June 12, 2006

Alas, at 11 pm it was time for the restaurant to close, but not time for the party to end!! Now it was time for . . . Karaoke!! This party had some serious stamina; we didn’t emerge from our Karaoke box until 5 am, well after sunrise, and just in time to catch the first train home. It was not a night not to be forgotten, although many of us can’t remember much of it.

June 11, 2006

After the Award Ceremony, over 60 filmmakers and festival volunteers and staff enjoyed okonomiyaki and all they could drink at hip and cozy Sakura-Tei in Harajuku. Okonomiyaki are savory pancakes that you cook yourself on a griddle in the middle of the table. Korean film star Yoo Jitae also joined the party and had a blast.

Since the Award Ceremony had lasted longer than expected, partygoers had about an hour and a half to guzzle beer and chu-hai (refreshing cocktail of shochu liquor and juice) and gorge themselves on the okonomiyaki, which are made from a base of flour, grated yam, egg, and shredded cabbage. Sakura-Tei was practically vibrating with the energy and festive mood of the party.

The 8th annual Short Shorts Film Festival is over!! Staff and volunteers dismantled the Short Shorts theatre in the Laforet museum this evening after the last screening.

After so many months of preparation, blood, sweat and tears, in a few moments virtually every trace of SSFF 2006 vanished!

Meanwhile, the votes for the Audience Award winners in all three categories (International, Asia International, and National) are being counted and the winners of each 400,000 Yen prize will be announced on the website soon.

Thanks to everyone who came to this year’s screenings! We hope you enjoyed the show, and we look forward to seeing you next year at SSFF #9!! In the meantime, keep up with festival news on our website. Submissions for SSFF & Asia 2007 will open in August. We want to see your films!

Grand Prix winner Heng Tang was emotional and eloquent in accepting his award. He thanked Short Shorts for supporting Asian filmmakers and encouraged the audience to keep independent filmmaking alive.

Short Shorts co-founder Tetsuya Bessho congratulated the filmmakers, thanked the audience, and closed the ceremony with a gift “from me to you” in celebration of the World Cup: a special presentation of Short Shorts alumnus Leanna Creel’s moving soccer film, “Offside.”

See you next year!!!

THE LAST CHIP

Heng Tang　
（21:00/Drama/Hong Kong ・　Vietnam・　Australia/2005）

La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Hidetoshi Oneda
（15:00/Fantasy/Japan・USA/2005）

La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Hidetoshi Oneda
（15:00/Fantasy/Japan・USA/2005）

Resonance of Tears

Atsuhiko Watanabe
（11:00/Drama・Experimental/Japan ・ France/2004）

THE LAST CHIP

Heng Tang　
（21:00/Drama/Hong Kong ・　Vietnam・　Australia/2005）

Village Football

Sainath Choudhury　
（1:25/Fiction/India/2004）

Before Dawn

Balint Kenyeres　
（12:40/Drama/Hungary/2005）

Before Dawn

Balint Kenyeres　
（12:40/Drama/Hungary/2005）

Hayelet Bodeda（The Substitute）

Talya Lavie　
（19:00/Drama/Israel/2005）

The Mechanicals

Leon Ford　　　
（8:20/Drama/Australia/2005）

Nearly 2,000 guests attended the Award Ceremony for the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2006 this afternoon, and $60,000 in cash prizes was presented to winning filmmakers!

Filmmakers, jury members, celebrities, sponsors, and other special guests braved the rain to celebrate the eighth annual Short Shorts festival. The festival was honored again to hold the Award Ceremony at the Meiji Jingu Jingu Kaikan, the huge and beautiful auditorium on the Meiji Shrine grounds which is reserved for only the most special events.

The ceremony kicked off with a nostalgic look back at the weeks’ events: filmmakers arriving at Narita, the blessing at the Meiji Shrine, screenings begin, Q&A with filmmakers and audiences, Asian and National filmmakers’ meeting with the Tokyo Governor, the Japan premiere of THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, Korean film star Yoo Jitae’s visit, and Sweepers. It was an action-packed festival!

In a video message,Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara congratulated the filmmakers and the festival on another successful year. 2006 marks the third year that the Tokyo Government has generously supported Short Shorts Asia.

Next, a representative of the Australian Embassy spoke about Australia and Japan’s “Year of Exchange” and the ever-growing success of the Australian film industry.

We then recognized the support and important work of Team Minus 6%, a non-profit organization that is working to help Japan reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. Their important message is that in even small ways, everyone can contribute to preserving our planet and the creatures that share it with us.

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING director Jason Reitman and producer Daniel Dubiecki took the stage to talk about their transition from short to feature filmmaking. The pair attended the festival in 2001 with their wildly successful film “In God We Trust,” and returned this year to premiere their critically acclaimed and star-studded feature. Jason’s advice to the filmmakers in the audience was to remain faithful to their hearts and not to let the business of filmmaking detour them from their true visions.

The audience enjoyed the screening of “Tokyo Tenshi,” the short film that Toshiro Sonoda directed with the Super Dry Award Scholarship he won at last year’s festival. Sonoda used intense action and special effects to tell a sensitive story about the human heart.

Dressed in the sharply tailored tuxedo he had made specifically for his participation at the Cannes Film Festival this year, acclaimed director Hiroyuki Nakano presented a clip from his award-winning short “Iron.” This beautiful film about a man compelled to iron anything that is white was recognized with the Young Critics Award at Cannes International Critics Week.

In what was perhaps the highlight of the first half of the ceremony, comedian Gori “Garage Sale” accepted the Short Shorts Spotlight Award, which honors big names in the entertainment industry who are contributing to the world of short film. Gori’s film noir spoof “Dick Boggie” had audiences rolling with laughter at the festival this week. Thrilled to be recognized by the festival, Gori exclaimed on stage, “I’m so nervous. I wish you could see my asshole!” The hosts convinced him that this ceremony was not an appropriate place for him to drop his pants, and he complied. Gori hopes to make a sequel to his first short film, and we can’t wait to see it!

Before the intermission, the festival’s prestigious jury members were introduced. Short Shorts organizers gathered an impressively talented jury this year, including fashion icon and former pop band Pizzicato Five vocalist Maki Nomiya and acclaimed actor Tatsuya Fuji (IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES).

Guests took a break in the lobby for refreshments before the ceremony continued with the presentation of awards. The mood became tense and exciting as the lights dimmed for the real purpose of the evening. And the winners are . . .

June 10, 2006

--From JELLYBABY, a story about a happy couple who has a baby and finds their relationship tested, to THE GATES OF HEAVEN, a story about the afterlife and based on a famous Chinese myth, International Program B covered a wide array of topics. Some lighthearted, some not so lighthearted, these films were shorter than the other programs but certainly no less moving.

Audience member Kito Hadama preferred these films to the other programs because “they were cool in their simplicity,.” Kito, who is 15, spent his early childhood in Australia and wants to be a director. No cinema novice, Kito spoke about P.J Hogan’s Australia Maestro short GETTING WET. “It’s a good story. I could relate to the boy. But, for me, it wasn’t about the emotion. I was too busy analyzing the cinematography…the camera movements were just like the boy. Always moving, changing with the life that comes at him.”

Kito didn’t know about Short Shorts honoring the Year of Exchange, a pact between Japan and Australia to keep their relationship strong, and including many Australian filmmakers in their lineups. P.J Hogan, a native Australian and now a veteran Hollywood director, has gone on to make many successful films, including the hit MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING starring Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz.

“I’ve never seen anything like this…I’ve been to Sundance, Toronto. I’ve never seen such good short films.” Antoine Gormaine, a Belgian tourist, caught International Program D at Short Shorts this morning. Antoine and the rest of the audience sat in the Laforet Theater, which for virtually all of the weekend shows, hadn’t a seat to spare.

ALICE AND I, a comedy about a guy who gives a ride to three Jewish grandmothers and is forced to listen to their advice on his love life, had the crowd in stitches. The film has been loved at festivals around the world and found an equally receptive audience in the Japanese community.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT followed and, though much different than Alice and I, had its own comedic legs. The 2-minute non-dialogue film proved how physical comedy can, in a matter of seconds, have people clutching their guts in laughter.

The program then veered to more serious topics with films like the Cannes-screened BEFORE DAWN and the high concept MECHANICALS. Hu Wen Li, a Chinese local who recently moved to Tokyo, couldn’t stop talking with his friend. “I couldn’t believe it. One shot…the whole thing,” he said about the 12-minute BEFORE DAWN.

“I think that was the best film I’ve ever seen.”
“You mean the best short film.”
“No,” he said. “I think that is the best film I have ever seen in my life. Its simplicity evoked so much emotion on so many levels. It was brilliant.”

THE MECHANICALS wrtier/director Leon Ford was present to answer questions afterward. He explained that his film, a story about what happens inside the walls of your house, was funded by a public film foundation in Sydney, Australia. Because of the success of short, he has received funding for a new film and plans to start shooting in September.

The films in International Program D vary greatly in tone, genre, and style. But they do, in fact, share one thing in common: being the cream of the crop. If that assessment is up for contention, please contact Hu Wen Li to settle the dispute.

A powerful mix of films comprise International Program “E”; like all of Short Shorts programming, they span a wide variety of formats, from CG animation to live action, and all vary greatly in length. The films in this section have been particularly successful at festivals across the world.

In THE LITTLE WOMAN, filmmaker Greg Williams tells the story of a man whose miniature wife―literally 12 inches tall---has run off with their kids. The story begins when the man, who is of normal size, calls the police. When they arrive, they peruse his bizarre, miniature furniture and begin to think that he may be suffering from his own delusion.

Most of the other films in this program explore more serious topics. One of them, AU PETIT MATIN (At Dawn), is a particularly striking French film, both for its violence and heartfelt emotion. Joshua Leonard’s story, THE YOUTH IN US, starring indie actor Lucas Haas, leads one down a particular direction, only to throw in a surprise, touching twist in the remaining minutes.

This section has a lot of well-executed, dramatic stories that, despite being limited to such a short length, evoke a great amount of emotion. The cinematography and acting are superb; the themes―which hit home in the last couple minutes―offer profound and inspiring messages.

June 09, 2006

Tonight, Short Shorts welcomed back alumnus JASON REITMAN whose short film, IN GOD WE TRUST, screened at the festival 5 years ago. Jason recently completed his first feature film, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, which has garnered critical and commercial success. So much so, in fact, that 20th Century Fox, the distributor that purchased the film at the Toronto Film Festival, has put Jason on a worldwide press tour.

Jason and his long time producing partner, DANIEL DUBIECKI, arrived at the Laforet Theater around 17:30 Friday night. People were lining up from the 5th floor all the way down to ground level, waiting to see the film and its phenomenal all-star cast. Virtually every role in the movie is played by an established actor, including Sam Elliot, Katie Holmes, Aaron Eckhart, William H. Macy, Robert Duvall, Rob Lowe, and even TV’s “The O.C.” star Adam Brody.

After the doors opened and people scrambled into the theater to grab a good seat, host and Short Shorts co-founder DOUGLAS WILLIAMS welcomed Jason and Dan onstage. Asked about what approach a short filmmaker should take in trying to parlay his work into a feature film, Jason explained that “it should touch on the same genre and tone of the feature film you hope to make.” His short film IN GOD WE TRUST was a satirical comedy, much the same in humor as his feature film.

After the short screening and q & a, the audience settled into their seats for the feature. Right off the bat, the witty repartee between the lead character―a vehement defender of Big Tobacco---and those obstructing his path elicited big laughs from the audience. In the story, Aaron Eckhart’s character argues, without sentiment and with great strategy, that the tobacco companies, which allegedly kill millions, should not be vilified by a liberally righteous society. A lot of things can kill you---cars, planes, etc―and cigarette companies are the only ones who are under constant attack.

Some of the biggest laughs came when Rob Lowe’s character, a slick Hollywood agent with an obsession with Japanese culture, appeared onscreen. In one shot, he’s seen talking on the phone wearing in a Kimono. After the screening, Jason and Dan took more questions from the audience. Asked what he thought makes Jason a good director, Dan replied, “Broad shoulders.” After the laughs died down, Dan explained that he and Jason have always clicked because of their common sensibilities and humor. They laugh at the same things and are mutually inspired by the same comedic concepts.

Another man, sitting in the front row and effusively praising Jason’s work, asked if the film paid homage to any other director’s work. Jason replied that while the film had been inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s DR. STRANGELOVE, he did not intend to specifically honor any other film. Dan added that THANKYOU does pay homage to other directors that he and Jason admire, including Wes Anderson.

Jason also talked about his next project, a satire of corporate culture. He covered heaven and hell in his short film, politics in his first feature, and now he will tackle the corporate world.

Given the fact that thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of short films circle the globe every year, it’s quite a feat to be selected for a competitive short film festival. Five years ago, Jason made it into Short Shorts. Now he has survived the scrutiny of Hollywood professionals and not only made a high profile feature film but succeeded greatly doing it.

International Program A screened for the second time at Laforet early this afternoon. This program includes a number of outstanding films from Europe and the USA. The bubbly Swedish film ESTER opens the program is part of the festival’s Women Short Shorts category, which celebrates the achievements of women behind the camera. The program closes with a special screening of THE CHILI CON CARNE CLUB, which features Mel Gibson and Kristy Swanson, who played Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the original feature film!

Festival-goers Tatsuya Kobaiyashi and Tomohiro Kyan particularly enjoyed DELIVERY, a German animated film, makes an interesting statement about the environment. “It was very original,” said Tatsuya. The two were surprised to see such a young-looking Mel Gibson in THE CHILE CON CARNE CLUB, which was produced way back in 1993!! Has Short Shorts inspired these economics students to become filmmakers? “We’d rather watch films than make them!”

Kyan & Kobaiyashi

June 08, 2006

The closing scene of Hungarian filmmaker Karoly Ujj Meszaros’s dark comedy “Palika Brings Down the Trashcan” includes a lot of Japanese people. This unexpected visual joke caught audiences at Laforet off-guard and was met with total silence. Karoly was not completely distraught, however. “Maybe [there was] a smile . . . very dry skin,” says Karoly demonstrating how it can be difficult to force a smile. “Or maybe I’m just projecting.”

Karoly describes the characters in his film as “stupid little creatures, looking for peace of mind, rebirth, silly things.” Their pursuits are futile, as are ours, explains Karoly, because the end of the world is upon is. “It’s all gonna end sometime,” he says, and yet we continue to run around, making films, discussing world politics, and otherwise idling away our time, completely oblivious to the doom that certainly awaits civilization . . . eventually.

Not all of Karoly’s films are so dark or so funny. One of his earlier shorts, “Rubberman,” tells a redemptive story about a society where flesh and blood humans coexist with men made of rubber and air. His latest work is an experimental film called “Them.”

We hope Karoly doesn’t let the impending day of reckoning deter his call to filmmaking. You might see him wandering around Tokyo this weekend with a camera strapped to his chest as he shoots a documentary about his trip to Japan. Give him a wave and tell him to keep on with his silly pursuits!

* * * * * * * *

Filmmaker Matias Meyer cast his father in the title role of his film “The Passenger.” His father is a history professor, not an actor, but because he is so accustomed to speaking to large groups of people and being interviewed for television news, he was very at ease in front of the camera.

“The Passenger” has been a very successful film for Matias, screening at 20 festivals, including a non-competition program at the Cannes Film Festival. After its screening at Cannes, many other festivals began to contact him. “And I saw a lot of movies there. That was the most important thing!” says Matias.

Matias’ most recent project is a short film called “Green” that tells the story of a friendship between two children from different social classes. In theme it is similar to “The Passenger,” in which a wealthy gentleman spends the day with a common cab driver. “These two films are like brothers.”

Filmmakers, staff, and volunteers gathered on Omotesando this morning to clean up the sparkling sidewalks of this busy and beautiful shopping district. Sweepers is a time-honored tradition of the Short Shorts Film Festival that allows everyone involved in the event to offer a show of thanks to the neighborhood that hosts this festival each year. Working alongside the Short Shorts gang were volunteers from Greenbird, a non-profit environmental organization that has supported Sweepers for the last several years.

Festival Director Seigo Tono welcomed the Sweepers, and introduced Ken Hasebe, President and Founder of Greenbird. A representative from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment also welcomed the filmmakers and volunteers and thanked them for their contribution. He explained that there is a movement in Japan to encourage companies to relax their dress codes and eliminate ties from men’s summer wardrobes. This would enable offices to maintain their thermostats at slightly higher temperatures, thereby saving energy and reducing heat emissions from air conditioners.

The Sweepers split into two groups and set off in opposite directions on the hunt for abandoned cigarette butts, drink cans, newspapers, rubbish of any kind really. As in years past, it was a task that called for keenly alert senses; garbage is not easy to find in Tokyo. Even Tokyo native and festival staffer, Eri Taguchi, enjoying the fresh air in her first ever Sweepers event, was surprised by how clean the sidewalks were.

The Web Reporter asked some Sweepers how they felt about cleaning up rubbish in Tokyo:

“In Canada, there would be cigarette butts and beer cans all over the place―even though it’s illegal to drink in the streets!” -- filmmaker Shaleen Sanga (Sohni Sapna/Beautiful Dream)

“It’s the same concept as for eating.” ?Jury Member Beth Safreire, demonstrating that the garbage collecting tongs are not unlike chopsticks

“Small dogs go in the burnable bag.”- ?anonymous

“I’m happy with my non-burnables. And I didn’t come across that big stash everyone else got. This is all my own work.” --Leon Ford (The Mechanicals)

“It’s so clean, I’d be willing to lick the street.” --Chris Waitt (Dupe)

“It was stinky, but satisfying.” --Tatia Rosenthal (A Buck’s Worth)

June 07, 2006

At Short Shorts 2006, the ACADEMY PROGRAM kicked off the fest in Laforet Hall. Several Academy Award nominated films were screened―ranging from 1987 to 2006---and they included the ’06 winner SIX SHOOTERS, a black and bloody Irish comedy. The house was packed as Short Shorts staffers scrambled around to make last minute adjustments to the room that will project over 40 short films in the next couple of days.

Many Short Shorts filmmakers gathered to see the highly touted Academy films and laughed uproariously at the various comedies. The audience, comprised of both Japanese and Americans, responded to all the shorts but none more than OUR TIME IS UP, a comedy about a psychiatrist who is told he has 6 weeks to live and becomes brutally honest with his patients.

After the main program, everyone stuck around for a special screening of Gwyneth Paltrow and her filmmaking partner Mary Wigmore’s DEALBREAKERS, a project initiated by Glamour magazine that supports emerging female talents. The campaign aims to raise awareness of, and support for, women in the director’s chair by producing entertaining films from the women’s point of view. Dealbreakers marks the directorial debut of mega-star Paltrow and Wigmore.

A brief morning rain shower gave way to a brilliant sun-soaked Tokyo day―perfect for a stroll from Harajuku Station to the Meiji Shrine.

International filmmakers posed for photos in front of the barrels of sake on the way to the shrine, cleansed their hands at the main entrance, and tossed 5 yen coins in the alters to ensure their prayers would be answered.
Some even wrote their own votive prayers on small wooden plaques to hang on the pegs where visitors from around the world have left their own words of hope and thanks.

Inside the Shrine, filmmakers were treated to a special Shinto blessing. The ceremony began with a heart-thumping drum. A priest chanted a prayer to bless the Short Shorts Film Festival and wish success for the filmmakers. Priests wearing spring green played traditional music, opening with the Japanese national anthem. A koto (string instrument), flutes, and drum created a soothing atmosphere as four Miko-san (women priests) performed a dance for world peace called Uraiyasu-no-mai In this intricately choreographed dance every movement of their bodies was carefully synchronized. The blessing closed with the same heart-pounding drum and filmmakers were invited to drink a sip of cleansing sake.

It was an experience no one will soon forget! Singaporean filmmaker Ric Aw (Buy Me Love) and his wife Candice found it to be quite spiritual. “At certain moments, I felt totally at ease,” said Ric. Candice agreed. “At times I felt like I wasn’t even there, especially while the priest was chanting.” Per Hanefjord (En god dag) from Sweden described it as “a goose bump experience,” and was particularly impressed by how intensely Japanese it seemed―the sounds, the colors, the movement. Special guest Miguel Ortega (Director of SSFF Mexico) was also excited to experience such traditional Japanese culture, which he had not expected to find in a city as high tech and modern as Tokyo.

Blessed and cleansed, the filmmakers made their way under blue skies and green trees back to the main gate and down Omotesando to the festival venues at Laforet and Astro Hall. Let the screenings begin!