Short Cuts short film series continues March 14

The Short Cuts short film series will take place Thursday, March 14, at the Garden Cinemas in Norwalk.

Featured will be "An Englishman Abroad," written by British playwright Alan Bennett and starring Sir Alan Bates. Computer-animated shorts also will be shown.

Dessert and coffee will be served at 7 p.m., and the movies begin at 7:30.

Hearst Media News Group entertainment writer Joe Meyers will lead a post-show discussion.

Tickets are $25 and includes popcorn and may be purchased online at www.jibproductions.org or by calling 203-293-8831.

Short Cuts 2013 focuses on "theater in film," bringing to life the magic of theater in seldom-seen short films.

"An Englishman Abroad" is a 59-minute film, based on a true story, produced for BBC Television in 1983.

In the screenplay, Bennett ("The History Boys," "The Madness of George III") relates the humorous doings of former Soviet spy Guy Burgess, living in Moscow in 1958. His chance meeting with Australian actress Coral Browne (who portrays herself) empowers him to make some unusual requests. The film is directed by John Schlesinger.

An "Englishman Abroad" features Bates, the British stage and film actor who performed with Anthony Quinn in "Zorba the Greek," as well as in "King of Hearts," "Georgy Girl," "Far From the Madding Crowd," and "The Fixer," which garnered an Academy Award nomination for best actor.

JIB Productions launched Short Cuts in 2009 as a way to showcase short films that are rarely seen by the general public. As producer of the Play With Your Food lunchtime theater series, JIB is accustomed to working in this format.

"We started four years ago by screening the Oscar-winning live and animated shorts," producer Nancy Diamond said. "But now those are being widely shown by others, so we've branched out to locate other gems."

Short Cuts also will showcase several computer-animated short films, to explore the development of this industry since its inception.

"As a not-for-profit company, JIB includes educational components into its programming," Diamond said. "We now take computer animation for granted, but it has made great strides in its brief 30-year history."

An entertainment writer and blogger for Hearst Media News Group, Meyers will lead a discussion with the audience after the films.

"Joe is so knowledgeable about both theater and film," Diamond said. "We are lucky to have him as our partner in this endeavor."