Wow, how to talk about Dotty?  In general it takes a lot to get an emotional response out of me in a movie, especially in a short. Dotty, accomplishes that nicely. The story is simple, Dotty wants to send a message to someone she loves, and when her morning tea comes she gets someone to help her.  It is hard to talk about the short without potentially spoiling it, but even if you figure out the ending before you get there it somehow just makes the short even more poignant.

To anyone who has a loved one who is in a nursing home, or simply a loved one they are watching age or deal with a disability, this short will hit you right in the feels.

Incredibly touching narrative short. Highly recommend it. Now please excuse me I need a tissue.

Another in a great lineup from SXSW this year is Necronomica from Kyle Bogart and Cliff Bogart.

I loved it, the only way I can describe it is a buddy film about two friends facing a crisis of identity and their musical integrity.

After the departure of friend and drummer Mortimus, Black Metal bandmates Borknarg and Absu begin to lose hope that “Necronomica” will ever achieve its place as the most evil band in the world. Borknarg hatches a plan to take their band to the next level, but he fears it might cost him his friendship with Absu. And friendship is a powerful thing: it is the foundation of any truly evil band.

AND … now that the Film Screening Schedule is up, we can let you when and where it’s playing!

Saturday, March 9
1:45PM – 3:08PM
Topfer Theatre at Zach Scott

Monday, March 11
4:30PM – 5:53PM
Rollins Theatre at The Long Center

Wednesday, March 13
1:45PM – 3:08PM
Vimeo Theater

You need to make time to see The Roper from directors Ewan McNicol and Anna Sandilands. It is a moving story of a young man who is passionate about his craft without regard to stereotypes.

Kendrick is a young, black calf roper grafting through the local, all-white rodeo circuits of the southern United States. Soft spoken and gentlemanly, roping is Kendrick’s singular focus, his ‘good addiction’. He practices long into the night and is happiest when he is on the road to a competition. Before each rodeo he prays for the safety of his horse and himself, and to win a check. Ever since he was a boy he has dreamed to one day making it to the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas. This is the beginning of that story.

Before reading the press info packet, I commented that this would make a great full length documentary and was pleased that one is in the works (see quoted text from Press packet below)

We went down to Lafayette very keen to find a story inside the popular Southern pastime
of trail riding. The longstanding, predominately white traditions are becoming increasingly
more African-American, and with some very curious cultural mash ups of zydeco and hip
hop, wrangler and Sean John – all on horseback.
We were out filming with some trailriders when Kendrick drove by, with horse trailer in tow
and asked his buddies what all we were up to. Fresh off of competing in calf-roping at a local
rodeo, he unloaded his horse and joined the ride. We were immediately struck by his easy
manner, shy and gentlemanly way, and a seemingly singular drive to become a great roper.
After spending some time with Kendrick and watching him in the practice ring we knew he
was his own story. He’ll tell you himself that he has a long road to go to being great, but his
heart and determination could win anyone over.
It wasn’t until we were filming at our first rodeo that we realized we were back in a very white
world, and Kendrick was the only black person in the entire place. A man asked if we were
filming because he’s a ‘chocolate cowboy’, a term we saw as far more of an affront than
Kendrick did.
Plans are in the works to expand the film, following Kendrick to getting professional
sponsorship, and hopefully meeting his dream of one day competing at the National Rodeo
Finals in Las Vegas.

You need to make time to see Oh Willy… from directors Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels if for nothing else than the wonderful stop motion animation they have produced. I was struck by the texture of everything.

At times sad and humorous, the film tells the story with no spoken word.

Fifty-something Willy returns to the naturist community where he spent his youth to visit his sick mother. When she dies shortly after he arrives, Willy is confronted with the choices he made in his life. In confused sadness he flees into the forest. After a rough start, he finds the motherly protection of a big, gentle, hairy beast.

With beautiful cinematography done with a combination of on screen and voice over narration by Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn, Keith “keef” Ehrlich’s The Knife Maker displays the passion and craft of hand made goods makers.

I’ve always been big on documentaries at SXSW, and this one is right up my alley. It is all at once informative, educational, artistic, and has heart. I loved it.

Writer turned knife maker Joel Bukiewicz of Cut Brooklyn talks about the human element of craft, and the potential for a skill to mature into an art. And in sharing his story, he alights on the real meaning of handmade—a movement whose riches are measured in people, not cash.

The Knife Maker is the second installment in Made by Hand, a new short film series celebrating the people who make things by hand—sustainably, locally, and with a love for their craft. Based in Brooklyn, the project takes its influence from the handmade movement here and elsewhere. It was created out of the belief that the things we collect, consume, use, and share are part of who we are as individuals.

One of the first films we had a chance to screen has been James Cunningham’s Shelved and we’re still laughing.

The film, shot in one day with actors replaced by animated robots was created in just 12 weeks by a team of animation students at Media Design School, in New Zealand.

Make sure you make time in your schedule to see this creative, very funny film. We’ve always loved the animated shorts program, this one alone makes it a don’t dare miss it event.

It’s just another boring day in the the most boring job in the world. Even the robots doing the jobs are bored. They’ll do anything to get out of it, even take one of those over sized “You’re leaving” cards around the factory. That when they discover the sinister intentions of the humans.

SXSW Film just announced their list of Midnighters! We’re still reading these over but there are more than a few that will wind up on our “must see” list!

SXSW also announced their Shorts program as well, with a complete listing here.

From their site:

Big Ass Spider!
Director: Mike Mendez, Screenwriter: Gregory Gieras

When a giant alien spider escapes from a military lab and rampages across the city of Los Angeles, it is up to one clever exterminator and his security guard sidekick to kill the creature before the city is destroyed.
Cast: Greg Grunberg, Lombardo Boyar, Clare Kramer, Ray Wise, Lin Shaye, Patrick Bauchau
(World Premiere)

Cheap Thrills
Director: E.L. Katz, Screenwriters: Trent Haaga, David Chirchirillo

Recently fired and facing eviction, the married father of a newborn has his life turned upside down when he meets a wealthy couple who offer a path to financial security…but at a price.
Cast: Pat Healy, Ethan Embry, Sara Paxton, David Koechner, Amanda Fuller
(World Premiere)

Haunter (Canada)
Director: Vincenzo Natali, Screenwriter: Brian King

Lisa Johnson is one day shy of her 16th birthday and will be forever. She and her family are doomed to repeat the fateful day before they were all killed in 1985.
Cast: Abigail Breslin, Stephen McHattie, Peter Outerbridge, Michelle Nolden, David Hewlett
(World Premiere)

Kiss of the Damned
Director/Screenwriter: Xan Cassavetes

Beautiful vampire Djuna tries to resist the advances of human screenwriter Paolo, but eventually gives in to their passion. When her sister Mimi comes to visit, Djuna’s love story is threatened, and the whole vampire community becomes endangered…
Cast: Joséphine de la Baume, Milo Ventimiglia, Roxane Mesquida, Anna Mouglalis, Michael Rapaport, Riley Keough, Ching Valdes-Aran
(U.S. Premiere)

The Lords of Salem
Director/Screenwriter: Rob Zombie

From the singular mind of horror maestro Rob Zombie comes a chilling plunge into a nightmare world where evil runs in the blood.
Cast: Sheri Moon Zombie, Bruce Davison, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Ken Foree, Patricia Quinn
(U.S. Premiere)

Plus One
Director: Dennis Iliadis, Screenwriter: Bill Gullo

When the party of the decade is disrupted by a supernatural phenomenon, the night soon descends in to chaos.
Cast: Rhys Wakefield, Logan Miller, Ashley Hinshaw, Natalie Hall
(World Premiere)

The Rambler
Director/Screenwriter: Calvin Lee Reeder

After being released from prison, a man known as The Rambler stumbles upon a strange mystery as he attempts a dangerous journey through treacherous back roads and small towns en route to reconnecting with his long lost brother.
Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Lindsay Pulsipher, Natasha Lyonne, James Cady, Scott Sharot

V/H/S/2
Directors: Adam Wingard, Gareth Evans, Screenwriters: Simon Barrett, Timo Tjahjanto, Gareth Evans, Jamie Nash, Jason Eisener, John Davies

Searching for a missing student, two private investigators break into his abandoned house and find another collection of mysterious VHS tapes. In viewing the horrific contents of each cassette, they realize there may be terrifying motives behind the student’s disappearance.
Cast: Adam Wingard, Lawrence Levine, L. C. Holt, Kelsy Abbott, Hannah Hughes

You’re Next
Director: Adam Wingard, Screenwriter: Simon Barrett

A fresh twist on home-invasion horror. A gang of masked murderers descend upon a family reunion, and the victims seem trapped…until an unlikely guest proves to be the most talented killer of all.
Cast: Sharni Vinson, Nicholas Tucci, Wendy Glenn, AJ Bowen, Joe Swanberg