The 2018 Oscar Nominated Short Films ~ Live-Action & Animation
Cincinnati World Cinema at Memorial Hall
Join us for CWC's 17th annual Oscar Shorts... The only opportunity in the metro area to see all of the nominated shorts on the big screen at the same time and in the same place.
Welcome students / young filmmakers from NKU, Cincinnati State, Mother of Mercy and the College Film Festival.
~ SATURDAY MARCH 10 ~
Program A, Live Action, 4:00 & Program B, Animation, 7:00
~ SUNDAY MARCH 11 ~
Program B, Animation, 4:00 & Program A, Live Action, 7:00
Both the live-action and animated shorts this year offer excellent writing and execution, making for entertaining and memorable programs. With four dramas and one comedy, the live action nominees – many inspired by real events – bring us emotional presentation of timely issues.
With personal stories and varied techniques, the animated nominees epitomize diversity. Included are naughty frogs, the lessons we share with our children, a basketball hero, a mash-up of fairy tales a la Roald Dahl recounted by a street-wise wolf, and a Pixar kid conquering sadness.
☀ Help us welcome special guest
Beth David and her film "In A Heartbeat," a Student Academy Award winner and Oscar animation short list selection. Beth will talk with CWC audiences after Program B, on both Saturday and Sunday.
This event is dedicated to the memory of longtime performing and visual arts advocate Ken Schonberg.
EVENT DETAILS Dates, times, location, directions, parking, seating choices and seat map, ticket prices and how to purchase, food and beverage options, and more.
☀ TWO PROGRAMS: A (Live Action) and B (Animation), each day.
☀ DATES & TIMES: Saturday, March 10 – Program A, 4:00; Program B, 7:00
Sunday, March 11 – Program B, 4:00; Program A, 7:00
4:00 Screening: Venue opens at 3:00 (bar, social hour); theatre seating begins at 3:30.
7:00 Screening: Venue opens at 6:00 (bar, food, social hour); theatre seating begins at 6:30.
☀ LOCATION: Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St, Cincinnati 45202.
☀ ADA ACCESS: Individuals using walkers or wheelchairs should use the dedicated elevator entrance, on the right-hand side of the building (Northwest corner) when viewed from Elm St. Take the elevator to the first floor for will call, ticket purchase, restrooms and the ballroom bar area.
☀ DIRECTIONS & PARKING: 1000+ garage spaces within one block ‐ Washington Park Garage (across the street) and Town Center Garage (across Central Parkway behind Memorial Hall and Music Hall). Another 1,325 spaces in the Mercer and Gateway Garages (3-4 blocks from Memorial Hall). In addition, there are nearby surface lots and on-street parking for roughly 200 vehicles. Directional Map + Parking & Garage Info
☀ TICKETS: Click in the image to enlarge the seating chart →
• General Admission (festival seating): • Single tickets, orchestra and balcony, for all individual programs are $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
• Combo tickets, orchestra and balcony, for both programs in one day are $18 in advance, $23 at the door.
•
Reserved Boxes * SOLD OUT * Box seats span the back of the orchestra in Memorial Hall, not the far sides as in other venues. • Single tickets, orchestra boxes, for individual programs are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
• Combo tickets, orchestra boxes, for both programs A & B are $28 in advance, $33 at the door. All tickets available online and at (859) 957-FILM.
☀ SEATING COMFORT: Some patrons find the wooden seats to be unforgiving. We recommend bringing a cushion.
☀ FOOD & BEVERAGE: Memorial Hall will operate concessions in the ballroom on both days, including hot popcorn, beer and soft drinks. Coffee Emporium will provide food between screenings in the Memorial Hall ballroom.
• Coffee Emporium Cinema Menu
☀ QUESTIONS? Please
or call (859) 957 3456.Like this on Facebook – invite your friends!
~ PROGRAM A, LIVE ACTION ~
Sat, Mar 10 4:00 PM Sun, Mar 11 7:00 PM Total Run Time approximately 95 minutes.
Program sequence subject to change, all nominees will be shown.
The Silent Child OSCAR WINNER Chris Overton, 2017, UK, 20 min.
THE SILENT CHILD centers around a profoundly deaf five year old girl named Libby who is born into a middle class family and lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication.
This was a difficult film to make, as the lead actress is a deaf child who communicates only in British sign language. Director Chris Overton went all out to ensure the young actress was comfortable, even taking sign language classes and visiting Maisie Sly at her home in Swindon to build a relationship before the shoot. The touching and wonderous results are on the screen for all to see.
The Eleven O'ClockOscar Nominee Derin Seale, 2016, Australia, 13 min.
In this twisted and clever comedy, the delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other the session spirals out of control. In short, one of these men is a psychiatrist and the other is a patient who believes he's a psychiatrist – we have no idea which is which!
Watu Wote (All of Us)Oscar Nominee Katja Benrath, 2017, Germany/Kenya, 23 min.
Based on a true story... For almost a decade Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shabaab. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians was growing. Until one day, in a time of crisis, Muslim bus passengers showed that humanity and solidarity can prevail.
DeKalb ElementaryOscar Nominee Reed Van Dyk, 2017, USA, 20 min.
Framing his narrative with actual events – a 911 call placed during a school incident in Atlanta, Georgia – director Reed Van Dyk gives us a high-tension story of a compassionate, yet determined, teacher talking down a would-be shooter. This powerful film is anchored by the riveting performance of Tara Riggs as the teacher.
My Nephew EmmettOscar Nominee Kevin Wilson, Jr., 2017, USA, 29 min.
Based on a true story... In 1955, a Mississippi preacher tries to protect his 14-year-old nephew, Emmett Till from two racist killers out for blood.
~ PROGRAM B, ANIMATION ~
Sat, Mar 10 7:00 PM Sun, Mar 11 4:00 PM Total Run Time approximately 88 minutes.
Program content, time and sequence subject to change, all nominees will be shown.
Garden PartyOscar NomineeTrailer F. Babikian, V. Bayoux, V. Caire, T. Dufresne, G. Grapperon and L. Navarro, 2016, France, 7 min.
By way of insanely realistic animation we meet a crew of naughty frogs invading a seemingly deserted tropical mansion. The wicked humor driving the frogs' adventure gives way to an engrossing story below the surface, revealed bit-by-bit, leaving us wanting more!!
Well known for top-notch work, the team approach is the trademark of Supinfocom Arles and other famous French animation academies.
Revolting RhymesOscar Nominee Jakob Schuh and Jan Lachauer, 2016, UK/Germany/South Africa, 29 min.
REVOLTING RHYMES interweaves Roald Dahl's retellings of classic fairy tales with playful twists and surprising endings. Based on the book written by Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake, directors Schuh and Lachauer used strong female characters facing adversity to connect Snow White, Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs. The animation was created at Magic Light's Berlin studio and at Triggerfish Animation Studios in Cape Town.
If you've attended past CWC Oscar Shorts, you've seen the work of Schuh and Lachauer, THE GRUFFALO and ROOM ON THE BROOM, respectively. Magic Light's Michael Rose also produced the Oscar-nominated feature-length jazz animation CHICO & RITA, presented by CWC.
Negative SpaceOscar Nominee Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter, 2017, France, 6 min. An example of the stop-motion animation renaissance at its best, NEGATIVE SPACE seems to be about a father-son ritual of packing suitcases.
But, as with Garden Party, there's much beneath the surface here – how parents and children bond, create emotional connections and share life lessons, capped by a poignant ending. This one will touch your heart.
LOUOscar Nominee Dave Mullins, 2017, USA, 7 min.
A welcome relief from Pixar's traditional lead-in shorts for its feature animations, LOU identifies the sadness underlying the behavior of a playground bully, with an intervention from an usual source.
Dear Basketball OSCAR WINNER Glean Keane, 2017, USA, 5 min. Basketball great Kobe Bryant collaborated with visionary animator Glen Keane and legendary composer John Williams on an animated short film that explores what it means to achieve your dream, and then leave it behind. The animated film is an adaptation of Bryant's NBA retirement announcement after 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Narrated by Bryant, the film's hand-drawn animation and emotional score will touch fans of all ages with its universal message about love and loss.
A 38 year veteran of Walt Disney Feature Animation, Glen Keane trained under Walt Disney's 9 Old Men. Keane went on to create many beloved Disney characters, such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Beast, Tarzan, and Rapunzel. In 2012, he departed Disney to begin Glen Keane Productions as way to further his artistic explorations in animation, design and film.
Lost Property OfficeBonus Animation Daniel Agdag, 2017, Australia, 10 min. Ed is a thorough and practical custodian of a large city transit's Lost Property Office. In many ways he is as lost as the items he is tasked to look after. Alone, in the basement office, he is kept company by a tiny toy robot and an old gramophone, both of which he has lovingly restored after finding them lost and broken at train stations.
It's clear that Ed has been made redundant – it just seems nobody visits the Lost Property Office much any more. As the end of the day approaches and the sun begins to dip, so too does Ed's mood and demeanor. But rather than abandon his beloved Lost Property Office and all the forgotten relics he has cared for, he decides to re-appropriate them. What emerges from the darkened basement is wondrous and whimsical.
WeedsBonus AnimationTrailer Kevin Hudson, 2017, USA, 4 min.
An obvious yet touching metaphor about empathy and the struggle and distance someone may have to travel – against all odds – to find a better life. A dandelion, seeing its friends whither and die in one patch of dirt, strains to uproot itself and make its way to a nearby spot that has a sprinkler and sunshine. The film suggests that three feet can be a tremendous, perilous adventure, ending on a moment that mixes triumph and tragedy. What is a weed but a plant whose beauty and purpose has not yet been celebrated!
AchooBonus Animation Elise Carret, Lucas Boutrot, M. Creantor, P. Hubert, C. Lacroix, C. Perroux; 2017, France, 4 min.
An amusing story about a small Chinese dragon whose allergies and stuffy nose prevent him from breathing fire and creating floating, flaming art the way that the larger dragons do. Another example of the team approach from France, this time three women and three men at ESMA – École Supérieure des Métiers Artistiques.
In a HeartbeatBonus Animation Beth David, 2017, USA, 4 min.
A closeted boy runs the risk of being outed by his own heart after it pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams.
Filmmaker and Cincinnati native Beth David will be present for Q&A after the animation program.
POST-FILM DISCUSSION
Q & A with Filmmaker Beth David
Saturday, March 10, 7:00 Program B
Sunday, March 11, 4:00 Program B
In preparation for her visit to her hometown, Beth David sent along her bio:
"Hi, I'm Beth. I draw pictures and tell stories, usually at the same time.
"I grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio drawing comics and cartoons for the entertainment of myself and my four brothers. My love of drawing and telling stories, paired with a passion for film and television, led me to Ringling College of Art + Design where I studied computer animation and graduated in May 2017.
"There, I created the animated short film In a Heartbeat with Esteban Bravo, which we wrote, developed, and completed together.
"Now, I'm an animator at Blue Sky Animation Studios and continue to develop films, shorts, and stories with my film partner, Esteban."
IN A HEARTBEAT
Initially conceived as a boy - girl drama, Beth and Esteban elected to personalize and change the storyline to a boy - boy scenario. From inception in 2016 as a thesis project at the esteemed Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, through the film's release in April 2017, the creation process was arduous. Especially when knowing that a film without dialogue must rely upon excellence in animation, story flow and music that sets the moods and adds continuity.
A sign of the project's popularity and future success became evident during the fundraising process – based on positive response to their concept trailer they raised almost five times their Kickstarter goal. Which in turn allowed them to work closely with composer Arturo Cardelús enhancing the musical score, as well as ultimately entering a greater number of film festivals.
In a Heartbeat was one of about 1,600 entries in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Student Academy Awards Competition and won the Gold Medal in the Animation category. As a result, their work was included in the ten-film short list for this year's Oscar animated short film nominees. It was not selected for the final five, but CWC is delighted to screen it with the Oscar Shorts this year – we think you'll agree that it holds its own with the rest of the field.
The thoughtful and tender storytelling drew attention from the media and the public, with coverage by The New York Times
and People. It was featured in
Time as one of the top ten viral videos for 2017 and in seven months has garnered roughly 35 Million views on YouTube.
Through it all, Beth and Esteban seem humbled by the experience. Just as important as industry recognition and social media views, they say, is the positive feedback from the public and the conversations held with viewers at festivals. In a Heartbeat clearly resonates with millions of Americans – gay and straight, men and women, young and old – which, they believe, fosters an improving climate of acceptance and tolerance, making it all worthwhile for these promising young filmmakers.
The Silent Child 
The Eleven O'Clock 
Watu Wote (All of Us) 
DeKalb Elementary 
My Nephew Emmett 
Garden Party 
Revolting Rhymes 
Negative Space 
LOU 
Dear Basketball 
Lost Property Office 
Weeds 
Achoo 
In a Heartbeat 
In a Heartbeat was one of about 1,600 entries in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Student Academy Awards Competition and won the Gold Medal in the Animation category. As a result, their work was included in the ten-film short list for this year's Oscar animated short film nominees. It was not selected for the final five, but CWC is delighted to screen it with the Oscar Shorts this year – we think you'll agree that it holds its own with the rest of the field.