Jeffrey Bowers
The Best Short Films of 2016
Despite this year's overall horribleness, it's been a great year for short films. Out of the 2,000-plus I've seen this year, here are my 13 favorites.
This Heartbreaking Short Film Perfectly Depicts the Pain of Losing a Parent
We spoke to filmmaker Jim Cummings about his award-winning film 'Thunder Road' and how he got the rights to use the Springsteen classic that inspired it.
What It's Like to Film a Movie About Addiction Starring Your Own Family
'Krisha' is a home movie, of sorts, that takes place in the literal home of director Trey Shults' mother. His real-life aunt plays the titular, drug-addled character, and Shults himself plays her estranged son.
Watch This Hilarious Short Film About Kids Exploding Their Teacher's Head
In 'Fools Day' a class of fourth graders make a crazy coffee concoction that ends up killing their teacher in a mind blowing explosion of guts and blood. They're left to clean up the mess and avoid getting caught by the D.A.R.E officer.
Watch This Hilarious Short Film About Escaping from an Old Folks' Home
'Florence Has Left the Building' is a VICE Shorts exclusive about a rebellious older woman, a nursing home, and two Elvis impersonators.
This Guy Says He Can Make Anyone a Reality TV Star
In 'How to Be a Reality TV Star,' filmmaker John Wilson documents a day at the unaccredited New York Reality TV School.
Watch This Hilarious Retro Short Film About a Teenager's Search for His Real Dad
In 'Gutpunch,' 15-year-old Adam discovers that his biological father could be any one of the desperadoes from a 1980s video-dating tape and embarks on a suburban quest to find the man he can now call 'Dad.'
This Short Film About Teeth Is Scarier Than the Dentist
In 'teeth,' filmmakers Daniel Gray and Tom Brown take us inside a mouth punished by caramel apples, fist fights, and painful dental visits.
Watch This Oscar-Nominated Short Film About Astronaut Best Friends Who Do Everything Together
Konstantin Bronzit's animated film 'We Can't Live Without Cosmos' is as much about space travel as it is about the human condition.
Watch This Short Film About the Transformative Powers of a Good Suit
Filmmakers Daniel Cloud Campos and Spencer Susser bring outfits to life in 'Shiny,' using stop-motion animation, incredible sound design, and a swift sense of movement.
Watch This Surreal Short Film About Existential Animals and Pop Culture
Director Réka Bucsi's Oscar-shortlisted 'Symphony No. 42' ponders the absurdity of life through depressed elephants, brain-dead humans, and Damien Hirst.
This Short Film Takes You Inside the Strange World of Donald Trump Supporters
"When he said that he was going to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it, heck yeah, that was it for me."