While most feature-length films average around two hours, some cinematic masterpieces top three hours, such as “Titanic,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Oppenheimer.” But in a world increasingly ruled by quick dopamine hits on social media and limited attention spans, sometimes short is the best way to go.
This is the idea propelling the 14th Love Your Shorts Film Festival, which returns to Sanford Feb. 15-18 with 66 films from 14 countries.
“In today’s world, people like short things. They go to YouTube or short TikTok videos. They want to watch something and move on,” said Gene Kruckmeyer, who oversees screening and programming as the festival co-founder. “That’s the format we’ve followed, and it seems to work. Our time limit for films is 30 minutes.”
Visitors can choose from blocks of film categorized by comedy, sci-fi/horror, drama, Florida Flavor and more. The final block of the weekend on Sunday night will highlight the “Best of the Fest” by showing the top film from each block, which carries a $400 cash prize per category. The overall winner, which will be selected by a panel of industry professionals, receives a $1,500 cash prize and the “Monroe,” which is an original piece of metal artwork.
“A lot of our filmmakers are international,” Kruckmeyer said. “Three or four years ago, our Best of the Fest winner was here, and she came from Paris.”
The idea for this event first hatched when Kruckmeyer and his wife stumbled upon a short film festival just outside of Las Vegas in Boulder City, Nevada. After seeing such an event in a small, artsy town out West, he decided to bring the idea to his friends in Sanford.
“There are five of us that started Love Your Shorts, but Nancy and I really created it. It’s just taken off from there,” he said. “It’s been a real community effort, I think.”
The Ritz Theater, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, plays host to the festival. Just a stone’s throw from dozens of restaurants, bars and shops in downtown Sanford, Kruckmeyer said that out-of-town visitors enjoy exploring the community before and after film screenings.
“Our attendance has grown. I think our film selection has grown,” he said. “We have a better quality of films every year.”
2024 official selections and schedule
The Love Your Shorts Film Festival is Feb. 15-18. Tickets cost $12 for individual blocks of films (except $5 for the “E for Everyone” block) or $85 for a weekend pass to all films. All screenings are held at the Ritz Theater at Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center at 201 S. Magnolia Ave. in Sanford. For more information and tickets, visit loveyourshorts.com.
Partnership with Orlando Independent Filmmakers: 7 p.m. Feb. 15
A free event to learn more about the film festival and the people involved in the industry.
Opening Night: 7 p.m. Feb. 16
- It’s Almost the End of the World, Probably (14:41)
- Justice for Batman: The Mark Racop Case (12:03)
- The end is my beginning (3:33)
- Black Balloons (12:22
- Lia IRL (14:14)
- Bad Dog (2:25)
- The Visit (15:00)
- Dummy (12:59)
“E” for Everyone (family-friendly films): 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17
- Ember (6:50)
- Dog Days (2:34)
- Superstitious (6:25)
- Dream On (22:11)
- Cold Lunch (2:46)
- Wren’s World (8:40)
- Magnificent Beings (7:47)
- To Make Something Wonderful (2:13)
- Nubbinwood (7:50)
Animation: 1 p.m. Feb. 17
- The End (2:23)
- Deadline (12:49)
- Pour Generation (3:41)
- Bird Drone (8:45)
- Bent Out of Shape (3:08)
- Beyond the Farm (2:20)
- The Grand Book (19:59)
- Head in the Clouds (2:15)
- Octopus Ninja (2:27)
- The Prince’s Dilemma (5:00)
- Mommy’s Me Time (2:53)
- Dandelion (3:38)
Documentary: 3 p.m. Feb. 17
- Emerald Sanctuary (2:24)
- Interception: Jayne Kennedy – American Sportscaster (15:00)
- Beyond Lesser Things (24:00)
- Hometown Hero (16:28)
- SAR: Search and Rescue (15:00)
International: 5 p.m. Feb. 17
- Play (16:20)
- Making Up (15:00)
- Black sheep (3:42)
- Rosso / Red (19:07)
- White Lie (10:58)
- With Love L. (15:00)
Comedy: 8 p.m. Feb. 17
- Cart Return (3:42)
- MAD (13:00)
- Wicked Image (8:48)
- Adieu Gaston (15:00)
- Leverage (14:19)
- [Insert Short Film Title] (12:21)
- Ms. Rossi 2 : Ms. Rossi Takes The Cake (17:58)
Sci-fi/Horror: 10 p.m. Feb. 17
- The Pencil (10:24)
- Primacy (19:47)
- Psychicken (14:05)
- Personalized Futures (9:31)
- Z (18:39)
- Split Second (21:19)
Drama: 1 p.m. Feb. 18
- Credit (14:56)
- The Sight of Angels (15:40)
- Black Magic (13:40)
- Hit Man: Secrets Of Lies (19:00)
- Trevor Hurt Someone (11:51)
- The Old Young Crow (12:00)
Florida Flavor: 3 p.m. Feb. 18
- Frostbyte (7:06)
- Florida School Number 4891 (9:14)
- 1 AM Heroics (4:56)
- Walking Around (19:48)
- Nova (9:52)
- Connections (18:04)
- Screaming into the Wind (18:42)
Best of the Fest: 7 p.m. Feb. 18
Films to be the winners from all the other blocks, then the “Best of the Festival” award given by a panel of judges.
Find me@PConnPie on Instagramor send me an email:pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
