NFFTY 2018 Festival Guide

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12 th ANNUAL NATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FOR TALENTED YOUTH

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NESHOLM FAMILY LECTURE HALL

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OPENING NIGHT GALA SIFF UPTOWN CINEMA 6:30

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MORNING ECLECTIC 10:30AM A GUIDE TO GROWING UP 11:30AM

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FEMINIST FILM NOW 12:30PM A GLOBE LESS TRAVELED 1:30PM

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POWERFUL GRIT 2:30PM HUMAN CONDITION 3:30PM

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HAPPY HOUR SHORTS

BEER TASTING 5:30PM SCREENING 6:30PM

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FRIDAY NIGHT SHORTS 8:30PM

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THE LAST LAUGH 10:30PM

10 A BRING THE KIDS 10:30AM

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CINEMATIC JOURNEY 12:30PM EDITING WORKSHOP 1:30PM

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48 HOUR FILM OFF 10:30AM

ART IN MOTION 11:30AM

EXPERIMENTAL VISIONS 2:30PM VITAL VOICES 3:30PM

THROWBACKS 1:00PM WORKS IN PROGRESS 3:00PM

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NEXT LEVEL 5:30PM CENTERPIECE 7:30PM EDGE OF YOUR SEAT 9:30PM

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COME AS YOU ARE 12:30PM REEL ANIMATION 1:30PM

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STORIES OF US 2:30PM OUTTA THIS WORLD 3:30PM

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CLOSING NIGHT 6:00PM

VARIETY HOUR 11:00AM MASTERCLASS: ASKE BANG 11:00AM MUSICAL MASTERPIECE 3:00PM

THE VERA PROJECT

Welcome to NFFTY 2018!

Well, here we are. 12 years in. When I think back to the meetings we held in early-2006 to discuss the idea that Jesse Harris had for a film festival centered around youth filmmakers, I’m struck by the amount of work it took to get us where we are today. This did not happen overnight - it was a dedicated effort by a small group of people who wanted to see this important dream become a reality.

OFFICIAL SCREENING GALLERY/ EMPATHY LOUNGE 11:00AM - 3:00PM

CREATING WORLDS PANEL 3:00-4:30PM

People like Jocelyn RC, one of NFFTY’s Co-Founders, who saw the need for a forum where young filmmakers could be their true selves and let their bleeding hearts and unfiltered ideas play out in front of an audience on the big screen. Early supporters like P. Scott Cummins backed this effort financially, Bud Harrington served as Board Secretary for 10 years, Donna Brown got roped in as an early Board President and has never left, Lindsey LeDuc ushered in a new era of growth and stability, and Stefanie Malone brought a new vision and commitment to young women creators. There have also been countless other supporters, leaders, board members, and community members who have had a major impact on where we are today.

With that said, NFFTY would not exist were it not for Kathy Reichgerdt.

When the idea for NFFTY was in its infancy, Kathy had the knowledge and the dedication to nurture it into adolescence, serving as Treasurer and brain for NFFTY’s first 7 years. She worked silently behind the scenes, mentoring young filmmakers and their parents alike, drawing from her own experience as Jesse Harris’s mother. She saw infinite potential in filmmakers she hardly even knew.

AR STORYTELLING DEMO 11:00AM - 12:30PM OFFICIAL SCREENING GALLERY/ EMPATHY LOUNGE 10:00AM - 4:30PM

OFFICIAL SCREENING GALLERY/ EMPATHY LOUNGE 10:00AM - 4:30PM

In April 2018, Kathy Reichgerdt passed away after a battle with cancer.

We owe everything to her. In honor of her commitment to and love for young filmmakers, we dedicate this festival to her memory.

From day one, our mission has been to empower the next generation of filmmakers. We’ve never wavered from that goal, consistently re-committing to being a more equitable, inclusive festival in service of the idea that a young filmmaker can and will change the world. This year, we’re celebrating young creators worldwide with an incredible lineup of films and VR/360 projects, over 50% of which are directed by female-identifying filmmakers. The tide of representation is changing in the industry and we’re proud to push the wave forward at this year’s festival.

In the past 12 years, we’ve struggled and made mistakes; we are constantly evolving to keep up with the changing media landscape. What drives us forward everyday is YOU. The young filmmaker out there who gets to sit in the audience this year for the first time as your film plays on a big screen. You deserve it. You are worth it. Follow your heart and the spotlight will follow you.

With love and gratitude,

Kyle Seago Managing Director & Co-Founder, NFFTY

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NFFTYX is back and better than ever, showcasing the latest creative thinking in immersive cinematic storytelling. This 3-day event features an Official Screening Gallery highlighting VR/360º films made by emerging creators 24-and-under as well as a slate of other exciting experiences.

All NFFTYX showcases and events are taking place at THE VERA PROJECT and are FREE!

CREATING WORLDS PANEL FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 3:00 - 4:30 PM THE VERA PROJECT Industry leaders from different realms of VR/ AR/360 will discuss content-making and how they go about creating spaces, stories, and worlds they live in.

EMPATHY LOUNGE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

AUGMENTED REALITY MURAL Witness Charity Everett’s project “Go Back Fetch It” - a uniquely styled augmented reality story experience that makes a commentary about the origins and evolution of communication, storytelling, technology, and the human race. “Go Back Fetch It” has revolutionized storytelling in augmented reality by pairing traditional storytelling techniques, bleeding edge technology, history, data visualization, and interactivity to create a fully fleshed out and stylized narrative art art edutainment episodic piece.

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THE VERA PROJECT Enter an immersive world full of experiences made by some of the world’s best creators, designed to immerse you in the lives of others.

HOVERING

REFUGEES

FUERZA IMPREVISTA

A transcendent tale of life-giving water brought to a dying planet. Overrun by a singular organism’s relentless proliferation, a massive celestial event sets the cycle of extinction and re-birth in motion.

Constructed largely from physical elements digitallyscanned in nature, “Hovering” offers an extraterrestrial virtual world built from terrestrial artifacts. Conor Grebel creates stunning visual effects artistry by combining both modern digital and traditional analog techniques. “Hovering,” scored by Shigeto, is part of a collaborative audiovisual series of imaginary landscapes called “Territories,” assembled by the 79Ancestors label.

A SIMA 2017 Virtual Reality Finalist, “Refugees” is a 360 documentary about the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Thousands have left their homes in search for a better future, and in their search they encounter dangerous obstacles. The creators went to Lesbos, Greece, where migrants take the leap from Turkey, putting their lives at risk, and captured some of the most intense moments in thrilling virtual reality.

“Fuerza Imprevista”, or “Unforeseen Strength” is a collaboration between the Latin Grammy awardwinners, Mariachi Flor De Toloache and Leyenda Dance Company. Modern interpretations of traditional Mexican song and dance combine to delight in the spirit of Cinco De Mayo.

MY AFRICA

ASTEROIDS!

TRACES

Across the globe, wildlife -- and people -- are in trouble.

Poaching, land degradation and climate change threaten many of the world’s most iconic animals – and strain resources people need to survive. Yet there are signs of hope, as some communities are reknitting the bonds enabling people and wildlife to live together.

“MY AFRICA” transports viewers to the untamed rangelands of Kenya, where elephant populations are climbing, and communities are working for the long-term success of the species. The Elephant Keeper, companion piece, presents an interactive experience, putting audiences in the shoes of a keeper at the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.

“Asteroids!” is the Emmy-award winning sequel to the Emmy-award winning and bestselling VR experience Invasion! Having been thwarted by bunnies in their invasion, the bumbling aliens Mac and Cheez retreat into deep space, teleporting onto their spaceship.

With the help of their trusty pink robot dog Peas, they must rally to save their ship and its crew when danger approaches.

DEAR ANGELICA

VALEN’S REEF

From Emmy Award winning Oculus Story Studio comes “Dear Angelica”, a journey through the magical and dreamlike ways we remember our loved ones. Entirely painted inside of VR, Dear Angelica plays out in a series of memories that unfold around you. An immersive illustrative short story starring Geena Davis and Mae Whitman.

In “Valen’s Reef,” join local fisherman-turned-coralreef-scientist and CI staffer Ronald Mambrasar as he monitors the reefs with his young son, Valen. Ronald tells Valen the story of how the area was almost destroyed and how the community-led conservation initiative restored it. As a native Papuan and father of four, Ronald shares what it means to protect his home for Valen’s generation and shows just how successful conservation can be when local people are empowered to take a leading role.

Awarded a 2017 SIMA Jury Prize for Experimental Advocacy, “Traces” is a cinematic virtual reality film exploring the memories of one woman living with Alzheimer’s disease. In the film, the main character Willie White, an 88-year old woman living with dementia, recounts her time as a young girl living in the fields near Mason, Tennessee. As her words transport us back in time, traces of memory fall in and out—the old wooden farmhouse where she was raised, the coconut cakes her mom would make on Sunday mornings, her favorite white dress, the hymns she’d sing in the choir at church. Through these vibrant recollections, illustrated through re-enactments, we journey with Willie as she searches for the words to one of her favorite songs and the meaning of memory in this new and fragmented landscape.

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MY PEOPLE, OUR STORIES: MARAH

NFFTYX OFFICIAL SCREENING GALLERY

Marah - 18 Jordan Marah shows her life and dreams inside Za’atari as a young mother and aspiring filmmaker. “My husband helps and supports me to achieve my dreams,to become a professional photographer and a great filmmaker. My message to every girl in the world is, ‘Do not stop dreaming for any reason.’”

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM THE VERA PROJECT Join us in the 360º shorts gallery to pull on a headset and be transported into a Syrian refugee camp, into an animated music video, or into the POV of a bullet as it travels from gun to target. From start to finish, these NFFTYX filmmakers are exploring expansive new ways of storytelling using immersive mediums as their canvas.

THE WAMCO PIE Brett Moody - 21 New York In this satirical VR corporate infomerical, the fictional Wamco Corporation will use Virtual Reality to teach you the incredible value of its amazing product line through soap, hellfire, and glue. By exploring Wamco’s hottest products in Virtual Reality, you’ll understand why it’s wrong to buy products from Wamco’s competitors and consequently never make that mistake again. Ever.

Step into the future!

A TOUR OF ZAPPALLAR Carlos Key - 16, Niko Inadomi - 16 Washington Warm nights, cold drinks, great food, and a panoramic view of the setting sun... come take a tour of Zapalla, Chile’s most beautiful beach!

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PLOMO - JOURNEY OF A BULLET

MY PEOPLE, OUR STORIES: OBADA

Giulia Jimenez - 21, Mariano Briceño - 22 Georgia

Obada - 15 Jordan

In this 360 experience you are the bullet fired by a GNB policeman into the middle of a protesting crowd in Caracas, Venezuela. You travel through it perceiving the situation. Your path is fixed leading you to your mortal destination. Inspired by true events.

Obada shows us about the joy of football (soccer) and friendship in Za’atari. “I want to show people all over the world that despite all of the difficulties in the refugee camp, we play football.”

OCULUS IMMERSIVE BOOTCAMP SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28 JUST FOOD

PIXEL HEARTS

Joi Lee - 23 Nigeria

Adam Madojemu - 20, Edward Madojemu - 18 Canada

Three mothers in Maiduguri used to wake up before sunrise everyday to farm their own land, feed their families, and earn a living. Now, displaced and living suspended lives in IDP camps in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in northeast Nigeria, sourcing food for their children is a daily struggle.

The music video for ‘Pixel Hearts’ by musician Eri Ife, follows two Nigerian kids and their dream of going to space.

SLUM VISIONS: A FILM2FUTURE STORY

MY PEOPLE, OUR STORIES: INSIDE THE CAVE HOUSES OF MOROCCO

Jason Blanton - 22, Kieran McKeon - 22, Andrew Arias - 18 California A high school student uses his photography to capture the danger and beauty of his neighborhood in Long Beach. This is the story of how Andrew Arias found his voice through the non-profit Film2Future, a non-profit organization that helps at-risk students with artistic passions by teaching them how to turn their art into careers.

Saâd Slimani - 23 Morrocco Saâd Slimani filmed his first 360 video of a young Moroccan woman working to preserve her traditions in an ever changing world.

A one-day immersive workshop exploring filmmaking in 180º, 360º, and VR creation. Learn about the uses for all three creative mediums and then chart a roadmap for the creation of your own 360º project.

The hands-on portion of the workshop will dive into shooting and stitching together 360º footage.

AR STORYTELLING DEMO AND INSIGHTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 11:00 AM - 12:30PM

AVALOKI

VIDEO GAME VEHICLE

Priyam Parikh - 23 California

Sam Wickert - 21, Eric Leigh - 21 California

A brother and sister embark on a journey to find a diety who can help them locate a lost family member.

The SoKrispyMedia boys turn their car into the ultimate virtual reality machine and speed through a series of digital worlds. At first it’s fun and games, but mayhem unfolds when they encounter a glitch and risk getting stuck in the simulation forever.

Creative Technologist and Storyteller Charity Everett will her insights on the different ways to tell stories with AR and the various development platforms and tools you can use to make something yourself!

VR[ART] SHOWING ALL DAY THROUGHOUT NFFTYX

MY PEOPLE, OUR STORIES: NISREEN

I CAN’T, I HAVE REHEARSAL

Nisreen - 16 Jordan

Fermin Gonzalez - 17, Thomas Glicco - 17, Reina Quezada - 17, Ben Wagner - 17 New Mexico

Nisreen profiles her disabled theater teacher, who explores theater to alleviate the suffering of refugees.

“I want to talk about my (theater) teacher Abu Hamzeh, he is an extremely wonderful person who overcame many difficulties living in Zaatari.”

Create a VR work of art in either Medium, Kingspray, Quill, or Tilt Brush! Guests will be able to reserve 30 minute time-slots to paint, spray, and create!

An interpretive dace performed by PAPA Contemporary Dance Ensemble

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FILM PANELS & SPECIAL GUESTS

FILM CAREER DAY Friday, October 26, 2018 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Cornish Playhouse & McCaw Hall NFFTY is proud to announce Seattle’s first FILM CAREER DAY, which is coming your way on Friday, October 26, 2018! Presented by the City of Seattle and Seattle Office of Film + Music, in partnership One Reel. FILM CAREER DAY promises to be a productive stepping stone toward pursuing a career in this field. Whether it’s behind the camera, in the director’s chair, working in hair & make-up or one of hundreds of other positions that contribute to the filmmaking and content creation process, meet the people who make it happen.

You’ll connect with local and national professionals who can tell you what it takes to get started in the biz, what you’ll need to know to be taken seriously, and what decisions you’ll face.

PLUS you’ll learn about the wide range of career opportunities waiting to be explored in the film industry and be introduced to local businesses that offer employment opportunities right here in the Northwest.

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EDITING WORKSHOP: DOCUMENTARY DEEP DIVE Saturday, October 27, 2018 1:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 Join us for a dynamic exploration into documentary editing, led by NFFTY ‘08 alum and Oscar-winning editor Kevin Klauber and sponsored by our friends at LaCie. Whether you are a fledgling editor or experienced pro, Kevin’s insights and advice will provide a window into how to craft a documentary story from start to finish with a heavy emphasis on story structure and crafting a clear and compelling narrative. The documentary format provides its own unique challenges to an editor and Kevin will help you see the forest through the trees of the non-fiction format.

PRESENTED BY

PANEL: WORKS IN PROGRESS Saturday, October 27, 2018 3:00 PM Nesholm Family Lecture Hall Join us for NFFTY’s 4th annual Works In Progress event, presented in partnership with Studio School.

The event will feature a panel of industry professionals providing constructive feedback on unfinished films to the selected filmmakers. This great opportunity to present unfinished works in an intimate, collaborative environment is open to all filmmakers; both those with or without a film screening in the regular festival lineup.

PRESENTED BY

MASTERCLASS: FROM LOW BUDGET TO ACADEMY AWARDS Sunday, October 28, 2018 1:00 PM Nesholm Family Lecture Hall How do you go from making low-budget student shorts to being nominated for an Academy Award?

Learn from Danish director Aske Bang as he details the process of making his Academy-Award nominated short film “Silent Nights.”

Aske Bang is a Danish film director who likes to explore quirky characters who don’t fit into society.

This is also the theme of his Oscar-nominated short film “Silent Nights.” Just out of film school, the film started out as a low-budget short that earned him critical acclaim around the world.

PRESENTED BY

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Families and businesses have relied on our financial advice and services since 1919. And because Baird is employee-owned, you can trust that we’re a financial partner with a long-term interest in what’s best for you.

Imagine the power of you and Baird.

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48-HOUR FILM OFF

HIGH SCHOOLS COMPETE FOR CASH TO SUPPORT THEIR FILM PROGRAMS WATCH THE FILMS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 10:30 AM NESHOLM FAMILY LECTURE HALL

THE CHALLENGE

Teams were tasked with making a 3-minute movie in two days!

Come and watch the short films and cast your vote to help determine the winner!

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS Anacortes High School Ballard High School Canyon Crest Academy Cascade High School Center School Chaminade College Preparatory Golden Valley High School Harvard-Westlake School Interlake High School Kingston High School Liberty High School Meadowdale High School Mount Si High School Palos Verdes High School Roosevelt High School Sammamish High School Saugus High School Seattle Academy St. Margaret’s Episcopal School Steilacoom High School Tahoma High School

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ACTING | CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL THEATRE + FILM | COMMERCIAL DANCE | FILM + DIGITAL CONTENT

THE FIRST AND ONLY SCHOOL OF ITS KIND CREATED IN A HOLLYWOOD STUDIO

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS STUDIOSCHOOL.EDU/NFFTY 800 762 1993 16 School is a branch campus of Hussian College Studio

    @ StudioSchoolL7

A LO H A ST

A LO H A ST

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MAX

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NESHOLM

CORNISH

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MCCAW

VERA

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HARRISON ST

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JOHN ST

D E N N Y WAY

Mediterranean Inn

Maxwell Hotel

McCaw Hall

Cornish Playhouse

Nesholm Family Lecture Hall

321 Mercer St Film Career Day Speed Networking

The House Studios

325 2nd Ave W Opening Night Preparty

425 Queen Anne Ave N Partner Hotel

201 Mercer St Film Career Day

MOHAI

860 Terry Ave N Opening Night Afterparty

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D E N N Y WAY

SIFF Uptown Cinema 511 Queen Anne Ave N Fri-Sun Screenings

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HOUSE

TO MOHAI

300 Roy St Partner Hotel

321 Mercer St Sat-Sun Screenings

The Vera Project

305 Harrison St (Warren & Republican) NFFTYX 17

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

TEXT TO VOTE

AUDIENCE AWARDS Stick around after each film screening to find out each film’s unique code that you can text to the above number in order to cast your vote.

These votes will determine who takes home the Audience Awards for each screening.

Voting will stay open for 30 minutes after each screening event. One vote accepted per phone. There is no surcharge for text to vote, although standard carrier message rates may apply.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE FILM BY TEXTING (650) 600-9016 NOTE - Those without cell phones, or with international plans, please visit the NFFTY merch/info table in the lobby for help casting your vote.

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OPENING NIGHT GALA The House Studios Reception/Red Carpet opens at 4:00 PM SIFF Cinema Uptown Screening starts at 6:30 PM Arrive in style at a pre-party at The House Studios where you can pick up your festival pass and opening night ticket, walk the red carpet, and mingle with other festival VIPs. Then head over to the SIFF Cinema Uptown to kick off NFFTY 2018! Enjoy an outstanding lineup of short films made by some of the best young directors from around the world.

After the screening, climb aboard our free shuttles and head to South Lake Union’s waterfront for an unforgettable after-party at the iconic Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI).

Afterparty is an all-ages event with hors d’oeuvres and bar service.

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EVERY GRAIN OF RICE Carol Nguyen - 19 Canada

PERIOD. END OF SENTENCE Rayka Zehtabchi - 23 California

They say it takes three generations for a culture to assimilate - what comes next?

In a rural village in India, a group of women band together to install and operate a sanitary pad-making machine, combat the crushing stigma of menstruation, and discover newfound independence.

THE LAST LINE Renee Mao - 24 New York

MAGGIE ROGERS - BACK IN MY BODY Brendan Hall - 24, Fraser Jones - 24 New York

‘The Last Line’ follows an actress as she enters an audition where she is forced to face a harsh reality of the industry. She is confronted by the questions of what is indispensable for art and an excellent performance, where the line is drawn between real life and performance and ultimately how much of herself she willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of her dream.

We adventured around Alaska and dug into a year’s worth of tour footage to tell the story of musician Maggie Rogers returning to a place that had a huge impact on her life.

LEVEL 4 Charles Copsey - 24 United Kingdom

SILVA IN THE WAVES Giovana Olmos - 21 Canada

Two first-time criminals find themselves out of luck when their getaway vehicle is clamped up in a multi-story car park.

Noa struggles to honor the identity of his recently deceased parent while his mother tries to uphold the appearance of a conventional family. Grief and fantasy entwine to reveal the complex relationship between history and erasure, identity and memory.

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MORNING ECLECTIC Friday, October 26, 2018 10:30 AM Uptown Cinema 2 Rise and shine! No rest for the blearyeyed as we kick off the weekend with the most eclectic lineup you’ve seen since...well, ever! These genre-defying shorts range from the touching story of a family searching for their son’s snake to a documentary exploring the history of Persian carpet-making.

All ages welcome!

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A SNAKE GONE THROUGH THE HOUSE

HOLLYWOOD’S MOTHER OF DRAGONS

RACHEL’S PITCH

Strack Azar - 22 California

Dylan Shaw - 14 California

Following the death of their only son, a middle-aged couple embarks on an emotionally turbulent hunt inside their home for his escaped pet snake.

A short documentary about the Emmywinning sound designer behind Game of Thrones and the #MeToo movement.

In this satirical portrayal of the entertainment industry, Rachel Jensen, a quirky but ambitious young filmmaker, attempts to pitch her ideas to Mr. McKnight, an intimidating big-time producer.

BLUE

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

PERDÓNAME (FORGIVE ME)

Maddie White - 15, Gregory Schare - 16, Sydney Payab - 16 California

Neema Sadeghi - 20, Troy Charbonnet - 18, Andrew Primavera - 22, Gerry Vasquez - 23 California

A young girl crippled by a mental disability wants to see the ocean with a friend she meets, but she doesn’t know how to swim.

Throughout history, Persian carpets have always been synonymous with elegance and luxury. What has perhaps been overlooked is the precision, time, and manpower it takes to weave these works of art. Discover the collaborative process that goes into Persian carpet-making and how its industry has tied together the communities, traditions, and generations of the Iranian peoples.

Tani Paige Shukla - 21, Gabrielle Libretti - 21, Miguel Valarino Salazar - 20, Mariana Gonzalez - 21 California

SECOND HAND

RIPPLES

BINGO

Lauren Cabanas - 23, Roger Lee - 25 California

Christina Borgs - 23, Nathan Reinholds - 23 Canada

Annie Jaynes - 22, August Ortega - 22, Brendan Boyle - 22, Jeremy Zeilik - 21 New Mexico

After hitting rock bottom, a fashion obsessed 21 year repurposed himself by turning his thrift store clothing into custom works of art.

A woman is in love with the cycle of emotions, as she navigates through her turbulent relationship.

Julia Fulmer - 17 South Carolina

A Catholic woman is put at odds with her faith when her cancer-afflicted sister asks her to commit the ultimate sin.

Mac, a retired criminal mastermind, teams up with his fellow retirees to enact an elaborate heist to get revenge on the corrupt owner of the bingo hall they frequent.

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A GUIDE TO GROWING UP Friday, October 26, 2018 11:30 AM Uptown Cinema 1 There is no challenge quite like growing up and trying to find your place in the world. These filmmakers beautifully walk the delicate line between tragedy in triumph as they explore the varied emotions of adolescence and the moments that shape our lives forever.

You’re only young once, but this is as close as you’ll get to reliving your childhood! *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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ADDY

WILD BEASTS

QUESTIONABLE

Matty Crawford - 21, Joe Argent - 20, Dane Avery - 21, Joe Crouch - 20 United Kingdom

Sverre Kvamme - 22, David Kröyer - 21, Tora Turøy - 21 Norway

Chelsea Eisen - 17 California

In a major moment in her life, Addy experiences the death of a family pet – only for her grievance to be met by an unsympathetic father, who tells her to ‘man up’.

In the middle of the winter in NorthernNorway and surrounded by a wild group of kids, a young boy’s impulses are affected by his attraction to his best friend.

In a parallel universe everyone has a label on their forehead specifying what makes them special. A young girl named Lena, is going through this labeling process as she attempts to overcome her own self esteem issues.

PICTURE US

SLOW DANCE

GREY HEART

Kelly Tran - 19 , James Elinski - 20, Lauren Balint - 20 Pennsylvania

Christian Zetterberg - 24, Liselotte Persson - 21 Sweden

Theo Taplitz - 15 California

A boy looks for a connection with his father in a gift he receives.

During a middle school dance a boy is struggling with his courage when experiencing his first love.

PART OF A GENERATION

DODGY DAVE

DV-130

Daisy Cornejo - 19 California

Charlotte Regan - 23, Arran Green - 23, Michael Ling - 23 United Kingdom

Gabriel Gaurano - 18, Julia Elihu - 19 California

A gay first-generation Chicana struggles to balance parental expectations with her own personal passions.

An east-end drug dealer has to take his son to work and spends the day struggling to connect with him.

Family members try to cope in their own separate ways after their abusive father moves out.

This film follows Josiah on his 18th birthday as he wakes up to an email from his dad, someone he wasn’t allowed to speak to until now. With this lingering decision to respond, his day unravels with a surprise from a kid he’s tutoring, Esteban, who seems to be entering the same situation he’s now exiting.

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FEMINIST FILM NOW Friday, October 26, 2018 12:30 PM Uptown Cinema 2 You know that moment when a powerful wave is coming toward you and you can either choose to run away from it or ride along with it? This is that moment for women in film.

Time’s up because representation matters and these women are here to represent!

This amazing slate of shorts, from a fantastic fable featuring a Lady in shining armor to a sultry strip tease with a surprise, is not to be missed! presented by

*This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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LILAH’S FLOWERS

LADY STRIPS

REDEMPTION

Valentina Povolo - 19, Sadie Cibula - 19, Olivia Gill - 19, Cole Bacani - 19

Adrienne Mountain - 24 Canada

Fi Lowrie - 19, Jannah Horrocks - 19, Billie Stefan - 19, Jessica Taylor - 19 Canada

A Sultry Strip Tease with a surprise...

A coming-of-age story about a young woman embracing her synesthesia while facing her younger brother’s progressing cancer.

This documentary follows two women who reveal how a passionate Muay Thai gym has helped them overcome their personal struggles.

PERIOD.

JOY

DANCING AROUND BONES

Kira Burksy - 22 North Carolina

Lorena Lourenco - 24 California

Danika Vermett - 23 Canada

A cult member’s sense of reality falls apart as her need for human connection overpowers her role as mother to the next saint.

Joy is an experimental film that juxtaposes the distresses of being an immigrant woman in America, against the courteousness one feels obliged to present.

Eli has to leave in order to find the wild woman within herself.

SEMIOTICS OF THE CLOSET

DISTRESS

Una Campbell - 15 California

Lany Lyle - 21, Simone Stewart - 21, Tehillah De Castro - 21 California

An experimental film capturing the negativity surrounding women’s clothing and their incorrect connotations.

Aralyn Thanderson, the impoverished orphan, must overcome starvation, troll roads, questionable environmental policy, immigration reform, and knights with a misogynist agenda in order to save the Prince from the magical tower and receive a sizable cash prize.

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A GLOBE LESS TRAVELED Friday, October 26, 2018 1:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 Pack your bags! This international train has stops in Iran, Vietnam, First Nations land in Canada, Finland, China, and Germany during the Holocaust. These films beautifully transcend borders, language barriers and generations to teach us about what it means to be a human on Planet Earth.

Leave the history books at home and learn about human history through the eyes of today’s youth!

UNDER THE WINDHORSE

GREATER THAN FEAR

YOUNGER FINLAND

Michael Yuanhao Deng - 17, Claude Haoda Lv - 17, Ranran Hu - 17 China

Langston Siebens - 17 California

Hannah Rose Snyder - 21, Luke Keibler - 22, Andrew Holman - 21, Austin Orth - 24 Pennsylvania

Dispatched from Minzu University of China in Beijing, Tibetan college girl Qumai taught Mandarin at the Ranti School, where she encountered a seven-year-old boy named Dan Tong, who had grown up without his parents. Could Qu’s compassion and knowledge give Dan Tong a new perspective on his small world?

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Amidst the Gulf War in Kuwait, a girl helps her father overcome PTSD when a defective bomb lands just feet away from them.

Younger Finland follows 18 year old Matias Pajula as he leads a strong campaign for the city council in Finland’s capital, Helsinki.

AMRIKA

DER JUDE

Nicole Bahar - 17 California

Spencer Zimmerman - 20, Calvin A. Jay - 22, Manan Sachdeva - 19, Rachel Lam - 20 Canada

An Iranian-American teenager travels to a small village in Iran to interview people about their opinions of America.

During the height of the Second World War, a Jewish woman counts down the moments as her apartment complex is raided by German soldiers. Her fate takes an unlikely turn when the soldier who comes to arrest her is tied to her past.

ONE IN THIRTY: THE STORY OF HENRY OSTER Gracie Sandman - 13, India Spencer - 13, Stephanie Cho - 15, Juliet Weiner - 15 California Personal testimony and animation bring alive a Holocaust survivor’s story, one of thirty boys under the age of 18 to survive a concentration camp. Based on the true story of Henry Oster and produced by The Righteous Conversations Project, a collaboration of Holocaust Survivors and teens.

JAMAL

LA MARIPOSA (THE BUTTERFLY)

IF TEARDROPS WERE PENNIES

Raza Tariq - 15, Harvey Smethurst - 16 United Kingdom

Andy Alvarez - 22, Mintie Pardoe - 24, Farhad Ghaderi - 23 Canada

Tianna Bates - 15, Alexandria Sayers - 16 Canada

A British-Asian Teen goes on a night out with his friends expecting the usual, but finds himself questioning his identity in the process.

Carol is a seven-year-old girl that faces the challenges of being a refugee in a new country with her family. Not knowing the language, customs, and a new culture of this foreign land, she embarks on a hard and difficult journey that will forever change her perspective in life. A swimming test.

In this tender and courageous short doc, Julia Cockney shares the impact of, at 7 years old, being denied the presence of her mom and dad, and growing up in a Residential School.

Now as an adult, her heart is finding it’s way home.

XUAN Claire Imler - 18, Diego Sunico - 16 California A story of survival and hope as Xuan escapes Vietnam during the war with her mother and sister.

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POWERFUL GRIT Friday, October 26, 2018 2:30 PM Uptown Cinema 2 Life isn’t all about sunshine and double rainbows (whoa).

Take a walk on the darker side of existence as these films poignantly put the more difficult aspects of life into perspective.

From a look into life in the flats of Cape Town to the repercussions of an assault at a Brazilian street party, these stories are seriously sobering. Come to sit, stay for the grit.

LITTLE BILL’S PEEP SHOW

GIRL A

Kevin Rios - 23 New York

Jess O’Brien - 15, Betty Auty - 14, Kate Blower - 15, Jemimah Frost - 13 United Kingdom

After an intimate moment is shared online, Little Bill tries to cope with the consequences of being a homophobic bully.

A teenage girl is reprimanded by the head-teacher of her school following a violent incident with another student. As we follow a section of her life over three days, the reasons for her violent behaviour are revealed.

WILD

RESPONSIBILITY

Morgana McKenzie - 18 Canada

Mehmet Ali Avci - 15 Denmark

It’s the summer of 1937. Something is living in the corn field. Young Ida doesn’t know what it is, but it seems to understand her better than anyone else on her uncle’s farm.

In the absence of his parents Dennis has a hard time taking care of his beloved little sister, Ida. Therefore he has joined a gang, whose leader lure him into committing crimes. When the gang leader one day convinces him to rob a house in a wealthy neighbourhood, Dennis discovers his limits.

FAREWELL TO FLESH

REVERIE

Julia Anquier - 22 Brazil

Nick Markham - 21 California

During Carnival, in an unrestrained Rio de Janeiro, three girls revel in a drug fueled street party. When a man crosses their path, he makes a mistake that leads to terrible consequences.

A Psychological Drama about a woman who reunites with her schizophrenic mother for the first time after 10 years of separation, pain, and unanswered questions.

NOT GUILTY

HUNTRESS

THE FLATS

Anna Mimi Jayson - 23, Paushali Banik - 23, Rose Mcginley Redon - 24, Maria Camilla Piana Brizio - 2 United Kingdom

Miles Warren - 19, Gustavo Sanabria - 20, Jacob Snyder - 20 New York

Jake Oleson - 22 New York

A fictional short film which takes a look at the double standards surrounding sexual exploitation on the internet. Marie takes you with her as she gladly skips over legal boundaries in order to give a voice to wronged women wielding the weapon of revenge porn.

After a mysterious tragedy in her small town, nine year old Hannah wants to learn how to shoot.

*This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

Viewer Discretion strongly advised.

Shot in the Cape Flats of Cape Town, South Africa over the course of three days.

HUMAN CONDITION

I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU

BLUE

Ben Joyner - 23, Dumaine Babcock - 21, Zack Hetlage - 22 California

Ingrid Marie Røine - 20 Norway

A fine art photographer employs his craft to heal old wounds and ease his anxiety about sharing his HIV/AIDS diagnoses with his loved ones, creating an acclaimed portrait series in the process.

How does it affect the relationship of Andrea and Irene that Irene is faced with the choice of taking a very risky surgery, or living with a rare and very challenging disease?

MUMPSIMUS AND HALCYON DISCORD

THE BUS STOP

Rolf Klein - 24 United Kingdom

Kama Sood - 20 Canada

This film explores the connections between mental health and homelessness, challenging common misrepresentations in the media. Using the medium of the spoken word, the film questions whether we can ever view issues such as these in an objective way.

Michelle is struggling to manage family and get back into the workforce, all while dealing with her mother’s advancing dementia.

SOARING SOLDIERS

IN THE DARK

Cecilie Elmholt Skou - 14 Denmark

Jessie King - 21, Suzy Le Bel - 21 Missouri

Albert lives in his own little universe; a universe where turtles can fly in parachutes and all of the world’s diseases can be cured. Albert and his best friend Theodor often plays on the rooftop of Albert’s apartment, it is the only place where time stands still and where everything is possible.

Reading isn’t natural and it is a struggle for each of us to master as children, but those with dyslexia must fight to read their entire lives. In the Dark is an up-close and personal film about performance, persistence, and a woman named Phyllis who says she can cure dyslexia is as little as five days.

Friday, October 26, 2018 3:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 As the old adage goes: “my mind’s telling me no, but my body...is telling me yeah.”

Sometimes our minds and bodies are disconnected, and these films expertly explore the causes and effects of that — from a photographer creatively informing his friends of his AIDS diagnosis to a couple facing a choice between a risky surgery and living with a challenging disease. Life is full of choices, but sometimes the choice is not ours to make. *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

Tissues strongly advised.

GHOST Joe Staehly - 24 California Ghost uses macro imagery to highlight one man’s story during the opiod epidemic.

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HAPPY HOUR SHORTS Friday, October 26, 2018 Beer Tasting starts at 5:30 PM (21+ Only) Screening begins at 6:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 You don’t have to go downtown to hit the party — come to the Uptown (Cinema)! Slide on in to the weekend with this upbeat, hilarious slate of shorts that take the lighter road, like the first film that is a short film about making a short film about making a... you get the idea.

Arrive at 5:30 for free beer, stay for the screening starting at 6:30. Tasting included with Film Ticket and ID. Cheers to the weekend!

Beer Provided By

META

THE OREGON TRAIL

KING OF TIME

Jack McCafferty - 23, Anthony Marotta - 23 Pennsylvania

Brian Niles - 17, Grace Gallagher - 16, Jeremy Herron - 17, Charlotte Mirkovich - 16 California

Jaron Clegg - 22 South Africa

This is a short film about making a short film about making a short film about making a short film about making a short film about making a short film about...

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Inside the Oregon Trail video game, characters become distressed once they stop receiving instructions from their master- the player- due to a power outage.

This African Sci-Fi story follows a young man who tries to go back in time to save someone he loves from a fatal car accident.

THE LOOK

NASHEDONIA

MARIPOSAS

Max Retik - 20, Caroline Iaffaldano - 20 California

Will Berry - 23 Maine

Adrian Carey - 24, Alan Pierson - 24 New York

An awkward student tries not to embarrass herself again in front of the coolest guy in school.

An uncultured young man honors his late father by taking his guitar to Nashville.

(Esperanto with English subtitles)

Set in a universe of magical realism, a boastful father prattles on superficially about his daughter to another parent in the school pick up line, but is unable to perceive her when it matters most.

CUPID’S PARADISE

APLOMB

ENJOY YOUR STAY!

Ivy Liao - 21 California

David Thibaut - 22, Katrin Kreppel - 21, David-Simon Grob - 22, Max Schönborn - 23 Germany

Cooper Vacheron - 24, Hilton Dresden - 24 California

In a world where everyone is rated on superficial factors such as looks and skin color, Jenn has 100 dates to find a match before she becomes Cupid’s slave.

A strange, young woman in the middle of the woods shares a moment with a strange, young man.

FREEDOM

MAD LIB PIXIE DREAM GIRL

Rachel McGill - 20, Max Barry - 20, Ronan Cooper - 20, Rebekah Bustos - 20 Ireland

Kylie Murphy - 22 New Jersey

Freedom is a music video celebrating the strength of Irish Women. Inspired by the recent abortion referendum in Ireland, this video reminds us exactly how powerful and tough we are by depicting our past.

Hilton visits LA and loses his mind.

Two screenwriters create the perfect female character for their protagonist using the greatest secret in modern filmmaking.

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FRIDAY NIGHT SHORTS Friday, October 26, 2018 8:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 It’s time to get serious. Dive into the depths of drama as these films transport you to an African folktale in modern day England, the real life story of a 15-year-old drug dealer, and the bond between a mother and her differently-abled son. When the lights go down, the stories will come alive.

Bring your Papa & Mama, stay for the intense drama. *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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DRUG RUNNER

ONYE NMEFIE (THE TRESPASSER)

OUR STRAND

Charlotte Regan - 23, Arran Green - 23, Michael Ling - 23 United Kingdom

William Alexander Boyd III - 22 Nigeria/United Kingdom

Marcus Aubin - 20, Brandon Hoeg - 20, Mark Aurelius-Ross Cooper - 20, Sam Howells - 20 Illinois

Phone calls, school and first arrests - the experiences of a 15 year old cocaine dealer.

An African folktale in modern day England.

A grieving young man, Emeka, is trapped in a time loop by the demon The Trespasser. To survive, he must confront this demon and his past relationship with his late Grandmother.

A girl must deliver terrible health news to three significant people in her life.

COME BACK TO ME

TREJUR

HOUSE FINCH

Catherine McCord - 17, Jack Schonfelder - 16 Virginia

Thomas Kim - 17 Massachusetts

Joseph Johnson - 18 United Kingdom

A modern woman remembers her wretched, toy-giving grandmother in this dark, fantasy animation by Thomas Kim.

A day in the life of a mother and her son, living with and embracing disability. ‘House Finch’ follows Penny, a dance teacher for adults with special-needs, and her son, Jamie. The film is an intimate drama about parenthood, family, disability, and the difficulties of letting go.

This film follows the relationship between a mother and her son, from infancy to adulthood. The mom, a deployed 20-year veteran soldier, questions the balance between serving her country and raising her son.

PHÚ

AMBITIONS

Omeed Farsoni - 18, Troy Charbonnet - 18 California

Shimon Machida - 23, Stephanie Townsend - 22, Cory Tymoschuk - 20, Iben Søtang - 24 Canada

Diagnosed with restricted growth birth defects, 62 year old Dinh Van Phú (Phú Dinh) struggles to overcome the adversities of his condition.

A promising young actress dives deep into the world of theatre. The more she strives for fulfillment and applause, her dream becomes enveloped by a nightmarish reality.

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THE LAST LAUGH Friday, October 26, 2018 10:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 As the kids say, this screening is “lit”. Well, on fire or not, the comedy juices are definitely flowing from start to finish of this late-night lineup.

Come for the raunchy jokes, stay for the feminist-forward role reversal that closes out the screening with a cinematic mic drop!

It’s not just William Tell Goin’ to Hell after this one’s said and done… *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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IN BOSTON

THE ORTHODONTIST’S SON

GLORIA TALKS FUNNY

Kyle Blaich - 20 Oregon

Stephen Musumeci - 22, Jacqueline Xerri - 21, William Harrison - 21, Andrew Landreville - 22 Florida

Kendall Goldberg - 23, Michael Stanziale - 23 California

Two Boston boys risk it all in order to gain funding for their app idea. Taking place in Boston.

Two teens try to fill the silence as they fall in love on their first date.

When struggling voice actress, Gloria, discovers her agent failed to tell her that her claim-to-fame cartoon is being remade, she sets her sights on reprising her role as the famous BioBoy.

HOW THEY GOT AWAY

SAM AND MICHAEL’S GTA

MEET CUTE

Sean Wang - 22 New York

Jakob Branham - 16, Quinn Browne Collins - 15, Aidan Ghazvini - 17, Arlo Bonn - 14 Canada

Zodie Waxman - 21 Washington

Two friends attempt to sling a pair of shoes onto a power line.

After a prank gone too far lands them in detention, Sam and Micheal decide to seek revenge on their principal by messing with his car. Comedy ensues.

Meet Cute tells the story of a young, dysfunctional couple who choose the most inconvenient time to unpack their anxieties.

TO COLLEGE

WILLIAM TELL’S GOIN’ TO HELL

GRAB HIM BY THE-

Quinn Halleck - 20, Sam Gershik - 19, Cameron Silzle - 20, Jonathan Galliano - 21 California

Bogui Adjorlolo - 20, Annalise Pasztor - 21, Ty Leet - 21 California

Lane McKenna - 17, Nathan Ginter - 18, Eve Robitshek - 17 New York

A year in the dorm room of an introverted freshman looking to embrace the wild college experience. Luckily he’s been roomed with an extroverted stud. Shenanigans ensue.

An amateur archer has to live with himself after he accidentally murders his sister.

Set in a fictional society where women are the social and sexual aggressors, 17-year-old Nina gets advice from her friends and family about approaching her crush.

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BRING THE KIDS Saturday, October 27, 2018 10:30 AM Uptown Cinema 2 Pack up the whole family for a morning of youth-focused fun films!

Don’t be fooled by this lighthearted tile, this lineup still tackles important issues like a single parent getting dating help from his son, the struggles we face with personal identity, and how to find safe spaces where we belong.

Learn what it’s like to be young and free and Gen Z (what comes next?!).

THE MOM PLAN

AFLOAT

BROTHERS IN SPACE

Ella McKeon - 11 California

Kristina Mileska - 24 Canada

Alvilda Lyneborg - 15 Denmark

“The Mom Plan” is a touching and playful story of a Dad and his son searching for a mom.

Self-conscious of her homemade grape costume at school, a young girl decides to make a run for it and return home.

Johan tells his little brother made-up stories about their ”astronaut father” to cover up for the real reason why the father isn’t with them anymore. Johan helps Oscar build a rocket, but when Johan realizes that Oscar has stuffed an engine with real gunpowder and is ready to fire it up, the lie all of the sudden has consequenses.

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THE MAGIC OF READING

MASK

NEVER ENOUGH

BITTER SWEET

Claudia Moysset - 17 California

Baxter Chelsom - 12 California

Isabella Masrouga - 12 California

Jackie Prata - 16 New York

A young boy escapes his boredom by unlocking the magic of reading with the help of his big sister.

Together, they both venture into a world that only literature can unlock for them and are shown a glimpse of the world that rests bound in the pages of wonderful books.

A 13 year old girl feels the loneliness of having to pretend to be something she’s not, just to fit in.

The struggle to please, fit in, be heard, and be”enough” is more common than you’d expect.

Bitter Sweet is the story of Alex Scott and her lemonade stand movement, fighting childhood cancer one cup at a time.

QUERER ES PODER: THE WILL AND THE WAY

BUBBLE GUM

WIRELESS

FULL CIRCLE

Ella Fields - 14 California

Tayo Odesanya - 22, Liam Mckeown - 24 United Kingdom

James Labuda - 12 California

Olivia Bautista - 15, Eun Seo Choi - 16 California Two U.S. teens bring a message of encouragement from a Mexican grandmother, whose education stopped after 6th grade, to Mayan girls in Guatemala, who have committed to transforming their lives through education.

After meeting Blossom, Indigo falls completely head over heels for this girl. There is only one problem though: Indigo is straight.

Wireless is a short animated film about two siblings who get stuck in the house without electricity.

When they find the last device in the house with power, things get interesting.

GRAY

ALRIGHT

STEREO

Liv Coron - 16 Washington

Giulia Gandini - 22 United Kingdom

Ella Fields - 13 California

In a world where the color one paints their skin represents organization, conformity, and perhaps one’s entire future, two teens learn to love their individuality.

Jenna, a 9 year old girl, experiences bullying from a male classmate.

Seeking comfort in her teacher, she is advised that the boy hit her because he likes her. From that point onwards Jenna embarks on a journey of self-discovery to decide for herself.

Ever since the beginning of time, things have been exactly the same. Boys wear pink, girls wear blue. Boys wear dresses, and girls can’t.

My film is about a boy named Pablo, who is riding a subway train to school with his homework that was due that day. When he gets off the train, he realizes he left his homework on the train. He watches the train door close in his face and the train takes off.

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ART IN MOTION Saturday, October 27, 2018 11:30 AM Uptown Cinema 1 There’s art...and then there’s art in motion. Paintings come to life in this screening filled with vibrant imagery, incredible dance choreography, and visionary artists perfecting their craft.

These eight directors push the outer limits of creativity farther and farther away from tradition. *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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FEMINA-X - BLACK TONGUE

STORY OF AISHAN

Diego Lozano - 23 Texas

Hong JiaBao - 21 China

Femina X’s ‘Black Tongue’ follows Azteca goddess Coatlicue on a healing journey from the hellish depths of betrayal and depression to the soaring heights of empowerment and redemption.

The is an animated documentary I made for my friend, who has suffered blindness since she was born. Light is the only thing she can perceive through her eyes.

SPECIAL BULLETIN

THE ACT OF SEPARATION

HANS

LAMENT, LIMBO

Yousra Benziane - 23 Canada

Caoimhin Gaughan Coffey - 20, Eamon Hughes - 20, Andrew Khew - 20, Cian Murphy - 20 Ireland

Austen Deery - 21 New York

Tessa Hill - 17 Canada

Hans Neleman is an interesting man and an accomplished visual artist. But this is not a film about Hans Neleman.

How do we learn to accept? A film that explores loss, healing, and the attempt to understand the inevitable.

THE FIRST DANCE Daragh Goan - 21, Ferdia MacAonghusa - 21, Caoilinn Handley - 21, Sophie O’Donovan - 21 Ireland Overwhelmed by the weight of wedding day expectations and faced with the rest of her new life, Annie’s anxiety takes over. Falling through the what ifs and imagined futures, Annie struggles to break free. She falls back into the present. And she makes a choice.

Special Bulletin explores the way lines shape our lives.

At the end of love, all that remains is the act of separation, the first tentative steps out into the silent lands.

ETA Talia Shea Levin - 23, Alexis Floyd - 24, Kevin Stiller - 24, Lyndsi Zapata - 23 California ETA combines the languages of choreography, music, and film to tell the story of one woman’s journey to fight the urge to isolate herself and instead connect to those around her to build a community.

TRANSIENT PASSENGERS (EXPERIMENT NUMBER NÜN) Natalia Hermida - 22, Gia Rigoli - 22, Santiago Cervantes - 23, Celina Biurrun - 24 California A psychological voyage through the memory of time-obsessed office clerk Marcel as he chases the woman who stole his golden pocket watch.

NAME THE BAND “I WONDER” Natalia Hermida - 22 California Name The Band’s video for “I Wonder” takes all the lingering thoughts that the track stirred up and beautifully presents one final question.

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CINEMATIC JOURNEY FARMHOUSE

JÖRMUNDUR

Minnie Schedeen - 21 California

Jack Bushell - 21, Alex Herz - 21, Maddie O’Hara - 23, Nicole Stock - 20 California

A mother and daughter struggle to survive in an isolated farmhouse, which is ravaged each night by beings called The Hounds.

Jörmundur owns a vintage men’s clothing store in downtown Reykjavík, and is regarded as one of Iceland’s cultural figureheads. Follow him on a journey through the mythical Icelandic wilderness as he discusses science, faith, and the true power of being at one with nature.

THE FIREFOX GARDEN

AURORA

Red Panda numbers are dangerously decreasing and there could be less than 2500 red pandas left in the wild. But an unconventional warrior has devoted her life to fight all forces that are against her and her beloved Red Pandas.

A girl named Ava searches through a vast forest in attempt to find her sister, Lily.

Gunjan Menon - 24, Daryl Fernandes - 24 India

ANAMNESIS

Amaury Barrera - 22, Patricia Castañón - 24, Farhad Ghaderi - 22 Mexico After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Adrian, a young pianist faces an existential crisis. He goes to therapy to work through his suffering and his frustration but the sessions reveal fragments of his past lives which make him realize the essence of his pain.

THROWBACKS Saturday, October 27, 2018 1:00 PM Nesholm Family Lecture Hall

Saturday, October 27, 2018 12:30 PM Uptown Cinema 2 If a picture is worth a thousand words, then these stunning motion pictures would be valued at a William Wordsworth. Romanticizing each frame with delicacy and mastery, these six selections bring unique worlds to life through a picturesque lens.

Brian Niles - 17, Charles Wyson - 17, Martín Velásquez - 17 California

PERFECT HOME Max Galassi - 20 California

While America is under threat of alien invasion, two hapless lovers hide out in the California desert.

Weren’t the 1990s great? Yo-yos, bleached tips, and choker necklaces!

Don’t even get me started on the 80s! But, if you were too young (or too old) to live through these decades of fashion domination, take a trip back in time with this selection of throwback shorts. Head back to a futuristic vision of 1950s America and then journey through a 90s cassette tapefueled missing persons case in small town Missouri.

Warning: screening may cause extreme nostalgia!

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BABY I’M YOURS

1-900

NOSEBLEED

Hadley Hillel - 21, Ethan Seneker - 20, Marisa Messina - 19, Raven Peterson - 20 California

Rio Finnegan - 22 Arizona

Luna Carmoon - 20 United Kingdom

Margot, an agoraphobic housewife yearning for connection, finds relief through an ominous gossip hotline.

NOSEBLEED follows a pivotal week for long-time best friends Lilah and Coby, whose friendship is morphing into something far more venomous and toxic. A flower that once delicately bloomed proves to just as easily draw blood with its thorns…

STEVIE’S ALIENS

LE VIGNE

TIL KINGDOM COME

Austin S. Harris - 21 New York

Daria Litvichenko - 16 Russia

Luke Harvey - 24 Tennessee

After a close encounter with a mysterious UFO, a skeptical high schooler is thrown into a night of adventure that challenges and expands his faith in himself.

Take a look inside a famous Parisian restaurant in the twenties.

This heartwarming tale follows the adventures of homeless siblings Chloe and Ethan as they discuss ways to kill themselves.

THE PRESENT™

DRAGON INN 3 - “BACKSTABBER”

Richard Rogers - 23, West Webb - 23, Dante Bernard - 24, Jake Brady - 24 North Carolina

Josh Pfaff - 24 Missouri

In the future as it was imagined in the 1950s, Nathan notices his mother acting strange and begins to question whether or not she is a robot.

A frustrated man becomes hypnotized by a meditation informercial and engages in a surreal battle for control of his mind.

Summer of ‘92, Detective Shepard attempts to solve a string of missing teen cases in Springfield, Missouri. The only connection these cases have in common is Dragon Inn 3’s cassette tape at every crime scene. While the town is in terror, National Audio Corporation seems to be celebrating a sudden spike in cassette sells.

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EXPERIMENTAL VISIONS Saturday, October 27, 2018 2:30 PM Uptown Cinema 2 Some of the world’s best inventions — fidget spinners, the dougie, mullets — were the result of years of creative experimentation. Similarly, the films in this screening utilize unique techniques never before seen on the big screen that may forever change the world of cinema.

Buckle your seatbelts and get ready to enter the void! *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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ABSENT Isabella Cuevas Pierson - 20 Washington

WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT

The daughter of a lonely man appears on the night of his birthday...

An exploration of a young woman’s journey to the self through a series of fleeting moments and non-linear memories that mesh together, creating a collage of her life. Through these vignettes and montages, which examine desire, sexuality, and femininity, she attempts to make sense of her identity.

LULLABY

ARE YOU HOLDING ME, OR AM I HOLDING MYSELF?

Elias A. Hinojosa - 21 Texas A woman has visions of a dream come true.

Rebecca Shapass - 23 New York

César Brodermann - 22 New York A self study examining the relationship between our minds and our bodies, our thoughts and our actions, and the sometimes insurmountable gaps between what we think we want to feel and what we actually experience.

BETH’S THREE O’CLOCK WITH DR. HARLOW Emma Penaz Eisner - 15 California Beth discloses a recent dream to her analyst. A vivid study of casual brutality and failed empathy, this surrealistic film intermixes stop motion animation with live action sequences.

Miaosi Li - 23 New York A new mother, working under her scrutinizing boss, finds her employment threatened due to a hidden circumstance.

BOYS BEWARE

THE HAMMER AND THE LAMB

Callahan Bracken - 16 Canada

Jules F. Chin Greene - 20 New York

In recontextualizing archival footage from the 20th century, Boys Beware aims to explore trends within hyper-masculine relationships, and how these trends alienate queer youth.

In a world where multiracial, indigenous children are placed in settlement camps, a young woman escapes one night and encounters a mysterious flickering light.

The Hammer and the Lamb examines the psychology of self-sacrifice for an oppressed woman of color.

WASHED UP

SEQUENTIAL

APPREHENSION

Ani Acopian - 23, Cody Guilfoyle - 24 New York

Teddy Holcomb - 17 Illinois

Ian McGillivray - 20 Canada

A man is meditating on top of a hill when an arcade machine appears and disrupts his concentration. When the man approaches the machine he is zapped into the game. Inside he is led through a sequence of events by a mysterious orb.

A visual representation of a women’s anxiety in it’s day to day form.

A moment in time which is meant to confuse, and then delight. The extremely short film takes place in Reynisfjara, Iceland, where the water is 43 degrees.

SWEETIE

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VITAL VOICES Saturday, October 27, 2018 3:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 One of the purposes of cinema is to give a voice to the voiceless and illuminate the darkness in order to reveal the light of humanity. Learn about the lives of others through an unfiltered lens and witness the events and people that are shaping our generation through this excellent set of documentaries and narrative shorts.

KINGSLEY

FOR YOUR SAFETY

Ingie Enan - 20, Robert E. Newman - 21 New York

Lea Rodbarry - 21, Megan Ballew - 20, Tyler Gould - 20 Illinois

At the age of 18, Kingsley accidentally shot and killed his friend with his brother’s handgun.

Sentenced 8-20 years in prison, he thought his life was over- but while serving his years, he decided to turn his life around. A story about the common humanity we all share beneath our labels.

When Homeland Security makes her husband “disappear,” a determined young woman must overcome inscrutable bureaucratic barriers in her attempt to free him.

COME AROUND MY WAY: MIXTAPE #1

THE LAST STRAW

John Cornelius - 17, Darryl Kenny - 17, Christmas Witherspoon - 17, Joseph Briggs - 16 South Carolina

Julian Jordan - 16, Kyle Trefny - 16, Monica Menor - 16 California

Their voices are vital and their vision is vast.

Come Around My Way is a youth documentary project that seeks to use video production techniques to empower students to deepen their understanding of themselves and tell their stories visually by mashing and remixing various videos and voices into one cut.

CITIZEN

THE “IN” WORD

Robert Bracker - 21, Marissa Messina - 21, Dillon McEvoy - 24 California

Ayannah Settle - 17, Gillian McFerren - 17 California

When a female Border Patrol Agent’s pregnant sister gets deported and plans to re-enter the U.S. illegally, the Agent must choose between her job and her family.

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A jarring documentary that expresses the problem, causes, and effects of oceanic plastic pollution.

The film explores the complex issues behind ocean pollution through the views of both youths, and professionals alike.

The “In” Word is a student produced documentary that explores how the commonplace use of the n-word blurs the line between its denotative and connotative meaning. The film analyzes if the casual use of the term in popular music has been appropriated overtime.

CALAMITY FALLS

DISFLUENCY

Hadley Hillel - 22, Ethan Seneker - 20, Aaron Keteyian - 22 California

Laura Holliday - 24, Anna Baumgarten - 24 California

After the sudden death of her parents, a young girl finds a portal to an alternate world in which they are still alive and must choose whether to live with them or stay with her brother.

NEXT LEVEL

A narrative case study and in depth look at rape culture and the aftermath.

CARPETLAND!

EVERYONE LOVES BULLDOG

David Light - 24, Steven Robertson - 24 New York

Garrett Kennell - 24, Nick Hurt - 24 California

Two suburban carpet store employees find themselves involved in a deadly freak accident and are left to decide: will it be the final nail in a coffin of small-town malaise? Or a chance to escape it once and for all?

Everyone loves the peppy, energetic mascot of Riverside High, but no one loves Bulldog quite like Val.

Saturday, October 27, 2018 5:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 Many NFFTY filmmakers go on to achieve amazing success in the film industry. Others are on the cusp of greatness. These 5 filmmakers have been featured in NFFTY a combined 12 times and have worked tirelessly to elevate their craft to the next level.

Look out above, the sky is the limit for their talents!

NEVADA Emily Ann Hoffman - 23 New York A young couple’s romantic weekend getaway is interrupted by a birth control mishap.

*This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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CENTERPIECE Saturday, October 27, 2018 7:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 If NFFTY was the solar system, this screening would be the sun. At the center of it all, these seven films radiate deeply human emotions; the desire be cared for, the fight for gender equality, the longing for sisterhood, and the drive to break racial barriers. The brightest stars of the festival shine bright in the Centerpiece.

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THE MESS HE MADE Matthew Puccini - 23 New York A man waits for the results of a Rapid HIV Test in a small town strip mall.

FAIRIES! NO MERCENARIES SWANSONG Ben Kadie - 23, Theomar Chakey Francois - 24, Mykaila Williams - 23 California

ESPERANZA Y FUTURO Claire Imler - 18 California Esperanza Y Futuro is a home in Guatemala that welcomes young teenagers and their children due to abuse.

A young woman tries to rid herself of the haunting creature that only she sees.

GUION Sagi Kahane-Rapport - 21, Adam Madrzyk - 21 Canada A short, narrative biopic that tells the story of Guion Bluford, as he grapples with the reality that he is to become the first African American man in space.

HOW I GOT TO THE MOON BY SUBWAY BIRTH CONTROL YOUR OWN Tyler Rabinowitz - 24, Jack Healy - 24 ADVENTURE New York

After being diagnosed with ALS, a curmudgeonly older man goes to the hospital with his partner to record his voice bank before he loses the ability to speak.

Sindha Agha - 24 California A hybrid documentary about one woman’s birth control journey

LOST IN ARONCORE Sarah Jones - 22, Kelly Logan - 22, Ryan Wagner - 22, Dezi Gallegos - 21 California After her sister’s failed suicide attempt, 9 year-old Lucy must attempt to reconnect with her sister using their shared love of fantasy stories.

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COULROPHOBE

I AM NOT A MONSTER

Jacob Fuller - 21, Anna Mattia - 21, Martin Taube - 23 Nevada

Grace Milligan - 22, Conor Byrne - 22, Rachel McGill - 19 Ireland

EDGE OF YOUR SEAT

A young man returns home uninvited to his brother’s engagement dinner only to find himself fighting for his sanity against the violent, mind controlling growth on the back of his head.

Saturday, October 27, 2018 9:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1

A warehouse security guard must overcome his fear of clowns to keep the warehouse secure.

MURDER

THE NIGHT BELL

Justin Leyba - 23, Mason Adams - 22, Richard Son - 23 Illinois

Alex Haney - 21 California

A woman struggles to comprehend a murder she may or may have not done.

A nurse’s new job at a morgue disintegrates into a nightmare as the female corpses come to life. As she struggles to discover the secret of the morgue, Alice learns to connect with the spirits of the corpses and fight back against her predatory boss.

FEAR NO EVIL

THE LAST SEANCE

Catherine McCord - 17, Kate Pittard - 20 Virginia

Laura Kulik - 22, Anthony Coyne - 22, David Fortune - 24, Logan Fulton - 23 California

After surviving abduction, a young woman wakes up to find herself inside a wall with no knowledge of who her captor is.

A DOLL DISTORTED Niall Shukla - 23 United Kingdom Jane suffers from haphephobia (the pathological fear of touch), tormented by years of loneliness and isolation she orders a synthetic love doll online to nightmarish consequences.

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Over the course of one terrifying seance, two sisters must defeat an evil demon.

Oh the horror! Legend has it that every year, R.L Stine comes to this screening in a fake mustache just to take in the creepiest, darkest, goosebumpiest films that NFFTY has to offer. Leave the kids at home, but don’t tell mom the babysitter’s dead...there are thrills and kills and shrills galore!

THE BOOK CLUB

THE INVENTION

Tobias LaMontagne - 17 Massachusetts

Leo McGuigan - 23 United Kingdom

The Book Club tells the story of Nigel and Ellie. Nigel lives alone with little thought for much beyond his garden fence.

One day, Ellie arrives on his doorstep. The Book Club is a story of love and friendship, but it carries a deeper message, about staying true to oneself.

In 1960s Belfast, a young boy comes of age while devising a plan to steal cigarettes.

LIGHTEN UP

WHITE LILLIES

ASTRONAUT STARBRIGHT

Lucy Gale - 22 Australia

Lana Taylor - 14 Florida

Sunday, October 28, 2018 10:30 AM Uptown Cinema 2

When a failing florist is unable to financially support his dying mother, he makes shady decisions to boost sales.

Taylor Richardson, aka “Astronaut Starbright”, is a young girl of color who aspires to be an astronaut when she grows up.

She advocates for girls of color interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) by bringing as much black girl representation to them as possible.

HUMAN TOWN, U.S.A.

FIGHTING DISCRIMINATION WITH FILMMAKING

Take a load off! Start your Sunday morning on the happy track with these light-hearted, good vibes. Follow the stories of a fictitious tiny astronaut, a real-life aspiring astronaut, and other characters young and old in this entertaining batch of family-friendly films.

Julie Greiner - 21 California Hugh The Human leads a tour of his beloved home, revealing the magic and mystery of life in Human Town.

Mackie Mallison - 17 United States 16-year-old filmmaker Kana Heitzman has found solace in filmmaking after experiencing discrimination throughout his life for being Japanese.

AMEYA

TIKTAALIK

ONE DAY LOVE

Mackie Mallison - 18 United States

Dylan McGale - 22, Sho Schrock-Manabé - 21, Eric Vera - 24 California

Michael Mizrachi - 21 Israel

18-year-old artist and activist Ameya Marie fights for change through creating pieces that address topics such as police brutality, school shootings and misrepresentation of people of color in the media.

When a creationist congressman stumbles across the longextinct missing link in evolution, a waddling flat-headed fish with legs, he’s got to decide what he still believes in before he’s ready to let it out of the captivity of his shed.

The adorable and epic adventures of a tiny astronaut.

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VARIETY HOUR Sunday, October 28, 2018 11:00 AM Nesholm Family Lecture Hall What’s life without a little variety?

Like the best buffet in town, you’ll get a taste of everything (minus the heartburn). Follow a Chinese immigrant trying to survive in America, an animated lonely man trying to survive the rising seas of Planet Earth, a divorced couple battling it out over a tennis match, and relive election day 2016.

About that heartburn...

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WRINKLES...AND OTHER UNFORTUNATE DEFECTS Lindsay Sunada - 22, Danya Jimenez, Hannah McMechan California In this world, human contact has been found to expedite the aging process. Lu (24) has never touched another human. But when she meets a quirky boy online, they both begin to question their lives of isolation.

ELEVEN NINE

SAFE

Nicholas Wingate - 19, Halley Albert - 21, Noah Feinberg - 20, Jack Craymer - 21 California

Dan Lesser - 19, Kimberly Vela - 19, Tehillah De Castro - 21, Michael Stevantoni - 21 California

Liam, a politically apathetic college student, realizes the value of his vote during the night of the 2016 elections.

Moments after surviving a nuclear explosion, two survivors hear a knocking on the other side of the shelter door.

SUZANNE & MARTIN

BLUE TOMORROW

A NIGHTTIME IN FROGTOWN

Yoni Ben-Haim - 19, Vladimir Melnikov - 20, James Beacon - 20 United Kingdom

Numan Ayaz - 24, Mehmet Alok - 24 Turkey

Teddy Nissen - 16 California

A man who’s forced by the ocean to leave his island goes on an unknown journey, which results in an unexpected discovery.

In order to save his brother, Edmund must find his way to the drugstore on the other side of town. But not everything goes according to plan...

Martin invites Suzanne, his ex-wife to his country-side home for a friendly game of tennis. Dangerously re-kindling their past

TAKE ME HOME Oliver Zaciu - 22, Alexandra Kern - 22, Eric Vera - 24, Michael Stevantoni - 21 California A downtrodden Chinese immigrant needs to pay back a loan before the night is up.

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#UPPERLEFTUSA Sunday, October 28, 2018 11:30 AM Uptown Cinema 1 The Northwest is home to: many salmon, many mountains, and many amazing young filmmakers! Come see the freshest fresh of the upper left and watch as your beard grows and your shirt turns to flannel by the end of the screening.

Want some coffee? It’s local.

A DREAMER’S MELODY

LOVELY LEGS

ON THE BACKS OF SALMON

Kendra Ann Sherrill - 24, Adam Gaulke - 24 Washington

Abby Thompson - 24 Washington

Miles Whitworth - 18 Cecilia O’Rollins - 19 Washington

A trip to the movie theater sparks a passion for a young girl and her shoes.

In an isolated forest, a desperate young man is ready to finally part ways with his sex robot girlfriend. Together they realize the pain of goodbyes.

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When white settlers dammed the Elwha River it devastated the local salmon population and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe’s economic and cultural foundation.

Facing long odds, this small but strong people fought back to reclaim their identity.

SWEET DREAMS?

THE SHORE

THE MOUNTAIN MAN

Barb Hoffman - 18 Washington

Geoffrey Leach - 22 Washington

Ben Riley - 17, Lars Purdy - 16, Trevor Dunnigan - 17 Washington

Three strange dreams were chosen to be brought to life by animating them to collage.

A young woman who finds herself isolated on the Puget Sound discovers the horrors lurking inside a conch shell when she decides to listen to it.

A portrait of Roger Strong whose relationship to mountain climbing and skiing is his greatest passion.

RICHARD

DINOSAURS IN THE HOOD

HANDLE WITH CARE

Wylie Soltes - 17, Ethan Hawthorne-Dallas - 16 Washington

Long Tran - 20, Nikkia Atkinson - 23 Washington

Daniel Schiff - 23, Alex Guevara - 22 Washington

A spoken word by Danez Smith projected through a cinematic lens to combat the negative and often violent representations of African-Americans in media.

A young girl’s package is stolen and she’ll do anything to get it back.

A stolen toolbox leads to an unlikely intergalactic friendship.

LOST TIME Leo Pfeifer - 20, Morgana McKenzie - 19 Washington After losing his time, a drummer must learn to reconnect with his love of playing.

TEMPTATION - CHRISTOFI (FEAT. AYER) Dawson Taylor - 21, Kelsey Taylor - 24, Adam Lee - 24, Keelan Williams - 21 Washington Who said Sasquatch has to be lonely? This music video follows Sasquatch as he falls in love with a young hiker traveling through his humble neck of the woods.

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COME AS YOU ARE Sunday, October 28, 2018 12:30 PM Uptown Cinema 2 Filmmaking can be a tool for selfexpression. It can also be used to guide our exploration of individuality, self-love, and acceptance of others, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This inspiring screening explores the struggles and triumphs that we all experience when investigating and coming to peace with our own identity.

The power of representation is real!

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VIOLET AND JUNE Linnea Ritland - 20 Canada Violet and June is a short romcom about falling in love, the terror of being alive in a cold heartless universe, and butts.

BLACK KNUCKLE AND DEPUTY MALTESE Jason Phillips - 21, Maggie Phillips - 21, Robert Green - 21, Theo Poling - 18 California

SPARK Aharonit Elior - 22 California A girl finds someone to Spark her dull flame.

In the western town of Coal Ridge, a reserved deputy keeps his love a secret until the outlaw who stole his heart is taken hostage.

T(HE)Y

LOVEBOUND

METAMORPHOSIS

Caroline Callendar - 16, Silver Liftin - 17 New York

Serville Poblete - 23 Canada

Natalie Harris - 20 Maryland

T(HE)Y follows Dakota Nieves and Indiana Baker, two transgender high school students, as they delve into their experiences growing up in New York City.

A woman’s heart begins to beat in the presence of men. However, she soon finds out that these unwavering emotions are for a woman who was meant to be with her.

A queer and inexperienced girl seeks guidance after a game of “Never Have I Ever.”

SHE ONCE WAS DISTANT

FREEDOM

LADIES DAY

Kira Bursky - 22 North Carolina

Ayaka Furukawa - 24 California

Abena Taylor-Smith - 22 United Kingdom

When Lily’s boyfriend gifts her a box of chocolates, she begins to long for a mysterious figure.

Savannah sneaks out of her repressive town and meets Olive, who opens her eyes to the world around her. After that magical night Savannah decides to leave the town she’s always known to be with someone she truly loves.

Amma spends the day getting braids in an Afro-Caribbean hair salon. It’s full of fun, sheen spray, gossip and laughter, but how will she deal with the casual homophobia?

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REEL ANIMATION Sunday, October 28, 2018 1:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 Color your world with an dazzling array of animated films crafted by candidly creative artists from around the globe. Explore groundbreaking forms of animation and celebrate the illustrious talents of young filmmakers harnessing the power of the pen (or pencil, or paintbrush... you get the point! Hah...point. Get it?)

RE-GIFTED

LILLY GOES FISHING

FIRST COMES LOVE

MR. BEAR AND THE RABBIT

Eaza Shukla - 21 Florida

The Bum Family - 8, 12, 13, 14 Canada

Daniel Ceballos - 22 South Carolina

Varun Sreedharan - 13 California

A decorative object struggles to lead a meaningful existence as it gets stuck in the cycle of re-gifting.

Lilly, a giant orange monster, embarks on an adventure at a lakeside fishing camp with her friend Fluffle, no one suspects the mysterious secret she will discover in the depths of the lake.

A shy boy, Eric, is dragged through stages of “marriage” by an obsessive girl, Zoey, all through the course of their Kindergarten recess.

A short animated film about a bear’s encounter with a rabbit that quickly becomes more ominous.

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THE MAGIC LANTERN

LIGHTHOUSE

SOCKS: A STORY ABOUT PAIRS

Youp Zondag - 23, Mariana Ospina-Arteaga - 24 Canada

Ingeborg Augunset - 20 Norway

Callahan Bracken - 16 Canada

Laura lives alone in a lighthouse in a world flooded by water. She has learned to live in isolation after losing the ones she cares about, but one day her habits are challenged when a military aircraft crashes into the ocean.

Learn to feel close in a story about pairs!

Seyward and Milo compete for ownership over a mushroom as they attempt to complete their collection of pairs.

UKELAYLA

SOUP

L’ANELLO

Haleigh Mooney - 22, Kim Van Tong - 22, Kelly Taylor - 23, Tal Minks - 23 Florida

Jenny Mei Qi Jiang - 19 New York

Tyler Gillis - 23, Olivier Deschamps-Band - 22 Canada

A young girl named Layla has a speech disorder and has trouble expressing herself.

Where speech falls, music speaks!

What happens when soup cans explode?

What will a fantastic world of live food be like? Taking elements from pop-art and surrealism, this is a stop motion animation about SOUP!

When his engagement ring accidentally falls into a passing by gondola, a hopeless romantic frantically scours the gloomy narrow canals of Venice to retrieve it; but he finds more than his ring.

FACEY

HARLS

THE FOX AND THE HARE

Katrina Guillermo - 23 California

Kenzie Sutton - 21 New Jersey

Sagi Kahane-Rapport - 21, Youp Zondag - 22 Canada

A boy can’t help but see faces in objects wherever he goes.

A guy named Harls keeps getting reincarnated.

The Fox and the Hare is a surreal animated documentary that takes the childlike perspective of a young Jewish boy, Shlomo Levin, as he is hidden from the Nazi army that is invading Holland.

Handcrafted landscapes & 3D printed Puppets comes to life in a dreamlike story built upon a kid’s fear of growing up.

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STORIES OF US Sunday, October 28, 2018 2:30 PM Uptown Cinema 2 The lives we live make for the best stories. This documentary screening highlights real stories around our globe and the peculiar, poignant lives that people live. From sisters growing a deep bond despite their differences, to a young woman reflecting on her childhood as she prepares for adulthood, and a 97 year old woman reinventing herself as a death metal singer.

Spoiler alert: its never too late to follow your dreams!

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PASSIONFRUIT Ashley Martinez - 18, Caleb Garrett - 19 California

SHE DID IT ALONE Nicholas della Cava - 17 California

Passionfruit is about Roland, am avocado farmer with a passion for agriculture, the environment and the world around him. He is faced with a physical disability that forced him to work diligently to continue pursuing what he loves.

On the eve of a 1,000-mile race across the American West, multiple Olympic medalist and Italian expat Dorina Vaccaroni reflects on what drives her, the value of pain, and the challenge and virtue of being a woman who chooses to live a solitary life focused on her sport.

SISTERLY Nina Vallado - 22 Maryland

CODE OF HONOR: ONE SOLDIER’S STAND FOR EQUALITY Aiden Keltner - 15 California

Nina and Lisa are sisters destined to be the best of friends, but with Lisa’s diagnosis of autism, their relationship undergoes challenges and changes. Nina and Lisa go on a journey to find connection and friendship despite limited ability to communicate.

One of the first African American Marines tells the story of his experience participating in the integration of African Americans into the Marine Corps.

CHIANE FROM FAR ROCKAWAY Cassidy Minarik - 21 Minnesota

DEATH METAL GRANDMA Leah Galant - 24 New York

As 17-year-old Chiane enters her senior year, she realizes that her past is not all she will become. Through the lens of a disposable camera, she delves into an exploration of the places that have shaped her.

97 year old Holocaust survivor Inge Ginsberg is finding a new way to be heard by breaking out as a death metal singer.

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MUSICAL MASTERPIECE Presented by Foreign Family Collective

Sunday, October 28, 2018 3:00 PM Nesholm Family Lecture Hall Kiki…do you love me? Are you driving…to this screening? Keep the beat and stomp your feet as these audio-driven pieces de resistance amplify the musicality of the next generation. Come one, come all, to the greatest music video screening of them all. Mic check 1, 2, don’t miss this! *This screening may not be suitable for all ages. **Seizure warning: screening contains strobic imagery.

THE DECEMBERISTS - SEVERED

GLOW

WESTWORLD

Morgan Gruer - 23 New York

Chris Smith - 22, Thomas Kelly - 21, Sarah Ayer - 22, Richard Moon - 21 Canada

Kody Kurth - 21, Kate Lowell - 21, Andrew Han - 23, Ryan Han - 20 Colorado

In the official music video for The Decemberists’ track, “Severed,” we traverse through a surreal, postapocalyptic world. The dystopia is like a drug; we know that it is bad for us, we know that we should change, yet we cannot turn away.

Technological and natural based human lives collide in this surreal, and visually captivating, music video for Vancouver-based psychedelic rock band “Mellt”.

In a society of dancers conformed and synchronized, one dancer breaks the mold of the group to express her true colors and open the portal of diversity and acceptance.

IGLOOGHOST - CLEAR TAMEI

CITY LIGHTS

Luke Gibson - 22, Christopher Casey Denton - 22, Darren Samuels - 22, Margaret Glaser - 20 California

Caelin Moore - 19, Sara Sereda - 20 Canada

HUEY BRISS & NIKOBEATS GIL SCOTT NEVER LIED

Iglooghost is drained of life by the mesmerizing, colorful beings known as Tamei and Mogu.

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An unexpected discovery heals the pain of a couple separated by tragedy.

Michael Priestley - 23, Christian O’Keefe - 24 California “Hollywood so fake, least I’m good in the ghetto.”

YEAH BUT NO - MY SECRET BEATING

JAHN ROME - READY FOR MORE

MAWULE - ANYTHING (FT. DJ ZENAS)

Patrick Mattes - 24, Jessica Perez - 24 California

Kevin Giles - 24, Anthony J Marotta - 23 New Jersey

Mia Ginaé Watkins - 22, Eric Hernandez - 24 California

A music video focusing on the complexities of self isolation and self destructive tendencies.

Music artist Jahn Rome battles with self-applied pressure.

“Anything” is about genuine love and tribute that celebrates black fathers everywhere. The goal was to shed a positive light on the black male image: spending time with their children, significant others and loved ones.

THE VENUS PROJECT - WON’T HURT

EUPHORIA

FUUUCK//DREAM

Morgan Gruer - 23 New York

Wynter Rhys - 18, Nick Ramey - 20 Washington

Anissa Amalia - 22, Josh Vredevoogd - 20 Washington

A girl carries the weight of a lost innocence as she tries to find solidarity within herself.

An artist is kidnapped by his fan base and dragged to face off with his 6 year old daughter to confront the dark side of fame.

Fuuuck//Dreams follows Emma Tsuruko as they wander through the corridors of a glowing red, womblike house filled with elegant womxn and femmes of color at every turn.

MAIWE - “FILIUS”

LOVELESS

DRENCHED

Diego Lozano - 23 Texas

Weston Bering - 17 Texas

Margarita Brodie - 18, Khanh Tudo, Scott Zhang, Sam Skynner Canada

Obsessed with spirituality and origin stories, a girl uses the I-CHING to create a bridge with her past, present, and future.

A music video to Chloe Tribe’s Loveless about a couple running from thieves.

THE UNDERGROUND

TOO MANY ZOOZ - WARRIORS

GRACIE GRAY - SPACE

Jack Massee - 16 Massachusetts

Jeffrey Prosser - 24, Andrew Schundler - 22, Inder Mann - 24, Ryan Dayhoff - 24 California

Michael Priestley - 23, Christian O’Keefe - 23, Zach Zombek - 24 California

New York City’s underground is never at rest. The city is in trouble, but legendary brasshouse trio TOO MANY ZOOZ play the final note.

For “Space” by Gracie Gray, this is an intimate music video about growing apart.

Two competing street artists face off in a lyrical turf war underground.

It’s late August. Max and Geraldine have been enjoying each other’s company for the past two months, but tomorrow Max leaves for school. In their last moments together they recall meeting in the rain and reveal for the first time how they’ve really felt about each other all summer long.

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OUTTA THIS WORLD Sunday, October 28, 2018 3:30 PM Uptown Cinema 1 Journey to alternate realities as these filmmakers explore what life may be like in a science-fiction-inspired future. Get trapped in a bathroom with a mysterious sink voice, follow a family who must prove their parenting ability through a “test run” and enter a virtual reality life-machine that brings back memories of deceased loved ones.

After this screening you might want to take a good hard look at yourself in a Black Mirror… *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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BARON SEMEDI Zhao Zhenyu - 22 Hong Kong A more than 40-year-old man who had nothing to do, woke up to find himself in a panic laying on the handicapped toilet’s floor, he does not remember how he came here, then found himself penniless.

WAXWING Karl Jungquist - 21 California A couple living in a remote cabin in the woods attempts to bring their deceased daughter back into their lives through the use of a virtual-reality machine.

BIRTHRIGHT Mauritz Brekke Solberg - 23, Daniel Fure Schwarz - 24, Wilde Siem - 24, Eivind Aurstad - 24 Norway Birthright foresees a future that focuses on secure upbringing of children combined with technology and artificial intelligence. It’s a life not far from the one’s we live today and reflects on issues present in the modern world.

FOOLISH SMARTS AND HOW TO LOSE THEM Lauren Meyering - 21, Chandler Nolan - 23, Connor Christofferson - 22, Stephen Remich - 21 California In a post-apocalyptic future, a band of rag-tag teens embark on a journey and have the best last day they will never remember.

CONNECT Gabe Souza - 23 Florida After a rebellious young girl is left home alone, an eerie robot manages to break into her home. She immediately implements a plan to destroy the robot until realizing that it’s just looking for help. Now Mia must make up for her misjudgment and learn from her mistake.

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CLOSING NIGHT: NEW AMERICAN DREAMS Sunday, October 28, 2018 6:00 PM Uptown Cinema 1 This is the new America. Take a seat or take a knee. 10 films highlighting 10 powerful voices.

You are welcome here and at NFFTY, your voice is heard.

Brought to you by the next generation of Americans.

Awards Ceremony immediately follows the screening.

Join us at The Vera Project for Closing Night Afterparty. *This screening may not be suitable for all ages.

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LA VISITA

IVRY

WRECK IT RAJ

Gerardo Coello Escalante - 22, Joshua Bogatin - 22, Cody Powers - 22, Taylor Blake - 21 New York

Jake Oleson - 23 New York

Varun Chopra - 24 United States

A young boxer guides his protégé through his past growing up in the South Side of Chicago.

Wreck It Raj explores a preteen’s zany perspective of growing up awkward and ethnically different in suburban America. An inspired aftermath of a true incident where a young sikh boy recorded himself being heckled by racist bullies in a school bus and went viral.

NIGHTS OF AUTUMN

MINSTREL VS. PUPPET

A PATRIOT ACT

Majestic Tillman - 24 New York

Marcus Aubin - 21, Hannah Bonecutter - 26, Vikram Bhaduri - 21, Brandon Hoeg - 21 Illinois

Yousef Assabahi - 23, Samuel Rubin - 23 California

A Mexican woman living undocumented in the United States learns the true value of being a good neighbor.

Cameron’s world comes crashing down, his past mistakes have come back and now he must face the consequences of his actions. The happy life he had once hoped for with his little sister has disappeared and he must now cope with the harsh reality of the life that’s ahead.

L.A. LIQUOR

Minstrel vs. Puppet is an artistic experimental piece that illustrates the internal conflict many women, particularly women of color, experience surrounding the topics of brains and beauty.

Set in Los Angeles, Saleem and Hamada - two Yemeni immigrants, close friends, and roommates - struggle to contain themselves after an American drone hits Saleem’s house in Yemen. While Saleem works in a grocery store, Hamada - a former drug dealer - is an FBI informant.

YASAMIN

3000 MILES

Jensen Vinca - 21 California

Julia Elihu - 19, Gabriel Gaurano - 17, Ashton Tu - 17, Thomas Wade - 17 California

A year after the Los Angeles riots of 1992, Miles, a young African American male, has an eventful night in a liquor store owned by a racist Korean couple.

An eleven year old girl named Yasamin has just moved from Iran to Los Angeles amidst the Iranian Hostage Crisis; however, her navigation of the trials and tribulations of assimilation are learned through the help of her family.

Sean Wang - 22 New York On July 5th, 2016, I moved across the country to live and work in New York City for one year.

This is a personal documentary of my year, chronicled by voicemails left by my mom.

AN OPEN LETTER TO MIMI WALTERS Jessica Stossel - 17 California A somewhat experimental film working to bring attention to this incredibly important topic via the platform it is so widely talked about on. This will be the last one.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO NFFTY would like to acknowledge the special help and support of these people and organizations:

Anonymous Ben McCarthy Brian & Heidi Roth Carl Kadie & Nanci Vaeth Cathy Corrado Christopher Newell Cody Wallace Colleen O’Holleran Daniel Hudson Daniel Taplitz Donna Brown Drew Johnson Ethan Seneker Gavin & Charlene McKenzie Hilary Klein Ian Aranha John Platt Joyce Shimizu Juehu Wang Julie Daman Julie Nicoletta Kevin Conner Kinnon Williams Leslie Pfeifer Lindsey Winter Lisa Gemme Lori Seago Mandi Teladi Mark & Jane Eisner Nancy Chang Nathan Heal & His Students Pamela Skene Paris Nguyen Romain Vakilitabar Sarah Bowling Shannon Snider Stefanie Malone Steve Silcock Sue Wallace Sue Wiedenfeld Tokita Bethune All our Sponsors All our Donors All our Volunteers You! 68

Cinema Arts B.A., B.F.A., M.F.A. On Campus, Online:

PointPark.edu/Cinema

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2018 NFFTY TEAM

Kyle Seago

Managing Director & Co-Founder, NFFTY

Dan Hudson Festival Manager

Kelly Campelia Program Coordinator

Amy Williams Lead Programmer

Frances Thea Divinagracia Digital Marketing Intern

Ethan Hawthorne-Dallas Festival Programming Intern

Open daily for tastings | www.matthewswinery.com

NFFTY / NFFTYX SCREENING COMMITTEE Stefanie Malone Robert Bojorquez Charlene Laporte Dan Hudson Todd Kaumans Leah Galant Lael Rogers Anissa Amalia Anna McGrenaghan Ian Ebright Kevin Conner Kyle Seago Blake Meadowcroft

NFFTY SCREENPLAY COMMITTEE

Amy Williams Ethan Hawthorne-Dallas Netsanet Tjirongo Kelly Campelia

Kyle Seago Dan Hudson

NFFTY is a program of The Talented Youth, a 501c3 non-profit

NFFTY SCREENPLAY FINALIST JURY Tony Kay CityArts Film Critic Jessi McFarland Writer Julia Granstrom Writer/Performer

NFFTY | 2018 STAFF NFFTY TEAM Dan Hudson Kyle Seago Kelly Campelia Amy Williams Netsanet Tjirongo Frances Thea Divinagracia Ethan Hawthorne-Dallas Nathan Heal Todd Kaumans Tokita Bethune Inc

Festival Manager Managing Director/Co-Founder Program Coordinator NFFTY Lead Programmer NFFTYX Lead Programmer Digital Marketing Intern Programming Intern Trailer Editor Event Management

GKPR

Public Relations Venue Manager

Donna Brown Matt Lawrence Julie Daman Laila Kazmi Tony Caravano Liv Faris

SEATTLE Vice President - Educator, Ballard High School Treasurer - Director of Finance & Operations, WA Filmworks Secretary - Media Producer Senior Manager, Content Strategy, Expedia

Jesse Harris

Founder Co-Founder Founding Board Member Past President

ALUMNI ADVISORY BOARD Ben Kadie Laura Holliday Kayla Briët Dom Fera Elena Gaby

President - Student, University of Southern California Vice President - Independent Filmmaker Independent Filmmaker YouTube Partner, DFear Studios Associate Producer/Production Coordinator, Warrior Poets

Garrett Kennell

Independent Filmmaker

Todd Kaumans

Producer, Mighty Media Studios/Microsoft

Pranay Patwardhan

20082010

Now the world’s largest film festival for emerging filmmakers, NFFTY 2011 adds more networking opportunities, panels of industry professionals, and is attended by over 200 filmmakers with audiences of 7,000.

2011

NFFTY adds the Future of Film Expo trade show to the festival and features eight panels, 14 workshops, and over 30 exhibitors. Festival attendance exceeds 10,000.

2012

NFFTY features 215 films from around the world. NFFTY alumni are now working for prestigious companies such as The Weinstein Company, Pixar, and HBO. Stefanie Malone joins the NFFTY team.

2013

NFFTY launches its Young Women in Film initiative, a year-round effort to support young female filmmakers, and NFFTY Creative, connecting brands with NFFTY alumni to work on original projects, garnering both ADDY and Telly Awards.

2014

NFFTY features a record 248 films from 30 states and 25 countries with over 12,000 in attendance, with 48% femaledirected films. The festival adds its Works-In-Progress event and launches the NFFTY Alumni Advisory Board.

2015

Ten years of NFFTY included 227 films from 24 countries, as well as an inaugural screenwriting competition: Story Starts Here. NFFTY took its firststeps into VR/360° with a panel and product demos. NFFTY took home “One of the 50 Best Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine, TeenTix Best Film Organization, and one of FilmFreeway’s Top 100 Rated Festivals.

2016

NFFTY forges into its second decade with its largest festival yet, 257 films from around the world. NFFTYX launches with a full VR/360° event featuring a boot camp and screening gallery. Screenplay Competition and Works In Progress round out a wildly successful year!

2017

Head, Content Acquisition Management, Amazon

Jocelyn R.C. Jim Wilgus

NFFTY expands to a three-day event with 73 films, panels, and two concerts.

NFFTY’s year-round programming, NFFTY 365 launches. In 2009, NFFTY begins accepting international films, expands to a four-day festival, and launches year-round filmmaking workshops.

2007

President – Architect

BOARD EMERITUS

P. Scott Cummins

Jesse Harris realizes the need for an organization to support young filmmakers and joins with Jocelyn R.C. and Kyle Seago to launch NFFTY as a one-night festival with 14 films and to form a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Talented Youth.

Print and Web Design

David Corry

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STORY OF NFFTY

3D Generalist, DSK Green Ice Games

Erica Sterne

Independent Director/Producer

Kevin Stiller

Independent Filmmaker

Noah Wagner

Independent Filmmaker

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the lobby or at nffty.org to help keep NFFTY alive and strong!

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SHARE YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES! #NFFTY # FILMSTARTSHERE

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