Harvard-Westlake presents THE 17TH ANNUAL WESTFLIX VIRTUAL FILM FESTIVAL All films are copyright of the filmmakers and used by permission. For more information, please visit hw.com/westflix. PRESENTATION OF FILMS 9:51 2:26 9:55 Diamond Game Who Am I? Rita This year, 200+ films Nolan Hieu Trifunovic Maggie McKelvey Will Nordstrom were submitted from all Orange County School Orange County School Harvard-Westlake School, over California. After a of the Arts, Santa Ana of the Arts, Santa Ana Studio City rigorous judging process, 14 exceptional films were Three high school teens gather Who am I as an artist, friend, An introverted teenager named selected. The comments to write a 70s cop show script. As person, daughter? And how do Erwin meets Rita, a free spirited about the films are from the script takes an unexpected you see yourself? actress. Just as their quirky industry-professional judges turn, one of the fictional relationship starts to bring him out whose rankings determine characters begins to question his of his shell, Erwin realizes that Rita the awards that will be given. masters. is not the person she appears to be. The judges’ bios can be found later in this program. “Any movie with 1971 Pontiac GTO is “A very strong visual contemplation.” “This film has an incredible and a win for me! - Perfectly constructed - Robin Lord Taylor distinct personality.” - John Gatins - A seasoned hand was behind this film’s creation,” - John Gatins “Asked a big, universally resonant “Very strong mood conveyed with question in a dynamic and unique color, music, and composition.” “Loved seeing more diversity in the way.” - Liz Marsh Yale - Robin Lord Taylor casting and the commentary about cinematic tropes and stereotypes “A charming exploration of “A confidently directed film that was great.” - Ellie Wen existential questions about identity captures the nuances of loneliness, [from a] fuzzy white bunny-like young love and friendship.” “Stand out performances in this character with a permanent profile - Cheri Gaulke clever and fascinating study of the head.” - Cheri Gaulke creative process and individual “An intriguing exploration of identity, agency.” - Sarah Timberman connection and role playing, that, by ambitious design, leaves as many questions unanswered as answered.” - Sarah Timberman 4:45 4:48 9:59 4:00 Static not Quite Here, Reece I Drive A Prius not Quite There Jackson Little Dusan Brown Zayd Ezzeldine, Nicholas Mao, Viewpoint School, Calabasas Diana Peña, Emily Ponce, Los Angeles County High School Dominic Cinco, Sean Hingco Kianna Teachout for the Arts, Los Angelest Irvine High School, Irvine A businessman under pressure Girls’ Voices Now Summer working at home, finds himself Program, Los Angeles With increasing violence in his A squad of Prius drivers seek to facing a series of strange occur- neighborhood, a young man, spread their message of envi- rences while waiting for his wife Media representations of immi- Reece, fights for his community ronmental consciousness (while to come home. grants dehumanize the people regardless of the consequences. looking incredibly cool in the they portray. This experimental process). short is a visual companion to a poem written by Diana Peña, focusing on the undocumented experience. “It was suspenseful, eerie, and “[Reece] explores real issues in a “An exuberant musical pitch for I actually felt scared [...] heart very emotional and personal way environmentally conscious driving!“ pounding suspense!” - Liz Marsh “Raw and unflinching, a beautifully through the lens of a teenage boy.” - Sarah Timberman Yale told story.” - Yvette Bowser - Yvette Bowser Love the environmental message “[The filmmaker] expertly “An incredible piece of self- “This story does and should ignite packaged in such a fun video. This integrates a suggestion of the expression.” - Ellie Wen our passion to create social change would and should go viral! human distancing/alienation that and promote equity in our city, - Ellie Wen technology can foster in this short “A powerfully stirring and poetic country and world.” - Cheri Gaulke horror piece.” - Sarah Timberman exploration of one young woman’s sense of personal, cultural and national identity, and of prejudice encountered in a country she courageously struggles to call “home.”” - Sarah Timberman 6:10 8:02 4:32 6:48 Don’t Leave Me Instinct Cinema The Men Who Birdie Sweethearts Wear Stripes Yinuo Wei Thistle Boosinger, Tarbut V’Torah Community Alejandro Lombard Theo Taplitz, Oliver Jones, Alex Dashwood, Keely Martin Day School, Irvine Harvard-Westlake School, Declan Osborne, Camila Culver City High School, Culver City Los Angeles Pernisco, Peyton Phillips, A robot longs for a companion Nicole Tani, Avo Estevez, Tony Two microscopic gentlemen, one of his kind, so he decides to A boy obsessed with film es- Valentino, Stephen Clay, Chloe living on a hand, the other on a build one himself. During a capes into well known movie Hoffman snail shell, reunite when a man landfill scout of components, scenes to cope with difficulties Los Angeles County High School visits his childhood home. the robot meets someone in his life. for the Arts, Los Angeles unexpected… Hollywood’s darling comedians Boo Boo and Schnork find themselves on an adventure “Takes us on a great nostalgic cinema after boarding a flight with “Beautiful and imaginative world. “Blown away by the quality of the ride” - John Gatins mysterious pilots. Would love to see more of this film- animation and storytelling without maker’s point of view.” dialogue. I felt like I was watching “Redemption for all the movie geeks! “Smart, charming, and very tongue in - Robin Lord Taylor something made by Pixar!” Very clever and sweet.” cheek!” - Liz Marsh Yale - Ellie Wen - Liz Marsh Yale “The Christmas ornament-headed “A fun tribute to the silent film era. character playing the piano in its “This is just stunning. Artful, creative, Great comedic timing and direction red-saturated world is delightful.” thoughtful, and shockingly profes- paired with strong performances - Cheri Gaulke sional.” - *Liz Marsh Yale and production design.” - Ellie Wen “Beautiful creation of an intimate “A masterfully animated and beauti- “Mimes, terrorists, murder and jazz world - soulful.” - John Gatins fully scored meditation on love and hands. Oh my! One crazy twist and loneliness.” - Sarah Timberman turn after another. It’s refreshing to see young filmmakers who aren’t afraid to be original, quirky, irreverent, and bold.” - Cheri Gaulke 1:17 8:18 8:00 Fishy Stitching A Life: Ascent The Story of Trudie Ashley Cai Maximillian Miesen, Reed Los Altos High School, Los Altos Strobel Martin, Gabriel Yung, Noah Hecht, Riley Scott, Max In this comedy disguised as a Ian Kim, Miranda Lewis, Lila Mereminsky wholesome animated tale, a Dworsky-Hickey, Hank Schoen, Canyon Crest Academy, San young misfit uses her obsession Fernanda Zaragoza, Jocelyn Diego with mermaids to cope with Vegam Natasha Clement, Coleman loneliness. Weintraub, Spirit Avedon, Jaaziah A documentary about Joshua, McZeal, Alexander McDaniel an 18 year old rock climber Righteous Conversations Project/ diagnosed with autism, who Harvard-Westlake Summer Film, surpasses expectations despite Los Angeles challenges he has faced in his life. A child survivor of the Holocaust “Whimsical, dark, beautiful and receives a packet of beads in a surprisingly hilarious.” Displaced Persons camp after the “Truly inspiring” - John Gatins - Robin Lord Taylor war. Her mother tears off a piece of “A beautifully rendered, sensitively her skirt and the child embroiders “In such a short time, this film tells told and inspiring documentary a goose. Thus begins her journey a complete story -- with highs and portrait of a neurodiverse young man with thread and needle not lows, love and loss, success and who, with the love, understanding and knowing that someday this simple failure.” - Cheri Gaulke support of his family, has forged his act will save her life again. own path to scaling great heights in life.” - Sarah Timberman “A triumphant story of hope and perseverance.” - Robin Lord Taylor “Beautiful way of bringing visual life to an oral history.” - Liz Marsh Yale “An incredibly moving story of the survival of the human spirit - unforgettable” - John Gatins Robin Lord Taylor Robin Lord Taylor is best known for his standout performance as The Penguin on Gotham. Additional film and television credits include JUDGES’ Accepted, Return, Another Earth, Person of Interest, Law and Order (original and SVU), Would You Rather, The Good Wife, Cold Comes the BIOGRAPHIES Night, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, and The Mandela Effect. He can currently be seen on the Netflix series You. Ellie Wen ‘05 Cheri Gaulke P’12’12 Ellie Wen is an award-winning filmmaker from Hong Kong and Los Cheri Gaulke is a pioneer in the feminist art movement in Los Angeles. Her Angeles. She began her career in Los Angeles where she produced work has been presented in film festivals and museums internationally. numerous short films and narrative features. She has also worked at CAA, Her recent film, Gloria’s Call, screened in over 35 festivals and won Best CBS Films, and Super Deluxe in all aspects of Film and TV. Ellie is an alumna Documentary at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, among other awards. She of Film Independent’s Project Involve fellowship program and recently taught Video Art at Harvard-Westlake for 31 years, co-creating programs completed her MFA in Documentary Film at Stanford University. Her films such as The Righteous Conversations Project, Summer Film Program, and have been released on The Guardian, Short of the Week, SoulPancake, Digital Storytelling Adventures. She retired in 2019 to focus full-time on Starz, selected as Vimeo Staff Pick, and screened at premier festivals a feature documentary, Acting Like Women: Performance Art and the around the world. She now lives in San Francisco and is developing her next Woman’s Building, about a 1970s movement that reverberates in the art documentary as a resident in the SFFILM FilmHouse Residency Program.