The short film uses a very pressing concern of contemporary times as its subject matter - the effect of human encroachment on environment. However, instead of adopting a macro approach, it chooses the story of an ornithologist who has dedicated his life to the preservation of a severely endangered species of birds. The subject matter in itself is not entirely unique, but the manner of its treatment and the execution of the narrative is done most brilliantly. The story becomes a poignant, moving portrayal of a man's attempts to change the world for the better, and as is true of any major, large-scale change that always begins with a single individual, the consequent and seismic effect on the environment for the better. The non-fiction narrative is embellished with fictional recreation of the protagonist's life events that led him to where he is today, achieved by blurring lines between fiction and reality very smoothly. When coupled with sophisticated cinematography and elegant storytelling, the film becomes a beautiful product that will stay with the viewer, long after they're done interacting with it.

The Birdman | Short Film of the Day

The documentary follows the lives of two siblings, Juliette and Howard, living on Isle de Jean Charles.The reason it is important to introduce the viewer to this particular island is because, owing to climate change and its disastrous effects on the environment, it is simply a sinking mass of land, declared to be in a state of emergency by the US state of Louisiana. The two teenagers are amongst those who are the first "climate refugees" of the country, to be relocated with their family as well as the other inhabitants of the island. It is through their story, one that hides an intense struggle underneath the surface of everyday, mundane activities, that the film invokes a powerful narrative. It succeeds especially for it manages to make the urgent concerns of climate change a deeply personal issue. It is no longer about faceless people in an unknown part of the world, instead it is about regular kids and their kin living in a neighbourhood probably no different from yours. The wonderful camerawork and the seamless edit allows it to be a story of childhood, memories of the past, growing up and everything else associated with the idea of home. While the siblings try to cling to their sense of familiarity and security, despite all the obstacles life has thrown their way, their safe harbour has been declared uninhabitable by the government, forcing them to leave it all behind. Yes, the film is poignant and deeply moving in the manner in which it shifts the anxieties surrounding a macro issue to a very micro level, but it is also so much more for it tells a story that is becoming increasingly relevant in contemporary times.

Lowland Kids | Short Film of the Day

Amidst steely, man-made contraptions of a concrete jungle, complete with abandoned objects and an environmental malady that continues to grow exponentially every day, Waste Away locates its explorations. The first handful of images, all exhibiting investment of meticulous thought, are sufficient to set a horizon of expectation in place for the viewer. The stop motion, though marked by its inherent surrealism of story and plot, draws the viewer's attention to a grotesque reality of urban progress and development. The narrative follows the experiences and struggles of a solitary figure, a woman who perhaps becomes an embodiment of the isolation that marks city life. Stumbling upon a rejected fish from a household, one that successfully portrays for the viewer an image of apathy and destructive indifference towards a dying planet, she eats its whole. This, in turn, ensures another series of the most unexpected events. Through her desire to not give in even in the face of extreme pain and physical discomfort, the protagonist further comes to offer a metaphor about the forever waging battle of the planet to still fight for the health of its choking oceans. While people may have managed to lose their sense of humanity and kindness towards each other, allowing existence to adopt a doleful tone and pace of its own, there is one final attempt by her to not relinquish just yet. This echoes perhaps a similar imagined message of the planet which still fights fiercely to sustain and harbour life within its seams, thereby allowing the film to communicate an impactful message especially relevant in contemporary times. On the whole, the story engages with several themes - those of motherhood, urban decay, environmental destruction, and succeeds at communicating its interactions with each of them in a notable manner.

Waste Away | Short Film of the Day

Some of the most powerful stories are those marked by the least ostentatious tools and devices, and Hudson Geese goes ahead to become the perfect example of the same proposition. Marked by a voiceover coupled with animation, the film adopts a calm pace and tone, using extreme ease to hoodwink the viewer of what is truly to come. The plot maps a goose's migration flight, while he moves back and forth in the narrative, introducing you to his life so far - from finding himself a loving companion, to the changing landscape of the world around him, his story encompasses it all. As fields are turned into plush golf courses, and islands become over-riden with the sharp angles of a haphazardly growing urban infrastructure, coupled with the bird's inability to understand the rapidly evolving world around him, a pertinent comment is invoked on humans' relationship with nature. Director and writer Bernardo Britto's voice and the conceptualisation of the story is singularly wry, all the while carrying within it a hard-hitting comment on society. The humour inherent to the narrative is deliberately misleading to make the eventual progression of events all the more jarring. On the face of it, the film is simply the story of a goose, however, a single engagement with it is more than sufficient to reveal the expert and sophisticated manner in which an important message is conveyed without making it didactic or overbearing.

Hudson Geese | Short Film of the Day

The internet loves to talk about ‘athleisuring’, with constant reminders of the implicit union of fashion and fitness that it has ushered in. However, despite the obsequiousness of this fashion and social media trend, beyond the greenwashing done by a handful of brands, there is very little conversation around the environmental effects of the same. 

The short film does a notable job of performing this task, earning extra points for the subtlety and ease with which it draws your attention to it. The protagonist of the documentary, Ultrarunner Dan Lawson, works with his partner on the restoration, reuse and upcycling of discarded running shoes. Consequently, instead of ending up in a land-fill, the shoes are allowed a new life. 

The story thus brought to life serves a double-edged purpose of not only highlighting the results achieved by the film's namesake initiative, but also to reveal the glaring absence of efforts on the part of the companies to ensure their products don’t add to the already existing, overwhelming environmental concerns. The narratorial development is marked by ease, brevity and remains lucid throughout in the communication of this very important message.

Rubbish Shoes | Short Film of the Day

A marine biologist works into the night when unexplained noises from under the water's surface halt her work. As another expert steps in to unravel the mystery of the sounds, while also alluding to the menace of plastics and their onslaught on the environment, the most shocking reality unfolds. 

The film presents a swift introduction of not only the strange circumstance at hand but also a glimpse into Amy, the protagonist’s world. There is loss, and perhaps past trauma, coupled with a fierce sense of protecting the memory of a partner that has been left behind in its wake - components all of which rope in deep unease into the story. 

Without truly offering the cause and effect, and what has led Amy to this moment, a sinister situation is portrayed for the viewer. The film does an efficient job of not only using the limited aspects of a story but also a confined physical space to bring all of this to life in its brevity. Additionally, it leaves the door open for a longer exploration of the moment the film presents.

The Purgamentum | Short Film of the Day

The film, marked by its vibrant visuals, takes flight into fantasy, but to talk of a concern that is very deeply rooted in our real world. A story which straddles both realms in such a manner is indeed worthy of conversation and dialogue. When it opens, the narrative draws you to a fantastical space where butterflies are dying one by one. As humans continue to expand their control over the world, the butterfly population is left to only the last few queens who have gathered to find a solution to protect themselves from extinction. It is precisely at this juncture when fantasy overlaps with reality to bring to life a very relevant issue of contemporary times, a cause of deep concern globally, and specifically in the western world — the dangerously low population of butterflies. To convey its intentions and bring to life all its underpinnings, the film also embellishes itself with skilled movement of its performers, attention to costume and makeup, and music and poetry. The climax and the eventual conclusion further highlights its core message, the eventual goal towards which the plot was moving all along, reminding you of your role amidst this narrative of magic and song.

Dreams of the Last Butterflies | Short Film Nominee

Educational in nature, and well-intentioned at heart, the short narrative is the first part of more instalments in a series of animation videos meant for a younger audience. At the heart of the film is a small town's fight against climate change and the rapidly growing infestation of big corporations that only serve to aggravate the former. To communicate its intention to the viewer, the narrative ropes in simple animation, environmental concerns and an interaction with religion. All of this is then intertwined with the story of a young college student, Phoebe. After ending up with a severe knee injury that has brought her career as a young athlete to an end, our protagonist finds herself returning to the unfamiliar reality of her hometown, and developments that threaten the very existence of what she remembers and cherishes the most about it.

The Protectors of the Wood | Short Film Nominee

The short narrative works very hard to share its well-intentioned message with the viewer. It aims to draw your attention to the importance of doing your bit in protecting the environment and planet; the character employed for the same is a little child. Through the innocence of childhood, the story strives to remind you of the significance of every single act in working towards this cause. Even small droplets can combine to form the ocean, it wants to assert using its title. As the child sits working on assumedly a school project, a knock on the door makes him stop the activity at hand and move to receive the visitor. It is then in his actions that the message of the whole plot lies.

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