Animated Shorts: Major Developments
Synopsis
Showcasing a diverse mix of animation techniques, the films in this program focus on moments of transition where characters, both relatable and fantastic, make discoveries, face irreversible choices, and navigate outbursts. Featuring work by Loïc Espuche, Michèle Lemieux, Nina Gantz, Delia Hess, Bianca Lambert, Zohar Dvir, Olivia Griselda, Sarah Cheok, and Catapreta.
Leo tries to hide his big secret while still making the most of his summer in the world of Yuck! (Beurk!) (France), where wanting to kiss makes your lips glow. The painstaking pinscreen animation process is used to create a darkly poetic piece about the tragic life of Queen Mariana of Austria as captured by Baroque painter Diego Velázquez in The Painting (Le tableau) (Canada). In the absurdist stop-motion piece Wander to Wonder (The Netherlands, Belgium, France, United Kingdom), unusual collaborators suffer through the loss of their TV show’s host. The frustration of being trapped in a hotline’s hold system starts to bleed into the physical world in On Hold (Switzerland). After taking more than the recommended dose of cannabis to assuage her fibroid pain, Amanda wades through the voices in her head in Super High: A Period Piece (United States). Carol’s fear of committing to her girlfriend aligns with the onset of unexpected world-changing circumstances in Butterfly Kiss (Germany, Israel). Dona Beatriz Ñsîmba Vita (Brazil) is a surreal and striking portrayal of the political life of African heroine Kimpa Vita, an overshadowed but significant historical figure who initiated the movement to save the Republic of Congo — as well as other parts of central Africa — from Portuguese colonial rule. And when a mail carrier makes a mistake, an unassuming woman enters a vibrant world of otherworldly pleasure in She and Her Good Vibrations (Singapore)
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Virtual programs will be available to stream from October 21-27 in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois. Learn more about streaming…
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Sponsors
With Support From
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Dramatic Shorts: Talk to Me
Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Iceland, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, United States
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Wander to Wonder [short film]
Synopsis
Without their leader, a group of pocket-sized people must cope with increasingly harsh conditions while trying to maintain their sanity on an ’80s TV show. An absurd and humorous tale executed with exquisite stop-motion animation, this film asks what it takes to move on.
This film screens as part of the Animated Shorts: Major Developments program.
Film Credits
- Stienette Bosklopper, Maarten Sawrt
- Nina Gantz, Simon Cartwright, Daan Bakker, Stienette Bosklopper
- Beast Animation, Les Productions de Milou, Blink Industries, Pictanovo images en Hauts-de-France, Circle Films, Kaap Holland Film
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Artist on the Go! (DS Advanced Unreleased Gameplay) [short film]
Nathan William FrostUnited States
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Documentary Shorts: Near and Far
Synopsis
Using diverse methods of observation, animation, and essay, the filmmakers in this program showcase the flexibility of documentary form. Each zeroes in on a unique point of view, eliciting intimate first-person portraits about the broad spectrum of human experience and emotion. Featuring works by Haley Watson, Saurav Ghimire, Leo Berkeley, Samira Elagoz, Z Walsh, Ellie Land, and Assia Boundaoui.
Mary McGee shares stories from her life as the first American woman to race motorcycles in Motorcycle Mary (United States). In Songs of Love and Hate (Nepal, Belgium), the heartbroken host of a love advice radio show traverses the mountains, haunted by testimonies from his audience. Dark Matter (Australia) follows Leo Berkeley, a chronically ill Melbourne filmmaker, as he observes inner city apartment living and grapples with the nature of his existence. The first year of a love story between two long-haired trans men unfolds via messages and pics in You can’t get what you want but you can get me (Netherlands, Finland, Germany, United States). Plunge (United Kingdom) depicts a journey of mental health within the vast reaches of the ocean, where one woman finds peace in both her body and mind. In Estranged Letters (United States), Maryam Taghavi discusses her ideas and background as she prepares to open a solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.
Screenings & Events
Virtual Screening
Virtual programs will be available to stream from October 21-27 in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois. Learn more about streaming…
Sold Out/Rush Only? Learn when new tickets get released by signing up for our ticket availability email list!
Sponsors
Documentary Program Partner
Documentary Program Patron
Cynthia Stone Raskin
With Support From
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Dramatic Shorts: Talk to Me
Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Iceland, Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, United States
Learn more...
Songs of Love and Hate [short film]
Synopsis
The heartbroken host of a love advice radio show traverses through the mountains of Nepal. Testimonies from his audience about their problems haunt his journey in this deeply contemplative work that overflows with sadness and yearning.
This film screens as part of the Documentary Shorts: Near and Far program.
Film Credits
- Minsho Limbu
- Saurav Ghimire
- Saurav Ghimire, Aaron Minnebo
- Saurav Ghimire
- Saurav Ghimire, Shraddha Ghimire, Bardan Basnet, Kewal Rijal
- Minsho Limbu, Min Bahadur Bham
- Junko Pictures, Shooney Films
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You can’t get what you want but you can get me [short film]
Samira Elagoz, Z WalshNetherlands, Finland, Germany, United States
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Vermiglio
Synopsis
The majestic vistas of the Italian Alps make for a stunning backdrop, but Vermiglio is more concerned with studying the intimate landscapes of the human face than it is in admiring the view. Set in the final days of WWII, this handsomely realized period drama from director Maura Delpero (Maternal) chronicles a harrowing year in the life of three sisters, the daughters of a schoolteacher in a remote mountain village.
When Pietro, a deserter fleeing the approaching German army, arrives in their village, the sisters’ lives are forever changed — that of eldest daughter Lucia, who marries the handsome stranger, especially. But her younger siblings are affected by watching Lucia’s joys and struggles as a young, pregnant bride as well. Fresh off of its debut at the Venice Film Festival, Vermiglio is an affecting testament to the strength of women and the ties that bind.
In Focus: Italy on Screen
This film is part of the 60th Chicago International Film Festival’s In Focus: Italy on Screen collection, celebrating Italian cinema by harkening back to the best of the country’s filmmaking traditions while showcasing vibrant new work.
Screenings & Events
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Media
Film Credits
- Francesca Andreoli, Carole Baraton, Tatjana Kozar
- Maura Delpero
- Luca Mattei
- Mikhail Krichman
- Tommaso Ragno, Giuseppe de Domenico, Roberta Rovelli, Martina Scrinzi
- Cinedora, Charades Productions, Versus Production
Sponsors
International Competition Program Patron
Jacolyn and John Bucksbaum Family Foundation
Film Patrons
Mary and Joseph Plauché
With Support From
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