Paul Hibbard

1 month ago | zekefilm.org | Paul Hibbard

The organization SHORTS (home of ShortsTV) has brought this year’s batch of 2025’s Oscar nominated Live Action, Documentary, and Animated Short Films to movie theaters.  Check your local listings to see if and when the Showcases will be playing. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: https://shorts.tv/theoscarshorts/. All five nominees for Best Animated Short Film are reviewed here by Paul Hibbard.

1 month ago | zekefilm.org | Paul Hibbard

The first time Donald Trump became president, I remember people saying, “Well, at least we’re going to get some incredible films in response.” And sure, there were great films. In 2018, BlacKKKlansman and Sorry to Bother You delivered a one-two punch of sharp, socially conscious storytelling. But if I’m honest, the overall cinematic response to Trump didn’t live up to the moment. The potential was there, but the results often felt muted, overly polished, or lacking in intellectual rigor.

Nov 17, 2024 | zekefilm.org | Paul Hibbard

DIRECTED BY LARAMIE DENNIS/2024Where in the Hell is a refreshingly quirky road trip comedy that thrives on its moments of unexpected silence and striking character chemistry. When Kasey, a jaded prop master played by Cam Killion, is left high and dry by her vanishing girlfriend in a remote Californian town, she finds herself at a complete loss—no ride, no cell service, and no clue where to turn. Enter Alan (Joohun Lee), a struggling actor on his way to a dubious audition in Canada.

Nov 17, 2024 | zekefilm.org | Paul Hibbard

DIRECTED BY ANNA THALMAN/2024The Loved and Lost dives into the complexities of family dynamics amidst financial hardship, capturing both the love and tension that surface when a young family finds themselves on shaky ground. The film’s opening unfolds in a quick-cut, free-flowing style, almost like a stream of consciousness. This brisk introduction pulls us swiftly into the family’s world, efficiently familiarizing us with the characters and their nuances.

Nov 17, 2024 | zekefilm.org | Paul Hibbard

DIRECTED BY AUSTIN SMAGALSKI/2024To Die Alone is an emotionally intense and beautifully crafted thriller that takes the survival genre to a place of deep introspection. After a life-threatening injury leaves her stranded in the wilderness, Irving (played with raw vulnerability by Lisa Jacqueline Starrett) faces a desperate struggle for survival on the Pacific Crest Trail.