THE DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL LIFESAVER AWARD
RECIPIENT: DIRECTOR/WRITER/ACTOR – KEVIN SMITH
BIOGRAPHY:
Born and raised in New Jersey and very proud of it, Kevin Smith’s
love for everything Jersey can be seen in all of his movies. His
first movie, Clerks (1994), was filmed in the
convenience store in which Smith worked in North Jersey. This movie
won the highest award at the Sundance film festival, and was brought
to theaters by Miramax Films. The movie went over so well that
Smith was able to make another movie, the comedy Mallrats (1995).
This movie, as Kevin has said, was meant to be a "smart Porkys".
During filming for this movie, Smith met his new close friends,
and stars of his next movie, Ben Affleck and Jason
Lee, as well
as his new girlfriend, Joey Lauren Adams. Smith
has said that his relationship with Adams has been much of an inspiration
for his next movie, Chasing Amy (1997), Smith's
comedy drama which won two independent Spirit awards: Best
Screenplay and Best
Supporting Role (for Jason Lee)
Around the time that Chasing Amy was wrapping, Smith broke up with
Adams, and not long after met his soon-to-be wife, Jennifer
Schwalbach Smith.
Next, Smith started on Dogma (1999), a controversial film about Christianity. Around this time Smith's wife gave birth to their first baby girl, Harley Quinn Smith. Harley Quinn and Jennifer both have roles in Smith's next film, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001). In this road trip comedy, the cult heroes, Jay and Silent Bob go on an adventure to stop the production of a movie being made about them, find true love, and save an orangutan. In 2004, he wrote and directed Jersey Girl, which starred Ben Affleck, George Carlin, and Liv Tyler, and two years later, he completed the sequel to his first film, Clerks II, adding Rosario Dawson to the cast opposite himself and original Clerks cast members Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Jason Mewes. Next up, Smith will premiere a new, non-Askewniverse comedy titled Zack and Miri Make a Porno, starring Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks.
Smith will be awarded with the inaugural DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL LIFESAVER AWARD at the Resorts Hotel and Casino on Saturday night, August 9th, after he participates in a Retrospective on his career for DBFF festival goers.
THE DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL INDEPENDENT ICON AWARD
RECIPIENT: DIRECTOR/WRITER/ACTOR – JIM JARMUSCH
BIOGRAPHY:
Born January 22, 1953 in Akron, Ohio,
is an American independent film director. Jarmusch's first major
film, Stranger Than Paradise, was released in 1984 to much critical
acclaim. Recounting a strange journey of three disillusioned youths
from New York to Cleveland to Florida, the film broke many conventions
of traditional Hollywood moviemaking, and to this day is still
considered a landmark work in modern independent film. In 1986,
Jarmusch wrote and directed Down by Law, a film about three convicts
in a New Orleans jailhouse. His next two films each experimented
with parallel narratives: Mystery Train told three stories, one
after the other, set on the same night in and around a small Memphis
hotel, and Night on Earth involved five cab drivers and their passengers
on rides happening simultaneously in five different world cities,
beginning at sundown in Los Angeles, and ending at sunrise in Helsinki.
In 1995, Jarmusch released Dead Man, a film set in the American West in the 19th century starring Johnny Depp and Gary Farmer that has been called a Western movie, an "acid western," an "anti-Western," and a "post-Western" by various critics. Following artistic success and critical acclaim in the American independent film community, he achieved mainstream renown with his far-East philosophical crime film, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai, starring Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker as a young inner-city man who has found purpose for his life by unyeldingly conforming it to Hagakure, an 18th-century philosophy text and training manual for samurai, becoming, as directed, a terrifyingly deadly hit-man for a local mob boss to whom he may owe a debt, and who then betrays him.
In 2004, he released Coffee and Cigarettes, a collection of short film vignettes, featuring actor-filmmaker Roberto Benigni, comedian Steven Wright, musicians Jack and Meg of The White Stripes and RZA & GZA of the Wu Tang Clan, along with actors Bill Murray, Steve Coogan and Alfred Molina. Jarmusch is currently in post-production for his new film, the crime thriller The Limits of Control. The film stars Academy Award winners Bill Murray and Tilda Swinton, along with actors Isaach de Bankolé, Gael García Bernal, Paz De La Huerta, John Hurt, and Luis Tosar.
Jarmusch will be awarded with the inaugural DBFF INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING ICON on Sunday, August 10th, at the Resorts Hotel and Casino during our Closing Night Awards ceremony.
THE DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL ACTING CHAMELEON AWARD
RECIPIENT: Actor/Producer/Writer – WILLIAM FORSYTHE
William
Forsythe is an American actor, frequently cast in "tough
guy" roles such as criminals or law enforcement officers.
He portrayed organized crime figure Sammy "The Bull" Gravano in the HBO telefilm Gotti, as well as Al Capone in the 1993 series
The Untouchables.
His film credits include Once Upon a Time in America (Robert DeNiro), Cloak and Dagger (Dabney Coleman), Raising Arizona (Nicolas Cage), American Me (Edward James Olmos), Extreme Prejudice (Nick Nolte), Dead Bang (Don Johnson), Out for Justice (Stephen Seagal), Stone Cold (Brian Bosworth), Row Your Boat (Jon Bon Jovi), The Rock (Sean Connery), Virtuosity (Denzel Washington), Dick Tracy (Warren Beatty), The Substitute (Tom Berenger), Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (Andy Garcia), The Devil's Rejects (Director – Rob Zombie), Blue Streak (Martin Lawrence), Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (Rob Schneider), City by the Sea (Robert DeNiro), Freedomland (Samuel L. Jackson), Halloween (Director-Rob Zombie), 88 Minutes (Al Pacino) and the upcoming WWE Film Journey of Death starring Triple H.
In addition, Forsythe has guest-starred on numerous television shows, including Hill Street Blues, Cybill, Shark, John Doe, and Las Vegas. He also appeared as the lead singer of the fictional punk rock band "Pain" in an episode of “Chips”. He also starred in the Masters of Horror episode, We All Scream for Ice Cream.
At the DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL, Forsythe stars in 2 films on the slate, the Jersey filmed horror thriller iMurders, and the North Carolina shot horror film Southern Gothic. Forsythe may also receive the inaugural Downbeach Film Festival Acting Chameleon Award for his versatile character acting career that spans over 20 years.
THE DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL YOUNG ICON AWARD
RECIPIENT: Actor/Producer – PAUL DANO
Since appearing as Howie Blitzer in the indie drama L.I.E. (Brian
Cox), the big budget drama The Emperor’s Club (Kevin Kline),
the big budgeted teen comedy The Girl Next Door (Emile Hirsch),
and the crime thriller Taking Lives (Angelina Jolie), Dano has
blazed a path through Hollywood like very few his age. His biggest
breaks came in 2006 and 2007 when he played “Dwayne” in
the feature film Little Miss Sunshine and Eli and “Paul Sunday” in
Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood, and continues working
in other, mostly independent films. In the film Little Miss Sunshine,
he played Dwayne, a teenager who took a vow of silence until he
could accomplish his dream of being a test pilot. He said in an
interview that it took days to practice his vow of silence. There
Will Be Blood landed him on a BAFTA award nomination for Best Supporting
Actor, which he lost to Javier Bardem for No Country for
Old Men.
He is also active on stage, and has appeared in several Broadway productions including A Christmas Carol, Ragtime, Inherit the Wind, A Month in the Country, A Thousand Clowns at the Roundabout Theatre and the Ethan Hawke directorial stage debut Things We Want during its 2007 off-Broadway run. As a side project, he also provides vocals and lead guitar for the band Mook.
Rolling Stone magazine included Dano on its Hot List '07 under
Hotcoming Attractions, calling his performance style "Daniel
Day-Lewis + Billy Crudup x Johnny Depp."
Next up for Dano is a film Dano executive produces titled Gigantic,
which is a comedy he stars in opposite John Goodman (“Roseanne”)
and Zooey Deschanel (M Knight Shylaman’s The Happening).
After that, he stars in the fantasy drama Where the Wild
Things Are, alongside Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (Last King of Scotland),
and James Gandolfini (“The Sopranos”).
At the DOWNBEACH FILM FESTIVAL, Dano will receive the inaugural DBFF YOUNG ICON AWARD at the DBFF Awards Gala on Sunday, August 9th at the Resorts Screening Room in Atlantic City. Dano will also be on hand during the East Coast premiere of a film he co-stars in titled Explicit Ills.
OFFICIAL DOWN BEACH FILM FESTIVAL FILM SELECTIONS
The Festival has confirmed the following films will be shown at the Margate Performing Arts Center. Ticket info, click here...
EXPLICIT ILLS - (East Coast Premiere)
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Format: Feature Film Director: Mark Webber Cast: Rosario Dawson, Paul Dano, Naomie Harris, Frankie Shaw, Lou Taylor Pucci, Tariq Trotter, Francisco Burgos, Martin Cepeda, Destini Edwards Screenwriter: Mark Webber Producers: Jim Jarmusch, Elizabeth Destro, Mark Webber, Sol Tryon, Michael Wolk, Gary P. Adelman, J. Andrew Greenblatt, Nicolas Kalikow, Michael E. Morrison, Seth Scher Cinematographer: Patrice Lucien Cochet Production Companies: Riker Hill Films, Mangusta Productions, Exoskeleton, Film 101 Productions SYNOPSIS: Explicit Ills is a filmic tapestry, and it is a cohesive, fluid one. It concerns a myriad of characters in the Philadelphia suburbs: men and women, children and adults, blacks and whites. They each share a geographical and socio-economic proximity, scraping together for health, security, and happiness, and there’s the impression that their collective strife is demeaned by a perceptible bureaucracy. Talent in Attendance: Writer/Director-Mark Webber - Executive Producer - Jim Jarmusch - Producers - Liz Destro & Sol Tryon - Actors - Paul Dano, Lou Taylor Pucci, & Frankie Shaw, plus various local cast & crew members |
JEROME BIXBY'S THE MAN FROM EARTH
(Opening night Film)
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Format: Feature Film Director: Richard Schenkman Cast: David Lee Smith, John Billingsley, William Katt, Tony Todd, Annika Peterson, Richard Riehle, Alexis Thorpe, Ellen Crawford Screenwriter: Jerome Bixby Producers: Emerson Bixby, Mark Pellington, Richard Schenkman, Eric D. Wilkinson, Robbie Bryan Director of Photography: Afshin Shahidi Production Company: Falling Sky Entertainment Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment SYNOPSIS: After history professor John Oldman unexpectedly resigns from the University, his startled colleagues impulsively invite themselves to his home, pressing him for an explanation. But they're shocked to hear his reason for premature retirement: John claims he must move on because he is immortal, and cannot stay in one place for more than ten years without his secret being discovered. Tempers rise and emotions flow as John's fellow professors attempt to poke holes in his story, but it soon becomes clear that his tale is as impossible to disprove, as it is to verify. Talent in Attendance: Actor: William Katt – Producer: Eric D. Wilkinson |
iMURDERS
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Format: Feature Film (for mature audiences only) Director: Robbie Bryan Cast: William Forsythe, Gabrielle Anwar, Frank Grillo, Terri Colombino, Billy Dee Williams, Charles Durning, Tony Todd, Margaret Colin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Joanne Baron Screenwriter: Robbie Bryan and Ken Del Vecchio Producers: Robbie Bryan, Brooke Lewis, Jeff Quinlan, Eric D. Wilkinson, Daniel Yulkan, Anthony Falco, Christine Botelho, Ken Del Vecchio, Christine Napurano Cinematographer: Hiroo Takaoka Production Company: Good to Be Seen Films Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: When the participants of an internet chat room are brutally murdered in succession, one person’s past holds the key to the gruesome mystery. Talent in Attendance: Writer/Director:Robbie Bryan – Producer: Eric D. Wilkinson – Actor : William Forsythe, Frank Grillo, Brooke Lewis |
BENNY BLLISS AND THE DECIPLES OF GREATNESS
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Format: Feature Film Director: Martin Guigui Cast: Courtney Gains, Yvonne Delarosa, Norman John Cutliff III, Corey Britz, Michael Hateley Screenwriters: Martin Guigui, Courtney Gains Producers: Martin Guigui, Michael Hateley, Courtney Gains, Thomas Baraka DiCandia, Desirea Lozensky, Dahlia Waingort, Pete Wooster, Brett Kerr, Troy Kelly, Erin M. Fitzgerald Cinematographer: Massimo Zeri Production Company: Sunset Pictures, No Big Deal Productions Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: A soulful musician becomes enlightened and embarks on a crusade enlisting a band to spread the "word" through songs in a mission to rid the world of distracting electronic gadgets that are, according to him, stunting human evolution. Talent in Attendance: Actor: Courtney Gains – Writer/Director – Martin Guigui |
STUCK
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Format: Feature Film (for mature audiences only) Director: Stuart Gordon Cast: Mena Suvari, Stephen Rea, Rusell Hornsby, Rukiya Bernard, Patrick McKenna Screenwriters: John Strysik (screenplay), Stuart Gordon (story) Producers: Christian Arnold-Beutel, Sam Grana, John F.S. Laing, Tim McGrath, Julie J. Molgo, Zenon Yunko, Jay Firestone, Ken Gord, Robert Katz Cinematographer: Denis Maloney Production Companies: Amicus Entertainment, Prodigy Pictures, Tumidor Distributors: ThinkFilm, Image Entertainment, Rigel Entertainment SYNOPSIS: Brandi (Mena Suvari – American Pie) hits Tom (Stephen Rea – V for Vendetta) with her car on her way home from a night of partying. With Tom still alive but lodged through her windshield, she promises to go a hospital but then decides to leave Tom to die in her garage as she realizes that her future is inextricably tied to her victim. Realizing this plan, Tom knows escape is his only chance for survival. |
PHOBE IN WONDERLAND
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Format: Feature Film Director: Daniel Barnz Cast: Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman, Campbell Scott Screenwriter: Daniel Barnz Producers: Ben Barnz, Nissa Ren Cannon, Doug Dey, Lynette Howell, George Paaswell Cinematographer: Bobby Bukowski Production Company: Silverwood Films Distributors: ThinkFilm, Red Envelope Entertainment, Lifetime Network SYNOPSIS: Enter the magical world of the inquisitive and creative Phoebe Lichten (Elle Fanning – Babel), where eccentric characters from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” visit her on a daily basis. Her obsession with the classic story isn’t accidental, since her mother Hillary (brilliantly portrayed by Felicity Huffman, “Desperate Housewives”) is also obsessed, writing a book on the subject. Playing the lead role of Alice in the school play led by her unconventional drama teacher (Patricia Clarkson – Pieces of April), Phoebe develops troubling behavior. She finds herself being drawn closer to her mother even though she is pulling away from school and the rest of her family. Her dysfunctional behavior increases, landing the confused girl in the principal’s office and getting her in trouble with her parents. At the core of the expertly-crafted narrative is a brilliant psychological examination of how what is considered “normal” to adults is not necessarily so for children. Talent in Attendance: TBD |
HOMELAND
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Format: Feature Film Director: Michael Eldridge Cast: Max Rhyser, Yifat Sharabi Screenwriter: Brad Rothschild Producers: Brad Rothschild, Steve Moskovic Director of Photography: Joe Livolsi Production Company: Barataria Productions SYNOPSIS: Upon completing his service in the Israel Defense Forces, Kobi Zucker needed to get away from from the pressures of the ongoing struggles of the Middle East. With memories of his tour of duty in the territories fresh in his mind, he comes to New York City on his way to South America. While working to earn money for his trip, Kobi meets the girl of his dreams. Beautiful and intelligent, Leila is everything that Kobi has ever wanted. But Leila is Palestinian, having come to New York from the West Bank with her family following the death of her oldest brother during the Intifada. Despite their differences, Kobi and Leila fall in love, but can this love overcome the ancient hatreds and unhealed wounds dividing Israelis and Palestinians? Talent in Attendance: Writer/Director: Michael Eldridge – Producer: Brad Rothschild |
COSMIC RADIO
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Format: Feature Film Director: Steven Savage Cast: Michael Madsen, Rider Strong, Irene Bedard, Seymour Cassell, Jonathan Sachar, Kevin Gage, Lindsey Price, Randy Spelling, Darryl Hannah Screenwriters: Steven Savage, Gigi Mullins Producers: Patrick Durham, Patrick M. Gallagher, Ryan R. Johnson, B.P. Cooper Cinematographer: Tarina Reed Production Companies: Cosmic Productions, Velocity Pictures SYNOPSIS: Set against the background of a strong environmental message and some of the coolest music ever to hit the screen, ‘Cosmic Radio’ is a funny, touching, and timeless tale of love and learning — a coming-of-age story with a Rock n’ Roll edge. Talent in Attendance: Actor – Jonathan Sachar |
THE SPEED OF LIFE
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Format: Feature Film Director: Ed Radtke Cast: Jeremy Allen White, Justin Soto, Samantha Hosie-Leung, Peter Appel, Robert Seymour Screenwriters: Ed Radtke, Marc Nieson Producers: Joe Nicolo, Jonathan Sachar, Jeffrey Erb, F.X. Vitolo, Ed Radtke, Ira Duetchman, Greg O’Connor, Josh Fagini, Cindy Tolan Cinematographer: Learan Kahanov Production Companies: Morningstar Films, Kindred Media Group, Solaris, Emerging Pictures SYNOPSIS: The Speed of Life is set in New York City and centers around a 13 year old from Brooklyn named Sammer who occasionally travels into Manhattan with friends to steal video cameras from tourists. Sammer is a slightly quirky fantasy prone teenager who lives alone with his blind foster mother and has plans to leave the city. As soon as he can save enough money, he plans to help his foster mother attempt to regain her failing vision, then he intends to travel to far away lands and explore the world, a world he sees primarily through the stolen videotapes of tourists. As we learn about Sammer and his working class neighborhood, we are introduced to other characters who weave in and out of his life, characters that include: a juvenile probation officer who doesn't like juveniles, an ex-con who steals puppies and a street prophet who's trying to commit suicide. It's the story of ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, blurring the line between being human and being superhuman. Talent in Attendance: Director: Ed Radtke (tentative) - Producer: Jonathan Sachar |
PUBLIC INTEREST
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Format: Feature Film Director: Brad Robinson Cast: Robert Curtis Brown, Eve Gordon, Stuart Pankin, Kelly Miller, Kristina Klebe, Josh Grisetti, Arthur Aulisi, Jeffrey Frost, Jacquin Rashad, Yan Xi, Cheryl Scungio, Suzanne Friox Screenwriter: Brad Robinson Producers: Nicole DeFalco, Brad Robinson, Michelle Orren, Corey Peterson Cinematographer: Jeff Preston Production Companies: Nomad Productions, Two Pints Productions Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: Public Interest is a satire that delves into the world of reality television. Through "archival footage" and modern day interviews, the film looks back on what was the biggest disaster in the history of television. A social commentary on how obsessed and ridiculous our culture has become with reality television, the film delves into the minds and actions of those who put the programs on the air, those who aspire to be on them, and ultimately, the American culture that has become obsessed with these programs. Talent in Attendance: Writer/Director: Brad Robinson – Producer: Nicole DeCarlo |
SOUTHERN GOTHIC
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Format: Feature Film Director: Mark Young Cast: William Forsythe, Yul Vasquez, Nicole DuPort, Jonathan Sachar, Emily Young Screenwriter: Mark Young Producers: Joe Amodei, Joe Amodei Jr., Steve Durdin, Dani Englander, Jeffrey D. Erb, Andrew Giordano, Joe Nicolo, Robert L. Robinson Jr., F.X. Vitolo, John Merrick Cinematographer: Gregg Easterbrook Production Companies: Tasty Pixels Inc. SYNOPSIS: Hazel Fortune (Yul Vazquez) works in a strip club in the small Southern town of Redemption. Haunted by the death of his only daughter, Fortune has become a self-destructive, suicidal alcoholic, until he meets Starla Motes (Nicole DuPort). Talent in Attendance: Actors – William Forsythe & Jonathan Sachar |
HEAD CASE
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Format: Feature Film (for mature audiences only) Director: Anthony Spadaccini Cast: Paul McCloskey, Barbara Lessin, Emily Spiegel, Bruce DeSantis, Michael J. Panichelli Jr. Screenwriter: Anthony Spadaccini Producers: Benjamin P. Ablao Jr., Anthony Spadaccini, Tanisha Dungee, Beth Sikma, Cinematographers: Anthony Spadaccini, John Larsen, Paul McCloskey Production Companies: Fleet Street Films, B.P.A. Productions Distributors: Fleet Street Films, B.P.A. Productions SYNOPSIS: Wayne Montgomery was Delaware's most prolific serial killer. From 1986-1989, he was responsible for the deaths of countless people, while maintaining a quiet suburban life with his wife Andrea. In 1989, he took an extended hiatus from his work to settle down and help raise a family. Last year, Wayne decided to come out of retirement to continue his life's work, with Andrea now joining him in his craft. The grisly details of Wayne & Andrea's horrific crimes were captured by Wayne's video camera, a sick, twisted way to relive the experience again and again. Talent in Attendance: Director: Anthony Spadaccini – Actor: Michael J. Panichelli Jr. |
BEAUTIFUL MAN IN THE BUFF (World Premiere)
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Format: Short Film Director: Zeiad Hussein Cast: Robert X. Golphin, Michael J. Panichelli Jr., Maria Orabona, W.D. Allen, Kelliane McCullion, Lauren Merlino Screenwriter: Robert X. Golphin Producers: Robert X. Golphin, Lori Childress, Gail Y. Bennett, Michael J. Panichelli Jr., Zeiad Hussein, John Guarino, Yasser Hussein Cinematographer: Steve Laramie Production Company: Vision Light Entertainment Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: Hollywood has taken notice of newbie talent, Devaun Cheri (Golphin), whose looks are unconventional. But Tinseltown hotshot manager Carson (Panichelli, Jr.) makes it plain as day what this actor has to do in order to succeed. Though fame and fortune become reality, Devaun doesn’t feel much better about who he is. Will an adoring female fan (Orabona) make him change his tune? Talent in Attendance: Director: Zeiad Hussein - Actor/Writer: Robert X. Golphin – Actor: Michael J. Panichelli Jr. – Producer: Lori Childress, Gail Bennett |
ACROSS THE HALL
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Format: Short Film Director: Alex Merkin Cast: Adrien Grenier, James Oliver, Natalie Smyka, Jamie Benge Screenwriter: Kris Johnson Producers: Evan Ferrante, Gary Gimelfarb, Jon Kilik, Chris Cooney, Miek Wiese, Mark Samowitz, Gregory O Larking Cinematographer: Andrew Carranza Production Company: Fivelion Productions Distributor: First Look Studios SYNOPSIS: A quiet night takes a dangerous turn when Julian receives a frantic phone call from his best friend, Terry. Terry claims to have followed his unfaithful fiancée, June, to a seedy hotel on the other side of town. To make matters worse, he's staked out the room across the hall from her, a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a revolver in the other. Julian pleads with his friend to stay put while he rushes to avert disaster. But is Terry truly as desperate as he sounds or has Julian been playing into his hands all along? Talent in Attendance: Director: Alex Merkin – Producers: Evan Ferrante, Gary Gimelfarb |
THE CAGE
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Format: Format: Short Film Director: Jesse James Jackson Cast: Michael J. Panichelli Jr., Lauren Jane Krystofolski, L. Nicole Wise Screenwriters: Lori Childress & Jesse James Jackson Producers: Michael J. Panichelli Jr., Lori Childress, Jesse James Jackson Cinematographer: D’Angelo Production Company: Jersey Style Films Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: A psychiatrist attempting to save the life of a disturbed patient finds himself broken and beaten down while suffering through troubling family hardships. Talent in Attendance: Director/Co-Writer: Jesse James Jackson – Co-Writer/Producer: Lori Childress – Actors: Michael J. Panichelli Jr., Lauren Jane Krystolfolski |
CUTOUT
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Format: Short Film Director: Marc Cantone Cast: Al Martino, Robert Funaro Screenwriters: Marc Cantone Producers: Robert Yula, Joshua Cohen Cinematographer: Ramin Fathie Production Company: Oracle Entertainment Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: When a once-famous Italian-American crooner, Sal (Martino), learns his estranged son, Michael (Funaro) has put the family home up for sale he decides to sneak into the house, slip into the pool and refuse to get out. When Sal won’t budge, Michael begins draining the pool. As the water recedes, father and son are forced to confront and come to terms with their family demons. Talent in Attendance: TBD |
IN VIVID DETAIL
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Format: Short Film Director: Dara Bratt Cast: Piper Perabo, John Ventimiglia Screenwriters: Dara Bratt & Kieran Dick Producer: Sharon Barnes Cinematographer: Kathleen Westergaard Production Company: Bratt Productions Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: This tender love story profiles Justin, an architect who is face blind, as he begins a new romance. Face blindness, or prosopagnosia, an impairment to recognize faces, is the result of damage to the right temporal lobe. Similar to people who are colorblind and still see colors but are unable to tell them apart, prosopagnosiacs perceive faces but cannot distinguish them. Justin and Leslie must decide whether their new relationship can overcome the obstacles ahead of them as they try to cope with this bizarre and rare diagnosis. Talent in Attendance: Director/Writer: Dara Bratt |
COFFEE THOUGHTS
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Format: Short Film Director: Brandon E. Brooks Cast: Adam Ciesielski, Patrick Tarry Screenwriters: Brandon E. Brooks & Brian L. Jones Producers: Brandon E. Brooks & Brian L. Jones Cinematographer: Jodie Bruch Production Company: SaintSinner Entertainment Distributor: TBD SYNOPSIS: A disgruntled coffee house worker gets a rude awakening after “thinking” bad thoughts about his customers. Talent in Attendance: Director/Co-Writer: Brandon E. Brooks – Editor: Amel J. Figueroa |