As a fan of the short story, I should have a greater understanding of the power of the short film format. Yet, perhaps because films tend to reach mass audiences only in feature-length format, I forget the value and quality of shorter cinematic work.
John Scagliotti, a documentary filmmaker and a friend in the Brattleboro area arts community, let me look at few of the films coming to town for the fourth annual CineSLAM, Vermont's GLBT short film festival. I was so impressed by the ones I saw, so struck by the range they covered, so affected by the emotions stirred that I feel compelled to urge you go check out the films.
CineSLAM screenings are held Friday night, June 26, at the Hooker-Dunham Theater in Brattleboro at 7 p.m., and Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Tree Frog Farm in Guilford. Information is available at www.cineslam.com.
The film that made the biggest impression on me is "James" by Connor Clements. A fictional work, but one based on true experiences, "James" tells the story of a young teen struggling with his decision to come out - and the disappointing reaction he gets when he finally tells a trusted teacher his secret. Well-made, well-acted and completely engrossing, "James" is a gem, and one of nine films to be screened Friday.
In a different vein, but no less memorable is "and I am me," by Burlington filmmaker Alisan Segar. This simple little documentary features interviews with a lesbian mother and her adopted Ethopian son. Disarmingly honest and sweetly sentimental, the film asks and answers questions like "What's It Like to Be Gay?" :What;s it like to have brown skin?" "What's it like to have two moms?"
In all, CineSLAM features more than 30 short films, and a number of directors will be on hand to share their work. I probably don';t need to tell you this, but these are films that reach easily beyond the GLBT to wider audience. And you may never get a chance to see them or be exposed to the work of these filmmakers, other than through CineSLAM.
All that and New Yorker cartoonist Arnie Levin's hilarious animated look at "Gay Penguins," too.