American Cinematheque Short Film Spotlight

ABOUT THE FILMS: 

“The Anne Frank Gift Shop,” 2023, Dir. Mickey Rapkin, 15 Min, USA 

When a high-end design firm presents its plans to reimagine the gift shop at The Anne Frank House, the company’s overt appeals to Generation Z sparks a darkly comic debate about collective trauma, the Holocaust and tote bags. This dark comedy grew out of a disturbing academic study that showed a majority of young people didn’t know basic facts about the Holocaust. The film has unfortunately become extremely timely. “The Anne Frank Gift Shop” aims to disarm viewers with comedy before making its emotional appeal: We have to keep telling this story or it will happen again.

FORMAT: DCP

“Between Earth & Sky,” 2023, Dir. Andrew Nadkarni, 25 Min, USA 

Renowned ecologist Nalini Nadkarni studies “what grows back” after a disturbance in the rainforest canopy. After surviving a life-threatening fall from a tree, she must turn her research question onto herself to explore the effects of disturbance and recovery throughout her own life.

FORMAT: DCP

“Ninety-five Senses,” 2023, Dir. Jerusha and Jared Hess, 13 Min, USA 

An ode to the body’s five senses, delivered by a man with little time left to enjoy them. Tim Blake Nelson and a diverse team of animators from Latin America and the U.S. bring to life this bittersweet tale of regret and redemption from visionary duo Jerusha and Jared Hess.

FORMAT: DCP