What’s up, good people?! Hope you had a great Labor Day, but we know you miss us. So here’s your weekly roundup of short film and movie news.
The recently concluded Telluride Film Festival debuted a film that is generating considerable buzz and could contend for the major awards this season.
Moonlight is a three-part narrative about a gay African-American male who navigates his sexuality against the backdrop of his brutal Miami neighborhood.
The film, which is directed by Barry Jenkins, is unique in that it features characters seldom seen by mainstream audiences.
Nevertheless, Moonlight has left Telluride audiences and critics spellbound. It is expected to do the same at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival, events that have a reputation for breaking Oscar-nominated pictures.
Thus far, the reviews have been fantastic.
“Jenkins has made a breathtaking film, one with political urgency and a deep, compassionate humanity. Moonlight is timely and timeless, a study in limits that casts its gaze up toward something transcendent,” raves Vanity Fair.
Another facet to Moonlight’s story is Jenkins, a former Florida State film school graduate who used to curate Telluride’s short film program.
“I always hoped this would play at Telluride,” Jenkins told the Los Angeles Times recently. “I haven’t seen a film at Telluride where people talk the way they do in the world of this film.”
Moonlight is co-produced by Brad Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment Inc. It is set to hit theaters October 21, but the buzz will only build from now to February when the 89th Academy Awards take place.
Vote On These Shorts
Last week, we gave you brief synopses of the short film nominees in the Collected Voices Online Film Contest.
This week we highlight two shorts that depict characters grappling with loss. The first is “Nowhere to Be Found,” which is about a mother on a seemingly endless quest to locate her child’s father.
Directed by Rebecca Montalvo and Brian VandenBos, this short film is tinged with emptiness. Yet, you are compelled to watch, if only to see whether the lead character is successful in her quest.
Our second short film entrant is “Through the Trees,” which depicts a widower on the cusp of a fateful decision, that is until he meets a young man on the street. At first, this film is melancholic, but then it morphs into something entirely different. You may leave this Ryan Donovan-directed short with a smile after it ends.
You can watch and vote for these shorts and six others once-a-day, every day for free on our platform until September 23.
To take part, go here.
Pick a favorite or two or five. It’s your world.
From Around the Web…
Speaking of contests, Radiohead recently announced the winners of their short film contest which launched in July.
Fans were asked to submit vignettes using the one-minute version of their song, “Daydreaming.” They announced the six winners via this Instagram post.
To see the winning short film entries, check out this IndieWire link.
And…
Forbes magazine will host a short film contest for filmmakers under 30.
Winning shorts will be screened at a miniature film festival from October 16-18 before a room of 5,000 “young entrepreneurs and game-changers” from media, technology, entertainment and social good industries, among others.
For more information, please see this link.
And…
What kind of people are we if we can’t show love to Brooklyn. Huh? The Brooklyn Film Festival recently announced the winners of their film event. You can check out the full list here.
And finally…
We have to show you “Infinitude,” the most amazing short film about the cosmic evolution you will ever see. Special shout-out to director Scott Portingale and the folks over at Gizmodo for letting us know about this one.
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