FESTIVAL OF SHORTS FINALISTS:

Just Peachy

Albuquerque, NM
3 minutes
Director: Brent Peterson

Synopsis:

A stereotypical wanderer lost in the desert runs into the typical desert shack. Finding the standard lone can of food and nothing to open it with, he exhausts himself with every creative means to a can-opener. But what he finds in the end will take him completely by surprise.

Some highlights:

• Platinum MarCom Award
• Videographer Awards "Award of Excellence"
• Aurora "Platinum Best of Show"

Breast Pump & Blender

Beverly Hills, CA
12 minutes
Director: Elizabeth Gorcey

Synopsis:

Lizzie, Justina Machado (Six Feet Under) , a new mom has everything, a loving husband, Bryan Callen (Mad TV, Entourage), a two week old beautiful baby girl, nice home and an enigmatic aupair. Lizzie's reality seems to be warping, slowly unraveling playing havoc on her sense of reason. She begins to act impulsively driving herself into a kind of madness. Sometimes things are not as they seem ...or are they?

Some highlights:

• Platinum Best Drama Short WorldFest, Houston
• HBO's New York International Latino Film Festival
• Rhode Island International Film Festival
• Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival

Boyfriend Latte

Toronto, Canada
7 min 48 sec
Director: Mark Sanders

Synopsis:

A sassy young female executive has a deep desire for a boyfriend who will be honest and true and faithful and passionate and new and exciting and deep and affectionate and funny and smart and caring and sensitive and ambitious and loyal and very hot. Her freshly brewed latte delivers all these admiral qualities, but can a woman and a take-out coffee have a real long lasting relationship?

Some highlights:

• World Wide Short Film Festival
• Seattle True Independent Film Festival (Best Talking Latte Award)
• Fairhope Film Festival (Honorable Mention)
• 41st Worldfest (Platinum REMI-Editing)
• Griffin International Film Festival

The Tribe

Mill Valley, CA
18 minutes
Director: Tiffany Shlain

Synopsis:

What can the most successful doll on the planet show us about being Jewish today? Narrated by Peter Coyote, the film mixes old school narration with a new school visual style. The Tribe weaves together archival footage, graphics, animation, Barbie dioramas, and slam poetry to take audiences on an electric ride through the complex history of both the Barbie doll and the Jewish people- from Biblical times to present day. By tracing Barbie's history, the film sheds light on the questions: What does it mean to be an American Jew today? What does it mean to be a member of any tribe in the 21st Century?

Some highlights:

• Sundance Film Festival
• Black Maria Film Festival (Directors Choice Award)
• Tribeca Film Festival
• SilverDocs AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Film Festival
• The Rotterdam International Film Festival
• LA Shorts Fest
• NYC Shorts Fest
• Winner of Audience Awards and Grand Jury Prizes

Hope Springs Eternal (animated)

Playa Del Rey CA
7 min 5 sec
Director: Ron Noble

Synopsis:

Mort has been suicidally depressed ever since the love of his life, Vida, dumped him. But poor Mort is such a loser he cant even kill himself without blowing it and wreaking havoc on any unfortunate souls nearby. Mort brings dark comedy to new depths, but not to worry, hope springs eternal...or does it?

Some highlights:

• USA Film Festival (Dallas, TX) WINNER, Jury Prize Award
• Festivus Film Festival (Denver, CO) WINNER Best Animation
• 2007 L.A. Animation Festival (Los Angeles) BEST RUNNER UP
• Palm Springs Festival of Shorts
• Dances With Films
• California Intl. Animation Festival
• LA International Shorts festival (Los Angeles)
• Cannes Film Festival - Short Film Corner

Abridged (animated)

Los Angeles, CA
3 min 35 sec
Director: Arjun Rihan

Synopsis:

A long-distance affair.

Some highlights:

• Siggraph Space Time Student Exhibition - Third Place Winner, Industry Category
• San Francisco Ocean Film Festival
• Oxford International Film Festival
• University of Southern California "First Look"
• San Francisco International Film Festival
• San Joaquin Film Festival- Nominated for 'Best Student Short Film'
• Guerilla Shorts

Bloom

Dallas, TX
12 min 57 sec
Director: Lance Larson

Synopsis:

Love's labor is lost on a used-car lot when misplaced affections lead to self-discovery...and tragedy.

Some highlights:

• USA Film Festival- The Texas Award
• Jacksonville Film Festival- Best USA Short Film
• IndieClub Gong Show- Jury Award, Best Short Film
• IndieClub Gong Show - Audience Award, Best Short Film

Highlights

Skokie, IL
8 min 45 sec
Director: Mary Novak

Synopsis:

Young Jane tries to make sense of the world as tragic news is announced in a beauty salon on the "day the world stood still" in 1963.

Some highlights:

• Sacramento International Film Festival
• Garden State Film Festival (Best Family Short)
• Long Island International Film Expo (Best Art Direction)
• Salento International Film Festival, Italy

Die Flugbegleiterin (The Stewardess)

Berlin, Germany
11 min 12 sec
Director: Marcin Glowacki

Synopsis:

Fired for her heft, an obese stewardess takes drastic measures to get her high-flying job back. A story of desire, addiction and the industrialized food chain.

Some highlights:

• Puerto Rico Rincon Film Festival - Winner Best Short Film of the Festival
• The Accolade - 2007 Winner - Award of Excellence
• The Indie Gathering - Winner 2007
• Black Earth Film Festival - Best Foreign Film
• Traildancefilmfestifal - Best Foreign Film
• Blue Grass Film Festival 2007 - Third Place Foreign Short Film
• Berks Movie Madness Film Festival 2007 -Honorable Mention
• Novaracinefestival - Winner 2007

Put It In A Book

Los Angeles, CA
18 minutes
Director: Rodrigo Garcia

Synopsis:

Two Brothers: when one is killed by gang violence the other has to choose between a path of righteousness or revenge.

Some highlights:

• Dances With Films
• Global Arts Film Festival-Best Short