BLOCK CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING FILMS:
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DISPEL (USA)
UTAH PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: When young Lizzie learns her older brother is moving out, she realizes she will be left at home alone with her monster of a mother. Armed with the lessons of her favorite TV show, ‘Celeste Skygoode’, Lizzie battles to save her mother from the dark forces that have transformed her.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Kylie Eaton
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (3): Best Fantasy Short, Best Screenplay – Short, Best Score – Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Kylie Eaton is a filmmaker with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and all things other-worldly. Originally from the Midwest, her earliest memories are of traveling to far off places through literature and cinema. With over a decade of work experience in Los Angeles, Kylie started her career in post-production and has been working professionally as a director for the past four years. Her directing experience includes music videos for major labels (Republic Records, Capitol Records), short films, and branded and lifestyle content. 43 QUINTILLION, her latest narrative short, won BEST DRAMA SHORT at the 2018 Sioux Empire Film Festival and premiered online at Directors Notes. Kylie is a member of the Alliance of Women Directors.
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LIVONIJA (USA / LATVIA)
USA/INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: 13th Century. The peaceful life of the Baltic tribes is interrupted by the arrival of Crusaders from the west. With the tensions rising, people search for the advice of their leader – Bearslayer (Lāčplēsis) – but his location has been unknown for many years.
RATINGS GUIDE: Violence, Adult Content
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (1): Best Utah Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Walter Mirkss & Conor Long studied and graduated together from the University of Utah’s Film & Media department. During their studies they collaborated on multiple projects and established themselves as a team. Walter, originally from Latvia, introduced Conor to Latvian folklore and legends, which laid the foundation for “Livonija”.
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SATELLITE (USA)
WORLD PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: A girl meets her unusual neighbor and discovers that home is not only a place but a state of being.
RATINGS GUIDE: Adult Content, All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Asher Jelinsky
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (1): Best Micro Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Asher Jelinsky is a Los Angeles based writer/director originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. Asher earned their MFA in Directing at the world-renowned American Film Institute Conservatory and holds BA degrees with honors in Media Studies and Public Health from Pitzer College. They enjoy telling poetic, character-driven stories that explore nuanced relationships and outsider perspectives. Asher’s latest short film MILLER & SON was nominated for the Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand International Film Festival. Asher is currently developing a number of feature scripts and tv pilots.
Robert Nachman is a director & director of photography based in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of American Film Institute Conservatory and has had his work featured in film festivals around the world.
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THE LOSSEN (UK)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: In the dead of night an other-worldly visitor forces a successful business woman in the final moments of her life, to confront her lost dream before it’s too late.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Colin Skevington
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (2): Best Fantasy Short, Best Actor – Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Colin Skevington is a UK based writer and director who has been making films since he was a teenager. His first professional role was as a runner working on a series of horror films in Australia. Back in the UK he worked on a number of television dramas for HTV and Channel Four. He went on to work as the head of the film unit for a major UK-based charity, producing corporate, campaigning and promotional films as well as wildlife documentaries. He has created several television formats including In the Dark hosted by Julian Clary, which piloted with ITV in the UK and sold to 39 territories and wrote scripts for the BBC2 entertainment show ‘Full House’ with Francine Stock, Simon Callow and John Sessions. Colin started Moon Watcher in 2006 and has since worked for a range of commissioning bodies. He has become known for producing hard-hitting and thought provoking social issue dramas including ‘Unbeatable’; ‘Our Secret World’ and ‘Last Licks’.
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THE SECRET BOX: THE RISE OF PAPERBOY (IRELAND / AUSTRIA)
WORLD PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: As part of THE SECRET BOX Trilogy, THE RISE OF PAPERBOY comes to us as a stand-alone motion picture short, introducing us to a 7-year-old Paperboy and letting us witness his first encounter with ancient paranormal forces in 1885. An abandoned street-kid in the docks of New England, Codie ‘Paperboy’ Basket is present when old adventurer Abe T. Huxley and his bunch of henchmen fail to open a lost wooden box. Facing this group of shady giants, Codie needs to pluck up all his courage and put his mind to the test, being the only one capable of unlocking the box. A path opens in front of Codie, that will lead him to become the true ringmaster of moving pictures, and the founder of the quirky Entertainment Network KTC® in 1964.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: G.S. Leitgeb
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (4): Best Fantasy Short, Best Score – Short, Best Production Design – Short, Best Costumes – Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Having directed numerous music-videos and commercials, THE SECRET BOX marks the international Drama Short-Film Debut for Austrian creator G.S. Leitgeb – with his current feature film in development, pursuing the same vibe, pace & colour. Following in the footsteps of well-known masters T. Burton, G. del Toro and W. Anderson, G.S. Leitgeb combines his work as writer, designer and director – moulding a fictional world filled with adventure, fantasy & mystery. Garnished with a sense of slapstick-comedy as the cherry on top. Inside the Dublin & Vienna based World-Building Studio KTC®Slingshot, he’s leading a Team of Creatives formerly involved in The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland, Penny Dreadful or A Series of Unfortunate Events – offering services for writing, design and directing.
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TROLL BRIDGE (AUSTRALIA)
UTAH/REGIONAL PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: An old barbarian and his talking horse embark on a suicidal quest to battle a bridge troll. Troll Bridge is live-action / hand animated hybrid, lovingly crafted from the Discworld fairy-tale by Sir Terry Pratchett.
RATINGS GUIDE: All Audiences
DIRECTOR: Daniel Knight
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (4): Best Fantasy Short, Best Director – Short, Best Actor – Short, Best VFX – Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Daniel has been directing for film and theatre for over twenty years and has won awards in both. In 2003 he commenced work on TROLL BRIDGE a fifteen-year odyssey which has served as the spine of his filmmaker training. He has also written and directed a clutter of music videos and other short films including THE MORNING AFTER, UNDEAD TED, GOLDILOCKED, and BLOOD ON THE GAME DICE. No stranger to Pratchett’s work, Daniel has also directed WYRD SISTERS and SOURCERY for stage (the later he also adapted) and performed in another three. Daniel’s personal work is bent towards character-driven, fantasy / comedy, so is naturally attracted to Terry’s material.
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WHEN WE DANCE (USA)
WORLD PREMIERE
SYNOPSIS: On the night of his wife’s funeral, a Widower finds an old record of the song that was playing the night they first met. He plays the song and her ghost returns to him for a brief moment, causing him to question everything he believes in.
RATINGS GUIDE: Mild Language
DIRECTOR: Charles Pieper
AWARDS NOMINATIONS (2): Best Actor – Short, Best Score – Short
DIRECTOR’S / FILMMAKER’S BIO: Charles Pieper is a filmmaker living in Los Angeles. He’s created numerous short films and has written several feature screenplays. He studied film at Emerson, FAMU, CalArts, and NCSA. His works have been seen at festivals in Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, Toronto, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Kentucky, Poland, Madrid, Kiev, Tokyo, and more.
Kenny J. Wright, is a writer and producer living in Los Angeles.
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