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Short Film Review: PAINFUL FLAVOURS. 22min., Experimental
Synopsis:
There was no plan. I found some pages I had written over twenty years ago. I read the words whilst Oli and Joe slipped deep into an improvised, ambient jam – a cognisant, responsive soundscape conjured up to bring the prose to life. It was all recorded live in a few takes. We gave the recording to Julian Hand who spent a few months creating the visuals. We hope you enjoy the trip.
Review by Andie Karvelis:
Felix Bechtolsheimer provided the wording for this journey into what felt like an alternate version of Wonderland. The voice over was very well done and it carried you on this ride with no destination in mind. Julian Hand created the very stylized overlapping images, some colorized with a negative image effect that whizzed by on screen making you feel like you were on a roller coaster. The music added a sense of mystery and at moments discomfort, but I think that was exactly what Joe Harvey-White and Oli Bayson intended.
Emotion, colors, and sound all wash over you again and again drawing you deeper into this very trippy film. I have to admit, my favorite line was “The voices of the damned are from south Florida”. Being born and raised in Florida, that sounds about right.
Short Film Review: STAG HUNT, 12min., Sci-Fi Experimental
Synopsis:
Trapped in a closed time-like curve, our duo is learning to cooperate by running through a paradox inside of an infinite hotel. By doing so, they seek an escape from the loop and meaning in a quantum multiverse.
Review by Parker Jesse Chase:
Created by Michele Reilly - Directed by Audrey Kezzyn
Stag Hunt, a sci-fi fantasy short film, takes its audience on a mind-bending journey through the intricacies of time travel and the mysteries that lie behind the quantum multiverse. At its core, Stag Hunt explores the dynamics of friendship and collaboration as the duo, reminiscent of an iconic pair such as Marty and Doc from Back to the Future, embarks on a quest to explore a closed time-like curve within an infinite hotel. The film presents the butterfly effect of their time-traveling endeavors, showcasing the myriad outcomes stemming from a single choice or action.
The narrative begins with an eclectic yet memorable opening shot, focusing on our lead character putting gum behind her ear, offering subtle insights into their daily lives. However, the film occasionally struggles with maintaining a balance between scripted dialogue and natural human expression, creating a sense of detachment from the immersive world it aims to build.
The tone, at times monotone, adds to this feeling of disbelief and disconnect.
The universe of Stag Hunt is intricately crafted through elements like rotary phones, a metal soldering gun, electrical cords across a desk, and vintage costumes, complemented by wire-framed glasses on our leading man. The characters, while distinctly created, delve into scientific jargon that might be overwhelming, yet intriguing, for viewers. The inclusion of the Netflix symbol and commentary on sirens adds a contemporary twist to the otherwise scientific narrative.
The film artfully navigates through the complexities of time travel, exploring hypotheses and theories within the realm of science. The montage of trial and error as the characters work on their time-traveling device is a beautifully executed build-up, leading to a captivating scene of silence where the rules of science and the universe take center stage.
Stag Hunt culminates in a visually stunning credit sequence, leaving a lasting impact as it pans out to reveal thousands of different outcomes. Michele Reilly and Seth Lloyd deliver commendable performances, despite occasional struggles with dialogue delivery. Vasili Ivanov’s cinematography captures the essence of the film’s unique universe.
Stag Hunt is a thought-provoking exploration of friendship, science, and the consequences of our choices, wrapped in the captivating cloak of time travel and the quantum multiverse. While the film faces challenges in maintaining a seamless blend of script and humanization, its visual appeal and thematic depth make it a compelling watch for fans of the sci-fi genre
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Short Film Review: EPICYCLE, 7min. Animation/Experimental
Synopsis:
A surreal experimental animated allegory of the cyclical rise, fall and evolution of social order.
Review by Parker Jesse Chase:
Epicycle, an experimental animated short film, takes audiences on a surreal journey through the cyclical nature of social order, using a mesmerizing blend of animation and allegory. This unique creation is an exploration of the rise, fall, and evolution of societal structures.
The film opens with gears in motion, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of ticking of a clock, creating a sensation of time itself slowing down. The close-up of interconnected gears gradually pulls back to reveal an entity on a hoverboard, adorned with a face reminiscent of a plague mask. This character traverses in what appears to be a museum or gallery, emphasizing the cyclical nature of human existence. The gears continue to persist as the film transitions to pawns on a chessboard, symbolizing an almost robotic cycle of life. The entities within the animation seem to be going through the motions, akin to the routine viewing of art in a gallery.
The ticking gears merge with the same tempo of a heartbeat, immersing the viewer to a reflective state of mind.
The film’s color palette adds onto the surreal and bilateral element, enhancing the overall immersive experience. The gears, noise, and surroundings create an allegorical ambiance, mirroring the way one can become absorbed in a museum. A quick zoom behind the eye offers a glimpse into the soul, shifting the gallery’s perspective and connecting the audience with the essence of human nature.
Epicycle is a visually captivating and thought-provoking journey through the cycles of social order. Its experimental nature, combined with allegorical storytelling and vibrant animation, makes it a unique and engaging viewing experience. The film successfully prompts reflection on the interconnectedness of humanity and the art that reflects our shared experiences.
Film directed by Deb Ethier
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Short Film Review: ILLUSION. Poland. Directed by Jacek Jędrzejczak
Synopsis:
Illusion – distorted interpretation of existing external stimuli.
They also occur in healthy people and is not a psychopathological symptom.
by Jacek Jędrzejczak
Review by Victoria Angelique
The combination of excellent cinematography and a beautiful score makes ILLUSION a joy to watch. The filmmaker, Jacek Jędrzejczak, took an artistic approach in creating this remarkable short film. There are many themes that are invoked, such as the power of human connection and the idea of illusion.
The very beginning of ILLUSION draws the audience right in with the great framing of the woods and the path between the trees. The women are a little off center, a move that is clearly conscious as they cross paths. Each woman is on the opposite sides of the road, heading towards the other. The idea of crossing paths is inevitable, though the outcome isn’t predictable.
The two women meet in the center of the path, slightly brushing against each other. It’s simple, but enough to stop the two women from continuing to move forward on their respective journeys. Their vibrant orange dresses disappear, cutting to a moment where they embrace in a moment of nudity. The filmmaker is representing the bare soul of each woman as they hug, intercutting between the nude women and clothed women to provide the illusion of the power behind human connection.
The theme of illusion is quite clear, almost signaling that sometimes fates interweaves and interrupts the plans someone might have as they walk their own personal paths. A chance inter counter can change the course of life as new relationships are formed. Jędrzejczak gives the ILLUSION that the women will part ways after their souls connect, only for them to walk together in sisterhood. A new friendship formed through an intimate soul connection.
Short Film Review: SILK AND IRON. Directed by Kee Streater Heywood
Synopsis:
A short film spotlighting Gary Llamido, an antiques collector and restoration artist. We have an intimate conversation with Gary on the important role that Samurai Armor has played in his life, as well as the impact it continues to have on the world.
Review by Andie Karvelis:
Silk and Iron introduces us to Gary Llamido, a conservationist and restoration artist of Japanese armor. This intimate documentary produced by Mohammad Sigari is beautifully done.
I’ve been in countless museums and seen these gorgeous (yet intimidating) Samurai armor displays and wondered how they were able to save these pieces of history. That’s where Gary Llamido comes in. While he isn’t responsible for all the restored Japanese armor in the world, the ones he has worked on are amazing. Director Kee Streater Heywood did a wonderful job taking us through Gary’s journey so we could learn his process. The history in finding out about different clans and what kind of armor they had to what the individual pieces of armor are called.
The film had a great flow and it always kept your attention. That is in part due to Daniel Raphael Ancheta who handled the cinematography and artistic camera angles. All of this coupled with the exceptional score of the film. It truly is fascinating to watch Gary work as he returns the armor to their former glory but keeping the spirit of the armor intact.
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Short Film Review: BEYOND THE DOOR. Written by P. James Norris
Synopsis:
When a man buys a cuckoo clock for his wife, he discovers that there is more behind the cuckoo’s door than just the cuckoo.
Review by Andy Karvelis:
Who doesn’t love a morality tale with a bit of a supernatural twist? If you’ve ever been a fan of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits and Alfred Hitchcock presents you will enjoy Beyond the Door. Originally this was a short story from Philip K. Dick but it was adapted for the screen by P. James Norris.
When a husband buys a cuckoo clock for his wife’s birthday and see’s how attached she becomes to the sweet little cuckoo inside he becomes increasingly jealous. Especially when the cuckoo will only chime for his wife. Can an inanimate object really detect a person’s character? This one can.
There is some stunning cinematography in this film provided by Gregory Klino, who also directed, edited and did a fantastic job of portraying the husband, Larry. His co-director was MJ Palo. Both Gregory and MJ did a great job in having it be seamless as to who was directing what. I really enjoyed how this film had an old world feel to it, much like the TV shows that inspired this film. The music composer Neil Nayyar really gave this film an incredible, very suspenseful score that fit perfectly within the genre.
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Short Film Review: Lil’ RED is RIDING the wrong way in the HOOD!
Synopsis:
This short film with a long title is a Hip Hop twist on a classic cautionary tale starts with an adventurous little boy getting lost on the wrong side of town. Childhood labor and public safety may sound like heavy topics, but they’re presented in an approachable manner in this timely and important project.
Review by Andie Karvelis:
It’s not every day you see an independent animated film that is so flawlessly done, you think a major studio is behind it. Sony, Pixar and DreamWorks should be envious of the sheer brilliance that is Venus Jones. She is the powerhouse behind Lil’ RED is RIDING the wrong way in the HOOD.
Venus Jones wrote, produced, directed and performed the narrative in this cautionary tale with a modern twist. Most of us are familiar with the original Little Red Riding Hood but this is such a clever adaptation. It tackles some serious topics in an approachable way while creating a story that is relevant to today. The rhymes within the narrative are so ingeniously crafted and performed by Venus, it immediately hooks you.
The animation and illustrative team consisting of Mutai Emmanuel, Stanley Munyiri and Ian Mburu gave this film a hip style. They found the balance between fun and serious with the art style and color scheme. Malcolm Lee provided the music and it was so perfect.
Getting any film to be entertaining and educational is a challenge but this one absolutely nails it. I’m going to go out on a limb here because this film was so sensational. I would love to see Venus Jones and her team make this the first film in a series because I think children (and adults) can definitely benefit from watching it.
Short Film Review: EAT YOUR YOUNG, Dance Film
Review by Andie Karvelis:
With a title like “Eat Your Young” anyone would be a little skeptical at first, but then you hear these glorious harmonies. I’m such a sucker for A Cappella harmonies that have a smidge of dissonance and then it resolves. You might as well have told me I won a trip to Disney World, that’s how excited I get. Eat Your Young did not disappoint me. As the vocalists continued to impress me, as well as make me a little jealous if I am honest, the camera pans to a stunning room with dancers all decked in white dresses.
Since I was so entranced by the music I almost missed how the filmmakers used one continuous shot for the first minute. One. Continuous. Shot. I immediately started the film again and yep, there it was! They did this so seamlessly and the camera work was beyond incredible that my eargasm had to wait. The fluidity of the dancers was a sight to behold and the choreography was sheer perfection. The dancers’ movements accented areas of the music and vice versa, it was bliss.
Without having such fantastic cinematography, that harmony between A Cappella music and dancers would have been lost, but the filmmakers made sure that would never happen. I’m very grateful to them because this entire film was powerful, emotional and just gorgeous. Every moment of this film was done with such precision and it totally pays off with how sensational it is.
By the end, we are left with only these words “Inlight – 10”. Wha??? That’s it? But, but, but…I want to be able to gush about how incredible each individual is. I can’t do that if you leave me with a mystery. I feel I know more about Banksy that I do about the illusive Inlight – 10. All I can say is, you all have outdone yourselves on such an amazing film.
Festival Reviews 