Grand Mesa Short Film Festival

Evening Showings

Friday, April 11th 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 12th 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Parents, please be advised, many evening films contain adult content.

Matinee - Family Friendly (These are not children's films, but they are appropriate for all ages):

Saturday, April 12th 1:00 pm. - 3:00 p.m.

Get the Weekend Pass and see ALL films - Friday Evening, Saturday Evening, and Matinee!

FRIDAY EVENING FILMS:

The Seance - Fantasy/Sci Fi

Directed by Hunter Burns and Jordan Spalding

Sadie, a teenage witch helps her crush, the cutest boy in school, get in contact with his late mother, despite ample warnings from the spirit world.

I Can't Sleep Without You - Drama/Comedy

Directed by Joe Jatcko

Lisa and Dan share a common disorder: since getting dumped neither of them has been able to sleep. As they navigate the perilous world of modern dating, the opposite sex reacts to their invitations to come home with them with the hope of sleeping quite differently. Lisa is inundated with attention, while Dan gets doors slammed in his face, but all they want is a good night's rest.

Learning to Breathe - Documentary

Directed by Orion Cenkl, Liam Elmore, Corrina Gardner

This short documentary delves into the poetic art of Shodekeh Talifero, a pioneering beatboxer, vocal percussionist, and breath artist who transforms breath into a powerful medium for expression and healing. Shodekeh explores the connection between vocal percussion and breath arts and how these can be used to bring awareness to mental health and the cultural intervention of hiphop through a creative lens.

Office Chatter - Comedy

Directed by Breanne Nicole Wilson

Four wildly different co-workers arrive and get ready for the morning meeting. However, their thoughts are on anything BUT work. These are their inner resentments, insecurities, worries, and feelings.

Bridge of Curiosity - Documentary

Directed by Frank J Fazzio

Bridge of Curiosity is a heartful journey of wisdom and wonder, with conversations with young and old worldwide, illuminating the profound significance of curiosity, wisdom, and inclusion across generations ... Highlighting the invaluable benefits of knowledge transfer from the elderly, forging connections that enrich both young and old alike.

Sleeves - Comedy

Directed by Peter Nepi

While dealing with the worst trauma of her life, Caroline ditches school for the first time to search for her place in the world.

Art of Letting Go - Drama

Directed by Isabel Otis

The Art of Letting go explores the intense evolution of love- capturing the beauty of connection, the weight of obsession, and the painful realization that sometimes the only way forward is to let go.

Deliverance of a Paladin - Sci Fi

Directed by Ayron ZeS

We follow the final steps of a brave paladin confronting his inevitability as it has come to the surface.

Cowboy Boots - Drama

Directed by Eric Delehoy

Jack, a gay cowboy from Nebraska, experiences anything but the promised land he envisioned when he visits a San Francisco gay club for the first time.

Syn Valley Coup - Comedy

Directed by William Briggs

Fed-up with the president's abuse of power, Evie stages an HOA coup, but is citing past grievances enough to sway the board?

SATURDAY EVENING FILMS:

Chasin' the Beat - Documentary

Directed by Jack Rasmussen

This documentary follows musician Elias Earl and his experience entering the Denver Jazz scene. Through the storytelling of jazz pianist, Purnell Steen, discovered Denver’s rich jazz history, specifically in the historic “Harlem of the West”.

Conversations Over Dinner - Documentary

Directed by Gabriella Marinace-Lee

Let's have a talk. Meet Sean, an immigrant who moved to America when he was only 11 years old without any accompaniment, Have a conversation with Sean as he takes us through his life story.

Dollar Store Poop Scoop - Comedy

Directed by Dean William Bonzani and Elizabeth Heather Bonzani

Rusty sings the praises of the ultimate tool for cleaning all the chicken poop out of the chicken coop, while Bliss and Erm poke fun at his improvised songs. Features the monster dance tune, "It's Hamburger Night," and stars Dale Russell Smith as Popcorn Guy.

Brain Break - Animation

Directed by Gretchen Kowalczyk

Brain Break is a film about an artists acceptance of failure. Sometimes we just can't make it work, and that's okay. Stepping away and living life is just as important as your craft, even if the only thing that comes out of it is a good day.

War for Old Dad - Documentary

Directed by Greg Hart

Episode III of a memorial to director’s father covering his enlistment in the US Navy, boot camp, torpedo school, and service in 1942 on the destroyer USS O’Brien (DD-514), and its sinking.

Over Medicated - Documentary

Directed by Rose Movizzo

A young woman battles with the consequences of her psychiatrist prescribing her excess medication.

The Intaker - Comedy

Directed by Samuel Laske

Michael has died, and it is the Intaker's job to tell him.

Glitter Pxrn - Documentary

Directed by Maddie Dimetrosky, Sophie Addison, Sophia Lisco

Glitter Porn was founded in politically tumultuous Colorado Springs. In connecting with the local underground music and queer community, the band has created a safe space to cultivate creativity and free expression.

Manzanar (Yuki)- Animation

Directed by Scott Feldmann and Brad Colerick

Animated short film depicting the experience of a two-year old child imprisoned, with her mother, as fallout from nations at war and fears fostered racism to cloud perceptions and deny rights to U. S. Citizens. This mixed media film uses animation and Library of Congress archival photos of Manzanar, a World War II Internment Camp for Japanese-Americans. The original song tells the plight of a young, single mother, Mikiko Okinaga Hayakawa, who cannot completely protect her daughter Yuki from the world around her, but instead instills self-esteem. It's a song of hope.

Now V Then - Comedy/Drama

Directed by John Williams

When Ocean discovers her true heritage, the consequences begin to unravel her marriage...

SATURDAY MATINEE FILMS

Marine - Drama

Directed by-  Xana Sterling

A struggling young artist finds inspiration in an unusual, aqueous place.

Jongo Abroad: Traditions in Transit - Documentary

Directed by- Rosely Conz

In September 2023, Dr. Alessandra Ribeiro Martins, Bianca Lucia Martins Lopes, and Flávia Tamiris Soares Silva, members of Comunidade Jongo Dito Ribeiro, from Campinas, Brazil were invited by Rosely Conz, assistant professor of Dance at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), to spend a week sharing their traditions in Colorado, USA. Using archival footage filmed at Fazenda Roseira, Comunidade Jongo Dito Ribeiro headquarters, and UCCS, this documentary plays with the concept of transit - geographical, cultural, and social of Jongo. It includes points of view of the members of Comunidade Jongo Dito Ribeiro and UCCS students to highlighting dance education and race issues.

Microcosmic Cartoon Show - Animation

Directed by Prema Rosa

The MicroCosmic Cartoon Show is a short introduction to the animated/live-action musical feature film, currently in development. It has garnered the attention of  top-tiered Talent and co-production in L.A.

Falling - Drama

Directed by Parker R Manley

Sometimes a leap into your dreams and into film can wake you up to reality.

A short film made by Mar Moranta, Josie Adams, Yada Jaraschatrkaew, Reema Patadia, and Parker Manley. References La La Land by Damien Chazelle, Rear Window by Alfred Hitchcock, Spirted Away by Hayao Miyazaki, and The Shining by Stanley Kubrick.

Esplendor and the Noble Resilience of Fleeing

Directed by Muriel Matiz and Sunbee Matiz

A headstrong bull escaped from the truck that was leading him to the slaughterhouse in Bogotá, Colombia. He ran for six hours until he was captured again. The Namigni Animal Sanctuary got hold of his story just in time.

Dollar Store Poop Scoop - Comedy

Directed by Dean William Bonzani and Elizabeth Heather Bonzani

Rusty sings the praises of the ultimate tool for cleaning all the chicken poop out of the chicken coop, while Bliss and Erm poke fun at his improvised songs. Features the monster dance tune, "It's Hamburger Night," and stars Dale Russell Smith as Popcorn Guy.

Maggie May - An Environmental Story - Animation

Directed by Donna W. Guthrie

A four-minute, family-friendly, musical animated film about Maggie Mae, a constant shopper who buys things she doesn’t need. When she gets buried in styrofoam, tissue, and silly purchases, she learns to recycle and reuse.

Propagate - Drama

Directed by- Mia Evans

A teenage boy reminisces on his relationship and slowly realizes the love of his life might be just as toxic as her favorite flower.

Five Stages of Wasabi - Comedy

Directed by Parker Manley

On a trip to a mountain town with his friends, Spencer unknowingly eats a horrendous amount of Wasabi with his sushi to disastrous effects.

Una Inglesia en Cuba - Documentary

Directed by Wyatt Johnson

Synopsis coming soon.

Finding the Funny - Comedy

Directed by Gabriel Fermin

An indigenous comedian, stuck in a creative rut, encounters unexpected moments of inspiration within his community as he prepares for an important performance.