Short Films

  • World Premiere of COUSIN, COUSINE An Unreleased Short by French Filmmaker Jean Rouch Added to Venice Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_23855" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Jean Rouch Jean Rouch[/caption] For the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of the great French director and ethnographer Jean Rouch, the Venice Film Festival adds to its line-up the world-premiere screening of Cousin, cousine (1985-1987, 31′, color), the only film that Rouch made in Venice, the very unusual and previously unreleased short film, with Damouré Zika and Mariama Hima (Venice Classics). Cousin, cousine has been fully restored by the French CNC (Centre national du cinéma e de l’image animée) in collaboration with the Fondation Jean Rouch and the Association Centenaire Jean Rouch 2017. Cousin, cousine is a “caprice” invented in Venice by Jean Rouch and by his two friends and performers, Nigerian actor Damouré Zika and Nigerian filmmaker Mariama Hima, who came to the Venice Film Festival in 1985 to present Mariama Hima’s film Baabu Banza in the “Venezia Genti” section, where it won an award. On that occasion, they decided to make a film fantasy built around a painting by Gentile Bellini and several locations and stories within the city. The plot has Mariama and Damouré, two cousins, meeting in Venice to look for a long-lost relic, like in one of Gentile Bellini’s most famous paintings. Mariama thus introduces Damouré to the city, taking him to a “squero”, a boatyard where he can study how gondolas are made (which is very different from building pirogues). Cousin, cousine will screen at the 74th Venice Film Festival in the Venice Classics section, following the documentary L’Enigma di Jean Rouch a Torino – Cronaca di un film raté by Marco di Castri, Paolo Favaro and Daniele Pianciola. Jean Rouch (1917-2004), a French ethnographer and director, made over 180 films (some unfinished), along with a great number of photographs, sound recordings and writings of various kinds. He founded important centres and institutions such as the Comité du film ethnographique and events such as the Cinéma du Réel festival. He taught, defended and promoted ethnographic and documentary filmmaking, and visual anthropology.

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  • Toronto International Film Festival Unveils 35 International Titles on 2017 Short Cuts Program

    [caption id="attachment_23404" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]The Death, Dad & Son The Death, Dad & Son[/caption] The Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled the 35 exceptional short films that make up the International portion of the 2017 Short Cuts program. A lineup that stands out for its diversity of voices and backgrounds, the International selection for 2017 includes works from over 30 countries in 16 different languages, with a strong presence from the Middle East and South America. Of the 35 selected films, 17 were directed by women. The International lineup also includes seven stunning short animations, including Niki Lindroth von Bahr’s The Burden (Min börda), winner of the Cristal for a Short Film award at the 2017 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, and The Death, Dad & Son by Denis Walgenwitz and Winshluss, the renowned French comic book artist whose film credits include co-writing and co-directing the Oscar-nominated Persepolis (07). Another well-known name featured in the lineup is Justine Bateman; the former Family Ties star’s short film directorial debut, FIVE MINUTES, will be premiering at the Festival. Program highlights also include Ifunanya Maduka’s heartbreaking Waiting for Hassana, which shares a brave teenager’s devastating account of the 2014 Boko Haram kidnapping; Mahdi Fleifel’s A Drowning Man, the dramatic story of a young immigrant trying to survive in a new and strange city; and Yang Qiu’s A Gentle Night (Xiao Cheng Er Yue), which will be screening fresh off its Short Film Palme d’Or win at Cannes. Films in the Short Cuts program are eligible for the IWC Short Cuts Award for Best Film. This year’s jury includes Marit van den Elshout, Head of CineMart at the International Film Festival Rotterdam; TIFF 2016 City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film winner Johnny Ma (Old Stone); and Cannes 2017 Art Cinema Award winner Chloé Zhao (The Rider). The 42nd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 to 17, 2017. International titles screening as part of the Short Cuts program include: Airport Michaela Müller, Switzerland/Croatia North American Premiere Blue Christmas Charlotte Wells, UK/USA World Premiere Bonboné Rakan Mayasi, Palestine/Lebanon World Premiere The Burden (Min börda) Niki Lindroth von Bahr, Sweden North American Premiere Catastrophe Jamille van Wijngaarden, Netherlands International Premiere Damiana Andrés Ramírez Pulido, Colombia/Brazil North American Premiere The Death, Dad & Son (La Mort, Père & Fils) Winshluss, Denis Walgenwitz, France International Premiere Drop by Drop (Água Mole) Xá, Laura Gonçalves, Portugal North American Premiere A Drowning Man Mahdi Fleifel, Denmark/Greece/UK North American Premiere Everlasting MOM (Ima Lanetzah) Elinor Nechemya, Israel International Premiere Fifteen (Khamastashar) Sameh Alaa, Egypt World Premiere FIVE MINUTES Justine Bateman, USA World Premiere A Gentle Night (Xiao Cheng Er Yue) Yang Qiu, China Canadian Premiere I Didn’t Shoot Jesse James (Je n’ai pas tué Jesse James) Sophie Beaulieu, France North American Premiere Jodilerks Dela Cruz, Employee of the Month Carlo Francisco Manatad, Philippines/Singapore North American Premiere Long Distance Relationship (Namoro À Distância) Carolina Markowicz, Brazil World Premiere Lower Heaven Emad Aleebrahim Dehkordi, France/Iran International Premiere Magic Moments Martina Buchelová, Slovakia World Premiere Marlon Jessica Palud, France/Belgium North American Premiere Möbius Sam Kuhn, Canada/USA North American Premiere Mon amour mon ami Adriano Valerio, Italy/France International Premiere Mother (Madre) Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Spain International Premiere Preparation (Proetimasia) Sofia Georgovassili, Greece World Premiere The President’s Visit Cyril Aris, Lebanon/Qatar/USA World Premiere Push It Julia Thelin, Sweden North American Premiere Roadside Attraction Patrick Bresnan, Ivete Lucas, USA World Premiere Shinaab Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr, USA International Premiere SIGNATURE Kei Chikaura, Japan North American Premiere Still Water Runs Deep Abbesi Akhamie, USA/Nigeria World Premiere Together Alone (Nosotros solos) Mateo Bendesky, Argentina International Premiere Treehouse (La casa del árbol) Juan Sebastián Quebrada, Colombia/France World Premiere Waiting Amberley Jo Aumua, New Zealand International Premiere Waiting for Hassana Ifunanya Maduka, Nigeria Canadian Premiere We Love Moses Dionne Edwards, UK Canadian Premiere WICKED GIRL (KÖTÜ KIZ) Ayce Kartal, France/Turkey North American Premiere

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  • 16 Short Films and Webisodes Selected as Semi-Finalists for 2017 NBCUniversal Short Film Festival

    NBCUniversal Short Film Festival 16 original short films and webisodes have been selected as semi-finalists for the 12th annual NBCUniversal Short Film Festival.   The webisodes and shorts, which include a mix of comedies and dramas, will be showcased at public screenings in New York on August 15 and 16 before the finalists are chosen. The finale screening and awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on October 18 at the Directors Guild of America. The complete list of semi-finalists are: Akashi, Writer & Director: Mayumi Yoshida Kana, a young Japanese woman, receives news that her grandmother has passed away. During her trip to attend the funeral, she recalls intimate conversations with her grandmother that lead her to examine her own life. Audible Static, Writer & Director: Sai Selvarajan Thaddeus, a clever teenager with a speech impediment, creates a new way to communicate his feelings to his crush. Brothers, Writer & Director: Emmett Lundberg Four transgender male friends explore life and love in Brooklyn. This episode of the web series focuses on Max as he opens up to his new girlfriend that he is transgender. Couples: Movie Night, Director: Ryan Sulak, Writer: Chris Sturgeon A quiet night-in for couple, Sara and Adam, turns into an epic thrill-ride to find the perfect movie in a race against time before Sara falls asleep. Cul-De-Sac, Director: Damon Russell, Writer: Shawn Christensen Parents living at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac discover a listening device inside their son’s teddy bear. The film stars Phoebe Tonkin (The Originals, The Vampire Diaries). Emergency, Director: Carey Williams, Writer: K.D Davila A group of Black and Latino college students carefully weigh the pros and cons of calling the police when faced with an emergency situation. Groundhog Day For A Black Man, Writer & Director: Cynthia Kao A Black man continually relives the same day until he can survive an encounter with the police. Joy Joy Nails, Writer & Director: Joey Ally Sarah manages a Korean-owned nail salon with an ever cheerful iron fist. New manicurist Mia, who is Chinese, starts working at the salon and attracts the affections of Sarah’s love interest. Threatened, Sarah becomes increasingly antagonistic toward Mia and later discover truths about herself and Joy Joy Nails. Lost Dogs, Director: Cullan Bruce, Writers: Cullan Bruce and Chris Lee A woman ridiculed by her family longs to escape. Striking a deal with her brother to clear his illegal debt, she delves deeper into darkness. Madaran, Writer & Director: Rayka Zehtabchi An Iranian mother decides whether to end or spare the life of her son’s killer. Misery Loves Company 1: “Pussy,” Director: Gloria Calderon Kellett, Writers: Sara Amini and Emily Chang Misery Loves Company 3: “Racist,” Director: Nadine Truong, Writers: Sara Amini and Emily Chang Two friends navigate being women of color in a post-election world, while trying (and failing) at a #blessedlife in LA. In this episode, Sara and Emily deal with cat-callers on the street. Mr. & Mrs. Kim, Director: Jaehuen Chung, Writer: Josh Aichenbaum Joshua Kim makes up a glamorous story about his Korean immigrants parents for his fourth grade class. He later discovers that their real-life backstory is more extraordinary than what he could have ever imagined. Mrs. Drake, Director: Caitlin FitzGerald, Writer: Kyle Warren Laura is a single mother struggling to raise her son Jack. She is thrown into a spiral of confusion and guilt when Jack comes home from school claiming his teacher locked him in a closet. Night Call, Director: Amanda Renee Knox, Writer: Joseph Sousa During a routine patrol, a Black female cop (Marlyne Barrett, Chicago Med) is called to a disturbance that leads to her making a life-altering decision. Pop Rox, Director: Nate Trinru, Writer: Alyssa Lerner Jesse, an Iranian-American teenage girl, decides to tell her best friend, Roxanne, that she’s in love with her.

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  • 2017 HollyShorts Film Festival Unveils Competition Short Films Lineup

    [caption id="attachment_11940" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Super Sex Super Sex[/caption] The Academy Awards® qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival unveiled today it’s official lineup of in-competition short films for the upcoming 13th edition of the festival.  HollyShorts, which is LA’s biggest shorts film festival takes place August 10 to 19 at the TCL Chinese Theater, Roosevelt Hotel, Harmony Gold Theater and other venues throughout Hollywood. This year’s festival received an all time record of 4,000 submissions from 65 countries. 400 shorts will compete for the Best Short Film Prize and Grand Jury Prize, Best Director among other top categories. 2017 HollyShorts official selections include: Walking Dead’s Emma Bell’s Directorial debut horror short Scratch; Matthew Modine’s comedy Super Sex starring his daughter Ruby Modine, Kevin Nealon, Elizabeth Perkins, Ed Asner and Efren Ramirez; John Stamos’s short Ingenue-ish; Julia Barnett’s Chasing Grace Produced by Connie Britton starring Christopher Backus, and Lydia Tracy; Joshua Shultz’s Strobe starring Sammi Hanratty; Brett Gursky’s Graffiti starring Cassie Scerbo; Erin Elder’s Penny Sucker starring James Paxton; Russell Simpson’s Home starring Sharon Lawrence and Marianne Jean-Baptiste; Jack Henry Robbins Hot Winter: A Film By Dick Pierre; Bill Plympton’s animated short Cop Dog, Spike Lee’s Lil Joints $15 Dollar Kicks Directed by Jenn Shaw. Tye Sheridan and Nikola Todorovic co-founders of VR production company Aether will oversee the first-ever VR Experience at this year’s HollyShorts. As previously reported the festival will open with a special screening of Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece Full Metal Jacket on Thursday August 10 followed by a Q&A with Matthew Modine.

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  • 9 Short Films by Italian Directors in Venice Intl. Film Critics’ Week SIC@SIC Short Films Program

    [caption id="attachment_23224" align="aligncenter" width="1199"]The Last Miracle (L’ultimo miracolo) by Enrico Pau The Last Miracle (L’ultimo miracolo) by Enrico Pau[/caption] Nine short films by Italian directors, who have not yet directed a feature film, will have their world premiere at the 2nd SIC@SIC (Short Italian Cinema @ Settimana Internazionale della Critica). The short films program is part of the 32nd Venice International Film Critics’ Week, an independent and parallel section organized by the National Union of Italian Film Critics’ (SNCCI) during the 74th Venice International Film Festival (August 30 – September 9, 2017). After premiering in Venice, the short films presented at SIC@SIC will be promoted at an international level by the Department for International Promotion of Contemporary Cinema of the Istituto Luce-Cinecittà through a series of initiatives and festivals, such as, the Mostra de Cinema Italià de Barcelona (Short Films Competition section) programmed in Spain in December 2017. Furthermore, the short films will be made available for industry professionals through the online platforms Festival Scope Pro and Italian Short Film Video Library – a tool for the promotion of Italian short films realized by the Centro Nazionale del Cortometraggio (Italian Short Film Center) in collaboration with Istituto Luce-Cinecittà. Last but not least, at the end of November 2017 they will attend the TSFM – Torino Short Film Market, organized by the Italian Short Film Center. After screening at the first edition of SIC@SIC, the seven short films selected in 2016 have been traveling the world. In less than nine months, they have already attended almost fifty festivals and cinematic events, including, Film Festival Rotterdam, DocLisboa, BFI Flare, London LGBT Film Festival, Lima Independeiente – Festival Internacional de Cine, Lovers Film Festival – Torino LGBTQI Visions and Mostra Internazionale del Nuovo Cinema di Pesaro. Some of the directors of the “class” of 2016 are now working on their first feature film.

    SIC@SIC 2017 – THE LINEUP

    Adavede by Alain Parroni Due (Two) by Riccardo Giacconi Les fantômes de la veille (Ghosts of Yesterday) by Manuel BilliI l legionario (The Legionnaire) by Hleb Papou MalaMènti (MeanMinds) by Francesco Di Leva Piccole italiane (Little Italian Girls) by Letizia Lamartire Le visite (Visiting Day) by Elio Di Pace Special event – Opening short film Nausicaa – L’altra Odissea (Nausicaa – The Other Odyssey) by Bepi Vigna Special event – Closing short film L’ultimo miracolo (The Last Miracle) by Enrico Pau

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  • 25 Independent Short Films in 2017 PBS Online Film Festival

    [caption id="attachment_22934" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Black Hills Canyon Skating Black Hills Canyon Skating[/caption] The Webby Award-nominated PBS Online Film Festival will return for a sixth year July 17 – July 28, 2017, featuring 25 short-form independent films. Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite film to win the “Most Popular” award. And, for the first time ever, a panel of eight jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the “Juried Prize”. Short films featured in the PBS Online Film Festival include: CAAM “It Is What It Is” Digging deep into family history for answers to questions about his identity, Cyrus finds some things might be better off left in the past. Detroit Public TV WTVS “Periphery” A woman gets a new lease on life when she meets someone less fortunate. ITVS “Guns on Campus” Fifty years after the first recorded mass shooting in U.S. history took place at the University of Texas in Austin, a new “campus carry” law allows people to carry concealed handguns on all public university campuses in Texas. KLRU “The Secession” A story about two Texas boys, a secession, and egg rolls. “U R a Dial Tone” A sign language interpreter is emotionally and physically sucked into her clients’ lives. KTTZ “Lockbox” A girl receives a mysterious gift that will unravel secrets from the past. Latino Public Broadcasting “Amigas with Benefits” Amigas with Benefits is a short dramedy about an elderly bride-to-be who nearly has her wedding day ruined by an uninvited guest. Louisiana Public Broadcasting “Last Light” On the verge of her mother’s death, Addie returns home to shed light on her dark past. “Si” Si, a temperamental six-year-old, gets a goldfish after begging for a puppy. NALIP “Dad” In the course of a difficult day, Maria, a creative young girl, and her hardworking father must discover a way to mend love and memories while confronting loss. NBPC “Kojo” A short profile piece that showcases the charismatic and talented drummer Kojo Odu Roney. In this exclusive interview Kojo offers his thoughts on Jazz, being home-schooled, traveling and his biggest influence, his father Antoine Roney. “You Can Go” A high school administrator talks down a troubled student. PIC “Maria” When a family crisis strikes, an ailing Polynesian matriarch must find the strength to lead her family one last time. POV “Our Voices Are Rarely Heard” A visceral snapshot of how inmates survive solitary confinement. Reel South “A Thousand Midnights” Chronicles the contemporary manifestation of the economic and social histories of Black Americans who came to the north during the Great Migration in search of economic opportunities. The implications of their migration, and the lack of economic opportunity they encountered, has far reaching consequences for Black America today. South Dakota Public Broadcasting “Black Hills Canyon Skating” While the Black Hills of South Dakota may lack the elevation and snow that makes for skiing, they make up for it with ice-providing intrepid winter explorers with miles of canyon streams on which to ice skate. South Florida PBS “SunGhosts” A mini-documentary about SunGhosts, an up and coming indie rock band from Miami. Twin Cities PBS “Rogue Taxidermy Artist Sarina Brewer” From goats with fishtails to cats with wings, Sarina Brewer celebrates animals in her art. “Syrian Photographer Osama Esid” Photographer Osama Esid seeks connection from his American neighbors to Syrian Refugees. Vermont PBS “The Collinwood Fire” A news reporter and a filmmaker turn a 1908 elementary school fire into a media sensation. “State Trooper” A prisoner acts out his guilt, anger, and fear through dance. Vision Makers Media “Legacy” Nikki Lowe’s journey of being a mother, daughter, sister, and Native warrior. WHRO “Our Nation” An African-American boy in Norfolk, VA in 1915 confronts racism in The Birth of a Nation. Wisconsin Public Television “Little Man” An animated spoken-word piece that tells Steven Rodriguez’s experiences of being an elder brother, son of a drug addicted mother and struggling but dedicated college student. WORLD Channel “Finding America: The Fresh Prince of Anacostia” Kymone Freeman keeps his D.C. neighbors strong by helping them tell their stories.

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  • Palm Springs International ShortFest Announces 2017 Lineup Featuring Idris Elba, Kate Winslet and More

    [caption id="attachment_22679" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Idris Elba in Five by Five Idris Elba in Five by Five[/caption] This year’s 23rd Palm Springs International ShortFest taking place June 20-26, 2017, at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs will showcase 338 films including 46 World Premieres, 12 International Premieres, 42 North American Premieres and 16 U.S. Premieres. “Each year, the quality of films we watch for ShortFest keeps getting stronger,” said Festival Director Lili Rodriguez. “It makes our job of narrowing down the final selection that much harder, but also incredibly rewarding. There are so many unique and strong voices and we’re really proud to champion these films at the festival.” This year’s star-studded shorts feature Academy Award® winners and nominees, as well as film and television stars including Summer Phoenix in Across My Land (USA/France); Thomas Lennon and Lennon Parham in All Exchanges Final (USA); Tatiana Maslany in Apart From Everything (Canada); The Dark of Night (USA) directed by Robin Wright and starring Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell; Sir Ian McKellen in Edmund the Magnificent (UK); Toby Jones in The Entertainer (UK); Julian Sands in The Escape (UK); Idris Elba in Five by Five (UK); Rick Fox in Game (USA); Carrie Coon in Great Choice (USA); Kate Winslet in The Lost Letter (Ireland); Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale in Martha Monster (Australia); Valerie Harper in My Mom and the Girl (USA); Helena Bonham Carter in Poles Apart (UK); Show Business (USA) directed by Clark Duke; and Super Sex directed by Matthew Modine and starring Kevin Nealon, Edward Asner, Elizabeth Perkins and Efren Ramirez. In addition to ShortFest’s award-winning short films, each year the Festival also welcomes a long guest list of filmmakers and industry attendees for the ShortFest Forums of panels and roundtables. Other prominent industry figures from AMPAS®, Anonymous Content, CAA, Cartoon Network, FX Networks, ICM Partners, NASA, Preferred Content, Seed&Spark, UTA, Vimeo and other organizations will participate in three days of ShortFest Forums covering a wide range of emerging trends and new practices in the global film community.

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  • Catya Plate Returns to 2017 Brooklyn Film Festival with World Premiere of MEETING MACGUFFIN | Trailer

    [caption id="attachment_22516" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller[/caption] Award winning Brooklyn filmmaker and artist Catya Plate, whose film “Hanging By A Thread” won the Spirit Award for Animation at the Brooklyn Film Festival in 2014, is back with the World Premiere of  the stop motion animated film Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller at this year’s 20th Brooklyn Film Festival which runs from June 2 to 11, 2017. “Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller” was successfully crowd funded via Hatchfund and features the remarkable voices of Hollywood celebrities Richard Horvitz and Misty Lee. “Meeting MacGuffin” continues the tale which began in a post-apocalyptic future where humankind had fallen apart. A new breed of scientists, the Clothespin Freaks, had been reassembling human fragments to create an alternate form of humanity. Guided by LF, an animated sign, they travel with the nearly-finished new humans called Homeys, through underground caverns to complete their reconstitution and meet Gormal MacGuffin, a wise, blue-eyed groundhog climatologist with expertise in water renewal who prepares the Homeys for their mission to restore balance to decimated Earth. Born in Barcelona, Spain, and raised in Germany, Catya completed her BFA at the Werkkunstschule, Köln, before coming to New York on a Fulbright Scholarship for post-graduate studies at School of Visual Arts. She has been exhibiting regularly and internationally since the mid-1980’s. Her work can be found in many public and private collections worldwide, including the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Modern Art Library in New York City. Articles and reviews of Plate’s films, exhibition and installation projects have appeared, among others, in Film Threat, The New York Times and The Independent. Meeting MacGuffin: An Animated Ecological Thriller Screenings at Brooklyn Film Festival: Monday, June 5th, 6:30pm, Syndicated Cinema, 40 Bogart St., Brooklyn, NY 11206 Saturday, June 10, 7pm, NY Media Center, 30 John St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

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  • Watch Trailer for Chris Burkard’s Documentary UNDER AN ARCTIC SKY on Surfing in Iceland

    [caption id="attachment_22549" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Under an Arctic Sky Under an Arctic Sky[/caption] Here is the trailer for “Under an Arctic Sky,” a documentary film that follows six surfers along with photographer Chris Burkard on their journey to Iceland’s north coast in search of perfect waves during the largest storm in 25 years. The film first premiered this past April at the Tribeca Film Festival to a sold-out crowd. If you are in New York City, next Thursday, June 8th, Adorama, one of the world’s largest photography, video, audio, imaging and electronics retailers, will be hosting a film screening of “Under an Arctic Sky.” The film follows six surfers along with adventure photographer Chris Burkard and filmmaker Ben Weiland as they seek out unknown swell in the remote fjords of Iceland’s Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Chartering a boat, they depart from Isafjordur on the cusp of the largest storm to make landfall in twenty-five years. With the knowledge that storms bring legendary swell the crew are optimistic, but face failure when the storm forces them back to shore. Making the decision to carry the expedition on by road they experience the brutality of Iceland’s winter and begin to question if searching out the unknown is worth risking their lives for. Despite setbacks the team pushes on and finds that uncertainty is the best ingredient for discovering the unimaginable.

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  • WOMEN & WINE, REFUGEE and PUSSY Win Seattle International Film Festival ShortsFest Jury Awards

    [caption id="attachment_22532" align="aligncenter" width="1158"]WOMEN & WINE WOMEN & WINE[/caption] ShortsFest Weekend, Seattle International Film Festival’s celebration of short films, that takes place every year over Memorial Day Weekend, announced this year’s Jury Award winners. This year’s Festival which runs May 18 to June 11, features 163 short films, including 22 World, 12 North American, and 19 US premieres.

    2017 SIFF SHORTSFEST AWARD WINNERS

    LIVE-ACTION

    GRAND JURY PRIZE WOMEN & WINE (NORWAY), directed by Liv Karin Dahlstrøm JURY STATEMENT: For its honest depiction of friendship that, over a short period of time, authentically runs the spectrum from silly and beautiful to awkward and heartbreaking, we give the Jury Award for Best Live Action Short to Women&Wine, directed by Liv Karin Dahlstrom. SPECIAL JURY MENTION NOTHING EVER REALLY ENDS (NORWAY), directed by Jakob Rørvik JURY STATEMENT: For its exceptional craftsmanship in all areas of the filmmaking process we decided that Nothing Ever Really Ends could not go unmentioned. From the writing and directing to the editing and acting this film unfolds effortlessly. And all in the service of an incredibly entertaining and relatable story. SPECIAL JURY MENTION FANNY (NORWAY), directed by Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel JURY STATEMENT: We’d also like to recognize a filmmaker who impressed us with an intimate and frank film about sexuality and loneliness. For his unique vision, heartbreaking honesty, and nuanced direction in the film Fanny, we’d like to award Halfdan Ullmann Tøndel a special jury award for emerging director.

    DOCUMENTARY

    GRAND JURY PRIZE REFUGEE (USA), directed by Joyce Chen and Emily Moore JURY STATEMENT: For many refugees, getting to the United States is only the first step of a decades-long journey. Refugee is the moving and powerful story of a mother of five, Aicha Diop, whose journey to obtain asylum encapsulates the hope of life in America, as well as its harsh political realities. SPECIAL JURY MENTION WAITING FOR HASSANA (NIGERIA), directed by Ifunanya Maduka JURY STATEMENT: By bringing to light one young girl’s traumatic experience, this important documentary gives a voice to all 276 teenage girls whose lives were violently interrupted by Boko Haram in 2014. This film is a necessary reminder that an issue doesn’t vanish when its hashtag stops trending.

    ANIMATION

    GRAND JURY PRIZE PUSSY (POLAND), directed by Renata Gasiorowska JURY STATEMENT: A witty and whimsical animated short about a girl and her body, Pussy quickly takes the audience on a wild ride through female sex positivity. SPECIAL JURY MENTION THE HEAD VANISHES (FRANCE), directed by Franck Dion JURY STATEMENT: Through its beautiful animation and unique perspective, The Head Vanishes poignantly captures the exceptional challenges, the hopeful glimmers, the peaceful moments, and the continual struggles of dealing with a mentally ill parent.

    FUTUREWAVE SHORTS AWARDS

    WAVEMAKER AWARD (GRAND PRIZE) $1000 prize supported by Amazon Battles (CANADA, QUEBEC), directed by Karen Pinette Fontaine JURY STATEMENT: For its richly composed visuals and poetic journey of self that takes the viewer from a hollow party atmosphere to a seemingly empty space that becomes filled with the narrator’s culture that is thriving within her. PRODIGY CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS Each winner will be awarded a $1250 scholarship to the Prodigy Camp. The Petition (USA), directed by Riley Goodwin and Kibiriti Majuto

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  • Watch John Turturro and Bobby Cannavale Talk Hair in rag & bone’s Short Film HAIR from Tribeca 2017

    John Turturro and in rag & bone Hair rag & bone has released online in full, the short film Hair, starring John Turturro and Bobby Cannavale, which premiered at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. Delving deeper into the medium of film, the brand introduces a conceptual short feature directed by and starring Golden Globe-nominated actor John Turturro alongside two-time Emmy-winner Bobby Cannavale, marking yet another engaging initiative under the ‘rag & bone Films’ umbrella. “For us, projects like these are about creating a paradigm shift in the way people view fashion. Film and photography are engrained in our brand DNA and we love exploring both mediums in different ways every season. This project was a joy to be part of and it was a real honor to work with John and Bobby on it.” – Marcus Wainwright, rag & bone CEO, Founder and Creative Director Shot by Fred Elmes (Blue Velvet, The Night Of, Broken Flowers) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn the film features an improvised conversation about a man’s particularity for his hair. Truly masters of their craft, Turturro and Cannavale deliver a lightheartedly engrossing and completely unscripted performance while dressed in the rag & bone Spring/Summer 2017 collection. “It was fun to find the right location that would complement the rag & bone clothing. I scouted several places with Fred Elmes and we felt that this specific classic barber shop was the perfect location. Clothes and hair go together; they’re part of your social identity.” – John Turturro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR7nRcOHO_w

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  • Tribeca 2017: rag & bone Debuts HAIR Directed by and Starring John Turturro | Trailer

    [caption id="attachment_22032" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Hair Bobby Cannavale and John Turturro in HAIR. Photo credit: Marissa Kraxberger.[/caption] Hair, a short film, directed by and starring Golden Globe-nominated actor John Turturro alongside two-time Emmy-winner Bobby Cannavale debuted at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. Delving deeper into the medium of film, the film is as a rag & bone production, marking yet another engaging initiative under the ‘rag & bone Films’ umbrella.  Hair will be available to view in full on rag-bone.com beginning May 2nd. “For us, projects like these are about creating a paradigm shift in the way people view fashion. Film and photography are engrained in our brand DNA and we love exploring both mediums in different ways every season. This project was a joy to be part of and it was a real honor to work with John and Bobby on it.” – Marcus Wainwright, rag & bone CEO, Founder and Creative Director [gallery size="large" ids="22033,22034,22035"] Shot by Fred Elmes (Blue Velvet, The Night Of, Broken Flowers) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn the film features an improvised conversation about a man’s particularity for his hair. Truly masters of their craft, Turturro and Cannavale deliver a lightheartedly engrossing and completely unscripted performance while dressed in the rag & bone Spring/Summer 2017 collection. “It was fun to find the right location that would complement the rag & bone clothing. I scouted several places with Fred Elmes and we felt that this specific classic barber shop was the perfect location. Clothes and hair go together; they’re part of your social identity.” – John Turturro Hair follows on from the 2016 Men’s Project, based on a concept that showcases the actors’ authentic personalities with each outfitted in pieces from the latest collection that are reflective of their own personal taste. Turturro continues, “Working with rag & bone was very creative and collaborative, with this short, I wanted to convey the spirit of their brand which is fun, lively, and urban with a focus on quality and craftsmanship.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZlE76iGwC8

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