SHORT FILMS
NARRATIVE - DOCUMENTARY - ANIMATED - MUSICAL VIDEO - TV PILOT - WEB TV SERIES
APRIL 30 - DGA THEATRE
110 W. 57th ST. NEW YORK, NY 10019
WORLD PREMIERE
Sandboy
In a sleepy Californian desert, sits an abandoned junk yard, an abandoned RV and an abandoned young woman haunted by a secret.
VITTORIA COLONNA – Writer – Director
USA | IRELAND
Vittoria Colonna is a Filmmaker, Performance Artist, and overall Seeker. Growing up between Ireland and Italy, Vittoria studied fine art painting in Rome's L'Accademia di Belle Arti, trained as an Opera singer in Tuscany and then continued in the performing arts, finishing her studies at the Gaiety school of Acting in Dublin 2004. However most impressive has been the touring success of her debut feature documentary, IDENTITIES and short feature MY IDENTITY which she wrote, directed and produced, winning awards such as The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) Human Rights Film Award among other nominations such as The Celtic Media Award for best Factual Documentary 2010, European Short Debut Award at The Era New Horizons International Film Festival 2010 and The Current Award at the Rome Independent Film Festival in 2010.
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS april 30 @ 5:00pm
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WORLD PREMIERE
A Journey To Taiwan
Taiwanese designer, Malan Breton, born in the bustling city of Taipei, has become internationally well known for his beautiful, one-of-a-kind, Runway and Red Carpet creations, served up to lots of well-bred, stylish women and men. And, just like many of his clients, Breton is movie- star good-looking, intelligent, cultured, soft spoken and cool; just like a hip, young Royal Pasha (一個時髦、 年輕的皇家巴沙,as they say in Taiwanese).
Here, in this documentary, Breton lifts the veil on his recent and most uniquely inspirational journey to his homeland, as he talks one to one about his knowledge of ; his deeply intense love affair with the country of his birth; his thoughts and desires; recollections of the special sights, senses, sounds, colors, beauty of ancient objets d’art, et al, of a most unique city and equally lush countryside.
For Breton, the combination of Taiwan’s sensual and mysterious places, people and things have all come together full-circle, as a sublime inspiration; his raison d’etre, for the decidedly luxurious, embellished and regal, Spring/Summer 2015 women’s and men’s collection, aptly dubbed, “A Journey To Taiwan”. All depicted in this documentary.
MALAN BRETON – Writer – Director
USA
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Breton began designing at the age of 11. In 2015, MALAN BRETON® was ranked in the top ten of the top #200 fashion companies in the world for their presence in social media. In the press Breton's collections have received such honorable notices as,
" His (Breton's) clothes create a look of beauty" - VOGUE España,
"Beautifully executed" -WWD,
"In addition to his ethereal gowns and simple shift dresses, Breton also does menswear and bridal lines." -ELLE
"Sleek" -W Magazine,
"Pants You Can Sleep In, a variation on volume came in the form of slouchy pajama pants from Malan Breton" -NY Times
"Classic," -NY Daily News,
"Glamorous" -Cosmopolitan,
"Perfectly tailored" -CBS News,
"From gorgeous dresses, skirts and menswear, Breton clearly knows how to design with a woman's body in mind!" -CNN ,
"Exquisitely tailored suit jackets" - Lucky Magazine,
"Sleek and Slim" -Esquire,
"Sharply tailored suits are Breton's forte, and testament to his training at British heritage brand ..." -LA Times,
"Breton is becoming known for his colourful silk men's suits" -WWD,
"Red Carpet Ready!" -Maria Menounos
MALAN BRETON® has dressed A- list stars like Ariana Grande, Keith Carradine, Scarlett Johansson, Kerry Washington, Michael Buble, Martha Plimpton, Minnie Driver, Kylie Minogue, Ricki Lake, Daniel Craig, Katrina Bowden, Kathy Lee Gifford, Paul Wesley, Desmond Child, Sam Witwer, and Nolan Gerard - Funk, and many others. Malan Breton has also costumed the number one prime time NBC Game Show "Minute To Win It", and his designs have been seen in AMC's Breaking Bad. Mr Breton has appeared as himself on Bravo TV's the Malan Show, Project Runway, Australia's Next Top Model, Zoolander, and will star in documentary "Malan Breton a Journey Taiwan", produced by LA PRESSE FILMS, he is noted as one of the top 15 actors in Taiwan.
MALAN BRETON® won the 2015 Taiwan Honour, The 2014 European Fashion Council "Eirene" Fashion Award, the 2014 Fashion Icon of the Year award from UCOF, and was nominated for a 2011 WGSN Global Fashion Award. Known for his philanthropic work Malan Breton closed the NASDAQ in 2010 to bring awareness to children's charity, Care and Share India.
MALAN BRETON
VIP AND GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS
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FREE GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS MUST TYPE THE CODE
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OFFICIAL OPENING FILM
DGA THEATRE
NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE
Family On Board
On his way to report to prison, Mike Petito reflects on his life and anticipates what lies ahead…that's when catastrophe strikes.
GEORGE POGATSIA – Writer – Director
USA
George Pogatsia is an award-winning actor and writer. He honed his craft appearing in over twenty arthouse films. Some of Pogatsia’s credits include Bookies, which premiered at London's Rainfest; Closers; and Your Honor. He has twice guest starred on television's Law and Order, as well as The Sopranos, and was featured on a Hollywood Squares special highlighting up-and-coming actors. He first caught the acting bug as a child. A pen-pal relationship with his Golden Globe-nominated cousin, the late Gregory Rozakis, further fueled his dream and appreciation for the craft.
George Pogatsia won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2003 Fairlington Film Festival for his portrayal of a rogue detective in the film Triad.
VIP & GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS APRIL 30
VENUE & SCREENING DATE
April 30 @ DGA, 110 West 57 Street, New York, NY 10019
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SATURDAY, MAY 2 - PRODUCERS' CLUB
358 W. 44th St. New York, NY 10036
WORLD PREMIERE
It’s a long way
When all your dreams have been broken, the only choice you may have is life. You rarely get to choose the path you take.
IZABELLA PÖRÖS – Writer – Director
HUNGARY
Izabella Pörös was born in Budapest, Hungary. Her fascination for films began as a child. With her mother being an English language teacher and her father a film critic, she grew up watching English-speaking movies.
Wanting to be a professional dancer, she started dancing at the age of 7. During a show in France she injured her knee and had to move back to Budapest, Hungary.
While waiting for the recovery and not being able to walk, she was sitting home and watched movies for months. This is when she became interested in filmmaking. She attended screenwriting workshops, such as James V. Heart's master class in Budapest, Hungary. In Budapest, she started taking acting classes with a Canadian drama teacher, Emily Chase.
She has completed the Acting for Theatre and Film acting course at the Theatre and Film Institute, led by actor/director András Márton.
In her final year, she appeared as the lead in The Girl in the Corner, a short film, which made it into the official selection at the No Budget Film Festival in Los Angeles.
GROUP 1 – MAY 2 AT 4.00pm | PRODUCERS’ CLUB 358 W. 44th St. NY
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WORLD PREMIERE
Topsy McGee
Victorian adventurer Topsy McGee must commandeer an airship in order to chase the pirates who have captured her husband.
TRAVIS STEVENS – Director
USA
Travis Stevens is an award winning Director and Writer working in Hollywood, CA. Grounding his work in real life experiences, Travis' past jobs have included time in the Army, working as an EMT, harvesting tissue for an Eye organ donor clinic, as well as in the entertainment industry for companies like Nickelodeon, Crossroad Films, and Monkey Kingdom Productions. He has real world grounding in producing, editing, and just about every job on set (priding himself on making a mean craft service breakfast burrito). A coast to coast filmmaker, he has a passion for taking project all the way through their creative cycles, from idea inception to the final output of the final cut.
GROUP 1 – MAY 2 AT 4:00Pm | PRODUCERS’ CLUB – 358 W. 44th St. NY
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USA PREMIERE
Within
"Within" is a drama about Jacob, a hopeless Detroit romantic looking for love in the digital era. After miserable dates, he looks for life's meaning through a series of philosophical readings on synchronicity. But Jacob can't seem to get anything right. His life goes on a downward spiral that includes being disconnected from society and even family, being trapped at his dead end job at a pizzeria, and failing to find the right woman. Eventually Jacob has a brief encounter with a stranger visiting Detroit who can ultimately allow Jacob to discover a renewed purpose to his life.
ROBERT JOSEPH BUTLER – Writer – Director
USA
Robert Joseph Butler is a 2008 Motion Picture Institute of Michigan Graduate. He has made his impact immediately felt on the Michigan film landscape. In two short years he has went from the best directing award at the MIP to making professional short films that have been exhibited at festivals around the country. With his tremendous vision and passion Robert has successfully directed films, gained critical acclaim, and most importantly, has drawn an audience and following to his films.
GROUP 1 – MAY 2 AT 4:00pm | PRODUCERS’ CLUB – 358 W. 44th St. NY
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WORLD PREMIERE
UPSTAIRS
Joe, Matt, Sarah and Francine are four college students. The girls are roommates downstairs while the boys are roommates... Upstairs. This bunch could not be more different. You'll find out not only their choice of majors, but by their drastically different cultural backgrounds too. It can cause friction to say the least, but hilarity will always ensue. Will opposites attract?
JOSEPH SPADARO – Writer – Director
ITALY
TV SHOW – TV SERIES
ITALY
GROUP 1 – MAY 2 AT 4:00pm | PRODUCERS’ CLUB – 358 W. 44th St. NY
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NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE
Libertad Lionetti
Synopsis
We are in 2051. It's the 50th anniversary of the 09/11 terrorist attacks in the USA. A high school History class follows the life of Libertad Lionetti, a woman who made History in the first years of the XXI century.
J. K. ÁLVAREZ – Writer – Director
SPAIN
J.K. Álvarez is a Spanish director and producer. He studied a Bachelor's degree in Cinematography at the Gona Studios and owns the film producing company CSO Pictures. Till now, he has produced seven short films, fourteen documentaries and a feature film, El cuento de Duna.
GENERAL ADMISSION
GROUP 1 – MAY 2 AT 4:00pm | PRODUCER’S CLUB – 358 W. 44th St. NY
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WORLD PREMIERE
The Guest
After the father’s death, a man gets on a train and stops in a country town. Takes a room in a boarding house run by a mother and her daughter, a fifteen-year-old girl. A dark tale of seduction and coercion ensues.
FEDERICO OLIVETTI – Writer – Director
ITALY
After graduating in History and Philosophy, he went into cinema studies attending courses at Ipotesi Cinema (directed by Ermanno Olmi) and at New York University.
He worked in the theater in Italy, France, Germany and Poland. Among the others, he was assistant director to Luca Ronconi, Peter Stein and Anatoly Vassil’ev.
He founded a theatrical company and directed several theatrical plays.
In the cinema he worked as screenwriter and assistant director for Calopresti, Giordana and directed several shorts. The most recent is “The Guest”.
GROUP 1 – MAY 2 AT 4:00pm | PRODUCERS’ CLUB – 358 W. 44th St. NY
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NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE
Papa Dans Maman
The middle of the night. Moans are heard behind the parents' door. Two young sisters are asking questions...
FABRICE BRACQ – Writer – Director
FRANCE
Fabrice Bracq was first made making of feature. Then he worked for ECPAD (cinema armies) where he made a variety of films, for both museums, the communication of the defense or the TV. In addition, he directed short films and documentaries, including in Africa. In 2010, he directed the love birds, drama anticipation. In 2012, he directed Split Time and Time 2 Split which now total more than 180 officials selections worldwide and several awards. Diagnosis in the genre of comedy, a total of 75 selections in the world and several audience awards. All these short films have been bought by France Télévisions. Dad in Mum his latest short film comedy, began his career in the festival.
GROUP 1 – MAY 2 AT 4:00pm | PRODUCERS’ CLUB – 358 W. 44th St. NY
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WORLD PREMIERE
Olessya
Set during the 'Apple Feast', a young woman living in a Russian countryside with her grandmother leads a double life to support the family.
YULIA VASILTSOVA – Writer – Director
RUSSIA
Born in Moscow, Russia in 1985, Yulia Vasiltsova studied at Moscow Film School (GITR) and graduated as Director of Photography in 2010. She’s worked as a DP on several short films, among them “The Answer Print “.
For the past ten years she moved between Paris, Moscow and New York where she finally settled in 2014. She’s currently working on new film and art projects; and her art collaboration with artist Steve Clark was publicly exhibited in summer 2014. Yulia is also a photographer and takes pictures wherever she goes; her photography-based website will be up in June 2015.
Her first short film “Olessya” which she wrote, directed and produced, is an imaginary story based on her childhood observations while travelling on a bus from her native city to Moscow.
For the past ten years she moved between Paris, Moscow and New York where she finally settled in 2014. She’s currently working on new film and art projects; and her art collaboration with artist Steve Clark was publicly exhibited in summer 2014. Yulia is also a photographer and takes pictures wherever she goes; her photography-based website will be up in June 2015.
Her first short film “Olessya” which she wrote, directed and produced, is an imaginary story based on her childhood observations while travelling on a bus from her native city to Moscow.
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WORLD PREMIERE
MAE DAY
Two thieves find themselves fighting a tough young woman for their lives during a mansion heist gone awry.
RYAN CLARK & RUSSELL GELTMAN| CO – DIRECTORS
Ryan Clark is an experienced director of short films, commercials, and theater. He is also an accomplished writer of sketch comedy, comedic short stories, news, a novel and various advertising campaigns.
Russell is an experienced director and cinematographer, having got his start in the camera department on such TV shows as “Entourage”, “ER”, and “Deadwood”.
Co-filmmakers Ryan Clark and Russell Geltman infused their sensibilities for violent female-driven thrillers like “Kill Bill” & “Blood Simple” into this short action film. The intent was to take the audience on a wild and dangerous adventure through a large mansion which itself becomes a character in the film.
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WORLD PREMIERE
Mi Hijo
A young Latino’s life takes a turn for the better when he makes peace with the father he always knew.
JOHN HOYT – Writer – Director
USA
John Hoyt studied liberal arts at Lehman College and attended acting classes at Carnegie Hall. John received his first acting job because of Robert De Niro, who cast him in the film A Bronx Tale. John has been very lucky to work with some great actors, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Christopher Walken, Benicio Del Toro, Victor Argo, Jeremy Irons, Jon Cryer and Eric Roberts. He also worked with some great directors, Brian De Palma, Woody Allen, John McTiernan, Abel Ferrara and Fred Gallo. In addition to acting, John produces independent films with his partner Fred Gallo. Mr. Gallo graduated from the world renowned film school at USC. Two of their films, I am Woody and The Don of 42nd Street won awards in The New York International Film Festival for Best Film and Best Actor.
MAY 1 AT 6.00pm – ANTHOLOGY FILM ARCHIVE – 32 2nd Avenue, at 2 street, NY 10003
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MAY 3 - PRODUCER'S CLUB
358 W. 44th St. NY
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WORLD PREMIERE
Love And Budapest
A bad day at work is about to get worse when Max runs into an old flame.
MATTHEW DOCHERTY – Writer – Director
UK
Matthew Docherty is a London-based filmmaker and photographer. He writes and directs his own material as well as acting as producer for friends and colleagues. In 2011 his short film Revelations won praise at festivals around the world. He also directed 4 episodes of Flat 32, a web-based sitcom. Love and Budapest is his second film as writer/director.
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WORLD PREMIERE
Helio
On the eve of a rebel uprising in a dystopian underground society, one miner finds the key to freedom and attempts to escape before the hostile government kills him first.
TEDDY CECIL – Writer – Director
USA
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Your Space
Synopsis
There is a man inside a space, Inside that space man meets a woman.
She is always silent, A lot of things already got ambiguous and broken, "A bit more"... but she cannot hear. This space is not safe now, She is always silent, His and Her space is collapsing
YEONHO JUNG – Writer – Director
USA | SOUTH KOREA
Bio
Yeonho Jung is a Filmmaker, Editor based in Seoul,
Studied Advertising and Filmmaking at Seoul Institute of the Arts.
Yeonho founded a production company called Fine Workshop and directed
7 commercials and 2 music videos.
Year 2013 he moved to NYC and worked in a Advertising agency and also
finished his film "Your Space"(2014).
Your Space has been officially selected by two film festivals so far and screened at several Art galleries.
Yeonho is now In NYC working on his next feature film "lieu et non-lieu".
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Milk Run
Petey, an 80 year old pianist, is on the verge of completing his long overdue masterpiece. But there's just one problem--his wife needs milk to finish their Saturday morning traditional dish. Caught between pentatonics and pancakes, Petey begins an unexpected journey to find much more than 2% milk.
ALEXANDRIA COLLINS – Writer – Director
USA
Alexandria Collins currently resides in New York City where she is pursuing a career as a writer, director and actor. Since moving to NYC about a year ago, she's had the pleasure of co-writing two short films, “Chance” and “Microcosm”; directing a web-series, “Hysterical Historical Hillary”; and writing/directing her own short film, “Milk Run” (2015). Milk Run has been accepted into three film festivals so far. She is also writing a feature length screenplay and web-series.
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida she had a fondness for the arts from an early age. She wrote her first poem in her elementary school’s playground at the age of seven. Alexandria won several local writing competitions growing up and decided to attend Florida A&M University to further her learning as a creator. Although she studied Journalism, Alexandria was heavily involved in their creative writing program and Florida State University’s Film School.
In college she directed three short films and a documentary outside of any program. Her 2012 documentary, “Love Plus: The Bigger Picture” won a 1stPlace Florida Associated Press Award. Her 2013 short film “Secrets” won 1st place in the Her Story Film Competition.
Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida she had a fondness for the arts from an early age. She wrote her first poem in her elementary school’s playground at the age of seven. Alexandria won several local writing competitions growing up and decided to attend Florida A&M University to further her learning as a creator. Although she studied Journalism, Alexandria was heavily involved in their creative writing program and Florida State University’s Film School.
In college she directed three short films and a documentary outside of any program. Her 2012 documentary, “Love Plus: The Bigger Picture” won a 1stPlace Florida Associated Press Award. Her 2013 short film “Secrets” won 1st place in the Her Story Film Competition.
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Collectors
Whether it's antiques, insects, adventures, friendships – collecting is a passion. One has never collected enough. "COLLECTORS" shows in an entertaining and amusing way where collecting can lead.
MARCEL HOBI – Writer – Director
SWITZERLAND
Marcel Hobi was born in 1963 in Switzerland. Since 2001 he works as animation filmmaker and producer. His films were shown at many international film festivals like Annecy, Palm Springs, Hong Kong.
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In The Still Of The Night
ERIC STEINER – Writer – Director
AUSTRIA
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Family Escape
After her boyfriend proposes, Somaya faces pressure from her devout mother to accept the marriage proposal.
HABIB HABIB – Writer – Director
USA
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COMPROMISED
Shortly after the U.S. Government mandated human chip implantation, a series of unexpected acts of terrorism, by unsuspecting citizens, suggests a breach in the system.
CHRISTOPHER STADULIS – Writer – Director
USA
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Maxine
“Maxine” is a mature, adult themed experimental film about a man reminiscing about an old flame as he prepares to leave behind his beloved NYC. Experimental in every way, with scenes within scenes, voice over dialogues, and a nonlinear narrative, the movie is a statement on how we process memories and past moments.
MICHAEL MANESE – Writer – Director
USA
Born in the Philippines and raised in Passaic, NJ, MM studied filmmaking at Rutgers University. His screenplay "Talk Show" was staged at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe's Fifth Night Scriptreading series in March 1996 which led to a series of script reading jobs for companies such as Apostle Pictures, Foxboro and New Line Cinema.
“I like mainstream, Hollywood movies with an edge. My goal is to make movies that are thought provoking, daring, and experimental that can also reach a wide audience. Movies such as ‘Carnal Knowledge,’ ‘Pulp Fiction,’ ‘Annie Hall,’ and ‘Last Tango in Paris’ are, to me, just a few examples of this formula.”
GROUP 3 – SUNDAY, MAY 3 @ 8pm PRODUCERS’ CLUB
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Life
ILIYA ATANASOV
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I Need My Monster
When Ethan checks under the bed for his monster, he finds a note instead: 'Gone fishing. Back in a week.' - Gabe' What will Ethan do? He needs a monster under his bed. Substitute monsters appear but none are as perfect as Gabe. Herbert's teeth aren't sharp enough. Mack's slobbering induces giggles, Cynthia's tail isn't scary at all, and Ralph has nail polish on his claws! This will never work! How will Ethan ever get to sleep without his monster. I Need My Monster is a student made animated short film based on the unique award winning monster under the bed story for all monster loving kids of the same title.
HOWARD COOK – Writer – Director
A filmmaker, designer and experiences developer, Howard Cook has worked in a variety of creative industries since 1982. He holds an MFA in Digital Cinema from National University, an MFA (abt) in Painting from Auburn University and a BFA in Printmaking also from Auburn. His professional history in the industry has given him a breadth of experience that he passes onto his students, preparing them to take on leadership positions in visualization, animation and visual effects industry. He currently serves as the Director of the University of Colorado Denver’s Digital Animation Center.
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Little Big George
Little Big George is a very warm, innocent and fun loving film; about a little boy named George actually Georgy Porgy who loves to eat, but most importantly loves to cook! His small little brain is a treasure island of recipes waiting to be explored, discovered, cooked and tasted.
Georgy's biggest dream is to be a famous chef when he grows up and have his own TV show, Prime-Time! Unfortunately his mum and dad are not very happy about that.
Little Big George is the story of this small little food wonder, who even having to face his strict non understanding parents and constantly bullying friends, lives his dream every single moment, with the hope and belief that he will achieve it ONE FINE FOODIE DAY!
Georgy's biggest dream is to be a famous chef when he grows up and have his own TV show, Prime-Time! Unfortunately his mum and dad are not very happy about that.
Little Big George is the story of this small little food wonder, who even having to face his strict non understanding parents and constantly bullying friends, lives his dream every single moment, with the hope and belief that he will achieve it ONE FINE FOODIE DAY!
PRIYANKA TANWAR – Writer – Director
INDIA
Priyanka Tanwar was born in Mumbai on the 26th of October 1985. She studied in ‘Convent of Jesus and Mary’, passing out in the year 2001, and graduated from Sophia College for Women, with a double major in economics and psychology in the year 2006.
In school and college Priyanka participated in various inter and intra collegiate drama, dance and singing festivals and competitions and also compered events. She has acted and directed many plays in school and college and that’s when her love for the art of performance, directing and ultimately cinema started developing.
In order to understand and learn more deeply about cinema, film and the movies, she did a film making and cinematography course in the year 2007 – 2008 from Digital Academy, The Film School.
Because of her professors in film school and later the various talented directors she has trained under, Priyanka was able to polish her skills in writing stories, making shorts and hopefully one day in making feature films, with a conscious motive to help positively change the lives of all those who read and watch them.
In school and college Priyanka participated in various inter and intra collegiate drama, dance and singing festivals and competitions and also compered events. She has acted and directed many plays in school and college and that’s when her love for the art of performance, directing and ultimately cinema started developing.
In order to understand and learn more deeply about cinema, film and the movies, she did a film making and cinematography course in the year 2007 – 2008 from Digital Academy, The Film School.
Because of her professors in film school and later the various talented directors she has trained under, Priyanka was able to polish her skills in writing stories, making shorts and hopefully one day in making feature films, with a conscious motive to help positively change the lives of all those who read and watch them.
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Randy Doe
*Synopsis:
A homeless man in New York City struggling with mental illness wrestles with the demons of his past and his will to explore the possibility of a better life.
JENNIFER AZANO & HARRY AZANO – Writers – Directors
USA
Jennifer Azano is an award-winning writer, director and producer based in New York City. Ms. Azano's mission as a filmmaker is to cultivate inspirational films that bring attention to and initiate dialogue about important world and social issues. An active animal and human rights activist, Ms. Azano uses her artistic endeavors to fund and support causes she is passionate about.
Her directorial debut, "8:46" premiered at the 65th annual Cannes Film Festival, where it was acquired by Virgil Films and Entertainment. The film won numerous awards on the festival circuit and was released in September 2012, with a portion of all proceeds going to the charity organization Tuesday's Children.
In 2010, Ms. Azano and her husband founded their own non-profit organization, The Forget Me Not Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for an array of causes including cancer research, animal welfare and empowering children in Africa.
In 2013, Ms. Azano traveled to Uganda to write a screenplay and volunteer. While there, she assisted a local Ugandan filmmaker with his script and production. Profoundly affected by her experience, Jennifer created "Filmanthropy" an initiative through her production company, Forget Me Not Productions, with the purpose of helping aspiring filmmakers of Third World countries receive funding for their film projects, as well as guidance, support and training to assist them with their careers. Ms. Azano strongly believes that film is a powerful medium for communication, self expression and inspiring dialogue that should not be limited to those of wealthy nations. She is committed to giving the young people of impoverished nations opportunities to share their stories, ideas, and have their voices heard.
Her directorial debut, "8:46" premiered at the 65th annual Cannes Film Festival, where it was acquired by Virgil Films and Entertainment. The film won numerous awards on the festival circuit and was released in September 2012, with a portion of all proceeds going to the charity organization Tuesday's Children.
In 2010, Ms. Azano and her husband founded their own non-profit organization, The Forget Me Not Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for an array of causes including cancer research, animal welfare and empowering children in Africa.
In 2013, Ms. Azano traveled to Uganda to write a screenplay and volunteer. While there, she assisted a local Ugandan filmmaker with his script and production. Profoundly affected by her experience, Jennifer created "Filmanthropy" an initiative through her production company, Forget Me Not Productions, with the purpose of helping aspiring filmmakers of Third World countries receive funding for their film projects, as well as guidance, support and training to assist them with their careers. Ms. Azano strongly believes that film is a powerful medium for communication, self expression and inspiring dialogue that should not be limited to those of wealthy nations. She is committed to giving the young people of impoverished nations opportunities to share their stories, ideas, and have their voices heard.
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Lost In Paradise
DENVER MENDIOLA – Writer – Director
USA
Denver is new to the filmmaking world, this being her third film completed in only two years. Two out of the three, including "Lost In Paradise", were written and directed by Denver alone. She then teamed up with award winning writer Shaene Siders and directed her edgy short film "Storage", which has been hitting the festival circuit all over Los Angeles this past year. Denver comes from a business background, starting out as a commercial real estate broker, but has always had a knack for story telling. She has now found a way to tell stories in a more concentrated way while still being able to utilize her business background. She's currently working on her first feature, "Blackbird and the Mystery of the Pike" an action/sci-fi/fantasy film featuring very strong female characters. Denver plans to extend "Lost in Paradise" into a feature film.
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Lapsus
LAPSUS tells the tale of Terry, a psychologically disturbed predator whose sinister playground is a laundromat.
Terry thinks he is the hero of a comic gangster that is reading : « Terry Laurence, Gentleman Gangster ».
That is when his memory playing tricks on him.
Terry is a victim of an unknown phenomena that literature considers as a Lapsus memoriae: a slip of memory.
KARIM OUARET – Director
FRANCE
BIO KARIM OUARET
Karim OUARET was born in 1979 in Avignon (south of France).
From 2004 until today, He directed more than 120 music videos worldwide. 2010, he created his own production company COME ON PRODUCTIONS in order to produce and direct his first Short Film 'Lapsus' (shot in 2012).
'Lapsus' was completed in April 2013.
Since that day 'Lapsus' won 33 Awards in International Festivals.
Actually, Karim is writing the script of his first Feature Film « Exceptions ».
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Peel
Synopsis:
JENNY LIU – Writer – Director
TAIWAN
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Her Name Was Jenny | Vol.2
Robert never wanted anything that he couldn't get... Except one thing. Tonight, he will put it all on the line to finally get what he thinks he deserves
EDDIE AUGUSTIN – Writer – Director
CANADA
Eddie Augustin was born in Montreal. When he was 6 years old he moved to the smaller city of Laval where he still resides to this day. He decided to embark in the filmmaking world after working extensively for Blockbuster Video Club. Before that he had been interested in music, putting together his own recording studio and learning how to manage and produce using independent means. He is also one of the founding members of the performance and artistic group 2ksquad. 2Ksquad is also the team behind Eddie's film.
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Hayda Ana (This is Me)
Synopsis
Three Lebanese Teenagers…
Three different Stories…
One Struggle!
“Does anyone understand me?” This question is at the core of the teenage experience, as adolescents work to define themselves in a tumultuous stage of life. “Hayda Ana” or “This is Me” focuses on this universal issue as experienced by three Lebanese teenagers, who feel as though no one understands them or their problems. The teens plan to demonstrate against the world by closing a local street with tires (as is the Lebanese trend nowadays), sending a message about the depth of their angst.
ELIE EL SEMAAN
LEBANON
Elie El Semaan is a Lebanese Director with a Masters Degree in Film Directing.
Born January 13, 1984 in Beirut, originally from the Bekaa of Lebanon, Zahle. He was brought up in Canada during the Lebanese war.
Elie started his career off as an actor in many Lebanese series while he was still in high school and got the opportunity to direct his first Jewelry Advertisement during his second year of film studies. He graduated with High Distinction. Elie is mostly known for the Music Videos and Ads, which he directs. He has also written and directed four short films (most Recently “Hayda Ana- This is Me”). Along side this, Elie also writes and directs theater plays. Musical theater is one of his passions.
Working as an actor before perusing his directing career, has helped Elie to better understand the needs of actors on set, and given him a great pleasure to direct and deal with actors.
GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS
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This evening, Nicholas is celebrating his 18th birthday in the forest with his friends. His mother joins him; a sole energy, two opposite signs. They meet up and then surrender, they come closer and then push themselves away. Between a late youth and an early maturity, resides an unconditional love.
NADIM HOBEIKA – Writer & Director
Nadim Hobeika is born in Beirut, Lebanon, in December 1992. He attended the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. After “IDÉA”, an 8-minute stop-motion film, in which he exposes his perception of how ideas are born, he wrote and directed “Feu de Camp” (in English “Bonfire”), a short movie that portrays the story of a torn apart family. The film participated in several film festivals in Roma, Portugal, Lebanon and was featured at the Dubai Film Market (DIFF) under the "Market Recommended" section in the 11th Dubai International Film Festival, which pushed Nadim to write his next short film, "Happy FM".
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Have You Met Miss Jones?
Thirty-something "widow" Angelina Jones, works as a fame-struck Hollywood gossip reporter hell bent on finding a father figure for her gay teenage son Joe. But Angelina is really Joe's father, who lost his mind after the mysterious disappearance of his wife.
JAMES DI GIACOMO – Writer
USA
As an award-winning actor, writer and producer James Di Giacomo had always dreamed of directing too. James did not expect it to occur this early in his career, especially since he had no formal training. When he and his creative partner, Dave Mattia created "Have You Met Miss Jones," James was afraid their vision and creativity would get lost in translation. Once on set, directing the actors came instinctively, as did directing during post. James definitely doesn't mind wearing many hats!
GROUP 4 @ 4pm PRODUCERS’ CLUB
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Dead Therapy
LUCAS SCHEFFEL – Director
AUSTRALIA
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I’ve Just Had A Dream
Two girls. Two cultures. Two visions. A dream. They say that dreams are dreams. The only thing that makes them different is the person who dreams.
JAVIER NAVARRO – Director
SPAIN
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Black Raven
In a future suffering from decay, federation mercenaries seek to reclaim a device stolen by the Black Raven; a genetically engineered creature specialized for espionage.
ALEKSANDER SAKOWSKI – Writer – Director
NEW ZEALAND
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Stella
MUSICAL VIDEO
Stella, a transgender 80s one-hit wonder, desperately wants to reclaim her fame. How far is she willing to go?
ELYSSA WINN – Writer – Director
Elyssa Winn was born in London but spent most of her childhood in Russia. She was educated in Moscow and at St. Andrews University, Scotland.
She has been making films since the age of 12 and even her early efforts show the influence of two contrasting cultures. The profound social changes taking place in Russia during the nineties provided rich themes for many filmmakers and had a marked effect on Elyssa’s development as an artist.
Some of these themes can be found in STELLA, Elyssa’s first musical production, in which the (anti) hero is yearning for a past which she can never recapture. The fact that this sense of loss and frustration takes a violent twist will come as no surprise to Russian audiences. However, STELLA is not an overtly Russian film; its wry, black humour, sarcasm and self-deprecatory commentary place it firmly in the British mockumentary tradition.
Elyssa's London-based company, Painted Pepper Films, specialises in high-intensity, vibrant and kaleidoscopic productions, reflecting the young director's passion for colourful imagery and strong storylines.
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Archaeology
Synopsis:
YVONNE GRZENKOWICZ – Director
USA
GROUP # 4 MAY 4 @ 4PM – PRODUCERS’ CLUB
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Éloïse, Little Dreamer
Synopsis:
During a festival, a little girl follows her sister in the city without her permission. At first she is amazed by the ambiance, but the more she gets herself lost into the crowd the more she see strange thing happening around her.
MYRIAM OBIN – Writer – Director
QUÉBEC
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Stuck
Synopsis:
AARON KAMP – Writer – Director
AUSTRALIA
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Bus Stop
BUS STOP.
A young man is waiting for the bus and a young woman arrive in the bus stop in front of his one in the city of Almaty (KZ). They look at each other. Smiles, flash, look…He would like to cross the street… will he be enough brave to do it ?
HERVE PORTANGUEN – Writer – Co Director
Kazakhstan
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The Man From The City
Synopsis:
ELIAS PLAGIANOS – Writer – Director
USA | GREECE
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Ardoyne
In 1972, I made a documentary on 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland - "A Place Called Ardoyne" - which won the 1973 Chicago Film Festival. For the past 40 years, I've watched 'The Troubles' continue and decided to write lyrics to a song called Ardoyne, collaborating with Swedish film composer Daniel Buhr, which depicts a centuries-old flashpoint in Catholic Ardoyne. The video utilizes footage from that film. The orchestration is as complicated as the history dating to William of Orange. From the persistent drumming of Orange Men to Brian Dunning's playing of "The Sash My Father Wore" artfully woven with Celtic sounds, the music video brings the heart-wrenching Belfast children's paintings to life, ending with a plaintive school girl's poem visualizing peace.
PHILIP CLAYTON-THOMPSON – Writer – Director
UK
From the craggy moors of Britain’s Blackstone Edge comes Philip Clayton-Thompson and Blackstone Edge Studios. PCT began singing as a young Lancashire lad for sixpence in seedy pubs in the North of England. Shared a dressing room with the Beatles at the Queen’s Theatre Blackpool. Went down to London. Became a cameraman for Swedish, Danish, ZDF and BBC prior to becoming a documentary filmmaker. Got a rubber bullet up his bum while filming stone throwers in Belfast. Won the 1973 Chicago Film Festival for “A Place Called Ardoyne.”
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Flowers
A boy falls in love with a deaf and mute girl and has to find a way to communicate his feelings for her.
SABINA SATTAR – Writer – Director
UK
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I arrived
A short film based on a true story. This is the immigration story of Polina, a beautiful Russian girl. On the eve of her wedding day she discovers her fiancé is cheating on her. She packs her bags, leaving her job, family and friends back in Russia, she moves to NY. She boards a plane of self-discovery but her past keeps following her.
ANDREI BART – Writer – Director
Russia | USA
Andrei Bart was born in Belarus. Since childhood he was taking pictures of his family and friends from the camera that his father gave him for his birthday. Since then Andrei changed different professions, studied medicine, human genetics but he always had a passion for movie making. Since 2001 he's in New York. He has his own production company that specializes on films for engaged couples. Andrei writes his own scripts. He's interested in stories and relationships between men and women. One of his films “Pizza 2015” was featured in NYIFF in 2010. He won prizes for the best commercial in 2006 year. He worked on numerous projects in Russia and Belarus, shooting short films, commercial and music videos for famous musicians in NYC and Russia. 2014 he worked on a drama “I Arrived”. And at the moment Andrei is in pre-production for the new gangster film about Italian mafia.
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Falling to Pieces
Cassandra had no idea that her husband Eddie had checked the organ donation box on his driver’s license. And when he suddenly died, she was left with nothing but a list of his recipients. Now, before packing up and moving out of their house, Cassandra is determined to meet every one of them. Each encounter proves more disastrous than the last, and as the list grows shorter, so do her odds of finding some kind of meaning in this loss. But if she can’t move on, she might just fall apart.
Falling to Pieces is an 18-minute short film directed by Chris & Vivian Connolly, written by Chris Connolly, and starring Elisabeth Jamison.
Falling to Pieces is an 18-minute short film directed by Chris & Vivian Connolly, written by Chris Connolly, and starring Elisabeth Jamison.
CHRIS CONNOLLY – Writer – Co Director
CHRIS CONNOLLY – Writer / Co-Director / Producer
Falling to Pieces was written, co-directed and produced by Chris Connolly, whose producing credits include independent features Empire (Universal, 2002) and Loverboy (ThinkFilm, 2005), directed by Kevin Bacon and starring Kyra Sedgwick. As a screenwriter, Chris was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival for his feature screenplay Bad Blood, which went on to win the Grand Prize in the Horror category of the Hollywood Screenplay Contest.
VIVIAN CONNOLLY - Co-Director
Born in Mexico City, co-director Vivian Connolly is the co-founder and CEO of Phosphene, a leading visual effects house in New York City. With two Emmy nominations for Mildred Pierce and Boardwalk Empire and a Visual Effects Society Award, Vivian and Phosphene’s credits also include The Knick, Tower Heist, The Bourne Legacy, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Young Adult and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Netflix’s Marco Polo and the upcoming Mr. Holmes starring Ian McKellan, as well as this year’s Sundance favorite Z for Zachariah.
Falling to Pieces was written, co-directed and produced by Chris Connolly, whose producing credits include independent features Empire (Universal, 2002) and Loverboy (ThinkFilm, 2005), directed by Kevin Bacon and starring Kyra Sedgwick. As a screenwriter, Chris was a finalist at the Austin Film Festival for his feature screenplay Bad Blood, which went on to win the Grand Prize in the Horror category of the Hollywood Screenplay Contest.
VIVIAN CONNOLLY - Co-Director
Born in Mexico City, co-director Vivian Connolly is the co-founder and CEO of Phosphene, a leading visual effects house in New York City. With two Emmy nominations for Mildred Pierce and Boardwalk Empire and a Visual Effects Society Award, Vivian and Phosphene’s credits also include The Knick, Tower Heist, The Bourne Legacy, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Young Adult and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Netflix’s Marco Polo and the upcoming Mr. Holmes starring Ian McKellan, as well as this year’s Sundance favorite Z for Zachariah.
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Girl
Kit works as a dancer in a vibrant nightclub, but she has no real connection to the audience, or any man in her life. "Girl" is about a woman's journey into a new world that arouses feelings she never knew she had.
ANDREA SAND GUSTAVSON | WRITER DIRECTOR
Andrea Sand Gustavson was born in Norway the 24.09.90. She has attended the international film college “The European Film College” and studied film science at Stockholm University. After that she moved back to Oslo to write and direct more short films. She is currently in pre production with her sixth short film “I'm so lucky to be me”. Andrea was also the recipient of the New Talent Award for age group 18-22 in NFFTY 2013.
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Impact, A Boxer’s Story
A tragic incident stalled Malagamali’I D’hue’s career in boxing. Impact follows the story of one man’s fight to persevere, and the strength we find in our idols.
KEITH RIVERS – Director
USA
Keith Rivers is a 31-year-old director who grew up in North Bend, WA surrounded by the Cascade Mountains and a family infiltrated into the entertainment industry. Keith prefers the director’s chair, alongside the camera, working closely with actors, nurturing story inside the edit room and creating music in his recording studio. In only a few years, Rivers has built a portfolio that most do over an entire career, working for brands such as Microsoft, Chevrolet, Alaska Airlines, Tesla, Hershey’s, Taco Bell, and Volvo as well as inadvertently starting Workhouse Creative, a soup-to-nuts creative house in Seattle, representing a core group of talented directors, as well as conceptualizing a 350 million dollar global marketing campaign for Internet Explorer, a music synchronization deal for Alex Clare that begot him a triple platinum award. Rivers also created the instantly viral Surface commercial for Microsoft, which received 8 million views and won a Gold ADDY award. When he’s not working on innovative marketing campaigns or customized branded content, he’s traveling with non-profit organizations to places like Zambia, Bangladesh, the Amazon, and Senegal, developing humanitarian stories involving education, children, and culture. As a hobby, Rivers is a singer and songwriter, currently producing his third music album.
Assil and Jad
Assil and Jad, a married couple in their early thirties, observe their next door neighbors having sex through their bedroom window. They watch them as they eat their dinner and comment on the scene before them. The comments soon turn into an argument and the couple wounds up discussing their own sexual mishaps. Tit for tat, the argument explodes into a fight.
Bane Fakih – Writer- Director
Lebanon
Born in September 1992, in Beirut, Lebanon, Bane obtained a degree in Audio Visual Studies from the Saint-Joseph University of Beirut in May 2014. She wrote and directed “Assil and Jad” in which unfolds an intimate confrontation between a man and his wife. The short film participated in several film festivals and won the award for the best short movie at the European Film Festival of Beirut.
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Snake With a Human Tail
A disturbed rape victim changes his identity and gender to get the ultimate revenge on the deranged priest who ruined his life.
SPENCER GRAY – Writer – Director
USA
Born in Dallas and raised in Texarkana, Spencer Gray had always envisioned that he would write and direct horror films. After nearly 15 years in broadcasting, Gray got his feet wet in film and television as an associate producer, MUFX artist and assistant director.
He cut his teeth on commercial shoots such as Pepsi and the hit show Walker Texas Ranger. In the off season, he produced and directed local theater and independent film projects in Texas. In the following years he worked on the Special FX crew of William Butler's horror film Furnace starring Ja Rule, Danny Trejo, Tom Sizemore, and Michael Pare.
He also has a small role in the film. Immediately following Furnace, Spencer wrote and directed a segment of The Sick starring Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), his first feature.
Gray is also a seasoned boxing veteran and MMA enthusiast, having recently been the sparring partner of 4 Time World Kickboxing Champion Scott “Conan” Mincey and Martial Arts Master Richard O. Ryan who stars in Gray’s next feature Left Hand Lords. He is also publishing his first book this year called The Misfit Words, available soon through Amazon.
He cut his teeth on commercial shoots such as Pepsi and the hit show Walker Texas Ranger. In the off season, he produced and directed local theater and independent film projects in Texas. In the following years he worked on the Special FX crew of William Butler's horror film Furnace starring Ja Rule, Danny Trejo, Tom Sizemore, and Michael Pare.
He also has a small role in the film. Immediately following Furnace, Spencer wrote and directed a segment of The Sick starring Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), his first feature.
Gray is also a seasoned boxing veteran and MMA enthusiast, having recently been the sparring partner of 4 Time World Kickboxing Champion Scott “Conan” Mincey and Martial Arts Master Richard O. Ryan who stars in Gray’s next feature Left Hand Lords. He is also publishing his first book this year called The Misfit Words, available soon through Amazon.
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NORTH AMERICA PREMIERE
Mary & Louise
Mary and Louise, (RT:16:44), based on the fictional friendship of silent film goddesses, Mary Pickford, (Americas Sweetheart) and Louise Brooks (The Iconic Vamp). After the Talkie World explodes on the Hollywood scene, Mary and Louise find themselves suddenly out of work when they have a disastrous experience on the set of their first Talkie.
With no job prospects in sight they decide to move in together to an apartment in Brooklyn. Seemingly stuck in her role as America’s sweetheart, and still living as though in a silent film, Mary’s resentment of Louise’s provocative antics goes politely unspoken until threatened with the loss of her one true love Mary must face her fears and expose the unused voice inside her if she is ever to get what she wants.
A comedy with a twist, Mary and Louise explores the ups and downs of sisterhood and the challenge two women face finding their voices within the din of great personal and technological change.
With no job prospects in sight they decide to move in together to an apartment in Brooklyn. Seemingly stuck in her role as America’s sweetheart, and still living as though in a silent film, Mary’s resentment of Louise’s provocative antics goes politely unspoken until threatened with the loss of her one true love Mary must face her fears and expose the unused voice inside her if she is ever to get what she wants.
A comedy with a twist, Mary and Louise explores the ups and downs of sisterhood and the challenge two women face finding their voices within the din of great personal and technological change.
ABIGAIL ZEALEY BESS – Director
USA
Abigail is an award winning Film maker and Theatre Director. Her debut film, baseball trilogy: Play Ball! (Fanfare for A Common Man, Random Acts of Intimacy, Caught in Time) screened throughout the globe including the Berlin Film Festival, Cannes Director Fortnight, and at over 40 USA festivals. In addition to garnering Best Film at seven USA festivals, she was awarded 1st Prize for Best Short Film by woman director at the LA Women In Film Competition.
Her company, Weird Sisters specializes in developing theatrical and feature film projects. Directing Projects include the ongoing webisode series, Here’s what I Like and Now I’ll tell you Why by Amy Staats (LA Comedy Shorts 2010, 2011,Trimedia Film Festival 2011, Garden State Film Festival, Winter Film Awards, Brooklyn Girl Film Festival, Chashama Film Festival).
As a long-standing member of Ensemble Studio Theatre, one of the leading developmental theatres of new plays in the USA, she specializes in directing and developing new work.
Recent projects include the award winning script Mary and Louise by Amy Staats currently on the film festival circuit, (Best Short film screenplay LA FF, Official Selection includes NYCIFF, Maine IFF, Accolade Award Competition Special Merit) And Icarus Stops For Breakfast, a magical love story currently in post She is on the Faculty for the Graduate Film Program at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University and is represented by Linda Weaver at Access Talent.
Her company, Weird Sisters specializes in developing theatrical and feature film projects. Directing Projects include the ongoing webisode series, Here’s what I Like and Now I’ll tell you Why by Amy Staats (LA Comedy Shorts 2010, 2011,Trimedia Film Festival 2011, Garden State Film Festival, Winter Film Awards, Brooklyn Girl Film Festival, Chashama Film Festival).
As a long-standing member of Ensemble Studio Theatre, one of the leading developmental theatres of new plays in the USA, she specializes in directing and developing new work.
Recent projects include the award winning script Mary and Louise by Amy Staats currently on the film festival circuit, (Best Short film screenplay LA FF, Official Selection includes NYCIFF, Maine IFF, Accolade Award Competition Special Merit) And Icarus Stops For Breakfast, a magical love story currently in post She is on the Faculty for the Graduate Film Program at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University and is represented by Linda Weaver at Access Talent.
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The Wind and the Boat
Samurai dramatic love story.
On the bridge, the family of black hair has fought against the family of white hair every day.
Under the bridge, Hayate Kuroda, a boy with black hair met Miyuki Shirai, a girl with white hair. They grew up together….
On the bridge, the family of black hair has fought against the family of white hair every day.
Under the bridge, Hayate Kuroda, a boy with black hair met Miyuki Shirai, a girl with white hair. They grew up together….
KIYOSHI KURAHARA – Writer – Co Director
JAPAN
Kiyoshi was born in Fukuoka, Japan on May 28, 1985 and graduated from Tokyo Film Center School of Arts (FC TOKYO).
He has been working as a projectionist at a movie theater for eight years since age 18. When he was 21 years old, he launched his short film production of “A Stone of the Sun,” and it won the “Best Short Film Award / the Kawaguchi Citizen's Award” at SKIP City International D-Cinema Film Festival as well as many other awards including the “Annual Best Film Award” at FC TOKYO. By showing characters and landscapes entirely in silhouette, Kiyoshi has achieved a unique and fantastic look in this live-action short. “A Stone of the Sun” was invited to the competition at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, which is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Also, it received the “Best International Fantasy Short Film Award” at the New York International Independent Film Festival 2009. "A Stone of the Sun" is selling on iTunes.
Kiyoshi was invited to the annual pitch festival organized by a film studio in Kyoto for three consecutive years, and since then he has been working on his feature film ideas. “B/W Foxes and the Cave of Light” is a prototype of one of his projects, and it was selected by the Montreal World Film Festival 2012 to be in the Focus on World Cinema selection. 2013, Kiyoshi built his company, KIYOSHI KURAHARA STUDIO Inc.
Currently, Kiyoshi is working on his first feature film and creative projects.
He has been working as a projectionist at a movie theater for eight years since age 18. When he was 21 years old, he launched his short film production of “A Stone of the Sun,” and it won the “Best Short Film Award / the Kawaguchi Citizen's Award” at SKIP City International D-Cinema Film Festival as well as many other awards including the “Annual Best Film Award” at FC TOKYO. By showing characters and landscapes entirely in silhouette, Kiyoshi has achieved a unique and fantastic look in this live-action short. “A Stone of the Sun” was invited to the competition at the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, which is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Also, it received the “Best International Fantasy Short Film Award” at the New York International Independent Film Festival 2009. "A Stone of the Sun" is selling on iTunes.
Kiyoshi was invited to the annual pitch festival organized by a film studio in Kyoto for three consecutive years, and since then he has been working on his feature film ideas. “B/W Foxes and the Cave of Light” is a prototype of one of his projects, and it was selected by the Montreal World Film Festival 2012 to be in the Focus on World Cinema selection. 2013, Kiyoshi built his company, KIYOSHI KURAHARA STUDIO Inc.
Currently, Kiyoshi is working on his first feature film and creative projects.
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The Present
Jake spends most of his time playing video games indoors until his mom decides to give him a present.
JACOB FREY – Director
GERMANY
Jacob Frey graduated from the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg in Animation in 2014. During his studies he decided early on to specialize in character animation and directing and helped animating on several projects at the Filmakademie. In addition he directed four shorts himelf, inter alia "BOB" which was running worldwide on over 250 festivals.
In 2011 Jacob took one year of from university, to gain international experience and worked for Psyop in Los Angeles as an animator. Coming back to Germany he started working on his final thesis script and animated on the Oscar nominated short "Room on the Broom" at Studio Soi.
After that he fully concentrated on creating his final project "The Present" at the Filmakademie, which he finished in early 2014.
In 2011 Jacob took one year of from university, to gain international experience and worked for Psyop in Los Angeles as an animator. Coming back to Germany he started working on his final thesis script and animated on the Oscar nominated short "Room on the Broom" at Studio Soi.
After that he fully concentrated on creating his final project "The Present" at the Filmakademie, which he finished in early 2014.
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El Mago
A young pianist feeling that she has not reached her full potential as an artist seeks the help of a mysterious but charming young man 'El Mago'. The encounter changes her life forever.
DAVID LIZ – Director
USA
Began to pursue his love for film at Miami-Dade College, however he had been making short videos with the family camcorder and his computer since the age of eleven. While still a student, David began working as an actor in various Miami based television and film productions. His career as an actor was taking off, but he decided to pursue a more in-depth education in the art of filmmaking and production. He was accepted into the extremely prestigious and furiously competitive Florida State University Film school. This in itself was a great achievement, being that they only accept 5 transfer student a year. David was graduated in December 2010, and since has been receiving much acclaim for his thesis film, entitled LUZ, which has won him multiple awards including The DGA short film award, 1st place Palm beach film commission award, and the Rochester film festival award. In the past few years David Liz has become Miami's Top Filmmaker, working on projects ranging from commercials, music videos, and films. David has now worked on over 100 films and documentaries, and over 50 commercials and music videos. His goal is to form a career in writing and directing of feature films and video content that reach wide audiences and deliver a message, in hopes of inspiring, moving, and thrilling viewers all over the world.
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My Favorite Things
CHRIS PHILLIPS – Director
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Froggy Ass
ELIOTT DE GASTINES – Director
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It Takes Two Hands To Clap
A group of folk musicians from Pakistan visit small towns in America as part of a larger muslim cultural engagement project.
NADYA SHAH – Director
PAKISTAN
Nadya Shah is a Pakistani-American documentary filmmaker.
Socially conscious storytelling has always been her motivating force. Her film "Neither Coal Nor Ashes" documents women being burnt to death in the Punjab. This was screened at the Human Rights Film Festival in NYC and at the Women Directors from South Asia Film Festival. This is part of her ongoing work of looking at the intersection of gender, culture and identity.
Socially conscious storytelling has always been her motivating force. Her film "Neither Coal Nor Ashes" documents women being burnt to death in the Punjab. This was screened at the Human Rights Film Festival in NYC and at the Women Directors from South Asia Film Festival. This is part of her ongoing work of looking at the intersection of gender, culture and identity.
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An Addiction
JEFFREY FROST – Writer – Director
USA
Jeffrey Frost is the Writer and Director of An Addiction. Wanting to tell stories since childhood, Jeffrey found his passion in filmmaking. Showing intrest in every facet of the industry, it has been rare that he has not been working on something over the years, from plotting feature length scripts, to shooting music videos in his backyard, to editing short film projects. This film is the culmination of his young experience. He is currently enrolled in Emerson College’s Visual Media Arts program.
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NEW YORK PREMIERE
Effloresce
Following a miscarriage and broken engagement, Amelia makes an unorthodox decision to move in next door to her ex, testing her theory that love can be re-purposed, but is not disposable ... her experiment is met with considerable challenges.
KATHLEEN DAVISON – Writer – Director
USA
Kathleen Davison is a writer/producer/director/actor with two award-winning films currently touring the 2015 festival circuit, her directorial debut short film, Effloresce, and her first feature, Primrose Lane. Primrose Lane aims to continue as the episodic series, The Passage, with Davison at the helm. Additional experience and honors include twice being awarded the role of director for Women In Film produced public service announcements. Kathleen apprenticed with Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Frank Darabont. She is an alumna of the Sundance Institute and holds a BA degree in theater from Penn State University.
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Lazarus
A visit to an underground record store in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn teaches a teenage kid about his neighborhood, music, and how to be a man.
KATE CORTESI – Writer – Director
USA
Kate Cortesi (Writer/Director) is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and playwright. As a screenwriter, she has written for Heroes and Villains Entertainment, Rickard Pictures, Cavalier Films, and Parti Productions. As a playwright, her work has been produced or developed by New Dramatists, Premiere Stages, terraNOVA Collective, The Lark Play Development Center, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She was head writer of Columbia University's 107th Annual Varsity Show. Kate is currently the 2014 Princess Grace Playwriting Fellow and a one-year resident at New Dramatists in New York City.
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RED CARPET
In Roseria, the Land of Glory, the King’s mistress’ daughter Anna is chosen
over Yuna, the Queen's daughter, as heiress. As Anna plans to give up the
crown and flee with her lover, the vengeful Yuna schemes. A tale of two
princesses’ love and tragedy
Yoshiki Nakazawa – Writer – Director | Japan
Director's biography:
His quest for visual beauty stem from his experience photographing landscapes and
people while traveling around the world. After his return to Japan, he debuted as a television
drama director and gained further experience directing MVs. Seeking realism, he honed his
skills in the world of journalism, and in 2011, started working as a movie director. He directed
Red Carpet, a short movie of a dark-fantasy musical, gathering 150 professionals, including
leading creators of various fields.
Director's filmography:
【Director】
「KOREKARA…」(TV Drama)
「SHINSOUHOUDOU BANKISHA」(TV News Program)
「SONO TE WO」(Music Video)
Etc…
【Screen Play】
「INPEI SOUSA」(TV Drama)
「WHITE LABO」(TV Drama)
「SHUDEN BYE BYE」(TV Drama)
Etc