Four Taiwanese short films have been selected for the 2021 Dam Short Film Festival, which will be held virtually from Feb. 11 to 15. The short films include "Catch Your Heart! (抓牢牢)," "Hope," "CODA (美麗人生)," and "Nothing to Hide," available on-demand throughout the US via Eventive, with free livestreaming Q&A sessions with the filmmakers.
Founded in 2005, Dam Short Film Festival is held every year in February at Boulder city, Nevada, a place where the famous "Hoover Dam" is located. The film festival has offered international filmmakers a platform to showcase their works and has screened more than 2,000 unique independent short films since its establishment.
This year, Dam Short Film Festival will screen more than 160 international short films, divided into 25 thematic programs with categories including Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Horror, International, Love & Romance, Music Videos, Nevada, Sci-Fi and Underground.
Additionally, the festival gives out eight award categories, all based on audience votes and tallied by the festival board of directors. Award winners receive a one-of-a-kind award statuette and the Leslie Paige Award for Excellence in Short Filmmaking will also include a $1000 cash prize.
Under the program "Animation A: Personal Journeys," is "Catch Your Heart! (抓牢牢)," by student director Yang Wan-jing (楊宛靜) about a toy bunny looking for her knight in shining armor, and "Hope," an animation about a lonely creature looking for a friend.
"CODA (美麗人生)," enclosed within the program "International C: Potpourri," is a story about a young man with his deaf mom preparing for a dance competition, directed by Lee Hsiang-chun (李湘郡).
Within the program "Drama F: Avant-garde," is "Nothing to Hide," an abstract dance of life by student directors Ke Ming-yan, and Lin Ting-zhen.