FILM FESTIVAL | AASFF 2018 DAY 2
The Austrian Cultural Forum New York is pleased to present the 3rd edition of the Austrian American Short Film Festival (AASFF). Initiated and co-founded by ACFNY Director Christine Moser and AASFF Festival Curator Stephanie Falkeis, the festival runs from March 28 to 30, 2018 at the Austrian Cultural Forum New York. This year’s jury will be Barbara Albert, Marcia Nasatir, and Anne Goursaud.
PROGRAM FOR MARCH 29
6:30 PM SCREENING SESSION C
F***ing Drama by Michael Podogil, 17 min (Film Academy Vienna)
Confluence I by Jonah King, 9 min (Columbia University)
Samosa by Albin Wildner, 13 min (Film Academy Vienna)
7:30 PM SCREENING SESSION D
Tripoli, Lebanon by Julia Schmidt, 13 min (University of Applied Arts Vienna)
British by the Grace of God by Sean Dunn, 16 min (Columbia University)
Fishy by Joseph Sulsenti, 6:30 min (The School of Visual Arts)
8:30 PM Panel Discussion
Women in the Film Industry – Europe and Hollywood (Barbara Albert, Marcia Nasatir, Anne Goursaud, moderated by Stephanie Falkeis)
ABOUT THE FILMS
FUCKING DRAMA
A young couple in love experiences an evening of theater that changes their lives dramatically. A brutal confrontation with the zeitgeist.
CONFLUENCE I
‘Confluence I’ is a dance video co-choreographed and performed with pupils of South Point School, Varanasi, India. Students developed movements from moments in their everyday lives where they transform something from one state into another; gestures such as making coffee or turning plates from dirty to clean. The over-arching narrative is intended to illustrate how the children’s dreams come to haunt them during their waking life.
SAMOSA
Between family duties, Stella works early in the morning at a bar, to finance her studies. Long after the bar is closed, an unwanted stranger appears, which stella has to hide from her boss. SAMOSA is a movie about the conflict between traditional roles and an individual way, about the balance of power and the ability to stand your ground.
TRIPOLI, LEBANON
War changes. War makes us forget. But time lets us rediscover. In Tripoli, Lebanon a dome, meant to be an experimental theatre remains unfinished since the outbreak of the civil war in 1975. A forgotten place with a magic echo that is rediscovered by music and children.
BRITISH BY THE GRACE OF GOD
In a climate of hyped-up nationalism and an active distrust of the “other”, British by the Grace of God explores a family’s dysfunction and their inability to communicate. Irene is a middle-aged woman who loves her husband and reclusive son but is also somebody who is in search of something beyond her status quo.
FISHY
Stranded in the middle of the ocean from a devastating shipwreck, a sailor is saved in more ways than one when accompanied by a drag queen mermaid.
ABOUT AASFF
The Austrian American Short Film Festival is an annual three-day festival presented by the Austrian Cultural Forum New York. The festival features short films in all forms and genres by promising young artists and filmmakers from Austria and the United States. The mission of the AASFF is to increase intercultural dialogue and to foster interconnectivity and the exchange of ideas between Austria and the U.S. by providing a platform for young, emerging filmmakers. The festival also aims at introducing emerging Austrian talent to the U.S. film community as well as showcasing work by American filmmakers in Austria. Austrian and American films will be presented together, with 5 prizes awarded: Best Austrian Narrative, Best Austrian Experimental, Best US Narrative, Best US Experimental, and Best Woman Director/Story.
For further information about the festival, the jury and the curator please visit:
www.austrianamericanshortfilmfestival.org