Earlier this year, Magnum ice cream teamed up with i-D to create a short film competition called “Be True To Your Pleasure,” inviting emerging filmmakers to send in their short film ideas about personal pleasure and the joy of letting go. The three winners were announced in August and received funding, production support and a mentorship from award-winning filmmaker Xavier Dolan to help make their ideas reality. We’re happy to premiere the finished short films here on i-D.
Kai – dir. Andrew Cumming
The protagonist of Kai is a dancer struggling to perfect her movements. She practices at home, avoids going out for drinks after training, and is endlessly chastised by her dance teacher, all to no avail. This changes when she has a collision with joy, and learns how to let go and express her pleasure freely.
Wild Space – dir. Kara Smith
Kara Smith’s Wild Space is a smoothly narrated tale of a jealous fisherman who spends months at sea only to return and find his love in the arms of an imperious commodore. But rather than give up on her, he follows his heart and challenges the would-be suitor to a ridiculous, fire-armed duel. The fisherman stays true to his pleasure, even if the end result is a comedy of errors.
Zap – dir. Patrick Downing
Patrick Downing’s Zap is an absurdist snapshot, a moment of shared pleasure generated by an elderly couple, their feet and a carpet. Blink and you’ll miss it. Pleasure is as ageless as it is fleeting.