Short Film

Electroshock

Re-animating the thrill of old-school comic books and pulp adventure comes Electroshock, a spell-binding superhero parody created by Hugo Jackson, Pascal Chandelier, Valentin Michel, Bastien Mortelecque and Elliot Maren of ESMA (Ecole Sup�rieure des M�tiers Artistiques). The story revolves around Buck, a lovable loser who after an electrical shock discovers the ability to 'slow-down' time. With his newly found power, he poses as a superhero trying to impress the girl of his dreams.

That’s Magic!

Brilliant as always, Whitestone Motion Pictures once again dazzles our eyes with That's Magic! This 14-minute musical revolves around a disenchanted magician who comes face to face with his own self doubt about magic in the world. A mysterious woman enters revealing the true meaning of magic, far from what the magician had originally conceived. This musical offers an antidote to its garish mainstream counterparts. The story is cleverly penned, it's concise but still captures the soul message of the short--that there's magic around us.

The Notorious Newman Brothers

Sometimes it's the no-budget films that are more funny and striking compared to the blockbusters that Hollywood has to offer. The Notorious Newman Brothers is one of these films. It's a dark comedy/mocumentary that departs from typical mobster films. The film was created by Substance Production, the same group behind the "anti-romantic comedy," Confusions of an Unmarried Couple. It follows the story of an aspiring filmmaker named Max, who ends up working with two 'mobsters' as the subject of his documentary.

Jack and the Dustbowl

Tired of the same old shows? Jack and the Dustbowl will not disappoint those who are looking for a good movie fix. Written and directed by Brandon McCormick, it tells the story of Jack Spriggs, a poor farmer from Alabama who intends to keep his family's land. Even during the time of the great depression and record heat waves, Jack refuses to leave and instead tries to dig for hope.

The Killing Joke

Blow your socks off with the suspense fiction The Killing Joke. Directed by Sebastian Lopez, this 15-minute film centers around a mysterious woman who discovers a red balloon in an almost-deserted street, and by a twist of fate finds herself facing her biggest fear. It stars Gustavo Marzo and Clarissa Staracci. The movie pays homage to the seventies horror era by using classic elements of suspense. I liked how the transitions of sequences are flawless; you could really see that the team behind this worked extra hard. Every detail was not missed, from the empty bullets, the pulling trigger to the grand ending.

Mr. Morris Lessmore: The Fantastic Flying Books

Perfectly blending heart and humor, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore offers a one-of-a-kind heartwarming experience. This animated short was crafted by the talented hands of illustrator William Joyce and co-director Brandon Oldenburg under Moonboot Studios. It has already scored prestigious awards such as the Best Animated Short (Cinequest Film Fest), Audience Favorite Award (Palm Springs International Shortfest), Best Show (SIGGRAPH) and a nomination for Outstanding Film Achievements of 2011 in the 84th Academy Awards.

E-lectricity by Miklas Manneke

E-lectricity directed by Miklas Manneke is a quirky short film taking place in a Monahanong, a small township on the outskirts of Johannesburg, South Africa. It is there where a shortage of paraffin is threatening the town with a complete darkness; if no one will come up with a great new invention that will brighten up any night, that is. The film is filled with bright colors that take over the village, more than just lovely narration, and great camera work.

Swing of Change

In need of a good animated treat? Swing of Change is exactly what you need than, something that won’t disappear on you even after the credits end. This 3D animated short was originally a graduation project for ESMA (école supérieure des metiers artistique, in Montpellier, France) by Harmony Bouchard, Andy Le Cocq, Joakim Riedinger and Raphael Cenzi, but has since than turned into a masterpiece seen by thousands.

The Employment (El Empleo)

The Employment (El Empleo) goes to a deeper level when it comes to the meaning of the human workforce. Directed by Santiago Grasso and written by Patricio Plaza, this brilliant five-minute animation produced by Opusbou Animations had already garnered 100 international awards and participated in 190 film festivals. It tells the story of a nameless working man performing his usual journey to work set in a bizarre world where human beings are used as inanimate objects. This simple yet strong representation convey the tedious nature of each job and how we utilize man power in the modern era.