April 17-21, 2013 Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16 • 3535 Riverside Plaza Drive • Riverside, California www.riversidefilmfest.org
Proud Sponsor of RIFF 2013
riversidefilmfest.org • 11TH ANNUAL RIVERSIDE FILM FESTIVAL
FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE 11th Annual Riverside International Film FestivAL April 17-21, 2013 Locations Film screenings and other events (except Gala) will be held at the Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16 3535 Riverside Plaza Drive Riverside, CA 92506 Riverside Plaza Ticket information Tickets are available online at riversidefilmfest.org or at the theater entrance during festival hours. Events Annual Gala Friday, April 19, 6 pm UCR Culver Center for the Arts 3834 Main Street Riverside, CA 92501 Actor Kevin Sorbo will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting.
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Student Film Workshops
Sunday, April 21,12-1:30 p.m.
Free film workshops geared toward high school and college students interested in learning more about filmmaking techniques. Moving Cameras: Dollies, Tracks, and Steadicams. We’ll talk about expressive uses of the moving camera, looking at several notable examples and talking about when, where, and how to move the camera in order to achieve optimum visual effect. Presented by James Morrison, Professor of Film and Literature at Claremont McKenna College. Painting in Motion. Learn how to use watercolor animation as a main tool to visualize and animate for various projects including personal work, feature films, independent short films,
RIFF 2013 Award Ceremony Sunday, April 21, 6 pm Mazz Restaurant 3555 Riverside Plaza Drive Riverside, CA 92506 best of riff 2013 Sunday, April 21, 2:30-5:30 pm
commercials, concert stage background animation, and collaborative gallery exhibitions. Presented by Will Kim, Associate Professor of Art at Riverside City College and a Los Angelesbased artist. Lighting in Motion Pictures. We will cover various aspects of lighting in motion picture films including its importance, the effect of three-point lighting, the use of shadows, and the practical features of lighting. We will delve further into detail about the internet as a medium of display, the different types of lighting used and its purposes, the direction of lighting, and even the lightbulbs themselves. Presented by Jack E. McLean, Professor of Film at Riverside City College.
Lifetime Achievement Award Kevin Sorbo will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting at the RIFF Annual Gala. Sorbo is a world-renowned actor best known for his iconic lead roles as Hercules in the TV series Hercules, the Legendary Journeys (1993-1999) and as Captain Dylan Hunt in the series Andromeda (2000-2005). The Hercules series was originally designed as a five-episode miniseries, but was transformed into a weekly TV show that became the most watched series in the world, airing in 176 countries. He will also be in attendance for the screening of his film, Abel’s Field, at the festival on Thursday evening.
Opening Night at RIFF: Film Premieres Wednesday, April 17 8 pm • Exposing the Human Face of Immigration: El Doctor RIFF is proud to present the world premiere of El Doctor. This drama short set in a contemporary Arizona suburb follows an undocumented day laborer, the family that hires him, and the storm of fear that unleashes. El Doctor sheds light on the dayto-day experiences and interactions of people across the entire country, exposing the human face of immigration issues. This extraordinary film is a reflection of the social constructs that can divide and distract us from what’s truly important in life: finding the humanity that unifies us rather than the circumstances that divide us. Q&A: Jude Roth (writer, actress and executive producer), Luis Deveze (lead actor) , Reena Dutt (producer) and other cast and crew members. 6:30 pm • Cal Arts Experimental Shorts Collage This program includes a block of student submissions from the California Institute of the Arts, a prestigious fine arts university founded by Walt Disney and whose alumni include the likes of Tim Burton, Pete Docter, and John Lasseter. This collection of short films includes the bold, new sensory adaptations of abstract existentialism, raw observational footage, and experimental artistry. These students and their work exemplify the visions and directions of an wup-and-coming generation of filmmakers as well as the effects and possibilities of contemporary media developments and venues. Filmmakers will be available for a Q&A session afterwards.
el doctor
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11TH ANNUAL RIVERSIDE FILM FESTIVAL • riversidefilmfest.org
WELCOME TO THE FESTIVAL
Harki Dhillon, MD Founder and President RIFF
Welcome to the 11th Riverside International Film Festival (RIFF). It is always a pleasure and honor to receive each and every film submission, and recognize the immense amount of work, creativity and dedication to complete each film. Many filmmakers will be here to present their work. I encourage you to come and interact with the directors, actors and producers. We have a wonderful selection of features, shorts and documentaries showing at two screens at Regal Cinemas at the Riverside Plaza from April 17th to April 21st. There will be five intensive days of film screenings from around the world and Hollywood with workshops, and panel discussions. It is a great pleasure to have Kevin Sorbo come to Riverside to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Champagne Gala, downtown, on April 19th at the Culver Center of the Arts. See you at the movies! Best wishes, Harki Dhillon MD, Founder and President RIFF
The 2013 Riverside International Film Festival serves as a forum for showcasing the films created by experienced cinematographers as well as up-and-coming filmmakers. As such, we have received many submissions from local, national and international filmmakers seeking a forum to tell their stories. These films all deserve consideration, though it is my goal as the director of programming to focus on those movies that combine great cinematography and excellent storytelling to produce a unique and enchanting journey that not only transports the viewer to the filmmaker’s world, but also brings that world into the observer’s space and consciousness. We invite you to be a part of this experience; to view these films that not only share a filmmaker’s vision but at the same time are able to manifest a multitalented community that makes the creation of these movies possible: sound, light, music, script, editing and more. As happens with the creation of a movie, our film festival is also made with our audience in mind and is made possible because of a community-wide effort. We would like to thank all of those that have collaborated with us in order to produce this festival and would like to welcome you all. Dr. Maria C. Martinez, Programming Director
RIFF BOARD MEMBERS Harki Dhillon, President Maria Martinez, Programming Director Kishori Reddy, Vice President Susan Dawood, Treasurer Gary Hunt, Secretary Mark Roberson, Chairman, Advisory Board James Buchholz, Board Member ADVISORY BOARD John Mukhergee Vincent Hau, MD
Diana Myers Hyatt, Online/Print Design & Communications Coordinator Melissa Munoz, Operations Assistant & Withoutabox Coordinator Deetpa Dhillon, Events Coordinator Leslie Roberson, Film Reviewer Avni Peatankar, Co-Treasurer Interns Isabel Skilton, General assistant, Schedule Elizabeth Lee, Film Reviewer & Writer Trey Connet, Film Reviewer Katie Grober, Film Reviewer Giovanni Argueda, Assistant, film projections Catherine, Assistant, film projections Pooja Reddy, Film Reviewer, Assistant, film projections Lauren Kelley, Usher Carolyn Islam, Usher
Dr. Maria C. Martinez Programming Director
Volunteers Valerie Hampton, Usher Douglas Mazzacua, Interpreter Cinthia Singh, Interpreter Hillary Lundberg, Gala Lauren Henderson, Gala Bani & Avica Dhillon Hannah & Emma Hyatt Claire & Sandra Carbonelle Rochelle Welsh, Gala Annie Fleming, Gala Megan Kelly, Gala A special thanks to … Dr. David Maciel, Consultant, Mexican Films Martin Rafael Martinez, Collaborator, Sonoran Films Nina Mier, Collaborator, Sonoran Films Bud Tedesco, Consultant, Student Workshops Melissa Croteau, Collaborator, Tournee Films RIFF POSTER DESIGN: Noor Khodr
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FILM PROGRAM
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5 HOUR FRIENDS
USA, 2012, 97 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 5 p.m. • Regal 5
A lifelong womanizer gets a taste of his own medicine. Timothy Bonner, played by Tom Sizemore, is devoted primarily to golf, secondarily to sex, and finally to drinking. In the end he discovers cheating hurts and he finds what he really wants—love. Director and cast are expected to attend. Directed by Ron Jackson Feature Comedy
25,000 MILE LOVE STORY
USA, 2012, 86 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 4:45 p.m. • Regal 5
Swiss endurance athlete Serge Roetheli’s thirst for adventure and desire to raise money and awareness for children suffering across the globe propelled him to run a distance equal to the earth’s circumference. Accompanied by his equally adventurous wife Nicole, who drove a motorcycle with their supplies and pup tent in tow, they planned and executed the journey of a lifetime. Film director is expected to attend screening. Directed by John Davies Documentary
AAMHI CHAMAKTE TAAR
India, 2012, 130 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 1 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 7:15 p.m. • Regal 5 INDIAN FILMS, DRAMA RELATIONSHIPS
Sameer Mahajan (Prasad Oak) and his wife Sonali (Nisha Parulekar) adopt a child, Sachin, who is diagnosed with HIV. After society bans the family, Sachin tries to prove himself by entering a singing contest. Directed by Prakash Jadhav Feature Drama
ABC NEVER AGAIN (ABC NUNCA MÁS)
Mexico, 2012, 90 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 SONORAN FILMS
The greatest tragedy in the history of Mexico marked the lives of 49 families who lost their children in a fire in the ABC nursery, and of an entire nation. In the wake of the tragedy, the parents of the victims seek to rebuild their lives while demanding justice. The search for happiness joins the fight to bring justice to those responsible in a case riddled with corruption, negligence, and abuse of power that involves influential politicians and wealthy Mexican
ABEL’S FIELD
families. Director is expected to attend. Directed by Pedro Ultreras Documentary
Abel’s Field
USA, 2012, 104 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 7 p.m. • Regal 6
Left motherless by tragedy and abandoned by his father, high school senior Seth McArdle (Samuel Davis) has been put under enormous pressure to support his little sisters. At school, he endures the daily bullying of the football team. When he fights back, he’s singled out for punishment and assigned to an afterschool work detail under the supervision of a reserved groundskeeper, Abel (Kevin Sorbo). Much to his surprise, Seth discovers that Abel may be the only one who truly understands his struggles. Actor Kevin Sorbo is expected to attend. Directed by Gordie Haakstad Feature Drama
Adonis
USA, 2013, 10 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 5:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Saturday, April 20 • 12 noon • Regal 5 Comedy Shorts, Funny Shorts & Love
A young man hires a dating service that employs a cute dog as a chick magnet in order to get guys dates. Directed by David Dibble Short Comedy/Romance
Anticipating Departure
USA, 2012, 4 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
A documentation of gestural movements while waiting in a transitional public space. The film is also a commentary on surveillance, and raises the question of what is public and private space. Directed by Javier Rosales Student Experimental Short
The Artist
France, 2011, 100 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 1:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Tournee French Films
A delightful homage to silent-era Hollywood, Michel Hazanavicius’s mostly silent film opens in 1927, when preening matinee idol George Valentin is still the top draw at Kinograph Studios. George acts as a mentor to Peppy Miller, a chorus girl with big ambitions. The Artist tracks both Peppy’s ascent (through amusing montage) and George’s decline as he refuses to acknowledge synchronized sound as more than a passing fad. Directed by Michel Hazanavicius Feature Drama
Astro, not
USA, 2013, 2 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
Flowers bloom like unknown creatures
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before the helmets of astronauts, astronauts, astro-nots: for fictitious views are tangled in the knowns and unknowns of this planet. Directed by Karissa Hahn Student Experimental Short
country blues
The Bike Bandit
USA, 2013, 2 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
A character formed from an exaggeration of how drivers perceive bike riders on the street as lawbreakers who don’t belong. Capturing the ritual before a ride for protection from both the elements and the dangers on the road. Above all, this film was inspired by the fun of riding a fixedgear bicycle. Directed by Rafael Hernandez Student Experimental Short
Box of Hearts
USA, 2013, 8 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 5:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Comedy Shorts
The story of Cody, a single father, and his ten-year-old daughter, Jenny. Every morning, Cody makes an elaborate bento box for her while enjoying conversation with his surprisingly mature daughter. One morning during breakfast, Jenny makes the observation that she thinks her father is in love. Realizing it is impossible to evade the question from his smart young daughter, he reveals the truth about his office crush, Lindsey. Being out of the dating scene for a while now, he struggles to initiate the conversation. Later that day, his idealization of Lindsey is shattered when he witnesses a very human side of her in the office kitchen. Directed by Richard Wong Short Comedy/Drama
A Boy and His Dog
USA, 2013, 10 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 High School Films
In a search to find his closest and only friend, his dog Peter, high school student Rusty slowly realizes his intense isolation and lack of any social interactions with anyone other than his pet. After Peter disappears one morning, Rusty frantically searches the streets where he runs into a young girl, Iris, who has been kicked out of her house. She joins Rusty in his search for Peter, and more importantly, companionship. Directed by Cole Nelson Student Drama
The Brother
Canada, 2012, 25 minutes Friday, April 19 • 3:30 p.m. • Regal 5 Sunday, April 21 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 Teenage Gay AND Lesbian Themes, High School Films
Mark Saddler left home when he was 18, dreaming of being a success in the city. Wanting a fresh start, he became estranged from his family. Now he is forced to return home when he learns of his brother’s death. Mark has to deal with the loose ends he left behind, beginning with facing his father and an old high school flame. Directed by Michael Stevantoni Student Drama
Burmese Refugee
USA, 2013, 20 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 3:10 p.m. • Regal 5 College Films the bike bandit
San Aung, a refugee from Burma, struggles with his new life in America after
spending years in a Southeast Asia refugee camp. Directed by Michael Tacca Student Drama
A Cat in Paris (Une Vie de Chat)
France, 2010, 70 minutes Friday, April 19 • 3 p.m. • Regal 6 Animation, Tournee French Films
Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol’s exhilarating hand-drawn animated film tells the story of a cat with not nine but two lives. During the day, kitty Dino lives with Zoe, a mute little girl, and at night, Dino becomes the accomplice of Nico, a good-hearted burglar. Dino and Nico— the cat and the cat burglar—join forces to save Zoe after she falls into the hands of the gangster who murdered her father. Directed by Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol Feature Animation
The Chase
USA, 2011, 5 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
Chris Webb is a performing artist (actor/ poet) from Chicago. After watching how his live show captured his audience, the filmmaker felt compelled to document his performance in a more intimate fashion. In the spirit of CalArts, this collaboration turned into a film that takes you through a story in his poetry. Directed by Rafael Hernandez Short Performing Arts
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Chasing Beauty
USA, 2013, 90 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 7:15 p.m. • Regal 5
A candid look at the beauty industry and the people that drive it. Behind the glossy covers of Vogue and Glamour lie the rarely talked about, uncensored stories of what models endure and sacrifice to become a top model. This documentary features interviews with supermodels, photographers, agents, designers, plastic surgeons, makeup artists, and psychologists to ask the question: what is beauty and is it worth the cost? Followed by Q&A with director and models from the film. Directed by Brent Huff Documentary
Country Blues
USA, 2013, 3 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
Country Blues is a visual interpretation of an old American folk song. A man, with his last dying breath, recites the word of Dock Boggs. Directed by Christopher Hahn Student Experimental Short
The Cry of Charal /El Llanto del Charal
Mexico, 2012, 16 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 Sonoran Films
According to legend, when a dog howls, it is because he is seeing death. Driven by the love of his waning dog, the child Ramiro dares death in a world where he has nothing to lose. Director is expected to attend. Directed by Daniel Guillen Short Suspense
This short film tells the story of an undocumented day laborer in Arizona, the family that hires him, and the storm of fear that ensues. Cast and crew will be in attendance for premiere.
Directed by Heather de Michele Short Drama
Drought (Cuates de Australia)
Mexico, 2011, 90 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 5:15 p.m. • Regal 6 IMCINE (Mexican Institute of Cinematography)
In this award-winning documentary, residents from the ejido (communal land) Los Cuates de Australia in Northeast Mexico perform an annual, massive exodus to look for water during drought. During this time, men, women, elders, and children wait for the first drops of water to return to their lands—a metaphor for a small town hiding from death. Directed by Everardo Gonzalez Documentary
Everybody’s Got Somebody … But Me (Todo el Mundo Tiene a Alguien Menos Yo)
Mexico, 2012, 100 minutes Friday, April 19, 8 p.m. • Regal 5 IMCINE (Mexican Institute of Cinematography)
Alejandra is a successful executive who is tired of her daily routine and her emotional relationships that haven’t worked out. One
Detour Ahead
USA, 2011, 3 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
Video describing the commuting process experienced in Los Angeles County. The film seeks to create a complete alternate atmosphere in which travel between time and space become tangible ideas that no longer hold any importance. Directed by Alex Woods Student Experimental Short
El Doctor
World PremierE
USA, 2012, 12 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 8 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 3:15 p.m. • Regal 6 Drama Shorts
everybody’s got somebody…BUT ME
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day, María, an energetic teenager, crosses her path, making her change her expectations. Together, they become involved in an affair based on María’s admiration for Alejandra’s intelligence and experience. At first everything goes smoothly. However, Alejandra’s personality and her romantic requirements become increasingly demanding, to the point where it is impossible to be around her. Directed by Raúl Fuentes Feature Drama
The Farm
USA, 2013, 9 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 High School Films
A wanderer stumbles across an abandoned farm and discovers he is not alone. Directed by Malone Lumarda Student Drama
The Favorite
USA, 2013, 13 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 5:15 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 3:15 p.m. • Regal 6 Drama Shorts
Katherine, a very quiet girl, just wants her mother’s attention and acknowledgment. However, Katherine’s mother cares more about her dog than she does her daughter. And so, Katherine grows more and more resentful of the innocent dog. Directed by Lyvia A. Martinez Student Drama
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11TH ANNUAL RIVERSIDE FILM FESTIVAL • riversidefilmfest.org religious scholars, neuroscientists, taxidermists, and others, Furever studies the bonds that form between humans and animals, both psychological and physiological. Directed by Amy Finkel Documentary
Guest House
USA, 2012, 22 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 5:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Comedy Shorts
Lance Wesley lost his job and fiancé on the same day. Depressed and downtrodden, he moves back into his parents’ guesthouse where he spent his youth. As he fights constantly with his frustrated father, relics from his past pay him a visit. Will his past propel him forward? Directed by Aaron Wolf Short Comedy/Drama
le havre
Flatland
USA, 2007, 34 minutes Friday, April 19, 4:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Animation Block
This animated film is inspired by Edwin A. Abbott’s classic novel, Flatland. Set in a world of only two dimensions that is inhabited by sentient geometrical shapes, the story follows Arthur Square and his ever-curious granddaughter Hex. When a mysterious visitor arrives from Spaceland, Arthur and Hex must come to terms with the truth of the third dimension, risking dire consequences from the evil Circles that have ruled Flatland for a thousand years. Directed by Jeffery Travis Short Animation
Flatland 2: Sphereland
USA, 2012, 36 minutes Friday, April 19, 4:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Animation
The creators of Flatland return for another adventure, based on Abbot’s Flatland and Dionys Burger’s Sphereland. Set on the eve of Flatland’s first mission into their “outer space,” the story presents the intriguing mysteries of triangles with angle sums greater than 180 degrees and flipping into dimensions that are literally out of this world. Full of action, humor, and lessons, Sphereland will delight and educate audiences of all ages. Directed by Jeffery Travis Short Animation
Forbidden Territory
USA, 2013, 1 minute Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5
CalArts
Explores the mechanical acts of eating, showing four different people in a grid style. Directed by Margaret Pratt Student Experimental Short
Frames
USA, 2013, 22 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 3:10 p.m. • Regal 5 College Films
After not getting a foreman job, a smalltown carpenter faces the new boss in a bowling match that teaches him the importance of family. Directed by Zachary Mehrbach Student Drama
Furever
USA, 2013, 80 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 1:30 p.m. • Regal 6
Furever explores the dimensions of grief people experience over the loss of a pet. With interviews from grieving pet owners, veterinarians, psychologists, sociologists,
The Imaginary and Its Tunnel (El Imaginario y Su Túnel)
Mexico, 2012, 25 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 Sonoran Films
Between the imagination and reality of the people of Ures, ancient capital of the State of Sonora (Northwest Mexico), an “imaginary” configuration takes form and shapes meanings through various stories and legends about the existence of ancient tunnels that cross and connect the main buildings in town. Finding an entry to them might allow these people to find their own story. Director is expected to attend. Directed by Javier Quiñones Sánchez Short Documentary
Labeled
USA, 2013, 7 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 High School Films
A short documentary about one young man’s journey through life being defined and labeled by society as ADD, Asperger’s,
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ADHD, and multiple other terms. This documentary shares how these labels have affected his life, how he has overcome the challenges, and how he is now becoming a productive citizen. Directed by Sterling Hampton Student Documentary Short
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oh my friend
Le Havre
France and Finland, 2011, 93 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 2 p.m. • Regal 6 Tournee French Films
In this warmhearted portrait of the French harbor city that gives the film its name, fate throws young African refugee Idrissa (Blondin Miguel) into the path of Marcel Marx (André Wilms), a well-spoken bohemian who works as a shoeshiner. With innate optimism and the unwavering support of his community, Marcel stands up to officials doggedly pursuing the boy for deportation. A political fairy tale that exists somewhere between the reality of contemporary France and the classic cinema of Jean-Pierre Melville and Marcel Carné, Le Havre is a charming, deadpan delight. Directed by Aki Kaurismäki Feature Drama
Leo’s Love
USA, 2012, 26 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 5:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Saturday, April 20 • 12 noon • Regal 5 Comedy Shorts, Funny Shorts & Love
A romantic comedy in the style of Woody Allen that follows Leo, a struggling writer doomed to write advertising jingles, as he meets and falls head-over-heels in love with Max, the girl of his dreams. Max is everything that Leo could want: beautiful and smart, with a particular fondness for late 19th-century French poetry; and as an actress whose biggest role is portraying a dancing, chocolate-sprinkled doughnut in a local commercial, she is very much a kindred spirit. The only problem? Leo is engaged to Rachel, a bipolar spitfire with a penchant for violence through kitchen utensils. Directed by Alan Weischedel. Short Comedy/Romance
The Little Princess
USA, 2012, 3 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 3:10 p.m. • Regal 5 College Films
The Little Princess is a short animated film about dealing with the illness and loss of a loved one, and conveys a message of hope after immense loss. The film is done in cutout animation and digital compositing, set in a storybook style. Directed by Crystal Franklin Student Animation
Love
India, 2012, 30 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 12 noon • Regal 5 Funny Shorts and Love
It’s all about love. Chris is an intelligent, humorous, clever East Indian PhD student who very much loves his mother and motherland. He meets a beautiful, rich, stunning, funny, gorgeous American woman named Melinda. Directed by Sunil Narkar Short Drama
Made in China (Hecho en China)
Mexico, 2012, 90 minutes Saturday, April 20 • 7:30 p.m. • Regal 6 IMCINE (Mexican Institute of Cinematography)
For his 50th birthday, Marcos, an obsessive and frustrated writer, receives only
an extortion from the Chinese mafia and a wedding invitation from the only girlfriend he ever had, 30 years ago. Tired of his problems and in hopes of seeing his old friends again, Marcos decides to drive across the country to attend the wedding. However, little did he know that Fernando, an 18-year-old delivery guy with opposite tastes and personality, would travel with him. Together, they attempt to get to the wedding on time . . . and not kill each other along the way. Directed by Gabriel Guzmán Feature Comedy
Manfred and the Waiting Room
USA, 2012, 9 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 5:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Saturday, April 20 • 12 noon • Regal 5 Comedy Shorts, Funny Shorts & Love
In a doctor’s waiting room, a frantic Manfred is thrown into a truly bizarre power struggle with a mysterious sociopath. Directed by Joel Breitman Short Comedy
The Mayor (El Alcalde)
Mexico, 2012, 81 minutes Friday, April 19 • 1:30 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 12 noon • Regal 6 IMCINE (Mexican Institute of Cinematography)
In Mexico, the murder of municipal mayors is a common practice in the fight to
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11TH ANNUAL RIVERSIDE FILM FESTIVAL • riversidefilmfest.org
control territories by the drug cartels. This documentary tells the story of Mauricio, who presents himself as a polemical mayor who takes justice into his own hands in the wealthiest and safest municipality in Latin America. The Mayor analyzes the complex plot woven between the exercise of power and modern politics immersed on a stage plagued by violence, strong economic interests and a blunt discrediting of the political class. Directed by Emiliano Altuna Documentary
Medium
USA, 2012, 22 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 3:10 p.m. • Regal 5 College Films
A struggling expectant mother seeks the help of a Taoist medium to change her fortunes, only to find herself caught in his sinister, fraudulent machinations. Directed by Sean Shao Chi Yap Student Drama
Un Monde de Femmes
USA, 2012, 1 minute Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
A quick peek into a world dominated by a female carnivorous species. Directed by Penda Diakite Student Experimental Short
Of Gods and Men (Des Dieux et des Hommes)
France, 2012, 120 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 7:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Tournee French Films
A sublime tale of faith and doubt based on a real incident, this film chronicles the story of eight French Trappist monks living in an impoverished Algerian village. When faced with threats of violence from fundamentalist terrorists and the Algerian military, the monks must decide whether to seek safety or risk their lives and stay with the local villagers who have come to trust them and rely on their aid. Directed by Xavier Beauvios Feature Drama
Oh My Friend
India, 2011, 150 minutes Friday, April 19 • 8:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Indian Films
Chandu and Siri are childhood friends. Their friendship remains intact even as they grow up. Will they be able to stay just friends? Directed by Venu Sriram Feature Drama
Ojalá
USA, 2012, 21 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 5:15 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 3:15 p.m. • Regal 6 Drama Shorts
Ojalá is the story of a mother, Olga, and her daughter, Ana, struggling to come to terms with each other. Spanning twenty years and two countries, Olga attempts to reconcile her dream of becoming a singer with the wants and needs of her young daughter. Ana struggles to find her passion while living in the shadow of her mother’s unrealized dream. As both women toil to make their dreams come true, will they ever be able to see each other for who they really are? Directed by Ryan Velasquez Student Drama
The Painting
USA, 2012, 4 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
As the only artist in the family, the filmmaker has always been interested in her family’s viewpoint of art. After selecting a painting broadly recognized in the art community, she asked family members for their opinion. Directed by Catherine Rockhold Student Short
Nora
USA, 2012, 13 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 1 p.m. • Regal 5 Drama Relationships
Our happiness is made significant by what we have overcome in order to be happy. This short distills the terror of a woman’s life, moment after moment, from the pain of past memories. Through abusive relationships, addiction, and violent episodes, Nora emerges, scarred but not defeated. This is ultimately a film about hope, about moments of love and beauty that outweigh the pain, and about how life is a constant balance between light and darkness. Directed by Michael Peer Short Drama
Notes of Hers
USA, 2013, 4 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 High School Films
A man discovers a song written by his late wife. Created, directed, written, shot and edited entirely by teens. Directed by Blake Michael Student Comedy/Drama
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A Perfect Day
USA, 2011, 19 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 5:15 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 3:15 p.m. • Regal 6 Drama Shorts
A teenager on the morning of his “going Columbine” is confronted by an unlikely stranger, the only person who can stop him. It’s a timely and powerful short film about two seemingly ordinary strangers existing in the heart of “perfect” suburbia, fated to meet at a life-changing moment, both confronting the demons we all share. The film is a tale of angst, of irony, and ultimately of hope. It is an edgy and fastpaced thriller, beautifully shot and told, with large implications and strong social value. Directed by Adam Rubin Short Drama
Risky Business: A Look Inside America’s Adult Film Industry
USA, 2013, 102 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 2:45 p.m. • Regal 5
This documentary examines the social, psychological and economic impacts of performing in adult films. The documentary also examines proposed regulations that would address current industry issues, including workplace health and safety, such as mandatory STD testing and condom use and job discrimination once performers decide to leave the industry to pursue conventional employment. Directed by David Mech Documentary
Rose, Mary and Time
United Kingdom, 2013, 38 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 1 p.m. • Regal 5 Drama Relationships
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Is life governed by kismet, or can we change our life path? The film is a story of second chances. Barney is married— unhappily. He lost the love of his life around six years ago—she was murdered. Through the magic contained within a clock he inherited, and with the help of an old Indian shopkeeper, Barney finds himself back in time, with the opportunity to save her . . . but life isn’t always as easy as that. Directed by Hardeep Giani Student Drama
Rushi
India, 2012, 120 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 12 noon • Regal 6 Indian Films
Rushi is an arrogant medical student but wins the hearts of his fellow students and teachers by his kindness. Pooja and Rushi’s friendship starts and they fall in love. Rushi gives medical aid to Karthik, a seven-year-old boy in an emergency, and is reprimanded for treating a child without proper knowledge. Rushi learns that Karthik needs a heart transplant. Meanwhile, Rushi suffers a brain tumor and wants to donate his heart to Karthik, forcing him into a legal struggle and battle to save Karthik. Directed by Raj Madiraj Feature Drama
Scary Normal
USA, 2013, 96 minutes Friday, April 19 • 3:30 p.m. • Regal 5 Teenage Gay and Lesbian Themes
Chelsea just wants to be a typical teenager, but her stepdad’s life making lowbudget indie horror films surrounds her with an array of wild characters that leave her embarrassed and frustrated. When she meets Danielle, a fiery young lesbian who has been rejected by her own family, they form a bond that allows Chelsea to reevaluate her desire for a life that is nothing more than ordinary and come to appreciate her wacky family. Directed by Jennifer Bechtel Feature Comedy
Sex and Violence
USA, 2010, 2 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
Proud Sponsor of RIFF
This film explores the themes of sex and violence in our society, juxtaposing traditional images that turn the familiar into the unfamiliar, producing a series of uncanny representations. Directed by Sarah Fox Student Experimental Short
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11TH ANNUAL RIVERSIDE FILM FESTIVAL • riversidefilmfest.org
Shift of the Ages
Guatemala, 2012, 89 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 1 p.m. • Regal 5
Commissioned on behalf of the Maya nation, the Shift of the Ages is the first official discourse to the world from the Mayan Council of Elders, intended to dispel misconceptions and replace them with the positive story about this incredible period of time for humanity. Shift of the Ages is a dramatic documentary film that reveals the story of the Mayan culture and its sophisticated prophecies of time, as told for the first time by the Grand Elder of the Mayan people. Director is expected to attend. Directed by Stephen Michael Copeland Documentary
Summer Hours (L’Heure d’été)
France, 2008, 102 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 4:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Tournee French Films
The divergent paths of three forty-something siblings collide when their mother, heiress to her uncle’s exceptional 19th century art collection, dies suddenly. Left to come to terms with themselves and their differences, Adrienne (Juliette Binoche), a successful New York designer, Frédéric (Charles Berling), an economist and university professor in Paris, and Jérémie (Jérémie Renier), a dynamic businessman in China, confront the end of childhood, their shared memories, background and unique vision of the future. Directed by Olivier Assayas Feature Drama
funeral, believing he may still be alive, somewhere. As Ruth enters a downward mental spiral, the memory of her best friend becomes a solid piece of her. Through her love of writing, she is able to save herself and become self-dependent. Directed by Hannah Hyatt and Sandra Carbonelle Student Drama Short
a tinted story
Towing
USA, 2012, 14 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 5:15 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 3:15 p.m. • Regal 6 Drama Shorts
Towing is a film about a female veteran’s struggle to make the adjustment to civilian life. One fateful night, her experiences in the war come back to challenge her as she’s yet again forced to face meaningless death. Towing explores themes of gender, race and class with a feminine perspective on the emotional effects of war. Directed by Wenhwa Ts’ao Student Drama
Where Was I Supposed to Be?
USA, 2013, 3 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 6:30 p.m. • Regal 5 CalArts
This film tells a story of an interaction with space/time. It takes place within my installation “Where was I supposed to be again?” Directed by Lorie Wheeler Student Experimental Short
Worlds We Created
USA, 2012, 10 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 5:15 p.m. • Regal 5 Saturday, April 20 • 3:15 p.m. • Regal 6 Drama Shorts
The story of a boy who walks the line between imagination and reality, and the day he realizes he may not be able to do so forever. Directed by Nicholas Santos Short Drama
Zane
USA, 2013, 20 minutes Thursday, April 18 • 1 p.m. • Regal 5 Drama Relationships
The story of Zane, the only white kid growing up in a ghetto neighborhood who against all the pressure around him, struggles to choose the most righteous path for his own life instead of falling into the pit of crime. Lead actor is expected to attend. Directed by Len Chi Student Drama
The Things My Father Never Taught Me
Australia, 2012, 7 minutes Wednesday, April 17 • 5:30 p.m. • Regal 6 Saturday, April 20 • 12 noon • Regal 5 Comedy Shorts, Funny Shorts & Love
Melvin gives dating advice to his threeyear-old son. He teaches him to dress well, act with confidence and spend time with the right crowd. The results are disastrous. And then Melvin meets Mary, an attractive single mother, and his womanizing skills are put to the test. Directed by Burleigh Smith Short Comedy/Romance
A Tinted Story
USA, 2013, 18 minutes Sunday, April 21 • 2 p.m. • Regal 5 High School Films
A young girl, Ruth, distances herself from the world around her after her best friend goes missing. She refuses to attend his
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11TH ANNUAL RIVERSIDE FILM FESTIVAL • riversidefilmfest.org
FILM PROGRAM
FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, VISIT RIVERSIDEFILMFEST.ORG
wednesday, April 17 time
Regal 5
Regal 6
thursday, April 18 Regal 5
Regal 6
12 noon 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm
Shift of the Ages (89 min) 1 pm Risky Business (102 min) 2:45 pm 25,000 Love Story (86 min) 4:45 pm CalArts 6:30 pm El Doctor World Premiere 8 pm
Le Havre (120 min) 2 pm
Comedy Shorts 5:30 pm Of Gods and Men (122 min) 7:30 pm
Friday, April 19 time
Regal 5
Regal 6
12 noon 1 pm 2 pm
The Mayor (80 min) 1:30 pm
3 pm 4 pm
Teenage Gay & Lesbian Themes 3:30 pm
5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm
CBU Student Films 1 pm A Cat in Paris (70 min) 3 pm Flatland & Flatland 2 4:30 pm
12 noon 1 pm 2 pm
Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me (100 min) 8 pm
Oh My Friend (150 min) 8:30 pm
Regal 5
Regal 6
Student Film Workshops 12 noon
Rushi (120 min) 12 noon
College Films 3:10 pm
5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm
Chasing Beauty (90 min) 7:15 pm
Award Ceremony 6 pm
The Artist (100 min) 1:30 pm
Summer Hours (102 min) 4:30 pm
Abel’s Field (104 min) 7 pm
saturday, April 20 Regal 5 Funny Shorts & Love 12 noon
Regal 6 The Mayor (81 min) 12 noon Furever (80 min) 1:30 pm
Sonoran Films 2 pm
Drama Shorts 3:15 pm
5 Hour Friends (97 min) 5 pm
Drought (90 min) 5:15 pm
Aamhi Chamaktetaare (121 min) 7:15 pm
Made in China (91 min) 7:30 pm
film sections
IMCINE (Mexican Institute of Cinematography & Sonoran Films Tournee French Films Films from India
High School Films 2 pm
3 pm 4 pm
Drama Shorts 5:15 pm
Gala at the Culver Center 6 pm
sunday, April 21 time
Drama Relationships 1 pm
Best of RIFF 2013 2:30 pm
High School & College Films (including CalArts): During the screenings, these young filmmakers will also engage in dialogue with fellow filmmakers and the public. Film Shorts & Special Theme Blocks: Film directors are expected to attend screenings for Comedy Film Shorts (Wed., 5:30 pm) and Drama Shorts (Thurs., 5:15 pm) Animation
Proud Sponsors of RIFF 2013
Proud to play a supporting role in the
Riverside International Film Festival 2013
Regal Riverside Plaza Stadium 16 3535 Riverside Plaza Drive Riverside, California