My Year of Dicks
Directed bySara Gunnarsdóttir
Screenplay byPamela Ribon
Based onNotes to Boys: And Other Things I Shouldn't Share in Public
by Pamela Ribon
Produced byJeanette Jeanenne
Edited bySara Gunnarsdóttir
Music byAdam Blau
Production
companies
Cat's Pajamas
Wonder Killer
FXP
Distributed byFX
Release date
March 13, 2022 (SXSW)
Running time
24 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

My Year of Dicks is a 2022 American independent[1] adult animated short film directed by Sara Gunnarsdóttir, created and written by Pamela Ribon.[2] It was nominated for the 95th Academy Awards under the category Best Animated Short Film.[3][4][5]

Background

The film was based on Pamela Ribon's 2014 comedic memoir Notes to Boys: And Other Things I Shouldn't Share in Public.[6]

Premise

It's 1991, and Pam – a stubborn, imaginative 15-year-old from the outskirts of Houston – embarks on a comedic journey of disappointment and self-discovery as she seeks the right boy to lose her virginity with so she can become the fully realized woman she's imagined herself to be.

Her first option, David, is an edgy, dramatic fellow skater who insists he's secretly a vampire. Pam's best friend, Sam, is unimpressed, but Pam is smitten by David. She invites David over to her house when her parents are away, but is disconcerted when he invites an entire party of people, including her ex. She and David make out, but David leaves in disgust after Pam reveals that she's on her period in a bid to appeal to his "vampirism." Pam's ex then admits that she was part of a bet and competition between himself and David to make out with the most girls, and Pam is outraged when she is the only girl that David didn't send an apology letter to. After learning that the bet he won was a measly sum of $2.58, she throws $5.16 at him, telling him she's worth twice that much.

Her next choice is Wally, a theater usher she's only met once, but on whom she projects feelings for after watching Henry & June. She goes to the theater with Sam, and Wally leads her away to a janitorial closet to initiate sex. Pam is disconcerted by the lack of romance and intimacy, and fights between her desperation to give in and her increasing realization that this isn't what she wants. When Wally oafishly demands they hurry up before his break ends, she leaves in embarrassment. Sam throws their concessions on the floor so that Wally will have to clean it up, and the friends happily leave the theater.

Pam dates Robert, and is thrilled by her happiness at having a nice boyfriend who loves being affectionate in public. They go to an amusement park with Sam, who is uncomfortable at their open displays of affection. Though Pam desperately tries to further her physical relationship with Robert, he continuously stops her, and it is revealed that he is secretly gay – and attracted to Sam, who politely rebuffs his attempts. Robert breaks up with Pam, who is left devastated. When she tries to make a move on Sam, he is offended and uncomfortable.

Upset at ruining her relationship with Robert and her friendship with Sam, Pam agrees to sneak out with her friend, Karina, to attend a house party. She is disturbed to find the attendees openly doing drugs, but she is impressed by one guest, Joey, a straight-edge. After Karina is dragged home by her mother, Pam is forced to sleep over at the house so that the host, Kelly, can drive her home in the morning. Joey makes a move on Pam, but after Pam reveals she's a virgin, Joey awkwardly stops and tells her that he isn't worthy to take her virginity. As Kelly drives Pam home the next morning, she casually reveals that Joey is a Neo-Nazi, which leaves Pam shocked and humiliated, and Pam graciously accepts the inevitable grounding from her parents.

While grounded, Pam spends time cleaning with her mother. After discovering her mother's love letters, Pam is impressed to think her mother was just like her in her youth, and, trying to bond, asks her mother when she lost her virginity. Her mother becomes upset and arranges "the talk" with Pam's father, who provides a frank, cynical, withering explanation of sex that horrifies and embarrasses Pam. Pam later goes to Sam's house, where she apologizes for her earlier actions and asks to be friends again. To cheer her up, Sam strips naked and reads a letter that reveals his feelings for her, assuring her that she deserves the best, and that he's in love with her. After they make up, Pam playfully piles clothes onto him and then crawls into bed with him, implying that she will finally lose her virginity in a positive situation.

Reception

Since its release, the film has been selected for various festivals and academies around the world. The short received numerous accolades from international film festivals, including the Annecy Festival,[7] SXSW Film Festival[8] and the Brooklyn Film Festival[9] and is nominated for the 95th Academy Awards under the category Best Animated Short Film.[10][11][12]

Accolades

Year Festivals Award/Category Status
2022 Annecy International Animated Film Festival Cristal Award for Best TV Production[7] Won
Raindance Film Festival Best Animated Short[13] Won
Brooklyn Film Festival Best Animated Short[9] Won
Animator Best Animated Series Won
SXSW Film Festival Special Jury recognition unique Vision in Writing and Directing[8][14] Won
SXSW Grand Jury Award Nominated
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Jury award for Best Episodic Series[15] Won
Chicago International Film Festival Silver Hugo Award for Best Animated Short[16] Won
Ottawa International Animation Festival Best Animated Series[17][18] Won
2023 Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film[19][20] Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Know Your Indie Filmmaker: Sara Gunnarsdóttir|Cartoon Brew
  2. ↑ "My Year of Dicks". LALIFF. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ 95th Oscar Nominations Announcement | Hosted by Riz Ahmed & Allison Williams - Oscars on YouTube
  4. ↑ Magazine, Animation (October 21, 2022). "Oscar Watch 2023: The Long Shorts List". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ "2023 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". www.oscars.org. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Pamela Ribon". Film Independent. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Hopewell, John (June 18, 2022). "Annecy Prizes: 'Little Nicholas,' 'No Dogs or Italians Allowed' Win Big at Animation Fest". Variety. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "MY YEAR OF DICKS receives a Special Jury Recognition at SXSW Film Festival". en.kvikmyndamidstod.is. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "MY YEAR OF DICKS by Sara Gunnarrsdóttir @ Brooklyn Film Festival". Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ 95th Oscar Nominations Announcement | Hosted by Riz Ahmed & Allison Williams - Oscars on YouTube
  11. ↑ Magazine, Animation (October 21, 2022). "Oscar Watch 2023: The Long Shorts List". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  12. ↑ "2023 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". www.oscars.org. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  13. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (November 4, 2022). "'To Leslie,' 'Karaoke' Win Top Awards at Raindance Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Pamela Ribon – Joyfully Weird and Fearless". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  15. ↑ Milligan, Mercedes (May 9, 2022). "LA Latino Int'l Film Festival Gets Animated for 21st Edition". Animation Magazine. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  16. ↑ Nikkhah Azad, Navid (October 27, 2022). "58th Chicago International Film Festival announces Audience Choice Awards, presented BY Xfinity". www.deed.news. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  17. ↑ Zahed, Ramin (September 24, 2022). "'Bird in the Peninsula,' 'Dozens of Norths' Win Top Prizes at Ottawa". Animation Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  18. ↑ "The Animation Pimp Presents – Binocular Briefs September 2022". Animation World Network. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  19. ↑ Walsh, Savannah (January 24, 2023). "My Year of Dicks: It's Real, It's Oscar-Nominated, and You Can Watch It Now". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  20. ↑ 'The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse' Wins Best Animated Short Film | 95th Oscars (2023)
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