Animation Competition

Handshake USA, 2004, 5 min., animated short, 35 mm Director: Patrick Smith Writer: Patrick Smith Producer: Patrick Smith and Barbara Jean Kearney An innocent greeting is quickly transformed into a sticky, tangled struggle for survival, illustrating the twists and turns of love at first sight. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

Heavy Pockets United Kingdom, 2004, 5:58 min., animated short, 35 mm Director: Sarah Cox Writers: Sarah Cox, Andrew Clover and Sam Morrison Producer: Jane Robertson Cast: Talfarn Evans, Heledd Jones and Rachel Kingsbury Awel Jones accidentally discovers that she’s lost her sense of gravity. Initially embarrassed by this ability, Awel and her sister keep the secret to themselves. When she is confronted by the school bullies, however, Awel uses the new talent to her advantage. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

Joyride USA, 2005, 5:10 min., animated short, BetaSP Director: John Cernak Writer: John Cernak Producer: Lori Cernak In a world of sound bites and spin, are we becoming oblivious to the truth of the matter, or are we waiting for our chance to show “The Man” who’s really in charge? Taking a tongue-in-cheek “don’t tread on me” attitude, “Joyride” shows what it takes to cut beyond the hype. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

Out of Beat USA, 2005, 2:10 min., animated short, BetaSP Director: Andrea Lira Writer: Andrea Lira Producer: Andrea Lira Cast: Andrea Lira Camila wants to be a ballet dancer like the other girls, but the rhythm of the class does not fit her personality. Her mother, sensing her daughter’s frustration, helps her find her own beat. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

Painting Day USA, 2005, 2:15 min., animated short, BetaSP Director: Daesup Chang Writer: Daesup Chang Producer: Daesup Chang As a fairground manager takes a moment to paint a popular bull ride, he has no idea that his dog and a small bird are about to give him the ride of his life. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

The Potter USA, 2005, 7:49 min., animated short, BetaSP Director: Josh Burton Writer: Josh Burton Producer: Josh Burton The Potter’s apprentice watches daily as his mentor brings clay to life and wishes he could do the same. An ancient and wise creature, the Potter takes the apprentice under his wing to teach him that there are no shortcuts in creating meaningful art. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

Quark USA, 2004, 1:21 min., animated short, BetaSP Director: Benjamin Willis Writer: Benjamin Willis Producer: Benjamin Willis The stage is set on a small planet where a small orange alien, Quark, has eaten every flower with the exception of one. Little does he know that the last flower holds the key to the balance of the entire planet— literally. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

Red Planet Blues USA, 2004, 13 min., animated short, 35 mm Director: David H. Brooks     Writer: Carol Gottlieb Singer     Producer: Carol Gottlieb Singer and Kelli Bixler Mori the Martian, longing for blue skies and tropical drinks, thinks his chance to hitch a ride to Earth has come when he spots a NASA rocket heading toward Mars. Will this rocket be his chance to experience something new, or will it leave him with the red planet blues? Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

The Tell Tale Heart Luxembourg/Spain/USA, 2005, 9:45 min., animated short, 35 mm Director: Raul Garcia Writer: Raul Garcia, adapted from “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe Producers: Raul Garcia, Bela G. Lugosi, Stephan Roelants, Manuel Sicilia Cast: Bela Lugosi Vexed by an old man’s evil-looking eye, the mad narrator decides he must rid himself of the nuisance. Murdering the old man and burying him under the floor planks doesn’t solve his problem, though, as the sound of his victim’s relentless heartbeat won’t stop ringing in his ears. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater

To a Man With a Big Nose USA, 2004, 3:12 min., animated short, BetaSP Director: Cecilia Aranovich    Writer: Cecilia Aranovich Producer: Cecilia Aranovich Cast: David Hunt A visual adaptation of a poem by Spanish author Quevedo, “To a Man With a Big Nose” portrays a frustrated little man who is unable to get rid of his disproportionately large nose. As he contemplates this unwieldy appendage, his nose comes to life and decides to go on a strange journey, dragging the poor little man along. Monday, Oct. 31, 3 p.m., Lucas Theatre Friday, Nov. 4, 12:30 p.m., Trustees Theater