Jossie Malis has been hard at work expanding the genius behind his original Bendito Machine to a larger audience. The striking visual style (dark silhouette shapes against brightly colored backgrounds), nuanced animation, and themes of western influence have been brought to 2 more episodes.

bendito-machine-jossie-malis

Part 2 takes us back to the same primitive tribe where corruption this time is brought by a sugary, bubbly soda that draws many comparisons to Coca-Cola (the most widely recognized brand around the world). Part 3 brings us the corruption of television.

I love how Jossie brings concrete visuals to the intangible world of spirits. I feel like he really puts you in the perspective of the culture without having to develop deep characters. Where I grew up in southwest Alaska, there is a belief that all things have a spirit. The delicate balance between man and nature is maintained through tradition and respect. Jossie’s Bendito Machine series captures this better than anything else I’ve seen.

Bendito Machine II – The Spark of Life

 

Bendito Machine III – Obey his commands

 

Watch Bendito Machine I on Short of the Week

Meet the Gatekeepers

Meet the Gatekeepers: Jean Anne Lauer (Fantastic Fest)

Jean Anne Lauer, director of short film programming at Fantastic Fest, joins us to discuss her experiences in the short film arena and what the festival is looking for in a selected film.