Sex Robots and Somali Pirates: Sundance 2012 Shorts at Belcourt

Short films occupy a peculiar place in the world of art appreciation. Successful shorts establish a tone, draw viewers in and tell a story in less time than the typical beer run — an unlikely challenge. But unlike short stories, cassingles and other abbreviated art forms, mini-movies lack a convenient means of transmission, so they’re often overlooked by buffs.

Come see what you’ve been missing, then, at The Belcourt’s annual showing of highlights from the Sundance Film Festival, running tonight and Wednesday. These cinematic slivers range in length from 3 to 21 minutes, and in content from a Somali pirate thriller to an animation about disaffected robots in a cyber-slum, a comedy about text-flirting, and a semi-autobiographical portrait of a Korean-American gay man’s longing for family. (If you remember Nash Edgerton's festival favorite "Spider," which builds to a sick, splattery punchline, you want to see his follow-up "Bear.")

You’ll be viewing the best of the best from around the globe — all in just over 90 minutes. Above, the trailer for "The Meaning of Robots," a documentary short about a 65-year-old man's quest to shoot a stop-motion robot sex movie in his apartment. Watch and be astonished. Below, the list of films from The Belcourt's website.