We’ve been showcasing the short films nominated for the Academy Awards ever since the VIFF Centre opened 20 years ago. This year’s contenders in the Live Action category make for an eclectic program. They include comedies, drama, an experimental musical, and a dystopian fantasy; films from the UK and the US, France and Israel.
Butcher’s Stain (Meyer Levinson-Blount, Israel, 26 min)
Samir, an Arab Israeli working in a supermarket in Tel Aviv, is accused of tearing down hostage posters in the break room. He sets out to prove his innocence to keep this job that he desperately needs.
A Friend of Dorothy (Lee Knight, UK, 21 min)
An elderly woman (Miriam Margolyes) makes an unexpected friend when 17-yr-old JJ (Alistair Nwachukwu) comes to reclaim his ball from her garden.
Jane Austen’s Period Drama (Julia Aks and Steve Pinder, USA, 13 min)
England, 1813 — a long-anticipated proposal is interrupted by “that time of the month”, to the consternation of the would-be suitor.
The Singers (Sam A Davis, USA, 18 min)
Based on a short story by Turgenev, this docu-musical hybrid contrives an impromptu sign-off in a pub populated by viral internet sensations.
Two People Exchanging Saliva (Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata, France/USA, 36 min)
In a world where kissing is punishable by death and slaps are currency, compulisve shopper Angine becomes fascinated by a playful salesgirl.
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