Category: Short Film

Short Film Spotlight: I Get So Sad Sometimes

The debut short film from Filipino writer-director Trishtan Perez, I Get So Sad Sometimes is a sexually-charged drama about the isolation of youth.

Starring newcomers JC Santiago, Karl Louie Caminade and Russ Ligtas, the film follows a lonely high school boy who, unbeknownst to his family, is secretly spending a lot of time on the internet chatting with a mature man whose face he hasn’t seen.

Cleverly shot in a claustrophobic aspect ratio to capture the lead character’s sense of being boxed in, this provocative film offers up a keen observation of this modern generation’s ethos – expressed through an intimate and contemporary visual language focusing on the immediacy of online interaction and instant gratification.

One could also read the film as a stern warning of the dangers of the internet and social media as a surrogate to real life bonds.

Check out the poster for I Get So Sad Sometimes below. The full 20-minute short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: The Station In-Between

Swiss actors Peter Fischli and Carlos Leal star in the tender and visually lush short film The Station In-Between as Theo and Louis, two gay men with little in common who are compelled to go on an emotional journey together.

Louis’s husband, who was also Theo’s best friend, was recently killed during a homophobic attack. The pair are traveling by train to Paxmal, a spiritual peace monument in the Swiss Alps, to scatter their beloved friend and partner’s ashes.

Along the way, almost as if by fate, they meet a variety of memorable characters. Some confront them with traumas of the past, while others remind them of the good things in life and the beauty that surrounds them even in the darkest of times.

Gorgeously crafted by director Sven Schnyder, this touching and compassionate 19-minute short film is an ode to unexpected friendships, as well as life, death and everything in between.

Check out the poster for The Station In-Between below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: After Sunset, Dawn Arrives

A 17-minute short film from writer-director Andy Yi Li, After Sunset, Dawn Arrives tells an inspiring story about how it’s never too late to embrace a new passion.

Set in Los Angeles in 2005, the film follows Wen (Jesse Wang), a recent widower who has been suppressing his sexuality for a long, long time.

Happening upon a ballroom dance class for men, he peers through the window with curiosity, but his old-fashioned masculine ways prevent him from going inside.

When he later runs into Ken (Todd Lien), the ridiculously hot class instructor, at a local bathhouse, he’s convinced to come by and give the class a try. This sends Wen on an emotional journey where he is finally able to open up – not only to himself, but also to his deceased wife.

Check out the poster for After Sunset, Dawn Arrives below. The short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Angelos at Christmas

Greek writer-director Fotis Zampetakis proves that Christmas movies come in all shapes, sizes and genres with the 18-minute nail-biter Angelos at Christmas.

While his friends are at his house preparing for a party on Christmas Eve, Angelos is in the streets of Athens doing some last-minute shopping. When a group of children enter a bookstore to sing carols, Angelos becomes intrigued by one of them.

He attempts to convince the little boy to go with him in his car. Seemingly looking to escape from his own dark reality and intrigued by the promise of 50 euros, the boy decides to follow the stranger. As the sun sets and the boy falls asleep, Angelos drives them through the woods, heading toward a mysterious destination.

Without giving too much away, not all is at it seems in this stylishly-shot short film. Employing a John Carpenter-like piano score, Zampetakis skillfully ratchets up the horror movie tension, leading to a climax that packs an emotional wallop, but probably not the one you’ve been primed to expect.

Watch a short trailer for Angelos at Christmas below. The full short film is now available on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Affection

A thought-provoking 6-minute short from writer-director Connor Williams, Affection stars Justin Kang and Spencer Claus as Shawn and Luke, two young boyfriends who are unexpectedly confronted with their differences during a night out.

While walking down the street holding hands, a passing stranger makes a derogatory comment. The more confident, outspoken Luke’s response is to confront the situation head on – standing up for both himself and the man he loves. Shawn, however, has a different way or handling these incidents… though he’s seemingly reluctant to examine the reasons why.

Smart and compassionate where it counts, featuring terrific performances from the two lead actors, Affection examines the ways in which we deal with prejudice and what it says about our own levels of self-acceptance.

Check out the poster for Affection below. The short film is now available on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Headlock

A powerful 16-minute short film from writer-director Damon Laguna, Headlock stars Alejandro Akara as Diego, a high school wrestling star whose father just happens to be the team’s coach – and puts an unhealthy amount of extra pressure on his shy, introverted son.

When Diego breaks from his father’s strict routine to attend a party with his best friend and secret crush Travis (Eduardo Alexis Peña), he takes the opportunity to finally express his feelings. Things don’t go entirely smoothly, and soon the whole team becomes aware of Diego’s sexuality.

Though he and Travis are able to come to a deeper understanding and finally unleash their pent-up desires, Diego knows he will have to muster up the courage to confront his father once and for all.

Developed at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Headlock is a touching and thought-provoking short drama which examines masculinity and sexuality in men’s sports and the Latinx community.

Watch a short trailer for Headlock below. The film is now available on Dekkoo.

Short Film Spotlight: Graduation

Four Chinese Americans must navigate their future as dictated by the circumstances of life and their families in Graduation, a funny and bittersweet 6-minute short film from writer-director Robin Wang.

Produced with help from the University of Southern California, the film stars Todd Lien and Dylan J. Locke as Caleb and Wizz, two students who are deeply in love, but keeping their relationship a secret from their conservative Chinese parents.

After a dinner celebrating Wizz’s graduation, the boys excuse themselves, telling Wizz’s mother and Caleb’s father that they’re leaving to see a movie. Truthfully, they go off to spend some romantic time together before Wizz leaves for Shanghai and the two are forced to part ways.

When they oversleep and wake up in their car, they believe it will spell their doom – not knowing that their wistful single parents are up to some shenanigans of their own back at Caleb’s father’s house.

Watch a short teaser trailer for Graduation below. The full short film is now streaming on Dekkoo.