A BEAUTIFUL NOW

Drama/Dance (98 mins) USA

Directed by: Daniela Amavia
Written by: Daniela Amavia
Produced by: Daniela Amavia, Keith Kjarval, Lynn Kressel
Cast: Abigail Spencer, Cheyenne Jackson, Collette Wolfe, Elena Satine, Hana Hayes, Patrick Heusinger, Sonja Kinski

Synopsis: Five friends reunite for one night to save Romy (Abigail Spencer), the woman at the center of their former circle. As the night progresses, they struggle with their past relationships, and truths are revealed as Romy, who has barricaded herself in the bathroom, tries to put the pieces of her life back together. This thrilling journey into the mind of a woman teetering on the edge of letting go ultimately asks “if your life flashed before your eyes- would you like what you see?” and reveals a gripping story of how the past shapes who we will become.

ACROSS THE LINE

Racial Drama (86 mins) Canada

Directed by: Director X
Written by: Floyd Kane
Produced by: Amos Adetuyi Michael Donovan Floyd Kane
Cast: Stephan James Sarah Jeffery Shamier Anderson

Synopsis: Out of the approximately 600 players in the National Hockey League(NHL), thirty are Black. MATTIE SLAUGHTER (Stephan James), a hockey phenom from the rural Black community of North Preston wants to make it thirty-one. To do it though, Mattie needs to stay away from trouble. Hard to do though, when you go to a school where racism taints every interaction, your older brother is hustling young girls and you’re crushing on a girl, JAYME SLAUGHTER (Sarah Jeffery), who’s already hooked up. However, if Mattie can navigate life’s hurdles, he’ll find his NHL dreams just across the line.

AFTER THE END

Comedy (11 mins) UK

Directed by: Sam Southward
Written by:  Sam Southward, Samantha Collins
Produced by: Michelangelo Fano
Cast: Tom Davis, Peter Caulfield

Synopsis: For Rene Fustercluck, life was bad, the Apocalypse was awful and then Gordon arrived. ‘After the End’ explores the possibility that the only thing worse than being the last man on earth, is being the second to last man on earth.

ALMOST HOME

War/Drama (14 mins) USA

Directed by: BJ Golnick
Written by: BJ Golnick, Jeremy Miller
Produced by: Jeremiah Bennett, BJ Golnick, Jeremy Miller
Cast: BJ Golnick, Ron Prather, Jeremy Miller, April Billingsly

Synopsis: An American Marine returns home to his dying father bringing not only the hope to mend their broken relationship but his memories of the war.

AMERICAN BRED

Mafia/Crime/Drama (109 mins) USA

Directed by: Justin Chambers
Written by: Justin Chambers
Produced by: Justin Chambers, Karina Diaz, William Alexander IV, Michael Butler
Cast: Ryan Leli, Rolonda Watts, Andy Martinez Jr., Jesse Steccato, Nate Scholz, Eva Tamargo, Michael Lerner, Viktoria Pavelka

Synopsis: Starring Academy Award Nominee Michael Lerner and Eva Tamargo. American Bred chronicles the gruesome demise that partakes one of the lasting organized crime syndicates; when lies, mystery and betrayal devour the trust, which held them together.

A PUNTERS PRAYER

Crime/Drama/Comedy (93 mins) UK

Directed by: Savvas D. Michael
Written by: Savvas D. Michael
Produced by: Andrew Neophytou, John Pavlakos, Kat Georgiou
Cast: Dexter Fletcher, Nicky B, Ewen MacIntosh, Daniel Caltagirone, Andreas Karras, Tommy O’Neill, Jamie Crew, Mem Ferda

Synopsis: On a Friday afternoon in North London, Jack decides to bet ?250 on a horse win treble which, if all three horses win, would net him and his friends a fortune. Jack’s selection of various long-shots chosen by name rather than form creates a buzz at the bookies and suddenly his potential winning betting slip becomes a point of interest for more than one party which sees the friends desperately try to hang on to this potentially winning ticket.

BABY BABY BABY

Dramedy (85 mins) USA

Directed by: Brian Klugman
Written by: Brian Klugman
Produced by: Cassidy Lunnen, Robert Bauer
Cast: Adrianne Palicki, Brian Klugman, James Roday, Michaela Conlin, Kelly Mccreary, Greg Grunberg, Kelsey Grammer

Synopsis: Baby, Baby, Baby is a modern day love story set in Los Angeles. Sunny is a painter at heart and a bartender at night. Sydney is a commercial actor who yearns to be a writer. Though mostly mismatched, Sydney and Sunny hit it off anyway. They date, fall in love, and move in together. Sydney’s emotional state of mind in the course of his relationship with Sunny is reflected in his revealing short stories. Sunny and Sydney are perfect together…until they’re not.

BECOMING

Dramedy (15 mins) USA

Directed by: David DeGrow Shotwell, Katie Featherston
Written by: David DeGrow Shotwell
Produced by: David DeGrow Shotwell, Katie Featherston
Cast:  Sean Harper, Emily Spirko, Adam Rose, Katie Featherston, Danielle Kennedy, Kimberly Condict, Preston Flagg, Joey Oglesby

Synopsis: As Sarah prepares for her wedding, she finds herself fighting through memories of her father.?Sensing her discomfort, her brother tries to make things okay for her, while her Mom simply worries about the future.?Through these interactions, Sarah relives more and more moments from her youth, until she must?decide to either confront her fears about love or allow them to overtake her.

BREATHE

Drama/Psychological Thriller (22 mins) USA

Directed by: Paul Kowalski
Written by: Dan Gentile,Paul Kowalski
Produced by: Christina Dow
Cast: Kristof Konrad,Alicja Bachleda

Synopsis: Dr. Filip Kardel is an ambitious Polish neurosurgeon working in America, struggling to cope with the loss of his wife, Ania. As the memories of her untimely death and his neglecting her in favor of his career continue to haunt him, will he escape the prison of his grief and guilt, or will it destroy him?

BROKEN MAST

Comedy (9 mins) USA

Directed by: Isaiah Smallman
Written by: Isaiah Smallman
Produced by: Isaiah Smallman,Barlow Jacobs
Cast: Barlow Jacobs,Jeremy Childs,Isaiah Smallman,Tipper Newton

Synopsis: Broken Mast is a comedy about a team of burglars attempting to steal a valuable painting. All hell breaks loose when they’re confronted by the homeowner and Ted discovers that Amy and Brian are sneaking around behind his back. Rather than cut their losses and make a run for it, Ted decides that the living room of the home they’re trying to rob is a perfectly reasonable place to have an intense discussion about what went wrong.

CASSIUS ALI

Biographical Documentary (15 mins) USA

Directed by: Evan Bochetto
Written by: Evan Bochetto
Produced by: Dan Pastewka,George Bochetto,Evan Bochetto,Jared Weiss
Cast: Hana Ali,Gene Kilroy,Muhammad Ali (Archive Footage),Gordon Davidson,Larry Holmes,Rahaman Ali

Synopsis: Muhammad Ali?s impact extends beyond the ropes of the ring – his legacy as a civil rights and world leader was emboldened by the racial injustices of his childhood. This documentary examines Ali?s life from the impact of his early years to the humanitarian efforts of his later life.

CILANTRO

Drama(9 mins) USA

Directed by: Mehdi Avaz
Written by: Mathew Kaundart
Produced by: Milad Avaz,Sara Victoria
Cast: Sapir Azulay,Nick Zephyrin

Synopsis: When Mike sits down for a dinner with an old friend the past unfolds.

COFFEE VIRGIN

Comedy (1 min) USA

Directed by: Perez Bros
Written by: Perez Bros
Produced by: Perez Bros
Cast: Talon Marsden,Brian Moriarty

Synopsis: Coffee Virgin is a psychedelic short film about a boy who tries coffee for the first time. Everyone remembers their first cup…

COLD WAR

War,Drama,Action(8 mins) USA

Directed by: Richard Gray
Written by: Lee Zachariah
Produced by: Virginia Kay,MIchelle Gray,Richard Gray,Jaime Houge,T.Patman-Thomas
Cast: Yulia Klass,Robert Patrick

Synopsis: In the midst of the Cold War, a Soviet soldier makes his way across the Bering Strait to the frozen shores of Alaska. When he is found by an armed hunter, he must convince her, without being able to speak English, that he is a genuine defector.

COME BACK TO US

Drama (12 mins) USA

Directed by: Mario Ramos
Written by: Oscar Estrada
Produced by: Juan Pablo Vacatello,Mario Ramos
Cast: Juan Pablo Vacatello,Nèstor Bravo,Sebastian Stimman,Mariela Sànchez Odicio,Alejandro Aguirre,Peter Pereyra

Synopsis: On a night out with his co-workers, Oscar is confronted with a bizarre request by a woman off the street and her two children. Oscar is unprepared for the impact on his life as he questions the significance of their appeal. Based on the short story “Fatherhood” by Oscar Estrada.

COWBOYS

Dramedy (20 mins) Spain

Directed by: Bernabé Rico
Written by: Bernabé Rico
Produced by: Bernabé Rico,Olmo Figueredo
Cast: Richard Collins Moore,Rodrigo Martínez Rico,María Adánez.,Clive Arrindell

Synopsis: Martin is a finished actor, both professionally and personally. He’s divorced, has no friends and a son he hasn?t talked to for more than a year. But one fine day he?ll get a working offer his agent will not let him pass: to be companion of a 5-year-old boy to bring him luck in a costume contest at the Amusement Park.

DESERTED

Thriller/Drama  (10 mins) Netherlands

Directed by: Niels Bourgonje
Written by: Paul Bontenbal
Produced by: Francois Pieneman
Cast: Jonathan Tabler

Synopsis: A man is walking through a desert carrying a full water bottle. He is desperately fighting the temptation to drink the water. The question arises how the man got himself into this predicament. And what will happen if he does drink the water?

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Drama / Mystery (15 mins) USA

Directed by: Renji Philip
Written by: Renji Philip
Produced by: Renji Philip
Cast: Bruce Davison,Tyler Steelman,Rome Brooks,Jason Watkins,Ryan McCaan,Dave Adamson

Synopsis: DIRTY LAUNDRY stars Academy Award-nominated Bruce Davison as the wheelchair-bound hitman in a seemingly a random series of events that unfold one night at a laundromat connecting four lives in way too strange to be considered chance.

ELLE

Fantasy / Romance (20 mins) France

Directed by: Vincent Toujas
Written by: Giles Daoust
Produced by: Vincent Toujas
Cast: Théo Frilet,Annabelle Hettmann

Synopsis: Maria and Jonathan meet after witnessing a car crash. Despite an instant attraction, Jonathan will have to come to terms with a strange companion who has invaded Maria?s life for too long: ?ELLE?.

ENTRANCE EXAM

Comedy/Animation (7 Mins) China

Directed by: Boqing Tang
Written by: Boqing Tang/Xiaolan Zeng
Produced by: Boqing Tang
Cast: Lucky

Synopsis: Three little mice struggle to get through the entrance exam of a Taoism martial art school.

FAREWELL MY BIRD

Drama(22 mins) USA

Directed by: Ameneh Moghaddam
Written by: Ameneh Moghaddam
Produced by: Ameneh Moghaddam
Cast: Behrouz Vossoughi,Milad Eghbali

Synopsis: An elderly photographer who loves his pet canary more than anything becomes jealous when a young boy makes a connection with his bird causing a “love triangle”?

FATHER OF LIES

Drama/Thriller (9 mins) USA

Directed by: Levi A. Taylor
Written by: Levi A. Taylor
Produced by: Levi A. Taylor,D.K. Johnston,Bradford James Jackson
Cast: Nik Sharshak,Bradford James Jackson,Lance Graham-Hanes,Evan Silcox

Synopsis: ‘Yes I believe demons exist–‘ a grizzled Alaskan dad warns his son as they sit around the campfire. The man’s eyes are bloodshot and forlorn behind a mask of cigarette smoke and flame. Passing his son a sip of whiskey, he warns that demon taunting is hereditary. The boy listens to his fathers tale from his days as a pastor when he was confronted by darkness.

FLOYD THE BARBER

Drama Thriller (15 mins) USA

Directed by: Jonathan Augustavo
Written by: Jonathan Augustavo
Produced by: Remii Huang,Malcolm Duncan
Cast: Aaron Farb,Mary Jane Wells,Trey Holland

Synopsis: A criminal travels back in time preventing his own death at the hands of a deranged killer.

FORTUNE’S SMILE

Drama (15 minutes) UK

Directed by: Marcus Liversedge
Written by: Daniel Higley
Produced by: Daniel Higley,Fred Rowson
Editor: Daniel Higley
Cast: Sandro Squillace,Jackson Scott,Jade Davidson,Sadie Frost,Laura Freeman,Joel Fry,Victor Gardener,Day Murch

Synopsis: Ivan, a young man dissatisfied with his life, stumbles upon a bohemian drinking club in London’s Soho. Here he meets a drunken writer who inspires him. 

FRAMED-THE ADVENTURES OF ZION MAN

Period,Fantasy,Drama Western/Supernatural (15 mins) USA

Directed by: Brenda Lee Lau
Written by: Brenda Lee Lau
Produced by: Sylvia Kahn Versace,Aaron Marciniak,Nathan Robinson,Wilky Lau
Cast: Gabe White,Steve Cell,Marianne Muellerleile,Jaeden Lieberher,Alicia Ziegler,Cole Jensen,Christa Beth Campbell

Synopsis: Inspired by the true story of Walter Kahn, a 12-year-old Jewish boy in Nazi Germany who creates a Superhero Universe to survive the anti-Semitic bullies at school. But, he?ll need all his superpowers when he takes a stand against Hitler in this short film that blends live action and animation. The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of those who do evil but because of those who look on and do nothing – Albert Einstein.

FREE TO LAUGH

Documentary (15 mins) USA

Directed by: Lara Everly
Written by: Concept by Lara Everly
Produced by: Louie Schwartzberg,Edward Tighe,Elease Lui Stemp
Cast: JANELLE BATES DEBBIE BLACKBURN GEYNNA BUFFINGTON BERNADETTE CAMPOS ROSANNA EVANS PATRICIA FLANIGAN ANGELA FLORES

Synopsis: Free to Laugh covers a three-day comedy workshop teaching improv and stand up to women recently released from prison. These ex-convicts channeled years of pain and incarceration into writing their own stand up material, healing through laughter and propelling themselves into the present through improvisation. Free to Laugh focuses on the deep connection between tragedy and comedy, and how humor not only heals, but is a part of redemption and reinvention. Their stories are as bone-chilling as they are heart-warming, and explore how even after spending twenty years behind bars, your story is still being created every day.

FROG

Family,Drama,Coming-Of-Age (17 min) USA

Directed by: Tyler A. Wallach
Written by: Tyler A. Wallach
Produced by: Jonathan Bucari,Alex Kurze,Lenny Emery
Cast: Cayce Kolodney,Gabriel Rush,Clare Foley,Liam Foley

Synopsis: Frog is a short film about the loss of innocence, the brutality of growing up and the beauty of childhood.

GENDERNESS

Art (7 mins) Sweden

Directed by: Anders Ramsell
Written by: Anders Ramsell
Cast: Rutger Hauer

Synopsis: Hand painted aquarelles of a gentle exploration from a beehive man. (Who do not like bees) into a ?man-bee-man? with a buzzing heart. genderness moves around thoughts about being intergender. Intergender is a term used to describe a gender identity that is mixed between male and female – a third sex. Masculine or feminine? Beehive or human? To realize that in the end there is no need to choose either/or…

GOLD NEVER RUSTS

Drama (11 mins) USA

Directed by: Tore Frandsen
Written by: Tore Frandsen
Produced by: Preston Garrett,Michael Schenk,Laura Thoel
Cast: Goldie Hoffman,Harward Gorden,Danny Grossman,Jo Crandall

Synopsis: An old man in a bar finds himself in the middle of a keg lifting competition in order to win back his most prized possession.

HICKEY

Comedy (82 mins) USA

Directed by: Alex Grossman
Written by: Alex Grossman
Produced by: Tom Staggs,Chris Sacca,Lije Sarki,Michael Mackey,Alex Grossman
Cast: Flavia Watson,Zed Restauro,Tiny Lister,Raychel Diane Weiner,Brady Smith,Jessica Chaffin,Troy Doherty

Synopsis: Full on brains and low on confidence, the only way Ryan can win the heart of the girl he loves is to save their jobs at the store he hates.

IN THE DAZE OF THINGS

Comedy (12 mins) France

Directed by: Gaìl Zaks
Written by: Gaìl Zaks
Produced by: Alan Coulson,Maria Ellis
Cast: Valèry Schatz,Gaíl Zaks

Synopsis: Two men who don’t know each other, an American and a Frenchman, meet up in a Parisian apartment concerning a very important topic to the both of them…

IN VITRO

Drama (17 mins) UK

Directed by: TOBY STEPHENS
Written by: TOBY STEPHENS
Produced by: SARAH BEST,STEVIE LEE
Cast: RUPERT PENRY JONES,ANNA LOUISE PLOWMAN,STEPHANIE LEONIDAS

Synopsis: The directorial debut of actor Toby Stephens, this uncompromising film explores how infertility can erode a marriage and one man’s reaction to cold science replacing passion… ‘…an unnerving drama that unravels with poignancy and heartache. Rupert Penry Jones is outstanding’ I’m With Geek. 

IRREFUTABLE PROOF

Drama (90 mins) USA

Directed by: Ziad H Hamzeh
Written by: Richard Castellane
Produced by: Rob Draper,Ziad Hamzeh,Richard Castellane
Cast: Sam Finn Cutler,Elizabeth Bove,Marc Sandler,Joely Live,Sheena Collette

Synopsis: IRREFUTABLE PROOF begins with a car crash preventing Jeanine Markham, a world-renowned astrophysicist, from delivering her controversial lecture about her findings. The accident puts Jeanine at the cross roads of conscious and subconscious, between Comatose and awake as she struggles to live. But even in her vegetative unresponsive state, her mind, slipping between the two realities, continues her quest to deliver the truth. For Jeanine’s husband and others, accepting the irrefutable proof that she presents is unthinkable – that we’re alone in the universe, that no deity hears or answers our prayers nor punishes our sins, that humanity is entirely the product of random events, and that our sufferings, indeed our lives and loves are ultimately pointless. Her journey becomes shrouded by dark and unexplainable events that create a whirlwind of tumultuous emotions and terrifying realizations.

JAMIE & JONATHAN

Dramedy (17 mins) USA

Directed by: Kyle C. Mumford
Written by: Kyle C. Mumford
Produced by: Karli McGuiness
Cast: Daniel Krstyen,Charles Gorrilla,Henry Steckman

Synopsis: When a young dad chooses a career over family and fails, he is given a second chance to be somebody; becoming the father he never was when asked to drive his estranged son to a funeral.

LOST & FOUND

Family Adventure (90 mins) USA

Directed by: Joseph Itaya
Written by: EriK Cardona,Joseph Itaya
Produced by: Lee Broda,Joseph Itaya,Jordan Barker / Exec Prod: Jeff Rice,Producers: Scott Bridges,Kim Selby,Borga Dorter
Cast: Benjamin Stockham,Justin Kelly,with Cary Elwes,Céleste Desjardins,Jason Patric

Synopsis: After getting caught stealing, Andy and his younger brother Mark are sent to their estranged uncle on a mysterious island. They soon discover that their eccentric grandfather vanished without a trace decades earlier, taking with him the secret to a vast fortune.As the adventure unfolds, the boys learn that the bonds of brotherhood are the most valuable riches of all, and that some family secrets can’t stay buried forever.

LOVE AND FAITH

Comedy (10 mins) Mexico

Directed by: Sebastian Sarinana
Written by: Sebastian Sarinana
Produced by: Karen Vázquez,Sebastian Sarinana
Cast: Lucìa Uribe,Antonio Zegaceta,Daniel Tovar

Synopsis: Sophie is running away from Fabian, her newlywed husband who she just met two days ago. Fabian, accompanied by the priest, tries to convince her that their love is not insane. A comedy about two young adults who explore what it takes to fall in love in the present, a time where true love seems to be extinct.

LUCKY STAR

Drama  (18 mins) USA

Directed by: Priya Amritraj
Written by: Priya Amritraj
Produced by: Josh Janowicz,Jarred Schaeffer,Priya Amritraj
Cast: Jenna Ortega,Danielle Camastra,Mario Revolori,Kyle Allen,Gulshan Grover

Synopsis: Inspired by true events, Lucky Star centers on 12-year-old Camila Garcia. Desperate to help her hardworking, single mother, she buys lottery scratchers at the local corner store. Giving one of its regulars the money to make the purchase for her as she?s underage. After months of nothing, Camila actually wins $100,000. The sort of money that could change their lives?if she can find a way to claim it. Lucky Star looks at the timely and relevant issues of immigration and income inequality through the eyes of a young girl in an emotional love story between a daughter and her mother.

MAKE LIKE A DOG

Dramedy (11 mins) USA

Directed by: Marshall Allman
Written by: Marshall Allman
Produced by: Richard C. Jones,Marshall Allman,Christian D. Sosa,Ben Oliver
Cast: Jamie Anne Allman,Mark Kelly

Synopsis: Frustrated, angry and infertile, Stanley and Elvira will try anything to pull their relationship out of the dog house.

MAKING BABY

Comedy (8 mins) Canada

Directed by: Jonathan Bower
Written by: Jonathan Bower
Produced by: Jonathan Bower
Cast: Kristian Reimer,Emily Andrews,Nicole Ratjen

Synopsis: Kim and Dave want to have a baby, but after many failed attempts at a fertility clinic they are now strapped for cash. A new ray of hope comes in when Kim’s sister Adele offers herself as a surrogate. But where family relationships are involved, things never go as planned.

MINE

Drama Romance Experimental (7 mins) Australia,USA

Directed by: Trilby Glover
Written by: Trilby Glover
Produced by: Trilby Glover,Bevan B. Bell
Cast: Brett Tucker,Banjo Curry,Trilby Glover

Synopsis: Sebastian contemplates the transcendent love he feels for his wife and soul-mate, Clara — and must learn how to cope through the different stages of life, when romantic love changes and she meets someone new.

MR. RICHARD FRANCIS

Comedy (12 mins) Canada

Directed by: Tom Hackett
Written by: Mike Scully
Produced by: Tom Hackett,Paul McGillion
Cast: Paul McGillion Erica Carroll Aleks Paunovic

Synopsis: Under house arrest, Mr. Richard Francis tries to beat the system only to have the system beat him.

NATHAN EAST: FOR THE RECORD

Music (85 mins) USA

Directed by: Chris Gero
Written by: Sara Bachler
Produced by: Yamaha Entertainment Group of America
Cast: Nathan East,Kenny Loggins,+more,Lionel Richie,Quincy Jones,Michael McDonald,Eric Clapton,Vince Gill,Phil Collins

Synopsis: Nathan East For The Record is a documentary film that takes viewers behind-the-scenes as one of the most influential bass players in modern music recorded his debut solo album last year. His long-awaited solo album (released in March) spent four weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Album chart and 34 weeks in the top position on smoothjazz.com. For The Record also chronicles Nathan’s three decade plus career from when he hit the road age 16 with Barry White, his session and touring work across musical genres and membership in the legendary jazz quartet Fourplay.

NOTICED

Thriller,Drama (15 mins) USA

Directed by: Limor Diamant
Written by: Limor Diamant,Sigal Diamant
Produced by: Nikos Karamigios
Cast: Sigal Diamant,Tomas Oscar Andren

Synopsis: When a lonesome postal worker discovers one night that a peeping tom lives across from her, a growing fascination with him sends her on a surprising journey.

OCEAN

sci-fi,drama (10 mins) USA

Directed by: Cyril Zima
Written by: Maria Rogotskaya,Cyril Zima
Produced by: Cyril Zima,Maria Rogotskaya,Mariietta Volynska
Cast: Darrel Cherney,Cassi Colvin

Synopsis: An ambitious deputy press-secretary of the government agency spends times with his mistress in a Malibu house when a System of National Security fails.

ON FLYING WATER

Animation (3 mins) France

Directed by: Dominique Monfery

Synopsis: An original metaphore of life visualized by the short life time of water droplets, surviving as long as they can, until they are exposed by their toughest natural enemy. The music and sound design is a narration, like a musical voice acting. Each character droplets is represented by a different instrument. 

OUT OF THE VILLAGE

Drama (16 mins) USA

Directed by: Jonathan Stein
Written by: Luke A. Renner,Jonathan Stein
Produced by: Jonathan Stein
Cast: Kobina Amissah-Sam,Hannah Attah,Abraham Attah

Synopsis: The inspirational story of an orphaned boy and his sister who defy all odds after Ebola ravages their West African village.

POOR GEORGE

DARK FANTASY/THRILLER (25 mins) USA

Directed by: JIM HARRIS
Written by: JIM HARRIS
Produced by: JIM HARRIS
Cast: BRIAN DOYLE-MURRAY,PAUL BALLIN,TAYLOR COLE,MAX DONOVAN,MICHAEL DEMPSEY,CLARE DONOVAN,SUSAN SLOME

Synopsis: George lives in two worlds. One perfect, his dream world, the other, his mundane real life, a living hell. Taking drastic measures, he enacts his plan to be in his dream world forever with his perfect girl, Dora. But that world it is not all as it seems. He soon learns there’s a fine line between dreams and nightmares. Be careful what you wish for.

RAINFALL

Animation/Drama (7 mins) Canada

Directed by: Efehan Elbi
Written by: Efehan Elbi
Produced by: Aleksey Matviyenko
Cast: Molly C. Quinn,Aaron Manczyk,Efehan Elbi,Zak Tatham,Omer Elbi

Synopsis: Jessica experiences her first date, her first kiss, and her first heartache after one unforgettable evening in the storm.

ROSEMARY

Romance,Drama (5 mins) USA

Directed by: Eric David Wallace
Written by: Eric David Wallace
Produced by: Eric David Wallace
Cast: Eric David Wallace,Masumi Tsunoda,Ivy Liu

Synopsis: A young man struggles to make a decision between two lovers, Rosa and Mary.

RWANDA & JULIET

Documentary (90 mins) USA

Directed by: Ben Proudfoot
Produced by: Ben Proudfoot

Synopsis: Professor Garrod dreams of bringing about reconciliation in the country of Rwanda. Oxford educated and a retired professor of Dartmouth college, Garrod uses his greatest tool to bring about peace: Shakespeare. As part of an American theatre group dedicated to bringing drama and the arts to students in impoverished countries, Garrod travels to Rwanda to direct a production of Romeo and Juliet, casting Hutu and Tutsi high school students, children of the 1994 genocide that devastated the country. But Professor Garrod gets more than he bargained for with the colorful cast, who have their own ideas about reconciliation and Shakespeare.

SECOND CHANCE

Crime / Drama (87 mins) USA

Directed by: Carlos Cardona
Written by: Danny Zyskind
Produced by: Dustin Williams
Cast: Gregg Prosser,Theodore Copeland,Sal Rendino,Lacy Marie Meyer

Synopsis: After a home invasion goes terribly wrong, Oscar tries to help the girl whose life he helped to ruin.

SHADOWS (SOMBRAS)

Drama (13 mins) Mexico

Directed by: Michael Rowe
Written by: Michael Rowe,Gabriel Reyes,Elena Garcìa
Produced by: Luis Àngel Ramìrez
Cast: Hugo Ramos,Joaquìn Cossio,Saúl Vegas,Meztli Crespo

Synopsis: Dani, Freddy and Oscar are three teenagers who have no real ambition in life because they live in a neighborhood where smoking pot and making a quick buck are all that matter.Dani is pregnant with Freddy?s baby; however, because she doesn?t have the support of her grandfather, who is her only family, she is considering getting an abortion. In order to keep the baby, Freddy, along with Oscar, plans to pull off his most daring heist yet, but things spin out of control and one of them is put in serious danger.

SHELL SHOCK

Documentary (58 mins) Germany

Directed by: Elena Starodubtseva
Written by: Igor Pobereschski
Produced by: Konstantin Panovko,Igor Pobereschski
Cast: Soldiers at Donbass

Synopsis: ????????SHELL SHOCK(Russian/English)An incisive examination of the daily lives of people living in the combat zone in the Donbass in eastern Ukraine.A variety of sequences depicts how the cruelty and suffering of war are not just becoming customary for the separatists and the Ukrainian army soldiers but for the civilian population too. The film crew got so close to the parties involved that they were able to capture the boyish thrill of war felt by civilian men who have taken up arms under the influence of propaganda and gone off to fight their neighbours and brothers. Ukrainian women bear all the hardships of this senseless conflict with resignation and do not say a word in protest. Children and the elderly have become accustomed to a life lived in cellars and ruins. You get the impression that all these people are shell-shocked from the war and can?t come to their senses and ask themselves what they are killing others and dying themselves for.A documentary by Elena Starodubtseva

SLAVE

Drama (13 mins) Mexico

Directed by: Amat Escalante
Written by: Amat Escalante,Elena Garcìa,Gabriel Reyes
Produced by: Luis Àngel Ramìrez
Cast: Donovan Torres,Natalia Guzmán

Synopsis: As Ana, only 14 years old, tells her story, we can see how she was easily seduced by Sam, and how he and his mother manage to deceive her and introduce her to the world of prostitution.

SOIL

Mystery (47 mins) France

Directed by: Julian Feeld,Mathilde Huron
Written by: Julian Feeld
Produced by: Julian Feeld,Mathilde Huron
Cast: Liza Journo – Sati Leonne Faulks – Joseph Rezwin – Julian Feeld

Synopsis: A young filmmaker sets out to document the friendship between a fifteen year old Parisian girl and a homeless alcoholic on the verge of death. What seems at first to be a documentary quickly devolves into a voyeuristic exploration of young Liza’s past and an attempt to undermine Adam, who is confined to the addiction ward of the Hopital Fernand Widal, lost in resentment. As Liza and the filmmaker travel South to the latter’s vacation home, it comes to light that they are in a relationship. The filmmaker is for the first time captured by his own camera, which shirks the documentary form to observe the couple as they vacation. Adam’s invisible presence remains oppressive as the vacation devolves into a vanishing game within the alternatingly grandiose and murky countryside. One night Liza disappears for good, taking the car with her. Grief-stricken and vindictive, the filmmaker returns to Paris to visit the comatose Adam and claim victory over the dying old man.

STALKER BREAKUP

Comedy (8 mins) USA

Directed by: Thomas Michael
Written by: Scott Parkin,Thomas Michael
Produced by: Thomas Michael
Cast: Thomas Michael,Scott Parkin,Melanie Mullen

Synopsis: A stalker tries to break up with the girl he’s been stalking. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

STARS IN OUR DARKNESS

Drama (9 mins) USA

Directed by: Daniel Ray Hamby
Written by: Daniel Ray Hamby
Produced by: Fred Mletzko,Mary Hamby
Cast: Jim Chandler,Megan Keith,Ruthie Novak,JD Mallory

Synopsis: Stars In Our Darkness is about a man who asks his girlfriend’s father for permission to take the relationship to the next level. It examines how these two very different people can be united by their love for one person.

STILL LIFE

Drama (13 mins) USA

Directed by: Seri DeYoung
Written by: Seri DeYoung,Hope Jaymes
Produced by: Seri DeYoung,Hope Jaymes
Cast: Seri DeYoung,Rochelle Robinson,Hope Jaymes,Toni Romano-Cohen

Synopsis: When Franci finds out she’s been invited to interview for an art college, she feels like her dreams are starting to come true. Now all she has to do is break the news to her co-dependent, substance abusing mother.

STUFFED

Dramedy (22 mins)Australia

Directed by: Warwick Young
Written by: Warwick Young
Produced by: Rachel Argall,Warwick Young
Cast: Alan Dukes,Jan Oxenbould,Anita Hegh,Travis Cotton

Synopsis: Peter loves two things in life: stuffing animals, and his mother. When the beautiful Ellen asks him to the local dance he struggles to leave the comfort of home and his mum.

SWEETS

Drama (88 mins) USA

Directed by: Rick Rodgers
Written by: Paxton Winters
Produced by: Catherine Kellner,Ed Vassallo,Washington Square Films,Kickstart Films,Kara Baker),Yul Vàzquez,Gigi Films (Gia Walsh,Jennifer Konawal
Cast: Raul Castillo,Kevin Corrigan,Catherine Kellner,Sarita Choudhury,Tony Gillan,Pedro Pascal

Synopsis: Alex (Catherine Kellner), lonely and single, lives in the Harlem section of New York City. Desperate for a relationship and child (not in any order), she decides on both with mixed reactions from everyone. When old habits creep back, her calls for help finally get answered by Sweets (Sarita Choudhury) who arrives with bad influences in tow.

THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD

Documentary  (90 mins) USA

Directed by: Jen Senko
Written by: Kala Mandrake,Jen Senko with Melodie Bryant
Produced by: Matthew Modine,Jen Senko,Adam Rackoff
Cast: Steve Rendall,Matthew Modine,Greg Moores,George Lakoff,Jeff Cohen,Frank Luntz

Synopsis: A filmmaker explores the radical change of her once Democratic father to an angry right-wing fanatic after his immersion in talk radio and Fox News. She discovers this to be a powerful phenomenon that has divided families across the nation.

THE BUTTERFLY, THE HARP AND THE TIMEPIECE

Drama (10 mins) USA

Directed by: Rodney Vance
Written by: Joseph Lennon McCord
Produced by: Rodney Vance,Melissa Leo
Cast: Orpheo McCord,Amanda Lynne,Alex Ebert,Melissa Leo,Joseph Lennon McCord

Synopsis: “The Butterfly, The Harp, and The Timepiece” is a short film starring Oscar winner Melissa Leo, Golden Globe winner Alex Ebert, and scored by Grammy winner Alex Geringas. The story revolves around a vagabond, an office worker, and a former executive who grasp for hope in their waning dreams through sentimental treasures at a magical pawn shop, but unlikely circumstances bind their paths together in a culmination of fulfillment and disappointment.

THE COBBLER AND THE DIAMOND

Comedy/Film Noir (20 mins) USA

Directed by: Jacob Hoyson
Written by: Jacob Hoyson
Produced by: Maurice Walker,Jessica Voelker,Jacob Hoyson
Cast: Hayden Guthrie,Thomas Baumgardner,Sam Cobean,Anna Brown,Robyn Nolting,John Neisler

Synopsis: A down-on-his-luck private eye is torn between his client’s search for her missing diamond, and his own search for peach cobbler.

THE C WORD

Documentary (89 mins) USA

Directed by: Meghan O’Hara,Morgan Freeman,Lori McCreary,Pascaline Servan-Schreiber,Nick McKinney

Synopsis: From executive producer Morgan Freeman comes a bold new film that will forever change the way we view cancer. At its heart are powerful twin narratives: one from celebrated French neuroscientist and cancer revolutionary Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, the other from THE C WORD?s own director, Meghan O’Hara. After braving the journey from diagnosis to wellness, Meghan and David join forces to expose systematic failings in our society, which reinforce the bad habits that predispose us to disease. Together, they lead us on a wild ride of discovery, which reveals crucial hidden scientific evidence, exposes the absurdity of the status quo, and follows a vibrant cast of characters who are changing the game. At its core, the film dares to ask the critical question: if the majority of cancers are preventable … what are we waiting for?

THE DOG LOVER

Drama (93 mins) USA

Directed by: Alex Ranarivelo
Producer: Ali Afshar, Forest Lucas, Tag Mendillo, Mandi Reno
Cast: Jayson Blair, Brando Eaton, Matthew Glave, Christina Moore, Allison Paige, James Remar, Sherry Stringfield, Lea Thompson, Kathleen Wilhoite

Synopsis: THE DOG LOVER, a suspenseful and provocative drama based on true events. Sarah takes on an undercover assignment for her employer, UAPA, a major animal rights organization that conducts animal rescues and lobbies for better animal welfare laws. Sarah goes undercover as a college intern to infiltrate a suspected ?puppy mill?.  Sarah finds things aren?t what they seem at the suspected puppy mill.  Sarah finds herself torn between doing her job and doing what?s right, and awakens to the moral contradictions of the work she?s been doing.

THE DROP: WHY YOUNG PEOPLE DON’T VOTE.

Documentary (50 mins) Canada

Directed by: Kyle McCachen
Writer: Levi McCachen
Producer: Dylan Playfair,Robert Lang,Ian Waddell
Cast: Morgan Basken,Dylan Playfair,Maalik Shakoor

Synopsis: Young actor Dylan Playfair seeks the answer to the question why so many young people don’t vote and are turned off by the political system in western democracies while in other parts of the world young people are dying for the right to vote. His journey takes him from Vancouver to Ferguson Missouri via Ottawa, the Burning Man in Nevada, Mayor Rob Ford’s Toronto, and North Carolina. The film played on Canadian television prior to Canada’s recent election and its new charismatic Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is in the film, benefited from an increased turn out by young people.

THE FEELING OF FALLING

Dramedy(20 mins) USA

Directed by: Jordan Sommerlad
Writer: Jordan Sommerlad
Producer: Jordan Sommerlad,Truman Hatch
Cast: Drew Tonkavich,Jessie Cadle,Kristina Kopf,Heidi Wilhelm,Zac Wells,Steve Walkowski,Travis Koury

Synopsis: Plagued with the fear that he accidentally ran over his former teacher’s dog, 23 year-old Addy returns home for Christmas but decides to escape his family for a night and ends up in a strange but familiar situation.

THE GATE

Action (15 mins) USA

Directed by: Kellie Madison
Writer: N/A
Producer: N/A
Cast: Cecep Arif Rahman/Amy Johnston

Synopsis: Cassie Weston uses her angelic powers to fight her arch nemesis and save her sister’s soul.

THE HOLY CAVE

Comedy (15 mins) Spain

Directed by: Aleix Massot
Writer: Aleix Massot
Producer: Yaiza Navarro
Cast: Mario Marzo,Anna Castillo,Javier Bodalo,Alex Batllori

Synopsis: Carlos is just another regular teenager in high school with just one friend: Juan, the classical nerdy guy. He’s in love with Sofia; the girl of his dreams. But, when all of a sudden, Angel, the hottest guy in school is starting to date her, he’ll work out something, along with Juan, that would change his entire life forever…THE HOLY CAVE

THE LENNON REPORT

Drama (85 mins) USA

Directed by: Jeremy Profe
Writer: Walter Vincent,Jeremy Profe
Producer: Gabriel Francisco,Rafael Francisco
Cast: David Zayas,Richard Kind,Walter Vincent,Devin Ratray,Stef Dawson,Ashlie Atkinson,Evan Jonigkeit,Adrienne C. Moore

Synopsis: The incredible true story of the moments after John Lennon was shot as seen through the eyes of those who lived it. Alan Weiss, an ambitious young news producer, finds himself in a position to break the biggest story of the year following a violent motorcycle accident. The emergency department at Roosevelt Hospital discovers a John Doe shooting victim is the worlds biggest rock star and struggles to keep the news quiet while working to save his life.

THE PAINTER

Dark Comedy (7 mins) USA

Directed by: Ryan Zaragoza
Writer: Ryan Zaragoza
Producer: Ryan Zaragoza,Lauryn Myers
Cast: Miraj Grbic,Jordan Bielsky,Lauryn Myers,Melinda Cohen,Adam Pilver,William Buchanan,Ricardo Cisneros

Synopsis: An eccentric artist struggles to meet an impending deadline because his upstairs neighbor won’t stop distracting him.

THE SPIRIT CHASER

Found Footage/Horror (90 mins) Italy

Directed by: Federico Alotto
Writer: Andrea Zirio,Federico Alotto,Giovanni Mancarono
Producer: Federico Alotto,Andrea Zirio
Cast: Pietro Passatore,Sharon Fryer,Stewart Arnold,Vanina Bianco,Alessia Pratolongo,Dylan Ayers,Giovanni Mancaruso

Synopsis: Dylan bought a videocamera to record the last week in Italy with his new girlfriend Elena. ?During a poker game his friend Mike looses a lot of money and a spirit chaser. Tony, the winner, will replay money and Mike’s spirit chaser in a bet: stay 24 hours in the wood where 30 years before a terrible murder happened, and record everything with Dylan’s camera. Nobody knows it will be the beginning of a nightmare…

THE TRAIN

Drama (10 mins) USA

Directed by: Asher Grodman
Writer: N/A
Producer: N/A
Cast: Eli Wallach, Dawn Cantwell, Asher Grodman

Synopsis: A preoccupied young man reluctantly agrees to take some time from his busy day to meet his girlfriend?s grandfather (Eli Wallach) and learns how life can change in a moment.

THIS IS GOODBYE

Musical/Drama/Comedy (8 mins) USA

Directed by: Marjorie Cohen
Writer: Marjorie Cohen,Leila Cohen
Producer: Marjorie Cohen
Cast: Leila Cohen,Alexander Neher,Heather Schmidt,Oluwafemi Okusanya

Synopsis: “This Is Goodbye” is a a musical short about one young woman’s emotional journey through love, heartbreak and redemption. All told through her bathroom mirror.

TIPPING POINT

Drama (14 mins) Australia

Directed by: David Karacic
Writer: David Karacic
Producer: Victoria Dunsford,David Karacic,Michael Karacic
Cast: Andrew Steel,Logan Stevenson

Synopsis: A coming of age story for Logan, who is challenged by his older brother Matt, who has a gambling addiction. Logan struggles to not help feed the habit because he doesn’t want to let his brother down. Eventually he has to make a choice that is right for himself.

TOUGGOURT

Short (20 mins) USA

Directed by: Guillaume Main
Writer: N/A
Producer: N/A
Cast: N/A

Synopsis: N/A

TRAFICANT: THE CONGRESSMAN OF CRIMETOWN

Politics/Crime/Comedy (89 mins) USA

Directed by: Eric Murphy
Writer: Sal Cardoni,Eric Murphy
Producer: Ed O’Neill,Jeff Alberini,Eric Murphy
Cast: Ed O’Neill,Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini,Congressman Tim Ryan

Synopsis: Before Trump, Before Sanders, Before Frank Underwood — Congressman Jim Traficant was the original bombastic populist but with mobbed up street cred. As sheriff, Traficant beat organized crime, defeated the Justice Department in a RICO case…he even vanquished President Clinton. Once in DC, Traficant became infamous for his polyester thrift store suits, shock top wig, vulgar humor and profanity laced rhetoric against the FBI, IRS, and every president since Reagan. The self proclaimed “son-of-truck driver” lampoons the hypocrisy of modern politics while standing tall for his blue collar steelworkers of Youngstown, Ohio.Featuring rich archival footage and extensive interviews with Youngstown’s favorite TV legend Modern Family’s Ed O?Neill (also producer), Congressman Tim Ryan, and Hall of Fame boxer Ray ?Boom Boom? Mancini, Murphy?s documentary is an illuminating and captivating portrait of of the most unraveled politician in American history.

TRANSIENT

Drama/Adventure  (110 mins) USA

Directed by: Alexander Stockton
Writer: Alexander Stockton
Producer: Varun Bhuchar,Alexander Stockton,Mariana Gonzalez
Cast: Ana Sofia Rodriguez,Cesar Marquez,Emily Ruby Fierros,Michael Ocampo,Cheyenne Barton

Synopsis: Franky DeLuna is brought over to the US from Mexico as a young child and grows up as an American in all but name, with big dreams of being a product designer. However, when an unfortunate incident results in his deportation, Franky must choose whether to stay in Mexico with his long-lost father, but under the iron fist of the cartel, or to make the dangerous journey back to the US.

TRIGGER

Drama  (10 mins) USA

Directed by: Christopher Folkens
Writer: Evan Dollard,Christopher Folkens
Producer: Christopher Folkens,Enrico Natale,Alex Levine
Cast: Nick Marini,Chris Ellis,JoAnn Willette,Travis Van Winkle

Synopsis: KEVIN is a shy young man who, after being rejected by his family, battles the warring thoughts in his head while coming dangerously close to ending his own life. But when an unsuspecting friend shows up at his doorstep, he must face his past in order to change his life forever.

TROLL

Comedy (16 mins) USA

Directed by: Cody Marion
Writer: Cody Marion
Producer: Andrew Silverman
Cast: Cody Marion,Mardik Martin,Albert Huber,Benjamin Conrad

Synopsis: A college student researching an internet troll for course credit releases the troll’s true identity to the public.

TWENTYSOMETHING

Dramedy(30 mins) USA

Directed by: Avital Siegel
Writer: Avital Siegel
Producer: Evan Metzold
Cast: Kevin Kolack,Kathryn Merboth,Wesley Tunison,Gunnar de Jong,Bridget Coyne Gabbe,Ben Fankhauser,Juliette Monaco

Synopsis: Sam?s 22nd birthday isn?t going as planned. After her boss, a George Washington impersonator, fires her from the historical reenactment center, Sam struggles with friends, family and relationship obligations in order to fulfill her only wish; to see a comet that comes only once every 150 years.

WALLY’S WILL

Commedy (12 mins) USA

Directed by: Matteo J. Mosterts
Writer: Matteo J. Mosterts
Producer: Matteo J. Mosterts,Sara Seligman,Ariane Thielenhaus
Cast: Kurt Sinclair,Jon Baggio,Grafton Doyle,Linda Gray,Rene Mena,Shana Erin,Harry Lands

Synopsis: “Wally’s Will” is a dark comedy set in a fictional world where our protagonist is an older and very eccentric aristocratic woman. Together with her loyal servant, Doofus, she will have to fight to uphold her crumbling old-money empire against friends, enemies and some unexpected conspiracies.