663114 (8 min; animation): This is entrancing art, ending with a flush. It is inspired by the earthquake/tsunami in Japan that went nuclear.
Bottle vs. Tap: (5 min; water): Middle Schoolers put clarity and fun into a debate that settles tap water’s advantages over bottled water.
Desert Life, A (9 min; rock climbing): A Moab handy man, living in a crappy camper, “just can't make money a priority like I ought to.” He still loves climbing after 40 years.
Georgena Terry (6 min; bicyclist): When this designer heard “No woman would ever spend $600 on a bike,” her niche was assured. An inspiring portrait.
Hunter, The (7 min; animation): This is modestly stylish narrative about a hunter of wolves, but it’s really about a boy and his enlightening kinship with those wolves.
Last Light (6 min; extreme skiing/boarding): This ride leaps above typical sporting extremes two ways: superlative cinematography and watching the steep, uphill trudges that earn the thrills.
Moonwalk (4 min; rock climber on a tightrope): In a single frame, two motions raise a very short walk and a very large moon to a jaw-dropping high.
River (2 min; where river appreciation begins): This film is one word. It’s one word and one newly verbal toddler.
Song of the Spindle (5min; nature): Cleverly animated, talky, and informative about big brained whales and humans, it connects and transcends through a musical concept.
Story of Change, The; (8min; activism): Annie Leonard has done it again with the latest in her “Story of Stuff” brand of awareness raisers. Creatively encapsulated this time around: the nodal point between what needs changing and getting us to change them.
Summit, The (5min; animation): This visually crisp narrative cartoon is a refreshing shift from all the too real extremes of climbing snowy peaks.
Two Laps (4 min; swimming): Passionate extremes take so many forms. This decades-long competition between a couple of old codgers is a hoot.