...And Plays Tricks

B-Class Cultural Heritage

An urban skateboarder lands on a manhole—a cultural artifact protected by a shadowy association—and takes an unexpected and possibly lethal penalty.

Flow

Eight woman, one life. Short animation by Sumito Sakakibara. The 9th Japan Media Art Festival Animation Division Grand Prize Winner

Martian

A little boy pulls out one Martian toy from a vending machine and it turns into a real alien who takes him to his planet, where he is surronded by the toys from the vending machine, but much bigger.

Campofrío: Disfrute en vida

A hymn to life and a tribute "to those who left" in this difficult year are the messages that the company Campofrío launches in its traditional Christmas advertisement, which stars Quique San Francisco and Silvia Abril, among others, and is directed by Daniel Sánchez Arévalo and Paco Plaza. D.E.V ("Enjoy life") are the initials of Campofrío's 2020 Christmas campaign, a hymn to life in the form of a tribute to those who left and to "all those who continue trying every day to enjoy the gift of life", as the ad itself shows in its final part.

Frantic Attempts

Matthias is going on a weekend course of self-discovery called “My Value on Earth,” which was an expensive gift from his girlfriend. The course is supposed to help him deal with his chronic inability to finish things that he’s started. But before Matthias leaves, his girlfriend springs a surprise on him: he’s going to be a father. And so he hopes to use the weekend, which he has no real desire to go on, to answer new and pressing questions. The “alternative” therapist, however, doesn’t inspire much trust. The tragicomedy Frantic Attempts takes aim at the field of personal development, in particular, dubious therapists who offer quick fixes. After all, what if we should answer our existential questions ourselves instead of trying to find answers from others?

Sopaipillas Pasadas

Lucía, looking to get ahead with her son, Álvaro, begins to sell his failed sopaipillas to drunken men at a Pool Bar in his area.

Silencio, que se vai cantar o fado

A warm summer day, bread and wine on the table, it's a portuguese house.

The Making Of A Mockumentary

A young adult who wants to have a career in filmmaking has trouble figuring out ideas for his first short film.

The Black Bear

Five hikers go looking for adventure in a Canadian national park where the black bear lives. What’s the worst that could happen?

Carface

Filmmaker and comic strip artist Claude Cloutier has made a striking satire on big oil, a musical where cars sing and dance while the planet falls into despair.

Good-by Marilyn

An erotic pop animation seemingly symbolizing his youth when his soul was taken by the Hollywood actress.

Last Day of Freedom

When Bill Babbitt realizes his brother Manny has committed a crime he agonizes over his decision to call the police.

A Gaze in Summer-1942

A short experimental animation by Keiichi Tanaami.

Madonna

In Madonna, Tanaami employs his signature collage-style animation, combining pop art influences, retro aesthetics, and surrealistic motifs. The film explores themes of desire, fantasy, and memory, often referencing elements of post-war Japanese culture and American pop culture.

Shunga

Carnage

Only the dead body remained. A one-armed woman who has a ghastly past. She dyes the wasteland in blood in order to achieve revenge on the one-eyed man.