Every month, the Vimeo Curation team finds the best short films on the internet and serves them up on a silver platter, a.k.a. the Best of the Month series. For a bite-size taste of essential watching, we present this playlist of our faves. Sit back, press play, and enjoy!
Action Sports
“Augment Legend,” from Norco Bicycles, directed by Scott Secco
With enchanting special effects, a lichen-covered mountain on Vancouver’s North Shore responds to the tread of a Norco Bike speeding down its back. Director Scott Secco has been Staff Picked thirteen times for mountain bike films — need we say more?
Animation
“Awkward,” directed by Nata Metlukh
It’s the small details in San Francisco-based animator Nata Metlukh’s fictional world that make her films so engaging. Cloud cakes, an infinite pile of oranges, and pet lobsters bring this relatable collection of common awkward moments to a 11/10 charmer.
Branded Content
“Voguing With Beethoven,” directed by Emelie Norenberg
A seed planted by the African American and Latinx LGBTQ communities of Harlem in the '60s, "Voguing" has grown into a means of self expression for dancers all over the world. “Voguing with Beethoven” is a branded piece commissioned by the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, centered around a young dancer who finds his home somewhere in between high culture and subculture.
Comedy
“Flex,” directed by Matt Porter
When his girlfriend ends their relationship to pursue a teaching job overseas, Charles ceases the opportunity to explore a side of himself that’d been dormant since his adolescent years. “Flex” is a sweet, funny film about coming out to yourself.
Documentary
“The Seeker,” from Topic, directed by Lance Edmands
Winner of the 2020 Staff Pick Award at Maine-based doc festival Camden International Film Festival, “The Seeker,” tells the story of a man who chose the life of an Amish woodworker before making a life-changing discovery. Lance Edmands’ meditative filmmaking is the perfect approach for this beautiful contemplation on solitude and spirituality. (Read more about “The Seeker” in our interview with the filmmaker, here.)
Drama
“F–k You,” from Verket Produktion, directed by Anette Sidor
Smart, sexy, and brazen as its title, “F–ck You” is an R-rated short we saw (and loved!) at Sundance Film Festival in 2019. Since it’s NSFW, we’ll just tell you the plot involves a certain sex toy and a gaggle of Swedish teenagers. (Read more about ““F—k You”” in our interview with the filmmaker, here.)
“GAZE,” from interfilm sales & distribution, directed by Farnoosh Samadi
A woman witnesses a crime on the bus, then becomes the target of the perpetrator herself. Iranian filmmaker Farnoosh Samadi’s award-winning short is a dramatic thriller about the vulnerability of women in public spaces and the price of doing the right thing.
Music Video
“slowthai – Feel Away,” directed by Oscar Hudson
With three Best of the Month badges to his name and a Nike commercial that went viral this year, Oscar Hudson is an artist whose capacity for producing original video content knows no limits. And while his music video for slowthai’s song, “Feel Away,” may have a silly concept, its commentary on gender roles and societal expectations is dead serious.
Travel
“Lion City Rising,” directed by Keith Loutit
8 years, 988 shoot days, and 1385 flights of stairs went into the making of this epic timelapse of Singapore. Director Keith Loutit used zero permanent cameras, instead visiting the Lion City several times to record or photograph its dramatic growth into the sky over the course of nearly a decade.
