LA’s Rich & Successful Film Festival (RSFF) returns for its 3rd edition with a highly curated lineup of 13 short films, spanning several genres, all helmed by Los Angeles-based filmmakers.
RSFF will run September 20-21, 2024 and for the first time, will take place at Los Angeles’ historic Egyptian Theatre (6712 Hollywood Blvd.).
Making its world premiere at RSFF will be Maky Rupert’s Peas, a coming-of-age story about a young girl seeing her mother go on a date for the first time since her father’s death. An Nguyen’s Thru The Wire will make its North American Premiere when it screens at the Egyptian Theater. The film follows a chronically online and socially inept teenager as she meets up with her online bestie for the first time.
Other short films highlighting promising filmmakers include Tennis, Oranges, directed by award-winning stop motion animator Sean Pecknold; Rat!, a genre bending horror-comedy from Neal Suresh Mulani starring Caitlin Reilly and Tyler Joseph Ellis; Jackie! Zhou’s Order For Pickup, developed through Hillman Grad’s ‘Rising Voices’ initiative that depicts burnout through a surrealist lens; Creating Things, a heartfelt documentary from brothers Bryan and Taylor Simpson that explores the legacy of their father through his art; and Stephanie Kaznocha’s award-winning Confessions, a heartfelt comedy following two nuns who ponder what their futures hold.
RSFF Festival Directors Nir Liebenthal, Noah Morse, Jeremy Roth-Rose, Dylan Trupiano, and Page Brady said, “As we head into our 3rd year, we’re excited to add new opportunities to RSFF’s programming—including skill development workshops, live entertainment, and new spaces to connect with other filmmakers. Providing thoughtful education and resources to our community is extremely important to us, and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase these 13 short films in such an iconic film establishment at the Egyptian Theatre.”
Additional workshops and events will be held on September 19-20 as part of the festival’s program and directive to assist in the discovery, development, and promotion of upcoming filmmakers who make their home in the heart of Hollywood.
This year’s edition of RSFF jury will include Festival Directors Page Brady, Nir Liebenthal, Noah Morse, Jeremy Roth-Rose, Dylan Trupiano, Producer, and former Sundance programmer DaManuel Richardson, Slamdance award-winning director Yuchi Ma, RSFF 2 alumni Tiffany Lin, Producer and former Slamdance programmer Jake Rotger, and Imani Davis on behalf of the American Cinematheque.
LA’s Rich & Successful Film Festival 3 (RSFF 3) is presented by Topcat Management, and co-presented by sogbots and the American Cinematheque.
2024 Rich & Successful Film Festival Official Selections
Baggage
Director: Tim Hendrix
Country: USA, Running Time: 13:27 min
In a universe where everyone brings their baggage to their first date, a blind date goes awry.
Confessions
Director: Stephanie Kaznocha
Country: USA, Running Time: 11:07 min
After the death of a friend, two nuns in their golden years contemplate what their future holds. One confession leads to another and before they know it, they’re embarking on an adventure.
Creating Things
Directors: Bryan Simpson, Taylor Simpson
Country: USA, Running Time: 10:20 min
Two brothers use interview fragments, pieces of art, and various family mementos to explore the legacy of their father and what he left behind.
Half-Light
Director: Lauren Jevnikar
Country: USA, Running Time: 13:25 min
A couple debates having unprotected car sex late at night.
The Jennifer Meyers Story
Director: Caroline Symons
Country: USA, Running Time: 12:21 min
A mock true-crime episode covers the 1988 disappearance of a fictional teenager named Jennifer Meyers, but the reenactments are acted out with crudely made mini models. As the episode progresses, we learn more about the woman constructing and operating the reenactment mini models and the danger lurking in her one-bedroom apartment.
Order for Pickup
Director: Jackie! Zhou
Country: USA, Running Time: 12:30 min
Trapped in a cycle of work and self-isolation, burnt out Kelsey’s reality starts to blur until an irregular order for pickup disrupts everything.
Peas World Premiere
Director: Maky Rupert
Country: USA, Running Time: 12:06 min
A drolly coming-of-age story following a young girl as she witnesses her mother go on a date for the first time since her father’s death.
Rat!
Director: Neal Suresh Mulani
Country: USA; Running Time: 16:48 minutes
When a chronically online music journalist encounters a global pop star’s latest effort at queerbaiting, he seizes the moment, turns on his camera, and expresses some choice words for the vapid musician and their fans. But as his social capital rises and the internet is set ablaze, he unknowingly traces a bold-faced arrowhead to his front doorstep, where the pop star’s overzealous fans show up to wreak havoc and seek retribution.
Still Life
Director: Connor Griffith
Country: USA, Running Time: 6:52 min
Composed of over 1000 engravings from the 18th-19th century, Still Life is a meditation on objectivity and meaning. The film explores the idea that we live in a world of objects and a world of objects lives within us.
The Swimmer
Director: Máté Boegi
Country: Denmark/USA, Running Time: 16:17 min
When a sound-recordist brings his girlfriend on a trip to the Danish west coast to record atmospheres, he picks up a disturbing sound that begins to torment his conscience.
Thru The Wire North American Premiere
Director: An Nguyen
Country: Vietnam/USA, Running Time: 15:52 min
A chronically online and socially inept teenager takes a leap of faith to meet up with her online bestie for the first time.
Tennis, Oranges
Director: Sean Pecknold
Country: USA, Running Time: 10:53 min
A robotic vacuum suffering from burnout quits its job at a hospital and sets out to find community and a greater purpose on a quiet street where two lonely rabbits are stuck in perpetual loops.
VOCÊ MEANS YOU
Director: Mahyar Mandegar
Country: USA, Running Time: 3:18 min
In the midst of an ordinary skatepark afternoon, Reza’s world transforms as he embarks on the first steps of what could be a beautiful journey, all set in motion by an awaited encounter.