Short films take the story-telling magic of full-length features and put it into bite-size chunks that are easy for anyone to digest. It is an extremely popular format for those who don’t want to commit two or three hours to watch a film. The prevalence of streaming services has given short films another boost, broadening the audience exponentially. Despite this, short film festivals are flourishing, serving as curators of good and interesting short films.
Here’s a look at some of the best short films from recent festivals:
ANNA
Impeccably crafted by Israeli director, Dekel Berenson, ‘Anna’ tells the story of a middle-aged single mother, Anna, who works in a meat-processing factory. Anna is looking for a change, so she and her 16-year-old daughter attend a party where a group of American men is on a ‘tour’, looking for love. The experience makes her question whether this is the kind of change she is looking for. Berenson’s skillful directing, nuanced storytelling and superb acting has won ‘Anna’ acclaim at festivals all around the world, including a BIFA Award for Best British Short Film.
ARIA
‘Aria’, written and directed by Myrsini Aristidou, tells the story of a young Greek girl working in a small, family-run kebab shop. Her father, whose broken promises keep letting her down, is supposed to come and pick her up during her break for a private driving lesson - but when he shows up, a Chinese woman is with him, a migrant waiting for her papers to be able to stay in the country legally. Aria’s father tells her to look after the woman, and drives away… Aristidou’s multi-awarded short film develops the delicate, volatile bond creating between Aria and the woman in a masterful way, combining realism with a lyrical atmosphere that delivers bittersweet, melancholic undertones.
LOCKDOWN
Set against the backdrop of mass-shootings, ‘Lockdown’ is inspired by co-director, Celine Held’s personal experience. Teenage middle-schooler, Marie, is concerned about events that took place the last time she saw her best friend. She is desperate to talk to her, but her friend hasn’t shown up for school. Sparse in dialogue, actress Allegra Leguizamo’s Marie drives the narrative with her subtle facial expressions, body language, and unspoken angst. It is this portrayal, the excellent storytelling, and expert direction by Held and her co-director, Logan George, that has seen ‘Lockdown’ win awards at festivals from New Orleans to New York.
CRUDE OIL
Best friends, Jenny and Lynn have very strange ‘superpowers’. Jenny can make people smell things, and Lynn can possess people, but neither is aware of the other’s ‘power’. However, their friendship is toxic, and Jenny wants out, but manipulative Lynn pressures her to move in together. This just increases the tension, with Lynn using her ‘power’ to manipulate Jenny even more. Perfectly cast and executed, this mad-cap comedy-drama by director Christopher Good is both poignant and playful. He manages to address a serious subject matter with a bit of sparkle, turning ‘Crude Oil’ into a festival darling.
THE MANILA LOVER
With festival awards from Stockholm to Quebec, director Johanna Pyykkö’s ‘The Manila Lover’ is an intimate look at the relationship between a Norwegian man, Lars, and a Filipino woman, Abigail, who he meets on a trip to the Philippines. Lars falls for Abigail and wants to spend his life with her. Expecting her to say yes, Lars is surprised when Abigail turns him down. Pyykkö is known for addressing subjects of identity, power, belonging and gender in her work, and ‘The Manila Lover’ is no different. The film is a subtle study of male masculinity built on expectations and preconceptions, as it shows Lars dealing with his insecurities.
GREEN
Written by Suzanne Andrews Correa and Mustafa Kaymak, and directed by Correa, ‘Green’ clinched the coveted 2019 Sundance Jury Award Winner For US Fiction. The film rides along with Samet or “Green”, an undocumented Turkish cab driver in New York. When Green is assaulted in broad daylight, he unwittingly puts both himself and his brother, Ali, in danger. The brothers’ experience draws subtle attention to the complications of the broken immigration system in America, without taking center stage. Instead, ‘Green’ is character-driven gem of short focussing on the bond between two brothers, their community, and society at large. Actors Aziz Çapkurt and Erol Afsin portraying their struggle with exceptional performances. ‘Green’ is one of those short films that demand a re-watch, and it’s easy to see why they’ve been the pick of judges at festivals around the world.
Short films have always been a vehicle for independent filmmakers to show their skills at telling stories, from intensely serious to super silly. It provides a platform for experimentation and is often at the cutting edge. The inclusion of short films in festivals like Cannes and award shows like the Oscars, shows the importance of the format within the cinematic arts, and one worth exploring.