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| JUL/14 |
SCREENINGS IN MYANMAR
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July 14-17, 2003
In a nation making international news for its political uneasiness, about 1,000 Burmese were able to forget the news and concentrate on film at the Short Shorts Film Festival's inaugural event held at the U.S. Embassy's American Center in Yangon July 14 through July 17, 2003.
Young Burmese filmmakers and film fans filled the 120 seat screening room at the American Center twice daily over five days to watch two separate programs of Short Shorts films from the 2003 international tour and from years past.
Speakers in the American Center program were writer/director Leanna Creel (SSFF 2002's Award-winning "Offiside") and Festival co-founder Douglas Williams who discussed how and why filmmakers make shorts.
"In a country like this one with such a rich culture and heritage, I sense a wealth of story ideas for great short films," said Leanna. " In today's world of digital video and editing software on PCs, the cost limitations of filmmaking are not an issue; just the basic need to have a great story and be a good storyteller."
Introducing the genre of short film to the Burmese proved to be a great inspiration for young Burmese to start considering creating their own works.
"In the audience Q and A sessions, Leanna and I were constantly asked about the best way to plan and make a short film, and also about the best way to get that film to audiences," said Douglas. "Our goal as a festival worldwide is to stimulate the creative minds of young people to make short films, and I sense that we will be hearing from our audience here again, but as filmmakers."
Douglas and Leanna were hosted by eight Burmese feature film directors at a lunch organized by the American Center, and then taken to the set of a local Yangon feature film to watch the filming of a dance scene with popular Burmese artists.
Even in a nation where freedom of expression becomes an issue of international discussion, the Burmese fans of Short Shorts showed a high level of film sophistication and knowledge, not to mention a sense of humor that would make any filmmaker screening a film there happy.
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| MAY/01 |
Screenings at the Egyptian Theater---part2
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The American Cinematheque at the Egyptian hosted Short Shorts for two nights of public screenings this year! On this second evening, festival-goers were expecting to see 9 films, but we decided to screen Koji Yamamura's Academy Award ® nominated MT. HEAD at the end of the program for good measure—bringing the total to 10 films.
Filmmakers from Japan, Brazil, and Los Angeles attended the screening and took questions from the audience afterwards. SUZUKI director Keiichiro Kyuma and producer Kazuhiko Masuda (supported by their colleagues Hidehisa Watanabe and Otoaki Kobayashi in the audience) talked about the inspiration behind the humor of their film, which almost needs no translation to be appreciated by an American audience. Director Gabe Torres and actor Jason London, who plays the lead role in Gabe's film LAST STAND, discussed the challenges of making such an epic short film and how vital was the casting of the boy who plays Goes Alone. Director Gustavo Moraes, winner of the Short Shorts Film Festival in Los Angeles FujiFilm Award, answered questions about the symbolic imagery in his film BASEADO EM ESTÓRIAS REAIS and how the fictional film, which addresses Brazil's fairly recent period of dictatorship, has been received by the Brazilian press and those who lived through the oppression.
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| APR/30 |
Screenings at the Egyptian Theater---part 1
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10 films screened for the public tonight at the Egyptian Theatre in a program of films selected from those appearing in Tokyo in June. Festival-goers, which included many students and those involved in the film industry, were invited to enter to win a trip for two to Japan to see Short Shorts in Tokyo, courtesy of Kintetsu International Travel Consultants and American Airlines, or an afternoon spa get away for two at Jurlique in Beverly Hills.
Filmmakers were on hand to participate in Q&A with the audience after the screening. Director Nicholas Spano, producer Melissa Balin, and cinematographer Joe DiGennaro discussed the making of their film QIK2JDG. Joe shared his experiences working with the VIPER digital camera, which records not on tape or film, but directly to a hard drive. Audience members were surprised to learn that the talented team behind IKESU, director Kenya Shimizu and producer Hiroki Motomori, work as air traffic controllers in Japan and that they are self-taught filmmakers who learned their craft through researching the internet. Hiroki shared his moving personal interpretation of the Buddhist theme of the film that everyone who comes into your life will eventually leave it, one way or another.
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Director Gabe Torres and lead actor Jason London of LAST STAND
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| APR/29 |
LA Kick off screening starts!
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The Short Shorts Film Festival in Los Angeles kicked off its second annual event at the Egyptian Theatre with a special screening and Cherry Blossom themed reception on April 29, 2003. Over 400 attended this special event, including feature filmmakers, film industry executives, festival friends and sponsors, and Short Shorts filmmakers of the past and present.
Guests watched 10 films, selected from the 58 which will screen in Tokyo plus Koji Yamamura's Academy Award ® nominated "Mt. Head," and then gathered under the beautiful pink sakura in the theater's outdoor courtyard to enjoy SKYY Vodka cocktails, Hahn Beer, Red Bull, sushi catered by members of the Japanese Restaurant Association, and specialties from CHAYA Brasserie in Los Angeles. Each attendee received a gift bag including peach Calpico; Fran; gift certificates for a one-hour facial at Jurlique in Beverly Hills and for Chaya's sushi happy hour; a CD of Brazilian music (in honor of Brazilian filmmaker and Fujifilm award-winner Gustavo Moraes); SKYY mints; postcards decorated with Japanese artwork; a Sterling Vineyards bookmark; and other promotional materials.
Brazilian filmmaker Gustavo Moraes was in attendance to accept the Short Shorts Film Festival in Los Angeles Fujifilm Award for his film, "Baseado em Estórias Reais (Based on True Stories)." Gustavo received a certificate for $2,500 worth of Fuji super 16mm film.
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Filmmakers Brooke Keesling (BOOBIE GIRL, SSFF 2002) and Mark Osborne (MORE, SSFF 2000) and Markfs wife Kimb Osborne enjoy the party in the theater courtyard.
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