In my opinion, the Student Films selection was one of the best screenings. I had seen it on the first day at the festival and I was delighted to be able to enjoy it again on the third day since there weren’t other projections at that same time.

My favourite ones were two French productions: “Sur le fil” (Razor edge), by Benjamin Dupoy, and "Seconde classe”, by Boris Belghiti.

Benjamin Dupoy shows how an inmate escapes from prison thanks to a very handy spider, and the action is greatly backed up by a song composed by the same Benjamin.



I love how “Sur le fil” plays with the thin, simple, flexible lines, which have so much power they create spaces and perspectives with just a few strokes. They also suggest light when turning from black to white when the character walks from the shadows into the light. They keep transforming themselves, creating transitions inside the same scene, and they are often related to the sound of the guitar; for instance, when the spider pinches its thread, the guitar plucks, or when the prisoner slides down the thread rope, the instrument slides too.
The backgrounds are clear and geometric, coloured with watercolours, I guess, so they aren’t too flat, and they represent the shadows and lights in a very simple still effective way.
Finally, the lively rhythm of the song goes along very well with the one of the animation.












“Seconde classe” is a 2D story about a man travelling by train who desperately wants to get some sleep but… what about the typical passenger who talks hysterically on the mobile phone? That hyperactive child running up and down the aisles? Not to mention the fat guy sitting next to you and occupying half your seat. Obviously, anyone would eventually lose their cool…
I really liked this short film partly because of how it turns a common annoying situation into a funny one. The characters design is exaggerated and fun, getting on very well with the story’s sense of humour. The backgrounds are elaborate and the artist has successfully used varied shots that emphasize the humour and exaggeration of the situations.