Knock on Wood

If you’re looking for new outlets for checking out films, this article series is a perfect way to seek out new channels for new films to dive into. For this edition, I highlight some of the short films premiering at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival!

Say Hi After You Die

Are you ready for a crazy mix of absurdity and sadness? That is the type of story about grief we all could hope for. Say Hi After You Die has a fantastic hook with a truly authentic chat between girlfriends…then a twist. Kate Jean Hollowell shows off her acting, writing, and directing with this surreal and laugh-inducing contemplation on loss. Hollowell has a comedic daring that delivers all types of laughs – but when it comes down to it, there is a musical number that will tear the house down with all of its Glori(a). The abundance of heart and emotion is the bedrock of this wild and memorable short film. 

Dream Creep

Have you ever had a little voice inside your head trying to tell you what to do? What if your partner’s little voice started speaking mid-sleep from inside their ear? I know…WEIRD. That is the concept filmmaker Carlos A.F. Lopez tackles with his new horror short Dream Creep. Some elements are downright horrifying in the way that they utilize household items we all know and use. The body horror is shocking and legitimately made me shudder. But the mystery of what is really going on is what will keep you on your toes. This film only needs twelve minutes to unnerve you and put you in a place of real discomfort. Special kudos should go to the synth score and Sidney Jayne Hunt’s unhinged performance for being the perfect icing on this bloody and horrific cake.

The Rainbow Bridge

Who loves watching cringey old infomercials from the 80s full of crazy colors and hilarious production choices? The Rainbow Bridge just might be the short film for you to check out! Not only that…that infomercial is for a crazy cult-ish organization that promises you to connect with your dying loved ones, including pets. That is a must-see hook if I have ever heard one. This story has some solid heart at the center as a young woman who just wants to connect with her pooch one last time after 19 years together. What she (and we) are treated to is a trippy and absurdist world with puppet dog pals and rainbow colors, but writer/director Dimitri Simakis also offers up some unsettling tension along the way as well, which ties this colorful blast of a sci-fi/comedy together. This is the kind of fun short that showcases the camp, and even a little bit of heart too.

The Shell Covered Ox

What if an ox just started showing up on the beaches where you lived? Would it be even weirder if teenagers were going missing around that same time? Director Daniel Barosa takes us on a moving and intimate little journey with a young woman (brought to life earnestly by actor Bebe Salvego) processing the trials of her day-to-day life, along with this strange looming cloud of oxen transformation. The way Barosa can maneuver this lightly fantastical story with deeply resonant themes of grief and mental illness is quite impressive. The audience can see deeply into this community thanks to Barosa’s creative lens and some impressive musical stylings that ornate this film in every intimate moment.

Bug Diner

Are you prepared for the horniest diner visit; human, bug, or otherwise? Bug Diner is a bold and brave little stop-motion flick that is unabashedly prepared to explore sexual desire. We are plopped into the precarious setting and stuck between a trio of dueling stories about attraction, unrequited love, and cuckolding. All of these stories are brought to life in felt animal packages (you may or may not see a few “packages” themselves) which makes for an equally awkward and fresh take on themes you don’t see tackled so head-on in more American productions. Daring and bold for sure, this will keep your attention for all seven minutes with its creative visuals and some shocking narrative twists and turns.

Dona Beatriz Nsimba Vita

What are the bounds of animation? We might not know for sure, but we do know how well artists can push them. Dona Beatriz Nsimba Vita certainly accomplishes that. A story of rebellion and the influence over one’s people, this short utilizes abstract artfulness to capture significant themes like that. There is a rawness and authenticity in the way it captures the natural beauty of its subjects (bush, nipples, and all). The designs of hair, clouds, smoke, and wind are incredible. There are few films with the bold artfulness that Dona Beatriz puts on display. There are fantastical elements that breathe meaning into the story as well as showcasing visual splendor to appreciate as well. There is an honesty in the way humans are portrayed and how we must come together for mutual action. This one will haunt, surprise, and inspire.

Baigal Nuur – Lakes Baikal

Who says you need an elaborate story and characters to capture the attention of your audience? Baigal Nuur – Lakes Baikal is a film so comfortable in its identity that it does not try at all to include them. Beautiful in its tactile animation and storytelling simplicity, this film takes its audience through the evolving landscape of a lake over the centuries. But it’s not just the lava to earth to ice that amazes; there is depth in its language and culture as it captures the influences and meaning in the lives of its indigenous people. There is a tranquility to the experience, yet still so much to contemplate upon the credits rolling. It’s all visuals and no brakes for this experiential little animated flick.