2023 Media Film Festival

2023 Films in Detail

11:07 (12:16; United States; Drama) A couple grows old together.

• Director, Producer: Christopher Romano
• Writer: Mark Moore
• Actors: Joshua Kratz and Shelby Hightower

A Little Glass of Rum (19:53; United States; Drama) After grieving over the murder of his wife and son, a prison guard dines with the killer for his last meal.

• Director: Carah Chafin
• Producers: Marc Cardillo and Lauren Keller
• Writer: Lauren Keller
• Actors: Stu Ford, Nick Mitchell, Kurt Shaw, Jennifer Louise Deigan, and Lucas Morris-Steele

A Taste of China (15:00; United States; Drama) A Chinese American immigrant couple arrives in America in 1999 to start a new life.

• Director, Producer, Writer: Adam Chhour
• Actors: Justin Yu

Ask for Help (11:01; United States; Horror) A woman explores an eerie antiques barn and follows the rules set by the owner and then discovers a sinister presence.

• Director, Writer: Gina DeAngelis
• Producers: Gina DeAngelis and Fran Donato
• Actors: Christine Robinson, Kevin Robinson, and Daniel K. Jackson

Bad Beat (11:48; United States; Drama) Charlie’s got his own place but a phone call and a briefcase threaten everything.

• Director, Writer: David Ambrose
• Assistant Director: Nicholas Sisti
• Actors: Nathan Raia, Vinny Giovanniello, Dominick Cost, Michael Mazzone, and Roddy Williams

Beacon (9:21; United States; Animation) After a freak accident in space, a mechanic crash lands on a barren ice planet unaware his ordeal is only just beginning.

• Director: Andrew Stadler
• Producer: Simon Ardoin
• Actors: Heath Martin and Sarah Tyndal

Black Kettles and Pots (5:00; Canada; Horror) This story is about a children’s show host, his daughter’s murder, and seeking revenge.

• Director, Writer: Takuto Kimura
• Actors: Todd Hann and Seth Lavigne

Cassie’s World (6:54; United States; MYFI) A girl seeks salvation in a virtual utopia after the death of her mother.

• Director: Luca Bevilacqua
• Executive Producers: Hezekiah Lewis, Darryl Ridgeway
• Producer: Arya Gohl
• Writers: Sean Downes, Baleigh Rhodes
• Actors: Baleigh Rhodes, Benjamin Kerr, Natalia Jablokov
• Cinematographer: Michaelangelo Bellini
• Editor: Michaelangelo Bellini
• Sound: Hana Maghee

Choices (22:00; United States; Drama) A 40-something woman strikes up a conversation with a 20-something in a bar.

• Director: Ron Fulmer
• Producers: Ron Fulmer and Sandra Wade
• Writers: Sandra Wade and Elijah Davis
• Actors: Elijah Davis, Sandra Wade, Susannah Mauro, Bruce Shafer, Sharyn Pak Withers, and Jeff Alpert

Corgi’s Run (20:27; United States; Documentary) Mental Health and Suicide Awareness. Together they will ride. Together they will heal.

• Executive Directors, Producers: Tony Coder and Tracee Garrett
• Directors: Selana Allen and Tracee Garrett
• Writers: Stacy Hubbard, Roberto Hubbard, and Tracee Garrett

Dear Mirror (7:57; United States; Horror) Sarah convinces her boyfriend Jason to play around with a “fun” spell instead of their nightly face-time calls.

• Director, Writer: S.J. Doss
• Producers: S.J. Doss and Nicholas T. Peetros Sr.
• Actors: Kristina Aponte, Danny Donnelly, and Susan Moses

Dignity (25:00; United States; Drama) This is a love story between a woman, her family, and the family’s strength when a moral decision must be made.

• Director, Writer: Pat Battistini
• Producers: Pat Battistini, Jason Goulet, Adam W. Karwowski, Lorey Hayes, and Tom Katsis
• Actors: Lorey Hayes, Tom Katsis, Mildred Langford, and Clay Cureton

Don’t Be Scared (2:20; United States, Animation) A family of birds looks for safety in a storm.

• Director, Producer, Writer: Richard O’Connor
• Animators: Taisiya Zaretskaya, Shannon Baney, John Vargas, and Chris Harper

Dot (8:12; Islamic Republic of Iran; Animation) In the not-too-distant future, depression and loneliness are rampant in modern lifestyles.

• Directors: Mohammad Zare
• Assistant Director: Rana Vaezi
• Producer: Mohammad Zare
• Writers: Zahra Razavi, Amir Masoud Alamdari, and Mohammad Zare
• Animators: Mohammad Zare and Mehdi Meimandi

Eating the Silence (23:44; Switzerland; Drama) A hemiplegic learns of the pandemic on television and realizes that his survival is anything but certain.

• Directors: Ali Al-Fatlawi and Joël Jent
• Producer: Sophia Rubischung
• Writers: Ali Al-Fatlawi and Joël Jent
• Actors: Manfred Liechti, Meret Bodamer, and Alireza Bayram

Five Sketches Made with the Help of the Machine (8:26; United States; Animation) Five sketches made using AI generated art tools. Music composed in a traditional, non AI-assisted manner.

• Director, Producer, Writer, Animator: Dennis Miller

Fungus (7:45; Australia; Horror) An unsettling horror parable, Fungus is a snapshot of terror for a son and his father, whose past crimes must be paid for in blood.

• Director, Writer: Ryan Maddox
• Producer: Mark Andrew Millar
• Actors: Callum Needham and David K. Whiting

Game Over (28:24; Turkey; Documentary) A diverse group of illegal Afghan youngsters with no choice are left to flee to a foreign country.

• Directors, Producers, Writers: Saeed Mayahy and Miriam Carlsen

Hero (16:00; United States; Fantasy) A young woman ventures into a mystical forest in search of a legendary sword.

• Director, Writer: Tom Quigley
• Producers: Tom Quigley and Jake Noecker
• Actors: Caitlin Riley, Brian Gallagher, Laine Flores, and Michael Tamin Yurcaba

Human (14:45; Ukraine; Drama) A man wakes up naked in a field. There is nothing and no one around, just a lonely lighthouse and a tree.

• Director, Writer: Khachatur Vasilian
• Producers: Khachatur Vasilian, Olexiy Grinyov, and Irina Romaniv
• Actors: Ruslan Miroshnychenko and Yevgeniya Shymshyrian

I SEE YOU (9:39; United States; Drama) A young woman sees the beauty and potential in discarded items... and in discarded people.

• Director, Producer: Val McAdoo
• Writer: Pete Postiglione
• Actors: Kristianna Ranalli and Benjamin Kerr

Inner City High-Ball (6:40; United States; Documentary) “High-ball” is a term for a railroad signal that came to be synonymous with a clear right-of-way for trains to proceed at full speed.

• Director, Producer, Writer: Matthew Paul Harrison

Matched (3:10; United States; Drama) A young woman explores an apartment during a blackout with nothing more than a box of matches. But she’s not alone...

• Director: Zack Kron
• Producers: Zack Kron and Loring Murtha
• Actors: Heather Drew and Andrew Wong

Ms. Rossi 2: Ms. Rossi Takes the Cake (17:58; United States; Comedy) While on her travels as a Loan Officer for the bank, Ms. Rossi encounters some obstacles.

• Director, Writer: Pat Battistini
• Producers: Pat Battistini, Sonia Barbadoro, Graziano Molteni, and Jason Goulet
• Actors: Sonia Barbadoro, Fulvia Zampa, Federica Fabiani, Nicola Liberato, Fulvio D’Amico, Marco Caldoro, Libero Sansavini, and Chiara Laratta

Nobody Skates Except for Me (6:05; United States; Comedy) Riley fights to win his friend Pete back when the infamous Chalice Dudes roll up to the skatepark.

• Director, Writer: Jordan Anstatt
• Producer: Holly Andrews
• Actors: Luke Stanton Eddy, Stefaun Tallent, and James McCarthy

One Last Glance (18:22; United States; Drama) Maura is looking to purchase an arrangement for her father’s grave and finds herself drawn to a Christmas Tree lot attendant.

• Director: Joe Ronca
• Producers: Joe Ronca and Marian Edmiston
• Writer: Marian Edmiston
• Actors: Marian Edmiston, Mike Sutton, and Joe Rose

Part Forever (12:33; Taiwan; Horror) Huei and her husband Wen say goodbye to Huei’s sister at a farewell ceremony and discover an astonishing and dark secret....

• Director, Writer: Alan Chung-An, Ou
• Producer: Hsiao Ching, Lin
• Actors: Ming, Yang; Hsiang, L; Kevin, Yan; and Sidney, Wang

Quince Til’ Infinity (14:49; United States; Comedy) When two rebellious teens steal a car and escape a quinceañera, they learn they are less alone than they realize.

• Director, Writer: Eli Vazquez
• Producer: Darius Jaikaria
• Actors: Sebastian Perez, Daze Cornejo, Rosa Barajas Vela (Rosa Ramos), and Gadiel Del Orbe

Routine (4:33; United States; Horror) During a mysterious pandemic, Cassie’s quarantine life has turned into a routine until she realizes she’s out of coffee.

• Director, Producer: Russ Emanuel
• Writer: Emile Harris
• Actors: Bill Victor Arucan, Alan Courtright, and Paige Laree Poucel

Shut (14:59; Netherlands; Horror) When Jonas visits his father, he’s shocked to find him in a confused state. Has his father’s mental state deteriorated or is it something sinister?

• Director: Niels Bourgonje
• Producer: Daniel Aiss
• Writer: Bastiaan Tichler
• Actors: Sanne den Hartogh and Jack Wouterse

Solidarity (5:51; United States; Drama) When Reilly and Darwin hear about budget cuts at the office, they agree to act in solidarity to save their jobs.

• Director, Writer: Mark L. Mazzeo
• Producers: Mark L. Mazzeo and Dean Tatulli
• Actors: Melanie Rosedale, Matthew Schmid, and Patrick Heraghty

Something New (14:29; United States; Drama) Five women prepare to walk down the aisle while a teenage bridesmaid probes about what really happens on the wedding night.

• Director: Michelle Bossy
• Producers: Regina Myers and Megan Walker
• Writer: Jacey Powers
• Actors: Jacey Powers, Sami Rappoport, Laila Ayad, Derek Carley, Leah Sprecher, Sherry Mandajuano, and Kate Sullivan

Sona (15:00; Islamic Republic of Iran; Drama) Sona is a young and single girl living with her mother and attempts to overcome loneliness, sexual desire, and emotional feelings.

• Director, Producer, Writer: Zahra Torkamanlou
• Actors: Fariba Sohrabi, Narjes Delaram, Hesam Kazemi, Samaneh Babazadeh, Hamed Ghaffarpour, and Nasrin Khorram

Stick Doll (11:20; United States; Horror) A woman is confronted by a haunting visitor from her childhood.

• Director: Joe Ronca
• Writer: Sara McDermott-Jain
• Actor: Marjorie Cabrerra

The Banishment (20:00; Turkey; Drama) ZIKO, the sleepwalker is banished from his village, and surrounding villages, for committing a “serious sin” while asleep.

• Director, Producer, Writer: Yilmaz Özdil
• Actors: Saman Mustefa, Tariq Akreyi, Nazmi Karaman, and Atiye Özdil

The Butler (21:56; United States; Comedy) A comedy set in 1930s England. A butler secretly pulls strings to keep a woman away from his one true love; his young rich male boss.

• Directors: Adrienne Boeing and Catriona Boeing
• Producer: Rovenna Luchi Allain
• Writers: Adrienne Boeing and Catriona Boeing
• Actors: Gildart Jackson, Brett Miller, Rory Jackson, Erin Jo Harris, and Bennett Bleeker

THE SPRAYER (8:45; Islamic Republic of Iran; Animation) In the land occupied with the sprayers army, no one has the right to grow any kind of plants in public or private.

• Director: Farnoosh Abedi
• Producers: M.Reza Karimi Saremi and Negah Khezre Fardiar
• Writers: Farnoosh Abedi and Pegah Fardiar
• Animator: Farnoosh Abedi and Pegah Fardiar

The Toms (9:18; United States; Comedy) Set in a world run by people named Tom, Tim stands in line, waiting to be admitted to a comedy show put on by a group called “The Toms.”

• Director, Writer: Thomas Verdi
• Producer: Thomas Smith
• Actors: Barry Anderson, Ray Field, and Sean Besecker

The Trail (6:16; United States; Horror) Lost in the woods, a woman encounters a terrified stranger.

• Director, Writer: Adam Clark
• Producers: Adam Clark and Enya Moore
• Actors: Cayleigh Capaldi and Eli Lynn

This is a Man’s World (11:00; Islamic Republic of Iran; Drama) A girl faces a tough and modern Iranian man’s world.

• Director: Parastoo Azad
• Producer: Khashayar Sepehri
• Writers: Parastoo Azad and Khashayar Sepehri
• Actors: Lida Kheylnezhad and Khashayar Sepehri

Tillie’s Great Escape (11:31; United States; Drama) A rebellious seventy-five-year-old woman hatches a plan to escape the COVID-19 quarantine and her overbearing daughter.

• Director: Kate Kelsen
• Producers, Writers: Kate Kelsen and Rodney Reyes
• Actors: Diane Wilder, Rachel Skrod, Rodney Reyes, Shamika Dhar, Alyson Fernandez, Jonathan Weirich, and Michelle Santiago

Tito (24:07; United States; Drama) Caught in a rut at his thankless job in New York City, a worn-out delivery man attempts to find purpose and comfort in his life.

• Directors, Writers: Anthony Notarile and Andy Tworischuk
• Producers: Brandon Keeton, Evan Gardner, and Conor Hibbler
• Actors: Alexei Bondar, Joseph Ruud, Anthony Notarile, Carol Todd, and Claudio Castagnoli

Vacations (4:16; United States; Comedy) A construction worker in the middle of the desert finds a way to pass the time.

• Director, Writer: Danny Corey
• Producer: Adam Battaglia
• Actor: Scott Kruse

Viruses (3:56; Canada; Music Video) A darkly humorous, epic 3-minute romp confronting our struggles on the internet and how fake news and identity theft contribute to an unstable reality.

• Director: Juan Camilo Palacio
• Producer: Leonardo Dell’Anno
• Writers, Actors: Ori Dagan and Erik Flow

Walking Toward Peace: Travis Johnson’s Story (13:32; United States; Documentary) After serving three tours in the 75th Ranger Regiment, Travis Johnston returned home with trauma of war, the suicide of a fellow Ranger, and a decision to hike the trail.

• Directors: Davis Holliday and Clark Stefanic
• Producer, Writer: Cindy Ross
• Actor: Travis Johnston

When Cotard Comes (8:42; Islamic Republic of Iran; Drama) A woman suffers from Cotard’s delusion and thinks she’s dead until a mysterious woman walks into her house.

• Director, Writer: Shayan Naghib
• Producer: Paria Latifi
• Actors: Paria Latifi and Mona Afkhami

Yellowstone 88 – Song of Fire (5:44; United States; Animation) In the summer of 1988, dry lightning sparked a fire in the parched and drought ridden landscape of Yellowstone Park.

• Directors: Jerry van de Beek and Betsy De Fries
• Producer, Writer: Betsy De Fries
• Actors: Peter Coyote
• Animator: Jerry van de Beek