Independent filmmaker Emily Goldberg ("Venus of Mars", Emmy award winner, "Afritrek", Jane Goodall: "A Reason for Hope") will present her four absolutely favorite shorts from the past few years on Sat., Dec. 3. First up is the animentary "Ryan," directed by Chris Landreth, about a once well-known animator overwhelmed by his own demons. Next up, "I Used to Be a Filmmaker," directed by Jay Rosenblatt, cleverly juxtaposes filmmaker terminology with fatherhood. "Wet Dreams, False Images," directed by Jesse Epstein, confronts unrealistic societal standards within the confined walls of a working-class Brooklyn barbershop, while "Foo Foo Dust," directed by Gina Levy, provides a raw glimpse inside the harsh life for Stephanie and Tony: a mother and son junkie-duo.

"Ryan"
(14 min./2004)
Directed by Chris Landreth

In the character of Ryan, we hear the voice of Ryan Larkin and people who have known him. Yet, their voices speak through weird, distorted and ghost-like 3D-generated characters whose appearances are bizarre, humorous and disturbing at the same time. While the characters and action are very realistic and extremely detailed, Landreth did not go the typical route of using live action footage, rotoscoping or motion capture, but what he refers to as “a hand-animated, three-dimensional world of psychological realism.

Goldberg writes: "This is by far my favorite film in years and yet another reason that Canada rocks. It combines animation and documentary, and in doing so adds an entirely new, rich dimension to storytelling."

"I Used to Be A Filmmaker"
(10 min./2003)
Directed by Jay Rosenblatt

After the birth of his daughter, Ella, Rosenblatt is inspired to teach her about his career. In doing so, he discovers new meanings to his craft’s own terminology, which his daughter absorbs with relish as he documents her first steps and his own into fatherhood. This is a heartwarming and hilarious look at a filmmaker’s own fatherhood that every father can relate to.

Goldberg writes: "Combine filmmaking terminology and a father's love for his awfully cute baby and you've got me. I saw this at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), and it was clear that it spoke a universal language."

"Wet Dreams, False Images"
(12 min./2004)
Directed by Jesse Epstein

This is the story of Dee-Dee, a Brooklyn-born barber and self-proclaimed "booty expert" who covers his barber stall walls with magazine cut-outs of scantily clad women. Throughout the film, he confesses to Epstein his desire for real women to resemble the beautiful photographic images on his walls. Epstein documents his astonishment when she exposes Dee-Dee to the world of professional photo-retouch, which shatters Dee-Dee's fantasies by revealing the illusion of "he perfect woman" to be a result of computer technology. This film uses humor to challenge the standards of physical perfection that the commercial marketplace places on society through the use of magazine advertisements.

Goldberg writes: "The beautiful narrative arc of this film, as well as its well-tuned funny bone, knocked me out at the Ashland Independent Film Festival [in Portland, Ore.]."

"Foo Foo Dust"
(37 min./2004 Sundance Festival feature)
Directed by Gina Levy

Levy takes us to the streets of San Francisco where we meet Stephanie and Tony, a mother and son caught up in the cyclical world of drug addiction, unemployment and homelessness. Stephanie, a middle-aged prostitute and crack-addict, displays brief moments of clarity when she warns her heroin-addicted son of the doomed life awaiting him if he continues his drug use.

Goldberg writes: "Warning: This film is very disturbing. To say that it tells the story of two junkies' mother and sons doesn't come close to conveying the intensity of the film. It's more like you’re LIVING with them in their tenement apartment in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district. This harrowing portrait does what a good documentary is supposed to do; it gives us an intimate view inside a world most of us would never see. It also raises thorny ethical questions about the relationship between documentary filmmakers and their subjects."

Interviews with Emily Goldberg and Mark Wojan will be featured on Jennifer Nemo's film program "Movie Talk" on Thu., Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. on KFAI 90.3 FM Mpls. and 106.7 FM St.Paul. Archived for two weeks after broad cast at KFAI.org.

MN Film Arts Annual "A Look Outside" Program takes place at the Bell Auditorium on Sat., Dec. 3, 10, and 17 at 1 p.m. $8 general, $6.50 seniors/students, $5 for MN Film Arts members. 10 Church St., Mpls. 612-331-7563. Visit their website at mnFilmArts.org