2017 Media Film Festival

2017 Film Details

Alternative Math (9:00, USA) Comedy

A well-meaning math teacher finds herself trumped by a post-fact America.

• Director/Writer: David Maddox
• Co-Writer: Malcolm Morrison
• Producer: Liz Cardenas Franke
• Cast: Allyn Carrell, Cole Whitaker, Mykle McCoslin, Bryan Massey, Paul Taylor, Sean McGraw

 

The Astronomer (7:33, USA) Narrative

In 1916, a young woman sneaks out of her astronomy class to explore the night sky with a band of mystical gypsies. She comes to discover that she learns more about the universe outside in the world than she ever could inside the classroom.

• Director: Kelly Murray

 

The Audition (16:06, USA) Comedy/Drama

Three actresses are vying for the role of the century. As we follow their worlds we begin to see how much we must invest in order to lay ourselves bare and how little is truly in our control.

• Director/Writer: Tatyana Yassukovich
• Producer: Tara Culp
• Music: Jay Purdy
• Cast: Francesca Faridany, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Juliana Francis Kelley, Eduardo Machado, Brian Osborne

 

The Blow Job (0:15, UK) Comedy

Gary is an intern at a building detonation company. It’s his first day on the job.

• Director: Lewis Reynolds
• Writers/Producers: Ryan Wichert, Kathrin Benoehr
• Cast: Ryan Wichert

 

Bombing (13:19, Canada) Drama/Comedy

Sophie is an unmotivated comedian. When her estranged young daughter is unexpectedly thrust back into her life, Sophie’s plans have to be reshuffled. While they both struggle to adjust to the new environment, Sophie must come to terms with the fact that she’s in over her head.

• Director/Writer: Gloria Mercer
• Producers: Gloria Mercer/Simon Fraser University
• Music: Avid Walker, Julian Bueckhert
• Cast: Lauren McGibbon, Penelope Good, Annabel Maclean, Sarah Faye Bernstein, Michael Bean, Derek Trowell, Daniel Jeffery, Tyson Storozinski

 

Chasseur (15:20, USA) Drama

Sometime in the first half of the twentieth century, somewhere on the back roads of the Louisiana Bayou, the half-mad Louis Chasseur, hunts the devil. Setting an ambush at the crossroads, he kills the musician Jedediah Graham before the man can sell his soul. Chasseur then lies in wait for the Devil. Instead, the blood-soaked Chasseur encounters the Devil’s lawyer, weaselly Mycroft Coney. What follows is a biblical battle of wills between the brutal, conscienceless Chasseur and the fast-talking Mycroft. Mycroft fights for his life as Chasseur pumps him for information on the Devil. Eventually, Chasseur gets what he wants… and more.

• Director/Writer: Christopher Soren Kelly
• Producer: Jessica Graham
• Cast: Christopher Soren Kelly, Joshua Bitton

 

Deloras (2:15, USA) Drama/Comedy

A ballerina reflects on how she ended up as a can-can dancer.

• Director/Producer: Calvin Walker
• Writer: Loren Kinsella
• Cast: Loren Kinsella

 

The Discovery of Alan Hindley (6:14, USA) Sci-Fi/Dark Comedy

A ham radio enthusiast discovers a mysterious object that might be a window into another world.

• Director/Writer: Andy Fortenbacher
• Producers: Zac Page, Cassidy Bisher, Lisa Mueller
• Cast: Ralph Lister, Jamie Newell

A Funny Man (13:15, USA) Comedy/Drama

A man finds himself in the unlikeliest of conversations with an overeager life insurance telemarketer after being placed on hold by the suicide hotline.

• Directors: Benjamin T. Wilson, Peter J.S. Regan
• Producers: Benjamin T. Wilson, Connor McNelis
• Writers: Benjamin T. Wilson, Connor McNelis, Peter J.S. Regan
• DP: Garrett J. Langer
• Cast: Richard Cavallucci, Jess Paul

 

Gift Horses (22:00, USA) Documentary

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of of man.” –Winston Churchill

Horses don’t judge by appearance. They look past peoples’ disabilities and recognize the emotions inside. Horseback riding provides physical therapy. Walking with the horse and touching the horse provide emotional therapy.

• Director/Writer/Producer: David Block

 

Happy Birthday, Kevin (1:11, USA) Comedy

At 15, Kevin risks it all for a shot at greatness.

• Director/Writer: John Psathas
• Producers: John Psathas, Chris Oliva, Caitlin Morris
• Cast: Matt Welsh, James Guyton, Celia Peterson

 

Happy Earth Co. (12:00, South Africa) Narrative

Happy Earth Co. is a story about entrapment in a so-called “free world.” Based in the not-so-distant-future; 2050 to be precise. A man named John, lives in the heart of a smog filled, polluted megacity of depressed citizens. John works in the drab, dull Sales department of Happy Earth Co. The Company releases their new product, the “Ecstatic 1000,” a device that guarantees happiness to anyone who uses it. It’s an instant success. However, little known to John, his co-workers and the rest of the deranged city, Happy Earth Co’s real intentions aren’t as sincere as everyone thinks.

• Director/Writer: Hylton Jandrell
• Producer: AFDA
• Cast: Eric Nikolaus Kwasnjuk, Chanel Katz, Nic Eedes, Estian Van Rensburg, Jessica Ledger

 

Karl Manhair, Postal Inspector (22:00, USA) Comedy

A dark comedy about a down-and-out Postal Inspector struggling with his increasing irrelevance in the world. After taking to heart the advice of his new-age life coach, Karl finds himself embroiled in the most bizarre case of his career, but one that just might lead to renewed purpose in life.

• Director/Writer: Chandler Kauffman
• Producers: Chandler Kauffman, Hillary Cutter, Yori Tondrowski, Bob Aumer
• Cast: Geoffrey Cantor, Amy Rutberg

 

Killed in Action (12:39, USA) Drama

A WWII widow is visited by a troubled veteran who served with her husband. He shares a dark secret he’s been keeping from the war… but can she come to accept it?

• Director/Writer: Christine Weatherup
• Producers: Beatriz Chahin, Matt Enlow
• DP: Robert Lam
• Cast: Christine WeatherupKey, Micah Hauptman

 

The Life of Marie (24:06, Germany) Period Drama

The life of the maid Marie is dedicated to the countess. When a middle-class lover left her mistress, Marie tries to redeem her mistress’s honor during a salon concert. But the countess is not interested in the dignity of her maid.

• Director/Writer: Rolf Kasteleiner
• Producers: Rolf Kasteleiner, Stella Schüssler, Monika Tomczyk
• Cast: Beate Biermann, Sven Brieger, Silvina Buchbauer, Merlin Leonhardt, Jacqueline Sophie Pawliczek

 

Limbo (34:42, USA & Italy) Documentary

Limbo explores the lives of West African migrants who survived the perilous journey from their homes to Italy, and there face a legal system unprepared to accommodate their needs. “Some Italians acknowledge their privilege by calling for a new conception of migration — one that better recognizes both the migrants’ human rights and the history of the West.”

• Directors: Olivia Bickel, Cynthia Horvilleur
• Writer: Adam Vincent
• Producers: Ana Thompson, Kyle Bowles, Jonathan Mantovani, Olivia Wilson
• Music: Patrick Lamborn

 

Mayfield (19:30, USA) Drama

James Mayfield has spent the last decade performing a one man show from his youth in an attempt to trigger memories that are very important to him. However things take a turn when he is pushed into closing his show with a little help from some lost memories. Mayfield has to find the limit of how many times he can relive a moment before his memory changes.

• Director/Writer: Zach Daulton
• Producers: Zach Daulton, John Adrian Riley
• DP: Micah Simms
• Original Score: Roland Bingaman
• Cast: John Adrian Riley, Josh Hasty, Stephanie Daulton

 

Mints (4:21, Media Youth Film Initiative) Comedy

A comedy about an annual dentist checkup and what exactly goes on in waiting rooms.

• Director/Writer: Christian Dath
• Producers: Talia Steinmetz, Harrison Kracht, Cíara Kain and Michael Courter
• Cinematographer: Jimmy Ziegler
• Editor: Catie Nelson

 

Need Change (17:08, USA) Comedy

There’s nothing like delivering pizzas to make you reevaluate the choices you’ve made in your life. Follow John as we explore a day in the life of a pizza delivery driver.

• Director: Rob Waters

 

Not Yet (9:13, USA) Comedy/Fantasy

A husband takes his sick wife to a park to cheer her up.

• Director/Writer: Chad Hamilton
• Producers: Chad Hamilton, Jonathan Shavelson, Kate McMeans
• DP: Drew Saracco
• Music: Christopher Sisco
• Cast: Falon Joslyn, Jonathan Noto, Allia Abouelenein, Mike Yak, Steven Zettler, Kate McMeans, Frank Battaglia, Marilyn Miller, Rachel Sydney

 

Phantom (9:43, USA) Experimental

Phantom is a student experimental film that addresses the lack of the ability to feel in today’s society. We follow a boy who is going through his day emotionless and no one knows what has caused this until the end where he is reunited with his dead mother and finally allows emotion to set in.

• Director: Dylan Pollak

 

Rekindled (14:00, USA) Comedy

After a string of failed relationships, successful career woman Kate (35) gets the chance to rekindle romance with the love of her life — her high school boyfriend by means of a magical groupon. But when she shows up to their date, he is still 16 and Kate realizes that she over romanticized her past relationship with him.

• Director: Erin Brown
• Producer: Jane Hollon
• Writer: Kelly Vrooman
• Cast: Kelly Vrooman, Dylan Riley Snyder, Aaron Schwartz, Asher Grodman

 

Remote Controlled (6:15, Media Youth Film Initiative) Drama

He just wants to watch the game and see who wins. If only his TV would listen to him!

• Director: Jimmy Ziegler
• Producers: Catie Nelson, Evan Markley and Talia Steinmetz
• Writers: Jimmy Ziegler and Harrison Kracht
• Cinematographer: Harrison Kracht
• Editors: Cíara Kain, Christian Dath and Michael Courter

 

Selkie (7:36, USA) Comedy

A wayward selkie (a seal that can turn itself into a human) has followed a school of herring up the Delaware river when her seal skin is captured by a man from the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia.

• Director/Writer: Amy Frear
• DP: Shawn Annable
• Music: Patrick Mangan, Matthew Kay
• Cast: Katie Stahl, Jordan Mottram, Gerardo Salazar Borja

 

[Solitary] (16:39, USA) Drama

Locked away in an American prison’s solitary confinement unit, an inmate fights to stay human while forced to endure the compounding psychological effects of long-term isolation.

• Writer/Director: Derek J. Pastuszek
• Producers: Halee Bernard, Fabrizio Muscia, Cedric Gamelin
• Cast: Kofi Bambo

 

Somna (5:54, USA) Drama

Emily comes home late and hears her husband Anthony playing the piano, but realizes that he’s sleepwalking. Anthony has found Emily’s lover’s watch and wears it as he plays a sad song. When Anthony’s actions become increasingly unpredictable, Emily is unsure whether or not she will be able to take the watch. In the morning, Emily hopes to figure out what her husband knows and keep her secret hidden.

• Director: Jordan Anstatt
• DP: Alex DuBois

 

Stay Here (10:00, USA) Drama

A woman and her wife check in for a secluded romantic getaway only to be haunted by the one who pulled them apart.

• Director: Lauren Schacher
• Producer: Jess Nurse, Lauren Schacher, Jewel Greenberg, Melanie Recker
• Writer: Jess Nurse
• Cast: Jess Nurse, Melanie Recker, Davie-Blue Bacich

 

Two Dollar Bill (13:00, USA) Drama

Teenage roommates Greta and Harper’s lives are thrown into turmoil when Frankie visits on Halloween.

• Director/Writer: Hannah Marks
• Producers: Hannah Marks, Christina Scherer, Shepherd Ahlers
• Cinematographer: Dannel Escallón
• Music: Xander Singh
• Cast: Hannah Marks, Christina Scherer, Liana Liberato

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Unleavened Bread (Caramel mou) (8:30, France) Comedy

Vanessa is in love with Rémi. Rémi is in love with Vanessa. Only one damper: his bread won’t rise…

• Director: Wilfried Méance
• Producers: Stephen Meance. Wilfried Meance
• Writers: Loic Gaillard et Wilfried Méance
• DP: Stephen Méance
• Music: Alexis Rault
• Cast: Pablo Pauly, Edith Le Merdy, Brigitte Lo Cicero,Luc-Antoine Diquéro et Laure Hennequart.

 

The Usual Silence (4:59, USA) Drama

An everyday Joe with his everyday problems happens upon a man experiencing true grief. Whether he can help or not, he won’t walk away unchanged.

• Director: Samuel Z. P. Thomas
• Producer: Louis Hunter
• Writers: Samuel Z. P. Thomas, Louis Hunter
• Cast: Christopher Cassarino. Chad Halbrook, Elizabeth Kirkland, Anil Sankaramanchi

 

Virgin Territory (14:50, USA) Comedy/Drama

Virgin Territory is sex-positive, queer, and questioning coming-of-age story about a teenage girl who decides to have sex for the first time and commences her journey of sexual exploration.

• Director/Writer: Emily Robinson
• Producer: Debbie von Ahrens
• Cast: Emily Robinson, Mel Shimkovitz, Michelle Clunie

 

Whiskey Sour (5:52, USA) Narrative

A career hitman is cosmically outmatched by his next mark.

• Director/Writer: Eli Stern
• Producers: Tony Spiridakis, Shannon Goldman, Ariel Eliaz
• DP: Thomas Taugher
• Cast: Ariel Eliaz, Donnie Lyons

 

Wifey Redux (22:40, Ireland) Comedy

All is well in the Prendergast household. Or, at least, that is what Jonathan Prendergast would have you believe. But his relationships with his wife and teenage daughter, and his own sanity, are put to the test when he becomes maniacally obsessed with driving off his daughter’s handsome new boyfriend.

• Director: Robert McKeon
• Writers: Kevin Barry, Robert McKeon
• Cast: Aidan McArdle, Angeline Ball, Lauryn Canny

 

You Look Beautiful (5:01, Media Youth Film Initiative) Drama

A high school girl has a story to tell, but no one will listen to her. She must have been asking for his attention. Right?

• Director: Julia Smith
• Producers: Abigail Meeker and Michaela Cooley
• Writers: Julia Smith, Talia Steinmetz
• Cinematographer: Jimmy Ziegler
• Editors: Jimmy Ziegler, Michael Courter, Christian Dath, Talia Steinmetz, Harrison Kracht

Horror Fest

An Ambitious Man (17:06, USA) Horror

Driven by ambition, the man has finally arrived and will not be deterred until his ultimate plan is realized.

• Director/Writer: Frank Juchniewicz (Frank Horror)
• Producers: Frank Juchniewicz, Sean McKnight, Thomas Smith
• Music: Brian Phillips, Gash
• Cast: Abby Foster, Mike Sutton, Keith Moyer, Dax Richardson

 

Brainsick, The Hammer Killer (7:54, USA) Horror

A violent mental patient escapes the hospital by dressing as a maintenance worker. His only weapon? A hammer.

• Director: Brock Grossl
• Producers: Brock Grossl, Devin Hummel
• Writer: Devin Hummel
• Cast: Ryan Zimmer, Mimi Peyregne, Nick Sanchez

 

He’s Mine (2:25, USA) Horror

Young Sam tells his mom there’s a monster in his closet. She tell’s him monsters don’t exist. What if she’s wrong…?

• Director/Writer/Producer: Brian Cooksey
• Cast: Camille Marolf, Sam Giaimo

 

(Little) Red Riding Hood (4:54, France ) Horror

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, the most beautiful little girl one could ever see, who lived in a town near the forest and everyone called her Little Red Riding Hood. As she was going to visit her grandmother who was hill, dawdling along in the woods… What happened next? Nothing you’ve ever heard before…

• Directors/Producers: Stephane Guenin, Daniel Jenny
• Writer: Stephane Guenin
• Cast: Lena Marteens, Yannick Derrien, Ambre Vanecloo

 

Only for the Good (9:30, USA) Horror/Drama

The line between love and hate has become blurred as John deals with the death of his wife. He and his lone friend, Azrael, have traveled down a dark road of vengeance from which there may be no return.

• Directors: Kevin Lee, Drew Matyas
• Producers: Drew Matyas, Eric Curran, Rob Coble, Rob O’Sullivan
• Writers: Drew Matyas, Eric Curran
• DP: Drew Matyas
• Cast: Brian Gallagher, Jerry Perna, Kenneth McGregor, Victoria Gates, Elizabeth Spina

 

Postpartum (24:00, USA) Horror

Since the first day her child was born Alice Westcott has been given instructions by the devil to kill her children. She is ultimately sent to a state facility to evaluate her mental health as she is to blame for their death. Alice sees her dead children in her dreams and reality, and can no longer differentiate between the two. The staff learns that Alice has been concealing a secret, her five month pregnancy. When they threaten to take the baby away from her, Alice vows to protect her unborn from those who wish to bring her baby harm.

• Director/Writer: Richard Bakewell
• Producers: Richard Bakewell, Daniel McCoy
• Composer: Karin Okada
• Cast: Danielle Harris, Jenny Curtis, Nicole Sterling, Courtney Bell, Katie Beresford

 

Save (3:54, Germany) Horror

Dawn. A baby breaks the silence.

• Director/Producer/Writer: Iván Sáinz-Pardo
• Music: Philipp Fabian Kölmel
• Cast: Josephine Ehlert, Roland Von Kummant, Mia Von Kummant

 

Studded Nightmare (Cauchemar capitonné) (9:20, Canada) Horror

When J.-F. is inexplicably drawn to the chair in which a man committed suicide, style isn’t the only thing the leather antique brings to his home. Suddenly overcome by fantasies both nightmarish and erotic, he gets rid of the chair immediately, only to have it claimed by his friend Aly, who soon finds herself spellbound by shocking visions of her own violent death. As the horror escalates, it’s up to J.-F. to save his friend before she is driven to a very gruesome fate.

• Director/Writer: Jean-Claude Leblanc
• Producers: Jean-Claude Leblanc, Jason-Ross Jallet, Christian Racine
• Cast: Sébastien Huberdeau, Maude St-Pierre