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The most compelling, moving, entertaining and, put simply, best short films from the past year are brought together for the first time on DVD for Best v Best - a collection of the winners of the world's biggest short film prizes, released 5th December 2005. Best v Best is the first release from independent film community Shooting People’s newly launched label Word of Mouth Films. Including Oscar-nominees and winners of the Sundance, Berlin, BAFTA, Edinburgh, Montreal and other major short film prizes, Best v Best represents a selection of moving and brilliantly realised stories from today’s most promising international filmmaking talent - for many of whom the films represent directorial debuts. The films explore a range of thought-provoking and inspiring themes and narratives, from the effects of a religious war on children to the personal impact of institutional racism in America; from the undeniable bond that exists between family members to the intimate childhood moments that shape adulthood - each one managing to inspire, engage and provoke audiences in some way in its relatively short space of time. With each film boasting such major critical acclaim, Best v Best truly represents the best of the best of the year's shorts. The collection provides the ultimate viewing experience; not only for audiences who already enjoy short films, but also for those discovering them for the first time. This DVD has never been screened
Reviews and Other Info:
Films included: FAMILY PORTRAIT (USA) 28 mins Winner: Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film, Sundance Film Festival 2005 Director / Writer: Patricia Riggen Richard and Diana render their own family portrait as they recount their childhood memories and the challenges they have faced since Gordon Parks photographed their family in 1968 for Life magazine. WHO KILLED BROWN OWL (UK) 10 mins Winner: Best Short Film (joint winner), Edinburgh International Film Festival 2004 Directors / Writers: Christine Molloy & Joe Lawlor Inspired by classical paintings of village life and Agatha Christie whodunits, this spectacular 9 minute one shot film, is about a lazy Sunday afternoon down by the river that goes horribly wrong. Burnt sunbathers, beer-drinking kids, an abandoned baby, a rabbit in a boat, a bicycle accident - in Who Killed Brown Owl, the perfect English arcadia gives way to varying kinds of misfortune, disruption and violence. Filmed over the course of one afternoon, Who Killed Brown Owl, commissioned by Enfield Council, features a volunteer cast of almost 100 residents of the London Borough of Enfield. THE BANKER (UK) 13 mins Winner: Best Short Film, British Film & Television Academy Awards (BAFTAs) 2005 Writer / Director: Hattie Dalton (Exec producer Trudie Styler) The Banker is a short, black comedy about a quirky loner, who works in a sperm bank. He’s border-line obsessed with the nurse who works at the fertility clinic across town and goes to enormous, rather disturbing lengths to prove his love for her… It’s a little tale of unrequited love on a grand scale, starring Michael Sheen. SCHOOL OF LIFE (UK) 8 mins Winner: Best Short Film, British Independent Film Awards 2004 Director: Jake Polonsky This will be the most important lesson of your life. Maybe the only important lesson. MILK (UK) 10 mins Winner: Golden Bear Best Short Film, Berlin International Film Festival 2005 Writer / Director: Peter Mackie Burns Reluctant Jennifer must bathe her mischievous grandmother, played by Brenda Fricker. Once close, they are now virtually strangers. The enforced intimacy of the situation results in an awkwardness that they can neither deny not overcome until they begin to play together in the water. LITTLE TERRORIST (UK) 15 mins Winner: Grand Prize, Tehran International Short Film Festival 2004; 1st Prize, Montreal World Film Festival 2005; Oscar-nomination for Best Short Film (Live Action) 2005 Writer / Director / Producer: Ashvin Kumar Jamal, a 12 year old Muslim Pakistani mistakenly crosses the border between India and Pakistan, finding an unusual ally in a Hindu Brahmin, Bhola. Indian soldiers descend on Bhola's village searching for the 'terrorist' who crossed over. His niece Rani insists they can't let a Muslim into their Hindu home. With Bhola and Rani grappling with the consequences of harboring a Pakistani and their deep-set prejudice against Muslims, Jamal's only hope is the humanity shared by a people separated by artificial boundaries a long time ago. Little Terrorist is based on a true story: In early 2003 - a twelve year old Pakistani boy crossed the Indo Pak border by mistake. Indian Prime Minister Atal Bhihari Vajpaee, amidst PR fanfare, restored the boy to his family in Pakistan, kicking off the thaw in tensions between these two nuclear countries who came so close to war less than a year earlier. TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT (New Zealand) 11 mins Winner: Best Short Film, Berlin International Film Festival Panorama 2004; Oscar-nomination for Best Short Film (Live Action) 2005 Writer / Director: Taika Waititi Two Cars, One Night is a tale of first love. While waiting for their parents, two boys and a girl meet in the car-park of a rural pub. What at first seems to be a relationship based on rivalry soon develops into a close friendship. We learn that love can be found in the most unlikely of places. There currently are no reviews available
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