The path of creative pursuits is circuitous, deceptive, and often entirely missing until a relentless artist comes along to somehow conjure it with their work. The short film is a beautiful, heartfelt, and poignant exploration of the same proposition. At its heart is the articulate protagonist Thad Cockrell, a gifted musician who discovered how closely intertwined his happiness is with music very early on in his life. 

Through our introduction to Cockrell, 'To Be Enjoyed' presents a moving narrative of love for one’s art, but also of the many obstacles that plague such an equation. The unforgiving pursuit can often fail all arguments of rationality and logic, and yet, the artist returns every day to commit themselves to it each time. Cockrell himself describes it as a kind of madness, but the overarching emotion that he infuses into the film, one that becomes its driving force, is the reminder that the world needs new stories, and for them to exist, people have to live them. 

Cockrell himself is one such story - presenting to us a life of obscurity that eventually finds its way on the Jimmy Fallon show in the most unlikely manner! This realm of creativity, failure, and the stubborn refusal to give up is portrayed with sustained long shots, coupled with deeply soulful vocals of the protagonist himself. The many components tied together present a meaningful endeavor that will remind you that it’s never too late, as long as you are turning up each day to take just another stab at what you truly love.

To Be Enjoyed | Short Film of the Month

A painter finds himself overwhelmed by his memories and the past, which eventually begin to block his creative energies as well. It is primarily a conversation with these obstacles that come to form the main body of the film. Marked by its calm visuals, that effortlessly, and perhaps even consciously, steer clear of gaudiness and ostentation, the film thus becomes a quiet portrayal of a man's interactions with his grief over a seemingly recent loss. The film attempts several things - a delineation of an artist's process of creating something, the manner in which his past experiences tie up with it, the failure to let them find a voice on his canvas and the eternal battle to conquer them, both despite and because of personal tragedy. Pentimento, essentially aiming to convey the change an artist might make in the process of painting, achieves all of this through its seamless and elegant camerawork, further enhanced by sophisticated and convincing performances. All of these elements are finally tied together by poignant storytelling, allowing the film to be a wonderfully wholesome product.

Pentimento | Short Film of the Day

‘The Masterpiece’ stands out for the theatrical quality it brings to life in its visual progression, and ties it with an unrelenting and unstoppable staccato tone. As the stage is set for the drama to unfold, we are introduced to the protagonist, Cristian Fredrick who plays himself in this short film that packs the journey of a life in under ten minutes. From being diagnozed with a terminal illness as a teenager, to becoming a therapeutic painter, the narrative portrays the humongous distance covered in between by the artist. 

The story unfolds to reveal within its folds debauchery, excesses, but above all, the insurmountable desire to survive, to overcome the obstacles, irrespective of how Herculean they might seem. 

The overarching message that seems to tie the final result together thus becomes one about grit and courage, the reminder to not give up. It becomes the celebration of a journey where the the masterpiece is not something external, but internal and indeed what you make of the self, what you make within.

The Masterpiece | Short Film of the Day

The title of the film, ‘Prototype’ establishes an expectation that is immediately undercut by our first introduction to it. While the name conjures a space of formal structures and entities, the realm presented to us is far more free-flowing, one that is defined by a surrealistic approach, rather than fixed boundaries of science or technology. 

The visuals and their palette are controlled to bolster this reality where a young artist struggles to pour his perception of the world on paper. It requires of him a movement through fluid realms that, in turn, constitute the film. This journey, however, is disconcerting and eventually marked by an inherently violent act. 

At the completion of this movement rests not only the film’s conclusion but also an unexpected revelation for the viewer that will further pronounce the film’s title, as well as a crucial part of the artist’s identity.

Prototype | Short Film Nominee

The experience of being an artist is often more romanticized than perhaps any other profession or choice of life, leaving the darkness that comes to constitute it overlooked and ignored. The pursuit of creativity is marked by several obstacles, seemingly insurmountable in their appearance, and requiring exhausting effort to be overcome. The pain, that is an inevitable part of this process, is often portrayed as a badge of honor, for instance in the case of the mould of the tortured artist, seen as something to be reveled and gloried in. This whitewashing of an artist's struggles often keeps the world unaware of how isolating the experience of creating something can be, sometimes leaving them only with the voices and doubts in their head as a companion. 

 The short film is a lovely portrayal of all of these ideas, achieved by introducing us to the failed attempts of Olivia to create a painting that would justify her definition of greatness. As she grapples with one foiled attempt after another, the line between perseverance and self-sabotage is left blurred. The protagonist continues to slip deeper and deeper into the territory of self-destruction, entrapping herself within a web of her own thoughts. This metaphor finds a literal, physical representation in the powerful image of Olivia entwining herself within a web of red wool of her own making. 

 The film, in the process, becomes an engagement with imposter syndrome and its protagonist's debilitating struggle to overcome it. And yet, as her attempts grow in their scale and proportion, acquiring an almost theatrical quality, is it only a moment of eventual surrender that awaits her at the end of it all? A Sweeter Place not only raises this question, but also offers an answer. On the technical front, while it is not devoid of a few hits and misses, a little instability in a handheld shot or a dialogue sustained too long, the final product remains fresh, honest and deeply impactful in the manner of sharing its story and intentions with the viewer.

A Sweeter Place | Short Film of the Day

Hopes and dreams can easily fall in the category of cliches when it comes to their exploration in cinema and art. The film, an interplay of the same ideas, steers clears of the dangerous territory to instead put forth a potentially fresh take on the same. A man finds himself at an unusual bar, one which is home to a portal to the past, and thus begins his own interaction with the idea of dreams. The events that follow come to acquire a surreal tone, further attempting to enhance the narrative that is now constituted by several artists with their own respective dreams. Through an engagement with the concept of time, past and the present, dreams and fears, there is also a sense of a differentiation between being good at your craft, and achieving a genius stature in the same, as well as your own self-inflicted doubts and inhibitions that keep you away from it. The film is notable in the manner in which it conjures all of these concerns, and yet manages to maintain a uniqueness of the tone throughout. Additionally, the dream-like atmosphere is created to perhaps even spur a desire to fight for their dreams even within the viewer themselves.

Looking Glass | Short Film Nominee

The story of ‘Only Actors’ is one of subjective truths, of pain and heartache, but also of inspiration and sacrificing others at the altar of creativity. Our first introduction to the world is marked by a sense of theatricality in its setting and approach. Two lovers, John and Maurice, remain confined to the same space, exiting and re-entering, while presenting their emotional tumults to the viewer. The consequent narrative exhibits deep potential in terms of storytelling and world-building. Though marked by limited resources, the honesty of each performance, as well as the sincerity of writing is unmissable. These elements make the final result succeed at conveying its intentions with lucidity.

Only Actors | Short Film Nominee

Anna and John were once lovers. However, the two artists, a dancer, and a writer, respectively, parted ways long ago when they felt the relationship had run its course. 

On the day the film opens, they are meeting again after all this time, to not only reflect on their failures and unfulfilled dreams, but also on the nature of time, and its inexorable, eternal movement forward. Alongside it, there's a discussion around the nature of their relationship that unfolds as well. The former lovers philosophize, ponder and somewhere along the way, find a moment of synchronized union amidst it all. 

The final result of the narrative is a sincere, dedicated endeavor, that portrays all of this for the viewer in a quiet, mellow manner. The performances remain notable aspects of the film.

The Pause of Time | Short Film Nominee

A young artist moves into a new apartment, and soon finds herself before some very strange neighbours. From rudeness and indifference to feigning concern and friendship, they exhibit all sorts of unpleasant behaviour. Moving on, she finally settles down to work on her art, and yet, another obstacle awaits her. This time in the form of very noisy neighbors. 

It is through the glimpse that then follows into the life of the latter that the narrative brings its core dilemmas to life, those about the plight of being trapped in an abusive relationship. The protagonist is met with a seemingly pleasant woman and the suggestion of her familial space. The supposed image of domesticity that is attempted to be conjured is soon shattered by a very disconcerting development. 

What began as a complaint against noise, now acquires the form of an honest comment on a very crucial and relevant social issue. Along with the message, there is also the endeavor to raise awareness about the extent of abuse that can wriggle its way into spaces that are predominantly associated with safety and security.

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