MIFFF: Seattle continues its love affair with short films
DEAD FRIENDS plays MIFFF September 16-18. Photo: mifffphotos flickr stream
It may be the coffee, it may be ADHD or it may just be our undeniable addiction to twitter. But one thing is certain - Seattle loves its short films.
Each year during SIFF (the granddaddy of Seattle film fests) one of the most well attended programs of the fest tends to be the ‘Shorts’ packages. And even as we type, Seattle is getting its fix of more than 100 short films at the 1 Reel Film Fest at Bumbershoot.
You would think that these two, all encompassing, forays into short films would be enough to satisfy our jumpy cinematic tendencies.
But apparently they are not encompassing enough.
Starting September 16, the Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival (a mouthful for sure) burns even more short bursts of cinematic madness into our retinas. This fest will pepper you with more than 40 international short films over a three-day period focusing solely on genre films.
What kind of genre films you ask?
Here are just a few film descriptions to give you an idea:
Alley Dog: Three flying robots lead a curious robotic canine on an exciting chase through a futuristic, abandoned city.
Antedon: Stop-Motion animated Sci Fi short film inspired by the myth of the Sphinx as told in Oedipus Rex.
Dead Friends: Nine year old Lola Turtle's only companion is her treasured and tattered stuffed bunny, Mister Wimperbottom...until she finds a way to grow her very own 'DEAD' best friend.
The Return of Junkbucket: Junk Bonds satirizes The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series as well as many slasher movie staples of the 1980's. Not for the easily offended, Junk Bonds pushes the envelope to charm you while it offends you. He's not a garbage man, but he's still coming for you junk!
MIFF, looking to spread the love to films that might not get play at larger fests, has been setting up shop in the Pac Northwest for three years running. And along with scouring the planet for some of the best - and quirky - shorts in action, animation, fantasy, horror, and sci-fi, MIFFF also wins one for the home team by putting its spotlight (and some cool prizes) on local genre filmmakers.
If all of these short films have your nerves jangled, MIFFF will be throwing a handful of feature length films during the fest. But you’re not going to find the two and a half hour period drama in this bunch. MIFFF knows its audience well and keeps its feature length films tripping along at a pace even the most hyperactive among us could sit through - with the longest film clocking in at 94 minutes.
MIFFF runs September 16-18 at SIFF Cinema at McCaw Hall. If you’re a short film junkie you may want to put down a couple of ‘Jacksons’ - as 40 bucks gets you an entire festival pass. Or you can pay as you go at $10 per screening.
For additional information on films and schedule visit MIFFF
