Slamdance Film Festival 2009

A short comedy about feelings and their sometimes unexpected manifestations. Feelings and Stuff is a capricious story regarding relationships and the considerable effects our childhood experiences have on our relationships as adults. Samuli Valkama displays a magnificent balance of comedy, drama and romance in this sweet film. - Joy Saez, Director of Writing Competitions/Film Programmer

In this brilliantly choreographed, (seemingly) one take music video, Feist dances through a moonlit airport terminal.

Finding Bliss is a sexy romantic comedy that explores the adult film industry through the eyes of an idealistic 25 year-old award-winning film school grad, Jody Balaban, new to Los Angeles. After a year of unemployment, Jody is faced with the hard decision of taking the only well-paying industry job she can get – editing porn at Grind Productions, a profitable X-rated film company where Jody is forced to work for Jeff Drake the charming Herr Director of porn. Like Jody, Jeff once had his own dreams of making ‘real’ films, but now is a hard-worn cynic who has given up on love, art, and mostly, himself. In Jody, he sees the idealism he once had, while Jody starts to face her sexual hang-ups as she begins to get aroused by the porn she so harshly judges.

9-year-old Pedro sets off on a reluctant journey through elementary school in pursuit of the American Dream. This remarkable short film about the struggles of 9-year old Mexican immigrant Pedro portrays the magic, the nightmare and mystery, the isolation and odd friendships, the trouble and anger, and the glimmers of hope of a childhood spent chasing the American Dream. - Jake Weisman, Film Programmer

With a little help, a lonely alligator finds a new sensation. Gretta Johnson manages to be both avant-garde and cuddly, using a charmingly idiosyncratic hand-drawn style. A sweet little movie that exudes child-like joy. - Paul Sbrizzi, Gallery Host, Co-Chair Shorts Programming

A tale of a man and woman who get in trouble by the mischief of smoke blown out of a tree's hole in the woods. Daring animation interwoven with folklore and kinetic filmmaking. A treat, and an audiovisual delight.

This story contains the logic of a dream, or perhaps nightmare, uniquely realized in stop motion animation with custom designed, carved wooden puppets.

A nostalgic voyage takes a darker turn, exploring the naiveté of mankind through the eyes of a young boy.