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Tribeca Festival · 2008

Tribeca Festival 2008

Shorts

The organisers say: "This year’s shorts represent 30 countries, offering a rare cinematic glimpse of global landscapes that include Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, The Philippines and Uruguay. From fantasy narratives to gripping documentaries, these short films explore a wide range of themes and diverse subject matter."

Seventy-five short films from the 2008 line-up are eligible to compete for combined cash and value-in-kind prizes totaling over $15,000 for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Student Visionary Award.

Following is a listing of the selected short films which will run in 11 programmes, plus seven films that will screen preceding features, along with what Tribeca say about them.

Programme

78 films · 5 reviews

Jump to a film

200000 Phantoms (200000 Fantômes)

Periot assembles a collage of postcards to highlight the havoc wrought by the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Jean-Gabriel Périot; Writer: Jean-Gabriel Périot)

2007 Before The Tracks Are Lost On the Wind (2007 Ehe die Spuren verwehen)

Remnants of the Dusseldorf train station where Jews were deported to concentration camps. (D)

(Country: Germany; Year: 2007; Director: Renate Günther-Greene; Writer: Renate Günter-Greene)

7 Cities (7 Sehir)

Painted animation evoking the encounter between the great 13th Century Sufi poet Mevlana Rumi and the wandering dervish Shamsuddin of Tabriz who would become his lover and mentor. Preceding My Marlon And Brando at Tribeca Film Festival. (N)

(Country: Turkey; Year: 2008; Director: Reza Hemmatirad; Writer: Reza Hemmatirad)

About Face

An office worker becomes much too popular when he signs up for a virtual reality social networking site. (N)

(Country: Canada; Year: 2008; Director: Chad Maker ; Writer: Kirk Comrie; Stars: Hugh Dillon, Ryan Ward, Philip Mansfield, Marc Kelsey, James Fearnley ) , Official site

All Saints Day

Goings on, on a New York stoop the day after Halloween. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Will Frears; Writer: Brooke Berman; Stars: Mamie Gummer, Ben Walker )

Ana's Way (El Camino De Ana)

A woman faces a long and lonely road. (N)

(Country: Spain; Year: 2007; Director: Richard Vazquez; Writer: Richard Vazquez; Stars: Marisa Paredes, Juan Fernández) , Official site

Angels Die in the Soil (Fereshtegan Dar Khak Mimirand)

An Iraqi-Kurdish girl faces war and redemption. (N)

(Country: Iran; Year: 2007; Director: Babak Amini; Writer: Babak Amini; Stars: Donya Ghobadi, Pedram Seyfuri)

At Day's End

An Egyptian family gathers for food and television. (S)

(Country: Egypt; Year: 2008; Director: Sherif El Bendary)

The Aviatrix

A life or death battle is fought by a superhero. (S)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Toddy Burton; Writer: Toddy Burton; Stars: Barbara Chisholm, Hannah Morgan, Garry Peters, Jessica Robertson, Nicholas Yedinak) , Official site

Baghdad Twist

Recollections on being Jewish in Iraq. (D)

(Country: Canada; Year: 2007; Director: Joe Balass ) , Official site

Beginning Filmmaking

A father takes us through one year of trying to teach a preschooler how to make a film. Preceding Head Wind at Tribeca Film Festival. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Jay Rosenblatt; Writer: Brian Hecker; Stars: Ella Rosenblatt, Jay Rosenblatt)

Being Human

Two brothers decide how to handle a medical miracle. (S)

(Country: Canada; Year: 2008; Director: Mike Palermo; Writer: Mike Palermo) , Official site

Cargo

Review preview for Cargo

Viewer expectations, like that of the immigrants, are confounded as the hard-hitting consequences of this bleak act of humanity play out.

Amber Wilkinson · 3.5 out of 5
A trafficked boy is saved from his fate, but is the alternative any less bleak?

(Country: New Zealand, Czech Republic; Year: 2007; Director: Leo Woodhead; Writer: Leo Woodhead; Stars: Jaroslav Horvath, Ivo Haman)

Full review

Coffee Break (Kaffepausen)

A cop tries to impress his partner. (N)

(Country: Denmark; Year: 2007; Director: Johannes Pico; Writer: Lars Bang; Stars: Soren Malling, Mads Koudal, Charlotte Rathnov )

Cupcake

Discover if Candi gets to have her cake and eat it too. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Sean McPhillips ; Writer: Sean McPhillips ; Stars: Kinna McInroe, Michael Consolmagno, Yin Yue, Clare Cook, Christina Noel Reaves, Lori Byargeon ) , Official site

Deconfliction

Rant and reflect with Tina Highland. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Edward Tyndall ) , Official site

Dusk (La Hora Cero)

A roadside quandary causes a couple to question their morals. (N)

(Country: Mexico; Year: 2008; Director: Gary Alazraki ; Writer: Guillermo Arriaga ; Stars: Jose Maria Yazpik, Iliana Fox) , Official site

Eau Boy

An unusual young man thirsts for friendship. (N)

(Country: Canada/France; Year: 2007; Director: Eric Gravel ; Writer: Eric Gravel ; Stars: Benoit Côté, Sandy Schwermer, Jean-Marc Dardenne, Chantal Poirier )

Eclipse

A melange of mystical images from Mumbai. (D)

(Country: India; Year: 2007; Director: Mark Lapwood; Writer: Mark Lapwood) , Official site

The Elephant Garden

An older sister's romance spins 11-year-old Chloe into a world of change. (S)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Sasie Sealy; Writer: Sasie Sealy; Stars: Kelley Mack, Elise Couture, Billy Magnusson, Edward Saulisbury, Jordan Shipman, Vince Paul ) , Official site

Feathers To The Sky

An inspirational teacher provides impetus for 10-year-old Tamara. (N)

(Country: Uruguay, US; Year: 2007; Director: Leonardo Ricagni; Writer: Leonardo Ricagni; Stars: Camila Tamareo, Julio Cesar, Jorge Esmoris )

For Tomorrow: The First Step Of The Revolution

A chance to meet the unselfish shoe droppers. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Ken Kokin ) , Official site

GIFT OF FIRE Nineteen (Obscure) Frames That Changed The World

Cutting edge artist Ken Jacobs re-imagines inventor Louis Le Prince's nineteenth-century motion picture experiments. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Ken Jacobs)

God's Beach

Cycles of life and death intersect in 48 hours for the young woman. (S)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Abigail Carpenter; Writer: Abigail Carpenter; Stars: Azura Skye, Clayne Crawford, Maeve Chapman, William Steele) , Official site

God Only Knows

A young mother is torn between love and a better life. (N)

(Country: Philippines; Year: 2007; Director: Mark V Reyes ; Writer: Manjula Nadkarni, Mark V Reyes; Stars: Angel Aquino, Robbie Felongco, Bon Vibar, Carme Sanchez ) , Official site

Goldfish

Two third-graders embark on a mission. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Joe Wein; Writer: Joe Wein; Stars: Laura Marano, Madeline Carroll, Tim Bagley, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Mindy Sterling, Carlos Alazraqui, Patrick Kerr, Andrew Lauer) , Official site

Good Boy (Bom Garoto)

Surviving the slums of Rio is a challenge for a boy and his mum. (S)

(Country: Brazil; Year: 2008; Director: Davyde Wachell; Writer: Davyde Wachell; Stars: Wallace Coutinho, Marilia Coelho, Jaqueline Macóeh, Diego Ferreira, Juan Lima, Lauro Albuquerque ) , Official site

Great Genius And Profound Stupidity

Director Benita Raphan "explores the twin concepts of genius and stupidity," focusing primarily on deaf and blind Helen Keller and itinerant mathematician Paul Erd?s

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Benita Raphan; Writer: Benita Raphan; Stars: Merce Cunningham, Ian Garrison, Andrew Granville, Avital Ronell, Oliver Sacks, , , , , ,)

Green Porno

A series about the sex lives of bugs, insects, and various creatures. The films are a comical, but insightful study of the curious ways that "bugs" make love.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Isabella Rossellini; Writer: Isabella Rossellini; Stars: Isabella Rossellini)

Have You Ever Heard About Vukovar?

An emotional collision occurs between an American soldier and his Croatian driver. (S)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Paolo Borraccetti; Writer: Paolo Borraccetti; Stars: Ash Mayberry, Josip Kuchan ) , Official site

Heartbeats (Hartslagen)

Fannie reflects on past choices the night before leaving the parental nest. (N)

(Country: Belgium; Year: 2007; Director: Vincent Coen and Sebastiaan Lagrou ; Stars: Nona Bal, Ella Bal, Charlotte Timmers, Tom de Wispelaere, Ina Geerts, Hélène Couvert )

Heaven On Earth (Himmel Auf Erden)

The Pope is in the plumbing.

(Country: Germany; Year: 2007; Director: Florian Riegel)

Hestitation

An idyllic vacation is interrupted. (N)

(Country: France, UK; Year: 2007; Director: Virginia Gilbert; Writer: Virginia Gilbert; Stars: Gerard McSorley, Suzanne Burden) , Official site

Icebergs

A teenage girl hunts down the thief that stole her cell phone.

(Country: Switzerland; Year: 2007; Director: Germinal Roaux ; Writer: Germinal Roaux ) , Official site

Irish Twins

Brothers Michael and Saemus come to blows over their fathers ashes. (N)

(Country: US; Director: Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong; Writer: Rider Strong and Shiloh Strong; Stars: Rider Strong, Shiloh Strong, John DiMaggio, Al Vicente, Chris Solari, Devon McGinn ) , Official site

I Think I Thought

To think, or not to think, that is the question. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Matthew Modine; Writer: Matthew Modine; Stars: Matthew Modine, Ewa De Cruz, Nick Raynes )

John And Karen

An animated animal couple try to resolve their problems. (N)

(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Matthew Walker; Writer: Matthew Walker; Stars: James Bachman, Emma Cunniffe) , Official site

Kid

A coming-of-age ritual defines the relationship between a father and son.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Miguel Alvarez; Writer: Miguel Alvarez; Stars: Juan Meraz, Felix Solis) , Official site

Kirksdale

Inmates are running the asylum. (S)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Ryan R Spindell; Writer: Bradford Hodgson, Ryan R. Spindell; Stars: Joshua Mikel, Jessica Mansfield, Greg Thompson, Lanny Thomas, Wayne DeBary, Greg Watterson ) , Official site

Last Time In Clerkenwell

Review preview for Last Time In Clerkenwell

Utterly bonkers but brimming with ingenuity.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
Birds go bonkers.

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Alex Budovsky; Stars: n/a) , Trailer

Full review

Launch

Brian Doyle intermingles, in lyrical fashion, abandoned homes and buildings with changing weather patterns surrounding a rocket launch.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Brian Doyle)

Life For A Child

Three stories of sacrifice from Nepal. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Ed Lachman)

Little Minx Exquisite Corpse: Rope A Dope

Kick some butt. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Laurent Briet; Stars: Gina Williams, Jason Cuadra, Ismael Cornier, Angel Gonzales )

Lost Girl

A 20-year-old Iraqi refugee in Amman, Jordan works as a prostitute to support herself. Preceding Baghdad High. (D)

(Country: Iraq; Year: 2008; Director: Ali Taleb ) , Official site

Made In Slovenia

Miran Zupanic; North American Premiere) Lack of day care leads to desperation for a working mum. (N)

(Country: Slovenia; Year: 2007; Director: Miran Zupanic; Writer: Miran Zupanic; Stars: Iva Krajnc,Vladimir Vlaškalic,Julijana Zupanic, Barbara Vidovic, Mateja Pucko, Urska Vucak ) , Official site

Mamitas

A teenage Casanova teaches his best buddy how to talk to girls.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Nicholas Ozeki ; Writer: Nicholas Ozeki ; Stars: Boris Orozco, Minni Jo Mazzola, Maynor Alvarado, Cecilia Franco, Ramon Chavez, Antonio Farre )

Mandatory Service

A timely tale of today’s military. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Jessica Habie)

The Milky Way

Review preview for The Milky Way

Enjoyable, adventurous and unpredictable.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
A trip to buy milk is a real drama.

(Country: France; Year: 2006; Director: Luc Moullet; Writer: Luc Moullet; Stars: Claire Bouanich, Lucas Harari, Iliana Lolic)

Full review

The Money Shot

A New York cop steps in front of the camera (S)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Aaron Rapke; Writer: Aaron Rapke, Stewart Kaye ; Stars: Robert Berlin, Andy Waldschmidt, Ryan Andes, Genievieve Morritt, Richie Allan, Quinn Johnson)

Moon Mermaid (Sirène De Lune)

Once a month, on a full moon night something magical happens. (N)

(Country: Belgium; Year: 2007; Director: Psyché Piras and Sophie Collay ; Writer: Psyché Piras and Sophie Collay ; Stars: Psyché Piras, Benoît Verhaert, Elie Lison) , Official site

My Mother Said (Kuna Ni Nanang)

Elena, 99, recounts her life in mere minutes.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Jessica Sison)

New Boy

(Country: Ireland; Year: 2007; Director: Steph Green ; Writer: Steph Green ; Stars: Olutunji Ebun-Cole, Norma Sheahan, Simon O'Driscoll, Sinead Maguire, Fionn O'Shea, Byron Kumbala ) , Official site

The New Yorkist

A troubled artist tries to make sense of things. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Dana O'Keefe; Writer: Dana O'Keefe; Stars: Alex Kliment) , Official site

Night Light

Fear of the dark is illuminated. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Mark Mollenkamp; Writer: Mark Mollenkamp; Stars: James McCarthy, Michael Arnold, Scott Peat, Sara Messer)

Not Sacks

Real men do embroidery. (D)

(Country: UK; Year: 2007; Director: Fiona Colins)

Number One

Water imagery engages the experience of elasticity between varying states of mind.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Leighton Pierce; Writer: Leighton Pierce)

On The Ice (Sikumi)

Review preview for On The Ice

Sikumi is certainly stark, and yet there is room even in this cold, austere backdrop for the warmth of the human spirit.

Anton Bitel · 4.5 out of 5
An Inuit hunter inadvertantly witnesses a murder.

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean; Writer: Andrew Okpeaha MacLean; Stars: Tony Bryant, Olemaun Rexford, Brad Weyiouanna) , Official site

Full review

Polar

An abstract rendition of the melting of the polar ice caps.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Scott Nyerges ) , Official site

Rattlesnakes (Skröltormar)

A man's boots aren't made for selling. (S)

(Country: Iceland; Year: 2007; Director: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurdsson ; Writer: Huldar Breidfjord ; Stars: Johann Sigurdarson, Sigurdur Skulason, Lilja Thorisdottir, Petur Einarsson, Sveinn Olafur Gunnarsson, Runar Juliusson )

Roads

A 13-year-old Arab and an Israeli ex-soldier connect. (S)

(Country: Israel; Year: 2007; Director: Lior Geller ; Writer: Lior Geller; Stars: Waseem Nur Habshi, Daniel Chernish, Mahmud Mura, Osama Rabaya, Haled Mayer Marwat) , Official site

The Second Life Of The Sugar Bowl (La Deuxième Vie Du Sucrier)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder for a grandfather. (N)

(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Didier Canaux; Writer: Didier Canaux; Stars: Philippe Clay, Andrée Damant, Elisa Heusch) , Official site

The Second Line

Review preview for The Second Line

There is no justice in poverty and there is no justice here.

Angus Wolfe Murray · 3.5 out of 5
Cleaning the filth after Hurricane Katrina.

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: John Magary; Writer: John Magary; Stars: Al Thompson, J D Williams, Dane Rhodes, Karen Pritchett)

Full review

Self-Portrait With Cows Going Home And Other Works - A Portrait Of Sylvia Plachy

A camera-shy photographer. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2007; Director: Rebecca Dreyfus )

Shift (15 Minuten Wahrheit)

Hell hath no fury like an employee scorned. (S)

(Country: Germany; Year: 2007; Director: Nico Zingelmann; Writer: Nico Zingelmann; Stars: Herbert Knaup, Christoph Bach )

Skeletons In The Closet (Skelett I Garderoben)

A couple may never get a chance to remember their night together. (N)

(Country: Sweden; Year: 2008; Director: Ulrik Friberg ; Writer: Ulrik Friberg ; Stars: Laszlo Hago, Josephine Bauer, Niclas Abrahamsson ) , Official site

Song Of Slomon

A rabbi suffers an existential crisis. (N)

(Country: Canada; Year: 2007; Director: Emmanuel Shirinian; Writer: Amy Cameron, Emmanuel Shirinian; Stars: Michael Cohen, Danny Wells, Joel Keller)

So Beautiful (Zo Mooi)

Nostalgic story about longing and staying young forever. Preceding 57,000 Kilometers Between Us. (N)

(Country: Netherlands; Year: 2007; Director: Stefan van de Staak ; Writer: Stefan van de Staak; Stars: Sarah Pach, Daniele Trio )

Supply And Demand (L'offre Et La Demande)

A medical examiner's assistant will do anything to keep his job. (N)

(Country: France; Year: 2007; Director: Frédéric Farrucci; Writer: Frédéric Farrucci; Stars: Bernard Alane, Cyprien Fouquet, Alain Blazquez, Marc Wilhelm) , Official site

Suspended

A woman questions love, humanity, identity, freedom and femininity when everything is normal. Preceding Somers Town. (N)

(Country: Iran; Year: 2008; Director: Bahar Behbahani; Writer: Bahar Behbahani; Stars: Bahar Behbahani, Andre Hovsepian) , Official site

Takoma Park

A pasty basketball player longs for some color in his life. (N)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: David Andalman; Writer: David Andalman; Stars: Brandon Thane Wilson, Keziah Niambi John- Paul, Vikrum Mathur, David Aaronson, Martha Bergmark, Elliott Andalman ) , Official site

Tale Of Two Bondage Models

Lorelei Lee and Princess Donna reveal pleasure and pain. (D)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Brian Lilla; Stars: Princess Donna, Lorelei Lee) , Official site

Teslamania

Experimental filmmaker Joel Schlemowitz pays tribute to electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. (D*)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Joel Schlemowitz; Writer: Joel Schlemowitz; Stars: Gecko Saccomanno)

The Tournament (Il Torneo)

Footballing boys learn lessons in sportsmanship. (N)

(Country: Italy; Year: 2008; Director: Michele Alhaique; Writer: Federico Mazzei ; Stars: Lorenzo De Angelis, Andrea Meloni, Fabio Scotti, Alessio Attanasio, Danilo Meloni, Giada Fradeani, Giordano de Plano )

When I Become Silent (Watashi Ga Chinmoku Suru Toki)

Writers block causes a roadblock between two women. (N)

(Country: Japan; Year: 2008; Director: Hyoe Yamamoto ; Writer: Hyoe Yamamoto )

Willingly

A couple question their commitment at a Jewish divorce ceremony. (S)

(Country: Israel; Year: 2007; Director: Pazit Lichtman; Writer: Pazit Lichtman; Stars: Avital Abrgel, Sharon Fridman, Yifat Hagbi, Mital Glazer, Ayala Zamir, Maya Madger, Yiftach Erez )

The Year Of The Pig (El Año Del Cerdo)

A delivery boy from Havana’s Chinatown longs to alter his destiny. (S)

(Country: Cuba, Puerto Rico; Year: 2007; Director: Claudia Calderón ; Writer: Claudia Calderón, Leopoldo Nakata, Fernando de Peña ; Stars: José Antonio Rodríguez, Antulio Marín, Annia Bu, Caridad Amarán, Alejandro Chiu, Mario Guerra, Luis Alberto Delgado, Hilda Chiu, Marlenys Choy Chang, Bárbara Díaz, Joan Abreu )

Yellow Sticky Notes

Animated self-reflection on to-do lists.

(Country: Canada; Year: 2007; Director: Jeff Chiba Stearns; Writer: Jeff Chiba Stearns) , Official site

Zombie Gets A Date

A dinner to remember. (S)

(Country: US; Year: 2008; Director: Leetal Platt; Writer: Leetal Platt; Stars: Hamilton Longyear) , Official site