SHORT CUTS
2022 Film Festival
This year's festival will be brought to you live from the
The Westport Library
Thursdays
October 27: Narratives
November 17: Documentaries
December 8: Narratives
7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Our annual international film festival SHORT CUTS features three evenings of outstanding short, award-winning narrative and documentary films followed by an in-person post-film conversation with a director. SHORT CUTS will be presented live from the Trefz Forum at The Westport Library. Films were curated from the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
December 8: Narrative Films
Lilith & Eve
by Sam de Ceccatty (UK)
A feminist re-imagining of the Adam and Eve story, in which Eve bumps into Adam's
first wife and equal, Lilith.
Life Rendered
by Emma Needell (USA)
Set in the near future, Mark splits his time between rural Colorado and virtual reality. In rural Colorado, he is his disabled father's caretaker. In virtual reality, he finds romance.
F^¢K '€M R!GHT B@¢K
by Harris Doran (USA)
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A queer Black aspiring Baltimore rapper must outwit his vengeful day-job boss in order to avoid getting fired after accidentally eating an edible.
Pragma
by Ellie Heydon (UK)
An off-beat romantic comedy, set in a Post Graduate Partnering Programme, led by the world's leading practitioner in sustainable love. The question is, should you trust science or trust your heart?
Hallelujah
by Victor Gabriel (USA)
After being stuck with the guardianship of their annoying, bookworm nephew, two brothers in Compton, CA have to decide whether to take on the responsibility of being caretakers.
Special Guest:
Harris Doran
Director, F^¢K '€M R!GHT B@¢K
SHORT CUTS is produced by Nancy Diamond
Nancy Diamond was co-founder of JIB Productions and Play With Your Food. Drawing on the success of the short play format, Nancy began SHORT CUTS in 2010 curating international films primarily from the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC. Prior to moving to CT, Nancy produced the off-Broadway play “Funny Feet,” and presented dance, theater and music in the New York area. She is Chair of the Westport Arts Advisory Committee.
Thursday, November 17
Documentaries
John Leguizamo Live at Rikers Island
by Elena Francesa Engel (USA)
Beirut Dreams in Color
by Michael Collins
(Lebanon, UK, USA)
Winner, Best Documentary Short,
Indy Shorts Awards Cannes, 2022
Actor John Leguizamo spends time at Rikers Island inspiring justice-involved young men to reflect openly about their own lives and the serious challenges of incarceration.
More Than I Want to Remember
by Amy Bench (USA)
He’s the openly gay frontman of a Lebanese rock band. She is an ardent activist and fan. After one fateful night, their lives intersect and are altered forever.
Kylie
by Sterling Hampton (USA)
Winner, Best Animated Short,
Tribeca Film Festival, 2022
Fourteen-year-old Mugeni awakes to the sounds of bombs. As her family scatters to the surrounding forests to save themselves, Mugeni finds herself completely alone.
A young ballerina from the inner city voices her experiences in the dance industry while performing on the streets of Los Angeles.
Special Guest:
Kevin Wilson, Jr.
Oscar-nominated Director
Thursday, October 27
Narrative Films
Coming Out with the Help of a Time Machine
by Naman Gupta (USA)
Winner, Netflix-supported Tasveer Film Fund's Inaugural Competition
When coming out to his traditional parents, MIT grad student Sid uses his time machine to make sure the day goes perfectly.
Five - O
by Yassine Lassar Ramdani, Elsie Otinwa, Florence Fauquet, Ismaïl Alaoui Fdili, Ming Fai Sham Lourenço, and Eloïse Monmirel
(France)
A theater director from Paris sees an opportunity for a young immigrant police spotter to become a soloist in her opera.
Pete
by Bret Parker (USA)
Is it too much to ask that Pete be allowed to play Little League baseball just by being Pete?
Sparring Partner
by JJ Kandel (USA)
When a long flirtation between two co-workers comes to a head during a revealing lunch, who will walk away?
Written by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Neil LaBute. Featuring
Cecily Strong (SNL) & KeiLyn Durrel Jones.
Night Ride
by Eirik Tveiten (Norway)
Winner, Best Narrative Short,
Tribeca Film Festival 2022
On a cold night in December, Ebba's train ride transforms into an unexpected adventure.
Special Guest:
JJ Kandel
Director, Sparring Partner
A Look Back at SHORT CUTS 2021...
Thursday, November 18
Documentary Films
Change the Name
by Cai Thomas (USA)
Student activists and educators in Chicago campaign to change the name of a park from a slaveholder to an abolitionist.
Unspoken
by William Armstrong (Denmark)
Contemporary choreographer Paul Lightfoot creates a tribute to his father whom he lost during lockdown.
My Father, The Mover
by Julia Jansch (South Africa)
African electronic Gqom beats motivate kids in the township of Khayelitsha, South Africa to jive through their hardship and find their “superpowers.”
Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Short, Tribeca
The Unlikely Fan
by Sai Selvarajan & Jeff Bednarz (USA)
Meet a Sri-Lankan born, Dallas based, retired teacher who knows a thing or two about hoops.
Nominated, SXSW Grand Jury Award
Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker
by Ryan White (USA)
The story of illustrator J.C. Leyendecker,
whose legacy laid the foundation for today's out-and-proud LGBTQ+ advertisements.
Winner, Best Documentary Short, Tribeca
Thursday, November 4
Narrative Films
The Angler
by Oscar nominated David Darg (USA)
Six Nights
by Robert Brogden (USA)
CUPIDS
by Zoey Martinson (USA)
Three schoolchildren set out to find their beloved bus driver her perfect match.
No Longer Suitable For Use
by Julian Joslin (USA)
A Syrian FBI informant gets one final chance to avoid deportation.
Try to Fly
by The Affolter Brothers (animated-Canada)
While learning to fly, a baby owl has an existential crisis.
Nominated, Best Animated Short, Tribeca
A fisherman and a young mother have a chance encounter when their lines become entangled.
A restaurant dishwasher is given a last-minute chance to step up as a line cook.
Winner, Student Visionary Award,Tribeca
Thursday, October 14
Narrative Films
The Kicksled Choir
by Torfinn Iversen
(Norway)
Death and the Lady
by Geoff Bailey and Lucy Streuver
(animated-USA)
Nominated, Best Narrative Short, Tribeca
Ten year-old Gabriel dreams of joining a local caroling group.
On a dark and stormy night, Death pays a visit to a very old lady and her dog.
Two Jacked
by Jon Huertas (USA)
The world’s worst carjacker meets the world’s most understanding victim.
There are Bunnies on Fire in the Forest
by JLee MacKenzie (animated-USA)
A young girl gets in big trouble at school during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Waves
by Agazi Desta
Girl with a Thermal Gun
by Rongfei Guo (China)
Winner, Best Narrative Short, Tribeca
A teenager hopes to get his hair cut in "waves" for prom night.
A delivery man fantasizes about a girl who measures his temperature in a supermarket during COVID-19.
Special Guests
Geoff Bailey and Lucy Streuver
Directors, Death and the Lady
2020 November Selections:
Living the Truth
Single by Ashley Eakin (USA)
Winner, Special Jury Recognition, South by Southwest
Tapes by Dara Katz and Betsy Kenney (USA)
Dirty Laundry by Maxim Bessmertny (Macau)
Coup D'etat Math by Sai Selvarajan (USA)
Winner, Special Jury Recognition, South by Southwest
Liliu by Jeremiah Tauamiti (New Zealand)
Special Guests:
Directors
Sai Selvarajan, Betsey Kenney, Jeremiah Tauamiti
in discussion with Nancy Diamond
2020 October Selections:
Seeking Refuge
Cru - Raw by David Oesch (Switzerland)
Winner, Student Visionary Award, Tribeca
Gets Good Light by Alejandra Parody (USA)
Vera by Laura Rubirola Sala (Spain)
Toto by Marco Baldonado (Canada)
Nominated, Best Narrative Short, Tribeca
No More Wings by Abraham Adeyemi (United Kingdom)
Winner, Best Narrative Short, Tribeca
Special Guests:
Directors
Abraham Adeyemi, Alejandra Parody, David Oesch
in discussion with Nancy Diamond
2019 October Selections:
"The Secrets We Hold"
Special Guest: B. Monet
Writer & Director of
Ballet After Dark
2019 November Selections:
"Living with Family"
Special Guest: Haley Finnegan
Writer, Actor, Director,
Westphalia
MAJA
by Marijana Jankovic (Denmark)
Winner, Best Narrative Short
A little girl moves to a new country with her parents. Based on a true story.
by Dana Nachman (USA)
Nominee, Best Narrative Short
A sorority girl figures out a way to eliminate all risk from the late-night ritual that is the college hook up. Now all she needs is to find a guy to test out her idea on... and with.
HOOK UP 2.0
JEBEL BANAT
Winner, Student Visionary Award
The retelling of a melancholic 19th century Egyptian legend about two Bedouin sisters escaping forced marriages.
MOMSTER
by Drew Denny (USA)
Nominee, Get Shorty Award
A queer heist film starring Brianna Hildebrand and Amanda Plummer.
PEARL
by Yuchao "Robbin" Feng (China)
Special Jury Mention, 2019
In a desolate Chinese fishing village, a single mother gives her 6-year-old daughter one final lesson, inspired by true events.
by Scott Lochmus (USA)
An elderly maestro and a young piano prodigy venture out of their musical isolation in hopes of selling their beloved piano.
METRONOME (IN TIME)
MIND MY MIND
by Floor Adams (The Netherlands)
Nominated, Best International Short 2019
Relying on social scripts to survive the social world, one must not go off-script. Especially if you want to date a girl.
WESTFALIA
by Haley Finnegan (USA)
Emelia & Brody pack their things for a social media road trip in a 1984 Westfalia Vanagon...their aim is to become Insta-famous.
SHORT CUTS Festival Highlights!
