Baker City holds annual short film festival

(AUGUST 1, 2021) There are many different film festivals in Oregon. For example, there is the Portland International Film Festival, the Reel Music Festival, and even the Portland Horror Film Festival. Another festival, however, appreciates animation, comedy, and films that are short. In fact, that is its name: the We Like 'Em Short Film Festival!

The WLES film festival started in 2010 in Baker City, which is a small town of about 10,000 people in Eastern Oregon. Although the festival began by focusing on work by local and regional filmmakers, it now receives submissions from all over the world. The festival's website advises filmmakers to "be creative, make us laugh, and keep it short." The festival requires that all live-action films be comedies; any other genre must be animated. It also requires that films be less than 20 minutes in length.

Six films were nominated for a "best picture" award in 2021. The winner receives a prize of $250. The nominees are:

• Roule Becane from Belgium. Description: In spite of himself, Léo finds himself drawn into a crazy adventure in order to fulfill his grandfather’s last wish.

• Cone from France. Description: Michel, a chronically depressive young man, is on his way to his native village. On the road, he meets a new traveling companion, and this pushes him to confront his fears and traumas.

• Flip from Canada. Description: A tribute to the therapeutic virtues of "losing your shit."

• Pile Poil from France. Description: In three days, Elodie is taking an exam to get a beauty therapy diploma. Her father Christophe, a butcher, would like more help from his daughter in his butcher shop. But at the moment, Elodie deals with another issue: she has to find a hairy model to pass her test.

• My Dear Quarantine from Poland. Description: This is a short, simple story from the time of pandemic–a poetic view of isolation, loneliness, and boredom.

• On/Off from Argentina. Description: Endless distractions threaten to destroy creativity.

Which film will win the prize? Visit the festival's website to find out: https://www.welikeemshort.com/index.html