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	The 15th Annual Vince Koehler Film Festival

		Parental Advisory: The main part of our show is intended for teens and adults. The material is "family friendly," but is not aimed at young children. The last half-hour, our "Late Show", is rated "R". Our 2011 Program We are still in the process of selecting films for this year's film festival. Below is a sample of films we are considering, but final decisions and the running order have not yet been determined. Be sure to check this website for updates! Copyright © 2005 by Madman Entertainment The Mysterious Geographic Explorations of Jasper Morello (2005; 26 min) — A unique blend of silhouette animation and CGI is featured in this stylized, moody steampunk adventure. When navigator Jasper Morello's homeland is afflicted with a deadly plague, he is selected to guide an airship to new lands in search of a cure. An Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short. The ChubbChubbs! (2002, 5 min) — In this CGI comedy, a hapless alien janitor tries to warn everyone that "The ChubbChubbs are coming!" But who or what is this mysterious threat? Winner of the 2002 Oscar for Best Animated Short. Das Rad (Rocks; 2003, 8 min) — This stop-motion fantasy offers a unique perspective on time. The slow time scale of living piles of rocks alternates with the comparatively swift pace of human existence. An Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short. Copyright © 2010 by Blender Foundation Sintel (2010; 15 min) — In this high fantasy CGI story, a girl named Sintel adopts a baby dragon. When it is taken by a fearsome adult dragon, she embarks on an epic quest to find it. Copyright © 2006 by BreakThru Peter Ltd Peter and the Wolf (2006, 32 min) — The Russian tale of "Peter and the Wolf" is a 1936 children's story told via a musical composition accompanied by narration. In this Polish-British-Norwegian stop-motion "reinterpretation", the story is told wordlessly, although still accompanied by music. Set in a bleak, modern eastern Europe, shy Peter is sheltered by his overprotective grandfather. He must find the courage to deal with both the wolf and an armed gang of bullies. Winner of the 2008 Oscar for Best Animated Short. Maestro (2005, 5 min) — In this CGI short-short, the Maestro and his mechanical assistant are getting ready for his big performance. But as the clock ticks, not all is as it seems. An Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short. It's a Greek Life (1936; 7 min) — In a traditional cel animation cartoon from Van Beuren Studios, a centaur cobbler is ordered by the Greek god Hermes (Mercury) to repair some rather uncooperative magic sandals. Copyright © 2009 by Focus Features 9 (original short film, 2005, 11 min) In this CGI film, sentient rag dolls search through a post-apocalyptic wasteland for useful items, while pursued by a cat-like monster which wants to drain their life-giving energy. This short, made by Shane Acker as a student project, was developed by Tim Burton into a full-length feature, also entitled "9" (2009). An Oscar nominee for Best Animated Short.				Fleischer Studios Superman: The Mechanical Monsters (1941; 9 min) — An entry in the famous, influential series from the Fleischer studios, featuring innovative direction and superior artwork in the Art Deco style. In this episode, Superman must face an army of giant robots. Copyright © 2004 by Paramount Pictures Sky Captain and the Flying Legion in the World of Tomorrow (1998, 6 min) — Presented as a chapter of a movie serial ("Chapter One — Mechanical Monsters"), this retro science fiction short set in the late 1930s offers a glimpse of a New York City in which airships dock at the Empire State Building, and the city is invaded by an army of giant robots. This film was a demo for Kerry Conran's movie project, released as "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow" (2004). The film has strong influences from pulp magazine covers, as well as Max Fleischer's "Superman" cartoons&mdash especially the above title. All's Fair at the Fair (1938, 8 min) — A traditional cel animation cartoon from the Fleischer Brothers shows a visit to the World's Fair, in which the world of the future is imagined as a wondrous place filled with automated Art Deco cityscapes and robotic barbers. In the Rough (2004, 5 min) In this CGI comedy from Blur Studios, Brog the caveman is thrown out of his cave by his mate. He must deal with the cold, cruel world— and a hungry cave bear! Copyright © 2006 by Blur Studios A Gentleman's Duel (2006, 8 min) — In this CGI steampunk farce from Blur Studios, an Englishman and a Frenchman duel for the affections of a lady... who is soon forgotten as their fight escalates into a landscape-devastating battle between steam-powered mechas! (That is, giant robotic exoskeletons controlled by the "driver".) To Spring (1936; 9 min) — This traditional cel animation fantasy is a symphony of color and sound. Elves work to produce the colors of spring in the most lavish use of Technicolor ever seen in a MGM cartoon. Popeye: Little Swee' Pea (1936, 7 min) — In this traditional cel animation cartoon, Popeye must rescue baby Swee' Pea from many hazards encountered during a visit to the zoo. Copyright © 2010 by anima, Inc. / IDA, Inc. Cat #@%! One: Episode One (2009, 22 min) — A gritty, realistic, and decidedly non-politically-correct story of modern military combat— starring bunnies! A team of rabbit commandos finds a group of civilians kidnapped by desert terrorists, and witness the murder of an escaping hostage. Fearing backup will arrive too late to save the other hostages, the bunny commandos charge the enemy on their own. "Their lives are in our hands!" Note the Japanese word for "rabbit" is "usagi", which in this Japanese-made film becomes a pun for "USA G.I."   Who are Vince & Kassie? Vince Koehler (1939-2005) was the founder of our film festival. Kassie the flying cow is the mascot of the Kansas City Science Fiction & Fantasy Society. The spirit of both have guided our selections for this year's film festival.

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