Bacon, romantic doom, strange experiments in Sundance’s Short Film Tour at The Nick
Not many Columbia film buffs can make January’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
So the Sundance Film Festival comes to Columbia.
The Sundance Film Festival 2016 Short Film Tour stops Wednesday, Sept. 7, at the Nickelodeon in downtown Columbia.
“We are so excited the Sundance Film Festival Shorts Tour will be coming to the Nickelodeon,” said John Smith, Sundance Festival general manager for theater. “Some of the coolest storytellers focus on short-form filmmaking, and we can’t wait to highlight their projects for our local audience!”
It’s a 95-minute program of eight short films selected from this year’s Sundance Film Festival, which, over the course of its more than 30-year history, has been considered the premiere showcase for short films and the launchpad for many now-prominent independent filmmakers.
One key word is “short.” The films showing at the Nickelodeon next week range from 4 to 17 minutes.
Each year the Sundance Festival receives more than 8,000 short film submissions, selecting between 60 and 80 films to show. The festival programs a collection of shorts from its most recent festival to go on a theatrical tour to independent art houses in more than 50 cities nationwide.
“For the past few years, our Short Film Tour has traveled across the United States to reach new audiences who might not get a chance to see these wonderful films,” said Mike Plante, senior programmer for Sundance Film Festival. “This year’s program will make you laugh, cringe, and maybe even question your entire life, but it certainly will not disappoint.”
A look at this year’s selections:
“Affections”
This comedy about isolation and loneliness follows a young woman who is adrift and seeking intimacy in the most unlikely places.
Written and directed by: Bridey Elliott (an actress and comedian; “Affections” is her directorial debut)
Country: U.S.
Length: 16 minutes
“Bacon & God’s Wrath”
A 90-year-old Jewish woman reflects on her life experiences as she prepares to try bacon for the first time.
Written and directed by: Sol Friedman (award-winning animator and filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada). Presented by YouTube.
Country: Canada
Length: 9 minutes
Worth noting: Short Film Jury Award, Non-fiction
“Edmond”
Edmond’s impulse to love and be close to others is strong – maybe too strong. As he stands by a lake contemplating his options, he reflects on his defining moments in search of the origin of his desires.
Written and directed by: Nina Gantz (born in Amsterdam, grew up in Rotterdam, Netherlands). Presented by YouTube.
Country: United Kingdom
Length: 9 minutes
Worth noting: Short Film Jury Award: Animation
“Her Friend Adam”
A boyfriend’s jealous impulse spirals out of control in 16 minutes of romantic doom.
Written and directed by: Ben Petrie (Toronto-based writer-director)
Country: Canada
Length: 17 minutes
Worth noting: Short Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance (Grace Glowicki)
“Jungle”
The lines between trust, betrayal and forgiveness are intertwined for two Senegalese vendors as they try to make a living on the streets of New York City.
Written and directed by: Asantewaa Prempeh (Ghanaian-American filmmaker)
Country: U.S.
Length: 13 minutes.
“The Grandfather Drum”
As the balance of the world turns upside-down for the Anishinabek people, the elder Naamowin builds a healing drum to save his grandson and his people.
Written and directed by: Michelle Derosier (a member of the Anishinaabe tribe; co-owner of Thunderstone Pictures Inc. in Thunder Bay, Ontario; and co-founder of the Biindigaate Indigenous Film Festival)
Country: Canada
Length: 13 minutes
“The Procedure”
A man is captured and forced to endure a strange experiment.
Written and directed by: Calvin Lee Reeder (who made a name for himself with genre-bending short films). Presented by YouTube.
Country: U.S.
Length: 4 minutes
Worth noting: Short Film Jury Award, U.S. Fiction
“Thunder Road”
Officer Arnaud loved his mom.
Written and directed by: Jim Cummings (writer-director-actor from New Orleans who now lives in Los Angeles). Presented by YouTube.
Country: U.S.
Length: 13 minutes
Worth noting: Short Film Grand Jury Prize; also screened at Indie Grits 2016
If you go
Sundance Film Festival 2016 Short Film Tour
When: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7
Where: The Nickelodeon, 1607 Main St.
Cost: $10
Info: www.nickelodeon.org
New event: 2016 South Carolina Film Festival
The South Carolina Film Institute is hosting its first festival, with a bit of a twist: The films will be shown on Facebook.
“We are among of the first film festivals in the nation exclusively on Facebook,” said festival director Marcus McCall. “We believe this is the new wave of displaying films replacing the traditional form of a theater.”
All screenings will be held online Monday, Sept 5 at fb.com/scfilmtv.
This event is a way to show local films being produced in South Carolina by local filmmakers. The six being shown:
“The Last Ring Home” (Documentary, Minter Dial)
“At What Cost?” (Documentary, Mark Albertin)
“The Odyssey of Destiny” (Feature, Brent Hoover)
“Colors – Bangin’ in South Carolina” (Documentary, Terry Davis)
“The Caravan” (Documentary, Margot McMaster)
“Why People Cheat” (Documentary, Terry Davis)