Short Film

Mortys

Mortys is a lovely short story about a little boy desperately looking to spend some quality time with his overworked mother. Growing up in the 21st century is not an easy feat for any young man; now add the fact that your mother is Death herself and you are faced with an entirely new set of family complications. With it's superb editing, stunning visuals, and some wonderful music compositions, it than comes with no surprise that today's animation has already traveled to and won awards at numerous festivals across Europe.

Ten for Grandpa

"One Man, Two Superpowers, Three Ex-wives, Four Autopsies" is a tag line that is often used to describe Ten for Grandpa, a short film from the director Doug Karr and his team. Released in January of 2009, the short has already captured hearts of critics, appearing in countless film festivals across the country, including the Sundance Film Festival, and winning multiple awards such as the Special Jury Recognition Award at the Aspen Shortfest. If what you are looking for is slick, fast-paced short film with great storyline and superb editing this one is definitely for you.

The Bridge (2008)

Directed by Sheldon Wong Shwartz, The Bridge is a captivating short film about the race and an ideal, about loyalty and a cause. The story takes us to 1945 Italy where deep inside the enemy territory, the Japanese-American soldier disconnected from his regiment regroups with an Allied American squad. As he joins the unit, however, not everyone is as welcoming given the tensions between Japan and US that followed the attack on Pear Harbor just few years earlier. Yet despite the differences the film sets on a mission to remind all of us that we are all one, we are all the same. In the words of Ronald Regan: the "blood that has soaked into the sands of a beach is all one color".

Sebastian’s Voodoo (2008)

There might be no dialog and the film might only be 4 minutes long, but you will be astound at just how much tension and action can build up in those very 4 minutes. Sebastian's Voodoo, first released in June of 2008, is a wonderfully crafted animation from Joaquin Baldwin and provides an excellent example of just how CGI has improved in the last decade. But outside of the magical graphics the true selling point of the animation is its story in which a voodoo doll must find the courage to save all of his friends from being pinned to death by the voodoo Priest.

Blood On My Name (2011)

I have written about work of the team from the Whitestone Motion Pictures before, and I am pretty sure I will write about them again... and again. The reason? They create some of the most outstanding and visually stimulating short films I have seen coming from boutique film company. Their latest creation, Blood On My Name, is a masterfully crafted dramatic western, centered on the theme of forgiveness and redemption, with just a touch of singing that will surely generate some unexpected goosebumps.

Outliers

Outliers, starring Mendy St. Ours as a lone woman who all of the sudden finds herself in a chaos of a city besieged by what seems to be a lethal virus, is a spectacular nine-minute long action filled drama with even more amazing twisted ending. First released as a part of the 48HR Film Festival and finding its way as an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010, the short is undoubtedly one of the best produced, polished, and original works I have seen in a while; something that should take on even greater meaning as it was done in less than 48 hours. So if you enjoyed the 'end of the world' productions from the past and the many elements of surprise in hits such as The Truman Show be sure to give Outliers well, at least, a glimpse.

Bobby Watkins

Do you like birthdays? Did you ever wondered what it would be like to have them every single day; to get all the presents, eat the best cake, and have fun with your friends? Wouldn't it be nice. Bobby Watkins is a short film/fairytale about a young boy who wants everyday to be his birthday. And so to make his very wish come true, Bobby heads downstairs at night and fixes his mother's day planner, crossing out all the holidays and making every day his own. But what he soon realizes is that it is tough to get exactly what you want. Birthdays might be fun, even more than one at a time, but after having the cake each and single day, at the end you end up craving something else.

Avatar Days

Avatar Days is a shy of four minutes film directed by Gavin Kelly from Piranha Bar, post production and animation boutique. Shot and edited in only four... Read More

Ataque de Pánico! (Panic Attack!) [2009]

It's amazing what you can do with $300, cool web and computer programs, and love for giant robots. Ataque de Panico! (Panic Attack!) is one potential result if you had all of the above, plus lots of talent. This short film is absolutely awesome, to say the least. Visually, it is arresting. Making even Optimus Prime a bit jealous for not getting this treatment. For a super short film, it packs in a lot of action; blown up buildings, people running around screaming, rockets launching, oh, and did I mention giant robots?