FILM FEST PETALUMA

May 6, 2023, Mystic Theatre

Film Fest Petaluma returns to the historic Mystic Theatre with its 16th annual showcase of the best short films from around the world. Filmmakers will be in conversation at all four programs (12, 3, 7, & 10). Patrons can make a day of the fest with a $40 Shorts Pass or purchase tickets to individual shows. 

SATURDAY MATINEE SHORTS - 12:00pm

EXPECTATIONS

Andrew Carniglia, USA, 3 minutes

Using mixed media and clever production design, a space man reflects on personal and social expectations. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

ICE MERCHANTS

João Gonzalez, Portugal, 15 minutes

An ice-peddling father and son engage in an extraordinary daily ritual as they travel from their cliffside ice house to the village below until one day when a disaster changes everything. Nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 2023 Academy Awards.

CHASIN' BUTTERFLIES

Joshua Harding, Adam Hobbs, & Matt Klug, USA, 19 minutes

This charming portrait of eccentric Alabama artist Butch Anthony peels back the layers of the man who created a quirky drive-thru museum, a trophy-covered Cadillac, and a pontoon pirate ship known as Llatikcuf (read it backwards).

ANDY: A DOG'S TALE

Jamy Wheless, USA, 8 minutes

Petaluma’s Ignite Animation Studios collaborated with Jean Schulz (of the Charles M. Schulz Museum) to deliver this uplifting tale of how one puppy overcomes a series of obstacles to find his purpose in life: becoming a Canine Companion.

EL CARRITO

Zahida Pirani, USA, 15 minutes

Nelly barely makes ends meet by working as a street vendor from dawn to dusk until an unexpected event jeopardizes her livelihood and the ability to care for her father. Audience Award Winner at the 2022 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

BELLINGHAM'S BELIEF

Tom Salvaggio, USA, 9 minutes

Panic erupts when the citizens of Bellingham, Washington notice strange cracks in their car windshields. Tom Salvaggio combines experimental film techniques with a retro-style voiceover to create a completely original neo-noir sci-fi mystery.

ON THE RIDE

Jen McGowan, USA, 13 minutes

In writer Jeremy Glazer’s expertly constructed narrative, Scott is haunted by the memories of his past during an early morning bike ride, until he reaches a most unexpected destination.

DOG-APARTMENT

Priit Tender, Estonia, 14 minutes

Awakened by the barking of his dog-apartment, a middle-aged ballet dancer travels through a rain-drenched wasteland to his most unusual job in this surreal stop-motion animation inspired by an Andres Ehin poem.

MOSES SUPPOSES

Caleb Teicher, USA, 4 minutes

A diverse cast of New York City dancers reimagines tap in the city with this updated take on “Moses Supposes” from the film Singin’ in the Rain.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON SHORTS - 3:00pm

QUIT TRIPPIN'

Zane Boban-Bennett, USA, 14 minutes

A day at the laundromat spins Wesley into a state of psychotropic self reflection. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

THE RECRUIT

Bao Truong, USA, 11 minutes

When Kat shows up for an interview at Intrinsic Recruiting, she experiences one strange turn after another until she slowly loses grip on what is reality and what is fantasy in this surreal allegory on social anxiety.

A MOST EXQUISITE MAN

Jonas Taul, Estonia, 15 minutes

One man’s hubris is called into question as his true position in the universe is slowly revealed in this exquisitely animated Estonian fable. Grand Prix Winner at the Fredrikstad Animation Festival.

THE FOURTH

Johnny Kirk, USA, 12 minutes

Offering a fresh take on an all-too-familiar tale, a group of young Black and Latino friends, eager to celebrate the 4th of July, experience a police encounter that shatters the meaning of the holiday.

MILEZ

Stephanie Patrick & Ben Lee, USA, 4 minutes

Eight artists must decide whether to stay within the boxes that confine them or break free in this experimental screendance film, featuring music from the Austin-based hip-hop duo Magna Carda

THE SEINE'S TEARS

Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard, Nicolas Mayeur, Etienne Moulin, Hadrien Pinot, Lisa Vicente, Philippine Singer, & Alice Letailleur, France, 9 minutes

This stunning stop-motion reconstruction of a 1961 Algerian protest in Paris over mandatory curfews imposed by the police during the Algerian war is a tribute to what people will sacrifice when they believe in a cause. Best Animated Student Short
Winner at the 2022 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

PRO POOL

Alec Pronovost, Canada, 8 minutes

The value of Charles-Olivier’s degree in history and civilization is called into question when he ends up working at a pool supply store. Official selection of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

THE SPRAYER

Farnoosh Abedi, Iran, 9 minutes

Set in a post-apocalyptic fascist state where its citizens are forbidden from growing plants, a seed is planted that initiates an unexpected uprising.

CUCKOO!

Jörgen Scholtens, Netherlands, 8 minutes

In this absurdist comedy about a lonely man who lives inside a cuckoo clock, all hell breaks loose when a radio quiz disrupts his hourly routine.

WORLD SHORTS SHOWCASE - 7:00pm

TWINKLE TWINKLE

Mandy Miller, USA, 2 minutes

A quirky pop duo offers a little tune to tickle your fancy. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

JEFF

Walter Woodman, Patrick Cederberg, & Matthew Hornick, Canada, 6 minutes

An Amazon delivery drone named JEFF muses on the monotony of life until an unexpected system failure brings about a seismic change in his world view.

SIERRA

Sander Joon, Estonia, 16 minutes

A father and his shapeshifting son enter into the surreal world of car racing in this crowd-pleasing festival favorite, loosely inspired by the director’s childhood. Best Animated Short Winner at the 2022 San Francisco International Film Festival.

PUZZLE

Ricardo Muñoz Senior, Mexico, 14 minutes

When Albertini reaches out to The National Institute of Games and Leisure Activities for the People to complain about the missing last piece of his puzzle, he becomes embroiled in a Kafkaesque struggle with the state. The result is a funny and absurd socialist satire about one man’s rage against the machine.

DESERT LIGHTS

Katherina Harder, Chile, 18 minutes

Antay and his friends struggle to make ends meet in their neglected and drought-stricken town in the Atacama Desert. Official Selection of the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival.

THE SPACE BETWEEN US

Julianne Martin, USA, 3 minutes

A lonely spaceman’s desire for company may be about to come true when a mysterious ship arrives at his space station.

AN EVENING WITH TAGLIONI

Jessica Wright and Morgann Runacre-Temple, UK, 14 minutes

When legendary ballerina Marie Taglioni, the first woman to ever go en pointe retired, her pointe shoes were bought by a fan, cooked at a lavish dinner party, and served to 35 guests with quite unexpected results.

DREAM ON, LEON

Roger Gariépy, Canada, 8 minutes

With humor, warmth, and impressive visual flair, we journey into the dream life of Leon, man’s best friend. Official Selection of the 2022 Palm Springs International Shortfest.

HATCHBACK

Riley Sugars, Australia, 12 minutes

In this hilarious dark comedy from Down Under, Vince attempts to dispose of a dead body for the mob, but when he reluctantly enlists the help of his dim-witted brother-in-law Ted, things don’t go according to plan. Best Short Film nominee at the 2022 Australian Academy Awards.

LATE NIGHT SHORTS - 10:00pm

ITCHSANITY

Ben Lohrentz, USA, 8 minutes

In this fresh take on body horror, a business executive with itchy teeth will stop at nothing to find relief. Awarded Best of Show at the Sonoma County Student Film Festival.

SUSHI NOH

Jayden Rathsam Hua, Australia, 18 minutes

Trapped in the care of her lonely uncle, a young girl’s nightmares about a bizarre kitchen appliance manifest into reality.

SAFE

Josema Roig, Spain, 10 minutes

In this tense thriller, a startled young girl hears a noise outside in the middle of the night and fears a monster, but the real danger may be lurking inside closer than she thinks.

CHRISTOPHER AT SEA

Tom CJ BROWN, France, 21 minutes

Christopher embarks on a transatlantic voyage as a passenger on a cargo ship with the hope of finding out what lures so many men to sea. Instead, he finds himself on a surreal journey into fantasy, solitude, and obsession. Jury Award Winner at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival.

JUST A REHEARSAL

Hugo Sanz, Spain, 9 minutes

Two sisters, seven and eleven years old, are hiding in a wardrobe. The little sister thinks they are rehearsing for a game but the older one knows that a terrible threat lurks outside.

PRUITT AND IGOE

Rachael Daniels, USA, 10 minutes

An undead white supremacist targets an African American teenager on the harsh, impoverished streets of North St. Louis in this fresh take on the horror genre.

ASPIRATIONAL SLUT

Caroline Lindy, USA, 14 minutes

Rosemary embarks on a journey of sexual liberation as an antidote to the heartbreak she experiences chasing Mr. Right, until one day a casual hookup puts her newfound persona to the test. Audience Award Winner at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival.