Curating Shorts: Expressions of the Soul (Nicole Salmeri)

These unconventional short films express stories of life, memories, beliefs, and history. They expose true emotions mixed with stores of the past. Through the use of art and words, these films hit deep where you can feel it in your soul. The words and captured moments of time stay lingering with you long after the films are over. 

Embrace It by Kirthi Nath (6 min and 40 sec) 

Purely through images and great words of heroes the film expresses emotions of life and history. 

The Chestnut Tree by Hyun-Min Lee (4 min 8 sec)

A girl expresses childhood innocence and happy times with her mother through memories of a chestnut tree. 

A Boy's Mouth by PJ Raval (5 min 28 sec)

A story of a young boy through words in a soft frame. 

Sip of the Tongue By Karen Lurn (4 min 5 sec) 

A guy gets a history of "ethical make-up" from a girl at a bus stop told through a lyrical story. 

I Promise Africa by Jerry Henry (2 min 45 sec)

A story of African children and misfortune. 

The Appollos by Nick Parker and Jazmin Jones (5 min 58 sec)

A documentary recognizing students of Oakland Tech who took a political stance and fought for what they believe in. 

The Midnight Hour by Edgardo Cerano-Soto (8 min) 

A man's reflection of his day, the things he saw and the emotions behind what is really there. 

Curator Statement: I feel that these films are art films made to leave deep in thought. I wanted to open with "Embrace It" because I feel that the feeling you get from it sums up what all these other short films are about and prepares the viewers for the other films about tragic stories. By ending with "The Midnight Hour" I felt that it sums up all the thought about the previous film and leaves the viewers thinking about everything they just saw.