Talking Shorts

The Video Essay Finds Its Place at Film Festivals

Video essays offer various possibilities for cinematic reflection, criticism and artistic expression to intersect. Kevin B. Lee, Dana Linssen, and Eric Hynes discuss the format’s origins and its current place in the film distribution ecosystem.

Films On The Circuit

Shadows

Where Shadows Hide and Visions Speak

Review by Heather Bradshaw

The naive hopefulness of Shadows’ young protagonist permeates its difficult subject matter, where a young girl’s voice sparks the vivid rebellion of its animated vessel.

Talks Interviews

A Whole New World

Interview with Eduardo Williams by Niels Putman

Not-knowing is key to Eduardo Williams’ idiosyncratic worldbuilding. Through casually dystopian short films and otherworldly features, the acclaimed Argentinian filmmaker explores new paths in postmodern film grammar.

Reads Notes

Mirror Muscles

Essay by Dora Leu

Expectations of masculinity permeate today’s visual culture, creating pressure and exclusion for all, as illustrated in Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur’s short film programme “He’s Got the Look”.

Reads Notes

In the Dark Times, Will There Be Singing?

Essay by Martyna Ratnik

In Ren Scateni’s “Grieving Tomorrows” programme at this year’s Glasgow Short Film Festival, grief is framed as denied, fragmented, or fluid, and, most often, as a political act.

Discussions

Working with partner festivals, we organise panel talks, keynotes, and other formats to foster discussions. Recordings are published here to continue the conversation online.