SHORTS PACKAGE - THE TIES THAT BIND US

Shorts screened:

A Real, Sexual Relationship

2024, 14 minutes, Director: Alex Bliss, Producer: Rory Pfotenhauer, Sarah Wilson, Screenwriter: Alex Bliss & Edy Modica & Eric Rahill, Cinematographer: Alex Bliss, Cast: Edy Modica & Eric Rahill & Eric Yates, Music: Simon Hanes

On their anniversary, a spontaneous sex-tape forces a 30-something couple to confront dormant issues in their relationship.

Dark Night Of The Jules

2023, 5 minutes, Director: Mike Lars White, Producer: Mike Lars White, Screenwriter: Michael James Wong & Mike Lars White & Lanie Lim & Aleksander Nowacki, Cinematographer: Mike Lars White, Cast: Michael James Wong & Lanie Lim & Aleksander Nowacki, Music: Tuti Rodrigues

An existential comedy about tourism (and difficult software).

Bounce House

2023, 15 minutes, Director: Callie Bloem & Christopher J. Ewing, Producer: Callie Bloem & Sherise Dorf & Christopher J. Ewing & Sean Patrick Kelly & Naveen Singh, Screenwriter: Callie Bloem & Christopher J. Ewing, Cast: Eilise Guilfoyle & Jade Kaiser

Civilization has ended. Everyone Polly loves is dead. But at least she has a bounce house.

Fed

2023, 8 minutes, Director: Michael Bartolomeo, Producer: Megan Kortvelesy, Screenwriter: Michael Bartolomeo & John Paul Monge & Megan Kortvelesy, Cast: Angelica Gomez & Kirra Hughes

In this stop-motion fantasy tale, a talented chef meets her match when a mysteriously implacable food critic visits her restaurant.

Wildmen Of The Greater Toronto Area

2023, 12 minutes, Director: Solmund MacPherson, Producer: Giran Findlay & Solmund MacPherson & Jesse Padveen, Screenwriter: Solmund MacPherson, Cinematographer: Julian Lomaga, Cast: Paul Aguilera & Daniel Christian Jones & Salma Dharsee & Ben Harley & Sheridan Irwin & Tom Lute & Solly Mac & John Phillips & Francine Prevost & Josh Willick, Music: Peter Czibolya

Fed up with the cost of living in Canada's most populous city, the citizens of Toronto begin renouncing their personhood to legally become animals.

Devil's Trumpet

2024, 2 minutes, Director: Maddie Brewer, Producer: Dave Hughes, Cast: Maddie Brewer & Lindsey Demars & Victoria Vincent

When three teenagers inhale the powerful pollen of The Devil’s Trumpet, a rare flower said to bring on strange hallucinations, the ensuing journey exacerbates underlying emotional tensions.

The New Me

2023, 7 minutes, Director: Paul Emerson, Producer: Carrie Barrett & Paul Emerson & Katy Fullan, Screenwriter: Carrie Barrett & Katy Fullan, Cast: Carrie Barrett & Katy Fullan

The old Dawn and Paige have been through some shit. The new Dawn and Paige don’t take shit. Watch out world, they're capable of anything.

Bob's Funeral

2024, 18 minutes, Director: Jack Dunphy, Producer: Jack Dunphy, Screenwriter: Jack Dunphy, Cinematographer: Jack Dunphy, Cast: Jack Dunphy, Music: Seth Kaplan & Chris Bailoni

Searching for the root of generational trauma, the director sneaks a camera into his estranged grandfather’s funeral.

The Bicycle Thief

2023, 2 minutes, Director: Zach Strum, Cinematographer: Jonathan Hornby, Music: Skyway Man

A heartbroken cyclist rides across the US on a bike he stole from his ex.

A Joyful Process

2024, 11 minutes, Director: Alex Goldberg, Producer: Matt Clegg & Alex Golderg & Graham Mason, Screenwriter: Alex Goldberg, Cast: Anthony Oberbeck & Ikechukwu Ufomadu

In this Steinbeck-esque dark comedy, two old-timey fellas meet up to fish. Joe, the book-smart one, aims to find out why Bruce, the town's big-hearted tramp, ran off to live in the woods.