The El Dorado Film Festival had the distinct honor of showcasing the most recent Founder’s Circle Winners from the 2023 Louisiana Film Prize – a Shreveport-based short film competition and festival founded in 2012. The group includes an exciting range of compelling visions from a host of intriguing filmmakers. Here is a rundown along with some impressions of the seven short films shown.

“Caught on Tape”

The kinda silly, often funny, and relatively chaste “Caught on Tape” takes a playful look at the warped allure of porn to boys in their early teens. Shot in three days and pulling inspiration from classic coming-of-age movies as well as teen sex comedies, co-directors Chris Alan Evans and Alexander Jeffery put us in the heads of the kids, namely the charming young Finn (Finnegan Collins) who goes looking for salacious treasures hidden in his father’s tool shed. It’s far from a serious examination of the subject, and it feels like there’s so much more story to tell. But sometimes wetting our appetites is the mark of a good short film. (3.5 STARS)

“Pink Suit Black Suit”

There’s a really good idea at the core of effervescent “Pink Suit Black Suit” that’s just waiting to be realized. But beyond the delightfully playful and often funny banter, I can’t escape the feeling that there is so much more to be explored. Directed by Jacob and Jaya McSharma working from a script by Jaya, the story follows a woman named Bianca (played by Jaya) who we meet as she is attending an art show. But what should be a fun and relaxing time is constantly interrupted by two competing voices inside her head. Artfully shot by DP Alexander Jeffery and well acted throughout, it’s the film’s script that ultimately teases more than it delivers. (2.5 STARS)

“Dead Flesh”

The emotionally intense “Dead Flesh” from writer-director Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz is a mesmerizing film from its very first moments despite being a bit murky in its messaging. Rather than anything resembling a plot, the story is more of an internal reckoning. It unfolds within a boxing ring as a young fighter dukes it out with his fiercest challenger – himself. The film is strikingly shot by cinematographer Joewi Verhoeven whose visual shifts from color to monochrome give the movie a charge. As do the impassioned physical performances from brothers Joseph Dodson and Joshua Dodson. (3.5 STARS)

“Clownfish”

“Clownfish”, the third short film from filmmaker Clayton Henderson, immediately strikes you with its sweetness and charm. But the more you watch the more you begin to see the emergence of deeper themes such as finding our self-confidence and embracing our true selves. The story revolves around two people, Frank (Chris Alan Evans) and Elle (Sheilava) who have connected through an internet dating service. They’ve yet to meet in person, content to hide behind the online identities they have created for themselves. But when the opportunity arises, will they have the courage to seize it? Henderson injects his story with warmth and humor. And one somewhat jarring flashback aside, he shows a great knack for character building and storytelling. (4 STARS)

“Off Sides”

I have a real soft spot for mockumentaries and first-time filmmaker Kaitlyn Brown delivers a really good one with “Off Sides”. This hysterical spoof of suburban soccer parents sees Brown taking and playing with an assortment of parent types that nearly anyone with a child in sports will recognize. As for the documentary style, it’s a great fit and deftly handled by Brown. And it helps to have such a terrific cast who all seem perfectly in tune with what the film is going for. “Off Sides” is start-to-finish hilarious yet ever so slyly critical. More than anything, it left me wishing we could get a full feature film somewhere down the line. (4.5 STARS)

“The Capitalist”

There is a lot packed into “The Capitalist” – a little too much to be honest. But there’s also a lot to appreciate in this compelling yet slightly overstuffed short film from writer-director Gian Smith. It could be called a lot of things – a sociopolitical commentary, a character study, a heist film, and perhaps most of all a gritty southern crime thriller. It’s undoubtedly ambitious which turns out to be both a strength and a weakness. Yet the performances are superb and Smith impresses with his management of tone and ability to immerse us in his rich setting. (3.5 STARS)

“The Candy Lady”

The big winner at the 2023 Louisiana Film Prize was Monique Derouselle’s enchanting Deep South fantasy comedy “The Candy Lady”. In it, Debra (wonderfully played by Cheryl Shelton) is a beloved mother figure and candy lady for her entire neighborhood. She’s also an aspiring short story writer who has been tripped up by a frustrating case of writer’s block. But then something…magical happens. Her nephew Marvin (Chris Jones) brings her an old typewriter that when used causes her ideas to hop off the page and into real-life. It’s an entertaining premise and Derouselle has a lot of fun blending genres. Sign me up for whatever she decides to do next. (4 Stars).