Every year TAD shows Canadian short films in front of all of their features. For the international shorts, they pack the best of the best into a time slot called SHORTS AFTER DARK. This year the program comprises 10 new horror, sci-fi, action, and cult short films from around the world, including a number of award winners. This year also included the World Premiere of legendary special effects makeup artist Greg Nicotero’s much anticipated short film the United Monster Talent Agency. Which I really wanted to see but I showed up late and missed the first two short films which included United Monster Talent Agency and ended up missing half of a third.

Barcelona Venice
Canadian Premiere
David Munoz, 5 min, Spain, 2009
This was a cute little film with a scifi theme where a man stumbles upon an inter-dimensional secret that could shake the very foundations of human existence. He quickly learns that the airplane companies don't take the discovery of this secret lightly.

DemiUrge Emesis
Aurelio Voltaire, 3 min, USA, 2010
Aurelio Voltaire has shown works previously at TAD and I really do like his stop motion work. This one is a symbolic representation of the anguish an artist may feel. It's narrated by Danny Elfman and it features the music of chamber-rock band Rasputina.

Deus Irae
World Premiere
Pedro Cristiani, 13 min 30, Argentina, 2010
This one had that air of creepy at first but quickly went weird. Check it out for yourself with a little teaser trailer that was created for the short.

Frank DanCoolo: Paranormal Drug Dealer
Andrew Jones, 8 min, USA, 2009
I appreciate what this film was trying to do but when you turny up the camp too much and try and play it to the camera, you better be perfect or else it just doesn't work. Andrew comes close with this one but I just wasn't feeling it. In the near future (alternate future?) Neo-Mega-Ultra-Tokyo is besieged by a new drug that is wrecking havoc on its citizens. It's up to ace reporter Holly Malone to uncover the source and save the day.

The Library
Levi Macdougal & David Dineen Porter, 4 min, CANADA, 2009
This 8-Bit video game short closed the program and well... you just need to see it for yourself as there really are no words to describe it.

Off Season
Jonathan Van Tulleken, 13 min, USA/UK, 2009
In the dead of winter, someone decides it's a good time to pay a visit to the neighbours since they will not be staying at the cabins during the winter. Easy pickings he thinks. That was until... Clearly the most technically adept looking of all the films. It just looks gorgeous and the atmosphere was filled with tension. Despite the somewhat cliche ending, it was clear that this fill would win the award for the day... and it did. Below is a small clip from the beginning on the film.

Primer Contacte (First Contact)
North American Premiere
Pau Escribano, 9 min, Spain, 2009
This was the film I came in half way through. It was easy enough to pick up what was going on but it would have been nice to see it all the way through. From what I gathered the film is about a lonely astronaut and his daily routine. When he finally makes first contact with an alien, he isn't quite sure what to do. Will instinct take over or will he bungle it. Filled with sexual metaphors the crowd did seem to quite enjoy this one. The teaser below doesn't quite give you the right picture.

Pumzi
Wanuri Kahiu, 23 min, South Africa/Kenya, 2009
I gave my vote to this short knowing Off Season would clearly come out on top and yet Pumzi looks absolutely gorgeous. The one downfall for the film is that the story itself has been done before. So while Wanuri Kahiu did a smashing job with this film, she was treading on ground already walked upon many times before. She manages to show a beautifully retro looking dystopic future where water is scarce and society is forced underground, a young researcher from a natural history museum believes she might have found signs of life on the planet, and risks her own life to investigate.

The Thomas Beale Cipher
Canadian Premiere
Andrew Allen, 13 min, USA, 2010
This was one of the films I missed. Apparently it's about a cryptographer named Professor White and his attempt to solve the notorious cipher to a long lost treasure. Those who have attempted before him have gone mad and even now, he's not the only one interested in it.

United Monster Talent Agency
World Premiere
Greg Nicotero, 7 min, USA, 2010
The one I really wanted to see but as I said previously, missed it because I was late. Apparently Directors Frank Darabont, Robert Rodriguez and Eli Roth have cameos amidst dozens of horror film icons. From what I have been told it is quite comical though I never did learn if it was intentional or not. Produced by the award-winning artists at KNB Effects Group, I hope I manage to find it some day.

For more information on the festival visit torontoafterdark.com.