2018 Media Film Festival

2018 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

 

An Actor Prepares (4:18, USA) Horror

Two acting classmates rehearse a scene, and one of them takes it too far.

• Director/Producer/Writer: Carey Kight
• Co-Producer: Nikhil Shukla and Andrea Buccilla
• Cast: Mallory Corinne, Ben Isaacs, Terria Joseph

 

Attack of the Handface People (5:24, USA) Horror

Bob and Laura are visiting their father’s grave when a group of strange people holding their hands over the faces attack them, for no reason. Laura’s car will not start, who will survive? Can they escape? Who are these strange people? Will any of them manage to escape?

Director/Producer/Writer: Todd Redenius Co-Director: Jason Brooks

 

Baller Dreamz (8:02, USA) Youth Filmmaker, Comedy

NBA hopefuls Shadow and Snake share their dreams and defend their home court against their toughest opponents yet.

• Director/Writer: Dylan Roche, Casper Hoffmann
• Cast: Dylan Roche, Casper Hoffmann

 

Birds of a Feather (19:00, USA) Documentary

A documentary about the many challenges students in Camden, NJ face—particularly how suspension rates and criminal arrests are disproportionately high for students of color.

• Director/Producer: Vegard Sorby
• Writer: Brendan Lowe
• Cast: Rashan Prailow, Antoine Brinson, Nailah A. Wallace

 

The Cage (14:53, USA) Drama

An honest picture of redemption in the face of love.

• Director/Writer: Ricky Staub
• Executive Producer: Dan Walser
• Producer: Jon Applebaum and David Raynor
• Director of Photography: Minka Farthing-Kohl
• Original Score: Kevin Matley
• Cast: William Lee, Iesha Edwards, Michael “OG LAW” Tabon

 

Dakota (16:03, USA) Drama

A young boy from rural Ohio must acknowledge his younger cousin’s recent female-to-male transition.

• Director/Writer: Brian MacNeel
• Producer: Patrick Local
• Cast: Zach Haddox, Riggs Schrader

 

Dehorning a Rhino in the Wild (4:57, South Africa) Documentary

This documentary focuses on raising awareness on the poaching of rhinos that are quickly becoming wiped out.

• Director: James Suter

 

Der Dunkle Reigen (29:38, Austria) Drama

In the turmoil after the First World War, young Agnes and her mentor Jadwiga reach an isolated, Austrian village. A fight for respect, morals, and social norms.

• Director: Dominik Bücheler
• Producers: Dominik Bücheler, Silvia Winzinger
• Writers: Jonas Wenzl, Oliver Bernauer, André Leubner
• Cast: Anne Gleich, Isabella Jeschke, Wolfgang Hundegger, Elisabeth Rass, Martin Ploderer, Hannah Jaitner, Alexander Heindl
• Camera: Andreas Eymannsberger

Devil Town (15:00, United Kingdom) Horror

Patrick Creedle is one of London’s more obnoxious letting agents and a man who’s used to getting exactly what he wants – but on this particular day Patrick’s world is about to crumble as he crosses paths with a most unusual nemesis – a man that may just save him from the end of the world.

• Director/Producer/Writer: Nick Barrett
• Cast: Johnny Vivash, Matthew Hebden, Elina Alminas

 

The Goatman of Kananaskis (8:20, Canada) Horror

A group of campers share scary stories about the legendary Goatman of Kananaskis.

• Director/Producer/Writer: Tristin Deveau
• Co-producer: Maria Colonescu

 

Happily Ever After (12:00, USA) Comedy

Happily Ever After is a romantic comedy about hope.

• Director: Carsten Kurpanek
• Producer/Writer: Angela Sprinkel
• Co-producer: Lyndsey Rae
• Music: Sean Sumwalt
• Cast: Angela Sprinkle, Courtney Hawkins, Patrick Cavanaugh, Graham Outerbridge
• Cinematography: Ryan Wood

 

The Hobbyist (8:37, USA) Drama

A short neo-noir thriller centered around a mysterious druggist visited by Sangstrom, a seemingly ordinary man in search of an undetectable poison.

• Director/Writer: George Vatistas
• Producer: David Maire
• Writer: Fredric Brown
• Executive Producers: Harry Munz, Marion Munz, Michael Beddome
• Cast: Robert W. Smith, Daniel Mitura, C.J. Gelfand, Teddy Kalin, Fredric Brown

 

Ink Room (3:49, USA) Experimental

This “day in the life of” short film illustrates the process of making ink for screen print.

• Cinematography & Editing: Edd Glassmire, Phil Borell

 

The Jar (19:42, Ireland) Drama

Jake banks his boyish ambitions of being an astronaut inside a jar of coins. But there are those who would step all over his dreams. Can he still manage to make the giant leap?

• Director/Producer/Writer: Careton Rodgers
• Co-producer: Michael Costello
• Cast: Brandon Brownlee, Paul McGuinness

 

Just a Scenario (3:13, USA) Drama

An experimental film about a girl who gets robbed from again and again, this is an open letter to her abusers.

• Director/Producer/Writer: MLE DeJaco
• Score: John Kohler
• Director of Photography/Actor: Matt Sullivan

 

The Last Doll Lady (21:13, USA) Documentary

The Last Doll Lady follows Selma’s efforts to revitalize the Dolls for Democracy program and pass on its legacy to a new generation.

• Director/Producer/Writer/Editor: Taryn Hough McCollum
• Cast: Selma Bukstein

 

Laughing Branches (15:00, United Kingdom) Drama

When a theory about parallel universes causes a struggling actor, Joe, to be anxious about his decisions and future, we watch the different outcomes of the same conversation between him and his girlfriend.

• Director/Writer/Producer: Missy Malek
• Cinematographer: David Raedeker
• Cast: Tom Hanson, Leo Suter

 

Like A Brother (9:47, USA) MyFi, spring 2017

A brother’s love can be a costly endeavour.

• Director: Jake Nicastro
• Assistant Director: Talia Steinmetz
• Writer: Jake Nicastro and Telia Steinmetz
• Cinematographer: Jimmy Ziegler

 

Loop (10:13, USA) Horror

Travis, a compulsive gambler with worries of debt faces a night of terror after stealing money from a dead man.

• Director/Producer/Writer: Tsubasa Maruno
• Co-producer: Jose Miller
• Cast: Philip Rossi, John Eisen

 

Lorem Ipsum (Pain Itself) (3:00, USA) Animation

A handmade look into the motivations and struggles of four artists and their creative undertakings.

• Director/Producer: Gabrielle Kash
• Animator/Supporting Voice Actor: Sara Litzenberger
• Production Designer/Voice Actor: Kaitlyn Taylor
• Voice Actors: Mazen Atella, Shelby Williams
• Sound Editor: Chris Walasek

 

The Man Who Had Cheese Sticks Powder On His Fingers (5:00, USA) Comedy, Young Filmmaker

Dave, a friendly young man who was born with cheese sticks powder on his fingers, opens a letter in which he explains all the problems his handicap has caused him.

• Director/Producer/Writer/Cinematographer: Louis Lachance

 

Mariposas (3:00, USA) Drama

Set in a universe of magical realism, a boastful father prattles on superficially about his daughter to another parent in the school pick up line but is unable to perceive her when it matters most. Based on the Argentinean short story by Samanta Schweblin.

• Director/Producer/Editor: Adrian Carey
• Co-producers: Rob Eletto, David Maire
• Writer: Samanta Schweblin
• Cast: Miguel Belmonte, Rocco Salata, Teddy Kalin, Alice Chandler Hume

 

Marvelon (11:51, USA) MyFi, fall 2017

What if you were the last human on earth.

• Director: Jake Nicastro
• Assistant Director: Nick Evangelista
• Producer: Nicole Oronzio, Sloan Glover
• Writer: Sloan Glover, Sage Glover, Jimmy Ziegler
• Cinematographer: Jimmy Ziegler
• Camera Assistant: Tyler Allen

 

Marvin (6:01, United Kingdom) Animation

In a rich and diverse city where no two characters look alike, Marvin still manages to stand out.

• Director: H. Rodgers
• Producer: Edinburgh College of Art
• Sound Design: A. Betancourt
• Composer: Victoria Dewavrin

 

The Other (7:00, Argentina) Horror

The torment of a man facing his deepest demons.

• Director/Producer/Writer: Paula Zavalia
• Co-Producer: Thomas Nascimento
• Sound Designer: Joaquin Gomez

 

The Perfect Nothing (6:00, USA) Drama

A diligent young woman receives a medical diagnosis that alters her path to motherhood just as she discovers that her marriage has also changed.

• Director/Producer/Writer/Editor: Eddie Shieh
• Co-producer: Christiane Seidel
• Cinematographer: Corey Snyder
• Original Score: Steven von Kampen
• Cast: Kimberly Park, Jon Collin Barclay, Williams Lex Ham, Christiane Seidel

 

The Performance (19:09, USA) Drama

Three sisters: Summer, Sarah, and Sasha have grown up together with a theatre father and it is hard to see the world outside of that.

• Director/Writer: Tatyana Yassukovich
• Producer: Tara Culp
• Cast: Kate Blumberg, Tara Culp, Cerris Morgan Moyer, Eduardo Machado, Joe Quintero, Sundra Oakley

 

Pietas (4:00, USA) Comedy

Sometimes the toughest part of your day is explaining it to a loved one.

• Director/Writer: Rob Waters
• Producer: David “Bulldog” Rothner
• Writer: James Keegan
• Cast: James Keegan and Graham Tanner Waters

 

Reckoning (1:35, United Kingdom) Horror

A man keeps waking up as sudden noises prevent him from having a peaceful night’s sleep in his bedroom.

• Director/Producer: Giorgos Alexakis
• Co-producer/Writer: Dimitris Makridis
• Co-producer: Giorgos Chatzitheodorou
• Cast: Giorgos Chatzitheodorou, Maria Chatzitheodorou

 

Rendez-vous (2:06, France) Drama

In a manor out of time, a man begins to paint a canvas.

• Director/Writer/Cinematographer: Jimmy Boutry
• Co-director/Actor: Thibaud Chaufourier
• Music/Sound Design: Damien Tuffal

 

Return Safely (12:21, USA) Drama

Already too late to turn back, a young Traveler must complete her quest in returning a mysterious object, while battling the dangers of the landscape and predators.

• Director/Writer: Eric Burleson
• Cast: Emily R. Johnson

 

Reunion (10:00, USA) Comedy

A colorful animal medium works his magic on grieving pet parents. A bumpy reunion ensues.

• Director: Megan Lohne
• Producer/Cast: Mac Brydon
• Writer/Cast: Jane Cortney
• Cast: Earle Hugens

 

Revelation — The City of Haze (14:00, China) Animation

An epic tale about the power of love in difficult time.

• Director/Writer: Mao Qichao
• Producer: Zhu Tinghua
• Art Director: Yang Ke
• Animation Director: Pan Zhichao

 

Semicolon (;) (6:40, USA) Drama

A journey through the destruction and rehabilitation of the self.

• Director/Writer: Paola Gadala-Maria
• Producer: Austin Haitos, John Mullany, Diandra Navarro
• Cast: Jen Jaynes

 

The Servant (9:00, Iran) Animation

A bug became servant, servant became master.

• Director: Farnoosh Abedi
• Writer: M.Reza Abedi

 

The Shift (7:34, USA) MyFi, fall 2017

Sometimes in life all is not what it seems.

• Director: Jake Nicastro
• Assistant Director: Hope Hickson
• Producer: Nicole Oronzio
• Writer: Jake Nicastro
• Cinematographer: Nick Evangelista
• Camera Assistant: Tyler Allen

 

The Shortest are Always the Best (16:01, France) Comedy

Film with sketches in the form of three amoral fables with epilogue in which the characters will learn at their expense that it is better to consult or to think before acting.

• Producer/Director/Writer: Daniel Jenny
• Assistant Director: Olivia Yahiel
• Cast: Benoit Gourley, Tanya Iskona, Daniel Jenny, François Negret, Emilie Caillon, Lele Longa Matelo

 

Sound from the Deep (29:00, Finland) Horror

An international research group is searching natural resources from the Arctic Ocean. They pick up a strange underwater sound from far north and start to follow it to the uncharted waters. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

• Director/Writer: Antti Laakso, Joonas Allonen
• Producer: Jupe Louhelainen
• Cast: Eero Ojala, Lasse Fagerström, Anastasia Trizna

 

T.S.A. (7:32, USA) Comedy

A man with an unusual genetic disorder seeks help from a support group.

• Director: Jason Taylor
• Producer/Writer: David Dadich, Dancy
• Writer: Tyler Eisenacher, Donna Gardner, Jim Jackson, Josh Phillips, Jason Taylor
• Cast: Tom Hogg, Tim Flanagan, Tyler Eisenacher, Carla Dickie, Kent Boersma, Quang Ly, Donna Gardner, Jim Jackson

 

Tagati (11:00, USA) Drama

A scheming wife and ruthless mercenary, tonight the world will become a much stranger place.

• Director: Bill Haley
• Writer/Actor: Andre Duza
• Cast: LaTonya Grant, Mark Simms, Carol Anne Raffa, Bryan Gallagher, Reggie Wu, Jeff Gordon

 

Through the Window (13:00, USA) Young Filmmaker, Drama

Through the Window is a character-driven short story about two thirteen-year-old girls that share a home and a sleepless night of adventure.

• Director: Zachary Spicer
• Co-director: Kira Daniels

 

Unnatural Selection (15:00, France) Drama

Late for work, Julie, 35, gets harassed in the street by Karim, 25. Finally arrived in the company she works for, Julie discovers that the candidate with whom she must hold a job interview is none other than Karim. Determined to take revenge, she will show him what unnatural selection is….

• Director/Producer/Writer: Geneviève Delouche
• Producer/Writer: Alban Ravassard
• Cast: Pamela Ravassard, Salim Fontaine, Garlan Le Martelot, Aymeric Cormerais

 

Welcome Home (8:00, USA) Young Filmmaker, Documentary

Five Vietnam veterans describe their personal stories after they returned to the United States. Transparent perspectives, ideas, and struggles give a deep look of their lives after the war. A thought provoking and challenging documentary short.

• Director/Producer/Cinematographer: Luke Broyles

 

White Paper (11:00, USA) Drama

A salesman’s honesty is put to the test when a chance encounter leads to the opportunity of a lifetime.

• Director/Producer: Mark Kochanowicz
• Co-producer/Writer: Wade Ballance
• Cast: Dan McGlaughlin, Tony Ruggieri, David Collihan, Gary Gustin, Ktya Crivellari, Rod Knoll

 

You and Me (24:56, India) Drama

Two college-time friends embark on a long drive on a Sunday morning, leaving their bustling city lives behind. As they amble through the hilly roads, they reveal to each other, their old longings and hidden pasts.

• Director: Mrigank Dubey
• Producer: Ketaki Guhagarkar surve
• Writer: Luv Kalla
• Cast: Priyamvadda Sawant, Pawan Shankar