60 Second Short Film Fest

The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Cultural Arts Division hosted the fifth annual 60 Second Short Film Fest on May 11. Out of 590 films submitted, 33 were selected. Topics included social justice, climate change, human rights, and adventure.

It’s been a half decade now since we started showing shorts from around the world and each year is a new journey to find the top 33 films. This year many films leaned to the abstract and somber, yet thankfully the quirky and humorous animated films that celebrate life always manage to surface. We can now recognize some of the regular submitters by their style and content. Speaking of recognition, this year we introduced the Audience Choice Award.

Filmmakers gave one minute thank you speeches or sent a letter of thanks.

Below is a list of the films that were screened, followed by the winners.

* Denotes Finalist

** 60 Second Short Film Fest Winners

*** Audience Choice Award

**** Director's Choice Award

Youth

1. The Pop Up (Animation)
Director: Christian Marshall
United States
A student loses control of their computer due to popup ads.

2. Unearthly Exploration (Animation) *
Director: Miles John Pastoria
United States
An alien ship comes and visits what seems to be a familiar terrestrial planet.

3. Space Oddities (Animation) **
Directors: Tee Nabi, Ian Frye, Cyrus Jackson
Charlottesville, VA
A boy travels into the clouds, space, and then returns. "Space Oddities" was a middle school project though Light House Studio's Summer Film Academy.

4. Lonely (Live Action) *
Directors: Levi Hofman, Charlotte Trimble, Jackson Frisbee, Noah Tison, Calum Casey
Charlottesville, VA
A boy loses a friend and makes the journey without her. "Lonely" was filmed and edited in one day as part of a workshop called 60-Second Shorts through Lighthouse Studios.

5. Doom-Scalator (Live Action) **
Director: William Manning
Canada
Impending doom can only be thwarted by finishing a sandwich.

Adult

6. Dinner Plan ( Live Action) *
Director: Pedro Solis
Guatemala
Alejandro makes dinner plans in modern times.

7. Now or Never (Live Action)
Director: Federico Bezenzette
Argentina
An incoming call, but there is a challenge: untangle the headphones.

8. encontro neonm (Live Action) *
Director: Samuel Carvázan
Brazil
In the neon light, a couple lives together, but something exists between them: an empty space.

9. Leap (Animation) *
Director: Mikołaj Mirzewski
Poland
A bungee jump to face the greatest fear.

10. Titan's Palm (Animation)
Director: Pieter Maertens
Belgium
A traveler is swallowed by the earth that once held life.

11. Graffitude (Animation) **
Director: Mylène Thisdale
Canada
A young troublemaker surprises the neighborhoods’ old baker.

12. There was once a Cookie
Director: Abtin Sharifi
Islamic Republic of Iran
A cookie takes a dive.

13. M. (Animation)
Director: Kino Jin
United States
In the vast desert, a solitary mountain begrudgingly receives a seed seeking refuge.

14. Just Me and My Mirror (Documentary) *
Director: Sokaina Machkour
Morocco
A young woman prepares to go out for an evening.

15. Out of The Lines (Documentary) **
Director: Sajjad Aslani
Islamic Republic of Iran
A stroll through a traditional neighborhood in Tehran.

16. Around (Environmental) *
Directors: Bebete Viégas and Guga Lemes
Belgium
A house was built in a deforested area and after planting 10,000 trees, it is an oasis.

17. Nalubale (Environmental) *
Director: Nickson Kamau
Uganda
Nalubale(Lake Victoria) is the largest fresh water lake in Africa, but it is currently under trouble due to the world's excess carbon dioxide and pollution, leaving it's habitants and beneficiaries in danger.

18. Nuclear Shadows (Live Action) *
Director: Sofia Kapilevich
Russian Federation
In 2022 there was a serious threat of nuclear war from Russia. This film is in response to the fear that was generated.

19. Softly, flows (Animation) *
Director: Simone Massi
Italy
The black, the white and a small red spot that suddenly rise up.

20. Autumn, Live Action
Director: Jean-Marie Villeneuve
France
A little girl is thinking about her dad.

21. The Uninvited (Live Action)
Director: Patrick Vincent Benedict
United States
A surprise guest causes a lot of anxiety.

22. Self Portrait (Live Action)
Director: Juliana Ianniccillo
Argentina
Lists. They save and they drown. Checking things in order to survive.

23. 60 Second Hamlet (Live Action) **
Director: Daniel Widdowson
Australia
Shakespeare's Hamlet in under a minute.

24. Open Line (Documentary) ****
Directors: David Osaodion Odiase, Femi Oyedokun
Nigeria
A young man places a phone call to the souls of his ancestors trapped in a foreign Museum.

25. La Muerte (Environmental)
Directors: Felipe Reutter, Juan Carlos Montagna
Chile
"La Muerte" is a story that delves into the urgent ecological, social, and mental crisis facing our world.

26. Ichthus (Documentary) *
Director: Vyacheslav (Slavik) Bihun
Ukraine
"Ichthus" is a metaphor for human life inspired by observation on fish, whose sign is an symbol of health and faith.

27. Transformation (Animation) *
Director: Svetlana Korotkova
Russian Federation
Everything flows and changes. One moment you are crying an ocean, next moment you are swimming like a mermaid. And finally, the sun. So feel free to cry and transform.

28. Big Swing (Animation) *
Director Elisa Petersen
United States
The swing of a lifetime. Follow this golfers journey.

29. Arrivee des trains au 21eme siecle (Japon) (Experimental)
Director: Akari Sōma
France
It is a grave marker for "Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat" and an indicator for the next era.

30. Walkers (Animation)
Director: Santiago Colombo Migliorero
Spain
‘Walkers’ is an animation project about a stay in Maison des Auteurs and BilbaoArte Fundazioa as an artist in residence at Irudika.

31. Remediate (Environmental)
Director: Kevin Lucero Less
United States
Paper or Plastic? It's not too late to remediate.

32. Oyo in the Forest (Environmental) ***
Director: Omid Razavi
Iran, Islamic Republic of
A creature confronts pollution with a solution.

33. Return (Environmental) **
Director: Annie Prafcke
United States
An anxious, stressed woman uses meditation and the serenity of nature to return to peace.

Winners:

Youth Animation:
Space Oddities
Directors: Tee Nabi, Ian Frye, Cyrus Jackson
Charlottesville, VA

Youth Live Action:
Dooms Scalator
Director: William Manning
Canada

Adult Live Action:
60 Second Hamlet
Director: Daniel Widdowson
Australia

Adult Documentary/Personal Narrative:
Out of the Lines
Director: Sajjad Aslani
Islamic Republic of Iran

Adult Animation:
Graffitude
Director: Mylene Thisdale
Canada

Best Environmental:
Return
Director: Annie Prafcke
United States

Audience Choice Award
Oyo in the Forest
Director: Omid Razavi
Islamic Republic of Iran

Director's Choice Award
Open Line (Documentary)
Directors: David Osaodion Odiase, Femi Oyedokun
Nigeria

FILM JURISTS

Kat Vivaldi (she/they) is a returning jurist for our film fest who is an artist/filmmaker/creative technologist whose projects range from film, installation, sound, to performance. Her video art works have been exhibited in galleries such as the CON-TEMPORARY Art Observatorium in Italy and the Maryland Hall for the Maryland Federation of Arts. Kat has screened for the New Orleans Film Festival for several years, within the categories of feature length documentary, short documentary, and experiential shorts. She has also been involved with several independent film projects including an Emmy award winning PBS feature documentary titled HEARD. In addition to credits on features for BET+, Lifetime, Nat Geo, and HBO.

Max Gilmore: is a filmmaker and 3D artist based out of Richmond, VA. With a background in film editing and animation, Max has developed 3D motion graphics for a variety of clients and companies including CoStar Group and Homes.com. When he isn't working on his own animations, he also coordinates stunt choreography for local film and theater productions.

Culture Roots Co-op Home School High School English Literature Class
The Cultural Roots Home School Cooperative seeks to provide a culturally centered and liberated educational space for families. They intentionally center the cultural attributes, traditions, and histories of Black and Brown communities. Some of their students who judged the animation and live action category for youth have taken film classes through the City of Richmond’s Cultural Arts Department and produced award winning films.

Special Thanks To:

Diane Hayes for supporting the earth through the greening of Pine Camp and this film fest.

Matt Buckner for assembling this film fest for the past five years.