Sundance Short Films offer entire universes in mere minutes.
In Lynette Wallworth’s Sundance performance “How to Live (After You Die),” Wallworth opens by sharing the influences of her work “Hold.” The piece consists of small universes of coral reefs reflected in bowls of glass. They are entire universes that you can hold with your hands.
Small films, too, contain entire created worlds, impressively laying out characters, environment, stakes, and challenges in mere minutes. Small, too, was the percentage of short films accepted to this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Of 10,364 film submissions, 59 short films were selected, a mere 0.57%.
The beauty of the small world of short films is the randomness of it all; the possibility that unfolds upon clicking a link and immersing yourself in that simultaneously small and impressive world for 25 minutes or less. Led by a desire to watch a film in the female-centered stories category, and support a film focused on BIPOC characters, I proceeded to fall into the universe of “You Go Girl!”
It’s a universe made possible by a tight story, a professional touch on everything though especially the sound editing and mixing, and a clear color scheme. It’s a universe that asks questions about when you might feel the most alone or without direction. Would it be on-stage stirring up strangers in a crowd? Or perhaps deep in the wilderness for the first time?
It’s a universe brought to life by actress Tiffany Mann, whose timing and naturalism prove that we’ll continue to see her talent. It’s a universe orchestrated by director Shariffa Chelimo Al. It’s a universe made possible by the environment and support of the state of Oregon.
Jumping into the Sundance Film Festival shorts means discovering small universes in minutes. And while today, January 30th, is the last day for this type of intergalactic and tiny travel, it’s one that solidifies the Sundance spirit.
Photo Credit: Tiffany Mann appears in You Go Girl! by Shariffa Ali, an official selection of the Shorts Program at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Tyler Maddox.
