Short Take: "Confusion Through Sand" is a Unique, Mesmerizing Experience in Animation

"Confusion Through Sand" is one of the animated competition selections from the 2014 Atlanta Film Festival. The film comes from Ornana, a studio founded by native Georgians Danny Madden (director and animator of the film) and Benjamin Wiessner (producer). Previously, the guys produced "euphonia," which turned out to be one of ATLFF 2013's best films and the perfect example of just how daring and beautiful a true Georgia indie film can be.

Atlanta production "The Quantified Self" seeks funds through Kickstarter campaign

Ukraine-born, Brooklyn-based filmmaker Gleb Osatinski has played the world over with his rapturously beautiful and thoughtful films "Pisces of an Unconscious Mind" and "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy." We profiled the latter film in 2013, as it played the 37th annual Atlanta Film Festival.

At that festival, Gleb met Atlanta-based producer Imoto Harney (also well-known for her work at Doobious.org). When it came time to begin working on his next film, co-written with Danielle Ellen (who also has a degree in Neuroscience), Gleb and Imoto begin planning an Atlanta production for "The Quantified Self."

"The Quantified Self" tells the story of a family of self-trackers who devote themselves to ultimate health and success. But submitting to technology drastically alters the family's relationships, forcing them to put more faith in data than in themselves.

Short Take: "Blood of Man" - Atlanta Film Festival review

Lesley Warren and Cooper Guy star in "Blood of Man"

Right from the film's first frame, as an angry mother washes her son's mouth out with soap, I identified with "Blood of Man." Writer-director-producer Ben Watts' film takes place in rural Georgia in the late 1960's—a different world than my suburban Atlanta upbringing in the 1980's-90's, but the same ideals regarding the power of prayer, decency and moral obligation still ring true.

The late 60's will look different depending on where you focus your gaze. Look to New York and you would find the slick, modern mood of "Mad Men." Look to Atlanta and you would see a complex mosaic of race, class and power struggle amidst the Civil Rights movement. Look to the countryside and you'll find a slow pace and a simple life, but also the beginnings of a disenchantment brought on by the world seemingly getting smaller and meaner. "Blood of Man" captures that same rural sentiment with elegance. Watts shot the film in his hometown of LaGrange.

Short Take: "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy" - Atlanta Film Festival review

Grayson Sides stars in "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy"

Although feature films garner most of the attention here, I appreciate a well-made short film equally as much. The Atlanta Film Festival always manages to impress audiences with its short film lineup each year and 2013 looks to be no exception. One early standout is Gleb Osatinski's "The House at the Edge of the Galaxy," which will have its world premiere here in Atlanta next week.

Short Take: RIFF roundup

From top: "Life Through a Lens," "Shoot the Moon," "Douglas," "HowardCantour.com"

The two dozen shorts I saw at the Rome International Film Festival was a mixed bag. Overall, the quality was pretty good. Many of the blocks were grouped together very appropriately, and the shorts attached to features were usually there for a reason, whether it was for quality or thematic purposes. These are hardly astute, scientific observations; just thoughts on what I saw.


"The Winking Boy" - A clever Australian short. Funny, well cast. Homemade feel to it, but with skill.

"Waking Up" - One of the most affecting shorts at RIFF. A lively film about death. Moving, smooth flow. Great music by Gareth Coker.

"In Our Hands" - Very professionally shot. Dense atmosphere, thick like smoke in a tunnel. Time-lapse shots of train aren't in keeping with other aesthetics, but aren't prominent enough to detract. Good score by Sigur Rós.

"Ready to Talk" - Light where it needs to be, heavy where it needs to be. Two great leads in Andres Faucher and Tamara Arias.

"Douglas" - Filmmaker Brandon Vedder does a great job conveying the frantic anxiety of our central character and ultimately his rise above it. Andrew Makishima is a giant Joseph Gordon-Levitt (which is awesome). Received the most whispers out of any short I was in the audience for.

Short Take: "Life Through a Lens" - the best short from the Rome International Film Festival

I was able to screen two dozen shorts at the Rome International Film Festival earlier this month. While  "Douglas," "HowardCantour.com," "In Our Hands," "Shoot the Moon" and "A Story of Our Hero (to 1910)" get special shout outs, the honor of best short film at RIFF goes to Ellenor Argyropoulos' "Life Through a Lens."

Short Take: "4:00 AM" - the best short from the Atlanta Film Festival

Over the course of the 10-day Atlanta Film Festival, I saw over a dozen short films. The entire collection was impressive; some displayed skill and polish, some showcased a lot of ingenuity. A few showcased both. "A Chjàna (The Plain)," "Narcocorrido" and "4:00 AM" were the short films I found to be exceptional.

One film in particular kept playing over in my mind long after seeing it, Chris Tsambis' "4:00 AM." This was the world premiere for the film, and apparently, it is still so fresh that it is yet to be posted on IMDB. The film relies on some tricky and exciting editing to tell the story of a late night (early morning, rather) radio DJ who receives a bizarre phone call from a listener. I don't want to tell you much more about it, but I am dying for more people to see this.

Maybe it will be posted online? Maybe it will surface at more festivals and I can alert you about where to see it? Maybe I'll track down Mr. Tsambis to pick his brain on his creation? We'll see. I just wanted to get the word out. Thanks Doobious.org.