FILM FEST PETALUMA
May 3, 2014, Mystic Theatre
Saturday Afternoon Shorts (2:30pm)
THE PROMISE
Sophia Wasteneys, USA, 6 minutes
Santa Rosa student filmmaker Sophia Wasteneys creates a suspenseful story about a woman’s escape and the promise she strives to keep.
A GIRL NAMED ELASTIKA
Guillaume Blanchet, Canada, 3 minutes
Animated with rubber bands and push pins, this clever stop motion animation follows a dreamy young girl who loves adventure. Winner of the Audience Award for Best Animated Short at the 2013 Palm Springs International Shortfest.
MICHAEL GARLINGTON: BUILT TO BURN
Steve Tucker, USA, 15 minutes
Local director Steve Tucker profiles Petaluma artist Michael Garlington and his impressive Photochapel, a 40-foot gothic cathedral adorned with photos and destined for Burning Man.
SWEET MOSQUITO
Audrey Najar & Frédéric Perrot, France, 15 minutes
Romain’s funeral is just the beginning of the story in this hilarious, Kafkaesque look at life, death, and reincarnation.
TRACKS
Corrie Francis Parks, USA, 3 minutes
Tracks is a strikingly beautiful animated tribute to nature in the African Savannah.
EVICTION
Garret Atlakson, USA/Cambodia, 20 minutes
In this moving social justice documentary, impoverished Cambodian villagers living amid destruction and chaos battle to protect their homes and families from eviction by powerful private corporations who ruthlessly exploit their land with the government’s blessing.
BLANKETS
Louise Leitch, New Zealand, 11 minutes
ASH SUNDAY
Corrie Francis Parks, USA, 5 minutes
In this captivating animated short, the main character struggles to escape her graphic cinematic destiny.
BROKEN CLOUDS
Dominique Laurence, Canada, 6 minutes
In this beautifully realized short, a father and son take a memorable adventure to forget the turmoil in their lives.
MORITZ AND THE WOODWOSE
Bryn Chainey, Germany, 20 minutes
A young boy comes face to face with a forest spirit in this mysterious and mythic tale featuring gorgeous cinematography and excellent performances from its young actors.
SLOMO
Josh Izenberg, USA, 16 minutes
Depressed and frustrated, Dr. John Kitchin abandons his career as a neurologist and moves to Pacific Beach where he undergoes a radical transformation involving a pair of rollerblades. This inspiring documentary reminds us it’s never too late to start a new chapter.
World Shorts Showcase (7:30pm)
TEN GRAHAMS
Miles Levin, USA, 3 minutes
SRJC student filmmaker Miles Levin offers a humorous tale that reminds us that addiction can happen at any age.
OVERTURE
Bracey Smith & Neil Dvorak, USA, 5 minutes
This exquisitely animated short follows the story of a little girl in Soviet controlled Bulgaria who learns to overcome, accept, and harness her unusual gift for music.
GRANDPA AND ME AND A HELICOPTER TO HEAVEN
Johan Palmgren, Sweden, 15 minutes
Nearing death, a wise grandfather bequeaths a simple but profound secret to his young grandson in this moving documentary about tradition, ritual, and deep familial love.
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RHINO FULL THROTTLE
Erik Schmitt, Germany, 15 minutes
Combining live action and stop motion animation, Rhino Full Throttle introduces us to Bruno, who unexpectedly falls in love with a young woman while roaming the streets of Berlin in search of the soul of the city. Winner of the Future Filmmaker Award at the 2013 Palm Springs International Shortfest.
THE LIGHT
Cylan Shaffer, USA, 11 minutes
This elegant performance piece weaves together the story of two men as one seeks to overcome his restraints and fears.
Director Cylan Shaffer and Cinematographer Fiona Foster are currently joining up for their next dance film “Neðan Fjöru”, a piece to raise awareness, end stigmas, and save lives from mental illnesses and depression. To see their progress, please visit their campaign here.
CHOPPER
Lars Damoiseaux & Frederik Palmaers, Netherlands, 2 minutes
This clever animated film is a witty, rapid-fire rundown of how the food chain works.
MORE THAN TWO HOURS
Ali Asgari, Iran, 15 minutes
In this gripping drama from Iran, a young couple wanders the city in search of a hospital who will agree to treat a young woman without the permission of her parents. Official selection of the 2013 Cannes and 2014 Sundance Film Festivals.
A TANGLED TALE
Corrie Francis Parks, USA, 5 minutes
Beautifully animated with hand tinted sand, this short tells the story of two lonely fish who encounter each other after becoming hooked by an angler’s line.
WILD HORSES
Stephanie Martin, USA, 19 minutes
Mills, an established photographer, returns to Nevada after an urgent call from her grandmother informing her of a beloved group of wild horses facing a government roundup. Winner of the Jury Prize for Best Live Action Short at the 2013 Palm Springs International Shortfest.
SLEIGHT OF HAND
Michael Cusack, Australia, 10 minutes
This skillfully crafted and beautifully realized stop motion animation tells the story of a sculptor who makes a startling discovery while attempting to create the perfect model.
Late Night Shorts (10:30pm)
BLEEDING BLACK
Ariana Victor & Joey Emmons, USA, 3 minutes
Local filmmakers Ariana Victor and Joey Emmons showcase singer/songwriter Jaclyn Mae in this student-produced music video.
BEAR ME
Kasia Wilk, Germany/Poland, 6 minutes
Bear Me offers humorous look at the domestic challenges of having a bear as your roommate.
ZELA TROVKE
Asier Altuna, Spain/Netherlands, 13 minutes
When the Holland Baroque Society decides to include a “moritat” – a central European folk song – as part of their “Barbaric Beauty” program, it inspires the musicians in strange ways.
FOOL'S DAY
Cody Blue Snider, USA, 20 minutes
In this dark comedy, a 3rd grade class gets more than they bargained for when their April Fool’s Day prank goes horribly awry.
FOR THE MASSES
Corrie Francis Parks, USA, 5 minutes
For the Masses is an engaging animated look at a group of city dwellers who struggle to escape from the tentacles of modern urban life.
RESET
Marcus Kryler & Fredrik Åkerström, Sweden, 17 minutes
A remote farm sets the stage for this eerie, engrossing, and highly cinematic tale of a young girl who makes a frightening discovery.
MOVE MOUNTAIN
Kirsten Lepore, USA, 11 minutes
What begins as a slice of paradise quickly becomes a race against the clock as a girl is forced to surmount a mountain to save her own life.
EAT
Moritz Krämer, Germany, 7 minutes
Left unnerved by a photo shoot, model Helen makes a surprising discovery when she heads back to her dressing room. Beautiful and grotesque, Eat is sure to leave a lasting impression.
COFFEE TIME
Maria Fredriksson, Sweden, 14 minutes
Tea time has an unexpected twist in this documentary about four elderly women who regularly gather together to sip coffee and eat cake.
METUBE
Daniel Moshel, Germany, 4 minutes
A funny and clever homage to thousands of ambitious YouTube users and video bloggers, this short selfie captures a man seeking to gain the attention of the world with his rendition of Carmen’s Habanera.