Alcides Soares is a sixteen-year-old AIDS orphan, one of half a million living in Mozambique today. An American television writer (Neal Baer) and movie
director (Chris Zalla) gave Alcides a movie camera and taught him how to
shoot. The result is a moving chronicle directed by Alcides himself.
Title:
Soundtrack For A Revolution
Genre:
Documentary / History / Music (82 min.) USA
Directors:
Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman
Writers:
Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman
Producers:
Joslyn Barnes, Jim Czarnecki,
Bill Guttentag, Dylan Nelson, Dan Sturman
Cast:
John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean,
The Roots, Blind Boys of Alabama, Anthony Hamilton, Richie Havens, TV on the Radio, Angie Stone, Mary Mary, The Carlton Reese Memorial UnityChoir, Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond, and Ambassador Andrew Young.
Synopsis:
SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music-the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy
wagons, and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality.
Notes:
The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists, including John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots; riveting archival footage; and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond, and Ambassador Andrew Young.
BLOCK 2 - 7:00 PM
Title:
Dust (World Premiere)
Genre:
Drama (17 mins.) USA
Director:
John Barnhardt
Writer:
John Barnhardt
Producers:
John Barnhardt, David W. Smith, Lenny Spears and Donna Jones
Cast:
Daniel Jones, Hanh Stauffer and Travis Hollifield
Synopsis:
A reclusive father, who is down on his luck, seeks to reconnect with his son. With the help of a friend, he finds himself also connecting with the outside world.
Title:
Melting the Snowman
Genre:
Drama/Comedy (21 mins.) USA
Director:
Ora Yashar
Writer:
Ora Yashar
Producer:
Christina Medina
Cast:
Mekenna Melvin, Kevin Michael Walsh and Steve Howard
Synopsis:
A young columnist, who has long been her father’s golden child, must find out if she has the strength to reveal to him she has recently been fired from her job, despite the consequences.
Title:
Stuck (East Coast Premiere)
Genre:
Experimental Short (7mins.) USA
Director:
Theatre Junkies
Writer:
Theatre Junkies
Producers:
Theatre Junkies
Cast:
T.J. Thyne and Dave Kuhr
Synopsis:
Two men...Stuck. In life. In their jobs. In their day. Even in the space they share. A few moments in time betray every nuance of their very existence in this brief, realistic portrait of the unsung working-class hero. It's a timely message in today's political and economic climate.
A feature film based on the short is currently in development with actors Jason Priestley, Corbin Bernsen, Lindy Booth and Debra Jo Rupp attached.
Title:
Poi Dogs
Genre:
Comedy (12 mins.) USA
Director:
Joel Moffett
Writer:
Joel Moffett
Producer:
Mark Wolf
Cast:
Toa Smith and Anela Manu
Synopsis:
Poi Dogs is the story of two local Hawaii teenagers and their awkward attempts at expressing a budding romantic interest in each other.
BLOCK 3 - 9:00 PM
SOLD OUT!
Title:
Private Lies (World Premiere)
Genre:
Comedy (20 mins.) USA
Director:
David Abrams
Writer:
David Abrams
Producer:
David Abrams Marvin Clapp, Dustin K. Ryan Witt Lacey
(Production Company: Ishmoe Productions, in association
with Wingman Media Group)
Cast:
Richard L. Fister, Kristen Kos, David Abrams, Bruce Williamson,
Grady Granger, Erika Timmons, Nick Smith, Monique Morales- Kroll, Scott James, Raymond Aytes and Russell Ware
Synopsis:
Using sabotage as his revenge from being removed from his
company, a self-consumed private eye retaliates against his
former business partner by consorting with the competition.
Notes:
--Bruce Williamson actually naired for his role
Title:
Republic of Pete (World Premiere)
Genre:
Comedy (90 mins.) USA
Director:
Jesse Berger
Writer:
Jesse Berger
Producers:
Akim Anastopoulo, Matt Slechter and Nate Mallard
Cast:
Clarence Felder, Michael Easler, Ben Zisk, Miles Pittman, Richard Bryant, Taylor Townes, Abby Kammeraad- Campbell, Love Jeffords, and Ariel Williamson
Synopsis:
Pete's evil Grandpa gives him $80 million in an effort to avoid losing his fortune in a lawsuit. Newly rich Pete and his friends decide to live out their fantasy of a perfect vacation life by buying an island. But evil Grandpa has only one goal: to get his greedy hands back on his money.
Website:
Filmmakers Jesse Berger and Nate Mallard met producer Akim Anastopoulo at CIFF's awards gala, so the festival itself served as the catalyst for this production.
BLOCK 4 - 11:00 PM Short Animations
Title:
La Cuadrada
Genre:
Artistic Drama/ Animation (2 mins.) USA
Director:
Kevin Human
Writer:
Kevin Human
Producers:
Tim Davis, David Donar and Tony Penna
Digital Effects:
Kevin Human, Micah C.R. Guy, Pisut Wisessing and Shirley Yu
Voice:
Kerrie Brown Seymour
Synopsis:
An artistic interpretation of the Alfonsina Storni poem Cuadrados y angulos.
Title:
With Delicate Risk
Genre:
Animation (3 mins.) USA
Director / Digital Effects:
Dane Webster
Sound /
Audio:
Ico Bukvic
Synopsis:
'With Delicate Risk' explores ideas of creation myth and evolution thru the use of rigged systems of motion applied to human arms. The film uses procedural and systematic approaches within computer animation software to explore the viewer’s notions of gesture and the perceived emotions that are related to those gestures.
Title:
Silhouette
Genre:
Animation / Social Issue(2 mins.) USA
Director:
Ashley Triplett
Writer:
Ashley Triplett
Producers:
Tim Davis, David Donar and Tony Penna
Digital Effects:
Ashley Triplett, Stephen Cooney and Amber Yancey
Original Music / Composer:
Christopher Cain
Synopsis:
Silhouette explores the idea of false self-image and the effects that society’s idea of beauty has on women.
Title:
The Cow That Wanted To Be A Hamburger
Genre:
Animated Short (6 mins.) USA
Director:
Bill Plympton
Writer:
Bill Plympton
Producer:
Biljana Labovic
Synopsis:
"The Cow Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger" is a children's fable about the power of advertising, the meaning of life and ultimately the test of a mother's love.
Title:
Applachian Dreams
Genre:
Animated Drama / Comedy (5 mins.) USA
Director:
David Donar
Writer:
David Donar
Producer:
David Donar
Synopsis:
When the lights go out in an Applachian cabin, the magic of clogging comes to life.
Title:
Fall
Genre:
Western Drama / Animation (3 mins.) USA
Director:
Kiel Pease
Writer:
Kiel Pease
Producers:
Tim Davis, David Donar and Tony Penna
Digital Effects:
Lana Sun, Lee Smith, Patrick Roeder and Ryan Cushman
Original Music / Composer:
Christopher Cain
Snyopsis:
An animated western of a cowboy’s confrontation with the ‘original sin.’
Title:
Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman (World Premiere)
Genre:
Drama (10 mins.) USA
Director:
Kent McQuilkin
Writer:
Based on the original poem by Alfred Noyes, adapted by Loreena McKennitt
Producer:
Kent McQuilkin
Animator:
Kent McQuilkin
Synopsis:
Alfred Noyes' tragic tale of an 18th century outlaw who rides to his own end after suffering the loss of his greatest prize. Watch the drama come to life to the lyrics and music of Grammy nominated Lorenna McKennitt.
Title:
Sebastian's Voodoo
Genre:
Animation (5 mins.) USA
Director:
Joaquin Baldwin
Writer:
Joaquin Baldwin
Producer:
Joaquin Baldwin
Synopsis:
A voodoo doll must find the courage to save his friends from being pinned to death.
Winner of over 75 awards, including a Student Academy Award.
Title:
Horn Dog
Genre:
Animated Short (5 mins.) USA
Director:
Bill Plympton
Writer:
Bill Plympton
Producer:
Biljana Labovic
Synopsis:
“Horn Dog” is the fourth film in the famed Oscar® nominated “dog” series. Here are more misadventures from our plucky canine, as he fends off an obese dog, attacking oysters, and a wayward killer violin bow, while trying to win the love of his heart’s desire.
Title:
Aliens In Wonderland
Genre:
Animation / Comedy
(8 mins.) USA
Director:
Jim McCullough
Writer:
Jim McCullough
Producers:
Jim McCullough and Amanda Morten
Synopsis:
Aliens in Wonderland is an epic tale of heroism, wrapped in an animated chocolaty shell. Join the luck-intolerant alien duo on a mission to earth as they have their adventures filmed in the first intergalactic realty show.
Notes:
Entire piece was animated by Jim McCullough all his lonesome. The piece stands as a work-in-progress, with the finished project being a feature length film or episodic miniseries.
Title:
Cornerboys
Genre:
Horror / Fantasy (11 mins.) USA
Director:
Jamieson Ridenhour
Writer:
Jamieson Ridenhour
Producer:
Jamieson Ridenhour
Visual Artist:
Ali LaRock
Composer:
Kevin A. Smith
Synopsis:
Cornerboys is a short film telling the dark fairy tale story of Jennifer Lynn, who searches the night streets for home but finds only the rat-eyed and restless Cornerboys.
Notes:
This is the first film by each of the three artists involved.
Title:
Golem Song (U.S. Premiere)
Genre:
Animated Music Video
(4 mins.) USA
Director:
Joy and Noelle Vaccese
Writers:
Joy and Noelle Vaccese
Producer:
James Buran
Recording Artists:
The Maladies: Measle, Bug, Spite and Ricket
(Erik Gillberg, Dylan Cline, Patrick Adams and Joe Spencer)
Synopsis:
Golem’s Asylum: where dreams of musical success are distorted into pre-packaged fodder for zombified fans. The Maladies, a band of 4, dream false visions that deliver them to a moment of clarity
