Jason Sondhi
In last week’s first program, Sundance reached back into its archives and issued forth a lineup of short films by four directors who are debuting features films in this year’s festival. Today, a new set of 4 short films have been made available through the YouTube Screening Room, this time by four directors who are alumni of the Sundance Labs, the teaching side of the larger year-round Sundance Insitute. These filmmakers were mentored in the Institute’s workshops and subsequently produced the works you see here. With the curation of this segment, the Sundance Institute’s commitment to developing minority voices can really be felt. Weiler’s Pandemic… is the only debut I believe, but three of the four directors have work featured again in this year’s fest. So, without further ado, let’s have a look. Again, from the press release:
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In a remote corner of the Navajo nation, circa 1950, a visit by Christian missionaries has catastrophic consequences for a family. A graduate of Columbia Film School, Nanobah Becker does not have a film in this year’s festival.
Pandemic 41.410806, -75.654259 (Lance Weiler)
Bree and her little brother Tyler know that their parents awaken only at sundown and are capable of strange and dangerous nocturnal behaviors. Bree plots their escape, but Tyler stands in her way, unwilling to leave their family home and give up on the parents he loves so much.
Lance Weiler’s transmedia storytelling experience, Pandemic 1.0, is part of the New Frontier section of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
Pop Foul (Moon Molson)A boy sees his father attacked by a local thug on the way home from a Little League game and agrees to help hide the incident from his mother.
Moon Molson will premiere his short film, Crazy Beats Strong Every Time, at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
Sikumi (Andrew Okpeaha MacLean)
The story of an Inuit hunter who drives his dog team out on the frozen Arctic Ocean in search of seals, but instead, becomes a witness to murder.
Andrew Okpeaha MacLean’s feature film, On the Ice, will premiere in the U.S. Dramatic Competition section of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.
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Again, another good lineup of classics from Sundance. Check below in the comment section for my mini-reviews of these four films, and check back in a week when we’ll examine the next batch. At that point we’ll be getting into films that will be screening at this year’s festival. Till then, check us out on Facebook and Twitter.