The 2019 Sundance Film Festival Short Films Tour is a theatrical program of seven excellent short films selected by Sundance curators from this year's Festival.

    In terms of your personal enjoyment, the films you will see this year are generally more down-to-earth than Sundance touring short films we presented in prior years. Worth noting, these films are more upbeat than the 2019 Oscar Shorts, which featured several films that while excellent, were stressful to watch. Perhaps it's a sign of the times or cycical variation. Regardless, it's quality that matters – the Sundance shorts are original, well executed and entertaining — a program that will appeal to your intellect, emotions and sense of humor.

    With fiction, documentary, and animation from around the world, the 2019 program offers a taste of Festival programming – from sharply written comedy and drama, to an edgy genre piece, to relatable family sagas. The global reach of contemporary cinema is conveyed by filmmakers with roots in Canada, Estonia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Sweden, Tunisia and the USA. Indeed, program origin and content echoes the diversity seen in the entire short films field at this year's festival. Of the seven films you will see at the Garfield, five are made by women and three by people of color.

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The 2019 Program
     
SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT DYING
Stefanie Abel Horowitz, USA, 13 min. Romantic Comedy

A dark, funny and intimate story about a woman discovering the importance of relationships. Fran thinks a lot about dying, but her dark thoughts are interrupted when a man in the office shows interest and they start dating.
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Winner, Best Drama, Aspen Shortsfest 2019
One of 10 Must-See Shorts at Sundance 2019 ~ Indiewire


FAST HORSE  
Alexandra Lazarowich, Canada 14 min. Documentary

An intimate verité view of the touching bond the people of the Siksika nation have with their horses, as they prepare for intense competition at the Calgary Stampede.
US Premiere at Sundance 2019
Winner, Short Film Special Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Winner, Best Non-Fiction Short, AMPIA (Alberta) 2019
Winner, Best Documentary Short, ImagineNative FF 2018
Nominee, Golden Gate Award, San Francisco IFF 2019

     

SUICIDE BY SUNLIGHT
Nikyatu Jusu, USA, 17 min. Drama

Valentina, a hard-working and compassionate oncology professional, is struggling to gain visitation privileges with her estranged daughters. But there's a complication — she is a day-walking black vampire protected from the sun by her melanin. A contemporary mix of mythology from West Africa and the Caribbean, set in New York City, the story transcends and exceeds horror genre limitations.
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Winner, Tribeca 'Through Her Lens' grant
One of 10 Must-See Shorts at Sundance 2019 ~ Indiewire


MUTEUM  
Aggie Pak-yee Lee, Hong Kong, Estonia, 4 min. Comedy

An endearing, humorous animation set in an art museum where a teacher leads a group of mischievous children on a tour. Her class bridles at keeping quiet, paying attention and staying in a group. And while the "cat's away" you might imagine what happens...
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Winner, Student Film Award, Thessaloniki Animation Festival 2018
Winner, Student Film Award, Fredrikstad Animation Festival 2018
Winner, various awards from eight other European festivals

CRUDE OIL  
Christopher Good, USA, 15 min. Comedy

Jenny breaks free from a controlling friendship after learning to recognize and assert her own talents and desires. She has an odd 'super power' – she can make people smell things! A fast-moving, funny, quirky film with interesting stylistic elements – rapid montages, special effects, slow-and-fast-motion, flashbacks – plus a healthy dose of humor and poignancy.
World Premiere at Sundance 2019
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Nominee, Shorts Jury Prize, Sarasota FF 2019
Nominee, Best Short Film, Omaha FF 2019


THE MINORS              
Robert Machoian, USA, 10 min. Documentary

Three kids want their grandfather to be in their band in this touching film that explores the idea that everyone should have a dream, no matter what age. A true verité view of family and real relationships – the director's three sons and father star in the film!
World Premiere at Sundance 2019
Winner, Short Film Special Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Nominee, Grand Jury Prize, Dallas IFF 2019


       

       
BROTHERHOOD
Meryam Joobeur, Canada / Tunisia / Qatar / Sweden, 25 min. Drama
Mohamed is a shepherd living in rural Tunisia with his wife and two sons and is deeply shaken when his oldest son Malik returns home after a long abscence with a mysterious new wife. This moving story explores patriarchal hegemony, generational perspectives and the impact of assumption and realization.
World Premiere at Toronto IFF 2018
Winner, Best Canadian Short Film, Toronto IFF 2018
US Premiere at Sundance 2019
Nominee, Short Film Grand Jury Prize, Sundance FF 2019
Winner, Jury Award, Aspen Shortsfest 2019
Winner, Best Direction, Aspen Shortsfest 2019
Winner, Best Short Film, Cairo IFF 2018
Winner, Best Short Film, Carthage FF 2018
Winner, Special Jury Mention, Clermont-Ferrand IFF 2019
Nominee, Gran Prix, Clermont-Ferrand IFF 2019
Winner, Gran Prix Short Film, Montréal FF 2019
Winner, Best Narrative Short, San Francisco FF 2019
Nominee, Best Short Film, Stockholm FF 2019
Nominee, Gran Prix, Tampere IFF 2019