2015 Catalogue of Films - Silver Springs International Film Festival

2015 Catalogue of Films
Table Of Contents
Films by Category.................................................................................... p. 5
Viewer Discretion Advisory ..................................................................... p. 5
Film Synopses in Alphabetical Order.......................................................p. 6
Festival Admissions Policy ................................................................... p. 30
Full Festival Calendar…………………………………………………..… p. 31
Special Interest Programs .................................................................... p. 34
Filmmaker Headquarters/The Brick ...................................................... p. 37
Getting The Most of the Fest …………… ............................................. p. 38
Seminars/Talkbacks/Workshops ………….. ......................................... p. 40
Exclusive Festival Events ...................................................................... p.41
Ocala Film Foundation Board of Directors ............................................. p.45
SSIFF DISCLAIMER:
The views and opinions expressed in the films in the festival
are those of the filmmakers and/or their producer(s), cast and
crew. They do not reflect the views and opinions of the Silver
Springs International Film Festival, its sponsors, the Ocala Film
Foundation nor the members of its board.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Accessibility
The Brick City Center for the Arts and the Marion Theatre meet all ADA requirements.
We’re back! And we’re happy to see you.
We would like to take this opportunity to say, “welcome back,” to the friends we made at
our first festival last year, and, “hello,” to the new friends who are joining us for the first
time. This SSIFF is one of our city’s largest cultural endeavors and the community has
outdone itself again – thank you Ocala for making your film festival a huge success.
Community involvement is not only essential to the success of this and future festivals,
it is the very reason we are here. Through the festival, the Ocala Film Foundation
works to inspire and mobilize community leaders, citizens and business owners and
unify all of our efforts to sustain and expand the growth of our community – culturally
and economically.
The Ocala Film Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to leading
our community in creative and cultural discovery through the medium of motion pictures.
We seek to discover and encourage independent artists worldwide and to build a bridge
between these artists and their audiences. By increasing awareness, accessibility, and
a broader appreciation of the cinematic arts within our community, we endeavor to
support the educational, cultural, and economic well-being of our region. The Ocala Film
Foundation is supported by committed investors with a three to five-year business plan
in place; looking forward to a sustainable future for generations of filmmakers and filmlovers to come.
The Silver Springs International Film Festival is the presenting partner of the Ocala Film
Foundation. The Festival is an international cultural event created to elevate awareness
of Ocala/Marion County, Florida’s Silver Springs State Park and the area’s contributions
to cinema, as well as the cultural landscape of Florida. Through the Festival, our goal is
to offer scholarships to area students interested in the media arts and provide and
upgrade necessary equipment for our Marion County schools. The Festival will also
serve to encourage filmmakers to utilize the areas’ pristine natural resources and
unique culture and character.
We are thrilled to offer an expanded five-day festival in 2015, filled with screenings,
filmmaker seminars, educational opportunities and spectacular downtown events. With
films submitted from 16 countries and 18 US states, it is truly an international event. In
2014 we welcomed 11 of those filmmakers – this year we welcome more than 40.
The SSIFF is a “team sport,” from the filmmakers who shared their work, to our
dedicated board of directors, corporate and community sponsors, local businesses,
community leaders and our tireless volunteers for their exemplary support and
assistance. Thank you - we couldn’t do it without all of you! Enjoy the festival!
Greg Thompson, Festival Director
Silver Springs International Film Festival
Laurie W. Zink, Executive Director
Ocala Film Foundation
Films by Category
Narrative Features
The Antwerp Dolls
Of Dice and Men
The Fourth Child
Purok 7
Homemakers
Unfreedom
Narrative Shorts
Amendment
Beneath Water
Curtis Takes a Wrong Turn
Doughnut Dance
Freestyle
Junk Girl
A Man on the Edge
Nostalgic Dad
Animaglyphes
Borderline
Dawn
En Lusitanie
The Gift
La Petite Fille
Mia
Song for Hawk
Vinnie: No Dream is Too Big
Beasts
Castor
Dead Day
Evil Love
The Gunfighter
LEAN
The Nap
Zizi and the Honeyboy
Documentary Features
2E Twice Exceptional
Bedevil
Buried at Sea
Horses of Fukushima
In His Own Home
Muneeza in the Middle
Now
Pirates of the Carefree Being
Return of the Horse
A Royal Hangover
Running Wild: The Life of Dayton OHyde
Talking to the Air
You Belong to Me
Documentary Shorts
Baja’s Secret Miracle
Ghostbike
Preserves
Blind Spot
Gokanosho: Lost in Time
Riding My Way Back
Tarpan
The Ends of the Earth
Plamen
Sea Odyssey
Student Shorts
A Blind Man
Best of Full Sail
Julia’s Journey
Best of FAME-Marion County Media Awards
Best of MFI ’15 (Manhattan Film Institute)
Kewekapawetan: Return After the Flood
Remembering Anne
Best of FSU
Heyln Springs
Playgrounds
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISORY:
Festival screenings do not require MPAA ratings. Some films may include strong
images, violence and/or language and may not be suitable for all audiences. VIEWER
DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Such language, images and situations are noted in this
catalog with each film’s listing, where applicable, following the film’s title.
CONTENT ADVISORIES:
violence
nudity
adult situations
strong language
drugs
graphic images
Films In
Alphabetical Order
2E: Twice Exceptional
Documentary
Thursday 9 April – 3:00pm
USA/54 minutes
Tom Ropelewski, Director
Bridges Academy in Los Angeles is dedicated solely to understanding and educating students
identified as “twice exceptional” – highly gifted individuals with learning disabilities or
differences. These students are our next-gen geniuses, mavericks and dreamers – Malcolm
Gladwell’s budding “outliers.” They may grow up to change the world... if they can survive the
American school system and their own eccentricities.
Crew: Producer/Director - Thomas Ropelewski; Cinematographers - Martina Nagel, Ben
Braverman, Barry Braverman
Cast: The Students - Gabriel Amos, John Whitmore, Sydney Frank, Daniel Zuker, Matthew
Rosen, The Parents - Ellen Isaacs & Lary Rappaport, Robin Shapiro. The Administrators &
Consultants - Susan Baum, Ph.D., Lesli Preuss, Ph.D., Cynthia Novak, Ph.D. The Teachers Caroline Maxwell, Laura Bahr
About the Director... Thomas Ropelewski, a graduate of Darmouth College, has written and
directed for film and television. His Hollywood career began as an assistant to producer Edgar
Scherick (Take The Money And Run, The Stepford Wives) and executive positions in Current
Programming at Universal Television and Drama Development at NBC. He wrote and made his
feature directorial debut with the comedy Madhouse with John Larroquette and Kirstie Alley.
Other credits include Loverboy, The Kiss, Look Who’s Talking Now and The Next Best Thing.
Ropelewski is married to screenwriter Leslie Dixon. They have one “twice exceptional” son.
Amendment [V] [L]
Drama
Friday 10 April - 7:00pm
United Kingdom/6 minutes
Juha Sorola, Director
Anthony and Julianne are seeking to do some business on the wrong side of town. Jack seizes
an opportunity to educate the good folks about the constitution. Two worlds collide in a
backstreet garage; three lives face a point of no return. We all have morals, but how do we
justify ours, and what kinds of actions do they prescribe?
Crew: Executive Producers – Juha Sorola, Allan Corduner; Writer - Juha Sorola
Cast: Allan Corduner, Cherie Lunghi, Juha Sorola
About the Director... Juha Sorola is a Finnish-born actor and writer based in London since
1997, where he has appeared in numerous stage productions including As You Like It, Two
Gentlemen of Verona and The Matchmaker with the renowned DreamThinkSpeak Theatre.
Animaglyphes
Horse Fever, Short Art Film
Thursday 9 April - 11:00
France/32 minutes
Camilled Manolo, Director
The story of man and beast walking together across the earth, leaving their tracks wherever
they step is the context of this exquisitely directed piece of cinematic artwork. From the
gathering together of all of the thousands involved in this film, following of their movement
across France, Camilled Manolo keeps the audience spellbound.
About the Director... Camilled Manolo was the hands down winner in this division (Equestian
Director – Equus Film Festival). Truly showing what the word “Director” means with a cast of
thousands to create a beautiful piece of work.
The Antwerp Dolls [V] [L] [N] [A]
Action, Crime, Thriller
Friday 10 April - 9:00
United Kingdom/96 minutes
Jake L. Reid, Director
Once upon a time there were The Antwerp Dolls; and with those dolls came death.
Crew: Producer/Writer – Jake L. Reid; Cinematographer/DP – Mike Marchelwski
Cast: Ashley R. Woods, Courtney Winston, Danny Cutlet, Gemma Reynolds
About the Director... Hailing from the Bristol, England, the same city as Cary Grant, this
feature heralds the debut of Writer, Producer and Director Jake L. Reid. Born in 1987, Reid
developed the script and in 2009 and began filming in 2011 whilst undertaking a film studies
degree. Reid says: "I'm excited for audiences to see The Antwerp Dolls. It's a study of loyalty
and how different relationships can breed it, or destroy it. Ultimately, it is about a man who is
trying to hold it together, as his empire falls apart. Sometimes when loyalty is most needed, it
cannot be found."
Baja's Secret Miracle
Documentary
Saturday 11 April – 3:00pm
Spain, Mexico/13 minutes
Eliana Alvarez Martinez, Director
Mario Castro, a fisherman that decided to change the destiny of his community, narrates this
wonderful story that takes us in a journey of decades, to understand how the town of Cabo
Pulmo created the world's most robust marine reserve.
Crew: Director/Producer/Cinematographer/Editor - Eliana Alvarez Martinez
About the Director... Eliana Alvarez Martinez is an award-wining, accomplished and truly
versatile cinematographer/ director, her enthusiastic “Have-Camera-Will-Travel” outlook, has
won her a steady stream of documentary, commercial, fiction and television engagement
around the world. Baja’s Secret Miracle recently won the Foreign Language Film award at Blue
Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Summit and Audience award at Viewster Film Festival.
Manhattan Film Institute is a boutique conservatory with a world
class faculty which nurtures the aspirations and enriches careers
of both budding and established artists. Whether acting, writing, or
directing, all students work side-by-side with industry
professionals. The faculty is as distinguished for their artistic
accomplishments as they are for their dedication to teaching.
For more information: www.manhattanfilminstitute.com
Thursday 9 April – 7:00pm
2012
Dominoes
Writer/Director: Dallas Dodge; Cast: Asher Grodman and Mayank Saxena
Messaging Through the Distance
Director: Alexis B.C. Varga; Writers: Alexis B.C. Varga & Deija Thomas; Cast: Nicholas
Barasch, Lucy Black
Not Alone
Writer/Director: Keith Frislid: Cast: Hannah Fleming and John McCabe
Compedians
Writer/Director: Sean O’Keefe: Cast: MaryAnn Hu, Brian Marchetti, Angela K. Thomas
2013
The Devil’s Timekeeper
Writer/Director: Robert Mai; Cast: Uju Enendu, Ken Anderson.
The Terms
Writer/Director: Mimi Khasidy; Cast: Kate Hampton, Margy Love.
Screwed ( Boys )
Director: Grant Micari; Writer: Ruth Coughlin; Cast: Edgar Pocasangre, John McCabe
Collapse ( Home Office )
Director: Eddie Finn; Writer: Cole Akins; Cast: William DeMeritt, Ben Kahre
2014
The Girl
Writer/Director: Dante Palminteri; Cast: Nicholas Barasch, Nellie Spackman, Dante Palminteri
Speeding
Director: Nikos Spiridakis; Cast: Tom Frank and Josh Mendelow
Crimson
Writer/Director: Ruby Makkena; Cast: Nicholas Barasch and Keira Edgett
Interrogation
Writer/Director: Gregory Voigt; Cast: Ariel Eliaz, Ashley Lovell and Marco Urbina
Described by The Hollywood Reporter as "one of the world's best" film schools; the Fiske Guide
to Colleges as "one of the top motion picture schools in the nation;” recognized by the Directors
Guild of America for its "distinguished contribution to American culture through the world of film
and television." The faculty comprises award-winning industry experts with a combined 400+
feature film credits who share a gift for teaching students the art, craft and business of
storytelling in the motion picture industry. Thursday 9 April – 9:00pm
Southern Roots
Writer/Director: Betsy Serral; Cast: Kennedy Brice, Andrea Crouch, Avery Pohl
Macayla, new to the North, struggles to keep her Tennessee upbringing under wraps, before
realizing she and her sassy Southern mother are truly unique.
Dorian
Writer/Director: Jon Sams; Cast: Casey Leach, Elly Schaefer, Daniel Mutis
A discouraged photographer has lost the attention of his only friend to a new admirer. Now he
finds himself struggling to control his unraveling reality.
Behind the Image
Directors: Byron Leon, April Moore
A brief glimpse into the lives of two currently working paparazzi photographers and their
personal outlook on the celebrity photojournalism industry.
Coda
Writer/Director: Mark Breedlove; Cast: Kelly Pullam, Tatiana Warden, Erika Stone
A forgotten daughter struggles through a piano piece to reconnect with her mother one last time.
Apalachicola
Writer/Director: John Wakeford Francis; Cast: Katie Marvel, James McGettrick, Ray Bouchard
After her final tour of duty in Afghanistan, an oysterman’s daughter returns home and
rediscovers her family and the coastal community she grew up in.
The Chambrel
Director: Jake Hammond
Follow the residents of the Chambrel - a whacky, upbeat retirement community where it's
always 5 o'clock and aging is, in a sense, nonexistent.
Hashi
Writer/Director/Lead Actress: Mana Handel
After watching her parents move to Japan without her, a 20-something finds solace in cooking
Japanese food to connect to her cultural identity.
Birthday Boy
Writer/Director: Ashley Patterson; Cast: Jessica Saul, Casey Leach, Michelle Scileppi
An overly optimistic Mary decides to surprise her boyfriend with a unique gift for his birthday, but
her surprise is under-appreciated to say the least.
Ruby Woo
Writer/Director: Kendall McCrory; Cast: Amanda Hillsberg, Jared Bankens, Freya Pax Aislin
Chrissa yearns for her boyfriend's affection, but when greed shifts his attention to her little sister,
Chrissa's delusion of love sends her twisted world spiraling.
Best of Marion County Student Media Fest ’14
Various Genres (Student Shorts)
Thursday 9 April – 7:00pm
USA/55 minutes
Miriam Needham, Library Media Services/Arts Coordinator
Since 2001 the Marion County School System has hosted a
yearly student media festival to provide a platform to recognize
and celebrate one of Marion County’s best kept secrets – the success of her student
filmmakers. As part of the program, 1st place winners are broadcast on Comcast, Bright House
and Cox cable companies in addition to the county’s education channel. The winners advance
to regional competition and if they win there they advance to state competition in Orlando. Last
year alone, Marion County students submitted 339 videos; placed more videos at state
competition and had more state winners than any other county in Florida! It’s true. In fact, it’s
been true for 11 consecutive years. That’s right - for over a decade, Marion County’s young
filmmakers have dominated state competitions against metropolises like Orlando, Tampa and
Miami. This year’s Student Media Festival is Friday, May 8, 7:00pm at West Port High School.
Beasts [V] [N] [L] [D]
Psychological Horror
Thursday 9 April – 1:00pm
Sweden, USA/11 minutes
Axel Ohman, Director
In an eerie, abandoned beach town, two sociopaths fall in love. Their affair descends into
darkness triggering them to act on their emotions or lack there-of.
Crew: Director - Axel Öhman; Cinematographer - Joel Vasquez Cardenas
Cast: Valerie Brody, Tim Eliot, Lauren Sowa, Zazie Beetz
About the Director.... Axel Öhman was born in Stockholm and grew up in Paris, France.
Currently based in New York, Axel studies at the Graduate Film Program at Columbia
University School of the Arts. Beasts is his directorial debut.
Beneath Water
Drama, Family, Fantasy
Thursday 9 April – 1:00pm
United Kingdom/15 minutes
Charlie Manton, Director
In the remote Missouri Ozarks, Daisy grows further apart from her withdrawn mother. Events
unravel on the anniversary of her younger brother’s death, and what they have both been
holding back, they finally share.
Crew: Director/Producer/Writer/Cinematographer - Charlie Manton
Cast: Louis Partridge, Louisa Connolly-Burnham, Miranda Wilson
A Blind Man
USA/14 minutes
Saturday 9 April – 11:00am
Joel Black, Director
An aging blind musician, is grieving the passing of his beloved wife. He reluctantly accepts a
service dog when his concerned daughter insists it's either that or face going to a nursing home.
As he slowly begins to place his trust in his new companion, he discovers he's being guided out
of his reclusive shell and onto the road toward his old passion for music and life.
Crew: Director/Writer - Joel Black; Cinematographer – Robert Thomasson Cast: Robert
Rowlette
About the Director... Joel Black is a simple person who likes to tell simple stories about
everyday people. To find stories where one might not think to look. He enjoys traveling the world
and discovering new cultures. From the Vietnamese water villages in Cambodia to North
Koreans working in China, telling the stories of those who have been ignored, forgotten, or
overlooked, Joel hopes to discover that one thing that relates to us all as humans.
Blind Spot
Horse Fever, Trailer
Thursday 9 April – 11:00am & Saturday 9 April – 11:00am
Canada/6 minutes
Stefan Morel, Director
Borderline
Drama
Thursday 9 April – 1:00pm
Italy/10 minutes
Luca Tobia Forcignano Serri, Director
We are lost as a young woman searches for her identity in a maze of mirrors where every image
is constantly changing; being split in half. Who is she? Every borderline that divides and unites
the psychological life and the physical one disappears.
Crew: Director/Writer - Luca Tobia Forcignano Serri; Cinematographer – Paolo Poletti
Cast: Sveva Alviti
About the Director... Luca’s passion for visual storytelling led him to a career as a fashion
photographer, eventually becoming the creative director of a brand. Two years later, he realized
that wasn’t his dream and bought a one-way ticket to Indonesia. After two years traveling Asia
and a year in India, he found his true passion and began making movies upon returning to Italy.
Buried At Sea
DocuDrama
Friday 10 April – 11:00pm
USA/80 minutes
David W. Sandgren, Director
Two retired Navy pilots decide to make a statement of tribute to Naval Aviation by attempting to
swim stem to stern, deep inside the sunken aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. In the process they fly
the A6 Intruder on & off aircraft carriers, cave dive as training for wreckage penetration and the
full-length swim. The Navy Commander's journey and mentoring of his junior & fellow A6 pilot
leads to their combined efforts with the Commander and his son, also a Naval Officer in the
attempted swim. A moving tribute to the people of Naval Aviation.
Crew: Writer/Director - Dave Sandgren; Primary Photographer - Dov Sandgren;
Photographer/Boat Captain - Paul Rogers
Cast/Technical Divers: Dave Sandgren, Dov Sandgren, Paul Rogers
About the Director... Commander Dave Sandgren served a full career with the US Navy,
currently retired from the Navy, he flies International for Delta Airlines and is a serious technical
diver with extensive experience filming both aviation and diving with special emphasis on caves
and shipwrecks. After developing a knack for video editing, his combined experience and skills
culminated in the making of "Buried at Sea."
Castor [V]
Drama
Friday 10 April – 7:00pm
Israel/13 minutes
Alon Juwal, Director
A rebellious Israeli soldier is traveling across the desert, accompanied by his attack dog. Along
the way he meets a young and mouthy backpacker who teaches him an important lesson about
life.
Crew: Director/Producer/Writer/Editor - Alon Juwal
Cast: Alon Juwal, Dan Kovertz, Elay Schwartz, Noam Cohen, Yair Grimberg
About the Director... Alon Juwal is an Israeli Filmmaker, born on February 19, 1990 in Tel
Aviv, Israel. His films mainly focus on the military revolved culture in Israel. Castor is his first
piece, and was produced with the help of the IDF's K9 unit, "Oketz".
A Century of Horses
Documentary, Horse Fever
Saturday 11 April - 11:00am
Canada/15 minutes
Stefan Morel, Director
Curtis Takes a Wrong Turn [L]
Comedy
Friday 10 April - 7:00pm
USA/15 minutes
Anne Wells, Director
Curtis (not the sharpest tool in the shed) goes out for a walk one day and wanders into a surreal
ldesert town where he stops for a drink among the “colorful” locals and falls in love with a
beautiful woman named Ckandy (yep, she spells it that way). Curtis haplessly overlooks
Ckandy's excessive baggage, like her mentally handicapped, jealous, and destructive brother
who follows her everywhere. They hitch a ride with some interesting folks and find themselves
juggling a stick of dynamite and a quickie wedding at a make-shift chapel in the desert. Curtis
learns that forever isn’t just a fun-filled word full of hope - it’s also a very long time.
Crew: Producer/Writer - Anne Wells; Executive Producer – Erynn Dalton
Cast: Andy Holt, Anne Wells, Cory Barlog, Erynn Dalton, Greg Crowder, Janine Castle
About the Director... Raised by Peace Corps parents in exotic locations like Turkey and
Yemen, Anne became adept at change, and set in her artistic ways at a young age. She has
continued to live life to its fullest and to say "yes" to opportunity and adventure whenever the
chance arises. Never boring, much of her life is made up of entire sections that would make
great movies – maybe that’s why she’s always in production on a film or two or three. Anne
teaches high schoolers full-time and is thrilled to be able to pass on her love of filmmaking to the
next generation of filmmakers!
DAWN
Narrative Short
Saturday 11 April - 11:00am
6 minutes
Mario Rico, Director
Latest news: a walking dead invasion is sweeping the nation.
Crew: Writer/ Textures/Editor – Mario Rico; Sound – Hector Brisa; Music – Oriol Padros
Cast: SuNray Jahchild
About the Director... Barcelona’s Mario Rico holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication. A
writer, filmmaker and illustrator, he likes to tell stories - whether through a camera or drawing on
a paper.
Dead Day [L] [V]
Horror, Suspense
Friday 11 April - 7:00pm
USA/12 minutes
Johnny Dutch, Director/Producer
A survivor of a deadly virus roams the country side of North Carolina while trying to avoid deadly
walkers. Is he dreaming or is this his reality?
Cast: Charles Hearn, Charlie Weinchester
About the Director... Johnny is a native of Raleigh, NC who began creating films at the age of
16. A graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BA in Media Arts - Film Production,
Johnny is also a professional track athlete and 2014 US champion in the 400 meter hurdle
event.
Doughnut Dance
Comedy
Saturday 11 April - 11:00am
USA/4 minutes
Jason Knade, Director
When there's only 1 doughnut left at a quiet cafe, an epic battle ensues.
Crew: Writer - Jessie Denning; Cinematographer – Ben McBurnett
Cast: Tim Hopper, Alexandra Pinheiro, Flavia Borges, Shaun Baer, Rachel Berg
About the Director.. Jason Knade works as a director of narrative films, music videos, and
commercial projects. His work has been called “poignant” and “intelligent” by The Huffington
Post, “heartbreaking” and “raw” by The Los Angeles Times, and “sexy” and “risqué” by The Wall
Street Journal. His films have played at over 50 festivals in 10 countries and won a dozen
festival awards.
En Lusitanie
Art Film, Animation
Thursday 9 April - 11:00am, Friday 10 April - 7:00pm
Saturday 11 – 11:00am
France/3 minutes
Beatrice Bulteau, Director
Creative animation and a perfect soundtrack work together to make En Lusitanie a visual treat.
A frolicking Lusitano leaps off the painting of Beatrice Bulteau and takes us on a stunning
journey. Awarded the Equestrian Art Film Award, its creative use of Animation and superb
soundtrack set it apart from the rest of the entries.
The Ends of The Earth
Documentary
Friday 10 April – 5:00pm, Saturday 11 April - 3:00pm
USA/84 minutes and 26 minutes
John Grabowska, Director
The Alaska Peninsula, a cloud-cloaked landscape of active volcanoes and rolling tundra,
inspired this filmic essay. At the base of the peninsula lies Katmai National Park and Preserve, a
wilderness larger than Yellowstone and Yosemite combined, and home to the Valley of Ten
Thousand Smokes. With stunning photography and a sweeping orchestral score, The Ends of
the Earth celebrates this magnificent land of wilderness and wildlife.
Crew: Writer-Producer-Director - John Grabowska; Photography - Daniel Zatz, Mark Emery,
Roy Wood Narrator: N. Scott Momaday
About the Director... Environmental writer, producer and director John Grabowska specializes
in films on the American West and the Alaskan wilderness. His films are broadcast as prime
time specials on PBS. Grabowska works frequently with actress Meryl Streep and the American
Indian writer N. Scott Momaday. In a 2005 profile The Washington Post called him "one of the
virtuoso environmental filmmakers in the country."
EVIL LOVE
Spain/5 minutes
Thursday 9 April - 1:00pm
Julio De La Rosa, Director
I'm pretty. I have to be. Some girls are ugly. Not me. Not only am I pretty, I’ve
made myself desirable. And I've done that for a reason. I want to be liked. We all have an
obligation to be liked. Well, don't you want the same thing?
About the Director... Julio De La Rosa is a singer, composer, original soundtrack composer on
movies, writer, musical video director, and now, a shorts director too. After nine records, twelve
original soundtracks, two story books, a poem book, a novel, and fifteen musical videos, this is
his first short.
The Fourth Child [V]
Drama
Friday 10 April - 1:00pm
Iran/96 minutes
Vahid Mousaian, Director/Writer
Two on the road: an actress who is giving up cinema and discovering a new world in
photography and a man who lost his factory. The destination is Somalia where human dignity
proves to be the conqueror even in the hard times of war and starvation.
Crew: Composer – Fereydun Shahbazian
Cast: Mehdi Hashemi
About the Director...Vahid Mousaian was born in Khorramabad, Iran in 1969. He graduated
from Azad University with a degree in theatre. He made a number of short films, winning several
prizes at both national and international film festivals. Mr. Mousaian's debut feature Wishes of
the Land was the recipient of the Special Jury Prize at the 24th Moscow International Film
Festival (2002), as well as the 19th Love International Film Festival in Mons, Belgium.
Freestyle
Narrative, Fiction, Drama, Family
Saturday 11 April - 11:00am
USA/7 minutes
Lexi Lefkowitz, Director
Violet is an isolated, spunky, 7-year-old trying to fit into a world she doesn't quite understand.
Crew: Director/Writer - Lexi Lefkowitz; Director of Photography - André Silva
Cast: Jessica Carr, Kim Carr, Jadin Harris
About the Director... Lexi Lefkowitz is a filmmaker based in Wilmington North Carolina. Lexi's
relationship with film is long lasting and has taken many shapes over the years. Whether it is
working on her own projects or working in busy production offices, film remains a constant.
Ghostbike
Documentary
Thursday 9 April - 3:00pm
USA/20 minutes
Judith Finneren, Director
Love and forgiveness are the telling messages in this real-life story of Judith Finneren, a
woman whose life changes drastically in the split second of someone else’s careless
driving.
Crew: Writer - Judith M. Finneren; Executive Producer - Ralph Finneren
Cast: Joanne Cacciatori, Holli Finneren, Rory Finneren, Harry Joseph, Lois Matesa
About the Director... Having recently lost her husband in a tragic bicycling accident,
Judith Finneren found herself in Sedona, Arizona attending film school. Hailing from Lake
Orion, Michigan, at the age of 56 she ventured off to film school and created a film about
her experience since the tragedy.
The Gift [L] [V]
Drama, Sci-Fi
Friday 9 April - 9:00pm
USA/20 minutes
Rich Hibner, Director
In the not so distant future the answer to overpopulation is a primal one, life ends at 50. The Gift
examines the lives of those in their final hours, and the man whose job it is to take them away.
About the Director... Rich Hibner is the brains, the brawn, the heart and the creator of Bokeh
Films. A self-taught filmmaker, he created his first film at age 14 and founded Bokeh Films in
2009. His influences are Paul Thomas Anderson and David Gordon Green.
Gokanosho: Lost in Time
Documentary Short
Saturday 11 April - 3:00pm
Australia/14 minutes
Caleb De Leon, Director
Gokanosho is a collection of villages in rural Japan. With only 350 residents,
the region faces depopulation and is at risk of fading away.
Crew: Producer - Isabel Stanfield; Cinetmatographer - Sean Ryan; Editor - Harold Neale
About the Director... Caleb is an up and coming Australian filmmaker, recently graduated from
the Griffith University Film School with a Bachelor of Film and Screen Media Production. Prior to
that, Caleb attended the Australian School of the Arts for Film & Television.
The Gunfighter [L] [V]
Comedy
Friday 10 April - 9:00am
USA/9 minutes
Eric Kissack, Director
A weary gunfighter walks into a bar, looking for a drink. What he finds instead is a building full of
raunchy people, and an audible, bloodthirsty narrator who’s kind of a jerk.
Crew: Writer - Kevin Tenglin; Producer - Sarah Platt; Cinematographer - Jon Aguirresarobe
Cast: Nick Offerman, Shawn Parsons, Scott Beehner, Eileen O'Connell, Timothy Brennen
About the Director... Eric Kissack spent 10 years working as a feature film editor in New York
and Los Angeles. He had the pleasure of cutting funny films such as Role Models, Brüno, Cedar
Rapids, The Dictator and Horrible Bosses 2. In 2012 he directed his first feature, Love, Sex &
Missed Connections, an independent comedy that has won a dozen festival awards including
Best Narrative Feature at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
Heyln Springs
Student Short
Saturday 11 April – 11:00am
USA/15 minutes
Noah Camenker, Director/Writer/Sound Editor
After discovering that his grandfather is terminally ill, Mason sets out on a journey to a local
spring rumored to have magical healing powers.
Crew: Producer - Joel Black; Cinematographer/DP - Luxi Jin
Cast: Henry Tisdale, Ken Wester, Zach Shirey
About the Director... Noah Camenker graduated cum laude from the University of Florida’s
honors program, with degrees in Psychology and English. He has traveled and studied
extensively (Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Israel and Taiwan), and financed 100% of his
undergraduate education through merit scholarships. His last FSU film, Monster, earned him a
Student Emmy.
Homemakers [L] [N] [D] [A]
Narrative Feature
Saturday 11 April – 1:00pm
USA/85 minutes
Colin Healey, Director
A rootless young singer with a knack for destruction attempts to restore her late grandfather's
abandoned Pittsburgh home.
Crew: Producer - Davie Schnachter; Writer - Colin Healey; Cinematographer - Ben Powell
Cast: Dan Derks, Harry O’Toole, Jack Culbertson, Luke Johanson, Matt Bryan, Molly Carlisle
About the Director... Colin Healey is a writer, filmmaker and cartoonist. His first feature film
as a writer and director, Homemakers, was a 2013 IFP labs selection before going on to win the
Audience Award at the 2014 Independent Film Festival Boston and the Jury Prize for Best
Narrative Feature at the 2014 Lone Star Film Festival.
Horses of Fukushima [G]
Documentary Feature
Thursday 9 April – 11:00am
Japan, 74 minutes
Matsubayashi Yoju, Director
From Japanese director, Matsubayashi Yoju comes the story of the aftermath of the disaster
that hit Fukushima Japan March 2011. Horses of Fukushima shows the horses affected by the
fall-out and the story of their path back. The film took the Equestrian International Documentary
Award for its passionate storytelling. Challenging to watch in the beginning, the story unfolds
with such compassion it keeps the audiences rooted in their seats to see what happens to these
beautiful horses.
In His Own Home
Documentary Feature
Friday 10 April – 1:00pm
USA/42 minutes
Malini Schueller, Director/Producer/Writer
When heavily armed campus police broke into the University of Florida campus apartment of
disabled and unarmed Ghanaian doctoral student Kofi Adu-Brempong, and within a minute of
entry shot him in the face, his life was forever changed. Yet the officer who shot him had
previously been caught cruising through town throwing eggs at residents of a Black
neighborhood, was neither suspended nor fired. This is a look at the ongoing pattern of police
brutality against Blacks and the dangers of over-militarized campuses.
Crew: Producer, Editor – Luce Lincoln; Co-Producer – Amy Ongiri
Cast: Kofi Adu-Brempong, Interviewees: Yoni Anijar, Kali Blount, Michael V. Bowie, Jaclyn Hall
About the Director... A long-time resident of Gainesville, Florida, Malini is a Professor of
English at the University of Florida where she teaches courses on race, imperialism, and
American literature. She has published several books including U.S. Orientalisms which
analyzes representations of the East by American writers and Locating Race which argues for
the relevance of racial identities in the era of globalization. She also writes political essays for
Counterpunch.
Julia's Journey
Documentary, Student Short
Thursday 9 April – 7:00pm
USA/7 minutes
Jessica Miller, Director/Producer
This is the story of Julia Kain, who suffers from an extremely rare, devastating disease called
Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C. Presently, there is no approved treatment for the disease. She
and her family, however, courageously battle the disease together in the hope that they can
defeat the disease save Julia's life.
Crew: Producer – Brianna Reid; Videographers – Jessica Miller, Brianna Reid
Cast: Julia Kain, Jason Kain, Tonya Kain, Rebecka Kain
About the Director... Jessica Miller is a high school senior from Ocala, Florida. A filmmaker
since elementary school, she won Best of Show at the 2014 Marion County Student Media
Festival and has placed nationally for news and school promotion with Student Television
Network.
Junk Girl
Animation, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Saturday 11 April – 11:00am
Iran/17 minutes
Mohammad Zare, Director
“There once was a girl who was made up of junk. She looked really dirty, and she smelled like a
skunk.” This animated adaptation of the namesake poem from Tim Burton's The Melancholy
Death of Oyster Boy, and Other Stories book follows the unhappy life of a young girl who finds a
man who likes her a lot. But will she make the best decision in her haste to find true happiness.
This animated short screened in Tehran's International Short Film Festival and has been
nominated for awards in several film festivals around the world.
Crew: Writer - Shalale Kheiri; Animators - Mohammad Zare, Shalale Kheiri
About the director... Mohammad Zare, born in Tabriz city in 1986, is an Iranian animator and
director whose work has been seen on Iranian National Television. He has work focuses on
stop motion projects and his love for this technique.
Kewekapawetan: Return After the Flood
Documentary
Saturday 11 April – 3:00pm
Canada/29 minutes
Jennifer Dysart, Director
The people of South Indian Lake Manitoba are slowly leaving behind a long period of social
crisis brought on by the damming of their namesake lake in the 1970's. The environmental
devastation still exists, but the community returns to their original village site once a year for a
gathering called 'Kewekapawetan,' meaning 'going back' or 'looking back' in the Cree language.
Using archival film and photographs spanning 50 years, this film tells the story of this
community's success, demise, and recent efforts to improve their quality of life while tracing the
filmmaker's own disconnected personal history to her Cree homeland where she has never
resided. This story reminds us of the link between fragile ecosystems and healthy humans.
Crew: Producer, Writer, Editor -Jennifer Dysart; Cinematographer/DP - Cory Generoux
About the Director... Jennifer Dysart is a filmmaker of documentaries and experimental films.
In 2014, she was granted an MFA from York University. Her last film, Kewekapawetan: Return
After the Flood has been nominated for a university-wide thesis award..
La petite fille
Narrative Short
Thursday 9 April – 1:00pm
Spain/13 minutes
Guillermo Alcalá, Director
Little Marita receives bad news concerning her boyfriend. She will quickly share them with her
most close relative. By doing so their relationship will grow even stronger than it already is.
Crew: Screenplay - Guillermo Alcalá; Music - Paul Cantelon, Adolfo Celdrán; Photography Anna Grenman; Film Editing - Alberto Martín; Producer - Ciudad de la Luz
Cast: Kelly Guibal, Mariane Pakula
About the Director... Guillermo Alcalá-Santaella Lloréns (Valencia, 1987) has a degree in
Audiovisual Communications by CEU Cardenal Herrera University (Moncada, Valencia). During
his studies he has done practical internships in CEU Radio involving musical and sports show.
He has also done internships in LAS PROVINCIAS TV. He obtained an Erasmus scholarship
which allowed him to work in a local TV in Salerno (Italy). Back in Spain he did an internship in
Canal 9 for three months, in the Sports Section. Currently he is studying a Master degree for
Teaching in Secondary School and Professional Training.
Lean
Narrative Short
Thursday 9 April – 9:00pm
USA/7 minutes
Kevin J. O'Neill, Director/Producer/Writer
An older African American man looks back on the traumatic event that changed his life.
Crew: Cinematographer – Ryan Patrick Dean; Composer-Ahmad Arifin
Cast: Carrie McCausland, Dennis Neal, Colleen Trusler, Sallie Glaner
About the director…Kevin has worked as an actor in national commercials, television and film
for over thirty years. He began directing short films eight years ago including “Clark”, “Captain
Fin” and “Valse Mémoire”. Kevin’s films have traveled the film festival circuit including The
Florida Film Festival, The Sonoma International Film Festival, The Orlando Film festival, The
Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, The Atlanta Film Festival, The Los Angeles Diversity Film
Festival, Kevin recently signed Los Angeles actor Eddie Jemison to star in his next short film
Undertakings which will shoot in June 2015.
Less Than Nothing
Narrative Short
Thursday 9 April – 7:00pm
USA/10 minutes
Alex Moy, Director
James has lost his job – again. And now he’s missed his bus, too. But as luck would have it,
James might have found some answers in the form of a mysterious man whom he assumes is
homeless and much like himself; hopeless. James shares a bench with the old man as he waits
for the next bus, trying to avoid contact and ultimately avoid challenging his own limited thinking.
As the two engage, James must choose whether or not to see the truth about himself and
decide if he is a victim of his circumstances, or if his circumstances are the result of his own
choices.
Crew: Director/Co-Writer – Alex Moy; Director of Photography – Tim Naisbett
Cast: Greg Thompson, Ryan Brooks, Kinley Rice, Natalia Moy
About the Director... Alex Moy received the SSIFF '14 audience choice award for best short,
Protected.
A Man on the Edge [L] [V]
Narrative Short
Thursday 9 April – 1:00pm
Australia/11 minutes
Edward Lyons, Director
When a troubled man on a cliff top contemplates suicide he is interrupted by an unexpected
stranger.
Crew: Director - Edward Lyons Producer – Nicole Adams
Cast: Cheree Cassidy, David Anderson, Deborah Webber, Liam Challenor, Tom O'Sullivan
About the Director... Edward Lyons is a Drama graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts
and has a degree in English from Sydney University. His first short film, 'Can I Call You' starring
Damon Herriman, was nominated for BEST SHORT FILM in the Chicago International Horror
Film Festival, was later sold to ‘Fangoria Magazine’, and was featured on ‘The Scariest Movies
Online’.
Mia
Narrative Short
Saturday 11 April – 11:00am
USA/9 MIN
Jessica McCarthy, Director
After an unfortunate complication occurs in the birth of their child, a young couple must
overcome their own insecurity and give her the life she deserves.
Crew: Writer - Joseph McCarthy; Camera - Jonathan Rho; Post Production - Ryan Johnson
Cast: Basil Hoffman, Joseph McCarthy, Maggie Gwinn
Muneeza in the Middle
Documentary Feature
Friday 10 April – 1:00pm
Canada/50 minutes
Hoda Elatawi, Director/Executive Producer/Producer/Writer
Muneeza is a devout worshiper, bound to challenge common stereotypes about Muslims. But
her modern interpretation of the faith is catching up with her. Is her fight to maintain a unique
identity justified? Does religion create a double standard for women? These are some of the
questions that torment Muneeza once she has her first child. She wants to change for her
daughter, but doesn't want to lose herself. Muneeza's story resonates with every woman who
has become a mother.
Crew: Executive Producer - Kenneth Stewart; Writers - Christopher Redmond, Hoda Elatawi
Cast: Muneeza Sheikh, Mustafa Khaliq
About the Director... Hoda Elatawi is an independent producer that has created award-winning
films and television in Canada and internationally for over two decades. Hoda's passion for
cross-cultural content, history, social issues, and the arts has united her with producers and
writers from around the world and allowed her to work on a diverse range of television projects.
The Nap
Equestrian Short Art Film
Thursday 9 April – 11:00am
France/1:10
Jynne, Director
As the mares come in for their afternoon lunch, we are treated to a visual feast, as their
beautiful foals softly fold themselves into the beds of straw and drift off into their naps. Awarded
the Equestrian Short Art Film Award for its simple and beautiful presentation.
Nostalgic Dad
Narrative Short
Friday 10 April – 11:00am
USA/8 minutes
Nicholas May, Brett English, Directors
A father desperately tries to capture his son's finest moments on camera, until he reveals
something terrible lurking behind the scenes.
Crew: Writers - Nicholas May, Brett English; Director of Photography - Nicholas May
Cast: Adam Lishawa, Ethan Perry, Victoria Elizabeth
About the Directors...Nicholas and Brett both reside in Gainesville, FL. They continue to
pursue film projects as the opportunities present themselves. Nicholas is currently working on
several projects, including writing a feature length script, outlining a film for this Fall, as well as a
documentary on Domestic Violence. Brett has several projects in development, including a
comedy site and commercial work.
Now
Documentary Feature
Saturday 10 April – 3:00pm
USA/93 minutes
Jeremy Whelehan, Director
“NOW: In the Wings on a World Stage” takes us along with twenty British and American actors
on a whirlwind ten month international tour of “Richard III,” starring Kevin Spacey in the title role,
and directed by Sam Mendes. The film follows Mendes’ Bridge Project—the first transatlantic
theatre company.
Crew: Director – Jeremy Whelehan; Executive Producer – Kevin Spacey
The Cast (In Alphabetical Order) Kevin Spacey, Sam Mendes, Maureen Anderman
About the Director… Born in Ireland, Whelehan graduated with honors from University College
Dublin in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Master’s Degree in Film Studies. He
began his career working in the camera department on 35mm feature films in Ireland. Films
include John Boorman’s The Tailor of Panama, Rob Bowman’s Reign of Fire, and Alfonso
Arau’s The Magnificent Ambersons. In 2003, he served as Associate Producer on Beyond the
Sea produced and directed by Kevin Spacey. In 2004, Whelehan continued his collaboration
with Spacey becoming a founding member of The Old Vic Theatre Company in London where
Spacey was appointed Artistic Director. Whelehan was appointed Associate Director and
remained with the Old Vic Theatre Company for three consecutive seasons.
Of Dice and Men [L]
Narrative Feature
Friday 10 April – 9:00pm
USA/74 minutes
Kelley Slagle, Director/Producer
The lives of six roleplaying gamer friends are thrown into upheaval when one of them enlists to
go to Iraq. A geek movie without the self-loathing.
Crew: Executive Producer – Seth Polansky; Producer – Francis Abbey
Cast: Cameron McNary, Rebecca Heron, Evan Casey, Gwen Grastorf, Greg Thompson
About the Director... Kelley Slagle has been a working actor in the DC area for over twelve
years. She began directing, producing and editing short films and music videos with her
company, Cavegirl Productions in 2004. Cavegirl Productions has created films for twelve 48
Hour Film Project and National Film Challenge competitions. Cavegirl’s films have collectively
earned dozens of awards. Visit www.cavegirl.com.
Pirates of the Care Free Being: a personal revolution
Documentary Feature
Friday 10 April – 3:00pm
USA/74 minutes
Tyler Watts, Director
The goal in life is to do what you love...this is a true story following a group of
friends who risk it all to follow their dream of seeing the world. Selling everything they owned to
move aboard a 40 year old sailboat, they learned the ropes on their maiden voyage down the
eastern US seaboard in the middle of winter. After a few near death experiences, the boys
make it to the northern Caribbean where they spend the next year island hopping, living off of
the land, and discovering the true meaning of life.
Crew: Director/Producer/Writer/Editor - Tyler Watts
Cast: Brain Fernandez, Kayne McPhillips, Tyler Watts (voice)
About the Director... In 2010, Tyler became numb to filmmaking and quit his video production
job of 2 years after becoming numb to filmmaking. He took the ultimate leap of faith to pursue
his dream of traveling the world, all the while encouraging others to pursue their passions in life.
In doing so, Pirates of the Care Free Being (PCFB) was born, using imagery to encourage
others to follow their dreams. Since 2011, Tyler has been traveling perpetually and filming
everything along the way. PCFB: a personal revolution is the first full length documentary by the
self taught director and the first installment of the PCFB video series. Produced using $0, Watts
challenges the notion that following your dream requires financial security.
Plamen [V]
Biography, Drama, News
Thursday 9 April – 11:00am
USA/20 minutes
Dress Code, Director
In 2013 Plamen Goranov, a 37-year-old construction worker and artist from Varna, Bulgaria set
himself on fire as a form of political protest. PLAMEN (also meaning 'flame' in Bulgarian)
explores what led the young activist to his protest and ultimately to his death, thus setting a
disturbing trend of self-immolations in the EU's poorest country.
Crew: Writer - Andre Andreev; Cinematography - Andre Andreev
Cast: Petar “Modela” Djabilov, Elina Kandeva, Dimitar Subev, Dimitar Datchev, Spas Spasov
About the Director.... Dress Code is a commercial production company. Based in New York,
our tight-knit team of producers, designers, illustrators, animators, writers and editors is led by
directors Andre Andreev and Dan Covert. Andre Andreev was born and raised in Pernik,
Bulgaria and Dan Covert in Ohio, USA. After working at MTV they opened dress code in 2008.
Since then their work has been recognized by SXSW, The Webby Awards, Vimeo Staff Picks,
Short of the Week, AFI Docs, Seattle International Film Festival, ADC Young Guns.1
Playgrounds
Narrative Short
Friday 10 April – 11:00am
USA/8 minutes
Jill Somers, Director/Writer/Sound Editor
Parents can't teach you everything. This is what Charlie, a young boy from a good family, learns
from Ellie, the new girl at his summer camp. He struggles to win her affections, only to be
repeatedly shot down and shut out. Finally he gathers up the courage to go to her house and
learn the truth... a truth even his parents couldn't have prepared him for.
Crew: Cinematographer/DP - Samuel Goodwin; Editor - Jon Sams
Cast: Andy Wilcox, Baylie McClafferty, Matthew Slade, Mithra Alavi, Ryann Lee
Preserves
Documentary Short
Saturday 10 April – 3:00pm
USA/10 minutes
B. Rich, Director/Co-Producer/Writer/Cinemotagrapher/DP
A poetic journey into an Ecuadorian rainforest that contains some of the greatest biodiversity on
Earth, two uncontacted tribes living in voluntary isolation and 850 million barrels of oil that will
ultimately determine its future.
Crew: Producer – Anuradha Rana
About the Director... B. Rich is a writer, filmmaker, designer, scientist and teaching-artist. In
addition to six years teaching film and video courses at Columbia College Chicago, he has
taught film production, media literacy, animation, photography and technology to kids ages 8-18.
Purok 7
Narrative Feature
Friday 10 April – 11:00am
Philippines/93 minutes
Carlo Obispo, Director/Writer/Producer
Diana (Krystle Valentino) and her little brother (Miggs Cuaderno) go through life and childhood
in a country farm village particularly called Purok 7 (Zone 7), where their father is living with
another woman in the area while their mother is working abroad. Set against a backdrop of laidback living and copious optimism; characteristic of country life, Purok 7 is an endearing tale of
innocence and reality, and the wonderfully inescapable bonds of community.
Crew: Director of Photography - Marvin Reyes; Production Designer - Arthur Maningas
About the Director... Born and raised in Camiling, Tarlac, CARLO ‘ARC’ OBISPO went to Saint
Louis University to major in Philosophy, minor in Communication Arts. Purok 7 is his first full-
length feature photographed in his very own neighborhood in Camiling describing characters
and experiences which are mainly based on real life.
A Question of Innocence
Documentary Feature
Friday 10 April – 11:00am
Canada/45 minutes
Christian Bruyere, Director
Tommy Zeigler has been on Florida's death row for four murders that DNA and
other new evidence proves he did not commit. A Question of Innocence
investigates how the Florida justice system has repeated abused Tommy Zeigler's
Constitutional rights to prevent him from receiving a new trial that could prove his innocence.
Crew: Producer – Christian Bruyere; Writer – Mary Bissell; Narrator: Bruce Greenwood
Remembering Anne
Student Short
Thursday 9 April – 7:00pm
USA/3 minutes
Elizabeth Centeno, Director
While reading Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank comes aline in the mind of another 13 year old
girl. She ponders Anne's short life and her ability to forgive.
Crew: Producer – Sayra Loya
Cast: Maggie Barde, Sayra Loya
About the Director... Elizabeth Centeno is a student at Dunnellon Middle School
Return of the Horse
Documentary Feature
Saturday 11 April – 11:00am
USA/61 minutes
Sharon Eliasher and Leo Hubbard, Directors
This documentary has changed the history of the horse as we knew it. This is a film for people
who really want to learn about this history, Return Of The Horse is full of beautiful footage,
music and content. Return Of The Horse was a clear winner with the panel. The films story
content and its ability to raise questions that will now change what the world thinks about the
origin of the horse. It is presented in a way that opens long conversations that last for hours
after seeing the film.
Riding My Way Back
Documentary Short
Saturday 10 April – 11:00am
USA/28 minutes
Peter Rosenbaum and Robin Fryday, Directors
No one who see this film can walk away unaffected. The story of a returning veteran on the
brink of suicide with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
and the horse who helped him find his way back into the world. The love and the bond between
man and horse will leave you in tears. Telling a story so intense and moving is truly an art and
directors Peter Rosenbaum and Robin Fryday do it in such a way that you feel part of the story,
through the tears and the joy. This is why Riding My Way Back has been awarded
the Best Of Festival Award for the 2015 Equus Film Festival.
A Royal Hangover [L]
Documentary Feature
Thursday 9 April – 1:00pm
United Kingdom/101 minutes
Arthur Cauty, Director/Producer
A Royal Hangover is a feature length independent documentary on the UK's
ambivalent alcohol culture, featuring a stellar cast led by actor, comedian and recovering
alcohol addict Russell Brand.
Crew: Producer – Gabrielle Weller; Writer – Arthur Cauty;
Cast: David Nutt, Howard Saddler, Russell Brand, Sarah Jarvis
About the Director... Self-proclaimed ‘non-drinker’, pro wrestling enthusiast and casual rock
star, Arthur Cauty, was born in London and raised mostly in the Devonshire hills. Hard Knocks,
Cauty’s directorial debut, was a documentary on the sport of professional wrestling, and
featured stars from the WWE (formerly WWF) and TNA (iMPACT! Wrestling). A Royal Hangover
is Cauty’s feature debut.
Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O Hyde
Documentary Feature
Thursday 9 April – 5:00pm
USA/93 minutes
Suzanne Mitchell, Director
The moving tale of Dayton O. Hyde Cowboy poet, photographer, storyteller and horse lover.
Looking into the life of this dedicated horseman and creator of a horse sanctuary in South
Dakota. We can only be thankful that there are horse lovers out there, ones who care so deeply
for the horses that they save and filmmakers who capture the story for all to see. Winning the
Equestrian Film Award was Running Wild – The Life of Dayton O. Hyde. This film, left the
judging panel all feeling inspired to do what one person could to help save the wild horses.
Sea Odyssey
Drama, Adventure
Saturday 10 April – 1:00pm
USA/15 minutes
Adam Nelson, Director/Writer
A father embarks on an ambitious deep sea expedition to find solace in the shadow of his son's
looming death
Crew: Producers - Lauren Skillen, Timothy Cella, Adam Nelson, Carolyn MacLean, Henry
Drayton; Director of Photography - Tate McCurdy
Cast: Jan Harrelson, Matthew Rossitch, Ashlee Heath
About the Director... Adam Nelson is an Emmy nominated filmmaker whose works have
screened and been celebrated at some of the most renowned film festivals throughout the
United States and across the globe. As a storyteller, it is his lifelong goal to craft quality
narratives, which are meaningful and propel the human race forward. Nelson is currently
working with his creative team to develop two short narrative films, Schoolcraft and Gilad, which
will both enter production in 2015.
Song for Hawk
Music Video, Horse Fever
Friday 10 April – 7:00pm
USA/4 minutes
Suzanne Mitchell, Director
Steve Poltz, Artist
From the Documentary Running Wild: The Life of Dayton O. Hyde, artist Steve Poltz’s
Americana influence wrap around the lyrics to tell the story. You feel the open and airy space
that surrounds the horses, as their story unfolds within this country melody. Song For Hawk won
the Equestrian Music Video award for the ability to tell the story of Dayton and his horses in a
beautiful artistic song that has a way of staying in your head long after you listen to it.
Talking to the Air
Premiere!
Friday 10 April – 7:00pm
Nepal/USA/58 minutes
Jen Miller and Sophie Dia Pegrum, Directors
● Filmmakers in Attendance
Tarpan
Documentary Short
Friday 10 April – 7:00pm
Bulgaria/USA/27 minutes
Jen Miller and Sophie Dia Pegrum, Directors
Horsefly Films has given us a well woven story about the reintroduction of the Tarpan horse
back into the wild and the people who have worked so long and hard to bring these horses back
into the world. Tarpan by Horsefly Film directors Jen Miller and Sophia Dia Pergrum was the
winner in the Equestrian Short Documentary field. Helped by it’s interesting story line and the
director’s use of an amazing tale to win the award.
Unfreedom (PG 17) [L] [V] [A] [G] [N]
Narrative Feature
Friday 10 April – 3:00pm
English/Hindi/11 minutes
raj Amit Kumar, Director/Producer/Co-Writer
A Muslim fundamentalist in New York kidnaps a liberal Muslim scholar with intent to kill. A
closeted lesbian in New Delhi kidnaps her activist bisexual lover with intent to marry. The
resulting torture and violence evokes a brutal struggle of identities against un-freedom.
Crew: Writers - Raj Amit Kumar, Damon Taylor; Cinematographer/DP - Hari Nair
Cast: Adil Hussain, Alyy Khan, Ankur Vikal, Bhanu Uday, Bhavani Lee, Dilip Shankar
About the director...Raj Amit Kumar is the founder of Dark Frames Consortium. He graduated
with a Masters of Arts in Cinema and Media Studies from City University of New York (CUNY) in
2006 where he received the George Custen Memorial Award for Academic Excellence. He has
received the National Scholarship of India for Academic Excellence, and the First Prize in
Faculty Screenwriting Award at University of Film and Video Association (UFVA) 2009 (for the
script of Unfreedom).
Vinnie – No Dream Is Too Big
Equestrian Commercial
Friday 10 April 7:00pm & Saturday 11 April – 11:00am
Sweden/2 minutes
Felx Herngren, Director
One adorable miniature horse, who is “small as a piglet” and dreams of becoming a racing
horse, we watch him grow up and set off to follow his dreams. Vinnie is a fun to watch
commercial and the start of a brilliant ad campaign, launching a cute new superstar, Vinnie!
Vinnie – No Dream To Big has been awarded the Equestrian Commercial Award for the creative
use of horse/mini to engage its audience.
You Belong To Me
Documentary Feature
Thursday 9 April – 9:00pm
USA/88 minutes
John Cork, Director
Ruby McCollum was an African American woman who, in 1952, killed a prominent white doctor
in Live Oak, Florida. You Belong To Me tells the remarkable story of the secrets and terrible
truths revealed during her trial and incarceration. Her case haunted jurors and prosecutors for
decades. Ruby McCollum was the wealthiest black woman in Suwannee County, Florida. Her
husband, Sam, ran the local Bolita numbers racket. Was Ruby insane or was the killing of Dr.
Clifford Leroy Adams the last sane act of a woman whose wealth and status could not protect
her from the blind indifference and humiliations of the Jim Crow South? The ghost of Ruby
McCollum still roams the streets of Live Oak, Florida.
Crew: Producer – Hilary Salzman. Judith Hagin; Writer – John Cork
Cast: Anita Davenport, Denise Durette, Reggie Brooks, Daniel Link, John Sherman
About the Director... John Cork is a producer and director, known for You Belong to Me: Sex
Race and Murder in the South (2015), Inside 'Licence to Kill' (1999) and Inside 'Bandits' (2002).
He is married to Nicole Dillenberg.
Zizi And Honeyboy
Biography, Drama, Family
Friday 10 April – 7:00pm
USA/15 minutes
Brett Donowho, Director/Producer
World-renowned trend forecaster and best-selling author Gerald Celente is
suddenly blackballed and falls from grace. In addition to the demise of his career, his wife has
abandoned him and now the only person he can turn to is his Zizi, or 'Aunt' in Italian. Zizi is a
humble woman, a sage who embodies some of the best of what her fading generation has to
offer. Over an impressive home-cooked dinner, Gerald's mood and the small talk turns darker.
But Zizi's bright outlook will bring Gerald back, showing him the power of the human spirit and
ultimately, teaching him about himself.
Crew: Producers – Dominick Ciardiello, Liz Liberatone; Camera – Edd Lukas
Cast: Andrew Koss, Doris Roberts
About the Director... Brett Donowho found his footing in the entertainment industry as a
performer and managing executive, before finding his distinction as a feature film director and
producer. He has autonomously pursued various roles such as Actor, Artist Agent, Talent
Manager, and film Producer/Director/Executive Producer. During his time as an Agent and Chief
Operations Officer for The Kaplan-Stahler-Gumer Agency, a premier Industry literary agency in
Beverly Hills, Brett engaged in the day-to-day activity and placement of the companies A-List
writers, directors and actors. Brett is currently a strategic advisor to Meier Entertainment City,
Inc. in Vancouver, BC and Baltic Film Group in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Festival Screenings Admission Policy
Badge holders and Film Pass holders MUST be in line no later than 20 minutes prior
to the scheduled start time. Priority admission is given to all Badge holders. Film Pass
holders will be seated after all Badge holders have entered the theater. General
Admission tickets will go on sale 20 minutes prior to each screening. Once General
Admission tickets have gone on sale, Badge holders and Film Pass holders will no the
20 minutes mark must go to the back of the General Admission line. ALL theater seating
will be on a first come, first served basis. Neither Badge holders nor Film Pass holders
are guaranteed a seat, only admission up to capacity. NO ONE will be admitted into the
theater 15 minutes after start time. SSIFF Staff will adhere to this policy even in the
event of a delayed screening.
Special Interest Programs
The majority of the festival is programmed from general submissions. We also offer
a few "special interest film blocks" to create opportunities for certain films that target
issues and ideas specific to our community. By programming the “special interest”
blocks we can offer these filmmakers the best audience possible for their particular
genre.
Thursday 9 April
11:00am
Blind Spot
Trailer - 6 minutes
Horses of Fukushima
Documentary Feature - 74 minutes
The Nap
Commercial - 1 minute
En Lusitanie
Animated Art Film - 3 minutes
Animaglyphes
Short Art Film - 32 minutes
Saturday 11 April
3:00pm
Gokanosho
Documentary Short - 14 minutes
Preserves
Documentary Short - 10 minutes
Baja’s Secret Miracle
Documentary Short - 13 minutes
The Ends of the Earth
Documentary Short - 26 minutes
Kewekapawetan
Documentary Short - 29 minutes
Green Screen celebrates the rich natural treasures that make Ocala/Marion County a
vital and vibrant center for environmental concerns and eco-friendly tourism. These
films are dedicated to increasing public awareness by presenting issues and ideas that
impact our planet - literally, in an engaging and enlightening format. These films bear
witness to the power and artistry of the cinema's vital role in cultures and societies
around the globe and are dedicated to those who create this art form.
Thursday 9 April
5:00pm
Running Wild
Documentary Feature - 93 minutes
Friday 10 April
En Lusitanie
Animated Art Film - 3 minutes
Tarpan
Documentary Short - 27 minutes
Song for Hawk
Music Video - 4 minutes
Vinnie – No Dream Is Too Big
7:00pm
Commercial - 2 minutes
Talking To The Air: The Horses of the Last Forbidden Kingdom
Documentary Feature - 58 minutes
Saturday 11 April
11:00am
Blind Spot
Trailer - 6 minutes
A Century of Horses
Documentary Short - 14 minutes
En Lusitanie
Animated Art Film - 3 minutes
Return of the Horse
Documentary Feature - 61 minutes
Vinnie - No Dream is Too Big
Commercial - 2 minutes
Riding My Way Back
Documentary Short - 29 minutes
The SSIFF expands on Ocala's iconic Horse Fever* project, by presenting equinethemed films that present enlightening and inspiring images of horses and horse lovers.
Horse Fever celebrates the creativity and talent of Ocala's visual artists and the
cooperative spirit between her people and her legendary horse industry by bringing to
life a fancifully painted and embellished herd of life-sized horses that decorate and
adorn Ocala's landscape. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association
(FTBOA) is the generous lead sponsor of this record-breaking project.
* Horse Fever: A public art project of Marion Cultural Alliance, Ocala, FL. 2001-2014
Saturday 11 April
11:00am
Freestyle
Comedy Short - 7 minutes
Junk Girl
Animated Short - 17 minutes
Mia
Drama - 10 minutes
Dawn
Animated Short - 6 minutes
Doughnut Dance
Comedy - 4 minutes
Heyln Springs
Drama - 15 minutes
A Blind Man
Drama - 14 minutes
The Yearling
Classic Family Film - 128 minutes
1:00pm
There is nothing quite as magical as our first film-going experience. Saturday mornings
at Silver Springs International Film Festival are for kids - big and small. Cinemagic
highlights a diverse program devoted to widening your family's viewing experience
beyond animated tales, talking animals and adult inside jokes. Film-goers can view a
unique collection of cinematic works from around the globe, including feature-length
narrative, documentary, short, animated and student films.
Fresh Squeezed goodness, locally grown in the Sunshine State.
Thursday 9 April
9:00pm
Lean
Dramatic Short - 7 minutes
You Belong To Me
Documentary Feature - 88 minutes
Friday 10 April
11:00am
Nostalgic Dad
Dramatic Short - 8 minutes
Buried at Sea
Documentary Feature - 8 minutes
In His Own Home (Screens with Muneeze in the Middle)
Documentary Feature - 42 minutes
1:00pm
Unfreedom
Dramatic Feature - 101 minutes
3:00pm
Pirates of the Carefree Being: A Personal Revolution
Documentary Feature - 74 minutes
9:00pm
The Gift (Screens with Of Dice and Men)
Drama - 20 minutes
Saturday 11 April
4:00pm
The Ends of the Earth
Documentary Feature - 26 minutes
Silver Springs International Film Festival and the Ocala Film Foundation are proud to
feature films made in Florida and dedicated to supporting local filmmakers. We also
strive to highlight the best of the Sunshine State to encourage filmmakers from all over
the world to take advantage of the natural resources and exceptional hospitality that
Ocala, Marion County, Florida has to offer.
Get Closer to the Action
The Brick City Center for the Arts (The Brick) will serve as our Filmmaker Headquarters.
The Filmmaker Headquarters is open daily during the festival to all Festival
Credential/Pass and Ticket holders (on a space available basis).
The Brick
23 SW Broadway Street
Ocala, FL 34471
352.369.1500
Open the following hours for your comfort and convenience:
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
April 8
April 9
April 10
April 11
April 12
12:00pm to
10:30am to
10:30am to
10:30am to
12:30am to
9:00pm
9:00pm
9:00pm
6:30pm
5:30pm
Events at The Brick
The Brick is the festival’s crossroads and the destination for filmmakers with any
questions, concerns, or comments - our SSIFF ’15 staff and volunteers are here to help.
In addition to providing a place to meet, relax and network, the Brick will play host to
several events throughout the festival, as well as the Deep Dive Cinema Lounge and
our filmmaker interview studio.
0Last year, the Filmmaker’s Salon was home to a special tribute to our own Bruce
Mozert, the father of underwater photography and Ocala’s Emmy-award winning nature
cinematographer, Mark Emery. The walls of the Brick City Center for the Arts (The
Brick) – home to our Filmmaker’s Salon – were filled with evocative images from these
celebrated careers. Their images bear witness to a century of filmmaking excellence in
Ocala, Marion County, Florida.
This year we honor the work of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings with our opening night film,
Cross Creek. The film premiered at the 1983 Festival de Cannes and garnered four
Academy Award nominations including Best Supporting Actor - Rip Torn; Best
Supporting Actress - Alfre Woodard; Best Costume Design - Joe I. Tompkins; and Best
Music/Original Score - Leonard Rosenman. The film stars Mary Steenburgen as
Rawlings and is loosely based on her time at Cross Creek starting in 1928, just miles
north of Ocala, where the film was shot.
It was also during this time that Rawlings penned her enduring classic, The Yearling,
which would inspire numerous re-tellings including the 1946 film, of the same name,
starring Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman. Experience this timeless American classic on
the big screen as part of our Cinemagic series.
The Salon at the Brick is a place to relax and network with fellow filmmakers and
audience members alike. The Brick will be transformed to suggest Florida of the 1930s
with art and artifacts from local galleries, collectors and artists carefully curated to reflect
the world that inspired this amazing author. Among these items are precious objects
from the nearby Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Estate.
More Ways to Watch
The Deep Dive Cinema Lounge inside The Brick gives
ticket and pass holders a chance to see “Official
Selections” they might have missed during the festival.
Three flat panel displays and wireless stereo headsets
will provide a comfortable space for our filmmakers and
their fans to catch up on all the films in the festival.
Please note: Films will become available on the system
only after their official screening at the Marion Theatre. The “Deep Dive” is first come,
first served and on-going throughout the festival, during regular festival hours at The
Brick.
It’s your festival! Make the most of it...
We know film festivals are all about attending screenings, but there are plenty of other
activities you can do in and around downtown Ocala when you’re not watching films at
the Marion Theatre. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your SSIFF
experience!
Get a Dive-In VIP Pass – All Access, Totally Inclusive. The Dive-In VIP Pass is worth
the cost because it grants pass holder access to all screenings, the Filmmakers Salon,
Opening Night Reception and Screening, all private ticketed receptions, Award
Ceremony and Closing Festivities, seminars, meet and greets and preferred seating at
all screenings.
Attend as many sessions as possible –
There are three full days of screenings in
the both main and balcony theaters in the
Marion. Why shortchange yourself and
attend only one or two screenings? This is
an opportunity that does not present itself
often, so take advantage of it.
Ask questions/talk to our volunteers – Every time you see an individual in a
volunteer shirt stop and talk with them. They are knowledgeable about the SSIFF as
well as downtown Ocala. If they don’t know the answer to your question, they will find
somebody who does. Ocala is a friendly town full of friendly people, so take advantage
of our generosity.
Don’t be shy – Numerous attendees from last year’s inaugural SSIFF talk about how
they still interact with people they met in Ocala. They made some new great friends by
being willing to step up and talk to their fellow participants.
Stay at the historic Seven Sisters Inn
– This nationally recognized bed and
breakfast is in a restored Victorian
house located just to the east of
downtown Ocala. The inn is within easy
walking distance of downtown and all of
the events associated with the SSIFF.
Have a drink at a local watering hole
– Downtown Ocala has a wide variety of places to quench any thirst. A great example is
Infinite Ale Works, located just three blocks south of the Marion Theatre on Magnolia.
The company just began offering their own brewed in house ales.
Walk around the Downtown Historic District – This area developed as a residential
neighborhood between circa 1880 and
1930. The eastward growth from the
downtown area records a progression
of architectural styles. The character
and quality of the 172.5-acre residential
district remains intact with restorations
under the guidance of the Historic
Ocala Preservation Society.
Have fun – Thousands of people had a great time at last year’s inaugural SSIFF, and
you should plan on doing so at this year’s festival.
What does it mean...?
Feature film – A film (also called a movie or motion picture) with a running time long
enough to be considered the principal or sole film to fill a program or screening block.
Short film – Any film not long enough to be considered a feature film.
Narrative or fictional film – A film that tells a fictional or fictionalized story, event or
narrative. In this style of film, believable narratives and characters help convince the
audience that the unfolding fiction is real. Narratives may be feature length or short
format.
Documentary film – A nonfictional motion picture intended to document some aspect
of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record.
Documentaries may be feature length or short format.
Screening Block – A program featuring a film or program of films for screening.
Filmmaker Seminars
SSIFF Exclusive Festival Events
Save the Date! SSIFF ’16
April 6-10
Ocala Film Foundation
Board of Directors
Laurie Zink, Founding Executive Director – Ocala Film Foundation
Marcie Bailey, Community Volunteer
Jaye Baille, Director of Business Services - Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP)
Daryl Collier, Collier, Jernigan and Gohedert, PA
Ana Dunwoody, Community Volunteer
Mark Emery, Cameraman/Producer - National Geographic; Mark Emery Films
Gerald Ergle, Former Ocala Mayor; GKE, LLC Building Construction
Tom Ingram, Chief Executive Officer - Gateway Bank of Central Florida
Joshua LaSelva, Student Representative - Forest High School
Angie Lewis, Angie Lewis State Farm Insurance
Buddy Martin, Voice of Ocala - WOCA Radio 96.3FM
Paulette Millhorn, Community Volunteer
Stephen Spivey, Spivey Mediation Services
Dave Waller, Sales Associate - Irvin Homes; Producer and Artist Manager
Community Liaisons
Aaron Campo, Downtown Business Alliance
Melissa Townsend, City of Ocala Community Cultural Arts Manager
Thomas Pestow, General Manager - Stella's Modern Pantry
Silver Springs International Film Festival Staff
Greg Thompson, Founding Festival Director
David Midgett, Founding Partner
Angie McCormack, Festival Coordinator
Roland Sosa, Technical Director
Kim Wise, Administrative Assistant