2019 Media Film Festival
Our 2019 festival featured three days of films and film-related activities! All films were shown in the historic Media Theatre building, 104 E. State Street, Media PA.
Lineup
Thursday April 4th, 2019
7:00 Evening Showing
Two Birds (12:30, USA) Media Youth Film Initiative
The Ghost and the Writer (14:00, USA) Comedy
Why We Fight (8:59, USA) Documentary
Highway Tea (2:28, USA) Comedy
Cycle (14:07, USA) Drama
Justin Geller — Thought It Would Be a Good Story (6:16, USA) Documentary
Utopia (16:11, Iran) Drama
INTERMISSION
Broccoli (3:30, Germany) Comedy
The Custer Wolf (9:44, USA) Animation/Puppetry
The Mayor of Graterford (40:00, USA) Documentary
Filmmaker Q&A
Friday April 5th, 2019
7:00 Evening Showing
Closeted (9:35, USA) Media Youth Film Initiative
Ivan (9:24, Greece) Drama/Satire
Going Forward (15:00, USA) Documentary
The Curse (7:30, USA) Drama
Ways to Look at the Moon (17:09, USA) Drama
INTERMISSION
Internally You (3:46, USA) Media Youth Film Initiative
Wonderwall (7:00, Ukraine) Romantic Drama
The Amazon (13:32, France) Drama
Sac de Merde (13:27, USA) Romantic Comedy
Waiting for Hope (3:38, USA) Comedy
Nevada (15:00, Spain) Drama
Filmmaker Q&A
10:30pm Horror Fest
Zebra (4:45, Australia) Horror
The Helping Hand (10:00, USA) Horror
Striges (5:54, USA) Horror
Vonnis (8:35, Belguim) Horror
One Dark Night (18:36, USA) Horror
The Peephole (8:05, Mexico) Horror
I Am Not a Monster (17:00, Ireland) Horror
Burn Time (6:67, New Zealand) Horror
Saturday April 6th, 2019
1:00pm Matinee Showing
Bella’s Journey (3:19, USA) Animation
Due Process (8:00, USA) Drama
Fishnet and the Fish (8:37, Iran) Drama
Spark (16:00, USA) Drama
Who Said You Can’t Dance (11:43, USA) Documentary
Hooked (4:50, USA) Animation
Redcoats (18:49, USA) Drama
INTERMISSION
Runo (4:22, Canada) Animation
OK Grey (8:57, USA) Comedy
Insurance Can be Sometimes a Dangerous Game (16:50, France) Thriller
9862 (11:33, United Kingdom) Thriller
Core (18:55, USA) Drama
7:00pm Evening Showing
Acceptance (9:43, USA) Media Youth Film Initiative
Can Dolls Be My Neighbor (3:48, USA) Documentary
Little Fig (19:00, USA) Documentary
Radio Moon (17:09, France) Drama
The Five Minutes (9:06, USA) Drama
Swimming (15:00, United Kingdom) Comedy
INTERMISSION
Kitchen Sink Classic (3:00, USA) Comedy
Are You Volleyball?! (15:00, Iran) Drama
The Replacement (15:00, USA) Sci-Fi
Still Life (1:42, USA) Animation
The Last Well (20:00, Croatia) Dystopian
Filmmaker Q&A
Awards
Aruffo-Rim Jury Awards 2019
Little Fig — Best Drama & Golden Trolley
Runo — Best Animation
Going Forward — Best Documentary
Red Coats — Best Local
Sac de Merde — Best Comedy
One Dark Night — Best Horror
2019 Audience Award Winners
Thursday Evening
The Mayor of Graterford
Broccoli
Why We Fight
Friday Evening
Closeted
Sac de Merde
The Curse
Friday Horror Fest
The Helping Hand
The Peephole
One Dark Night
Saturday Matinee
Redcoats
Spark
Runo
Saturday Evening
Little Fig
Are You Volleyball?!
Swimming
Film Details
9862
When a tentative insurance salesman accepts an invitation from a beautiful stranger, he quickly discovers that nothing is quite as it seems.
thriller (11:33, United Kingdom)
director/writer: Giles Greenwood
producer: Jonathan Blagrove
executive producer/writer: Jonathan Digby
cast: Jon Digby, Amber Anderson
ACCEPTANCE
A life discussion about acceptance into the “friendly” American Culture.
Media Youth Film Initiative (9:43, USA)
director/editor: Sage Glover
writer/producer: Sloan Glover
cinematographer: Julia Roth, Hope Hickson
assistant camera: Joanie Levis
sound: Sloan Glover, Danielle Ridgeway
cast: Ayan Goran, Sheila Renninger, Max Guthrie, Nicole Oronzio, Olamide Olaniyi, Andrew Buchan, Sally Selim, Iftekhar Hussain, Dr. Katera Moore
THE AMAZON
Elie, 30, lost a breast fighting cancer. She decided not to have reconstructive surgery. At a party, she falls in love with a man she thought she wouldn’t see anymore and has to face her doubts on her new femininity.
drama (13:32, France)
director/producer/writer: Alexandra Naoum
cinematography: Evgenia Alexandrova
cast: Alexandra Naoum Alban Lenoir, Baptiste Caillaud, Caroline Fauvet
ARE YOU VOLLEYBALL?!
A group of asylum seekers arrive at a border crossing but are not allowed to go any further. The asylum seekers and border soldiers conflict with each other until a young boy becomes the catalyst for a better understanding of each other.
drama (15:00, Iran)
director/writer: Mohammad Bakshico
co-director: Saeid Ahanj
producer: Nima Rabiei
music: Behnood Yakchali
cinematography: Mehdi Amiri
cast: Ebrahim Amoure, Yasamin Solhi, Hamed Nadri, Naeem Sheikh Mahboubi, Mehdi Hosseini, Mohsen Dadash Zade
BELLA’S JOURNEY
One woman’s journey into knowing herself.
animation (3:19, USA)
director: Mary Beth Rim
producer: Hamme Productions and Brad Thomas
sound: Jason Morgan, Sara Painter
BROCCOLI
Broccoli is all that is left in the refrigerator. So, order a pizza.
comedy (3:30, Germany)
director/writer/producer: Ivan Sainz-Pardo
cast: Patrick Finger
BURN TIME
Set in 1985, Burn Time depicts a nightmarish version of the worst sunburn imaginable, caused by a fictional rogue solar event.
horror (6:27, New Zealand)
director/writer: Peter Haynes
producer: Hweiling Ow
cast: Britt Scott Clark, John Hawkesby (voice)
CAN DOLLS BE MY NEIGHBOR
In 2001, Ayano Tsukimi moved back to her childhood home, Nagoro, Shikoku, to find that only 40 people were left in the once vibrant village of 350. She started making life-size dolls from clothing and memories of her former neighbors.
documentary (3:48, USA)
director, producer, writer, editor: Claire He
composer: Luke Standridge
cast (Voice): Hiroshi Watanabe, Hitomi Miller, John Bohn, Junko Cheng, Kento Matsunami, Megumi Kabe
CLOSETED
Eva’s seemingly normal day takes a life-threatening turn.
Media Youth Film Initiative (9:35, USA)
executive producer: Hezekiah Lewis, Darryl Ridgeway
producer/writer: Sloan Gloverdirector: George Hollyer
cinematographer: Julia Roth
assistant director: Danielle Ridgeway
editor: George Hollyer, Sage Glover
sound: Josh Lindy
cast: Madalyn St. John, Sheilah Renninger, Danielle Ridgeway, James Ziegler, Zachary Allen, Tyler Allen
CORE
Gil and Room have been dating for two years. Gil has identified as a gay male his whole life. Gil realizes he may be attracted to women. He meets Yuma and questions what he wants.
drama (18:55, USA)
director/writer: Joyce Lim
producer: Jake Hatfield
cast: Jimmy Bonilla, David Osorio, Janelle Bullock
THE CURSE
An eager young man goes to a Halloween party for a hookup, when a witch’s curse convinces him that he wants something more.
drama (7:30, USA)
director/writer: Dave Berenato
producer: Moira McFadden
cast: Jay Renshaw, Ryan Rimas, Kurt Koehler, Kevin K. Tran
THE CUSTER WOLF
A storyteller reflects back on the nine-year reign of the Custer Wolf in Custer, SD, and its tragic death. It was believed that the wolf was responsible for the death of $25,000 worth of livestock between 1911 and 1920.
animation (9:44, USA)
director/writer: Chris Heady
producer: Xperimental Puppetry Theater, Center for Puppetry Arts
writer: Dixon Merritt
cast: Kurt Dise
CYCLE
A single mom and recovering drug addict has been clean for 8 months when her ex, who she has a restraining order against, returns and tempts her back to using.
drama (14:07, USA)
director/producer/writer: Christopher Romano
producer: Geraldine Romano, Teresa Babback
cast: Mary Sack, Brian Anthony Wilson, Cameron Scoggins, Anthony Marconi
DUE PROCESS
An overburdened social worker fights to bring justice to a mother and her unborn child.
young filmmaker, drama (8:00, USA)
director/producer/writer: Gabriel P Braden
cast: Carolette Phillips
FISHNET AND THE FISH
A young boy who works for a fishmonger is ill-treated. This does not affect his compassionate nature.
drama (8:37, Iran)
director/writer/producer: Ali Nikfar
cast: Mohammad Sarvari, Hoiat Souraki, Ahmad Ghorbani, Abbas Barouni, Ali Kargar, Ehsan Ahmadzadeh, Fatemeh Derakhshan, Hamid Barouni
THE GHOST AND THE WRITER
A withdrawn young writer struggles to adjust to life with his roommate: the ghost of an early 20th-century actor.
comedy (14:00, USA)
director/executive producer/writer: Christina Tucker
producer: Nadia Zoe
editor: Chloe Lind
cinematography: Rachel Klein
cast: Adler Roberts, Tristan Miller
GOING FORWARD
Malcolm Kenyatta is a third-generation activist and an openly LGBT candidate of color running for State Representative in the 181st district of North Philadelphia. The film follows Malcolm as he campaigns on election-day.
documentary (15:00, USA)
director: Tim Harris
director of photography: Ian Mosley-Duffy
cast: Malcolm Kenyatta, residents of the 181st district of PA
THE HELPING HAND
A couple uses modern technology to raise their child to the detriment of their own well-being.
horror (10:00, USA)
director/writer: Brenden Hubbard
writer: Brian Barnes
producer: Damon Russell, Shawn Christensen, Darcy Trunzo, Aaron Russell, Sarah Moyer, Clifford Miu, Linhan Zhangcast: Ryan Willard, Jennifer Finely, Sadie Williams, Chris Lee
HIGHWAY TEA
A silent era, Theatre of the Absurd, tale of a budding romance between rich and poor, upper and lower class, retold over a quintessential British High Tea ritual.
comedy (2:28, USA)
director/co-producer/writer: Milton Adamou
co-producer: Randal Kirk
cast: Jason Markoff, Paige Emerson
HOOKED
Addiction through the eyes of an addict.
animation (4:50, USA)
writer/producer: Tamara Campbell
sound: Lea McNamara
I AM NOT A MONSTER
Ambrose Mordrake, born with a violent, mind-controlling deformed growth on the back of his head, unexpectedly returns home for his brother’s engagement dinner. Ambrose attempts to insert himself back into the family life, who keep him at an arm’s distance. In order to fit in with his family’s image, Ambrose must battle his inner and outer demons in a bloody and tragic fight for control of his mind.
horror (17:00, Ireland)
director: Grace Quilligan
writer/producer: Conor Patrick Byrne
producer: Rachel McGill
cast: Tony Doyle, Geraldine McAlinden, Mark Lawrence, Catriona Loughlin
INSURANCE CAN BE SOMETIMES A DANGEROUS GAME
Paul owns an art gallery in a small town. The gallery is actually a façade for insurance scams. David enters the gallery to engage Paul in a scam. This time, however, it is not what Paul expected.
thriller (16:50, France)
director/writer/producer: Daniel Jenny
cast: Bernard Le Coq, Fanny Cottençon, Thomas Chabrol
INTERNALLY YOU
A journey in Daniel’s everyday life with his battle against schizophrenia.
Media Youth Film Initiative (3:46, USA)
executive producer: Hezekiah Lewis, Darryl Ridgeway
writer/director/editor: Nicole Oronzio
producer: Sloan Glover
director of photography: Julia Roth, Hope Hickson
assistant director: Hope Hickson
sound: Danielle Ridgeway
editor: Joanie Levis
cast: Dylan Gleason, Gunnar Funk, Sheilah Renninger, Samantha Angelina
IVANA
solitary dinner for two in a dehumanized society that has a craving for relationship and connectivity.
drama/satire (9:24, Greece) director/producer: Panagiotis Kountouras producer: Eleni Afentaki, Christos Stergioglou, Taxiarchis Deligiannis, Vasilis Tsiouvaras writer: Taxiarchis Deligiannis, Vasilis Tsiouvaras cast: Christos Stergioglou
JUSTIN GELLER – THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD STORY
Justin is diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at 30 and is to undergo experimental cancer treatment. His doctor convinces him to donate sperm prior to treatment. What Justin thought would make a funny story ended up differently.
documentary (6:16, USA)
director/producer: Jon Rehr
assistant director: Katherine Veri
director of photography: James MF Powers
cast: Justin Geller
KITCHEN SINK CLASSIC
Trying to get a man’s attention can sometimes prove difficult. A smart woman knows the most effective way.
comedy (3:00, USA)
director/writer/producer: Lauren Shein
cast: Lauren Shein, Ward Sorrick
LITTLE FIG
A Syrian graduate student living in Los Angeles copes with the nightmares of his past through an unlikely friendship with a kindhearted yoga instructor.
drama (19:00, USA)
writers/directors/producers: Dave Patten, Britt Robertson
music: Harlan Hodges
cinematography: Grant Bell
cast: Wesam Keesh, Bardia Seiri, Elisa Perry, Harlan Hodges
THE MAYOR OF GRATERFORD
This documentary tells the story of Tyrone Werts, a former lifer at Graterford prison. It chronicles the incident that led to his incarceration and the injustices of the Pennsylvania justice system. As an inmate, Tyrone became known as the “Mayor of Graterford”.
documentary (40:00, USA)
director: Jack McCarthy
writers: Jack McCarthy, Briggs, Mroz, Lindsey Walsh, Mike Zawisza
producers: Matthew Marencik, Stephen McWilliams, John O’Leary
cast: Tyrone Werts, John Pace, Ed Rendell, Mark Singel, John Wetzel, Jennifer Storm, Ernie Preate, Bradley Bridge, Joe Betz, Tom Arvanites, Jake Dolan, Jason Dawkins
NEVADA
A hotel room in Nevada. Elsa is employed to carry out a plan. Mrs. Taylor is her employer. What secret evil is being exterminated?
drama (15:00, Spain)
director/writer: Javier Kühn
producer: Jon Fernandez
OK GREY
A malfunctioning smart assistant sets out on an epic quest to find the music in its heart and become the only one ever needed.
comedy (8:57, USA)
director/producer/writer: Benjamin T. Wilson, Garrett J. Langer
producer: Peter J.S. Regan
cast: Richard Cavallucci, April Yanko, Luke Carter
ONE DARK NIGHT
Dad spins a decades-old tale during a family campout.
horror (18:36, USA)
director/producer/writer: Michael Trainotti
producer: Maureen Trainotti
cast: Nathan Caywood, Sabrina Howells, Fletcher Harden, Louise Harden, Brian Palatucci, Grant Housley
RADIO MOON
Sibyl works as a nighttime radio host giving advice to call-in listeners. One caller, Michel, makes her question choices she is making in her own life.
drama (17:09, France)
director/writer: Pierre Gaffié
producer: Marilia Deloison
cast: Marilyne Fontaine
REDCOATS
Three British soldiers pillage the home of a woman, her daughter, and two grandchildren during the Revolutionary War. The soldiers get more than they bargained for in this short with a twist.
historical drama (18:49, USA)
director/writer: Amy Tiehel
producer: Tammy Tiehel-Stedman
cast: Amy Tiehel, Shay Guthrie, Kathleen Morris, Chase Gray, Richard Lyntton, John Jezior, Chris Boylan
RUNO
In a time before music, a wise old wizard builds a harp from the jaw of a monster and brings magic to the world.
animation (4:22, Canada)
director/producer/animator: Joakim Juti
SAC DE MERDE
Mazel Mankewicz is an unlucky-in-love yet eternally optimistic New Yorker who thinks she has finally found the man of her dreams. As it turns out, he might just be full of shit. Based on a true story.
romantic comedy (13:27, USA)
director: Greg Chwerchak
writers: Greg Chwerchak, Gabrielle Berberich
producer: Jenny Jump Studios
cast: Arielle Haller-Silverstone, David Fumero
SPARK
A soon-to-be lawyer and her unemployed neighbor find themselves drifting aimlessly in and out of each other’s lives as they both search for a way forward.
romantic comedy (5:00, USA)
director/writer: Tommy Butler
cast: Matteo Scammel, Phoebe Schaub, Chris Reed
STILL LIFE
A short film celebrating the art that keeps us sane even when life makes us crazy.
animation (1:42, USA)
director/producer/writer: Jennifer Dean
producer: Katherine Pulido, Eric Rice
cast: Katherine Pulido, Eric Rice
STRIGES
Blood is drawn in the middle of the night when a newly married couple awakens to a horror that has entered their home.
horror (5:54, USA)
producer/director/writer: Gregory Vogt
producer: Nick Zarzeczny
cast: Andreas O’Rouke, Jess Uhler
SWIMMING
A Welsh endurance swimmer trains for the challenge of his lifetime. Does he really know the true distance?
comedy (15:00, United Kingdom)
director/producer/writer: J.J. Jarman
director/producer: Jimmy Taylor
producer: Zander Sharp
editor: Adam Baranowski
cinematography: Tom Read
cast: Christopher Pegler-Lambert, Amy Harris
THE FIVE MINUTES
A businessman calls his dead wife by using a phone booth that is able to contact dead people. He is given only 5 minutes.
drama (9:06, USA)
director: Shange Zhang
writer: Nicole DeLaura
producer: Xiaoyuan Xiao
executive Producer: Maggie Zhang
cast: Demi Ke, Eon Song, Zhan Wang, Andu Sun, Tian Tian
THE LAST WELL
It is 2037 and Europe is in total ruins. The owner of the last well of natural pure water takes in a mother and her daughter after tragedy strikes. When the well runs dry, the man must make the ultimate deal.
dystopian (20:00, Croatia)
director: Filip Fikovic
writer: Velimir Grgic
executive producer: Tamara Babun, Katarina Prpicmusic: Anja Papa, Luka Vidovic
cinematography: Tomislav Krnic
cast: Alen Liverić, Mia Biondić, Ozren Grabarić, Ida Rogić
THE PEEPHOLE
A man is taking a nap on his couch. He hears screams and looks to see what is happening. He opens his door to help but encounters the unexpected.
horror (8:05, Mexico)
director/producer/writer: Enrique Manzo Escamilla
producer: Stephanie Felix
cast: Sidney Robote, Khristian Claussen, Genaro Mejía
THE REPLACEMENT
On election night, a janitor feels cheated out of a life he might have lived when his own clone becomes President. Not all in society feel the same way about clones.
sci-fi (15:00, USA)
director/Writer/Producer: Sean Miller
producer: Naz Kahn
co-producers: Mike McNamara, Brian Levin, Boris Wexler
cast: Mike McNamara, Cecilee Von Rhea, Kylan Conroy, Jeff Garretson
TWO BIRDS
In Matt’s life, sometimes making the right decision can be so hard.
Media Youth Film Initiative (12:30, USA)
executive producer: Hezekiah Lewis
director/writer: Jake Nicastro
director of photography/post production: James Ziegler
assistant director: Winston Bickhardt
grips: Nicole Oronzio, Hope Hickson
sound: the Allen Brothers
cast: Vinchenzo Mocco, Gary Gustin, Rachel Kelly, Liz McClearn
UTOPIA
A college age, traditional, Iranian girl, Shiva, returns home to find her sister, Nasrin, has committed suicide. In seeking answers as to why, Shiva’s traditional values are challenged as she realizes and is confronted by the abuse of women in her country.
drama (16:11, Iran)
director/producer/writer: Mahdi Ghorbani
cast: Behnaz Mohammad Hoseini
VONNIS
A solitary farmer on a desolate scrap of land gets a second chance with his wife and child. It may not be the reunion he hoped for.
Horror (8:35, Belgium)
Director/Writer: Walt Bladt
Cast: Joke Sluydts, Dimitri Duqunoy, Tibe Boone
WAITING FOR HOPE
When a young woman summons her deceased boyfriend’s spirit back from the dead, the conversation doesn’t go as she planned.
comedy (3:38, USA)
director/producer/writer: Frank Battaglia
writer/producer: Chloe Carroll
producer: Wesley Mellott
cast: Jim Schubin, Chloe Carroll, David Dotterer
WAYS TO LOOK AT THE MOON
Sensing their relationship is drifting apart, an artist attempts to reconnect with an astronomer but gets lost in a universe of her own making.
sci-fi drama (17:09, USA)
director/writer: Katherine Clark
producer: Amy Frear, Adrian Colón
executive producer: Kinohi Nishikawa
cast: Amy Frear, Tony Bolante, Kelvin Smith
WHO SAID YOU CAN’T DANCE
If you think that a wheelchair user is incapable of dancing, think again. This documentary brings wheelchair users and standing partners together. Whether the wheelchair user chooses to dance competitively or not, the activity puts them in a world without limits.
documentary (11:43, USA)
director/producer: David Block
cast: Melinda Kremer, Robert Hansberry, Noni Ade, Leah Godbolt, Joanne Henry, Dejua Tiller, Jessica Constanzi, Mike Doherty
WONDERWALL
A young man’s heart is broken by the death of his love. He finds solace in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. That solace allows him to move forward with his life.
romantic drama (7:00, Ukraine)
director/producer/writer/editor: Alexander Denysenko
cast: Oksana Slyxhuk, Vasily Pimenov
ZEBRA
Two blood-spattered little old ladies skulking through the bush, a real-life supermodel, and tapioca pudding collide.
horror (4:45, Australia)
director: Peter Spann
producers: Triona Maddick
writers: Holly Hargreaves
cast: Ellie Gonsalves, Jill McKay, Corinne Sennitt