Lavatory Love Story

Russia, 2007, 10 minutes

The film is a minimalist animated short about a lonely, middle-aged, public toilet attendant who sits in her little booth day after day, collecting coins from the lavatory users while she reads the newspaper and fantasizes about the romantic lives that other people enjoy. Secretly, she yearns for a man in her own life, someone who would love and comfort her. Unexpectedly, one day a small bouquet of flowers mysteriously appears in her money-jar. Nominated for the 2009 Academy Award for Best Short Film, Animated.

Speed for Thespians

SECOND PLACE GREAT OAK AUDIENCE AWARD (TIE)

USA, 2000, 29 minutes

Three actors and a director perform Chekhov’s “The Bear” on a New York City bus (actually, a succession of buses, as they keep getting thrown off). The other riders on the final bus get progressively more interested. Nominated for the 2002 Academy Award for Best Short Film, Live Action.

Sour Death Balls

USA, 1993, 5 minutes

A simple look at human nature. How long can men, women, and children keep extremely sour candy inside their mouths?

Tama Tu (Sons of Tu)

New Zeland, 2005, 17 minutes, Subtitled

Six Maori Battalion soldiers wait for night to fall in the ruins of an Italian home. Forced into silence they keep themselves amused like any boys would, with jokes and very quiet laughter. As they try and ignore the reminders of war around them, a sign brings them back to the world of the dying. They gather to say a prayer to unite their spirits before they head back into the dark of war. Even at war… boys will be boys.

Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody?

USA, 2005, 4 Minutes

A man stands on a sidewalk, waiting to ask passersby a single question: “Are you the favorite person of anybody?” Remarkably simple, yet profound. This script, penned by performance artist Miranda July, asks viewers to take an inward glance at their own lives.

Intermission

This Way Up

Winner of great oak Audience Award

UK, 2008, 9 minutes

A.T. Shank & Son have a bad day at the funeral parlor when a falling boulder flattens their hearse. Emotional and literal pitfalls lie in wait for the odd couple as they make their way to the grave site. This short, animated caper puts the fun back into funeral. Nominated for 2009 Academy Award for Best Short Film, Animated.

Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Second Place great oak Audience Award (tie)

Germany, 2007, 14 minutes, Subtitled

Toyland tells the powerful story of a German mother, in the early days of WWII, whose son is best friends with a Jewish boy living next door, both of whom are given piano lessons by the friend’s Jewish father. When the mother learns that the neighboring Jewish family is scheduled to be picked up and taken away by the Nazis on the very next day, she attempts to placate her own son’s curiosity about their surprise trip by telling him that his friend is merely making a vacation visit to “Toyland” in Switzerland. What begins as the mother’s seemingly innocent attempt to protect her son from an awareness of the Nazis barbarian brutalities unexpectedly leads him to become obsessed with going to “Toyland” along with the Jewish family and his best friend. The effort was rewarded with a win of the 2009 Academy Award for Best Short Film, Live Action.

Last Day Dream

USA, 2009, 42 seconds

A moving film that sums up the most important memories from an individual’s life in 42 seconds. Rather than being overly maudlin, this video hits that sweet spot that illustrates both whimsy, awkwardness, beauty and fear. We’re taken from a boy’s birth, through childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, marriage, children, grandchildren, through to the final farewell. We’ll show the film twice since it goes by SO fast.

Audrey and Einstein

USA, 2004, 17 minutes

Shy Audrey is asked to take care of her neighbor’s fish. Reluctantly she agrees, but becomes increasingly annoyed and locks him away. The next day she finds Einstein has retreated to his castle. Will she succeed in getting him out?

American Storage

USA, 2006, 13 Minutes

Charlie works for a huge storage company. The owner (Steve Carell), is leaving for a weekend paintball tournament - and leaving his “baby” in Charlie’s hands. The owner immediately sets the clock ticking and gives us a sense that if something goes wrong there will be hell to pay. Kurt is what goes wrong. Kurt is a resident of American Storage. And to top it off, his place is really quite nice - in spite of the odd toilet.