Block 12 - Mixed Shorts 3

About This Program

This program presents a mixed group of short films: narratives, animations and music videos.

Respect Your Elders, Chum

Director: Jack Belhumeur

Narrative Short, Canada, 2018, 7 min, Color

Chum learns a lesson about respecting his elders.

Great Lakes connection: The film was shot in Thunder Bay, Ontario on Lake Superior by a First Nation youth film crew.

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Undone

Directors: Sara Laubscher, Saira George

Animation, South Africa, 2018, 4 min, Color

This short film follows Dotty who must fight to protect her memories from the effects of Alzheimer's disease. Ultimately, she is faced with a decision - either she continues to knit everything back together or accepts that she is losing her memories and should enjoy what is left of them.

Project Website

Rocks

Director: Vincent Gagliardi

Narrative Short, USA, 2018, 10 min, Color, Student Project (City College of NY, New York City, US)

A lonely geologist finds companionship in the form of a rock-worshipping cult.

Great Lakes connection: The director is a student in New York City.

Project Website

And She Rode Forth....

Director: Deb Ethier

Animation, Canada, 2018, 3 min, Color

A Bard recounts the tale of the Archetypal Heroine, called forth by necessity to begin her journey and fulfill her destiny. A silhouette animation, this is a “song without words,” the tale being told solely through visuals and instrumental music.

Great Lakes connection: From the director: “I live where the Detroit River flows into Lake Erie.”

Project Website

Her Water Drum

Director: Jonathan Elliott

Narrative Short, Canada, 2018, 16 min, Color

In the wake of her daughter's disappearance, Jolene, a single Mohawk mother, is forced to pick up the pieces of her life and navigate an increasingly strained relationship with her troubled son David. As secrets emerge, their relationship faces its toughest challenge yet as they confront the reality of their situation.

This film deals with the topic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada, highlighting the impact it has on individual families and their communities.

Great Lakes connection: The film was shot at the Six Nations Reserve and in Toronto. Both locations are in the Great Lakes region and are in traditional Indigenous territory, a topic that is explored in the film.

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Rob Nance - Motion Sickness

Directors: Zach Strum, Gen Liu

Music Video, USA, 2018, 3 min, Color

A music video for the song “Motion Sickness” by Rob Nance and the Lost Souls that employs hand-drawn rotoscope animation.

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Little Cosmic Shore

Director: Pavel Kungurov

Animation, Russian Federation, 2019, 4 min, Color

A spaceship lands on a lonely island. The pilot and his toddler emerge. Each explores the island in his own way. Is there life on this planet?

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First Light

Director: Jonas Thielcke

Narrative Short, Germany, 2019, 14 min, Color

Malie, a young forensic pathologist, prefers to work nights to avoid her coworkers. One night, however, she encounters the open and warm-hearted Taha, one of the hospital's janitors, who manages to pull her out of her shell.

The German title of this film is Taupunkt.

Project Website

Potion: Dark Matter

Director: Annie Maley

Music Video, USA, 2019, 5 min, Color

A music video of the song “Dark Matter” by Potion that presents a mock “ad” in retro style for the Exoplanet Travel Bureau, a space travel agency, offering package tours of our galaxy and beyond.

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As One

Director: David Spaltro

Narrative Short, USA, 2019, 15 min, Color

Jill must put one foot in front of the other to move through her grief, and with connection she discovers that every mile has a story.

Great Lakes connection: From the director: “Our film is dedicated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and every person involved in this organization. A peer from my graduate school is from Lansing and lives in Grand Rapids and she and her son were a giant inspiration to me.”

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Things Were Better Before

Director: Lu Pulici

Music Video, Italy, 2018, 6 min, Color

A music video of the song  “Things Were Better Before” by Tankus the Henge. Using puppets from the Trukitrek Puppet Company, the animation is both beautiful in its design and poignant in its message dealing as it does with environmental issues, specifically the death of our oceans. The film, made entirely using found or recycled materials, is a “Wake-up Machine” to those who view it, encouraging green and sustainable thinking to a society that needs to pay attention and affect real change before it’s too late.

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The Quit

Director: Todd Lillethun

Narrative Short, USA, 2018, 28 min, Color

Roger’s smoking habit has bugged his partner Sam for years. When Roger finally decides to quit, Sam is thrilled to support him and engages in a campaign for a cure. After the campaign fails, Sam is bitterly disappointed. He then sees a dangerous new idea that may save his life even though it might cost them their relationship.

Great Lakes connection: Writer/Director Todd Lillethun was from Wisconsin and lived in Chicago. Producer Josef Steiff lives in southeast Wisconsin. The film was shot in northern Illinois.

Project Website