Films for 2012
A bored high school student turns his Biology notes into a wildly adventurous flip book. Won Best Animated Short at 2012 South by Southwest Film Festival.
After 12 years together, a couple breaks up while dining out in a restaurant. He’s a yapper who’s dumped her for a poodle. How long can she maintain civility before her inner bitch takes over? Nominated for Best Short Film at the 2010 Berlin International Film Festival.
Convinced that a unified theory could be found in the relationship between the numbers two, three, and five, a professor travelled to the Arctic to find the answer and disappeared. Many years later, a former student tries to find him. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Brown Bag Films. Nominated in…
During the winter of 1944-45 near the end of World War II, a German blockade causes widespread famine in occupied Holland. Three women and a young girl unravel a beautiful bedspread so they can knit 55 socks to barter for food. Based on a poem by Marie Jacobs, this film pays tribute to the ingenuity…
Matt Giordano, a talented drummer, reveals the challenges he faces as someone with Tourette Syndrome. Nominated for Best Short Documentary at the 32nd Annual Genie Awards.
When eight-year-old Pearl has to complete a family tree assignment for school, she tries to find out more about her father, who she’s never met, from her single mother, and then sets out to find him herself.
A documentary about children growing up with same sex parents.
When Helga Landowsky discovers a broken jug in an antiques store near the German/Polish border, she wants it at any cost, but the shopkeeper inexplicably refuses to sell it to her even as she offers 10,000 euros for it. But she can have it for free … if she’ll tell him a good story. Won…
Haunted by visions of his late husband, and in conflict with his daughter who is trying to renew the ties between them, an aging author must tackle the impossible task of finding peace in the wake of a devastating loss. Won Best LGBT Short Film at the 2014 Cleveland International Film Festival among other awards.
When a New Yorker walks past a chicken on his morning stroll, we’re left to wonder which one is the real city slicker. Nominated for an Oscar.
From the techniques he used to conceptualize and plan the painting to its unveiling at Rideau Hall in 2012, this fascinating documentary reveals the creative process of Canadian artist Phil Richards who was commissioned in 2010 to paint a life-sized portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in celebration of her 60 years as monarch. Won Best…
An exquisite stop-motion animated film that chronicles the life cycle of this critically endangered species and captures the beauty of the ecosystems they inhabit.
Winner of the 2013 Reel Shorts Film Festival Audience Choice Award. Three “hot” elderly women living in a retirement home fumble with modern technology as one of them texts a message to a man she’s interested in.
A young girl’s imagination sets her shadow free to recapture the blue butterfly that the wind tore from her grasp. Won Best Animation Award at the 2012 Short Shorts Film Festival of Tokyo among many other awards.
After 4 months without seeing each other, a girl receives a visit from her ex-boyfriend.
When a woman plays a mysterious vinyl record single, she suddenly knows how to travel through her own life. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Animated Short.
Presenting Sponsor: Bean Counters In a creepy government waiting room, our guilty little heroine, Pochsy (anagram for “psycho”), descends through seven levels of hell as she awaits the Tax Man’s wrath. Won Grand Jury Prize, Show Us Your Shorts International Short Film Festival, and Audience Choice Award, Dawson International Film Festival. www.pochsy.org Director’s Statement Pochsy works…
Presenting Sponsor: Costco Photo Centre When a beautiful woman enters Josh’s photocopy shop, he sees in her a love for her own job that equals his own. In this punny musical, he offers her his heart and finds out if love is as easy as A4 to A3.
Inspired by true events, this film captures the experience of two men caught up in their government’s restrictive regime. Won the Best Short Jury Award at the 2014 Rochester ImageOut Film Festival among other awards.
After countless years of Liberian civil war, 17-year-old Vele just wants to learn to read and write, along with her 7-year-old daughter. Now that she finally has the opportunity to go to school, her hope for a better future and her determination to achieve it are inspiring.
Inspired by animations for Mars Rover missions, the filmmaker creates a sci-fi spectacle in which a startling mechanical device lands on a bleak and desolate world to enact a profound transformation. Won Audience Choice Award at the 2012 Maui Film Festival.
A young boy spends his days near his dad’s tomb. When a strange girl makes communication possible between father and son again, the boy is determined not to move away with his mother. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Oxen Films.
In ancient China, a little dragon’s inability to breathe fire must be overcome in order to take part in the New Year’s celebration.
In the beginning, there was Adam and Eve … and dog who’s never encountered such strange creatures before, but who finds himself drawn to the world of Man. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Animated Short.
In this grisly homage to 80’s anthology horror, a miserable stepfather has trouble adjusting the VCR after removing the horror video his stepson was watching.
A young man hires a dating service that employs a cute dog named Adonis as a chick magnet. Although he attracts beautiful women at every turn, Adonis must reach deep into his bag of tricks to find the right match. Won Best Short Film at the 2013 Riverside International Film Festival among other awards. Director’s…
Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy runs to the airport to win her back in this hilarious take on the real-life consequences of a romantic grand gesture. Won Best Comedy at the LA Shorts Fest in 2011 among other awards.
A man’s hope of finding his lost daughter becomes an obsession that his estranged wife can no longer ignore. Won Best Fiction Short Film at the 2012 Kinofest International Digital Film Festival in Rumania.
A nine-year-old boy exhibits symptoms of schizophrenia. Did his psychosis cause the brutal deaths of his parents?
As a young married couple, Alfred and Anna move to a new town and open the Alfred Music School, producing a string of winners of the Young Music Talent Contest. Decades later, the town’s factory closes, many families move away, and Alfred is left with no children to teach. When a new student arrives one…
Linda and Larry’s forthcoming wedding hits a snag when the local parish priest comes to their home to do some much-needed marriage counseling. Won Best International Comedy Short, 2010 Illinois International Film Festival. www.fletchfilms.com
In the dangerous world of the Amazon Rainforest, finding a meal proves to be an impossible task for a little treefrog. His luck changes when he meets a blue-bellied treefrog who shows him the ways of the jungle in this animated journey set to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8. Won Best Animated Short at the 2011…
Wildlife filmmaker Andrew Manske has been in pursuit of wild wolves for two decades. With five internationally broadcast wolf documentaries under his belt, he isn’t stopping yet! This talk covers Andrew’s incredible experiences filming wolves in some of the most remote regions in North America from coast to coast to coast, and highlights several projects…
A young man and woman look for each other in Venice, a labyrinth of streets, bridges and canals. Anonymous (Anónimos)
New Zealand photographer Anthony Powell spent a decade documenting his experience at the bottom of the world – from the awe-inspiring auroras and animal ecosystems to the freezing and terrifying ice storms. But most importantly, he pointed his camera at the people – not just the scientists, but the everyday workers who live on base…
When an elderly farmer on an isolated farm in northern Germany learns that a gigantic asteroid will hit earth within 16 hours and wipe out all of mankind, he conceals it from his wife so that her last day will not be one of fear. Won the Audience Award at the 2011 Augsburger Kurzfilmtage.
In a war-torn fishing village in Somalia, a young boy must help support his family by becoming a pirate like the older boys in his village or by becoming a fisherman despite his terrible luck at fishing. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Live Action Short.
In a war-torn fishing village in Somalia, a young boy must help support his family by becoming a pirate like the older boys in his village or by becoming a fisherman despite his bad luck at fishing. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Live Action Short.
Two astronauts arrive to claim an unknown planet, but three little aliens have gotten there first. Can they peacefully work out whose flag should be left standing? Won Best Animation at the 2016 Panam Anim (The International Festival of Animation Schools).
On the edge of a galaxy far, far away (well Wales, actually) two brothers have established a Star Wars-based belief system that claims 3,000 followers. A domestic portrait about faith, family and future, this film reveals an extraordinary family whose hopes of salvation extend far beyond the world as we know it …
Samantha, a little girl growing up in the sixties, loves class b-movies and monsters … until they start to invade her bedroom and her obsession compels her parents to seek help.
A young Auschwitz prisoner auditions for the camp’s orchestra. He stands in front of a firing squad which will shoot if he’s not good enough. Won the Best International Film Award at the 2011 Black Rock Animation Film Festival. There’ll be a Q&A with Udo Prinsen following the screening.
Two Israeli teens on a school trip to Poland to visit death camps and memorials are torn between the remote events of the Holocaust and a more immediate biological attraction. Won Best Short Film Award at the 2013 Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival.
The silent routine of five nuns living in the West Bank is disturbed when an Israeli family’s car breaks down outside the convent. Unable to use the telephone due to Sabbath restrictions, the family must ask the nuns for assistance, but helping the family necessitates breaking their vow of silence. When religious customs collide, an…
Two strangers meet at an airport. He believes that she is to be his assigned driver. She, enchanted by the random encounter, does not tell him otherwise. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Live Action Short.
A young woman accepts a babysitting offer from a couple she doesn’t know. Puzzled by the children’s odd behaviour, she invites some friends to keep her company. They should have said no.
Aging couple Bahiya and Mahmoud have a daily routine of bickering until the morning that Mahmoud wakes up and finds Bahiya gone. Won Best of Festival Award at the 2011 Palm Springs International ShortFest.
Soniya is excited about going into the first grade and buying school supplies, especially a Barbie backpack. It is forbidden in some schools, so she is very happy when her mother finds one for her. But her happiness is short-lived when she learns that she will have to conform to certain restrictions. Won Best Short…
Barko runs away to join the circus even though he never wanted to be a performer. Yet he finds exactly what he was looking for in the arms of a caring boy. www.titmouseshorts.com
In this sequel to Nash Edgerton’s hugely popular short film Spider which was in our 2009 festival, Jack’s in trouble with his new girlfriend for apparently forgetting her birthday. Nominated for a Palm d’Or for Best Short Film at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.
An old bear goes out every day to a street corner where he sets up a wooden theatre containing tin puppets. For a coin, the bear will set the mechanisms in motion, the marionettes will start to move, and a story will unfold of a circus bear who longs to escape and return to his…
Eight-year-old Annabelle is a child beauty queen whose mother’s ambitions for her daughter’s beauty pageant success dominate their relationship. When Annabelle sees no way out, she takes drastic action to reclaim her childhood.
It seems as if Mamoru’s life can’t get any worse. Then his beloved bicycle starts disappearing … stolen one piece at a time. When he’s given a chance to retrieve the pieces, he embarks on a journey to rebuild his bicycle and finds that his own life is also being rebuilt. Won Best Dramatic Short…
When Trudy starts school, she is eager to make new friends, but her habit of honestly pointing out what she sees – be it a big mole or a big belly – results in an impressive collection of disciplinary notes from her teacher … and no friends. How to speak the truth without being rude…
A man plans to eat his lunch in the park, but the local pigeons have other ideas! Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Brown Bag Films.
Vaysha was born with a strange affliction. Her green left eye can only see the past and her brown right eye can only see the future. Blind to what’s actually in front of her, her split vision prevents her from living in the present, tormenting her with what has been and what will be, neither…
Soon every home will have a robot helper. Don’t worry. It’s perfectly safe. He just wants to be your friend. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Image Now.
In the summer of 1943, German attempts to conquer the strategic location of Leningrad have failed miserably. As a last resort, Hitler decides to send in his best men – the Spanish soldiers of Blue Division. Won Best Comedy at the 2013 Tolfa International Film Festival in Italy among many awards.
A hamster chases his true love around the globe. Will he get her? Won the Audience Award at the 2010 AlpeAdriaCinema Trieste Film Festival. www.jacobfrey.de
In 1970’s Belfast, two young boys are thrilled when their soft-hearted Dad presents them with two baby chicks to care for, but the boys are in for a shock when their parents announce that big changes are coming to the family. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Live Action Short. Screened with the…
Elsa and Bo are eagerly expecting their first baby. While Elsa gets the baby’s room ready, Bo composes a special musical piece for the occasion.
He is just 15 years old, but Vinh has already accepted his destiny – to be sick for the rest of his life with incurable arsenic poisoning. He dreams about going to Phnom Penh, becoming a karaoke star, and winning the affections of adoring fans. But his body is scarred by illness, and he expects the…
After sending messages back and forth across an ocean, two lovers risk everything for the chance to meet. Won the Grand Jury Award for Best Animated Short at the 2011 Florida Film Festival among many others.
A regular morning becomes a nightmare for young Jacob when he is forced to wear a suit on school picture day. He will once again have to suffer through this day, unless he can find a way to keep this nightmare from recurring. Won Best Short Film at the 2012 Festival du film francophone de…
The director of Despicable Me creates a supremely silly tale of misadventure as two friends, stuck for something to do, find it increasingly difficult to get unstuck.
Gang leader George demands that Archie kidnap the troll who, according to legend, lives under a bridge. When Archie finds a homeless man living under the bridge instead, he convinces the man to return with him and pretend to be the troll. A short film created by 16 Grade 10-12 students from Hines Creek and…
A man with anger management issues appears to be cured, but his nervous psychiatrist urges him to take a vacation and suggests the beach as a nice place to relax. That would be true if only his music had continued to drown out the screams as vicious monsters emerge from the sea and start killing…
A married couple learns that their release from a government regulated bomb shelter has been delayed due to persistently high radiation levels. Starving and desperate, they debate their last resort for survival.
A woman’s idyllic view of her new job as a school bus driver is sorely tested after she meets her surly boss and discovers that winding roads can prove treacherous in winter, especially with a faulty clutch.
A young itinerant photographer and his assistant take photos of Tibetan nomads in front of various backgrounds. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Live Action Short.
Revered as Afghanistan’s national sport, Buzkashi is a brutal game of horse polo involving a headless goat. Becoming a skilled player of the game is a dream shared by a blacksmith’s son and a street urchin, best friends who struggle to escape their lives in Kabul. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Live…
While staying with her aunt at a Norwegian campground, a Romanian teen fantasizes about having a carefree summer with her new friend, but expectations are pushing her into the same line of work as her aunt. Won Best International Short under 15 minutes at the 2016 Festival Internazionale Milano. Website Trailer
Every Sunday morning, men and women held hostage by rebel guerrilla groups deep in the Colombian jungle listen to messages from their families on The Voices of Kidnapping radio show. The harrowing personal accounts of police major Guillermo Solórzano and the parents of Juan Camilo Mora represent thousands of people who rely on the show…
Presenting Sponsor: Capstan Hauling Ltd. A young boy has fun in the park firing a crossbow … at his sister.
A man with an unusual medical problem is embarrassed to discover the call girl he hired is an old friend. Won Best Short at the Omaha Film Festival among many others.
A chase begins in the savannah when a vulture flies away with a fruit watched over by a group of meerkats. Trailer:
Figures drawn on the pages of a book come to life and move from page to page until one of them falls down a hole. Can the cat and the dog stop fighting long enough to get help?
A high school student relives the same day at school until he finally learns the error of his ways. A short film created by 15 Grade 7-12 students from Grande Prairie working together under the guidance of workshop leaders Scott Belyea, Scooter Corkle, and Michael Bourree during the Youth Filmmaking Challenge workshop Apr 26-29 (Alpha):…
A postman’s first day takes a terrifying turn when a young girl tells him of her family’s horrible tragedy. Won Best Super Short at the 2011 Shriekfest.
A teenager must protect his younger brother in a post-apocalyptic world. Won the Audience Choice Award and Grand Prize at the 2011 Bloodshots Filmmaking Challenge under its original title Of the Dark. There’ll be a Q&A with Writer/Director Scott Belyea and Director of Photography Scooter Corkle following the screening.
On his first day as a lifeguard at a community pool, Simon notices an older woman with an exceptional ability to stay submerged under water. Intrigued, he follows her into the pool where he discovers a startling secret and an impossible love. Won the Hollywood Discovery Award for Best Short Film at the 2011 Hollywood…
A man works feverishly at his computer, ruled by the clock and a deadline, until the line between the computer world and reality begins to blur.
A brand new alarm clock is eager to ring for the first time, but will he be able to do it?
A man with a broken heart tries to relive his failed relationship by hiring a young woman to play his ex-girlfriend, but is there any hope when she can’t even get the accent right? Won Audience Favourite Award at 2012 DC Shorts Film Festival among other awards.
Filmmaker in Attendance: Andrew Wainrib. On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139 en route from Tel Aviv to Paris was hijacked by German and PFLP terrorists and taken to Entebbe, Uganda. Seven days later the hostages were rescued by Israeli special forces in one of the most brazen rescue operations in history. This 2d and…
When John’s simple day of snowmobiling goes awry, the cold winter and a difficult decision forever change his life.
The misadventures of a frustrated Foley artist, curious children, and petrified poultry show the human cost of creating movie magic: the sacrifices can be enormous! Won Best Comedy at the Poppy Jasper Film Festival.
In 1980, 14-year-old Romanian gymnast Ana trains hard with her coach Teodor in the run-up to the Moscow Games. They want to win and the government has a plan that will give them an edge, but at what price?
While asleep, a bored housewife falls in love with a man who appears in her dreams, leaving her torn between them and reality.
Concerned friends set out to protect Matt from the clear and present danger of catching cooties from his friendly but infected female lab partner.
A young man confronts Northern Ireland’s legacy of violence when he breaks into a home to avenge his father’s death and meets the boy who will be left fatherless as a result.
At the lowest point of his life, Richie gets a call from his estranged sister asking him to look after his nine-year-old niece. Won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short.
When a young boy tries to make money by cutting lawns, his best customer ends up being the man who pays him to go away and stop bothering him. When the boy’s older brother learns of this, they begin a campaign of harassment in hopes of a much bigger payoff.
A 10-year-old Iraqi girl collects daisies in a Baghdad park for a friend she misses, but the flowers will soon reunite them.
Simoné Botha was born completely deaf in both ears and was the youngest recipient of cochlear implant surgery in Africa at the age of 22 months. Against enormous odds, she has succeeded in becoming a professional ballet dancer.
This animated documentary about a Brooklyn couple’s life together and their love for each other shows the eloquence, grace, and poetry that can be found in the voices of everyday people.
Lost in the frozen depths of the Atlantic, a German U-boat crew find themselves on a collision course with objects stranger than they can fathom. The truth leaves them bathed in confusion.
Set in 1943 Czechoslovakia, this film about a Jew fleeing from the Nazis is based on a true story of resistance fighter David Bako. Won Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Cleveland International Film Festival.
When Day, a sunny fellow, encounters Night, a stranger of distinctly darker moods, sparks fly! Day and Night are frightened and suspicious of each other at first, and quickly get off on the wrong foot. But as they discover each other’s unique qualities – and come to realize that each of them offers a different…
After her divorce, an Afghan-American woman joins the U.S. military as an interpreter. On her first mission in Afghanistan, she accompanies troops pursuing a bomb-maker and must bridge the gender and culture gap to help the man’s pregnant wife when she goes into labour. Nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for Best Live Action Short.…
Written and narrated by basketball great Kobe Bryant, this adaptation of his retirement announcement in 2015 after 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers is a testament to his love of the game. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short.
A six-year-old child wakes up in the middle of the night with an urgent need to pee, but his fear of the dark keeps him from walking down the unlit hallway to the bathroom. Influenced by his mother’s advice, he asks God for help in the hope that some kind of miracle might happen. Won…
When door-to-door “Death” salesman Christopher Crumples calls on wealthy, refined, and fabulously difficult Mrs. Patterson, he struggles to close a routine expiration deal. Posing a simple, yet macabre, question, this film ponders what any of us would do if Death came knocking at our door: accept the first offer or negotiate for better terms.
Stuck in a dark limbo between life and death, a deceased solder collects shadows of the dying to buy back his own second chance at life so that he can be with the woman he loves. When he discovers that she’s in love with someone else, the temptation to use his other-worldly powers becomes impossible…
A secretary becomes the sole contact between a gunman and the police in this tense drama inspired by a 911 call during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the director’s graduation film in the UCLA MFA program in Film Directing. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Live Action Short.
A musical comedy about five reluctant student dentists whose eyes are opened to the cruel consolations of their career by a sadistic tutor. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Jumper Productions. Won Honourable Mention at Galway Film Fleadh.
Two cartoon characters develop a life of their own and humiliate and mock the third unfinished figure, but their superiority is short-lived when he turns out to be their big brother. Won Best Short Film for Children at the 2011 Ottawa International Animation Festival among other awards.
A six-year-old boy brings home a piece of school work that provokes his parents to question his sexual orientation. And their own. Won Audience Choice Award at the LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival among many others.
On a typically boring Sunday, a small boy goes to church with his parents before being taken to a relative’s house for a family lunch. Nominated for an Oscar.
Dirkjan, a nerdy nobody, becomes Leader of the World. Where does his sudden hunger for power come from? And what is the Big Plan?
In a grocery store in Lausanne, Switzerland, a father loses patience with his disobedient child. A bystander intervenes to express her concern. Other customers join in. The situation becomes chaotic as language barriers and prejudice escalate the conflict. Won the Audience Award for Best Short Film at the 2014 Leeds International Film Festival among other…
Bad days can happen to anyone, even the Grim Reaper. Won First Prize at the 2015 Film Festival of Laughter in Croatia. Winner of the 2016 Youth Audience Choice Award.
When a family oversleeps, it’s up to the mother to get them to a wedding on time because nobody else seems to be doing anything right. Who has made a mess of her husband’s shirt and hidden the girls’ dresses as well as the gift? Nominated for an Oscar in 2014 for Best Live Action…
Dotty, a stubborn nursing home resident struggling to send a text message to her daughter, ultimately ropes the woman who brings her morning tea into her seemingly endless fight with her cell phone. Won Best Short Film 2013 Nantucket Film Festival among others. Winner of the Best Live Action Short Award.
Two old men share a hospital room. There is only one window that gives the nearest patient a view of the outside world, while the other fellow, confined to his bed, can only stare at the walls and his more fortunate roommate until a fateful choice presents itself. Won Best Animated Short Film at the…
In the early 1950’s, a Manhattan art thief steals paintings and then eats them. After consuming every painting he has stolen, he tries to feed his hunger with his own artistic efforts in this joyful tribute to painters and homage to Jackson Pollock. Won Best Animated Short Film at the 2011 Sitges-Catalonian International Film Festival.
A day in the life of a devoted father and RAF drone pilot – juggling the normality of his domestic life with the reality of firing Hellfire missiles 4,000 miles away in Afghanistan … until one fateful decision shatters his resolve. Won the Grand Prize for Best Short at the 2013 Rhode Island International Film…
A celebration of life through the hand-drawn line.
Whether the light is on or off becomes a critical factor in how well camouflaged a chicken is when a fox comes hunting. It seems certain that one of the chickens is doomed, but which one?
A model becomes consumed by the demands of her profession. Winner of Best Short Film at the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea among other awards.
December, 1959: Poe, a young writer, has locked himself inside a seedy hotel room with a bottle, an 8mm projector, and the haunting memories of his “lost Lenore.” A raven visits him and Poe turns to the bird for answers and the promise of being reunited with his lost love, but the bird’s only reply…
When Ethan, an Emo kid who hates almost everything, falls in love with Trinity, a good Christian girl with a passion for life and her Lord Jesus Christ, they dare not let their friends find out because she belongs to a group of Christian musicians and Ethan belongs to a group of Emos, and both…
A French-Algerian born man faces more than bureaucratic red tape when he tries to regain the French citizenship he had at birth. With the stroke of a pen, the man interviewing him can give it to him, but at what cost? Nominated for an Oscar in 2017 for Best Live Action Short. Trailer
An eight-year-old girl is excited to see her father when he picks her up for the weekend, but soon she gets the sense that something isn’t right. Nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for Best Live Action Short. Trailer:
A lonely man courts danger by drinking a glass of milk with the expiration date just seconds away. Shot in the style of classic noir-era Hollywood thrillers, Expiration walks a hilarious line between comedy and suspense.
On January 28, 1986, NASA Challenger mission STS-51-L ended in tragedy when the shuttle exploded 73 seconds after takeoff. On board was physicist Ronald E. McNair, who was the second African American to enter space. But first, he was a kid with big dreams in Lake City, South Carolina.
When a former neo-Nazi skinhead and the gay victim of his hate crime meet by chance 25 years later at the Museum of Tolerance, they embark on a journey of forgiveness that challenges both to grapple with their beliefs and fears, eventually leading to an improbable collaboration … and friendship. Nominated for an Oscar in…
One family. One lesson to be learned. One twisted way to teach it. Won People’s Choice Award at 2011 Mudfest.
In a not too distant future, the world seems to work in a perfect and controlled way … But what if you got the opportunity to see what lies underneath the surface?
A bird who’s afraid of flying does everything he can to avoid heading south for the winter, but when a squirrel raids his food and a winter storm rages, he must find a way south or perish. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Lovely Productions.
The story of one man’s love life is seen through the eyes of his best friend and dog Winston, and revealed bite by bite through the meals that they share. Won the Oscar in 2015 for Best Animated Short.
At a vibrant music festival, a young couple’s hedonistic weekend turns into a desperate fight for survival as they are terrorized by a gang of masked festival goers.
In this contemporary parable, a man’s consumer choices have an impact that he can see with every decision he makes. Over the course of the day, the people he has relied on in the global economy begin to depend on him, and he is left with the problem of what to do with them at…
In the midst of a giant flock of flamingos, there is one bird who thinks he might fit in better with the other side.
Nova Scotia artist and filmmaker Andrea Dorfman beautifully animates her own story of finding love with someone new as she discovers that the issue is not whether girl can get along with boy but rather whether girl can accept herself, imperfections and all.
A genius deviant uses a wirelessly controlled robotic fly with a camera in its head to spy on his ex-girlfriend. FlySpy is a hybrid of traditional film and virtual reality with two different versions: one for a traditional screen and one for VR headsets. Won Best Dramatic Short Film at the 2016 Arizona International Film…
Iris is a shy baker who lives a vivid fantasy life inspired by the works of Shakespeare. The real world intervenes when she develops a crush on a regular customer. Will cupcakes and couplets be enough to turn her imaginary romance into true love?
A 4th grade class pulls an April Fool’s prank on their teacher with catastrophic results. Panicked and convinced that they will all go to jail, they set out to cover up the accident before their D.A.R.E. officer arrives for his weekly lesson. Winner of the 2014 Audience Choice Award. Director’s Statement In the words of…
A man follows footsteps in search of a mysterious visitor to his house.
Presenting Sponsor: Mr. Mikes Steakhouse & Bar Using classic, high-speed camera with dynamic and smooth jumps, and zooming in with 3D animation, Formic shows how a skateboarder (Dennis Gläser) disturbs the life of an ant and how it finally gets even.
A young woman receives a digital camera as a birthday present. She is delighted with the gift … until she reviews the photos she’s taken. Won Best Fright Award at South African Horrorfest among other awards.
An adaptation of the old camp song “Found a Peanut” in which one man’s unwise culinary choice results in dire consequences. It will have its European premiere at the Fastnet Short Film Festival in Ireland at the end of May. There’ll be a Q&A with Rio Fitch and actor Peter Daly following the screening.
The films created during the Frantic 48 weekend of May 2-4.
Thirteen local teams competed two weeks ago to write, shoot, and edit a short film in 48 hours, right here in the Peace Region. Prizes (Generously Sponsored by Community Futures Grande Prairie) will be awarded for audience choice and best juried film. Presented in collaboration with PRIMAA (Peace Region Independent Media Arts Association). The following…
Familiar objects are transformed into fresh guacamole in this visually punny, delightfully original short. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Animated Short.
Maggie, a street smart 11-year-old, suffers from a shaky home life and the constant torment of a neighbourhood bully, but she has moxie. Things have turned sour and she’s decided to make a stand. Won the Best Narrative Short Award at the 2012 Oxford Film Festival.
Filmmaker in Attendance: Napoleon Ryan. A dark fable set in an unforgiving future in which two furnace stokers are supposed to burn all the music in the world. But soon they discover that some things just won’t burn. Furnace Four is based on the prize-winning play (Soho Theatre Westminster award) by Ali Muriel and stars…
Hunting season is open as a terrified woman tries to escape her captors by fleeing through the woods. Won Best Horror Short at the 2012 Buried Alive Short Film Festival in Atlanta among other awards.
Elisabet comes home from a disappointing online date to find Adam, her teenage son’s friend, playing video games while her son has gone to a party. Letting her hair and her guard down, she enjoys Adam’s playful company until neither is sure if they are still playing.
In a deserted rich house, a couple of amphibians explore their surroundings and follow their primal instincts. This is the directors’ graduation film in 3D animation from MoPA. It had its Alberta premiere at the 2017 Reel Shorts Film Festival. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short. Behind the Scenes video…
After a viral pandemic turns humans into flesh-craving mutants, adventurer Hunter Smith hunts them down on his TV show “Get Some,” tracking and killing them for the entertainment of the surviving population.
Lounge-singing darts champion Raymond finds his prayers are answered – literally – when he receives a mysterious package of love-inducing darts. The catch is that the one woman he loves – Kelly, a drummer in his band – is already in love with Ray’s best friend Fozzie, the guitarist in the band. Romance is in…
A Dutch tourist on death row must do everything in his power to overcome the bureaucracy of the Singaporean prison system if he wishes to get his last meal request filled. And all he wants is a cup of coffee! Won Best Actor in a Short at the 2014 Long Beach International Film Festival.
A documentary about acclaimed ad-guru Alex Bogusky’s fascination with collecting homeless signs. What starts out as a project to understand the world’s simplest form of communication becomes an enlightening journey into authenticity and generosity.
A touching documentary about the special relationship between a boy and his grandfather as they make a trip to the woods on a final adventure. Won Best Documentary at 2013 Aspen ShortsFest. Winner of the Best Documentary Short Award.
A young boy is excited about picking up his mom and new baby sister at the hospital but the process takes longer than expected. In the waiting room, he meets an old confused woman. Nobody seems to notice her and nobody seems to care. He wants to help her, but how? There’ll be a Q&A…
In 1942, Nazi Germany occupies all of Yugoslavia. Nikola Radosevic is sent for desperately needed ammunition by a group of Partisans involved in the resistance movement, but instead he brings back a weapon he believes to be more powerful than guns. Despite their scorn, he risks his life to use it in this World War…
An executive, about to commit suicide in his office, is interrupted by the cleaning lady’s arrival. Not wanting to be seen, he hides and ends up spying on her.
What would the regular working class have thought of Shakespeare’s classic, Hamlet: Prince of Denmark? Join Roger and Philip, two gossipy castle guards as they try to endure a shift outside Castle Elsinore. When all the murder, madness, and mayhem come to a boil, they do their best to keep their wits about them and…
A young New Yorker struggles with heartbreak after his first love leaves for college. Won Audience Favorite Award at the 2012 DC Shorts Film Festival among other awards.
A couple has a baby but is unable to keep it. On the other side of town, another couple desperately wants a baby but is not allowed to have one. For a brief moment, their lives intersect at a baby hatch in Vienna. Won the Festival Prize for Best Overall Film at the 2012 Poppy…
Presented by Encana and the Stanford Hotel, this film is the result of the first Youth Film Mentorship Project. It’s a comedy about a high school student who tries many crazy and out-of-the-box strategies in an effort to retrieve the pencil that he accidentally drops but desperately needs in order to complete an exam while…
A husband and wife have grown apart over the years. He lives on the floor, she lives on the ceiling, and the marriage hangs in the balance. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Animated Short. HEAD OVER HEELS – Trailer from Timothy Reckart on Vimeo.
Ten-year-old Tristan’s parents are deaf, but he and his sister can hear just fine. Even though Tristan’s father plays for the Dutch national football team for the deaf and he has offered to coach Tristan’s football team, the club won’t allow it because communication may be too difficult. Tristan sets out to prove that his…
When his wife disappears, Henry desperately searches for her, but strangers seem intent on keeping him from her. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Live Action Short.
When his son’s interest in things that little boys are not supposed to be interested in develops to the point where Anthony can no longer ignore it, he grapples with the conflict between his liberal beliefs and his societal instincts as a father.
A cocoa-loving deer must clean up a mess every morning that’s caused by an earthquake every night. But one day, he discovers the truth and that changes everything!
A greedy party girl is so determined to get what she wants that she employs the dangerous magic of a Gullah root doctor to help her cross over into the spirit world for one last conversation with her grandmother.
Hank’s just an ordinary guy trying to get his wife pregnant. Then his mother-in-law shows up, thus ruining their baby-making plans. His desperate attempts to get rid of her escalate into a crisis so out of control that his marriage, his life, and his embarrassingly low sperm count hang in the balance. Won Jury Award…
On a piñata ranch, a boy enjoys playing with one of the livestock and fears that his father will take him to market.
Border guard Phil thinks his wife is cheating on him. When he’s faced with a gaggle of ladies headed south for a weekend bachelorette party, his professional judgment appears to be slipping when he stops them from going through.
A deep-voiced bad guy makes three phone calls and asks, “Wanna play a game?” But none of his intended victims react the way they should. There’ll be a Q&A with Devon Burbank after the screening.
A single mother and her teenage son struggle to survive in a shattered and brutal near future where zombies roam the Earth.
There’s a mysterious small door in a creepy old bedroom where a young woman spends the night.
Every 13-year-old girl dreams of that nice but hard-to-get boy and Joppe is no different. But how will she tell him that she was born a boy? A brave and unflinching portrait of a boy who just wants to be a girl. Won Best Documentary Short at the 2011 Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto…
When a man wakes up in hospital after a car crash, he believes that his life will return to normal, but strange things start happening that he doesn’t understand. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Blinder Films Ltd.
A comedy about missing teeth, unrequited love, and one dog’s potential to shape the fortunes of a couple destined to never be together. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Sigma Films. Won the BAFTA Scotland Award in 2011 for Best Short Film among other awards.
How does one become a memorable villain like Michael Myers of Halloween and Ghostface of Scream? Go to serial killer school, of course.
While dissecting a frog in Biology class, a Grade 7 boy senses the approaching power of adulthood and speculates about what he would do if he were God. Trailer:
A lonely boy watches other children having fun in the playground until a young girl offers to play with him, but will he be abandoned when her friends want her to play with them again?
As a young couple arrives in Los Angeles after a cross-country road trip with all of their belongings, their car is commandeered in a police chase. They set out on a quest to get it back, but their relationship is strained to the breaking point in the process. Can they recover what they had ……
The Spanish Civil War in 1936 sends one friend into battle while strings have been pulled to keep the other friend safe at home. Can their friendship survive the bitterness of the injured soldier when he returns home?
A man is woken in the middle of the night by his parents who insist on telling him things he would rather not hear.
An investigative reporter interviews a possible serial killer and learns that the latest victim may or may not be someone very close to the interviewer. Won the Jury Award for Best Short Film at the 2011 Celluloid Screams Film Festival among many others.
Traumatized by a bloody African civil war, a young immigrant becomes a street-sweeper in London as he seeks to disappear within the city, but violence resurfaces and his goal of anonymity comes with a high price. Won the People’s Shortee Award at the 2012 Taos Shortz Film Festival.
The story of a lonely nine-year-old who builds herself a robot friend. Won Audience Choice Awards at the Victoria Film Festival and at TIFF Kids.
A young boy finds a hermit crab on the beach and brings it home. He’s thrilled to have a pet until he realizes that the crab belongs to a neighbourhood girl.
Julian is simply passing time at his dreary job until a new girl is hired and changes everything.
A mobster has a problem involving his unruly son that only the special skills of The Raven, a legendary hitman, can solve. Won Best Actor for Lutz Reichert as The Raven at the 2880 Grand Prix du Film Leverkusen, a 48-hour filmmaking contest.
An 11-year-old boy is kidnapped by a classmate who has a crush on him in this sweet story of captivity and freedom. Won Audience Award Children’s Film at the 2012 Landshuter Kurzfilmfestival in Germany among other awards.
Seth’s girlfriend becomes increasingly concerned about his new cat-like behaviour. Inspired by an actual disease that affects over a quarter of the world’s population.
A fable of a young boy coming of age in the most peculiar of circumstances when his Papa and Grandpa take him to work for the very first time. Nominated for an Oscar.
Kat and her eco-warrior friends work to expose a bio-chemistry company’s animal testing, but it soon becomes clear the company is willing to test on more than just animals.
When Zora’s lover Gérard leaves his wife and moves in with her, Zora faces a simple question: is committing to Gérard really her choice? www.larsen-lecourt.ch
Strange things begin to happen after mountaineers disturb a dormant sickness while climbing in the Rocky Mountains. There will be a Q&A with Producer Eric Durnford after the first screening.
In the spirit of 50’s and 60’s educational films, Let’s Pollute is a modern satire on how pollution is our heritage and keeps our economy growing strong, while instructing us on how to be better polluters for a better blighted tomorrow. Nominated for an Oscar.
In 2004, thousands of copper canisters of human cremains were discovered at the Oregon State Hospital where One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was filmed. This fascinating documentary about the forgotten remains of forgotten people shows how art can bring about social change. Won Best Documentary at the 2012 Taos Shortz Film Festival.
Joey is a clumsy bird who lives in the jungle and can’t fly because of his small wings. When he finds the love of his life at the top of a tree, he has to be inventive.
Finn finally gets a chance to go on a space mission but he starts experiencing strange hallucinations before deciding whether to go. It becomes more and more difficult for him to differentiate between reality and illusion, until he finally realizes the truth. Won the Studio Hamburg Nachwuchspreis for Best Short Film 2012.
When a woman turns out the lights, she sees a figure in the shadows, but when she turns them back on, there is nothing. Is she alone in her apartment and just seeing things? Or is there something sinister waiting for her in the darkness? Won Best Director, 2013 Bloody Cuts Horror Challenge. Voted as…
An ordinary icon takes on new meaning as a husband and wife react differently to a tragic loss.
With a sense of déjà vu, a man gets up and prepares coffee.
Sometimes people can get lost in their work. Won the AACTA (Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts) Award for Best Short Animation among other awards.
A Pixar short about a lost-and-found box and the toy-stealing bully who ruins recess for the other kids. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short.
Campbell Scott stars in this cautionary tale of a gatekeeper on the road to fame. Be very careful what you wish for…
Veronica’s attempts to get rid of her hated rival Tiffany keep getting messed up by Tiffany’s lovesick admirer. In frustration, Veronica decides to include him in her plans. A short film created by 12 Grade 9-12 students from Grande Prairie and Sturgeon Lake working together under the guidance of Scott Belyea, Scooter Corkle, and Michael…
Sunlight provides the magnetic force that pulls people to their factory jobs and sends them back home again. A man has an audacious plan to break out of this rut. Won the Audience Award and Fipresci Award at the 2011 Annecy International Animation Festival among many other awards.
A flirtatious dance between a charming caterpillar and a graceful moth leads to love, but is it strong enough to overcome the powerful attraction of another suitor? Won Best Animation at the 2011 California International Shorts Festival.
When a fisherman catches the giant fish he wished for, his problems begin.
As the pages of a journey diary turn, colourful pencil sketches come to life, revealing the majestic rolling landscapes of Madagascar and the people of the Malagasy culture. Nominated for an Oscar.
A fantasy re-envisioning of the classic fairytale Bluebeard by Charles Perrault, in which Perrault’s young wife reads herself into his dark allegory on marital mistrust. www.amybelling.com
Maggie Simpson spends a day at the Ayn Rand Daycare Center where she is diagnosed at an average intelligence level, but longs for the enriched environment enjoyed by the gifted children. Nominated for an Oscar in 2013 for Best Animated Short.
A New York City motorman is haunted by visions after a tragic subway incident. Won Best Documentary at the 2015 Miami Short Film Festival.
Genius Marius Borodine’s spectacular new invention can transform any and all objects into drinkable water. But is it safe? Won Prix Coup de Coeur du Jury at the Fantasia Festival. www.holiafilm.com
In a prison visitor’s room, a mother confronts her son over his part in an epic failed hold-up.
A girl wishes that her parents would get her a bicycle, but she gets something completely different. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Animated Short.
An acupuncturist learns that her female patient is moving away after years of treatment. Won Best Horror Short Film at the 2015 Atlanta Shortsfest among other awards.
After her train ticket is stolen by a mysterious fox, a young girl must pursue the thief into a strange new world of secrets.
On a summer evening full of magic a young girl learns that some things are not meant to be captured. Won Programmer’s Choice Award for Narrative Short at the 2012 Virginia Film Festival.
Based on the true story of the first woman to build and design an airplane, this animated musical takes place in 1909 when Miss Todd dreams of becoming one of the brave pioneers of flight, but as a woman, she’s got more than gravity holding her down. Won the Gold Medal in the Foreign Film…
A musical about a grocery store clerk who falls for a sexy real estate agent when he sells her a carton of milk. But she’s way out of his league … or is she? A contagious song and dance mash-up of English and Hindi, reality and fantasy, banality and Bollywood. Screened with the kind permission…
In this gripping drama, a young couple wanders the city in the middle of the night in hopes of finding a hospital to treat the girl. Desperation grows as the hope of getting much needed aid and compassion begins to fade. Won Grand Jury Prize for Best World Cinema Short at the 2013 Indianapolis International…
A young boy manages to survive alone in a post-apocalyptic world until he finds an ally when a woman saves him from an attack. But how long can they both continue to live in a world gone mad?
On a cold winter night, Laura reads to her brother from a book that he found. The story about a strange creature that attacks children is disturbing so she stops reading it, but it’s too late. There’s a strange presence in the house. It’s him.
Suffering from OCD and withdrawn from the world, Mr. Hublot’s life is satisfyingly predictable … until he witnesses what appears to be the tragic end of a robot puppy whom he rushes into the street to save. But can his small home survive the addition of a mutt who just keeps growing? Won the Oscar…
An old man seems invisible to the world around him. With only a cat for company, is he just a sad stereotype? Won the Audience Choice Award at the 2014 Aspen Shortsfest. Voted as one of the Best of the Fest.
Able to see each other through their high-rise windows, two young girls become friends. When one of them must move away, she tries to find her friend’s apartment so she can say goodbye in person.
A young woman learns to attune her breathing to the movements of her bow so she can satisfy a deeper need than winning archery competitions. Won Golden Spike for Best International Short at the 2011 AFI Fest.
When Katy discovers that a book of spells she borrowed from the library really works, she starts dressing like a witch and then realizes she’s turning into a real witch. Will she be able to return to her former self, or will magic end up ruling her life forever?
In 1955, a Mississippi preacher tries to protect his 14-year-old nephew from two racists out for blood. Based on true events. This is the director’s pre-thesis film for the New York University’s Graduate Film Program. It won the Gold Medal for Narrative Film at the 2017 Student Academy Awards and is nominated for an Academy…
Diagnosed with a rare disorder at age 13, Brittney is a Grande Prairie teen whose story is an inspiration as she learns to accept the periodic changes her body goes through with the help of a support group of fellow sufferers. There’ll be a Q&A with Devon Burbank after the screening.
Romain and Laurie are in love, but they are forbidden to have sex at the Centre where they live so Laurie’s younger sister takes them on a romantic weekend getaway where they can “do it” for the first time. Won Best International Short Film Award at the 2012 Odense International Film Festival in Denmark among…
In 1994 there is a civil war in Burundi, a small country of Central Africa directly bordering Rwanda. Na Wewe (pronounced “Na wayway”) means “you too” in Kirundi and the film relates a sadly frequent episode of the fratricidal conflict between Hutus and Tutsis: the attack by rebels on a minivan carrying ordinary citizens. As…
In this bittersweet story of a father-son relationship, a man who is often away on business trips connects with his son by teaching him how to pack a suitcase efficiently. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short. Making of video
At 5 in the morning, a woman can’t sleep because the neighbours are arguing. Her husband says there’s nothing to worry about, but when she finally decides to call, she realizes that he was wrong.
Brendan Gleeson stars in this comedy about two bumbling policemen on a call in rural Ireland who come upon a crime scene involving a dead body, a suicide note and a pig. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and El Zorrero Films. Won Best Short at 2011 Capital Irish Film Festival among…
Karen, a First Nations woman, learns that someone has been saying that she isn’t Indian. Suspecting that it’s her cousin who has been spreading the lie, Karen goes to her house to confront her.
A musical comedy starring Jason Alexander (George from Seinfeld) as a long-suffering screenwriter who makes a round of calls to the Hollywood elite with drastic results. In this semi-autobiographical film by Sony staff editor Jay Kamen, all of the Hollywood executives, directors and producers portrayed are played by themselves: Amy Pascal, Sid Ganis, Joe Roth,…
The Eyre Highway through Australia’s Nullarbor Plain has the longest stretch of straight road in the world – perfect for passing a slow motorist, but in this desolate landscape, will it be the tortoise or the hare who wins the day? Won Best Animation Short Film at the 2011 Melbourne International Film Festival among others.
The boogers of Boogerville live peacefully in Bubba Joe Junior’s nose until the fateful day when Mr. Booger and his friends find themselves blown from their home in a giant sneeze. Mr. Booger is determined to get back inside Bubba’s head but finds himself in strange new territory.
Presenting Sponsor: Velocity Video An alcoholic transient, with only his dog for a companion, steals from summer cottages during the brutal winter of the off-season. When he ventures from his usual path in search of a full bottle, he makes a terrifying discovery that unravels his solitary existence. Nominated for the 2010 BAFTA Award for…
Two shepherds go to increasingly extreme lengths to keep their flocks separated. Symbolic of the efforts that governments use to delineate their territory and control their citizens, the most effective method of separation leads to the most destructive consequences. Won the Audience Award at the 2013 Monstra Festival in Lisbon among other awards. Winner of…
After a big fight with her mom over her texting habit, 14-year-old Kaylee runs away to her grandma’s house where she is free to text as much as she wants … until her cell phone battery dies and she can’t find her recharger. While helping her grandma search through grandpa’s old things for a replacement,…
When an Israeli man notices a suspicious-looking Arab woman boarding the same bus that his fiancée is on, he tries to get his fiancée off the bus without creating a scene, but panic breaks out. Should he try to calm things down? Or encourage his fiancée to take another bus? Won Best Short at the…
Three documentary filmmakers went to Calais to make a film about refugees trying to get into Britain, but then they met sixteen-year-old Abdul in a food queue. His first words were a story about being shot at by machine guns on the Iranian border and the filmmakers knew this was a character to focus on, but a…
A man leads a humdrum existence until he falls in love with a red-haired woman who breaks his established routine, but can such a radical change last? Won the 2016 Student Academy Award for Best Animated Short. Trailer
A man phones a company to cancel his contract and doodles as he becomes increasingly frustrated.
Armed with his imagination and a cardboard submarine, 12-year-old Ruan dives into the unknown, searching for the healing Angel Jellyfish in a valiant attempt to save his terminally ill father. Won Best Film at the 2015 Apex Film Festival among other awards.
Presenting Sponsor: Freson Bros. IGA Ormie is a pig in every sense of the word. Pig see cookie. Pig want cookie. But they are out of reach and Ormie will do anything to gain the warm sweet taste that is his obsession.
On her way home, a woman becomes a victim of a strange infection. While struggling to find a cure, she realizes that she’s not alone. The epidemic is spreading and desperate times require hard choices.
Knowing that his mother will record every moment of his performance in the school play, Nathan struggles to rehearse his tongue-twister lines while scrambling to throw, trash and flush a mysterious fingered appendage that he unearthed and can’t seem to shake, but things are about to get really out of hand!
When the call centre he works at is outsourced overseas, DJ is out of a job and dead broke. Lured by the promise of easy money, he ventures into the highly lucrative world of telephone fraud in this uncompromising look at the initiation of a novice into the dark side. Winner of the 2015 Best…
Sixteen-year-old Tomi tries to steer his twelve-year-old sister Aino in the right direction so she doesn’t follow in their mother’s footsteps, but her growing independence starts another pattern that threatens to repeat. Won Best Live Action Short Award at the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto.
Mathieu narrowly escapes the police after they spot him doing graffiti, but there’s more to his actions than simple street art. Won Short Cuts Award for Best Canadian Film at the 2015. Toronto International Film Festival.
The life of a lonely young man in mid-century New York City takes an unexpected turn after a brief encounter with a beautiful woman on his morning commute. When he sees her again from his office window, he has only his heart, imagination, and a stack of papers to get her attention. Won the Oscar…
Parvaneh is a young Afghan immigrant who recently arrived at a transit centre for asylum seekers in the Swiss Alps. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Live Action Short.
Two planes cut through the air, each pilot intent on destroying the other. Driven by blind aggression, the contrails from their planes sketch paths of hate in the sky. Won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Animated Short Film at the 2011 Dallas International Film Festival among many other awards.
Paulie is a nine-year-old prodigy in the seventh grade. He is used to being the smartest kid in the class, acing every test and winning every spelling bee, so when bully Tony beats him in an essay contest, Paulie’s mission becomes proving that Tony cheated. Won the Panavision Grand Jury Award at the 2012 Palm…
A brutally honest documentary about Robert’s turbulent relationship with a self-destructive, yet charismatic friend from childhood, who cries out for help from a military hospital in China and sets Rob on a wild ride to get him home to Vancouver. Nominated for an Oscar in 2017 for Best Animated Short. Website Trailer
A girl and her dad crisscross the country in their beloved hatchback as he follows his dream, but is an itinerant lifestyle with a car as their home the right choice for raising his daughter? Nominated for an Oscar in 2017 for Best Animated Short. Trailer
Desperate for money, a bungling crook agrees to kidnap a little girl. When things go terribly wrong, he doesn’t know who to fear most: little Penny or the vindictive crime lord who hired him. Won International Audience Prize at the 2013 Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival among other awards.
When Damian is forced to serve as an altar boy at an important mass in his local parish, he must choose between conforming to the status quo or serving an extended ban from football.
This inspiring documentary follows the journey of a Stage 4 cancer patient who dreams of walking the 500-mile Camino de Santiago across Spain. Told by his doctors that he can’t make the trip, he does the next best thing. He creates his own camino behind his house. Won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at…
A sandpiper hatchling ventures from her nest for the first time as her mother tries to teach her how to find food buried beneath the sand, but little Piper must also learn about the waves that roll up onto the shore. Nominated for an Oscar in 2017 for Best Animated Short. Trailer
A stirring rendition of Chopin’s Opus 10, No. 4 for piano provides the music accompaniment to this story of a minimalist painter who loses his toddler inside one of his own paintings and must follow the child into a world of imagination where a toy xylophone becomes a flying piano, doodles grow into forests, and…
A space explorer crash lands on earth. Injured and highly distrustful, she needs to send an emergency signal but can’t do it alone. Place to Stay is a sci-fi drama about distrust between two strangers in the Finish countryside. www.placetostaymovie.com Director’s Statement In moments of crisis most find it hard to trust people they don’t…
Trapped behind enemy lines on France’s western front in World War I, two New Zealand soldiers find a baby under her dead parents in a muddy ditch in France. One of them wants to save her; the other does not. Based on true events, Poppy was written by the great-grandson of one of these soldiers.…
Private Dick Hedigan encounters three bodies in one day and suspects that murder’s in the air, but Jimmy develops a theory that these cases are not the cut and dry murders that Private Dick believes they are. A short film created by 14 Grade 7-11 students from Grande Prairie, Hythe, and Valleyview working together under…
A brutal battle takes place 2,400 years ago between Spartan and Athenian warriors. Nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for Best Animated Short. Richard Williams talks about the film:
After getting hassled by subway police on the way home with his young son, a man spares another passenger the same fate at the hands of the subway’s ticket takers. Instead of being grateful, the man he helped is verbally abusive and throws the boy’s toy off the train. How does a father explain these…
After her plans to start a family fall apart, Nikki Holiday, a drag queen cabaret star, tries to fill the void in her life. Won Best Narrative at the 2012 Humboldt International Film Festival.
Rabbit à la Berlin is the story of the thousands of wild rabbits that lived in the Death Zone of the Berlin Wall. It was as if the green belt between the two walls was designed for these animals. Full of untouched grass, the predators stayed behind the wall and the guards made sure no…
When a German couple’s newly adopted Indian son goes missing in Kolkata, their search uncovers much more about their son’s past than the adoption agency had led them to believe. Nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for Best Live Action Short.
Ravi is a 10-year-old boy from Sri Lanka whose family is seeking asylum in Australia. They just moved into Sydney’s Villawood detention centre and school is the only time that Ravi is allowed outside its fences. On his first day of school, he is befriended by Jane, but can their friendship withstand circumstances that are…
In a near future, the brain chip Reality+ acts on your sensory perceptions in a way that allows you to see yourself with the perfect physique. Anyone implanted with the chip can see your new appearance and you can see theirs, but the chip can only be activated for 12 hours a day. What do…
War, fate, and a broken Walkman transcend space and time in this sci-fi love story. Won the Audience Choice Award at the NYC Shorts Film Festival among others.
In a future where victims of traumatic crimes have their memories erased as if the crime never happened, one woman struggles for her right to refuse the process.
Based on the book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake, this film weaves together classic fairy tales, playful twists and surprising endings. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Animated Short.
Bruno roams the streets of Berlin, gazing behind the many facades and surfaces as he seeks the soul of the city. Unexpectedly, he meets an ally in his quest and immediately falls in love, but she’s only in the city for one more week and he must find the right way to say goodbye. Won…
Rising Hope was the fastest horse in the world until suddenly he turns into a loser. With the help of a new friend, he finds hope and himself again.
A story about a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom much to the frustration of her cat. Based on the picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, this magical tale about friendship and family is produced by Magic Light Pictures who made…
A zombie rom-com in which true love and falling apart go hand in hand.
As her classmates prepare for their First Holy Communion, Rúbai announces that she is an atheist and refuses to participate. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Maga Media Teo. Voted as one of the Best of the Fest.
Rockabilly meets Wild West in this animated tale of a young man who finds himself in the back of a hot rod occupied by four sinister ghouls. From the rumbleseat of their car, he revisits memorable moments of his life. Indie rockers The Sadies provide the soundtrack. Won Best Animated Short at the 2011 Atlanta…
The streets of Sainte-Cécile are Lou’s refuge. The birds are her inspiration and she longs to be one of them, to fly away from home.
In this new short film from Pixar Animation Studios, Sanjay Patel uses his own experience to tell the story of a young Indian-American boy who is absorbed in the world of cartoons and comics while his father tries to draw him into the traditions of his Hindu practice. The boy’s boredom disappears when he embarks…
A young woman meets an old friend through Facebook and discovers just how unfriendly a place the Internet can be. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and the Huston Film School, Galway.
Rob wakes up one morning to find out that his girlfriend has dumped him, with the news being delivered in the strangest possible way. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Lucid Dreams Ltd.
A young boy is too embarrassed to wear his glasses in front of his cute classmate, but he must wear them to read the questions on his exam. Won Best Short at the 2013 San Diego International Kids Film Festival among other awards.
Shanghai has a park where parents can match-make their unmarried children. This is just one love story in a city of 20 million lovers.
A discredited scientist plans an elaborate heist to prove his genius and salvage his ruined reputation.
Shirin eats dinner alone with her father in their small north London home. Without her mother at home, little is said between them until Shirin reveals she is going out for the evening. Received a Jury Honourable Mention at the 2012 Cleveland International Film Festival.
As war engulfs Kosovo in 1998, the friendship of two boys is tested as escalating violence threatens them and their families. Nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for Best Live Action Short. Trailer:
While volunteering at a homeless shelter in Copenhagen, a young woman falls in love with an illegal immigrant, but there are things he hasn’t told her and one day she discovers the truth. Nominated for an Oscar in 2017 for Best Live Action Short. Trailer
Inspired by a true story, a young girl in Budapest joins her new school’s choir, but soon realizes that the choir director may not be the inspirational teacher she appears to be. Nominated for an Oscar in 2017 for Best Live Action Short. Facebook page Website Trailer
A salesman approaches a mysterious landowner with an offer to buy the man’s smoldering abandoned coal mine but finds that there is something far worse than a mine fire underneath the land. Won Best Short Film at the 2009 NYC Horror Film Festival. www.sinkholemovie.com Director’s Statement Sinkhole is ostensibly a horror film, but I believe…
Filmmakers in Attendance: Karl Mattson and Andrew Lodge. Sisters of Karnataka is a documentary about the unconventional spread of HIV/AIDS through the southern Indian countryside where poverty and tradition drive young women into the sex trade. Relegated to the lowest caste of society, they are highly susceptible to infection by HIV and other sexually transmitted…
Love takes a beating in this tale of domestic abuse perpetrated by the supposedly fairer sex. There will be a Q&A with Actress Kristiane Nerdrum Bøgwald after the screening.
Rajat wants more than a scrabble match from Bobbie, a popular high school senior who’s secretly an obsessive scrabble shark, but he must compete against a muscular jock for her affections and a social order that pressures her to choose the jock over him.
This mock animated documentary about the ecological plight of penguins in the Antarctic possibly foretells cataclysmic results for the rest of the world.
A young woman and her mountaineering companions are caught in a storm as night falls. Their only lifeline is a state policeman who tries to talk them through the night until help can arrive. Won the Grand Prize at the 2010 Festival du film d’Autrans.
Depressed and frustrated with his life, Dr. John Kitchin leaves his career as a neurologist and moves to Pacific Beach where he undergoes a radical transformation into a rollerblading legend known as SLOMO. Won Audience Award for Best Short Documentary at the 2013 Ashland Independent Film Festival among many other awards.
Waiting to board the train, an old lady just wants to eat her cookies in peace, but then a young punk sitting next to her starts eating them too! This could mean war.
Snap is the smallest Water Haggis and he’s very hungry because he hasn’t mastered the art of spearing fish. With the help of an unlikely new friend, he’s inspired to try a new way of catching fish. Won the Children’s Choice Award at the 2013 Bay Area International Children’s Film Festival among others.
A young girl helps a tiny pilot with a broken flying machine in this delightful fable about the wonders of flight. Won 2015 Student Academy Award (Animation).
Upon waking, Sophia doesn’t know where she is. She wants to find her way home but isn’t sure who to trust. There’ll be a Q&A with Rory Mells after the screening.
Twenty years after witnessing the total destruction of planet Earth, extreme boredom becomes too much to handle for two astronauts living inside a cramped space station.
A mother and father fret over the lack of services for their special needs son. They’re finding it difficult to cope with his unusual “disability.” Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Rubicon Films.
Lola works for a financial institution. From her tiny cubicle, she spends the day phoning people who are late on their payments. It’s a job she does without giving it a lot of thought, but that’s about to change.
Toy soldiers dance to the rhythm of war, but are they just toys? Won the Political Animation Award at the 2010 KLIK! Amsterdam Animation Festival.
Pluto’s friend convinces him to compete in a dance-off so that he can become a planet.
A man has a problem with drinking too much coffee.
Margarethe and her husband run the only restaurant on an island that tourists visit by the busload. One day a young couple opens a sushi bar next door. While her husband easily makes friends with the newcomers, Margarethe devises a plan to encourage them to back to where they came from.
When a man, who is eloquent on the inside but outwardly silent due to a severe stutter, learns that the woman he’s exchanged online messages with for 6 months is in town and wants to meet, his fear of revealing his speech impediment may cause him to lose her completely. Nominated for an Oscar in…
Winner of the 2012 Reel Shorts Film Festival Audience Choice Award. When a man’s scantily dressed downstairs neighbour comes by to borrow a cup of sugar, the cup slips from her hands. In a blackly comic free fall, things just keep getting worse. Won Best Comedy and Audience Award at the 2011 Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival.
A couple’s kitchen becomes a live sporting event when their argument is broadcast on Domestic Fight TV complete with a referee and sportscaster Rod Black calling the play-by-play. The gloves come off and low blows fly as the combatants strive to win at any cost. Won Best Short Film at the 2014 Reel Islington Film…
A plump caterpillar can’t get into her cocoon without the help of two friendly beetles.
When her car breaks down and a handsome stranger offers to give her a ride, Emily begins to realize there is more to Sweet Hollow Road than she ever could have imagined. Won Best Horror Film at the 2015 Another Hole in the Head Film Festival.
A couple has an intimate conversation in a restaurant, unaware that their every word is being closely monitored. However, not all is as it seems. Table 7 website
When a busy father drops his son off to spend the day with Grandpa, the Radio Flyer wagon that he played with as a boy alters the course of his day.
When a man sees a curious advertisement for a talking dog for sale cheap, he pursues the offer with natural scepticism. Won the Audience Award at the 2012 San Jose International Short Film Festival among many other awards.
A newly dead ghost must enlist the help of The Great Lloyd so that he can be returned to life and the young woman he loves. A short film created by 14 Grade 8-12 students from Valleyview, Hythe, and Beaverlodge working together under the guidance of workshop leaders Scott Belyea, Scooter Corkle, and Michael Bourree during the…
Splitting the bill after dinner with friends can often get awkward, but when Jesus and his 12 Apostles settle up after The Last Supper, not even the Lord Himself is immune to this deliciously sacrilegious send-up of social dynamics.
Two severed heads wake up in a fridge and begin planning their escape from the psycho barber who put them there. First thing they have to do is get re-attached to their bodies before running away becomes an option!
A poignant and humorous account of the filmmaker’s experience as a boy in 1983 when kids who’d been taught anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial at their school in Eckville, Alberta are invited to a basketball game against his team at Jewish summer camp. Won Most Inspirational Short Film at the 2012 Reel 2 Real International Film…
Two brothers struggle to care for their elderly mother. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Animated Short.
When a middle-aged couple visit Mick on his birthday, the cruel irony of age becomes apparent as they express concern about whether Mick and his brother are capable of looking after themselves. Won the Jury Award for Best Director and Best Actor Performance at the 2011 Paris Cinema Festival.
A disgruntled customer bursts into a cell phone sales office wielding a rifle and making demands. They’ve got three minutes to comply…
A young boy falls hopelessly in love, but it all goes terribly wrong. Wishing to never experience heartache again, he turns to a book of magic and invokes a spell that will shield him from emotion forever. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Igloo Films. Won the IFTA Award in 2012…
A timid housewife is jolted into a fight for her survival or sanity when she thinks she hears her new partner at a weekly bridge game whisper a shocking threat. Won Audience Award for Best Short Film at the 2015 DC Shorts Film Festival among others.
When an attempt to be romantic backfires in the worst possible way, a man does the only thing he can to salvage it … the Heimlich maneuver.
In a faraway forest, the graceful Centipede is admired by all the other creatures except for an old jealous Toad who devises a plan that will stop the Centipede in its tracks. Won the Adult Jury Prize for Best Animated Short Film at the 2013 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival among other awards.
When an unexpected visitor arrives, Mrs. Evans has to think fast. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Magnified Pictures Limited.
Quiet and sincere nine-year-old Sam is worried about making his first confession. His conscience is clear, therefore he cannot hope for any relief from the experience. He and his friend Jacob decide to remedy that situation, but their innocent prank turns unexpectedly tragic. Nominated for an Oscar.
Award-winning animator Bill Plympton pits idyllic farm living against modern farming realities in this hilariously provocative tale about a cow seduced by advertising.
A young woman’s driving lesson with her father reconnects them after years apart, but they are on a cliff-hugging road that may not be the best location for an inexperienced driver.
Ardal, an 8-year-old schoolboy, is in love with his teacher, Miss Purdy. When she becomes engaged to her unworthy, crass boyfriend, Ardal is forced to take drastic action. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Purdy Pictures Ltd. Nominated for an Oscar.
A little pig keeps his town safe from a cloud of pollution with his windmill dam, but is ignored by a thankless public and bullied at school. When a new kid arrives, things begin to change. Nominated for an Oscar in 2015 for Best Animated Short.
Sixteen-year-old Tino has to host a date for Diablo, the family’s stud cat. While he pours tea for the middle-aged woman and her daughter after they arrive with their cat, he must try to make polite conversation over the distracting sounds coming from the next room. Won the Short Film Jury Award for International Fiction…
Nine-year-old Henry is scared of monsters lurking in the dark. The only thing that keeps them at bay is the decree from his father, a Royal Marine. When his father is killed in action, Henry must find a way to face the monsters alone. Won Best Foreign Drama Short Film at the 2012 International Family…
A mysterious object from the past drives a tense showdown between two strangers. Each believes he knows what the other man wants. Both are wrong. Director Chris Beauchamp, Producer Laura Beauchamp, actors Tim Heimdal and Cam White, and composer Chris McIntyre will participate in a Q&A.
Ed Telfair is a mundane middle-aged man who’s dealing with insecurities in his life … until he decides to take matters into his own hands. Won Best Short Film at the 2014 Victoria Texas Independent Film Festival among other awards.
Filmmakers in Attendance: Rio and Skyler Fitch. During an afternoon of play, a young boy must use his wits and creativity to recover from a minor tragedy.
Karen’s mother used to terrify her with tales of a sinister presence lurking in the stairwell. She returns years later to visit her elderly shut-in parents … and the childhood nightmare waiting for her in the shadows. www.the-elemental-movie.com
The delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other, the session gets out of control. Nominated for an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Live Action Short.
When Charlotte Rampling watches a rerun on TV of a 1985 film that she starred in, she discovers that she has been replaced by a young actress whom the media is calling the “new Charlotte Rampling.”
Desperate to solve the seemingly irreconcilable problems in his marriage, a man goes to a mysterious fixer for help. There is a catch – the process is irreversible and he’ll have to live with the consequences forever. Won Audience Choice Award at the 2013 International Black Film Festival of Nashville.
www.morrislessmore.com This award-winning film is a gorgeously animated allegory about the transformative power of story. Inspired by Hurricane Katrina, Buster Keaton, The Wizard of Oz, and a love for books, award-winning author/illustrator William Joyce and Co-Director Brandon Oldenburg use a variety of techniques (miniatures, computer animation, and 2D animation) to present a poignant, humorous story…
A tale of love and intrigue set in Depression-era Cape Breton, this film about a farm girl, the wandering musician she loves, and her father’s fierce opposition to their match pays tribute to the island’s Gaelic heritage.
Carlotta doesn’t know what to draw when her class is assigned the task of drawing animals that start with the letter M. Finally, inspiration strikes but her creation doesn’t do what she wants it to.
On his first day of work, a young mortician is told the story of Harald Kramer, a man who suffered a head injury and appeared to be dead, but wasn’t. Harald could hear though and, due to the excellent chili his wife had served him the night before his apparent death, be heard, but still…
A bruised and battered man sits in an interrogation room dressed in a ghoulish costume caked in dried blood. With his alibi littered with two corpses, blood-curdling screams, and a tale of “the beast,” this furry man swears he can explain. Won Best Horror Short at the 2010 International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival in Phoenix.…
A glimpse into the future seems like a harmless wish for a young couple in love, but is it? Won Honourable Mention for Fiction Comedy at the 2012 Taos Shortz Film Festival.
A lonely spinster finds the man of her dreams online and agrees to marry him. Leaving her monotonous life behind, she quits her job and makes the arduous trip to be with him. Won Best of the Festival Jury Award at the 2010 Palm Springs International ShortFest among other awards.
A young man’s theory about fate is tested on the basis of whether he explains the theory to his friend. The ripple effect of that minor decision will determine who lives and who dies that night.
35-minute presentation by Horacio Galanti and 15-minute Q&A Horacio set out on his Grand Slam of Mountaineering goal twelve years ago and has summited the biggest five of the Seven Summits (Everest, McKinley, Aconcagua, Elbrus, and Kilimanjaro) and recently ran a full marathon at the North Pole. He will share photos of his summits and…
A magical tale about a mouse who takes a stroll through the woods and encounters three predators who all wish to eat him – a fox, an owl, and a snake. Based on the classic picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the plucky mouse has to use his wits to survive. …
Based on the classic children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Sheffler, this tale of a little Gruffalo’s curiosity and a mouse’s ingenuity will delight young audiences as the little Gruffalo ignores her father’s warnings not to go into the deep dark wood where the Big Bad Mouse lives.
An elderly woman isn’t quite in her right mind anymore, but she’s determined to take the train to the seaside as she has done every summer. Only this year, it appears that someone is following her. Won Best Animation Award at the 2016 New York City Shorts Festival among many other awards. Trailer
Three eager bank robbers go over the big plan before robbing a bank. It’s complicated.
Edmonton filmmaker Trevor Anderson drops his camera from the High Level Bridge in memory of those who have jumped. Won Honorable Mention, Best Short Film at the American Film Institute’s AFI Fest in Los Angeles. www.dirtycityfilms.com
Survivors of a biological pandemic find refuge with Horizon Corporation which provides secure transport to the safety of Horizon City. This is the festival-produced film that was shot during Shoot for Reel, a 2-week internship program July 9-20, 2012. There’ll be a Q&A with Director Scott Belyea and Producer Dave Rice after the screening.
When Tom and Barbara purchase a serial killer’s former house, the middle-aged couple soon realizes it’s going to take more than a fresh coat of paint to whitewash their home’s macabre history. Won the Grand Prize for Best Documentary Short at the 2015 Rhode Island International Film Festival among other awards. Winner of the 2016…
A young girl is brought to a nineteenth-century mansion to join nine other children who are trapped and living under the abuses of the Huckster, a woman who likes to be referred to as “mother,” but the girl’s obstinacy disrupts the strict order in the house and reveals the true horror within it.
In the imaginary land of Cyberdesert, Plus and Minus struggle with a dependency on an outdated source of energy. The mysterious self-sufficient Smart presents a new challenge for Plus and Minus and forces them to form an alliance – The Hybrid Union!
A young man sets out for an interview at a radio station in a post-apocalyptic world where he may be the second-to-last man on Earth trying to get a job from the last man on Earth. Won the Grand Prize for Best Fiction at USA Film Festival. There’ll be a Q&A with Michelle Steffes following…
A night of flirty revelry for a new couple takes a sudden turn when a stranger asks the man about his jacket. Won Best Actor, International Competition, at the 2015 Brussels Short Film Festival. Winner of the 2016 Best Live Action Short Under 13 Minutes. Website
An overweight man, obsessed with calorie counting, has his sanity pushed to the limits by a fitness freak who mocks him.
Just the thought of eating the baked beans his father has prepared for lunch is enough to give a boy nightmares. There’ll be a Q&A with Dion Burry and son Joseph Burry after the screening.
Winner of the 2011 Reel Shorts Film Festival Audience Choice Award. Starring Seán Cullen, this award-winning rock musical tells the story of Danny Zigwitz, a nerdy youngster who needs to save his fellow campers from a bloody massacre when a campfire ghost story comes to life. Won Best Horror Short Film at 2010 Fantastic Fest…
In the caves below the earth are thousands of candles, each representing a human life. Life-Givers light the candles, signifying the birth of a child, while Death snuffs out the flame when the person’s time on earth has ended. A young apprentice Life-Giver struggles with the idea that life must one day come to an…
This documentary follows a young Scottish actress who decides to find out whether she’s inherited the gene for Huntington’s Disease. If she has it, there will be no escape from the fate that awaits her: dementia and death. Won a Special Jury Award at 2014 Aspen Shortfest. Winner of the 2015 Best Documentary Short Award.
After making some quick Christmas cash at a medical testing facility, a hapless slacker finds that everyone he runs across turns into a raging maniac, and they all have one homicidal goal – him. Won Best Short Film at the 2011 Dead by Dawn Film Fest among others.
The life and times of a neglected stoplight. Trailer:
Based on the book of the same name by multi award-winning author and illustrator Shaun Tan, The Lost Thing tells the story of a boy who discovers a strange creature on the beach and decides to find a home for it in a world where people are too busy to notice it. Won the Oscar…
Stressed businessman Bob heads to a remote island to get away from it all, but the island isn’t quite as deserted as he thought it would be and crazy scientist Lizzie is the least of his worries.
Sam is a six-year-old orphan with a pet ferret named Booger. When prospective parents come to visit his orphanage, Sam decides to impress them with a few magic tricks with Booger as his assistant. When their most amazing trick flops, Sam and Booger must conjure up a different kind of magic. Won Best Short Film…
When their 10-year-old daughter kisses another little girl during recess, Emmy’s parents convince her that the kiss must have been “an accident.” Wishing to set her on the “right” path in life, the Grand High Council of Fairy Tale Rules and Standards assigns Hammond to narrate “The Maiden and the Prince” to her and he…
Narrated by Jeremy Irons, this mockumentary examines the life cycle of the plastic bag as it encounters enemies and escapes death on its epic migration to its final destination: the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
A strange creature must race against time to make the most important and beautiful creation of his life. Won Best Short Film at the 2012 Indianapolis International Film Festival among many other awards.
A hit man sees his day go from bad to worse when his principles are put to the test by a 10-year-old kid, an uncooperative housewife and a nosy neighbour.
It is midnight. An inspector on night patrol pays a surprise visit to Mr. Tremblay who is sleeping soundly. During interrogation, he learns that he has broken several laws and the penalties are huge. Won Special Jury Mention at the 2011 Festival du cinema international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Niranda.
Having her sleeping husband near her gives a young woman a feeling of security and reassurance. When she unexpectedly meets an alluring street entertainer, she realizes that the routine that’s been keeping her steady may be holding her back. Won Best Short Animated Film at the Traverse Film Festival in Michigan.
After his mutt accidentally eats some loose change, a man is soon bewildered to discover that his furry companion has passed the currency with compounded interest. A modern day fairy tale, this playful re-imagining of Aesop’s timeless fable “The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs” is doggy-doo delightful.
After the seas have disappeared, a courageous young female pilot fights against vicious sky pirates for control of the last remaining source of water: the clouds. Won Best Animated Short at the 2015 Phoenix Film Festival among other awards. Lucas Martell and Producer Christina Martell will participate in a Q&A. Winner of the 2016 Best…
According to Inuit oral history, long ago animals had the power of speech, could shift their appearances, and could even assume human form. In this tale, a neglected orphan is adopted by a polar bear elder. Under the bear’s guidance, the little orphan learns the skills he will need to survive and provide for himself.
An unusual friendship forms when a soccer ball becomes the link between a boy on the Israeli side of the West Bank separation wall and someone on the Palestinian side.
When Lili starts losing her hair one morning as a result of cancer treatments, the hospital-provided wig only increases her anguish. Her friend Laura decides a radical makeover is called for.
Heather (Golden Globe winner Sally Hawkins), a shy Crisis Centre worker, takes a call from a suicidal man (Oscar winner Jim Broadbent) and tries to change his mind. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and RSA Films. Won the Oscar in 2015 for Best Live Action Short.
Two worlds collide when a gentleman’s pocket watch bounces away from him and takes him on a wild chase.
A 16-year-old girl prays to the Virgin Mary to help her seduce the man she works for. Won the Don Quixote Award at the 2011 Molodist International Film Festival.
As Canadian adventurer Bruce Kirkby crosses the Georgia Strait from Vancouver to Victoria on a stand-up paddleboard in the spring of 2013, he ponders the true meaning of adventure.
A surreal comedy about the origins of Tomatina, the annual tomato fight that began in 1945 as a result of a love triangle between Pepe and Alfonsito over the affections of Encarna.
Top soccer referee Martin Hansson had a successful journey towards his dream – to referee in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Then one dark night in Paris on November 18th, 2009, all hell broke loose. Won Best Football Film at the 2010 International Sport Film Festival in Palermo, Italy.
Ten-year-old Pico struggles to settle into the international boarding school high in the Himalayas of India that his British parents have enrolled him in. Picked on by bullies, he runs away. Travelling through a landscape he barely knows, can he find his way home? www.nomadosphere.com
After 25 years in exile, a man returns to Ireland to show his American daughter his Belfast roots. When she learns of his long lost best friend, she encourages her father to seek a reconciliation which leads to hilarious confusion. Won the Oscar in 2012 for Best Live Action Short.
A hungry grey fox sets out for a morning hunt, hoping to find a tasty rodent snack, but the mouse he finds is no ordinary mouse. Trailer:
Profoundly deaf four-year-old Libby is expected to lip read to understand her hearing family, but it is not until Joanne, a fresh faced social worker, teaches Libby sign language that she learns to communicate. As their relationship blossoms, Libby’s mother begins to question whether Libby should be learning it at all. Nominated for an Academy…
The town of Derry has a secret that the new kid discovers during a sleepover at a neighbour boy’s house. Won Best Super Short Film at the 2012 Shriekfest Film Festival in Los Angeles.
On a tabletop mountain, a mahout and his strange herd make a surprising and never-ending journey. Won Honorable Mention at the 2013 Curtinhas Competition Vila do Conde.
In a snaking queue line at airport immigration, a man spots a beautiful stranger. Does he dare say something? Express his true feelings aloud? Can so much passion be conveyed any other way than in song?
At a young age, respectful hunters learn to disturb as little as possible. But what’s the price when you break those rules? There will be a Q&A with Chris Beauchamp and Gordie Haakstad after the screening. Winner of the Best Peace Region Short Award.
The Star Shepherd must find and repair a fallen star, then return it to the night sky before the sun rises.
A young teacher takes a job at an unusual private school where she soon discovers that the boys have a sinister power over the girls. Won the Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film at the 2015 Fantastic Cinema Festival among other awards.
A little girl sets a trap for her unsuspecting visitor. Won Best of Show at the 2013 Epiphany Children’s Film Festival in New York City. There’ll be a Q&A with Rio Fitch and daughter/actress Billie Fitch after the screening.
In the shadow of a family funeral, a young boy retreats to the treehouse he built with his father and shuts himself in and the rest of the world out. An enigmatic young girl from next door helps him to come to terms with his loss and face up to his future. Won Best Cinematography…
Survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan’s 2011 tsunami find the courage to rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. Nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for Best Documentary Short.
A zombie virus has become widespread. Survivors have learned how to control the zombies and put them to work. When a man realizes that the zombie in front of him is his mother, he smuggles her out instead.
A clown is interrogated by two inspectors and soon realizes that breaking the law is no laughing matter.
Few things are as unexpected as a 12-year-old boy who collects, dreams about, and can’t wait to use … vacuum cleaners. Kyle Krichbaum’s family was sure he would outgrow the obsession that started when he was a toddler, but he hasn’t. In this charming documentary, Kyle talks about his passion, demonstrates a few models from…
A noise wakens a young woman in the middle of the night. As she walks through the house looking for the cause, she realizes that she’s not alone. Devon Burbank in attendance.
Tension between a young boy and his mother escalates as she tries to keep him from the window and the world outside their apartment.
When a young boy sees from his window that a girl his age is being bullied, he realizes that he’s not at all like the hero of his book.
A time travel app takes three high school students back to 1912 and they must find a way to recharge their iPhone in order to get back to the future. A short film created by 14 high school students from Hines Creek, Beaverlodge, and Grande Prairie working together under the guidance of workshop leaders Scott…
Matthew Rhys (Brothers and Sisters) is a delight as a man who, in the course of a first date, tries to decide how to respond when she asks him an awkward question.
Minnie and Maude struggle to keep Minnie’s Euthanasia Center afloat, but competition and government bureaucracy threaten to end it all … until the two come up with a plan to find people who really want to die, but just don’t know it yet. Sometimes people just need a helping push. Director’s Statement I have always…
When eight-year-old Antti’s parents tell him that it’s time for his old dog to go to the vet to be put down, the boy begins to think about death and wonder what it means. Won the Youth Jury Prize for Finnish Short Film Under 30 minutes at the 2013 Tampere International Short Film Festival.
A couple with a young child makes the painful decision to separate. Won 1st Prize Short Movie at the 2013 St. Albans Film Festival in the UK.
A little Austrian girl is a daily witness to a long simmering feud that finally erupts between the town clock’s two wooden figurines.
A neurotic inventor creates a time machine only to get caught up travelling around yesterday.
A young woman works the day shift as a parking lot security guard; a young man works the night shift. Every day they greet each other as one finishes a 12-hour shift and the other begins. Then she notices something and leaves him a note with a timecode written on it. Nominated for an Oscar…
A young boy and his father drive out to the country to say goodbye to the boy’s first pet.
A man falls from a balcony onto the sidewalk below. A crowd gathers and an ambulance is called, but no one knows why he fell.
When a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, a father and his young daughter struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan. Won Best Film at the 2016 Fantasia Film Festival; and Best Director and Best Special Effects at the 2016 Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival, among other awards. Presented with the…
A young man has a job interview at Greendays, a company where transparency is the governing principle of the workplace. By the end of the interview, it is clear what he must give up to get it.
Tsuyako, a young woman who is a wife, mother, and factory worker in postwar Japan, must decide between duty and love, her family and freedom. Won the Audience Award at the 2011 Short Shorts Film Festival in Tokyo among many other awards.
Everybody is going to die one day. Oskar, 70, is going to die in 6 days. He is now ready to forgive his long estranged brother who lives somewhere on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, but how can Oskar let his brother know before it’s too late?
An Inuit child wanders away from his village, fascinated by a wild bird. His father follows his trail, determined to find him before he gets lost on the ice floe.
Peter Davenport runs the National UFO Reporting Center, a one-man operation fielding phone calls and collecting data from UFO sightings around the U.S. Prank calls, hoaxes, and misguided interpretations mix in with legitimately breathless reports of the extraordinary. As a quiet bachelor in solitary scientific pursuit, Peter remains something of an enigma in the small…
As zombies prowl the streets looking for fresh meat, a young man is in constant danger as he looks for food. Equipped with a baseball bat and padded clothes, he carefully checks every corner before proceeding. In a city that seems to have only one pulse – his own – he meets a stranger in…
Margaret attends a Catholic school for girls and wears a uniform. Can she resist the pressure to conform?
Reshma works in a textile recycling factory in Panipat, a small town in Northern India. In this delightfully ironic documentary, she shows how the Western world’s least wanted clothes get transformed back into yarn while she and the other women workers speculate on how people live in the Western world, using their imaginations and the…
A delightful doc about Gary Frank Skaggs, a musician who wanted to play a piano in the streets of San Francisco so he invented a bizarrely funky way to do it. Won Audience Choice Awards at the GSP Film Festival and the Filmed by Bike Film Festival.
For many years Urs has had to look after his aging mother, but now he sets out on a dangerous journey. He carries his mother up a mountain to find a better place for both of them, but she wants to stay at home. Nominated for an Oscar.
On a stormy night, a teenaged girl uses a shovel to break into the cemetery and start unearthing a recent grave. She is knocked unconscious by the caretaker who thinks she’s a graverobber. To convince him that she’s not, she tells him about the person who’s buried there and pleads for his help.
At a support group meeting, the stories being shared are very different from what one expects in the circumstances. Won the Narrative Short Jury Award at the 2015 Austin Film Festival.
Sky Burial, a private ritual that involves offering the bodies of Tibetan dead to wild griffon vultures, has become a tourist attraction. Burial sites are now highlighted on tourist maps and local officials charge admission to visitors who take photos and video, often posting them online against the wishes of affected families. This documentary exposes…
Each night the only border crossing between India and Pakistan on a 1000-km stretch becomes the sight of an extraordinary event. Thousands of people gather to witness the ritual closing of the border, after which the masses get as close as possible to the gate to greet their former neighbours. This daily ritual provides the…
What starts out as a regular day for an ordinary girl is transformed into a beautiful romantic adventure, or so it seems.
A young man sitting alone in a cafe is approached by a stranger who offers to pay him a lot of money for what seems like a simple task. Screened with the kind permission of Network Ireland Television and Dakus Films.
In December 2015, a bus carrying Muslim and Christian passengers loses its police escort, leaving it vulnerable to a terrorist attack by the Al-Shabaab which has been targeting Kenya for almost a decade. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians has been growing, and a woman travelling alone fears what might happen…
Since childhood, two best friends have dreamed of becoming cosmonauts. They are now in the final stages of training, but can the dream they share become reality? Nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for Best Animated Short. Trailer:
The night shift at a grocery store can be slow which gives staff the incentive to provide customer service of a different kind.
On the wrong side of a driveway in a barren yard of dry dirt and dead grass, a dandelion struggles to survive while its fellow weeds wither away and die. Across the concrete lies another yard where the sprinklers spray water and the grass is green. Can the dandelion make the journey to a better…
After the sudden passing of his wife, a songwriter’s overwhelming grief takes the form of a 20-piece marching band that floods his world with boisterous, interminable song.
Annoyed with his neighbours, a man sets off to find a peaceful and quiet place to live, but wherever he goes, something always disturbs him. An amusing allegory about not appreciating what one already has.
An Englishman moves to the Alberta prairie in 1909, but is singularly unsuited to it. His letters home are much sunnier than reality. Nominated for an Oscar.
In 1964, a young pediatrician begins his residency at Willowbrook State School in Staten Island only to discover that the institution is conducting Army-funded experiments on developmentally disabled children. Based on a true story. Won Best Short Film at the 2012 Boston Film Festival.
In this inspiring story about the struggle for marriage equality, Photographer Curtis Brown takes up his camera to fight a proposed amendment to North Carolina’s Constitution. Won Student Academy Award for Best Documentary.
When a fifteen-year-old boy discovers he has months to live, he is granted one wish from the Dreamscape Charity. However, David doesn’t want to go to Disneyland or meet a star footballer; what he really wants is an hour alone with a naked woman. Based on true events, Wish 143 tells the story of a…
Eight-year-old Elisa lives with her mother in a small isolated village of the French Alps. Her mother works every night in a bar in town leaving Elisa at home alone. Elisa copes with her fear and loneliness by constantly wearing a wolf hand puppet. Then one morning, she hears on the radio that real wolves…
This documentary shares the stories of women, past and present, as they reveal how their experiences in mountain culture deeply inspired them. Meet free-thinking individuals who blazed trails into a man’s rugged world. There’ll be a Q&A with Susan Feddema-Leonard after the screening.
Wood If profiles the work and process of world-renowned Vancouver artist and furniture designer Judson Beaumont as he creates a new piece and his previous work is shown with new context and perspective.
A little girl is taken on a fantastical tour of her distant future by a surprising visitor who reveals unnerving secrets about humanity’s fate. Nominated for an Oscar in 2016 for Best Animated Short. Trailer:
A teen vampire sex comedy about 2 teenage girls who are best friends, but one of them has let her vampire boyfriend go “all the way” and now she’s undead and her mom is so going to ground her. Won a WGC Screenwriting Award in 2011 from the Writers Guild of Canada.
A table read of the winning script from the Youth Screenwriter Mentorship Project and Screenplay Competition.