The El Dorado Film Festival did a great job bringing back its popular short film category. Called “Southern Made,” it showcases a fantastic selection of short films with a distinct Southern perspective. This year’s collection is another enjoyable and diverse showcase of filmmaking talent.
Here are a few impressions out of the films included in this year’s block...
I just finished watching “The Oldest,” and it really stayed with me. It’s a touching, though sometimes heartbreaking, story about a young girl named Kate who has to grow up way too fast. Meara Wallace is fantastic as Kate – she perfectly portrays this sweet, resilient girl who’s basically raising her siblings while dealing with a difficult home life and an alcoholic father (played by Kristian Day). The director, Cathlin McCullough, does a brilliant job of showing Kate’s tough reality, but then gives us this incredibly beautiful, fleeting glimpse of what her childhood should be like. It’s a montage that honestly wrecked me in the best way. It’s a really honest, moving, and impactful film.
VERDICT – 4.5/5
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As a movie lover, I was really captivated by Rob Senska’s directorial debut, “Ashes.” He’s a cinematographer first, and that really shows – the film is stunningly visual and surprisingly moving. It’s not about what happens, but how it feels. Senska masterfully mixes familiar genre tropes with incredibly original ideas to tell a story about healing from childhood trauma, and it’s ultimately hopeful. You don’t really follow a plot, you let the beautiful imagery wash over you and piece things together. There’s a mysterious cat, a seriously creepy werewolf, and a fantastic performance from young Maximilian Good, all woven into a fantasy that feels incredibly real and emotionally resonant.
VERDICT – 4/5
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“Emma’s Social Battery” is a funny and heartfelt movie for anyone who needs time alone to recover after being around people. The film follows Emma (Olivia Peck), who’s worried her tendency to get socially drained will affect her new friendships and job. Things get especially interesting when Emma hosts a dinner party, and as she gets more and more exhausted, the evening becomes increasingly chaotic. Olivia Peck shines in her role, and the filmmakers, Jannet Lopez and Carlos Jimenez, deliver a relatable message with plenty of lighthearted humor.
VERDICT – 3.5/5
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“Bot,” from sisters Marquel and Blair Skinner, was one of the most hilariously frustrating films at this year’s El Dorado Film Festival. Marquel stars in and wrote the short, while Blair directed. It’s a fast-paced story about a woman who starts to doubt her own humanity after getting trapped in an endless loop of CAPTCHA tests while trying to buy concert tickets. Blair’s skillful direction keeps the story moving, and Marquel’s funny script is perfectly matched by her energetic performance. This is a film you’ll want to remember!
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2026-03-02 19:58