Beyond Shorts: Heartburn

ABOUT THE EVENT: An explosive rebound situation, a husband’s hidden chamber of secrets, a group of men radicalizing before our very eyes: this block follows men coming undone with lovers, with each other and with themselves. Bitter, unsettling and occasionally ugly, these shorts trace a throughline of masculinity fraying at the edges, whether the wound is romantic, repressed or entirely self-inflicted. ABOUT THE FILMS: “Early Human Media,” Dir. Adrian Delcan, 12 Mins, USA At the end of their second date, Joaquin accepts Misty’s invitation up to her apartment, but the night takes a turn when her eccentric brother subjects him to a surreal trial that leaves him questioning reality and love. FORMAT: DCP “The Sorrows of Young Charlotte,” Dir. Shir Ariya, 14 Mins, UK Still nursing a breakup, Charlie has a rebound night with her friend Werther, but when he pops her ex’s potency pills, unrequited love and pharmaceutical overkill collide in a most unexpected way. FORMAT: DCP “Fester,” Dir. Max Parr, 18 Mins, Canada Unable to digest the end of his relationship, Robert develops a haunting gut-rot that sends him spiraling down the toilet… and into his ex-girlfriend’s new lover’s apartment. FORMAT: DCP “Jack & Christine,” Dir. Noam Kroll, 9 Mins, USA A quiet dinner party spirals into emotional chaos when a mysterious guest from the past arrives. FORMAT: DCP “Friends Like Us,” Dir. Ray Savaya, 11 Mins, Canada A dark comedic thriller where two sitcom actors have to reenact a new version of their show’s series finale after a crazed fan keeps them hostage. FORMAT: DCP “Overlooked,” Dir. Lola Blanc, 4 Mins, USA In this 8mm oner, a group of men become more radicalized with each turn of the camera. FORMAT: DCP “Bad Look,” Dir. Maxwell Rousso, 16 Mins, USA/Germany After her first nude photo shoot, an ambitious model becomes unsettled by the way a well-known photographer has framed and interpreted her body. When she confronts him to regain control of the images, their negotiation spirals into a charged argument that exposes the power and insecurity underlying their collaboration. FORMAT: DCP “Mancave,” Dir. Fredrik S. Hana, 23 Mins, Norway Charlotte Husebø is drawn into a labyrinth of repressed fantasies and dark secrets when she discovers that her husband, Didrik Husebø, has a hidden room in the family’s garage. FORMAT: DCP