Awesome Short Films

(NSFW) The fifth episode in the Bureau of Common Goods’ Made by Hand series is about Ezra Caldwell, a talented and headstrong man who found his calling in making bicycles, only to be challenged by cancer. Godspeed, Ezra!

(NSFW: Language) Paul and Kate are eager to impress their new and hip friends, but there’s just one problem: there’s a cooler couple in town. Playdate will have you cringing throughout and nodding vigorously at the end.

(NSFW, Crude Humor) Faced with the threat of extinction, a tribesman argues with his kin to stop doing samesies. One of the funniest and lewdest short films we’ve seen in a while. Written & directed by John McKeever.

Jason Headley visualizes a timeless advice to all men: oftentimes when women rant, they just want you to listen. It’s true! Our part is actually very easy, once you let the absurdity of it all go over your head.

We can’t help but think about Black Swan after watching Gene Kim’s animated short about two rival ballerinas who challenge each other on stage – in a battle which quickly escalates from pliés and demi-pointes to a full-on mech assault.

Filmmaker Olivier Mamet’s short movie offers a look at a mysterious and deadly outbreak as it quickly migrates across the globe. Not exactly the most uplifting film you’ll see today, but a well-crafted one nonetheless.

(NSFW: Language) A man asks his friend to take him to the hospital. But which one of them actually has a problem? A hilarious and tightly made short by writer, director and actor John Viener (Family Guy).

A tribute to both Brooklyn and bagels, this 16mm film was shot back in 1979 and is both a cool bit of nostalgia and good for a chuckle as we listen to its passionate narrator. What else is there in life? Hot bagels that taste beautifully!

Brothers Charles and Arthur are sculptors. They’re one of the many people who became adopted citizens of Rapture, hoping to contribute to and flourish in the seeming utopia. A student film written & directed by Shaun Rykiss.

Scientists perform a controversial experiment in return for vast knowledge. Project Kronos uses our weakness for space travel to smuggle a moral. It’s a sci-fi equivalent of Louis C.K.’s take on human greatness.

(Gore) From the darkest corner of YouTube and the mind of filmmaker Robert Morgan comes this short film about a cat who wants to be like us. Awww right? More like awww crap. The title is not metaphorical by the way.

(NSFW) Help fund this creepy short film and video game, from Nick Peterson and Jon Heder (Napoleon Dynamite), with Abe Sapien actor Doug Jones as a creature built by Steve Wang. We can’t wait to see what they have in store.

Maddie Sharafian and her family love to cook for each other. The CalArts student made this animated short to show “how meaningful it is to make food for someone you love.” The song is Águas de Marco by Elis Regina.

ABE was programmed to love. Unfortunately, he expected to be loved back. There’s nothing like a good psychopathic robot story right before bedtime. Sweet dreams. Written and directed by Rob McLellan. (Thanks Thane!)

A pair of hands constantly moving between three and two dimensions. Vimeo contributor Willie Witte created this mesmerizing screenception using simple but effective photography and editing.

Hardware giant IBM made the world’s tiniest animation using carbon monoxide molecules. The stop-motion short was made using 5,000 atoms and can only be seen when it’s magnified 100 million times. Watch the making-of here.

Losing her daughter in the wake of an alien infestation, an ex-special forces soldier embarks on a mission deep into alien territory to seek her revenge in Patrick Kalyn’s HYBRIDS.

A man makes a toy that he uses to show off a magic trick to his grandson. It’s a hit at first, but how long can it hold its audience captive? A short film about the persistence and power of love.

A fictitious story about how Peter Criss came up with KISS’ classic ballad Beth. The song doesn’t actually involve any of his wives and he didn’t write it by himself, but we still hope Criss really does rhyme when he talks.

One of the funniest shorts we’ve seen in a long while. A retired Russian spy gets a chance to rectify a mistake he made when he was still in service, when he so ineptly and hilariously lost a top secret device.

Gunther comes up with an unusual plan to help his sick dad, knowing that the old man only lives to hate him. A story about the lengths we go to for the people we love. Starring and directed by Michael Cera.

Shot in Santiago and Pittsburgh, Samm Hodges Illusions is a graceful, multilayered short film that explores optical illusions, memory and the human experience. (Thanks Christine!)

This sultry, provocative short horror film directed by Husson has more than a little in common with Tony Scott’s cult classic The Hunger. The music, costumes and subject matter channel the style of the 1980s brilliantly.