Spoiler Warning: This story contains plot details from “Bad Actor: A Hollywood Ponzi Scheme,” which premiered Thursday at Tribeca Festival.
Just how easy is it to get duped?
It’s the central question of “Bad Actor: A Hollywood Ponzi Scheme,” a documentary that premieres this week at Tribeca Festival and details aspiring movie star Zach Avery (aka Horwitz) who defrauded investors of out $227 million and pulled off the entertainment industry’s biggest Ponzi scheme. Nobody ever believes they’d be the ones dumb enough to ignore the red flags and fall prey to such a hoax. So then how exactly did Horwitz, a D-list actor with no notable credits, deceive so many people? Director Joslyn Jensen, who appears throughout the film while interviewing law enforcement, scam victims and people who know Horwitz, ultimately discovered it’s way easier than you’d think to get tricked.
After all, she didn’t actually direct the film.
Just how easy is it to get duped?
It’s the central question of “Bad Actor: A Hollywood Ponzi Scheme,” a documentary that premieres this week at Tribeca Festival and details aspiring movie star Zach Avery (aka Horwitz) who defrauded investors of out $227 million and pulled off the entertainment industry’s biggest Ponzi scheme. Nobody ever believes they’d be the ones dumb enough to ignore the red flags and fall prey to such a hoax. So then how exactly did Horwitz, a D-list actor with no notable credits, deceive so many people? Director Joslyn Jensen, who appears throughout the film while interviewing law enforcement, scam victims and people who know Horwitz, ultimately discovered it’s way easier than you’d think to get tricked.
After all, she didn’t actually direct the film.
- 6/7/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Tribeca Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal doesn’t follow a North Star as she and her team sift through tens of thousands of submissions each year. But as they whittle down those applicants to the 100 or so films comprising the final lineup, themes tend to emerge.
“It’s not like we set out to say, ‘This is what we want to do.’ As an activist film festival, we always look for [political] films,” says Rosenthal, who created Tribeca Festival with Robert De Niro in the wake of 9/11. “This year, there’s a mental health narrative. I don’t know if that’s a post-covid thing.”
Tribeca, now in its 23rd year, will take place from June 5-16 and highlight films led by Kristen Stewart, Lily Gladstone and Jenna Ortega. “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge,” a look at the fashion icon and entrepreneur, will open the festival, with anticipated documentaries about Prince,...
“It’s not like we set out to say, ‘This is what we want to do.’ As an activist film festival, we always look for [political] films,” says Rosenthal, who created Tribeca Festival with Robert De Niro in the wake of 9/11. “This year, there’s a mental health narrative. I don’t know if that’s a post-covid thing.”
Tribeca, now in its 23rd year, will take place from June 5-16 and highlight films led by Kristen Stewart, Lily Gladstone and Jenna Ortega. “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman in Charge,” a look at the fashion icon and entrepreneur, will open the festival, with anticipated documentaries about Prince,...
- 6/4/2024
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
They Want Me Gone trailer: Alexia Rasmussen thriller reaches theatres and VOD next month – Exclusive
Gravitas Ventures will be giving the horror thriller They Want Me Gone a theatrical and VOD release on September 9th, and today we’re proud to share the Exclusive first look at the film’s trailer! You can check it out in the embed above.
Directed by Drew Britton, who also wrote the screenplay with Jessica Farrell, They Want Me Gone stars Alexia Rasmussen (Proxy). The film has the following logline:
As she struggles to escape rural poverty with her daughter, a loving mother suspects those closest to them of turning on her.
And here’s the synopsis:
Working hard to support her daughter, Monica’s a single mother trying to make ends meet while trapped in rural poverty. From years of struggling and feeling confined, she becomes anxious that she still has a chance to leave. But the surroundings begin to take hold as she gets caught in threatening circumstances.
Directed by Drew Britton, who also wrote the screenplay with Jessica Farrell, They Want Me Gone stars Alexia Rasmussen (Proxy). The film has the following logline:
As she struggles to escape rural poverty with her daughter, a loving mother suspects those closest to them of turning on her.
And here’s the synopsis:
Working hard to support her daughter, Monica’s a single mother trying to make ends meet while trapped in rural poverty. From years of struggling and feeling confined, she becomes anxious that she still has a chance to leave. But the surroundings begin to take hold as she gets caught in threatening circumstances.
- 8/31/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Sundance has unveiled titles for the Indie Episodic, Shorts, and Special Events sections of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 23-February 2 in Park City. Highlights include world premieres of documentaries on Hillary Clinton and Lance Armstrong in the Special Events lineup.
Among the projects chosen out of the 10,397 submissions, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmaker of color, and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia.
The 74 short films, which hail from 27 countries and were chosen from 10,397 submissions, will screen during the fest, while select festival shorts will be presented as a traveling program internationally and year-round.
Here are the lineups:
Indie Episodic
A dedicated showcase for emerging creators of independently produced episodic content for broadcast, web, and streaming platforms.
Awkward Family Photos / USA — A hilarious, odd, and heartfelt exploration of the imperfect family experience. The families behind some of the most viral photos from the archives of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com tell their unique stories and reunite to recreate their original photos, forcing them to reconcile their past and celebrate their awkwardness. World Premiere
Chemo Brain / Denmark — When Oliver is diagnosed with testicular cancer, his life is turned upside down. This lighthearted drama-series depicts the derailment of a young man that is doing everything he can to not lose his friends, his girlfriend, himself, and ultimately his life. Cast: Adam Ild Rohweder, Karoline Brygmann, Jens Jørn Spottag, Mads Reuther, Stephanie Nguyen, Mathilde Passer. International Premiere
City So Real / USA (Director: Steve James) — An impressionistic mosaic portrait of current-day Chicago which delivers a deep, multifaceted look into the soul of America’s third-largest city, set against the backdrop of its history-making 2019 mayoral campaign. World Premiere
Embrace / USA — Against the backdrop of Oakland California, Iranian-American medical student Kat tries to save her Iranian family by taking on a surprising side hustle. The show is a culturally diverse, quasi-surrealist dramedy that captures the ever-increasing need for human connection and the subsequent commodification of it. Cast: Kathreen Khavari, Eddie Huang, Mitra Jouhari. World Premiere
Hey Lady! / Canada — A fearlessly off-the-charts rampage of urban vengeance as senior-citizen Lady, along with her friend Rosie, upturns everything in her path–social norms, rules of etiquette, and even the series itself. Cast: Jayne Eastwood, Jackie Richardson. World Premiere
Laetitia / France — Eighteen-year-old Laetitia has disappeared. Police quickly arrest Tony Meilhon but investigators still can’t find the body. This story follows the repercussions for Laetitia’s family and twin sister Jessica; the police force inner workings and social services; the judicial system and government itself. Based on real events. Cast: Marie Colomb, Sophie Breyer, Yannick Choirat, Sam Karmann, Kevin Azïas, Noam Morgensztern. International Premiere
The Ride / USA — Wayne, a 40-year-old ride share driver and spiritual coach, recently moved back in with his mom and discovers the only thing that gives his life meaning is to help his passengers let go of their negative thoughts, whether they want his help or not. Cast: Linas Phillips, Maria Thayer, Alex Karpovsky, Punkie Johnson, Joslyn Jensen, Timm Sharp. World Premiere
Untitled Pizza Movie / USA (Director and screenwriter: David Shapiro) — How do you remember somebody in a disposable world? Weaving an abandoned film about pizza (NYC in the early 90s), a stunning, physical archive (thousands of objects) with a remarkable triple portrait, this series traces three lives over thirty years, three continents, and the faultlines of class, dreams, and memory. World Premiere
Special Events
One-of-a-kind moments highlighting new independent works that add to the unique Festival experience.
Hillary / USA (Director and screenwriter: Nanette Burstein) — A portrait of a public woman, interweaving moments from never-before-seen 2016 campaign footage with biographical chapters of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life. Featuring exclusive interviews with Hillary herself, Bill Clinton, friends, and journalists, an examination of how she became simultaneously one of the most admired and vilified women in the world. World Premiere
Lance / USA — This deeply personal examination of one of the world’s most controversial figures examines a man who’s both winner and loser, saint and sinner. With unprecedented access to Lance’s world, this psychological portrait is a powerful study of that 21st century phenomenon: the celebrity who falls spectacularly and publicly from grace. World Premiere
Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist / USA, Spain — A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, and an exploration of the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography. Cast: William Friedkin. North American Premiere
Love Fraud / USA — Bigamy. Identity theft. Fraud. For the last 20 years Richard Scott Smith has used the internet and his dubious charms to prey upon unsuspecting women in search of love–conning them out of their money and dignity. But now his victims ban together and seek sweet revenge. World Premiere
Max Richter’s Sleep / UK (Director and screenwriter: Natalie Johns) — Following the composer as he navigates an ambitious performance of his acclaimed 8-hour opus. Centring around an open-air concert in Los Angeles, alongside footage from Berlin, Sydney and Paris, we are plunged deep into the life and process of both the artist and his creative partner Yulia Mahr. North American Premiere
McMillions / USA — McMillions is the definitive, real-life account of the McDonald’s Monopoly game scam, which defrauded the American public throughout the 1990s, as told by the “prize winners,” criminals, government officials, and FBI agents, whom eventually took the crime ring down. World Premiere
Siempre, Luis / USA — Follow one single-minded immigrant’s improbable journey from Puerto Rico to the halls of power. Witness Luis Miranda’s unflappable idealism as he battles his health, mobilizes the mainland Latinx community, matches wits with his youngest child applying to college and brings Hamilton to his island home, all in twelve months. Cast: Luis Miranda, Lin-Manuel Miranda. World Premiere
The Trade / USA — A deeply personal and intimate portrait of human smuggling, sex trafficking, and the struggle to survive the migrant cycle between Central America and the United States. World Premiere
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme / USA — Follow the 15-year journey of the founding members of the improv hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme, as they reflect upon why this show remains such an important piece of their personal, creative, and professional history–from the basement of the Drama Bookshop in NYC to the Broadway stage. Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Anthony Veneziale, Christopher Jackson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Chris Sullivan. World Premiere
U.S. Narrative Short Films
Arabian Alien / Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Meshal Aljaser) — Saad, a Muslim married man, gets over his depression after a space Alien is introduced into his life. World Premiere
Baldwin Beauty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Thembi Banks) — Farrah, new to La, goes on the mobile styling app Get Glam, to find new clients. When she arrives at an appointment, she finds a house of girls pre-gaming for a party and maybe a new crew of friends.
Blocks / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bridget Moloney) — An existential comedy about the mother of two young children who begins to spontaneously vomit plastic toy blocks. World Premiere. Day One
Buck / USA — Caught in the throes of a depressive fugue, young Lynn resorts to debauchery to find joy — only to discover that happiness is a much more complicated proposition. World Premiere
Danny’s Girl / USA (Director and screenwriter: Emily Wilson) — Danny meets his online girlfriend for the first time, but accidentally discovers her unspeakable possession, which throws their first night together into a dizzying tailspin. World Premiere
Dirty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Matthew Puccini) — Marco cuts class to spend the afternoon with his boyfriend, Graham. Things do not go as planned. World Premiere
He’s the One / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jessie Kahnweiler) — A girl meets guy and falls head over heels, but a shocking discovery forces her to question everything. A dark comedy about falling in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate. World Premiere
How Did We Get Here? / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michelle Miles) — A visual exploration of progressive atrophy. A study in how microscopic changes can go unnoticed, but amass over time. Even as these changes become drastic, we sometimes fail to realize anything has happened at all. World Premiere
Lance (in a Neck Brace) / USA (Director and screenwriter: Chloé Aktas) — After a devastating breakup, Lance listens to instructional cassette tapes on how to heal his broken heart. World Premiere. Day One
Little Chief / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Erica Tremblay) — The lives of a Native woman and a troubled young boy intersect over the course of a school day on a reservation in Oklahoma. World Premiere
Meats / USA (Director and screenwriter: Ashley Williams) — A pregnant vegan struggles with her newfound craving for meat. World Premiere
Meridian / USA, Italy (Director and screenwriter: Calum Walter) — Footage transmitted by the last unit in a fleet of autonomous machines is sent to deliver an emergency vaccine. The film follows the machine before its disappearance, tracing a path that seems to stray further and further from its objective.
Pillars / USA (Director and screenwriter: Haley Elizabeth Anderson) — After seeing a boy she likes before church, Amber sneaks out to the Sunday school bathroom during the service and is given her first kiss. World Premiere
Place / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jason Gudasz) — Wanting a fresh start, Lauren moves into a house with her daughter and new boyfriend–but the spirits of the house have plans to turn them all against each other in very bizarre ways.
Ship: A Visual Poem / USA (Director and screenwriter: Terrance Daye) — A black boy learns contradicting lessons of manhood and masculinity on the day of his cousin’s funeral.
T / USA (Director and screenwriter: Keisha Rae Witherspoon) — A film crew follows three grieving participants of Miami’s annual T Ball, where folks assemble to model R.I.P. t-shirts and innovative costumes designed in honor of their dead.
Three Deaths / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jay Dockendorf) — Three strangers confront death in a modern interpretation of a Tolstoy short story. World Premiere
Valerio’s Day Out / Colombia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Michael Arcos) — A young jaguar goes on a killing spree when he escapes from his enclosure at a zoo. After he’s captured, sedated and relocated, he makes a video diary for his significant other, Lula.
International Narrative Short Films
Are You Hungry? / Finland — A single mother struggles to connect with her adopted teenage son, whom she believes is gay. U.S. Premiere. Day One
Backpedal / Australia (Director and screenwriter: Dani Pearce) — A collage of an American poem, exploring the universality of womanhood.
Bad Hair / Estonia (Director and screenwriter: Oskar Lehemaa) — Insecure and balding Leo has decided to try a mysterious hair growth liquid to fix up his looks. The liquid causes a series of grotesque metamorphoses, as Leo tries to get his bodily changes under control, the evening quickly turn into chaos.
Benevolent Ba / Malaysia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Diffan Sina Norman) — A devout woman’s lust for virtue thrusts her family into a sacrificial slaughter of biblical proportions. World Premiere
The Devil’s Harmony / UK — A bullied teenage girl leads an a cappella club on a trail of destruction against her high school enemies.
Exam / Iran — A teenage girl gets involved in the process of delivering a pack of cocaine to its client, and gets stuck in a weird cycle of occurrences. Day One
Former Cult Member Hears Music For The First Time / Norway, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kristoffer Borgli) — After a woman escapes the captivity of her abusive family, a magazine invites her to a journalistic experiment: to hear music for the first time. World Premiere
I’ll End Up in Jail / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Alexandre Dostie) — A stay-at-home mom gets into a murderous car crash where nobody wants to take the blame. U.S. Premiere
Leave of Absence / Russia (Director and Screenwriter: Anton Sazonov) — In Russia, supressed masculinity has led to a feeling of unfulfillment as men feel that the country rejects them, leading to a drastic decline in male life expectancy. North American Premiere. Day One
No One is Crazy in This Town / Indonesia ) — The owner of a big hotel orders Marwan and his team to remove mentally ill people from the city streets and cast them away in the forests. North American Premiere
Olla / France, United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Ariane Labed) — Olla has answered an ad on a dating website for Eastern European women. She moves in with Pierre, who lives with his old mother, but nothing goes as expected.
Paola Makes A Wish / Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Zhannat Alshanova) — On an ordinary day at work, Paola starts to feel that she is missing out something exciting in her life. U.S. Premiere
Pattaki / Cuba — In the dense night, when the moon rises, those who live in a monotonous daily life without water are hypnotized by the powers of Yemaya, the goddess of the sea. U.S. Premiere
Regret / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Santiago Menghini) — Following the death of his father, a man must survive the manifestations of his inner demons over the course of a dreary night. World Premiere
Sadla / South Africa (Director and screenwriter: Zamo Mkhwanazi) — While going on a simple errand, Nathi’s journey is marked by disturbing interactions with authority. But is he an innocent victim? U.S. Premiere. Day One
So What If The Goats Die / France, Morocco (Director and screenwriter: Sofia Alaoui) — Abdellah, a young shepherd living in the mountains, is forced to brave the snow blocking him in order to get food and save his cattle. Once he gets to the village, he faces a supernatural phenomenon. World Premiere
Song of Clouds / Nepal (Director and screenwriter: Ankit Poudel) — A haunting visual fever dream, and a meditation on the afterlife; the journey to the next world, and what gets left behind among the living. World Premiere
Sticker / Macedonia (Director and screenwriter: Georgi M. Unkovski) — After an unsuccessful attempt to renew his car registration, Dejan falls in a bureaucratic trap that tests his determination to be a responsible father. North American Premiere
A Thousand Sails / Hong Kong (Director and screenwriter: Hing Weng Eric Tsang) — Ren promises to keep a secret for her neighbor’s son–a secret she can share with no one on the island. Her only refuge from sleepless nights is her deceased husband. International Premiere
Documentary Short Films
Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa / U.S.A. — At a Philadelphia abortion helpline, counselors answer nonstop calls from women who seek to end a pregnancy but can’t afford to. In this documentary we learn how economic stigma and cruel legislation determine who has access to abortion.
All That Perishes at the Edge of Land / Pakistan — A ship berthed at Gadani and the shipbreakers coming from all over Pakistan to break it discover that they might have more in common than otherwise imagined when they enter into a conversation.
Bereka / U.S.A., Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Nesanet Teshager Abegaze) — A family history archive as told by matriarch Azalu Mekonnen and her granddaughter Samira Hooks. Shot on Super 8 film in Los Angeles and Gondar, Ethiopia, capturing the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and explores migration, memory and rebirth.
Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business / USA (Director: Christine Turner) — At age 93, there’s no stopping the legendary artist Betye Saar. World Premiere
Broken Orchestra / Canada, USA (Director: Charlie Tyrell) — The Symphony for a Broken Orchestra project collected hundreds of broken instruments from the Philadelphia public school system, fixed them and then returned them into the hands of students.
Character / USA (Director: Vera Brunner-Sung) — Actor Mark Metcalf made his reputation in Hollywood playing aggrieved authority figures. Now in his 70s, he takes a look back on his career in this meditation on power, privilege, and the perils of being a “type.” World Premiere
Church and the Fourth Estate / USA (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — A reporter uncovers a file that reveals a shocking series of child abuse allegations in Idaho’s Boy Scouts, which rattle the community and implicate the Mormon church. The story reveals long-running crimes that threaten to bankrupt the Boy Scouts. World Premiere
The Deepest Hole / USA (Director: Matt McCormick) — While the space and arms races are Cold War common knowledge, few know about the United States and Soviet Union’s race to dig the deepest hole. This is particularly surprising since Hell may have been inadvertently discovered in the process. World Premiere
Día de la Madre / USA — A band of juveniles embark on a 24-hour spree of breaking into houses and causing a ruckus. World Premiere
Do Not Split / USA, Norway (Director: Anders Hammer) — The story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, told
through a series of demonstrations by local protestors that escalate into conflict when highly armed police appear
on the scene. World Premiere
E-Ticket / Hong Kong, U.S.A. (Director: Simon Liu) — A frantic (re)cataloguing of a personal archive and 16,000
splices in the making. 35mm frames are obsessively rearranged in evolving-disorienting patterns, as a Dante’s
Inferno for the streaming age emerges, illustrating freedom of movement for the modern cloud.
Guisado on Sunset / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Terence Nance) — Missed connection regret at that one
late-night spot–the kind you keep playing back in your head but not quite ever remembering right, until it starts to
look like something else. International Premiere
John Was Trying to Contact Aliens / U.S.A. (Director: Matthew Killip) — John
Shepherd spent 30 years trying to contact extraterrestrials by broadcasting music
millions of miles into space. After giving up the search he makes a different
connection here on earth. World Premiere. Day One
Junior Bangers / United Kingdom (Director: Danny Lee) — In England, banger
racing isn’t just a sport, but a way of life. Join 11-year-olds Finn and Harley on a cold
winter race day in Birmingham. North American Premiere
Lichen / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Lisa Jackson) — An otherworldly deep dive into the hidden beauty of
lichens, asking what we might learn from them. Ancient and diverse, thriving in adversity, confounding scientists
to this day, lichen is a model of emergence. International Premiere
A Love Song for Latasha / U.S.A. (Director: Sophia Nahli Allison) — A dreamlike archive in conversation with
the past and the present to reimagine a more nuanced narrative of Latasha Harlins by excavating intimate and
poetic memories shared by her cousin and best friend.
Narcissister Breast Work / U.S.A. (Director: Narcissister) — Focusing on the exercise by women of their right to
bare their breasts in public, this film is an investigation into how prohibitions on female toplessness are grounded
in fear of, and desire to control, the female body. World Premiere
Now Is the Time / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Christopher Auchter) — On the 50th anniversary of the
first new totem pole raising on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii in almost a century, we revisit the day that would
signal the rebirth of the Haida spirit.
See You Next Time / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Kayiza) — A window into the intimate moments shared across a
nail salon table between a Chinese nail artist and her black client in Brooklyn, NY.
The Starr Sisters / U.S.A. — Patte and Randa Starr are fun specialists.
After overcoming a dark past, these sisters are inseparable. Now in their 70s, they do exactly as they please and
their candy drawer is always fully stocked.
While I’m Still Breathing (Tandis Que Je Respire Encore) / France — The blurred portrayal of a young woman as she moves
through three steps of her sexuality. North American Premiere
Animated Short Films
Daughter / Czech Republic (Director and screenwriter: Daria Kashcheeva) — Should you hide your pain, close
yourself inside your inner world, and long for your father’s love? Or should you understand and forgive before it’s
too late?
Daytime Noir / U.S.A. — A
mother and son’s journey through the exploitative world of tabloid TV. World Premiere
eadem cutis: the same skin / Germany (Director: Nina Hopf) — “I just want to be seen as who I am today!” John
shares his thoughts on identity, body and gender and gives a very personal insight into his life–and an intimate
proximity to his body. North American Premiere
Eli / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nate Milton) — A true story from the realms of high strangeness, magical
thinking, and manic delusion.
Farce / Norway (Director and screenwriter: Robin Jensen) — A man, a woman and a meat grinder. Love is messy.
Hot Flash / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Thea Hollatz) — Ace is having a hot flash, and she’s about to go live on local television. How one woman tries to keep her cool when one type of flash leads to another. International Premiere
Hudson Geese / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bernardo Britto) — A goose remembers his last migration. World Premiere. Day One
Inès / France and Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Élodie Dermange) — Inès is facing a difficult choice. Tonight, she thinks about the decision she will make. North American Premiere
My Juke-Box / France (Director and screenwriter: Florentine Grelier) — Yesterday, I overheard an old rock ‘n’ roll song that sounded familiar. This is probably the music that we used to listen to on my dad’s mechanical devices–the thousand lives man, the king of the jukebox. International Premiere
No, I Don’t Want to Dance! / UK (Director and screenwriter: Andrea Vinciguerra) — In these dark times, you may think that every hazard has been identified, but nobody has taken into consideration how dangerous dance can be…
Sh_t Happens / Czech Republic, Slovakia, France — The caretaker exhausted by everything, his frustrated wife, and one totally depressed deer. Their mutual despair leads them to absurd events, because… shit happens all the time. U.S. Premiere
The Shawl / USA (Director: Sara Kiener) After years of long distance, a pair of big and beautiful boyfriends celebrate their reunion at a Stevie Nicks concert, where they share a brush with magic. World Premiere
Slug Life / United Kingdom (Director and Screenwriter: Sophie Koko Gate) — A day in the life of Tanya, a curious woman who has developed a taste for non human lovers. Her next creation: a giant slug. Can such a perfect creature survive in this gnarly world full of freaks and beefs?.
Takoyaki Story / Japan (Director and screenwriter: Sawako Kabuki) — Always attracted to takoyaki–octopus balls, a famous Japanese street food–a girl tries them for the first time and becomes addicted.
Wong Ping’s Fables 2 / Hong Kong (Director and Screenwriter: Ping Wong) — Wong Ping urinates twice before gently pressing your head down with his right foot, giving you a closer look at your own reflection in his urine.
Wood Child and Hidden Forest Mother / UK (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Irwin) — Deep in the forest, a hunter encounters a strange creature he cannot kill. World Premiere...
Among the projects chosen out of the 10,397 submissions, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmaker of color, and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia.
The 74 short films, which hail from 27 countries and were chosen from 10,397 submissions, will screen during the fest, while select festival shorts will be presented as a traveling program internationally and year-round.
Here are the lineups:
Indie Episodic
A dedicated showcase for emerging creators of independently produced episodic content for broadcast, web, and streaming platforms.
Awkward Family Photos / USA — A hilarious, odd, and heartfelt exploration of the imperfect family experience. The families behind some of the most viral photos from the archives of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com tell their unique stories and reunite to recreate their original photos, forcing them to reconcile their past and celebrate their awkwardness. World Premiere
Chemo Brain / Denmark — When Oliver is diagnosed with testicular cancer, his life is turned upside down. This lighthearted drama-series depicts the derailment of a young man that is doing everything he can to not lose his friends, his girlfriend, himself, and ultimately his life. Cast: Adam Ild Rohweder, Karoline Brygmann, Jens Jørn Spottag, Mads Reuther, Stephanie Nguyen, Mathilde Passer. International Premiere
City So Real / USA (Director: Steve James) — An impressionistic mosaic portrait of current-day Chicago which delivers a deep, multifaceted look into the soul of America’s third-largest city, set against the backdrop of its history-making 2019 mayoral campaign. World Premiere
Embrace / USA — Against the backdrop of Oakland California, Iranian-American medical student Kat tries to save her Iranian family by taking on a surprising side hustle. The show is a culturally diverse, quasi-surrealist dramedy that captures the ever-increasing need for human connection and the subsequent commodification of it. Cast: Kathreen Khavari, Eddie Huang, Mitra Jouhari. World Premiere
Hey Lady! / Canada — A fearlessly off-the-charts rampage of urban vengeance as senior-citizen Lady, along with her friend Rosie, upturns everything in her path–social norms, rules of etiquette, and even the series itself. Cast: Jayne Eastwood, Jackie Richardson. World Premiere
Laetitia / France — Eighteen-year-old Laetitia has disappeared. Police quickly arrest Tony Meilhon but investigators still can’t find the body. This story follows the repercussions for Laetitia’s family and twin sister Jessica; the police force inner workings and social services; the judicial system and government itself. Based on real events. Cast: Marie Colomb, Sophie Breyer, Yannick Choirat, Sam Karmann, Kevin Azïas, Noam Morgensztern. International Premiere
The Ride / USA — Wayne, a 40-year-old ride share driver and spiritual coach, recently moved back in with his mom and discovers the only thing that gives his life meaning is to help his passengers let go of their negative thoughts, whether they want his help or not. Cast: Linas Phillips, Maria Thayer, Alex Karpovsky, Punkie Johnson, Joslyn Jensen, Timm Sharp. World Premiere
Untitled Pizza Movie / USA (Director and screenwriter: David Shapiro) — How do you remember somebody in a disposable world? Weaving an abandoned film about pizza (NYC in the early 90s), a stunning, physical archive (thousands of objects) with a remarkable triple portrait, this series traces three lives over thirty years, three continents, and the faultlines of class, dreams, and memory. World Premiere
Special Events
One-of-a-kind moments highlighting new independent works that add to the unique Festival experience.
Hillary / USA (Director and screenwriter: Nanette Burstein) — A portrait of a public woman, interweaving moments from never-before-seen 2016 campaign footage with biographical chapters of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life. Featuring exclusive interviews with Hillary herself, Bill Clinton, friends, and journalists, an examination of how she became simultaneously one of the most admired and vilified women in the world. World Premiere
Lance / USA — This deeply personal examination of one of the world’s most controversial figures examines a man who’s both winner and loser, saint and sinner. With unprecedented access to Lance’s world, this psychological portrait is a powerful study of that 21st century phenomenon: the celebrity who falls spectacularly and publicly from grace. World Premiere
Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist / USA, Spain — A lyrical and spiritual cinematic essay on The Exorcist, and an exploration of the uncharted depths of William Friedkin’s mind’s eye, the nuances of his filmmaking process, and the mysteries of faith and fate that have shaped his life and filmography. Cast: William Friedkin. North American Premiere
Love Fraud / USA — Bigamy. Identity theft. Fraud. For the last 20 years Richard Scott Smith has used the internet and his dubious charms to prey upon unsuspecting women in search of love–conning them out of their money and dignity. But now his victims ban together and seek sweet revenge. World Premiere
Max Richter’s Sleep / UK (Director and screenwriter: Natalie Johns) — Following the composer as he navigates an ambitious performance of his acclaimed 8-hour opus. Centring around an open-air concert in Los Angeles, alongside footage from Berlin, Sydney and Paris, we are plunged deep into the life and process of both the artist and his creative partner Yulia Mahr. North American Premiere
McMillions / USA — McMillions is the definitive, real-life account of the McDonald’s Monopoly game scam, which defrauded the American public throughout the 1990s, as told by the “prize winners,” criminals, government officials, and FBI agents, whom eventually took the crime ring down. World Premiere
Siempre, Luis / USA — Follow one single-minded immigrant’s improbable journey from Puerto Rico to the halls of power. Witness Luis Miranda’s unflappable idealism as he battles his health, mobilizes the mainland Latinx community, matches wits with his youngest child applying to college and brings Hamilton to his island home, all in twelve months. Cast: Luis Miranda, Lin-Manuel Miranda. World Premiere
The Trade / USA — A deeply personal and intimate portrait of human smuggling, sex trafficking, and the struggle to survive the migrant cycle between Central America and the United States. World Premiere
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme / USA — Follow the 15-year journey of the founding members of the improv hip-hop group Freestyle Love Supreme, as they reflect upon why this show remains such an important piece of their personal, creative, and professional history–from the basement of the Drama Bookshop in NYC to the Broadway stage. Cast: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, Anthony Veneziale, Christopher Jackson, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Chris Sullivan. World Premiere
U.S. Narrative Short Films
Arabian Alien / Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Meshal Aljaser) — Saad, a Muslim married man, gets over his depression after a space Alien is introduced into his life. World Premiere
Baldwin Beauty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Thembi Banks) — Farrah, new to La, goes on the mobile styling app Get Glam, to find new clients. When she arrives at an appointment, she finds a house of girls pre-gaming for a party and maybe a new crew of friends.
Blocks / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bridget Moloney) — An existential comedy about the mother of two young children who begins to spontaneously vomit plastic toy blocks. World Premiere. Day One
Buck / USA — Caught in the throes of a depressive fugue, young Lynn resorts to debauchery to find joy — only to discover that happiness is a much more complicated proposition. World Premiere
Danny’s Girl / USA (Director and screenwriter: Emily Wilson) — Danny meets his online girlfriend for the first time, but accidentally discovers her unspeakable possession, which throws their first night together into a dizzying tailspin. World Premiere
Dirty / USA (Director and screenwriter: Matthew Puccini) — Marco cuts class to spend the afternoon with his boyfriend, Graham. Things do not go as planned. World Premiere
He’s the One / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jessie Kahnweiler) — A girl meets guy and falls head over heels, but a shocking discovery forces her to question everything. A dark comedy about falling in love with the one person you’re supposed to hate. World Premiere
How Did We Get Here? / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michelle Miles) — A visual exploration of progressive atrophy. A study in how microscopic changes can go unnoticed, but amass over time. Even as these changes become drastic, we sometimes fail to realize anything has happened at all. World Premiere
Lance (in a Neck Brace) / USA (Director and screenwriter: Chloé Aktas) — After a devastating breakup, Lance listens to instructional cassette tapes on how to heal his broken heart. World Premiere. Day One
Little Chief / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Erica Tremblay) — The lives of a Native woman and a troubled young boy intersect over the course of a school day on a reservation in Oklahoma. World Premiere
Meats / USA (Director and screenwriter: Ashley Williams) — A pregnant vegan struggles with her newfound craving for meat. World Premiere
Meridian / USA, Italy (Director and screenwriter: Calum Walter) — Footage transmitted by the last unit in a fleet of autonomous machines is sent to deliver an emergency vaccine. The film follows the machine before its disappearance, tracing a path that seems to stray further and further from its objective.
Pillars / USA (Director and screenwriter: Haley Elizabeth Anderson) — After seeing a boy she likes before church, Amber sneaks out to the Sunday school bathroom during the service and is given her first kiss. World Premiere
Place / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jason Gudasz) — Wanting a fresh start, Lauren moves into a house with her daughter and new boyfriend–but the spirits of the house have plans to turn them all against each other in very bizarre ways.
Ship: A Visual Poem / USA (Director and screenwriter: Terrance Daye) — A black boy learns contradicting lessons of manhood and masculinity on the day of his cousin’s funeral.
T / USA (Director and screenwriter: Keisha Rae Witherspoon) — A film crew follows three grieving participants of Miami’s annual T Ball, where folks assemble to model R.I.P. t-shirts and innovative costumes designed in honor of their dead.
Three Deaths / USA (Director and screenwriter: Jay Dockendorf) — Three strangers confront death in a modern interpretation of a Tolstoy short story. World Premiere
Valerio’s Day Out / Colombia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Michael Arcos) — A young jaguar goes on a killing spree when he escapes from his enclosure at a zoo. After he’s captured, sedated and relocated, he makes a video diary for his significant other, Lula.
International Narrative Short Films
Are You Hungry? / Finland — A single mother struggles to connect with her adopted teenage son, whom she believes is gay. U.S. Premiere. Day One
Backpedal / Australia (Director and screenwriter: Dani Pearce) — A collage of an American poem, exploring the universality of womanhood.
Bad Hair / Estonia (Director and screenwriter: Oskar Lehemaa) — Insecure and balding Leo has decided to try a mysterious hair growth liquid to fix up his looks. The liquid causes a series of grotesque metamorphoses, as Leo tries to get his bodily changes under control, the evening quickly turn into chaos.
Benevolent Ba / Malaysia, USA (Director and screenwriter: Diffan Sina Norman) — A devout woman’s lust for virtue thrusts her family into a sacrificial slaughter of biblical proportions. World Premiere
The Devil’s Harmony / UK — A bullied teenage girl leads an a cappella club on a trail of destruction against her high school enemies.
Exam / Iran — A teenage girl gets involved in the process of delivering a pack of cocaine to its client, and gets stuck in a weird cycle of occurrences. Day One
Former Cult Member Hears Music For The First Time / Norway, U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kristoffer Borgli) — After a woman escapes the captivity of her abusive family, a magazine invites her to a journalistic experiment: to hear music for the first time. World Premiere
I’ll End Up in Jail / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Alexandre Dostie) — A stay-at-home mom gets into a murderous car crash where nobody wants to take the blame. U.S. Premiere
Leave of Absence / Russia (Director and Screenwriter: Anton Sazonov) — In Russia, supressed masculinity has led to a feeling of unfulfillment as men feel that the country rejects them, leading to a drastic decline in male life expectancy. North American Premiere. Day One
No One is Crazy in This Town / Indonesia ) — The owner of a big hotel orders Marwan and his team to remove mentally ill people from the city streets and cast them away in the forests. North American Premiere
Olla / France, United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Ariane Labed) — Olla has answered an ad on a dating website for Eastern European women. She moves in with Pierre, who lives with his old mother, but nothing goes as expected.
Paola Makes A Wish / Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Zhannat Alshanova) — On an ordinary day at work, Paola starts to feel that she is missing out something exciting in her life. U.S. Premiere
Pattaki / Cuba — In the dense night, when the moon rises, those who live in a monotonous daily life without water are hypnotized by the powers of Yemaya, the goddess of the sea. U.S. Premiere
Regret / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Santiago Menghini) — Following the death of his father, a man must survive the manifestations of his inner demons over the course of a dreary night. World Premiere
Sadla / South Africa (Director and screenwriter: Zamo Mkhwanazi) — While going on a simple errand, Nathi’s journey is marked by disturbing interactions with authority. But is he an innocent victim? U.S. Premiere. Day One
So What If The Goats Die / France, Morocco (Director and screenwriter: Sofia Alaoui) — Abdellah, a young shepherd living in the mountains, is forced to brave the snow blocking him in order to get food and save his cattle. Once he gets to the village, he faces a supernatural phenomenon. World Premiere
Song of Clouds / Nepal (Director and screenwriter: Ankit Poudel) — A haunting visual fever dream, and a meditation on the afterlife; the journey to the next world, and what gets left behind among the living. World Premiere
Sticker / Macedonia (Director and screenwriter: Georgi M. Unkovski) — After an unsuccessful attempt to renew his car registration, Dejan falls in a bureaucratic trap that tests his determination to be a responsible father. North American Premiere
A Thousand Sails / Hong Kong (Director and screenwriter: Hing Weng Eric Tsang) — Ren promises to keep a secret for her neighbor’s son–a secret she can share with no one on the island. Her only refuge from sleepless nights is her deceased husband. International Premiere
Documentary Short Films
Abortion Helpline, This Is Lisa / U.S.A. — At a Philadelphia abortion helpline, counselors answer nonstop calls from women who seek to end a pregnancy but can’t afford to. In this documentary we learn how economic stigma and cruel legislation determine who has access to abortion.
All That Perishes at the Edge of Land / Pakistan — A ship berthed at Gadani and the shipbreakers coming from all over Pakistan to break it discover that they might have more in common than otherwise imagined when they enter into a conversation.
Bereka / U.S.A., Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Nesanet Teshager Abegaze) — A family history archive as told by matriarch Azalu Mekonnen and her granddaughter Samira Hooks. Shot on Super 8 film in Los Angeles and Gondar, Ethiopia, capturing the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and explores migration, memory and rebirth.
Betye Saar: Taking Care of Business / USA (Director: Christine Turner) — At age 93, there’s no stopping the legendary artist Betye Saar. World Premiere
Broken Orchestra / Canada, USA (Director: Charlie Tyrell) — The Symphony for a Broken Orchestra project collected hundreds of broken instruments from the Philadelphia public school system, fixed them and then returned them into the hands of students.
Character / USA (Director: Vera Brunner-Sung) — Actor Mark Metcalf made his reputation in Hollywood playing aggrieved authority figures. Now in his 70s, he takes a look back on his career in this meditation on power, privilege, and the perils of being a “type.” World Premiere
Church and the Fourth Estate / USA (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — A reporter uncovers a file that reveals a shocking series of child abuse allegations in Idaho’s Boy Scouts, which rattle the community and implicate the Mormon church. The story reveals long-running crimes that threaten to bankrupt the Boy Scouts. World Premiere
The Deepest Hole / USA (Director: Matt McCormick) — While the space and arms races are Cold War common knowledge, few know about the United States and Soviet Union’s race to dig the deepest hole. This is particularly surprising since Hell may have been inadvertently discovered in the process. World Premiere
Día de la Madre / USA — A band of juveniles embark on a 24-hour spree of breaking into houses and causing a ruckus. World Premiere
Do Not Split / USA, Norway (Director: Anders Hammer) — The story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests, told
through a series of demonstrations by local protestors that escalate into conflict when highly armed police appear
on the scene. World Premiere
E-Ticket / Hong Kong, U.S.A. (Director: Simon Liu) — A frantic (re)cataloguing of a personal archive and 16,000
splices in the making. 35mm frames are obsessively rearranged in evolving-disorienting patterns, as a Dante’s
Inferno for the streaming age emerges, illustrating freedom of movement for the modern cloud.
Guisado on Sunset / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Terence Nance) — Missed connection regret at that one
late-night spot–the kind you keep playing back in your head but not quite ever remembering right, until it starts to
look like something else. International Premiere
John Was Trying to Contact Aliens / U.S.A. (Director: Matthew Killip) — John
Shepherd spent 30 years trying to contact extraterrestrials by broadcasting music
millions of miles into space. After giving up the search he makes a different
connection here on earth. World Premiere. Day One
Junior Bangers / United Kingdom (Director: Danny Lee) — In England, banger
racing isn’t just a sport, but a way of life. Join 11-year-olds Finn and Harley on a cold
winter race day in Birmingham. North American Premiere
Lichen / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Lisa Jackson) — An otherworldly deep dive into the hidden beauty of
lichens, asking what we might learn from them. Ancient and diverse, thriving in adversity, confounding scientists
to this day, lichen is a model of emergence. International Premiere
A Love Song for Latasha / U.S.A. (Director: Sophia Nahli Allison) — A dreamlike archive in conversation with
the past and the present to reimagine a more nuanced narrative of Latasha Harlins by excavating intimate and
poetic memories shared by her cousin and best friend.
Narcissister Breast Work / U.S.A. (Director: Narcissister) — Focusing on the exercise by women of their right to
bare their breasts in public, this film is an investigation into how prohibitions on female toplessness are grounded
in fear of, and desire to control, the female body. World Premiere
Now Is the Time / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Christopher Auchter) — On the 50th anniversary of the
first new totem pole raising on British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii in almost a century, we revisit the day that would
signal the rebirth of the Haida spirit.
See You Next Time / U.S.A. (Director: Crystal Kayiza) — A window into the intimate moments shared across a
nail salon table between a Chinese nail artist and her black client in Brooklyn, NY.
The Starr Sisters / U.S.A. — Patte and Randa Starr are fun specialists.
After overcoming a dark past, these sisters are inseparable. Now in their 70s, they do exactly as they please and
their candy drawer is always fully stocked.
While I’m Still Breathing (Tandis Que Je Respire Encore) / France — The blurred portrayal of a young woman as she moves
through three steps of her sexuality. North American Premiere
Animated Short Films
Daughter / Czech Republic (Director and screenwriter: Daria Kashcheeva) — Should you hide your pain, close
yourself inside your inner world, and long for your father’s love? Or should you understand and forgive before it’s
too late?
Daytime Noir / U.S.A. — A
mother and son’s journey through the exploitative world of tabloid TV. World Premiere
eadem cutis: the same skin / Germany (Director: Nina Hopf) — “I just want to be seen as who I am today!” John
shares his thoughts on identity, body and gender and gives a very personal insight into his life–and an intimate
proximity to his body. North American Premiere
Eli / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Nate Milton) — A true story from the realms of high strangeness, magical
thinking, and manic delusion.
Farce / Norway (Director and screenwriter: Robin Jensen) — A man, a woman and a meat grinder. Love is messy.
Hot Flash / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Thea Hollatz) — Ace is having a hot flash, and she’s about to go live on local television. How one woman tries to keep her cool when one type of flash leads to another. International Premiere
Hudson Geese / USA (Director and screenwriter: Bernardo Britto) — A goose remembers his last migration. World Premiere. Day One
Inès / France and Switzerland (Director and screenwriter: Élodie Dermange) — Inès is facing a difficult choice. Tonight, she thinks about the decision she will make. North American Premiere
My Juke-Box / France (Director and screenwriter: Florentine Grelier) — Yesterday, I overheard an old rock ‘n’ roll song that sounded familiar. This is probably the music that we used to listen to on my dad’s mechanical devices–the thousand lives man, the king of the jukebox. International Premiere
No, I Don’t Want to Dance! / UK (Director and screenwriter: Andrea Vinciguerra) — In these dark times, you may think that every hazard has been identified, but nobody has taken into consideration how dangerous dance can be…
Sh_t Happens / Czech Republic, Slovakia, France — The caretaker exhausted by everything, his frustrated wife, and one totally depressed deer. Their mutual despair leads them to absurd events, because… shit happens all the time. U.S. Premiere
The Shawl / USA (Director: Sara Kiener) After years of long distance, a pair of big and beautiful boyfriends celebrate their reunion at a Stevie Nicks concert, where they share a brush with magic. World Premiere
Slug Life / United Kingdom (Director and Screenwriter: Sophie Koko Gate) — A day in the life of Tanya, a curious woman who has developed a taste for non human lovers. Her next creation: a giant slug. Can such a perfect creature survive in this gnarly world full of freaks and beefs?.
Takoyaki Story / Japan (Director and screenwriter: Sawako Kabuki) — Always attracted to takoyaki–octopus balls, a famous Japanese street food–a girl tries them for the first time and becomes addicted.
Wong Ping’s Fables 2 / Hong Kong (Director and Screenwriter: Ping Wong) — Wong Ping urinates twice before gently pressing your head down with his right foot, giving you a closer look at your own reflection in his urine.
Wood Child and Hidden Forest Mother / UK (Director and screenwriter: Stephen Irwin) — Deep in the forest, a hunter encounters a strange creature he cannot kill. World Premiere...
- 12/10/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
The Sundance Institute has announced the works selected across the Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events sections for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, which will include documentaries on Hillary Clinton and Lance Armstrong, and two Lin-Manuel Miranda films.
“Authenticity and independent voices resonate across formats – and that’s evident across the full spectrum of this year’s Indie Episodic and Special Events slates,” Kim Yutani, the Festival’s Director or Programming, said. “Defined by distinctive voices and enlightening viewpoints, these are riveting projects that find inspiration in the urgent stories and extraordinary individuals of our times.”
Of the projects announced on Tuesday, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmakers of color and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia. Seven films were supported by Sundance Institute in development.
Also Read: Taylor Swift, Viggo Mortensen and Tessa Thompson Lead...
“Authenticity and independent voices resonate across formats – and that’s evident across the full spectrum of this year’s Indie Episodic and Special Events slates,” Kim Yutani, the Festival’s Director or Programming, said. “Defined by distinctive voices and enlightening viewpoints, these are riveting projects that find inspiration in the urgent stories and extraordinary individuals of our times.”
Of the projects announced on Tuesday, 48% were directed or created by one or more women, 33% were directed or created by one or more filmmakers of color and 19% by one or more people who identify as Lgbtqia. Seven films were supported by Sundance Institute in development.
Also Read: Taylor Swift, Viggo Mortensen and Tessa Thompson Lead...
- 12/10/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
New Frontier selections to be announced on Thursday (12).
Sundance Film Festival top brass announced on Tuesday (10) content in the Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events sections featuring new work by Marina Zenovich, Steve James, and Matthew Heineman.
James (City So Real) and Sarah Polley (Hey Lady!) are among the Indie Episodics line-up, while Special Events selections include Zenovich’s (Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired) Lance Armstrong profile Lance, Matthew Heineman’s sex trafficking exposé Trade, and Love Fraud, the latest film from Jesus Camp and The Boys Of Baraka filmmaking team Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing.
All selections appear below.
Sundance Film Festival top brass announced on Tuesday (10) content in the Indie Episodic, Shorts and Special Events sections featuring new work by Marina Zenovich, Steve James, and Matthew Heineman.
James (City So Real) and Sarah Polley (Hey Lady!) are among the Indie Episodics line-up, while Special Events selections include Zenovich’s (Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired) Lance Armstrong profile Lance, Matthew Heineman’s sex trafficking exposé Trade, and Love Fraud, the latest film from Jesus Camp and The Boys Of Baraka filmmaking team Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing.
All selections appear below.
- 12/10/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Her Composition Picturetrain Company Reviewed by: Harvey Karten Director: Stephan Littger Screenwriter: Stephan Littger Cast: Joslyn Jensen, Heather Matarazzo, Lulu Wilson, Christian Campbell, Margot Bingham, Rachel Feinstein, Kevin Breznahan, John Rothman, Meg Gibson Screened at: Amazon Prime, NYC, 7/27/18 Opens: On DVD May 1, 2018. Originally viewed theatrically in 2015 and available now to Amazon […]
The post Her Composition Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Her Composition Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/30/2018
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
By Peter BelsitoThis very internal subjective psychological drama features rising indie star Joslyn Jensen (‘Without’, ‘Driftwood’) ) as ambitious young composition student Malorie who has her creative juices sucked right out of her by the testosterone-stuffed New York academy where she studies for her PhD.
She is justly upset by the crass and demeaning treatment she is given there.
After being put down and losing access to the all-female scholarship she is finding no more energy to even feel inspired, and then she starts visiting strangers in the city for sex and pay
With lace-wearing Malorie absurdly out of place at first but pushed beyond her narrow confines by curiosity and boredom, she realizes that these commercial sexual encounters inspire her in the most unexpected manner as she starts to hear music during these commercial sex acts.
This is both comical and serious at first, as she decides she must write...
She is justly upset by the crass and demeaning treatment she is given there.
After being put down and losing access to the all-female scholarship she is finding no more energy to even feel inspired, and then she starts visiting strangers in the city for sex and pay
With lace-wearing Malorie absurdly out of place at first but pushed beyond her narrow confines by curiosity and boredom, she realizes that these commercial sexual encounters inspire her in the most unexpected manner as she starts to hear music during these commercial sex acts.
This is both comical and serious at first, as she decides she must write...
- 4/10/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The narrative arc of Paul Taylor’s “Driftwood” is rather simple: a girl washes up on a beach, is taken into the care of an older man who then conditions her to be his wife — to cook, to clean, and to satisfy him, at times against her will — and eventually she revolts. So the natural assumption would be that the bulk film is what exists in the cracks, the thematic explorations humming beneath the surface, and this is exactly what “Driftwood” wants us to think. But while there are attempts to mine some truly interesting and important ideas, the film never succeeds in saying anything substantial, landing more in the spectrum of cursory. The film opens on a bleak stretch of blurred coast. A young woman (Joslyn Jensen) stumbles into frame. Then, suddenly, she is riding, asleep, in the back of a jeep. A middled-aged man (Paul C. Kelly) has taken her home.
- 1/28/2016
- by Gary Garrison
- The Playlist
"The Slamdance Film Festival has unveiled 20 titles for its narrative and documentary feature film competition programs for its 22nd edition during Jan. 22-28," announces Variety's Dave McNary. "Notable titles include Leonardo Guerra Seragnoli’s drama Last Summer, starring Rinko Kikuchi, Yorick van Wageningen and Lucy Griffiths; Derek Kimball’s drama Neptune, set on an island off the coast of Maine and centered on an orphan girl raised by the church; Paul Taylor’s dialogue-free Driftwood, starring Joslyn Jensen, Paul C. Kelly and Michael Fentin; and Andrea Marini’s Art of the Prank, starring Joey Skaggs, Robert Forster and Peter Maloney." » - David Hudson...
- 11/30/2015
- Keyframe
"The Slamdance Film Festival has unveiled 20 titles for its narrative and documentary feature film competition programs for its 22nd edition during Jan. 22-28," announces Variety's Dave McNary. "Notable titles include Leonardo Guerra Seragnoli’s drama Last Summer, starring Rinko Kikuchi, Yorick van Wageningen and Lucy Griffiths; Derek Kimball’s drama Neptune, set on an island off the coast of Maine and centered on an orphan girl raised by the church; Paul Taylor’s dialogue-free Driftwood, starring Joslyn Jensen, Paul C. Kelly and Michael Fentin; and Andrea Marini’s Art of the Prank, starring Joey Skaggs, Robert Forster and Peter Maloney." » - David Hudson...
- 11/30/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
Festival top brass announced on Monday the 12 Narrative and eight Documentary Feature Film Competition films in 22nd edition, set to run in Park City from January 22-28, 2016.
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
All synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
All synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
- 11/30/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Festival top brass announced on Monday the 12 Narrative and eight Documentary Feature Film Competition films in 22nd edition, set to run in Park City from January 22-28, 2016.
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
Al synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
The 20-strong line-up includes 12 world premieres, three North American premieres and one Us premiere.
All competition films are feature directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m and without Us distribution.
Jury awards are presented to feature films in both categories and all films are eligible for audience awards as well as the Spirit Of Slamdance Award, judged by the filmmakers themselves.
“The standard of Diy filmmaking around the world is the highest we’ve seen, and the diversity of storytelling is the most we’ve experienced,” sad Slamdance co-founder and president Peter Baxter.
“With a record breaking number of submissions to select from, the narrative and documentary feature line-up has never been so competitive or as exciting to programme.”
Al synopses provided by the festival.
Narrative Features...
- 11/30/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Olly Alexander may be best known as the front man of British synth-pop trio Years & Years, but even at 25, he’s already on his second career. Until his band blew up this past year — their 2015 album, Communion, topped the U.K. charts and peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Dance/Electronic chart — Alexander has been busy with a slew of independent-film roles, including this month's quirky comedy Funny Bunny, a socially stunted romance he co-wrote and starred in. Last week, the talented Alexander called up Vulture to discuss shifting gears between acting and singing and how he feels about the spotlight on his sexuality.You co-wrote Funny Bunny with your two co-stars, Kentucker Audley and Joslyn Jensen, based on a story by director Alison Bagnall. How did you initially get involved? Alison had a script called Funny Bunny that she sent to me in maybe 2009, and she offered...
- 11/18/2015
- by John Sherman
- Vulture
Read More: Watch: Olly Alexander Comes of Age in Exclusive 'Funny Bunny' Trailer Joslyn Jensen looks serene with a bunny in this exclusive poster for director Alison Bagnall's "Funny Bunny." Starring Olly Alexander, Kentucker Audley and Joslyn Jensen, the film explores human beings desire to connect with one another, or at least anyone who will listen to their troubled stories. The film had its world premiere at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival. The official film synopsis reads: "Gene spends his days going door to door, passionately educating strangers on childhood obesity. By chance and a knock at the door, Gene enters Titty's world, an emotionally-arrested 19-year-old who has successfully sued his own father to win back a large inheritance, getting himself disowned in the process. Delving deeper into Titty's life, Gene discovers that he's been having an ongoing online relationship with the beautiful but reclusive animal activist, Ginger.
- 11/12/2015
- by Sonya Saepoff
- Indiewire
In this exclusive clip from Stephan Littger’s debut feature film “Her Composition," Malorie (Joslyn Jensen) discovers a new side to her sexuality that will launch her journey of musical discovery. Throughout her frenzied sensual journey sleeping with random clients during which she has random musical experiences, she will leave behind the confines of the status quo that had enchained her creative self. Her clients become the collective muse for her new composition.
Beautifully shot (Andres Karu) with a magical score by Christopher Libertino, Littger’s stunningly self-assured directorial debut asks fundamental questions by deconstructing the traditional three-act structure through the body of a woman on her journey to creative emancipation. Edgy and controversial, will Malorie for the first time create something that truly reflects her creative self or is she merely on an express path to insanity?
“I was attracted to the idea of a narrative that sounds traditional, even sexist at first but turns out to be exactly the opposite by questioning Hollywood gender roles and empowering a young artist who turns the tables on the men she meets -- and therefore audience expectations.” Littger says of the inspiration behind this movie. “In that sense, I am Malorie and Malorie is all of us who feel we have a voice and want to get it out there. And it’s incredibly hard and you need to find that non-judgmental space in the world that allows you to do that. In our private screenings so far, the reactions have been particularly exciting to me as author as every audience member raises infinitely insightful points about Malorie’s journey and her challenges. While there’s definitely also a strong political dimension to it, above all I want to entertain. It wouldn’t work any other way.”
After Austin Film Festival, the film will have its international premiere at Whistler Film Festival in early December. Jensen is supported by a stellar supporting cast featuring Christian Campbell (“Trick”), Heather Matarazzo (“Welcome to the Dollhouse”), comedian Rachel Feinstein (“Trainwreck”) and Margot Bingham (“Boardwalk Empire”). The voice of Oscar-nominated Executive Producer René Bastian (“Transamerica”) is felt throughout.
Beautifully shot (Andres Karu) with a magical score by Christopher Libertino, Littger’s stunningly self-assured directorial debut asks fundamental questions by deconstructing the traditional three-act structure through the body of a woman on her journey to creative emancipation. Edgy and controversial, will Malorie for the first time create something that truly reflects her creative self or is she merely on an express path to insanity?
“I was attracted to the idea of a narrative that sounds traditional, even sexist at first but turns out to be exactly the opposite by questioning Hollywood gender roles and empowering a young artist who turns the tables on the men she meets -- and therefore audience expectations.” Littger says of the inspiration behind this movie. “In that sense, I am Malorie and Malorie is all of us who feel we have a voice and want to get it out there. And it’s incredibly hard and you need to find that non-judgmental space in the world that allows you to do that. In our private screenings so far, the reactions have been particularly exciting to me as author as every audience member raises infinitely insightful points about Malorie’s journey and her challenges. While there’s definitely also a strong political dimension to it, above all I want to entertain. It wouldn’t work any other way.”
After Austin Film Festival, the film will have its international premiere at Whistler Film Festival in early December. Jensen is supported by a stellar supporting cast featuring Christian Campbell (“Trick”), Heather Matarazzo (“Welcome to the Dollhouse”), comedian Rachel Feinstein (“Trainwreck”) and Margot Bingham (“Boardwalk Empire”). The voice of Oscar-nominated Executive Producer René Bastian (“Transamerica”) is felt throughout.
- 10/29/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
Premiering in competition at the 22nd Austin Film Festival, Stephan Littger's debut feature Her Composition stars one of my favorite indie actors Joslyn Jensen (Without, Funny Bunny) as talented but socially awkward composition student Malorie, who starts visiting high-end escort clients on her quest for overcoming writer's block. Littger's darkly comical and often surreal tale sees Malorie turning each client into yet another layer of her composition, positioning the unsuspecting viewer into silent co-conspirators along with her. Apart from a stellar lead, supporting actors Christian Campbell (Trick), Margot Bingham (Boardwalk Empire), Heather Matarazzo (Welcome to the Dollhouse) and comedian Rachel Feinstein round up the cast. Executive Producer is Oscar-nominated René Bastian (Transamerica).Ahead of its premiere at the Hideout theater, Friday, October 30 at 6pm, Twitch...
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- 10/29/2015
- Screen Anarchy
A pair of sections that we’ve been covering almost since its inception, the American Film Institute (AFI) announced their selections for the New Auteurs and American Independents line-ups and we’ve got a noteworthy, eyebrow-raising sampling of award-winning items from the Cannes played hellish immigration drama Mediterranea from Jonas Carpignano to Sundance (Josh Mond’s James White) to SXSW (Trey Edward Shults’ Krisha) winners. Since Park City days, our Nicholas Bell has reviewed a good chunk of these titles, but we’ll still likely have a couple of more reviews once the festival begins. Here are the selections and jury members.
New Auteurs Selections (11 Titles)
From Afar – When a middle-aged man is assaulted and robbed by a young criminal, an unlikely relationship develops. Dir Lorenzo Vigas. Scr Lorenzo Vigas. Cast Alfredo Castro and Luis Silva. Venezuela/Mexico. U.S. Premiere
Disorder – Matthias Schoenaerts plays an ex-soldier who becomes locked...
New Auteurs Selections (11 Titles)
From Afar – When a middle-aged man is assaulted and robbed by a young criminal, an unlikely relationship develops. Dir Lorenzo Vigas. Scr Lorenzo Vigas. Cast Alfredo Castro and Luis Silva. Venezuela/Mexico. U.S. Premiere
Disorder – Matthias Schoenaerts plays an ex-soldier who becomes locked...
- 10/15/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Read More: Meet the 2015 SXSW Filmmakers #2: Alison Bagnall Looks on the Bright Side in 'Funny Bunny' The exclusive trailer for Alison Bagnall's "Funny Bunny" introduces a narrative that explores tenuous relationships, new friendships and awkward intimacy. The coming-of-age tale centers on Titty ("The Riot Club" star Olly Alexander), a socially awkward and unusual young man whose apparent wealth has come from suing his own father for stealing Titty's inheritance from his grandfather. While Titty strikes a newfound friendship with Gene (Kentucker Audley), he also begins a budding romance with a seemingly distant and withdrawn animal rights activist named Ginger (Joslyn Jensen). The whimsical narrative promises to be a witty look at the nature of young adult relationships as it examines Titty's romantic struggles as his interest in Ginger grows. "Funny Bunny" will screen June 5-6 at the Brooklyn Film...
- 6/1/2015
- by Meredith Mattlin
- Indiewire
An acting-centric character study, writer-director Alison Bagnall's Funny Bunny traps the three extreme personalities within the confines of the screen for us to study what happens. Thanks to masterful casting, the chemistry between Kentucker Audley, Olly Alexander and Joslyn Jensen is nothing short of magical. Well within their comfort zones, the three actors slip seamlessly into their characters, naturally personifying all of their quirks and foibles.
- 3/20/2015
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Funny Bunny, Alison Bagnall’s third feature, opens with a man shuffling door to door in suburban, middle-class Philadelphia. He’s not pitching bibles, but rather, a means to an end of the childhood obesity epidemic. Gene (Kentucker Audley) is just one player in the off-kilter, quasi-love triangle that takes center stage in Bagnall’s idiosyncratic film, as he’s soon joined by a well-off man-child — the aptly named Titty (Olly Alexander) — and a reclusive, emotionally tenuous young woman named Ginger (Joslyn Jensen), who makes a living peddling her bunny’s ailments on the web. Much like her 2011 two-hander The Dish & The Spoon, Bagnall displays a deft touch for […]...
- 3/13/2015
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Funny Bunny, Alison Bagnall’s third feature, opens with a man shuffling door to door in suburban, middle-class Philadelphia. He’s not pitching bibles, but rather, a means to an end of the childhood obesity epidemic. Gene (Kentucker Audley) is just one player in the off-kilter, quasi-love triangle that takes center stage in Bagnall’s idiosyncratic film, as he’s soon joined by a well-off man-child — the aptly named Titty (Olly Alexander) — and a reclusive, emotionally tenuous young woman named Ginger (Joslyn Jensen), who makes a living peddling her bunny’s ailments on the web. Much like her 2011 two-hander The Dish & The Spoon, Bagnall displays a deft touch for […]...
- 3/13/2015
- by Sarah Salovaara
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
With Sundance in the rear view mirror and Berlin just around the corner, another huge festival that’s now very much in mind is the 2015 South By Southwest Film Festival (SXSW 2015), to be held in Austin, Texas, this March. And this year, the lineup looks no less eclectic than in any previous year for the festival.
SXSW 2015 will see the debut of two big-studio comedies (Paul Feig’s Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy; and Etan Cohen’s Get Hard, starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart), some red-hot documentaries (none more so than Alex Gibney’s Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine) and a vast array of smaller indie titles. Intriguingly, Judd Apatow’s Amy Schumer vehicle Trainwreck will be screened as a work-in-progress.
Elsewhere, Alex Garland’s well-received Ex Machina will be making an appearance, as will Ryan Gosling’s much-maligned Lost River. And curiously, there will be a...
SXSW 2015 will see the debut of two big-studio comedies (Paul Feig’s Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy; and Etan Cohen’s Get Hard, starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart), some red-hot documentaries (none more so than Alex Gibney’s Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine) and a vast array of smaller indie titles. Intriguingly, Judd Apatow’s Amy Schumer vehicle Trainwreck will be screened as a work-in-progress.
Elsewhere, Alex Garland’s well-received Ex Machina will be making an appearance, as will Ryan Gosling’s much-maligned Lost River. And curiously, there will be a...
- 2/3/2015
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
South by Southwest, the multi-faceted film, music and technology festival held annually in Austin, TX will feature such upcoming films as Paul Feig’s Spy, David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn, Alex Gibney’s documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and Ondi Timoner’s Russell Brand profile Brand: A Second Coming as headliners in this year’s film festival lineup.
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Top brass at the 22nd South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival have announced the feature line-up for the upcoming festival, set to run from March 13-21 in Austin, Texas.
SXSW will showcase 145 features. The line-up includes 60 films from first-time film-makers and comprises 100 world premieres, 13 North American premieres and 11 Us premieres.
Head of film Janet Pierson and her team of programmers culled selections from a record 2,385 feature-length submissions composed of 1,614 Us and 771 international features. The record of 7,335 total submissions marks a 13% gain on 2014.
For the first time the number of films in the juried Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature selections have risen from eight to ten. The complete Conference line-up and schedule will be released on February 17.
Besides the Narrative Feature Competition and Documentary Feature Competition selections listed below, feature entries include Judd Apatow’s work-in-progress comedy Trainwreck starring Amy Schumer in Special Events, music film 808 (pictured) in 24 Beats Per Second and Alex Garland’s sci-fi...
SXSW will showcase 145 features. The line-up includes 60 films from first-time film-makers and comprises 100 world premieres, 13 North American premieres and 11 Us premieres.
Head of film Janet Pierson and her team of programmers culled selections from a record 2,385 feature-length submissions composed of 1,614 Us and 771 international features. The record of 7,335 total submissions marks a 13% gain on 2014.
For the first time the number of films in the juried Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature selections have risen from eight to ten. The complete Conference line-up and schedule will be released on February 17.
Besides the Narrative Feature Competition and Documentary Feature Competition selections listed below, feature entries include Judd Apatow’s work-in-progress comedy Trainwreck starring Amy Schumer in Special Events, music film 808 (pictured) in 24 Beats Per Second and Alex Garland’s sci-fi...
- 2/3/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Here's your daily dose of an indie project in progress -- at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite. In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments. Driftwood Tweetable Logline: A chamber piece revolving around two characters whose relationship is driven by manipulation and fear. Elevator Pitch: A young woman (Joslyn Jensen) washes ashore and is taken in by a lonely, grieving old man (Paul C. Kelly). As the days advance, we learn more about the strange world they live in, which looks like ours, but is occupied with people who operate on a completely different kind of plane. Characters don't interact the way we do; they barely speak (in fact, they don't speak at all!), they merely suggest what they desire through gesture and physical contact. Production Team: The film was written, directed and shot by Paul Taylor.
- 1/27/2015
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
The power of sound, whether a boom or a whisper, can infect us, haunt us for days.The absence of words, of speech, the strange milieu of the body, of authority, physical, purely primal, can be terrifying.Enter director/Dp Paul Taylor's Driftwood, an abstract chamber drama with Joslyn Jensen who starred in what I consider to be one of the most underrated American indies ever, the supremely ethereal Without.Driftwood is a dialog-free feature that has been shot, been edited, and is now seeking support for post audio, certainly the biggest hurdle for a film that is driven by sound, but not spoken word. They're seeking 15k to work with the talented folks at Silver Sound Studios in Manhattan. You can check out the moody pitch video below,...
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- 1/21/2015
- Screen Anarchy
Whether you are a filmmaker, or one of the Sundance programmers whose task it is to identify the films that make up a line-up, it is indeed the most wonderful, panic-filled and nerve racking time of the year. The 31st edition of the Sundance Film Festival kicks off on January 22nd with Park City and Salt Lake City playing host to some of the more innovative, thought-provoking narrative and non-fiction films of 2015. Last year, a Jenga tall order of 4,057 features and 8,161 shorts were submitted. Now let’s think about those numbers for a second.
Twenty years ago, Terry Zwigoff’s Crumb claimed the Grand Jury Prize Documentary award, Living in Oblivion‘s Tom Dicillo was honored with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and Edward Burns’ micro-budgeted The Brothers McMullen (there is a read-worthy, lively, eleventh hour account on how it was submitted to the fest in Ted Hope’s “Hope...
Twenty years ago, Terry Zwigoff’s Crumb claimed the Grand Jury Prize Documentary award, Living in Oblivion‘s Tom Dicillo was honored with the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and Edward Burns’ micro-budgeted The Brothers McMullen (there is a read-worthy, lively, eleventh hour account on how it was submitted to the fest in Ted Hope’s “Hope...
- 11/17/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Bridges is a quiet, minimalist short film from critic-turned-filmmaker Christopher Bell. It's worth noting in these here pages because at its core it features a finely tuned, nuanced performance from the brilliant Joslyn Jensen. Those with their finger on the pulse of the current American Indie scene may recall Jensen's name from a few year's back when she turned heads in Mark Jackson's provocative and challenging psychological thriller Without. Despite gaining considerable indie buzz and winning numerous awards at festivals across the globe (it also remains to this day my favorite film of 2011) Jackson's film never saw a proper release stateside, and thus, Jensen has yet to have that breakthrough moment she so readily deserves. So while Bridges is by no means the film...
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- 4/27/2013
- Screen Anarchy
Full disclosure: Christopher Bell is a member of The Playlist family (even though he's not currently an active journo any longer), but he's also a budding filmmaker with some skill to boot, and with a new short film under his belt, we figured it might be nice to reciprocate all he's done for us and give him a little shine. “Bridges” is about a young woman (Joslyn Jensen) who faces a great dilemma. As a babysitter, Elizabeth’s top priority is the safety of her young charge Julian (Julian Perez), an adorable baby boy who doesn’t want his peas and smiles at his toy car. With her boss being a full-time working single mother, whose absence is made poignantly clear by being only a vocal presence in the film, Elizabeth becomes de facto mother/father/carer for Julian. When safety at the apartment is threatened, Elizabeth, like a mother bird,...
- 4/25/2013
- by Diana Drumm
- The Playlist
Producer Ted Hope, who has been running a regular independent film screening series at Goldcrest for the last few years, is moving uptown — he’s the inaugural curator of the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s monthly Indie Night showcase. And for the series opening film, he’s picked a favorite of ours here at Filmmaker: Mark Jackson’s Without. On the basis of this first feature, Jackson was selected as one of our 2011 25 New Faces. In his write-up, Brandon Harris wrote:
Comprised of shots that make you feel as if you’re glimpsing the most private of moments, a fly on the wall for one young woman’s haunting meltdown, Without may suggest some of the greats of world cinema (he is willing to site the influence of Michelangelo Antonioni and Marco Ferrari, filmmakers he ironically missed out on while studying in Italy), but Jackson has little interest in quoting them.
Comprised of shots that make you feel as if you’re glimpsing the most private of moments, a fly on the wall for one young woman’s haunting meltdown, Without may suggest some of the greats of world cinema (he is willing to site the influence of Michelangelo Antonioni and Marco Ferrari, filmmakers he ironically missed out on while studying in Italy), but Jackson has little interest in quoting them.
- 3/5/2012
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Established as a platform for the fringe successes and overlooked treasures of the European festival scene, the Museum of the Moving Image’s new First Look festival in New York acts as a much-needed bright spot amid the winter doldrums. It’s also the perfect antidote to an awards season hangover, offering resolutely small movies colored with a strong avant-garde streak. From the mind-bending, color-coded world of Raya Martin’s Buenos noches, España to the abundant familial milieu of Papirosen, the inaugural edition of this new event proves consistently engrossing. Below is a concise guide to some of films showing, all but one of which are NYC premieres.
Papirosen (Gastón Solnicki, Argentina)
Like a bustling inter-generational novel without a beginning or end, Gastón Solnicki’s Papirosen is a scrambled collection of anecdotes, floating about in search of a story arc. It’s a presentation that seems frazzled at first, until...
Papirosen (Gastón Solnicki, Argentina)
Like a bustling inter-generational novel without a beginning or end, Gastón Solnicki’s Papirosen is a scrambled collection of anecdotes, floating about in search of a story arc. It’s a presentation that seems frazzled at first, until...
- 1/6/2012
- MUBI
Writer-director Mark Jackson is up for the “Someone to Watch” award at the Indie Spirits, to be held in Santa Monica on February 25, for his micro-budget film "Without." (Here's a trailer.) The film is a quiet character study featuring a daring performance by newcomer Joslyn Jensen and the patient camera work of co-producer/ co-dp Jessica Dimmock (along with Diego Garcia). Words are sparse in the film, as is plot, and nearly every scene is built shrewdly around action, however small. One keeps expecting to see hands come out of walls, a la Roman Polanski, or someone to ring someone else’s neck. In other words, the film flirts with horror, but...
- 12/21/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Sigourney Weaver and Mohamed Aouad attend 11th Annual Marrakech International Film Festival.Photo copyright Pixplanete / PR Photos. Sigourney Weaver attends 11th Annual Marrakech International Film Festival.Photo copyright Pixplanete / PR Photos. Sigourney Weaver and Mohamed Aouad attend 11th Annual Marrakech International Film Festival.Photo copyright Pixplanete / PR Photos. Justin Kurzel attends 11th Annual Marrakech International Film Festival.Photo copyright Pixplanete / PR Photos. Frederikke Aspock and Daniel Dencik attend 11th Annual Marrakech International Film Festival.Photo copyright Pixplanete / PR Photos. 12/10/2011 - Francois Cluzet, his wife Narjiss Cluzet and Philippe Pozzo di Borgo - 11th Annual Marrakech International Film Festival - Closing Ceremony - Marrakech - Marrakech, Morocco © Pixplanete / PR Photos 12/10/2011 - Francois Cluzet and Joslyn Jensen -...
- 12/14/2011
- by M&C
- Monsters and Critics
Frederikke Aspöck's "Out of Bounds" snagged the Golden Star grand prize at the Marrakech International Film Festival this weekend. Joslyn Jensen took home the award Best Actress for her performance in Mark Jackson's "Without," while Best Actor went to Daniel Henshall for Justin Kurzel's "Snowtown." The Jury Prize also went to "Snowtown," and Gianluca and Massimiliano De Serio's "Seven Acts of Mercy" was awarded the Jury Prize for Best Director. The Cinécoles Short Film Prize went to Mohamed Aouad's "L'Arroseur" with a special mention going to Alaa Akaaboune's "Bebope." The feature film prizes were awarded by a jury including director Emir Kusturica, actress Jessica Chastain, director Nicole Garcia, actress Leïla Hatami, director Abdelkade Lagtaa, director Brillante Ma. Mendoza, director Radu Mihaileanu, actress Maya Sansa and director Aparna Sen. ...
- 12/12/2011
- Indiewire
Danish director Frederikke Aspock’s film Out of Bounds was thrown into the spotlight when the 11th annual Marrakech International Film Festival wrapped on Saturday night in the Moroccan city, winning the fest's grand prize. The island drama from Nordisk productions follows a young couple and the relationship between a father, his daughter and his daughter’s boyfriend. Emir Kusturica and his star-heavy panel of judges gave their jury prize to Justin Kurzel’s Australian film Snowtown. That film’s star Daniel Henshall was named best actor for his role as a notorious serial killer who befriends a teenage boy. Joslyn Jensen didn’t
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- 12/10/2011
- by Rebecca Leffler
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mark Jackson's directorial debut Without, premiered in Park City this year - not at Redford's biggie event, but Sundance's competing film festival. It won the Special Jury Award in Slamdance and when Jackson was named among Filmmaker Magazine's Top 25 New Faces, the minimalist/microscopic budgeted chilly and ambiguous psychological thriller found more international love with showings at international fest stops Locarno, BFI London, Deauville and the Hamptons. In the viral interview below, I discuss Jackson's background as a filmmaker (he studied in Italy's Cinecittà), the extremely busy year he had at all the film festivals, his muse Joslyn Jensen, his collaboration with Dp and producer Jessica Dimmock (check out her photography work) and the support from Ifp/Filmmaker Magazine which gave the film a Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You nomination. ...
- 11/29/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Originally published in our Summer 2011 issue. Without is nominated for Best Film Not Playing At A Theater Near You.
Trained as a cinematographer in Italy, Brooklyn-based Mark Jackson says he doesn’t watch many movies. “My grandfather is the reason I make films. He introduced me to the magic of observation and that’s where the vast majority of my inspiration comes from. People watching, followed by embellishment,” says Jackson, whose feature debut Without is currently making the festival rounds. “The other bits come from reading the news.”
Comprised of shots that make you feel as if you’re glimpsing the most private of moments, a fly on the wall for one young woman’s haunting meltdown, Without may suggest some of the greats of world cinema (he is willing to site the influence of Michelangelo Antonioni and Marco Ferrari, filmmakers he ironically missed out on while studying in Italy...
Trained as a cinematographer in Italy, Brooklyn-based Mark Jackson says he doesn’t watch many movies. “My grandfather is the reason I make films. He introduced me to the magic of observation and that’s where the vast majority of my inspiration comes from. People watching, followed by embellishment,” says Jackson, whose feature debut Without is currently making the festival rounds. “The other bits come from reading the news.”
Comprised of shots that make you feel as if you’re glimpsing the most private of moments, a fly on the wall for one young woman’s haunting meltdown, Without may suggest some of the greats of world cinema (he is willing to site the influence of Michelangelo Antonioni and Marco Ferrari, filmmakers he ironically missed out on while studying in Italy...
- 11/4/2011
- by Brandon Harris
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
★★★★☆ One of the twelve nominees for this year's Sutherland Award at the BFI London Film Festival (and surely a strong contender), Mark Jackson's minimalist debut Without certainly doesn’t lack emotion and intensity beneath its slow-burning exterior, and welcomes a new emerging talent in the face of Joslyn Jensen.
Newcomer Jensen is endlessly watchable as a recent college graduate isolated on a small, Washington State island community as she cares for Frank (Ron Carrier), a catatonic, wheelchair-bound old man, whilst his family are away. Before leaving, his controlling family run through a number of ridiculous rules and regulations for Joslyn to adhere to, most relating to the television's volume and channel controls, or the fact that knives should never be placed in the dishwasher.
Once alone - and without reception or wi-fi signal for her smartphone - Joslyn spends the majority of her day feeding and cleaning Frank, exercising or...
Newcomer Jensen is endlessly watchable as a recent college graduate isolated on a small, Washington State island community as she cares for Frank (Ron Carrier), a catatonic, wheelchair-bound old man, whilst his family are away. Before leaving, his controlling family run through a number of ridiculous rules and regulations for Joslyn to adhere to, most relating to the television's volume and channel controls, or the fact that knives should never be placed in the dishwasher.
Once alone - and without reception or wi-fi signal for her smartphone - Joslyn spends the majority of her day feeding and cleaning Frank, exercising or...
- 10/14/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
"Without" was screened last weekend as part of Outfest 2011 in Los Angeles and Sound Unseen International Duluth in June. It seems that writers, directors and actors can be taught the craft of making movies, but the ever-present, assured hand of a born filmmaker is rare, and simply exists in a person. In "Without," the debut feature from editor/writer/director Mark Jackson, this is evident from the opening scene. Jackson's lead actress, Joslyn Jensen, is on a ferry, staring off into the distance, expressionless, before turning her attention to her phone. We will come to realize this phone is of utmost…...
- 7/15/2011
- The Playlist
[With Mark Jackson's Without having its Northwest premiere this weekend at the Seattle International Film Festival, I figured now was a good time to revisit my review from February.] There comes a point in Mark Jackson's debut feature where the tempo of tension is so great that even the sound of a door closing promises to shatter the entire frame into a million little pieces. Shot on Whidbey Island in Washington state with a small cast and crew, Without may seem a fairly typical independent, as anyone who briefly scans a synopsis might think: Joslyn, (Joslyn Jensen) a young woman barely out of high school, takes an eldercare position on a rural island. Her task is to mind the house and see to the basic...
- 5/21/2011
- Screen Anarchy
The 17th annual Slamdance Film Festival has handed out awards to 10 films out of the 83 movies that screened this year. A few films received multiple awards in different categories and several of the winners will be given a limited theatrical release sponsored by Slamdance later this year.
Awards were organized in the sections: Grand Jury Awards, Audience Awards and Sponsored Awards. The documentary Bhopali, directed by Van Maximillian Carlson about the effects of the horrific 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster, won both a Grand Jury and an Audience award. Another documentary, Shunka by Cj Gardella, won both an Audience and a Sponsored award.
Also, in addition to several winners, the Slamdance jury made several mentions to runners-up deserving special recognition. Those special jury notes are included in the full list of winners below.
Two films — the short Hello Caller by Andrew Putschoegl and the feature Superheroes by Michael Barnett — have been...
Awards were organized in the sections: Grand Jury Awards, Audience Awards and Sponsored Awards. The documentary Bhopali, directed by Van Maximillian Carlson about the effects of the horrific 1984 Union Carbide gas disaster, won both a Grand Jury and an Audience award. Another documentary, Shunka by Cj Gardella, won both an Audience and a Sponsored award.
Also, in addition to several winners, the Slamdance jury made several mentions to runners-up deserving special recognition. Those special jury notes are included in the full list of winners below.
Two films — the short Hello Caller by Andrew Putschoegl and the feature Superheroes by Michael Barnett — have been...
- 1/28/2011
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
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