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A NEW NORMAL (INDIA/USA)
SYNOPSIS: Subverting the limitations of digital intimacy, A New Normal seeks to define the meaning of home and belonging through the musings of a family spread across different timezones.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Asavari Kumar
GENRE: Fantastic
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Nov. 5th @ 1:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Asavari Kumar is a filmmaker & visual artist from India, currently based in Los Angeles. Known for her whimsical storytelling style involving cross-cultural narratives and themes of social justice, Asavari has created award winning films, commercials, new media work and graphic novels. In 2015 she co-founded the collective Supernova Design through which she’s created content for clients such as Warner Bros., Google, Snapchat & Disney while collaborating with POC and women artists.
Asavari’s projects have been showcased at several prestigious festivals including the Ottawa International Animation Festival, Siggraph & the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Her work has also been featured in numerous publications, including Adobe Create Magazine, Cartoon Brew and Animation World Network. Asavari holds an MFA in Experimental Animation from the California Institute of the Arts and is a former artist in residence for Adobe Aero. She is currently in development on her first feature film, Anisha & the Inbetween.
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BURNING BRIGHT (USA)
SYNOPSIS: When a mysterious briefcase is stolen, a young woman (Chanel Iman) battles to reclaim it while her ex-boyfriend and his team of ruthless female assassins does everything in their power to destroy her.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Aaron Bierman
GENRE: Noir
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Oct. 30th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Aaron had been working on Wall Street for over a decade when he read a New York Times article that would change his life forever. The story inspired Aaron to make a film about a playground basketball player’s life while still working as a trader at JP Morgan. Three years later, “Release: The Jack Ryan Story,” was sold to 20th Century Fox to be adapted into a feature film and Aaron signed a writing deal to develop additional projects with the studio. Subsequently, Aaron was signed by the Gersh Agency and quit his corporate job to become a full-time filmmaker. Aaron completed the Professional Screenwriting Program at U.C.L.A’s School of Theater, Film and Television and has developed film projects with producers including Warner Brothers, Anonymous Content, Studio 8 and 20th Century Fox.
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DEATH AND THE WINEMAKER (SWITZERLAND)
SYNOPSIS: A young winemaker captures Death in a barrel, ignoring the consequences on the natural order of things.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
GENRE: Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Virtual Exclusive – Showing all dates Virtually in the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Block
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Born in Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1982, Victor Jaquier is a director and an illustrator. He studied cinema at the Beaux-Arts of Geneva. He likes to explore different techniques, since his short film Cronos and Rhea, which mixes live action and stop-motion animation. In 2007, he moved to Paris where he directed an episode for the Canal+ anthology, Sable Noir. His 20-minute live action fantastic movie, The Black Lake, was made in 2010. Death and the Winemaker is his first project using hand drawn animation.
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ELSEWHERE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: While waiting for the next train, Jerry lays down to rest his eyes and is awoken by a school of glowing fish. This catapults him into a journey through his subconscious, exhibiting his conflicting emotions of panic and calm.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Morris Callegari
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: North America Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 29th @ 6:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Morris Callegari is a 3D Artist from Berkeley, CA. He is currently a CG Generalist in visual effects.
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FOLLOWING THE COMET (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A film about a young man coming to terms with an incoming Comet. Understanding the persistence of nature while facing the end of all things.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Fin Handel
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 29th @ 6:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Whether he was watching the clouds float along or listening to seagulls fly over him, Fin could always find meaning in the little things. He expresses his thoughts, dreams and feelings through his work; often allowing room for the viewers to make open interpretations.
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I CAN’T RELAX HERE (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Richard tries to enjoy his vacation
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Peter Javidpour
GENRE: Comedy, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: North America Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Nov. 5th @ 1:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Peter Javidpour is an artist, filmmaker, and interactive director from Los Angeles.
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LITTLE WOLF: THE WOLF TRAIL (USA)
SYNOPSIS: Can a young boy survive the supernatural creatures of the wild with nothing but a bow and his wits? With his clan totem at his side, Little Wolf just might stand a chance.
RATINGS GUIDE: Strong Violence
DIRECTOR: Jesse Cowan
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Monday, Nov. 1st @ 3:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jesse Cowan is an independent animator, graphic novelist, and film maker. Beginning his media career in the early 2000s, Jesse has worked as a freelance 3D artist, as well as professor of Media, 3D, and Animaton at The Art Institute, and George Mason University. Jesse was able to put his impressive animation skills to the test at Speakeasy FX, where he would form lasting friendships and create elegant and appealing media for public broadcast. Setting his sights higher, Jesse began the momentous task of starting his own brand with an independent media company.
He has since brought his own characters and stories to life, and begun self-publishing a series of independent graphic novels known as “Little Wolf”, which draws heavily from Native American myth, and continues to enjoy success as an underground media phenomenon through books, comics, games, and animation. Today, Jesse has gathered various colleagues into his indie media team to collaborate with artists across the globe and bring Little Wolf to life in the way he always intended, through the art of animation.
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MONSTER ENCOUNTERS (GERMANY)
SYNOPSIS: Humans encounter various monsters, but each encounter has a consequence.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: James Smith
GENRE: Horror, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Nov. 6th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’SBIO: I’m James Smith, a 25 year old filmmaker/animator. I’ve been creating films using the stop-motion technique for over ten years. Most of my animated films are uploaded on my YouTube channel with a view count of over 3 million.
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ON / OFF (ARGENTINA)
SYNOPSIS: Endless distractions threaten to destroy creativity.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Nicolas Villarrea
GENRE: Fantastic, Fantasy
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 29th @ 6:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Nicolas Villarreal is an award winning animator that was born an raised in Argentina. He has worked for several Animation studios including Walt Disney, sega and PlayStation. His films Nieta, Pasteurized, the house of colors and things are looking up have all being Awarded. He is currently working on his first feature film The Aces.
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POSTED NO HUNTING (USA / UK)
SYNOPSIS: An encounter in the woods is captured on a trail cam.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense Images
DIRECTOR: Alisa Stern
GENRE: Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: None
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 3rd @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Alisa is an animator, puppet maker, and filmmaker in Brooklyn, New York. She has over a decade of experience in the animation industry working on commercials, music videos, kids’ TV, social media, as well as her own award-winning animated shorts. Posted No Hunting is her first horror film.
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SCARLET RED (BELGIUM)
SYNOPSIS: Terror and disease rage furiously abroad. Inside the deep seclusion of a secured palace, King Prospero entertains himself and his fellowmen at a masked ball. Unusual magnificence is within but as time passes a danger creeps closer…
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Intense Images
DIRECTOR: Toon Loenders
GENRE: Fantastic, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Wednesday, Nov. 3rd @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’SBIO: After his studies at the film school RITS Brussels, Toon did animation work for “Jan zonder Vrees” and “The Pink Panther” at Penfilm. 90-ties: Toon Loenders starts the production company Kladaradatsch! Stopmotion and a typical visual design became a trademark. Opening sequences for legendary TV-shows ”Huis van Wantrouwen” “Morgen Maandag”, De Droomfabriek” … and later independent and commissioned films like “Biodiversity” got awarded. Since 2010 Toon Loenders works as a director at Slammer!, his new art film company, and teaches animation at Luca School of Arts. With Slammer! he makes the docu-animation TV-series EXITUS for Canvas and NPO , co-directed Paul Driessesen with THE ORIGIN OF SOUND and now a shortfilm SCARLET RED
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THE DARK ODYSSEY (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A brave captain and his faithful mate transport a captive warrior, who holds The Inventory of The Mind, across the interstellar line. When their ship is forced to navigate an asteroid field, their mission is jeopardized.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Violence, Intense Images
DIRECTOR: Michael Lavine
GENRE: Sci-Fi, The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: Utah Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Oct. 29th @ 6:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Esteemed rock photographer Michael Lavine, renowned for his iconic portraits of musicians such Kurt Cobain, Notorious B.I.G, and David Bowie, has been making his own brand of visually unique images of celebrities for over 30 years. Michael has written and directed several dramatic short films. His short “Weekend Away” (starring Sophia Takal) played at numerous festivals. And his latest project “The Dark Odyssey”, a metaphysical sci-fi stop motion animation short film is playing at festivals around the country now.
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THE FEAST (USA)
SYNOPSIS: A man enjoys a strange, but delicious, meal.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence
DIRECTOR: Trent Shy
GENRE: Horror, Comedy
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Saturday, Nov. 6th @ 11:00 AM
DIRECTOR’SBIO: Trent Shy is an American Stop Motion animator that specializes in clay animation. He started animating clay on his kitchen floor and now operates as a professional one man studio out of Charleston, SC. His animations have been viewed over 100 million times on Youtube and he’s also worked for large companies like MTV and Bleacher Report. Most of his work is in the horror genre and he attributes his love of the genre to “too many horror films as a child.”
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THE MECHANICAL DANCER (USA)
SYNOPSIS: As an eccentric showman takes drastic steps to achieve fame, the fates of several characters will be decided over the course of one perilous night in his mechanical theater.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly, Mild Violence
DIRECTOR: Jenna Jaillet
GENRE: Fantasy, Horror
PREMIERE STATUS: Regional Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Tuesday, Nov. 2nd @ 5:00 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: Jenna Jaillet is an animator, writer and director whose work has appeared in features, shorts, commercials, games, and mixed reality experiences. In 2010 she won the Student Academy Award for her film “Departure of Love”. Her latest animation, “The Mechanical Dancer,” was created in collaboration with ThunderCrab Studios and premiered in 2020.
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THE WEST PATCH (USA)
SYNOPSIS: In a 90’s cartoon where the characters only know happy endings, one child stumbles onto a hidden tragedy that unravels everything innocent about their world.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences / Family Friendly
DIRECTOR: Rachel & Hannah Mangan
GENRE: The Beyond
PREMIERE STATUS: World Premiere
SCREENING DATE: Friday, Nov. 5th @ 4:30 PM
DIRECTOR’S BIO: The West Patch directors were made for each other – literally! Twins Rachel and Hannah Mangan create the duo that helms the West Patch and keeps it on course. Rachel has a master’s in screenwriting while Hannah has a bachelor’s in animation, both with backgrounds in fine art and graphic design. They work together to build a team of creative independence.
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