When it comes to the Oscars, there are usually two kinds of movie fans. People who are about that cinema life and watch tons of movies every week using movie passes and know damn near every nomination in all major categories. Most people though?
Most enjoy a good movie theater visit whenever they can find the time, watch the occasional documentary/short film/indie flick, and get wild invested when something they’ve watched is nominated. Oh that low budget Croatian joint I watched at 1:37am after my sister’s birthday party is nominated for a Cinematography Oscar? THAT’S MY MOVIE NOW. I’m an executive producer, marketing director, and key grip for this film I now ride for.
But It’s difficult to stumble across a future Oscar darling, so I’m here to sift through the potential and shed light on a few short films that you will definitely find yourself rooting for after witnessing the power that can get packed into a well written, acted, and shot 10-50 minute production.
The Early Frontrunner
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent: Live Action short film
Armed forces board a train that isn’t supposed to be stopped at their current location. Our main character, Dragan, is clearly concerned with the ethics of this stop and frisk ID move these decorated soldiers thugs were pulling. Tensions are heightened by the reveal made by a man traveling in the same train car as Dragan. He tries to put everyone at ease, though the way the rest of the story plays out makes you feel anything but, thanks to the man who could not remain silent.
Behind the Scenes:
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent is directed by Nebojša Slijepčević and produced by Katarina Prpić and Danijel Pek. Nebojša and Katarina were gracious enough to hold a Q&A after the screening and discussed how and why they decided to bring this atrocity to life that is the first Croatian short to win the prestigious Cannes Palme d’Or.
Katarina: “This massacre was so impactful. One of the first conversations before making the film was how accurate to the real events it would be. We agreed that we’d be true to the event, but we also didn’t want to track the info that wouldn’t be important to the general public. No mention of the year or place because it’s not the point to tell you when and where but to highlight a character who spoke up, despite knowingly fearing death. And also the focus on the man who didn’t speak up.”
Nebojša: “We didn’t want to make a history lesson with this film. Majority of us in this situation remain silent.”
Katarina: “Think about the moments where you have the opportunity to do something. What is fair and what is justice?”
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent is partially dedicated to Tomo Buzov – the retired military man who spoke up.
The Feel Good Story
A Bear Named Wojtek: Animated short film
Have you ever heard the one about the bear that fought Nazis? Now that I have your attention, let me show some love to Wojtek and his contributions to the world!
He trained as a soldier in the Polish army, mimicked his brothers in arms perfectly, carried artillery in the Battle of Monte Cassino, took down Hitler, rose in the military ranks, and entertained the masses all for a few dates and the love of his companions. A Bear Named Wojtek is the beautifully animated true story of the friendship between a bear and a Polish soldier during World War II. It’s a tale that is bound to garner adoration and affection from animation aficionados and animal lovers of all ages.
Behind The Scenes:
The TV paint art style is sure to impress animators in the biz, especially when you find out the color backgrounds were hand painted on watercolor paper then scanned in. This story begins at Glasgow School of Art in the 1990s. Director Iain Gardner was a student there and coincidentally enjoyed drawing at Edinburgh Zoo. “I sketched and animated a polar bear for my degree show,” he reveals in an interview. “Unbeknownst to me at the time, the enclosure the polar bear inhabited used to be Wojtek the Bear’s. One of my tutors at the time, Dave Harding, sculpted Wojtek during the ’70s, having drawn him from life in the 1960s — presumably from the same spot I stood. Currently, my studio is located at Edinburgh University’s former veterinary school, and Wojtek’s remains were brought here for examination after he passed!”
Fast forward 30 years and Gardner’s decade long labor of love is finally getting the recognition it deserves. A Bear Named Wojtek is up for consideration at Animafest Gdansk in Poland and one of the lucky contenders to make the long list for the Animated Short Film Academy Award.
The Warzone Reality Check
Once Upon A Time In Ukraine – Documentary short
Plenty of documentaries have been made about Ukraine over the last 2 years, but how many have been made through the lens of children? With creativity and imagination, they have transformed backyards and playgrounds destroyed by missiles, invented fairy tales where vegetable armies vanquish Russian attackers, and carried on the Ukrainian tradition of music and dance in bombed out studios. Life behind the frontlines as seen through the eyes of the children who will inherit a country struggling to survive a brutal invasion.
Explosions are heard in the distance of the opening scene, followed by a child saying, “Most people know of the things happening in Ukraine,” but it isn’t until she mentions the exact date and time of the first Russian bombing that you feel the heartbreaking gravity that so many children are facing with the fallout of these 2 nations. Once Upon a Time in Ukraine dares to bring you to the gut-wrenching reality of war in unflinching detail.
“When they weren’t shooting, Mom ran to the house to make borscht,” a child says. “There is no day that was most terrible. They were all the most terrible” says another as the camera scans scenes from war torn cities like Bucha, Iman, Mariupol, and Kherson.
Behind the Scenes:
Director Betsy West followed up this screening with details of how Earl Mack, a prominent New Yorker found out he has Ukrainian heritage and subsequently commissioned a small Ukrainian crew to film children amidst the terror of a war. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when a personal attachment comes into play.
Heartfelt and Informative
LUKi and the Lights: Animated short film
LUKi and the Lights is about a robot full of life, surrounded by good friends and soccer. One day he notices his robotic body beginning to malfunction and a robodoc visit later, he is diagnosed with ALS. You know Lou Gehrig’s disease? For those who are still unsure about what ailment I’m referring to, this movie was made for you.
ALS is a fatal motor neuron disease that causes progressive degeneration of nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. The nervous system breaks down, muscles weaken and impacts a person’s physical abilities until they are unable to move, speak and eventually, breathe. While recent medical advancement and therapy can slow down the disease, there is currently no cure for ALS.
LUKi & the Lights is a silent film – An intentional decision to tell LUKi’s story through animation and simple robotic sounds, allowing families of all languages around the world to watch the film and discuss ALS and other Motor Neuron Diseases in their native tongue.
Behind the Scenes:
Inspired by Sascha Groen and Anjo Snijders whose 2017 diagnosed lit a fire in them to do something about this seldomly discussed, yet decimating disease. They came up with the character Luki and the idea of the light bulbs representing the different parts of the body that gradually become nonfunctional. The ALS foundation discovered this LUKi character, encouraged the family to make the animation at a reduced cost and once they found Toby Cochran and Big Grin, the filmmaking was underway. Then grim reality set in as they realized they have to work overtime to create this film before Anjo was no longer with us. Luckily, Anjo and his family got to see the film premiere in the Netherlands 14 days before he passed away.
LUKi & the Lights may be a silent film, but it is packed with so much emotion throughout the film, you barely notice the minimized volume. They used the seasons of the year to showcase time passing so you really understand how quickly this can affect someone. Anjo was a builder while he was still with us, and that’s why you can see the main character build a wheelchair to use in the film. A nice touch by the filmmakers.
In Case You Missed It
In The Garden of Tulips – Live Action short film
The official synopsis for this one is that at the height of the Iran-Iraq War, Caroline takes a final car ride with her father through the Iranian countryside. It’s honestly the perfect peek behind the veil, because this short isn’t driven by what happens on this ride, but the emotions that are radiating off the screen during each interaction. This film may be a year older than the rest on this list, but Caroline embarking on her impossible journey, a journey thousands of Iranians have been forced to take over the decades, is so relevant that everyone should have the opportunity to witness this labor of love that painstakingly parallels atrocities happening today, despite being set in 1998.
The cinematography of the 14-min long journey is truly masterful work as the look of Iran is captured so well despite being shot in LA. Ava Lalezarzadeh and Ethan Rains are 2 actors I want to see in more prominent roles after the performances they put on.
What was truly striking was the director’s ability to infuse moments of beautiful playfulness into certain parts of the film, that cut through the intensity of the subject matter. When a film revolves around Caroline and “the singular moment where she was thrust into adulthood,” you have to find ways to balance the intensity of such a pivotal moment in life.
Behind the Scenes:
Director Julia Elihu and actress Ava Lalezarzadeh, whom are both Iranian American, explain that this film is dedicated to the Iranians who were forced from their home at the height of the Iran-Iraq war. A film that was inspired by Lalezarzadeh’s mother who left Iran during the same war.
A huge thank you to the Bryant Park Hotel for hosting this screening of powerful short films.
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