Balloon (2019 American film)

Balloon
Official film poster
Directed byJeremy Merrifield
Screenplay byJeremy Merrifield
Dave Testa
Produced byChristina Cha

Kate Chamuris

Alex Peurye
Starring
CinematographyFrances Kroon
Edited byBowei Yue
Music byAli Helnwein
Production
companies
AFI Conservatory
Dream Three Films
Release date
Running time
16 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Balloon is a 2019 American short coming-of-age fantasy drama film written and directed by Jeremy Merrifield[1] and produced by Dream Three as Merrifield's thesis for the completion of his studies at the AFI Conservatory.[2][3][4] It stars Jonah Beres and Paul Scheer.[5][6][7]

Balloon was a finalist in the 2019 Student Academy Awards, in the category of best narrative.[8]

Plot

Junior high schooler, Sam Wheeler, participates in a school shooting drill with his classmates. While hiding in the classroom closet, another student, Jason, shares a video which shows Sam being punched in the face and crying. Sam's best friend Adam tells Jason to leave Sam alone.

That night, Sam discovers that the video has gone viral online, and receives demeaning texts from his classmates. While reading the texts, he realizes that he is floating in mid-air, and hits his head on the ceiling.

Sam discovers his 'sonic punch' ability after punching his reflection in his bathroom mirror.

The following day, Sam volunteers to climb a tall rope in gym class. As Sam climbs, he becomes lighter. He reaches the top of the rope and looks out the window at the treetops. However, after hearing the gym coach's whistle, he plummets hard to the ground. In the locker room showers, Jason pees on Sam as a joke. Everyone laughs. Adam doesn't intervene. Sam channels his newfound power into a shockwave which opens a row of gym lockers, but all of the boys are gone.

After school, Sam is approached by Jason, who is concerned that he may have told a teacher about his bullying. Sam uses his powers to jump high into the air and lands with his hand gripped around Jason's collar. A group of students circle them and encourage Sam to punch Jason. Sam releases a shockwave that destroys the students' phones, preventing them from filming the incident, and leaves. Adam follows him, and tries to show him support, but Sam rejects him--still hurt that Adam ghosted him earlier.

Sam enters a foresty clearning beside the school's campus, where he floats above the

and looks over the quiet suburban landscape. The end of the film leaves us questioning whether Sam's superpowers were real.[9][10][11]

Distribution

Balloon had its film festival premier at the Palm Springs International ShortFest in 2019.[12] The film qualified for the Oscars by winning the Grand Prix at HollyShorts Film Festival in the same year[13][14] and was nominated for a Student Academy Award.[15]

The short film won Best Drama Series and The Seymour Bricker Humanitarian Award at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation’s 40th annual College Television Awards.[16]

Reception

IndieWire compared the film to Joker, saying where that film "explores the genesis of a villain," Balloon "depicts the making of a hero," and is a "critique of the superhero mythos, offering an alternative world that prizes softness and sensitivity over brute strength."[17]

Accolades

Year Presenter/Festival Award/Ceremony Status
2020 College Television Awards Best Drama Series Won[16]
Seymour Bricker Humanitarian Award Won[16]
2020 Cannes Lion Young Director Award Won[18][19]
2019 HollyShorts Film Festival Grand Prix (Oscar Qualifying) Won[20]
2019 New Orleans Film Festival Audience Award / Jury Special Mention Won[21]
2019 Napa Valley Film Festival Best Narrative Short Won[22]
2019 Student Academy Awards Best Narrative (Domestic) Nominated[10]
2019 Palm Springs International Short Fest Best Student Short Nominated[12]
2019 American Society of Cinematographers Heritage Award Nominated[23]

References

  1. ^ "Jeremy Merrifield | No Film School". nofilmschool.com. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  2. ^ "BALLOON | Dream Three Films". Dream Three. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "Balloon by Jeremy Merrifield | Drama". Directors Notes. November 7, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  4. ^ "5 Things I Learned While Making My AFI Thesis Film". No Film School. August 23, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  5. ^ ""BALLOON" Is A Vital Exploration Of Toxic Masculinity". What We Seee. November 9, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Davidson, Douglas (August 27, 2019). "Watch the birth of a modern superhero in 2019 Student Academy Award nominee short film "Balloon"". Elements of Madness. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  7. ^ "The Independent Critic - "Balloon" is One of the Best Short Films of 2019". www.theindependentcritic.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  8. ^ "Meet the 2019 Student Academy Awards Finalists | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". www.oscars.org. August 23, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  9. ^ "Altruistic Models, Recovering Veterans, Looney Tunes and More at TheWrap's Short Film Showcase". TheWrap. December 5, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  10. ^ a b Davidson, Douglas (August 27, 2019). "Watch the birth of a modern superhero in 2019 Student Academy Award nominee short film "Balloon"". Elements of Madness. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  11. ^ "Balloon - American Film Institute". AFI. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  12. ^ a b "Balloon | Palm Springs International Film Festival". www.psfilmfest.org. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "Balloon by Jeremy Merrifield | Drama Short Film". Short of the Week. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  14. ^ "Meet the 2019 Student Academy Awards Finalists". Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. August 8, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  15. ^ Davidson, Douglas (August 27, 2019). "Watch the birth of a modern superhero in 2019 Student Academy Award nominee short film "Balloon"". Elements of Madness. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  16. ^ a b c Hipes, Patrick (May 31, 2020). "40th College Television Awards Winners Unveiled". Deadline. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  17. ^ Dry, Jude (October 15, 2019). "Queer Short With Oscar Prospects Tackles Toxic Masculinity and Parallels 'Joker' — Watch". IndieWire. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  18. ^ "YDA 2020: Meet the Winners – Jeremy Merrifield". Young Director Award. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  19. ^ "Young Director Award Winners 2020". Shots. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  20. ^ "'Balloon,' 'The Orphan' and 'Sister' Win Oscar-Qualifying Awards at HollyShorts Film Festival". TheWrap. August 18, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  21. ^ "#NOFF2019 Audience Award Winners Announced". New Orleans Film Society. October 29, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  22. ^ "2019 Napa Valley Film Festival Announces Festival Award Winners". NVFF • NOV 10 - 14. November 17, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  23. ^ "ASC Selects 2019 Student Heritage Awards Nominees - The American Society of Cinematographers". theasc.com. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
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