Press
Press Release
iTunes Canada June 2008
Download
PDF
SHORTS Launched on iTunes UK
Download
PDF
Celebrity Shorts Debut Shorts for Rental on iTunes
Download
PDF
Shorts International releases Linkin Park DJ Joe Hahn's short
film, THE SEED on iTunes USA.
Download
PDF
CHELLOMEDIA acquires stake in short film company SHORTS INTERNATIONAL
Download
PDF
Le Pitch Clermont Ferrand Press Release
Dec 2007
Download
PDF
EMBARGOED
UNTIL NOV 5, 2007
NEW
AFI Conservatory Short Films released on iTunes
Download
PDF
Celebrity Shorts Debut Shorts for Rental on iTunes
Download
PDF
15 May 2008
CONTACT: Linda Olszewski 1.323.216.6460
Now
on iTunes® - Special Celebrity Films Released by Shorts
International Show the Power of Imagination, Artistry and
Technology.
Matthew
Modine, Linkin Park's Joe Hahn, Pascal Leister and Thom Harp
shine as Directors.
Wilmer
Valderrama, Lena Headey, Eric Roberts, Ron Silver, Michael
Cera, Shannyn Sossamon, Tim McInnery and Will Yun Lee are
in top form.
LOS ANGELES, CA-LA TORCEDURA, I THINK I THOUGHT, CALL IT FICTION,
THE SEED, ONE DAY and FORTUNE HUNTERS are part of a very special
edition of Celebrity films released by Shorts International.
The films are available for purchase to download at $1.99
or for rental at .99 cents on iTunes USA (www.itunes.com).
This
SPECIAL EDITION release marks the launch of SHORTS rentals
on iTunes USA spotlighting subtle yet brilliant performances
by Academy Award winner Louise Fletcher and Academy Award
nominee Robert Loggia in OVERNIGHT SENSATION, by Ron Silver
and JoBeth Williams in CALL IT FICTION and Kurtwood Smith
in PEACE.
Masterful
direction IN A DOUBLE FEATURE OF TWO SHORT FILMS by Actor
/ Director, Matthew Modine round out this special edition
Celebrity launch on iTunes®. When asked why he wanted
to direct... "Charlie Chaplin. Buster Keaton. Clint Eastwood.
Mel Gibson. These are just a few names of actor / directors
that come to mind when I'm asked why I direct films. Also
because it is thrilling. A tremendously challenging undertaking.
A director must understand what it is to be weak, meek and
timid to do the job well, and must know what it is like to
"walk in" all kinds of shoes. Rich and poor. Happy
and sad. Young and old. He must be an everyman."
"The films released are the first-ever Celebrity short
films that SHORTS has launched on iTunes® as consumers
yearn to watch their favorite celebrities on their iPods,"
said Carter Pilcher, CEO of Shorts International.
The 10 new short films now available on iTunes®
are:
I
THINK I THOUGHT & TO KILL AN AMERICAN: Joe's life
threatens to come apart when he begins thinking at home AND
work. Luckily, he discovers THINKERS ANONYMOUS before it's
too late! TO KILL AN AMERICAN is his short short... There
are people in the world that don't like Americans. There are
people in the world that want to kill Americans. This film
is designed to help those would be killers identify an American.
So they know exactly what an American is. Directed by MATTHEW
MODINE.
LA
TORCEDURA: Jose (WILMER VALDERRAMA) is a young working-class
man. Yet he finds himself buying a million dollar engagement
ring from the town's finest jeweler. On leaving the store
he is abducted and wakes up bound and gagged in a dark room.
Next thing he knows, a cop interrogates him about money laundering,
sticks a gun in his hands and makes Jose aim the gun at him.
A SWAT team is on the way, but will they save Jose? And why
is the cop wearing a Velcro shirt? Cameo appearance by WIM
WENDERS. Directed by Pascal Leister.
ONE
DAY: Owen's (TIM MCINNERY) routine is the same… day
after day… until today. He's off on one big romantic
adventure with Cherie (TANYA FRANKS)… A story about embracing
life in the moment, about taking a leap into the unknown --
even if it's just for a little while… Directed by James
Barriscale.
THE
PRO: A spoof self-help video following the misadventures
of Tiny Kirby, a one-time child golfing prodigy who never
quite made it to the top of his game. Now stuck as a golf
pro at a prestigious English golf course, Tony struggles to
break his losing streak over the course of a series of self-help
golfing films. Starring RICHARD COYLE, MARK HEAP AND ANDREW
LINCOIN. Directed by Meg Thomson.
NO
VERBAL RESPONSE: Dr. Megan Pillay (LENA HEADEY) is on-call
for 24 hours when a young man, Martin is admitted from a road
traffic accident. She is determined to save him, but her colleagues
are not so sure. Directed by Helena Smith.
FORTUNE
HUNTERS: A fortune cookie writer (KELVIN YU) accidentally
sends a love letter meant for his ex-girlfriend (JESSICA SKERRITT)
out into the world as Chinese cookie fortunes, leading the
city's lonely hearts to converge on his romantic rendezvous.
It doesn't take him long to nearly ruin his father's (GEDDE
WATANABE) fortune cookie business as his love letter gets
mixed up with his fortunes, and every cookie at every restaurant
reveals a piece of Arthur's broken heart. A hysterical and
heart-warming romantic comedy.
CALL
IT FICTION: An intimate story of one family's struggle
through divorce… and a tell-all book about it. Starring
RON SILVER and JOBETH WILLIAMS. Directed by Alex Rose.
THE
DOUBLE: A man (ERIC ROBERTS) begins a journey beyond the
imagination, when a near-death experience provides him with
a reawakening to discover what is truly important in his life.
Directed by Rani Demuth.
FRESHENING
UP: Who's having a fling with whom? Starring GRETCHEN
MOL (Bettie Page) & ADRIEN GRENIER (Entourage) in a sleek
drama with a twist. When a young couple goes to a hip downtown
lounge, your imagination will fill in the blanks. Shocking.
Explicit. Directed by Jim Mol.
THE
AMAZING TROUSERS: A hilarious and zany period drama starring
KRIS MARSHALL, ALICE EVE AND DAVID BAMBER. The Amazing Trousers
tells the tale of a mild bank clerk who enters into a Faustian
pact with a sinister tailor, agreeing to trade his legs after
one year in return for enjoying glorious success. The success
is brought on by a pair of red trousers...amazing red trousers.
Directed by William Felix Clark.
PEACE:
Time waits for no man unfortunately… Howard (KURTWOOD
SMITH) and Betty have been married for 40 very long years.
Howard has always had a bit of a temper, but now that he is
retired and spending so much time at home, he is finding it
even harder to contain his irritation with his doting wife.
Nearing the end of his rope, Howard makes one last effort
to maintain peace with Betty - he promises to control his
temper for an entire day. Directed by Mike Doto.
These
short films run from 10 to 35 minutes in length and can be
purchased and rented on iTunes - www.iTunes.com
About
Shorts International Ltd.
Shorts
International Ltd. is the world's leading short film company
with the largest and most diverse film catalogue devoted to
short films. More than half of the catalogue's individual
films have been nominated for or received international film
awards, including the Cannes, Edinburgh, Clermont Ferrand
and Sundance film festivals. Shorts International operates
ShortsTV™, ShortsTV France™ and ShortsTV Corto™
short film channels created for distribution to mobile television,
cable television and satellite networks. Shorts International
are providers of short films to the US and UK iTunes Stores.
Their SHORTS™ are available for download and are regularly
updated with new releases. Further information can be found
at www.shortsinternational.com
and www.shortstv.fr.
The company is headquartered in London, England with additional
offices in Paris, Hamburg, New York and San Diego led by Carter
Pilcher, CEO.
For
more information about Shorts International Ltd., please contact:
Linda Olszewski
US 1.323.216.6460
Shorts International's latest SHORTS
release showcases 14 from the American Film Institute's most
prestigious short film library.
LOS
ANGELES - Shorts International today released 14 AFI films
for purchase and download at the iTunes® Store (www.itunes.com).
This release follows the enormously successful AFI release
on iTunes last year
Shorts
International has been distributing short films via the iTunes
store for over a year and a half, bringing audiences regular
releases throughout the year. Each release focuses on the
best short film offerings within a particular category or
genre: from seasonal themes to special exclusive releases
such as the Oscar short films and the annual AFI short film
release.
Download
and own some of America's finest short filmmaking talent from
the AFI.
The
14 short films selected to appear in this special release
represent some of the best short films to come out of the
AFI in the last few years.
Bye
Bye Benjamin
Directed by Charlie McDowell,
2006
Who needs a childhood when you have stock options?
Benjamin Osgood, a savvy ten-year-old business executive,
meets a coworker's daughter, and must decide how grown up
he wants to be. Stars Lolita Davidovich and features Malcom
McDowell & Ted Danson.
Marrying
God
Directed by Duke Johnson, 2006
Sometimes finding the truth means letting go of what you believe.
In a seedy Hollywood motel where her mother works as a maid,
a little girl must find the courage to confront the harsh
reality of life when she discovers that nothing is quite what
it seems, especially her big sister.
Duncan
Removed
Directed by Peter Livolsi, 2006
When successful family man Ben Henry is offered a job that
will move he and his family, Ben must confront his hidden
past, Duncan Yates, the man who has been guilding him through
life via an undetectable ear piece for as long as he can remember.
Stars Ken Marino ("Dawon's Creek", "Veronica
Mars").
Apparent
Horizon
Directed by Thymaya Payne, 2006
When the American Dream becomes a nightmare... Kama, a Thai
mail-order bride, moves to the U.S. with her new husband,
Joseph Delaney, in search of the American dream. She soon
discovers the world she hoped for is actually an emotional
prison. Her only salvation is Joseph's unstable, other-worldly
son, Billy. In order to escape this American nightmare, she
will have to trust Billy to free her, even if it means someone
must die... Stars Peter Coyote.
Grace
Directed by Camille Cellucci,
2006
"Tomorrow is Forever."
In this hauntingly beautiful film, GRACE is a poignant story
about the way life delivers unexpected second chances even
in our most desperate moments. Rae fears this tragic anniversary
date as she drowns in a cocoon of darkness, contemplating
her decision. On her knees at the ocean's edge she lets go
of her life piece by piece. As she fights the waves to meet
her fate, Grace, a five-year-old child, unexpectedly interrupts
her. Armed with her pink suitcase full of treasures she packed
herself, Grace needs help finding her way to meet her very
special ""boyfriend."" Bit by bit Grace
breaks into Rae's world and inspires her to embrace life and
live once more.
The
Red Front
Directed by Adam Goudchaux, 2007
"Sometimes the Wrong Choice is the Only Choice"
Nazi Germany, 1933. The introverted WERNER STEIN, son of a
prominent underground Communist leader, has no aspirations
to follow in his father's footsteps. But when he and his father
are arrested by the Nazis, an SS Officer forces Werner to
make an unspeakable choice. Shattered, Werner is recruited
by his father's underground organization, THE RED FRONT, to
exact revenge. But revenge is never simple, and again Werner
is forced to make a final, deadly choice.
The
Pros & Cons of Breathing
Directed by Seth Manheimer, 2006
A character-driven action film about a criminal who suffers
from cystic fibrosis, a terminal illness. He's been afflicted
with this condition and his criminal lifestyle, at the core,
is both an expression of rage and an attempt to take control
of his morality. His wish to die any other way than in a hospital
has made Jude a truly fearless criminal. He is essentially
more afraid to live than to die. This film is in support of
Cystic Fybrosis and the Boomer Esiason foundation.
Quake
Directed by Peter Shanel, 2006
13-year-old Toby Fisher's life is starting to rift at the
seams. A troubled kid growing up in a troubled house, Toby
seems to be taking care of his absent mother and rebellious
sister. When scientists announce the discovery of a new fault
line running through his neighborhood, Toby takes protecting
himself and his family in his own hands. The story takes place
over one day when families break apart and the ground starts
to move.
The
Newman Shower
Directed by Dan Passman, 2001
"In all of camp Colman, there was only one private shower.
In the summer of 1990, it was given another name. The Newman
Shower."
It's the summer of 1990 at Camp Colman, and while most of
his cabinmates are busy bragging about their sexual exploits,
Zach Newman is keeping something secret. Ashamed to shower
in front of his friends, he quickly becomes the target of
ridicule, threatening his chances with Wendy, the girl he's
liked for two summers. When ignoring and fighting back both
prove futile, Newman is left with no choice but to do what
he has most wanted to avoid... to face them.
Existence
Directed by Anthony Leonardi III,
2006
In the line between reality and illusion, life and death...
can we really tell the difference? What happens when you are
trapped in the line?
Everybody dies... every single one of us. In an instant, life
and perception end, years of memories vanish. Will you recognize
that moment? Or, will you carry on, seamlessly transitioning
to a new reality? Vincent has transitioned, but he is unaware
of his new place in this world. As he travels deeper into
the afterlife his fate becomes painfully clear... there is
no escape.
Joshua
Tree
Directed by Jonathan W.A. Messer,
2002
Between earth and heaven there are dreams we have yet to imagine.
Features Taylor Dane.
The
Manual
Directed by Rylend Grant, 2006
A marine notification officer, James Winslow, struggles to
come to terms with the death of his estranged fater. In the
process of his first family notification, he begins to confront
his own demons and find his way back to his family.
Mother
Directed by Sian Heder, 2006
Desperate to be rid of her toddler in order to have an affair,
a dissatisfied Beverly Hills Housewife hires a stranger to
babysit and ends up getting much more than she bargained for.
"Mother" is a dark and funny look at neglect, and
what it really means to get what we want.
Transgressions
Directed
by Valerie Weiss, 2006
Careful what you wish for...""A Clockwork Orange""
meets ""Pleasantville"" in this sci-fi
short set against the backdrop of a dystopian society that
idolizes celebrity assassins called Agents. Carl Phillips
dreams of giving his young son a 'better' life by sending
him to Agent Training Camp. His wife, Sophie, doesn't share
the same dream and does the unthinkable to save her son from
a life of murder.
About
the American Film Institute
AFI is a national institute providing leadership in screen
education and the recognition and celebration of excellence
in the art of film, television and digital media. The AFI
Conservatory is world-renowned for its advanced professional
training designed to nurture the talents and enhance the skills
of tomorrow's leading storytellers in the global motion picture
and television professions. The curriculum focuses on narrative,
visual storytelling through hands-on collaboration, taught
by working professionals from the film and television communities.
Master of Fine Arts degrees are granted in six filmmaking
disciplines-Cinematography, Directing, Editing, Producing,
Production Design and Screenwriting The AFI Conservatory has
trained more than 3,000 artists since its founding in 1969.
These graduates have, and will continue to have, a major impact
on the art of film, television and digital media.
