It’s time that we ring in the new year with the first of our Monthly Screening series! Welcome to 2024, everyone! To celebrate the changing of the calendar (and because we just love short films), we have an impressive selection of creations from some very talented filmmakers! Over a dozen films were selected for this month’s screening, so let’s start the year off right and get into the films!
Canary – Directed by Denali Chin, this is a difficult but extremely well-executed film that stars Aglaya Semenova and Tea Watson as two sisters who are kept under lock and key by their father (Regen Wilson). Expected to not be seen or to go outside, the two sisters live under the thumb of their father, suffering his bouts of anger, doing all the chores and living a pretty regimented lifestyle. But that all changes when they find their father’s discarded cell phone in the trash, allowing them a better view of what life could be like outside. That and other outside circumstances send the two sisters down a life-changing path out of the system of abuse that they’ve been in throughout their lives.
The Stitch – Written and directed by Yashira Ponce, this film stars Jade Santana, Stefan Dragino, Michah Kobayashi and Joseph Covino, and focuses on something too many women have gone through after having a baby: the Husband Stitch, a procedure used primarily for the sake of the male partner, and often done without the consent of the female partner. Elena, a new mother, begins to experience pain while with her partner Andrew after recently giving birth, prompting her to go back to the doctor who handled her delivery to get an explanation as to why. It’s revealed that the Husband Stitch procedure was done to her without the consent or knowledge of her or her husband, much to the shock of them both. This is a necessary and honest film about what a woman can go through after having this procedure, and says so much about the way women who give birth are treated afterwards, often without their permission.
Slut – Sexual health is an important thing, but so is self-worth. This is a lesson that Kendra (Ashton Solecki) learns when she finds out she has genital herpes, a diagnosis that sends her into a tailspin that causes her to question her self-worth, her value as a sexual partner or love interest, and her perception as a slut. This is all taken into consideration as she finds all of this out on that morning before a big date with a guy she’s talked up quite a bit in Tom (Joey Heyworth), and struggles with how Tom is going to see her when she inevitably has to tell him about her status. It’s a fun film that really produces a wonderful message of self-confidence and that a diagnosis of this nature isn’t necessarily a death sentence.
Las Nogas – Catya Plate’s breathtaking stop-motion short film is something that needs to be seen to be believed, as it’s stunning visuals and unique take on ecological crises is nearly indescribable, but brilliant nonetheless. With the world left a dry wasteland by humans, the beings of 500 years in the future must find a way to bring back the rain by curing the bizarre creatures known as the Homeys. It’s a simply gorgeous and wild film, and the voice actors (Clarissa Jacobson, Misty Lee, Alessandra Levy, John McBride and Phil Miller) are all excellent. Plate should really be commended by this obvious labor of love that turned into something truly special.
Refugia – A beautiful film by actor and activist Liana Cornell, this film is a documentary about the need for conservation efforts and to assist the goal of affecting climate change. As Cornell travels the coast of Australia, they take what they dub a “carbon neutral road trip”, speaking to those who are doing all they can to help the effort in mitigating climate change and continuing conservation efforts among the many effected systems on our planet. We hear the stories of those people, with Cornell presenting in the perspective of the five core elements of nature – fire, air, water, earth and spirit, in a way that is truly brilliant and inspiring. Not only does Cornell hear the stories and highlight the efforts made by these heroic activists, she also helps the cause, donating funds to those doing the good work for the planet that is so desperately needs.
Manicure – Who knew manicures could be one of the most tense things ever watched? Carlos Enrique Tejera’s film about a woman giving herself a manicure before her 30th birthday party, this film starts as a slow, delicate piece that takes a sudden and uncomfortable turn as Eleanor (Stef Dawson, who is incredible in this) begins to get herself ready, only for interruptions, anxiety and far too high demands for herself change things for the worse. Also starring Gianina Cavallaro, this film ramps things up in a unique and brilliant way that should really keep audiences enraptured throughout.
Hands – Created by the Spectrum Laboratory’s Film Class, this sweet film was written by Shane McKaskle, Amos Stillwell, Samara Wolpe and Jason Weissbrod and was directed by Stillwell and Weissbrod. It stars McKaskle, along with Caroline Corry as they tell a love story, all told by using the hands of the actors. It’s a beautiful and fun story that uses some silly puns and some delightful humor to tell the story of two people who fall in love after finding each other while waiting for the bus. This is a film that is hard not to love, as it’s so genuine and joyful. A big congrats to the entire team that worked on this, and who should be applauded for making the whole thing in only five days.
Safe Place – A film by Scott Klumb and Jennifer Msumba, this piece shows the complications of life for Ellie (Amber Patino) as she struggles with her own mental health issues. From the trauma of her parent’s fighting, her own experiences with self-harm, Ellie is dealing with a lot, and when an argument between her parents gets particularly heated, Ellie calls upon Noah (Nik Sanchez), who seems to be a source of comfort. The two continue to explore their own connection as they find each other feeling safer and more comfortable around one another. It’s a touching and beautiful story that should really inspire hope in others who are sharing in these similar struggles.
Bamboozled – This Ava Lauren Grayson directed and Mary Yu Brown written film is a playful send-up of the classic play by Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac. There’s a bit of a twist though, as there’s not one, but two Cyrano’s in this situation, and it all winds up having a beautiful ending. The cast of Jordan Nicole Wall, Cole Sibus, Kennedy Jean Garcia and Jared Izen are all fantastic, with all four special-needs actors doing an excellent job in delivering on both the heart-warming romance and the suddenly hilarious moments.
The Electro-Rocker – Chris Edgar writes, directs and does the music for this very silly and heart-warming film about a young man (Alejandro Fuenzalida) who loves music, specifically 80’s heavy metal. By some circumstance, the personification of his love of rock present itself in the form of a stereotype of that metal genre, the big-haired, shining hair metal lead singer (Jacob Alden Roa), whom only Jamie can see. The titular Electro-Rocker follows Jamie around, helping with his confidence and eagerness to get into a band and meet girls, all resulting in some pretty funny and very outlandish moments that are sure to entertain. The music is awesome, really channeling the genre it’s paying homage to, and the actors, Roa especially, really nail the aesthetic.
Kept – An incredibly tense and terrifying film, it follows two friends Natalia (Christina Braa) and Charlotte (Stevie Sailor Marie) as they rent out an house in the middle of nowhere. Their host, Dean (Anton Nassif) makes his presence felt, and as their stay continues, more supernatural things begin to happen that we as the audience get to see, and only becomes apparent those Natalia and Charlotte when it becomes far more dangerous. Written and directed by the duo of Alex Geschwind and Steve Celestin, this is a fantastic thriller that leaves so much to the imagination, for better or worse, when it comes to the fates of the two women involved. Excellent work by the cast and everyone involved.
Just Passing Time – Brigid Marshall’s film, starring Elaine Chu and Joe Willand, and it’s a heartbreaking but still kind of sweet tale of love and how it can fall apart. Sarah (Chu) and Phillip (Willand) are experiencing a very painful breakup, and as we go back in time to their relationship, we see the moment they meet, parts of their lives together, both good and bad, and as the film progresses, we go back and forth between three time periods: the before/when they met, their relationship, and it’s tumultuous end, each time getting a bit more perspective on how everything got to this point. It’s so well executed, and the actors are phenomenal. And as the film ends, we get one last point of perspective on this that puts everything into question in a way that still feels very satisfying.
Aikane – Dean Hamer, Joe Wison and Daniel Sousa combine forces in this gorgeous animated film that was written by Hamer, and focuses on the ancient Hawaiian tradition of Aikane, the act of having “an intimate friend of the same sex”. It’s stated in the film that this was a common practice among all levels of society in this culture, and here we see a warrior, in defense of his village, get injured and presumed to be dead, only to be rescued by an octopus, who through a mystical sequence of events, is given their own human form. This relationship becomes a touching and beautiful love story between the two as they love and defend one another through multiple harrowing circumstances, and are welcomed and beloved by their community. The animation is extremely beautiful, and this is one of the highlights of the screening, both because of it’s beauty and its message.
Pas De Deux – Written and directed by Kaitlyn Kelly, this is a gorgeous film that stars Akeem Edwards and Nateli Ruiz as two dancers who are also deeply in love. When Dalia (Ruiz) tragically passes away, Quentin (Edwards) has to find a way to not only live through the loss of his lover, but also his dance partner, and find a way to perform again or lose his spot within the performance space he occupies. In his attempt, we see Quentin struggle and attempt to process Dalia’s death and perform with a new dance partner, despite how difficult that is. There is so much beauty and pain in this film, and the performers show that in a multitude of ways, from their acting to the emotionally evocative dance sequences. Edwards is especially excellent in this role, giving a deep and vulnerable performance that truly needs to be experienced.
Breathe – Destinee McCaster and Kiana Taylor star in this film that was written by MJ Adamson and directed by Vincent J. Walker that sees McCaster as Jamie, a non-binary teen that is struggling with their identity, their relationships and their vices as they spiral into a realm of reliance on anti-anxiety meds and other forms of chemical distractions to deal with their own complicated feelings on their family, their relationships and figuring out how they feel about themselves. It’s a difficult but necessary film that can show the ways in which young people have to battle just to figure out who they are. McCaster is fantastic in displaying this struggle, with the supporting cast doing a great job in assisting in telling this story. This is a story that should resonate with many, and kudos to everyone involved for helping to tell it.
Ghost Girl – Paavo Hanninen’s film about two friends who go down very different paths is one of nuance and the complications of friendship. As one friend (Sepideh Moafi) prepares to leave her home city of New Orleans for a television pilot, her best friend and fellow creative (Jamie Neumann) suddenly attempts to sabotage her big break, giving a layered and complicated look at their relationship and its long-festering issues. It’s a film that feels as though it has a very focused scope, but one that really shines a spotlight on the ways that relationships and get complex and difficult, especially in times of great change. Both actors are fantastic, with Moafi giving an air of being both ambitious and resigned all at once, especially when it becomes apparent that her friend is doing all she can to stop her from living her dream, and Neumann is both incredible in her more physical scenes as a dancer and also the expressions of feelings of jealousy, abandonment and loss, once it becomes apparent that someone close to her is moving in a different direction.
That will be all for us this month! Thanks to all of the filmmakers and everyone involved in helping to deliver these incredible films! And thanks to the readers who follow along with us and check in on these monthly screenings! We deeply appreciate it. Here’s to many more in the year to come!
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