Night Flight: Short Film Showcase

Night Flight episodes showcasing short films.

Don't Ever Change

Directed by Don Swaynos. The reunion of a woman and her estranged daughter is interrupted by a man with an unusual request.

The Outfit

Directed by Yen Tan and Hutch Crane. A congressman is haunted by an outfit that won't go away.

Night Flight - Short Film Showcase and Directions in Jazz

Night Flight's independent filmmaker showcase featuring Ilene Segalove's "Why I Got Into TV and other stories," Daniel Reeves' "Thousands Watch," "Mirage" and a special directions in Jazz special, featuring members of Steely Dan's live band.

The Slump

Directed by Peter Litvin. Discover Hollywood's dark side.

The Horrible Life of Dr. Ghoul

Directed by Don Swaynos. A late night horror show host is having a bad day.

Night Flight Short Film Showcase (Aisles of Doom & Squeal of Death)

Welcome to Night Flight's new filmmaker series, featuring short films from America's most talented writers, directors and producers. Tonight, two films from the Glasshouse production team Tom Stern and Alex Winter, Squeal of Death and Aisles of Doom.

Night Flight - Independent Filmmaker Showcase (1987)

Seasoned Night Flight viewers always knew to expect the unexpected; this unique approach to curating our content and exposing underexposed artists, musicians and filmmakers of the era was built into the show's DNA. In this week's new arrival from the archive, we deal in the latter with a look at independent filmmaking. Kicking off with Academy Award winning animated...Read More

Night Flight - Short Film Showcase (Gravity)

Tonight's Night Flight original comes in the form of a 1987 Short Film Showcase and Classic Video Medley. Kicking off with directors Michael Nankin and David Wechter's short film "Gravity" (the pair created another Night Flight Plus exclusive Junior High School) and eventually arriving at an alien abduction psychedelic fever dream called "Skin Deep From Outer Space,...Read More

Tater Tomater (1990)

Phil Morrison directed "Tater Tomater" for his NYU Film School Senior Project. It started out as a short skit written by Angus MacLachlan, who like Morrison was a graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts in 1979-1980. It then appeared in several comedic revues, and whenever it was performed, Beth Bostic -- who played "Doris," the not-quite-all-there cafeter...Read More

Night Flight - Short Film Showcase (10/30/87)

In this original episode from October 30th, 1987 Night Flight presents two independent shorts as a part of our "Short Film Showcase" segment. The first up is the criminal-comedy “The Lemon Man,” by Super 8 auteur Michael Legge, followed by the mysterious experimental animation called “Xidu,” by Australian filmmaker Michelle Mahrer.

Jac Mac & Rad Boy, Go!

One of the more popular animated short films that aired during Night Flight’s '80s heyday was Wes Archer’s cult fave Jac Mac & Rad Boy, Go!, a wonderfully frenetic cartoon about two party-bound teens who inadvertently destroy a city on their way to hell, which Archer admits he may have also been inspired by his own wayward youth in Houston, Texas. Note: Wes went on ...Read More

Night Flight - Mr. Gloom & Other Shorts

Tonight, we present esteemed animator Bill Kopp’s original short “Mr. Gloom,” from an episode of "Toone Theatre." The psychedelic animation is hand-drawn theatre of the absurd. Kopp’s credits myriad credits include voice over work for none other than Night Flight animated “freak-out” classic, Jac Mac and Rad Boy Go! Also in this episode, the experimental animation “...Read More

Larry Hankin: "Solly's Diner"

Sometimes Jones, A homeless street character (Larry Hankin) tries to talk to the night waitress in Solly's Diner (Ruth Silvera). He's plea is interrupted by a desperate business man (Roger Bowen) who pulls a gun and demands all the money in the cash register. Jones cleverly captures the robber and is rewarded with a free meal.

Larry Hankin: "Frogs Never Lie"

A hapless hitchhiker (Larry Hankin) gets advice on his road technique from a fairytale frog.

Night Flight - Sing For Your Life

Like a Black Mirror episode from 1980, here’s Sing For Your Life the kind of Night Flight vault discovery we love the most. What kind is that you ask? The kind that has absolutely no internet trail whatsoever. This 18 minute short finds an out-of-town Rockabilly crooner hoping to hit it big on a talent show that gives the “Axe” to the bad act! We won't give any more away!

Night Flight - Speed of Light

Brian Hansen’s Speed of Light (1980) is a strange, surreal 40-minute 16mm short about a neurotic blonde-bewigged mother and her young Oreo-munching daughter on a harrowing road trip across Central Texas in a beautiful red T-bird convertible. Speed of Light — using Apollo mission footage later seen in For All Mankind (1989) — was Hansen’s graduate thesis film and ...Read More

Sad Gordon

Something is missing from Gordon's life. Despite his colorful friendships and accomplishments Gordon has decided there's only one way out. Except... maybe not that way? Not that way, or that way, or that way either. In the end, maybe the way out is to give in. Created by Jessie Contour.

The Bathtub

An eccentric, introverted man (Bob Bert of Sonic Youth) goes on an adventure in his bathtub. As he explores a warped and lopsided world, he chooses to ignore his surroundings in favor of his favorite comic book. Others around him react to his presence with lust, jealousy, desperation and violence while he remains blissfully naive. Winner of the 2020 LA Punk Film Fes...Read More

The Puppeteer's Assistant

A boy is left in charge of several puppets by his mentor, under the condition he doesn't let them drink even one drop of salt water. The puppets, however, have another plan in mind. The boy allows himself to be manipulated by the puppets and enters a world of existential horror. An official Adult Swim short.