SFIFF Day 2, Ticket 3

I stayed for more shorts and was pleasantly surprised.

Shorts 1

Program description: This compilation of narrative and documentary shorts showcases expertly crafted visual storytelling from around the world. Each film offers its own insight into a wide range of subjects and locales—from a young bride’s wedding in Armenia to a family excursion in the Florida Everglades to an unconventional convention in Washington—in ways that are surprising, captivating, and provocative.

And the Whole Sky Fit in the Dead Cow’s Eye
Anxiety falls upon a small village in Chile one morning with the unexplained death of cows and the return of an unwelcomed visitor. (Francisca Alegria, Chile/USA 2016, 19 min). A lovely story with magical realism as is used in latin american fiction. The cows dying overnight was first seen as a miracle and the town began pilgrimages with their village madonna on their shoulders.  They were so happy that God had chosen them. Later they find out that it was a strategic lightning bolt. The grandmother's husband comes to visit her 30 years after her death and she says you haven't eaten in so long and she feeds him and he is hungry. The husband has come from beyond to take her son, she tricks him in the end to take her.

And the Whole Sky Fit in the Dead Cow’s Eye Trailer - Click here

A Brief History of Princess X
An absurdist interpretation of Constantin Brancusi’s infamous sculpture, ‘Princess X.’ (Gabriel Abrantes, Portugal/France/UK 2016, 7 min)
Film websiteClick here

The Convention
An intimate gathering of transgender women in northern Washington reveals the affirmation of community as well as the psychological toll of dual identities. (Jessica Dimmock, USA 2016, 10 min)

Whole Convention film - Click here

Gut Hack
To treat his chronic gastro-intestinal problems, Josiah devises a bold biological experiment that involves the exchange of bodily excretions. (Mario Furloni, Kate McLean, USA 2017, 16 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.   There is no trailer

The Rabbit Hunt
A companion piece to last year’s award-winning The Send Off, this visceral film follows seventeen year old Chris and his family hunt rabbits during sugarcane field burning and harvesting in the Florida Everglades.(Patrick X Bresnan, USA 2016, 12 min). I had to close my eyes for most of this short. I wasn't prepared to see real killing of rabbits with sticks and then frying them up and eating them. The last scene had a close up of the 17 year old eating his rabbit drum stick and the veins and flesh were seen in close up. I heard people the day after saying that a warning should be placed on films like this and it was especially sickening for vegetarians. It was an honest life event and the bigger picture was that this family in poverty does what they need to do for extra cash and food.

Real Artists
Sophia, an ambitious and idealistic animator, interviews for a dream job at a top film studio and discovers the hidden secrets of success. (Cameo Wood, USA 2017, 12 min) This is a Cinema by the Bay film.
Trailer - Click here

Red Apples
A young Armenian bride’s hopes for a new life are dashed when an interfering mother-in-law imposes her will. (George Sikharulidze, Armenia/Georgia/USA 2016, 15 min)
Trailer - Click here


—Audrey Chang wrote the program descriptions

The directors that came were from Real Artists and Gut Hack. degrees from duke and stanford ui / fb google. gut hack ph.D.