2010 BEAUFORT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
ANIMATION:
Gym Lessons (9 Minutes)
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Directed by: Hannes Rall (Singapore)
Medium Synopsis
A chubby little boy has to confront his sadistic gym instructor in
the gym lesson.
A funny battle ensues...
Pete’s Odyssey (6 Minutes)
Directed by: Larry Lauria (Savannah, GA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
PETE'S ODYSSEY is the feel good story of a tiny bird named Pete (aka
Cynthia). Pete awakens one morning and finds that something is
different. She can't put her 'wing' on it but it is time to emerge
and progress in her life. She has always been afraid - not of any
specific aspect - just life in general is a fearful challenge. Today
is THE day that she will venture and face those fears and make some
changes. In her anxious mood she knocks herself out where she must
now choose to either run away forever or face her fears - once and
for all!
Skylight (5 Minutes)
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Directed by: David Baas (Toronto, Canada)
Medium Synopsis
A cavernous ice cave and snowscape in the Antarctic. Voiceover
narration describes its desolate quality in an overly solemn,
dramatic, nature documentary-like tone. A lone penguin against
another stark background. The narrator describes him using
ridiculous superlatives, nobility, majesty, etc., contrasting with
his mundane activity and appearance.
Dramatic music swells, the penguin begins to waddle, he passes
through a small group of other penguins, the camera, mimicking the
handheld movement of a documentary camera. Shockingly, as our first
penguin leaves frame, passing through a ray of sunlight, he explodes
in a blinding flash. In the confusion, our camera reels, trying to
assess the situation. The other penguins, seemingly oblivious, stare
off into space. As snow settles from the blast, the remains of our
wandering penguin spins in the air, inches from the ground, and
drops with a thud. Revealed, the carcass amid three others, all
looking like roasted turkeys, under a beam of sunlight. The narrator
booms that the hole in the ozone layer has caused this cataclysm.
The other penguins, ignorant of the peril about them, continue to
mill aimlessly about.
A title card appears, asking for donations to the fund for
“Inconsequential Wildlife”, denoting that no one, even the
filmmakers, really cares what happens to things removed from their
immediate experience. Cut back to a lone remaining penguin, whose
fate is probably sealed. Cut to black and credits. A closing montage
shows the fate of other “Inconsequential” animals worldwide if these
environmental trends continue.
FEATURE:
The Hide (84 Minutes)
Directed by: John Schwab (London, United Kingdom)
Medium Synopsis
On the windswept Suffolk mudflats creaks a bird-hide, inside which
hovers Roy Tunt, a prematurely aged, mildly obsessive-compulsive
birder. With one more sighting - the elusive sociable plover - he
will have 'twitched' the entire British List. Tunt has his shortwave
radio, packed-lunch and a portrait of his ex-wife Sandra for
company. Suddenly, in the midst of a conversation with Sandra's
portrait, the hide door blows open and a bedraggled stranger -
unshaven, edgy and bloodied introduces himself as Dave John, a
fugitive from the storm. After a tense introduction, the two men
discover that they have a good deal in common, sharing sandwiches,
tea and personal exchanges which are frank, poignant and often
funny. As the two men begin to form a close bond news of a police
manhunt sets them both on edge driving their fragile relationship to
a tragic conclusion.
Deadland (107 Minutes)
Directed by: Damon O’Steen (Los Angeles, CA USA)
Medium Synopsis
Intertwined within its sci-fi action-thriller roots, DEADLAND is a
story of hope set in a post-apocalyptic world. After five years of
searching, survivor Sean Kalos stumbles upon proof that his missing
wife may still be alive in the new United Provinces. World War III's
nuclear strikes on the U.S. set the nation back 200 years, and hope
is all but lost when every survivor of the war is infected by a
fatal nuclear plague. What was designed to be the new rebirth has
become martial law, and the Officers of the Province wield their
power with cruelty. When Sean crosses them, he finds himself in the
middle of a personal war, and his quest for his wife inspires hope
in a land that had forgotten what that word meant.
Florida Road (110 Minutes)
Directed by: Brad Glass (Palm Desert, CA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Florida Road follows the life of Shaan. a mid twenties boy from
Mumbai, India who moved to Durban South Africa with his family.
Shaan is a struggling screenwriter of Hollywood action films. His
father, Raj, a fan of Bollywood films doesn’t understand his son's
career choice. Shaan struggles to pursue his dream and seeks the
love and support from his father. Shaan fights with his culture and
finding his place in the world. When a family tragedy occurs,
secrets are reveled and Shaan comes to terms with the cards he has
dealt with.
Moonlight Sonata (102 Minutes)
Directed by: Celik Kayalar ( San Francisco, CA, USA)
Can we escape the consequences of our moral choices? Are our sins
ever forgotten or live on in our repressed memories? Racing towards
chaos and destruction, an affluent San Francisco family finds out in
'Moonlight Sonata' (a modern, character-driven drama and a
cliffhanger psychological thriller.
Blue Bus (94 Minutes)
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Directed by: Phillip Scarpaci Woodland Hills, CA, USA)
“Blue Bus” was shot as an experimental piece, there was no script,
only an outline that changed as shooting progressed. Cast and crew
embarked on a 9 day road trip from Los Angeles to New Orleans
shooting with 2 HD cameras and 6 small lipstick cameras inside a
1968 Blue Volkswagen bus. The road trip was shot utilizing only
available light and locations along the way. As the road trip
developed, so did the story line.
STUDENT:
Bean (18 Minutes)
Directed by: Giovanna Federico, Chapman University (Orange, CA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Bean, a fifteen year old writer, says goodbye to her surrogate
father, Johnny. Her mother, Julie, has a new boyfriend, Scoot, a
lazy redneck. Bean wants Julie to stop cycling through men and start
being a mother. When Julie is unreceptive, Bean takes action to gain
her mother’s attention.
MacAwesome (12 Minutes)
Directed by: Andrew Mitchell, North Carolina School of the Arts
(Winston-Salem, NC, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Young Josh tackles his high school's production of Macbeth, allying
with a foreign exchange student of indeterminate origin and sinking
to dastardly lows to earn the leading role and thereby win the heart
of Lady Macbeth, a girl totally unaware of his puny existence.
Milites Christi (12 Minutes)
Directed by: Jared Outten, North Carolina School of the Arts
(Winston-Salem, NC, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Gunter, a hardened and proficient knight, sets out with his squire
Hall on a mission through the wasteland of 14th century Europe. A
mission that if successful, will restore power into the hands of
those that are truly divine.
Reflection (15 Minutes)
Directed by: Dan Dowding, Savannah College of Art and Design
(Savannah, GA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
David gains consciousness after a serious car accident. Right before
it explodes his life flashes before his eyes. In his realistic
fantasy he envisions himself escaping the accident and seeking
revenge on his wife for her betrayal. After his vision he snaps back
to reality only to realize his eminent fate. Death.
Shut Up and Kiss Me (17 Minutes)
Directed by: Bartley Argo, Savannah College of Art and Design
(Savannah, GA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
“Shut Up & Kiss Me” is a Golden Age style musical set against the
backdrop of Savannah’s Historic District. It focuses on the dynamic
relationship of two young lovers who care deeply for each other but
who can’t seem to say it. Casual conversation turns Julie and Dean’s
leisurely stroll home into a powder keg of pretense and pride. Will
either side be able to extinguish the fuse before the whole evening
explodes?
SHORTS:
Clones Gone Wild (17 Minutes)
Directed by: Chad Matthews, Harry Frishberg (Santa Monica, CA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
When Ben Hocker discovers he has a clone, his button-down world
comes crashing down. Ben's alter-ego (the enigmatic 'Dulce') is
everything that Ben wishes he could be: wealthy,witty, and
irresistible to the ladies. The only question in Ben's mind is
whether to make peace with the Clone, or make him rest in peace.
With the help of his friends, Ben must quickly navigate a bizarre
new world where people aren't who they seem, and where the clones
have gone wild.
Slice of Pie (35 Minutes)
Directed by: Tim Reishauer (Sherman Oaks, CA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Gleaned from Rick Hall’s small town stories called “spellbinding” by
the New York Times, “Slice of Pie” is a romantic comedy with an
unlikely hero. Carter’s a middle-aged divorcee with his eye on
Juanita, the waitress at the local diner. In an attempt to woo the
girl of his dreams he waxes philosophical about the merits of pie.
But when James, the used car dealer of dating, makes his move on
Juanita, subtly is out the window. Carter pops the question, Juanita
accepts and Carter thinks he has the wind at his back. But in the
open prairieland of central Illinois, the wind can change direction
rather quickly.
The Deadbeat (21 Minutes)
Directed by: Levi Kaminkowitz (CA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Rob Ullett and Joseph Culliton star in this dark, bizarre,
original comedic short set in a mortuary. Morgan, a socially
inept mortician (Ullett), is continually late to work due to
traffic and is subject to his deranged boss, the mortuary
owner (Culliton). A twisted and hilarious tale ensues.
Directed by: Keva Keyes (Goose Creek, SC, USA)
Medium Synopsis
LETTERS FROM HOME introduces a team of U.S. Army soldiers
deployed to a remote base in Afghanistan. As they prepare
for a mission, the always-anticipated mail call occurs. It's
through this encounter we get to know team members and
witness the effects the letters from home have on them.
You Are Beautiful (11 Minutes)
Directed by: Jody Schiesser (Savannah, GA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL is a dramatic short film by Perpombellar
Productions in the spirit of the You Are Beautiful Idea (see:
you-are-beautiful.com) that originated in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In
our film, Jesse, a young man, spreads the words 'You Are Beautiful'
through the streets of Savannah. When he and his friend Kia
encounter the troubled and homeless Many-Colored Man, the value of
Jesse's message is challenged. Can 'You Are Beautiful' reach someone
who doesn't want to hear those words, or more importantly, doesn't
believe them about himself?
DOCUMENTARY:
The Brothers Warner – Feature Length (90 Minutes)
Directed by: Cass Warner (Studio City, CA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
There was a man, who, with his close-knit band of brothers,
epitomizes in his pioneering efforts to use mass media to educate,
entertain, and enlighten. It was his personal belief that, 'Those
who make a nation's entertainment have obligations above and beyond
their primary commercial objective, which is the box office. Films
were often produced from stories ripped from news headlines. This is
the inside story of Harry Warner and his brothers their scrappy rise
from nothing; their efforts to make a difference in the world; and
their ability to overcome personal tragedies and huge odds to
achieve their goals. THE BROTHERS WARNER is told through the eyes
and voice of Harry Warner's granddaughter, Cass Warner.
Tira Bakal (striking metal) (25 Minutes)
Directed by: Scott Wurth (Sydney, Australia)
Medium Synopsis
Set in Pampanga, Philippines, this documentary outlines the
Santos family's 'Panata' (Pledge) to God and the reasons why
the Grand Patriarch, Matias Santos started the tradition.
Through a grueling event called 'Tira Bakal', the family
shows their commitment to their late Grandfather's pledge as
they imitate the sufferings of the Lord. The Santos
family members along with the two main participants, a key
co-ordinator and the crucified penitent, we follow the event
on Good Friday to its yearly conclusion. This is a thrill
ride movie with a twist - it's real!!!
Severing The Soul (18 Minutes) Directed by: Barbara Klutinis (San Francisco, CA, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Found footage interweaves an account of Rosemary Kennedy’s lobotomy
procedure in 1941 with an overview of the psychosurgery movement of
the 1930’s-1960’s in the US.
Perfect Valor (91 Minutes)
Directed by: David Taylor (Washington, DC, USA)
Medium Synopsis
In 2004, coalition forces in Iraq launched Operation Phantom Fury,
the battle for control of Fallujah. American troops fought through a
city of enemy insurgents, moving house to house and street to street
to seize control of the most dangerous city in the world. Perfect
Valor is the story of the price paid by U.S. forces and the legacy
of that campaign as seen through the eyes of the men and women who
were there, risking their lives in service to their country.
Mississippi Queen (64 Minutes)
Directed by: Paige Williams (Missoula, MT, USA)
Medium Synopsis
Mississippi Queen charts a woman’s mission to find much-needed
answers. Paige Williams travels across the country and through the
years, as she explores the distance between her upbringing and her
life now. The south stands as the backdrop and her parents as the
main characters. Growing up a good Southern Baptist girl, Paige
learned to love God and family. However, her senior year in high
school would lead to a relationship with a girl, and all that would
turn on its head. Over ten years later, she attempts to find balance
in her marriage and commitment to a woman, their newborn and the
fact that her parents run Mississippi’s only ex-gay ministry.
However, this story goes beyond just the Williams family. It is
about the south, where there is a distinct queer culture that
manages to thrive despite the religious fervor or, perhaps, because
of it. Paige interviews gays who find no incongruity with going to
church and loving the Lord and then those who feel they can’t be a
part of religion without being judged. She talks to former
homosexuals who converted due to their commitment to Christ and the
wish to no longer sin. She also meets with the people who want to
help them change. At the heart of the film, though, is the middle
ground where Paige and her parents attempt to meet. They don’t
always get there, but the making of Mississippi Queen helps them get
a little closer-- to God and each other.
The Displaced: The Unexpected Fallout from the Coldwar (84
Minutes)
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Directed by: Mark Albertin (Augusta, GA, USA)
The documentary is an entertaining and thought-provoking look back
to a time of both innocence and tragedy in American and regional
history. Residents of the South Carolina farming towns of Ellenton,
Dunbarton and Meyers Mill tell their personal stories of family and
community life during the 1940s and early ‘50s and its shocking
disruption by the government confiscation of their towns to make
room for one of the largest nuclear weapon production facilities in
the world. They recall the fear, anger and dismay of the 5,000
residents forced to abandon homes and land many had known for
generations.
SCREENPLAYS:
Mask of the Innocent
Screenwriter: Teresa Bruce (Beaufort, SC, USA)
What if you spent a lifetime idolizing your father and taking your
mother for granted, but, in an instant, had to betray him to save
her? Mask of the Innocent plunges a young woman into an agonizing
choice and its irreversible consequences.
Medicine Avenue
Screenwriter: Susan Sfarra (Brooklyn, NY, USA)
The daughter of a pharmaceutical company executive lands a job on
Madison Avenue and sees firsthand the dangers that exist when
science and marketing collide.
Miracle of Love
Screenwriter: Sally Grodotzke ( FL, USA)
Miracle of Love is a romantic comedy set in Charleston during the
beauty and excitement of the Spoleto festival.
The Legend of Anne Bonny, Pirate
Screenwriter: Nathan Goldman (Houston, TX, USA)
Anne Bonny was the most famous woman pirate of the Golden Age of
Piracy. But, no one knew or knows her story.
Samson V2
Screenwriter: James Kirtland (Culver City, CA, USA)
'Samson,' an adult dog story of a family pet stolen and forced to
fight for his life.
