LeClaire, a commercial producer for over two decades, is passionate about short films, and now devotes much of his time to his film shows. With 25 scheduled across the country, “it keeps us pretty busy,” he said.
Academy Award-nominated Director Jason Reitman (“JUNO,” “Up in the Air,” “Thank You for Smoking”) has called this “the best short film show I’ve ever seen.” Screening classic shorts from past years, combined with new international festival winners, ASNY present these highly entertaining films to the general public in a real theater setting.
And yes, it’s a “concert” and not a film festival, according to LeClaire. “We don’t like to be labeled as a festival, this is not a competitive event. It’s a mix of old hits and new hits, past festival winners combined with current winners and nominated shorts that are entertaining for a theatrical audience.”
All films are 20 minutes or less. “By the time you think it’s getting long, it’s over,” Fraboni said. Live music “to set the mood” and guest host Donna Drake enhance the experience. The evening opens with a 25 minute performance of jazz standards and blue by vocalist Ellen Kay with the band Moscow 57. And then it’s time to sit back and see some films.
“Short films are really the orphan child of the film world,” LeClaire said. “These filmmakers are so creative with very little time to tell a full story. They are going to put on the screen an intelligent and enjoyable story, it’s just like a short story you would read in a book. When they pull it off, it’s
glorious.”
The program features nine selections that have won honors from such festivals as Tribeca Film Festival, Los Angeles Shorts Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Garden State Film Festival, South by Southwest, and, of course, Academy Award-nominated titles.