Aspen Shortsfest

About Aspen Shortsfest

Aspen Shortsfest is widely recognized as one of the world's premiere showcases for short film and video.

Aspen Shortsfest offers an intimate international forum for emerging artists, established film professionals, and film-loving audiences.

Aspen Shortsfest is one of only a few festivals worldwide recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences® as able to send its top prizewinners to compete for the Oscars ®.

Aspen Shortsfest includes public screenings, tributes, retrospectives, panels, workshops, classroom visits, and other festivities, creating a unique celebration of short cinema and is attended by shorts fans, filmmakers, media journalists, buyers, bookers and other media professionals.

Aspen Shortsfest's International Competition welcomes entries from the U.S. and around the world, the 17th annual Aspen Shortsfest will select approximately sixty entries as competition finalists. An International Competition jury of prestigious film industry figures will award over $20,000 in cash plus other prizes in several categories including Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Other, Children/Family and Student.

Ticket Information

Advanced Tickets will go on sale starting mid-March.

Festival Highlights

Film lovers from all over have been enjoying Aspen Shortsfest, our celebration of short films and filmmaking for seventeen years now. Aspen Shortsfest is widely recognized as one of the premier short film and video festivals in North America. We're proud of how this event has grown into an international incubator for filmmaking talent. Shortsfest enjoys a reputation for the quality of our programs and the warmth of our audiences. We are embraced as an intimate and vibrant festival distinguished by the friendship of an international community of filmmakers who travel to join us. A reputation we have garnered, to a large extent, thanks to the support of our welcoming audiences.

Over the years, Shortsfest has received many enthusiastic reviews from guests, filmmakers and audience members alike. As Shortsfest 2005 jury member Alexander Payne (Sideways) said: "It's unfair to judge a festival this good. It was a constant Sophie's Choice. We were only unanimous in picking one winner - Aspen Shortsfest itself, a brilliantly conceived miracle of a festival."

We invite you to join us this coming April for another journey of discovery - from experiencing the great filmmakers of tomorrow, to sampling a rich variety of current productions from around the world. Aspen Shortsfest 2008 will offer more opportunities than ever to interact with visiting film guests. Question and Answer sessions following each evening's International Competition screenings allow you to learn more about the films and their makers. Now in its sixth year, our popular MasterWorks program offers a high-profile panel whose insights highlight the mentoring element Shortsfest is famous for industry-wide. Each year our public screenings include Special Programs (Planet Cinema, Director Spotlight) designed to provide a more in-depth look at the film artistry of a filmmaker, film genre or country. And of course you'll want to mix and mingle with all of our guests at the Meet the Filmmakers event. The Festival Lounge is Shortsfest's headquarters. Open to everyone, it's a great place to hang out with the artists, and catch a number of informal presentations. Join industry professionals for one of our informative Lounge Acts, or bring a brown bag lunch and enjoy a CineCafe roundtable. We hope you'll take advantage of all of these great opportunities that celebrate everything short.

Schedule of Films

Wednesday, April 2nd
Start Time	Running Time	Film	Location	Rate
9:00 am		Festival Lounge Lounge Activities	Mountain Chalet Aspen	Free
12:00 pm	75 min.	Special Presentation The Art of Watching Shorts	Isis Theater, Aspen	Free
5:30 pm	100 min.	Competition Program One	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12
8:15 pm	100 min.	Competition Program Two + Festival Launch Party	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12

Thursday, April 3rd
Start Time	Running Time	Film	Location	Rate
9:00 am		Festival Lounge Lounge Activities	Mountain Chalet Aspen	Free
12:00 pm	78 minutes	Special Presentation REAL SHORTS: Freeheld & La Corona (The Crown)	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$9
5:30 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program Three + Cinecafe	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12
8:45 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program Four	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12

Friday, April 4th
Start Time	Running Time	Film	Location	Rate
9:00 am		Festival Lounge Lounge Activities	Mountain Chalet Aspen	Free
5:30 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program Five + Cincafe	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12
5:30 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program A	Crystal Theatre, Carbondale	$12
8:00 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program A	Crystal Theatre, Carbondale	$12
9:00 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program Six	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12

Saturday, April 5th
Start Time	Running Time	Film	Location	Rate
9:00 am		Festival Lounge Lounge Activities	Mountain Chalet, Aspen	Free
2:30 pm	120 minutes	Director's Spotlight Master Class with Bill Plympton	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12
5:30 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program Seven + Cinecafe	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12
5:30 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program B	Crystal Theatre, Carbondale	$12
8:00 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program B	Crystal Theatre, Carbondale	$12
9:00 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program Eight	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12

Sunday, April 6th
Start Time	Running Time	Film	Location	Rate
9:00 am		Festival Lounge Lounge Activities	Mountain Chalet Aspen	Free
1:30 pm	75 minutes	Special Presentation Lights, Camera, Kids Family Screening	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12
3:30 pm	60 minutes	Special Presentation International Competition Awards Ceremony	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	Free
5:30 pm	100 minutes	British Shorts Panorama	Wheeler Opera House, Aspen	$12
7:00 pm	100 minutes	Competition Program C	Crystal Theatre, Carbondale	$12

Description of Events

Festival Lounge

Meet filmmakers and other festival guests, enjoy a cup of coffee, and sit in on a panel or roundtable discussion.

The Art of Watching Shorts

Interested in deepening your appreciation of short films? Join Aspen Film's Program Director to view and discuss shorts from this year's International Competition as an introduction to seeing movies with new eyes and ears. Free to Aspen Film members & their guests.

Real Shorts: Freeheld and La Corona (the crown)

Don't miss the chance to see this year's Academy Award®- honored short documentaries, nominee La Corona (The Crown) and winner Freeheld.

Master Class with Bill Plympton

Two-time Oscar® nominee and perennial Shortsfest favorite Bill Plympton is our Director's Spotlight honoree. Known for his twisted humor and keen observations of the absurd in everyday life, Plympton has directed over 30 films, both animated shorts (How to Kiss, 25 Ways to Quit Smoking, Guide Dog) and full-length features, animated and live action (I Married a Strange Person, Hair High).

This afternoon Plympton will discuss his career as a steadfastly independent animator. (He once turned down a seven-figure offer from Disney.) He'll screen some of his classic shorts and music videos, offer a sneak peek at his brand-new feature, Idiots and Angels, and premiere his latest canine opus, Hot Dog. Plus he'll give a live-drawing demonstration, illustrating how he creates his characters and takes them to the big screen. In an increasingly computer-generated world, Plympton remains true to his signature hand-drawn style, making "cartoons" for thinking people who like to laugh.

Lights, Camera, Kids

Burley!

A young tetra seeking attention is drawn to a gang of adventure-loving fish who've invented a new extreme sport. How to gain their acceptance? Hey, dude! (Dave Edwardz & Gareth Cowen, Australia, 9 min.)

Cats and Dogs

Meet the cats and dogs waiting to be adopted in our valley's animal shelters. Produced in Aspen Film's Latino Youth Filmmaking Project 2007, this film is sure to make you smile and dance in your seat. (Alyce Warnock, USA, 6 min.)

Cutlass

Parenthood can carry a hefty price tag. But when her daughter, Lacy, begs for an expensive gift, Robin discovers why giving in to your kids - once in a while – can be priceless. Virginia Madsen, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning star. (Kate Hudson, USA, 15 min.)

It's My Turn

In this valentine to movie magic, a group of children with limited pocket change but abundant ingenuity pool their pennies to enrich their imaginations. (Ismet Ergün, Turkey/ Germany, 11 min.)

Lucy's Shoes

Join Lucy on the adventures she takes each time she tries on a new pair of shoes. Produced in Aspen Film's Workshop in Directing Movies with Lewis Teague. (Hanna Kelly, USA, 4 min.)

Pika Pika, the Lightning Doodle Project

A whimsical dance of light and life through parks, train tracks, schools, and Tokyo Bay. (Takeshi Nagata & Kazue Monno, Japan, 4 min.)

Speed of Life

Meet Amy Purdy, a competitive snowboarder with an amazing story. Jeff Lester (The Last Real Cowboys SF00) returns with a surprising portrait of a young athlete whose spirit can only be called inspirational. (Jeff Lester, USA, 9 min.)

Their First Journey

A nervous new father takes his first excursion with his tenmonth-old daughter. He’s outfitted for all eventualities - or so he thinks. (Grégoire Sivan, France, 10 min.)

International Competition Awards Ceremony

And the winners are... You've seen the films and marveled at the wildly imaginative creativity of this year's filmmakers. Now it's time to find out which International Competition live action, animation, and documentary finalists take home the big prizes. Our esteemed juries will award more than $20,000 in cash and other awards. Come celebrate with us.

British Shorts Panorama

Britain's movie culture is no stranger to US screens. From the gritty social realism of Mike Leigh to the polish of Merchant-Ivory, from the slapstick comedy of Mr. Bean to the high drama of Henry V, British filmmakers revel in the world's variety and the power of movies to capture it. British short filmmakers are no exception. Shortsfest has invited Simona Marchegiani, film program manager with the British Council, to share a flavorful sampling of recent UK short fare, with comedies, dramas, documentary, and animation, including Oscar®-winning Six Shooter, the first film by acclaimed playwright Martin McDonagh, whose feature debut, In Bruges, opened in theaters this winter.

Programs

Program One Alagados It's My Turn John and Karen Just One Hour Left in Baghdad Plymptoon Sikumi (On the Ice)	Program Two Cherries Dog Elegy for the Elswick Envoy The Last American Ski Bum - Bumps Jackson Lost in Snow Pig and Shakespeare Plymptoon
Program Three One Bridge to the Next Plymptoon The Receiver Return to Labradoria Salvador Speed of Life Their First Journey	Program Four Aquarium Brackish Water The Champ Lapsus Not Available Today Scyzoryk Plymptoon The Second Line
Program Five AThe Beloved Ones Irinka and Sandrinka Plymptoon Silent Snow Taua (War Party) Unexpected Company? Waves The Wednesdays	Program Six Force 1 TD Lavatory Lovestory On the Line Pickin' and Trimmin' Pika Pika, The Lightning Doodle Project Plymtoon Spider
Program Seven Chief Come Back to Sudan Fish Peter and Ben Plymptoon Rattlesnakes Taxi?	Program Eight Burley! Cutlass Drowning River Have You Ever Heard About Vukovar? Last Time in Clerkenwell Life's Hard My Olympic Summer Plymptoon The Sound of People
Program A Chief It's My Turn Life's Hard Lost in Snow Not Available Today Plymptoon Salvador Taxi?	Program B On the Line Pig and Shakespeare Plymptoon Return to Labradoria Unexpected Company? The Wednesdays
Program C Aquarium Drowning River Have You Ever Heard About Vukovar John and Karen One Bridge to the Next Plymptoon

For a description of the films please visit the Aspen Filmfest website

Package Information

For all-inclusive event packages, including lodging, airfare, rental cars, or anything else you may require, call one of our local vacation experts at 888.649.5982, or e-mail info@stayaspensnowmass.com to have a customized quote sent to you via e-mail.