Vagababy
Directed by Albessant (Albie) Smith
Length: 16:51
Producers:
Faoileán Cosgrove, Cecilia Parker, Chris Davis, Valeria Benitez
Editor:
Elyza Veta, Albessant Smith
Cinematographer:
John Zeng
Sound Designer: Joey Magee
Sid, a homeless man with terminal tuberculosis, is on the run. He’s just stolen a pair of sneakers. As he rounds a corner, Sid is brought to a halt by a mysterious voice… coming from inside a dumpster. Much to his chagrin, Sid pulls a telepathic baby out of the garbage. The baby, who's name is Tama, makes a deal with Sid, promising to "solve Sid's death problem" if Sid can return Tama to a magical portal inside a laundromat. On the bumpy road to the laundromat, Tama forces Sid to reconcile his past and embrace his future.
Albessant (Albie) Smith is an award-winning New York City based writer and director who studied at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Film and Television program. He has worked as an office assistant for Denzel Washington’s Journal for Jordan, on set for HBO’s Betty and HBO Max’s Search Party, and as an associate producer for Condé Nast’s Bon Appetit. He has directed a handful of shorts and award-winning music videos, collaborating closely with NYC-based psychedelic pop group Club Soccer. Albie's directorial work blends absurd, fantastical elements with the endearing grit and grime of modern day New York City. For his most recent short, Vagababy, Albie collaborated with Lou Romano, who voiced Alfredo Linguine in Pixar's Ratatouille. Albie currently works as Oscar-nominated filmmaker Trish Adlesic’s co-producer, and is helping prepare for the release of her latest HBO film.