The realm of ‘Vultures’ is constructed with a refreshing uniqueness of voice that remains steadfast throughout the entirety of the film. It presents a space inhabited by only three characters, each more powerful than the other in the absolutely stunning performances and bodily movements they bring to life. 
The viewer is presented with a dystopic world, at the brink of its end where two vultures fight over what is left as the last vestiges of existence.
The heavy symbolism and metaphors continue to heighten the tension within the narrative which carefully controls and maintains its energy and intensity. 
The actors, weaved into an equally complementary screenplay and visual development, ensure that the many intentions of the plot achieve a fitting portrayal on camera. Though not all metaphors would be grasped at first glance, demanding a deeper engagement on behalf of the viewer, the film conveys each emotion and sentiment that it means to with ease and success.

Vultures | Short Film Nominee

‘The Retreat’ beautifully beguiles the darkness within its layers with the humor and entertainment it presents at first glance. When David arrives at a remote house nestled deep in the hills, to spend time with his boyfriend, Anthony and his boss, he is immediately put at unease. 

The feeling of being watched, and observed a little too closely for comfort never leaves him. However, despite the obvious trampling of boundaries, and David’s clear discomfort, Anthony is quick to dismiss it as a figment of his imagination. When the truth is revealed, it is consistent with the film’s tonality maintained all along. And yet, it shocks the viewer as much as it shocks David. 

The final result becomes a bizarre, darkly humorous progression of events. The film remains entertaining throughout, with notable chemistry and performances. The storytelling and screenplay complement the comedic timing of its actors. It would be an exciting possibility to explore the premise, characters, and the world established in the short in the form of a longer project.

The Retreat | Short Film of the Day

An empty subway takes you into the world of the film marked by a very strange event that threatens to annihilate the very existence of humanity. Amidst it all is a protagonist, Sunny, confined to a bar with only a dog for company, awaiting the arrival of a friend or colleague. The introduction to the latter is only by way of voice messages, while the former moves from one corner of emotional and physical isolation to another. 

 The visuals come across as one of the most standout characteristics of the film, along with the efficient use of limited space, and a smooth edit. The performance of the film's sole actor also does a notable job of bringing out the effects of isolation, along with the despair and uncertainty of waiting. 

 In the process, Last Call becomes a unique, engrossing union of a joie de vivre vibe with an apocalyptic reality. The union can perhaps even serve as a disconcertingly lovely metaphor for contemporary existence. On the whole, the visuals and performances triumph over the other elements in the film, not because the rest are any less, but because these two are specifically skilled. It would be interesting to see the short film developed as a longer, more cohesive narrative.

Last Call | Short Film of the Day

The brief narrative of the film invokes a dark reality, one defined by war sirens and imminent, destructive raids. However the world thus conjured has a noble cause at its heart, the message of hope. 


The narrative aims to remind the viewer of the invincibility of hope, and the undeniable light at the end of the tunnel. The protagonist is a woman who battles overwhelming mental and emotional demons. She is plagued by memories of violence, as the film endeavors to paint the lived reality of the innumerable Ukrainians who are dealing with the ravages of the war that has torn their homeland asunder. 

The film is presented as part of an initiative by the National Psychological Association, backed by the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, and the governments of Denmark and Canada, to provide free mental health assistance to Ukrainians all over the world. The resultant film is a sincere, heartfelt endeavor, that conveys its intentions with lucidity and manages to present a realm of loss, heartache, loneliness, and the memory of what once was or could have been.

Psychological Helpline | Short Film of the Day

In a bid to survive extremely harsh conditions that render air unfit to breathe, Samuel, the sole survivor of a seemingly apocalyptic event, struggles to connect vague dots of a life that might eventually be the very factor standing between his own life and death. While his surroundings continue to turn stranger, the sense of another person being present with him never truly leaves him. 

The voices of a traumatic past constantly overwhelm him, but the pursuit of survival continues amidst it all. The film constructs its world with care, paying attention to the edit and the subsequent stylistic choices that are interweaved with the visuals. The colors are muted, as if to communicate the grey realms between what is real and what isn’t that the protagonist battles. 

Though not without some rough edges in the overall atmospheric quality, the end result presents a meticulous story about the past, the endless effort of overcoming it in the process of moving on, and finally finding that all the answers that Samuel sought were within him all along.

Most Viewed

Genres

Awards

Follow Us

Quick Links