for pot in the heart of Mexico City turns into a nightmare when they’re abruptly snatched out of their complacent well-to-do world. No longer in the driver’s seat, the two find themselves unwilling passengers on an eye-opening tour of their city’s corrupt underworld. (USA/Mexico, 2002, 22 min. Directed by Sergio Umansky.)
Highrise A woman...a baby...game show...a window. Decision time and the clock is ticking. (UK, 2002, 4 min. Directed by Gabrielle Russell.)
The King and Dick Law enforcement, patriotism, and nefarious counter culture are at the center of this historic White House meeting between Richard M. Nixon and Elvis Presley. (USA, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Scott Calonico.)
A Ninja Pays Half My Rent Quiet non-smoking male. Anyone who’s ever suffered the foibles of cohabitation based on financial need will get a chuckle out of one man’s quest for the ideal roommate. (USA, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Steven Tsuchida.)
Parking A man with an entrepreneurial streak vs. a persistent weed. All bets are off in this hilarious vintage Bill Plympton (How to Make Love to a Women, SF 96, Sex and Violence, SF 97). (USA, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Bill Plympton.)
Terminal Bar Between 1972-1982 Sheldon Nadelman worked as a bartender at one of the toughest bars in Manhattan. Where others would have been content to serve the drinks and collect the money, Sheldon went another step – he photographed his customers, amassing over 2,500 portraits of men most people never took the time to see. His son Stefan has masterfully assembled his father’s photos into a visually arresting chronicle. (USA, 2002, 22 min. Directed by Stefan Nadelman.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: The Tellyscope It’s Gromit’s job to change TV channels. To save his legs, Wallace invents a simple "remote control." The design flaw is obvious. (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
Evelyn: The Cutest Evil Dead Girl Anyone who ever felt the odd one out in high school will delight in this Wednesday Adams-meets-PeeWee’s Playhouse fractured fairytale of a lonely dead girl who longs to belong. (Canada, 2002, 9 min. Directed by Brad Peyton.)
Family & Friends For a child, relatives and their unusual habits are fascinating. A clever portrait of uncles, cousins, and blind divers who can eat bananas under water. (Sweden, 2002, 12 min. Directed by Jonas Odell.)
Family Tree Animator Vicky Jenson (Shreck, Ren & Stimpy) takes a masterful turn at directing live-action with this journey through an extended family’s Thanksgiving Day. Jenson harmonizes an outstanding ensemble cast (Talia Shire, Harland Williams, Ethan Phillips, etc.) and an imaginative script into a domestic chamberpiece at once laughter-provoking, teeth-clenching, and heart-warming. (USA, 2002, 35 min. Directed by Vicky Jenson.)
Hyper Need more time on your side? Check out Ace Bivone’s Timesavers. And the best part is – it only takes five hilarious minutes! (USA, 2003, 6 min. Directed by Michael Canzoniero and Marco Ricci.)
I’ll Wait for the Next One A man is searching for love on the subway. One passenger hears his plea. (France, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Philippe Orreindy.)
Pan with Us This frenetic and poetic flight on the wings of classic Greek mythology speaks to our times. (USA, 2003, 4 min. Directed by David Russo.)
Thomaschek’s Plan In the closing months of 1961, 16-year-old Jochen and his German village live in the shadow of the newly constructed Berlin Wall, the Cold War’s most ominous symbol. Out for a run one day, Jochen notices the odd behavior of the town postman. Why is the middle-aged Thomaschek jogging through the woods with a pair of binoculars? (Germany, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Ralf Westhoff.)
At Dawning Hoping to render last night’s dalliance null and void, a woman tries to steal away before her tryst awakes. The man in a tree outside strongly disagrees. A sly morality tale about an escaping woman meeting a falling man. (UK, 2002, 12 min. Directed by Martin Jones.)
Don’t Have, Don’t Give Darek returns to his hometown, ostensibly to celebrate his brother Jacek’s birthday. At first, the two warily circle each other, like old sparring-partners probing for an opening. As they verbally bob and weave through the course of the day, reconciliation seems tantalizingly possible. (Poland, 2002, 17 min. Directed by David Turner.)
The Paper Mache Chase Welcome to the Bellinger Pre-School, the center of this tongue-in-cheek look at educational opportunity. Watch as ambitious parents, their "gifted" offspring in tow, run the forbidding gantlet of headmaster Dr. Calhoun (Spaulding Gray) and PDAT (Playdate Aptitude Test) scores. This grueling pre-K competition makes getting into the Ivy League look like child’s play! (USA, 2003, 10 min. Directed by Dave Jordan.)
Twin Towers Joseph Vigiano, an officer in an elite New York City police unit, is the center of this deeply affecting portrait of quiet heroism. Beginning in early 1991, the film chronicles Joseph’s life as a policeman, as he follows his family’s tradition of service; his brother and father were both NYC firefighters. As September 11th unfolded, both Joseph and his brother were lost while on duty. In Twin Towers, Robert Port and Bill Guttentag (Blues Highway, SF95) construct a moving tribute to a family uniquely marked by this tragedy. (USA, 2002, 34 min. Directed by Bill Guttentag & Robert Port.)
What the Doctor Ordered What the Doctor Ordered recounts the poignant story of a stubborn adolescent patient, a determined pediatric psychiatrist, hospital regulations, and a restorative ping pong game that helps the boy learn to trust and believe in a future he’s afraid he isn’t going to see. (USA, 2002, 13 min. Directed by James Hawkins.)
The World of Interiors Procrastination lies at the center of this whimsical animation of a young man on the verge of going out, a disheveled flat, and the siren call of a ringing phone. (UK, 2001, 7 min. Directed by Bunny Schendler.)
Family & Friends For a child, relatives and their unusual habits are fascinating. A clever portrait of uncles, cousins, and blind divers who can eat bananas under water. (Sweden, 2002, 12 min. Directed by Jonas Odell.)
Four Simple Rules In this lively comedy, a successful restaurateur relies on "four simple rules" to balance a hectic job, a suspicious wife, and his Don Juan impulses. Like a skilled waiter bearing a precariously stacked tray, he deftly maneuvers through his overbooked life. Until the day a slip threatens to send everything crashing. (USA, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Geoffrey O’Connor.)
A Ninja Pays Half My Rent Quiet non-smoking male. Anyone who’s ever suffered the foibles of cohabitation based on financial need will get a chuckle out of one man’s quest for the ideal roommate. (USA, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Steven Tsuchida.)
Pan with Us This frenetic and poetic flight on the wings of classic Greek mythology speaks to our times. (USA, 2003, 4 min. Directed by David Russo.)
Turn Around When Charlie meets city girl Tiahla, he throws boring, small-town routine out the window. Sparked by her dreamboat allure, he sets off in hot pursuit, persuading his friend Glenni to drive him to the city. But Glenni has a mind – and dreams – of her own. (Australia, 2002, 13 min. Directed by Samantha Saunders.)
Thomaschek’s Plan In the closing months of 1961, 16-year-old Jochen and his German village live in the shadow of the newly constructed Berlin Wall, the Cold War’s most ominous symbol. Out for a run one day, Jochen notices the odd behavior of the town postman. Why is the middle-aged Thomaschek jogging through the woods with a pair of binoculars? (Germany, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Ralf Westhoff.)
This Charming Man Meet young Lars Hansen, as Danish (and blond headed) as Carlsberg beer. Desperate for work, he applies for an employment program. With both a job and romantic prospect dangling before him, Lars’ life is looking up! But. . . . With gentle humor, This Charming Man takes on romance, prejudice, and bureaucracy. (Denmark, 2002, 28 min. Directed by Martin Strange-Hansen.)
Field Guide to Snapping A hip-hoppy jam of break-dancin’, skateboardin’ forest creatures, all boogyin’ down to a young girl’s turntable in the woods. (USA, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Nikhil Adnani.)
The Hedge of Thorns This gorgeously animated and utterly sweet film tells the story of Florian and Malene, two best friends who must find a creative solution to bridge the thorny gap of war that separates them. (Norway, 2002, 13 min. Directed by Anita Killi.)
Kids Play Outside An endearing story about a classic curmudgeon who is forced to spend some time with a young boy whose imaginative spirit is very contagious. (Sweden, 2002, 7 min. Directed by Per Hanefjord.)
Little Blue Directed by Peter Carstairs (The Gate, SF01 & Afterwards, SF02), this lovely glimpse into a child’s mischievous world shows that sometimes it takes more than a bath to change the way we think. (Australia, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Peter Carstairs.)
Nina Under Water This visually enchanting little story about bathing and dreaming shares a glimpse into the creative imaginings of a little girl at bath time. (Germany, 2001, 2 min. Directed by Eva-Lotta Lamm.)
Outside Looking In Nina Grünfeld returns with an entertaining story that offers a real-life look at falling out and making up through the misadventures of best friends Lise and Camilla.(Norway, 2001, 9 min. Directed by Nina F. Grünfeld.)
Swapped A farcical children’s fantasy tale in which William trades his father for a pair of goldfish but learns that getting him back isn’t so easy. (UK, 2001, 10 min. Directed by Pierre Monnard.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions In this series of two- to three-minute films, Wallace concocts nutty labor saving devices that go explosively wrong. Thank goodness Gromit’s around to fix everything up again! (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
Asylum Delicately weaving together images of life in Ghana with a compelling interview, Asylum recounts the story of Baaba Andoh, a young African woman whose life takes a frightening turn when she searches out her father to ask for a marriage blessing. Suddenly caught in the throes of cultural expectation (including a new marriage and ritual disfigurement), she flees for her life only to end up in the incarcerating grasp of the INS. The seemingly bland statistics of women seeking political asylum are given a compellingly urgent face in this elegantly composed documentary. (USA, 2002, 20 min. Directed by Sandy McLeod.)
Devil Talk Even the devil has a mother who doesn’t think he’s good enough. Or, in the devil’s case – evil enough. Trying to please mom and eager for an image change, the devil hires a publicist in this farcical short from Illeana Douglas (Boy Crazy, Girl Crazier, FF95 and The Perfect Woman, SF94). (USA, 2003, 5 min. Directed by Illeana Douglas.)
The ErlKing Set to music of Franz Schubert, this beautiful sand animation brings Goethe’s haunting poem to life. (USA, 2002, 6 min. Directed by Ben Zelkowicz.)
Family Tree Animation veteran Vicky Jenson (Shreck, Ren & Stimpy) takes a masterful turn at directing live-action with this emotion-filled and magic-tinged journey through an extended family’s very special Thanksgiving Day. Jenson harmonizes an outstanding ensemble cast (Talia Shire, Harland Williams, Ethan Phillips, and others) and an imaginative script into a family chamberpiece at once laughter-provoking, teeth-clenching, and heart-warming. (USA, 2002, 35 min. Directed by Vicky Jenson.)
Little Blue The limitless possibilities of a child’s imagination are explored in this charming pas de deux featuring a glass of water and a boy on a mission. Peter Carstairs (whose film The Paddock also screens this year) demonstrates a nimble hand in creating a wonderously magical moment for child and mother to share. (Australia, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Peter Carstairs.)
Pan with Us Part performance piece, part edited-in-the-camera feat, this frenetic and poetic flight on the wings of classic Greek mythology speaks to our times. (USA, 2003, 4 min. Directed by David Russo.)
The Security Guard Frederic Pelle (Pieces of My Wife, SF01) returns with this droll tale of a sensitive soul squeezed into an ill-fitting job. Gomez, a quietly sincere, but inexperienced young man, answers a security company ad. Though filmed in black-and-white, The Security Guard frames its protagonist’s quandary in subtle shades of gray. (France, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Frederic Pelle.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: The Turbo Diner What could be better than your own automated butler? Well, when it’s from the patented imagination of our cheese-fancying Rube Goldberg, on second thought . . . (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
Dumping Elaine Why does Eddie want to get rid of Elaine and what’s Beth got to do with it? Is Beth the other woman or Eddie the other man? Maybe Eddie is using Elaine to hurt Beth unless Beth is using Eddie to get back at Elaine... You get the idea. 1 café, 2 customers, 2 waitresses, 3 weeks, and lots of coffee. Service not included and neither is Elaine. (UK, 2002, 9 min. Directed by Peter Lydon.)
Family & Friends From a child’s point of view, where fascination not judgement is the operative term, relatives are intriguing specimens of humanity, especially if they have unusual habits. A clever and brilliantly animated family portrait of uncles, cousins, and blind divers who can eat bananas under water. (Sweden, 2002, 12 min. Directed by Jonas Odell.)
I’ll Wait for the Next One A man is searching for love in the subway. One passenger hears his plea. (France, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Philippe Orreindy.)
Live from Shiva’s Dance Floor The irrepressibly loquacious, incomparably eloquent, and highly original Speed Levitch – tour guide, philosopher, historian and star of the documentary The Cruise – gives us his distinctly unique perspective on NYC, 9/11 and Ground Zero in this engagingly offbeat documentary by Richard Linklater (Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, FF01). (USA, 2002, 21 min. Directed by Richard Linklater.)
Shadow Man A young girl secretly spies two men breaking into a decrepit house. Fascinated, she gets their attention and befriends them. Soon the line between friendship and intimacy becomes blurred, and the little girl may be crossing dangerous boundaries. (UK, 2002 12 min. Directed by Amanda Rudman.)
Squash This incisive, sardonic drama is set deep in "Company of Men" territory – a sweat-stained squash court. We join Alexandre as he meets his hyper-competitive boss, Charles, for an after-work game. The ball rockets and racquets slash. The score narrows. Will the players’ heated verbal volleys and outrageous mind-games stay in bounds? (France, 2002 27 min. Directed by Lionel Bailliu.)
Tim Tom Tim and Tom persevere and successfully connect despite the interference of their higher power. A deceptively simple and clever animated delight. (France, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Roman Seguad and Christel Pougeoise.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: The Soccamatic Goalkeeping is not Gromit‘s forte. But don’t worry – Wallace has the perfect solution to help improve his game. (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
A Field Guide to Snapping A hip-hoppy jam of break-dancin’, skateboardin’ forest creatures, all boogyin’ down to a young girl’s turntable in the woods. (USA, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Nikhil Adnani.)
The Hedge of Thorns The sweetly affecting tale of Florian and Malene, two best friends who must find a creative solution to bridge the thorny gap of war separating them. (Norway, 2002, 13 min. Directed by Anita Killi.)
Kids Play Outside An endearing story about a curmudgeon and a young boy with a contagious imagination. (Sweden, 2002, 7 min. Directed by Per Hanefjord.)
Little Blue A charming tale starring a glass of water and a boy on a mission. (Australia, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Peter Carstairs.)
Nina Under Water An animated glimpse into the creative imaginings of a little girl at bath time. (Germany, 2001, 2 min. Directed by Eva-Lotta Lamm.)
Outside Looking In An entertaining real-life look at falling out and making up through the misadventures of best friends Lise and Camilla.(Norway, 2001, 9 min. Directed by Nina F. Grünfeld.)
Swapped A farcical fantasy in which William trades his father for a pair of goldfish.... (United Kingdom, 2001, 10 min. Directed by Pierre Monnard.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions In this series of shorties, Wallace concocts nutty labor-saving devices that go explosively wrong. Thank goodness Gromit’s around to fix everything up again! (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.).
Balance When matter, quietude of mind, and singleness of purpose meet on a beach, equilibrium is newly defined. A lyrical portrait of Kevin Morgan and his unique avenue of self-expression. (USA, 2003, 6 min. Directed by Adam Collis.)
Dumping Elaine Why does Eddie want to get rid of Elaine and what’s Beth got to do with it? Is Beth the other woman or Eddie the other man? 1 café, 2 customers, 2 waitresses, 3 weeks, and lots of coffee. Service not included and neither is Elaine. (UK, 2002, 9 min. Directed by Peter Lydon.)
Family Tree Animator Vicky Jenson (Shreck, Ren & Stimpy) takes a masterful turn at directing live-action with this journey through an extended family’s Thanksgiving Day. Jenson harmonizes an outstanding ensemble cast (Talia Shire, Harland Williams, Ethan Phillips, etc.) and an imaginative script into a domestic chamberpiece at once laughter-provoking, teeth-clenching, and heart-warming. (USA, 2002, 35 min. Directed by Vicky Jenson.)
Little Blue The limitless possibilities of a child’s imagination are explored in this charming pas de deux featuring a glass of water and a boy on a mission. Peter Carstairs (whose film The Paddock also screens this year) demonstrates a nimble hand in creating a wondrously magical moment for child and mother to share. (Australia, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Peter Carstairs.)
Ready From the moment she arrives at the elegantly appointed hotel, Naomi (Imelda Staunton, Crush SF 02) epitomizes cool, calm and collected. And why shouldn’t she? All her life, she has planned for this night: down to the perfect dinner, a simple omelet and crisp green salad. She tells herself that she’s ready. Is she? (UK, 2002, 20 min. Directed by Savina Dellicour.)
Shadow Man A young girl secretly spies two men breaking into a decrepit house. Fascinated, she gets their attention and befriends them, but is she crossing a dangerous boundary? (UK, 2002 12 min. Directed by Amanda Rudman.)
Tim Tom Tim and Tom persevere and successfully connect despite the interference of their higher power. A deceptively simple and clever animated delight. (France, 2002, 5 min. Directed by Romain Segaud & Christel Pougeoise.)
Wallace and Gromit’s Cracking Contraptions: Shopper 13 It may be just a short nip to the shops, but why bother to go out when you can send Shopper 13, Wallace’s latest loopy gadget? (UK, 2002, 3 min. Directed by Christopher Sadler and Loyd Price.)
Asylum Asylum recounts the story of Baaba Andoh, a young woman from Ghana whose life takes a frightening turn when she asks her father’s marriage blessing. Caught in the throes of cultural expectation (including a new marriage and ritual disfigurement), she flees for her life. The impersonal statistics of women seeking political asylum in the U.S. are given a compellingly urgent face in this elegantly composed documentary. (USA, 2002, 20 min. Directed by Sandy McLeod.)
Four Simple Rules In this lively comedy, a successful restaurateur relies on "four simple rules" to balance a hectic job, a suspicious wife, and his Don Juan impulses. Like a skilled waiter bearing a precariously stacked tray, he deftly maneuvers through his overbooked life. Until the day a slip threatens to send everything crashing. (USA, 2002, 14 min. Directed by Geoffrey O’Connor.)
The King and Dick Law enforcement, patriotism, and the nefarious counter culture are at the center of this historic White House meeting between Richard M. Nixon and Elvis Presley. (USA, 2002, 8 min. Directed by Scott Calonico.)
Shearing It’s lambing season again, and Yvonne’s husband is obsessed with tending the flock. When his animal husbandry invades their kitchen, her exasperation leads to drastic measures. This eloquent drama about a woman, a man, the pub, and the paddock speaks volumes about love and desire. (UK, 2002, 13 min. Directed by Eicke Bettinga.)
This Charming Man Meet young Lars Hansen, as Danish (and blond headed) as Carlsberg beer. Desperate for work, he applies for an employment program. With both a job and romantic prospect dangling before him, Lars’ life is looking up! But . . . .With gentle humor, This Charming Man takes on romance, prejudice, and bureaucracy. (Denmark, 2002, 28 min. Directed by Martin Strange-Hansen.)
Turn Around When Charlie meets city girl Tiahla, he throws boring, small-town routine out the window. Sparked by her dreamboat allure, he sets off in hot pursuit, persuading his friend Glenni to drive him to the city. But Glenni has a mind – and dreams – of her own. (Australia, 2002, 13 min. Directed by Samantha Saunders.)
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