During this year’s film festival, there are a number of short films being screened, under different topics. This review will tell you about six shorts screened under the name TO BE IN THE PRESENT. The shorts are advertised as films about being in a parallel universe, which might be a slightly unfortunate description. The films do deal with certain alternate realities, but are less science fiction orientated than the title implies. The well crafted shorts take the audience into a world which is frozen in time, on a mysterious lift ride, or to a life-and-death chess game. They tell the stories of an insane mind, a heroic taxi driver and a city threatened by nuclear war.

A lot of effort seems to have been put into these films, from young filmmakers all over the world. 10 MINUTES and GRACE are two English dramas, well acted and directed. LIFT (AUFZUG) is a German mystery film. THE GAME is a Polish animation, O.V.N.I. A French comic piece and BURNING HEARTS an Japanese/Australian co-production, which reminds one of a video game.

The very different pieces work well in themselves and it is easy to get taken into their world. Which one is the best, needs to be decided by everyone individually, it can just be said that the films as a combination are very entertaining, due to their different paces, various styles and very creative ideas. If one should be put in the spotlight, it should be GRACE by Keir & Dieudonnee Burrows, which beautifully portrays different characters whose fates are all linked in a particular night, somewhere on the streets. The director is a drama teacher, the actors his students and this combination leads to very harmonic and well executed acting.

Finally it can be said TO BE IN THE PRESENT is an exciting option for young, aspiring filmmakers and anyone interested in good short films.