Last year, the Sundance Film Festival awarded its top short film prize to Funny or Die's "Drunk History" featuring Will Ferrell, Don Cheadle and others re-enacting Jen Kirkman's drunken story about Lincoln and Douglass.
In 2011, it looks as though several other comedians and comedy entries are keeping it short and simple, as the shorts program is where the funny will be at the upcoming Sundance fest. Among the 81 shorts selected to screen at Sundance in January:
Das Racist "Who's That? Brooown!" (Director and Screenwriter: Thomas De Napoli) – An epic quest through the streets of New York City made in the style of -bit video games from the 1980's.
Fight For Your Right Revisited (Director and Screenwriter: Adam Yauch) – After the Beastie Boys leave the party… Cast: Elijah Wood, Danny McBride, Seth Rogen, Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Jack Black.
I'm Having a Difficult Time Killing My Parents (Director: Jeff Tomsic; Screenwriter: T.J. Miller and Jeff Tomsic) – Thirty-two, unemployed, and derailed somewhere on the path to adulthood, T.J. has boomeranged back home. There, his ennui takes the form of increasingly real fantasies about offing his parents and becoming man of the house.
The Terrys (Directors and Screenwriters: Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim) – Two down and out losers named Terry conceive a child in a fit of drug-induced passion. The child is an abomination, or so they think, but what they come to learn is that this 'special' child was sent to them for a purpose: to teach them how to love.
Worst Enemy (Director and Screenwriter: Lake Bell) – A comedy about a female misanthrope who gets herself stuck in a full body girdle. Starring Michaela Watkins.
And in the animated category, last but certainly not least…
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On (Director: Dean Fleischer-Camp; Screenwriters: Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer-Camp) – A short conversation with Marcel, a shell with shoes on.