"Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke" (2014) by Jillian Mayer and Lucas Leyva
At 2 minutes and 48 seconds, film critic Hans Morgenstern considers Antonia Wright's silent film "the No. 1 greatest film shot in Miami." Well, that's a tall order for a short movie.
See for yourself as "Suddenly We Jumped" is part of Morgenstern's "Borscht Is Dead" festival on Thursday, Oct. 19 at Fort Lauderdale's Savor Cinema.
It was 2004 when Lucas Leyva and Andrew Hevia founded the Borscht Film Festival while at Miami's New World School of the Arts. The idea was to shape Miami’s cinematic identity by showcasing and creating original films that tell unique Magic City stories.
"Borscht redefined cinema in Miami for over a decade through the Borscht Film Festival," says Morgenstern. His "Borscht" night is actually a fundraiser to benefit www.indieethos.com, and a grant it received as part of the Knight Foundation Arts Challenge. To receive Knight Foundation funds, the recipient organization must obtain matching monies equal to the amount of the grant order. In indieethos's case, they received $15,000.
The website was co-founded in 2009 by Hans and Ana Morgenstern "to celebrate the independent ethos of artists in music and film whose creations push against the grain of corporate-subsidized popular culture." Proceeds from the ticket sales, as well as a silent auction, featuring works from Miami artists will help with the matching grant. Choose954 is co-hosting the event.
"Suddenly We Jumped" (2014) By Antonia Wright
"The films being featured are those I've seen over time and have somehow stuck with me," says Morgenstern. "We'll be showing animation, live action, documentary, there's a bit of everything."
Here's Thursday night's lineup:
"Yearbook" (2014) by Bernardo Britto, 5:40 min.
A rumination on what is essential to a meaningful life wrapped in an animated sci-fi end-of-the-world scenario by writer-director Bernardo Britto.
"Suddenly We Jumped" (2014) By Antonia Wright, 2:48 min.
Though not a Borscht production, Antonia Wright’s short, silent film screened at Borscht Diez earlier this year.
"Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke" (2014) by Jillian Mayer and Lucas Leyva, 12:25 min.
Morgenstern said it was difficult to pick just one short film by the collaborative team, so he selected "the most humorous."
Biscayne World (2016) by: Ahol Sniffs Glue, Michael Arcos and Marnie Ellen, 10:56 min.
"The short, hybrid documentary plays with the line between a caricature of the voiceless who have so much to say and their rich humanity that reflect who we all are," says Morgenstern.
"Chlorophyl – Extended Cut (2011)" by Barry Jenkins, 17:23 minutes
Oscar-winning co-writer and nominated director Barry ("Moonlight") Jenkins captures the private ruminations of a young woman shell-shocked from the sudden end of a relationship.
"Agua Viva" (2017) by Alexa Lim Haas, 5:37 min.
Director Alexa Lim Haas employs hand drawn watercolor illustrations to tell the story of a Chinese manicurist working in Hialeah. "This stands as a personal favorite from last year’s Borscht film festival, where it was shown as a work-in-progress," says Morgenstern.
"One Dog Gone Summer" (2017) by Julian Yuri Rodriguez, 7 min.
The short follows a boy as he sets out to make sure the corpse of his pet dog Scrappy goes to heaven, despite adults telling him there is no such physical place. "Borscht is Dead" gets to show the premiere of a new director’s cut of what was shown at last year's festival.
"Pineal Warriors: Supermeng vs. The Anunnaki" (2014) Egon & Otto Von Schirach, 7:30 min.
Co directed by the brothers Von Schirach, Morgenstern says: "the film’s strobe-like edits and surreal narrative embraces self-deprecating humor while also celebrating Miami culture, from Santeria ritualism to Freestyle music."
"El Sol Como un Gran Animal Oscuro (The Sun Like a Big Dark Animal)" by Bleeding Palm, 4:23 min.
"El Sol Como un Gran Animal Oscuro (The Sun Like a Big Dark Animal)" by Bleeding Palm
Bleeding Palm are two Miami-based animators, Ronnie Rivera and Christina Felisgrau. Inspired by the poetry of the Argentine poet Alejandra Pizarnik, the animated short is a love story about a computer and its user.
"When We Lived in Miami" (2013) by Amy Seimetz, 13 min.
A girl bears witness to what happens when her parents fall out of love. Says Morgenstern: "It’s as much about the mundane moments as it is the traumatic ones and how they unite into an experience."
"Borscht is Dead" screens Oct. 19, 6 to 10:30 p.m., at Savor Cinema, 503 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Tickets are $13 and $25. A silent art auction/reception begins at 6 p.m., featuring a DJ set by Poplife’s Aramis. Shorts begin at 7:30 p.m. with a Q&A following the screening.
