2014 Media Film Festival

2014 Films in Detail

Adelante documenatry (51m, U S A)

Adelante Mexican newcomers are revitalizing a dying Irish-Catholic church in Norristown, PA. Now, the sounds of children giggling have returned to the church, and mariachis join bagpipers in celebrating community events. Following a priest and a young Mexican couple, we learn how this shift has brought new challenges and energy to this old parish located outside of Philadelphia.

• director/producer: Noam Osband

Asylum horror (4m, U S A)

A straightjacketed inmate in a dark asylum cell receives a sinister guest.

• director/producer/screenwriter: Stephen Kaiser-Pendergrast
• cinematographer: Joseph Mennella
• cast: Ari Myrtaj, Christopher Rustin

Break drama (14m, U S A)

Marcus, the best man of his soon to be married best friend, reveals a long-held secret to his best friend's bride-to-be during dinner.

• director: Julius Sambajon
• producer: Josie Lanuza
• screenwriter: Keith Powell
• cinematographer: Michael Figge
• cast: Marisa Persson, Jerry Ying, Alan Kaiser, Camile Francisco

Belly of the Wolf horror (20m, United Kingdom)

Belly of the Wolf is a dark and disturbing adaptation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Brought forward into the modern day it tells the story of a young boy, Daniel Parker, who finds himself wandering alone on an old abandoned army airbase. When Daniel stumbles across a blood stained jacket it triggers a chain of events that he could have never imagined and sends him on a journey into the darkest depths of human nature and beyond.

• director/producer/screenwriter: Mark Fisher
• cinematographer: Steven Hall
• cast: Jim Crick, Maia Elsey, Finn Morrell

Cover horror (15m, Canada)

A quiet night at the library turns deadly when a librarian accidentally unleashes demonic forces from a strange book. Ashley is in a relationship with Todd, an abusive masochist. Her personal demons become literal when she summons LEGION. Trapped in a library, Ashley must now team up with love-sick Scott to put what's been summoned behind its COVER.

• director/screenwriter/cinematographer: Aristides Guillen
• producer: Toddske Hillier
• music: Jerel Northern
• cast: Misty Oakes,Toddske Hillier, Brodie Dransutavicius, Richard Baldonado, Angela Johnson, Steve Reeve

Dealbreaker comedy (4m, U S A) Two people who really like each other are finally having a first date and everything is going perfectly, until they find out — she is a cat lady and he is a dog guy. Can they still make it work?

• director: Nic Stanich
• producer: Mike Truesdale
• screenwriters: Katierose Donohue, Mike Truesdale
• music: Greg Goddu
• cast: Katierose Donohue, Mike Truesdale, Annie Baria

Dust
drama (9m, Canada, U S A)

A young poet's final evening with his girlfriend sparks memories of an afternoon spent with his ailing grandfather.

• director/screenwriter: Shane Book
• producers: Shane Book, Chinonye Chukwu
• cinematographer: Ilya Simakov
• cast: Maurice Williams, Joy Notoma, Lary Moten, Chase Smith

Eternal Journey (Anantacha Pravas) documentary (13m, U S A)

This film is about the journey of the ancient River Ganga that emerges from the Himalayas. Millions of people gather on the banks of this river to purify their sins.

• directors/producers: Rupa Kanade, Neelesh Kanade
• screenwriter: Abhijit Thite
• music: Ronak Runwal
• cinematogrpahers: Jay Kumar, Siddharth Jatla

Faultless
drama (9m, U S A)

Josh is a teenager who is struggling to figure out what life's priorities contain. He is confused about his future and the next step in life.

• director/producer/screenwriter: Kenneth Kraft
• cast: Collin McCormick, Eric Kasitz, Anat Eshel, Daniel Schweitzer, Kimberly Villanova
• music: Chris Coyle
• cinematographers: Kenneth Kraft, Joseph Fusco

Frammenti
drama (9m, Italy)

In the changing rooms of a theater a particular group of actors are getting ready to get onstage. They are the Araba Fenice people, a charity association that helps people with drug problems, addictions problems or ex-cons to start a new life through art, theater, culture. Their memories come in succession until the curtain opens.

• directors: massimiliano guelfi, Andrea David Farnocchia
• cinematographer: Franco Robust
• cast: Emilio Montuori, Alessio Di cosimo, Massimiliano Taglialatela, Paqui Moschini, Alessia D'Amata, Fatos Roschlani

Humanexus animation (13m, U S A)

The human race has long searched for meaningful interpersonal connections. Tools and technologies have made it easier to reach out and share ideas, but each presents a new, unforeseen challenge. We must always ask: 'Is this what we want? What do we want?'

• directors: Ying-Fang Shen, Katy Borner
• producer: Katy Borner
• music: Norbert Herber

The Keeper drama (15m, U S A)

Chuck Dooley escaped from Solesbury Prison in 1978 — the only inmate ever to escape. Now, 35 years later, the prison is a museum. And the night watchman discovers Chuck hiding in the ruins.

• director: Kevin Corcoran
• producers: Jeanne Benzel, Kevin Corcoran
• screenwriter: David Updike
• music/sound: James Haigney
• cast: Richard Bergh, J. Center

Kismet Diner drama (9m, United Kingdom)

The film tells the story of a shy young diner waitress who entertains her patrons with her beautiful singing voice. One handsome patron appears oblivious to her music, much to her consternation. It is a light bulb moment and realisation that allows her to sing her way into his heart.

• director: Mark Nunneley
• producer: Alex Heathcote
• cinematographer: Daniel Landin
• cast: Ilinca Rose ,Matt Kyle, Jean Paul Dal Monte, Ian Chaplian, Alim Jayda

Life Changing Moments documentary (18m, U S A)

LifeChangingMoments Life Changing Moments follows director and surgeon Dr. Sherry Thomas as she travels to Africa to provide free surgery and medical care to dozens of impoverished African women suffering with fistula. This inspiring documentary also contrasts the experience of providing health care in Africa with her medical practice in the USA.

• director/producer: Sherry Thomas
• music: Halima Namakula, Mary White
• cinematographer: Sandra Mohr

A Man Full of Trouble dark comedy (15m, USA)

A Man Full of Trouble is a dark comedy about Nick Crane, a suicidal Alexander Hamilton re-enactor fighting to keep Hamilton’s voice relevant in Philadelphia, a city dominated by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.

• director/screenwriter: Michael Johnston
• producer: David Leith Fraser
• cast: Corinna Burns, Keith Conallen

Monsura is Waiting comedy-drama (15m, U S A)

Inspired by Japan's classic Toho 'MOTHRA' films, MONSURA IS WAITING is a comedy of redemption and sequins, telling the story of two aging show-girls, one giant moth and a very long night in Bridgeport, CT. Everybody needs a savior.

• director: Kevin Newbury
• screenwriter: David Johnston
• cinematographer: Simon Pauly
• music: Todd Almond
• cast: Nell Gwynn, Amy Staats, Yury Tzykun, David Johnston, Matthew Principe

Nuclear Candies animation (2m, Canada)

A quote of Jacques Cousteau is turned into an ironic false publicity that encourages humanity to destroy itself with nuclear research.

• director/producer/screenwriter: Gérard Goulet

On Becoming a Man comedy (15m, U S A)

Jacob, an awkward young Jewish boy, has a crush on his gentile neighbor and best friend, Sally. When his mishugina (crazy) mother won't allow Sally come to his Bar Mitzvah, Jacob must choose: bow down to his mother, or step up to the plate and finally be a man?

• director/screenwriter: Kevin Resnick
• producers: Kevin Resnick, Rebecca Norris
• cinematographer: Luke Snailham
• music: Scott Radway
• cast: Andy Pessoa, Jennifer Jolliff, Lisa Sundstedt, Kevin Resnick, Harvey Alperin

Out of the Shadows documentary (24m, U S A)

Out of the Shadows tells the story of Fernanda Marroquin, a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant living in Philadelphia who is 'undocumented, unafraid, and unapologetic.' Fernanda is one of a growing group of youth who call themselves the DreamActivists--brought here as children they played no role in their own illegal immigration, yet find themselves reaching adulthood unable to work, receive financial aid for college, or even get a driver's license. The DreamActivists take to the streets, risking arrest and deportation to take a stand against the system that they feel has betrayed them. We join Fernanda as she comes out of the shadows and fights for her rights and a future in the country she has called home for over ten years.

• director: Juliana Brown
• screenwriters: Juliana Brown, Weddy Worjroh, Amy Diebolt, Janay Bates, Crystal Lane, Marlon Calbi
• cinematographer: Amy Diebolt
• music: Nick Monzo

Private War drama (13m, U S A)

Based on true stories, PRIVATE WAR exposes the unique perspective of a female Marine deployed in Afghanistan, and the relationships, triumphs and tragedies that arise from her service.

• director: Richard Gasparian
• producer: Stacy Eckstein
• cinematographer: Akis Konstantakopoulos
• cast: Glenna Gasparian, Jessica Jade Andres, David Nathie Barnes, Sydelle Noel, Holly Kaplan, Dominique Swain, Ser'Darius Blain, Aaron Stall, Matt Riedy, Asharina Benjamin, Ines Inouli, Sofia Serna, Apama Doris

Promise drama (4m, Canada)

Lizzie is a young widow. Despite the death of her husband Coleman nearly five years before, she has never come to terms with the tragedy that took him away. Longing to be reunited with her husband, she visits his grave for one last goodbye when a phone call changes her life.

• directors/producers: Collin Chan, Johnny Chocolate
• screenwriter: Johnny Chocolate
• music: Jonathan Filipovic
• cast: Elizabeth Stuart-Morris

Provision Shop documentary (9m, Singapore)

The owners from a 53 year old provision shop talk about their life in a declining trade.

• director/screenwriter: Jeremy Pang
• producer: Shirleen Kah
• cinematographer: Larry Hoe

Reactor documentary (34m, Canada)

Yogi, Buddhist teacher and activist Michael Stone arrives on a pilgrimage to Japan, in the wake of the tsunami and Fukushima meltdown. REACTOR is a short film project that aims to uncover how and why we can let go of our old stories, and move towards personal and social awakening.

• director/producer: Ian MacKenzie

Real Change documentary (9m, U S A)

REAL CHANGE follows four homeless individuals who sell Real Change News, a street newspaper in Seattle. As they navigate what many would believe to be the American nightmare, each subject considers what homelessness in America means today.

• director/cinematographer: Adam Becker
• producer: Alex Becker
• cast: Buddy McArdle, Daniel Anderson, George Sidwell, Robert Bennett

Recovery drama (14m, U S A)

A retired boxer with a troubled past considers whether to take on training a young, up-and-coming MMA fighter.

• director/producer: Robert Waters
• screenwriter: James Keegan
• cast: James Keegan, Thomas Keegan

Rockefeller science fiction (10m, U S A)

A mysterious, bespectacled man wanders the city with a satchel and toy robot, collecting items that on the surface have no seeming connection - but when put together their purpose may have very real consequences.

• director/screenwriter: John P Gelety
• producer: Mark Kochanowicz
• cinematographer: Mitch Martinez
• cast: Shawn Kilroy , Anthony Mecca, Art Brookout, Carrie Leigh Snodgrass, Christopher Bruce, Jared Goldstein, Josh T. Landow, Kevin Weber, Lauren-Alice Lamannam, Paul Monte, Troy Shaeffer

Sheltered Love comedy (10m, U S A)

In blissful 1950s suburbia, a lovestruck bobbysoxer and her no-good-nik boyfriend seek refuge from her overprotective and hot-headed father.

• director/screenwriter: Alex Italics
• cinematographer: Brody Anderson
• cast: Mike Reasor, Brendan Guy Murphy, Erica Renee Smith, Carl Johnson, Molly Johnson, Max Cannon

S M W horror (5m, U S A)

S M W (An Urban Legend) is a short piece about two urban legends: The Babysitter who receives threatening calls from a killer who turns out to be lurking within the same house, and the infamous 'Slit-Mouthed Woman' of Japanese lore.

• director: Greg Caiafa
• cinematographer: Roi Fernandez
• cast: Maggie McGuire,Juliet Fitzgerald

A Stray horror (37m, U S A)

Vicious compulsions consume a domesticated, single father when his home and child fall victim to the aggression of an elusive, wild animal. "A Stray" is a dramatic character study centered on the destabilizing properties of anger and the role that violence plays when self-control disappears. Bordering on the surreal, this story - a blend of horror and drama - compares a rigid, domesticated lifestyle to brutal animalistic behavior. Focusing a macro lens on these two diametrically opposite behaviors finds they may coexist within a person and struggle for dominance.

• director/screenwriter: Hayden Blades
• cinematographer: David Matteson
• music: Olivier Zahm, Damian James, John Krause, Hayden Blades
• cast: Joe Flowers, Myrsadyse PangBurn, Mina Mirkhah ,Ronald R. Bush, Laura Durant, George Greader, Maxwell Fuentes, Johnny Black, Bob Quigley, Deb Coloma, Pat Kaye, Jarryd Chick, Kathy Daniels, Marla O'Connell, Anne Gentry, Greg Bronson, Angelina Mann, Caroline Mann, Dakota Raffaele, Devlin Sydow, Hope Cox, Melody Cox, Jaida Nolte, Jason Jones, Jesiah Sydow, Layla Raffaele, Mary Joy Bell, McKenzie Burke, Parker Joseph Castaldo, Sean Laguna, Chase Poteet, Rahshad 'Peaches' Gentle-Hyde, Tom Berbner

Together comedy (5m, U S A)

A couple reflects on the highs and lows of their relationship.

• director: Jason Taylor
• producer: Dave Dadich
• screenwriters: Dave Dadich, John Dancy, Josh Phillips, Hank Nguyen, Jason Taylor
• music: Foster Longo
• cast: Hank Nguyen, Pat Hickman

Treasure - The Story of Marcus Hook documentary (20m, U S A)

For decades the oil business was Marcus Hook's bread and butter. But in December 2011 when the Sunoco refinery shut down, the town was left on the brink of an unprecedented crisis. Renovating his house. ex-refinery worker Michael Manerchia found the remains of the plankhouse of Blackbeard's mistress. This unexpected discovery gave Manerchia the inspiration to create a pirate festival and in this way bring business back to the town. 'Treasure' chronicles the efforts of a community determined to survive the decline of heavy industry. The town's future is being written as we speak, but one thing is certain: if Marcus Hook wasn't born with the refinery, it doesn't have to die with it either.

• director: Valerio Ciriaci
• producers: Valerio Ciriaci, Isaak Liptzin
• cinematographer: Isaak Liptzin
• music: Rachel Wardell
• cast: Michael Manerchia

Unplugged
animation (6m, U S A)

Unplugged is about a boy who dares to break free from the confines of his technological dependencies and risks it all to discover something better, something 'real'. It is a story about getting rewarded beyond your wildest imagination if you take a chance, take a risk, and step out of your daily grind. If you do that, if you listen to your calling, you will discover something truly amazing.

• director: James Zachary
• producer: Brent Jentzsch
• screenwriter: Leigh Shaw
• cinematographer: Michele Baggio