Six films that examine the contemporary challenges of youth, raw emotions, intense encounters, loss and experimentation that accompanies those coming of age.
Osman Cerfon’s (France) Je sors acheter des cigarettes is a complex and layered animation paying homage to the American teen series such as King of the Hill and Beavis and Butt-Head, a style Osman has perfected with his previous two successful shorts. A touching and darkly humorous film that follows Jonathan, a twelve-year-old who lives with his sister and mother, who is haunted daily by men who all appear with the same face.
Patul lui Procust (The Bed of Procrustes) is Andrian Împărățel’s (Romania) debut short film which examines a relationship between two young men that intensifies over the course of a night together. Andrian manages to capture the intensity of their encounter with subtle but diverse framing in a very small space and creates an atmosphere not unfamiliar in contemporary Romanian cinema.
Óscar Vincentelli (Spain) examines the past, present and future of the relationship between Violeta + Guillermo in this experimental short. The couple reflect back to the heyday of their relationship from a present that appears in the future. Vincentelli creates a vibrant atmosphere presenting this simple yet complex moment in time.
Renee Zhan’s (USA) film Hold Me (Ca Caw Ca Caw) screened at the Locarno Festival in 2016; now she returns with her new film Reneepoptosis. Zhan’s distinct drawn animation style takes us on a romp into the world of Renee, three characters (also Renee’s) go in search of God, also a Renee, in a complex quest where they discover the great mysteries, tragedies and beauties of being Renee.
Anette Sidor (Sweden) explores themes of power, identity and sexual boundaries with a strong cast and in a raw teen atmosphere in her latest short film, Fuck You. A young girl openly challenges her boyfriend’s control and ideals despite experiencing peer pressure to conform from her friends she holds her ground and encourages her boyfriend to explore a broader sexual experience.
Intense emotions, loss and desire are featured in Bernardo Zanotta’s (Netherlands) capturing and immensely unique film, Heart of Hunger. This complex experimental and loosely narrative film explores different emotional states experienced by two friends haunted by a long-lost love.
