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Tribeca Festival · 2011

Tribeca Festival 2011

Short Films

The works in the 2011 TFF short film lineup are eligible to compete for combined cash and value-in-kind prizes totaling more than $15,000 for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Student Visionary Award.

The recipient of the TFF Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

Each selection is put into a themed programme, and they are listed below. Which programme a short falls into is listed in itallics. Student films are marked *:

  • Off The Grid - Sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll are a few of the topics explored in these thought-provoking short documentaries.
  • All For One - Positive thinking prevails in this group of inspiring short documentaries.
  • All You Can Eat (Recommended for agese 14 and up) A tasty assortment of animated narrative shorts.
  • Open 24 Hours - From the city that never sleeps, these New York narrative shorts show there’s no place like home.
  • Mix Tape - Sit back, relax, and take a rhythmic ride around the world with these narrative shorts.
  • Exit Strategies - Sticky situations and surprises create the perfect escape in this programme of narrative shorts.
  • Impressions Of Memory - The manner in which images evoke memory.

Programme

60 films · 1 review

Jump to a film

After The Fire (Après le feu)

A few miles from Ajaccio, Corsica, burnt land is buckling under the weight of its colors...

(Year: 2010; Director: Jacques Perconte) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. North American premiere

All In All

Marissa and Jeremy finally share their feelings as Christian summer camp comes to an end.

(Year: 2011; Director: Charlie Reff, Jacki Sextro; Writer: Charlie Reff, Jacki Sextro; Stars: Andrea Rosenthal, Ki-Hong Lee, Pamela Walworth, Mark Schroeder, Kurt Collins, Valerie Brandy) , Official site

Take As Directed. World premiere

The Beaufort Diaries

A polar bear in Hollywood has trouble going with the "floe".

(Year: 2010; Director: Alex Petrowsky; Writer: T Cooper; Stars: David Duchovny) , Official site

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

Braid (Bian Zi)

Ting misses her mum, Jie misses his wife, and a kitten becomes a catalyst.

(Year: 2011; Director: Chun-Yi Hsieh; Writer: Chun-Yi Hsieh; Stars: Xiao-Feng Qiu, Jun-Jie Du, Rong-Qi Hua, Zi-Qi Xi, Yu-Zhen Xiao, Qiang Li) , Official site

Take As Directed. World premiere*

Brink

It's all about the gravity of the situation.

(Year: 2010; Director: Shawn Christensen; Writer: Shawn Christensen; Stars: Justin Chatwin, Allison Huntington Chase) , Official site , Trailer

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

Bunny

A nine-year-old boy enlists the help of his best friend to get his rabbit back.

(Year: 2010; Director: Robert Snow; Writer: Robert Snow, Ryan Demler; Stars: John Barbieri, Scott Clark, Griffin Hyde, Brooke Hoover, Natalie Toth) , Official site

Take As Directed. World premiere*

Bye Bye Super 8

A tribute to the film that has the most beautiful colors of the world.

(Year: 2010; Director: Johan Kramer) , Official site , Trailer

Impressions Of Memory. US premiere

Caretaker For The Lord

Review preview for Caretaker For The Lord

With excellent sound work, a keen eye and a good subject, this is a lovely piece of documentary.

Andrew Robertson · 3.5 out of 5
A documentary about the community in a neglected Glasgow church and their struggle for survival.

(Country: UK; Year: 2009; Director: Jane McAllister)

Full review

Off The Grid. New York premiere*

Challenging Impossibility

It's mind over matter, literally, for spiritual leader and peace advocate Sri Chinmoy.

(Year: 2011; Director: Sanjay Rawal and Natabara Rollosson; Stars: Bill Pearl, Frank Zane, Hugo Girard, Carl Lewis, Mike Katz, Wayne Demilla) , Official site , Trailer

One For All. World premiere

Cheat

Three friends are on a mission to pull off the perfect score.

(Year: 2010; Director: Joe DeRosa; Writer: Joe DeRosa, Robert Kelly, Bill Burr; Stars: Joe DeRosa, Bill Burr, Robert Kelly, Colin Quinn, Bonnie McFarlane, Rich Vos) , Official site

Open 24 Hours. World premiere

Cold Blood (Sang froid)

An exhausted mother brings her terrified child to the hospital.

(Year: 2011; Director: Martin Thibaudeau; Writer: Martin Thibaudeau; Stars: Julie Roussel, André Kasper Kolstad) , Official site , Trailer

Take As Directed. International premiere

Coming Out (Komma Ut)

Joel has finally made up his mind, or so he thinks, in Coming Out.

(Year: 2011; Director: Jerry Carlsson; Writer: Jerry Carlsson; Stars: Charlie Gustafsson, Deirdre Ross, Anders Danielsson) , Official site , Trailer

Mix Tape. World premiere

Crash&Burn

Two-man rock duo Crash&Burn is turned upside down when Burn decides to have transgender surgery.

(Year: 2011; Director: Rick Rodgers; Writer: Rick Rodgers; Stars: Julia Brightly, Robert Leaver)

Off The Grid. World premiere

Current (Reprise)

During the first ticker-tape parade since 9/11, a desolate New York City is consumed, erased by a blanket of information.

(Year: 2010; Director: Brian Doyle; Writer: Brian Doyle) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Dead Cat

Roger hit a cat but it's not quite dead, so he and his friends have to finish the job.

(Year: 2011; Director: Jay Reiss; Writer: Daniel Milder; Stars: Ethan Sandler, Nate Mooney, Michael Weston, Lance Barber, Josh Weinstein) , Official site

Exit Strategies. World premiere

Down This Road

Twelve-year-old Rodney tries to regain the love of his wayward dad.

(Year: 2010; Director: Vinz Feller; Writer: Paul Leo; Stars: Paul Calderon, Brandon Ratcliff, Delissa Reynolds) , Official site , Trailer

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

The Dungeon Master

Shane and his friends thought it would be fun to recapture their geeky youth until The Dungeon Master arrived.

(Year: 2011; Director: Rider Strong, Shiloh Strong; Writer: Rider Strong, Shiloh Strong; Stars: Adam Busch, Alexander Polinsky, Chris Wylde, Travis Schuldt, Chad Crone) , Official site

Mix Tape. New York premiere

The D Train

An old man reflects on his entire life. How quickly it all goes by...

(Year: 2011; Director: Jay Rosenblatt) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Each Moment Is The Universe

A boy is reborn with memories of his previous lives and tries to fix the mistakes of the past.

(Year: 2010; Director: Bruce Thierry Cheung; Writer: Jeremy Craig Cheung; Stars: Vittavas Teeta, Salitgaeert Jeemoon, Natthakan Wiwatkitsakul, Chananon Chomphusri, Supoj Insamean, Pratya Mothan) , Official site

Exit Strategies. North American premiere*

Eva - Working Title (Eva - Shem Zmani)

An aspiring actress has trouble after the shooting stops.

(Year: 2010; Director: Dor Fadlon; Writer: Dor Fadlon; Stars: Evelin Kachulin, Dror Dahan)

Exit Strategies. International premiere*

Filmpiece For Bartlett

A tribute to the late experimental filmmaker Scott Bartlett.

(Year: 2010; Director: Scott Nyerges) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Garden Roll Bounce Parking Lot

Pop culture and land-use practices converge in Brooklyn, where a Bangladeshi immigrant family recalls the found film that formed the overhead lattice support for their urban garden.

(Year: 2010; Director: Melissa Friedling; Stars: Phalguni Sultana, Francis Rahul)

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Grandpa Looked Like William Powell

A 1924 high school autograph book bridges the generation gap.

(Year: 2010; Director: David B. Levy; Writer: David B. Levy; Stars: David B. Levy)

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

Gravity (Þyngdarafl)

Gravity is about friendship, love, space aliens, cocaine, and handicaps, not necessarily in that order.

(Year: 2010; Director: Logi Hilmarsson; Writer: Logi Hilmarsson; Stars: Magnea Valdimarsdóttir, Magnús Guðmundssom, Damon Younger)

Exit Strategies. International premiere

The Green Wave

A stereograph of an ocean wave breaking is suspended in time as it reshapes in time and in depth. 3-D for both two-eyed and single-eyed viewers.

(Year: 2011; Director: Ken Jacobs)

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Guru

A charismatic motivational speaker privately battles bipolar disorder.

(Year: 2011; Director: Jonathan VanBallenberghe; Writer: Jonathan VanBallenberghe; Stars: Peter Scott) , Official site

Off The Grid. World premiere

Harmonium Mountain

An imaginary landscape of colorful, animated elements derived entirely from one high-resolution photographic image of Colorado's Mount Sopris, the latest step in Clifford Ross' exploration of objective reality and subjective experience.

(Year: 2010; Director: Clifford Ross) , Official site

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

Hauraki

The little girl in Hauraki gives the grown-ups a lesson in compassion.

(Year: 2010; Director: Kirsten Green; Writer: Dianne Taylor; Stars: Jennifer Ludlum, Coco Lovatt, Sophie Henderson, Kevin Wilson, Matt Gillanders)

Mix Tape. World premiere

The Ignorant Bliss Of Sun And Moon

Luck finally comes one man's way.

(Year: 2010; Director: John Hyams; Writer: Bill Gullo; Stars: Scott Sowers)

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

Incident In New Baghdad

A US Army veteran's personal experience in and out of the war zone.

(Year: 2010; Director: James Spione)

Off The Grid. World premiere

In The Spirit Of Laxmi

A hotel manager commits to raising an injured leopard cub and reintroducing it into the wild.

(Year: 2010; Director: Meghan Shea, Michael Rogers; Stars: Gerhard Weihahn, Laxmi) , Official site

One For All. New York premiere

Just That Sort of a Day

Follow the lives of seemingly random characters.

(Year: 2010; Director: Abhay Kumar; Writer: Abhay Kumar)

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

The Kiss

Fueled by alcohol and hormones, Aimee and Steph take a swim on a hot summer night.

(Country: Australia; Year: 2010; Director: Nicole Gulasekharam, Briony Kent; Writer: Ashlee Page; Stars: Nicole Gulasekharam, Briony Kent) , Official site

Mix Tape. North American premiere

Last Resort (Último Recurso)

When Cesar finds himself without options he carjacks Marcia.

(Year: 2010; Director: Barney Elliott; Writer: Barney Elliott, Silvana Aguirre; Stars: Alberick Garcia, Mónica Rossi) , Official site

Take As Directed. New York premiere

Loose Change

It's a Brooklyn tale about Jimmy, his senile landlord, and the ice cream that brings them together.

(Year: 2011; Director: Phil Botti; Writer: Phil Botti; Stars: Carmine Famiglietti, Graciela Lecube, Annie Basulto, Madeline Deferrari) , Official site

Open 24 Hours. World premiere

A Lost And Found Box Of Human Sensation

A man's journey through grief is revealed.

(Year: 2010; Director: Martin Wallner, Stefan Leuchtenberg; Writer: Martin Wallner; Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Ian McKellen, Richard McCowen) , Official site

All You Can Eat. New York premiere*

Love, Lots Of It

The story of a woman, a man, and a mysterious box.

(Year: 2011; Director: Rob Feld; Writer: Rob Feld; Stars: Campbell Scott, Kathleen McElfresh, McCaleb Burnett)

Exit Strategies. World premiere

Man And Boy

A father takes justice into his own hands when he thinks his son has been sexually assaulted.

(Year: 2010; Director: David Leon, Marcus McSweeney; Writer: Rashid Rasaq, David Leon; Stars: Eddie Marsan, Geoff Bell, Calum McNab, Eddie Webber)

Take As Directed. New York premiere

Mr Stache

Experience the awesome adventures of a man and his moustache.

(Year: 2011; Director: Rich Sommer, Amy Smart; Writer: Jac Schaeffer; Stars: Rich Sommer, Amy Smart) , Official site

Mix Tape. World premiere

Nightlife

Two Manhattan teenagers make an unexpected connection.

(Year: 2011; Director: Shandor Garrison; Writer: Shandor Garrison; Stars: Adam Soto, Olivia Whelan, Antone Pagan)

Open 24 Hours. World premiere*

Noreen

Two cops discover a dead body in a cottage and get more than they bargained for.

(Year: 2010; Director: Domhnall Gleeson; Writer: Domhnall Gleeson; Stars: Brendan Gleeson, Brian Gleeson, Gerard Byrne) , Official site

Mix Tape. New York premiere

Not Over Easy

Love isn't what it's cracked up to be.

(Year: 2010; Director: Jordan Canning; Writer: Jody Richardson, Jordan Canning; Stars: Rachel Wilson, Aaron Poole) , Official site

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

One Day I Forgot And Used My Hands

Children use their hands to make a telescope, so why can't a filmmaker use his hands to make a lens? It works!

(Year: 2011; Stars: Ethan Chia) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. US premiere

One Over Wanderlust

There are two characters in this story, the past and the present. Present knows past, but past does not know present. With nostalgia as their language, a mutual realisation is sought.

(Year: 2010; Director: Brendon Kingsbury; Writer: Brendon Kingsbury)

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Paper

An experimental short film designed to explore texture in moving image.

(Year: 2010; Director: Egill Kristbjornsson; Writer: Egill Kristbjornsson) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. World premiere*

Pentecost

When altar boy Damian receives a priestly pep talk he has a decision to make in Pentecost.

(Year: 2010; Director: Peter Macdonald; Writer: Peter McDonald; Stars: Scott Graham, Andrew Bennet, Michael McElhatton, Don Wycherley, Eamon Hunt, Des Nealon) , Official site

Exit Strategies. International premiere

The Philosopher

A successful man abandons his worldly possessions for a purpose.

(Year: 2010; Director: Abdulla Alkaabi; Writer: Abdulla Alkaabi; Stars: Jean Reno, Cyrille Thouvenin) , Official site

Take As Directed. New York premiere

Picnic

A restful day turns tense for a family.

(Year: 2011; Director: Gerardo Herrero; Writer: Gerardo Herrero; Stars: Sveta Zhukovska, Nacho Medina, Alejandro Rodríguez, Irene Paumard, Marko Mihailovic) , Official site

Exit Strategies. US premiere

Preferably Blue

A lonely and bitter Easter Bunny hatches a plan to steal the spotlight from Santa.

(Year: 2011; Director: Alan Dickson; Stars: Harry Enfield, Mike Drew, Norman Forsey) , Official site

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

The Ride

A student accepts a lift from a stranger but The Ride leads to unexpected consequences.

(Year: 2011; Director: Anthony LaPaglia, Ed Speleers, Emer Kenny; Writer: Marion Pilowsky; Stars: Anthony LaPaglia, Ed Speleers, Emer Kenny)

Mix Tape. World premiere

Rooms

A hotel housekeeper dreams of home.

(Year: 2011; Director: Joanna Jurewicz; Writer: Joanna Jurewicz; Stars: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Gill Gayle)

Mix Tape. World premiere*

Sleep (Schlaf)

Sleep. Full breath ahead into the final sleep. A lullaby with closed eyes for a silent decline.

(Year: 2010; Director: Claudius Gentinetta, Frank Braun; Writer: Claudius Gentinetta) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. US premiere

Smut Capital Of America

It's San Francisco, sex, and the First Amendment in Smut Capital Of America.

(Year: 2010; Director: Michael Stabile; Writer: Michael Stabile; Stars: John Waters, Kathryn Reed, Marty Rosenthal, John Summers, Don Romesburg, Jeffrey Escoffier) , Official site

Off The Grid. World premiere

Storm Up The Sky

Brothers Caleb and Aaron are at odds over their religious beliefs.

(Year: 2010; Director: Jon Kauffman; Writer: Jon Kauffman; Stars: Richard Masur, Dan Pfau, Dan Shaked) , Official site

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere*

Strips

Masculine noun, shortened form of striptease. From "strip," to remove, to take away; and "tease," to entice, to tempt. And then all this in plural.

(Year: 2010; Director: Felix Dufour-Laperriere) , Official site

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Summer Snapshot

In Summer Snapshot a group of friends reflect on a special sun-kissed day.

(Year: 2010; Director: Ian McCluskey; Stars: Anna Farrell, Ed Jahn, Bethany Jones, Allissa Wickham, Aron Stephens, Audrey Kovar, Adam Lucas, Tate Peterson, Sean O'Neill, Stefanie Vermillion, Kelly Godell) , Official site

One For All. New York premiere

Sun City Picture House

A community in Haiti rallies to build a cinema.

(Year: 2010; Director: David Darg) , Official site

One For All. World premiere

Switch

Two years after a traumatic car accident that leaves a girl in a vegetative state, the man responsible attempts to atone.

(Year: 2011; Director: Thomas Hefferon; Writer: TJ Hundtofte, Thomas Hefferon; Stars: Jane McGrath, Lesley Conroy, Barry Barnes) , Official site

Take As Directed. World premiere

The Terms

A father and son forge a twisted pact.

(Country: UK; Year: 2009; Director: Jason LaMotte; Writer: Jason LaMotte, Mike McCormack; Stars: Gary Lewis, Ciaran Flynn) , Official site

Exit Strategies. New York premiere

Year Zero

A sole survivor battles the zombie apocalypse in New York City.

(Year: 2010; Director: Richard Cunningham III; Writer: Richard Cunningham III; Stars: Pat Rigby, Tim Brennan, Richard Cunningham III, Pierre Beausejour, Christina George, Bridget Carroll) , Official site

All You Can Eat. World premiere