Though the festival doesn’t seem to have grown to its full potential, it continues to pack The Evening Muse (arrive early to guarantee you get a seat) every year. Films, ranging from dramas and comedies to animations and documentaries, are all short — meaning 15 minutes or less (there’s always a couple that seem more like commercials) — and come from filmmakers around the world. Last year’s gripping Curfew — anyone who attended will remember this flick about a hot suicidal guy who is forced to babysit his niece — went on to win a number of awards at festivals across the globe. All that’s to say, these babies are smartly selected each and every year. Among this year’s picks is The Gold Sparrow, an animated short about a metropolis in need of a colorful facelift. In the city, dominated by black and white coloration, artists and creative folk who add colors to the mix are persecuted by a villainous creature by the name of Gold Sparrow. Organizers have bumped up the start time for this year’s fest, so that folks who have to go to work Monday morning fret less.
— Anita Overcash