Whether they’re unlucky in love, have lost something precious to them (like a beloved guitar, or a bicycle, or something far more intimate), or have given up on their childhood dreams, the protagonists of the nine extraordinary short films gathered here have been driven to desperation. Will they be able to pull themselves back from the brink?
Films
Getar Hero
MT Premiere | USA | 16 MINUTES | Hindi
In the neon streets of Mumbai, a down-on-his-luck cowboy has one night to recover his stolen guitar or lose everything he’s playing for.
Pale Sun
France | 16 MINUTES | French
On a French beach in summer, 12-year-old Abel is ashamed of his father’s body, marked by cancer.
Paper Trail
MT Premiere | USA | 14 MINUTES | English
Don Hertzfeldt’s new animated short film Paper Trail is a 14-minute high-speed study of someone’s life, seen only through pieces of paper. New animation techniques were developed to create the film’s unique look and pace.
Peace Corps
MT Premiere | USA | 13 MINUTES | English
After leaving the Peace Corps earlier than expected, a young woman reluctantly returns to her hometown and must readjust back to life there.
Ruedas
MT Premiere | MTFF Alumni | USA | 16 MINUTES | English, Spanish
After a brutal assault, Ernesto, an elderly ice cream vendor, is followed by a trickster spirit through a surreal Los Angeles where grief, magic, and resilience intertwine.
The Bicycle Thief
MTFF Alumni | USA | 2 MINUTES
A heartbroken cyclist rides across the US on a bike he stole from his ex.
The Bicycle Thief 2
World Premiere | MTFF Alumni | USA | 2 MINUTES | English
A heartbroken cyclist tries to reconnect with his ex, from whom he stole a bike.
Vultures
France, South Africa | 15 MINUTES | Afrikaans, English
In the volatile moments after a car crash, before the authorities arrive, a hot-headed yet desperate South African tow truck driver fiercely protects his tow. But the situation quickly spirals out of his control.
