This week I have added a second page of Best European Short Films to my short films website.
But I have rearranged the previous Best European Short Films page slightly to make way for it, adding the brilliant Gridlock by Dirk Belien to the first page - primarily to make sure people see it before anything else.
On the new second page, we start with The Last Gunfighter (L'ultimo Pistolero) by Alessandro Dominici, the one and only Italian film to make it on to the website. I have a theory that the cinematic culture of Italy - espoused by the likes of Fellini - simply does not translate well to short films.
In The Last Gunfighter, heavily indebted to the Spaghetti Western, a solitary gunslinger walks through a desolate industrial estate before firing his gun for the last time. It is dialogue free and much better for it.
The next film is Black Rider (Schwarzfahrer) by Pepe Danquart. This won an Oscar for Best Short Film in 1994 but, shot in black & white, it has a much older feel to it. It is a German film about a bigoted woman berating a black man who has sat next to her on the tram. The black rider sits passively as she throws insults out but then gets a comical revenge at the very end. You'll have to watch it to see what that is!
The third film is Sniffer by Norwegian filmmaker Billie Peers. Sniffer, which won the Palm d'Or for the best short film at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006, is an unusual but beautifully shot tale, set in its own grey and apparently gravity-free world, about a man who works as a sniffer (watch it to find out!) and dreams off escaping the leaden boots that hold him down.
The last film is a Christmas film from Belgium, Tanghi Argentini (Argentine Tangos). It is utterly brilliant and was nominated for a Best Short Film Oscar in 2008 (losing out to this). A beautiful comedy drama full of Christmas spirit, it follows a middle-aged office-worker trying to fulfill his Christmas passion and conceal a snowy-white lie. I promise you will thank me for showing it to you. It is in Dutch with English subtitles.
Enjoy!
Monday, 14 February 2011
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Sundance Film Festival Animations
This week I have added a page of Sundance Winning Animations to my short films website.
The first film, Doc Ellis and the LSD No-No, comes from last year's Sundance Film Festival. Doc Ellis, who died in 2008, was a major league baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and best known for throwing a 'no-hitter' or 'no-no' (like bowling a lot of maiden overs!) against San Diego in 1970 and then admitting that he had thrown this 'no-no' while under the influence of LSD. It is this infamous incident that he narrates himself to a drug-fuelled backdrop in this engrossing Sundance animation.
Ryan by Chris Landreth is on one of my oscar animation pages too so I won't got into too much detail here. It is, of course, brilliant.
The next film is Papillon d'Armour by Nicolas Provost. I will tell anyone who will listen to me that Kurosawa was the best director that ever lived. Most of Hollywood is indebted to him on some level. So imagine my delight that Belgian filmmaker Nicolas Provost created this mesmerizing, reflective montage of Kurosawa's work.
Papillon d'Armour (Butterfly of Love) won an honourable mention at the 2004 Sundance Flim Festival.
The last film on the page is More by Mark Osborne, which won at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Mark Osborne was a co-director on the Dreamworks film,Kung Fu Panda, so has now 'made it'. In this Sundance winning and Oscar nominated short, a factory worker is at odds with the dark world he inhabits as he plays his part in the mass production of devices that promise happiness. In his spare time he creates something he wants to share with the world. To embed More I have had to replace the original soundtrack with DJ Shadow's Building Steam with a Grain of Salt...
Enjoy!
The first film, Doc Ellis and the LSD No-No, comes from last year's Sundance Film Festival. Doc Ellis, who died in 2008, was a major league baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates and best known for throwing a 'no-hitter' or 'no-no' (like bowling a lot of maiden overs!) against San Diego in 1970 and then admitting that he had thrown this 'no-no' while under the influence of LSD. It is this infamous incident that he narrates himself to a drug-fuelled backdrop in this engrossing Sundance animation.
Ryan by Chris Landreth is on one of my oscar animation pages too so I won't got into too much detail here. It is, of course, brilliant.
The next film is Papillon d'Armour by Nicolas Provost. I will tell anyone who will listen to me that Kurosawa was the best director that ever lived. Most of Hollywood is indebted to him on some level. So imagine my delight that Belgian filmmaker Nicolas Provost created this mesmerizing, reflective montage of Kurosawa's work.
Papillon d'Armour (Butterfly of Love) won an honourable mention at the 2004 Sundance Flim Festival.
The last film on the page is More by Mark Osborne, which won at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. Mark Osborne was a co-director on the Dreamworks film,Kung Fu Panda, so has now 'made it'. In this Sundance winning and Oscar nominated short, a factory worker is at odds with the dark world he inhabits as he plays his part in the mass production of devices that promise happiness. In his spare time he creates something he wants to share with the world. To embed More I have had to replace the original soundtrack with DJ Shadow's Building Steam with a Grain of Salt...
Enjoy!
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Oscar Winning Animations
This week I have added another page of Oscar winning animations to my short films website.
The first most noticeable addition is House On Little Cubes (aka Maison En Petits Cubes &Tsumiki No Ie) by Japenese animator Kunio Kato. House On LIttle Cubes won the Best Short Animation Oscar in 2009. It is a very touching story so have the tissues ready to wipe away the tears. As his Japanese town floods, an old man is forced to add levels onto his home. But when he drops his favourite pipe into the watery levels below, his scuba-diving search through his house prompts him to relive scenes from his life.
It could be considered the animated version of The Last 3 MInutes...
The fantastic Oscar winning animations, Chubbchubbs! and Father & Daughter were already there so the next addition is really Destino by Dominique Monfery.
Destino was started by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali in 1945 for the Walt Disney company. The story was created by Dali, J. Hench and D. Ernst with the music composed by Mexican, Armando Domínguez. Destino is perhaps best known as a collision between the two very differnt artists, Dali and Walt Disney, but it was acutally completed in 2003 by French animator Dominique Monfery, who more commonly works on feature animations, and nominated in 2004. It is certainly more Daliesque than Disney.
The last addition is Creature Comforts by Nick Park. This Oscar animation was the first the wider world saw from Nick Park, who would go on to thrill us with his Wallace & Gromit series.
The first most noticeable addition is House On Little Cubes (aka Maison En Petits Cubes &Tsumiki No Ie) by Japenese animator Kunio Kato. House On LIttle Cubes won the Best Short Animation Oscar in 2009. It is a very touching story so have the tissues ready to wipe away the tears. As his Japanese town floods, an old man is forced to add levels onto his home. But when he drops his favourite pipe into the watery levels below, his scuba-diving search through his house prompts him to relive scenes from his life.
It could be considered the animated version of The Last 3 MInutes...
The fantastic Oscar winning animations, Chubbchubbs! and Father & Daughter were already there so the next addition is really Destino by Dominique Monfery.
Destino was started by Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali in 1945 for the Walt Disney company. The story was created by Dali, J. Hench and D. Ernst with the music composed by Mexican, Armando Domínguez. Destino is perhaps best known as a collision between the two very differnt artists, Dali and Walt Disney, but it was acutally completed in 2003 by French animator Dominique Monfery, who more commonly works on feature animations, and nominated in 2004. It is certainly more Daliesque than Disney.
The last addition is Creature Comforts by Nick Park. This Oscar animation was the first the wider world saw from Nick Park, who would go on to thrill us with his Wallace & Gromit series.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Oscar Winning Short Films
This week I have gone Oscars crazy on my short film website.
I have added yet another page of oscar winning films. Unfortunately, I have had to remove some recent winners due to a legal threat but I keep what I can and include the best of the Academy Award nominees.
Wish 143 was nominated for the Best Short Film Oscar this year. A black comedy directed by Ian Barnes and written by Simon Bigwell, Wish 143 follows the efforts of a young cancer patient, David, trying to fulfil his final wish: which is to lose his virginity. The charity offers him Gary Neville (the soccer player) instead and his friendly priest tries to deter him but David is determined to pop his cherry before he pops his clogs.
Another oscar winning short film from America is Two Soldiers by Aaron Schneider. The Academy has been rewarding longer short films during the last decade, and Two Soldiers is an extreme example. However, it is to its credit that it does not feel that long. Set during WWII, it is a touching account of a young boy who wants to join his brother in the "war at Pearl Harbour". It's very American (was 9/11 a factor in its win?) but a great performance by Ron Perlman (Hellboy) makes you more likely to cry than vomit by the end.
I have cheated slightly by adding I'll Wait For The Next One by Philippe Orreindy. I'll Wait For The Next One (J'attendrai le Suivant) was nominated for the 2003 Oscar but I include it because I have been unable to get hold of The Accountant by Ray McKinnon, which is nearly as long as Two Soldiers anyway.
I'll Wait For The Next One is a bitter-sweet tale of a lonely woman being offered the chance of true love on the Paris metro. I actually find it hard to watch it's so sorrowful! Anyway, enjoy the films at filmsshort.com
I have added yet another page of oscar winning films. Unfortunately, I have had to remove some recent winners due to a legal threat but I keep what I can and include the best of the Academy Award nominees.
Wish 143 was nominated for the Best Short Film Oscar this year. A black comedy directed by Ian Barnes and written by Simon Bigwell, Wish 143 follows the efforts of a young cancer patient, David, trying to fulfil his final wish: which is to lose his virginity. The charity offers him Gary Neville (the soccer player) instead and his friendly priest tries to deter him but David is determined to pop his cherry before he pops his clogs.
Another oscar winning short film from America is Two Soldiers by Aaron Schneider. The Academy has been rewarding longer short films during the last decade, and Two Soldiers is an extreme example. However, it is to its credit that it does not feel that long. Set during WWII, it is a touching account of a young boy who wants to join his brother in the "war at Pearl Harbour". It's very American (was 9/11 a factor in its win?) but a great performance by Ron Perlman (Hellboy) makes you more likely to cry than vomit by the end.
I have cheated slightly by adding I'll Wait For The Next One by Philippe Orreindy. I'll Wait For The Next One (J'attendrai le Suivant) was nominated for the 2003 Oscar but I include it because I have been unable to get hold of The Accountant by Ray McKinnon, which is nearly as long as Two Soldiers anyway.
I'll Wait For The Next One is a bitter-sweet tale of a lonely woman being offered the chance of true love on the Paris metro. I actually find it hard to watch it's so sorrowful! Anyway, enjoy the films at filmsshort.com
Sunday, 16 January 2011
Best Short Films From Germany
This week I have added a Best German Short Films page to www.filmsshort.com
It seems to me that German cinema is still struggling to get past the Holocaust and this is partly reflected in the most recent example of a short film from Germany - Toyland (Spielzeugland).
The idea of another Holocaust film, even an oscar winner from Germany, is not necessarily an enthralling idea. However, I challenge you to not have a lump in the back of your throat by the end of Toyland. Set in 1942, and co-written by the director Jochen Freydank and Johann A. Bunners, 'Toyland' is the euphemistic name a German mother invents when her son asks where his Jewish neighbours are going.
An ending reminiscent of Sophie's Choice makes it all worthwhile.
Then comes High Maintenance by Philip Van. A science-fiction short film and Sundance winner, High Maintenance was written by Scot Simon Biggs and directed by American Philip Van, but produced in Germany. Van says, 'I aimed to make a film about the future but emblematic of our era' and thus we find an attractive middle-class couple at dinner, but with the woman failing to get the romantic responses she wants from her 'man'... could I put this on my romance page?
Next comes Black Rider a drama/comedy from German director Pepe Danquart that proves some Germans do indeed have a sense of humor. Filmed in black & white, there is a sure European feel to it but this didn't stop it winning the Oscar in 1994. It is a simple story of bigotry and comical revenge.
I finish off with True by Tom Tykwer, most famous for Run Lola Run!.True stars Natalie Portman and was commissioned as one of the segments of Paris, Je T'aime - a collection of short films financed by the French capital. It is one of the few that stands on its own. Portman is an actress studying at the Conservatoire, who falls for a blind Frenchman. The film starts with what is apparently her break-up telephone call... but watch it!
Enjoy!
It seems to me that German cinema is still struggling to get past the Holocaust and this is partly reflected in the most recent example of a short film from Germany - Toyland (Spielzeugland).
The idea of another Holocaust film, even an oscar winner from Germany, is not necessarily an enthralling idea. However, I challenge you to not have a lump in the back of your throat by the end of Toyland. Set in 1942, and co-written by the director Jochen Freydank and Johann A. Bunners, 'Toyland' is the euphemistic name a German mother invents when her son asks where his Jewish neighbours are going.
An ending reminiscent of Sophie's Choice makes it all worthwhile.
Then comes High Maintenance by Philip Van. A science-fiction short film and Sundance winner, High Maintenance was written by Scot Simon Biggs and directed by American Philip Van, but produced in Germany. Van says, 'I aimed to make a film about the future but emblematic of our era' and thus we find an attractive middle-class couple at dinner, but with the woman failing to get the romantic responses she wants from her 'man'... could I put this on my romance page?
Next comes Black Rider a drama/comedy from German director Pepe Danquart that proves some Germans do indeed have a sense of humor. Filmed in black & white, there is a sure European feel to it but this didn't stop it winning the Oscar in 1994. It is a simple story of bigotry and comical revenge.
I finish off with True by Tom Tykwer, most famous for Run Lola Run!.True stars Natalie Portman and was commissioned as one of the segments of Paris, Je T'aime - a collection of short films financed by the French capital. It is one of the few that stands on its own. Portman is an actress studying at the Conservatoire, who falls for a blind Frenchman. The film starts with what is apparently her break-up telephone call... but watch it!
Enjoy!
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Film London & More Drama
I have broken my word and added two new pages to my website filmsshort.com this week. As my collection of short films grew, and especially as I hunted down those that won major festivals and awards I realised that I had more drama short films than any other genre. This is because festivals tend to reward drama, just as the Oscars do. So I added another drama page. In all honesty I could add several more drama short film pages but that would rather defy the point of having a deliberately small collection of the very best of each genre.
If you haven't seen The Last 3 Minutes by Po Chan then I suggest you go there. Written and directed by American cinematographer Po Chan, The Last 3 Minutes is an unashamedly tear-jerking flashback through a dying man's life. Every shot is lovingly crafted and there are some beautiful American landscapes! I've tried to get in touch with Po to find an official version but have been unable to find a contact. There is high-definition version with lots of background videos on another YouTube page but am not sure if that's Po's upload or not!
Then I really treat you with three festival winning dramas:
Tanghi Argentini (Argentine Tangos) by Belgian filmmaker Gus Thys (2006), Before Dawn by Hungarian Bálint Kenyeres, and Black Rider (Schwarzfahrer) by German Pepe Danquart.
As if all that wasn't enough, I then went and added a Film London page. Film London is taking over responsibility for attracting investment and film productions to the whole of the UK in the government's shake up of the quangos (and subsequent disintegration of the somewhat nepotistic Film Council). Film London has backed many short films over the last decade through various schemes, most notably their Borough Film Fund and Pulse - the latter theoretically being a step up. However, there have been some very bad misses in amongst the hits (and perhaps more misses than hits), which is very worrying to a film-maker looking for backing. When I talk to new producers I often hear the same fears: bodies tend to invest in people they know rather than the strongest script - and let's be honest: at investment stage the script has to come first!
Having said that, Film London has invested in some talented film-makers over the years and I add what I believe are the best of the available short films out there. It's up to you to decide how worthy they are. Peter & Ben is a lovely documentary and Pop Art is a skilful piece of fiction filmmaking - though I'm still not totally sure what it's trying to say. Enjoy!
If you haven't seen The Last 3 Minutes by Po Chan then I suggest you go there. Written and directed by American cinematographer Po Chan, The Last 3 Minutes is an unashamedly tear-jerking flashback through a dying man's life. Every shot is lovingly crafted and there are some beautiful American landscapes! I've tried to get in touch with Po to find an official version but have been unable to find a contact. There is high-definition version with lots of background videos on another YouTube page but am not sure if that's Po's upload or not!
Then I really treat you with three festival winning dramas:
Tanghi Argentini (Argentine Tangos) by Belgian filmmaker Gus Thys (2006), Before Dawn by Hungarian Bálint Kenyeres, and Black Rider (Schwarzfahrer) by German Pepe Danquart.
As if all that wasn't enough, I then went and added a Film London page. Film London is taking over responsibility for attracting investment and film productions to the whole of the UK in the government's shake up of the quangos (and subsequent disintegration of the somewhat nepotistic Film Council). Film London has backed many short films over the last decade through various schemes, most notably their Borough Film Fund and Pulse - the latter theoretically being a step up. However, there have been some very bad misses in amongst the hits (and perhaps more misses than hits), which is very worrying to a film-maker looking for backing. When I talk to new producers I often hear the same fears: bodies tend to invest in people they know rather than the strongest script - and let's be honest: at investment stage the script has to come first!
Having said that, Film London has invested in some talented film-makers over the years and I add what I believe are the best of the available short films out there. It's up to you to decide how worthy they are. Peter & Ben is a lovely documentary and Pop Art is a skilful piece of fiction filmmaking - though I'm still not totally sure what it's trying to say. Enjoy!
Sunday, 2 January 2011
Short Films By Famous Directors
This weekend I have added another new page to my website filmsshort.com and, as is my wont, added an example to the top of the home page, in this case the example being Vincent by Tim Burton.
For, the new page is Short Films By Famous Directors. It's strange to me how little is known about some of these short films when so much is known about these famous directors' feature films.
My favourite director of all time is Kurosawa, but he doesn't have appeared to have made a short film (believe me, I looked!). However, Stanley Kubrick did make some short films and what's strange that his first two short films were in fact documentaries. The one I have added is his 1959 film Day Of The Fight . It reminds me very much of feature length film, The Killing, which would in turn help mould directors such as Quentin Tarantino.
Who's the most famous director of them all? Steven Spielberg of course!
Steven Spielberg has directed (and produced) some of the biggest feature films in box-office history (E.T., Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park). Many think of Duel as his first film, but that ignores Amblin', which would also be the name of his film production company. Spieleberg doesn't particularly like Amblin' - the dialogue-free tale of a couple hitchhickers meeting up as they cross the American desert - being shown but there are great moments that portend those in his feature films (the moon silhouette in E.T. an example)
James Cameron is hot on the heals of Spielberg. Avatar broke most box-office records despite having a script that felt like it was written by a twelve year old. Xenogenesis was made in 1978 and co-directed by Randall Frakes. James Cameron shows he had ambition from the beginning with this sci-fi short film. It is somewhat Tron-like and perhaps not the most polished film in the world but Cameron was only 23-years-old at the time and there are moments that would reappear in both The Terminator and Aliens.
The last film on my new page is Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan. If you don't know who Christopher Nolan is then visit my website. If you do - as I'm sure you do - visit it anyway!
For, the new page is Short Films By Famous Directors. It's strange to me how little is known about some of these short films when so much is known about these famous directors' feature films.
My favourite director of all time is Kurosawa, but he doesn't have appeared to have made a short film (believe me, I looked!). However, Stanley Kubrick did make some short films and what's strange that his first two short films were in fact documentaries. The one I have added is his 1959 film Day Of The Fight . It reminds me very much of feature length film, The Killing, which would in turn help mould directors such as Quentin Tarantino.
Who's the most famous director of them all? Steven Spielberg of course!
Steven Spielberg has directed (and produced) some of the biggest feature films in box-office history (E.T., Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park). Many think of Duel as his first film, but that ignores Amblin', which would also be the name of his film production company. Spieleberg doesn't particularly like Amblin' - the dialogue-free tale of a couple hitchhickers meeting up as they cross the American desert - being shown but there are great moments that portend those in his feature films (the moon silhouette in E.T. an example)
James Cameron is hot on the heals of Spielberg. Avatar broke most box-office records despite having a script that felt like it was written by a twelve year old. Xenogenesis was made in 1978 and co-directed by Randall Frakes. James Cameron shows he had ambition from the beginning with this sci-fi short film. It is somewhat Tron-like and perhaps not the most polished film in the world but Cameron was only 23-years-old at the time and there are moments that would reappear in both The Terminator and Aliens.
The last film on my new page is Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan. If you don't know who Christopher Nolan is then visit my website. If you do - as I'm sure you do - visit it anyway!
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