The first full day of programming at the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival began with an exuberant collection of shorts that took views from Mojave to Mammoth to Mammoths. The settings added to viewer excitement, but no matter where these films were screened, there was plenty of reason for an enthusiastic response.
Above, cast and crew of Fay Away
Nevada was a claymation charmer, a fully realized and intimate story that was both poignant and hilarious, detailing a couple’s response to a birth control issue, and a decision not to have a baby – at least not yet. Terrific script and fresh, lovely animation. Next up was Fay Away, a tonally perfect, desert-set live-action about a none-too-perfect estranged father and daughter reunion. Set near Joshua Tree, it captured the dusty flavor of time passing in a timeless setting. The film was helmed by producer and lead actress Sandra Seeling Lipski and director/cinematograpaher Rainer Lipski in their sophmore outing at the festival. Sandra Lipski noted “This was a gift to ourselves celebrating our 7th anniversary. It was a two-day shoot and ten months of editing.” The brief abstract animated work Mountain Castle Mountain Flower Plastic touched on the ecology of future landscapes; Zula the Infinite was a coming of age story involving a restless small-town girl and a passing-through “bad girl” with stolen mail and and a stolen car in the mix.
Above, star and director of Zula the Infinite.
Director Jillian Dudley said the film’s concept was conceived as proof of concept for a TV series pilot, and the four day shoot came with its own misadventure: “Our original sound material was stolen, but because the local Palmdale newspaper published a story about the theft, Universal’s ADR department came to the rescue so we could save our film,” which turned out to be a 2-year process. Last up was an amazing short documentary, Mammoth, about a Russian scientist’s multi-generational work to establish what could be an eco-system that saves the planet from global warming. Absolutely fascinating, and the kind of film and subject one might only find on view here.
Above, birthday surprise for Pedro Deltell of Berliners.
More shorts – obviously – comprised the screenings for Shorts Block 1, including several shorts from Pedro Deltell in his collaborative improv series Berliners. It was Deltell’s birthday and he received a surprise cake and candle; the festival itself also had a surprise – Deltell screened more than the expected series entry, which was an extra comic treat for the audience. ” You look for people to cast and think about stories and characters you can do with them. Each of our episodes is different and each is improv based and set in Berlin,” Deltell explained. The animated Tel Aviv captured the city with poetic, whimsical drawings through the eyes of an art student. From Poland, How to Reach God with Proper Exercising created a surreal story centered on a man’s recounting of a dream. Birthday offered up a dysfunctional celebration for a father and three adult daughters at a shooting range; while Careful as You Go presented three vignettes on the threatening yet darkly comic behavior of malevolent women.
Director Jerry Carlson, above, with programmer Paul Sbrizzi, right
From Sweden, Shadow Animals was, director Jerry Carlson said, “Almost a memory of a lived experience. We knew the film was about human behavior through social rituals, and we added our own take on those rituals and a language that went to the physical through choreography.” We found the film to be haunting, with an edgy, horror/suspense vibe that left a chill.
Above, Guide Dogs for the Blind rep to the left, fest director Shira Dubrovner to the right
Pick of the Litter was a deeply moving documentary about the training of dogs for the Guide Dogs for the Blind program. The rigorous process bonded the audience beautifully to five puppies and their human handlers, trainers, and eventual owners. Bracingly directed by Dana Nachman and Don Hardy Jr., and discovered at a Slamdance screening earlier this year, it was easy to see why there were no dry eyes in the house. Dogs were the guests of honor at an after-screening photo op following the screening. Nachman also directed the accompanying short, a delicate, wistful piece documenting the gorgeous sand art of Brandon Anderton, whose debilitating series of accidents may have left him riddled with pain, but still able to create the transient wonder in Washed Away.
Fort Maria, shot in black and white, was a limited-location narrative feature involving an adopted mother afflicted with agoraphobia and the death of her daughter’s elderly dog. A strong performance by Katerina Stoykover-Klemer in the title role grounded the quiet piece. Weekend, a short about a son who spends weekends with his father – imperfect ones – offered a compelling glimpse at Iranian life.
And Minding the Gap, closing the evening, offered an absolutely riveting portrait of three skate-boarding friends growing up and grown up in the dying city of Rockford, Il. Compassionate, semi-tragic, and ultimately uplifting, among the three friends depicted was filmmaker Bing Liu. The film screened at Sundance in January, and with its heart-stopping skateboard shots and involving personal stories, it will undoubtedly be screened elsewhere.
Once again, fest director Shira Dubrovner and programmer Paul Sbrizzi created a memorable day for film lovers, 12 hours of rich and rewarding programming.
Post-screening bonus at MLFF: the clear starry skies and moonlight of Mammoth Lakes after a brief rain.
- Genie Davis; photos: Jack Burke
