Austin Film Festival is excited to announce the full list of short films slated for this year’s 20th Anniversary Festival!
9 METER (Denmark, 17 min)
Writer/Director: Anders Walter
16-year-old Daniel believes breaking his long jump records is keeping his dying mother alive. He sets out to make the most dangerous jump of his life.
AB- (USA, 10 min)
Writer/Director: Daniel Klein
Stuck and injured on a remote road in the dead of winter, emergency medical assistance can be there in minutes … if you last that long.
ABANDONED (USA, 4 min)
Writers/Directors: Rainer Magik and Holle Singer
Haunted by memory, a romantic grapples for meaning after the unexplained disappearance of his love.
ANNIVERSARIO (USA, 12 min)
Writer/Director: Jeffrey Dechausse
Carmela visits her two favorite hairdressers in preparation for an evening out on her 45th wedding anniversary, and becomes the most important makeover of their lives.
BARBIE BOY (USA, 13 min)
Writers: Mickey Corporon and Nick Corporon
Director: Nick Corporon
A boy re-considers his favorite toy after his father tells him he’s different.
BEAUTY MARK (Canada, 14 min)
Writer/Director: Mark Ratzlaff
An 8-year-old pageant star looking to get out of the business faces her biggest obstacle, her mother.
THE BICYCLE (USA, 7 min)
Writers/Directors: Adam Neustadter and Chris McCoy
An old, abandoned bicycle learns how to love again.
BIRD DOGGIN’! (USA, 2 min)
Writer/Director: Bram Cayne
Music meets mayhem when a pet dog and a stray bird get into a fight amongst an unsuspecting struggling songwriter’s musical instruments.
BOOP BEEP (USA, 5 min)
Writer/Director: Murphy Gilson
A handcrafted love story about a homemade cardboard box robot and the girlbot he loves.
BLESSING IN DIGUISE (USA, 10 min)
Writer: Harris Danow
Director: Eric Kissack
Katie gets dumped; also, she has herpes. But her friends convince her to get back out there and find her special match.
BLINDE LIEFDE (BLIND LOVE) (Netherlands, 30 min)
Writer/Director: Jenny van den Broeke
How do you find the love of your life when you cannot see? Three blind teenagers share their love lives as well as their ideas of what love should be like.
BUG PEOPLE (USA, 15 min)
Director: Paul Meyers
A documentarian investigates our culture’s discomfort with all things many-legged.
CAUGHT (USA, 20 min)
Writers: Bruce X. Li and Michael Piel
Director: Burce X. Li
It is 2001. Gunn, a student experienced in trading illegal contrabands, acts as a liaison between traders. Now he’s got to pull one last job to win the girl he loves.
CAUTIONARY TAIL, A (USA, 14 min)
Writer: Erica Harrison
Director: Simon Rippingale
A little girl is born with a tail that expresses her emotions. As a child, her parents celebrate their her uniqueness until the young woman faces pressure to fit in, and must choose between conformity and self-expression.
CHASSEUR (USA, 15 min)
Writer/Director: Christopher Soren Kelly
Sometime in the first half of the twentieth century, somewhere on the crossroads of the Louisiana Bayou, the half-mad Louis Chasseur, hunts the Devil.
CONVERSATION ABOUT CHEATING WITH MY TIME TRAVELING FUTURE SELF, A (USA, 9 min)
Writer/Director: Pornsak Pichetshote
One man heads travels back in time to tell himself to cheat on his girlfriend.
COOTIE CONTAGION(USA, 8 min)
Writer/Director: Josh Smooha
Matt likes Becca. Cootieologist Connor has threatened to him quarantine him if necessary. Becca’s birthday party is off limits… Or we’re all doomed!
COWTOWN KEEYLOCKO (TEXAS, 11 min)
Director: Ira Chute
On the edge of the desert, a man has built his own western town. A sign there reads “Population 5 – most of the time.”
CRIME OF THE CENTURY (Texas, 7 min)
Writer/Director: Andy Young
Two cops try to uncover the details of huge case from uncooperative clown.
THE DALLIANCE (Texas, 8 min)
Writer/Director: Eduardo A. Garcia
Death, incarnated as a beautiful young woman, flirts with a dying man in a hospital.
DECEMBER 25 (Australia, 1 min)
Writer/Director: Wendy Dent
A Christmas note forces a writer to consider their words carefully.
DELICACY (USA, 11 min)
Writers: Frieda Luk and Jason Mann
Director: Jason Mann
A culinary connoisseur and his loyal chef venture into danger for a rare treat.
DETENTION (TEXAS, 4 min)
Writer/Director: Chad Mathews
A study hall mishap prove if the crime is a funny one, it’s well worth serving that dreaded after school detention.
DIE LETZTE GRENZE (THE LAST BORDER) (Germany, 21 min)
Writer/Director: Daniel Butterworth
A border guard desperately tries to stop Europe from opening its borders and jeopardizing his secret love.
DOGONAUTS : ENEMY LINE (USA, 17 min)
Writers/Directors: Justin Rasch and Shel Rasch
In a galaxy far, far away, a Dogonaut and a Space Flea shoot each other down only to awake side by side, marooned on an alien desert planet..
DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK (USA, 7 min)
Writer/Director: Ramin Serry
A Manhattan bachelor dies and crosses over to ‘the other side,’ where he tries to convince an angel to put him back into his body so he can have a one night-stand.
DUST (UK, 8 min)
Writers/Directors: Ben Ockrent, Jake Russell
Todd (Alan Rickman) follows a young girl and her mother home from school, waiting until nightfall to take what he’s come for.
END OF THE BEGINNING (USA, 18 min)
Writer/Director: Richard Marshall
Sookie, 15, tough, gun toting is on the road with her sick father after surviving a near future apocalyptic event. They take cover in an abandoned diner where they meet the only local survivor.
EPILOGUE (USA, 16 min)
Writer/Director: Dylan Allen
At the end of his greatest adventure, Skillman has vanquished his nemesis, recovered the priceless artifact and saved his latest love from certain doom.
EQUACAO DE AMOR, A (The Equation Of Love) (Brazil, 20 min)
Writer/Director: Fábio Allon
In the midst of final exams, Ian, can only think of dating Nina. Will he solve his problem or leave this page of his life blank?
EUTANAS S.A. (Spain, 10 min)
Writer/Director: Victor Nores
For those who need or want to put a legitimately spectacular end to their lives, just select your method of payment.
THE EXIT ROOM (USA, 10 min)
Writer/Director: Todd Wiseman Jr.
An imprisoned journalist (Christopher Abbot) makes a desperate escape attempt in order to return to his wife and new-born.
FIREFLY AND THE COFFEE MACHINE (USA, 7 min)
Writer/Director: John Michael Wilyat
A forgotten robo-coffee-maker lives in the shadow of his inventor’s latest creation.
FIRST TIME PHONE SEX (USA, 7 min)
Writer: James Zimmerman
Director: Philip Donohue
A newlywed suburban couple try to spice up their time apart.
FLIGHTS OF FANCY (Animated Shorts) (TRT: 88 min)
Fool’s Day (USA, 19 min)
Writers: Cody Blue Snider and Shane Snider
Director: Cody Blue Snider
The 4th grade class pulls an innocent, April Fool’s prank on their teacher… with disastrous results.
FORMOSA, TX (Texas, 15 min)
Writer/Director: Roy Rutngamlug
A first generation Asian-American helping his mother run a diner in a small outpost town sees escape in the arrival of a broken down bus full of hungry passengers.
FOUR BROTHERS. OR THREE. WAIT… THREE. (USA, 5 min)
Writer/Director: Philip Buiser
Three brothers have to figure out what to do with their newly undead brother before their parents wake up.
FRAME OF MIND (USA, 14 min)
Writers: Brett Cramer and Evan Littman
Director: Brett Cramer
In order to catch a serial killer, investigators use cutting-edge technology to explore and draw out a witness’ repressed memories.
FUTURE SELF(USA, 17 min)
Writer/Director: Ezra Godden
A sharp, ambitious boy is deeply underwhelmed when he meets a carefree, bizarre looking weirdo claiming to be his future self.
THE GOLDFISH (USA 11 min)
Writer/Director: Mathieu Young
A young man (Jason Ritter) making a documentary asking people ‘If you had a magic goldfish that granted you three wishes, what of this goldfish would you wish’ finds an elderly man who prefers not to answer.
GRANDMA’S NOT A TOASTER (USA, 9 min)
Writer: Shawn Christensen
Director: Andrew Napier
A whiskey-guzzling-mother-to-be tries to persuade her neurotic brother to help her steal their ailing Grandmother’s fortune.
THE GUIDE (USA, 40 min)
Director: Jessica Yu
Raised near Gorongosa National Park, Tonga Torcida dreams of becoming a tour guide. But when he meets famed biologist E.O. Wilson, he envisions a bigger role for himself in keeping the park alive. A coming-of-age tale set against the restoration of a war-torn national park in Mozambique.
HARBINGER (Texas, 13 min)
Writer/Director: MacGregor Greenlee
Charlie, a deliver for the Bad News Bearers, finds his task more complicated when an acquaintance tags along.
HONEYMOON SUITE (China, 13 min)
Writers: Tom Toro and Zao Wang
Director: Zao Wang
Service is the top priority at this posh boutique hotel, even when a mysterious American guest wreaks havoc to his specially prepared room.
HOW TO SHARPEN PENCILS (USA, 10 min)
Director: Kenneth Price
A practical and theoretical treatise on the artisanal craft of sharpening a pencil by hand. Seriously. This is real.
THE HUSTLE (Australia, 7 min)
Writer/Director: Topher Field
Fancy a game of pool? The stakes are high and your wallet keeps the score.
I’M THE ONE (Australia, 14 min)
Writer/Director: Paola Morabito
16-year-old Wolfe rejects his father’s invitation for a boy’s night out to confront his feelings for his dad’s girlfriend.
JACOB FIGHTS GIANTS (Australia, 15 min)
Writer: Lucas Miller
Director: Janelle Rayner
Forced to move to the country, Stephanie gets caught in annoying neighbor Jacob’s ever-ending battle against the Giants that live in the forest.
JE T’AIME (Finland, 10 min)
Writers/Directors: Joel Rahkonen and Sonia Stenius
About to move to London with his girlfriend Johannes decides another journey is more pressing.
JODY’S BRA (USA, 17 min)
Writer/Director: Janine Sides
When the popular girls at summer camp steal Jody’s over-sized bra, her adventurous recovery mission challenges old friendships and forges new alliances.
KAREN RETURNS SOMETHING TO SCOTT (USA, 5 min)
Writers: Andrew Bowler and Cameron Wilder
Director: John Salcido
A nervous groom awaits an unlikely guest to his wedding – his ex.
KING OF SIZE, THE (USA, 18 min)
Director: Peter Dowd
A 40-year old bodybuilder completes his seventeen-year, injury-plagued quest to reclaim his title as ‘Mr. New York.’
LA NUIT DE L’OURS (THE NIGHT OF THE BEAR) (Switzerland, 22 min)
Writers/Directors: Fred Guillaume and Samuel Gillaume
In a city of disconcerting nature, homeless animals search for shelter for the night.
THE LANDING (Australia, 18 min)
Writers: Jade van der Lei and Josh Tanner
Director: Josh Tanner
A man returns to the farm of his childhood on a desperate mission: unearth the horrifying truth of what landed there in the summer of 1960.
LIFT (USA, 15 min)
Writers: Brett Swanson and Kieran Valla
Director: Kieran Valla
A dutiful teenage son helps his mother support the family by shoplifting, until she wants to increase the role of his ten-year-old brother.
LOVESEAT (USA, 15 min)
Writer/Director: Matthew Richmond
Joe (Matt Jones, Breaking Bad), reluctant to part with his treasured sofa, puts his relationship in danger, until he receives a bit of well-couched advice.
LUMIN (USA, 5 min)
Writer/Director: Grace Kim
A young boy find himself pursued by monsters after one thing: his light.
MIA (Belgium/Netherlands, 9 min)
Writers: Bert Vandecastelle and Wouter Bongaerts
Director: Wouter Bongaerts
7-year-old Mia tries to liberate her overworked mother from the clutches of an overpopulated metropolis.
MISS TODD (USA, 13 min)
Writers: Frances Poletti and Kristina Yee
Director: Kristina Yee
In 1910 New York, a woman had a dream to fly, but found more than gravity holding her down. In this musical, Miss Todd’s plight and adventure soar out of her forgotten presence in aviation history.
MOMMY (Denmark, 12 min)
Writer/Director: René Frelle Petersen
Emma would rather go to the movies with her friends then take care of her big brother Lucas who has cerebral palsy and needs constant care.
MR. INVISIBLE (UK, 14 min)
Writer: Richard Sainsbury
Director: Greg Ash
A lonely disregarded old man seems invisible to the world around him.
MY SUPER VALENTINE (TEXAS, 8 min)
Writer/Director: Jing Yang
7-year old Ashley stand up to the class bully in order to save her uninterested crush in an art class on Valentine’s Day.
NOBODY (TEXAS, 4 min)
Writer: John Merriman
Directors: Kerri Lendo and John Merriman
A man uses a dating website and finds his perfect match, shame about the body.
OPEN SPACES (USA, 15 min)
Writer/Director: Nick Rafter
Norman, a shy Arab American living in New York City, finds his life transformed by Kate, his elderly neighbor who hasn’t left her apartment since 9/11. But neighborhood watchdog Ed has other ideas about what Norman might be up to.
OUVERTURE (USA, 5 min)
Writer/Director: Bracey Smith
For one little girl in soviet controlled Bulgaria, potential manifests itself as music that pours from her heart.
PALIMPSEST (USA, 17 min)
Writers: Ben Nabors and Michael Tyburski
Director: Michael Tyburski
A successful house tuner provides clients a unique form of living space therapy.
PAULIE (USA, 11 min)
Writer: David Lee
Director: Andrew Nackman
A child prodigy who goes on a quest to take down the school bully after the bully beats him in the big essay contest.
PAST THEIR PRIME (USA, 23 min)
Director: Becca Friedman
A look at the world of geriatric zoo animal care, through Colo–the oldest living gorilla in captivity–on her 55th birthday.
PEARL WAS HERE (USA, 9 min)
Writer/Director: Kate Marks
A little girl finds solace in a sea of stuffed animals.
PENNY DREADFUL (USA, 18 min)
Writer/Director: Shane Atkinson
A novice crook winds up kidnapping a little girl who may not be worth the trouble or the ransom.
PEPE & LUCAS (USA, 8 min)
Writer: Mo Davoudian
Directors: Mo Davudian and Wim Bien
A hi-tech fight waged between an angry clown and an innocent street mime hopes to end a centuries old street entertainer rivalry.
PHOTOBOMB (TEXAS, 7 min)
Writer/Director: Andrew Olson
A photographer on vacation takes drastic measures to stop someone from ruining all his pictures.
Pistachio Milk (USA, 9 min)
Writer/Director: Avram Dodson
On the streets of Dhaka, young urchin courts a beautiful social striver using only his wits and a bottle of pistachio milk.
PLAYERS (USA, 9 min)
Writers: Aaron Friedland and Jonathan David
Director: Jonathan David
A charming ladies-man with paper-thin ethics finds himself a match out of tougher than card stock.
THE POSSIBILITIES (USA, 5 min)
Writer/Director: Alexander Poe
A New York couple goes on an odyssey to find the perfect brunch.
PULLING TEETH (USA, 16 min)
Directors: Jennifer Suwak and Steve Abruzzese
Equestrian Dentist, John Baker’s communication with horses and his ability to bond with them make him very unique in his field of work.
Puzzled (UK, 8 min)
Writer/Director: Oliver Kember
1980. Oscar’s only chance at survival in the playground is to learn how to solve the Rubik’s Cube before anyone else can.
RANGE JUNKIES (USA, 18 min)
Writer/Director: Lucas Mireles
A guy. A girl. A lost gun. An employee of the month.
RECORD (USA, 16 min)
Writer/Director: David Lyons
A father in mourning struggles to connect with his blind daughter, but finds the answer amidst her collection of memories.
REHEARSAL (USA, 5 min)
Writer/Director: Jacqueline Christy
The Dean of the Coney Island Sideshow struggles to complete his new act, The One Minute Magic Act, in one minute.
RESTITUTION (USA, 13 min)
Writer/Director: Justin Miller
Still recovering from the recent loss of a child, Preston discovers his wife has cloned their son without his consent.
REZA HASSANI GOEST TO THE MALL (USA, 10 min)
Writer/Director: Sara Zandieh
A recent immigrant makes a pilgrimage to the American cultural mecca.
THE RIDER AND THE STORM (USA, 16 min)
Directors: David Darg and Bryn Mooser
A New York iron worker escapes the grind of the city through surfing, until Superstorm Sandy destroys his home and his board.
ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, THE (USA, 14 min)
Writers: Mark Davidson and Ryan Spindell
Director: Ryan Spindell
A reluctant young housewife suspects that the friendly neighborhood dentist is hiding a horrible secret, or is it just the anesthesia at work?
RUNNING SKINNY (USA, 11 min)
Writer: Jacob Beyer
Director: Chris Wagner
Kicked out of their alcoholic boss’ work party for bringing beer, Chase and Kelby think their chance of meeting the transfer girls is shot.
SLEEPLESS CITIES (Texas, 14 min)
Writer: Zach Endres
Director: Steven Hendrix
A young girl seeks revenge for the murder of her father in the midst of an ongoing bloodbath between warring cities.
SMALL PARANIOD MACHINES (Texas, 16 min)
Writer/Director: Alvaro Torres
When Oliver, a twelve-year-old boy, takes his first steps as a wordsmith, his father, has an interesting way of encouraging him.
SOUNDS PERFECT (New Zealand, 7 min)
Writer: Greg Stubbings
Directors: Allen George and Greg Stubbings
Armed with cucumbers and mayonnaise, Dave Dobson is a self proclaimed ‘audio enhancement engineer’ in the adult film industry.
SPECIAL MOMENTS BY OKSANA (USA, 14 min)
Writer/Director: Sarah Jean Kruchowski
Joan finds herself in a hairy situation as she preps for a big date.
STRANGEL- THE ANGEL OF THE ODD (Canada/Germany, 20 min)
Writers: Andrea von Braun, Mattio Martinez, and Urs-Daniel Douwes
Director: Daniel von Braun
Based on an Edgar Allan Poe story, a true bachelor and gentleman denies the existence of coincidences and great misfortunes until one night, fate – in the form of truly strange angel, sends him on an odd path of reformation.
TALENT SHOW (UK, 6 min)
Writer: Matthew Baskott
Director: Claire Winter
Fay Adams, one time dancing star, now runs the annual talent show at the local community church hall. This year is not going according to her rigorous regime.
TELMO & MARTINA (Spain, 4 min)
Writer/Director: Kike Narcea
In spite of adversity, Telmo and Martina love each other a lot.
THIS IS IT (USA, 3 min)
Writer/Director: Alexander Engel
Two guys move into their first apartment. Stuff happens. It gets real… real quick.
TOME OF THE UNKNOWN (USA, 9 min)
Writer/Director: Patrick McHale
Wirt (Elijah Wood) and Gregory get tired of walking so they borrow a car from a romantic songster made of vegetables.
UMBRELLACORN (USA, 4 min)
Writers: Andy Rheingold, Mike De Seve, and Stephen P. Neary
Director: Stephen P. Neary
In a land of cupcakes and donuts, a lovestruck unicorn has an umbrella for a horn.
UN MONDE MEILLEUR (A BETTER WORLD) (Belgium, 24 min)
Writer/Director: Sacha Feiner
A dedicated worker at the Denunciation Ministry finds himself unemployed following the collapse the pitiless dictatorship.
THE WELL (USA, 12 min)
Writer/Director: Christian Baker
A young soldier stationed alone on the US/Mexican border during the Civil War fights his own demons.
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT (USA, 7 min)
Writer: Marin Miller
Director: Wes Edwards
The dialogue’s fast, the gal’s faster, and the relationship progresses at ludicrous speed in this black-and-white, 1940’s-inspired musical romp.
WIN OR LOSE (USA, 16 min)
Director: Daniel Koehler
When a discriminatory amendment threatens the legitimacy of non-traditional families in North Carolina, a photographer takes up his camera to fight for equality.
WINGS (USA, 8 min)
Writer/Director: José Villalobos
Christopher prepares himself for one of the most important concerts of his career. Many hours of hard work are required to get everything ready for a show.
WOODY (Australia, 10 min)
Writer/Director: Stuart Brown
A wooden character who wants to play piano but only has paddles for hands.
WOMAN IN THE DRESS, THE (USA, 28 min)
Writer/Director: Henry Pincus
A beautiful, mysterious woman enters the tailor shop of young Wei Li. Compelled to follow her, he discovers a world where love and money collide, and a tear in a dress may be a tear in a relationship.
YOU MISSED SONJA (Germany, 20 min)
Writer: Carola M. Lowitz
Director: Félix Koch
From a Stephen King story. A voyeuristic author of thriller-novels witnesses a crime at a lonely gas station. Deciding to help, he gets a full service fill of horror.
YOUNG(ISH) (USA, 7 min)
Writer/Director: Renée Felice Smith
During an afternoon at the beach, an elderly couple transports back to their childhood through the help of a wooden, playground pirate ship.
ZZZZZZZ (USA, 5 min)
Writer/Director: Tarik Karam
A couple in love sleepwalks through their relationship.
For the lineup of 2013 Feature Films, click here.