ONLY THE BEST SHORT FILMS
Film of the Week: Knick-Knack
Knick-Knack by John Lasseter (1989) (USA) (3m) *
Six years before he changed cinema with the release of his animated feature Toy Story, John Lasseter made Knick-Knack, which is not explicitly a Christmas short film, but feels like one because it centres on a snowman stuck in a snow globe. Desparate to join the other toys on the fun end of the shelf, our hero employs all manner of tactics to escape his glass surroundings but to little avail. Can he escape his prison?
The Disappearance of Willie Bingham by Matt Richards (2015) (Aus) (12m)
A winner in the FILMSshort competition, The Disappearance of Willie Bingham is a truly disturbing short film. The eponymous Willie is languishing in prison having killed a wife and mother. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system allows for his victim's family to demand that Willie have a limb amputated as part of his punishment. Willie can then be used as an example to Australian children not to partake in crime. However, the victim's family can demand the removal of another limb. And another.
Fred by Leftchannel (2016) (USA) (1m) *
The short comedy Fred, a fantastic computer animation, was a winner in the FILMSshort competition. Fred is a short short that tells the story of two ingenious mice, a wedge of cheese and a feline called Fred. The highly-skilled mice come up with a cunning plan to get past the sleeping Fred but they unfortunately wake him. Fred mistakes their attempts to bypass him as an invitation to dance. And Fred has some moves!
Jet by Jordan Chesney (2012) (USA) (8m) *
Joint winner of the 5th FILMSshort competition, Jet proves that there are some hidden gems out there! This dialogue-free film is a gripping thriller in which a man who plans to use a handgun on himself sees a girl being snatched from the curbside and decides he must take action. Jet was a remake of a film Jordan made less than a year before but on a lower budget and tighter shoot. A kind of dress rehearsal for this more polished version.
Latched by Brunner & Harding (2017) (USA) (17m) 
Latched is a short horror film with Hollywood production values that did very well on the short flim festival circuit. It follows the story single mother, Alana, and her breast-feeding toddler, Bowen, who arrive for an autumn break in their island cottage so Alana can work on her dance choreography. Alana has an unfortunate habit of closing her eyes while dancing and Bowen soon pulls out what looks like a dead fairy from the hollow of a tree. When spilt breast milk brings the creature to life, it turns out that it is not a benevolent being and Alana will need to keep her eyes open.
Fry Up by Charlotte Regan (2017) (UK) (8m)
Fry Up was in competition at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. It tells the story of a teenage son who has to return to court today to receive his sentance for an unkonwn crime. Knowing that he will be given a custodial sentence, he and his parents have to come to terms with the fact that this is the last morning they will spend together for some time. Regan has previously been nominated for a BAFTA with her comedy short film Standby.
Period Piece by James McLellen (2014) (USA) (12m)
We celebrate Halloween with the overlooked Period Piece, which was entered into one of the competitions. It sees a film director struggling to get her schmaltzy climax finished in a dangerous world. Imagine The Walking Dead where they are trying to continue the film industry. Set on a ranch in the American midwest, it opens with what appears to be a terrible cliche but all is not as it seems...
The Rizzle by Josh Tanner (2018) (Australia) (4m)
The Rizzle sees a teenage girl watching online videos of dancers from the 1920s when she stumbles across one called the Rizzle. Having watched the energetic dance, the video challenges her to perform it herself. Knowing this is a horror film, the viewer can assume that performing the said dance will be akin to saying "Candyman" five times. Unfortunately, our heroine is unaware that she is trapped within the a horror film and is thus in for a rude awakening.
