SHORTS BLOCK 3: Ritual
08 min -- “Blue” by Katelyn Bianchini, Rena Cheng, Asia Lancaster: A fearful balloon must learn to put his fragile life in the hands of an unlikely friend. (Animation)
10 min -- “Best Wishes” by Stuart Doty: When Richards wife suddenly vanishes, he tries to make sense of a reality that seems to have abandoned all logic and reason. His circumstances are complicated further by a cryptic group of overseers.
05 min -- “Leadfoot” by Adam Halverson: Nicholas, an elderly Russian man, is unable to keep pace with his wife's zest for life in her golden years. She goes out dancing at night while he secretly uses his engineering skills to mend the rift forming between them.
27 min -- “One Armed Man” by Tim Guinee: CW Rowe owns the cotton gin, making him the wealthiest man in Harrison, Texas, and his ascendancy has solidified an unshakable belief in the system that enriched him. Few things ever interrupt the purity of his vision, with the exception of the weekly visit of a young man, Ned, who lost an arm in the gin's machinery. Ned is a little touched and believes CW can give him his arm back. On a normal day, he goes away when CW offers him five dollars. But today is anything but a normal day.
05 min -- “Babylon” by Felix van Cleef: A ritual celebration at the seaside. (Music video)
08 min -- “Boxer on the Wilderness” by Alexandra Boyd: It's 1919. A boxer and his opponent fight in the ring, and we see and feel the physical and emotional pain of the young man returned from WW1 who must win at all costs.
15 min -- “Market Hours” by Jon Goldman: Randall spends his days imagining the vibrant inner lives of vendors at the multicultural urban market where he works; none more so than Angela. But Randall's inattention has lead to a string of thefts and soon threatens to cost him his job. A chance encounter with a beautiful starlet provides Randall not only an opportunity to break the ice with Angela, but a chance to prove his worth.
10 min -- “The Moped Diaries” by Tyler Nilson and Nick Vitale: When a new bridge is built connecting his island to the mainland, a boy has to come to grips with the change and opportunities that come along with it. Love of home, love of a partner, and love of family all seem to be falling apart and pushing him towards the inevitable, crossing that bridge himself to see what lies beyond the horizon.
03 min -- “This That Though” by Matt Stoops: “This That Though” by San Francisco based musician Matt Stoops tells the allegorical story of a man who desires to get out of his comfort zone and experience life, but he's having some trouble. Filmed in San Francisco with Richard Neveu (Director of Photography). Music was recorded, mixed and produced by Nick Kirgo. Words and music by Matt Stoops. (Music video)
