Saturday 25 February 2017 – 10:15
49 mins
Certificate: DFF 15
Venue: Dorking Halls
The Dorking Film Festival asked filmmakers in Surrey, the South-East and the rest of the UK to send us their animated short films. Here are twelve of the best animations. We present the problems with sending email to Big Foot, coping with lycanthropes in Croydon, one child’s epic struggle against dyslexia as imagined as a mountainous pile of book and more. A prize will be awarded to the best film in this group at the first prize-giving session at 14:15.
Animated Short Films programme
Boats on the Grassland
Director: Noriko Ishibe, UK 2016, 4 mins.
From the broken bones of an old boat a traveller struggles to explore the world. Director Noriko Ishibe uses her hand-drawn style to share her culture shock at moving from Japan to the UK for the first time in a bold emblemic vision.
UCA Farnham
Cepholonoclops
Director: Richard Mirosevic-Sorgo, UK 2016, 2 mins.
A mannequin awakes to discover its has no head. Its search takes in the limits of a decidedly small world. Richard Mirosevic-Sorgo’s playful stop-motion film recalls the work of Barry Purves and Ray Harryhausen in this very human response to a blind predicament.
UCA Farnham
City Lights
Director: Jess Lester, UK 2016, 3 mins.
The city is alive. Take a journey through Central London at night set to a poem by Savannah Brown and music by Riley Wong.
UCA Farnham
Dinosaurs in the Playground
Director: Stuart Powers, UK 2016, 4 mins.
If you’ve ever wondered how to email sasquatch then this film is for you. Primary school children ponder topics from the depths of the sea to the highest mountain peaks as the animation brings to life the imagination and sheer joy of youth.
UCA Farnham
I am Dyslexic
Directors: Mads Johan Øgaard & Katie Noel Wyman, UK 2016, 6 mins.
One child’s struggle with dyslexia assumes gigantic physical proportions as his classroom transforms into a mountain of threatening books. This deeply personal film by Norwegian and British directors bristles with imagination and above all hope.
Masso Awno
Director: Duncan Senkumba, UK 2016, 3 mins.
Join director Duncan Senkumba for a journey through the beauty and chaos of Kampala city taxi park. Black ink and stark primary colours invade the screen in this vision of modern Uganda.
UCA Farnham
Miasma
Directors: Grace Evetts, UK 2016, 3 mins.
A beasts haunts the forest wilting all around it. A hunter gives chase to end this corruption. Mythic fantasy given form in a style somewhere between Children’s book illustrator Oliver Jeffers and renowned Japanese animators Studio Ghibli.
UCA Farnham
Oliver: Mega Wolf
Director: Molly Brown, UK 2016, 8 mins.
Werewolves are among us… and they live in Croydon! Molly Brown invites us into the world of Oliver, a newly turned lycanthrope, adapting to life and love in London’s favourite borough.
One Last Dance
Director: Will Rowson, UK 2016,
Told from a daughters perspective, seen through her fathers eyes. One Last Dance explores how it felt watching her father slowly forget everything he knew.
UCA Farnham
Pasiphae and the Cretan Bull
Director: Andrew Whittle, UK 2016, 5 mins.
Discover the origin of the Minotaur in this ribald retelling of the Ancient Greek myth of Pasiphae, wife of Minos, and her boundary crossing love. The classics, cartoons and Carry On-humour mate in this demented romp.
UCA Farnham
Snakula
Director: Sam Shaw, UK 2016, 1 min.
A peckish vampire goes out for lunch. Self-confessed doodler San Shaw says he mainly draws ducks and spooky things but a sanguine sense of humour is also on display here.
The Last King of Granada
Director: Pepe Gomez, UK 2016, 5 mins.
Boabdil, the Moorish king of Granada faces the decision of his life as his city is besieged by his Christian enemies. Should he abandon the Alhambra to protect his citizens or fight to defend his heritage? Spanish director Pepe Gomez examines a pivotal moment in his hometown’s history.
UCA Farnham
With thanks to UCA Farnham.
Image from I Am Dyslexic showing in Animated Short Films.
