Very Semi-Serious
D: Leah Wolchok | USA | 83 min | Regional Premiere
The New Yorker is the undisputed king of the single panel cartoon. Whether they leave us amused, inspired, or even a little baffled, the iconic cartoons have become instantly recognizable over the past 90 years. Very Semi-Serious offers viewers a glimpse into the process behind the cartoons with legends Roz Chast and Mort Gerberg submitting their work alongside newbies like graphic novelist Liana Finck. Cartoon Editor Bob Mankoff sifts through hundreds of submissions every week to bring readers a carefully curated selection of insightful and humorous work, striving to nurture new talent while continuing to uphold the magazine’s established style. Leah Wolchok's light-hearted and sometimes poignant debut offers a window into The New Yorker’s unique brand of subtle, contemplative humor, and perhaps also onto what it means to laugh at ourselves.
Official Selection Tribeca FF, Vancouver International FF, AFI Docs, Seattle International FF, San Francisco International FF