In an industry dominated by big budget sequels and tabloid stars, the D.C. Shorts Film Festival gives aspiring independent filmmakers hope to find not only an audience but also a venue that encourages collaboration and communication. Unconcerned with press or big names, the festival focuses about the artistic quality of the films and helps deserving directors with grants for future work.
All festivals have a selection process by which films are accepted or cut, but the D.C. Shorts program takes care to make sure that each entry is treated with respect. Each short, whether accepted or not, is returned to the filmmaker with constructive criticism to help the filmmaker improve.
Jon Gann, the director of the festival and a short filmmaker himself, understands the financial rigors many filmmakers face and decided to do something about it. All airfare, metro fees, food and housing are taken care of, and filmmakers are housed with each other to encourage the collaborative spirit of the festival.
“At other festivals there was no structure to meet people,” Gann said. “I was handed a martini, but nobody talked to me like a filmmaker. It was more about the party than anything. Here filmmakers can talk to other people and collaborate artistically.”
Collaborative projects have already stemmed from this atmosphere, and two filmmakers actually married after meeting through the festival.
Eighty-nine films will be screened, each with a distinct style. Sean Murphy’s Untitled Film, No. 9 is an experimental film heavily influenced by music, with categories based on song titles from John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band. Murphy also collaborated with filmmaker David Butler, pumping out the film Maestro Percival in 48 hours. Kiyong Kim’s Martial Artsy is a comedy based on martial arts and competition. Kim will also be reading his script Camera Obscura, giving him a chance to win a $3500 grant to produce the film for next year’s festival. Angela Snow’s Some Assembly Required, a gothic fairy tale, details the grieving process for the death of a family member.
Each ticket will be valid for all the shorts viewed on that day, but for the full experience, a $125 weekly pass is available. The pass allows audience members to join the VIP filmmaker party, an opportunity to engage with filmmakers, knock back a few drinks at the Friday cocktail party and enjoy all the “best-of” and “specialty” days.
There are no categories that separate each screening, but the opening day will contain films shot in high definition and there will be a special free family show on September 15th. After viewing the films, the audience will have an opportunity to mingle with directors and ask questions.
The D.C. Shorts Film Festival runs from September 13-20. All films will be screened at E Street Cinema located on E St. between 10th and 11th. Tickets can be purchased at the theater or online at dcshorts.com.
