Modern Films, in association with Shorts International and Picturehouse Cinemas, presents a celebration of the work of the Academy Award-winning stop-motion animation auteur Adam Elliot with special screenings of his most-recent feature, the Oscar-nominated MEMOIR OF A SNAIL, and the opportunity to see all five of Elliot’s short, animated films on ShortsTV.
Featuring the voice talents of Sarah Snook (Succession), Kodi Smit-McPhee, Eric Bana, Nick Cave, Dominique Pinon and Jacki Weaver, MEMOIR OF A SNAIL is the poignant, heartfelt yet hilarious chronicle of the life of an outsider finding her confidence and silver linings amongst the clutter of everyday life. Part seven of Elliot’s “Trilogy of Trilogies” (three short shorts, three long shorts, three features) Memoir of a Snail is preceded by Uncle (1996), Cousin (1999), Brother (2000), the Oscar-winning Harvie Krumpet(2003), Mary and Max (2009) and Ernie Biscuit (2015). Inspired by the personal experiences of family and friends, each protagonist is an ‘outsider’ and the narratives of each film explore difference, and the difficulties each face, through loneliness, depression, neuro-diversity or physical disability. Despite the challenging subject matter, Elliot brings warmth, understanding and moments of hilarity to each of these wonderful “clayography” portraits.
In case you missed it at the cinema, watch the trailer for Memoir of a Snail in the player below:
On Monday 10th March, Picturehouse Cinemas will host “Relaxed Screenings” of MEMOIR OF A SNAIL across their sites including: Ealing Picturehouse; Hackney Picturehouse; Picturehouse Central, London; Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge; Cinema City, Norwich; City Screen, York; Dukes at Komedia, Brighton; Epsom Picturehouse; Picturehouse at FACT, Liverpool; Little Theatre Cinema, Bath; Regal, Henley-on-Thames.
These relaxed screenings are designed to make cinema-going easier for those needing additional support, including neurodivergent audiences and those living with dementia.
Adam Elliot’s animated short films as well as an exclusive filmed interview with the filmmaker himself are available to stream onShortsTV via Amazon Prime Video and on the ShortsTV+ app. This is a unique opportunity to see all five shorts together and hear from Elliot on his inspirations, process and dedication to the art of stop-motion animated storytelling. The short films are:
Harvie Krumpet
Oscar winning animated comedy narrated by Geoffrey Rush. The unorthodox life story of a man who suffers from Tourette’s Syndrome, chronic misfortune, and a propensity for nudism.
Cousin
Award-winning animated comedy. A man recalls the adventures he shared with his cousin, who had cerebral palsy, until they eventually drifted apart.
Uncle
The life, death, and eccentricities of a man’s uncle are warmly told by his nephew.
Brother
Multiple award-winning animated comedy. A man recollects the adventures and adversity he shared growing up with his asthmatic sibling in suburban Australia.
Ernie Biscuit
Award-winning comedy. A dead pigeon lands outside a taxidermist’s shop in Paris, stirring memories of lost love which send him on a quest to find romance.
“From Uncle in 1996 to the Oscar-winning Harvie Krumpet (narrated by Geoffrey Rush) and Ernie Biscuit in 2015, Adam Elliot’s 5 short animations are probably the best-known and best loved “Claymation” films on the short film festival circuit, having screened at over seven hundred festivals. To acquire all five of these unique and timeless films was a huge coup; they are precisely the elite-standard of animated filmmaking that ShortsTV is always keen to add to its catalogue and promote and which we know our audiences around the world will thoroughly enjoy and treasure.” Simon Young, VP EMEA Acquisitions
Ways to Watch:
MEMOIR OF A SNAIL is in cinemas now. Book tickets for Relaxed Screenings at Picturehouse Cinemas HERE
ShortsTV is available on Amazon Prime Video – Renews at £3.99/month after free trial.
The Adam Elliot shorts are available to stream now on the ShortsTV channel on Amazon Prime Video subscription service:
Available to watch on the ShortsTV+ app download – £3.99 p/m or £39.99 annual subscription App Store / Google Play
