First Annual
The World According to Shorts
July 24–25, 2000 at BAMcinématek, Brooklyn, NY
Films from Scotland, Canada, France, South Africa, Macedonia, Belgium, Portugal, South Korea, Poland, and Germany. Curated by Jonathan Howell
Program One
Somersault
David Mackenzie, Scotland, 14 min N.Y. Premiere. When a young gymnast tries to become friends with the cool crowd at school, her mother keeps getting in the way. (Edinburgh International Film Festival Short Film Section, Best of the Fest; Worldfest Houston, Audience Award; Flickerfest Australia, Jury Prize; Dresden International, 2nd Prize)
Cascadia
Brian Johnson, Canada, 15 min U.S. Premiere.
An undercurrent of paranoia permeates this tale of an office worker who finds solace in the routines of his mundane life, and the series of petty subversive acts he perpetrates—until the establishment reacts.
L'Origine de la tendresse
Alain-Paul Mallard, France, 33 min U.S. Premiere.
Nothing really happens in the life of Elise, a quiet and solitary woman who works as a museum attendant. And in a life in which nothing happens, no moment is devoid of meaning.
Portrait of a Young Man Drowning
Teboho Mahlatsi, South Africa, 11 min.
In the tough urban landscape of a South African township, "Shadow," a notorious young killer in search of redemption from his violent past, decides to go to the funeral of his most recent victim. (Venice International Film Festival 1999, Silver Lion for Best Short Film; Toronto International Film Festival 1999, Black Reel Award)
The Meadow (Poetot odmara)
Mitko Panove, Macedonia, 20 min U.S. Premiere.
The clash of ancient and modern ways of life is at the heart of this story about the unusual relationship between an old Muslim farmer and his neighbor, a doctor. (Clermont-Ferrand Festival du Court Métrage, Prix de la Meilleure Création Sonore)
Black XXX-Mas
Pieter Van Hees, Belgium, 11 min N.Y. Premiere.
In this late 20th century mega-city ghetto version of "Little Red Riding Hood," there are no good guys and bad guys—just bad guys and guys that are worse. (Leuven Short Film Festival, Belgium, Audience Award; Brussels International Film Festival, Canal+ Award; Festival du Film Court de Lille, France, Prix TPS Cinema; Worldfest Houston, Special Jury Award)
Program Two
The Sink (O Ralo)
Tiago Guedes & Frederico Serra, Portugal, 1999, 17 min U.S. Premiere.
A plumber with a sexy client finds his fantasies coming true, until an abrupt turn of events sends him spiraling into his worst nightmare. Filled with Tarantino-esque situations and black humor, The Sink perfectly illustrates the notion that "hope never dies."
Travelinckx
Bouli Lanners, Belgium, 17 min U.S. Premiere.
When a hypochondriac manic-depressive who thinks he is near death decides to make a film diary for his estranged father, his reveries are interrupted by the escape from jail of Marc Dutroux, public enemy number one.
The Refrigerator (NaengJangGo)
Young-Seok Ahn, South Korea, 29 min U.S. Premiere.
In the '70s, on a hillside neighborhood in Seoul, the drudgery of the Yongsu family's hand-to-mouth existence is transformed when they come into possession of a refrigerator.
Kuproquo
Jean-François Rivard, Canada, 13 min U.S. Premiere.
A child asks his parents an embarrassing question during dinner in this raucously entertaining deconstruction of a familiar awkward situation.
Claire
Bogumil Godfrejow & Michal Fazlejew, Poland, 9 min U.S. Premiere.
In an airtight, coolly technological world, a love triangle of sorts develops between two scientists and the subject of their study.
The Periwig-Maker
Steffen Schäffler, Germany, 15 min N.Y. Premiere. A man seals himself off in medieval plague-infested London to escape the danger of infection and has his life turned upside down when a little girl seeks his help. This tour-de-force of puppet animation is based on Daniel Defoe's Journal of the Plague Year and features the voice of Kenneth Branagh. (Wiesbaden, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau Shortfilm Award 1999 & Prädikat 'Besonders Wertvoll'; Fantasporto, Best Short Film & Onda Curta Award; Aspen Shortsfest, Special Recognition for Excellence; WorldFest-Houston, Gold Award in Short Subject Animated Division)