Youtube Videos - Sundance Film Festival 2011 "8 Bits"

Sundance Film Festival 2011 "8 Bits" Posted: 20 Jan 2011 07:07 PM PST Sundance Film Festival 2011 "8 Bits" A fight between an 8-bit superhero and a high-def boss, in a retro-gaming world. Programmer's Note: Assaulting the senses with dazzling visual imagery and gloriously over-the-top action, this high-octane animated adventure plays with classic video-game archetypes while simultaneously concocting its own fully rendered environment. Collectively directed by Valere Amirault, Sarah Laufer, Jean Delaunay, and Benjamin Mattern, the film displays the considerable talents of all four artists in developing an atmospheric anomaly of stylistic bravado that fashions a fight between an 8-bit superhero and a high-def boss in a retrogaming world. Much appreciated for the painstaking hard work involved as well as the fast-paced clarity of the result, "8BITS" is a welcome shot in the arm for any program. We invite you to learn more about the work of these collaborators at http://www.8bitsmovie.com/. From: sff Views: 121314 525 ratings Time: 06:57 More in Movies

Sundance Film Festival 2011 "Andy & Zach" Posted: 20 Jan 2011 07:02 PM PST Sundance Film Festival 2011 "Andy & Zach" When Zach decides to move out, his roommate Andy tries to set up a new life without his best friend. Programmer's Note: Filmmaker Nick Paley found the simplicity of his newest venture "Andy and Zach" both a blessing and a curse. "From a producer's perspective, it was very straightforward compared with some of my previous projects. I shot the interior scenes myself, in my own apartment, with two close friends as the leads," says Paley. "From a director's perspective, it was the hardest movie I've made so far. Its success depended entirely on performance and story. The finished film has very little in the way of spectacle...unless you call Christmas lights spectacle, in which case this movie is your summer blockbuster." Paley, who cast his friends Zach Woods ("The Office") and Andy Kachor in the titular roles, grew up in Vermont but graduated from NYU and has been living his life as an NYC filmmaker since. "Andy and Zach" rides a fine line of being quite sweet without ever turning sappy, and the heartfelt film about friendship doesn't need a surplus of T&A Apatow-esque jokes to appeal to a male crowd. Up next for Paley? Both a feature script to shop around and a new short, "Open House," which takes place outside the walls of his apartment. From: sff Views: 40794 213 ratings Time: 10:02 More in Movies

Sundance Film Festival 2011 "Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul" Posted: 20 Jan 2011 07:04 PM PST Sundance Film Festival 2011 "Skateistan: To Live and Skate Kabul" In a country with innumerable problems, Skateistan represents an oasis where children can be children and build the kinds of cross-cultural relationships that Afghanistan needs for future stability. Programmer's Note: Former professional snowboarder Orlando von Einsiedel found that the Skateistan project combined two worlds he felt very passionate about: extreme sports and social work. The Skateistan project—started by two Australian aid workers who began giving skating as well as educational lessons to more than 350 kids in Kabul, Afghanistan—equips young men and women with the skills to lead their communities toward social change and development and piqued von Einsiedel's interest enough to make him want to capture it with a camera. Flying directly from Frankfurt to Kabul, von Einsiedel and crew sought to create a more optimistic image of Afghanistan. What resulted is a beautifully composed film that turns a spotlight on neither the battles nor the victims in this war-torn country, but rather on the hopeful spirit and culture of change that the youth of Kabul are yearning to put into action. We're thrilled to welcome von Einsiedel's film to this year's Festival and urge you to check out http://skateistan.org/ on your next Internet stop. From: sff Views: 24542 430 ratings Time: 09:24 More in Movies

Sundance Film Festival 2011 "The High Level Bridge" Posted: 20 Jan 2011 07:02 PM PST Sundance Film Festival 2011 "The High Level Bridge" Trevor drops his camera from Edmonton's High Level Bridge in memory of those who have jumped. Programmer's Note: We're thrilled to be showing prolific short filmmaker Trevor Anderson's (http://www.dirtcityfilms.com) work for the first time at the Sundance Film Festival. His documentary about the High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which stands a block from where he lives, was a personal project for the filmmaker. Anderson describes the bridge as "an impressive structure that crosses a breathtaking river valley; also two of my friends died there." He adds, "Sometimes the strongest subjects for films really are right outside your door." Shot on the Sony Webbie, the film takes full advantage of the consumer-grade camera. "What can I do with this camera that I couldn't do with a more expensive one?" Anderson asked. Then he realized, "Oh! I can huck it off the bridge!" In case you are concerned about Anderson destroying a perfectly good camera, fresh snowfall cushioned the landing, and the Webbie works just fine. From: sff Views: 24241 172 ratings Time: 04:47 More in Movies