We Like ‘Em Short

Festival Program
Baker City, OR

15

years

August 22-25, 2024

TableofContents

Welcome 											Page 2Thursday 8 PM

Pages 3-6

Free Family Drive In							Friday 7 PM												Pages 6-9
Saturday 1 PM 											Page 9-11
Saturday 7 PM											Page 11-14
Sunday 6 PM												Page 14-17
Awards												Page 18-22

Marketing support for We Like ‘Em Short was generously provided by
Baker County Cultrual Coalition
Churchill School and Travel Baker County

1We Like ‘Em Short Film Festival
Year number 15!!! in our little town of Baker City, OR. What a wild ride it’s been with so manyamazing filmmakers over the years and dedicated volunteers. I fell very lucky that WLES hasgrown and continued to be inspiring all these years.
Opening night is a FREE drive-in screening with the rest of screenings being held in the Dancehall at Churchill School.
159 films were submitted from 32 different countries. 42 student films were included in that, therest came from established filmmakers. I want to thank the new and returning members of the selection committee that help to curate what you get to see each year. Their input and dedication topicking the best films is what makes this festival so much fun to work on. I couldn’t do it without
them.
Through out the weekend we will have Q+As with filmmakers that are in attendance and as
always we have a wide range of styles and creative approaches to storytelling. This year for the
first time we are letting you the audience pick ALL of the Award Winners. That’s right at every
screening you attend you can vote for your favorite film, favorite directors, actors and student
films. In the awards section of the program there will be ballots that you can take out and turn infor us to tally up and the end of WLES. Hopefully you enjoy this change and get out and Vote!
WLES is funded in part by donations, promotional help from Travel Baker County, GO! Magazine and a grant from the Baker County Cultural Coalition. We are so pleased you came to enjoy
one of the many great events Baker County has to offer and now it’s time to enjoy the shorts!
Sincerely,

Brian Vegter
WLES Festival Director

2Thursday, August 22tnd
Sunset screening 8:00 pm *Family Appropriate*
Opening Night is a first come first parked Drive In screening!!!
( you are also welcome to bring lawn chairs and sit outside your vehicle)“Goro Goro” (run time 3:07m - country of origin USA) Director Ryotaro Sawada, Agatha
Tiara Christa

Goro Goro follows the story of Daigoro, a baby thunder god, who dreams of being as powerful as
his father. Through his thunderous journey, he realizes that he can achieve his dreams in his own
unique way.

“Honky Dory” ( 6:02m - USA) Director Steven Vander Meer		

Hunky Dory juxtaposes scenes of animal life with images of human existence, observing the quirky
and unexpected ways in which we are similar. The meticulously hand-drawn animation is a visualsmorgasbord, moving and morphing in perfect time to the banjo music of Béla Fleck and his bandmates in My Bluegrass Heart.

“Going Up?” ( 3:35 m - USA) Directed by Dillon Ralph William Valenzuela
When a hotel guest pushes his buttons, an elevator operator gets a new perspective on his job.

“Horsegirl” ( 1:00m - USA) Director AP “Pinkie” Davis		Animated comedy short “Horsegirl” by AP “Pinkie” Davis (best known for contributions toSpongeBob Squarepants) puts you in the saddle of a kid’s TV show focus group!

“A Brick Story” ( 2:43m - USA) Director David Wittkower
		After a roof construction job, a worker has some bricks left over and tries to remove them.

3

Thursday, August 22ndscreening (continued)“I am a Chair” ( 1:09m - UK) Director Mingzhu Jing
The story serves as a metaphor for the multitude of ordinary individuals in real life. The chairthrough introspective monologue shares its experiences both painful and beautiful; Because of its
most basic state, it is also envious of other chairs. Almost like humans who often find themselves
perplexed due to their ordinary status, constantly longing for the radiance and distinctiveness ofothers. However, in the end, it comes to the realisation that everyone is unique, with their own
challenges to confront and intrinsic value.

“Jim’s Interview” ( 3:55 secs - USA) Director David Michael Wolfe
When Jim oversleeps his alarm, it’s a race against time to get to his job interview.

“nubbinwood” ( 7:50m - USA) Director Tim Granberg
A beaver recounts his experiences as an actor following his dream to be in the movies.

“The Clash Between Good & Evil” (0:30 sec. - USA) Director JaeYoon Whang
Son returns home with a bruised eye. When his mother asked him how did he get it, he tells anunbelievable story of what happened on his way home.

4Thursday, August 22ndscreening (continued)“Supertramp” ( 6:39m - UK) Director Fabrizio GammardellaA stray puppy gets rescued by a sweet, little girl, finally finding a family he can live with. But Destiny has something else in store for the dog, who ends up on the street once again.

“The Toad in the Hole” ( 0:55 sec - USA) Director Oliver BrubakerA breakfast loving grandpa cooks his favorite food of “toad in the hole” when to his surprise, itcomes to life and sings a catchy tune!

“Ana Morphose” ( 10:00m - Portugal) Director Joao Rodrigues
A little girl reads herself to sleep. As she dozes off, the physical world starts melting into an alternate reality where the contents of a book rule over the laws of physics.
Ana has to escape being swallowed by the overwhelming accumulation of printed knowledge andfind her own space in a world where nothing is what it seems.

“I Believe We Are Lost” ( 2:02m - USA) Director Peter Whittenberger
Set in the not-too-distant future, I Believe We Are Lost follows two figures exploring a perpetuallyburning landscape. Decimated by fires in a post-water environment, the terrain struggles to sustain
wildlife in a constantly degraded atmosphere. The absence of all natural presence begins to define
the new world.

“Tuk Tuk” ( 4:34m - USA) Director Pavin Chaisua, Louie Corrons
A Bangkok taxi driver picks up an elephant customer that turns into a wild ride in the city.

5

Thursday, August 22ndscreening (continued)“Hinter-Land” ( 13:02m - Canada) Director Christopher Angus
A musical gardener ejects his hired hand, leading to things on his little planet going horribly astray.

Friday, August 23rd
7PM Screening“Helen of Troy’s” (4:15m - UK) Director Nick Flügge
Starring, written and produced by Lia Hatzakis, alongside director Nick Flügge, Helen of Troy’s isa semi-auto-biographical tale of small town frustrated ambition, broken dreams and magical fish.
While everyone including her boyfriend has gone off to Uni in Brum to “have all the sex”, Helen isstuck still working at Troy’s, her Dad’s fish ‘n’ chip shop, dreaming of escaping the drudgery of her
working class life.

“Adieu Gaston” ( 15:00m - France) Director Victor Guilbaud
Emile is a contract killer. A hired killer who travels by bicycle and who kills in exchange for a few
tickets left in a small mailbox lost in the middle of the fields. This time, the man to be slaughteredis named Gaston Pouget and lives at 7 rue des Peupliers: a shed on the edge of a highway. Only
here, when arriving on the scene: - SURPRIIISE!!! Emile is surprised by a birthday in honor of
Gaston which should, a priori, arrive soon. Emile was not invited.

6Friday, August 23rd
(continued)“Almost Home” ( 1:25m - UK) Director Jiahao Lit

Albert shared a childhood memory with his robot nanny. Years later, the war between humans androbots broke out. He came back to the old street where now had become a battlefield.

“Awaiting the Sun” ( 6:10m - Indonesia) Director Monica Maheswari W. Indralista
Gadhing (9) and Noer (7) were separated from their father and a group of Semarang residents during the evacuation. They chased their cat which ran away to their house. When Noer saw the flower
painting, she heard sounds of soldiers, making them hide. Then, there was an explosion that caused
their house to be destroyed and fell on them. However, they survived and immediately ran outside.

“Coffee and Yellow Roses” ( 15:24m - USA) Director Paul L Hugins“What exactly happened last night?”
Over a cup of coffee, two people try to remember a particularly rowdy night. Together they start torecall “memories” that include terrible dates, monsters and emotional confessions.

“Hemorrhage” ( 4:07m - USA) Director Ruth Hayes
Animated agit-prop: against the end of Roe and the evisceration of women’s rights to choose.

“Like Mother” ( 7:45m - Canada) Director Lisa Drupsteen
A young woman navigates her romantic life while trying her best to dodge her mother’s demons.
Will she have the strength to break the cycle of manipulation? Or simply fall victim to the old adage: “Like Mother, Like Daughter”...

7

Friday, August 23rd
(continued)“Lonely” ( 4:04m - Brazil) Director Filipe Consoni

Lonely is the first animated short film from Brazilian director Filipe Consoni.
It follows the story of a nameless character struggling through her day-to-day feelings of lonelinessand isolation with a dreamlike solitude that draws one in. As she’s on the edge of giving up, something unexpected happens.

“Love Bubbles” ( 7:34m - Switzerland) Director Marcel Hobi
Floating on a pink cloud as a couple is easy.
It is much more difficult to cope with everyday life and the future together - an amusing relationship drama.

“Red Snow” ( 8:15m - Israel) Director Jonathan Dumosch
Arthur fears losing his son, whose serving in a military operation. This brings up repressed memories from Arthur’s past as a mercenary.

“Over Inking” ( 2:56m - USA) Director Molly Mignano
Worried about the permanence of deciding her first tattoo, a young woman confides in an unexpected expert in the topic.

“Sharp Knives and Sugar Blood” ( 1:28m - USA) Director Summer Purks
Timid Pepper witnesses a stabbing within her own home. To assure her roommate isn’t in danger,
she must put her aside her anxieties and investigate.

8

Friday, August 23rd
(continued)“Sandcastles” ( 5:42m - UK) Director Meredith Stewart
A wistful child re-lives a memory close to their heart.

“Lighter’s Twist” ( 1:07m - Ukraine) Director Mark Kravchenko
The animated film “Lighter’s Twist” is the creation of 14-year-old schoolboy from Kyiv, craftedin December 2023. At the heart of this animated tale is an unusual dialogue about smoking and therandom events that turn ordinary moments upside down.

“Tzitzipongo” ( 14:38m - Greece) Director Pavlos Sifakis
On his last day of vacation in Greece, a young dad working abroad embarks on a quest to find a
precious ice-cream hoping to please his grumpy son.

Saturday, August 24th
1:00 pm screening *Family Appropriate*“Aki” ( 4:07m - Taiwan) Director Wanci Hua
Aki, a beginner chef, must make a delicious meal for the emperor’s banquet. When things don’t go
as planned, he turns to his friends for support.

9Saturday, August 24th
1:00 pm (continued) *Family Appropriate*“Bird Drone” ( 8:55m - Australia) Director Radheya Jang Jegatheva
A heartfelt story of unrequited love explored through a lonely seagull struggling to accept that his
newfound object of affection is a human-operated drone with a limited battery life.

“Cod & Chips” ( 2:00m - Ireland) Director Matt Pidgeon
A young man wants to end it all, but is hampered by a noisy seagull. Can he find a way back fromthe edge?

“Dying to Defrost” ( 5:53m - Singapore) Director Heather Ann Abeyasekera
This poor vampire has lived through the centuries, freezing down to the marrow! She’s at the end ofher tether and she’s had enough. She’s gonna do whatever it takes to feel the warmth on her skin, or
it’ll be the death of her, AGAIN!!

“Epicycle” ( 7:13m - Canada) Director Deb Ethier
A surreal experimental animated allegory of the cyclical rise, fall and evolution of social order fromrigid regimentation to wonder and freedom.

“Glimpses” ( 5:25m - USA) Director Peter Litwinowicz
Joyously bright, colorful, and animated panels are sewn together to accentuate moments of life
viewed through windows and doorways.

“Grizzly Business” ( 3:46m - USA) Director Kyle Nelson
A grizzly bear escapes from the city zoo. A man works late on his wedding anniversary.

10Saturday, August 24th
1:00 pm (continued)“Out Near Winnie” ( 3:51m - USA) Director Marcelese Cooper
STORY DRIVE Entry #007 - A man recounts a wild goose chase in Winnie, TX.

“Shrinking Skirmish” ( 4:58m - USA) Director Cassie Volkin
You will be taken to a world that you have not yet seen, but whether you ever see it is yet to be
seen.

“I’m Leaving” ( 3:34m - Germany) Director Michelle Brand
As the night comes, the journey begins. Running rushing, racing. Unbound from time and swept
away by the night’s surreal cascade of lights, we leave day-life behind.

Saturday, August 24th
7 PM screening“Assurdità su Larga Scala, Volume 4: I Pescatori”( 4:50m - Cyprus) Director Charalambos Margaritis

In a room of antiquated treasures, a broken automaton sings.

“Wild Eye Pub” ( 14:59m - Czech Republic) Director Filip Nerold
Are you tired of watching depressing or overly serious short films over and over again? Our film
will introduce you to the world of alcoholic hideouts and absurd attempts to get love. During an
unplanned visit to a local taproom called „Wild Eye Pub“, the person of Death succumbs not only
to a sudden love affair, but also to a number of other deadly mistakes and absurd situations.

11Saturday, August 24th
7 PM screening(continued)“Sfumato #2 - Political Asylum” ( 3.38m - USA) Director Jim Middleton
The 230 year history of the US Capitol is reviewed in 230 animated seconds.

“Goodbye, Woojoo” ( 6:19m - Republic of Korea) Director Dahyun Jeon
On a cold winter morning, Myeongkyung gets on a train with Woojoo and brings back her memories for a moment.

“Ice Rink” ( 10:15m - China) Director Ziyin Wang
The story revolves around me as the protagonist, reminiscing about past memories while sitting
alone under a tree in front of the ice rink late at night. Feeling uncertain about the future and confused by past memories, I contemplate.

“If Only We Had Eyes To See” ( 3:34m - USA) Director Peter Whittenberger
If Only We Had Eyes To See explores how quickly fortunes can change for gatekeepers of safety,
natural resources, and wealth in the ravages of climate change. Trapped by antiquated concepts ofnationalism and land rights, a lone figure is left to find safety in an world that denies migration as afundamental human right.

“Rik&Ade..Little Bastards!!” ( 2:36m - Spain) Director Patrick Cox
Watch this little film. Then message your best friends and arrange to meet up. A well-being & wellness information short animated story, about an important life nugget of information.
Spend more time with the people who make you laugh. Made in Spain.

12Saturday, August 24th
7 PM screening (continued)“Not Surgery Hours” ( 7:03m - UK) Director Tia Salisbury
Dr Goldsworth is on an idyllic marathon training run when she’s derailed by anxious patient Geoff,
who’s desperate for medical advice for his intimate problem and won’t take no for an answer.

“One-Minute Mistake” ( 14:32m - USA) Director Joan Carol Gratz
The One-Minute Mistake is a collection of eight shorts based on the theme error; be it in science,
taste, decisions or personal choice.
The individual directors are Jim Blashfield, Chel White, Martin Cooper, Marilyn Zornado, Janet
Perlman, Diane Obomsawin, Chris Hinton, and Joan Gratz“The Monster” ( 5:08m - Republic of Korea) Director RUBY YANG, BOMIN KIM
In a cabin at a camping site deep in the forest, three girl scout children sit together and talk about
scary stories, and encounter a small strange monster that came into the cabin.
Children who fall in love with cute monster have a good time with them without expecting what
will happen in the future…

“Sight For Sore Eyes” ( 5:55m - Canada) Director Trevor Meyer
To impress her partner, a young woman struggles to transition from glasses to contact lenses.

“The Entire Lifespan Of A Mayfly” ( 12:52m - USA) Director Samip Raval
When Jimmy gets stood up on a first date, to his surprise, the dating app sets him up with a substitute date who fills in for his no-show and saves his night.

13

Saturday, August 24th
7 PM screening (continued)“Dracula’s Super Scary Halloween ” ( 5:24m - USA) Director Kevin Maher, Joe

Dator

A new take on the Dracula story, combining horror and comedy. Rendered in pen and ink, in acrosshatched style reminiscent of Edward Gorey and Charles Addams. This Halloween tale delivers
laughs and chills for monster kids of all ages.

Sunday, August 25th
6PM Screening“Poise” ( 7:00m - Portugal) Director Luis Soares
A sad and restrained man lying on the bed in his empty room. Hesitates, ponder hypotheses in a cycle without deciding, stuck. In exhaustion all anguish equals. Another man is sitting at the window:
he looks at him and to the street. Characters in broken situations. The key positions, the suspended
sequences, are shown. The man almost decides - and they almost return, inside and out, to them andto the city, time and movement. Infinite dawn.

“Frames” (8:30m - USA) Director Jeff Fong
A man shares his affinity for picture frames while speaking about his past lover.

“Citrus” (5:00m - UK) Director Moira Semel
Citrus is a short, experimental film that takes the audience through an experience, beginning withshots representing disconnection and gradating towards a tangerine sensory overload. It plays withcolour, sound, rhythm, and textures, among other experimentations, to stimulate the audience’s
senses as much as possible.

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Sunday, August 25th
6PM Screening (continued)“Dies Irae” ( 7:35m - Australia) Director Maru Collective

Two playful angels, seven sinful pigs, and one poor righteous passerby“Dollars That Make Sense” ( 3:12m - USA) Director Richard Power Hoffmann
A fun, stop-motion animated film about how foundations need to align their endowments with their
missions.

“Exposed” ( 1:29m - Canada) Director Chloe Dauchez
For the first time, the poise of a live model is shaken by laughs that induce a feeling of deep anxiety. Alone and vulnerable on stage, she feels like fleeing is the only way to escape her fears. This
short movie approaches the topics of self-confidence and the way people look at and judge the aging body.

“The Untranslatable Forest” ( 2:30m - USA) Director Ivan Miguel, Andy Camou
A journey through a surreal airport where nature and untranslatable words unexpectedly reveal on
the way.

“I Can Fix It” ( 2:28m - USA) Director Citlali Shani Vazquez Negra
Roger wants to get his game control repaired but is met with an inept repairman.

15

Sunday, August 25th
6PM Screening (continued)“Kyle vs Karen” ( 5:00m - USA) Director Jim Morrison

Kyle, a social media clout seeker is caught as he snaps a picture of an unsuspecting patron in a coffee shop. Highly offended, she immediately calls him out on this violation of her personal space.

“No One Understands Me” ( 0:51 sec - USA) Director Sam Baron
Do you ever feel lonely?

“Seule Tod” ( 9:19m - USA) Director James Middleton
Seeking relief from an offending eye, a man feels he is losing the demons who motivate him - andis rewarded with cookies and unicorns. Inspired by the First Law of Thermodynamics.will happen
in the future…

“Thatch to the Future” ( 7:57m - Luxembourg) Director Nicolas Neuhold
When participants at a climate conference in the year 2033 can’t agree on anything, head negotiator
GERTA (not Greta!) snaps and suggests “The only thing you could agree on is going back in timeand having people THEN fix the problem”. The sarcastic outburst is accepted as a rather wonderful
idea, only for Gerta to reveal that they actually have access to a time machine.

“The Deadline” ( 1:17m - China) Director Yuwei Jiang
Sally is gutting a fish whilst reflecting on what to do herself.

16

Sunday, August 25th
6PM Screening (continued)“The Sitters” ( 3:46m - USA) Director Hannah Franklin
A pet sitter comes to watch a cat for the first time. He finds a list of cat-sitting duties in a puddle on
the counter next to a spilt glass of water. The writing on the list has blurred and is illegible. As he
begins to do the tasks, The Cat follows him around leaving inky black trails.

“Throwaway Living” ( 3:25m - USA) Directors Laura Malatos
A housewife trapped in a 1950s ad campaign becomes the unwitting messenger for a world consumed by plastic“Walking the Line” ( 3:22m - UK) Director josie deighton
The film centres around a figure, barefoot, balancing on the edge of an empty gasometer, the windwhips around them. The figure
is full of electricity and their skin tingles in the cool night air.
They cannot stay where they are perched. Behind is the void, in front is the unknown. The piece
relates to a transitional phase in the artist’s life; the untenability of stasis; the visceral sensations offear; pain; trauma; strength; hope; and eventual surrender.

“What’s Up With The Numbats?” ( 12:48m - Estonia) Director Elis Rumma
Correctness-loving Eve and effortless Leida are colleagues and opposites, working everyday side
by side at a small town library. During a casual wordgame between the two, prideful Leida´s factually wrong answer about Numbats habitat upsets Eve. Unfortunately for her the book to end thedebate is missing. Unanswered calls to the bookholder and smirky Leida sets her off on a hunt forthe book. An absurd adventure to prove her co-worker wrong begins and takes unusual turns untilthe very end.

17

Thursday, August 22nd
*2024 WLES Awards Ballot*

For the First Time Ever, You the audience will pick the winners. On the following pages you will find a ballot for each screening of the festival. Please pick one for each category and turn it into us before you leave.
We hope you like helping choose the Winners!
The winners will be awarded trophies custom made in Baker City by the Natural Structures

We Like ‘Em ShortBest Picture from Thursday NightBest Student Film from Thursday NightBest Actress from Thursday NightBest Actor from Thursday NightBest Director from Thursday NightBest Cinematography from Thursday Night18

Friday, August 23rd

*2024 WLES Awards Ballot*
For the First Time Ever, You the audience will pick the winners. On the following pages you will find a ballot for each screening of the festival. Please pick one for each category and turn it into us before you leave.
We hope you like helping choose the Winners!
The winners will be awarded trophies custom made in Baker City by the Natural Structures

We Like ‘Em ShortBest Picture from Friday NightBest Student Film from Friday NightBest Actress from Friday NightBest Actor from Friday NightBest Director from Friday NightBest Cinematography from Friday Night

19

Saturday, August 24th Matinee*2024 WLES Awards Ballot*

For the First Time Ever, You the audience will pick the winners. On the following pages you will find a ballot for each screening of the festival. Please pick one for each category and turn it into us before you leave.
We hope you like helping choose the Winners!
The winners will be awarded trophies custom made in Baker City by the Natural Structures

We Like ‘Em ShortBest Picture from Saturday Matinee
Best Student Film from Saturday Matinee
Best Actress from Saturday Matinee
Best Actor from Saturday Matinee
Best Director from Saturday Matinee
Best Cinematography from Saturday Matinee

20Saturday, August 24th Night*2024 WLES Awards Ballot*

For the First Time Ever, You the audience will pick the winners. On the following pages you will find a ballot for each screening of the festival. Please pick one for each category and turn it into us before you leave.
We hope you like helping choose the Winners!
The winners will be awarded trophies custom made in Baker City by the Natural Structures

We Like ‘Em ShortBest Picture from Saturday NightBest Student Film from Saturday NightBest Actress from Saturday NightBest Actor from Saturday NightBest Director from Saturday NightBest Cinematography from Saturday Night

21

Sunday, August 25th

*2024 WLES Awards Ballot*
For the First Time Ever, You the audience will pick the winners. On the following pages you will find a ballot for each screening of the festival. Please pick one for each category and turn it into us before you leave.
We hope you like helping choose the Winners!
The winners will be awarded trophies custom made in Baker City by the Natural Structures

We Like ‘Em ShortBest Picture from Sunday NightBest Student Film from Sunday NightBest Actress from Sunday NightBest Actor from Sunday NightBest Director from Sunday NightBest Cinematography from Sunday Night

22

Churchill School is the 2024 home for WLES and we’re excited to have you join us. Churchill was anelementarty school from 1926 till 2002. In 2018 it was purchased and converted into a place for Arts,
Music and Recreation. We’re looking forward to the screenings here both outside and inside.

Churchill School
3451 Broadway St.
Baker City, OR