Eye For Film >> Festivals >> Tribeca >> 2011 >> Short Films

The works in the 2011 TFF short film lineup are eligible to compete for combined cash and value-in-kind prizes totaling more than $15,000 for Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short and Student Visionary Award.

The recipient of the TFF Best Narrative Short award will qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the annual Academy Awards® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy rules.

Each selection is put into a themed programme, and they are listed below. Which programme a short falls into is listed in itallics. Student films are marked *:

• Off The Grid - Sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll are a few of the topics explored in these thought-provoking short documentaries.
• All For One - Positive thinking prevails in this group of inspiring short documentaries.
• All You Can Eat (Recommended for agese 14 and up) A tasty assortment of animated narrative shorts.
• Open 24 Hours - From the city that never sleeps, these New York narrative shorts show there’s no place like home.
• Mix Tape - Sit back, relax, and take a rhythmic ride around the world with these narrative shorts.
• Exit Strategies - Sticky situations and surprises create the perfect escape in this programme of narrative shorts.
• Impressions Of Memory - The manner in which images evoke memory.

View other Tribeca Festival Films by strand: Cinemania, Special Screenings and Galas, Spotlight, Viewpoints, World Documentary Feature Competition, World Narrative Feature Competition

Caretaker For The Lord and Picnic

After The Fire (Après le feu) (Year: 2010; Director: Jacques Perconte), Official Site

A few miles from Ajaccio, Corsica, burnt land is buckling under the weight of its colors...

Impressions Of Memory. North American premiere

All In All (Year: 2011; Director: Charlie Reff, Jacki Sextro; Writer: Charlie Reff, Jacki Sextro; Stars: Andrea Rosenthal, Ki-Hong Lee, Pamela Walworth, Mark Schroeder, Kurt Collins, Valerie Brandy), Official Site

Marissa and Jeremy finally share their feelings as Christian summer camp comes to an end.

Take As Directed. World premiere

The Beaufort Diaries (Year: 2010; Director: Alex Petrowsky; Writer: T Cooper; Stars: David Duchovny), Official Site

A polar bear in Hollywood has trouble going with the "floe".

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

Braid (Bian Zi) (Year: 2011; Director: Chun-Yi Hsieh; Writer: Chun-Yi Hsieh; Stars: Xiao-Feng Qiu, Jun­-Jie Du, Rong-Qi Hua, Zi-Qi Xi, Yu-Zhen Xiao, Qiang Li), Official Site

Ting misses her mum, Jie misses his wife, and a kitten becomes a catalyst.

Take As Directed. World premiere*

Brink (Year: 2010; Director: Shawn Christensen; Writer: Shawn Christensen; Stars: Justin Chatwin, Allison Huntington Chase), Official Site, Trailer

It's all about the gravity of the situation.

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

Last Resort and Braid

Bunny (Year: 2010; Director: Robert Snow; Writer: Robert Snow, Ryan Demler; Stars: John Barbieri, Scott Clark, Griffin Hyde, Brooke Hoover, Natalie Toth), Official Site

A nine-year-old boy enlists the help of his best friend to get his rabbit back.

Take As Directed. World premiere*

Bye Bye Super 8 (Year: 2010; Director: Johan Kramer), Official Site, Trailer

A tribute to the film that has the most beautiful colors of the world.

Impressions Of Memory. US premiere

Caretaker For The Lord (Country: UK; Year: 2009; Director: Jane McAllister)

A documentary about the community in a neglected Glasgow church and their struggle for survival.

Full Review

Off The Grid. New York premiere*

Challenging Impossibility (Year: 2011; Director: Sanjay Rawal and Natabara Rollosson; Stars: Bill Pearl, Frank Zane, Hugo Girard, Carl Lewis, Mike Katz, Wayne Demilla), Official Site, Trailer

It's mind over matter, literally, for spiritual leader and peace advocate Sri Chinmoy.

One For All. World premiere

Cheat (Year: 2010; Director: Joe DeRosa; Writer: Joe DeRosa, Robert Kelly, Bill Burr; Stars: Joe DeRosa, Bill Burr, Robert Kelly, Colin Quinn, Bonnie McFarlane, Rich Vos), Official Site

Three friends are on a mission to pull off the perfect score.

Open 24 Hours. World premiere

Nightlife and Summer Snapshot

Cold Blood (Sang froid) (Year: 2011; Director: Martin Thibaudeau; Writer: Martin Thibaudeau; Stars: Julie Roussel, André Kasper Kolstad), Official Site, Trailer

An exhausted mother brings her terrified child to the hospital.

Take As Directed. International premiere

Coming Out (Komma Ut) (Year: 2011; Director: Jerry Carlsson; Writer: Jerry Carlsson; Stars: Charlie Gustafsson, Deirdre Ross, Anders Danielsson), Official Site, Trailer

Joel has finally made up his mind, or so he thinks, in Coming Out.

Mix Tape. World premiere

Crash&Burn (Year: 2011; Director: Rick Rodgers; Writer: Rick Rodgers; Stars: Julia Brightly, Robert Leaver)

Two-man rock duo Crash&Burn is turned upside down when Burn decides to have transgender surgery.

Off The Grid. World premiere

Current (Reprise) (Year: 2010; Director: Brian Doyle; Writer: Brian Doyle), Official Site

During the first ticker-tape parade since 9/11, a desolate New York City is consumed, erased by a blanket of information.

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Dead Cat (Year: 2011; Director: Jay Reiss; Writer: Daniel Milder; Stars: Ethan Sandler, Nate Mooney, Michael Weston, Lance Barber, Josh Weinstein), Official Site

Roger hit a cat but it's not quite dead, so he and his friends have to finish the job.

Exit Strategies. World premiere

Brink and Preferably Blue

Down This Road (Year: 2010; Director: Vinz Feller; Writer: Paul Leo; Stars: Paul Calderon, Brandon Ratcliff, Delissa Reynolds), Official Site, Trailer

Twelve-year-old Rodney tries to regain the love of his wayward dad.

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

The Dungeon Master (Year: 2011; Director: Rider Strong, Shiloh Strong; Writer: Rider Strong, Shiloh Strong; Stars: Adam Busch, Alexander Polinsky, Chris Wylde, Travis Schuldt, Chad Crone), Official Site

Shane and his friends thought it would be fun to recapture their geeky youth until The Dungeon Master arrived.

Mix Tape. New York premiere

The D Train (Year: 2011; Director: Jay Rosenblatt), Official Site

An old man reflects on his entire life. How quickly it all goes by...

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Each Moment Is The Universe (Year: 2010; Director: Bruce Thierry Cheung; Writer: Jeremy Craig Cheung; Stars: Vittavas Teeta, Salitgaeert Jeemoon, Natthakan Wiwatkitsakul, Chananon Chomphusri, Supoj Insamean, Pratya Mothan), Official Site

A boy is reborn with memories of his previous lives and tries to fix the mistakes of the past.

Exit Strategies. North American premiere*

Eva - Working Title (Eva - Shem Zmani) (Year: 2010; Director: Dor Fadlon; Writer: Dor Fadlon; Stars: Evelin Kachulin, Dror Dahan)

An aspiring actress has trouble after the shooting stops.

Exit Strategies. International premiere*

Love, Lots Of It and Incident In New Baghdad

Filmpiece For Bartlett (Year: 2010; Director: Scott Nyerges), Official Site

A tribute to the late experimental filmmaker Scott Bartlett.

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Garden Roll Bounce Parking Lot (Year: 2010; Director: Melissa Friedling; Stars: Phalguni Sultana, Francis Rahul)

Pop culture and land-use practices converge in Brooklyn, where a Bangladeshi immigrant family recalls the found film that formed the overhead lattice support for their urban garden.

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Grandpa Looked Like William Powell (Year: 2010; Director: David B. Levy; Writer: David B. Levy; Stars: David B. Levy)

A 1924 high school autograph book bridges the generation gap.

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

Gravity (Þyngdarafl) (Year: 2010; Director: Logi Hilmarsson; Writer: Logi Hilmarsson; Stars: Magnea Valdimarsdóttir, Magnús Guðmundssom, Damon Younger)

Gravity is about friendship, love, space aliens, cocaine, and handicaps, not necessarily in that order.

Exit Strategies. International premiere

The Green Wave (Year: 2011; Director: Ken Jacobs)

A stereograph of an ocean wave breaking is suspended in time as it reshapes in time and in depth. 3-D for both two-eyed and single-eyed viewers.

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Just That Sort of a Day and Noreen

Guru (Year: 2011; Director: Jonathan VanBallenberghe; Writer: Jonathan VanBallenberghe; Stars: Peter Scott), Official Site

A charismatic motivational speaker privately battles bipolar disorder.

Off The Grid. World premiere

Harmonium Mountain (Year: 2010; Director: Clifford Ross), Official Site

An imaginary landscape of colorful, animated elements derived entirely from one high-resolution photographic image of Colorado's Mount Sopris, the latest step in Clifford Ross' exploration of objective reality and subjective experience.

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

Hauraki (Year: 2010; Director: Kirsten Green; Writer: Dianne Taylor; Stars: Jennifer Ludlum, Coco Lovatt, Sophie Henderson, Kevin Wilson, Matt Gillanders)

The little girl in Hauraki gives the grown-ups a lesson in compassion.

Mix Tape. World premiere

The Ignorant Bliss Of Sun And Moon (Year: 2010; Director: John Hyams; Writer: Bill Gullo; Stars: Scott Sowers)

Luck finally comes one man's way.

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere

Incident In New Baghdad (Year: 2010; Director: James Spione)

A US Army veteran's personal experience in and out of the war zone.

Off The Grid. World premiere

Bye Bye Super 8 and Cold Blood

In The Spirit Of Laxmi (Year: 2010; Director: Meghan Shea, Michael Rogers; Stars: Gerhard Weihahn, Laxmi), Official Site

A hotel manager commits to raising an injured leopard cub and reintroducing it into the wild.

One For All. New York premiere

Just That Sort of a Day (Year: 2010; Director: Abhay Kumar; Writer: Abhay Kumar)

Follow the lives of seemingly random characters.

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

The Kiss (Country: Australia; Year: 2010; Director: Nicole Gulasekharam, Briony Kent; Writer: Ashlee Page; Stars: Nicole Gulasekharam, Briony Kent), Official Site

Fueled by alcohol and hormones, Aimee and Steph take a swim on a hot summer night.

Mix Tape. North American premiere

Last Resort (Último Recurso) (Year: 2010; Director: Barney Elliott; Writer: Barney Elliott, Silvana Aguirre; Stars: Alberick Garcia, Mónica Rossi), Official Site

When Cesar finds himself without options he carjacks Marcia.

Take As Directed. New York premiere

Loose Change (Year: 2011; Director: Phil Botti; Writer: Phil Botti; Stars: Carmine Famiglietti, Graciela Lecube, Annie Basulto, Madeline Deferrari), Official Site

It's a Brooklyn tale about Jimmy, his senile landlord, and the ice cream that brings them together.

Open 24 Hours. World premiere

Loose Change and Challenging Impossibility

A Lost And Found Box Of Human Sensation (Year: 2010; Director: Martin Wallner, Stefan Leuchtenberg; Writer: Martin Wallner; Stars: Joseph Fiennes, Ian McKellen, Richard McCowen), Official Site

A man's journey through grief is revealed.

All You Can Eat. New York premiere*

Love, Lots Of It (Year: 2011; Director: Rob Feld; Writer: Rob Feld; Stars: Campbell Scott, Kathleen McElfresh, McCaleb Burnett)

The story of a woman, a man, and a mysterious box.

Exit Strategies. World premiere

Man And Boy (Year: 2010; Director: David Leon, Marcus McSweeney; Writer: Rashid Rasaq, David Leon; Stars: Eddie Marsan, Geoff Bell, Calum McNab, Eddie Webber)

A father takes justice into his own hands when he thinks his son has been sexually assaulted.

Take As Directed. New York premiere

Mr Stache (Year: 2011; Director: Rich Sommer, Amy Smart; Writer: Jac Schaeffer; Stars: Rich Sommer, Amy Smart), Official Site

Experience the awesome adventures of a man and his moustache.

Mix Tape. World premiere

Nightlife (Year: 2011; Director: Shandor Garrison; Writer: Shandor Garrison; Stars: Adam Soto, Olivia Whelan, Antone Pagan)

Two Manhattan teenagers make an unexpected connection.

Open 24 Hours. World premiere*

The Ride and Switch

Noreen (Year: 2010; Director: Domhnall Gleeson; Writer: Domhnall Gleeson; Stars: Brendan Gleeson, Brian Gleeson, Gerard Byrne), Official Site

Two cops discover a dead body in a cottage and get more than they bargained for.

Mix Tape. New York premiere

Not Over Easy (Year: 2010; Director: Jordan Canning; Writer: Jody Richardson, Jordan Canning; Stars: Rachel Wilson, Aaron Poole), Official Site

Love isn't what it's cracked up to be.

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

One Day I Forgot And Used My Hands (Year: 2011; Stars: Ethan Chia), Official Site

Children use their hands to make a telescope, so why can't a filmmaker use his hands to make a lens? It works!

Impressions Of Memory. US premiere

One Over Wanderlust (Year: 2010; Director: Brendon Kingsbury; Writer: Brendon Kingsbury)

There are two characters in this story, the past and the present. Present knows past, but past does not know present. With nostalgia as their language, a mutual realisation is sought.

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Paper (Year: 2010; Director: Egill Kristbjornsson; Writer: Egill Kristbjornsson), Official Site

An experimental short film designed to explore texture in moving image.

Impressions Of Memory. World premiere*

Filmpiece For Bartlett and Cheat

Pentecost (Year: 2010; Director: Peter Macdonald; Writer: Peter McDonald; Stars: Scott Graham, Andrew Bennet, Michael McElhatton, Don Wycherley, Eamon Hunt, Des Nealon), Official Site

When altar boy Damian receives a priestly pep talk he has a decision to make in Pentecost.

Exit Strategies. International premiere

The Philosopher (Year: 2010; Director: Abdulla Alkaabi; Writer: Abdulla Alkaabi; Stars: Jean Reno, Cyrille Thouvenin), Official Site

A successful man abandons his worldly possessions for a purpose.

Take As Directed. New York premiere

Picnic (Year: 2011; Director: Gerardo Herrero; Writer: Gerardo Herrero; Stars: Sveta Zhukovska, Nacho Medina, Alejandro Rodríguez, Irene Paumard, Marko Mihailovic), Official Site

A restful day turns tense for a family.

Exit Strategies. US premiere

Preferably Blue (Year: 2011; Director: Alan Dickson; Stars: Harry Enfield, Mike Drew, Norman Forsey), Official Site

A lonely and bitter Easter Bunny hatches a plan to steal the spotlight from Santa.

All You Can Eat. New York premiere

The Ride (Year: 2011; Director: Anthony LaPaglia, Ed Speleers, Emer Kenny; Writer: Marion Pilowsky; Stars: Anthony LaPaglia, Ed Speleers, Emer Kenny)

A student accepts a lift from a stranger but The Ride leads to unexpected consequences.

Mix Tape. World premiere

Eva - Working Title and Not Over Easy

Rooms (Year: 2011; Director: Joanna Jurewicz; Writer: Joanna Jurewicz; Stars: Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Gill Gayle)

A hotel housekeeper dreams of home.

Mix Tape. World premiere*

Sleep (Schlaf) (Year: 2010; Director: Claudius Gentinetta, Frank Braun; Writer: Claudius Gentinetta), Official Site

Sleep. Full breath ahead into the final sleep. A lullaby with closed eyes for a silent decline.

Impressions Of Memory. US premiere

Smut Capital Of America (Year: 2010; Director: Michael Stabile; Writer: Michael Stabile; Stars: John Waters, Kathryn Reed, Marty Rosenthal, John Summers, Don Romesburg, Jeffrey Escoffier), Official Site

It's San Francisco, sex, and the First Amendment in Smut Capital Of America.

Off The Grid. World premiere

Storm Up The Sky (Year: 2010; Director: Jon Kauffman; Writer: Jon Kauffman; Stars: Richard Masur, Dan Pfau, Dan Shaked), Official Site

Brothers Caleb and Aaron are at odds over their religious beliefs.

Open 24 Hours. New York premiere*

Strips (Year: 2010; Director: Felix Dufour-Laperriere), Official Site

Masculine noun, shortened form of striptease. From "strip," to remove, to take away; and "tease," to entice, to tempt. And then all this in plural.

Impressions Of Memory. New York premiere

Sun City Picture House and In The Spirit Of Laxmi

Summer Snapshot (Year: 2010; Director: Ian McCluskey; Stars: Anna Farrell, Ed Jahn, Bethany Jones, Allissa Wickham, Aron Stephens, Audrey Kovar, Adam Lucas, Tate Peterson, Sean O'Neill, Stefanie Vermillion, Kelly Godell), Official Site

In Summer Snapshot a group of friends reflect on a special sun-kissed day.

One For All. New York premiere

Sun City Picture House (Year: 2010; Director: David Darg), Official Site

A community in Haiti rallies to build a cinema.

One For All. World premiere

Switch (Year: 2011; Director: Thomas Hefferon; Writer: TJ Hundtofte, Thomas Hefferon; Stars: Jane McGrath, Lesley Conroy, Barry Barnes), Official Site

Two years after a traumatic car accident that leaves a girl in a vegetative state, the man responsible attempts to atone.

Take As Directed. World premiere

The Terms (Country: UK; Year: 2009; Director: Jason LaMotte; Writer: Jason LaMotte, Mike McCormack; Stars: Gary Lewis, Ciaran Flynn), Official Site

A father and son forge a twisted pact.

Exit Strategies. New York premiere

Year Zero (Year: 2010; Director: Richard Cunningham III; Writer: Richard Cunningham III; Stars: Pat Rigby, Tim Brennan, Richard Cunningham III, Pierre Beausejour, Christina George, Bridget Carroll), Official Site

A sole survivor battles the zombie apocalypse in New York City.

All You Can Eat. World premiere