resfest 10
Already in its tenth edition, Resfest now tours 43 cities around the world, showcasing new talent and innovation in short films, animation, music videos and motion design. For the second time it made it to Holland as well, in collaboration with D:Nerve.
Highlights from the strong and diverse shorts program included Run Wrake's 'Rabbit' and Emilio Ramos' 'Niebla (Fog)'. 'Rabbit', which won prizes this year at HAFF and IFFR, contrasts a children's book style with a dark and violent story about the amorality of nature. (Watch the whole film here.)
In 'Niebla', an old man reminisces about the origins of the perpetual fog in his village. Beautifully animated, the story takes on mythological proportions, while reminding of Don Quixote as well.
Of the motion design entries, few rose above exercises in style, with much of the same style too, all cut-up architecture, twirling decorative patterns and 3d robots, set to Aphex Twin-type beats.
An exception there was the gorgeous video for Smog's 'Rock Bottom Riser', by Brendan Cook and Paul McNeil. Composed of watercolor and ink paintings, it has a dreamy flow from which symbolic images emerge, accentuating the song's lyrics.