Partly Cloudy

USA, 2009, 6 minutes

Everyone knows that the stork delivers babies, but where do the storks get the babies from? The answer lies up in the stratosphere, where cloud people sculpt babies from clouds and bring them to life. Gus, a lonely and insecure grey cloud, is a master at creating "dangerous" babies. Crocodiles, porcupines, rams and more - Gus’s beloved creations are works of art, but more than a handful for his loyal delivery stork partner, Peck. As Gus’s creations become more and more rambunctious, Peck’s job gets harder and harder. How will Peck manage to handle both his hazardous cargo and his friend’s fiery temperament?

The Shovel

USA, 2009, 15 minutes

When weekender Paul Mullin discovers his neighbor digging a hole in the middle of the night, he writes it off as simply a bizarre encounter. Until the neighbor — and his cheating wife — disappear. Worried he’s stumbled upon more than he’s bargained for, he calls on the local sheriff to help unearth the truth. And finds out that, in a small town, some secrets are better left buried.

The Death of Salvador Dali

USA, 2005, 18 minutes

The Death of Salvador Dali brings the paranoiac, flamboyant Dali into the office and head-space of an unsuspecting Sigmund Freud. When Salvador seeks Freud’s assistance to inject madness into his art, tables are turned, student becomes teacher, and doctor becomes patient. Unwittingly subjected to chaos, deception, and guns, Freud and madness itself become mere ingredients in Dali’s grand, secret agenda.

Home Road Movies

UK, 2001, 12 minutes

A sweet reminiscence about a family with four children and their RAF-veteran dad. Dad knows the timetable of every bus in London, but finally realizes his large family needs a car. He buys a Peugeot station wagon — and the family sets off for annual holidays exploring every corner of Europe. The narrator is one of the children who, as he ages, sees many things he missed as a lad.

Harvie Krumpet

Australia, 2003, 22 minutes

This story revolves around the life of Harvie Krumpet. Despite a life filled with bad luck — such as having Tourette’s Syndrome, being struck by lightning, and losing one of his testicles — Harvie remains ever optimistic, living out his own eccentric way of life. Throughout his disaster-ridden life, people around him come and go, but right to the end Harvie delights in the simple pleasure of life. This claymation film has won many awards including the 2004 Oscar for Best Short Film, Animated. It is interesting to note that no computers were used in the making of this film. Every scene was hand built and photographed with an animation camera.

Intermission

The Big Empty

USA, 2005, 21 minutes

A young woman, Alice, goes to the gynecologist with a mysterious ache inside her. When one doctor can’t figure out just what the problem is, she sees another, and still more, until finally one specialist finds that she has an enormous, empty tundra inside of her. A challenge is put forth to see who would be willing to enter the vast tundra and see where it might lead.

L’homme Qui Plantait Des Arbres (The Man Who Planted Trees)

Canada, 1988, 30 minutes

The Man Who Planted Trees tells the story of a solitary shepherd who patiently plants and nurtures a forest of thousands of trees, single-handedly transforming his arid surroundings into a thriving oasis. Undeterred by two World Wars, and without any thought of personal reward, the shepherd tirelessly sows his seeds and acorns with the greatest care. As if by magic, a landscape that seemed condemned, grows green again. We’ll show the English language version of the film with excellent narration by Christopher Plummer. The film won the 1988 Oscar for Best Short Film, Animated.

Music for One Apartment and Six Drummers

Sweden, 2001, 10 minutes

An award-winning short about six drummers who participate in a well-planned musical attack on the suburbs. As an elderly couple leave their apartment the drummers take over. On everyday objects they give a concert in four movements: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room. The drummers perform on everything from dog dishes and slippers to toilet brush and microwave oven. The hidden music in the household objects is just waiting to be brought to life.