BY KAREN BOSSICK
An innocent man’s life is suddenly derailed as he finds himself at the mercy of automated “justice,” arrested by a police drone and thrown into an automated, privatized jail.
That’s the premise behind “Please Hold,” a biting 18-minute social satire by K.D. Davila, a Chicana screenwriter from Los Angeles, and co-producer Levin Meneske, who was born in Istanbul to a Muslim mother and a Jewish father.
The film, which is being made into a TV series, will be one of five Live Action Shorts up for Oscars that will be shown Thursday, March 10, at Magic Lantern Cinemas in Ketchum. Screenings will take place at 4:30 and 7 p.m. as part of the Sun Valley Museum’ of Art’s annual screening of Oscar-Nominated Short Films.
The Museum will offer three days of Oscar Shorts screenings.
It’ll show Animated Shorts at 4:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, and Documentary Shorts at 4 and 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24.
“Our presentation of the Oscar-Nominated Shorts is a unique opportunity for local film fans to see each and every short film that’s up for an Oscar,” said Kristine Bretall, Director of Performing Arts at The Museum. “Outside of these screenings (and our special screening of the Manhattan Short Film Festival every fall), short films can be difficult, if not impossible, for the general public to see.”
Many of the films are from outside the United States, offering viewers glimpses into the cultures and film-making styles of other countries, Bretall added.
“They always range from funny to sad, insightful to poignant. This year’s films run the gamut emotionally, but please do keep in mind that the Animated films are decidedly NOT for anyone 17 and under,” she added.
LIVE ACTION SHORTS on Thursday, March 10:
Rating equivalent of R for adult themes, violence and language.
On My Mind – Martin Strange-Hansen and Kim Magnusson, Denmark, 18 min. Henrik wants to sing a song for his wife and it has to be today. It’s a question of life, death and karaoke.
Please Hold – K.D. Dávila and Levin Menekse, USA, 19 min.
The Dress – Tadeusz Łysiak and Maciej Ślesicki, Poland, 30 min. A woman with limited hopes toils as a maid in a rundown motel in rural Poland. Will repeated visits by a truck driver change the loneliness of her situation?
The Long Goodbye – Aneil Karia and Riz Ahmed, UK/Netherlands, 12 min. An immigrant family in Britain is preparing its home for a wedding celebration until a right-wing march spirals out of control and chaos erupts.
Ala Kachuu - Take and Run – Maria Brendle and Nadine Lüchinger, Kyrgyzstan/Switzerland, 38 min. A young Kyrgyz woman is kidnapped and forced to marry.
ANIMATED SHORTS, March 17
(Final running time: 97 min)
Rating equivalent of R. No children will be admitted.
Robin Robin – Dan Ojari and Mikey Please, UK, 32 min.
Boxballet – Anton Dyakov, Russia, 15 min.
Affairs of the Art – Joanna Quinn and Les Mills, UK/Canada, 16 min.
Bestia – Hugo Covarrubias and Tevo Díaz, Chile, 15 min.
The Windshield Wiper – Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez, USA/Spain, 14 min.
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS, March 24
Rating equivalent of PG-13 or R for adult themes and topics.
Audible – Matt Ogens and Geoff McLean, USA, 39 min.
When We Were Bullies – Jay Rosenblatt, USA/Germany, 36 min.
Three Songs for Benazir – Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei, Afghanistan, 22 min.
Lead Me Home – Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk, USA, 39 min.
The Queen of Basketball – Ben Proudfoot, USA, 22 min.
Tickets for each day of screenings are $10 for members of the Sun Valley Museum of Art and $12 for nonmembers, and they may be purchased in advance through SVMoA’s box office or website.
For more information about the 2022 Oscar Shorts and other upcoming events at The Museum, visit svmoa.org, call 208.726.9491 or visit The Museum’s box office at 191 Fifth Street East in Ketchum.