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COMMUNITY CINEMA: Catch all the short films on Feb. 27, including ‘The Singers,’ which features classical music blended with pub songs. (Supplied Photo)
The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled for Sunday, March 16. As usual, the Lighthouse International Film Society will give folks a chance to see all of the nominated short films before the big night.
That’s an opportunity locals would likely not otherwise have, considering the dearth of “art houses” in Ocean County.
There are three categories of short films in this year’s Oscars race with five nominees in each: Documentary, Live Action and Animation.
The short documentaries in the mix are:
“All The Empty Rooms,” an intimate and deeply moving portrait of grief, memory and the spaces left behind.
“Armed Only With a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud,” a powerful tribute to the courage of a wartime correspondent.
“Children No More: Were and Are Gone,” a haunting investigation into the impact of war on childhood.
“The Devil is Busy,” an urgent exploration of race, justice and resilience in America.
“Perfectly a Strangeness,” a sumptuous meditation on our fragile place in the universe.
The live action shorts include:
“Butcher’s Stain,” a character-driven drama that follows an unraveling life after a workplace allegation.
“A Friend of Dorothy,” a charming story about the unexpected friendship of an elderly widow and her young neighbor.
“Jane Austen’s Period Drama,” Blurring past and present, this film playfully reimagines literary history.
“The Singers,” Based on a tale by Ivan Turgenev, this film blends classical music with pub songs for a soulful affirmation of community.
“Two People Exchanging Saliva,” social satire set in a dystopian future where kissing is forbidden.
Finally, the animated shorts:
“Butterfly,” a lyrical film that evokes great depth through animated design.
“Forevergreen,” a lushly animated journey of environmental reflection.
“The Girl Who Cried Pearls,” a mythic tale rich with symbolic power.
“Retirement Plan,” a humorous contemplation on the twists of growing old.
“The Three Sisters,” What will it take for these siblings to survive their lonely paradise? Creativity and adaptation!
Film lovers can see all 15 of the shorts at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27 at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences in Loveladies. General admission seats are $25 plus a $2.31 fee. They may be purchased online at lighthousefilmsociety.eventive.org – click on ORDER TICKETS-LBIF. If you prefer buying tickets at the door it will cost you $35.
If you can’t make it on Friday afternoon, fear not. At 7:30 that evening the documentary shorts will be screened at the LBIF. The animated shorts will be screened at the LBIF at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 while the live action shorts will be offered at 7:30 p.m. that day.
Tickets for those three screenings are each $12 plus a $1.64 fee. Again, they may be purchased online at lighthousefilmsociety.eventive.org. If you purchase tickets at the door you’ll pay $15.
Even if you will be out of the area on Feb. 27 and 28 you’ll still have a chance to see the documentary and live action shorts at the Spring Lake Theatre on March 6 and 7. Visit lighthousefilmsociety.eventive.org for details.
Many successful directors started off with short films, often while still film students. We’re talking the likes of Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Christopher Nolan, and many more. So it isn’t surprising that the LIFS announcement of the screenings ended on this note:
“The Oscar Nominated Shorts represent the highest achievement in short-form cinema, honoring films of exceptional craft and vision. Each selection offers a powerful glimpse into the voices shaping the future of storytelling.”
The LIFS thanked its sponsors, Wally’s LBI of Surf City, the LBI Foundation, Spring Lake Theatre, Egan’s Spring Lake Liquors, and the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission.
— Rick Mellerup
