• Watch New Trailer for Indie Film ReRUN Starring Christopher Lloyd

    ReRun Stonestreet Studios released the new trailer for the independent film ReRun starring Christopher Lloyd of Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  ReRun, directed by Alyssa Rallo Bennett and written by Gary O. Bennett of Stonestreet Studios, premiered last week ]at the Woodstock Film Festival. In a modern day twist on ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’, George Benson, played by Christopher Lloyd is haunted by tragedy, the loss of Violet, the ‘wayward girl’ who he had a soft heart for, due to an accident he may have been able to prevent. Humoring what he thinks is the youthful imagination of his grandson, George stumbles into an invisible portal hiding in his closet. Falling ‘to the other side’ into his younger body, he is able to face his conflicts and troubles with new light along with a temptation to try to change the past or possibly re-envision it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCblxZMNOv8

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  • Hawaii International Film Festival Announces 2018 Lineup, Opens with Zhang Yimou’s SHADOW

    [caption id="attachment_32166" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Shadow, Zhang Yimou Shadow, Zhang Yimou[/caption] The 38th edition of the Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) will present 187 films from over 35 countries, from November 8 through November 18, 2018.  The festival will open with highly anticipated new film from Zhang Yimou (House of Flying Daggers; Hero; Curse of the Golden Flower), Shadow, which stars Chao Deng (The Mermaid; Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame), Li Sun (Fearless; Empresses in the Palace), and Ryan Zheng (The Great Wall; Back in Time), is based storied the “Three Kingdoms” Chinese legend. Shadow had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, where audiences were wowed by Zhang’s masterful direction of this unique action-epic. HIFF’s Closing Night Presentation will be the world premiere of Moananuiākea: One Ocean. One People. One Canoe, directed by Na’alehu Anthony. This documentary looks at the latest worldwide voyage of Hōkūleʻa, four decades after its maiden voyage sparked the Hawaiian Renaissance and continues to inspire a new generation of navigators and voyagers to gather their courage and sail beyond the horizon of the Pacific. This year’s Centerpiece Presentation is Green Book, which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival; where it won the coveted TIFF 2018 People’s Choice Award, an early barometer of being an Oscars favorite. The drama, follows Tony Lip (Viggo Mortensen), a bouncer from the Bronx, is hired to drive Dr. Don Shirley (Oscar winner Mahershala Ali), a world-class Black pianist, on a concert tour from Manhattan to the Deep South, they must rely on “The Green Book” to guide them to the few establishments that are safe for African Americans. Green Book won the coveted Audience Award at the recent Toronto Film Festival. Produced by Jim Burke (The Descendants, HIFF 2012), who will be in attendance at HIFF, and directed by Peter Farrelly (There’s Something About Mary), Green Book infuses heartfelt drama in an unlikely friendship that stood the test of time. HIFF audiences will critically acclaimed titles in the Awards Buzz section; which presents high profile films straight from major festivals like Cannes, Venice, Toronto and more. These must-see films are major players in the awards season, including: the Mexican drama Roma, directed Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity); If Beale Street Could Talk, directed by Barry Jenkins (Moonlight); Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s (A Separation) Spain-set thriller Everybody Knows starring Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz; and Natalie Portman’s new film Vox Lux, directed by Brady Corbet. This year HIFF presents a special spotlight on world renowned auteur Wong Kar-wai with the Filmmaker in Focus series. HIFF is proud to present In The Mood For Love (2000), Happy Together (1997), and Chungking Express (1994). A special extended Q&A with Director Wong Kar Wai will follow the screening of Chungking Express. In Special Presentations, HIFF will present the West Coast premiere of Wake, a comedy/drama directed by Cyrus Mirakhor. Wake follows a widowed mortician, struggling with agoraphobia, who receives a birthday gift from her mother and daughter as a joke. The gift, a life-size male doll named Pedro, goes from funny to fantastical, complicating her ties with her family and friends.  Wake stars James Denton (TV Series Good Witch), Caroline Lagerfelt (TV Series The Blacklist), and features the acting debut of Filipino-American stand-up comedian, Jo Koy. The popular comedian will attend the screening, and join director Mirakhor for the post-screening Q&A. The always popular Sound x Vision category offers must-see films for music fans and cinephiles. HIFF will host the North American premiere of The Legend of the Stardust Brothers, directed by Macoto Tezuka. This fascinating musical narrative, made in 1985, begins when Macoto Tezuka (son of the great manga artist Osamu Tezuka) met musician and TV personality Haruo Chicada who had made a soundtrack to a movie which didn’t actually exist: The Legend of the Stardust Brothers. With Chicada as producer, Tezuka then adapted this “fake soundtrack” into the real movie story of “The Stardust Brothers”. Tezuka assembled a cast of some of Japan’s most famous musicians of the time, including such greats as Kiyohiko Ozaki, ISSAY, Sunplaza Nakano and Hiroshi Takano, alongside many famous names in Manga such as Monkey Punch (Lupin the 3rd), Shinji Nagashima (Hanaichi Monme), Yosuke Takahashi (Mugen Shinsi) and even many upcoming film directors of the time such as Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Tokyo Sonata) and Daihachi Yoshida (The Kirishima Thing). The resulting film The Legend of the Stardust Brothers is the exact definition of a cult film. Despite the huge array of talent on board with a large budget, the film is totally unknown even to this day in both Japan and worldwide. More than 30 years since its release, The Stardust Brothers will finally make itself known worldwide with a new master and a brand new Director’s Cut. For the first time, the festival will present the HIFF VR Lounge; bringing together a selection of exciting contemporary Virtual Reality projects from around the world to SALT At Our Kakaako. Free and open to the public November 10th through 12th, the HIFF VR Lounge will feature virtual reality technologies bring us closer to the action than ever before, face-to-face with some of the most vital issues and stories in the world today. Audiences can visit the lounge and experience: Age Of Sail (Dir.: John Kahrs), Chasing Coral: The VR Experience (Dir.: Jeff Orlowski), Finding Haka (Dir.: James Hedley) and Songbird (Dir.: Lucy Greenwell).

    Additional highlights at the 2018 Hawaii International Film Festival

    The world premiere of Eating Up Easter Island (Chile, United States), directed by Sergio M. Rapu. This documentary reveals the nuance of life on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and straddles the fault line between local identity and the opportunities presented by globalism. As the local economy is subjugated by the demands of tourism, locals must contend with the contrasting expectations of indigenous culture and Western industrial capitalism amidst the fear that old practices are not valued or protected unless performed for visitors. Eating Up Easter Island screens as part of the Pacific Showcase lineup. Maui’s Hook (New Zealand), a documentary feature directed Paora Te Oti Takarangi Joseph, is one of the most original and stirring films released this year. Psychologist and filmmaker Paora Joseph journeys New Zealand’s North Island with families who lost someone close to them to suicide. Seamlessly combining scripted narrative sections with interviews of five brave families mourning the loss of a loved one, Joseph blurs the divide between documentary and drama to make a profound statement about suicide and the people left behind. This will be the film’s International Premiere. Shoplifters (Japan), directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, is Japan’s official submission for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2019 Academy Awards. This Cannes Palme d’Or winner tells the story of a poor family who, after a shoplifting run, find a little girl freezing in the cold. Although initially reluctant, they welcome her into their home. Though happy together, an unforeseen incident begins to unravel hidden secrets and test the bonds that unite them. From Palme d’Or-winning director Hirokazu Kore-eda, Shoplifters tells a breathtaking story of family and love told across four seasons on the streets of contemporary Tokyo. The International Premiere of Still Human (Hong Kong), a drama directed by Oliver Siu Kuen Chan, explores the world of paralyzed and disgruntled Cheong-wing (Anthony Wong), who has gone through quite a few caretakers. When he gets new Filipino domestic helper, Evelyn (Crisel Consunji), they both realize that Evelyn does not speak a word of Cantonese. Somehow as the unlikely duo begin to warm up to each other, a bond forms that may transcend stereotypes and change them both in ways they never imagined. In Southeast Asian Showcase, HIFF presents the North American Premiere of Memories of My Body. This drama for Indonesia, directed by Garin Nugroho, follows Juno; a child who was recently abandoned by his father.. Alone now, he joins a dance center where men shape their feminine appearance and movement. But the sensuality and sexuality that come from dance and bodies, mixed with the violent social and political Indonesian environment, force Juno to move from village to village. Even if on his journey Juno receives love from his those around him, he still has to face the battlefield that his body is becoming. The United States Premiere of Sink or Swim (France), directed by Gille Lellouche. This hilarious crowd-pleaser, which world premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, follows a group of 40-something guys, all on the verge of a mid-life crisis, decide to form their local pool’s first ever synchronized swimming team – for men. Braving the skepticism and ridicule of those around them, and trained by a fallen champion trying to pull herself together, the group set out on an unlikely adventure, and on the way will rediscover a little self-esteem and a lot about themselves. Sink or Swim will screen as part of the European Showcase lineup. The United States Premiere of The Witch (South Korea), directed by Park Hoon-jung, is a Sci-Fi thriller set in rural South Korea, where a young girl flees a government facility. 10 years later a now teenage Ja-yoon has no recollection of her past, and knows only the elderly couple who have taken her is as her parents. But soon Ja-yoon discovers that she has some incredible talents, she is so talented in fact that she lands on national television. However shortly after her appearance, ominous figures show up, threatening to turn her peaceful life upside down. The Witch will screen as part of the Spotlight On Korea lineup HIFF welcomes Harry Shum Jr. Shum, who has won a Screen Actors Guild award for his performance on Glee, numerous awards and accolades for his role on Shadowhunters, and most recently has appeared on the blockbuster hit Crazy Rich Asians, will be part of the Future Filmmaker Luncheon and Panel. The panel, which will take at WaiWai Collective, will also be a destination for the student filmmaker finalists in the new short film contest presented by HIFF in partnership with the Daniel K. Inouye Institute. The partnership, launched in June, encouraged middle and high school students statewide to create films inspired by Senator Inouye’s historic speech at the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

    2018 Hawaii International Film Festival Honorees

    Ever year, HIFF hosts a prestigious awards ceremony to honor the competition titles at the fest and to celebrate luminaries in the filmmaking community. Past recipients include: Taika Waititi, Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Samuel L Jackson, Ang Lee, Maggie Cheung, Koji Yakusho. HIFF is proud to bestow awards on this year’s honorees. The Halekulani Maverick Award is given to an international cinema artist who has a unique and eclectic career trajectory, contributing to international cinema and the filmed arts in an innovative way. This year, HIFF will present the award to present to actor/producer Steven Yeun (Okja; TV series The Walking Dead; Burning, South Korea’s official entry to Oscars foreign language category). The Halekulani Maverick Award will also be presented to Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians; Ocean’s Eight). During the festival, Awkwafina will participate in an exclusive and intimate conversation about her career. IN CONVERSATION WITH AWKWAFINA, the wildly popular rapper turned actress, will discuss her humble beginnings in Queens, NY, and her stratospheric rise from working in a vegan bodega to hosting Saturday Night Live. The PIC Trailblazer Award is given to a cinema artist of Pacific Islander heritage who broadens the scope of Pacific Islander stories onto the world stage, producing award winning work in independent and global cinema, becoming a trendsetter in their field and a cultural ambassador that shines a spotlight on Pacific islander culture in mainstream media. This year HIFF will honor Heperi Mita as the current torchbearer for his mother Merata Mita’s legacy and work. Heperi continues to be a beacon for Maori and indigenous filmmakers and media, as a both a filmmaker and archivist, perpetuating this legacy for generations to come. The Halekulani Career Achievement Award is bestowed to an artist who has reached the career pinnacles very few have achieved via industry awards and accolades and a body of work that is known globally. This year HIFF is proud to present the Halekulani Career Achievement Award to actress Moon So-ri (Oasis; A Good Lawyer’s Wife). During the festival audiences can watch Moon So-ri’s directorial debut, The Running Actress.

    Made In Hawaii Feature Film Award Nominees:

    This year’s competition lineup continues to amplify the voice of local filmmakers. The Made In Hawaii competition film awards celebrate the dynamic and flourishing local independent film scene that strives onward here in the Hawaiian Islands. Fiction, Non-fiction and short films that are made by locally-based filmmakers or involve locally-based stories are eligible for the following awards—Best Made In Hawaii Feature and Best Made In Hawaii Short Film. This year’s competition films are: August At Akiko’s – This narrative feature, directed by Christopher Makoto Yogi, features cosmopolitan musician Alex Zhang Hungtai (Dirty Beaches, Last Lizard), who returns home to the Big Island having been away for nearly a decade. Amidst possessed sax solos and brooding strolls, Alex stumbles upon a Buddhist bed & breakfast run by a woman named Akiko (Akiko Masuda). Hungtai’s wild sax and Akiko’s Buddhist bells form the base for a rich soundtrack that wraps around the audience like a sonic web surrounding the unexpected new friendship. Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable – This documentary feature directed by Aaron Lieber, is the untold story of the fearless athlete and her resilience against all odds to become one of the leading professional surfers of our time. Moananuiākea: One Ocean. On People. One Canoe – This documentary feature, directed by Na’alehu Anthony, looks at the latest worldwide voyage of Hōkūleʻa, four decades after its maiden voyage sparked the Hawaiian Renaissance and continues to inspire a new generation of navigators and voyagers to gather their courage and sail beyond the horizon of the Pacific. My Hero’s Shadow – A biographical documentary directed by Justin Young, begins when Shane Stant made international news when he struck Nancy Kerrigan’s knee the day before the 1994 US National Figure Skating Championships. He’s a different man today, but still has to deal with memories of his mistakes. Told by Stant’s sister Maile, MY HERO’S SHADOW is a compassionate look at trauma, poor choices and the redemptive value of family. Stoke – Directed by Zoe Eisenberg and Phillips Payson, this narrative feature Jane is an attorney based in Los Angeles and she’s clinically depressed. While channel flipping, she sees footage of Kilauea in full eruption. She buys a one-way ticket to the Big Island, and along the way, runs into two local guys who sell themselves as tour guides. What transpires is a road movie that captures some of the unique sub-cultures of Hawaii Island from hippie enclaves, and spiritual sanctuaries, to Native Hawaiians trying to make ends meet, and midnight ravers looking for their next hit. T-Shirt Theatre Presents: Kipuka – This documentary feature directed by Jeremiah Tayao, chronicles the work of the students in the company, as they address bullying, cyberbullying, and teen suicide prevention, all written and performed by the students (aged 13-18). Their 2017-2018 performance of “Kīpuka” – an oasis in a lava field – is reflective of the T-Shirt Theatre mantra that one smile, one word, one friend can make all the difference for someone in turmoil and contemplating tough decisions.

    Made In Hawaii Short Film Award Nominees:

    Mauka to Makai – Directors: Alika Maikau and Jonah Okano Hae Hawaii – Director: Ty Sanga Kalewa – Director: Gerard Elmore Kaumakaiwa – Director: Bradley Tangonan The Moon and the Night – Director: Erin Lau Shoreline (‘Ae Kai) – Director: Brandi Martin. Six Hundred Lux – Director: Koa San Luis Surfing To Cope – Director: Katie Walsh This and Nothing Else: Red Bull Wa’a – Directors.: Marc Levy, Justin Mitchell, Marc

    Kau Ka Hōkū Filmmaker Award nominees :

    HIFF was an annual stop for the Pulitzer winning film critic Roger Ebert, who hailed the festival as “a showcase for emerging filmmakers from the Asia and Pacific Rim.”. This year, HIFF will launch the Kau Ka Hōkū Filmmaker Award, which will be given to emerging directors with their 1st or 2nd feature film. Both fiction and non-fiction feature films will be nominated by the festival programmers and adjudicated by an international jury. August At Akiko’s – Director: Christopher Makoto Yogi Grit – Directors: Sasha Friedlander, Cynthia Wade House of My Fathers – Director: Suba Sivakumaran The Hungry Lion – Director: Takaomi Ogata Last Child – Director: Shin Dong-Seok Leiti’s In Waiting– Directors: Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu Maui’s Hook – Director: Paora Te Oti Takarangi Joseph People’s Republic of Desire – Director: Hao Wu The Third Wife – Director: Ash Mayfair Transmilitary – DIrectors: Fiona Dawson, Gabe Silverman

    NETPAC award nominees

    The NETPAC award is presented annually at international film festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Rotterdam, Pusan, Singapore, Taiwan, Yamagata, Amiens and Hawaii. HIFF is the only film festival in North America granted the distinguished honor of presenting the NETPAC award. This year’s NETPAC nominees are: Adulthood (South Korea) – Director: In-seon Kim Emu Runner (Australia) – Director: Imogen Thomas Gatao: The Rise of the King (Taiwan) – Director: Yen Cheng-Kuo House of My Fathers (Sri Lanka) – Director: Suba Sivakumaran Last Child (South Korea) – Director.: Shin Dong-Seok Long Time No Sea (Taiwan ROC) – Director: Heather Tsui Sir (India) – Director: Rohena Gera Song Lang (Vietnam) – Director: Leon Le Still Human (Hong Kong) – Director: Oliver Siu, Kuen Chan Wrath of Silence (China) – Director: Yukun Xin

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  • Indie Film WEIGHTLESS Starring Johnny Knoxville Sets November Release Date

    Weightless Alessandro Nivola, Julianne Nicholson, and Johnny Knoxville star in Weightless, described as the haunting drama of a man, living on the margins of society, who suddenly finds himself responsible for a ten year-old son whom he hasn’t seen since infancy.  An alienated loner who can barely take care of himself, he struggles to forge a relationship with this lonely, at-risk child. Weightless will open theatrically in New York (Village East) and Los Angeles (Arena Cinelounge Sunset ) on Friday, November 9. Weightless Canadian director Jaron Albertin is a celebrated talent in the video and commercial world. In 2015, year he won the most prestigious award for advertising, the Palm d’Or at Cannes for his directorial work on Under Armour’s I Will What I Want campaign with Gisele Bündchen. His other numerous accolades include a Bronze Cannes Lion and additional Cannes Lion Shortlist, a prestigious D&AD Yellow Pencil (and additional Pencil nomination), Gold and Bronze Clio Awards, an AICP Award, and the PLUG Award for Music Video of the Year. Weightless, co-written by BAFTA and Tony winning writer/playwright Enda Walsh (Once, Hunger) is his feature film directorial debut.

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  • BEYOND THE BOLEX, Epic Story of Bolex Inventor Jacques Bolsey, to World Premiere at DOC NYC

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    Beyond the Bolex In the 1920s inventor Jacques Bolsey aimed to disrupt the early film industry with a motion picture camera for the masses: the iconic Bolex.  90 years later, filmmaker Alyssa Bolsey discovers a stash of boxes that belonged to her enigmatic great-grandfather, and over 12 years pieces together the fragments of a forgotten family archive to reveal his epic story in the documentary, Beyond the Bolex, which will World Premiere at DOC NYC, America’s largest documentary festival, on Thursday, November 8 at 9:15 p.m at Cinepolis Chelsea. As Alyssa delves into the treasure trove, among the items she finds is an old movie camera with the word “Bolex” embossed on its side, and a dangling tag with the date, “1927.” She also discovers reels of 16mm films inside rusty cans that are too brittle to run through a projector. Once the films are restored, she is captivated by their casual style as commonly seen today with digital cameras and smartphones. When Alyssa finds Jacques journal she learns of the trials he faced both as an idealistic inventor and as an immigrant. In his words and films, she finds a man living stateless in Switzerland, torn from his homeland by the Russian Revolution. After many years of inventing in Switzerland and still unable to gain acceptance, Jacques finds his way to the US and settles in New York City, where he creates a new generation of military cameras for the fight against fascism. Alyssa travels to Switzerland – the birthplace of the Bolex and Jacques’ two sons. She traces her own roots to her great-grandmother Sima’s apartment in Geneva, visits the Paillard factory where the Bolex Model H was designed and built, and makes a pilgrimage to the current headquarters of Bolex International. Along the way, Alyssa seeks insight from camera collectors, historians and renowned filmmakers who explain how the Bolex reached the farthest corners of the globe, unleashed the imagination and became synonymous with creative freedom. Simple and functional, it became a perfect tool for a diverse range of filmmakers. Alyssa speaks to Wim Wenders, Jonas Mekas, Barbara Hammer, Bruce Brown and others, who share their stories of how this camera has inspired and nurtured their creative potential and careers. She also discovers the enthusiasm his pioneering invention continues to have with filmmakers today. “Curiosity was the catalyst for making Beyond the Bolex,” said director Alyssa Bolsey. “But what I didn’t see coming was the emotional journey I would go on while discovering my great grandfather’s deep desire for roots; this during one of the most tumultuous times in history. His was an immigrant struggle that we see playing out yet again today. And his story shows the power and ingenuity that many immigrants bring to their new home. Along with planting seeds that have grown for generations with his Bolex camera, he also laid down roots that would contribute to the technology that has become part of our daily lives in the modern world.”

    About the Director: Alyssa Bolsey

    Alyssa Bolsey began writing and directing short films as a kid. While still in High School, she directed a short documentary entitled “Wild Horses.” This work was screened at various art galleries in the US and was described by KPBS as “an insightful look at the artistic process.” In University, her fictional short “I. Hero” was featured in rotation on the San Diego, California television show, “The Short List” from 2007-2010. Alyssa graduated Cum Laude from San Diego State University with a degree in Television, Film and New Media, with an emphasis on directing. She spent the next two years working at Creative Artists Agency, starting in the mailroom. She left CAA to direct a feature documentary about her great-grandfather Jacques Bolsey, the inventor of the iconic Bolex camera. Beyond the Bolex is making its World Premiere at DOC NYC 2018.

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  • Brainstorm Media to Release Save-Our-Shows TV Fan Documentary UNITED WE FAN

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    United We Fan Ahead of its DOC NYC premiere, UNITED WE FAN, the documentary that chronicles the stories of passionate television fans and their unique crusades to save their beloved shows from cancellation, has been acquired by Brainstorm Media, and will hit VOD on December 4.   Fans, stars, creators and more come together to explore the history and evolution of TV’s save-our-show fan campaigns in Michael Sparaga’s (The Missing Ingredient) humorous and heartfelt feature documentary that made its World Premiere earlier this year at Hot Docs and U.S. Premiere at AFI Docs. From the letter-writing and product mail-ins of yesterday to the social media and crowdfunding campaigns of today, United We Fan goes beyond the headlines to give viewers deeper insights into fandom, community and identity. Fans in New York City will get a sneak peek of the film when it celebrates its New York premiere at DOC NYC on Monday, Nov. 12 at 7:45 p.m. at Cinepolis Chelsea followed by a Q&A with director Michael Sparaga and film subjects.  In Los Angeles, fans will have the opportunity to catch a special preview screening of United We Fan at the Laemmle Ahrya Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m. The filmmakers and several of the film’s subjects will be on hand for a post-screening Q&A. For most viewers, it’s simply a disappointment when their favorite TV series is cancelled. But the fans of some series take the loss a lot harder. And they fight back. United We Fan chronicles the stories of those passionate individuals and their unique crusades to save their beloved shows. When married sci-fi fans Bjo and John Trimble organized their unprecedented letter-writing campaign to force NBC to renew the original “Star Trek” back in 1967, they couldn’t have known that they were also planting the seeds of fan activism that would forever change the relationship between TV viewers and networks. Fast-forward to 1983, when Dorothy Swanson, a Michigan schoolteacher, besieged CBS with letters to stop them from unceremoniously cancelling her favorite series “Cagney & Lacey.” Emboldened by her success, Dorothy formed the fan advocacy group Viewers for Quality Television, whose dedicated members fought to save multiple other “quality” series over their 15-year history. Today, 26-year-old Kaily Russell has picked up the fan activism mantle in her fight for the recently axed CBS series “Person of Interest.” Kaily spends every waking hour online, rallying the troops and trying to convince a new broadcaster or streaming service to pick up the series. Kaily’s tools and targets might be vastly different, but she is taking her cue from the methods of fan activism from all those that came before her. United We Fan Declared “a joy to watch” by POV Magazine, United We Fan intertwines the remarkable stories of Kaily, Dorothy and the Trimbles while also taking time to delve into the inspiring campaigns to save “Designing Women,” “Quantum Leap,” “Chuck,” “Longmire,” “Jericho,” “Veronica Mars,” “Roswell” and others. “United We Fan is not a movie about television’s wackiest fans,” said director Michael Sparaga, “rather, it’s a love letter to the inspiring people who have formed communities and fought tirelessly against seemingly impossible odds to give viewers everywhere more seasons of some of television’s most iconic shows.” Interviewees include: Bjo and John Trimble (known as “the couple that saved ‘Star Trek’), Dorothy Swanson (founder of Viewers for Quality Television), and Kaily Russell (currently fighting to resurrect “Person of Interest”); series’ stars: Nichelle Nichols (“Star Trek”), Zachary Levi (“Chuck”), Scott Bakula (“Quantum Leap”), Amy Acker (“Person of Interest”), Adam Bartley (“Longmire”), Skeet Ulrich (“Jericho”), and Enrico Colantoni (“Veronica Mars”); series’ creators: Tom Fontana (“St. Elsewhere”), Barney Rosenzweig (“Cagney & Lacey”), Harry Thomason (“Designing Women”), Donald P. Bellisario (“Quantum Leap”), Rob Thomas (“Veronica Mars”), Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz (“Jericho”), Matt Miller (“Chuck”), Jason Katims (“Roswell”), and Jonah Nolan and Greg Plageman (“Person of Interest”).

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  • 2018 Woodstock Film Festival Awards – WHEELS and THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED Win Top Awards

    2018 Woodstock Film Festival Awards Winners After opening remarks from Roger Ross Williams, the first African American director to win an Academy Award, the 19th Woodstock Film Festival Maverick Awards Ceremony was held on Saturday, October 13.  Awards were presented to exceptional films and honorees in numerous categories with the Feature Narrative Award going to Paul Starkman for WHEELS, and the Best Documentary Feature was presented to Assia Boundaoui director for THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED. Tony®, Emmy® and Grammy®-winning, and Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Julie Taymor received the Honorary Maverick Award; and Academy Award®-nominated and Emmy Award®-winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman received the Filmmaker Award of Distinction. for his debut feature narrative, A PRIVATE WAR. BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE The Gigantic Pictures’ Feature Narrative Award went to Paul Starkman for WHEELS. “We chose Wheels because it beautifully explores the powerfully precarious choices that brothers make that impact their lives and all of their relationships forever. Stunningly told and poignantly acted with depth and candor wheels stood out in a thrilling year of Woodstock film selections. It explores the fine line between constructive and instantly destructive decisions and their impact on our lives- in an instant everything changes.” Honorable Mention went to Brendan Walter for SPELL. A Special Award for ensemble cast went to John Stimpson for GHOST LIGHT. BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Best Documentary Feature, sponsored by Films We Like, was presented to Assia Boundaoui director for THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED. Honorable Mention to director Juliane Dressner and Edwin Martinez for PERSONAL STATEMENT. Best Narrative Short sponsored by Gigantic Pictures, went to director Leonora Lonsdale for BEAST. Honorable Mention went to Alexis Gambis for MI HERMANO. Best Student Short sponsored by Gigantic Pictures, went to director Jisun Jamie Kim for A YEAR. The Woodstock Film Festival Ultra Indie Award, sponsored by Gray, Krauss, Stratford, Sandler, Des Rochers, LLP and Blackmagic Design, was presented to Alex Moratto for SOCRATES. Best Animated Short was presented to Mark C. Smith for TWO BALLOONS. Best Short Documentary, sponsored by Markertek.com, went to Skye Fitzgerald for LIFEBOAT. Honorable mention to Lynne Sachs for CAROLEE, BARBARA & GUNVOR. “We based our decision on what stories we felt most needed to be told, and what stories we hadn’t seen before. We put special emphasis on films that show underrepresented people (like the older women in Carolee, Barbara & Gunvor). We wanted to cite a local filmmaker for an honorable mention as a nod to the importance of our growing creative community upstate.” The Haskell Wexler Award for Best Cinematography, sponsored by Panavision, went to Eric Bader for SPELL. “Choosing a single film in this category was not easy. There’s been an explosion of great cinematography this year, and all of the films considered for the cinematography award stood out. But the cinematography in this particular film is resonant, drawn with a deft touch. It is consistent and well crafted. The color palette and the choice of shots and lenses allow us a proximity to the characters, which aptly draws us into the drama and plays on our expectations, our emotions as viewers.” The James Lyons Editing Award For Narrative Feature, sponsored by Technicolor Postworks NY, was presented to Kristina Davies editor for UNLOVABLE. The James Lyons Editing Award For Documentary Feature, sponsored by Technicolor Postworks NY, was presented to Rabab Haj Yahya editor for THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED.  Special mention: WRESTLE. The World Cinema Award, was presented to Laurie Colbert and Dominique Cardona for KEELY & DU. A special mention to director Roxy Toporowych for JULIA BLUE. The Carpe Diem Andretta Award, sponsored by The Vincent J. Andretta Memorial Fund and presented to the film that best represents living life to the fullest, was awarded to director William Fichtner for COLD BROOK.

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  • Romantic Comedy SURPRISE ME! to LA Premiere at DTLA Film Festival [Trailer]

    [caption id="attachment_32142" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Surprise Me Surprise Me[/caption] Surprise Me!, the first romantic comedy written, directed and produced by Chicago native Nancy Goodman, is about a surprise party planner, Genie, (Fiona Gubelmann) who hates surprises.  The film will have its Los Angeles theatrical premiere screening at the DTLA Film Festival on Wednesday, October 17, 9:00 pm at the Regal LA Live, 1000 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015. In the film, featured in the Chicago Tribune, InMag.com and Now You Know Events.com, Genie is hired by an anonymous Hollywood producer to throw a surprise wedding for his girlfriend. Genie must get the bride down the aisle without knowing she’s the bride. The movie follows event planner, Genie and the men in her life: her business partner (Steven, played by LaShawn Banks), her best friend (Danny, played by Jonathan Bennett) and her boyfriend (Jeff, played by Sean Faris). Throughout the film, twists and turns lead to a surprise subplot that looks at Genie and her relationships as they evolve, unearthing painful triggers from her past. Cereal and cookies summon her in the night. We watch Genie learn to use cravings as a radar detector for feelings she is not aware of. They lead her to a truth but what is it? SURPRISE! Goodman who calls the film “a romantic comedy diet” hopes it will help to start a conversation about what is behind a woman’s obsession with food and diets. Goodman sees the movie, which is based on her book of the same name, as her crusade to help women find their voice by turning their focus to their feelings, strength, joy, goals, and find happiness within. “This year’s film festival has a theme of women’s empowerment, so Nancy Goodman’s status as a triple-threat creative force (producer, screenwriter, director) seems like an especially good fit,” said DTLA Festival Director, Greg Ptacek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIORerKGXhU

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  • Shudder Acquires Punk Rock Slasher THE RANGER [Trailer]

    The Ranger The acclaimed punk rock slasher THE RANGER which premiered at SXSW has been acquired by Shudder, the subscription video on demand service for thriller, suspense and horror. A wild, neon-colored romp in the spirit of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD and CLASS OF 1984, THE RANGER follows a group of young punks who are forced to flee the city to lay low, only to run into a park ranger who shares a mysterious past with one of their own. The film has been lauded for its standout performances from Chloë Levine (THE TRANSFIGURATION, THE OA) as the pink-haired punk with a secret, and Jeremy Holm (HOUSE OF CARDS, MR. ROBOT) as the maniacal ranger, ready to get his hands bloody in defense of the woods. Granit Lahu (THE SINNER), Jeremy Pope, Bubba Weiler (PUZZLE), Amanda Grace Benitez (SCHOOL OF ROCK), Jeté Laurence (PET SEMATARY) and horror icon Larry Fessenden (HABIT, WE ARE STILL HERE) round out the cast. THE RANGER marks the directorial debut of Jenn Wexler, a past Shudder Labs master and producer of the SXSW Grand Jury Prize-winner, MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND. A co-production of Glass Eye Pix and Hood River Entertainment, THE RANGER was written by Wexler and Giaco Furino, and produced by Andrew van den Houten (BREAKING & EXITING, THE WOMAN), Larry Fessenden (MOST BEAUTIFUL ISLAND, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL), Ashleigh Snead (THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND), Heather Buckley and Wexler (LIKE ME, DARLING). Remarked Craig Engler, General Manager of Shudder “Jenn Wexler’s feature debut is a smart, stylish and subversive take on the ‘80s slasher, and we’re delighted to bring it to Shudder members.” The film, which concluded a limited theatrical run in New York and Los Angeles earlier this month, was a standout hit at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, where it world-premiered in the Midnighters section. THE RANGER was selected as opening night film of this year’s FrightFest UK and has been an official selection at festivals around the world, including Fantasia International Film Festival, the Sydney Film Festival and the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, among many others. This month, THE RANGER screened at the Sitges Film Festival and will play Toronto After Dark, before concluding its festival circuit ahead of its eventual Shudder premiere in 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ0BG3-fxzA

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  • WATERLILY JAGUAR Starring Mira Sorvino to Open 2018 DTLA Film Festival

    Waterlily Jaguar “Waterlily Tiger,” a new psychological thriller from director-writer-actress Melora Walters will make its Los Angeles theatrical premiere screening as the Opening Night Film of the 10th annual DTLA Film Festival.   The film stars Robert Le Gros, Mira Sorvino, Stacey Oristano, Christopher Backus, Steven Swadling and Dominic Monaghan. With the addition of “Waterlily Jaguar,” the 2018 festival will screen 30 new feature films of all genres, and all making their Los Angeles theatrical premieres with 68% by women directors. As well, the festival is screening 77 short-form content films and videos, including separate programs for TV pilots and web series episodes with an emphasis on diversity. The festival also launches this year Immersive, its showcase of the latest in AR, VR and Hyper-Reality experiences. “We’re so proud to have the opportunity to present as our Opening Night film Melora’s directorial debut. Audiences have seen her work as an actor in films like ‘Boogie Nights,’ ‘Magnolia’ and ‘Venom.’ Now we all get to delight in her work as a creative force behind the camera,“ says Karolyne Sosa, Director of Programming. In the film Bob Price (LeGros), a famous novelist known for his “airport” best-sellers, seeks to write something more meaningful for his new book. But his quest to pen a magnum opus sends him tumbling down a spiral of obsession that may leave the relationships he has already forged in shambles, including his marriage to Helen (Sorvino). The film will screen at 7 pm on Wed., Oct. 17th at Regal L.A. LIVE , The 10th annual DTLA Film Festival runs October 17 to 21, 2018 at Regal L.A. LIVE, Hotel Figueroa and venues throughout burgeoning downtown Los Angeles. image via Twitter

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  • Award-Winning Surfing Documentary MOMENTUM GENERATION to Debut on HBO [Trailer]

    [caption id="attachment_31845" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Momentum Generation Momentum Generation[/caption] The award-winning documentary Momentum Generation takes a deep dive into the fascinating, constantly evolving world of surfing, exploring how a group of dedicated teenagers changed the sport and its culture in the 1990s.  Momentum Generation which made its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York earlier this year where it won an Audience Award, debuts Tuesday, December. 11 (10:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. It has also won top awards at the Aspen Film Festival, Santa Cruz Surf Film Festival, Honolulu Surf Film Festival, Surfalorus and the Los Angeles Film Awards. In the 1960s, surfing in America was known primarily as a California- and Hawaii-based phenomenon associated with surf instrumentals and Beach Boys songs. In films, it was a vehicle to infuse all-American romantic comedies with action or zany antics. Although equipment and skills evolved, the public’s perception of surfing as a novelty sport remained constant until the 1990s, when a group of punk rock-loving teens, many from troubled homes and backgrounds, found its way to a house on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii, in the process changing their lives and the sport itself. In Momentum Generation, the core members of that legendary crew? – ?including Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Taylor Knox, Benji Weatherley, Kalani Robb, Ross Williams, Taylor Steele and Pat O’Connell? – ?tell their story together for the first time. Filmmakers Jeff and Michael Zimbalist draw on unprecedented access to their inner circle, as well as to tens of thousands of hours of footage in private archives, to highlight the deep friendships that were formed and tested during the surfers’ careers as top athletes and cultural icons. “We’re proud to be the home for Momentum Generation, a film that is obviously about a group of surfers at the zenith of the sport, but more subtly about their lifelong friendships,” says Peter Nelson, executive vice president, HBO Sports. “The Zimbalist brothers take us on an adrenaline-fueled journey spanning three decades, and the intimacy with which they reveal the ups and downs of some of surfing’s biggest stars makes this film unlike anything else of its kind.” After relocating to Oahu, the young surfers courageously followed each other into Mother Nature’s most dangerous waves. When some of them didn’t make it back to shore, they found a way to mourn together? – ?and adapt. Fueled by camaraderie and a deep-seated competitiveness, the tight-knit crew became known as the “Momentum Generation” after being featured in Taylor Steele’s groundbreaking films. Its members went on to win world titles, break records and redefine the world’s perception of the surfer, youth culture and what it means to be free. Filmed over the course of two and a half years, the Momentum Generation surfers reflect on the complexity of the brotherhood and competition that have shaped their shared emotional journey, and made these pioneers both heroic and human. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlgfI6h2aW4 From Emmy(R) and Peabody winners Jeff and Michael Zimbalist of All Rise Films, the HBO Sports presentation, in association with Priority Pictures and Sundance Productions, is executive produced by Robert Redford and Laura Michalchyshyn of Sundance Productions alongside Karen Lauder and Greg Little of Priority Pictures. Justine Chiara, Lizzie Friedman, Tina Elmo and Colby Gottert produced.

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  • DTLA Film Festival Reveals 2018 Short Form Content Lineup incl. 77 Short Films

    ,
    [caption id="attachment_32129" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]AKEDA (The Binding) AKEDA (The Binding)[/caption] The DTLA Film Festival revealed the short form content programming at the upcoming 10th edition of the festival, consisting of 77 short films, TV pilots and web series episodes. Anchoring the festival’s short film content programming are the short films series, curated by Robert Torres ”Emerging Artists,” “Queer Expressions,” “Our Modern World,” “Strange Encounters,” “Spotlight on Latin Shorts” and “DTLA Shorts.” Sosa curated three other series of shorts program under the banner of “L.A. Artists,” which showcases local LA talent. Rounding out the short-form content are programs devoted to new and established web series and to TV pilots, both with a focus on women and people of color. Monica Jones curated the TV web series; Jade Jenise Dixon and Suki Ramirez curated the TV pilots series. The 10th annual DTLA Film Festival takes place October 17 to 21 at Regal L.A. LIVE and venues throughout downtown Los Angeles. A complete list of short-form content screening at the festival follows:

    EMERGING ARTISTS

    THE SUMMER OF THE ELECTRIC LION Chile| Narrative | 2018 |22 mins. Director: Diego Céspedes Hidden in a house far from the city, Alonso accompanies his sister, Daniela. She waits to become the seventh wife of El León (The Lion), a prophet who, rumors says, electrocutes you when you touch him. KILN USA| Narrative | 2018 | 5 mins. Director: Salamo Manetti-Lax A short culled from footage the director shot in high school 10 years ago in upstate New York. A remembrance, a haunted collective portrait, and a critique. AKEDA (THE BINDING) USA| Narrative | 2017 | 18 mins. Director: Dan Bronfeld An orphan boy has his humanity tested when a film director encourages him to give a violent performance that will blend fiction with reality. I CAN ONLY TALK TO YOU WHEN I STAND IN SHADOWS USA, China| Narrative | 2018 | 5 mins. Director: Yuchi Ma A girl in her late teens contemplates the conflict between family identity and self, in face of the cruelty of times. This is a brief moment of the director’s coming of age. INSOMNIA France| Narrative | 2017 | 2 mins. Director: Islena Niera Lacosta It’s night and a boy can’t fall asleep. SOÑADORA USA| Narrative | 2017 | 10 mins. Director: Maria Altamirano A hardworking high school senior faces circumstances beyond her control that may hinder her path to college. HEY, BOY! USA| Narrative | 2018 | 20 mins. Director: Nathan Mulroy St. Valentine strikes an unsuspecting teenage lover

    QUEER EXPRESSIONS

    MOLT France, Sweden| Narrative | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Nathalie Alvarez Mesen The summer sun sets in rural Appalachia as 12-year-old Cadie and her neighbor, Sarah, redefine their friendship on the eve of burgeoning sexuality. JIM USA |Animation | 2017 | 9 mins. Director: Sam Gurry Jim assembled these floppy disks in the late 1990s with images and samples sourced from online chat rooms. How do you connect with someone you can’t see? That you don’t know? One short email conversation provides his name. ASIAN GIRLS Australia| Narrative | 2017 | 6 mins. Director: Hyun Lee Chan is a Chinese factory worker who lives alone. Every night, she suffers from horrific nightmares involving the woman in the apartment next door, a Japanese office lady. MONOGAMISHUSA| Narrative | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Nardeep Khurmi Sagar and Nishi and explore the dynamics and strength of two non-traditional couples, in which agreements are made and boundaries are challenged. FOR NONNA ANNA Canada| Narrative | 2017 | 14 mins. Director: Luis De Filippis A trans girl has to care for her Italian grandmother. She assumes that her Nonna disapproves of her – but instead discovers a tender bond in their shared vulnerability. WAFFLES USA| Narrative | 2017 | 4 mins. Director: Foster Wilson The morning after a casual one-nighter with an older woman, Gina scrolls through her Facebook feed, only to discover that the person in bed beside her is the epitome of everything she loathes in this world. A DOLL’S HUG Taiwan| Narrative | 2017 | 20 mins. Director: Rob Lo Domestic, school violence and societal violence continually challenge and threaten the Taiwanese teenage boy, XiangYu. He seeks to escape from the undesirable reality to take shelter in his imaginary Barbie doll world.

    OUR MODERN WORLD

    RAPAZ Chile| Narrative | 2018 | 13 mins. Director: Felipe Gálvez Ariel gets involved in a teenager’s civil arrest, who is accused of stealing a phone. A mob surrounds the young man and some curse and beat him, some defend him. The police aren’t showing up, so Ariel must decide what side he is on. PERFECT MAN USA| Narrative | 2018 | 9 mins. Director: Nic Collins and Jake Andrews Set in the very near future, a virtual reality -addicted girl must follow a government mandate to remove her VR headset for 3 hours. When her dismal reality sets in, she goes online and orders Perfect Man: a robotic humanoid love companion. VERMINE Denmark| Animation | 2018 | 6 mins. Director: Jeremie Becquer A Rat poet, whose hopeful poetry contrasts the world in which he lives in, gets confronted with the harshness of a society biased toward Mice. CAROLINE USA| Narrative | 2018 | 10 mins. Director: Logan George and Celine Held When plans fall through, a 6-year-old is faced with a big responsibility on a hot Texas day. THE BRINK USA| Narrative | 2018 | 7 mins. Director: Ricky Rhodes and Arnold Aldridge Pushed to the edge by abusive co-workers, an odd IT guy takes unthinkable steps to handle his grim reality. NADIA’S VISA USA, Jordan| Narrative | 2018 | 18 mins. Director: Hanadi Elyan After failing to obtain a travel visa to meet with her family, Nadia finds herself stuck in a moral dilemma. JUDGEMENT Philippines| Narrative | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Raymund Ribay Gutierrez Joy, a mother of a 4-year-old girl, finally decides to file a case under domestic violence against her abusive husband, Dante. THE RIGHT CHOICE UK| Narrative | 2018 | 10 mins. Director:Tomisin Adepeju With the help of The Adviser, a husband and wife must answer three seemingly harmless questions to create their perfect designer baby.

    STRANGE ENCOUNTERS

    BOTANICA Netherlands| Narrative | 2017 | 13 mins. Director: Noël Loozen A garden-center employee fears his possible infertility. While the pregnancy wish of the love of his life is growing, shame starts to take a hold on him. INTIMITY Netherlands| Documentary | 2017 | 5 mins. Director: Elodie Dermange As she is showering, dressing and putting on her make-up, a woman bares her soul. THE CHIRPING USA| Narrative | 2018 | 10 mins. Director: Matt McKinney A mother and her adult son work some things out while trying to rid their home of a pesky cricket. LIRA’S FOREST Canada| Narrative | 2017 | 8 mins. Director: Connor Jessup As the end of her life approaches, an old woman encounters a strange spirit from a nearby forest. TRESPASS USA| Narrative | 2018 | 6 mins. Director: Erik LeDrew The actions of a trigger-happy cop come back to bite him in the ass. A P.O.V. fright flick. PRIVATE JOY USA| Narrative | 2018 | 9 mins. Director: Owen Kaye In the final days of their relationship, a fading actress and her younger, animal lover are torn apart by lust, jealousy, anger and magic. HEART CHAKRA USA| Animation | 2017 | 7 mins. Director: Angela Stempel Mae’s life is routinely disrupted by the advice from her online crystal healer and her devotion to horoscopes. Armed with healing crystals and numerology, Mae is ready to follow the predictions on an unexpected path to find her soulmate. KIMCHI USA, South Korea| Narrative | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Jason Segars As his family argues about his end-of-life care, an elderly Korean man reflects on his life with a stranger. SOLAR WALK Denmark| Narrative | 2018 | 20 mins. Director: Réka Bucsi The unreal journey of individuals and their creations through time and space.

    SPOTLIGHT ON LATIN STORIES

    ONE OF THESE DAYS USA| Narrative | 2018 | 20 mins. Director: Rudy Lopez After unfortunate circumstances, Manny, an aspiring musician, must decide between becoming the sole guardian of his uncle’s daughter, Marisol, and pursuing his band’s tour of the U.S. CHIADO Brazil| Narrative | 2018 | 15 mins. Director: Fenando Belo A woman and her boyfriend go on a last road trip when she decides to end her own life. KEEP EM’ WHITE USA| Narrative | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Sandra Lindqvist Two Hispanic teenage boys from South Central LA take a bus ride to the other side of town in search of a famed basketball player. EL GALLO USA, Mexico| Documentary | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Michael Medoway Gallo takes us on a visceral journey through the life of Juan ‘El Gallo’ Estrada, the former Flyweight champion of the world and one of Mexico’s most famous boxers. ¿FAMILIA? USA| Narrative | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Kase Pena and Marlene Forte A transgender woman navigates life while dealing with a pesky teenage neighborhood boy who’s in love with her, a married lover with empty promises, and a family back home who demands her financial support at any cost, even her personal safety. CARRO USA, Brazil| Narrative | 2018 | 12 mins. Director: Gustavo Rosa An undocumented Brazilian immigrant living in the Boston area decides to buy a car in an effort to better his life before returning home.

    DTLA SHORTS

    REDEMPTION SQUARE USA| Documentary | 2018 | 20 mins. Director:John Moody In the footsteps of many unique Angelenos, a down-on-her-luck woman finds a new identity in Pershing Square, a notoriously unloved space in downtown Los Angeles. TOKEN USA| Narrative | 2018 | 25 mins. Director: Joy Shi Two artists in different stages of life and success deal with the effects of love, ego and loss in modern-day LA. BROCCOLI USA| Narrative | 2018 | 7 mins. Director: Phil Rosanova and Will Reiland After a scare at the office, a man must decide between his compulsive diet of only broccoli and his own mortality. DECEMBER USA| Narrative | 2018 | 7 mins. Director: Luciana Faulhaber At year’s end a woman tries to move on as her past comes rushing back. In matters of the heart do we take a risk before it’s too late or hope for a second chance? This movie is about the messes we make. THE HOAXING USA| Narrative | 2018 | 25 mins. Director: Bevin McNamara A young artist couple moves into a painter’s studio where the previous tenant hacked two people to death. The couple quickly discovers the studio harbors dark secrets. THE LION AND HIS WALL USA| Narrative | 2018 | 17 mins. Director: Raphael Krigel and Austin Dalgleish The film follows one of LA’s most prolific artists as he attempts to paint the largest mural in the world by a single individual. But this artist’s aspirations extend far beyond this one wall, and he’s not afraid to prove it.

    LA ARTISTS SHORTS

    SOMEDAY USA| Narrative | 2018 | 16 mins. Director: J.S. Mayank Two strangers meet on a 14-hour non-stop flight from Sydney to Los Angeles. Adam is a world-famous composer, but Melody doesn’t recognize her flight companion. Along the way, they laugh, flirt and pour their hearts out… a connection made more beautiful precisely because of its fleeting nature. CREATE USA| Narrative | 2018 | 3 mins. Director: Mikkel Aranas An artist finds himself in the middle of the wilderness wanting to create. After seeking guidance from the ultimate creator, he’s inspired by the elements around him and begins to create using what’s in front of him. A beautiful dance ensues between art and artist. ABUELA’S LUCK USA| Narrative | 2018 | 9 mins. Director: Ricky Rosario A young man’s relationship with his grandmother is altered forever after a chance visit to his neighborhood Dominican bodega. THE ENLIGHTENMENT PROJECT USA| Documentary | 2018 | 17 mins. Director: D’Angelo McCornell and Martel McCornell A grieving mother Yvonne Pointer from Cleveland, OH and an impoverished boy from Ghana, Africa turn their pain into purpose, and their purpose into action by educating the youth and strengthening communities together. AVOWED USA| Narrative | 2017 | 13mins. Director: Summera Howell A young nun-to-be struggles to find God inside Robin, a non-responsive adult whose brain stopped developing before he was born. GRIT USA| Narrative | 2018 | 11 mins. Director: Charles Lee Wilson After a long day’s work, a young teacher returns to find his home has been burglarized. When he discovers his relation to the culprit and their motive, he resorts to rogue tactics in order to save a loved one spiraling down a deadly path. #WHERE IS BEAUTY USA| Narrative | 2017 | 11 mins. Director: Angela McCrae An introspective visual artist dealing with the pressures of social media embarks on a journey of self-discovery capturing everyday life through SnapChat, which unexpectedly transforms her perspective of beauty. PARALLAX USA | Narrative | 2018 | 4 mins. Director: Ajiri Akpolo Two lovers try and find the right words to say to each other. BLACK CHICKS USA, Canada | Narrative | 2017 | 12 mins. Director: Neil LaBute A man and a woman, one white, one black — what could possibly go wrong? LET MY PEOPLE VOTE USA| Documentary | 2018 | 18 mins. Director: Gilda Ann Brasch Filmed during the 2016 presidential election, this verité short covers a day-in-the-life of civil rights activist and former felon Desmond Meade. What begins as an upbeat day of faith in our democratic process, ends with a heartbreaking realization and a call-to-action. GLORIA’S CALL USA| Documentary | 2018 | 16 mins. Director: Cheri Gaulke From the cafes of Paris to the mountaintops of Samiland, a scholar’s life is forever changed through her friendships with the women artists of Surrealism. FOXES USA| Narrative | 2018 | 14 mins. Director: Tristan Taylor An African-American man struggles to unmask his depression, while admitting he’s never been his younger brothers’ hero. THE PRICE WE PAY USA| Narrative | 2018 | 8 mins. Director: Jesse Garcia A scarred soldier, suffering from PTSD, who comes home from war to find his relationship with his neighborhood, best friend and wife, not how he left it. But is what he’s seeing, real? AMERICAN NIGHTMARE USA| Narrative | 2018 | 7 mins. Director: Jesus Nebot A traffic stop due to speeding takes a turn for the worse, landing a mother and her 5-year-old daughter in jail.

    TV PILOT SERIES | THRILLER-CRIME

    THE ONLY FLIGHT USA| Narrative | 2018 | 13 mins. Director: Royston Innes When a group of unwitting strangers wake up on an airplane in midair they must learn the true nature of why they were deemed enemies of the state. PAWG – DAY 12 “PRETTY ASS WHITE GIRL” USA| Narrative | 2018 | 20 mins. Director: John Eddins The uniqueness at the very end of this tale gives birth to a strange beginning as lovers reunite 12 days after one of them gets a whole new lease on love. THE PLURAL OF BLOOD USA| Narrative | 2017 | 20 mins. Director: Mary-Lyn Chambers Diana Santiago is an African American police wife, joyfully on the verge of adopting a black baby boy. Her world unravels when her husband, LAPD officer Alejandro Santiago, finds himself amid the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black teenager.

    TV PILOT SERIES 2 | COMEDY

    GREENPORT USA| Narrative | 2017 | 27 mins. Director: Shannon Goldman This is a story about a struggling Hollywood filmmaker, who is determined to show the world that an autistic kid can do anything. WED-LOCKED USA| Narrative | 2018 | 23 mins. Director: Malcom Barrett and Tina Huang Recently married, Denise & Robert deal with the ups & downs of marriage in this true-to-life comedy. Laugh and cry alongside our fledgling couple as they navigate everything from sex shop shyness and pubic hair politics, to having to tell their spouse they can’t cook.

    WEB SERIES | DRAMA-SUSPENSE

    MAKEUP AND BREAKUP SERIES – EPISODE 7 “WHEN THINGS FALL APART” OF SEASON 2 USA| Narrative | 2018 | 23 mins. Director: Eric J. Dickens When Brooke blindsides Blake and ends their two-year relationship, Blake doesn’t hesitate before jumping back into the New York dating scene. Instantly he finds a new love interest and regains his confidence. Once things begin to get serious, Brooke resurfaces and wants to claim what was once hers. Confused, Blake finds himself caught in the middle. When the dust settles, who will win him over in the end? STAGED – EPISODE “EVERYONE ISN’T WHO THEY POST TO BE” USA| Narrative | 2017 | 10 mins. Director: Abai Dunbar Staged explores the struggle to self-discovery for four social media influencers, in a world where nothing is what it seems and no one is who they claim. WHO KILLED MADAM SILVA – EPISODE 1 USA| Narrative | 2017 | 5 mins. Director: Anne Reis A maid and a driver come across the corpse of their mistress stretched out on the floor of the main living room. Both had reasons to commit the crime and both suspect one another. CHRONICLES OF JESSICA WU- EPISODE 1 – “MEET JESSICA” USA| Narrative | 2017 | 6 mins. Director: Zane Hubbard This is the story of Jessica Wu and her living with autism.

    WEB SERIES 2 | COMEDY

    AVANT GUARDIANS THE SERIES – EPISODE 1 “THERAPY SESSION 1” & EPISODE 2 “THERAPY SESSION 2” USA| Narrative | 2017 | 6 mins. Director: Clarence Williams, IV Episode 1 – Razz tells her therapist why she has nicknamed her beloved human Creepy Charlie, exploring re-appropriating negative labels. Episode 2 – Razz dives into her past life and the open wounds of feeling the need to justify her lifestyle-a style change to be more palatable to those who misunderstand her. FML SERIES – EPISODE 2 – “BEFORE THE PARTY” USA| Narrative | 2017 | 12 mins. Director: Viktoria I.V. King We got to get tipsy before the party starts! We get an insight into the separate lives of each friend as they prepare for Jeanette’s big birthday party later tonight. DATING AND WAITING – EPISODE 3 “THE PACT” USA| Narrative | 2018 | 7 mins. Director: Lawrence Saint-Victor Sisters Chastity and Geneva face off and get real with their sex lives. What ensues is a very interesting pact. THE FOB AND I – SEASON 2 EPISODE 1- “RESIST” USA| Narrative | 2017 | 5 mins. Director: Meenakshi Ramamurthy A trip for dosas takes a turn when Sita is forced to confront her feelings about immigrants. BREEDING GROUNDS-EPISODE – “BAKE SALE PART 1” USA| Narrative | 2017 | 11 mins. Director: Susan Skoog A privileged stay at-home mother aggravates her bake sale co-chair. After the two end up on the brink of fisticuffs, Debra gets a call that her mammogram is positive. SK & J – EPISODE 2 “GOOGLE IT!” and EPISODE 3 “COMMA” USA| Narrative | 2018 | 5 mins. Director: Jenn Liu (Google it!) and Susan-Kate Heaney (Comma) Episode “Google It!” – Sue-Kate is late (as usual!) meeting Jenn for sushi, and compounds the situation by asking Jenn for directions. Jenn (as usual) tells her to Google it. Some things never change. Episode “Comma” – The simple debate over the placement of a comma reveals Sue-Kate and Jenn’s inner thoughts about writing, friendship and how much they hate working with one another. SYCAMORE VALLEY – EPISODE 1 – “INTROS”USA| Narrative | 2018 | 4 mins. Director: Marisa Luz Kayla and Curtis get prepped for the exciting journey of their televised home-buying adventure, and they meet their realtor, Cece, for the first time. Early warning signs that trouble may be brewing are quickly forgotten after a few glasses of cheap Chardonnay. WAKING UP WITH STRANGERS- EPISODE 1- “PRETTY IN PINK” AND EPISODE 7- “PANIC ROOM” USA| Narrative | 2018 | 7 mins. Director: Antoine Perry EPISODE 1 “Pretty In Pink” – Chloe wakes to find her favorite one-piece dress has been unwittingly turned into separates. EPISODE 7 “Panic Room” – After a heavy night of drinking, Xavier wakes up with more questions then condom wrappers. SHUGS & FATS: SEASON 2 EPISODE 2 -“SPEED DATING” and SEASON 3 EPISODE 5 “LOST IN CONEY ISLAND” USA| Narrative | 2015,2016 | 6 mins. Director: Alex Mallis Episode 2 “Speed Dating” – Dating in NYC is hard. There’s OK Cupid, there’s Tinder, there’s Craigslist Missed Connections, but none of these will get you married to Justin Bieber. The surefire solution? Speed Dating. Romance is negotiable. Efficiency is key. Episode 5 “Lost In Coney Island” – It’s late, it’s lonely, and Coney Island is a shitty place to be stuck. Luckily, Fats has a brilliant idea for getting picked up and brought back home.

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  • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Honors 45th Student Academy Awards Winners

    [caption id="attachment_32125" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Honors 45th Student Academy Awards Winners The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented its 45th Annual Student Academy Awards® on Thursday, October 11, in Beverly Hills. Pictured (left to right): Irina Nguyen-Duc, Hanna Kim, Pierre Perveyrie, Shae Demandt, Mart Bira, Quentin Dubois, Jonatan Etzler, Maximilien Bougeois and Mathieu Faure.[/caption] The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored this year’s student winners from colleges and universities around the world at the 45th Student Academy Awards ceremony, held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. The Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal awards were announced and presented by documentarian Arthur Dong, actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani and directors Catherine Hardwicke and Patricia Riggen.

    2018 Student Academy Award winners

    Alternative (Domestic Film Schools) Gold: Shae Demandt, “Reanimated,” Florida State University Animation (Domestic Film Schools) Gold: Hanna Kim, “Raccoon and the Light,” California Institute of the Arts Silver: Yu Yu, “Daisy,” University of Southern California Bronze: Eaza Shukla, “Re-Gifted,” Ringling College of Art and Design Animation (International Film Schools) Gold: Pierre Perveyrie, Maximilien Bougeois, Marine Goalard, Irina Nguyen-Duc and Quentin Dubois, “The Green Bird,” MOPA Documentary (Domestic Film Schools) Gold: Mathieu Faure, “An Edited Life,” New York University Silver: Yiying Li, “Love & Loss,” University of Southern California Bronze: Lauren Schwartzman, “Dust Rising,” University of California, Berkeley Documentary (International Film Schools) Gold: Mart Bira, “Nomadic Doctor,” University of Hertfordshire Narrative (Domestic Film Schools) Gold: Hua Tong, “Spring Flower,” University of Southern California Silver: Kelley Kali, “Lalo’s House,” University of Southern California Bronze: Brian Robau, “Esta Es Tu Cuba”/“This Is Your Cuba,” Chapman University Narrative (International Film Schools) Gold: Jonatan Etzler, “Get Ready with Me,” Stockholm Academy of the Arts Silver: Lisa Gertsch, “Almost Everything,” Zurich University of the Arts Bronze: István Kovács, “A Siege,” University of Theatre and Film Arts, Budapest

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