Night of Shorts: 2

bigger, bolder, and brighter!

July 30th, 2022

Featured 8 shorts films

Sold out, 125 guests

Our little team was so excited to grow this year! The 1980s-Jazzercise-inspired aesthetic was in full swing, with neon lights and disco balls aplenty. Leaning into the pun of Night of Shorts, our whole crew wore shorts (the clothing) while we screened shorts (the films). The curation for this festival was really special, with many films centering around the theme of human connection. The selections ranged from documentary, to dance-focused music video, to comedy. We were lucky to have all of the filmmakers in attendance, which made for a very insightful Q&A to follow the screening.

Films screened at

Night of Shorts 2:

Baby Don't Dance - Doncat

Directed by Syra McCarthy

A portrait of a man trying to wake up and start his day, only to find that he is still asleep. Exploring the subconscious journeys we go on in our dream states and the parallels they end up mirroring in our waking lives.

GABRIEL

Written & Directed by Brenton Gieser

Inspired by true events, Gabriel follows a grieving mother (Anya) as she struggles to heal from the loss of her son. The inexorable linkage between Anya and her son's killer (William) grows more palpable until Anya orchestrates an unimaginable act of redemption.

Gorilla Wants Banana

Directed by Andrew Junker

In the deepest depths of a research facility, a desperate scientist just wants to know what a gorilla wants.

GARY

Written & Directed by Doug Cox

The brave crew of the Equinox have just landed on Mars. Now inhabitants of Station Orion, they will look to each other for inspiration and survival. And then there's Gary...

I C U Through Lightning

Directed by Deidre Locklear

In 2017, artist and musician Dave Deporis was taken far too soon in Oakland, California. 2 years later, in an attempt to immortalize his poetic essence as well as make something beautiful out of something heartbreaking, a group of creatives came together to bring I C U Through Lightning to life. This piece is a statement about how easy it can be to love, how hard it is to live, and how to heal from loss; through community.

I Just Wanna Dance

When two dancers are asked to partner at an audition each struggle with the flip sides of homophobia before finding common footing. Set in a Victorian ballroom overlooking the San Francisco skyline, the dancers take a journey through genres of partner dancing, addressing homophobia and effeminophobia. Rooted in hustle, the dancers move through its various influences such as mambo and lindy-hop while integrating elements of contemporary hip-hop. During this duet, they develop a relationship, breakthrough societal norms, and come to terms with platonic intimacy.

Spacemoth - "Waves Come Crashing"

Directed by Kimber-Lee Alston and Maryam Qudus

Spacemoth is the recording project of Maryam Qudus, a Bay Area producer, engineer and musician; her debut album No Past No Future will release on July 22 on Wax Nine / Carpark Records. Every track flows with Qudus’ low timbered vocals, in harmony with the watery, glowing synthesizers that anchor the album. The result is a record rich in intergalactic, avant-pop, radiating in astonishment at the vast, emotional landscape humans contain within ourselves, and in wonder at the preciousness of our time on earth.

Weekend at Gus'

Directed by Paul Overstrom

As the owner of San Francisco’s oldest independent bait and tackle shop serves her regulars, Joe Biden is elected the next president of the United States.