MORE ROOFTOP ALUMS
AMONG THE SUNDANCE SHORTS

By Rooftop Films on 12/09/2008

Last week we listed the Rooftop alums showing features at Sundance in January, but there are also a bunch of short films playing that were made by filmmakers who have shown films at Rooftop previously. Hopefully we will see you all out in Park City in January.

"I Am So Proud Of You," Director: Don Hertzfeldt. Dark family secrets cast a shadow over Bill's recovery; in this second chapter to Don Hertzfeldt's 'Everything will be OK'. (Winner of the 2007 Sundance Film Festival Short Film Grand Jury Prize, U.S.). We gave a Rooftop Filmmakers' Fund grant to Don for I am So Proud of You, and also screened the first part of this series, Everything Will Be Ok in 2007.

"HUG," Director: Khary Jones. Drew is a musician with a contract ready to sign. When Asa, his friend and manager, realizes Drew is off his meds the across-town drive to sign the contract becomes significantly more complicated. We showed Khary's Three and a Half Thoughts in 2007.

"Trece Anos," Director: Topaz Adizes. A young man returns home to his family in Cuba for the first time in 13 years experiencing a divide greater than physical distance. We've shown two films by Topaz: Seven Miles Alone and City.

"Utopia, Part 3: The World's Largest Shopping Mall," Directors: Sam Green, Carrie Lozano. A tour of the world's largest shopping mall, located near Guangzhou, China. Built three years ago, the South China Mall was supposed to be a celebration of consumerism and Vegas-like spectacle. We showed Sam's fantastic Pie Fight '69 way back in 2000.

"Field Notes From Dimension X: Oasis," Director: Carson Mell. Captain Fred T. Rogard muses in isolation on planet Oasis. We showed Carson's films Bobby Bird and Chonto in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

"Hot Dog," Director: Bill Plympton. Our plucky hero joins the fire company to save the world from house fires and gain the affection he so richly deserves. Typically, the results never turn out the way he planned. We have shown many films by Bill, including Hot Dog, which screened with us this past summer.

"Western Spaghetti," Director: PES..Everyday objects become delicious ingredients as we learn how to cook spaghetti through stop-motion. We have shown many films by PES, including Pee-Nut, Kaboom, and, of course, Roof Sex.

"The Real Place" / Canada, Director: Cam Christiansen; Screenwriter: Blake Brooker
An animated poetic film celebrating the life and spirit of playwright and librettist John Murrell. We showed Cam's I Have Seen the Future in 2008.

"Steel Homes" / UK, Director: Eva Weber. Self-storage units are windows into human histories: the silent cells with their discarded objects and dust-covered furniture are inscribed with past dreams, secret hopes and of lives we cannot let go. We screened Eva's City of Cranes in 2008.

"Lies" / Sweden, Director: Jonas Odell. Three perfectly true stories about lying. In three episodes based on documentary interviews we meet the burglar who, when found out, claims to be a moonlighting accountant, the boy who finds himself lying and confessing to a crime he didn't commit and the woman whose whole life has been a chain of lies. We screened Jonas' Never Like the First time in 2008.

"A Mate" / Finland, Director: Teemu Nikki; Screenwriters: Teemu Nikki and Jani Poesoe
Pera wants to try something kinky in the bathroom and he asks his straight mate to help him. However, Pera's wife comes home a bit too soon. We showed A Mate this past summer.