Ten short films have been selected as finalists for the Juried Short Film competition at the 2019 Martha’s Vineyard International Film Festival. More than 350 entries from 25 countries were submitted for review. To be eligible, the films must have been completed within the past year and under 20 minutes in length.
All ten films will be screened the night of Saturday, September 7, at the Capawock Theater. At the conclusion of the shorts program, a panel of judges will announce the winning film. A cash prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the winning filmmaker(s). Additionally, the winning film will be shown again on Sunday, September 8, prior to the Closing Night program at the Film Center.
Ben, Frankly
Directed by Ahmet Tan (Germany) Time: 8:45 minutes
Harrison, a college professor, loves history and today he gets the chance to pitch his film idea: “The life of Benjamin Franklin” to a producer. Caesar, the producer, however, is not impressed. He points out giant plot holes and is about to lose faith when Harrison comes up with the idea that keeps him in the room and gets them both bitten by the movie making bug.
Pretty Dead
Directed by Inga Moren Tapias (USA)
Time: 8:14 minutes
Pretty Dead is a Mockumentary about what it takes to be a successful actress in New York City. It follows seasoned corpse actress Carol Mortimer, as she teaches eager pupils how to live one heartbeat from stardom, and eagerly awaits news on the latest dead role of a lifetime.
A Shadow Of Himself
Directed by Steven Ada (France)
Time: (3:15)
A touching story of an ordinary man for who the destiny of life has turn to an unfortunate and sad way.
Nurtured
Directed by Ben Pearce (United Kingdom)
Time: 13:59 minutes
A sibling relationship is irrevocably altered during the course of one night on the back of a stolen rickshaw.
Being
Directed by Cathleen Dean (USA)
Time: 9:11 minutes
During his monthly therapy session, our protagonist, unnamed like many of his kind, recounts and relives a terrifyingly traumatic moment in his life. After many silent sessions, he finally opens up about a moment in his life that has helped shape his worldview: an encounter he had with the police his way back to his college campus.
Helen
Directed by Ji Hyun Kim (USA)
Time: 14:55 minutes
Almost single-handedly raised by his nanny Helen, young Kevin is eventually forced to face the harsh truth about their close connection.
Quiet Carriage
Directed by Ben S. Hyland (United Kingdom)
Time: 5:28 minutes
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
Judas Collar
Directed by Alison James (Australia)
Time: 15:00 minutes
In outback Australia a wild camel is captured and fitted with a tracking device known as a Judas Collar. Based on a real life practice, Judas Collar is a scripted, no-dialogue, live action short that explores the story of a camel used to betray her kind.
Danny’s Super 8
Directed by Colin Russell and Alec Rodriques (USA)
Time: 4:00 minutes
A look into the work of underground filmmaker Danny Plotnick and his love for Super-8 film.