It’s been said that the average human has an attention span of 10 minutes. Nevertheless, we’re frequently put into situations that require much more patience—say, a two-an-a-half hour movie or a fifty-minute lecture. This weekend, however, D.C. Shorts Film Festival will cater perfectly to this basic human reality. The annual festival, running this Thursday through Sunday, showcases 94 films, chosen from 495 entries, in 10 different screenings of about 10 films each.
The films, ranging from approximately five to 20 minutes in length, represent a mixture of District and international filmmakers hailing from countries like Finland, Israel, Japan, Nepal, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. D.C. Shorts plans to integrate the filmmakers into the weekend as much as possible, and many will be present at their screenings to talk about the films.
Short films often cover many of the same issues, themes and “slices of life” as short stories. Some are set in D.C., including “Hill Rats,” by Rob Raffety, a comedy about the lives of two friends who work for members of the opposing parties in Congress. “Un-natural State,” by Kirk Mangles, compares D.C. residents to a “lame bald eagle in a cage,” referring to the lack of representation in Congress.
Not all of the D.C.-produced films are political though. Local improv group Washington Improv Theatre (WIT) is entering a film entitled “Multiverse,” which interweaves stories about two men who daydream about the same girl and end up entering each others’ thoughts and blurting out the other’s remarks at inappropriate times. The City Paper has deemed WIT the “ten funniest people in Washington,” and “Multiverse” has won a number of awards at other film festivals, including Best Picture at the HD Showdown.
The Festival showcases the works of very talented foreign filmmakers, as well as the locals. “Lucky,” directed by U.K. filmmaker Avie Luthra, is a story about a young South African orphan with AIDS who builds a relationship with an Indian woman. Losing a shoe in a mosque results in a “life-changing experience” in Sanif Olek’s “Lost Sole.” In some cases the title of the film itself draws attention, such as Gale Knutson’s “If There Were No Lutherans Would There Still Be Green Jello?” How can we not be intrigued?
Another highlight of the festival is LunaFest, which will take place on Thursday the 21st. Four screenings highlight films made for, by and about women. “Mann ke Manjeeré,” directed by Sujit Sircar, tells the story of a woman who escaped a situation of domestic violence, told through the vocal talents of Shubha Mudgal. Other films discuss sexuality, breaking cultural barriers, relationships, sports and women’s health.
Most of the screenings are at Landmark E St. Cinema, located on E St. and 11th St. NW and easily accessible by the D6 Metro bus. For more information check out dcshorts.com.
