Although 2024 marks another year where I won’t make it to SXSW in person, I’m lucky enough to have access to the majority of short films screening at the festival, and so have binge-watched my way through them over the last week. Animation undoubtedly reigns supreme this year, with half of my 10 favourites being animated pieces, but as always at SXSW, there’s a diverse programme of films, from moving docs to Wtf classics.
Here are the 10 titles that caught my attention in the 2024 line-up:
A Crab in the Pool – Alexandra Myotte & Jean-Sébastien Hamel
A truly surprising short, A Crab in the Pool initially sucks you in with its strange introduction to the world of two siblings left to fend for themselves on a hot summer’s day, before leaving you reeling from the gut-punch impact of its narrative. Reminiscent of a contemporary Mike Judge animation, but with a surreal twist,...
Here are the 10 titles that caught my attention in the 2024 line-up:
A Crab in the Pool – Alexandra Myotte & Jean-Sébastien Hamel
A truly surprising short, A Crab in the Pool initially sucks you in with its strange introduction to the world of two siblings left to fend for themselves on a hot summer’s day, before leaving you reeling from the gut-punch impact of its narrative. Reminiscent of a contemporary Mike Judge animation, but with a surreal twist,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Rob Munday
- Directors Notes
Have you ever showed up to speed dating only to find the opposite side of the barcade banquette occupied by a Puritan it-girl, Chicano art collective or trans-femme disco-dancing granny? For that matter, has your scorecard of prospective singles ever included A24? Hulu? ABC News? If not, then you’ve never been on the floor to pitch your latest film project at Film Independent Fast Track.
Now in its 21st year, Fast Track seeks to inject some much-needed capital and support into a diverse range of deserving independent film projects, both fiction and nonfiction. Taking place online December 4–6, the program is an intensive four-day film-financing market; participating filmmakers are connected with established financiers, production companies, agents, managers and other pros who can move their current projects forward.
Making friends at Fast Track
“This year’s Fast Track line-up of projects reflects the current landscape’s desire for bold, innovative and entertaining films.
Now in its 21st year, Fast Track seeks to inject some much-needed capital and support into a diverse range of deserving independent film projects, both fiction and nonfiction. Taking place online December 4–6, the program is an intensive four-day film-financing market; participating filmmakers are connected with established financiers, production companies, agents, managers and other pros who can move their current projects forward.
Making friends at Fast Track
“This year’s Fast Track line-up of projects reflects the current landscape’s desire for bold, innovative and entertaining films.
- 12/12/2023
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
AFI Fest 2023 wrapped on Sunday, and with it came another roster of winning features and shorts likely to land more acclaim as this awards season progresses.
The Live Action Grand Jury Prize winner was “Closing Dynasty,” directed by Lloyd Lee Choi and featuring a wide-eyed, 7-year-old’s view of New York City, while Sean Wang’s “Năi Nai & Wài Pó,” a heartwarming tale of the filmmaker’s two beloved grandmothers, took the Documentary Short Grand Jury Prize. The latter title also happened to win the 2023 ShortList Film Festival Audience Award at TheWrap’s long-running celebration of the best and brightest emerging moviemakers.
In the Animated Short category, Kenzie Sutton’s “Chutes” — an investigative look at capitalism and society through the guise of toys — took the Grand Jury Prize.
The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short will be eligible for the 2023 Best Live Action Short,...
The Live Action Grand Jury Prize winner was “Closing Dynasty,” directed by Lloyd Lee Choi and featuring a wide-eyed, 7-year-old’s view of New York City, while Sean Wang’s “Năi Nai & Wài Pó,” a heartwarming tale of the filmmaker’s two beloved grandmothers, took the Documentary Short Grand Jury Prize. The latter title also happened to win the 2023 ShortList Film Festival Audience Award at TheWrap’s long-running celebration of the best and brightest emerging moviemakers.
In the Animated Short category, Kenzie Sutton’s “Chutes” — an investigative look at capitalism and society through the guise of toys — took the Grand Jury Prize.
The Grand Jury Award winners for Live Action Short, Documentary Short and Animated Short will be eligible for the 2023 Best Live Action Short,...
- 10/30/2023
- by Jason Clark
- The Wrap
In a city where you can discover a film festival every weekend of the year, perhaps the most unique of such offerings is located in Rockaway, Queens. Taking place just a few blocks from the beach, the 6th edition of the Rockaway Film Festival will occur August 19-August 27, and we’re pleased to exclusively debut the lineup of award-winning documentaries, premieres, live music and dance performances, shorts programmes, and rare repertory screenings.
Organized by Sam Fleischner and Courtney Muller and sponsored by Blundstone®, Istic Illic Pictures, and NYC Ferry, this year’s edition will open at their flagship outdoor theater, Arverne Cinema (constructed using scraps of boardwalk that were destroyed during Hurricane Sandy), with Disney’s famous feature masterpiece Fantasia. There will be a program of shorts preceding it by cine-magician Oskar Fishinger, whose groundbreaking animations changed the cinematic frontier. The festival will also present the New York Premiere of...
Organized by Sam Fleischner and Courtney Muller and sponsored by Blundstone®, Istic Illic Pictures, and NYC Ferry, this year’s edition will open at their flagship outdoor theater, Arverne Cinema (constructed using scraps of boardwalk that were destroyed during Hurricane Sandy), with Disney’s famous feature masterpiece Fantasia. There will be a program of shorts preceding it by cine-magician Oskar Fishinger, whose groundbreaking animations changed the cinematic frontier. The festival will also present the New York Premiere of...
- 8/4/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Former FilmRise director of acquisitions Faye Tsakas has been hired as VP Development and Production at Passage Pictures, the indie production company behind films including Marjorie Prime and the upcoming biopic Tesla starring Ethan Hawke. She will work with CEO Uri Singer to develop and produce new film and TV projects and be based in Los Angeles.
At FilmRise, Tsakas oversaw new release acquisitions and helped secure films including Marjorie Prime, Michael Almereyda and Passage’s sci-fi drama starring Lois Smith and John Hamm that won the Alfred P. Sloan prize at Sundance in 2017. She was also involved in deals for The Miseducation of Cameron Post, The Boy Downstairs, Manifesto, Who We Are Now and Dayveon.
Tsakas will be on board for Tesla, written and directed by Almereyda, which begins shooting in New York in the spring.
Passage Pictures’ slate also includes I Am Rose Fatou, penned by Ted Melfi; The King Of Oil,...
At FilmRise, Tsakas oversaw new release acquisitions and helped secure films including Marjorie Prime, Michael Almereyda and Passage’s sci-fi drama starring Lois Smith and John Hamm that won the Alfred P. Sloan prize at Sundance in 2017. She was also involved in deals for The Miseducation of Cameron Post, The Boy Downstairs, Manifesto, Who We Are Now and Dayveon.
Tsakas will be on board for Tesla, written and directed by Almereyda, which begins shooting in New York in the spring.
Passage Pictures’ slate also includes I Am Rose Fatou, penned by Ted Melfi; The King Of Oil,...
- 2/20/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
FilmRise will mount an awards season campaign for “The Miseducation of Cameron Post,” Variety has learned. The indie studio plans to push Chloë Grace Moretz in the lead actress category and seems to believe the star has the best chance of earning some plaudits love.
“The Miseducation of Cameron Post” centers on a high school junior (Moretz) who is sent to gay conversion camp after she is caught making out with her female friend at a homecoming dance. The film debuted at Sundance, where it won the grand jury prize and received strong reviews.
“Chloë deserves to be recognized for playing such a nuanced role and for her work championing the film and its mission,” said Faye Tsakas, director of acquisitions at FilmRise.
The indie studio will also push the film for best picture, screenplay, director, and for the work of cast members such as Jennifer Ehle and John Gallagher.
“The Miseducation of Cameron Post” centers on a high school junior (Moretz) who is sent to gay conversion camp after she is caught making out with her female friend at a homecoming dance. The film debuted at Sundance, where it won the grand jury prize and received strong reviews.
“Chloë deserves to be recognized for playing such a nuanced role and for her work championing the film and its mission,” said Faye Tsakas, director of acquisitions at FilmRise.
The indie studio will also push the film for best picture, screenplay, director, and for the work of cast members such as Jennifer Ehle and John Gallagher.
- 8/23/2018
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Film to screen on June 5 in New York to commemorate Pride Month.
Brooklyn-based film and TV distributor FilmRise has acquired worldwide rights to Julie Sokolow’s documentary Woman On Fire.
The film premiered at the 2016 Doc NYC Film Festival and centres on Brooke Guinan, New York City’s first openly transgender firefighter.
Guinan’s father and grandfather served as New York firefighters, yet she experiences obstacles in her career in what remains a male-dominated profession.
Woman On Fire will screen to the public on June 5 at Bam Rose Cinemas in partnership with Brooklyn Pride. Guinan will be honoured as a Grand Marshal at this year’s Lgbt Pride March in New York on June 25.
Danny Yourd produced the documentary and Michael Killen, Kathy Dziubek, and Jim Kreitzburg of production company Animal Inc served as executive producers.
“We feel privileged to be able to share Brooke Guinan’s remarkable story of strength and resilience,” FilmRise CEO [link...
Brooklyn-based film and TV distributor FilmRise has acquired worldwide rights to Julie Sokolow’s documentary Woman On Fire.
The film premiered at the 2016 Doc NYC Film Festival and centres on Brooke Guinan, New York City’s first openly transgender firefighter.
Guinan’s father and grandfather served as New York firefighters, yet she experiences obstacles in her career in what remains a male-dominated profession.
Woman On Fire will screen to the public on June 5 at Bam Rose Cinemas in partnership with Brooklyn Pride. Guinan will be honoured as a Grand Marshal at this year’s Lgbt Pride March in New York on June 25.
Danny Yourd produced the documentary and Michael Killen, Kathy Dziubek, and Jim Kreitzburg of production company Animal Inc served as executive producers.
“We feel privileged to be able to share Brooke Guinan’s remarkable story of strength and resilience,” FilmRise CEO [link...
- 6/2/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
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