Program 13: Shorts II – Human Connection

What Lies Beneath
Jaden Esse, 2022, USA, 17m
New York Premiere
What Lies Beneath, written and directed by Jaden Esse, was filmed and produced in the New England cities of Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts. Following the story of the Grim Reaper going about the daily business of collecting souls, What Lies Beneath serves as a meditation on the final moments before death by using a bittersweet blend of humor and, most importantly, dance. What Lies Beneath is also Esse’s BFA thesis film from Emerson College.

Bound By A Thread
James Kinney and Pierre Marais, 2022, USA, 10m
New York Premiere
This docu-dance film explores the fragile beauty of love as seen through the eyes of two exceptional dancers with disabilities. Their words and stories reveal a deeper shared truth about love that is universal to us all. Featuring the music of award-winning composer Gaelynn Lea and the dynamic filmmaking of award-winning directors James Kinney and Pierre Marais.

Been Lovin’ You 
Robin Dekkers, Ben Tarquin, Benjamin Freemantle, and Post:ballet, 2022, USA, 5m
New York City Premiere
Choreographed by Post:ballet’s artistic director, Robin Dekkers, Been Lovin’ You follows Benjamin Freemantle around San Francisco as he freely dances down the streets, through parks and with those in the community. Been Lovin’ You is described by Freemantle as “a love letter to the city I love and forever will.”

To: Everything I Love
Anthony Morigerato and AM Dance Productions, 2023, USA, 13m
In the not-so-distant future, a young woman is falling in love. She enlists her personal AI system to decide if the relationship is worth it. Tap dance, modern dance, Gene Kelly movies, jazz, the piano, the technological landscape, and storytelling in both the abstract and literal form represent many of the curiosities in which To: Everything I Love aims to venture.

At the Bathhouse
Al Blackstone and Aidan Gibney with music by The Ballet, 2023, USA, 4m
World Premiere
This music video, made in collaboration with NYC indie-rock band The Ballet, was inspired by the hive-like world of the gay bathhouse. The joyous dance film, directed by Al Blackstone and Aidan Gibney and choreographed by Al Blackstone was filmed on location in a former Boys’ Club of New York and features a cast of 11 magnetic dancers and actors.

​​Life Hacks for Lovers
Marc Grey, 2023, Israel, 15m
New York Premiere
When it comes to love, Roberta knows what she wants—and it’s not what she’s getting. One night, she takes matters into her own hands. This comic parable is about romance, creation, and the search for the perfect partner.