The film checks off all the right boxes in terms of writing, performances and the manner in which the narrative holds itself together. It’s the story of two former lovers, meeting to return each other their things. What they say is in direct contrast to what is truly on their mind or what they wish to communicate to each other. Films, especially of a shorter duration, have attempted to convey the same sentiment previously, yet In Other Words brings to the screen a sensitivity and vulnerability which can be attributed primarily to its strong writing. The film is subtle in all manners of the word, another notable aspect since the emotions it manages to convey are of the raging category, one that applies to perhaps violent delights and their violent ends. All of it is wrapped together and presented to the viewer in the form of a beautiful viewing experience using soft colour palettes and an even softer background score. There are no loud camera angles or wasteful use of space. The script is tight, relatable and brings to life a situation rehearsed and performed several times in a person’s life, and still, no less painful.

In Other Words | Short Film of the Day

May is headed to a secluded cabin, ready to take some time by herself to practice lines for a potential job as an actor. However, her plans go awry when she realizes someone’s already at the cabin - Elliot, her recently-become-former-lover. 
Amidst the awkwardness, but also the obvious chemistry, the two try to navigate the situation the best way they can. While they may have met unexpectedly, will they rekindle the romance or will heartbreak define the future of this relationship? The question remains central to the narrative. 

There is a dedicated attempt to invoke a specific tonality and aesthetic in the portrayal of the events. The approach to all of this remains consistent throughout, even if showing a slight want of more smoothening out of wrinkles in terms of the overall production value of the final result. The film, nevertheless, should be appreciated for the blurring of boundaries and the emotional obscurity of an in-between space that is neither here, nor there. The narratorial engagement with this realm of uncertainty becomes the strongest aspect of the storytelling.

You Look Pretty Up Here | Short Film Nominee

The happy memory of what it once was when contrasted against a painful present is what constitutes ‘When They First’. The title, a deliberate incomplete sentence, bolsters this juxtaposition further, as it introduces us to the two characters and the circuitous trajectory of their relationship. The visuals are paired with a completely opposite voiceover, the dual elements of the narrative representative of the two said realities in the lives of the characters. The storytelling is marked by a freshness of voice which allows the film to succeed as a cohesive whole. The young team, from the director-writer to the actors and the cinematographer, all evidence notable strengths. Finally, despite a few rough edges, the exploration of the romance presented thus remains marked by an unmissable intimacy, along with a seamless overlap of its many elements.

When They First | Short Film of the Day

'Griptape' opens with an innocent skateboard deal between two enthusiasts. Soon after, it develops to reveal to us the relationship that the protagonist, Charlie shares with his girlfriend Lexi. However, little does Charlie, or the viewer, know that his world is about to come crashing down as he simply sits and enjoys a bowl of pasta. 

The relationship, or what follows in the aftermath of its end, becomes the focal point on which the narrative pivots. As the viewer is allowed an interaction with Breakup 101 - shaving your hair, getting a tattoo, and being reminded of your former lover despite, and perhaps even, because of all your efforts, the film comes into its own. 

Notwithstanding a few rough edges, the storytelling and its execution leaves one with an endearing, and sincere final result. It further paves the path for more such endeavors by the team, ensuring that 'Griptape' in itself remains an honest story of hurt, heartbreak, but also the inexorably forward moving course of life.

Griptape | Short Film Nominee

A man wakes up late into the day, attends a phone call, or perhaps listens to a voice memo, and then immediately steps out to get groceries, followed by cooking an elaborate, sumptuous meal. The routine continues on loop, bleeding into the following day, and then another. The only thing that changes is the menu, but the activities leading up to it are unchanged. The rest of the house remains silent and empty in unison with the seemingly lonely life of the protagonist. At the heart of the narrative, lies heartbreak and pain, and the tying of them with the food that is cooked before the viewer every night. The final result exhibits earnestness in terms of sharing its ideas. However, it could have gained from a little more tightness in its progression as well as control on the various technical elements.

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