Friday Flicks with Riverside Film Festival

Do you miss the Valley Film Society? Join us for a series of indepent, foreign, and art house films at the library! In collaboration with Riverside Film Festival, we'll show a movie on selected Fridays and leave plenty of time afterward for discussion.

On June 14, we'll be celebrating short films with a lineup for four celebrated shorts.

An Irish Goodbye (2022) - 23 min (NR): Winner of Best Live Action Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards. On a farm in rural Northern Ireland, estranged brothers Turlough and Lorcan are forced to reunite following the untimely death of their mother. But when the pair discover an unfulfilled bucket list belonging to their late mum, their pained reunion takes an altogether different course.

The Phone Call (2013) - 21 min (PG): This Oscar-award winning short film follows Heather (Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water, Blue Jasmine), a shy lady who works at a helpline call center. When she receives a phone call from a mystery man she has no idea that the encounter will change her life forever. Winner of Best Short Film, Live Action at the Academy Awards. 

The Silent Child (2017) - 19 min (G): Inspired by real-life events, this Oscar-winning short follows Libby, a profoundly deaf child nearing her first day at school. Her emotionally distant, overwhelmed mother and workaholic father seek out a quick fix to make their 'broken' child more equipped to handle the real world. Libby has lived in a world of silence but a fresh-faced social worker Joanne helps Libby transform. A once withdrawn four-year-old suddenly feels connected to the world and, over a short period of time, Joanne and Libby's relationship blossoms. As the story emerges, it becomes clear that Libby is not the one who needs to be fixed. This film is presented with English subtitles throughout the film at the request of the filmmakers due to the extensive use of sign language and to make the film fully accessible to deaf audiences. Winner of Best Live Action Short Film at the 2018 Academy Awards. 

La Femme et le TGV (The Woman and the TGV) (2016) - 30 min (NR): Inspired by true events and starring legendary actress Jane Birkin, Elise finds a letter from the train conductor in her garden and her lonely life is turned upside down. She engages in a promising correspondence through poetic and thoughtful letters where the two anonymous writers share their worlds with each other. But Elise’s fairytale is cut short when the train line permanently detours for a shorter route to Paris. Not willing to do without her daily delight, Elise prompts a daring escape from her comfort zone and sets out to find the train conductor.