by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer

The Tribeca Film Festival has a dozen animated, documentary, and live-action shorts programs this year, offering something for everyone. Here is a rundown (in alphabetical order) of eleven notable shorts screening at this year’s fest.  

Brenda and Billy (and the Pothos Plant) opens promisingly with Brenda (Sarah Stiles) confessing to her brother Billy (Santino Fontana), “I killed her. I killed our mother!” Brenda, a botanist, did it because mom (Catherine Curtin) would not stop watering the Pothos plant. But now Brenda regrets her action (which involved bashing mom’s head in, repeatedly). She wants Billy, a magician, to bring mom back to life. Brenda and Billy become strained when a cop (Beethovan Oden) comes snooping around (because neighbors have complained), an episode with a spiritualist, Mama Lemmons (Julie Halston) is unsatisfying, but this short is funniest when the high-strung Brenda and the deadpan Billy banter. 

Cuarto de Hora unfolds in a stunning single take as Alex (Steevens Benjamin) is rescued from a car accident. An undocumented Haitian living in Chile, Alex gets translation assistance from Daniela (María Olga Matte), a passerby, who keeps Alex calm as his is transported to a hospital. As Alex tries to process his trauma physically and mentally, Daniela provides comfort and support as they race to the hospital to save him. This gripping short is as unrelenting as it is powerful.

In the vibrant short, Konpa, Jean (Edson Jean) just wants to get a vegetable stew with rice and bean sauce from a Haitian take out restaurant. But not knowing Creole—he is “receptively multilingual”—Manmi (Marie LaFalaise-Noël) can’t take his order. When her daughter, Minouche (Nagela Lukacs), tries to help, she leads Jean to a nearby dancefloor. Maybe, if Jean can “dance the language” he cannot speak, he can get his food. Konpa, however, doesn’t just have romance on its mind. Writer/director Al’lkens Plancher delivers an unexpected payoff that gives this terrific short its flavor. 

My Eyes Are Up Here has Sonya (Jillian Mercado) and Thomas (Ben Cura) navigating a potential relationship the morning after a one-night stand. Sonya, who is very independent, is wary of Thomas’ attention, but she does, reluctantly need his assistance; she is disabled. As he comes to understand some of her struggles—he watches Sonya read two insensitive girls on a bus—she too, drops her guard because Thomas treats her with respect. This is a sweet, spiky short with some very funny and some very real moments. 

Proof of Concept, a hilarious short film for folks who love short films, this 6-minute gem has Chloe (Ellie Sachs, who cowrote and directed with Max Cohn) seeking funding from her father Eddie (Will Janowitz) and uncle, Robert (Richard Kind), to make her proof of concept short. What the short is about, and what funding this short means for Robert and Eddie proves to be very inside Hollywood—there is talk of points, EP credits, Diane Wiest, and more. But Sachs and Cohn’s meta-movie is knowing and funny for cinephiles and anyone who knows who won the Oscar for Best Short Film(s) last year. Proof of Concept is destined to become a classic.

Savi the Cat is an adorable feline troublemaker. Ken brings him home for his wife Kaila unaware of the havoc Savi will wreck in their house and their marriage. This documentary uses animation and interviews to chronicle the remarkable story of how Ken and Kaila fell in love and then fell in love with Savi, only to experience a series of emotional reversals. Savi teaches the couple about love, caring and communication, and this charming short will please any animal lover.  

Somewhere in Between is a cute comedic short about Emily (Taylor Misiak) who wants to have a simple New Year’s Eve with her friend Jack (Ryan O’Flanagan). But their plans are, of course, complicated when Christopher (cowriter John Horan) arrives from the future with news that he is their son—and he needs their help getting back to the future so as not to disrupt the space-time continuum. Somewhere in Between amuses because the appealing actors give high energy performances that match the nifty special effects. The editing here is also effective as the film shift gears from a platonic New Year’s Eve to a countdown that has another significance. Even if viewers can see where the story is going, this silly short still delivers a fun ride. 

The Sperm Bank based on a true story, has Rob (Robert Scerbo) visiting the title establishment to make a donation. He has just been diagnosed with stage 4 testicular cancer and wants the opportunity to procreate before it’s too late. His inability to perform the necessary act, however, requires him to dig deep and find support from within. While the philosophizing is thoughtful, the film milks the situation for broad comedy. The balance of humor and heart is admirable, but the uneven tone makes this film feel unfocused.

Spinning is a flinty short about Regina (Mara Andress), a wealthy Mexican woman who causes an accident during her spin workout. Regina must get Juli (Alejandra Herrera), her downstairs neighbor’s housekeeper, to assist her with resolving a sticky situation. However, Juli is quite formidable, and may have the upper hand here. The performances are perfectly pitched as Spinning has two women grappling with legal and moral issues that swirl around them as they each try to get what they want. That this short is “based on true events” makes it both horrific and darkly comic. 

Then Comes the Body is a marvelous documentary short showcasing Daniel Ajala, who established the Leap of Dance Academy, a ballet school in Nigeria, where there is no ballet. Teaching himself how to plié by watching YouTube, Daniel provides free classes for interested youths and helps create opportunities for his students. Then Comes the Body profiles two dancers, Olamide and Precious, who share Daniel’s passion and determination. They will soon travel to dance, even though they encounter racism and elitism. Beautifully filmed and edited, and featuring marvelous performances from the dancers, this vibrant short is sure to inspire. 

The Weather Is Nice is a gorgeously filmed short about loneliness and desire as Jean (Michael Muller) tries to make a connection in the city. He first spies a comely neighbor through his apartment window, but he then sets his sights on a Sara (Sara Luna Zoric) who works at an automat-like snack bar. The wordless exchanges between Jean and Sara are poignant, and full of unspoken longing before things culminate to a possibly heartbreaking finale. This is a lovely drama bookended by two beautiful and moving voiceovers. In addition, the sleek cinematography and the attractive leads make this a stylish short worthy of repeat viewings.