Short Films, they’re pretty sweet right? I’ve always been a fan of short stories, so perhaps my love of short films is a natural extension of my admiration for concise storytelling*. After finding the Science Fiction + Fantasy Short Film Festival, it got me thinking about some of my favorite shorts. I have far too many to list here and, like my reading habits, they flow across nearly ever genre you can imagine. But, I thought it might be fun to give you a glimpse at a few of them.
One of the best things about all the video sites out there is the ability for independent filmmakers to present their work in a venue where hundreds and possibly thousands of eyes can find it. The films you’ll find below are produced by independent filmmakers (which means that I resisted my urge to throw a few Pixar shorts at you).
If you’re hungry for more later, then I strongly suggest you head over to Indy Mogul. You can view their webshow, which provides previews of various short films grouped around a particular theme, and then head over to their blog page where you can view each featured short film in its entirety. If you enjoy short films, then prepare to lose a lot of time and productivity to that site.
Want to see a few of my favorite short films floating around the internet?
Some shorts I love
The Aviatrix
A story about a woman coping with a cancer diagnosis and escaping into a world of comic book super heroes of her own creation. Anne draws The Aviatrix and we’re treated to scenes of the character in action as she imagines them. The Aviatrix hero scenes are stylized-reminiscences of 50’s and 60’s hero movies and provide a brilliant counter-weight to the drama of Anne’s very real sickness and struggle. This is also an incredibly well shot short.
But wait, there’s more, including a few comedies and a zombie-infested love story. Follow me after the jump and bring your popcorn.
60 Cups of Coffee
Okay, well this one isn't exactly sci fi or fantasy, at least not directly, but it's one of my favorites anyway. A man decides to test out an urban legend he's heard, wherein drinking 60 cups of coffee will kill you. Only one way to do that, find some roadside diner and get to drinking. It isn't long before everyone in the diner is involved in the experiment though, either through wagering on the outcome or as concerned onlookers.
Super Heroes (NSFW: Language)
Super Heroes won Best Short Film honors during the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. It's about a couple who are looking to spice things up and accidentally become super heroes while selling their home. Or at least, they look like it as they flee through the streets. This is a fun film that I highly recommend.
I Love Sarah Jane (NSFW: violence)
Not safe for work, this one is (probably). Here's the story of a young man whose love for Sarah Jane, a local girl, knows no bounds. Despite bullies, the near total collapse of society, and roaming (and not so roaming) zombies, Jimbo carries on, determined to get close to Sarah. As you might expect, this isn't easy, and Sarah's attachment to the zombie she's tied up in her yard along with the constant harassment of the town bullies, makes for a tough atmosphere for flirting. I really enjoyed this one. It's dark, not as funny as it might sound on the outset, but very well done. Even someone who's not into zombies (like, say, ME!) can dig it.
Robot Bastard!
There's just one more, but I'm not going to embed it as it doesn't have a smooth embed option with which I'm happy. You can legally download it from the film's site though and I encourage you to either watch it or download it there. The film is a campy throwback to old robot/monster movies. You have a man in a robot outfit battling space creatures while attempting to rescue the President's daughter who has been kidnapped by the nefarious Blood-Mamba. It's cheesy action fun all the way that comes complete with the line, "I'm getting to old for this."
View or Download Robot Bastard! HERE.
*Well, that's not fair, you can write a 500-page novel and still be concise, I suppose.
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