If that tradition holds, film buffs can expect to see some of the winners of the 25th annual showing up in Academy Award nominations in a few months — and possibly winning.
The April 5-10 event at Aspen’s Wheeler Opera House and Carbondale’s Crystal Theatre featured more than 50 shorts in competition and more than 75 films overall. It is considered by many to be North America’s premier event for the format, and one of the most best in the world.
As an official qualifying competition for the Academy Awards,recent Shortsfest programs — which define shorts as anything under 40 minutes — have included titles like “Bear Story,” which in February won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and “We Can’t Live Without the Cosmos” and “Shok,” which were Oscar nominees.
At an awards dinner hosted by Aspen Film at the Cooking School of Aspen on Sunday, organizers announced the awards, which included cash prizes of anywhere from $500 to $2,500 and the official Oscar-qualifying nod.
Highlights include:
• Best Animated Film ($2,500)
“Deer Flower,” directed by Kangmin Kim (USA/South Korea)
The jury said: “For its striking and original use of stop-motion, 3D animation to chronicle a boy’s unnerving coming-of-age ritual.”
• Best Documentary ($2,500)
“Irregulars,” directed by Fabio Palmieri (Italy)
The jury said: “The marriage of a brilliant visual metaphor to a harrowing personal story illuminates the plight of refugees with devastating artistry and force.”
• Best Comedy ($2,500)
“Hounds,” directed by Omer Tobi (Israel)
The jury said: “For its bitingly funny send-up of bureaucratic infighting, its bold visual style, and its original and unexpected storytelling.”
• Best Drama ($2,500)
“Thanks for Dancing,” directed by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken (Norway)
The jury said: “For its heartbreaking, unsentimental — and sometimes humorous — depiction of the last days of a loving, life-long relationship.”
Shortsfest also recognized the student short “Sea Breeze” and titles such as “I, Destini,” “La Laguna,” “World Wide Woven Bodies” and others.
The Aspen Shortsfest jury is comprised of critic/programmer David Ansen, writer (the former film critic for The Denver Post) and producer Danielle Renfrew Behrens.
The 2016 slate featured 11 world premieres, three North American Premieres, four U.S. premieres and three international premieres from filmmakers representing more than two dozen countries.
Last week the Denver Film Society also announced , taking place May 6-7 at the Sie FilmCenter.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, jwenzel@denverpost.com or @johnwenzel
