2023 ShortFest Program Index
Listed in screening order
Cinematic Odes – June 20 11:00 AM
Experience the profound capacity of cinema to give shape to the nuances of life – including love, memory, loss, and everything in between – through this distinctive collection of personal and poetic films. Read More
Beneath the Surface – June 20 11:30 AM
Whether encouraged or denied, with intention or by accident, something is brewing and bubbling up beneath the surface of these films. Read More
Salt in the Air – June 20 12:00 PM
From seaside locations in Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Isrsel amongst others, these diverse selection of animated and live action films find characters exposed to the elements and dreaming of distant shores. Read More
The Things We Do For Love – June 20 2:00 PM
Love has the power to push us to our limits and inspire bold actions. Through a collection of animation, documentary, and live-action films, this program showcases the transformative nature of love and reaffirms its clarifying force in our lives. Read More
On the Job – June 20 2:30 PM
From truck driving in Qatar, to frantically preparing a boss's birthday party in Los Angeles, and all the way to outer space–a selection of funny and insightful films about working life in all its forms. Read More
Amazing Animation – June 20 3:00 PM
An exciting collection of funny, moving, thoughtful and always visually evocative animated shorts from around the world. Read More
Opening Night – June 20 6:30 PM
Join us for an evening of celebration and cinema as we officially kick off the 29th edition of the festival, ShortFest style! Read More
Meeting People is Easy – June 21 11:00 AM
Putting yourself out there can be hard, but as these films remind us, a stranger is just a friend, hookup, or life partner you've never met. Read More
Art Attack – June 21 11:30 AM
Explore the transformative and provocative influence of art through an assortment of documentary, fiction, and animated short films that celebrate the creative process and its ability to heal and challenge. Read More
Close-Ups – June 21 12:00 PM
These documentary portraits take you inside the lives of a wide range of fascinating people with intimacy and beauty. Read More
Cons & Consequences – June 21 2:00 PM
A collection of films about criminals, accomplices, victims and the often amorphous line between them all. Read More
Public Spaces, Private Lives – June 21 2:30 PM
Who we present ourselves in public isn't always who we are in private. Personal secrets, hidden desires and public personas clash in this selection of films. Read More
In the Country – June 21 3:00 PM
From France to India, through small villages, fields and woods, these bucolic tales take us to rural lives and the rich diversity of experiences and stories you find there. Read More
Coupling & Uncoupling – June 21 5:00 PM
A captivating collection of stories that explore the dynamics of human relationships – from coming together to breaking apart, from choosing to spend a lifetime with someone to moving on – all conveyed with a blend of passion, humor, and wistfulness that feels just right. Read More
Codes of Conduct – June 21 5:30 PM
The unwritten rules of society can exasperate and confuse at every turn. From an awkward funeral, to an online video game feed, to marriage counseling, these shorts examine how we follow—and break—prescribed norms. Read More
Crossroads – June 21 6:00 PM
The characters in this program stand at a crucial juncture, facing pivotal decisions and life-altering events. Read More
Friends Like These – June 21 8:00 PM
We can’t always choose the members of our social circles. Unconventional pals, disrespected boundaries and serious fun loom large in this collection of films. Read More
A World Imagined – June 22 11:00 AM
An intriguing blend of science and speculative fiction through a collection of eclectic films that explore imagined futures and offer fresh perspectives on our present reality. Read More
A Dose of Reality – June 22 11:30 AM
Embark on a memorable journey through a series of documentary shorts that will transport you to a range of fascinating locations and introduce you to remarkable people – from the Philippines where sleeping on the job is a norm, to a one-of-a-kind library in Canada, and beyond. Read More
Higher Ground – June 22 12:00 PM
The body, the spirit, and the metaphysical collide in this series of shorts exploring the power of faith, belief and ritual. Read More