2019

Cole Swany: “Laya”

This 3D animated short film is a story of self-discovery, where a lifeless doll is set to motion by ‘Laya’ translated as Tempo/Rhythm, that is inherent in everything that we perceive in this universe. The doll’s design was inspired by the traditional Indian bobble head dolls called Thanjavur Bommai. Indian Classical dance movements (Bharathanatyam) and Hindustani music accompany the doll’s journey. Students from the Game Design program at The Media school, Indiana University Bloomington worked on creating this artistic piece.

Kasey Poracky: “Shift”

Boy studies in the library, alienated and uninspired to meet his responsibilities. Terpsichore, swaying with abandon across the aisle, spots him and whisks him away to a dreamscape. Boy finds himself sitting at a configuration of desks in which students peck away at their typewriters in Orwellian fashion. Suddenly, Terpsichore returns to him to dance a romantic pas de deux. When it ends, she sends him back to the library. He contemplates his “shift” in perspective with a knowing smile.

Andrew Torbenson: “The Death of Venus”

A modern-day portrait of the Roman goddess of love and beauty, ​The Death of Venus follows the flighty and shallow dating rituals of Venus herself, while depicting the reasons behind her immoral behavior. Existing in a world where it is declared that Venus’ time on earth will end if she falls in love, Venus discovers a loophole: if she kills the man she is falling in love with, Venus herself will go on living.

Kaleigh Howland: “Lucidious”

Lucidious follows the story of Lucious, or “Lucy,” as he attempts to get into the prestigious “Academy.” 

The film takes us through his past childhood memories that shape his actions in the present. Upon learning that he will not be admitted to the academy because of his test scores, Lucy is hopeless and discouraged. However, he learns that if there was a free spot open at the Academy he would be accepted, despite his test scores. At a party at his friend Dante’s house, Lucy meets another student who recently got accepted to the academy. Lucy decides to drug the student’s drink, hoping to sabotage the upcoming drug test. Lucy also meets Mary, a young girl at a party, who he takes an interest in but later rejects, as he puts his personal success before anyone else.

André Seewood: “TimeSphere”

Le chrononaute et la sphère de temps : Time Sphere

After the destruction of the Third World War a man traveled back in time to deliver a message to someone he loved before the end of the world only to be met with a cruel twist of fate.

Emma Suzanne Hamilton: “The Quiet With Him”

Living the life of a prostitute has given Andrea just enough to live in a cheap motel, buy a bus ticket to her work, and support her newborn baby. This baby, a consequence of her work, brings her constant shame and feelings of worthlessness. In this film, Andrea experiences a normal night with various customers all to pay for her child who she believes deserves better. But, after a long night and a conversation with her neighbor, she realizes she may be more of a true mother than she originally had thought.

Sabra Binder: “The Death of Venus”

Caleb Allison: “Starlite Gazing”

Starlite Gazing is an experimental and historical visual exploration of the Starlite Drive-in Theatre, located just south of Bloomington off Old State Road 37. Combining experimental editing, archival drive-in advertisements, and home movie aesthetics, I invoke the history and joy of the drive-in experience. Shot on Super 8mm and scanned in 2k, I embraced the film format’s delightful irregularities and sought to emphasize and connect them to moviegoing history. This is the first short film in a larger regional project to visually and experimentally explore unique moviegoing sites in Indiana.

Robert Mack and Jaeson Jackson: “Shift”

Bryce Reif: “Lightswitch”

A midnight shift worker encounters a peculiar light switch while alone in his warehouse.