SOCIETY OF ILLUSTRATORS FILM SERIES
Film: International Shorts
When: Wednesday, February 17th 6:30 - 8:30pm
Where: Society of Illustrators 128 East 63rd Street
Be Film The Underground Film Festival was founded in March of 2004 by Laurence Asseraf, in the art gallery (A Taste of Art) she used to own on Duane Street in Tribeca, New York City.Now in its seventh year, Be Film focuses only on short films with over 500 submissions from around the world. The competition includes live action narrative, documentary, experimental animation, 3D stereoscopic and specs. Be Film runs during 5 consecutive days each year at the end of April. This year the dates will be: April 27 – May 1. The festival provides a cultural and entertaining forum while recognizing and honoring independent emerging filmmakers through a panel of judges from the entertainment industry who reviews the films and gives the awards.Focusing on the belief that “Shorter is Better” Be Film has become one of the most followed short film festivals on the East coast. Films premiering at Be Film are consistently nominated for Oscars and go on to festivals such as Cannes, Venice and Berlin.
In 2009 the festival introduced a 3D stereoscopic category. Be Film is the first established film festival in the US to recognize and include the 3D stereoscopic medium with its own category.
Program:Procrastination: (UK) animation (4:00 min.) Dir. Johnny Kelly An amusing and visually lively meditation on the subject of inertia. Johnny created “Procrastination” for his MA in animation at the Royal College of Art. It also won the Jerwood Moving Image Award, a major new prize for artists working in digital moving art. The awards celebrate some of the most exciting talent in digital art across a range of artistic disciplines.
Binta Y La Gran Idea: (Spain) narrative (4:30 min.)
Dir. Javier Fesser A story about a little girl called Bintat and her village in Senegal. Nominated in 2007 for an Oscar in the Live Action Shorts category after premiering in New York with Be Film in 2006.Mirage: (USA) animation (8:00 min.)Dir. Youngwoong Jang A survivor in a world where water becomes the most precious commodity is confronted with a choice. Audience Award at the Clermont Ferrand International Film Festival 2008 and Aspen Short Festival. Premiered in New York with Be Film in 2008.
The Wednesdays: (Ireland) narrative (13:00 min.) Dir. Conor Ferguson Mr. and Mrs. O’Leary have been prisoners of old age for too long, so when they discover a way to feel young again, they take it – every Wednesday. Audience Award at the Clermont Ferrand International Film Festival 2008 as well as Aspen Short Festival. Premiered in New York with Be Film 2008.Berni’s Doll: (France) animation (11:00 min.)
Dir. Yann Jouette Berni, who works at a cat food factory, buys a woman in pieces imported from different Third World countries. 36 awards in International Short film festivals worldwide after premiering in New York with Be Film in 2008.This Is Her: (New Zealand) narrative (12:00 min.)Dir. Katie Wolfe She is in love, giving birth, and confronting the bleak future of her marriage. Premiered in New York at the New York Film Festival 2008. Screened on opening night of Be Film in 2009.
$15 non-members $10 members $7 students RSVP jessica@societyillustrators.org or call 212 838 2560 www.societyillustrators.org
The Society of Illustrators is proud to partner with Be Film for this event.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
