Future Shorts Festival – The Magic of Film

“Short films are one of the last real places for artistic freedom – they’re important to celebrate just for that.” – Juan Solanas

“In a world that often feels as though dreams are for sale, Future Shorts and their network of filmmakers and enthusiasts prove that dreams, if pursued, are not as unattainable as they once seemed” – Daily News Egypt 

After the success of the Winter Season last January at Amuse, the Future Shorts Pop-up Festival is back with the Spring Season! So prepare yourselves for a night of foreign film appreciation, live music, and good conversation.

The Future Shorts Film Festival is the biggest pop up film festival of its kind, showcasing the most exciting short films from around the world. From March to May the Film Festival will be taking place simultaneously across the globe, and we’d like you to be part of it!

Currently, the festival takes place in 144 cities and 55 countries, showcasing a single program of the best short films often alongside live music, DJs and art. From London to Moscow, Perth to Jakarta, Tokyo to Cairo! The screenings take place across a huge variety of spaces including, music halls, cinemas, theatres, galleries, clubs, and warehouses.

Program highlights from this season include BAFTA nominated, Cannes and Sundance hits “Bear” and “Love You More.” In addition, there will be a live music performance by one of our favorite local bands Abo Mariam.

The screening is scheduled to take place on Monday the 28th of May – 7pm , at Left Bank. Tickets will go on sale starting today (Sunday, 20th of May) you can pass by Left Bank to pick it up for LE 75.

The Film Program

“Bear” – Nash Edgerton
2011, Australia – 11 minutes 
Edgerton, who wrote, directed and starred in “Bear”, the sequel to “Spider” (2007), centers around the main character Jack to unfold his tangled relationship and examines whether he’s learned his lesson or not. Described as a black comedy without social commentary, “Bear” is a follow up but also stands alone as it’s own piece. “Because I tend to play things fairly straight and never set things up like it’s a drama or a comedy, the audience doesn’t know what it’s going to be, and something about that really works,” said Edgerton.

“Quadrangle” – Amy Grappell 
2010, USA – 20 minutes
An examination of a four-way affair, this documentary explores the story of two “conventional” couples who swap partners and live in a group marriage in the early 1970s. Set in Long Island, New York, this domestic living experiment unravels and challenges and boundaries of social convention, marriage, monogamy and desire. “Inspired by the discovery of my father’s photographs, taken at the height of the poly-amorous affair, and in an effort to come to terms with my own past, I decided to interview my parents. The film does not propose answers and strives to remain objective. It explores two people in a certain time. It tells a story,” said Grappell.

“Mourir Auprès de Toi (To Die By Your Side)” – Spike Jonze and Simon Cahn 
2011, France – 6 minutes
Created from 3,000 hand-cut pieces of felt, Jonze’s tragicomic stop-motion animation takes place in an old, Parisian bookshop where at night the covers come to life. It’s the story of a felt skeleton who falls in love with a beautiful and sassy vixen. Co-directed by filmmaker Simon Cahn with designs by Olympia Le-Tan, this Cannes selected short is sweet, sad, spooky and a bit whimsical. Jonze said, “A short is like a sketch. You can have an idea or a feeling and just go and do it.”

“The Arm” – Dir: Brie Larson, Sarah Ramos, Jessie Ennis
2012, USA – 9 minutes
Directed and written by a female trio, “The Arm” tells an up-to-the minute social commentary on teen love in a time of technology. Written over the course of 3 hours on a Greyhound bus from Dallas to Austin, this short centers upon two main characters, Chance and Genevieve, who start a texting relationship only to realise they were never in a relationship at all. At Sundance this year, “The Arm” was acknowledged with a Special Jury Award for Comedic Storytelling.

“Love You More” – Sam Taylor Wood
2007, United Kingdom – 15 minutes
Inspired by the hit song ‘Love You More’ by the Buzzcocks, this short is the tale of two punk lovers, Georgia and Peter, in London, 1978. Tender and explorative, this short film directorial debut by Taylor-Wood was written by Oscar nominee Patrick Marber and produced by Oscar winner Anthony Minghella.

“L’Homme Sans Tete (The Man Without a Head)” – Juan Solanas
2003, France – 18 minutes
Created over 4 years, Solanas’ short debut is the story of a man who lives alone, head-less, in a room overlooking a vast industrial space. Visually astounding and technically accomplished, this animated short reveals love and happiness and one man’s pursuit for romance amidst life without a head. “We’re living in a period where cinema is a product; movies are becoming more and more commercialized. Short films are one of the last real places for artistic freedom – they’re important to celebrate just for that,” said Solana.

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You can check out the Future Shorts Egypt Page here, the Spring Festival event details here, and the Future Shorts global website here. This is an event you don’t want to miss!