Among the highlights of the 2024 El Dorado Film Festival’s first full day was Short Film Block #1, a curated collection of six dramatic short films spanning a wide variety of styles, themes, and genres. It was an eclectic blend that featured drama, comedy, science-fiction, and even a musical. Here is a rundown of the short films along with a few impressions.

“Music for a While”

With “Music for a While”, writer-director Kelvin Z. Phillips has made an aching yet beautifully lyrical short film that taps into the filmmaker’s longtime love for musicals. Exquisitely shot in New York City, this elegant and heartfelt poem uses the ambiance and aura of the city and melds it with the transportive power of music. Drawing inspiration from Baroque composer Henry Purcell and pulling from some of his own experiences, Phillips delivers something that you will see, hear, and feel. (4.5 STARS)

“Break”

Director Sam Henderson’s “Break” follows a jazz trio minutes away from performing a live television recording that could finally put them on the map. The problem is they had to scramble to get a new drummer, ending up with a nervous young kid fresh out of Juilliard who has never laid eyes on the music. Tension builds as their time approaches sending the story to an unexpected and slightly unfulfilling conclusion. Shot in gorgeous 35MM black-and-white, “Break” looks great and feels plucked out of time. (3.5 STARS)

“Chairs”

Writer, director, and producer James Hughes takes an utterly absurd premise beyond its limits in the simple yet fittingly titled “Chairs”. A terrific Georgina Campbell plays a psychiatrist whose new patient Joel (Akemnji Ndifornyen) has a most unusual issue – he is aroused by…plastic chairs. I won’t give away the weird places this wacky comedy goes, but writer, director, and producer James Hughes takes some crazy leaps that are often funny but hard to stay onboard with. (2.5 STARS)

“Outpost”

Science-fiction lover and bonafide Star Wars enthusiast Jamie Costa jumps feet-first into the genre he clearly loves with “Outpost”. This sci-fi swashbuckler sees Costa playing a scoundrel shooting his way out of an old bunker after snatching a highly sought artifact. But before he and his snarky robotic orb can escape, they’re attacked by a mysterious stranger who turns out to be the last person they expected to see. Filmed in just one day, writer-director Ben Anklam does a lot within that short time. And while his story sets up more than it reveals, “Outpost” captures what so many of us love about the sci-fi genre. (3.5 STARS)

“Purgy’s”

Writer-director Robbie Bryan’s fascinating “Purgy’s” plays like a neo-noir episode of “The Twilight Zone” with some spiritual flavor. The film is built around a terrific premise that has deeply personal roots for the filmmaker. And you can sense Bryan’s heart in every frame. The story is set in a bar where people come together and discover they have more of a connection than they first realize. I know that’s vague, but “Purgy’s” is a film best experienced blind. It won’t take you long to figure out what’s going on. But Bryan’s visual savvy and heartfelt storytelling sucks you in. And it certainly doesn’t hurt to have the great Richard Riehle as one of your stars. (4.5 STARS)

“They Grow Up So Fast”

John Beach writes, directs, and stars in “They Grow Up So Fast”, a lightning-paced comedy that earns its title in ways you might not expect. For Brian (Beach) and Amy (Emily Althaus), a wild night on the town leads to a one-night stand. And that’s when things get weird. As Brian tries to sneak out Amy suddenly informs him she’s pregnant. A minute later she’s in labor. Another minute later their son is ready for pre-school. Is Brian in some kind of time warp? We never know. It can be needlessly crass but also very funny as Beach packs some pretty big laughs into his zany story. (3.5 STARS)