BEST AMERICAN SHORT FILMS 6
The Parlor by Geoffrey Haley 
(2001) (US) (11m)
A bit of an all time classic, The Parlor is somewhat confusing to start with but you soon work out what is happening. It is a very nicely observed piece with fantastic dialogue and a nice little twist at the end. It won an Honorable Mention at the Sundance Film Festival and its writer-director, Geoffrey Haley, went on to make the feature film, The Last Word in 2008. However, he is best known as a Hollywood camera (and steadicam) operator.
The New Tenants by Joachim Back (2009) (USA) (20m)
Written by Anders Thomas Jensen, who also wrote the Oscar winning Election Night, The New Tenants are the eponymous gay couple who have moved into an apartment after the previous tenant was murdered. However, they have only been there a day when they now receive a series of unusual and unwanted visits that, due to their lack of baking knowledge, ends with most of the people dead.
Prey Alone by Mather & St Leger (2004) (USA) (15m)
Prey Alone by James Mather and Stephen St Leger has the feel of a blockbuster. It's quite incredible they should put so much time and effort, and presumably money, into a short film. It's also encouraging that they recognised their idea did not have the "legs" for a feature film and that - with its one act and nice twist - it was more suited to the short form. There is little I can add - is it a "boys" movie?
Keith Reynolds Can't Make It... by Felix Massie (2008) (UK) (6m)
Keith Reynolds Can't Make It Tonight is a sly animation to have on the Best of the UK page because it is apparently set in the USA (though the spelling of 'tonight' ensures we all know that it is in fact British). It tells the story of Keith Reynolds, a man who has worked at the same company for eight years and believes he is going to be promoted today, the key to getting his co-worker, Sarah, to like him. It all, of course, goes horribly and amusingly wrong.
