2010 Beaufort International Film Festival Finalists Announced
ANIMATION
Gym Lessons Click here for trailer (9 Minutes)
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...
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 Click here for trailer (5 Minutes)
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
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 funnyAs 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 Click here for trailer (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.
Bus - Click here for trailer ( 94 Minutes)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
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..
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)
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.
Letters From Home (9 Minutes)
Click here for trailer Directed by: Keva Keyes (Goose Creek, SC, USA)
Medium Synopsis
This is a dramatic short about a team of soldiers dealing with the dangers of war while on assignment in Afghanistan. This story reveals the effects of the letters the soldiers receive from home and gives a glimpse into the lives of the women who wrote them.
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 – (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 ROAD 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.
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.
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.
Click above for tickets
