10 years of Colorado Springs shorts
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
The films run as short as a minute, but the festival showcasing them is now a decade old.
The big picture: The Colorado Short Circuit Film Festival celebrates its 10th year this weekend, with a lineup of 80 productions by independent filmmakers across the state.
- This year's selections range from a 13-minute horror-tinged reimagining of "I Love Lucy" to a 10-minute documentary on the evolving industry of barbershops and men's hair care.
Why it matters: The festival offers Colorado filmmakers a showcase — and sometimes a launching pad.
What they're saying: "Short films for independent filmmakers like myself, it's our calling card," festival director Ralph Giordano tells Axios. "We make these short films to enter film festivals and to send out so that people know what we are capable of."
Film fests award laurels — those wreath-shaped marks of recognition splashed across movie posters — and prizes.
- Local festivals like Short Circuit give filmmakers a chance to build recognition within the industry.
- "As you build up these accolades, it becomes very respected — especially if filmmakers are looking for agents," Giordano says.
By the numbers: This year's festival drew more than 150 submissions and 80 films made the final cut.
- The films will appear across 11 blocks organized by genre, each running about 75 minutes and followed by a Q&A with the directors.
🧟What we're watching: The horror block is a perennial fan favorite, Giordano says.
- And a late-night comedy block Saturday opens with a local stand-up comedian to warm up the crowd.
Fun fact: This year's shortest film, at one minute long, is a stop-motion Lego short called "The Detective," made by Cheyenne Mountain High School student Jacob Davis.
If you go: The festival runs Friday through Sunday at Ivywild School's auditorium.
- Day passes range from $40 to $60; single block tickets are $15.