| 2006 OFFICIAL FILM SELECTIONS
Below you will find synopses for all the films. In some
cases, a link is provided to learn more about the film and its filmmakers.
Features
Approaching
Union Square, Directed and written by Marc Meyers
Based on his monologues for stage, Marc Meyers’s 'Approaching Union
Square' is a collage of eleven tales capturing thirty-something New Yorkers
struggling to find love and connection in the big city. The characters
include a psychic, sex addict, tourist, Italian immigrant, and others.
They all cross paths on a NYC bus in a poignant final moment when the
psychic - the central character - collapses while having another episode
in which she senses forthcoming tragedy.
Damaged
Goods, Directed by Todd Densmore
For three twenty-somethings living in Portland, Maine, growing up is a
hard thing to do. Set back by the harsh reality of life, Rob, Kevin, and
Cameron get by with alcohol, drugs and women. Until one fateful night
when a deep dark secret is revealed. Kept hidden from each other, and
the rest of the world, the three embark on a journey of self realization
to overcome their youth and their own personal demons.
David
and Layla, Directed by Jay Jonroy, Starring
Shiva Rose McDermot and David Moscow (Riding in Cars with Boys)
A "Political Romantic Comedy" about the sparks that fly when
a Jew and a Muslim fall in love in New York! David falls in love with
voluptuous Layla, a mysterious, sensual dancer. Layla turns out to be
a Muslim refugee. David madly pursues Layla, setting off a playful veiling
and unveiling of the differences and similarities between the two cultures.
In spite of mostly specious tips from his ironic French cameraman, David's
attempts to woo Layla eventually succeed. But, prejudiced by perpetual
Middle East wars, his family is dead against this romance, as is hers!
Layla is faced with deportation. She must choose: Muslim Dr. Ahmad or
Jewish David? Meanwhile, David's TV show "Sex & Happiness"
playfully explores the correlation between sex, spice, joie de vivre,
and politics! Will David and Layla follow their hearts to blast through
centuries of religious animosity and war? Enlightened by David & Layla's
romantic love, will their families find they have a lot more in common
humanity than they had ever imagined?
"...so overwhelming, it shouldn't be missed by
anyone. Mix in sex, spice, Charlie Chaplin, Saddam Hussein, belly dancing,
a Seder and a little of Romeo and Juliet and you might start getting a
flavor for this film that will challenge, make you laugh out loud, and
get a glimpse into the human forces that are shaping our times."
J. Coleman
Drunkboat, Directed by Bob Meyer, Starring
John Malkovich, John Goodman, and Dana Delaney, Works in Progress
Special Screening.
After twenty years of drunken bottles and empty hallways, Mort Gleason
(John Malkovich) witnesses his nephew being beaten while in a drunken
stupor. The short contact with family brings Mort back to what are left
of his senses and he returns to the last home he remembers in Chicago.
His sister Eileen (Dana Delaney) lives there now with
her sixteen year old son, Abe. Her older son, Moo the now missing nephew
that had sparked Mort’s return. Three, four, five weeks pass. Mort
makes a tenuous re-entry into family life.
Abe dreams of a sailboat and distant horizons. He saves
money and sees an advertisement for the Kathy II. He and his friend calculate
a way to buy the vessel from two unscrupulous rogues who make ends meet
wholesaling liquor and operating a sometime boatyard.
Eileen, however, is unaware that her youngest son is
planning his escape. Comfortable enough with Mort’s presence to
allow herself
a night away from home, Eileen’s departure allows Abe to seize the
opportunity that his mother’s absence provides. He purchases a beat
up wooden sailboat that he scheduled to be delivered to their house while
Mort is in charge.
The men selling the boat, Fletcher (John Goodman) and
Morley (Jim Ortlieb), require a bill of sale signed by an adult. Abe pressures
Mort to sign, but his uncle is not so easily swayed. It is only with Fletcher’s
whiskey bottle and the disappointment of his nephew’s manipulation,
that Mort capitulates.
Johnny
Was, Directed by Mark Hammond. Written by Brendan Foley Cast:
Vinnie Jones, Eric LaSalle, Roger Daltrey, Patrick Bergin, Samantha Mumba,
Lennox Lewis, Wilson Jermaine Heredia.
Johnny (Vinnie Jones), trying to escape a violent past in Ireland,
hides out in Brixton, London, in the world's least-safe safe house, sandwiched
between a drug den run by a Jamaican gangster (Eriq LaSalle) and a pirate
radio station belonging to a Rasta DJ (Lennox Lewis) .When Johnny's former
comrade (Patrick Bergin) escapes from Brixton Prison determined to derail
the Irish peace process, Johnny faces being dragged back into violence
and away from his new love (Samantha Mumba). Johnny's actions ignite a
simmering war on two fronts with his drug-dealing neighbor and his former
boss Jimmy (Roger Daltrey). Johnny faces questions of race, morality,
loyalty, and ultimately survival--played out against a great reggae sound
track from legendary DJ-producer Adrian Sherwood.
Live Free or Die, Directed by Andy Robin and
Gregg Kavet. Starring Michael Rappaport, Zooey Deschanel,
Paul Sneider. Winner Grand Juried Award South by Southwest 2006.
Gregg Kavet and Andy Robin spent six years as writers and producers on
NBC's Seinfeld, where they received a Writers Guild Award and three Emmy
nominations for their work. More recently, Gregg and Andy have been developing
projects for film and television, including co-writing Jerry Seinfeld's
first feature film, Bee Movie. Live Free or Die is their directorial debut.
An offbeat comedy about a would-be criminal who's struggling
to escape the dreariness of his northern New Hampshire hometown. He finds
himself in real trouble when he teams up with a dim-witted high school
friend and attempts to prove his chops as a local outlaw.
“The film is easily one of the funniest I've seen
all year, and if I were Ebert, my thumbs would be way up. It's rare when
a script so original and a cast so talented can manage to come together
and produce such a great comedy… I really can't say enough good
things about this film.”
- Len Sousa, MERCURY WEEKLY
Room
314, Directed by Michael Knowles. Starring
Matthew DelNegro (The Sopranos, Law and Order), Joelle Carter (High Fidelity,
American Pie II)
Watch as five different couples in different stages of their relationships
check into ROOM 314 and deal with underlying tensions, desires and a need
to be loved.
The
Garage, Directed by Carl Thibault. Starring Martin Donovan
(The Dead Zone, Law and Order, Traffic), Xander Berkeley (Serpaphim Falls,
The West Wing, North Country)
A man reflects on his childhood while working at his dad’s
garage during the late seventies. Two best friends plan to leave the small
town they grew up in. Matt; 18, works at his dad's garage, smart, sensitive,
just graduated from high school. Schultz; 21, works for his dad in construction,
strong headed,high school dropout. For Matt it's getting out of the garage
and pursuing his passion. For Schultz, it's simply survival, to get away
from his abusive father. Even though Matt has a strong loyalty to his
dad, despite his father's drinking problem, he also knows the impact leaving
the garage will have. Then a devastating incident occurs and Matt will
have to find his true direction in life.
You
Are Alone, Directed and written by Gorman Bechard. Starring
Jessica Bohl Richard Brundage. Feature drama.
You Are Alone has won 6 numerous awards including Best Actress, Best Screenplay,
Best Visionary, and Best Feature at various festivals. It has been screened
at over 20 prestigious film festivals worldwide.
"We're gonna play a game of Snap! Pick a bracelet.
Pull it hard!" But it’s a game of desperate consequences in
YOU ARE ALONE, a dark exploration of just how far a man and a woman will
go to escape loneliness, if only for an hour. Daphne, a Yale-bound high
school senior whose depression has blurred her sense of reality, works
as an escort, advertising her services online. It's a little bit of a
"fuck-you" that helps get her through the day, until her next
door neighbor catches her as the "entertainment" at his nephew's
bachelor party. With her hidden life precariously hanging in the balance,
Daphne agrees to spend one hour with her neighbor.
Initially confrontational, Daphne and her neighbor begin
to shed their bitter layers of personal disappointment and general cynicism
by talking about sex. It's eye-opening for her neighbor: BBBJs, dining
at the Y, salad tossing, and, of course, Snap! But behind this teenager's
jaded fantasies hides the very essence of heartbreak, acceptance, need,
and desire...ironically paralleled by a broken man’s desperate attempts
to test the limits of her advertised promise to do anything and everything.
“An extraordinary film” David Kleiler, Director,
Boston Underground Film Festival
“Last Tango in New England” Justin Fielding,
New England Film
Documentaries
American Fair, Directed by Rick Widmer
AMERICAN FAIR depicts the fairgrounds at the heart of a farm community
in York County, Maine. In this feature-length doc, carnival workers, farmers,
cowboys, and their sons and daughters, share their heritage and personal
aspirations. Through co-operation and rivalry, can they revive the honest,
hard-working agricultural values of the region? In contrast to the popular
media perception of the US as a land of violence, pop music and sexy women,
AMERICAN FAIR reveals a wholesome side of US culture, as people with knowledge
of land, beauty and beast.
Art
in the Face of War, Directed by David Baugnon
Filmed entirely in New England with New England artists/veterans from
WWII. Eight World War II Veterans recount their service experience and
their use of art for journalism, as a tactical tool, and for the survival
of their own humanity. Their artwork will amuse, confound and challenge
the viewer, highlighting that not only is War hell, but sometimes it brings
out the very best in us.
Before
it Drops, Directed by Daniel Rosenberg, Canada
Before It Drops is a documentary film focusing on four of Canada’s
finest up and coming hip-hop music producers. The film follows four of
Montreal’s finest producers; Twitch, DJ Manifest, Simahlak and Parafino,
showcases un-released tracks, highlights exciting and rarely seen parts
of Montréal, and it’s hip-hop scene.
Christa
McAuliffe Reach for the Stars, Directed by Mary Jo
Godges and Renee Sotile. Narrated by Academy Award Winner
Susan Sarandon.
“This is a riveting and unusually moving story, told from the
inside. It is made uniquely affecting by the use of Carly Simon’s
music. A favorite of McAuliffe’s” Ken Burns.
This documentary examines Christa's personal journey as a fledging astronaut.
We discover her resistance to having NASA script her space-based science
lessons from the "ultimate" classroom. Christa, in her own words,
will describe her own sense of inspiration and what she hoped to inspire.
For those who only know her as a name in a history book, it's easy to
see how she came to be so beloved, how deeply her loss was felt across
the nation, and how this deeply personal loss drastically changed the
dynamics of her family.
This film includes powerful new material and interviews including unique
insights from top-ranking NASA officials on the Challenger disaster. The
information helps provide some much needed perspective to this iconic
moment in history. However the documentary does not attempt to analyze
the Challenger tragedy, but rather showcases a celebration of a life that
continues to inspire.
The audience will be instantly brought into the world of Christa McAuliffe,
as she was loved and remembered. Christa's mother, Grace Corrigan, remembers
her as an intellectually curious and spirited child who demonstrated leadership
qualities at a young age. Christa's family, teachers and friends will
go on to speak about how these qualities manifested themselves into a
courageous young woman, teacher and mother who embraced education as a
mission and who became the unanimous choice for NASA.
Crude Impact,
Directed by James
Wood
A powerful and timely exploration of the interconnection between human
domination of the planet and the discovery and use of oil, CRUDE IMPACT
exposes our deep-rooted dependency on the availability of fossil fuel
energy and examines the dire implications of the pending threat of global
peak oil.
Darfur
Diaries, Directed by Adam Shapiro
In an area of Darfur cut off to international aid agencies and the media,
thousands of Darfurians have suffered widespread atrocities at the hands
of the government of Sudan and proxy militias. 'Darfur Diaries: Message
from Home' goes behind the lines and presents Darfurians - refugees, displaced
people, women, children, grandmothers, farmers, rebels and sheikhs - who
tell their stories of life and conflict in Darfur. The film gives historical
and political context for the crisis unfolding in Darfur and presents
the voices of the silenced.
Inside the Sensation of Sight, Directed by Ron
Wyman. Starring Academy Award Nominee, David Strathairn as
himself, and additional cast and crew. Filmmaker Ron Wyman is a Portsmouth
resident. His documentary, Tunde, won best documentary at the 2005 New
Hampshire Film Expo.
“Inside the Sensation of Sight” explores the behind the scenes
personalities and reflections of the cast and crew from “Sensation
of Sight”. The feature film was shot in Peterborough, NH Fall 2005.
This documentary presents a wonderful story of the team that created this
exceptional film and the town of Peterborough that provided the perfect
backdrop.
Flock
of Dodos, Directed by Randy Olson
Flock of dodos is the first feature documentary to present both sides
of the Intelligent Design/Evolution clash that appeared on the covers
of Time and Newsweek in 2005. Filmmaker and former evolutionary ecologist,
Dr. Randy Olson tries to make sense of the debate by visiting his hometown
of Kansas. At first it seems the problem lies with Intelligent Design,
a movement labeled recently as “breathtaking inanity,” by
a federal judge, but when a group of evolutionists convene for a night
of poker and discussion they end up sounding themselves like a…
flock of dodos. Documentary.
“If you liked Wordplay, you’ll flip for
Flock of Dodos”….New York Times
“Intelligently designed for popular appeal, docu
seems poised for instant success”…Variety
“…its downright funny and imaginative.”
Cinema Blend
Rent
A Rasta, Directed by J. Michael Seyfert
Sex tourism, a product of slavery, is not new to the Caribbean.
Every year over 80,000 middle-aged women flock to Jamaica in search of
the 'big bamboo.' A practice called “rent a rasta.”
But who are the real Rastafari and how do they feel
about being used to market everything Jamaican?
An extraordinary glimpse into a paradise laced with
cultural misunderstandings and socioeconomic inequities.
Shame
of a City, Directed by Tigre Hill
It's the 2003 Mayoral election of Philadelphia - with all of its infamy,
political thuggery, scandals, drama and (of course) the fallout of "the
bug." A daring exposé on Philly's "politics as usual."
During Philadelphia’s 2003 Mayoral elections,
much attention was spent on how the opponents, Democratic Mayor John Street
and Republican Sam Katz, were conducting their campaigns. While the media
offered plenty of reports about the various “complaints of misconduct,”
none of them truly captured the rough-and-tumble political street-fighting
the way that this unflinching behind-the-scenes documentary does. Filmmaker
Tigre Hill manages to combine all of the disparate and combative elements
into a clear picture - with comments from Philly’s own Mary Patel,
Zack Stalberg, Michael Nutter and national media/political analyst Neil
Oxman – that honestly isn’t very pretty from either side.
Several key figures are shown at the top of their game, yet we now know
that the months following the election resulted in indictments. What will
really shock the viewer is the conduct shown by some of our elected officials,
their advisors and the political thuggery of their supporters. Power-tripping,
race-baiting, manipulative cries of victimization litter the screen. Perhaps
the real shame of this city is that we (as Americans) shouldn’t
have to accept this as “politics as usual,” but after watching
this powerful film, we will probably be too tired, confused and disillusioned
to fight what appears to be a systemic problem. -- Scott Johnston
Store, Directed by Cami Kidder
Even though I am a bi-coastal storer, I kept wondering why is there a
storage complex on nearly every corner. What is everyone hanging on to?
And why? Speaking of complexes, every time I try to get rid of something,
I hear myself saying things like “You know you’ll need it
as soon as you get rid of it.” Was I alone in this?
Taking from 150 interviews shot all across the country, we explore the
uniquely American fascination with personal storage. We tell our stories
in concert with the others. Rather than focusing upon a few detailed stories,
we share a few details from a lot of stories.
STORE asks the question, “if you had it all .
. where would you put it?”
The
Trials of Darryl Hunt, Directed by Annie Sundberg
and Ricki Stern.
Annie Sundberg is a producer/director who works in both film and television.
She produced the independent feature film Tully, nominated for four 2003
IFP Spirit Awards (Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Debut Performance,
Best Supporting Actor). Ricki Stern is a documentary producer and director
whose films have shown on HBO and PBS. Stern is the co-producer and director
of the award winning In My Corner, a documentary film on the world of
amateur boxing and the lives of the young men who train in the South Bronx.
The film was nationally broadcast as part of PBS' award winning documentary
series P.O.V. (Point of View)
The Trials of Darryl Hunt premiered at the 2006 Sundance
Film festival and has received over 6 prestigious film festival awards.
"… a powerful and unsettling chronicle … a quietly damning
portrait of a North Carolina community divided by a horrific crime and
its racially charged aftermath, with a laserlike intensity that will have
auds' blood boiling.”
- Justin Chang, VARIETY
"The power of this film is in its methodical telling....by film's
end, even those viewers who generally are inured to the wrongful-conviction
genre of documentaries will be moved by the terrible injustice wreaked
on Hunt. … To survive a 20-year-old ordeal like he did and not exhibit
self-pity or malice is truly glorious.
- Duane Byrge, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
North Carolina, 1984. A brutal murder leaves a white woman dead, and
a young black man accused. This exclusive portrait of a harrowing wrongful
conviction offers a provocative and haunting examination of a community
- and a criminal justice system - subject to racial bias and tainted by
fear.
"The Trials of Darryl Hunt" documents a brutal rape/murder
in the American South, and offers a deeply personal story of a wrongfully
convicted man, Darryl Hunt, who spent twenty years in prison for a crime
he did not commit.
The film chronicles this capital case from 1984 through
2004. With personal narratives and exclusive footage from two decades,
the film frames the judicial and emotional responses to this chilling
crime - and the implications surrounding Hunt's conviction - against a
backdrop of class and racial bias in America. This unique look at one
man's loss and redemption challenges the assumption that all Americans
have the right to unbiased justice.
Two
Square Miles, Produced and Directed by Barbara Ettinger, who
lives in Germantown, NY, 10 miles outside of Hudson. Two Square Miles
is Barbara's second feature documentary. Her first, Martha and Ethel,
told the heartfelt story of two women and their childhood nannies. It
competed at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival; screened at the Toronto Film
Festival, and won Best Documentary at the Hamptons International Film
Festival. Martha and Ethel was purchased by Sony Pictures Classics for
national and international theatrical release, and was shown nationally
on Cinemax.
"Two Square Miles is a film about an American town
that is all American towns. Smart, passionate, and wise, this documentary
explores what makes -- and breaks -- a community. And, in doing so, reveals
to us the only mystery worth investigating -- the mystery of what happens
in the human heart." David Black
"Moving, original and relevant to anyone involved
in what it means to live in a community. Two Square Miles proves that
there is more to the Hudson than just a river." Robert Downey
The historic "city" of Hudson, New York, is
confronting a modern Goliath: its own future. Two Square Miles immerses
the viewer in an extended observation of life in an American small city
experiencing rapid transition over the course of two years. Building on
its focus on the present, brief historical interludes sprinkle the film
with context from Hudson's notorious past when it was a whaling port and
an internationally famous city of vice and corruption. The scope of Hudson's
ups and downs illustrates the cyclical nature of boom and bust and brings
attention to the turning point that the city currently faces.
Waterbuster,
Directed by J. Carlos Peinado
Waterbsuter is a documentary chronicling the dislocation and relocation
of the Hidatsa/Mandan/Arikara Nation of North Dakota due to a dam that
inundated their homeland along the banks of the Missouri River. It is
also the personal story of the director’s family, whose life choices
were influenced by this powerful reshaping of the landscape.
The film examines the events that led up to the building
of the Garrison Dam, the flooding of 156,000 acres of prime, agricultural
bottomland on the Fort Berthold Reservation, and the resulting responses
of a people who have survived centuries of hardship through adaptation
and resiliency. This story explores identity, highlighting the universal
struggle we all face in 21st century America to find a sense of place,
a community and a home.
Animation
The
Toll, Directed by J. Zachary Pike, Produced by Marc
Dole and Hatchling Studios
The Toll is a computer animated mockumentary in the guise of a student
project created by the fictional film student Harvey Stevens. Harvey delves
into the realm of a not-so-fantastic myth to interview of troll who lives
under a bridge. The troll is aggressive, uncouth, tempermental and has
a nasty habit of eating people. Yet, strangely, the troll wants acceptance
from the society he preys on, and sees the young filmmaker as an opportunity
to clear up the "misunderstandingss that have always plagued him.
Ballad of the Purple Clam, Adam Fisher
The legendary 'Great Purple Clam' defends his turf against a down eastern
clammer out for revenge.
Little
Blue, Directed by Bob Svihovec
Sometimes a discovery ignites a passion. Little Blue, a young penguin,
breaks away from tradition and learns to surf. His pursuit of the dream
is a lonely quest... or is it?
Saul
Goodman, Directed by Jim Connell
Midnight in an empty rail station, and two strangers await the last train
out of Boston. One, a retired politico with an endless supply of crude
jokes, anecdotes and campaign war stories. The other, a college student
with a high IQ and healthy skepticism. Live footage of a police standoff
plays on the station TV, prompting a lively dialogue. Three increasingly
strange and incredible stories are exchanged that begin to connect and
intersect in unexpected ways, ultimately leading to a revelation that
will prove both shocking and deadly.
Shorts
After
June, Directed by Michael Civille
Three old friends meet for an afternoon of furniture moving, petty theft,
and fortune telling -- but when the tea leaves are read, a hint of menace
is predicted before the day is over.
Alyosha the Pot, Directed by Bethany Tarbell
A bold, new short film, “Alyosha the Pot” adapts Tolstoy’s
miniature masterpiece of the same name. Written toward the end of his
long life, “Alyosha the Pot” is a short story that, despite
its brevity, addresses the elemental themes human life: family, class,
work, war, love, and death.
The film was shot on location at Canterbury Shaker Village,
in Canterbury, NH, with a cast of children between the ages of 8 and 12.
Though “Alyosha the Pot” is not a children’s story,
Tolstoy was an ardent supporter of literature for children and a profound
student of how children tell stories. “Alyosha the Pot” is
written quite simply—as through the voice of a child. Its truths
are harrowingly revealed through its child actors.
Belinda’s Swan Song, Directed by Alicia
Witt
A musical theatre singer takes the stage for her final performance in
this 16 minute one-woman film. As Belinda sings and addresses her audience
for the very last time, we see that all is not as simple as it seems--
and get a glimpse into the inherent love/hate relationship between artist
and audience.
Binta and the Great Idea, Directed by Javier
Fesser
Binta is a 7 year old girl who lives in a small charming village on the
Casamance river in southern Senegal. She goes to school. Her cousin Soda
does not have the same good fortune. She is not allowed to learn about
the things of the world.
Binta admires her father, a humble fisherman who, concerned
about the developement of mankind, is determined to carry out an idea
that has ocurred to him.
Bootful
of Fish, Directed by Mike Gillis
There’s a man in drag and no one knows why.
There is a plot that is nearly incomprehensible.
There’s a group of actors who can’t stop laughing at the dialogue
they’re given to say and a director who would rather be off doing
his mime act…in Yiddish. There’s a crazy sister who thinks
she’s a movie star and a playwright who thinks he is Tennessee Williams.
They are not. What there is, however, is a great deal of love and affection
and laughter in “A Bootful of Fish.”
Cake, Directed by Jennifer Arzt
For Katie, a precocious 11-year old living at the Oxford Orphanage, flight
of fancy are the greatest part of her world. Along with her best friend
Roger, she imagines fireflies to be stars and pretends rockets soar through
the air above. But all that is about to change. Having overheard their
guardian tell a secret, Katie is convinced that Roger will soon be adopted
and leave the orphanage. To prevent it, Katie sets out to make her best
friend so dirty and ugly that no parents would want to adopt him. But
when the time for Roger's departure arrives, it is Katie whi is in for
a surprise!
Chance,
Directed by Alden Burgess
Chance shows us how the small choices we make in life determine our fates.
Austin, a small-time petty crook, traces his life back to the one moment
when everything changed. As the past and the present interweave, Austin
realizes that this moment contains the key to a better future. With his
dying last breathe, Austin channels his past to save himself and change
his life for the better.
Chasing
Buckner, Directed by Christoph Gelfand
Chasing Buckner attempts to absolve baseball great, Bill Buckner of sole
responsibility for the Boston Red Sox loss to the NY Mets in the 1986
World Series. The filmmaker draws on his own brushes with glory during
his Little League career and subsequent futility at baseball to defend
Buckner’s name and prove that baseball isn’t nearly as important
as it seems.
Checkout, Directed by Dan Eckman
Black Shadow, a recently graduated ninja assassin, returns home from his
training to begin his career; however, due to the tight job market, he
is forced to take on a job as a stockboy at the local grocery. Mike and
Drew, two fraternity brothers, hop from convenience store to convenience
store exploring the competitive side of the “beer run.” And
Janitor Joe goes to great extremes to prove to everyone at the grocery
store that he can – in fact – be a “creepy janitor”
as these three seemingly disparate storylines converge in a large-scale
grocery store fiasco.
Coffee Break, Directed by Jessica Leigh Fitts
Joe (Brian Eibert) wakes up on what he thinks is an ordinary morning and
brews a fresh pot of coffee. Moments later he comes back to the kitchen
to discover his roommate (Bill Bourdon) has poured himself a cup and the
rest down the drain. Coffee Break is the story of one man’s struggle
to obtain the most important part of morning…his coffee.
Con Artist, Directed by Nate Larkin-Connolly
Van is a young struggling artist who wants nothing more then to become
successful and gain the admiration of his crush, Susan. On one depressing
night, Van comes to the realization that all successful artists are dead.
With the help of his friend Ben, Van fakes his suicide and is thrown in
to the forefront of modern art. Though his work is suddenly in the limelight,
Van must stay out of it in order to keep up the appearance that he is
dead. In the end Van must decide weather or not he wants to come clean
on the con and go back to life as a nobody, or continue to stay dead and
have Susan and the rest of the art world adore him.
Coops
Night In, Directed by Joe Burke
Cooper (Michael Weinberg) is a 21 year old college student who still lives
at home with his parents. He is stuck in a day job he can't stand and
in a life he can't figure out. One weekend night, while his folks are
out of town, Max (Derrick Trumbly) Cooper's best friend, rudely interrupts
his night sleep by inviting himself over after a recent college party
bust on campus. While hesitant at first, Coop's college mood quickly changes
after finding out that Max has invited Kate (Leah Morrow) and Liz (Meghan
Murphy) Coop's dream girl over as well. A night that began uneventful
soon turns out to be a night that will never be forgotten.
Cricket Head, Directed by Grant
“A teacher, recently released from prison, tries to rekindle a romance
with an ex-student.”
Flux, Directed by Zachary Spire-Bauer
For every action there is a reaction. The inevitable progression of events
causes you to question yourself, but question all you want because your
not who you think you are.
Greatest
Story of All Time, Directed by Nicholas Heim
Ralph has a quest - he wants to talk to God. Jim has a wish - he doesn't
want to go on Ralph's dumb quest. Take a journey into a surreal world
of talking cars, Amish, evil cheerleaders, and thrilling violations of
Zoning Board Code #205-02 with "The Greatest Story Of All Time"!
Happy Valentines Day, Directed by Mark Ratzlaff
Happy Valentimes Day is the story of a young boy named Daniel. He has
just lost his parents and is now living with his grandfather, a world
war II veteran who is not the best suited guardian. The hole that his
parents death has left him with one that he is struggling to fill.
Hombre
Kabuki, Directed by Leo Age
Love, lust and lucha libre. Lovers enact a game of duping and disguise
with a mysterious Mexican wrestling mask.
In
the Tradition of My Family, Directed by Todd Davis
In The Tradition of My Family is a gothic family saga. This seemingly
normal, middle-class family has a unique tradition. When a son reaches
his thirteenth birthday, his father wounds him with a gun, honoring both
the long-standing family tradition and the boy, who is now a “new
man.” The more dangerous the shooting and the more ghastly the scar,
the more the recipient is honored by the family. That is, if he actually
survives his wound.
The film follows a young boy named Billy as he prepares
for and experiences his new man ritual. In The Tradition of My Family
examines what happens when these concepts of tradition and honor are questioned
and the effect on the father’s relationship with his son.
Invention, Directed by D. R Tibbets
An odd self-proclaimed inventor, on his way to the patent office in the
desolate backwoods of Wisconsin, decides to share his fortune with an
unfortunate drifter. The surly passenger then schemes to steal the invention--or
at least this chump's car. With each concocting a new twist to outsmart
the other, they ultimately discover that true brilliance lies somewhere
between genius and insanity.
Invisible Dog, Directed by Madeleine Grant
Clarketta lives with her mother and her dog. Clarketta’s dog is
invisible. Clarketta’s mother is obsessed with youth. Everyday her
mother attempts to steal youth for herself through Clarketta, trying and
disgarding her daughter’s various material possessions. One day
her mother thinks to steal Clarketta’s invisible dog.
Kuwait
, Directed by Shane Tilston
Captured while sneaking into a restricted area by US Marines during the
first Gulf War, Times reporter Rachel Cayman (Lauren Seikaly) is blindfolded,
bound and put in the charge of a young Marine (Andrew Lawton). Rachel
must use all of her skills to forge a bond with her tight lipped and menacing
captor in order to fight for her safety...only to force him towards uncovering
the secret that is threatening to push him over the edge.
Looking for My Brother, Directed by Nathaniel
McCullagh
Set in contemporary Buenos Aires, Looking for My Brother cinematically
portrays fifteen life-shattering minutes in the life of a young Argentinean
girl named Alejandra. Caught up in a tragic case of revenge, the innocent
Alejandra struggles to make sense of deception, valor, and questionable
heroism. While searching for her brother, Alejandra becomes witness to
the assassination of a politician. When interrogated, she must think quickly
to protect the honor of her family, and preserve her own freedom.
Mac and Arthur, Directed by Colm Bairéad
Set in 1994 on Dublin’s Northside, Mac an Athar tells the story
of Seán Ó Gallchóir, a young boy who has not spoken
a word of Irish to his Gaeilgeoir father, Tomás, since the sudden
death of his mother. As Seán begins to see the toll her death has
taken on his father, however, a transformation begins…
Moosecock,
Directed by Will Hartman
A first-time director recounts the trials and tribulations of making his
epic masterpiece, 'Moosecock,' in this satiric look at hype, misguided
vision, and the too-frequent lack of substance in today's mainstream movie
industry. Starring Brian Baumgartner from NBC's 'The Office.'
1918,
Directed by Jay Burke
Eighty-six years of heartbreak. Two Boston boys finally have a shot to
go to the World Series with the Sox. But a series of mishaps take them
on a wrong turn.
Tim, a gas station attendant, and his buddy, Petey,
miraculously land two tickets to the big game. Along the way, they run
into Tim’s angry boss, an arrogant New Yorker, a bitter mechanic
and a pedantic State Trooper. Driving a fading Ford Escort, Tim gives
up his most prized possessions to get to the park.
They’re two underdogs on a road trip, on a mission
and desperate for victory.
Old
Dog, Directed by Arran Bowyn
“Y’see, the problem with life is that it’s all about
making choices’…for three dysfunctional brothers, the consequence
of their choices is Sal, a dark and menacing feminine presence, the embodiment
of their brotherly conscience who pursues them, and mocks them, until
one-by-one they are forced to face their choices…and themselves.
Passion
to the Max, Directed by Felix Allen
In the post-apocalyptic near future, the world as we knew it is no more.
Roaming bands of men control the land, they are known as Missionaries.
These Missionaries created a new religion known as the Church of the Post-Apocalyptic
Saints. But one man remembers a different religion, an ancient religion,
and he has returned to his action hero roots to defend his faith. That
man is Mel Gibson, and he has... Passion to the Max.
Shade, Directed by Michelle Nash
'Hell is for people who hurt others.' Rory Greene hurt Ty. He broke her
heart when she was already weak and confused by her mother's unexpected
death. Overwhelmed by her anger with Rory, Ty turns to Jimmy, a boy who
truly loves her and would do anything for her. Ty asks Jimmy to kill Rory,
having decided that hell is the only place for people like him.
That Night, Directed by Steven Gordon
Amidst the pulsing NYC rock n’ roll scene, two young lovers cross
paths at a Brooklyn loft party and disappear off into the night to explore
each other. “That Night” tells the story of Thomas and Annie,
a struggling photographer and aspiring writer, and how they first meet.
It’s the kind of night they didn’t expect,
and one they know they’ll never forget. It’s when the giddiness
and intrigue of experiencing someone new creates awkward conversation
and magical moonlight. It’s kissing on sidewalk street corners and
fumbling to remove clothing in the dark...it’s worth it to leave
cynicism behind in search of such adventure and mystery.
Every night, after all, is filled with the promise of
the unknown...
The Girls of Elizabeth Street, Directed by Tad
Davis
A ten-year-old boy begins to notice the women in his life in a way he
never had before.
The Last Harvest, Directed by Alastair McGibbon
A weekend together gives a father and son a chance to confront the issues
that keep them apart. In the process a hard lesson will be learned about
the value of time. The Last Harvest is a story about reconciliation and
forgiveness. Short Drama
The Norman Rockwell Code, Directed by Alfred
Thomas Catalfo. Starring Fritz Wetherbee Walsh as Langford
From ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's THE MUST LIST ('Ten Things We Love This Week')
June 2, 2006: 'THE NORMAN ROCKWELL CODE - The Da Vinci Code gets cracked
(and smacked upside the head) in this whimsical parody.'
When the curator of The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge,
Massachusetts, is murdered -- stuck with a harpoon and holding half a
lemon and a can of tuna -- the police desperately need help with the investigation.
They call in Langford Fife -- Professor of Symbology at Stockbridge Community
College and the son of Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife of Mayberry, North Carolina.
Langford may have received his degree in symbology from a correspondence
course but he insists he's 'just as competent as those high-falutin' professors
from Harvard with their fancy sheepskins from accredited schools.'
The One, Directed by Dave Laden
This is a film about a 32 year old single guy living is San Francisco
CA who thinks he has found “the one” and decides to record
himself everyday as he falls in love. He takes us on a hopeless romantic
journey with real, honest, raw, and unexpected results.
The
Shovel, Directed by Nick Childs. Starring
Academy Award Nominee, David Strathairn. Among its many awards is
the pretigious Golden Remi at Houston World Fest 2006 and Best narrative
Short 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.
When weekender Paul Mullin discovers his neighbor digging
a hole in the middle of the night, he writes it off as simply a bizarre
encounter. Until the neighbor... and his cheating wife... disappear. Worried
he’s stumbled upon more than he’s bargained for, he calls
on the local sheriff to help unearth the truth. And finds out that, in
a small town, some secrets are better left buried.
The Time Machine Directed by Ben Joseph
Jesse and his girlfriend just consummated their relationship
for the first time, and, as Jesse quickly learns, there are no do-overs
in bed. That is, of course, unless you just happen to have a genius younger
brother with a fully operational time machine at his disposal. Now, Jesse
must travel back in time two hours to save himself from, well, himself.
Will Jesse be able to salvage his first (and hopefully not last) experience
with carnal relations? Will his own past self get in his way? What if
HE screws up? Who will be there to stop him? The answer to all these questions,
and more, in THE TIME MACHINE!!
The Sparkle Lite Motel, Directed by Cory Kinney
Newlyweds George and Anna check into the Sparkle Lite Motel on their wedding
night expecting an evening of marital bliss. Once inside their room, they
realize that they took a very wrong turn when they begin to see their
highly critical parents over their shoulders. What should be the joyous
start of the rest of their lives turns into George and Anna running for
their lives.
Tulips
for Daisy, Directed by Michael Dominic
Daisy is a woman on the run. On the run from herself. On the spur of the
moment she decided to leave New York and boarded a plane for Holland.
Daisy is breaking away from the safe guarded life to which she is accustomed.
As she moves forward, she begins to find her real self.
Told partially though journal entries, 'Tulips for Daisy'
is set against the lush backdrop of Holland as we follow Daisy on her
journey. On a train to the sea she meets Agneshka, a free spirit that
helps complete Daisy's metamorphosis.
The farther Daisy runs away from her life, the closer
she comes to herself.
Vacationland,
Directed by Lance Edmands. Student Academy Award finalist
2005.
Vacationland is a poetic road movie about two young brothers, Henry
and Neil, who journey across the back roads of Maine on their bicycles.
Hoping to reunite with their older brother Jeff, they traverse a landscape
haunted by clusters of tourists, vacant RV parks and lonely gas stations.
But when things don't go as planned, and home is miles away… the
meaning of family begins to change. Short Drama.
Why Don’t You Dance, Written and Directed
by James Taylor and Kellen Hertz
An alcoholic in mourning for the end of his marriage has an irrevocable
impact on a young couple, the only customers at his yard sale. Based on
a short story by Raymond Carver, this re-telling captures the dark irony
of the original.
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