Top 5: Short Films Of 2020
2020 gave us even more opportunity to review short films and connect with new and emerging filmmakers by phone and email. Since we’ve become so entrenched in the world of short-form films, we thought we’d build them into our normal end-of-the year tradition and spotlight the ones that we feel are worth your time. Below are the five short films that blew us away the most and left a lasting impression!
Somewhat of a cross between Skins (in its youthfulness and desire to explore provocative themes) and Black Mirror (in its unexpected swerves and dark leanings), A Series of Light is a fascinating series of short films that focuses on identity within the current LGBTQ youth culture. The irony of living in a technological age is that while we are more connected than ever, we are just as equally alienated and alone. And although we have a wealth of information available at our fingertips, it doesn’t necessarily make answering life’s many difficult questions — like who am I? — any easier. With each short, writer/director Gage Oxley and company shade and illuminate different areas of its central theme, from privacy in a digital age (and how that effects who we are) to hiding, finding, and revealing who we really are, and everything in-between. The end result is a pretty all-encompassing examination of the complications of identity within our modern times that’s nicely stylized and rawly captured (both in a visual and performative sense).
4: Funfair
Directed by Kaveh Mazaheri and starring Soroush Saeidi, Funfair is an Iranian short film that hilariously examines the family dynamic with incisive dark comedy. The film takes what’s supposed to be a fun family day trip to the titular funfair and twists it up into a father’s darkly comedic harebrained scheme to pull his family — or more specifically himself — out from under the boot heels of debt. His plan, which is as selfish and ill-informed as the business ventures that wound up getting his family in debt in the first place, is to have his wife fake a car accident so they can extort money from the driver for damages, which he estimates will be doubled since they’re in a Forbidden Month. Firmly grounded in its absurdity, Funfair finds some interesting things to quietly comment on, such as gender roles and familial hierarchy in Iran, as well as how these potential toxic qualities may seep into the psyche and actions of the younger generation, leaving you with much to chew on.
3: LiME
LiME is the film debut of writer/director Donta Storey, and it begs you to live in your truth, despite the bitterness of the world. Based on Storey’s own experience growing up in Compton as a non-binary youth, the film successfully places the viewer into the headspace of its protagonist, resulting in an eye-opening and inspiring experience that shines bright with its sweet and positive messaging. Somewhat of a West Coast version of Barry Jenkins’ acclaimed Moonlight. in that it deals primarily with the subject matter of sexuality pressed up against the urban atmosphere of the streets and shows the importance of having a support system (or place of escape) against the oppression of the outside world. Its story is specific, but it has a universal reach. By reminding us all that a lot of our transcendence resides in ourselves but can’t be undertaken alone, LiME champions both self and those around us who stand firm like pillars when our internal state may be crumbling — and its highly successful in its execution. It urges us all to be the sweet amongst the sour, and it’s likely to lift you up while it communicates its important message.
2: I Am Norman
Following up 2019’s His Hands, filmmakers Arron Blake and Darius Shu’s second short film, I Am Norman, serves as continued proof of the filmmaking duo’s ability to sculpt unique and thought-provoking DIY cinema on an A+ level. Shot back in August during lockdown with only a two-man crew, the film explores the effects of conversion therapy through an unusually character study with a vital message. Framed as a mockumentary, I Am Norman lures you in with the oddity and charm of its humorously offbeat central figure, a vagabond outsider named Norman with a dark past and a surprising hobby. With its quirky outsider character, dark focus, provocative nature, and humorous and hard-hitting moments, it feels like a Harmony Korine directed, LGBTQ+ version of Man Bites Dog with a twist. The mystery and intrigue that shroud the story and its character cause a viewer to lean into the material. You’re never quite sure which direction it’s headed or what will happen next, and you become more entangled with each new development, creating a cinematic experience that sticks around long after the credits fade to black.
1: Big Touch
Race, compassion, and connection are all central themes in Chris Tenzis’ delightfully moving Big Touch. Slathered in surrealism and blue hues with the occasional splash of vibrant color, the film’s story functions dually as a straightforward, surface-level tale about an ostracized woman’s longing for connection, while its ambiguous, open-ended nature allows for deeper readings on this symbolically rich slice of cinema. Mainly, the film highlights the transformative power of physical touch, but it also serves as visceral commentary on the black experience through its smart casting. The results are both heartfelt and profound, and they’re bolstered by the film’s performers, Tenzis’ strong compositional eye, and the strength of its soundtrack ("Song of the Birds” performed by Sheku Kanneh-Mason). With tight, focused direction and absolutely stunning cinematography, Big Touch is the real deal; it’s cinema at its most pure, and it demonstrates film’s amazing capacity to evoke emotion and tell a larger story in a matter of minutes, which is why it’s our favorite short film from 2020.
Welp, that’s our list! Did your favorite short make the cut?! We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!