Fantastic Shorts I
Since the beginning of time, fables, folk and fairy tales have held a prized spot in storytelling traditions across the globe. A lot of them serve to entertain and caution in equal measure, regardless of whether they are narrated, illustrated or otherwise depicted. Some warn of strangers in the guise of a crone or shadows so dark and frightful they take on a life of their own. Others forewarn about the consequences of petty jealousy, gullible naivety or the senselessness of exclusion, violence and vengeance. Captured on vintage 16mm, shot in chiaroscuro, rendered as stunning paint-on-glass or stop-motion animation, the stories in this collection take place at a time of day when the light is at its shiftiest and the boundary between real and imaginary all but dissolves; a gray in-between where dreams can turn into nightmares at the drop of a hat and where the seductive power of make-belief is as much celebrated as it is shattered.
During a wealthy Argentinian woman’s baby shower, Ramona, the family’s caretaker, tells a cautionary tale to warn the sick young girl in her charge of the danger of sibling jealousy.
A young mother’s shadow takes on a life of its own, terrorizing her and her daughter over the course of one night.
Larisa, a curious girl, enters the house of the old hag, not imagining the consequences of her decision.
A mysterious rabbit with a set of magic keys summons a host of strange creatures to entertain a wicked king and his decadent court.
A gardener goes to extreme lengths in order to protect the purity of her beautiful flowers from the encroaching weeds in the surrounding field.
Two best friends embark on a high-stakes game of imagination, which takes a twisted turn and threatens to jeopardise their relationship.
Screenings
Fantastic Shorts Competition I—III & Freakier Fantasies
