6 Seconds of Fame: Vine at Tribeca

Imagine a film festival where all the submissions are less than a minute long. Specifically, each submission is 6 seconds long.

That’s basically what the Tribeca Film Festival has created this year with its #6SECFILMS category, a competition in which filmmakers submit their Vine films in hopes of taking home $600. That’s a return of $100/second, if you stop to think about it.

So, how do you make those 6 seconds worthy of winning? Looking through TFF’s short list of 40 Vines, you see a wide range of tactics. Some filmmakers exploit visual puns, hoping to elicit a chuckle from the judges. Others go the more existential route and focus on non-linear narratives, as with Tom DesLongchamp’s “Yellow Ochre.” Quite a few filmmakers turn the camera on themselves and star in their own mini-dramas, such as Troy Hitch’s three-part saga chronicling his decision to shave. Perhaps unsurprisingly, babies show up as another popular storytelling mechanism, starring in a total of three submissions.

Personally, as much as I like babies, puns, and selfies, those ingredients alone don’t make the kinds of films that stick with me. After going through all of the short list selections, I came across three entries that I think exemplify great filmmaking. Each one kept me interested far beyond their 6-second time spans.

Beth Murphy’s “Life Imitating Art”

This film is definitely a stand out. Submitted by documentarian Beth Murphy, this film intrigued me and left me with a lot of things to think about. Who is this woman? Why is she standing so still? Was the painting supposed to be of her, or was this purely coincidence?

Through A Glass’ Minivan Family Sticker Film

This is the only single-shot film in the entire list. It walks the line between funny and sad, and is just perfectly orchestrated. I love how it leaves you hanging in that one second after the film ends before you can put it all together.

Jordan Burt’s “All I Have Is Doritos”

Okay, maybe this one only struck a chord with me because I love Doritos.

-Ali