Short Films Sandwiched In Central Library in the Kate Gleason Auditorium (Noon – 1pm) (Last Friday of the month until March) Theme for November, 2018: Family Connections

Western Spaghetti (2008, PES) 1:41 min. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjLW5_dGAM Animated short, "Western Spaghetti," by director Adam Pesapane, known as PES. "Western Spaghetti" was named TIME Magazine’s #2 Viral Video of the Year in 2008. You will never again be as hungry for inanimate objects! Writer/Producer: PES

One Small Step (2018, Andrew Chesworth, Bobby Pontillas) 7:38 min. https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2018/09/20/one-small-step/ One Small Step is an absolutely lovely eight-minute animated short about an ambitious young girl who aspires to be an astronaut with the support of her humble father. Co-directed by Bobby Pontillas and Andrew Chesworth, and It's precisely the ability of Pontillas and Chesworth to bridge both eastern and western cultures that turns One Small Step into such an incredibly heartwarming, emotionally resonant film and easily one of the best animated shorts of 2018. © Written by Richard Propes The Independent Critic

The Family (2016, Ford Motor Co./Cameo Film) (16:00) 16 min. https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2018/09/04/the-family/ The work continues Ford Motor Company Denmark's recent theme of "Success Against the Odds." "Familien" was directed by Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen, who tells Adweek that Danes' high divorce rate was a basis for the concept. "We started thinking about how prevalent the car is in a divorce. It is both a tool and a setting," he says. "Ford's demography really is the Danish middle class, who do have the highest divorce rate in the world. And so we pitched this film under the banner 'Ford. Supporting families against the odds.' " From AdWeek, Jan 24, 2016 by Tim Nudd

Fern (2017, Johnny Kelley) 5:55 min. https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2018/09/11/fern/ The film revolves around a woman whose greenery has become somewhat…possessive. It certainly doesn’t beat around the bush as director Johnny Kelly heads straight into the foliage fun. There is the definite wit here and I’d absolutely love to have been on set to see the comedy, what with the movable plant arms that caress, care, and kill. Underneath the soil, however, is a tenderness and a terror that curls round you. From MoviesonWeekends.com review

Once Upon a Line (2016, USC) 7 min. https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2018/09/06/once-upon-a-line/ The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored 17 student winners from colleges and universities around the world at the 43rd Student Academy Awards® ceremony. In animation, the 2016 Student Academy Award® winners are: Gold: "Once upon a Line," Alicja Jasina, USC, a 2D animator and motion graphic designer. In Once Upon a Line, a man lives a boring life until he meets somebody and all his world turns upside down. From ZippyFrames.com review

Shelter (2018, Matthew Firpo) 15:38 min. https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2018/08/30/shelter-human-stories-central- america/ A quiet look at the lives on the line. First hand stories of Central American migrants and asylum seekers searching for a better life in the north. From title screen of short film

Threads (2017, Torill Cove and the Norwegian Film Institute) 8:48 min. https://www.shortoftheweek.com/2018/09/10/threads/ Short film directed by Torill Kove, who previously won an Academy Award for best animated short film. In a universe where people are seeking connections with others, a woman and a small child are brought together as mother and daughter. Inside the bubble of the mother’s protection, the child learns about love and trust, and ultimately how to form her own attachments. From http://www.mikrofilm.no/Threads

Future themes for Short Films Sandwiched in:

Nov 30, Noon – 1pm: Family Connections

Dec. 28, Noon – 1pm: Gratitude

Jan. 25, Noon – 1pm: Patience

Feb. 22, Noon – 1pm: Conflict

Mar. 29, Noon – 1pm: Unlikely Connections