Hollywood does not make short films, but many talented independent filmmakers do.  Anyone who loves short films, as we do, knows those filmmakers put as much of their heart and soul into their films as Hollywood puts money into its features.

In continuing our advocacy of short films, we're proud to once again devote our Opening Night to the celebration of short films.  This collection of 6 short films of varying styles and genres comes to us from all over the continent, including one from our hometown and one from over the border to the North.  Each filmmaker will be on hand to answer questions about their work.

If you like what you see, and we know you will, there are plenty more where these came from.  The 2006 Maryland Film Festival includes close to 100 short films from all over the world, spread out over 14 shorts programs (with a few shown before features).

In previous years, we have shown films that went on to recognition at the Academy Awards, or launched filmmakers into careers directing celebrated feature-length films.  We have also shown short films made by people whose names the public is already familiar with.  Nobody knows which short film will be the next Oscar winner or launch pad for tomorrow's superstar filmmaker, but there is always a chance you will see it at the Maryland Film Festival many months before the nominations are announced.

Copenhagen Cycles
Director: Eric Dyer
6:00 minutes, BetaSP, USA
DESCRIPTION:  The process used to create this mesmerizing work spans the history of the moving image, from the pre-cinema zoetrope to modern high-shutter-speed digital video.  The filmmaker created several short animated loops that, when seen with the naked eye, look more like sculptures made out of photographs, yet when rotated and seen through the shutter of a video camera, they come to vibrant and pulsating life.  The zoetropes Eric Dyer created for this work will be on display during the festival.

Hiro
Director: Matthew Swanson
20:00 minutes, 35mm, Canada
DESCRIPTION:  After a chance encounter with a young girl, a shy Japanese insect collector finds himself thrust into a wild chase to recover a stolen beetle.

Never Live Above A Psychic
Director: Steve Gentile
8:00 minutes, 35mm, USA
DESCRIPTION:  A man battles his disruptive downstairs neighbors: a family of telekinetic psychics.

The Package
Director: B. Radical
23:00 minutes, BetaSP, USA
DESCRIPTION:  Bounce and Sugar have stumbled across a simple no-lose deal: take a package out into the desert, bury it, and collect $75,000.  They recruit their now domesticated former partner in crime to help them out.  It’s a simple score, but what’s in the mysterious package?

Ride Of The Mergansers
Director: Steve Furman
11:00 minutes, BetaSP, USA
DESCRIPTION:  Using hidden cameras, this short nature doc gives a unique view into the world of the Hooded Merganser, an endangered, reclusive duck found only in North America.

Hold Up
Director: Madeleine Olnek
7:00 minutes, video, USA
DESCRIPTION:  As a woman and her boyfriend prepare to rob a convenience store, it becomes obvious that they are not particularly skilled at the endeavor.