This November, the 24fps International Short Film Festival celebrates its 15th Anniversary when the critically acclaimed event brings its 2013 edition of Official Selection Films to Abilene’s Paramount Theatre. This unique programming of the historic venue is a curated exhibition of cinematic projects from around the globe, giving audiences the opportunity to see a “new wave” of artistic voices celebrating the creative power of film and the visual arts.
Thirty short films, each limited to a running time of 20 minutes or less, will be screened in the restored 1930s movie palace on three separate programs presented November 1-2. 24fps has a reputation for assembling the best of the international film scene, presenting programming that includes winners from major international events including the Sundance, Berlin, Vienna, Tribeca, Cannes, and SXSW festivals.
To preview this 15th Anniversary edition, I would like to highlight three stellar projects that represent narrative, animated, and documentary films from the UK, Tanzania, and the USA. They represent the quality of the programming, and the powerful voices of four talented young artists.
“Jonah,” from Tanzanian filmmaker Kibwe Tavares, is a visually stunning combination of live action and animation that tells the story of two small town friends whose dreams become reality when they photograph a giant fish leaping from the sea. The cutting edge film was an Official Selection of this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Director Tavares grew up in South London, where his interest in comics, manga, and sci-fi novels led him to a master’s degree in engineering and architecture. He is the co-founder of studio Factory Fifteen, whose “Robots of Brixton” won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance in 2012.
American animator Daniel Sousa takes themes commonly found in mythology fairy tales to examine the struggle between our intellect and our subconscious. His award-winning film “Feral” utilizes detailed, hand-drawn and painted animation to tell the story of a wild boy found in the woods by a hunter who brings him back to civilization.
Daniel is a native of Portugal and a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. “Feral” has won over 12 international awards.
“Grace,” from London-based writer/director Keir Burrows, is an emotionally powerful drama of interconnected lives that follows a dozen individuals as they experience loss and understanding in the hours leading up to an international nuclear incident. It was featured in the Short Film Corner of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Keir is a native of South Africa who grew up in France and New Zealand. He now lives in London, where he formed The Cast Iron Picture Company with his wife and producing partner.
Polish filmmaker Grzegorz Zariczny’s documentary short “The Whistle” was the winner of this year’s Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Representative of a new breed of documentarians, Zariczny skillfully fuses narrative story telling with real-life incidents to present the story of a low-level football referee who dreams of a better life. Beautifully photographed, and filled with raw emotion, the film quietly tells the story of a simple man who struggles to find his way.
Grzegorz is a Polish native and former geography teacher who quit his job to study and pursue filmmaking. The Sundance jury praised his work as “exceptional filmmaking, which takes an everyday story and makes it truly magical.”
For more information on the 24fps International Short Film Festival, visit the official site online at www.24fpsfest.com
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