Archives

Animation, Drama

Lost and Found Love

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This episode includes:

Mr. Hublot by Laurent Witz
Lucy by Zoe Lubeck
West of the Moon by Brent Bonacorso

Mr. Hublot
France/Luxembourg
Mr. Hublot lives in a world where everything is mechanical — including pets. It’s a universe where the giant scale of machines and the relentless use of salvaged materials reign supreme. Mr. Hublot, a withdrawn, idiosyncratic character with OCD, must break out of his shell when a robot dog is left abandoned on the curb outside the place where he lives. The film won the 2014 Academy Award for best animation. Written, produced and directed by Laurent Witz.
– Visit the film’s website at mrhublot.com.
– Watch a trailer at mrhublot.com.
– Read an interview with the filmmaker at cartoonbrew.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Lucy
USA
A little girl wants a puppy … real bad. Her obsession is driving her parents crazy. Will her persistence break through her parents’ stone cold hearts? While the story may be familiar to anyone who has wanted a dog, her creative storytelling technique will have you in tears by the end. Animated by Zoe Lubeck.
– Watch the film, below.

West of the Moon
USA
The memory of a long lost love triggers an old man to recall the odd set of circumstances that led to his having a grenade as a heart and a monkey inside his head. A wildly inventive and visually amazing film inviting comparisons to the work of Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton. The film is directed by Brent Bonacorso and based on the book of children’s essays entitled The Colored Monster Has No Mouth by Roger Omar. Principal cast: Jacob Whitkin, Michael Garbe, Amber Noelle and Christopher Tomafelli.
– Watch the film, below.
– Read an interview with the filmmaker at filmmakermagazine.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch Lucy:

Watch West of the Moon:

Drama

Love Never Dies

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This episode includes:

Love at First Sight by Michael Davies
Romance by Douglas Boswell

Love at First Sight
England
It’s not every day you fall in love, but in 70-year-old Arthur’s case he can and does. When he spots Ruth in the retirement home, he knows in his heart he has finally found his soul mate. Directed by Michael Davies, the short film shows that you are never too old to fall in love. Principal cast: John Hurt, Phyllida Law and Barry McCarthy.
– Read interviews with the filmmaker at bristolpost.co.uk and latimesblogs.latimes.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Romance
Belgium
Meet Desiree, Agnes and Louise. All three have come from different backgrounds and life experiences to share the same room in a nursing home. Only one has the coveted spot near the window. From her vantage point, she is able to give her bedridden roommates a daily play-by-play of the young lovers in the park. The newcomer to the ward finds her stories meddlesome until one day she has an epiphany. Directed by Douglas Boswell. Principal cast: Mieke Verheyden, Doris Van Caneghem and Blanka Heirman.

Comedy

That Girl Is Crazy

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This episode includes:

The Cyclist by Morgan Krantz
Person to Person by Dustin Guy Defa

The Cyclist
USA
Harold’s awkward first date with Hannah takes a turn for the worse when they discover her bicycle has been stolen. Together, they hunt for the culprit. Harry soon realizes that the thief is the least of his problems in what is turning out to be the date from hell. Directed by Morgan Krantz. Principal cast: Luke Baybak and Shannyn Sossamon.
– Read an interview with the filmmaker at examiner.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Person to Person
USA
Waking up in the morning after hosting a party, a man discovers a female stranger passed out on his floor. He spends the rest of the day unsuccessfully trying to convince her to leave. Reminiscent of early Spike Lee, Person to Person lovingly captures the quirky characters that make up the New York neighborhood in which he lives. The film won an award at the Berlin and South By Southwest Film festivals. Written, produced, edited and directed by Dustin Guy Defa. Principal cast: Bene Coopersmith and Deragh Campbell.
– Watch the film, below.
– Watch an interview with the filmmaker at vimeo.com.
– Read interviews with the filmmaker at filmmakermagazine.com.
– Learn more about the film at sltrib.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch Person to Person:

Drama

Be Still My Heart

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This episode includes:

Voice Over by Martin Rosete
Rhino Full Throttle by Erik Schmitt

Voice Over
Spain
There are unforgettable moments in one’s life that take your breath away. Here are three of them. No, make that four… or is it one? Confused? So is the narrator who jumps from one heart-thumping story to another. He argues with himself until he finally figures out what tale he is really trying to tell. Directed by Martin Rosete. Principal cast: Jonathan Mellor (playing the main three characters), Javier Cidoncha, and Luna Montignier Pereiro.
– Watch the film, below.
– Visit the film’s website at voice-over.es.
– Read interviews with the filmmaker at manhattanshort.com and thewrap.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Rhino Full Throttle
Germany
Bruno roams the streets of Berlin trying to find the soul of the city when a beautiful tourist highjacks his thought process in this deceptively simple but visually creative love story. Driven by curiosity, his wild imagination and his unique take on reality, Bruno reveals his love affair with Berlin and his infatuation with a mysterious woman. Directed by Erik Schmitt. Principal cast: Tino Mewes and Marleen Lohse.
– Watch a trailer, below.
– Visit the film’s website at kamerapferd.com.
– Read an interview with the filmmaker at msfilmfest.com.

Watch Voice Over:

Watch a trailer for Rhino Full Throttle:

Drama, Suspense

New World Disorder

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This episode includes:

iMom by Ariel Martin
Foxes by Lorcan Finnegan

iMom
Australia
Finally, the answer for busy parents all over the world! In the not too distant future, the iMom is created and becomes a wildly successful product that’s guaranteed to raise your kids for you. When a preoccupied mother leaves her eight-year-old son and baby daughter under the care of the family’s iMom, a scary connection is formed. Technology has made many jobs obsolete, but can it replace the role of dear old mom? Written, produced and directed by Ariel Martin. Principal cast: Marta Dusseldorp, Lara Everly and Tom Kiesche.
– Watch a trailer, below.
– Read interview with the filmmaker at shootonline.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Foxes
Ireland
The real estate bubble has burst leaving people’s home mortgages and lives upside down. One lone couple are all that remain in an otherwise abandoned subdivision. Isolation can mess with your mind and make you do strange things. They soon find out they are not alone. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan. Principal cast: Marie Ruanne, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Karen Griffin.
– Watch the film, below.
– Visit the film’s website at foxesfilm.com.
– To read interviews with the filmmaker, go to dreadcentral.com and directorsnotes.com.

Watch a trailer for iMom:

Watch Foxes:

Animation, Comedy

The Real World

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This episode includes:

The Herd by Ken Wardrop
Kinda Sutra by Jessica Yu
Ghost Train by James Fleming and Kelly Hucker

The Herd
Ireland
A farmer has to deal with many unexpected situations, but when he encounters an animal with an identity crisis, he is a bit flummoxed as to how he should respond to the situation. Directed by Ken Wardrop and featuring his parents.
– Watch the film, below.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Kinda Sutra
USA
Where do babies come from? Mixing animation and taped interviews, this humorous documentary poses this question to a variety of adult and youngsters who explore their earliest understanding of sex, conception and how the two, a… intersect. With affection, laughter and nostalgia for youth’s lost naivete, the subjects recall some of their earliest encounters pertaining to sex and how babies get made. Directed by Academy Award winner Jessica Yu.
– Watch the film, below.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Ghost Train
Australia
An elderly man struggling to cope with his wife’s dementia is drawn into a macabre cabaret theatre where he becomes captivated by the lead actress. The short documentary shows the many forms of love and how one can find happiness in unexpected places. Directed by James Fleming and Kelly Hucker.
– Watch a trailer, below.
– Visit the film’s website at ghosttraindocumentary.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch The Herd:

Watch Kinda Sutra:

Watch a trailer for Ghost Train:

Comedy, Drama

Boy Meets Girl

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This episode includes:

97% by Ben Brand
Mickey and Maria by Steffen Reuter
Man in Suit by Anna van der Heide

97%
Holland
Finally, technology has now been able to help us find love. Via an app on his phone, single and ready to mingle, Bert gets a notice that the girl of his dreams is nearby. Now, all he has to do is find her before the subway train reaches the end of the line… easier said than done. Directed by Ben Brand. Principal cast: Bert Hana, Thirsa van Til and Laura Branderhorst.
– Watch a trailer, below.
– Read interview with the filmmaker at msfilmfest.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Mickey and Maria
Holland
Twenty-year-old Maria goes to a birthday party in hopes of escaping her troubles. She has just broken up with her immature boyfriend and has become disenchanted with men and love. Just when she is ready to give up on love, a precocious nine-year-old Mickey, who knows a good thing when he sees it, offers her the most romantic proposal ever. Directed by Steffen Reuter. The filmmaker was going for a nostalgic look with the film and decided to shoot it on a very old 8mm home movie camera. Principal cast: Stefanie Stappenbeck and Max Schmuckert.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Man in Suit
United States
A busy woman is at her wit’s end with her family. Her children don’t appreciate all the things she does for them. When her husband forgets to tell her that he has to work on the family’s planned day to visit the amusement park, she reaches the end of her rope. She decides to seize the day. Now it’s Mommy time. Directed by Anna van der Heide. Principal cast: Maria Kraakman, Nick Livramento Silva, Rover Van Gennep, Roosmarijn Van der Hoek, Ali Ben Horsting.
– Watch a trailer, below.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch a trailer for 97%:

Watch a trailer for Man in Suit:

Drama, Suspense

Never Take No for an Answer

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This episode includes:

Grounded by Alexis Michalik
Selma by Mohamed Ben Attia

Grounded
France
Evelyne needs to travel to London for her mother’s funeral. But at the airport, she can’t produce her newborn baby’s ID. She is not allowed to board her plane. But with the help of Stephanie, a young air hostess, they will fight the inflexible airport rules and bureaucratic red tape. It is a race against time. Will she make it before the gate closes? Written and directed by Alexis Michalik. Principal cast: Stephanie Stephanie Caillol, Evelyne El Garbi Klai, Anne Loiret and Laurent Mentec.
– Watch behind the scenes below.

Selma
Tunisia
After the accidental death of her taxi-driver husband, Selma decides to become master of her own life by taking over his taxi business. She comes up against the Kafkaesque procedures of Tunisian bureaucracy and the heavily entrenched patriarchal society. With quiet determination, she also faces her conservative Muslim in-laws who continue to dictate the way she should behave. Facing difficult odds, she fights to break free. Written and directed by Mohamed Ben Attia. Principal cast: Nejma Zeghidi, Rafiaa Boutekkine Belhoute and Asma Fallah.

Watch behind the scenes of Grounded:

http://player.vimeo.com/video/70611819

Drama

Not the Same Without You

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This episode includes:

We Keep on Dancing by Jessica Barclay Lawton
The Phone Call by Mat Kirkby

We Keep on Dancing
Australia
A deep human connection is made — in of all places — in an auto repair shop among men who have never met before. A distraught man with a rundown Volkswagen Beetle comes into the Rainbow Mechanics repair shop with an unusual request. The men in the shop come to the realization that breakdowns happen to more than just cars. Directed by Jessica Barclay Lawton. Principal cast: John Brumpton, William Gluth and Rhys Mitchell.
– Watch a trailer, below.
– Visit the film’s website at jessicalawton.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

The Phone Call
England
Heather is shy and spends her days working at a helpline call center. When she receives a call from a distraught man, she has no idea the encounter will change her life forever. Featuring an amazing performance by Sally Hawkins (who did this film right after her Oscar nominated performance in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine), the film will resonate with anyone searching for a true companion. The film won the 2015 Oscar for best short film. Written and directed by Mat Kirkby. Principal cast: Sally Hawkins and Jim Broadbent.
– Visit the film’s website at thephonecallfilm.com.
– Read interview with the filmmaker at hungertv.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch a trailer for We Keep on Dancing:

http://player.vimeo.com/video/74093129

Comedy

The Dance of Life

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This episode includes:

Tango Underpants by Miranda Edmonds and Khrob Edmonds
Tanghi Argentina by Guido Thys

Tango Underpants
Australia / Argentina
Trying to forget a failed relationship, an Australian woman decides to get as far away as possible. She hopes to start anew in South America. She has changed her scenery, but learns the thing she most needs to change is herself. While in Argentina, she discovers not only the exciting world of the sexy tango, but also the vital importance of the right underwear. Directed by siblings Miranda Edmonds and Khrob Edmonds. Principal cast: Emma Booth and Mirta Busnelli.
– Watch the film, below.
– Visit the film’s website at thelostthing.com.
– To watch an interview with the filmmakers, go to pozible.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Tanghi Argentina
Belgium
A lonely middle aged office clerk decides to hook up with a woman on the internet. She loves to tango. There’s only one problem. He can’t dance. He pleads with a co-worker to teach him to dance. After much cajoling, he accepts the challenge. Little does he know what he has gotten himself into? This surprising and charming Academy Award nominated comedy is directed by Guido Thys. Principal cast: Dirk Van Dijck, Koen van Impe and Hilde Norga.
– Watch a trailer, below.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch Tango Underpants:

Watch a trailer for Tanghi Argentina:

Animation, Drama

The Dog in the Window

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This episode includes:

Helium by Anders Walter

Helium
Denmark
A terminally ill boy makes a friend with a hospital worker. Through his stories about Helium — a magical fantasy world, the boy regains the joy and happiness of his life and finds a safe haven away from his daily hardships. Written and directed by Anders Walter. The film won the 2014 Oscar for Best Short. Principal cast: Casper Crump, Marijana Jankovic and Pelle Falk Krusbaek.

– Watch a trailer, below.
– Watch an interview with the filmmaker at youtube.com.
– Read interview with the filmmaker at filmshortage.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch a trailer from Helium:

Animation

The Animation of Imagination

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This episode includes:

The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann
Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenberg

The Lost Thing
Australia
A boy discovers a bizarre looking creature while out collecting bottle caps one day at the beach. Realizing it is lost, he tries to find out where it belongs, but everyone else is too busy or wrapped up in their own lives to care. The boy decides it is up to him to find its home. The surreal animation comes from the mind of children’s book writer Shaun Tan. A beautiful allegory exploring how we take for granted the world around us and how we ourselves at times feel like we don’t belong. The film won the 2011 Academy Award for best short animation. Directed by Shaun Tan and Andrew Ruhemann.
– Watch the film, below.
– Visit the film’s website at thelostthing.com.
– Learn more about the film at shauntan.net.
– Read interview with the filmmaker at nytimes.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore
USA
Inspired in equal measures by Hurricane Katrina (the filmmakers are based in Louisiana), Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore is a story of people who devote their lives to books. The film is a poignant, humorous allegory about the curative powers of reading. The film uses a hybrid style of animation that harkens back to silent films and MGM Technicolor musicals. Directed by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenberg. The film won the 2012 Academy Award for best short animation.
– Watch the film, below.
– Visit the film’s website at morrislessmore.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s Wikipedia entry at wikipedia.org.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch The Lost Thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1YG7ZXfC6g

Watch Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore :

http://player.vimeo.com/video/80648480

Animation, Drama, Suspense

Can You Fly?

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This episode includes:

5 Meters 80 by Nicolas Deveaux
9 Meter by Anders Walter
Dust by Ben Ockrent and Jake Russell

5 Meters 80
France
Ever wonder what giraffes do for fun? Wonder no more. Animated by Nicolas Deveaux. The filmmaker’s first film, 7 Tons 2, shows us what elephants do to amuse themselves.
– Watch the film, below.
– Watch 7 Tons 2 at youtube.com.

9 Meter
Denmark
A young track star’s mother is in a coma. Every time he breaks his own personal records, his mother responds by moving her finger. He is convinced that if he can push himself to the limit, he can continuing breaking records in the long jump and this will wake his mom up. He sets out to make the most dangerous jump of his life. Written and directed by Anders Walter. Principal cast: Benjamin Gabrielsen, Oliver Methling Sondergaard, Thomas Baldus, and Christine Albeck Borge. The film was short listed for an Oscar in 2012. His next film, Helium, won the 2014 Best Short film Oscar and is also part of the ImageMakers episode The Dog in the Window.
– Watch the film, below.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Dust
England
A creepy man follows a young girl and her mother home from school one day and waits until dark to sneak into their house. The mysterious man won’t leave until he gets what he wants — and doesn’t leave until he gets it. Written and directed by Ben Ockrent and Jake Russell. Principal cast: Alan Rickman, Jodie Whittaker, and Lola Albert.
– Watch the film, below.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch 5 Meters 80:

Watch 9 Meter:

Watch Dust:

Drama, Suspense

Beyond Infinity

Quote

This episode includes:

Entity by Andrew Desmond
Orbit Ever After by Jamie Stone

Entity
France
Minutes after the technical failure of her spacecraft (if you can call your ship blowing up just a “technical failure”), an astronaut finds herself ejected from her cockpit and into space. She tries in vain to contact the base to obtain help. Her oxygen level diminishes slowly but surely. She faints… after floating adrift for several hours through the immensity of space, she awakens to find herself facing a strange and mysterious entity, taking the shape of an immense black hole. A jaw dropping, gorgeous special effects laden film written and directed by Andrew Desmond. Principal cast: Alias Hilsum.
– Watch the trailer, below.
– Read interview with the filmmaker at moviepilot.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Orbit Ever After
England
When you’re in love, you’re willing to risk everything in order to spend one perfect moment together. Nigel has fallen in love, but when you live in outer space aboard a ramshackle spaceship it isn’t easy to follow your heart — especially when the girl of your dreams is circling around the earth the opposite direction. A science fiction romance where two star-crossed lovers overcome all probabilities and sacrifice everything in order to spend one perfect moment together. Written and directed by Jamie Stone. Principal cast: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Mackensie Crook, Bronagh Gallagher, and Bob Goody.
– Watch the trailer, below.
– Watch interviews with the filmmaker at insideencounters2013.wordpress.com and filmclub.org.
– View a behind the scenes look at the special effects at vimeo.com.
– Visit the film’s Facebook page at facebook.com.
– See the film’s IMDb entry at imdb.com.

Watch a trailer for Entity:

Watch a trailer for Orbit Ever After: