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| Swinguerra - part of the 2023 Glasgow Short Film Festival Photo: Wagner & de Burca |
Small but perfectly formed, Glasgow's 2023 Short Film Festival looks to continue many of the features that make it one of Eye For Film's favourite festivals.
This is the festival's 16th edition, and since its 2008 beginnings with The Magic Lantern it has grown in scale, scope, and Scottish programming. With a dedicated award (the Bill Douglas), audience and jury prizes, GSFF has time and again served as both an incubator and indicator of talent.
With at least 152 films, from A90 to Zoon, the range of subjects and styles is vast. I've often remarked that short film is the best film, but GSFF's wildly agnostic approach to terminology means that often the best film is 'short film'. While there's nothing approaching the sprawling Park Lanes (480 minutes) this year, Soda Jerk bring Hello Dankness. Their Terror Nullius was an opening gala previously, and while they again look likely to stretch the definition of 'short' it's as well to suggest the distinction is perhaps as meaningful as that between prose and poetry.
That said, there might be more money in poetry than short film. As part of the industry focus, events include a panel on Festival Models In Times Of Crisis. Though moving from February to March enabled GSFF to escape from under the eaves of Glasgow Film Festival, the ides of the pandemic saw it cancelled with less than a week's notice. One of many festivals to move to an online-only model during restrictions, it set a high bar in terms of accessibility and access that many festivals not only failed to meet but have failed to learn from. You may have seen discussion about SXSW jurors dealing with lacklustre subtitling, but ways of thinking about festivals can, and frankly must, change.
The opening event is a multi-disciplinary and intersectional spectacle. OMOS features Ambroise Leclerc (cinematography), Andrea Baker (mezzo soprano), Divine Tasinda (dance), Kheanna Walker (pole artist), and Rhys Hollis (cabaret). Filmed in Stirling Castle and Puck's Glen, it is inspired in part by A Midsummer Night's Dream and a performance for James VI where a lion (perhaps not Snug's role within Pyramus and Thisbe) was played by an unknown black man.
Festival stalwarts For Shorts and Giggles, Family Shorts and Scared Shortless return. A series of Lebanese shorts screens in partnership with Beirut Shorts [Festival]. The Spatial Hunger strand explores trauma both personal and political, and includes screenings of the harrowing alternative documentaries Rubber Coated Steel and Handbook. As a further retrospective strand Bárbara Wagner and Benjamin de Burca's hybrid musicals, including One Hundred Steps. They exist in a similar vein as Neon Phantom. To return to discussion of online festivals, this was one of many films I found improved by a pre-recorded Q&A. Not least because anyone who had more of a comment than a question was voiceless and at home.
I've doubtless left stuff out. It might have 'short' in the name and take place over what amounts to a long weekend, but GSFF has ever been a treasure trove of filmmaking. I often make reference to the diagram on the wall of many butcher shops: the intent is not to eat the whole thing but to pick the cuts you want. In this somewhat less carnivorous age it might be better to talk about low-hanging fruit. By making short film this accessible to audiences, GSFF provides rich pickings.
While we'll doubtless mention the drinks sponsors when we're covering the awards ceremony, GSFF's most potent contributions don't have little umbrellas in them. If you look back over Eye For Film's coverage you'll see names you'll recognise, and plenty you'll soon know. There's an old saw I've heard about most places where if you don't like the weather you should just wait a few minutes. Short film does that without the risk of either you or your whistle getting wet, and Glasgow's short film festival is full of meaty anthologies. Whether man or beast (or virus) will attempt to disrupt this festival is in the lap of the gods, but barring disaster Eye For Film will be there with bells (or something more drinkable) on.
