2020 Vancouver International Film Festival
International Shorts Programs
I have been watching some of the short programs for many years in the same theatre complex, either when I have had time between films, or when there was not enough scheduled time to watch another feature, but enough time to grab a couple of short films. These are always excellent as the best shorts make their way from festival to festival.
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This year with Covid, I have watched a few of these films for different reasons. They work so well as fillers in between meals and late at night when too tired to watch a full feature or documentary. They are well worth a ticket if you are not a passholder for the very same reason I mentioned above. They are chosen from the best of a crop of short films submitted to festivals
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Through media we were provided a series of these to preview and here are the details (provided by the media team at VIFF)
Animated Tales
Various Countries, 2019-20, 102 min.
There is something about animation that enables us to slide into a different level of perception and suspension of disbelief. I am sure it has to do with the artistic rendering of imaginary worlds in combination with some imaginative storytelling that transports us to completely plausible altered states of reality, where the rules of our everyday world do not apply or are applied in unconventional ways that shake us out of our routine and ingrained ways of thinking. There is plenty of artistry and storytelling magic on display in this terrific collection of animated short films, each so different and all so good. From the digital technical wizardry of Dreamworks to hand painted old cell style animation and marvelous puppet animation, these shorts use a wide range of styles and techniques to take their entertaining and moving tales to another level of proficiency. Absolutely fabulous.
Come Hell or…
Various Countries, 2019-20, 109 min.
This has been a year of struggle for people all over the world, and in this program of short films people are doing their best to live and survive in the midst of hardship, come hell or… Commitment is a major factor in many of these films; commitment to self preservation, to family, to one’s cause, to changing your life or fortune. To achieve these things you have to be willing to sacrifice, not always by choice, and sometimes actions can have unintended consequences and casualties. Identity plays a role here too, how we perceive our self and how others see you can effect events in your life, sometimes in ways we cannot control. Between the high drama, some wonderful black humor and terrific performances, this collection is sure to get your senses working overtime.
Release Me From This Darkness
Various Countries, 2019-20, 108 min.
In a year when so many lives were upended and destroyed, this program of short films where people are tormented, tortured or oppressed by forces they cannot control seems oddly appropriate. These are stories about victims of a screwed up world gone wrong, dysfunctional families, long term suffering, victims of grief and loss, of racial and homophobic prejudice. Doubly victimized! Though the nature of these repressive forces is wide ranging, from socioeconomic marginalization to a natural disaster, there is hope offered in some of these films, but it comes at a price. Fortunately the underlying dark themes are often offset by surprising humor delivered through wonderfully original characters and situations. There is some terrific film making and storytelling on display here, just be ready for a real emotional roller coaster ride.
Tell Us About Her Life
Various Countries, 2019-20, 108 min.
Though there has been much publicity about the under representation of women directors and lead female roles the past several years, there was an abundance of both in International Shorts this year. Given this, a program highlighting women’s stories seemed an important way of showing how this is changing. This collection of moving and insightful dramas and semi-experimental pieces, five with female directors, features a range of strong characters, terrific performances and high quality film making in their frank and insightful depiction of ground breaking women, everyday heroines and flawed characters.