2022 Wake Forest Film Festival – Playbill

S C R E E N I N G S | M E E T D I R E C TSTUDENT O R S & P R O D UFILMS CERS Not Just a Name Director: De’Onna “Tree” Young-Stephens Writer: De’Onna “Tree” Young-Stephens Producer: Madeline Gamero

FILM FESTIVAL WAKE FOREST

Not Just a Name explores the stigma and racial bias experienced by African-Americans with unique sounding names, as well as the historical origin of these names in America.

The Big L

Director: Joey Moore Writer: Willow Augusta Longbrake Producer: Sam Varriale, Julia Lofton Walpole

Inspired by characters from her favorite comic books, a young girl becomes her own superhero in an effort to stand up to the bullies at her school.

A LIGHT IN THE FOREST Sideways Director: Daniel Robert Smith Writer: Ben Trauner Producer:Thatcher Johnson-Welden, Sam Varriale

Best friends Kurt and Carter find out that living together may not be as easy as they thought when their competing lifestyles begin to crash.

After a huge argument, Carter wakes up to find his gravity has shifted to the wall. He has gone sideways.

Care MARCH 4-5Take| 2022

Director: Cameron McCormack Writer: Ashley Miller Screening schedule and film ratings can be viewed at wakeforestrencen.org Producers: Emily Drake Padgett, Jordan T. Moore Tickets: rcboxoffice@wakeforestnc.gov | 919.435.9458 $15 for all films for both days - one ticket price

Mature audiences - not suitable forTasked ages 13 and withunder raising her younger siblings, a teenage girl must decide

whether to pursue a social life or continue as a caretaker in the wake of her mother’s addiction.

405 S BROOKS ST, WAKE FOREST wakeforestrencen.org | 919.435.9458

2022 WAKE FOREST FILM FESTIVAL WELCOME The Wake Forest Film Festival was created from the dreams of three like-minded women with a passion to evoke social change in their community: Cathy Gouge, Wake Forest Renaissance Center for the Arts Manager (2015-2019), Gauri Singh, filmmaker and resident, and Kimberly Soden, Cultural Arts Board member (2018-2020).

These women discovered they shared the desire to bring awareness to the fast growing, diverse community of Wake Forest by creating a film festival that would attract independent film artists from across the globe.

After numerous meetings and conversations, festival founders Gouge, Singh, and Soden were joined by other community volunteers and a committee was formed to launch the first Wake Forest Film Festival in 2018. That first festival featured films from across the globe and attracted filmmakers and industry professionals.

The year 2022 marks the third year of the Wake Forest Film Festival and is themed “A Light in the Forest.” The two-day festival features 33 films in four categories: student, documentary, horror, and animation. These films shed light on issues and events that impact us all. Wake Forest welcomes filmmakers and industry professionals from across the United States to share their art of storytelling through the medium of film.

The festival would not be possible without the support of the Town of Wake Forest, our elected officials, the Renaissance Centre staff, the Town’s Communications team, and numerous volunteers.

Thank you all for your contributions and dedication to the arts in our community.

We hope our festival will bring light to your world and that you leave the Renaissance Centre enriched, enlightened, and entertained. Enjoy the festival.

Debbie Dunn Renaissance Centre Manager

SCHEDULE FRIDAY, MARCH 4 6:00-8:00 pm

BLOCK 1 | STUDENT FILMS

They Are Wolves Interstate 8 Just Say Yes You Know His Name

8:00-9:30 pm

BLOCK 2 | STUDENT FILMS

Standstill

Take Care Sideways

echappe Lost in the Red Snow Ruth & Nick: A Confectionery Tale 8Teen

Not Just A Name The Big L

SATURDAY, MARCH 5 1:00-3:30 pm

BLOCK 3 | DOCUMENTARY SHORTS A Girl Can Change the World Pink, White & Blue

Short Life of Trouble: The Legend of G.B. Grayson Becoming Black Lawyers

4:00-5:30 pm

BLOCK 4 | DOCUMENTARY FULL LENGTH

Vinyl Nation

5:30-6:30 pm

VIP Dinner (by invitation only)

6:30-8 pm

BLOCK 5 | HORROR

Birthday Boy Movie Night Momma, Don’t Go

8:00-9 pm

BLOCK 6 | ANIMATION

The Lion Herder Tiger Blanket Mundance Rocky Road

The Man of the Trees The Roots of Lacrosse

Spread Among Us Kill the Cat Nobodies

Purple In Our Nature A Viral Spiral

STUDENT FILMS BLOCK 1 They Are Wolves Director: Caroline Knight Writers: Emma Morgan, Brian Storck Producer: Julia Lofton Walpole A young girl begins to doubt the teachings of the cult in which she was raised as she slowly uncovers the manipulative nature of their leader and the truths that he hides to gain power.

Interstate 8 Director, Writer: Anne Thieme Producer: Lina Mareike Zopfs In the southern US, two young women meet by chance in a police car and, without speaking a word to each other, are confronted with the injustice hovering above them.

Just Say Yes Director: Katie Narsavage Producer: Mitch Waldman “Just Say Yes” is about a lonesome beaver searching for true love. In his quest for affection he faces firm rejection time and time again before finally finding the “yes” he desired.

You Know His Name Director: Clarke Phillips Writers: Desiree Winns, Clarke Phillips Producer: Robert Mageau A day-in-the-life story of a black teenager in America, the film follows our nameless protagonist as he prepares for a photo shoot with his close friend Zoe. Dodging his mother’s requests and staying out later than he should, he and Zoe discuss their futures, their dreams and his insecurities, culminating in a dark and difficult drive home.

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STUDENT FILMS échappé Director: Rebecca Walters Writers: Rebecca Walters, Brandon Rieff Producers: Brandon Rieff, Julia Lofton Walpole When faced with the opportunity for a solo performance, an aging dancer must question whether her moral compass and personal integrity are important enough to stand up to a choreographer’s unwanted sexual advances.

Lost in the Red Snow Director, Writer: Raunak Kapoor Producers: Jacob Fleming Briguglio, Billy Costello In 1970s Kashmir, a child soldier who is injured delivering a package for his handler finds himself under the roof of a man and woman who care for him as their own. When pressures mount against the boy to return to the fight, the threat of involving the family in the struggle causes him to question his role in the conflict.

Ruth & Nick: A Confectionery Tale Director, Writer, Producer: Carter Rostron This stop-motion animated short tells the bittersweet story of Nick, a piece of candy who falls in love with a girl who seems out of reach.

This film was made by 15-year-old Carter Rostron of Kansas City, using cardboard, construction paper, and a bunch of candy.

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STUDENT 8Teen Director, Writer: Shao Lin Producers: Kyle Tso-Chih Yeh, Winnie Chen Jay lives in a small village with train tracks that lead to the big city of Taipei. At the end of the summer, Jay and his best friends plan to board the train with smiles and dreams of college and beyond. But the pathway to get on the train is complicated. With the absence of his parents and his drunken grandfather breaking a leg, this further obligates Jay to take care of the aging drunkard and the family business. As dreams of a life far away from the village begin to fade, a beautiful girl from the big city enters Jay’s life. Like a mirage, the girl fills Jay with fantasies of hope, excitement and possibilities but once more he is shattered when the girl leaves the village while Jay looks onward into the night and the unknown of where his life will lead.

BLOCK 2 Standstill Director: Patricio Camara Rubio Writers: Clay Bloodworth, Tanner Poff Producer: Sam Varriale In a desperate attempt to maintain sobriety, a recovering young addict grapples with the need to leave his loved ones behind.

Take Care Director: Cameron McCormack Writer: Ashley Miller Producers: Emily Drake Padgett, Jordan T. Moore Tasked with raising her younger siblings, a teenage girl must decide whether to pursue a social life or continue as a caretaker in the wake of her mother’s addiction.

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STUDENT Sideways Director: Daniel Robert Smith Writer: Ben Trauner Producers: Thatcher Johnson-Welden, Sam Varriale Best friends Kurt and Carter find out that living together may not be as easy as they thought when their competing lifestyles begin to crash.

After a huge argument, Carter wakes up to find his gravity has shifted to the wall. He has gone sideways.

Not Just a Name Director, Writer: De’Onna “Tree” Young-Stephens Producer: Madeline Gamero “Not Just a Name” explores the stigma and racial bias experienced

by African-Americans with unique sounding names, as well as the historical origin of these names in America.

The Big L Director: Joey Moore Writer: Willow Augusta Longbrake Producers: Sam Varriale, Julia Lofton Walpole Inspired by characters from her favorite comic books, a young girl becomes her own superhero in an effort to stand up to the bullies at her school.

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DOCUMENTARY BLOCK | 3 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS A Girl Can Change the World Director, Writer, Producer: Andrea Ureno There is not a documentary out there like this.

The stars, these real-life girls, collaborated in front and behind the camera with the Documentarian and her team to have their voices and opinions heard. Two heels on the ground veteran feminists elaborate their experience and with archival footage introduce the audience to the Equal Rights Amendment. A girl can really change the world.

Short Life of Trouble: The Legend of G.B. Grayson Director, Writer: Kelley St. Germain G. B. Grayson was a blind fiddler from Laurel Bloomery, TN and one of the most influential musicians in the history of bluegrass and country music. Grayson’s most famous songs include Tom Dooley, Train 45, Handsome and Short Life of Trouble.

Becoming Black Lawyers Director: Evangeline M. Mitchell Producers: Evangeline M. Mitchell, Jalene Mack When these five Black lawyers set out on their journeys to receive a professional legal education, they did not realize that they would have to struggle against additional battles even more challenging than the rigors of learning the law in a hypercompetitive environment.

They discover the contradictions of studying in an institution that idealistically represents “justice” for all.

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DOCUMENTARY Pink, White & Blue Director: Ash Malone Producers: Epiphany James, Ellie Emfinger, Erin Gallagher After years of transitioning in front of a camera, Aydian Dowling discusses how allowing his transition to be visible via YouTube has helped the trans community as a whole grow in pride and allyship.

The Man of the Trees Director: Andrea Trivero Producer: Pacefuturo Onlus “The Man of the Trees” explores the life of Daniel Balima and how he turned the challenge of living a life with disability into opportunity.

Balima lost the use of his legs after contracting polio as a child.

Changing adversity to success, he has given life to more than a million trees, helping change his drought ridden country.

The Roots of Lacrosse Directors: Shelby Tsioweri:iohsta Adams, Joanne Storkan Many lacrosse players and coaches often don’t know that the origins of the game of lacrosse has it’s roots in North American Indigenous nations. This short documentary provides a brief history of the sacred and cultural aspects of this sport, originally played for the Creator, as well as for the health and welfare of the people. The movie also defines the three types of North American, Indigenous lacrosse: Iroquois, Great Lakes, and Southeastern.

BLOCK 4 | DOCUMENTARY FULL LENGTH Vinyl Nation Directors: Christopher Boone, Kevin Smokler Producers: Christopher Boone, Kevin Smokler A documentary dig into the resurgence of vinyl records, the diversification of vinyl fans, and the connective power of music.

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HORROR BLOCK 5 Birthday Boy Director, Writer: Alexander Julian Producers: Alexander Julian, Dan Sellers, Sammie Cassell An abusive dad gets his just desserts on his birthday.

Movie Night Director, Writer: Connor Reveley Producer: Erin Gallagher When a young horror-obsessed loner tries to expand his collection by stealing a cursed VHS tape, he faces a demon that feeds off of his addiction, and he must fight it off before it can swallow him whole.

Momma, Don’t Go Director, Writer, Producer: Rafael De Leon Jr. A mother and daughter struggle to survive a deadly home invasion.

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HORROR Spread Among Us Director: Travis Stewart Writer, Producer: Devin Peluso As a horrifying disease spreads across the country, a young couple must decide what to do with their daughter after she is infected.

Kill the Cat Director: Brian Storck Writers: Brian Storck, Cane Walden Producer: Cane Walden Haley (17) would love to be able to ignore her clingy little sister Claire forever, but when the kid inadvertently adopts a parasitic demon cat, Haley must kill it nine times in order to save her.

Nobodies Director: Adriano Falconi Writer: Ken Hanenberg Producer: Michael Davis Coincidence pairs an affable hitman and an uptight professor at a secluded locale as they dispose of their misdeeds.

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ANIMATION BLOCK 6 The Lion Herder Director: Roxana Ponce-Salas Producers: Sage Lee, Carson Lynch When troublemaker Mary’s prank crosses the line with her serious Ma, she ends up unex­pectedly befriending unlikely friends. This unlikely friendship sparks Ma’s protective side in fear of the repercussions that may come with it. However, something sinister lurks beneath everyone’s noses.

Tiger Blanket Director: Caro Knight Writers: Ashley Miller, Robert Mageau Producer: Julia Lofton Walpoler An abuela prepares for her night with her grandchildren, Luisito and Maria, with loads of Hispanic fun. Unfortunately, the grandkids have no cultural connection to their grandmother, nor do they want to be there.

As a last ditch effort, Abuela conjures up a story of the Tiger Blanket, in hopes that the tale will break through to her nietos.

Mundance Directors: Abby Davenport, Aiden Winter-Deely Writer: Aiden Winter-Deely Producer: Nick Bailey Maria is tired of her mundane office job and wishes her life were like a musical.

Rocky Road Directors: Madison Crisp, Victoria Sosa Writers: Madison Crisp, Victoria Sosa

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“Rocky Road” is the story of a socially anxious foster child, Maní, connecting to her community through her adopted mother’s ice cream stand. As she grows up, Maní learns the importance of family, community, and self-confidence through her foster mother’s teachings.

ANIMATION

Purple Director: Claire Allen Producers: Cane Walden, Jordan T. Moore “Purple” is a film about toxic relationships and the lasting effects that they leave behind. Red and Blue are a couple who enjoy dancing with one another. However, when Blue grows tired of dancing and Red wants to continue, their dance becomes a struggle. Their struggle turns them into an amalgamation of hatred and anger where Blue tries to leave, but Red keeps pulling them back in. Once they have separated, they both realize that the memory of this relationship will affect them for the rest of their lives.

In Our Nature Director, Writer: Echo Wilson Producer: Nick Bailey An animated documentary exploring humanity’s relationship with nature through a world of interviewed “animals.”

A Viral Spiral Director: Steve Cutts Writers: Steve Cutts, Niko Koffeman, Linda Broersen Producers: Linda Broersen, Monique van Dijk Armor, Karen Soeters Climate change seems like a problem of a far distant future. We just go on with business as usual. But climate change, just like the loss of biodiversity and the current pandemic, is a consequence of how we treat nature. Corona is a wake-up call that has disrupted all of our lives.

All attention goes towards solving the current problem: controlling the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But prevention is better than cure. To do this, we have to look at how infectious diseases emerge and spread.

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2022 WAKE FOREST FILM FESTIVAL ABOUT THE AWARD The 2022 Wake Forest Film Festival awards were created by artist Jordan Parah. It is a miniature replica of the sculpture that is on display and welcomes all visitors to the Renaissance Centre. Parah challenges the intrinsic properties of metals and form them into unique, harmonious compositions that exemplify coexistence, creating balance and harmony out of diversity. She seeks to connect contrasting metal forms, shapes and colors to create a nexus between the sculpture and the fundamental principle, that all people are different, yet all are equal.

Parah graduated from East Carolina University in 2014 with a BFA in Sculpture and minor in Art History. Her works are on display in public and private collections throughout the southeast including North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Parah is the owner of Parahdise Sculpture located in Greenville, NC.

2022 WAKE FOREST FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS Student Film Award Winner

The Big L | Director Joey Moore

Documentary Film Award Winner

The Roots of Lacrosse Directors Shelby Tsioweri:johsta Adams and Joanne Storkan

Horror Film Award Winner Nobodies | Director Adriano Falconi Animation Award Winner

A Viral Spiral | Director Steve Cutts

Best Film

A Viral Spiral | Director Steve Cutts

A special thank you to the following volunteer film judges: Jonnie Anderson Michele Barnes Jason Bullock Ele’Jah Carter Amanda Cochrane Susan Coyne 14

Candace Davis Michael Davis Alex Druar Ron Early Derek Ellington Jim Hill

Matt Hoh Debra Horton Anil Makhija Beth McGinnis Mary Petretich Louis Roussell

Michael Selna Gauri Singh Kimberly Soden Allison Tuszynski Reilly Walters

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