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A Fear of Change
A new short film anthology is set to hit streaming, we roundup recent festival winners, + our latest featured reviews
Jason Sondhi
August 24, 2024
It finally happened, my account got switched to the new Vimeo film page design. 😔
I’ve helped build enough stuff on the web to know that audiences always hate anything new, but then…they get used to it. It’s funny though how knowing a thing doesn’t, in any way, affect your feelings in the moment because I’ve been hovering my cursor over the player all week looking for that heart or watch later button with increasing exasperation.
I can see the logic though — it’s nice to have that big player that spans the screen—that’s something we’ve prioritized on Short of the Week and Shortverse. We also redid the Shortverse film page earlier this year to make opportunities for engagement more prominent, just as Vimeo does here. I’m sure someday this new design will be remembered with nostalgic affection, but for now, I’m just your basic whiny user who hates change! 😂
With gripes out of the way, this edition of Shorts Weekly has for you:
Our latest Short of the Week Official Selections, including a formally stylish documentary and a fun queer genre-bender
Curated links from the world of film including word about a new short film anthology from the creators of Love Death + Robots.
Interesting festival announcements galore!
Let’s begin.
🔗 10 Things We’re Paying Paying Attention To
Love Death + Robots fans can rejoice! From Blur, the studio behind the acclaimed sci-fi animation anthology comes Secret Level, a new project creating short films based on beloved video games.
Are you ready for a Chick-Fil-A streaming service? While everyone is evincing concern over the Hollywood studios, companies you wouldn’t expect are getting in the content game—like my local hospital chain.
Embarrassing mix-up, or cynical marketing genius? The 1st trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis quoted negative reviews from eminent critics for some of the filmmaker’s legendary films like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Turns out, the quotes were fake.
Chinese companies are getting into consumer generative AI. TikTok parent, Bytedance, has a new text-to-video product called Jimeng (available only in China for now) and I’ve been seeing buzz online for another text-to-video service called KlingAI.
In further AI news, if you’ve wanted to try Midjourney out but didn’t want to fuss with its Discord-based interface, the text-to-image generator is finally available on the web.
Our friends at Video Consortium have launched Rough Cut Mag, a new digital home for their editorial content. Start with the latest ep of their podcast featuring S/W Alums Scott Faris and Meg Griffiths.
Applications are open for AFI’s prestigious DWW+ program. Formerly called the “Directing Workshop for Women” the esteemed 50-year-old program is a 1yr+ intensive workshop and mentorship program around the creation of a short film. Recent S/W-featured filmmakers to participate include Vanessa Beletic, Kelly Pike, and Em Weinstein.
A manager/producer reaches out and says they love your work, then sends a list of 3 ideas for you to consider. What should you do?
The love-fest for Tubi continues with the NyTimes playing up the underdog angle, calling the Fox-owned AVOD service “The Little Streamer That Could”.
One of those articles that seems written specifically for me, but maybe you’ll enjoy it too? “They Don’t Make Anime Like They Used To (And That’s Ok)”
🎊 Festival Updates
Our intermittent updates on the world of film festivals. This week we relay fresh links and a few lineup and award announcements.
Paul Trillo, Miriam de Rosa, and Richard Misek in conversation at Locarno
A few weeks back I mentioned esteemed video essay creator Kevin B. Lee was leading a symposium at Locarno. Videos of the sessions have now dropped.
Hollyshorts announced its winners. The festival qualifies 4 films for Oscar each year and perennial participant Ben Proudfoot (The Final Copy of Ilon Specht) will once again be a contender. Joining him are S/W alum Nina Gantz (Wander to Wonder), Adam J. Graves (Anuja), and the Grand Prize winner, Jordanian/Palestinian filmmaker Dina Naser (Amplified).
Melbourne also handed out awards. Palme d’Or winner The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent took the International prize, while The Meaningless Daydreams of Augie & Celeste took home Best Australian short.
Short of the Week alum Ivar Aase is the Best of Fest Winner at Salute Your Shorts for his work Complications. This is an LA fest that Céline developed quite a bit of affection for after jurying for it last year, and the winners, which you can spy on their Instagram, are very strong.
Speaking of jurying, shoutout to the Drama International Short Film Festival in Greece which will have Céline on its international student competition jury in a week and a half. Celebrated filmmaker Thanasis Neofotistos programmed the section!
New York Film Festival is known as a buzzy award launchpad, but its Currents section celebrates innovative and provocative filmmaking. 28 shorts are in this year’s lineup including a new film from a Chinese artist I quite like, Lei Lei.
Doc NYC has named the latest honorees of its annual “40 under 40” list. Congrats to Short of the Week featured filmmakers, Jimmy Goldblum (director: A Broken House), J.M Harper (editor: Don’t Go Tellin’ Your Momma), & Will Miller (producer: Nuisance Bear) for securing spots!
The £30,000 Iris Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in LGBTQ+ filmmaking. The 35-film shortlist has now been announced, with the winner to be named at the upcoming festival.
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