FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE National Press Contact: March 13, 2012 Carol Marshall Carol Marshall Public Relations, Inc. 818/760‐6450 [email protected] Local Press Contact: Profile Marketing & PR Joanne Polin [email protected] 561‐350‐8784 Hillary Reynolds [email protected] 954‐815‐1186
17th PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2012 LINE‐UP * * * “ROBOT & FRANK” OPENS FESTIVAL THURSDAY, APRIL 12; CLOSES WITH “SASSY PANTS” * * * Festival Presents 40 World and U.S. Premiere Feature Films
BOCA RATON, FL – The Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) announced its highly anticipated film line‐up for the 17th edition, April 12‐19, 2012, featuring 25 World Premieres, 14 U.S. Premieres and 2 North American Premieres. PBIFF (www.pbifilmfest.org) will present features, documentaries and short films from the U.S. and around the world, including Netherlands, Spain, Argentina, Tanzania, Italy, France, England, Israel, Thailand, Guinea‐Bissau, Portugal, Australia, Canada, Romania and Sweden, and will play host to filmmakers, producers, and actors to represent and discuss their films.
“We are excited about this year’s program,” comments PBIFF Director Randi Emerman, “which reflects our ongoing mission to engage with the community, expanding and enhancing its knowledge of the world through the unique lens of independent film.† We encourage people to take this opportunity to enjoy these diversely international stories.ʺ
Opening Night kicks off with Robot & Frank, directed by Jake Schreier. Set in the near future, Frank, a retired cat burglar, has two grown kids who are concerned he can no longer live alone.† They are tempted to place him in a nursing home until Frankʹs son chooses a different option: against the old manʹs wishes, he buys Frank a walking, talking humanoid robot programmed to improve his physical and mental health. What follows is an often hilarious and somewhat heartbreaking story about finding friends and family in the most unexpected places. Robot & Frank features an award‐winning cast including Academy AwardÆ nominee Frank Langella, James Marsden, Liv Tyler and Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon.† Robot & Frank is a Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions film. Opening Night festivities will take place Thursday, April 12 at Muvico Parisian at CityPlace, followed by a party on the luxurious rooftop of Two City Plaza.
The fest will close with “Sassy Pants,” directed by Coley Sohn and starring Anna Gunn, Ashley Rickards, Diedrich Bader and Haley Joel Osment. Bethany Pruitt (Ashley Rickards) is valedictorian of her one‐student home‐school class. Stuck with younger brother Shayne (Martin Spanjers) under their perky but oppressive mother Juneʹs (Anna Gunn) thumb, Bethanyʹs only escape is a teen fashion ʹzine courtesy of her absentee gay dad. Life at dad Daleʹs (Diedrich Bader) mobile home is no picnic either. Despite the close bond she forms with his fun, younger boyfriend, Chip (Haley Joel Osment), Dadʹs self‐loathing, alcoholic outbursts weigh heavy on Bethany. She finds solace selling clothes at a cheap, trendy retail chain Jail Bait, but her petty, cutthroat coworkers cause a new set of ʺreal worldʺ navigation problems. When Bethany learns about Fashion Art Technology Institute, aka F.A.T.I., she sees a chance to break free once and for all and forge her own brighter future. How she gets there will redefine her and her family and maybe even update her wardrobe. Closing night will take place at Cobb Theatres in Palm Beach Gardens on Thursday, April 19, followed by the “It’s a Wrap” party at 51 Supper Club at Downtown at The Gardens.
Additional highlights of this year’s PBIFF include:
1 The ever‐popular Weekend of Shorts at the Lakeworth Playhouse (Fri‐Sun), as well as the Voices of Local Films which will screen at Mizner Park Cultural Arts Centre on Sunday, April 15
2 Sunday night, April 15, the festival will present an evening of music videos along with a reception at the famed DeBilzan Gallery in Delray Beach.
3 On Sunday, April 15, at 5pm at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Centre, there will be a Special Presentation of Violins in Wartime, featuring a performance by legendary violinist, Ida Haendel.
4 On Monday, April 16, PBIFF will present the World Premiere of Tiger Eyes, the first of iconic author Judy Blumeʹs novels to be brought to the big screen, directed by none other than her son, Lawrence Blume. Both director and the renowned author are attending. Screenings of this year’s films will be held at Muvico Parisian 20 at CityPlace in West Palm Beach, Cobb Theatres in Downtown At The Gardens, Lake Worth Playhouse in Lake Worth, Debilzan Gallery in Delray Beach and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Centre in Boca Raton.
Passes and Tickets are on sale now! Platinum passes are available for $500, which include priority admission to all films, VIP parties and the Silver Screen Splash event; Premiere passes are available for $200, which provide admission to the Opening and Closing night film and party, as well as all regular festival screenings; Gold passes are available for $150, which provide admission to all films and seminars. Individual tickets for special events are also available. Individual screening tickets, which are $10 general admission and $7 for seniors and students will be available in advance at www.pbifilmfest.org or can be purchased at the respective theaters’ box office during the festival.
The Palm Beach International Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization supporting film programs in local schools and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of future filmmakers by helping them fulfill their dreams to one‐day work in the world of film. For more information, please call (561) 362‐0003 or visit the festival web site at www.pbifilmfest.org. 17TH PALM BEACH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FILM LINE‐UP
FEATURES
Appartamento ad Atene, Italy – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Ruggero Dipaola Cast: Laura Morante, Richard Sammel, Gerasimos Skiadaresis The film takes place in an apartment in Athens in 1943 that provides accommodations for a Nazi German officer during the World War. He and his anxious, sickly housewife and their ten‐year‐ old son live there during the fear and terror of the World War.
Best Little Whorehouse in Rochdale, UK – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Ian Vernon Cast: Jeni Howarth Williams, Denice Hope, Caroline Melliar Smith, Sophia Hatfield Joan has been married for twenty five years to her first love. Sheʹs let herself go, and sex is a rare non‐event. After the untimely death of her husband, Joan needs money to pay the mortgage or lose her home. She hits upon the idea of forming a co‐operative brothel, aided by her two unconventional friends. A brothel with no sex!
Broadway’s Finest, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Stephen Marro Cast: John Lavelle, Adam Storke, Nick Cornish, Lauren Hodges Broadwayʹs Finest is a diverting story about three struggling men who impersonate New York City undercover cops and chase down a notorious drug dealer to get the authentic material they need to create their own cutting edge police drama. Log Line: ʹD.I.Y. is Dangerousʹ
Brother’s Keeper, USA – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Josh Mills, T.J. Amato Cast: Alex Miller, Graham Miller, Travis Tritt, W. Earl Brown, Michael Rooker, Ray Wise Identical twins Andy and Pete Goodwynn have been side‐by‐side since the womb. But thatʹs about to change… As their high school graduation nears, Pete plans to marry Maggie, the love of his life, and head off to school to become a preacher. Andy, who wants nothing to do with God, has no plans, no direction, and seemingly no future. But in a cruel twist of fate ‐‐ orchestrated by a rival for Maggieʹs heart ‐‐ Pete finds himself locked away in prison on trumped‐up charges. Will Andy be able to help Pete gain his rightful freedom? Will the brothers seek vengeance on those whose corruption and deceit have taken that freedom away? While revenge may seem sweet, ʺBrothers Keeperʺ is a powerful reminder that only forgiveness can truly heal.
Catalunya ¸ber Alles!, Spain – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Ramon Termens Cast: Joel Joan, Gonzalo Cunill, Babou Cham, Jordi Dauder, Belen Fabra, Vicky Pena, Diana Iuliana An ex‐convict, an unemployed immigrant and a successful businessman are the three main characters of this portrayal of inner Catalonia. Three stories showing a conflicting society forced to reinvent itself or collapse.
Chocolate Underground, Japan Directed by Takayuki Hamana Cast: Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Fumie Mizusawa When chocolate is banned by the new administration, two friends start a bootlegging operation.
Downtown Express, USA Directed by David Grubin Cast: Philippe Quint, Nellie McKay, Michael Cumpsty, Carolyn McCormick, Ashley Springer, Declan Bennett, Jade Synstelien, Chris Eddleton Downtown Express is a story about Russian immigrants in New York City ‐ a father and son drama with music playing a central role. Sasha is a young Russian violinist, and Vadim, his affectionate, overbearing father, a cellist, determined to foster his sonʹs career as a classical musician. When Sasha meets Ramona, a singer/songwriter, joins her band, and falls in love, he careens frantically between two musical worlds and must decide whether to break with his father and forge his own destiny. eMANNzipation, Germany – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Philipp M¸ller‐Dorn Cast: Urs St‰mpfli, Frances Heller, Anna Goergen, Roland Avenard, Michael Schwager Dominik is a man who has lost everything: his wife, son, job, house…even his pride. Financially and emotionally bankrupt, he enters Berlinʹs first and only Maennerhaus ‐ a shelter for battered men. He meets Holger the director of the house and its members. After a psychiatric examination by the youth welfare office he has to participate in the Group Therapy Session of the Maennerhaus in order to get custody of his son Dylan. After an initial resistance, Dominik decides to participate and so the other members of the Maennerhaus learn about Dominikʹs past.
Estamos Juntos, Argentina/Brazil – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Toni Venturi Cast: Leandra Leal, Lee Taylor, Cau„ Raymond, Nazareno Casero, Dira Paes, DÈbora Duboc Film revolves around Carmen, a young attractive doctor from Rio de Janeiro who recently graduated and works in a public hospital in Sao Paulo as a volunteer in the Homeless Movement. She becomes involved with an Argentine musician while having another affair with an enigmatic man. Everything seems all right until she has to face an unpredictable fatality.
Il Cacciatore di Anatre, Italy – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Egidio Veronesi Cast: Federico Mazzolli, Augusto Gatti, Paolo Lodi, Giorgio Paltrinieri, Francesca Botti, Alessio Valori, Simone Tononi Year 1942. In the countryside of Modena, in northern Italy, the story of four friends are intertwined, each of them with their own dream to realize. The story is set at time of the second world war and the tragic events of this period will end by sweeping away everyone and everything. Only one of them will realize his dream.
Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy, Canada – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Rob Heydon Cast: Adam Sinclair, Kristin Kreuk, Billy Boyd, Carlo Rota, Keram Malicki‐Sanchez, Stephen McHattie, Colin Mochrie, Natalie Brown, Dean McDermott, Alex Lifeson Ecstasy is a romantic comedy, a transformational love story from the love of Ecstasy to the ecstasy of Love.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Tamar Halpern Cast: Ryan Simpkins, Maxwell Beer, Mira Sorvino, Joe Pantoliano, Michael Urie ʹJeremy Fink and the Meaning of Lifeʹ is a coming of age, adventure drama that is a warm depiction of parental love and wisdom, and a boy growing into his own understanding and accepting of life. Twelve‐year‐old Jeremy receives an engraved wooden box in the mail from his deceased father. The four keys needed to open the box are missing. Jeremy and his best friend Lizzy set off on a quest around Manhattan to find the keys. The duo meets a wide range of characters who share their perspectives on the meaning of life. Jeremy and Lizzy unexpectedly find insights into science, religion, friendship, and family. Four keys. Two friends. One answer. Or, maybe not.
La Sacree (Holy Lager), Canada – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Dominic Desjardins Cast: Marc Marans, Genevieve Bilodeau, Damien Robitaille Francois Labas is a penniless professional imposter on the verge of making it big by marrying Sofia Bronzeman, a cosmetics queen. But before she agrees to walk down the aisle, Francois needs to father her child…a task that may be easier said than done.
Let Go, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Brian Jett Cast: David Denman, Gillian Jacobs, Edward Asner, Kevin Hart, Maria Thayer, Simon Helberg, Catherine Reitman A comedy about love, loss, and other felonies, film follows the intertwining stories of Walter Dishman, a parole officer struggling with the doldrums of married life and three eccentric ex‐ convicts that were recently put under his supervision.
Nailbiter, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Patrick Rea Cast: Joicie Appell, Emily Boresow, Jason Coffman A mother and her three daughters are on their way to the airport to pick up their father when they get caught up in a tornado. They are forced to take shelter in the storm cellar of a cute Kansas home. During the storm they are trapped in the cellar by a falling tree. They soon discover that they are not alone.
Overnight, USA Directed by Valerie Breiman Cast: Rachel Blanchard, James DʹArcy, Anthony LaPaglia, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Maz Jobrani, Mousa Kraish A unique romantic comedy about two unlikely strangers who fall in love amongst an outrageously offbeat group of passengers and a dog taking the red‐eye flight from Los Angeles to New York on Valentines Day. After breaking up with her boyfriend, Jenny (Rachel Blanchard) shares a red‐eye flight from Los Angeles to New York with a love‐damaged group of passengers: a pilot with anger management issues (Anthony LaPaglia) some oversexed flight attendants, a hip‐hop superstar (Gbenga Akinnagbe) trying to keep it real in coach and a handsome professor whoʹs been unlucky in romance (James DʹArcy). Along with a tiny dog named Kaz. These strangers buckle up for loveʹs bumpy ride.
Pig, USA Directed by Henry Barrial Cast: Rudolf Martin, Heather Ankeny, Keith Diamond, Ines Dali, Patrick Fabian A man wakes up alone in the middle of the desert with a black hood on his head and his hands tied behind his back. At deathʹs door, he is discovered by a widow living alone in the desert and is nursed back to health. Upon regaining consciousness, the man realizes he has no idea who he is or how he got in the desert. His only clue, a piece of paper in his pocket with the name ʺManny Elderʺ written on it, sends him on a journey to Los Angeles to discover his past. But things and people are not what they seem and clues lead to something bigger and more unusual than the man could ever have imagined.
Robot and Frank, USA – OPENING NIGHT Directed by Jake Scheier Cast: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Liv Tyler Set in the near future, ʹRobot and Frankʹ is an offbeat buddy movie about an elderly ex‐jewel thief and his new caretaker robot.
Sassy Pants, USA – CLOSING NIGHT Directed by Coley Sohn Cast: Ashley Rickards, Haley Joel Osment, Diedrich Bader, Jenny O’Hara, Anna Gunn Desperate to get out from under her overprotective mother, a home‐schooled teen runs off to live with her dad, and forms a bond with his much‐younger boyfriend.
Searching for Sonny, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Andrew Disney Cast: Jason Dohring, Minka Kelly, Brian McElhaney, Nick Kocher, Masi Oka, Michael Hogan After receiving a mysterious postcard, directionless pizza delivery guy Elliot Knight (Jason Dohring) decides to attend his high school reunion in Texas and make amends with Sonny Bosco (Masi Oka), an old friend he once wronged. Once there, Elliot reunites with his fraternal twin brother, never‐do‐well Calvin (Nick Kocher), their timorous former pal Gary Noble (Brian McElhaney), and the gorgeous Eden Mercer (Minka Kelly), the love of just about everyoneʹs life. When the guys discover that Sonny is missing under mysterious circumstances, their investigation turns meta when they realize that everything happening seems eerily similar to a play they performed in high school ‐ a play Sonny wrote.
Le sens de l’humour (Sense of Humor), Canada Directed by Emile Gaudreault Cast: Michael Cote, Louis‐Jose Houde, Benoit Briere, Anne Dorval, Sonia Vachon, Eveline Gelinas, Pierrette Robitaille, Luc Senay, Alexandre Goyette, Pierre Collin Luke and Marco are two B‐list stand up comedians who tour across Quebec playing to small town crowds. Part of their shtick every night is to pick a victim and make fun of him, much to the audienceʹs delight. At Anse‐au‐Pic, a remote community which borders the Saguenay region, they choose Roger Gendron, a bashful cook who flips burgers at the local diner. Big mistake: Roger is a complete nut case. Slave, Cyprus/Germany – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Jorgo Papavassiliou Cast: Erika Maroszan, Esther Iszak, Ralf Moeller, Zsolt Bacs, Lucas Babin Twists and turns ensue in this psychological erotic thriller as a clever policeman investigates the death of an abusive businessman who has recently divorced his wife and taken custody of their only child, by revealing her past as a porn star
Tatal Fantoma, Romania – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Lucian Georgescu Cast: Marcel Lures, Mihaela Sirbu American Professor Robert Traum takes a sabbatical and turns his back on a present without surprise, to live an adventure from the past. Back in the Old World, he researches the origins of his father and uncle, the famous Traum brothers: Rudolf, a famous novelist, and Samuel, once a notorious gangster in Chicago. While traveling through Transylvania and Bucovina, Robert meets Tanya, a government archivist. Together they find Sami, the last surviving family friend, a cinema projectionist who was chased out of his old movie theater by a greedy local politician. While Robert helps Sami win his theater, Sami gives Robert his identity back.
The Child Prodigy, Canada Directed by Luc Dionne Cast: Patrick Drolet, Marc Labreche, Macha Grenon, Karine, Vanasse, Guillaume LeBon, Lothaire Blueteau On the keyboard, the young hands fly rapidly and the melody rises. These hands belong to 6‐ year‐old Andre Mathieu. He won his audiences and fired up concert halls in London, New York, Paris and around the world. Adulated, hailed, praised, the child prodigy seemed to have everything to succeed. But another destiny was waiting for him...
The Silent Thief, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Jennifer Clary Cast: Toby Hemingway, Josh Pence, Scout Taylor Compton, Cody Longo, Frances Fisher, Kurt Fuller, John Billingsley, Reid Ewing The Silent Thief is the chilling story of Brennan Marley, an outcast adolescent who threatens to destroy a family’s unity by systematically displacing their absent son, Mike Henderson. Hungry for acceptance and exceptionally cunning, Brennan rents a room from the Henderson family under false pretenses. During his stay, Brennan uses his manipulative prowess to ingratiate himself with each individual family member before Mike returns from college. As Brennan’s tactics become increasingly pernicious, psyches are driven to the breaking point and violence ensues.
Tiger Eyes, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Lawrence Blume Cast: Willa Holland, Elise Eberley, Amy Jo Johnson, Cynthia Stevenson, Tatanka Means, Russell Means The first of iconic author Judy Blumeʹs novels to be brought to the big screen, Tiger Eyes is the story of 17‐year‐old Davey Wexler, coping with the sudden, violent death of her father, and the emotional collapse of her mother. Set in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where the family abruptly relocates to be with relatives ‐‐ and in the surrounding canyons and caves where Davey meets Wolf, a young Native American with his own secret, Tiger Eyes is spare yet romantic, emotional yet never sentimental. This is a universal story of love and loss, of a family torn apart, who slowly, painfully find the courage to face the future.
Totem & Taboo, Canada – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by FrÈdÈric Leclair Cast: Cameron Hartl, Joy Nyveen, Vanessa Pilon, John Dee Lorimier, Tino Barbieri, Jean‐Marc Niquay, Samuel DubÈ Itʹs a story about a hunter who suffers from paranoia and hallucinations after hiding the accidental murder of an old hermit. This prevents him from keeping his passions repressed and makes him turn against his wife and daughter. Itʹs ʹThe Shiningʹ meets ʹJacobʹs Ladder.ʹ
True Bromance, USA/UK – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Sebastian Doggart Cast: Devin Ratray, Condoleezza Rice, Jim Norton, Adrian Grenier, Sebastian Doggart, Carol Connors True Bromance is a hilarious comedy about the absurd role our friends and family play when we fall madly in love.
Zombie Hamlet, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by John Murlowski Cast: Travis Wester, Jason Mewes, Shelley Long, June Lockhart, John Amos Desperate filmmaker Osric Taylor dreams of making his civil war ʹHamletʹ but when production funding dries up he agrees to take southern matron Hester Beauchampʹs offer to fund the film. He throws some zombies in it to make it ʹcommercialʹ. But when the old widow dies in mid shoot, the film crew hides her body in the freezer and Osric dresses up as Hester to cash the last check. This awakens the suspicions of both the local police and an embittered local news reporter as the film crew races to finish their film before being found out. Based on an actual incident.
DOCUMENTARIES
7 Years Underground: A 60’s Tale, USA ‐ WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Jason M. Solomon In 1964, after spending a one year protracted legal battle, co‐club owners, Howard and Elly Solomon were finally granted a ʹuniqueʹ cabaret license and the Cafe Au Go Go opened its doors on February 7. Six weeks later with mounting legal bills and depleting funds the couple were quickly going out of business. With few options, Howard and Elly made a desperate, late minute attempt to keep the club open and reached out to popular comedian, Lenny Bruce. Two days into Lennyʹs performance he was arrested and booked for obscenity charges, alone with Howard and Elly. That historic arrest, and the international press it garnered would put the Cafe Au Go Go on the entertainment world map.
Aurelia, La PelÌcula (Aurelia, The Movie), Spain/UK – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Milena Martinez Aurelia, a 67 year old woman and native Ferreiran, a small village in Lugo (Galicia, Spain), tells us, in an endearing and fun way, how she had to emigrate to London in the 70ʹs where she worked as staff in homes of very rich and sometimes also very famous people.
Cartoon College, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Josh Melrod The film follows a group of students at one of the most selective and grueling art schools in America: The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont. A thoughtful and funny look into the world of aspiring indie cartoonists and graphic novelists, CARTOON COLLEGE is an examination of the creative process in action, demonstrating the passion and fortitude it requires when a person chooses their art over all else.
Crocodile in the Yangtze, USA/China – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Porter Erisman Crocodile in the Yangtzeʹ follows Chinaʹs first Internet entrepreneur and former English teacher, Jack Ma, as he battles government bureaucrats, international media and US giant eBay to build Chinaʹs first global Internet company. The inside story of Chinaʹs Internet revolution told through the eyes of an American who worked in Maʹs company, Alibaba.com.
Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Ari Pinchot, Jonathan Gruber An intimate journey into a young heroʹs mind as he struggles between his devotion to his country and the people he loves.
Free China: The Courage to Believe, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Michael Perlman In the 1990ʹs, Falun Gong, a spiritual and cultural renaissance that combines Buddhism and Taoism, swept across China. When the Communist Government saw health benefits from the exercise and meditation, they actively promoted the movement. Jennifer, a former Chinese Communist Party member and Charles, a Chinese American businessman became practitioners. When the amount of practitioners exceeded the amount of Communist Party member, more than 70 million strong, the government initiated a brutal crackdown that continues to this day. Jennifer, Charles and hundreds of thousands of practitioners were arrested, beaten, tortured and forced into prison/slave labor, making products for export to the West. They survived and escaped to America, where they work to break through the censorship firewall and help free more than one billion people.
Genius On Hold, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Gregory Marquette Featuring Frank Langella Inventor Walter L. Shaw had an astonishing 39 patents to his credit including: conference calling, call forwarding and the White House ʹRed Phoneʹ alert system. His inventions would have earned him fame and fortune, had it not been for the stranglehold of AT&T, the largest government‐granted telecommunications monopoly in the United States, which refused to reward his genius or allow him to compete. Unable to support his family, Shaw accepted work from the only organization that offered to pay: the mob, whose bookies used his ʹblack boxesʹ to make untraceable calls. Shawʹs descent from telecommunications genius into homelessness and his sonʹs resulting ascendancy into the ranks of the Mafia as a notorious jewel thief are told in Genius On Hold. Happy You’re Alive, Israel – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Hilla Medalia Happy Youʹre Alive follows the lives of two men struggling after their encounters with war. This film documents the tragedy of battle in the West Bank and the repercussions that war inflicts upon society, which raises questions of awareness. Both men deal with the terror of their memories in different ways, one turning to music and one to therapy. For more than two years the film crew captured their journey from the inferno of the battlefield and back to the ocean of life. Through the experiences of these men, this film shows that from the most unimaginable pain, one can find strength to live on.
John Portman: A Life of Building, USA/China – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Ben Loeterman Once a maverick that was nearly run out of the American Institute of Architects, John Portman is now recognized as one of the most innovative and imitated architects ever. Over 45 years, Portmanʹs iconic urban statements and eye‐popping interiors have risen in 60 cities on four continents to redefine cityscapes in America, and skylines in China and the rest of Asia. The film captures Portmanʹs approach in an intimate portrait that, by turn, assesses and appreciates Portmanʹs work. Dramatic time‐lapse footage shows off Portmanʹs buildings at their best‐ often in moving sunlight that washes over his facades and spaces.
L’equip Petit, Spain – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Cristina Sanchez Fourteen little kids go over an unsolved football mystery, and they end up teaching an unexpected life lesson to grown‐ups.
Love Free or Die, USA Directed by Macky Alston Featuring Bishop Gene Robinson Love Free or Die is a documentary about a man’s two defining passions: His love for God and for his partner Mark. Bishop Gene Robinson will not give up on either, but the world cannot reconcile. Winner of Special Jury Prize at Sundance, 2012.
Lunch Hour, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by James Costa Featuring Rachael Ray, John Salley and Robin Quivers Lunch Hour is a feature length documentary that explores the National School Lunch Program, childhood obesity, and our addiction to unhealthy foods. It shows what schools, parents, authors, doctors, politicians, celebrities, and chefs are doing to problem solve this issue and help save the children of America. The film stars: Rachel Ray, Robin Quivers, Marion Nestle, and Alex Jamieson.
Money and Medicine, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Roger Weisberg As rising health care costs threaten to bankrupt the country, Money and Medicine examines the waste and overtreatment that pervade our medical system. This timely investigation of the health care cost crisis contrasts intimate patient experiences at one of the nationʹs most costly medical centers with one of the countryʹs most efficient medical centers. While the battle over deficit reduction heats up during the run‐up to the 2012 election, Money and Medicine puts a human face on the medical, ethical, and financial challenges of containing runaway health care spending.
My Mother’s Idea, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Maria Finitzo My Motherʹs Idea is a cross genre documentary‐‐a memoir of sorts that looks back at the experience of studying ballet at one of the most renowned ballet schools in the country and the two dancers‐‐Walter Camryn and Bentley Stone, who ran the school for 45 years. Director Finitzo, herself a former student uses humor, memory, archival footage, narrative filmmaking interlaced with interviews of family and former students to highlight the dance careers of both men and more importantly the power they had as teachers and the profound impact what they taught about dance and life had on the lives of their students.
One Revolution, USA/Tanzania – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Amanda Stoddard One Revolution intimately captures Chris Waddellʹs very human journey to dare greatly and ultimately to live fully. This film chronicles the heart and spirit behind an extraordinary achievement as it documents the first almost entirely unassisted paraplegic ascent of 19,340 foot Mt. Kilimanjaro. Featuring Chris Waddell, thirteen‐time Paraolympic medalist, and Tajiri Mungaya, a Tanzanian porter whoʹs leg was amputated after a tragic rockslide on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Together they attempt to break two world records and become the first Tanzanian amputee and the worldʹs first paraplegic to make it to the summit of Kilimanjaro without being pushed, pulled, or carried.
Rites of Passage – Part 1, USA/Thailand – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Jeff Roy, Marina Goldovskaya, Vivian Umino Filmed in Bangkok, Rites of Passage (Part 1) documents the story of Maya (Mohammed) Jafer, a 42‐year old Indo‐Muslim transsexual female, who underwent gender reassignment surgery in early 2011. This film follows her through the moments leading towards and during her surgery, capturing her in times of utmost vulnerability and ecstasy. Shot in verite style, this film is an honest and truthful look at Mayaʹs journey towards fully‐realized self‐hood.
Salam Rugby, New Zealand/Iran – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Faramarz Beheshti The film is about the start of women rugby in Iran, which coincided with the election of Ahmadinejad as president of Iran.
Season of a Lifetime, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Richard A. Cohen The truly amazing story of Head Football Coach Jeremy Williams in Greenville, Georgia, stricken with ALS (Lou Gehrigʹs disease), refusing to let his terminal illness stop him from living. The cameras follow Coach Williams through his final season as he battles his debilitating disease in the Georgia heat along with the tough Region 4 football schedule. A father figure to most of his underprivileged, African American players, Coach, who is white, is also raising his own son stricken with Spina Bifida. The football team unites this small southern town once divided by black and white and blends them into bleeding Patriot Red and Blue. Follow the Patriots through all their adversity as they strive to make it truly become a ʹSeason of a Lifetime.ʹ Shelter Island, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Michael Canzoniero This documentary by award‐winning director Michael Canzoniero (ʹWedding Brosʹ SXSW, 2008) tells the story of Shelter Island resident and ʹoutsiderʹ artist Harald Olsen and his equally eclectic patron, Jimmy Olinkiewicz, a blue‐collar gas station owner and father of an autistic child. The film follows their amazing journey from selling paintings alongside a picket fence to a major showing at a Chelsea art gallery in Manhattan.
Sweep, UK – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Harold Chapman Everyone has a story to tell. Thereʹs more to a person than their job, than what you see. On a typical day in London, nine street sweepers ruminate on the nature of what they do, where theyʹre from, family, their loves, hopes and dreams.
The Lost Bird Project, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Deborah Dickson The Lost Bird Project‐ a documentary about the stories of five birds driven to extinction in modern times and sculptor Todd McGrainʹs project to memorialize them.
The Sugar Wars: The Life Story of Angelo Lonardo, USA Directed by Joshua Mills and TJ Amato The Sugar Wars chronicles the life of the Lonardosʹ the first crime family in Cleveland, Ohio. On his deathbed, Angelo Lonardo comes out of hiding at 90 years old to tell the story of the Cleveland Mafia. From Father to Son the Cleveland Mafia was risen and died.
This Ain’t California, Germany – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Marten Persiel This Ainʹt California is a celebration of the lust for life, a contemporary documentary trip into the world of roller boarding in the German Democratic Republic. A coming‐of‐age tale of three teenagers and their passionate love for a sport on the crumbling tarmac of the streets in the German Democratic Republic, which was considered very ill‐fitting. The punk fairy tale is a story of the subversive powers of fun in that part of Germany, which had lost touch with its citizens. The film follows its three heroes from their childhood in the seventies through their teenage rebellion in the eighties, ending in the last summer of their life in the German Democratic Republic in 1989, when their life changed forever. And follows them to 2011.
Three Days (of Hamlet), USA – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Alex Hyde‐White Featuring Richard Chamberlain, Tom Badal, Stefanie Powers A heroʹs journey from the most unlikely of sources, a Shakespeare in Love for the reality set… What makes this first‐person doc so unique is the heroʹs personal narrative; an actor/manager, dealing with the ʺghostʺ of his father, both real and imagined. Taking place over three days, they rehearse and perform a stage reading of Shakespeareʹs classic‐‐in this day of mixed media and cultural attention deficit, a monumental task that is rendered gracefully. As the lives of the players juxtapose over their characters, what results is a fascinating look at how, once again, art illuminates life. True Gods Have Bones, (Los Dioses De Verdad Tienen Huesos), Spain/Guinea‐Bissau/Portugal – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Belen Santos, David Alfaro Life in Guinea Gissau is not easy because it is one of the poorest countries in the world. Children with severe health problems have to be evacuated to Europe as their only chance for survival. The day to day of five different people reveal the complications of carrying out these evacuations, such as the day when President and Chief of Staff are murdered and the country is paralyzed, but our protagonists teach us that in Africa easy things are difficult and the impossible becomes simple to achieve.
Unmasked Judeophobia, Florida – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Gloria Z. Greenfield Featuring: Alan Dershowitz, Senator Joe Lieberman, John Bolton, Elie Wiesel The current political assault against the State of Israel fundamentally is a war against the Jewish people and their right to self‐determination. Jews are facing threats much greater than military threats in the battlefield or terror threats in urban centers. They are facing the possible destruction of the idea that there should be a nation state of the Jewish people.
Violins In Wartime, Israel – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Yael Katzir Featuring: Ida Haendel, Shlomo Mintz Violins in Wartime provides a portrait of Israeli life rarely seen in the media. Against the backdrop of the second Lebanon War (Summer 2006), world class soloists Ida Haendel and Maestro Shlomo Mintz come to Israel to teach a group of young soloists from all over the world a violin master course. Amnon Weinstein the Violin maker is the main character of the film. They are all committed to keep on playing, maintaining sanity through music. The violin becomes a symbol for the Jewish‐Israeli narrative and resilience to carry on against all odds.
SHORT FILMS
A Marine’s Guide to Fishing, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Nicholas Brennan Cast: Matthew Pennington Returning to the coast of Maine after a year in the desert serving his country, a young veteran faces the part of himself he left behind.
A Wonderful Day (Yom Nifla), Israel – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Ariel Weisbrod, Yussi Meiri Cast: Lea Konig, Ori Yaniv, Elinor Kluger, Dviv Benedeck Before moving to Germany to become a scholar at a leading university, Shachar plans to propose marriage to his girlfriend, hoping she will accompany him. His grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, will stop at nothing to prevent him from going to Germany. Conflict between the grandmother and her grandson is inevitable.
Angelito, USA/Brazil – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Paula Lima Cast: Angela Carrizosa Will Luisa find love and respect from the insecure 10 year old boy she watches everyday? Can trust and complicity overcome anger and preconceptions?
Brad & Gary, France/USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Pierre Coffin Cast: Jack Angel, Pierre Coffin This short film created by director Pierre Coffin is the story of Brad and Gary, two creatures living in an unknown world. The plot revolves around the big idea that joining forces to overcome oneʹs shortcomings really is the only way out. Or in. Or maybe out again? Itʹs also a tale about friendship, its ups and downs, ins and outs...This fresh look on solidarity was brought to life by the Illumination Mac Guff Studio, the team behind the success of Despicable Me.
Cadaver, USA – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Jonah D. Ansell Cast: Christopher Lloyd, Kathy Bates A cadaver wakes up to say a last goodbye to his wife, but discovers a truth in death he didnʹt know in life.
Cardboard Titanics, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Sam Frazier Jr. Cast: Justin Roth Delusional people build, row and race boats made solely of cardboard and duct tape in an insane effort to recapture the American dream.
Carnations, Australia – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Spencer Harvey, Lloyd Harvey Cast: Rebecca Rocheford Davies, Lloyd Harvey, Frank Stead, Melissa Hume, Ash Bee, Margaret Burnand, Shannon Pope A woman in pursuit of silence finds that a small flower speaks louder than words.
Cicak, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Gerard Mooney An animated video for a song in which a man with a broken heart shares his feelings with his only companion, a gecko on his kitchen wall.
Crime School, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Valentina Bove Cast: Dani Hendry, Jamie Nocher, Steve Wilcox In a world where everyone is a criminal, Marcellino Macario, a student of Crime School, loses his criminal powers when he falls in love with Mimi Fatale. Are criminals able to escape love?
Croquembouche, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Matthew Chevlen Cast: Tania Nolan, Nathan Lucas, Najarra Townsend, Kyle Templin Marion and her husband host a private dinner for four, in which one of the guests turns out to be a woman she had an affair with back during the Second World War. Dead Cat, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Jay Reiss Cast: Josh Weinstein, Nate Mooney, Ethan Sandler, Michael Weston, Lance Barber A half‐dead cat brings out long simmering issues amongst a group of friends.
Dirty Night Clowns, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Ryan Gibeau Cast: Michael Leach, James Wojtal Dirty Night Clownsʹ is a wonderful tale of curiosity, danger and pursuit. This is a music video shot entirely with marionette puppets on miniature sets. The challenge presented by the filmʹs director, Ryan Gibeau, was to create a realistic feeling, cinematic world with stunning visuals and lifelike puppetry. The challenges were accepted by the talented and experienced crew and the result is a successfully charming and magical story for all ages. Sometimes the fates align and two passionate artists are able to collaborate on a truly special level. Singer/songwriter Chris Garneau and producer/director Ryan Gibeau were brought together by the song ʹDirty Night Clownsʹ from Chrisʹ album El Radio. The videoʹs success is a result of strong artistic collaboration and Chrisʹ wildly imaginative music.
Election Day, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Zach Wechter A political thriller set in a high school student government...and thereʹs nothing meaner than American high school politics.
Elvis Prestwick. UK – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Andrew Ryland Cast: Joe Bevan, Mark Conway The life of a strait‐laced office worker, Charlie McLeish, is transformed by Elvis Presley during the only visit ever made to the UK by the King of Rock and Roll.
Ensemble, France – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Mohamed Fekrane Cast: Raymond Bokhour, Geneva Carr, Marylouise Burke, Richard Busser, Miguel Govea, Evan Thompson, Robert Montano Paris, 1942, Isaac ‐ a Jewish child ‐ escapes the Nazis. He finds refuge in the MosquÈe of Paris where Ahmed, the Imam in charge, takes him under his protection. Ahmed then started to save as many children as he could, preventing them from a certain death… Until he was arrested… A poignant story based on true events. Although it is still impossible to evaluate the exact number of lives saved through these extraordinary acts of bravery, the estimates range between 600 and 1500.
High Maintenance, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Shawn Wines Cast: Raymond Bokhour, Geneva Carr, Marylouise Burke, Richard Busser, Miguel Govea, Evan Thompson, Robert Montano Hankʹs just an ordinary guy trying to get his wife pregnant, when his mother‐in‐law shows up and threatens to ruin everything. His desperate attempts to get rid of her lead him down a darkening path filled with guns, drugs, kidnapping, hookers, and karaoke, until heʹs faced with a crisis so out of control, that his marriage, his life, and his embarrassingly‐low sperm count hang in the balance.
High Tea, The Netherlands – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Marc Conen Cast: Peter Nicholas, Elizabeth James, Alistair Scott British master thief Jack attempts to rip off his patron whilst carrying out a job in Amsterdam.
Home, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Caroline O’Brien Cast: Michael Bienvenu, Rosemary Noelle Prejean, Sean OʹHara, Bob OʹBrien, TJ Toups, Brett Golov, Malik Peters, Khalil Boudreaux, Phillip Sanders Scarecrowʹs view of the world from his ʹhomeʹ in the doorway.
Les Rideaux Rouges (The Red Curtains), Spain/Uruguay/Argentina Directed by Alain Deymier Cast: Ana Celentano, Damian Ramonda, German Da Silva, Charles Rafter An oedipus without a complex: Jose, a young man and an orphan, and Pablo, a boy of 13, flee the city, under threat and condemned to drift. Jose, who has to solve the mystery of his identity‐ Who am I? Who is my mother? Is going to have to enter the adult world and set off to find his destiny through a long solitary dialogue with nature and the rhythms of the world. A film that provides a contemporary vision of an ancestral myth.
Love Rain Down, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Derrick N. Ashong Based on the song ʹLove Rain Downʹ from the album ʹAFropolitanʹ by Derrick N. Ashong & Soulfege, this animated film is the tale of a boy named ʹJohnny,ʹ who makes a trip to the legendary ʹCrossroadsʹ of Robert Johnson fame, and stands down the Devil armed only with a song. It evokes a metaphoric comment on the difficult problems of the world today, and encourages those less privileged and powerful to stand up and raise their voices against evil and injustice. ʹLove Rain Downʹ captures the spirit of those from the squares of Cairo to the streets of lower Manhattan and around the globe, who are teaching a new generation how the power of peaceful resistance can transform our world for the better.
Man Man ‘Piranhas Club,’ USA ‐ NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Lex Halaby After getting bullied on his way home from school, an eight‐year‐old boy is inspired by John Watersʹ ʹCrybabyʹ. He undergoes a dramatic transformation to become a badass greaser. With his new greaser gang by his side, he sets out to torment the town and take revenge on his assailants.
My Angel My Hero, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Faizen Sheikh DA is a former dance champion, gets terminated from Wall Street. With the passion to revive his dancing skills, he discovers a brilliant street dancer, Billy ‐ a witty kid yet wise. They set out to form a dance group hoping to follow their dreams until Billyʹs fight with Parkinson’s disease ravels. DA loses his inspiration and Billy his faith ‐ both must make difficult choices. No, Spain – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Guillermo P. Bosch Cast: Pablo Sanso, Tato Sanso, Carolina Estupinan, Jose Joaquin Mazorra An emerging model for advertisements suffers, all of a sudden, a physical defect that drives him into a process of self destruction. A descent into hell around the obsession with looks.
No One But Us, Israel – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Roman Shumunov Cast: Vlad Dubinsky Andrei, a new immigrant from the former Soviet Union, discovers that in order to save his sick fatherʹs life he must to find a large sum of money that is well beyond his means. At the same time, Andrei and his two good friends, Zura and Marat, also living alone in the country, try to achieve their dream to be heard and understood via the rap music. Andrei decides to get the money for the medicine his father so desperately needs at all costs. This is a story about the solitude of the new immigrants and their endless struggle to survive, to be accepted and to be a part of Israeli society.
One Thing, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Thom H. Miller Cast: Randy Molnar, Ann Poonkasem, Eric Esteban, Mikaela Vitug, Mark Rutland, Cindy Miller‐ Ray, Eric Olson A man stares at a plaque in his office that reads, ʹone thingʹ. It is linked to something in the manʹs past. If youʹre haunted by your past, what happens when it pays you a visit?
Pole, Canada – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Peter Pasyk Cast: Peter Pasyk, David Rendall, Shannon Taylor, John Healy, Marianne McIsaac An absurd battle ensues when two postering guys working the same street collide at one pole and must negotiate over turf...a moment in the urban jungle.
Porque Hay Cosas Que Nunca Se Olvidan (Because There Are Things You Never Forget), Spain Directed by Luca Figueroa Cast: Fabio Cannavaro, Amadeo Carboni, Nicolo Urbinati, Emiliana Olmedo Naples, Italy. 1950. Four friends are playing soccer out on the street when their ball is accidently kicked into the evil old ladyʹs yard. Theyʹll never play with their ball again…and for that the revenge will be deadly.
Quirk of Fate, Germany – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Marco J. Riedl Cast: Wotan Wilke Mˆhring, Katharina Wackernagel, Ronald Nitschke, Charles Rettinghaus, Ian K. Odle, Bejo Dohmen, Patrick Mˆlleken, Tabea Willemsen, Klaus Lehmann, Valentin Jeker, Aleksandra Bechtel Anyone who doesnʹt believe in miracles isnʹt a realist!ʹ ‐ Billy Wilder. A quirk of fate leads Luke Hallow to risk violating his parole and losing his newly won freedom. He has to save the life of his nine‐year‐old daughter, Noel, who urgently needs a donor heart. Only a miracle keeps him from losing everything forever. Right Hand, Red, USA – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Craig Gilbert Cast: Colin Key, Aria McKenna, Tess Cronin, Sarah Shankman, Morgan Evans Jack and Kathy have a 14 year old daughter with cerebral palsy and an uncompromising love for each other. A short film about limitations.
Roundabout, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Rohit Batra Cast: Yash Dhillon, Derek Long, Edurne Ganem Two strangers learn the communality of their existence, motivated by a random act of kindness.
Ruin Town, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Emily Needell A couple struggles to survive in a post‐war city, foraging for food and staying on guard against other people. However, the two ultimately rediscover the power and importance of human compassion for others despite their decaying world.
Runway, Australia – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Tony Ferrieri Cast: Adam Noviello, Peter Murdoch, Anne McCaffery‐French, Grace Presse, Kendal Rae, Nicole Gregurek Georgeʹs life is all about straight lines. The world is full of curves. (Especially women.)
Scenen, Sweden – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Hans Montelius Cast: Jonas Larsson, Lukas Loughran, Johanna Tschig A director and playwright battles his inner demons of jealousy as he tries to write a play for his girlfriend and his brother, but as the writing and rehearsals progress the demons take over.
Solo, Piano – NYC, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Anthony Sherin On a cold winter morning, a lone piano stands curbside in New York City. All day long, passersby stop to play. They collect and disperse, measure and push. Who abandons a piano? Plinking slightly out‐of‐tune over the white noise of Broadwayʹs cars, buses, trucks, and sirens, the piano awaits its fate. Solo, Piano ‐ NYC is a 5‐minute film of the last 24 hours of a once‐ wanted piano.
Speak Now, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Jai Jamison Cast: Stefani Zabner, Joe Carlson, Tamara Johnson, Barry Bell, Eva DeVirgilis, Irene Ziegler, Charles Wissinger, Ashley Keeter, Roger Gregory Tabitha returns from Europe to attend her sisterʹs wedding. While there she tries to get her recently divorced parents back together with the help of her new boyfriend, Leo the Mime.
Starting Over, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Scott McKenzie Starting over is an animated music video made with 19th century illustrations of wildlife that are vibrantly colored. The classic storyline, along with captivating images, draw any aged viewer into multiple viewings.
Sudd, Denmark/Sweden – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Erik Rosenlund Cast: Frida Jansdotter, Bjˆrn Sˆderb‰ck As the world transforms, youʹre the last one to find out.
The Big Bris, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Oren Pelg Cast: Casey Adler, James Eckhouse, Ellen Bry, Andoni Zorbas Mo Green is a young aspiring comedian whose first big comedy gig falls on the same night as his circumcision ceremony.
The Contract, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Ryan Goldstein Cast: Adam Korson, Jack Coleman, Abbey Molyneux, Zachary Haven, Tyler Langdon, Vaughn Zoulin, Moises Castro, Gracie Lane, Rachel Behl, Theodore Martinez, Jay Edwards The Contract tells the story of a father willing to sacrifice everything, in order to fulfill a promise made to his dying wife.
The Digital Age, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Nina Vizcarrondo Cast: Nina Vizcarrondo A story of technology, nostalgia and dating past your 70s.
The Endless, USA – FLORIDA PREMIERE Directed by Rusty Sheridan Cast: Brett Gentile, Mike Ruff, Heather Osborne, Anthony Burnette The Endless is a short film noir which follows Victor, a jaded voyeur who travels the streets of an unnamed city over the course of a night observing the silent chaos and destruction that has swallowed it. In the midst of a torrential downpour, he witnesses the decay of a civilization that permeates every dark and dangerous crevice in the city. As Victor navigates his way through these bleak vignettes, he is faced with the question of if there is any hope or purpose in existing at all.
The Escape, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Alex Forstenhausler Cast: Len Cariou, Anthony Pierini, Turron Alleyne, Jennifer Grace, Joe Novellino Jerry puts into action the most daring escape ever attempted in the history of Sunnyside Nursing Home.
The Future, Australia – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Venetia Taylor Cast: Helen Tonkin, Peter McAllum, Brooke Ellen Louttit, Alex Bryant‐Smith, Stephanie Wood, Ben Brave When youʹre young and in love the future seems bright... but then what? The Game, Poland – NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE Directed by Marcin Janiec Somewhere between life and death a thrilling chess match takes place. The stake is high ‐ a gateway to the world of living. And the sole referee of this exciting tournament is a figure no one wish to meet in their path.
The Lift, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Lyndon Barrois Cast: JB Blanc, Meredith Monroe, Sam Scarber, Kaye Kittrell The Lift is the dramatic story of Albert Brown, stuck on a stretch of Illinois highway in the summer of 1928, in need to get home to Chicago, when along comes Mary Lindsay, a free‐ spirited woman on a cross‐country drive. She reluctantly grants him the favor of a ride, and they embark on a combative journey of discovery in an ever‐changing world ‐ a world he isnʹt ready to embrace. Only after a violent incident does Albert get the chance to return Maryʹs favor, and in his own special way reveal himself as Americaʹs most notorious gangster.
The Maiden and The Princess, USA – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Ali Scher Cast: David Anders, Julian Sands, Tallulah Wayman‐Harris, Lora Plattner, Elizabeth Southard, Peter OʹMeara, Lindsay N.W. LaVanchy, Lyle McConaughy In the heart of London a young girl searches for herself amidst a musical fairytale.
The North London Book of The Dead, UK – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Jake Lushingon Cast: Ed Gaughan, Gwen Taylor, Dan Stevens, Marek Larwood, David Westhead, Elizabeth Counsell, Charlotte Randle, John Moratis North London Book of The Dead is a comic story of loss and acceptance, coupled with a surreal vision of the afterlife, based on a Will Self short story. Grown man, W (Ed Gaughan), struggles to come to terms with the death of his domineering mother (Gwen Taylor), only to discover that sheʹs spending her dead existence very happily in a suburb of London.
The Stand‐In, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Ricky Lloyd George Cast: Rudolf Martin, Nathan Moore, Justine Eyre, Tiz McWilliams, Braxton Davis, Bruce Burns, Peter Cameron, Jason Stuart, Jon Huck, Scott MacArthur Todd is the mild‐mannered stand‐in on the big budget Hollywood film, ʹDevils May Care,ʹ directed by the brilliant Dutch auteur, Jan De Groot. When Humphrey Russell, the enigmatic, but volatile British star, leaves the set in a huff, production is forced to use Todd for a few simple shots, which puts Todd in the spotlight. Gradually he proves himself, and this could turn out to be Toddʹs lucky day...
Undertow (Onderstroom), Netherlands – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Diede in’t Veld Cast: Gabby Milder, Viggo Waas, Wiebe De Jong More than anything else in the world, thirty‐eight year old Maud wants a child of her own. It is such an overwhelmingly strong feeling that it takes over every aspect of her existence. To get her life back into perspective and to help her†confront her grief, she forces herself to watch happy families picking up their kids from school. On her way home she feels a little better and starts flirting with a man on a bicycle who is waiting at the other side of an open canal bridge. But as the bridge closes, she suddenly sees his little boy sitting in the child seat of his bike.†As they pass each other on the bridge they exchange looks; his exploring, hers confused. At that precise moment a speeding car ploughs into his bike throwing the little boy out of the child seat and into the murky waters of the canal. Maud is in shock but realizes the child is in the water and jumps after him.†In a physical and emotional struggle under water Maud desperately tries to save the little boy until she realizes she has no choice but to let go of him ‐ along with her deep desire for a child of her own.† In the street, everything has gone back to normal again. The only thing that remains of the accident is the wreckage of the broken bike ‐ without its child seat
Unfarewell, Spain – U.S. PREMIERE Directed by Ainhoa Menendez Cast: Jim Trainor, Emilia Uutinen, Eliott Gabbitas In an idyllic village, the inhabitants raise hens, knead bread, tend to their crops… And guard a dark secret.
Warehouse, USA – WORLD PREMIERE Directed by Casey Nelson Cast: Casey Nelson, Chris Hayes Two best friends awaken to find themselves prisoners in an abandoned warehouse with no idea how they got there, they must piece together the events that led to their capacity, and figure out a way to escape. One of them has a dark secret however, that may prove deadly.
VOICES OF LOCAL FILMS
The $ingle Girlʹs Guide to Travel in Paris Directed by Dawn Dubriel Join host Dawn Dubriel on a Tour de Paris, the city of love. Take a riverboat cruise down the Seine River, smell the frankincense and see the magical stained windows in the Gothic Notre Dame cathedral. Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower then head on the metro to Montemarte to bask in Parisʹ local artistsʹ ambiance.
Let Yourself Be Heard Directed by Talina Adamo A young couple worries how their other half will react if they passed gas in front of each other. To find out if it’s true love, they must let themselves be heard.
Changing Seasons, Directed by Bruce Feigenbaum Music video featuring Lucas Feigenbaum
Opportunist Directed by Phillip Wong‐Kuon An inexperienced thief, Wayne, breaks into a Boca Raton townhouse and is caught by an older man, Marvin, the owner of the home.
Crazy House Directed by Robert Goodrich Three deadbeats, struggling to survive a miserable Minneapolis winter and the faceless oppression of The Man, consider selling their vital organs for a taste of financial freedom and the promise of unlimited painkillers.