‘ESCAPE ATTEMPT’ (Fantasia 2024 short) Chilling and visually stunning

ESCAPE ATTEMPT A desperate man tries to make his way to an uninhabited planet with the help of a young and idealistic couple. In their Fantasia 2024 short ESCAPE ATTEMPT, directors Daniel Shapiro and Alex Topaller take audiences on a journey across time, space, and humanity. Based on a novella of the same name by the Strugatsky Brothers, this dazzling Read More →

‘ONE FOR THE ROAD’ (LA Shorts 2024) Based on a Stephen King short story, it is pure fear.

ONE FOR THE ROAD Based on a Stephen King story, Daniel Carsenty‘s short film ONE FOR THE ROAD is here to terrify LA Shorts International Film Festival audiences with its world premiere. It’s 3 am, and a mysterious, rather odorous man walks into a truck stop diner, muttering one phrase, “Old Mill Road.” Two drivers with the best intentions get Read More →

(Tribeca 2024 shorts) ‘A ROSE FOR KATRINA, ‘ ‘LICE,’ ‘MY BEST FRIEND,’ & ‘WHEN EVERYTHING BURNS’ – Exemplary work from across the globe

Tribeca 2024 Shorts A ROSE FOR KATRINA Tribeca 2024 Shorts https://tribecafilm.com/films/rose-for-katrina-2024 Short | Australia | 9 MINUTES | English Harry Quinlan‘s short film A ROSE FOR KATRINA is technically dizzying. Augmented and overlapping sound editing combined with its one continuous take filmed from outside the busy household immediately throws you into a subconscious panic. An unknowing Michael shows up for a first date, Read More →

‘BURN OUT’ (DWF:LA 2024 short) Overworked and ambitious are a dangerous combination

BURN OUT https://danceswithfilms.com/burn-out/ A clearly overworked and unwaveringly determined Virgil will do anything to show his boss the very personal presentation he has toiled over. Nothing can stop him from completing this passion project, not even a fire. Filmmaker Russell Goldman‘s DWF: LA 2024 short BURN OUT dives headfirst into the competitive nature of hardcore office culture under the guise Read More →

‘PRINCETON’S IN THE MIX’ (DWF: LA 2024 short) A cut above the rest in college admissions

PRINCETON’S IN THE MIX https://danceswithfilms.com/princetons-in-the-mix/ In PRINCETON’S IN THE MIX, the modern woes of college admissions season get uglier when elite parents find a new way to get a leg up in the competition. Heather Burns, my favorite actress from Miss Congeniality (and the eternal April 25th meme), gives Beth a lethal edge. She nails this role. Charlie Besso plays Read More →

‘YOU ARE HERE’ (DWF:LA 2024 short) Universally great

YOU ARE HERE https://danceswithfilms.com/YOU-ARE-HERE/ A short film about our minds going down the proverbial rabbit hole of unfathomable information, Michael Friberg‘s DWF: LA short, YOU ARE HERE, is pure delight. When insurance underwriter Peter reads a newspaper article about the number of stars in the galaxy, he fixates on the enormity of space and life itself. Peter is every science Read More →

‘HOW I ROLL’ (DWF:LA 2024 short) Resilience at its finest

HOW I ROLLhttps://danceswithfilms.com/HOW-I-ROLL-2/ One of the most harrowing stories I’ve seen featured in a short film comes from BriGuel‘s HOW I ROLL. This 13-minute emotional rollercoaster is an eye-opening tale of resilience. Robin Cohen lives with MS, navigating Miami, Manhattan, and a family history of shocking violence, loss, and great love.  BriGuel beautifully edits Cohen’s innermost thoughts, one on top Read More →

‘THE HONGFU HOTEL’ (Tribeca 2024 short) Hauntingly spectacular

THE HONGFU HOTEL https://tribecafilm.com/films/hongfu-hotel-2024 Undoubtedly one of the most visually spectacular short films at Tribeca 2024, Tian Xu’s THE HONGFU HOTEL finds a father and son on the eve of the demolition of their family hotel in New York City. Feng arrives to check in on his father, Chan, the proprietor of their generations-old Chinatown hotel. Sold and marked for Read More →

‘JUMPMAN’ (Tribeca 2024 short) Artistic justice for an icon

JUMPMAN https://tribecafilm.com/films/jumpman-2024 Tom Dey’s Tribeca 2024 documentary short film JUMPMAN details the extraordinary life and body of work of photographer Co Rentmeester, the man responsible for Nike’s iconic Air Jordan logo. His fearless action and natural eye as a young man led to experiences beyond belief. His ability to capture dynamic close-ups and create breathtaking photographs is a gift. From Read More →

‘A FAMILY GUIDE TO HUNTING’ (Tribeca 2024 short) Killer family therapy

A FAMILY GUIDE TO HUNTING WORLD PREMIERE https://tribecafilm.com/films/family-guide-to-hunting-2024 Zao Wang’s Tribeca 2014 short starts off with a bang (and I do mean that as a double entendre). After a meet-the-parents weekend goes wildly awry, Mom, Dad, and daughter Eva finally hash out their differences amidst the remains of their daughter’s relationship. Margaret Cho plays a disapproving matriarch with a ferociousness Read More →

‘CATHARSIS’ (Tribeca 2024 short) Explosive and unique

CATHARSIS https://tribecafilm.com/films/catharsis-2024 Brian Logvinsky brings his electric short film CATHARSIS to Tribeca 2024. Alex is a dancer and the face of his company, whose inner turmoil gets him mandated therapy sessions with an unorthodox doctor. Max Basch‘s hypnotic visual and sound editing personify Alex’s rage. The score is infectious, and, oh, the choreography! Marc Gellar, Jemima Kirke, Deborah Harry, and Read More →

‘Sally, Get The Potatoes’ (2024) Danicah Waldo short dazzles at The Big Apple Film Festival

SALLY, GET THE POTATOES Filmmaker Danicah Waldo brings drama and sweetness to The Big Apple Film Festival with her short film SALLY, GET THE POTATOES. Our titular little lady is the youngest of a well-off household. The precocious redhead, just looking for someone to play with her, gets tasked with procuring the potatoes for her overwhelmed chef mother.  Something is happening within the Read More →

Slamdance 2024 shorts: ‘LEGEND OF EL CUCUY’ & ‘DOSH’

Legend of El Cucuy SYNOPSIS: Legend of El Cucuy is a cautionary tale. Laura and herhusband Carlos are permissive parents, and their choice to raise theirdaughter Isabel without discipline has resulted in a very rude,disobedient child. Carlos is having doubts about their behavioralstrategy, but Laura is determined to make different choices from theirparents. Against his better judgment, Carlos tells Laura Read More →

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival short films: ‘MOSQUITO LADY’ & ‘ALICIA’

MOSQUITO LADY Phillipino folklore Manananggal meets Catholic guilt in Kristine Gerolaga‘s short film, MOSQUITO LADY. When a young woman can no longer hide her pregnancy from her devout parents, she resorts to a legendary monster to assist her. The practical and Special FX are exquisitely gag-worthy. What a frightening jab at religious righteousness and an exploration of culture. ALICIA A Read More →

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2023 shorts: ‘RIDE BABY RIDE’ & ‘THE WYRM OF BWICH PEN BARRAS’

RIDE BABY RIDE Feminist companion for CARRIE lovers, Sofie Somoroff‘s short RIDE BABY RIDE finds a female mechanic in the new ownership of a possessed car. As the vehicle attempts to incapacitate and sexually assault her, she must fight for her life. Celina Bernstein effortlessly commands the viewer with what may amount to all five lines of dialogue. She acts Read More →

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2023 shorts: ‘THE QUEUE’ & ‘MY SCARY INDIAN WEDDING’

The Queue Cole is a new online content monitor for the FBI. Upon discovering the final message of his predecessor, he finds a new meaning of “images seared into your brain.” Michael Rich‘s THE QUEUE is the physical manifestation of PTSD from vile online videos. This superb film thrives on audio and the performance of Burt Bulos. There is a Read More →

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2023 shorts: ‘STOP DEAD’ & ‘LEECH’

STOP DEAD Director Emily Greenwood brings the short STOP DEAD to the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival 2023. Two officers get a flat tire as a blood-soaked young woman happens upon them. Clearly in distress, a taser leads to her immediate demise, or so they think. The special FX reminds me of one of my favorite kills from the 1997 sci-fi Read More →

Review: Growing a conscience is painful in Lola Blanc’s ‘PRUNING’- Premiering at Palm Springs Shortfest 2023

  PRUNING Filmmaker Lola Blanc tackles the growing evil of Right-wing extremism in the short film PRUNING. Sami is an up-and-coming right-wing commentator. You know. The kind that lives to cause controversy by spewing “alternative facts” and plays the faux patriotism card. We know these bobbleheads all too well. They are dangerous. PRUNING is a manifestation of festering hatred. Following Read More →

Tribeca 2023 film review: The hilarious short ‘PROOF OF CONCEPT’ lives up to its perfect name.

PROOF OF CONCEPT Written and directed by Max Cohn and Ellie Sachs, the short film PROOF OF CONCEPT is a filmmaker and cinephiles meta-inside joke. Richard Kind plays Robert Cohen, a man with an aspiring filmmaker daughter. An ager Chloe, played hilariously by Ellie Sachs, tries to get dad and her Uncle Eddie on board for funding a short film, Read More →

Tribeca 2023 short film review: ‘CORVINE’ soars.

CORVINE An eccentric boy has trouble fitting in at school due to his obsession with crows. Writer-director Sean McCarron‘s Tribeca animated short CORVINE immediately enchanted me, from the delightful score by Suad Bushnaq to the beautiful animation to the sweet storytelling. The film celebrates imagination and individuality while also creatively tackling bullying. As a parent of a child on the Read More →