Newest Short Films - June, 2026

This is from a program presented at Willow valley Communities on June 9th, 2026. It represents my latest short films program.

Please hit "Read more" to see a description and link for my latest short films.

La Luna - 7:00 minutes - "Italian"
As always, I like to start with a cartoon—it reminds me of going to the movies as a kid. I’ve never outgrown my appreciation for Pixar Animation Studios films; they continue to impress me with both their stunning graphics and engaging storytelling. This particular film explores the idea of family traditions and how they can change from one generation to the next, suggesting that each new member has the opportunity to create traditions of their own. It tells the story of a father and grandfather taking their young grandson along for the first time to help with the family business. It’s a very clever film that was even nominated for an Oscar in 2012 for Best Animated Short Film.

https://youtu.be/CCQ9v6XMC6c?si=9zJVdacr_VbHosoC

America's Got Talent - 6:33 minutes - American
In one of my earlier programs, I featured a very famous performance from Britain's Got Talent by Susan Boyle, whose unexpected audition completely surprised the judges. Later, while traveling in Turkey, I was talking with a fellow traveler about my short films and that memorable performance, and since she was a big fan of talent shows, I asked her for a recommendation. She immediately suggested Willie Jones, and she was absolutely right. Willie was just 17 years old and from Shreveport, Louisiana when he appeared on The X Factor (U.S.) in 2012, and beyond his performance, what stood out to me was his close bond with his family and his genuine politeness and manners—plus, like Susan Boyle, his performance was completely unexpected.

https://youtu.be/rQGphf2Oqps?si=H6NDkz5VnbZ4yjwg

Follow-Up
Like Susan Boyle, I felt compelled to follow up and see what has happened to Willie Jones since his 2012 performance, and it turns out his career has really taken off with his unique blend of country and R&B music. He has recorded several albums and even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 2021, and in 2023 he collaborated with Beyoncé on her album Cowboy Carter—just another great story.

William Tell - 1 minute - British
As I was searching for more material this time around, I realized that skits—like those you might see on Saturday Night Live or The Carol Burnett Show—can really qualify as short films, so I’ve included a few of them today. One example comes from Monty Python, who originally gained fame through their sketch show before moving on to movies, and this particular skit portrays the most famous story from the life of William Tell. Of course, if you’re familiar with Monty Python, you already know their humor tends to be delightfully off the wall.

https://youtu.be/xwdZglkWEs4?si=GqwFNf0LTADUs6ac

Washington's Dream - 5 Minutes - American
Some of the comedy sketches from Saturday Night Live have become truly legendary, and they highlight how humor can be a powerful form of satire—often revealing just how ridiculous aspects of the world around us can be. This particular skit takes that approach in imagining George Washington’s dream for the new country in a way that is both clever and hilarious.

https://youtu.be/JYqfVE-fykk?si=6gGGgxG3xu3eahRX

A Stone Only Rolls Downhill - 3 Minutes - American
As I’ve mentioned before, music videos have been around since the early 1980s, and some of them are truly works of art. I’m always exploring new ones and have come across many good examples, but I keep coming back to OK Go, whose videos are consistently creative and visually stunning. They have about ten music videos out there, so it’s worth heading over to YouTube to check out more of their work—this one happens to be their latest video from 2025.

https://youtu.be/MOEULOSVNK4?si=bQteUfYZKpJGrkTF

Whistler's Mother - 11 Minutes - British
This movie clip is one of the funniest scenes I’ve seen in a feature-length film, taken from Bean, which stars Rowan Atkinson in his iconic role as Mr. Bean. Atkinson, who is British, has a fascinating background that includes a degree in engineering from University of Oxford, as well as a difficult childhood in which he was bullied for his looks and struggled with a stutter. After university, he turned to acting and eventually created the Mr. Bean character, whose limited speech was influenced in part by his own experiences. I would describe Mr. Bean as essentially an eight-year-old boy in a grown man’s body, relying almost entirely on visual humor—a form of comedy that is extremely difficult to master, yet one Atkinson handles brilliantly. In this film, the famous painting Whistler’s Mother is being loaned from the Musée d'Orsay in Paris to a temporary exhibit in Los Angeles, and somehow Mr. Bean has been entrusted with responsibility for its security.

WARNING: This Youtube version does contain some profanity.

https://youtu.be/rlHliajKj9E?si=RIP36bChKRQad0Xp

The 11 O'clock - 11 Minutes - Australia
This film was nominated for an Academy Award in 2017 in the short film category and also won Best Comedy at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival in 2016, and it centers on a clever premise in which the delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes that he is actually the psychiatrist.

https://youtu.be/d3LJN1AZ2zg?si=pn_LD4U1yYkmd0x_

Special Skills - 11 Minutes - British/American
The Tracey Ullman Show ran from 1987 to 1990 and earned 10 Emmy Awards over its four seasons, starring Tracey Ullman. This clip is one of the many delightful skits she performed on the show, capturing a situation many of us can relate to—being a finalist for a job while an employer tries to narrow down the remaining candidates. Since the skit dates back to the late 1980s, it was produced well before the era of high-definition television, so the visual quality reflects that time, and for reference, Tracey Ullman is the candidate seated in the middle.

Here is part 1 & 2
https://youtu.be/RlwwM2fin14?si=nzTAJ1GNRviu36P7

https://youtu.be/xsTep82EGsw?si=_6dC6eA7lGftezJC

The Red Balloon - 30 Minutes - French
I’ve wanted to show this film for years, but its original length made it longer than most of the films I feature; fortunately, I recently found an edited version that preserves all the charm and beauty of the original. At 16 minutes, it remains the longest film I’ve ever selected, and it won an Oscar for Best Short Film in 1956. The story follows the adventures of a young boy and a magical red balloon in 1950s Paris, capturing the boy’s innocence and delight. On repeated viewings, the film reveals deeper meaning, with the balloon symbolizing the happiness of childhood. Anyone who has visited Paris will especially appreciate the street scenes of the city in that era, and I love the striking contrast between the bright red balloon and the gray, drab city streets. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/iU9cxSb6bXo?si=xOHkBUivb0gDBuV4

Coca Cola - 1 Minute - Shot in Italy
I’d like to wrap up the program with two commercials, offering a lighthearted ending amid all the chaos in the world. Coca-Cola has a long tradition of creating warm, uplifting commercials—a brilliant advertising strategy that links positive feelings with their product. The first commercial, from 1971, is especially iconic and has become a landmark in advertising history, and I’m sure most of you have seen it before.

https://youtu.be/1VM2eLhvsSM?si=r4WFBhO5uMzBGDla

Coca Cola Balloons - 2 Minutes - Romania
Continuing with our red balloon theme, Coca-Cola has a tradition of creating special holiday commercials designed to spread kindness and love, with the hope that viewers will associate those warm feelings with their product. This particular commercial is especially beautiful and was filmed in Romania, capturing the spirit and charm that Coca-Cola aims to convey each holiday season.

https://youtu.be/hOZ2xZIJr0I?si=TIdG52wkjD_EhHFwRead more