european short film festival

Film Review: BE THE ONE, Switzerland, Crime/Music Video

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A five minute  experimental music video from Switzerland, BE THE ONE is a strongly visual and deeply gritty crime-centric piece. Two charismatic robbers enter a strip club to do a deal and must face a host of equally rough-and-tumble archetypes along the way.

Powerfully cinematic with its style and approach, this music video boasts a high production value and strong artistic license. Laced with nuance, it is worth watching twice to catch the small details that pull the piece together. As with many music videos, the cinematic story itself is highly dependant on the musical component, but the visual work in BE THE ONE compliments the musical score extremely well.  A strong, emotional musical piece paired with strong emotional visuals makes a powerful experimental film that is satisfying on many levels. A rollercoaster joy ride of bad-boy wish-fulfillment, BE THE ONE is an escapist fantasy.  

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

BE THE ONE, 5min., Switzerland, Crime/Music Video
Directed by Remo Fritzsche Two charismatic robbers face a variety of strong stereotypes and a major twist while attempting to obtain a mysterious bag from their adversaries.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!
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Film Review: DEAR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, UK, Documentary/War

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Riveting, impactful, emotional and honest, DEAR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY is hard-hitting and compelling look at the international crisis affected refugees in the middle east. Directed by filmmaker Henrik Friis, this film is a brave look at the front lines of the international conflict happening in our world.

In an age flooded with news and information, it is easy to get lost in the conflicts of others and it is hard to resist the urge to pull the blinds from conflicts that do not affect us. Until, that is, we realize that we are all connected.

A bold statement on poverty, humanity and staying awake and informed, DEAR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY is a call-to-action, and an appeal to lend out our hands to other humans in need. A strong piece to be seen, well done to Henrik Friis.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

DEAR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, 4min., UK, Documentary/War
Directed by Henrik Friis After travelling to the frontlines of Iraq and the border of Syria for the past several years documenting the war against ISIS, ‘Dear International Community’ is a short video documenting the hundreds of encounters we’ve had across Europe and Iraq.

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Film Review: OUR WONDERFUL NATURE, Germany, Animation

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Like staring at a big bowl of candy, this film offers joy, delight and enthusiasm. OUR WONDERFUL NATURE is a three minute German animation in a mock-documentary style about the ravenous and foolhardy cameleon.

Brimming with physical comedy, polished images and laugh-out-loud moments, OUR WONDERFUL NATURE is packed with lush humour and frame-by-frame comedy. A film to engage and delight every viewer, this piece is like eating a huge slice of cake! Thankfully for the viewer, our eyes aren’t going to be too big for our stomach- the same can’t be said for our dear Chameleon.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

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OUR WONDERFUL NATURE, 3min., Germany, Animation
Directed by Tomer EshedThe feeding habits of the common cameleon as never seen before.

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Film Review: THE WAVES, UK, Animation

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A bright and unique animation, this four minute UK film brought to us by director Oscar Lewis tells a deeply moving story. An artist retells his childhood memories through simple and vibrants animations- softened and slightly surreal, the way distant memories often feel. Poetic and interpretive in nature, the film appeals to a love of high contrast. On one hand, the bright, youthful images dance carefree in the minds of the viewers- on the other hand, the adult recounting these memories seems to hint at a darkness that lurks within him- sometime after these early memories, sometime before his current point.

Laced with occasionally ominous undertones, but still managing to captures the purity and innocence of youth THE WAVES is a love letter to childhood. It is a short film that carefully wraps up memory and tucks it safely away from the harsh realities of adulthood. A deep and compelling animated film.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

THE WAVES, 4min., UK, Animation
Directed by Oscar LewisAn artist returns to his work after suffering a mental breakdown.

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Film Review: 21ST CENTURY HERMIT, UK, Documentary

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The story of a woman who felt the calling to God since childhood, 21ST CENTURY HERMIT tells the true story of the life of one woman seeking solace and fulfillment through religious sacrifice. Following her through “a-day-in-the-life-of” format, we hear Sister Rachel Denton’s story and her vow to life as a religious hermit. This powerful three minute UK documentary directed by Neil Hall shows us that a happy life is not measured by materials, or conventional success- but measured by the fulfillment of the human heart. When Sister Rachel confesses her recent diagnosis with a terrifying illness, she sets out to make a proverbial bucket list- only to discover so many of her goals and dreams are already being accomplished.

For a film so short and simple, it is racked with depth and emotion. A heartfelt piece indeed.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

21ST CENTURY HERMIT, 3min., UK, Documentary 
Directed by Neil HallSister Rachel Denton has vowed to spend the rest of her life living as a consecrated hermit in the Catholic faith. A hermit is a person who chooses to live alone, with the intention of finding God. Rarely leaving her house, she lives a life of prayer and solitude. However, she uses the internet and social media to share her experience and distance herself from physically interacting with society.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: HONEYMOON, Switzerland, Romance

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A simple, sweet and heartwarming three-minute comedy coming from Switzerland by director Anaelle Morf, HONEYMOON is about a middle aged man and woman who meet at a bar. Over drinks, dancing and flirting the two rush off to find a quiet place to get some more personal time together. When they finally stumble home, slightly drunkenly, it is revealed they are not having a one-night stand. They are a married couple trying to add some spark to their marriage.

While the story may have been seen before, this film carries its own special type f  heartwarming quality. As our couple get interrupted from their evening of fun by the appearance of their child running into the living room- we do not get a sense that their stale marriage is on the rocks. What we feel instead, is that this date night was an attempt at a romantic adventure- but not an adventure they really needed to take. Who needs to pretend to be someone else, when they are happy with who they are? Getting interrupted from their fantasy wasn’t a evening ruined- it was a reminder that they’ve already built a life they don’t need a vacation from.

Romance is not only for the young and single. Romance exists, and lives well, in anyone who loves. And love knows no age. Well done, HONEYMOON, well done.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

HONEYMOON, 3min., Switzerland, Romance 
Directed by Anaelle MorfA man and a woman meet in a bar for the first time.

CLICK HERE – and see full info and more pics of the film!

Film Review: STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY, Germany, Experimental

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An inversion on the classic “millenials are addicted to their phone” cliche, STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY turns the trope on its head and tells the story of a young German girl going on vacation to Toronto with her father. But the vacation is soured by her father’s inability to look away from his phone.

A humorous bit of social commentary, STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY breaks open and examines are dependency on technology, while also making statements about  some of the social constructs and assumptions we walk around with everyday. Our heroine is quirky and loveable, her wit and charm are infectiously entertaining. The film’s style makes a thought-provoking and slightly absurdist comedy that the whole family can enjoy. Well done, director Garmamine Sideau!

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

STUPID SMARTPHONE THERAPY, 4min., Germany, Experimental
Directed by Garmamie SideauThe social impacts of various technological innovations are redefining the role of human relationships and communication in a growing globally connected and diverse digital world. Meet Serena, a biracial German teenager on a dream vacation to Canada with Henok, her smartphone addicted workaholic father. Serena’s dream vacation is quickly tuned into a puzzling and challenging nightmare of personal conflicts involving smartphones, identity, belonging and jiujitsu.

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Film Review: CITY OF MY HEART, Greece, Documentary 

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A kaleidoscope of moments, images, faces and colours that encapsulate the bright, vibrant and diverse city of Madrid, CITY OF MY HEART is a four minute film that throws us into another world. This pulsating and energizing film from director Kostas Petsas, takes the viewers through a city through a series of quick vignettes.  

What is most charming about CITY OF MY HEART, is how deeply it pulls the viewer in. From first to final frame, your eyes are glued to the screen, engulfed in the vivid and intoxicating exotic world. A love letter to a rich world full of life and culture, CITY OF MY HEART will make you want to instantly book a plane ticket to this beautiful place.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

CITY OF MY HEART, 4min., Greece, Documentary 
Directed by Kostas PetsasA personal glimpse into Madrid, an experimental urban cityscape, an ode to life through a dance.

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Film Review: THE FLOW, Belgium, Adventure

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THE FLOW a sharp, poignant and beautifully sweeping film coming from Belgium tells the story of a young man whose car breaks down in the middle of a deserted road. Under director Jelle Bleyenbregh, this film has an awe-inspiring quality to it, full to bursting with cinematic moments.

The film has no dialogue, but no lack of story. In a slender three minutes our hero hits his major conflict with his car and must face the great wild elements to get to civilization. But what starts out as working against the elements turns into a journey of finding harmony within them.

A gorgeous film with incredible music and wonderful composition, it encapsulates the reminder that in the vast scheme of things, we are all very small. But it is deeper than that- THE FLOW is a story about how, sometimes we must get lost to find ourselves.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

THE FLOW, 3min., Belgium, Adventure
Directed by Jelle BleyenberghWhen the car of a young man breaks down, his feet take him on a journey that might surpass his destination.

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Film Review: MAMMA, Italy, Crime/Thriller

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MAMMA, a frighteningly real and terrifyingly visceral Italian film from director Gonzalo Coteio, tells the story of woman in a shop who falls victim to a robbing. The result is a strong and horrifying scene of a woman caught in a dangerous life-threatening situation with no knowledge of what is going on or how she can save herself.

There is a clear stylistic choice in this film to not use subtitles for the communication between the assailants. While it may strike some viewers as difficult- the choice is a brilliant one. It creates a hyper-real sense of terror and confusion and makes the viewer relate to the woman being attacked. She can’t understand the language of the assailants, so neither can the viewers. The result is to be utterly entrenched in the scene, and to be forced to face the harsh fear of the situation along with our heroine, not outside of it as an external viewer.

The twist in MAMMA is buried in the title, but there is humanity to be found in even the most horrible situations. For reasons we don’t find out until the end of the piece, our heroine in spared certain death. To find out though, you must watch the wild and intense ride that is MAMMA.

Review by Kierston Drier

PLAYED at the January 2018 EUROPEAN Film Festival.

WATCH the Audience FEEDBACK Video:

MAMMA, 5min., Italy, Crime/Thriller
Directed by Gonzalo Cotelo A young woman finds herself trapped in the middle of a gang turf war when she witnesses a cold blooded murder.

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