In my limited spare time, I’ve been writing/curating for Short of the Week since 2012.
I could go into more detail about what this specifically entails, but it essentially boils down to this: I watch an ungodly amount of short films. I’ve watched more short films in the past month than you probably have in your entire life.
It’s a medium I’ve grown to have a love/hate relationship with. You see, when you’re constantly watching indie shorts, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the mediocrity out there. But—on that rare occasion when you discover something truly great—well, then, suddenly you remember why you started volunteering to screen short films in the first place.
So, of the thousands of films I’ve watched over the past 6 years, here are my 15 favorites that I’ve personally curated and written about (full review links included if you’re inclined to dig deeper). Hopefully, you find this list as inspiring as I do—a reminder that a great and powerful story doesn’t need an expanded runtime. Take a look at what the short form is capable of.
Dope City
A film that makes me believe director Robbie Barclay is the next big thing that isn’t quite a thing yet. For what it lacks in plot, it more than makes up for in atmosphere. You can smell this film. Feel it. An amuse-bouche for an amazing meal that has yet to come.
Giselle
A film dealing with the regret of a break-up. A cliché topic that is never dealt with in a cliché way. Rather, filmmaker Dan Chen captures the complexity of feelings from both parties when they split apart—a messy combination of loss, heartache, but also, relief.
The Piano Tuner
Such a great premise, executed with a Hitchcockian level of craft. I like when creepy things have a bearing in reality (i.e. no blood and guts for me), so The Piano Tuner hits *ahem* all the right notes.
I Ship It
Cute, clever, but never cloying: that seems to be filmmaker Yulin Kuang’s M.O. She’s a “millennial” filmmaker that doesn’t make me want to upchuck for using the term millenial. You know all that treacly, cutesy crap you used to write about in high school in composition books? Well, I Ship It is what happens when someone can take those raw, heart-on-the-sleeve adolescent feelings and turn it into legitimately entertaining cinema.
We Were Awesome
An incredibly simple two-hander about growing apart from old friends. This isn’t for everyone, but is struck a powerful chord within me. It’s a film that feels oddly nostalgic and recognizes the sad realization that not all friendships stand the test of time, but rather, simply fade away into the memories of the past.
The Candidate
Twilight Zone meets David Fincher, The Candidate from director David Karlak is about as stylish a cinematic calling card you could ever hope to find. “A voodoo film without the camp.” This is the kind of short that gets a director representation and turns heads.
Blessing in Disguise
Although his other film, The Gunfighter, went viral online, it’s director Eric Kissack’s Blessing in Disguise that I keep coming back to for inspiration. It’s a high concept rom-com premise that makes even sexual transmitted diseases feel sweet. It also helps that lead actress Ingrid Haas is terrific in the lead role.
Shift
A film about America. Long, patient, and a bit rough around the edges (it’s student film and you can tell). But, there’s no denying its power. Director Jonathan Yi deals with class, race, identity…all long before those terms were trigger words for right wing Twitter trolls. In this simple tale of a young man who works the graveyard shift of a mail room, we are given a melancholic cross section of America, and all the dreams of its workers that will never be realized.
My Daughter’s Boyfriend
I didn’t discover filmmaker Joey Izzo, but when he’s rich and famous, I’ll definitely pretend that I did. Of the three films I’ve written about for him on the site, My Daughter’s Boyfriend is my favorite—a tricky tonal balancing act of darkness, humor, and drama. Izzo has the kind of voice that I just love hearing stories told through.
Frame 394
The topic of race in America is an incredibly complex and, at times, disturbing topic. Frame 394, a documentary about the police shooting of unarmed black man, Walter Scott, touches upon the issue with a nuance and sense of introspection that is lacking from most advocacy material. It uses an indirect narrative approach to trace the far reaches of systemic racism in the US. A long short well worth its expanded runtime.
RPG
Finally, a film about nerdom that doesn’t feel broad or hacky. Rather, filmmaker Sadie Rogers crafts a subtle character piece about the deep ties between a group of friends during their weekly D&D game. It examines the odd contradiction of people who share every detail of their fantasy lives together, but are unable to express what they are feeling IRL.
All’s Fair
A film with such verve! Made before Thomas Middleditch was a household name, All’s Fair from director Todd Strauss-Schulson is a manic, hilarious, sad, and, ultimately, hopeful look at one man’s road to emotional recovery after a break-up.
North Atlantic
Filmmaker Bernardo Nascimento’s North Atlantic juxtaposes the indifference of nature, with the warmth and compassion of a human connection. It’s a film that says more with silence than most feature scripts say with a hundred pages full of dialogue.
How Was Your Day?
Already the best short film I’ve watched in 2018, and it’s only March. An emotionally devastating look at parenthood—and the disappointment that results when it doesn’t quite live up to your expectations.
Margo Lily
Quite simply: the best short film I’ve ever seen. Astoundingly simple, filmmakers Linsey Stewart and Dane Clark’s brief look at a young couple dealing with the loss of a child is sad, yes, but also resoundingly hopeful. I watch this film routinely just so I can learn to fall in love with short films all over again.
