Wichita Public Library’s 38th annual Academy Award Short Film Festival starts this weekend
For the 38th year, the Wichita Public Library will host its popular Academy Award Short Film Festival Friday, which runs Saturday through March 9 at several locations in Wichita.
Each year, the library screens the nominated short films in the live action, animation and documentary short categories. It was one of the first institutions in the country to do so, starting in 1986, outside of Los Angeles and New York City.
To qualify as a short film for Academy Award consideration, films must be less than 40 minutes. Films are not rated and may not be suitable for all audiences. Admission is free to all screenings.
The Academy Awards will be televised March 10 on ABC. Jimmy Kimmel is again hosting. More information on the shorts is available at www.wichitalibrary.org/academyawards
THE SCHEDULE
Saturday, March 2: All-day screenings of all categories at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St., from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, March 3: Animated and live action categories at the Alford Branch Library, 3447 S. Meridian, from 1:15-4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, March 5: Animated and live action categories at the Advanced Learning Library from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 7: Documentaries at the Advanced Learning Library from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Friday, March 8: Documentaries at the Rockwell Branch Library, 5939 E. 9th St., from 1-5 p.m.
March 9: All-day screenings of all categories at the Advanced Learning Library from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
ANIMATED SHORTS NOMINEES
“Letter to a Pig” (17 min., Israel; Tal Kantor and Amit R. Gicelter) — A Holocaust survivor reads a letter he wrote to the pig who saved his life. A young schoolgirl hears his testimony in class and sinks into a twisted dream where she confronts questions of identity, collective trauma and the extremes of human nature.
“Ninety-Five Senses” (13 min., USA.; Jerusha Hess and Jared Hess) — An ode to the body’s five senses delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them.
“Our Uniform” (7 min., Iran; Yegane Moghaddam) — An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform.
“Pachyderme” (11 min., France; Stéphanie Clément and Marc Rius) — Every summer, a young girl stays with her grandparents in the countryside for a few days during the holidays. It will snow at the height of summer, and a monster is going to die.
“War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko” (11 min., U.S.A.; Dave Mullins and Brad Booker) — Set in an alternate World War I reality, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a joyful game of chess.
LIVE ACTION SHORTS NOMINEES
“The After” (18 min., U.K.; Misan Harriman and Nicky Bentham) — A grieving rideshare driver picks up a passenger who helps him confront the past.
“Invincible” (30 min., Canada; Vincent René-Lortie and Samuel Caron) — Inspired by a true story, this recounts the last 48 hours in the life of Marc-Antoine Bernier, a 14-year-old boy on a desperate quest for freedom.
“Knight of Fortune” (25 min., Denmark; Lasse Lyskjær Noer and Christian Norlyk) — A man has a chance encounter with a stranger who helps him open up about his grief.
“Red, White and Blue” (23 min., USA.; Nazrin Choudhury and Sara McFarlane) — A young mother from Arkansas is forced to travel across state lines in search of an urgent and necessary abortion.
“The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar” (37 min., USA; Wes Anderson and Steven Rales) — Chronicles a variety of stories, but the main one follows Henry Sugar, who is able to see through objects and predict the future with the help of a book he stole.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS NOMINEES
“The ABCs of Book Banning” (27 min., USA; Sheila Nevins and Trish Adlesic) — Follows the fight against book bans in America, specifically in Florida.
“The Barber of Little Rock” (35 min., USA; John Hoffman and Christine Turner) — The barbershop is the heart of the Black community, and in Little Rock, Arkansas, is now the starting place of a new community lending program.
“Island in Between” (20 min., Taiwan; S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien) — S. Leo Chiang reflects on his relationship with Taiwan, the United States and China from the islands of Kinmen, just a few miles from mainland China.
“The Last Repair Shop” (39 min., U.S.A.; Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers) — Tells the story of four unassuming heroes who ensure no student is deprived of the joy of music. It is also a reminder of how music can be the best medicine, stress reliever and even an escape from poverty.
“Nai Nai & Wai Po” (17 min., U.S.A.; Sean Wang and Sam Davis) — A personal love letter from director Sean Wang to his Nai Nai and Wai Po, a grandma super team that dances, stretches and farts their sorrows away.
Reach Rod Pocowatchit at rodrick@rawdzilla.com
