It's Nice in Here

Greetings again from the darkness. The best short films all excel at one thing ... connecting quickly with the audience. Writer-director Robert-Jonathan Koeyers accomplishes this first with the voice of a girl being interviewed, and then with animated visuals and a story that feels all too relevant.

Imani (voiced by Anka Ferris) is answering questions posed by an interviewer whom we never see. As things unfold, we realize the questions are focused on an event involving her friend Crimson ... so named because of the hoodie he wears that once belonged to his dad. We learn Imani and Crimson are long-time friends, but it's not until a police officer named David (Henry Brinkerhoff) starts answering questions about his role that we fully understand the situation, although our first clue was Imani talking about neighborhood "fireworks that were never fireworks." The film is from The Netherlands, and though it's subdued in tone, the message and story are quite dramatic. Director Koeyers uses flashes of memories ... the moments that become etched in our brain during traumatic events. We see how these tragic moments affect those involved, creating a lasting impact. Pledging to do right is a respectable approach, though it's no guarantee of protection.

This has been shortlisted for an Oscar in the animated shorts category.