BILLY’S BALLOON (1998)

I’m a massive fan of Don Hertzfeldt. Since discovering REJECTED and then this short below at college (circa 2001 or so), I’ve devoured all of his work. And I do what I can to spread the good word of his genius, as he combines genuine sympathy with artistic invention and brilliant comedy. BILLY’S BALLOON isn’t as nuanced as his other works, but it is hilarious with perfect timing and a wonderful sense of escalation.

Don Hertzfeldt's final student film, BILLY'S BALLOON was shot on 16mm at UC Santa Barbara in 1998. It was nominated for the Short Film Palm D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival the following year and won the Grand Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival.

You can buy this and many of Hertzfeldt’s other incredible shorts via a Blu-ray collecting them, plus there’s a book and more info at his website—Bitter Films.