Aspen Film announced the competition finalists that will screen at Aspen Shortsfest 2010, which will be held April 6-11 at the historic Wheeler Opera House in Aspen and the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale. More than 2,500 submissions from almost 80 countries were considered, and 85 short films were ultimately selected for the six-day Oscar®-qualifying International Competition. With additional out-of-competition presentations, this 2010 edition will screen over 100 shorts from North and South America, Europe, Africa Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
Now in its 19th year, Aspen Shortsfest is recognized as one of the North America’s premier showcases for short film, including documentary, animation, and live action. The centerpiece, the International Competition, offers a lively and thought-provoking slate of films 2 to 27 minutes in length. Along with filmmaker guests, a jury of esteemed film professionals will award cash and other prizes to finalists in several categories.
This year’s International Competition reflects the incredible diversity and breadth of today’s short films, as creators worldwide benefit from unprecedented access to new technology and equipment. “Across the U.S. and around the world, the ‘digital revolution’ in media-making is having an increasingly powerful impact,” says George Eldred, Program Director for Aspen Film. “Not just more, but more interesting and more skillful shorts are being produced, and this year the variety and quality were high enough that we decided to add a night – and two programs – to showcase this bounty of new talent.”
In addition to ten International Competition programs, Aspen Shortsfest 2010 will feature: Films for Families, a selection of children-friendly shorts for ages 11 and up; Micro Moviemaking with director Lewis Teague (Navy SEALS, The Jewel of the Nile, Alligator), who will discuss shooting to distribution using his new web series Charlotta-TS as a case study; and Tropfest’s Best: 7 Minutes or Less, with highlights from Australia’s hip and happening annual shorts festival.
THE SHORTSFEST 2010 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION LINEUP
Alma
A little girl is captivated by a mysterious doll in the window of a rather unusual toy store. (Rodrigo Blaas, Spain/USA, 6 min.)
Angry Man
Some secrets are best revealed, as a brave young boy discovers when he seeks help from the king of Norway in this emotionally resonant animation. (Anita Killi, Norway, 20 min.)
Anything You Can Do
Heather can beat anyone at anything—or so she thinks. (Evan Wolf Buxbaum, USA, 6 min.)
The Art of Drowning
An animated rendering of a work by American poet Billy Collins. (Diego Maclean, Canada, 2 min.)
Banana Bread
Thirty-something Matt has a stereotypically fretful mother. But in this amusing case, her worry is warranted. (Barton Landsman, USA, 9 min.)
Battered
Thirteen-year-old Jacotte arranges a special birthday celebration for her brother in the woods. Everything is going well until they make a strange and compelling discovery. (Louise de Prémonville, France, 16 min.)
Birthday
Sara loves her wife, Katarina, and wants to surprise her on her 40th birthday. But Katarina also has a surprise for this memorable day. (Jenifer Malmqvist, Sweden/Poland, 18 min.)
Born Sweet
From the director of Freeheld (SF08) comes this portrait of 15-year-old Vinh, whose dreams of karaoke stardom provide a powerful and poignant environmental message for his and other rural Cambodian villages. (Cynthia Wade, USA/Cambodia, 28 min.)
The Cage
An injured bird adds a new emotional dimension to a strained father-son relationship. From the director of Waves (SF08). (Adrian Sitaru, Romania/Netherlands, 17 min.)
Capture the Flag
When teenaged Annie and her father gather with friends in rural upstate New York for an annual tradition, a lot more is at stake than the white T-shirt standing in for the flag. The filmmaker of Getting to Know You (FF99) directs Rebecca Chance’s story. (Lisanne Skyler, USA, 14 min.)
Careful with That Axe
A cheeky tale about playing with things we shouldn’t. (Jason Stutter, New Zealand, 2 min.)
Careful with That Power Tool
Another cheeky tale about playing with things we shouldn’t. (Jason Stutter, New Zealand, 2 min.)
Charlotta-TS: Episode One
An unusual young woman from Barcelona searches for identity, love, and an ability to pay the rent while her lawyer struggles to keep her out of jail in Lewis Teague’s lively new cyber-serial. Tonight her adventures begin. (Lewis Teague, USA, 10 min.)
Charlotta-TS: Episode Two
Charlotta fears her mother’s reaction to her new personae. Lewis Teague’s multifaceted web serial continues. (Lewis Teague, USA, 10 min.)
Charlotta-TS: Episode Three
Charlotta is astonished to discover that her mother’s secrets trump her own. (Lewis Teague, USA, 10 min.)
Chicken Heads
After his father’s prized sheep goes missing, Yousef devises a questionable strategy to keep the truth buried. (Bassam Ali Jarbawi, Palestinian Territories/USA, 14 min.)
Cigarette Candy
Reluctantly playing “hero” at his homecoming party, a young, upstanding Marine sees a way out when he finds himself drawn to an unlikely guest. (Lauren Wolkstein, USA, 13 min.)
Clean
A young nursing-home worker with a secret goes to extreme, yet comical, measures to disguise and sustain it. By the director of Family Reunion (SF07). (Isold Uggadottir, USA, 12 min.)
Clouds, Hands
Wood-block images conjure shards of memory – a father’s hands, a mother hanging laundry, a field of flowers – into a poetic meditation on the passage of time. (Simone Massi, France, 9 min.)
The Continuing and Lamentable Saga of the Suicide Brothers
A darkly comic fairytale set in a Bavarian forest, with Keira Knightley as the frustrated fairy godmother. (The Brownlee Brothers, UK, 10 min.)
The Cow Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger
Animator and cartoonist Bill Plympton serves up another of his famously twisted tales.
(Bill Plympton, USA, 4 min.)
The Da Vinci Timecode
Parts of a famous painting come to “life” in this visually inventive tableau. (Gil Alkabetz, Germany, 3 min.)
Diplomacy
Relations between the U.S. and Iran take an unexpected turn when two senior diplomats and their interpreters meet for a closed-door session. (Jon Goldman, USA, 9 min.)
Doppelgänger
Imagine finding someone who shares your exact name. When this filmmaker makes such a discovery, his life becomes intertwined with another in ways that surprise and fascinate. (Oscar de Julián Fernández, Spain, 20 min.)
Dust Kid
In this beautifully drawn line animation, Eujin decides to clean her apartment for the first time in months, only to discover the task is more involved. (Jung Yumi, South Korea, 10 min.)
Echo
In this powerful drama, two boys begin to confront the emotional consequences of their actions when they are forced to reconstruct the scene of a crime. (Magnus von Horn, Poland, 15 min.)
Family Jewels
On the eve of her deployment to Afghanistan, Carol’s desire for a quiet night with her husband and two sons goes unwittingly awry. (Martin Stitt, USA/UK, 21 min.)
Fences
Accompanying his father to work, a young boy discovers that the world is more complicated than he ever imagined. (Tim Dean, Australia, 7 min.)
Flowerpots
A delightful animation that delves into flowerpots, hats, and habits. (Rafael Sommerhalder, UK/Switzerland, 5 min.)
Formic
A skateboarder trying out new tricks unwittingly threatens a small but important life in this clever action movie. (Roman Kaelin, Germany, 4 min.)
Franswa Sharl
Keeping the position of number-one son drives 12-year-old Greg to take some amusingly ingenious measures on a family vacation. (Hannah Hilliard, Australia, 14 min.)
Glenn Owen Dodds
An illuminating comedy about an ordinary man who meets an extraordinary man and discovers nothing less than the meaning of life. (Frazer Bailey, Australia, 16 min.)
God of Love
A lovestruck, lounge-singing darts champion finds his prayers answered when he receives a mysterious box. Romance is in the air in this bohemian charmer. (Luke Matheny, USA, 18 min.)
Gone to the Dogs
When a guest (Martha Plimpton) brings an uninvited companion to a dinner party, hilarious havoc ensues. (Liz Tuccillo, USA, 10 min.)
Green Sea
A lyrical meditation on the rhythms and routines of cultivating the crop known as “green gold” in Argentina’s glorious Misiones province. (Ignacio Busquier, Argentina, 15 min.)
Guns, Bees and Tadpoles
A summer’s day takes a turn to the extraordinary for a normal family in not-so-normal times.
(John McCloskey, Northern Ireland, 5 min.)
The Hardest Part
It ain’t easy being geezy when an aging actor finally secures the audition of a lifetime. But just how badly does he want the role? (Oliver Refson, UK, 14 min.)
He’d Never Do That
All young Laura wants is a grandpa. An amusing modern fable about family, aging, and pets. (Anartz Zuazua, Spain, 14 min.)
Heat
It’s the hottest day of the year in London, and Donna finally agrees to share a long-held secret with her skeptical partner. (Debbie Tucker Green, UK, 13 min.)
The History of Aviation
In this luminous period piece set in 1905, a group of seaside picnickers assembles for one last photograph, until they realize someone is missing. (Bálint Kenyeres, France/Hungary, 15 min.)
home
In this unusual tribute to his family house, the filmmaker evokes the profound loss felt when home is just a memory. (Matt Faust, USA, 6 min.)
Home Is Where You Find It
The human faces of AIDS in Africa are movingly captured in this personal documentary by 16-year-old Alcides Soares, who chronicles his story as a teenaged orphan rebuilding his family with a camera and advice from two professional filmmakers. (Alcides Soares, USA/Mozambique, 27 min.)
I’m Ready
Routine plays a critical role in this touching relationship between an elderly father and his son. When it is disrupted one day, they find themselves at an unexpected crossroads. (Esther Siton, Israel, 15 min.)
Incident by a Bank
This innovative film reconstructs, with humor and detail, a seemingly random but increasingly alarming moment in central Stockholm. (Ruben Östlund, Sweden, 12 min.)
It’s Free for Girls
In a few days, Laetitia will obtain her professional hairstyling certificate. But first there’s a party to attend. (Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger, France, 23 min.)
Jacob
The joy of a boy’s birth to Aboriginal parents in 1940s Australia quickly turns when they must confront an indisputable truth that neither is prepared to accept. (Dena Curtis, Australia, 11 min.)
Junkyard Jesus
Manny fences cars for quick cash. When he partners with his buddy Jesus, their friendship is jeopardized by a disturbing discovery. (Christoph Kuschnig, USA, 14 min.)
Kavi
Young Kavi wants more out of life than laboring at an Indian brick kiln with his family. He dreams instead of going to school and playing cricket. A compelling treatment of a timely topic. (Gregg Helvey, India/USA, 19 min.)
Laredo, Texas
During Juan’s first day on the job, tensions escalate as a new colleague suspects he may be an undocumented worker. Final installment of Topaz Adizes’ Americana Project films: City (SF07) and Trece Años (SF09). (Topaz Adizes, USA, 11 min.)
Lebensader
A child imagines an entire world inside a leaf in this colorful fantasy. (Angela Steffen, Germany, 6 min.)
Little Miss Eyeflap
A Pakistani girl living in Norway embarks on a fairytale-like journey of self-discovery rather than obeying her family’s wishes. (Iram Haq, Norway, 9 min.)
Man and Boy
Thinking his son has been wronged, a father takes justice into his own hands. The results of his impulsive paternal instincts lead to disturbing unforeseen consequences. (David Leon, Marcus McSweeney, UK, 20 min.)
The Man Who Slept
In this finely choreographed animation, Sofia longs to experience the vibrancy of the outside world, but she must first escape an unusual burden. (Inès Sedan, Canada, 12 min.)
Mariachi
Carlos is struggling to carve an identity somewhere between his Mexican-born parents and Brooklyn-bred peers. A sudden change in his family’s fortunes leads him farther from home and closer to finding himself. (Elena Julia Greenlee, USA, 13 min.)
Math Test
Yujin tries to concentrate on his math test despite an unexpected visitor. (Jung Yumi, South Korea, 2 min.)
Moore Street Masala
When a Dublin shop clerk falls for the sexy estate agent across the road, it’s true love, Bollywood style. (David O’Sullivan, Ireland, 6 min.)
Mother of Many
This lively animation celebrates one of the greatest gifts an expectant mother can receive. (Emma Lazenby, UK, 6 min.)
The Mourning of the Merry Stork
Lebanon, 1982. As political tensions mount, a young professor and his wife plan to flee their country, little realizing what they are about to leave behind. From the director of Roots (SF09). (Eileen Hofer-Boutros, Lebanon/Switzerland, 14 min.)
My Way
A whimsical tale about the invisible pebble that nudges us through life and brings awareness, told through the perspective of shoes. (Veljko Popović, Croatia, 7 min.)
Nico’s Challenge
Thirteen-year-old Nico faces special challenges as he undertakes a climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest freestanding mountain. This real-life coming-of-age adventure teems with unexpected twists and unlimited inspiration. (Steve Audette, USA/Tanzania, 15 min.)
Non-Love-Song
On the last day of summer before heading off to college, two best friends attempt to connect as adults and share an unprecedented real moment. (Erik Gernand, USA, 8 min.)
Only One Boss
Everything we know about conflict, we learn as toddlers — here’s the hilarious proof. (Ellen Brodsky, USA, 10 min,)
Park
One morning four strangers have a random encounter on a city street. The second time their paths converge, memory of that fleeting moment colors everything. (Thierry Espasa, France, 14 min.)
Pigeon: Impossible
One rookie secret agent. One curious pigeon. One very special government-issued nuclear briefcase. Operation Laughter. (Lucas Martell, USA, 6 min.)
Plank
Cultural tradition and paternal expectation would dictate Nassim play soccer or kickbox. But his heart is set on competitive skateboarding, a “springboard to another world.” (Billy Pols, Netherlands, 16 min.)
The Poodle Trainer
What motivates a poodle trainer? In Irina Markova’s case, it’s her transcendent relationship with her dogs, not to mention the welcome isolation behind the red-velvet curtains of the circus. (Vance Malone, USA, 9 min.)
Q&A
When Joshua interviewed his mother for the oral history project StoryCorps, their one-of-a-kind conversation covered everything from cockroaches to some poignant revelations. (Mike & Tim Rauch, USA, 4 min.)
The Queen
One customer’s last-minute request unleashes a nerdy clerk’s imagination in this sweet tale of dry cleaning, prom night, and fitting in. (Christina Choe, USA, 8 min.)
Ramlod
When her car runs out of gas, a young Israeli photographer finds herself stranded in the wrong part of town. What follows is an eye-opening guided tour. (Maya Tiberman, Israel, 10 min.)
Rita
At the center of this haunting drama is Rita, a curious young girl thwarted by an overprotective mother. One day a mysterious presence breaches her claustrophobic world. (Fabio Grassadonia, Antonio Piazza, Italy, 18 min.)
Roar
It’s Christmas in London, and the lonely, socially awkward Tom yearns for emotional contact. A stranger’s off-hand rejection of his goodwill gesture triggers a chilling response. (Adam Wimpenny, UK, 16 min.)
Roof Rattling
A bungled domestic break-in leads to a brief, surprisingly touching encounter between a lonely shut-in and an inexperienced interloper. (James Blick, New Zealand, 15 min.)
Seeds of the Fall
From the director of Instead of Abracadabra (SF09) comes this wry, offbeat tale of a middle-aged couple in the throes of sexual frustration. An unusual opportunity knocks with the sudden arrival of a bulldozer. (Patrik Eklund, Sweden, 18 min.)
Shotgun
Three men test the limits of friendship and contemplate mortality in this humorous take on “all in a day’s work.” (Russ Lamoureux, USA, 6 min.)
The Six Dollar Fifty Man
Andy lives in a make-believe superhero world, where his imagination allows him to perform extraordinary physical feats. But the school playground and a stern headmaster are formidable realities. (Mark Albiston, Louis Sutherland, New Zealand, 15 min.)
Snake Fever
In tiny, rural Waynoka, Oklahoma, snake hunting is much more than a means of protection or sport — it’s a way of keeping the old West alive and the basis of a festival that attracts thousands of spectators every year. (Wendy Greene, USA, 12 min.)
Standing 8
Carlos must make a fateful decision: his past or the future. (Taylor Phillips, USA, 4 min.)
Sunday’s Best
Wearing elaborate hats to church is a cherished African-American tradition. Lively interviews, vintage and contemporary photographs, and gospel music capture the splendid millinery of Miami churchgoers. (Marlon Johnson, Chad Tingle, Dennis Scholl, USA, 6 min.)
Teleglobal Dreamin’
Rosa, a Filipino call-center agent, takes her American boss out on the town. But her efforts to impress him and her friends goes seriously awry. (Eric Flanagan, Philippines/Singapore, 18 min.)
The Unhappy Woman
When a director tries to coach his actress, she delivers more than a performance and the camera keeps rolling. (Tomas Sem Løkke-Sørensen, Norway, 5 min.)
Voice on the Line
Enchanting operators, covert government plots, Cold War paranoia, and ordinary telephones forever changed how we get in touch with one another. (Kelly Sears, USA, 7 min.)
Wagah
At the only checkpoint along the 2,000-mile border between India and Pakistan, each day’s flag ceremony draws cheering crowds, whose patriotic enthusiasm for the ritual reveals more national similarities than differences. (Supriyo Sen, Germany, 14 min.)
Washdays
Kyle has an embarrassing problem, and his fed-up mother’s remedies are only making matters worse. When he seeks his own solutions, what results is a tender new understanding between mother and son. (Simon Neal, UK, 10 min.)
When the Rain Comes
With her reluctant daughter in tow, Anna sets out across London to see if her intuition regarding a relationship once again proves correct. (Jade Bell, UK, 14 min.)
Wings and Oars
In this wistfully evocative animation, a former pilot reflects on his life’s journey and the stops along the way. From the director of Lost in Snow (SF08). (Vladimir Leschiov, Latvia, 6 min.)
Wolves
A howling wolf, an embarrassing accident, and a missed opportunity. Love is made of courage.
(Rafael Sommerhalder, UK/Switzerland, 6 min.)
Yellow Belly End
A man lives a peaceful existence recording others’ untimely endings, until he is drawn to the brink himself in this deliciously strange animation. (Philip Bacon, UK, 9 min.)
To download THE SHORTSFEST 2010 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION LINEUP click here.
The Official Program Guide is available at www.aspenfilm.org beginning March 19.
Tickets on sale March 22 at Aspen Show Tickets at the Wheeler Opera House, aspenshowtickets.com, and by calling 970.920.5770.
Aspen Shortsfest generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Colorado Council on the Arts, the City of Aspen, the Town of Basalt, The Aspen Times, Aspen Magazine, Viceroy Snowmass, 42 Below Vodka, the Sky Hotel, Hotel Jerome, Aspen Public Radio, American National Bank and the Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media.
About Aspen Film
ORGANIZATION
Established in 1979, Aspen Film is one of Colorado’s most active film arts organizations, presenting more than 200 programs and featuring dozens of guest speakers throughout the year. Internationally recognized, Aspen Film organizes a major film event in every season, along with an extensive education program:
MISSION
To enlighten, enrich, educate, and entertain through film. Aspen Film stimulates thought, encourages dialogue, and broadens understanding of our world and ourselves through the diverse spectrum of ideas presented by filmmakers worldwide.
