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WEST COAST Neal Block 212-379-9704 Marina Bailey 323-650-3627 [email protected] [email protected] ShortsTV Sales Fabric Media Kimberly Healy 310-452-1400 Jason Damata 917-279-8706 [email protected] jason@fabricmedia.net ShortsTV: Marketing EAST COAST Cathy Cassese 310-452-1400 FALCO INK [email protected] Steve Zeeman - (212) 445-7100 [email protected] For EUROPEAN enquiries, contact: Shorts International Ltd: Marketing Digital Media Sebastian De Lame +44(0)20 7012 1585 GINSBERG LIBBY [email protected] Clay Dollarhide 323-645-6818 [email protected]
DEKALB ELEMENTARY USA/20MINS/2017
Director: Reed Van Dyk Writer: Reed Van Dyk Producers: Reed Van Dyk, Cory Desrosiers, Christopher Leavins, Enrique Diaz, Morgan Peterson and Ricardo Ramirez
Synopsis: Inspired by a 911 call placed during a school shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia.
Director’s Biography: Reed Van Dyk is a Los Angeles based writer/director. His most recent film DEKALB ELEMENTARY won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2017 Clermont Ferrand International Short Film Festival and a Special Jury Award in Acting at the 2017 SXSW Film Festival. The film will play at festivals in Nashville, Quebec, Portugal, Spain, Israel, Lebanon, and Ukraine in the coming months. Reed's first short film T HE CONSERVATORY won a 1st Place Student Emmy Award (“Best Comedy”) -- and his last film AMATEURCOUPLE premiered in front of Sundance hit OBVIOUS CHILD at the Melbourne International Film Festival. Reed has a B.A. in Theater Arts from Cornell University and an M.F.A. in Film Directing from UCLA.
Awards: 2017: Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival - International Competition • Grand Jury Prize 2017: SXSW | Narrative Shorts Competition - Special Recognition in Acting 2017: Festival Regard - Special Jury Award 2017: Palm Springs International Shortfest - Panavision Best North American Short 2017: Hamptons International Film Festival - HIFF Award for Best Narrative Short Film 2017: Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival - Best Editing 2017: Annapolis Film Festival - Best Narrative Short 2017: Student Emmy Award - Best Drama Nominee 2017: DTLA Film Festival - Best Short Film
Festivals/Screenings: 2017: Clermont Ferrand Short Film Festival - International Competition • Grand Jury Prize 2017: SXSW - Narrative Shorts Competition - Special Recognition in Acting 2017: Festival Regard - Special Jury Award 2017: BAFTA Student Film Awards - Finalist for Live Action 2017: Palm Springs International Shortfest - Panavision Best North American Short 2017: Melbourne International film festival 2017: Hamptons International Film Festival - HIFF Award for Best Narrative Short Film 2017: Athens International Film Festival 2017: Nashville Film Festival 2017: Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival - Best Editing 2017: Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival 2017: Kyiv International Short Film Festival 2017: Calgary International Film Festival 2017: Annapolis Film Festival - Best Narrative Short 2017: Student Emmy Award - Best Drama Nominee 2017: DTLA Film Festival - Best Short Film MY NEPHEW EMMETT USA/20MINS/2017
Director: Kevin Wilson, JR. Producer: Kevin Wilson, JR.
Synopsis: In 1955, a Mississippi preacher tries to protect his 14-year-old nephew, Emmett Till from two racist killers out for blood. Based on true events.
Director’s Biography: Kevin Wilson, Jr. is a Student Academy Award Winning filmmaker and a 3rd Year MFA Candidate in New York University's Graduate Film Program. Wilson first emerged as a rising talent in 2009 when he directed multiple sold out performances of his debut play "The Emmett Till Story," a brutal depiction of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till. Since that time, he has directed number of award winning short films. Starring veteran actors, Jasmine Guy ( A DIFFERENT WORLD ) and The Late, L.B. Williams (JUICE ), “ MY NEPHEW EMMETT ” is Wilson’s Pre-Thesis film at NYU. He is currently in development for his debut feature film, which is scheduled to go into production in the summer of 2018.
Awards: Gold Medal - Narrative Film – STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS Director’s Guild of America STUDENT FILM AWARD Best Director - HollyShorts Film Festival Best Student Short - Woodstock Film Festival Saatchi & Saatchi: Nothing’s Impossible Achievement in Film Award Audience Award - DC Shorts Film Festival People’s Choice - Bermuda International Film Festival Audience Award - Way Down Film Festival
Festivals/Screenings: 55th New York Film Festival 44th Student Academy Awards Director’s Guild of America Student Film Awards LA Shorts International Film Festival HollyShorts Film Festival Bermuda International Film Festival Cambridge International Film Festival Woodstock Film Festival Way Down Film Festival Macon Film Festival DC Shorts Film Festival Afrikana Film Festival Boulder International Film Festival Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival Cucalorus Film Festival THE ELEVEN O'CLOCK AUSTRALIA/13MINS/2016
Director: Derin Seale Producers: Josh Lawson and Karen Bryson
Synopsis: The delusional patient of a psychiatrist believes he is actually the psychiatrist. As they each attempt to treat each other the session gets out of control.
Director’s Biography: Derin Seale is a Cannes, One Show and NY Festivals Gold winning director. He was raised in a family of cineastes and spent a lot of his formative years on set. He started directing action sequences in the Hollywood features ‘ COLD MOUNTAIN ’ and ‘The ‘ TALENTED MR RIPLEY ’, putting him in great stead to create work of visually epic proportions. This was never more evident than in his short film that helped the nation of Qatar win the hosting of the 2022 Football World Cup. Based in Australia, Seale also works internationally, directing campaigns in the US and Europe. His recent performance-driven spot ‘ MISTAKES ’, for the New Zealand Transport Authority has been recognised worldwide, going viral with over 14 million views on YouTube. Seale’s direction of the spot continues to be celebrated at advertising award shows globally, including gold for direction at Cannes Lions. Recently Seale directed the campaign ‘ STOP IT AT THE START ’, for the Australian Government, aimed at reducing violence against women in future generations. Hugely successful, the campaign has received extensive coverage by global TV, online and print publishers and top Australian influencers, reaching 15.5 million views online after just one week.
Awards: Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts AACTA - Best Live Action Short Film Cleveland International Film Festival - Best Live Action Comedy St Kilda Film Festival - Best Achievement in Editing Salute Your Shorts - Best Comedy Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival - Best Comedy Short Naples International Film Festival - Audience Award for Best Live Action Short LA Shorts Fest - Best Comedy Short Cinequest International Film Festival - Best Narrative Short Flickerfest International Film Festival - Best Screenplay Hearts of Gold International Film Festival - Best Australian Short Sydney Film Festival Dendy Awards Finalist Funcinema- Best Comedy and Best Performance Naples - Best Live Action Short
Festivals/Screenings: Toronto - Official Selection Rhode Island - Best Comedy LA Shorts - Best Comedy Short Milwaukee - Official Selection Valladolid - Official Selection Perth International Arts Festival - Official Selection Cleveland - Best Live Action Comedy Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival - Best Australian Short Film FlickerFest - Best Screenplay Nevada City Film Festival - Official Selection Cinequest Film Festival - Best Narrative Short Funcinema - Best Comedy and Best Performance St Kilda - Best Achievement in Editing Naples - Best Live Action Short Tribeca United in-flights - Screening Boulder IFF - Official Selection Sydney Film Festiva, Dendy Awards - Finalist Salute your Shorts - Best Comedy Palm Springs - Official Selection Cinefest Oz - Official Selection Milwaukee - Official Selection Flickerfest National Tour - Part of national Tour THE SILENT CHILD UK/20MINS/2017
Director: Chris Overton Writer: Rachel Shenton Producers: Rebecca Harris, Danny Ormerod and Julie Foy
Synopsis: THE SILENT CHILD centres around a profoundly deaf four year old girl named Libby who is born into a middle class family and lives in a world of silence until a caring social worker teaches her the gift of communication.
Director’s Biography: Born In Staffordshire, Chris began his career as an actor. He worked on various television and film projects with some of the world’s best directors such as Joel Schumacher, Oscar winning director Roman Polanski and was part of the main cast of Bafta award winning film, PRIDE directed by Matthew Warchus. Although an actor Chris watched and learnt from the directors intently, even taking a notepad on set to jot down nuggets of information.
Using the knowledge he learned, Chris founded the UK’s leading showreel production company at the age of 20. Slick Showreels have been producing a wide range of work including showreels, music videos, pilots, short films and documentaries ever since.
THE SILENT CHILD is Chris’s first short film as an independent director and what would arguably be one of his most challenging gigs - With the lead actress being a profoundly deaf five year old girl who communicates only in British sign language. Not shying away from the challenge, he went beyond the requirements to ensure the young actress was comfortable, even taking sign language classes and visiting Maisie at her home in Swindon to build a relationship before the shoot.
Awards: Grand Jury Prize Winner / Best Actress (Maisie Sly) Overcome Film Festival - Best Short Film / Best Actress (Rachel Shenton) Gold Movie Awards - Best Film of The Year (2017) Aesthetica Short Film Festival - People’s Choice Award / York Youth Award Encounters International Film Festival - Showcase Audience Award SCAD Savannah Film Festival - Best Narrative Short Film Foyle International Film Festival - Official Selection Heartland International Film Festival - Official Selection London Short Film Festival - Official Selection London Independent Film Festival - Best Actress (Rachel Shenton) HollyShorts International Film Festival - Official Selection Sydney Indie Film Festival - Best Short Film Kerry Short Film Festival - Official Selection Underwire International Film Festival - Official Selection New Renaissance International Film Festival - Humanity Award / Best Cinematography (Ali Farahani) Bolton International Film Festival - Best Film For Change London Lift-Off Film Festival - Best Acting Ensemble Hollywood International Moving Picture Film Festival - Best Short Drama / Best Actress (Maisie Sly) Southampton International Film Festival - Best Screenplay
Festivals/Screenings: Rhode Island International Film Festival WATU WOTE/ALL OF US GERMANY & KENYAN/23MINS/2017
Director: Katja Benrath Producers: Tobias Rosen, Bramwel Iro and Matrid Nyagah
Synopsis: For almost a decade Kenya has been targeted by terrorist attacks of the Al-Shabaab. An atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Christians is growing. Until in December 2015, muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail.
Director’s Biography: Influenced by theatre throughout her youth, Katja Benrath pursued that career in her early professional life. She became a theatre tailor and worked for Pina Bausch's dance company. Following, she completed her studies in Singing and Acting in Vienna, Austria where she also discovered filmmaking. Her first short films (" BABYDOLL ", " NO ONE PUKES IN HEAVEN " & " TILDA ") have been playing successfully on many international festivals. During her master studies at Hamburg Media School she directed “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN " and “ SECRECIES ". WATU WOTE , her graduation project, is her first film based on a true story.
Awards: Golden Student Academy Awards Winner - Category: Narrative International Film Schools Camerimage 2017 International Film Festival, Polen - Watu Wote - 1. Golden Tadpole 2. The Special Award: Best Cinematographer Student Ajyal Youth Film Festival, Katar - Watu Wote - Bader Best Short Film Award XVI Reggio Film Festival, Italien - Watu Wote - USAC Jury Award & SpeciaL Mention der Internationalen Jury 59. Nordische Filmtage Lübeck - Watu Wote - CineStar Preis 16th International Student Film and Video Festival of Beijing Film Academy, China - Watu Wote - Gold Award DC Shorts Film Festival, Washington, USA - Watu Wote - Audience Favorite Award International Short Film Festival of Cyprus - Watu Wote - Best Director Award 24. OpenEyes Filmfest, Marburg - Watu Wote – Publikumspreis Shorts at Moonlight, Frankfurt - Watu Wote - Kurzfilmpreis 38. Durban International Film Festival, Durban, Südafrika -Watu Wote - Best African Short Film Brooklyn Film Festival, New York, USA - Watu Wote - Best Narrative Short Leiden International Short Film Experience, Niederlande - Watu Wote - Audience Choice Award Bermuda International Film Festival, USA - Watu Wote - Best Short Film & Audience Award 15th San Sebastian International Human Rights Film Festival, Spanien - Watu Wote - Best Short Film
Festivals/Screenings: Zanzibar International Film Festival - Pentedattilo Film Festival, Italy Young Talent Award for best Camera - International Women's Film Festival KIN Wendland Film Festival 2017, Germany - International Short Film Festival, Konstanz Toronto Shorts - 14th Sedicicorto International Film Festival Forli, San Martino in Strada, Italien Studio Hamburg Newcomer Award 2017 - San Diego International Film Festival line up!, CA, USA Shorts at Moonlight 2017, Hofheim, Germany - Kyoto International Student Film & Video Festival Sehsüchte Internationales Studentenfilmfestival 2017, Germany - Early Bird International Student Film Festival Sofia Port Townsend Film Festival, WA, USA - Lublin Film Festival Open Eyes Film Festival Marburg, Germany - Caminhos Film Festival Nordische Filmtage - TiSFF, Thess International Short Film Festival Mind the Indie Film Festival, Plovdiv, Bulgarien - 12th Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival, Hong Kong Leiden International Shortfilm Experience / Kein imdv Kategorie - International Short Film Festival ZUBROFFKA in Bialystok, Polen Kunstgriff-Rolle - Dithmarscher Kurzfilmfest 2017, Germany - Pune International Film Festival, Indien International Short Film Festival of Cyprus - Bamberger Kurzfilmtagen GRR Giovani Registi Raccontano, Ravenna, Italy - Montefeltro Film School Festival, Pennabilli, Italien First Steps Award, Germany - Flickerfest
DEAR BASKETBALL USA/5MINS/2017
Director: Glen Keane Producers: Kobe Bryant, Gennie Rim, Andrea Fairchild, Molly Carter, Dan Goodman and William H. Masterson III
Synopsis: Basketball great Kobe Bryant collaborated with visionary animator Glen Keane and legendary composer John Williams on an animated short film that explores what it means to achieve your dream, and then leave it behind. The animated film is an adaptation of Bryant’s NBA retirement announcement after 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers. Narrated by Bryant, the film’s hand-drawn animation and emotional score will touch fans of all ages with its universal message about love and loss.
Director’s Biography: A 38 year veteran of Walt Disney Feature Animation, Glen Keane trained under Walt Disney’s 9 Old Men. Glen Keane went on to create many beloved Disney characters, such as The Little Mermaid , Aladdin , The Beast , Tarzan , and Rapunzel . In 2012, Keane departed Disney to begin Glen Keane Productions as way to further his artistic explorations in animation, design and film.
Awards: 2018 Annie Nomination “Best Animated Short”
Festivals/Screenings: 2017 Tribeca Film Festival Official Selection GARDEN PARTY FRANCE/7MINS/2016
Directors: Florian Babikian, Vincent Bayoux, Victor Caire, Théophile Dufresne, Gabriel Grapperon and Lucas Navarro
Synopsis: In a deserted rich house, a couple of amphibians explore their surroundings and follow their primal instincts.
Awards: SIGGRAPH (USA) : Best Student Award SICAF - Seoul International Cartoon & Animation Festival (Corée du Sud) : Grand Award Panam Anim (France) : Grand Prix du jury National + Prix du public National + Prix du Public International Animatricks (Finlande) : Honorary Mention of Animatricks International Competition Aniwow - Chinese (Beijing) International Student Animation Festival (Chine) : White Poplar Best Short Animation Festival Tous Courts - Festival International de Courts-Métrages d'Aix-en-Provence et du pays d'Aix (France) : Mention technique Dead by Dawn Festival (Ecosse) : Audience Award for Best Animation GLAS Animation Festival (USA) : Best Student Film Nashville Film Festival (USA) : Prix Animation Festival International du Court-Métrage à Clermont-Ferrand (France) : Mention spéciale FICCI BAF - The Best Animated Frames Awards (Inde) : Best Student Short (Animation) Future Film Festival (Italie) : Jury Award L'ombre d'un court - Festival international du film court à Jouy-en-Josas (France) : Grand Prix du jury Shorty Week - International Film Fest (Espagne) : First Prize TIAF - Taichung International Animation Festival (Taiwan) : Excellent Achievement BanjalukAnima - Banjaluka International Animated Film Festival (Bosnie-Herzégovie) : Grand Prix GIRAF - Giant Incandescent Resonating Animation Festival (Canada) : Honourable mention KDIAF - Kuandu International Animation Festival (Taiwan) : KuanDog Prize of International Student Films Festival de Courts-Métrages de la Côte Bleue - Carry le Rouet (France) : Oursin d'Or 2017 du Film d'Animation Festival du Film d'Espalion (France) : Prix du jury professionnel Animation Festival du Film Court de Villeurbanne (France) : Prix du public Festival de films d'écoles (France) : Prix Jeune Festival du Film Francophone d'Angoulême (France) : Valois René Laloux Meilleur court-métrage Fresh Off the Grill Film Fest (USA) : Viewer's Choice Award for Best International Film
Festivals/Screenings: Prix Ars Electronica (Autriche) International Motion Festival Cyprus (Chypre) Festival du Film Court en Armagnac (France) Cartón - Festival Internacional de Cortos de Animación La Tribu (Argentine) Catacumba Film Festival (Espagne) 3D Wire (Espagne) Festival International du Film d'Animation d'Annecy (France) Primanima - World Festival of First Animations (Hongrie) Animanima (Serbie) LIAF - London International Animation Festival (UK) KLIK! Amsterdam Animation Festival (Pays-Bas) Festival du film d'animation Pour la jeunesse (France) Génération Court (France) Paris Courts Devant (France) Court c’est Court ! (France) Zabut - International Animated Short-Film Festival (Italie) Naples International Film Festival (USA) FILMETS - Badalona Film Festival (Espagne) Un festival c'est trop court ! - Festival Européen du Court-Métrage de Nice (France) interfilm - International Short Film Festival Berlin (Allemagne) Anima - The Brussels International Animation Film Festival (Belgique) Fête de l'Anim (Lille/Tourcoing/Valenciennes) (France) Festival Tournez-Court (France) SIGGRAPH Asia - Computer Animation Festival (Thaïlande) Animasyros International Animation Festival + Agora (Grèce) Festival Effets Stars Montpellier (France) Fredrikstadt Animation Festival (Norvège) Spark Animation (Canada) Programme - Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (Malaisie) Et Cultura (USA) Vilnius International Short Film Festival (Lituanie) Sacramento French Film Festival (USA) FIFF - Festival International du Film Francophone de Namur (Belgique) Rural FilmFest (Espagne) NAFF - Neum Animation Film Festival (Bosnie-Herzégovie) Hamburg Animation Award (Allemagne) LOU USA/7MINS/2017
Director: Dave Mullins Producer: Dana Murray
Synopsis: When a toy stealing bully ruins recess for a playground full of kids, only one thing stands in his way: the “Lost and Found” box.
Director’s Biography: Dave Mullins joined Pixar Animation Studios in September 2000. His first project was working as a pre-production animator on the Academy Award®-winning film, “ FINDING NEMO .” From there he went on to animate on a number of Pixar feature films including “MONSTERS INC., ” “ THE INCREDIBLES ” and “ RATATOUILLE .” Mullins was an animator on the Golden Globe®-winner, “ CARS ” and the short film “ One Man Band ” and worked as directing animator on another Academy Award®-winner, “ UP .” Mullins then was tasked as a supervising animator on, “ CARS 2 ,” and additionally contributed his animation skills to “ BRAVE ,” “ INSIDE OUT ” and “ THE GOOD DINOSAUR .” Most recently, Mullins made his directorial debut on Pixar’s new short, “ LOU ,” which opened in front of “ CARS 3 ” in Summer 2017.
A life-long lover of movies, cartoons and drawing, Mullins was determined to land a job as an artist. While studying painting in art school, he found a RISC 6000 computer in the computer lab storage closet and taught himself how to use it. After creating his first animation of a walking coat hanger he was hooked. He graduated Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art in Illustration and was able to secure his first job in the movies creating animated concession stand ads for theatres.
Prior to coming to Pixar, Mullins early resume includes such production companies as Pike Productions, The Post Group, Acclaim Entertainment, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Dream Quest Images, Digital Domain and Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Festivals/Screenings: SXSW SF FILM (Formally San Francisco International Film Festival) Annecy International Animation Festival Ottawa International Animation Festival Spark Animation Festival NEGATIVE SPACE FRANCE/6MINS/2017
Directors: Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata Producer: IKKI FILMS, MANUEL CAM STUDIO, IKKI INC.
Synopsis: My dad taught me how to pack.
Director’s Biography: Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata are a filmmaking duo based in Baltimore, USA. Collaborating for over a decade as “Tiny Inventions”, they have directed short films, TV commercials, music videos and comics. Produced by Ikki Films and Manuel Cam Studio in France, “ NEGATIVE SPACE ” is their fourth professional film.
Awards: Festival International du Film d'Animation d'Annecy (France) : Prix Fipresci + Mention spéciale André Martin pour un court-métrage français Anima Mundi - Festival Internacional de Animação do Brasil (Brazil) : Grand Prix Anima Mundi + Best Animation Technique Insomnia - International Animation Film Festival (Russia) : Special Prize Spark Animation (Canada) : Best Stop Motion Linoleum International Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival (Ukraine) : Special jury mention for Best Storytelling Animanima (Serbia) : Special Distinction of the jury Fantoche - International Animation Film Festival Baden/Switzerland (Swiss) : Audience Award BAICFF - Bay Area International Children's Film Festival (USA) Stop Motion Barcelona Short Film Festival (Spain) : Jury Award Split Film Festival - International Festival of New Film (Croatia) : Honorable mention ANIMA - Córdoba International Animation Festival (Argentina) : Special mention Animatou (Swiss) : Special mention Pixelatl (Mexico) : Special mention Indie-AniFest - Korean Independent Animation Film Festival (South Korea) : Jury Special Prize Mecal - Festival Internacional de Cortometrajes y Animación de Barcelona (Espagne) Fresh Off the Grill Film Fest (USA) IndieLisboa - Festival Internacional de Cine Independente (Portugal) Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People (Grèce) IndieJúnior Allianz - International Children’s and Youth Film Festival of Porto (Portugal) BuSho - Budapest Short Film Festival (Hungary) : Best Animation Award by student jury + Best Animation Award by professional jury TAFF - Turku Animated Film Festival (Finland) : Audience Award New Hampshire International Film Festival (UK) : Jury Award Best Animation Encounters Short Film & Animation Festival (UK) : Special mention Prix UniFrance du Court-Métrage (France) : Prix Movistar+ – Prix UR Sveriges 3D Wire (Spain) : Best International Short Film TIAF - Taichung International Animation Festival (Taiwan) : Grand Prix KROK International Animated Film Festival (Russia/Ukraine) : Grand Prix Festival du Film Court en Armagnac (France) : Prix du film d'animation Cinemaforum (Poland) Craft International Animation Festival (Indonesia) : Personal special mention Kaohsiung Film Festival (Taiwan) : Outstanding Selection Award KDIAF - Kuandu International Animation Festival (Taiwan) : KuanDog Prize of International Short Films REVOLTING RHYMES UK/29MINS/2016
Directors: Jakob Schuh and Jan Lachauer Producers: Martin Pope and Michael Rose
Synopsis: REVOLTING RHYMES interweaves Dahl’s retellings of classic fairy tales with playful twists and surprising endings. The all-star voice cast comprises of Dominic West, David Walliams, Rob Brydon, Tamsin Greig, Bertie Carvel, Rose Leslie, Bel Powley, Gemma Chan and Isaac Hempstead Wright. Based on the book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake, REVOLTING RHYMES was directed by Oscar nominees Jakob Schuh (“ THE GRUFFALO ”) and Jan Lachauer (“ ROOM ON THE BROOM ”), co-directed by Bin-Han To and produced by Magic Light Pictures’ Martin Pope and Michael Rose (“ THE GRUFFALO ,” “ ROOM ON THE BROOM ,” “CHICO” and “ RITA ”). The animation was created at Magic Light’s Berlin studio and at Triggerfish Animation Studios in Cape Town.
Directors’ Biography: Jakob Schuh was born in Munich in 1976 and after his school graduation in 1995 he first studied in the department of dramaturgy at the LMU in Munich. From 1996 to 2003, Jakob Schuh was a student in the department of direction animation at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, where he has been teaching since 2004. In 2003, Jakob was one of the founding partners of German animation house Studio Soi. Jakob Schuh has been involved as a director and designer in many award-winning animation film productions since 1995, and has worked as a caricaturist and illustrator for a.o. the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
In 2009 Jakob was co-director of THE GRUFFALO which was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Animated Short Film category 2011, a BAFTA in 2010 and the prestigious Cartoon d’Or in 2011. It’s won various awards including the Cristal for Best Television Special at Annecy Animation Festival 2010.
Jan Lachauer was born in Munich in 1983. Between 2006 and 2011 he studied at the Filmakademie Baden-Wu ̈rttemberg in Ludwigsburg and the Gobelins, lécole de l'image in Paris. He made his professional directorial debut as co-director of ROOM ON THE BROOM in 2012. The film was Academy Award nominated in 2014; winner of the Animation category at the 2013 BAFTA Children’s Awards; the 2012 RTS Programme Award for Best Children’s Programme; the International Emmy Kids Awards 2013 and the Cristal for Best Television Production at Annecy Animation Festival 2013. Jan Lachauer lives and works in Berlin.
Awards: BAFTA Children's Award - Best Animation Spark Animation Festival – Best 3D Short Film Annecy Festival of Animation – Cristal for TV Production Anima Mundi - Best Short Film by the São Paulo Audience Krok International Animated Film Festival – Best Film for Children Shanghai Magnolia Awards – Best Storytelling European Animation Awards – Best TV/Broadcast Production Curtas Vila do Conde – Best Film, Curtinhas competition BANFF – Best Animation IndieFEST – Best in Show
Festivals/Screenings: New York International Children’s Film Festival Toronto International Film Festival Kids Seattle International Film Festival Stuttgart International Children's Film Festival Singapore International Children's Film Festival Seoul International Cartoon Animation Festival Cape Town Animation Festival Gijon Gilm Festival Munich Filmfest
EDITH+EDDIE USA/29MINS/2017
Director: Laura Checkoway Producers: Laura Checkoway and Thomas Lee Wright
Synopsis: Edith and Eddie, ages 96 and 95, are America's oldest interracial newlyweds. Their love story is disrupted by a family feud that threatens to tear the couple apart.
Director’s Biography: Director’s Biography: Laura Checkoway's documentary short EDITH+EDDIE has won numerous awards including the IDA Documentary Awards Best Short 2017. The film is executive produced by Steve James and Cher. Her award-winning debut film LUCKY (also executive produced by Steve James) screened at festivals across the globe and premiered on television in 2014. With a background in journalism, Laura penned revealing profiles and investigative features for numerous publications and has authored best-selling celebrity autobiographies.
Awards: 2017 IDA Documentary Awards - WINNER - Best Short 2018 Cinema Eye Honors - NOMINEE - Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Filmmaking Montclair FF 2017 - WINNER - Audience Award Sheffield Doc/Fest 2017 - JURY HONORABLE MENTION - Short Doc Award Palm Springs International ShortFest 2017 - WINNER - Best Documentary Rhode Island International Film Festival 2017 - WINNER - Youth Jury Award for Best Documentary Nevada City Film Festival 2017 - WINNER - Best Short Documentary Hamptons International Film Festival 2017 - WINNER - Best Short Documentary Tallgrass Film Festival 2017 - WINNER - Best Short Documentary
Festivals/Screenings: True/False 2017 (World premiere) CamerImage 2017 Hot Docs 2017 Riga International Film Festival 2ANNAS 2017 Montclair FF 2017 (WINNER - Audience Award) London Short Film Festival 2018 Sheffield Doc/Fest 2017 (JURY HONORABLE MENTION - Short Doc Award) FlickerFest International Film Festival 2018 AFI DOCS 2017 Focus on Female Filmmakers at the American Cinematheque 2018 Palm Springs International ShortFest 2017 (WINNER - Best Documentary) Big Apple Film Festival 2018 DokuFest Kosovo 2017 Irvine International Film Festival 2018 Rhode Island International Film Festival 2017 (WINNER - Youth Jury Award for Best Doc) Nevada City Film Festival 2017 (WINNER - Best Short Documentary) Legacy Film Festival on Aging 2017 Camden International Film Festival 2017 Hamptons International Film Festival 2017 (WINNER - Best Short Documentary) Hot Springs Doc Festival 2017 New Orleans Film Festival 2017 Tallgrass Film Festival 2017 (WINNER - Best Short Documentary) Unorthodocs Festival 2017 Chicago International Film Festival 2017 St. Cloud Film Festival 2017 Frontdoc 2017 Coronado Island Film Festival 2017 (Audience Favorite) Virginia Film Festival 2017 Meet the Press Film Festival 2017 DOC NYC 2017 Toronto Black Film Festival 2018 Big Sky Doc Fest 2018 HEAVEN IS A TRAFFIC JAM ON THE 405 USA/40MINS/2017
Director: Frank Stiefel Producer: Frank Stiefel
Synopsis: This is a portrait of a brilliant 56 year old artist who is represented by one of Los Angeles’ top galleries. Her body of raw, emotional work reveals a lifetime of depression and mental disorder. Mindy Alper has suffered through electro shock therapy, multiple commitments to mental institutions and a 10-year period without speech. Her only consistent means of communicating has been to channel her hyper self-awareness into drawings and sculpture of powerful psychological clarity that eloquently express her emotional state. Through an examination of her work, interviews, reenactments, the building of an eight and a half foot papier-mache’ bust of her beloved psychiatrist, we learn how she has emerged from a life of darkness and isolation to a life that includes love, trust and support.
Director’s Biography: Frank Stiefel the producer, director, writer and cinematographer of HEAVEN IS A TRAFFIC JAM ON THE 405 was born and raised in New York City. He spent most of his career as a production executive in the commercial production industry. First as the executive producer of the bicoastal company, Stiefel & Company and later as an executive producer of the international company, @Radical Media, Mr. Stiefel was responsible for the production of thousands of TV commercials, web initiatives and television programs. He was the only person chosen twice to be the chairman of the trade association the Association of Independent Commercial Producers. Stiefel produced a number of short subject documentaries that appeared at Telluride, Sundance, and Berlin. In 2009 he directed INGELORE , a 40-minute documentary portrait of his mother. The film was honored at many international festivals winning a number of Audience and Best short subject documentary awards. It was seen at IDA DOCUWEEKS presentation, MUSEUM OF MODERN ART DOCUMENTARY FORTNIGHT, and BERLINALE. In 2011 Stiefel retired as an executive producer to concentrate on the making of documentaries.
Awards: Academy Shortlist: Best Documentary Short IDA Finalist: Best Documentary Short Full Frame Documentary Festival: Both Jury Award and Audience Award Austin Film Festival: Jury Award, Audience Award and Courage Award Docutah Documentary Film Festival: Artistic Inspiration Award
Festivals/Screenings: Florida FF Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Sedona Film Festival Julien Dubuque Film Festival HEROIN(E) USA/39MINS/2017
Director: Elaine McMillion Sheldon Producer: Kerrin Sheldon
Synopsis: Once a bustling industrial town, Huntington, West Virginia has become the epicenter of America’s modern opioid epidemic, with an overdose rate 10 times the national average. This flood of heroin now threatens this Appalachian city with a cycle of generational addiction, lawlessness, and poverty. But within this distressed landscape, Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Elaine McMillion Sheldon (Hollow) shows a different side of the fight against drugs -- one of hope. Sheldon highlights three women working to change the town’s narrative and break the devastating cycle of drug abuse one person at a time. Fire Chief Jan Rader spends the majority of her days reviving those who have overdosed; Judge Patricia Keller presides over drug court, handing down empathy along with orders; and Necia Freeman of Brown Bag Ministry feeds meals to the women selling their bodies for drugs. As America’s opioid crisis threatens to tear communities apart, the Netflix original short documentary HEROIN8E9 shows how the chain of compassion holds one town together.
Director’s Biography: Elaine McMillion Sheldon is a Peabody Award winning and Emmy nominated filmmaker from West Virginia. HEROIN(E) was produced in association with the Berkeley-based Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), as part of a new initiative to support women filmmakers. In 2016, Chicken & Egg Pictures awarded her with the inaugural "Breakthrough Filmmaker" award. Sheldon was a 2013 Future of Storytelling Fellow, and named one of the "25 New Faces of Independent Film" in 2013 by Filmmaker Magazine and one of "50 People Changing The South" in 2015 by Southern Living Magazine. She has also contributed several shorts to The New York Times Op-Docs.
Awards: Nominee: Cinema Eye Honors, Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction Short Film
Festivals/Screenings: Telluride Film Festival, Camden International Film Festival Meet the Press Film Festival in Collaboration with AFI, SFFILM’s Doc Stories Obama Foundation Summit KNIFE SKILLS USA/40MINS/2017
Director: Thomas Lennon Producer: Thomas Lennon
Synopsis: What does it take to build a world-class French restaurant? What if the staff is almost entirely men and women just out of prison? What if most have never cooked or served before, and have barely two months to learn their trade?
KNIFE SKILLS follows the hectic launch of Edwins restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio. In this improbable setting, with its mouthwatering dishes and its arcane French vocabulary, we discover the challenges of men and women finding their way after their release. We come to know three trainees intimately, as well as the restaurant’s founder, who is also dogged by his past.
They all have something to prove, and all struggle to launch new lives — an endeavor as pressured and perilous as the ambitious restaurant launch of which they are a part.
Director’s Biography: Veteran filmmaker and journalist Thomas Lennon’s work in documentary film has earned him an Academy Award®, three Academy® nominations, two national Emmys, two duPont-Columbia awards, two George Foster Peabody awards, and two films that premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. Lennon recently completed SACRED , which draws on the contributions of more than 40 filmmakers around the world to explore the role of prayer and ritual in daily life. He founded, with Ruby Yang, the China AIDS Media Project; their AIDS awareness messages were seen over a billion times on Chinese television and the Internet, making it probably the most far-reaching AIDS media campaign ever created.
Awards: Traverse City Film Festival – Audience Award for Documentary Short
Festivals/Screenings: Traverse City Film Festival Rhode Island Film Festival Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival Woodstock Film Festival Chagrin Documentary Film Festival Pembroke-Taparelli Film Festival SFFILM Doc Stories Cucalorus Festival Napa Valley Film Festival Meet the Press Film Festival with AFI DOC NYC Irvine Film Festival Inspire Film Festival TRAFFIC STOP USA/31MINS/2018
Director: Kate Davis
Synopsis: Featuring footage caught on a dashcam, TRAFFIC STOP tells the story of Breaion King, a 26-year-old African-American school teacher from Austin, Texas whose routine traffic violation quickly escalated into a dramatic arrest at the hands of a white police officer
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