Film Brothers’ latest puts an anthropomorphic beer can in the spotlight

Film Brothers, a Wilmington production company based out of The Mill, has run its popular Festival of Shorts every year for more than a decade.

This year, the team is doing something new: Look out for the premiere of a 30-minute comic documentary called “Beer Can: A Love Story” about the history of beer in a can, and the folks who love (and hate) it as it sees a comeback on store shelves and fridges everywhere.

“The year before we canned, we had zero growth,” says Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione in the trailer. “The first full year that we had cans, we grew 18%.”

Of course, the beer bottle has its admirers, especially when it comes to craft beer. The film pits an anthropomorphic bottle, played by Film Brothers cofounder Gordon DelGiorno, against an anthropomorphic can, aka “Son of Can“ Matt Del Pizzo.

“The Bottle tries to keep the reign, while Son of Can just looks for connection and love,” said DelGiorno.

The film includes appearances by Calagione; John Medkeff, author of “Brewing in Delaware“; Carol Stoudt, the female brewer since prohibition; Woody Chandler, aka The Beer Monk; Jeff Lebo, owner of 95,000 vintage beer cans; and second-generation craft brewer Tom Arnold.

The film, the work of a partnership between Film Brothers and Original Son of Can, LLC, will have its premiere at an event at The Queen on Nov. 9 starting at 7 p.m. The event will include the release of Son of Can beer and “bottle & can”-themed live music by Shelley Kelley and Bar Flies.

Check out the trailer:

You must be 21 or older to attend the Queen event. Tickets will be $20 per person. To reserve tickets when they’re released, keep an eye on the Film Brothers’ Facebook page.