11th Annual Film Brothers Festival of Shorts

Drawcard

Drawcard, an Australian short comedy film co-written by Adam Dunn and Thomas Mitchell and directed by Antonio Oreña-Barlin, is about a guy named Ed, played by Adam Dunn, who draws an in appropriate picture on a sympathy card for the owner of his company played by veteran Aussie actor Anthony Phelan. Yes, the premise is simple, and the characters are a bit thinly developed, but the writing is witty, patiently stacking all the awkward, squirm-inducing pieces to get to a fantastic end punchline. The finale of Drawcard might be predictable, but it’s very well-executed.

Knock Down Ginger

Knock Down Ginger, a short film from the United Kingdom that premiered at the BFI London Film Festival 2016 was written and directed by Cleo Samoles-Little and produced by Janina Samoles and Henry Napier-Brown. The movie short, follows a group of young girls as they relieve their boredom by smoking, drinking and throwing eggs off the top of a tower block. More specifically, the film showcases what happens when a prank goes wrong on a London estate. Sarah-Lee, the main character, quickly discovers that it’s not all fun and games when it comes to growing up. Narratively, Knock Down Ginger feels somewhat of a familiar tale, but what it lacks in originality it more than makes up for in energy, entertainment and performance.

Lolz-Ita

Lolz-Ita, a short film from Canada, was written, directed and stars Katie Boland. In the film, Katie portrays a naive but internet savvy 22-year old who navigates the reality of her boring, small town Canadian life juxtaposed with the fantasy of her provocative and powerful Instagram celebrity. Lolz-Ita had its North American premiere at the Austin Film Festival and was nominated for Best Narrative Short. It was also a part of TIFF’s Short Cuts: Share Her Journey, which highlights the “most exciting emerging female film makers in the world.” Lolz-Ita was also featured at the Whistler Film Festival where it was nominated for the EDA Short Film Award which recognizes female film makers. Additionally, it was also nominated for jury prizes at the Dallas International Film Festival and Cucalorus.

A Century of Memories

A Century of Memories, a short documentary from the United States, was written, directed and edited by West Chester, Pennsylvania filmmaker Celeste Iacono of CDI Productions. This sentimental documentary chronicles Amelia Casalnova, the first woman in her family to live a century old. A Century of Memories made its debut at the DeSales University Film Festival. During the film we learn about the difficulties she faced during the Great Depression and the obstacles she overcame while taking care of her nine siblings.

Manila Death Squad

Manila Death Squad, a short film from the Philippines and the United States, was co-written and directed by Dean Colin Marcial. This film follows an ambitious young journalist who challenges the leader of a violent vigilante group to a high-stakes drinking game that may score her an interview or a bullet to the head. Quickly she discovers that she’s way in over her head. Loosely based on stories of the murderous Davao Death Squad told to Marcial by his grandfather, the group was informally sanctioned to carry out vigilante violence under the city’s outrageous, but charismatic, mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Boston Bun – Spread Love (Paddington)

French-born and London-based DJ/producer, Boston Bun, released the music video for his sweeping new house track, “Spread Love (Paddington)” featuring fellow Ed Banger affiliate DVNO.

The tune’s new visual narrative begins with our protagonist mourning the loss of his beloved feline friend. To alleviate his pain, he seeks new companionship in an otter. That’s right an adorable sea otter who can sing the infectious high note accents that made this song very appealing. And who doesn’t love an otter? The slick little fella helps his new buddy achieve success, make new friends, and even dominate the record charts. However, all good things must come to an end as the otter’s good will eventually runs out.

Still Here

Still Here, a short film from the United States, was directed by Ben Proudfoot. Fifty years later, the real Melvin Dismukes, portrayed by John Boyega, chronicles his first-hand experience of the infamous Algiers Motel Incident, for which he was wrongly charged with first-degree murder in 1967. Dismukes responded to a situation at the Algiers Motel and ended up being accused of first-degree murder, spending years trying to clear his name.

Ari

Ari, a short film from Australia, features an overweight, shy and introverted boy named Ari who wants nothing more than to fit in. He develops a crush on his fellow student, Jess, and attempts to lose weight and become more outgoing in his quest to belong. But his efforts only cause him more humiliation and pain, making him feel even lonelier and sadder. Finally, he makes a public declaration of his own self-acceptance — and discovers his own value.

Boomerang

Boomerang, a short film directed by Matthew Frost from the United States, is a satirical look at social media addiction. This film features Canadian-born actress Mackenzie Davis and portrays a young millennial woman named Jennifer who attempts quitting social media and the grip it has on her. Is she successful at quitting? Watch Boomerang to find out!