The filmmaking urge to abstraction and fantasy that compels the creation of animated works does not lend itself to neat categorization. This intriguing block of shorts asks us to confront ourselves, no matter how many copies may appear. To face our fears and love our cats. To strive for change despite the odds. And to find our friends through song.

If you are looking for the experimental side of BUFF, this is the block for you. The fourteen shorts presented here are sometimes funny, sometimes haunting, often deeply, deeply strange, and only occasionally contain a traditional narrative structure. Enjoy the weird.

(Most BUFF screenings are not for kiddos unless expressly stated — this one would probably be fine for PG-13).

— Rebekah Murphy

Featuring:

Shrine Island
Aya Yamasaki, Jason Brown, Massachusetts, 6 mins
A traveler visits three island shrines dedicated to play at three stages in their life.

The Misprint
Jasper Lin, USA, 3 mins
A lone technician’s attempt to clone himself using cutting edge technology goes horribly wrong.

Split Ends
Aida Elkerdany, Massachusetts, 4 mins
A haircut and its consequences.

Still Life
Josie Colt, New England, 3 mins
A solitary artist walks into (and under) a sneaky superstition in her studio and psychological chaos ensues.

STAIRWELL
David Britton, Anthony Ceceri, USA, 3 mins
A young woman notices a troubling pattern in her building’s stairwell.

MIRA
Eva Louise Hall, USA, 12 mins
Ready to quit her dreams of becoming an accordionist, Mira finally gets a taste of recognition one evening when she meets Lore.

The Expectation of the Observed
Stephanie J Williams, USA, 5 mins
The unrecognized labor in having and being a body.

Sunny
Adam Brooks, Canada, 3 mins
A story of a little girl and her cat.

Death After Death
Michael Edwards, USA, 7 mins
A discarded human skull becomes imbued with a mysterious force.

A Shadow’s Glow
Josh Mizrahi, Cole Fourqurean, USA, 6 mins
A creature of shadow must journey across his dark homeland to return a young spirit of light back to his home.

Las Nogas
Catya Plate, USA, 20 mins
Doctor Alma must cure the only creatures left who can save the world by bringing back the rain.

Stranger Danger
Austin Kimmell, Massachusetts, 4 mins
On his way to the market, a young boy gets a crash course in stranger safety from his grandfather.

Closing Time
Harriet Neeley, New England, 2 mins
A cashier is waiting for the end of their shift.

Gorgie and Humpherdinks
Parker Hamill Callaway, Massachusetts, 2 mins
Gorgie visits Humpherdinks only to find that he’s doing drugs!

Brattle Passes not accepted.