This year from September 19th to 29th, the DC Shorts Film Festival will screen over 150 international films in 6 theaters in and around Washington DC. This year’s 11 day event has a special focus on Russian filmmakers and has the largest collection of Russian shorts in the country. The festival will show shorts from 23 nations with genres including drama, comedy, documentary, animation, and more.
In the Animation category, the number one must see is Ed.
Lasting 14 minutes, Ed portrays a man who leads an amazing life, but wants to kill himself. The story is told in brief clips alternating between the two sequences of his life. One set of clips starts with him as a young man and goes forward, showing all the amazing things he has done in his life. The other set of clips starts with him committing suicide and goes backward depicting the events in reverse order to how he got there. The two clips meet in the middle and it all becomes clear.
The story is sad and beautiful, but it is one that has been told a million times. What sets this film apart is the fantastic animation, and the brilliant way they tell the story. Although the story is old, the method is original and a must see.
Must-Sees:
Ed
14 Minutes | Animation | Brazil | DC Premiere
Ed has an extraordinary life, with many loves and adventures. So why would he want to end it?
Pervobytny Papa ("The Primaeval Father")
3 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | US Premiere
One caveman's clever invention is crushed by his brutish father.
Floyd the Android in “Teleporter”
4 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Floyd the Android fools around with a transporter, leading to a great mix-up.
Krot na more ("The Mole at the Sea")
5 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
The human impact on a pristine beach is mourned by a lone mole.
Josephine and the Roach
15 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
A cockroach falls in love with the woman whose apartment he infests.
Other Films in Animation:
Requiem for Romance
8 Minutes | Animation | Canada | DC Premiere
Crouching breakup, hidden romance.
Un ojo ("Eye")
5 Minutes | Animation | Mexico
After accidentally scratching it from his face, a boy must chase his rolling eyeball through a series of perils.
Ouverture
5 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
What do you do when you’re born with music pouring out of your heart?
The Road Home
3 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Eddie Lanier thanks his friend for help along his way back from alcoholism and homelessness.
Love Me Anyway
4 Minutes | Animation/Comedy | USA | DC Premiere
A coming-of-age story about love, family, and life at 35,000 feet.
System Preferences
17 Minutes | Documentary/Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Computer pioneer Bashir Rameyev's quest to achieve something extraordinary for his country.
Umba-Umba
7 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
Trapped underground, a group of miners is rescued by a meddling stray cat.
Floyd the Android in “Dim Bulb”
4 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Replacing a light bulb vexes Floyd the Android.
Waves of Grain
2 Minutes | Experimental/Animation | USA | DC Premiere
A block of wood was planed down one layer at a time and photographed at each pass.
Fly
3 Minutes | Comedy/Animation | Canada | US Premiere
Reading a magazine can be a guilty getaway--unless you are interrupted by a major pest.
Осторожно, двери открываются! ("Caution, the Doors are Opening!")
5 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation
Moscow's subway is recreated using buttons found in the system.
About Me
5 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
The life of a young schoolgirl is more than silly jokes and green hair.
Tomato Story
4 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | US Premiere
Two women are unable to share a common balcony in their quest to cultivate the perfect tomato.
The Boxer
3 Minutes | Animation | USA | World Premiere
Newsie gets involved in a 19th century bare-knuckle boxing match, and changes the fate of the tournament.
Eyes on the Stars
3 Minutes | Animation | USA
As a child, Ronald McNair dreamed of going into space.
Marking the Distance
3 Minutes | Animation | USA
Gweneviere Mann navigates through life after losing her short-term memory.
Sufferin' Till You're Straight
3 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Schoolhouse Rock meets the Stonewall Riots.
Pishto uyeszhayet ("Pishto Goes Away")
9 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
A farmer's dog coaxes his owner back to a small town and shows him the importance of a simple life.
Macropolis
7 Minutes | Animation | United Kingdom
Discarded from the production line, two toy figurines chase a factory delivery van to rejoin their friends.
A Girl Named Elastika
4 Minutes | Animation | Canada | DC Premiere
A rubber band girl travels from her land of cork into space aboard a firework rocket.
Dve prinzessi ("Two Princesses")
9 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
Sisters battle a meddling witch to find their own loves.
Mouse's Tale
10 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
A clever mouse outwits the king of the jungle.
I Like Apples
2 Minutes | Animation/Musical | USA | World Premiere
Puppets sing the praises of this versatile fruit.
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DC Shorts Film Festival: Animation
September 5, 2013
This year from September 19th to 29th, the DC Shorts Film Festival will screen over 150 international films in 6 theaters in and around Washington DC. This year’s 11 day event has a special focus on Russian filmmakers and has the largest collection of Russian shorts in the country. The festival will show shorts from 23 nations with genres including drama, comedy, documentary, animation, and more.
In the Animation category, the number one must see is Ed.
Lasting 14 minutes, Ed portrays a man who leads an amazing life, but wants to kill himself. The story is told in brief clips alternating between the two sequences of his life. One set of clips starts with him as a young man and goes forward, showing all the amazing things he has done in his life. The other set of clips starts with him committing suicide and goes backward depicting the events in reverse order to how he got there. The two clips meet in the middle and it all becomes clear.
The story is sad and beautiful, but it is one that has been told a million times. What sets this film apart is the fantastic animation, and the brilliant way they tell the story. Although the story is old, the method is original and a must see.
Must-Sees:
Ed
14 Minutes | Animation | Brazil | DC Premiere
Ed has an extraordinary life, with many loves and adventures. So why would he want to end it?
Pervobytny Papa ("The Primaeval Father")
3 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | US Premiere
One caveman's clever invention is crushed by his brutish father.
Floyd the Android in “Teleporter”
4 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Floyd the Android fools around with a transporter, leading to a great mix-up.
Krot na more ("The Mole at the Sea")
5 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
The human impact on a pristine beach is mourned by a lone mole.
Josephine and the Roach
15 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
A cockroach falls in love with the woman whose apartment he infests.
Other Films in Animation:
Requiem for Romance
8 Minutes | Animation | Canada | DC Premiere
Crouching breakup, hidden romance.
Un ojo ("Eye")
5 Minutes | Animation | Mexico
After accidentally scratching it from his face, a boy must chase his rolling eyeball through a series of perils.
Ouverture
5 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
What do you do when you’re born with music pouring out of your heart?
The Road Home
3 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Eddie Lanier thanks his friend for help along his way back from alcoholism and homelessness.
Love Me Anyway
4 Minutes | Animation/Comedy | USA | DC Premiere
A coming-of-age story about love, family, and life at 35,000 feet.
System Preferences
17 Minutes | Documentary/Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Computer pioneer Bashir Rameyev's quest to achieve something extraordinary for his country.
Umba-Umba
7 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
Trapped underground, a group of miners is rescued by a meddling stray cat.
Floyd the Android in “Dim Bulb”
4 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Replacing a light bulb vexes Floyd the Android.
Waves of Grain
2 Minutes | Experimental/Animation | USA | DC Premiere
A block of wood was planed down one layer at a time and photographed at each pass.
Fly
3 Minutes | Comedy/Animation | Canada | US Premiere
Reading a magazine can be a guilty getaway--unless you are interrupted by a major pest.
Осторожно, двери открываются! ("Caution, the Doors are Opening!")
5 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation
Moscow's subway is recreated using buttons found in the system.
About Me
5 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
The life of a young schoolgirl is more than silly jokes and green hair.
Tomato Story
4 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | US Premiere
Two women are unable to share a common balcony in their quest to cultivate the perfect tomato.
The Boxer
3 Minutes | Animation | USA | World Premiere
Newsie gets involved in a 19th century bare-knuckle boxing match, and changes the fate of the tournament.
Eyes on the Stars
3 Minutes | Animation | USA
As a child, Ronald McNair dreamed of going into space.
Marking the Distance
3 Minutes | Animation | USA
Gweneviere Mann navigates through life after losing her short-term memory.
Sufferin' Till You're Straight
3 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
Schoolhouse Rock meets the Stonewall Riots.
Pishto uyeszhayet ("Pishto Goes Away")
9 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
A farmer's dog coaxes his owner back to a small town and shows him the importance of a simple life.
Macropolis
7 Minutes | Animation | United Kingdom
Discarded from the production line, two toy figurines chase a factory delivery van to rejoin their friends.
A Girl Named Elastika
4 Minutes | Animation | Canada | DC Premiere
A rubber band girl travels from her land of cork into space aboard a firework rocket.
Dve prinzessi ("Two Princesses")
9 Minutes | Animation | Russian Federation | DC Premiere
Sisters battle a meddling witch to find their own loves.
Mouse's Tale
10 Minutes | Animation | USA | DC Premiere
A clever mouse outwits the king of the jungle.
I Like Apples
2 Minutes | Animation/Musical | USA | World Premiere
Puppets sing the praises of this versatile fruit.
