Short films are one of the most under-appreciated forms of storytelling, especially when it comes to the general movie-going public. However, since 2007, Short of the Week has been making it their mission to spotlight some of the greatest short films created by some of today's best and brightest filmmakers from all across the globe, sharing over 200 films just this past year alone that venture beyond traditional genres and open up new doors to style and artistic sensibilities. They have recently announced the winners of their 2014 SOTW Awards and we're here to offer up a selection for your viewing pleasure. Continue on to check them out!
The 9 winners, along with the Short of the Year winner, for the 2014 SOTW Awards were announced a couple of days ago, coinciding with the Academy Awards that handed out Oscars last Sunday. By clicking on the title of each film, you'll be taken to their respective spotlight on Short of the Week, explaining exactly what makes them stand out from the hundreds of thousands of films released online every year. But, the folks at SOTW aren't the only ones recognizing the greatness of these shorts -- most of these films have received the coveted Vimeo Staff Pick, as well as awards, official selections, and recognition from some big name film festivals, including Sundance and AFI Fest. But, in SOTW's own words:
These are the greatest films from the past year that took the torch of short film and charged into the unknown. While the Oscars seem predictable, these films explored new genres, new characters, new styles, and left an impression upon us we can’t ever shake.
So, let's get to it! We've shared a few of the winning shorts below. First up is the Short of the Year winner, The Runners, by Matan Rochlitz and Ivo Gormley, a documentary that was an official selection at the 2013 Sheffield Doc Fest, as well as several other film festivals.
This short, entitled KARAOKE!, directed by Andrew Renzi, not only won one of the 9 winning spots in the SOTW Awards, but also nabbed the Audience Choice Award, as well as a bunch of others, including the Panavision Future Filmmaker Award.
This sci-fi drama, RECORD/PLAY (story by Jesse Atlas), was an official selection at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, as well as the winner at a handful of other fests.
The storytelling technique used in Edson Oda's Malaria is definitely something you should check out.
To check out the rest of the winning short films, be sure to head over to Short of the Week's announcement. (It also wouldn't hurt to check out the SOTW spotlight on each film, too! Links in the titles.)
What do you think of this year's SOTW Award winners? Do you have a passion for making short films? (Maybe you should think about submitting them to Short of the week!)
