THE 2023 FEST SCREENED OCTOBER 5th-8th
Featuring Selected Work Created in Wisconsin and International Films Made by Wisconsinites
The Basin Short Film Festival is devoted to showcasing Wisconsin-focused artists and work, while promoting engagement with local creative organizations and unique screening spaces. This fest focuses primarily on short films (30 minutes or less), and aims to feature independent cinema that fosters critical discussion and community connection. We want to celebrate the unique spirit of independent film, by providing a welcoming space for filmmakers and audience members alike.
Selected work is curated to screen everywhere from historic theaters and breweries to local creative centers and makerspaces. Prizes are awarded by category and best of show, evaluated by a diverse mix of regional media professionals and professors.
2023 VENUES AND FILMS
A genre-bending, monologue driven film. 10 stories, 10 locations.
Expanded cinema performance using 16mm projections and a live score using cinema-objects
An immersive multimedia short film, utilizing projected video, dynamic lighting, surround sound and an original soundtrack.
A silent film shot in Paris France, seamlessly blends archival and digital footage to tell a story with familial roots in Wisconsin.
Animated music video for the band De Stijl (Ehmed Nauman and René Bedolla). An inventor creates an anti-gravity machine that feeds on his dreams.
Poetry inspired by the boom of thunder and crack of lightning, describes the peaceful atmosphere of a rainstorm.
Conjuring Freud's id while watching America's Next Top Model. Digital transfer of hand-processed black & white 16mm film.
While rendering in After Effects, Carly crashes her computer, unwittingly releasing the Spinning Wheel of Death into the 'real world'.
Blended animation styles and techniques tell a story of a young girl seeking advice about art and life on YouTube.
A claymation short of one man’s battle with a vending machine.
Music video of the song "1000 Words" by Emmitt James and featuring Domino
An animated short about a dog and his incorporeal friend.
Original music video for the song "I Don't Care" by misc_alt_ and MVC B.
Created for STXIFF, Edinburg, TX 48 hour Film Category. An animated short about chance encounters, romance and sacrificed ice cream cones.
A music travelog and collaboration between two artists traveling between Armenia, Puerto Rico, and Milwaukee Wis.
A music video of the song "King and Queen" by the band Nick Anderson and the Skinny Lovers.
A genre-bending, monologue driven film. 10 stories, 10 locations.
A Wisconsin 48 Hour Film Project created for the Yes We Cannes International Competition and selected to screen at The Cannes Short Film Corner. A story about old friends and missed connections blends musical elements with original lyrics and score.
A monster emerges from a cursed VHS tape, threatening to devour the band. Shot on location in CREATE’s IDEA Center.
A short documentary chronicling the story of Wisconsin inventor Carl Eliason and his essential contributions to the development of the modern snowmobile.
Documenting the multi-year process of wood-cut animation, featuring the work of Owen Klatte, who debuted his craft with Gumby and went on to work on James and the Giant Peach and Nightmare Before Christmas.
Two ambitious Columbia freshmen attempt to travel to every New York City subway station in the shortest time possible…but plans and friendships can change a lot in four years.
In 1902, before the establishment of the National Park Service, a group of remarkable women came together to create Wisconsin's first preserve, South Woods.
A raw, unfiltered glimpse into a 28 year struggle with bipolar disorder. Highlighting the far-reaching impacts the illness can have and the journey to cope with the disease.
Created for Still Rendering: Point's 48-Hour Film Challenge. A man is stalked by a mysterious figure until he and the narrative both unravel.
Created for STXIFF, Edinburg, TX 48 hour Film Category. An animated short about chance encounters, romance and sacrificed ice cream cones.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. Mutant fast-food mascots travel through time to eliminate the mother of future Wendy’s mascot. “Come with me if you want to live!”
Created for the Wisconsin 48 Hour Film Fest. Wanda is initially annoyed by her carefree co-workers, but the more time she spends with them, the more she is inspired to become free.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. A man struggles with boredom and loneliness during the apocalypse.
A Wisconsin 48 Hour Film Project created for the Yes We Cannes International Competition and selected to screen at The Cannes Short Film Corner. A story about old friends and missed connections blends musical elements with original lyrics and score.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. A clown struggles with loneliness in an apocalyptic landscape until a chance encounter with an unlikely friend.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. An homage to Film Noir portrays one man’s struggle to solve a mystery and navigate layers of betrayal - all of the classic trappings of the genre.
Two ambitious Columbia freshmen attempt to travel to every New York City subway station in the shortest time possible…but plans and friendships can change a lot in four years.
Conjuring Freud's id while watching America's Next Top Model. Digital transfer of hand-processed black & white 16mm film.
Documenting the multi-year process of wood-cut animation, featuring the work of Owen Klatte, who debuted his craft with Gumby and went on to work on James and the Giant Peach and Nightmare Before Christmas.
A Wisconsin 48 Hour Film Project created for the Yes We Cannes International Competition and selected to screen at The Cannes Short Film Corner. A story about old friends and missed connections blends musical elements with original lyrics and score.
A short documentary chronicling the story of Wisconsin inventor Carl Eliason and his essential contributions to the development of the modern snowmobile.
A silent film shot in Paris France, seamlessly blends archival and digital footage to tell a story with familial roots in Wisconsin.
In 1902, before the establishment of the National Park Service, a group of remarkable women came together to create Wisconsin's first preserve, South Woods.
A genre-bending, monologue driven film. 10 stories, 10 locations.
Poetry inspired by the boom of thunder and crack of lightning, describes the peaceful atmosphere of a rainstorm.
While rendering in After Effects, Carly crashes her computer, unwittingly releasing the Spinning Wheel of Death into the 'real world'.
A raw, unfiltered glimpse into a 28 year struggle with bipolar disorder. Highlighting the far-reaching impacts the illness can have and the journey to cope with the disease.
Music video of the song "1000 Words" by Emmitt James and featuring Domino
Created for Still Rendering: Point's 48-Hour Film Challenge. A man is stalked by a mysterious figure until he and the narrative both unravel.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. Mutant fast-food mascots travel through time to eliminate the mother of future Wendy’s mascot. “Come with me if you want to live!”
An animated short about a dog and his incorporeal friend.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. A clown struggles with loneliness in an apocalyptic landscape until a chance encounter with an unlikely friend.
Original music video for the song "I Don't Care" by misc_alt_ and MVC B.
Animated music video for the band De Stijl (Ehmed Nauman and René Bedolla). An inventor creates an anti-gravity machine that feeds on his dreams.
A music video of the song "King and Queen" by the band Nick Anderson and the Skinny Lovers.
A claymation short of one man’s battle with a vending machine.
Blended animation styles and techniques tell a story of a young girl seeking advice about art and life on YouTube.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. A man struggles with boredom and loneliness during the apocalypse.
Created for Still Rendering: Point’s 48-Hour Film Challenge. An homage to Film Noir portrays one man’s struggle to solve a mystery and navigate layers of betrayal - all of the classic trappings of the genre.
A Wisconsin 48 Hour Film Project created for the Yes We Cannes International Competition and selected to screen at The Cannes Short Film Corner. A story about old friends and missed connections blends musical elements with original lyrics and score.
Created for the Wisconsin 48 Hour Film Fest. Wanda is initially annoyed by her carefree co-workers, but the more time she spends with them, the more she is inspired to become free.
Created for STXIFF, Edinburg, TX 48 hour Film Category. An animated short about chance encounters, romance and sacrificed ice cream cones.
A monster emerges from a cursed VHS tape, threatening to devour the band. Shot on location in CREATE’s IDEA Center.
2023 FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDENCE
Independent Spirit Awards
Sara Sowell for Girl Who is
Carly Bandock for Rain: A Poetic Video
Michael Leffler for Ghost’s Best Friend
Joel P Sacramento for Awakening Wanda
Pamela Oliver Muñoz for Blind Love
Best In Category Awards
Morgan Jones for 3 Hours Per Frame: Creating of Wood (Documentary)
Len "Leneb" Borruso for First Person (Experimental)
Jérémy Strohm and Chelsey Grant for Visitant of Paris (Experimental)
Glen Obear for Dream Sequence (Music Video)
Jason Love for Animated Life (Animation)
Sara Sowell for Dada’s Daughter (Installation & Performance)
Tj Hill for A Cloudy Moon (Still Rendering: 48 Hour Film)
Jurors award prizes to work that shows significant technical and artistic achievement. Best In Category cash prizes are awarded with amounts dependent on pending sponsorship and the number of awards given. Jurors are generally filmmakers, film industry professionals, critics or curators who have a commitment to supporting regional filmmakers and film culture in Wisconsin. Often, jurors have Wisconsin roots or are UW alumni.