Murray Suid

Murray Suid

minimalist filmmaking

Sequel Illustrates the Value of Minimalist Filmmaking

While sequels are common in feature-length filmmaking, they’re a rarity for shorts. In fact, “Now & Then” is the first sequel we’ve posted in this space. The film, directed by Frank Kelly, picks up on “But Then,” a touching eight-minute drama. Because “Now & Then” is on the festival circuit, we can show only the…

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vertical movie

Vertical Movie Captures the Big Picture of Life During COVID

SJ van Breda is celebrated for her cinematic documentaries about South African artists. “The One Year Anniversary” is a departure. In this four-minute drama set in the COVID era,  a young healthcare worker devises a surprising way to safely hug her mother. This bitter-sweet film—rich in powerful closeups— was shot vertically using a Xiaomi Mi…

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Sony Xperia

Documenting the Richness of New York City in 105 Seconds

How much of the Big Apple can you capture in less than two minutes? The answer is “plenty.” Using a Sony Xperia 1 V and a Zhiyun gimbal, prolific mobile filmmaker Cassius Rayner gives us an amazingly rich mini-doc: “Streets of New York City.” His “cast” features street musicians, cops, chess players, shoppers, sightseers, Rayner…

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stop-motion

Stop-Motion Animator Turns Despair into Joy

Apple-produced “Fuzzy Feelings” tell a classic feel-good Christmas story of compassion overcoming nastiness. The project artfully combines stop-motion scenes with live action performances. George Harrison’s “Isn’t It a Pity” provides the music score. Swedish animator Anna Mantzaris reveals some of her secrets in a making-of video (following the main attraction). The four-minute movie was shot…

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South African Artists

Artist Celebrates Artist in Beautiful Mini-doc

SJ van Breda is a master at using film art to celebrate the work and philosophies of South African artists. “A State of Flow” continues van Breda’s mission, giving us a dazzling mini-doc about the painter Sarah Grace. While the movie is making the festival rounds, the one-minute teaser gives us a glimpse of the…

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dance film

The Most Unusual Dance Film Ever

You can find thousands—maybe millions—of dance movies on YouTube. Labeling one of them as “the most unusual” might seem to be a reach. But we challenge you to find anything as offbeat as “REKT.” The Scottish director Jamiel Laurence is celebrated for unusual dance staging. But this one—set at the Ultimate Car Wash & Valeting…

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