Aspen Shortsfest

80 short films are set for the Oscar-qualifying 30th annual Aspen Shortsfest taking place online from April 6 to 11, 2021. The titles include “David,” starring Will Ferrell in a short written and directed by “Silicon Valley” alum Zachary Woods; “Roborovski,” starring Dylan McDermott and co-directed by Oscar-nominated actor Dev Patel; “Silverstone” directed by and starring “Ray Donovan” actor Kerris Dorsey; and “The Price of Cheap Rent” starring “Daily Show” alum Wyatt Cenac.

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Aspen Film announced the program for the 29th Annual Aspen Shortsfest, an Oscar®-qualifying film festival that showcases the best in short form cinema from around the world. The six-day event takes place at Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House from March 31-April 5, 2020 and at Carbondale’s Crystal Theatre from April 3-5, 2020.

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A TROPICAL SUNDAY, directed by Fabian Ribezzo

Aspen Shortsfest 2014 was held April 8-13, and over 40 filmmakers from around the world plus other special guests attended. A TROPICAL SUNDAY, directed by Fabian Ribezzo, about four begging and scavenging street kids at a Mozambique amusement park,  won the award for Best Drama, and director Tomasz Sliwinski’s  documentary OUR CURSE, on what it’s like to be the young parents of a critically ill infant, won the award for Best Documentary.

 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION JURY AWARDS

The 2014 International Competition jury:
Denver Post film and theater critic Lisa Kennedy and screenwriters Peter Blake, Craig Borten and David Pollock. Their awards recognize creative excellence and honor films they found to be the most accomplished in storytelling and distinctive in cinematic voice. 
* = Academy Award® qualifying category 

BEST ANIMATION* $2,500
ME + HER
(Joseph Oxford, USA)
A tale of grief that is nearly as tender as it is inventive. It’s about the life and love of cardboard boxes but there’s nothing recycled in this puppetry gem. 

http://youtu.be/BgZE6mGkzwU

 

BEST COMEDY* $2,500
THE KÁRMÁN LINE
(Oscar Sharp, UK)
What begins as a raucous and absurdist story of a woman who starts levitating turns into a moving meditation on loss and transcendence. 

BEST DOCUMENTARY* $2,500
OUR CURSE
(Tomasz Sliwinski, Poland)
Director Tomasz Sliwinski shares an intimate, at times brutal, always compassionate, sense of what it’s like to be the young parents of a critically ill infant. 

http://youtu.be/MPtKvZy5Pjk

 

BEST DRAMA* $2,500
A TROPICAL SUNDAY
(Fabian Ribezzo, Mozambique)
An engaging portrait of four begging and scavenging street kids at a Mozambique amusement park. 

http://youtu.be/T0JqaBaBHlc

 

BEST STUDENT FILM $2,000
Sponsored by KQED
SPROUT
(Ga-eun Yoon, South Korea)
Lost on an errand in a South Korean city, 7-year-old Bory takes us on an adventure in humanity, touching us in a most endearing way. 

http://youtu.be/0RY9M97O8uQ

 

BEST SHORT SHORT* $1,000
THE GALLANT CAPTAIN
(Katrina Mathers + Graeme Base, Australia)
In just a few minutes of technically brilliant animation, this tells a funny and moving story about friendship and acceptance. 

http://youtu.be/5gEALeFbLxI

 

SPECIAL JURY RECOGNITION 

THE APOTHECARY (Helen Hood Scheer, USA) 

THE BRUNCHERS (Matt Winn, UK) 

LAMBING SEASON (Jeannie Donohoe, USA) 

THE LION’S MOUTH OPENS (Lucy Walker, USA) 

MR. INVISIBLE (Greg Ash, UK) 

AWARDS DETERMINED BY OTHER JURIES 

AUDIENCE AWARD $500 

PONY PLACE
(Joost Reijmers, The Netherlands) 

AUDIENCE SPECIAL RECOGNITION 

THE APOTHECARY
(Helen Hood Scheer, USA) 

MR. INVISIBLE
(Greg Ash, UK) 

THE PHONE CALL
(Mat Kirkby, UK) 

UGGS FOR GAZA
(Brooke Berman, USA) 

THE ELLEN $2,500 

THE KÁRMÁN LINE
(Oscar Sharp, UK)
There are many insightful life metaphors in this year’s winner. On some levels the film can be seen as a comedy – because it is indeed witty and full of the unexpected – but it is ultimately profound and tender. It touches our emotions, all of them, from anger to sadness to love, and it leaves us deeply moved. 

YOUTH JURY PRIZE $500 

THE PHONE CALL
(Mat Kirkby, UK)
The film we have chosen concerns a subject that has touched many people in our valley, as well as the world. This short changed our perspective on the subject of suicide. It offered an insight into the mental state of someone taking his or her own life. We would recommend that this film be shown at high schools in our valley. Teens are one of the groups most affected by this terrible issue. We would like to thank the filmmakers for broaching an extremely difficult topic with such grace. 

ABOUT THE OTHER JURIES 

THE ELLEN AWARD Established to honor Aspen Film Founder, Ellen Hunt, this 17th annual award recognizes originality in film. 

YOUTH JURY PRIZE For the 16th year, local high school students honor a film that opens a window on their understanding of the world in important, unexpected ways. 

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