Publications & Sites 
New fest for short films in Skokie
“Critical Nexus” by Tirf Alexius
The Short Cut 100 Film Festival
Gorilla Tango Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie
Starts at 9 p.m. (films start at 9:30) on June 30; audience will votes will determine the festival $100 prize winner
Tickets are $12
(847) 677-7761 or visit rujaneeinspace.com
Article Extras
Updated: June 29, 2012 4:28PM
There’s a Catch-22 of sorts built into getting started as a filmmaker.
Given the expense and complexity of producing a feature film — and the general wisdom of learning the craft with projects a little bit at a time — many filmmakers cut their teeth on short films. And then find there are few ways to present their work to the public.
The Short Cut 100 Film Festival hopes to help close that exhibition gap with its debut June 30 at the Gorilla Tango Theatre in Skokie.
“The goal of this event is to showcase and support independent filmmakers,” said festival founder Rujanee Mahakanjana. “It’s hard to find an outlet for short films, no matter how good they are, outside of established film festivals, and those can be difficult to find your way into.
“The idea of Short Cut 100 is to create a forum that’s friendly to filmmakers, especially those who don’t always do mainstream work. I particularly want to encourage new ideas and innovation.”
Feature debut
Mahakanjana, a native of Thailand who settled in Chicago after completing her master’s degree in Studio Arts at Northeastern Illinois University, has two 60-minute films to her credit, and she begins shooting next month on her writing/directing feature debut, the sci-fi existentialist romantic comedy “Lab 99.”
She began by making short films, though, through her Rajanee-in-Space Studio and she knows the challenges short filmmakers face. That’s why she opened her festival to films in a wide range of genres including experimental works, animation, documentaries, comedies, music videos and even trailers.
“We hope that variety will also give the audience a chance to experience something out of the ordinary,” she said.
Audience votes on films will determine the winner of a $100 prize.
The 13 films confirmed for Short Cut 100’s debut include:
“Cerrrrmack” by Terf Alexius, a seven-minute crime drama about “the art of Chicago robbery.”
“Robot Love” by Mr. Mastodon, a 3-minute, 30-second animated romantic comedy about a robot who falls in love from afar, only to discover he is tethered to an electrical outlet.
“Daughters” by Tik Xamavee, an 11-minute, 30-second drama about the dilemma faced by a young Thai girl: Stay with her mother and share hardships at home or risk looking for work in a dangerous big city.
“Grandpa Gives You the Bird” by Marc Maximov, a 10-minute documentary about Maximov’s 92-year-old grandfather, who spends his days making origami birds and handing them out to strangers.
“Pimps vs. Zombies” by Jonathan Keaton, a 10-minute comedy featuring national comedians, improvisers, musicians and sketch-comedy groups.
“Another Day” by Matt Weinstein, a seven-minute drama coping with depression and writer’s block.
“Garden of Eden” by Coulter Mitchell, a three-minute animated fantasy that resets the struggle for free will after mankind’s downfall in an industrial Apocalypse, with God entrusting an “octobunny mantis” as guardian of the garden — and forbidding him to pick one flower within.
