Mixed Shorts

About This Shorts Program

This program is a mix of short documentaries and narratives.  Except for one experimental film from the Czech Republic, they are all by filmmakers from the Great Lakes area. For this segment, we were looking for compelling stories. We think you’ll agree we found them!

Hearts of Steel

Director: Gayle Wilmot

Documentary Short, Canada, 2017, 21 min, English, Color

This fun, compelling documentary follows a group of Toronto teenagers as they prepare and practise rigorously for a musical competition for steel bands. Along the way they learn leadership, commitment, trust, multi-cultural respect, and the value of belonging to a musical family.

Great Lakes Connection: This was filmed in Toronto.

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SUPER DAD!

Director: Maria Pretzl

Narrative Short, United States, 2017, 11 min, English, Color

All Toby wanted was one normal day. That proves to be too much to ask for when your dad is Captain Chaos, the super villain of Milwaukee!

Great Lakes Connection: The entire cast and crew is from the Great Lakes region: the crew is from Wisconsin and the cast is from Illinois. The short was filmed at Brown Deer Park in Milwaukee, WI. The film is also set in Milwaukee.

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ʼTil The Last Dog Dies

Directors: David Mahlmann, James McEachin

Documentary Short, United States, 2017, 3 min, English, Color

A Korean war vet deals with his daily demons.

Great Lakes Connection: The filmmaker lived near Lake Michigan.

Twofold

Director: Luděk Wellart

Narrative Short, Czech Republic, 2016, 35 min, Czech, Color

Anton - Lola - Frank. One, two, one, two one? Everything seems real but what if itʼs not? One affects the other. How do you tell reality and dream apart and vice versa?

Great Lakes Connection: None.

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Safety Net

Audience Choice Award - Best Narrative Short

Director: Andrew E. Rudd

Narrative Short, United States, 2017, 17 min, English, Color

How far would you go to hold on to the American Dream? This short narrative film follows Jerry Harris, a 35-year-old black man, as he tries to save his home from foreclosure just before his wife gives birth to their first child.

Great Lakes Connection: Writer/director/producer Andrew Rudd is from Michigan originally. His parents graduated from Soo High and his grandparents all lived in the Soo for most of their adult lives.

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The Maltese Guinea Pig

Director: Luke Grandmont

Narrative Short, Canada, 2015, 14 min, English, Black & White and Color

When the Grade 4 class pet goes missing, self-proclaimed sleuth Samuel Stapleton takes the case, uncovering playground secrets and classroom conspiracies in his search for the beloved guinea pig.

Great Lakes Connection: The director is a Sault Ste Marie, Ontario filmmaker. This film was shot in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

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Prep Talk

Director: Michael Wagner, Susan Lehman

Narrative Short, United States, 2017, 8 min, English, Color

During the last week of summer vacation four friends discuss the ins and outs of their high school experience.

Great Lakes Connection: The filmmakers are from Pennsylvania.

IN/FINITE

Director: Kristen Hilkert

Narrative Short, United States, 2017, 22 min, English, Color

This short sci-fi drama is the story of Jane, the lonesome, charming black sheep of her family. When sheʼs accepted into the Mars One Astronaut program, she makes her lifeʼs toughest decision and a trip home to say goodbye.

Great Lakes Connection: Both filmmakers were born and raised in Ohio and both attended Ohio State University.

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