I have no spoon and I must eat

Emma Flemming | US

Year: 2024

Run time: 4:42 min.

Synopsis:
All Mark wanted was to enjoy a delicious breakfast, but all of a sudden a spoon shortage struck the world! Mark is now on a journey to find his saving silverware and stop his spoon search for certain.

Team Members: Emma Fleming, Reid Schuessler, Mustafa Rai, Aiden Crawford, Josh Hinkle, Ethan Maxwell, Jeff Boggess, Lily Grover, Liv Panicucci, Kristy Zou, Ethan Lewis, Nick Bennett, Camden Link, Jake Tay, and Sabrina Lauro.

Don’t take off your glasses 

Minglun Wei | China

Run time: 2:55 min.

Synopsis: Mei, who is studying in the classroom, takes off her glasses and falls into a crisis.

Bio: Wei Minglun, male, was born in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. He entered the Department of Chemical Engineering of Tsinghua University in 2017 and the School of Journalism and Communication of Tsinghua University in 2022.

t-130 

Samuel Felinton | US

Year: 2024

Run time: 5:53 min.

Synopsis: "T-130" unfolds as a captivating animated short film that intricately weaves the poignant narrative of an under appreciated robot. This cinematic masterpiece takes audiences on a compelling journey through the mechanical heart of a resilient automaton, exploring the depths of its emotions and the intricacies of its existence. As the gears of the story turn, viewers are immersed in a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience, where the unassuming robot's quest for recognition becomes a universal tale of longing, self-discovery, and the relentless pursuit of one's identity.

Redfoot

Jonathan Pitts | US

Year: 2023

Run time: 15:00 min.

Synopsis: Two West Virginia hillbillies go on the hunt for the very real (and communist) Bigfoot.

Le Chef

Shaun Wilson | US

Year: 2023

Run time: 30 sec.

Synopsis: A chef is drinking wine, spills it, but does not let it go to waste.

Feung Schwey: the act of being a hero!

Jonah Manibusan | US

Year: 2023

Run time: 9:49 min.

Synopsis: A documentary crew follows a young local superhero, with no superpowers, as he navigates what it means to be a hero after his father's passing.

Bio: Jonah Manibusan is currently a film student at George Mason University majoring in Film and minoring in Communications. Outside of school, he’s a freelance videographer and serves as the Creative Director and Founder of 3017th Studios. 3017th Studios was formed back in early 2022, with the goal of being able to create thought invoking, meaningful, and entertaining pieces. Since its founding, 3017th Studios has helped make and made award winning short fiction films, short documentaries, and music videos!

order of the army of the arts

Kamila Abdygapparova | US

Year: 2022

Run time: 1:28 min.

Synopsis:
An abstract animation sequence breaking down concept of art influenced by political regimes.

Bruised

Callie Thacker | US

Year: 2024

Run time: 5:54 min.

Synopsis: "Bruised" is a performative video art piece that explores the effects of trauma and time. Although time is thought to fix everything, there are some scars that last forever.

Bio: Callie Thacker, an emerging artist based in West Virginia, thrives when given the opportunity to explore different techniques and mediums. Their work is greatly inspired by film, vintage photography, and various artistic styles including folk, surrealism, and conceptual. Callie is graduating from Marshall University with a BFA in Studio Art, along with minors in English and Film Studies. More information about her work and upcoming exhibitions can be found on Instagram @everything.and.thekitchensink

the stool with pants and shoes on

Marco Falcucci | US

Year: 2024

Run time: 4:31 min.

Synopsis: Mankind must pay for their sins when, in their hubris, they create the affront to God that is the stool with pants and shoes on.

Bio: My name is Marco Falcucci, I'm a film student at Penn State University. I’m double majoring in both Film Production and Computer Science, because I never really wanted a life during college anyway. I like making films because it's way easier than drawing.

echo

Tatyana Reynolds | US

Year: 2024

Run time: 3:46 min.

Synopsis: An experimental video performance piece that explores the nature of trauma, impermanence, and memory.

the innumerable things that exist

Yoon Kyeong Yang | United Kingdom

Year: 2023

Run time: 1:30 min.

Synopsis:
In this era when cash disappeared, you can only check whether I paid or if you took the money with one receipt. questions about existence.

When I work, I touch countless receipts.
In London, I barely used cash.
With the question of whether money really exists
I wondered if I also existed in front of the wealth made up of 0 and 1.
I bought a receipt machine and tested this and that.
There is no conclusion.
I tried visualising with only this question.

Bio:
London &Seoul based media artist and animator, Yangyoongab makes animation, installation and visuals. Media artist Yangyoongab is an animator who wants to share time with the audience.

She wants to communicate her own story of the time that is given equally to everyone, and provide her audience with the experience of being in the same space within that time. She also approaches the audience with a performance that combines music and videos on the outer wall of the building, a space where people always stay, to create a new world.

return to sender

Olivia Williams | US

Year: 2024

Run time: 0:57 min.

Synopsis: Western style rotoscoped animation that consists of vintage postcards and scrapbook materials.

Bio: My name is Olivia Williams. I am a marketing student at West Virginia University. I am also pursuing electronic media for my minor, which has led me to discover the art of animation. I fell in love with this style of artwork and the creativity process in my academic career, so my hope is to one day incorporate it into my professional career.

mogley: our jungle book story

Kristin Elizabeth Fiorvanti | US

Year: 2024

Run time: 10:53 min.

Synopsis: Dustin (Mogley) Moore's legacy unfolds in a captivating narrative of youthful enthusiasm set against the backdrop of modern-day rural Virginia, grappling with the devastating effects of the opioid epidemic on blue-collar communities. The challenges of divorce, poverty, domestic violence, drug abuse, and loneliness mark his story. However, "MOGLEY: Our Jungle Book Story" provides an honest celebration of Dustin's unwavering passion for adventure, empathy, affection, connection, and fervor.

In the midst of defining moments filled with both beauty and tragedy, Dustin's narrative resonates with the tumultuous lives of many millennials who have been personally impacted by America's intricate war on drugs. "MOGLEY" stands as a testament to the resilience and complexity of the human spirit, offering a glimpse into the profound struggles and triumphs of those navigating the harsh realities of rural life and the far-reaching consequences of the opioid crisis.

Told through testimonies of friends, family, and addiction-prevention specialists, Dustin's journey becomes a poignant reflection of broader societal challenges. His sister recounts her loss through interviews, archives, and poetic editing styles, urging viewers to connect with the universal themes of perseverance, compassion, and the search for meaning in the face of adversity.

Bio: Born in 1998 in Northern Virginia, and raised by crafty grandparents, I've always had an affection for art, family, and storytelling. After my associate's degree at Laurel Ridge Community College in 2018, I set off with a full-ride scholarship to study the arts abroad in Florence, Italy, after winning a fine arts competition. With a traditional background in painting, drawing, and art history, I decided to branch out in my studies at John Cabot University in Rome in 2022. I am due to graduate with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a minor in Art and Design in May 2024. I currently work for a start-up film company, So Fare Films, as an Assistant Director and Production Designer on various projects including music videos and short documentaries that highlight diversity and culture. I aim to use my wide array of skills in poetics and visual storytelling to become an Art Director or Professor of Fine Arts, and continue to leverage stories that go untold.

Man with a movie camera

Seth Nardo | US

Run time: 5:00 min.

Synopsis:
A new short film rendition of the 1929 Man with a Movie Camera Film Part documentary and part cinematic art, this film follows a city in the 1920s Soviet Union throughout the day, from morning to night.

Mine takes place 100 years later filmed across the eastern United States filmed throughout day and night.

Life moves on fast but we must love every second we can.

Bio:
My name is Seth Nardo, I was a student here at West Virginia University. I’m a cinematographer and videographer who has been working full time as a film maker with passion projects and local business videos.

Film has always been a part of my life ever since I was a young child and it has always been a delight to make films on the screen and make people smile with cinematography.