JUNE 2013 FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

LINE-UP ANNOUNCED SOON

 

FEBRUARY 2013 FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

"The Amazing Levitation of Matthew Renner" by Dylan Herin-Soule A man struggles to navigate his belief in being able to levitate as his world comes crashing down around him, literally.

 

"El Pollo Sangriento" by Daniel Fabelo Inspired by a short story by Horacio Quiroga, "El Pollo Sangriento" follows a poor couple coping with disabled children. They long for a normal child but could not expect what happens when they finally obtain their dream.

"An Open Mouth" by Rico Grillo Two siblings skip school while their family's world comes crashing down. The ripple effects of an abusive marriage and the destruction to all involved.  

 

"Do Over" by David Fabelo  Making a good first impression is the key to any successful romance. That's why as soon as his date with Sarah veers off course, high school sophomore Adam makes a simple request that just might give him another chance to impress her... and another... and another... and... another.

 

Doors open at 7:00pm. Films start at 7:30
$5 (Over 21) $10 (Under 21)

FREE BEER FOR THE FIRST HOUR!!! (or until it runs out) $5 Pintglasses

 

DECEMBER 2012 FILMS AND FILM MAKERS:

 "Josephine and the Roach" by Jonathan Langager Surreal, offbeat short film about a cockroach who falls in love with the woman whose apartment he infests. They play beautiful duets on their violin and accordion, only to be interrupted by Josephine's brutish exterminator husband, Moe.

 "Bat-Man Vs Glove-Man" by Neko Neko Films This is the story of the other Caped Crusader. A story of a man and his bat. The story of the Bat-Man.

 

OCTOBER 2012 FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

Sigur Rós "Varúð" by Jeff Ray  An official entry into The Valtari Mystery Film Experiment, the film/music video was showcased as one of the top 5 videos.  Gaining much attention via blogs and social media, it even garnered a postiive review from director Mark Romanek.

"Intimacy" & other shorts by SLOBS PRODUCTIONS  A group of actor/comedian/filmmakers make up SLOBS PRODUCTIONS.  We will be showcasing their short films/sketches "INTIMACY" "Introducing Big Rocks" and "Un voyage de Art".

"Peckerman" by Curtis Craven We follow a bird man, as he spends his day. (Inspired by Art of Gary Crom)

"Castrating Cowman" by Curtis Craven A primitive live-action cartoon featuring another creation of Florida outsider artist Gary Crom.  Curtis Craven works in video production and takes his time off to create his masterpieces that cannot be described in any way, but are an interesting experience.  He will also be showing a short doc titled "Cappy's Front Yard".

 "Left Hand Man" by Antonia Bogdanovich The Emersons are a theatrical family, of sorts - Samuel a street performer while his brother Beckett pick pockets in the crowd. A visit from a murderous loan shark gives Samuel a chance at freedom -- but at a high price.  SKYPE Q and A with Antonia Bogdanovich who will talk about directing the film as well as growing up with two famous film parents. (Polly Platt and Peter Bogdanovich)

 

 

AUGUST FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

"Speak and may the plague take you" by Cody Duckworth

"Underneath" by Aaron Arizpe  

"Tomorrow" by Aaron Arizpe

"Cat Surfing" by Ronald Short

"Spit" by Benjamin Hayes

 

 

 

 

JUNE FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

"My Mom Smokes Weed" by Clay Liford A geriatric mother and her twenty-something son on a road trip to meet some dastardly drug dealers in order to replenish a supply of certain herbs.

"Thumbsnatchers (From The Moon Cocoon)" by Bradley Schaffer  Officer Huckiss uses his cowboy logic to recklessly defeat a race of thumb-snatching, cocoon dwelling robo critters.

"Gaga, Me, Her Boyfriend and the River" by Nick Toti A portrait of a minor youtube celebrity, Shannon Gaga, whose Lady Gaga-inspired videos and performances caused a considerable stir on a Texas college campus.

"I'm so sorry to hear about Henry" by Matt Latham A young woman in denial over the possible death of her brother catches her friend in the middle of a shameful act.

"Postcard from 1952" by Peter Simonite & Annie Gunn Gunn and Simonite recreate old found vintage photos, concentrating on the moments before and after the flash of the camera.  The short film is set to music by Explosions in the Sky.

 

 

APRIL FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

"Sobre La Estapa" by Ty Roberts  In the middle of the Patagonian steppe two gauchos stumble upon a murder and must decipher the fate of the last man standing.  A double-cross unfolds and the culprit must choose between the life of his friend and his own freedom.

 "Various Shorts" by Hello Optimism A sketch comedy group from Austin, TX.  Their shorts are odd, racy, bizarre and hillarious.  We will be showing a few of their works.

"Love In 5 Acts" by Gaia Bonsignore Gaia crafts a strong short story about the perils of being in love while following the guidelines of Dogme 95 filmmaking.

"Powerpoint" by Keller R. Davis Obsession can strangle even the best of us. For Christopher, that one thing is Microsoft Powerpoint... because clip art speaks louder than words.

"Dr.Breakfast" by Stephen Neary  One day at breakfast, a man's soul busts out of his eyeball.  Neary crafts a great animation that is half ren and stimpy half wonder showzen, which is impressive in addition to the fact he drew the majority of the short by hand while commuting on the New York subway. 

 

February FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

Mustachio By Joshua Flanagan and Stephen Gamache

Mustachio must tame his namesake mustache if he's to win the heart of beautiful pen pal Claudette.  Conceived as a "live action Pixar short," with a twirl of the mustache to the silent film era.

T is for Toilet & Other shorts By Lee Hardcastle

T is for Toilet is a Very funny, and disturbing award winning claymation that tells the story of a little boy who is a bit uncomfortable about using the toilet.

We will also be screening other claymation shorts by Mr. Hardcastle throughout the night.

My Shitty Ghost By (the guys at) POSSUMBOX

From the same guys who brought you "SH*T Austinites Say" comes this short film.  Not all ghosts are scary. And yet, not all ghosts are polite, either. This is the story of one such ghost.

The Lost & Found Shop by Caleb Slain                                                             

In a curious shop with unusual merchandise, a callous Shoekeeper searches for a little girl's lost memory while trying to manage volatile customers.

 

 

DECEMBER FILMS AND FILMMAKERS:

Patriarchy by Robert Boler

When Marcus Freeman's father picks him up from jail, he is forced right back into the mental
prison of his father's control. After learning his father's secrets, Marcus must choose between
betraying his own father or following in his clandestine footsteps.

Contact Grey by Tyler T Williams 

Tyler T Williams extends his talent from his amazing array of music videos to the narrative world with his first short film. Tyler is a sublime shooter and a deft editor and his work has a very unique life to it.

The Awkward Conversationalist by Byron Brown
This dinner party guy is a really awkward guy.

One Eyed Don by Byron Brown
Loosely based on the experiences of a former resident of this fair city, Austin Tx.

The Wine Bar by Christian Remde

On a winter night in New York City, an average guy, Henry (Seth Fisher), wanders into an upscale wine bar looking for a beer. Obviously out of place, Henry innocently offends both the snooty Bartender (William Sadler) and Evelyn (Tessa Klein), the pretty young woman quietly reading next to him. When Steven (Ryan Young), Evelyn’s hotheaded boyfriend, comes in looking for a fight, Henry decides to take matters into his own hands. The Wine Bar is a short comedy about saying what you mean and not judging a book by its cover.

Sebastian's Voodoo by Joaquin Baldwin

A voodoo doll must find the courage to save his friends from being pinned to death in this dark, haunting, yet beautiful animated film.

 

October's Film and Filmmakers

Mnemosyne Rising A deep-space transmitter pilot begins to experience unusual flashbacks when he learns he has to return to Earth. 

Miguel Alvarez is an engineer, writer, photographer, and award-winning filmmaker. A recent graduate of the University of Texas, he was the recipient of the Robert Rodriguez/Elizabeth Avellán Award and Warren Skaaren Fellowship.

My Amazing Time Machine Trevor is upset to spend all day with his younger cousin Curtis. That is until he discovers Curtis has a secret hidden in the garage; a time machine that doesn't work quite right.

Andrew Armstrong III a Texas filmmaker who has recently returned from studying Digital Cinema at John Brown University in a tiny town in northwest Arkansas.  I've worked on over 15 short films; directing about half of those.

Mario is the first of 2 films we will play from Joe Nicolosi.  In Mario Joe reimagines what the life of the Nintendo plummer would look like through the lens of an indie film.  The film which started off as a SXSW FILM bumper has gone on to become an internet phenomenon, getting over 1 million views.

#Zombies:Followers of the Dead the second short by Joe is a mockumentary which pokes fun at social media during a zombie apocalypse.

Lambs A Christian family in early 1960s rural Texas takes a turn on a pair of wayward drifter brothers.

Winner "Best Short" Hollywood Film Festival, Official Selection Cannes, written and directed by past U.T. graduate Stephen Huff.

If you don’t know about 5secondfilms.com then you aren’t wasting your time on the internet correctly.  The idea is simple, a film with a funny premise that is only 5 seconds long.  The group has been at it for a few years and have long passed their 500 video mark.  We will be playing a collection of their greatest hits, and asking it's core members some questions about their process.

 

PREVIOUS LINEUPS:

August Films and Filmmakers

The Misfortunes of Ova Moss is about young woman, struck by tragedy, loses herself to her obsession. 

Elissa Marie (artistic director/puppet master) is a visual artist currently living and working in Austin, Tx. Her more recent projects include 2D animatin', comic book illustratin', hat-makin', whiskey-drinkin', puppet-masterin' and all-around trouble-makin'.  Sam Buckner (DP/camera operator) is originally from Ft. Worth, and is studying photocommunications and graphic design at St. Edward's University. He likes to take photos, play music, drink, and talk about women in his spare time.

RETRO FUTURE is a documentary profiling 3 Austin-based chiptunes artists; using both the aesthetics and hardware from decades past, these artists create original music and images with old Nintendo videogame consoles.

JACOB WEISS is a film student at UT; he is training to become an audio engineer, but his curious mind encourages experimentation with music, editing, electronics modification, movie making, and photography.

Sugar Rush Ally babysits for a mysterious family with a secret and when her boyfriend shows up, all hell breaks loose.

Mike Lower is an upcoming filmmaker/shooter/editor, he lives in works in Los Angeles.

FINGERS After losing his index finger in an accident, Paul withdraws into a kaleidoscope of sentimental memories about his missing digit.

Jordan Kerfeld is a filmmaker that is currently working towards a graduate degree in film production from the University of Texas at Austin. He recently completed a short family drama titled “KNUCKLEBALL” and is currently in pre-production on “HOUSEBREAKING,” a thriller set to film in Fall 2011.

UNIPSYCHO: A Documentary is an experimental short about Unicycle Football and the nature of delusion.

David Howe (Director) and Gideon De Villiers (Cinematographer) are local Austin filmmakers and University of Texas graduates. Gideon likes to climb on things and David plays video games.

 PREVIOUS LINEUPS:

June Films and Filmmakers

World Premiere "STEREO IS A LIE" Music Video "Last Call" Dir: Jose Jones

 The story of a teenage girl rebelling, and the gritty downward spiral that follows.

"The Deed Undone"   Dir: Michael Pfister

After discovering a wallet Tim is determined to return it to its owner.  The Deed Undone explores the idea of genuine motivation and instant karma.

"Under"   Dir: Lantz Stevens

Chris is haunted by something he doesn't quite understand.

"Change"   Dir: Lex Lybrand

When a sentient self-service car wash is scammed one too many times, it pairs up with coin-operated machines everywhere to make life a living hell for a would-be con artist.

"Dreamer" and "Ace in the Hole" Dir: Deepak Chetty

DREAMER: Using a combination of visual effects, recorded interviews, sound design and live-action photography, "Dreamer" is an experimental jaunt into the world of recurring dream interpretation.

ACE IN THE HOLE: Two young lovers make a daring escape from the clutches of an evil Madame and her hired gun

 

PREVIOUS LINEUPS:

April Films and Filmmakers

"Twist of Fate" By Aidan Gonzalez In this film we watch as a mystery unfolds between two strangers.  Nothing is what it seems.  The pacing and darkly lit cinematography is sure to send a chill down your spine. Written by Kirklan Morris and Directed by Aidan Gonzalez.  Filmed in L.A. (Malibu) 

 

"When the Guns Fall Silent" By Jake Herrle The short doc tells the story of Ugandan woman, Lillian Akwero, who was abducted at age eight, forced to be a child soldier for the LRA, was impregnated by the rebel leader Joseph Kony, and later escaped, only to live in an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Gulu, sharing a small hut with her four children. This is the story of one woman's struggle to go back home, to overcome the horrors of war, and provide a better life for her children.  Jake Herrle attended Western Kentucky University, where he earned a degree in photojournalism, and embarked upon a career as a newspaper photographer in Memphis and Chicago. He later worked as a staff photographer for CNN/TBS television in Atlanta, before starting his own studio in New York City.

"A Piece Removed" By Richie Schalin A short documentary that tells the story of Alex Katz, a musician who found out that he had a brain tumor.  After his surgery he had to cope with the fact that he was unable to utilize his mind and his body to it's full potential.  And overcoming the odds by re-learning how to do what he loves most, make music.

"Annoud’s Journey" By Javier Bonafont Don't let the picture above fool you “Annoud’s Journey” is a comic observation on the creative process and relationship between film, bricklaying, and the noses of sick dogs. Shot in a variety of film styles and formats, it forms a kaleidoscopic, ridiculous, often hilarious portrait of a neurotic artist questioning his own worth.  Javier Bonafont (Writer-Director), born in Argentina, raised in Los Angeles, received his MFA from UT Austin in 2005.  He has recently worked as a production designer on films such as Five Time Champion, Mnemosyne Rising, and the upcoming Boneboys. He continues to create short subjects and commercials while developing his feature projects Bunnies and Deux Ex Machina.  He is also very interested in the prospect of a paying job.

"Tatooine" By Eric Power (with music by Jeremy Messersmith) This short film/music video gives Star Wars the Paper animation Treatment. Watch and enjoy as the Original Trilogy is retold via paper animation set to the lovely song 'Tatooine' by Jeremy Messersmith.  Sure to make any sci-fi fan smile or shed a tear.

 

PREVIOUS LINEUPS:

February Films and Filmmakers

"Bright Colors" by Bryce Isbell A man in a broken relationship has dark fantasizes about his girlfriend. Bryce Isbell attended film school hosted at La Fémis in Paris, France in 2005. Since that time he has made a name for himself with his electronic music project, FUR, currently based out of Denton, Texas.

 

"Recieve Bacon" by James M. Johnston  A raunchy bathroom tryst is interrupted by an unfortunate case of the giggles. James M. Johnston directs films, grows long beards, cooks vegan food and used to be a bounty hunter. His films include Receive Bacon, Merrily, Merrily, GDMF, and the upcoming Southern Gothic film Knife made with a grant from Rooftop Films.  He's also a stellar producer with projects like the festival favorite St. Nick and the new short film Pioneer starring Will Oldham that just played Sundance

 

"Fox and Bear" by Nathan Bayless & Ronald Short  Fox is a pretentious film snob. Bear is an easy-going omnivore with no cinematic standards. Trouble brews between the two in a local coffee shop during a heated debate over pop-culture in this short rotoscope animated film. (Director) Nathan Bayless and Ronald Short both grew up in Indiana and met in college. They have since collaborated on a number of projects and have worked in various capacities on both big-budget and independent films in Austin. Ronald is currently hard at work on his first feature film, Billi and Theodore, which will go into production this March.

 

"Welcome to the Jungle Gym" by Allen Keller  When Mike McKenzie is hired at Sunnyside Pre-School, he finds himself dragged into a world of bullying, tantrums, and general misbehavior. And that's just the parents.  Writer/Director Allen Keller lives in L.A. and colloborates with some of todays best comic actors in his films and web series.  In his film your sure to spot familiar faces from WEEDS, HUNG, MAD TV, SNL, and more.

"Future Party" by Jeremy von Stilb   Ever wonder what parties will be like in the Future.  We'll thanks to the guys at GENERAL DELIGHT, we take a quick peek at a "Future Party" in Los Angeles in the year 2082.  Jeremy von Stilb is a writer/director based in Austin. He has produced short films, documentaries, music videos and video instillations.  His main influences are Kenneth Anger, Tecate Beer and Beyonce.

 

PREVIOUS LINEUPS:

Jan 3rd 2011 Films and Filmmakers

"By Jude" by Angela Chen 

Angela Chen is an award-winning film director, producer, and editor who uses a highly visual and emotional approach to explore family issues and human relationships. Her works have been screened at many film festivals, including Tribeca, Austin Film Festival, LA Femme FF, Philadelphia AA FF, U.Frame Portugal and Spain. She also loves anything with avocados and thinks she's a tiger. rawr.

Short Indies FIRST ANIMATED SHORT: "Eat Your Brains" by Abby Goldsmith

Abby Goldsmith earned her BFA in Character Animation from the California Institute of the Arts in 2000.  Since then, she's worked in the video game industry as a 2D and 3D animator and artist.  Her animated student films have been screened at festivals such as Annecy International 2001, in Annecy, France; the 1999 and 2000 CalArts Producers Shows; Schizm 2000 in Florida; and the Musuem of Modern Art, 2007, in New York City.  Her current projects include a series of science fiction novels, and a series of animated web episodes using Flash.

"The Grass isn't always Greener" By Parker Severens

Parker Severns is an 23 year old Austin resident filmmaker and a recent UT graduate. He has been making films for as long as he can remember and loves to entertain people.  He has shot and edited several films that have been accepted into film festivals in Little Rock, Chicago, and LA.  Parker plans on continuing to tell stories through film for as long as he is able.

"Housle" by James Austin Longmire & Tristan Love

JAMES LONGMIRE and TRISTAN LOVE  have written, produced, shot, and directed numerous projects in both HD and film (35mm &16mm). Recently they have combined forces with longtime friend Eddie Shore to take on various projects under the name Color Chart. They are frequent collaborators with James Teems and Elizabeth Spear, and with that pair shot a feature length film, The People You Know, in spring of 2010. James, Tristan, and Eddie are also editing their first feature length documentary, about a 25 person band called The Apple Miner Colony. Their short film, Housle, features the music of A Hawk and A Hacksaw and the likeness of Jiri Kabes from the famed Czech rock group Plastic People of the Universe. Housle was shot in 2008 at FAMU film school in Prague.

 

PREVIOUS LINEUPS:

December 6th Films & Filmmakers:

Devin Keane has been making goofy "shot on VHS/Edited with VCR" videos for as long as he can remember.  He since busied up working on many feature film and corporate productions in various positions.  He decided to make  "Zen And The Art of Skipping School" as a nostalgic throwback to his old films, and their tone and style.
It's hard to explain Chris Olson's film "Edge of 290"  Olson, a veteran actor (RUDY,Friday Night Lights) has us following a petty thief, as he begins to mentally unravel, which does not sit well with his live-in girlfriend.  Directed by Chris Olson, written by James Lambert and featuring a soundtrack written and performed by Anne McCue.

If you've worked on a TV or Film project in Austin, chances are you know Jenny Goddard.  When not frequenting the casting department, or working on-set (True Grit,Tree of Life) she's working on her own projects.  She wrote and directed "Weight of the World" a short film about two boys hanging in a tree by their underwear discussing the future ramifications in their lives as a result of the situation.

The film that Adrian Croom brings to Short Indies, is a rare special treat, as it isn't a film at all.  "The Misadventures"  is a Sci-Fi series, that boasts 16 full episodes.  A treat for fans of Star Trek, Stargate, and similar shows, the real charm is the action sequences and the special effects they are able to pull off with a shoe string budget.  The show started off on Austin's Channel 16 public access, and now thanks to word of mouth, bootleg tapes, and the internet, has a strong cult following.  We will show a few highlights from the series, and then talk to the cast and crew.

Recent UT Graduate Brittany Washington has a deep love for film, as well as dance, so says the Michael Jackson tattoo on her arm.  Her love of rhythm is evident in her storytelling and editing.  She shows two films, the first "Bedside Manners" is a short film about that brief but biting and awkward stage of cutting things off in the world of casual sex. People are not always on the same level and emotions are bound to creep up beneath the sheets. Being in a relationship is hard; staying out of one can be harder.

Her second film, "The String" is a short film about the pangs of being bullied. The battleground that is middle school is a tough terrain to navigate for Jesse, the schools punching bag. But when nature gives her an edge against her bully Mary she must decide whether the common thread they share is enough to look pass the pain she has caused.