THE YORKIE WEREWOLF, 74min., USA
Directed by Michael DiBiasio-Ornelas
A rebellious teen witch is turned into a tiny werewolf and thrown into the middle of a decades-old war between one small town’s creatures of the night — and the local mafia.

https://www.instagram.com/michaeldibiasio/
https://twitter.com/MichaelDiBiasio

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Fun. The goal of this film was to do something absurd, to enjoy the process of that, and to make something that would hopefully make a lot of people laugh.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

I first got the idea nine years ago, and then forgot about it. It occurred to me again — “what if someone got turned into a werewolf, but instead it was a Yorkie” — and this time I pitched it to someone while looking for my next film to line up. The pitch went well enough that they said “if you write the script, I can try to help you get some financing at a low budget.” Ultimately, that opportunity didn’t pan out but I pretty quickly got a private investor on board based on the strength of the concept.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Absurd fun.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

My wife (and co-producer) and I ended up having another baby about six months after wrap. We had to bend the film schedule around that, for good reason. It’s worked out okay!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

We were happy that people seemed to get as much a kick out of the movie when watching, as we did in making it.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

When I found myself on set of my first short film. I sort of stumbled into filmmaking, but after my first day on set — I was in.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Allegedly I watched Disney’s original animated Pinnocchio so many times as a kid that I wore out the VHS tape. I don’t know if that counts. As an adult, there’s a handful. Bull Durham. Caddyshack. The Hustler. Holy Grail. Back to The Future. Short Circuit 2. It’s a wide spectrum.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I don’t know. It’s a weird time for any sort of distribution, including festivals. We have a newer local one that’s working from the inside out, in basing their programming on values. They share revenue, offer regional filmmakers a room and some food money. It’s an interesting model I’m interested in monitoring.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

No complaints. It’s a pretty fast process.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pizza? Ice cream? Cheeseburgers? A ribeye? Rhode Island Hot Weiners? Hard to say. Depends on the day. Whatever it is, it’s not healthy.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I hope so! I’d love to make a sequel to The Yorkie Werewolf, because it would be fun and also that would mean we earned enough in distribution to substantiate a sequel. I have an indie Rom-Com in development that I’d also love to make. And there’s something I need to write that’s really pulling at me lately but requires more focus. That one also is a bit heavy. It’s a moody SciFi/Fantasy sort of mystery/thriller that’s basically about death. It will be more fun than it sounds. One thing I’ve enjoyed about Yorkie is that it seems to have opened up my style a bit. I feel more loose. Which I like!

Submit to the Horror Underground Film Festival:

DARKNESS UPON MY FANCY, 11min., USA
Directed by Molly Loftus
A monster born of the ashes of a witch’s sister embarks on a sinister quest when she is rejected by her creator.

https://www.thefilmcollaborative.org/fiscalsponsorship/projects/darknessuponmyfancy
https://www.instagram.com/darknessuponmyfancy_film/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Apart from turning thirty, I felt particularly inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. She was this precocious woman who wrote about real tragedies with grace in a way that hit home for me. I couldn’t help but imagine a world like this that dealt with what women during her time might be experiencing. This coincided with the industry-wide strikes and I felt it more important than ever to provide indie opportunities to female identifying and non-binary artists.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

From idea to finished product, the film took me about a year to complete.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Gothic and beautiful

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Not having adequate funds is almost always an obstacle to a film’s completion. I experienced some of that, but during filming we also ran into obstacles. In the climatic scene, we were filming during a bad storm in a cabin in the woods. It became increasingly unsafe to film, so tension was high and of course prioritizing safety we cut early. It was our final shot of the film, so what we got is what we had to work with. The team was incredibly efficient and impressive in that moment. I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for them.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I’m couldn’t believe they watched my film! It was unlike anything I’d experienced, and I’m so happy they had such positive feedback. When I set out to make this film, I told myself I’d be happy if I and maybe one other person liked it. It felt good to hear that several audience members enjoyed it.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I’ve always loved films but making them felt so intimidating for me. Like many people, I didn’t know where to start. I fell into video production almost a decade ago and as the process became less mysterious to me I thought, I can do this!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

That’s a tricky one! My sisters and I watch Love Actually and The Family Stone almost every holiday season, so those are most likely the films I’ve seen the most.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I think this festival did an amazing job of promoting the filmmaker and marketing the films. As a filmmaker, getting yourself and your art out there is so important.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

FilmFreeway is such a seamless process for submitting to film festivals. I found the process to be very supportive of my needs.

10. What is your favorite meal?

My go-to meal is what my partner and I like to call must-go. We get a local produce box from Mitch’s Provisions every week, which is an affordable mystery box of produce that is the best way to support local farmers. It’s fun to get creative about using all the seasonal ingredients and great for the environment and minimizing waste.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

Another film that I produced is in festivals this year, which I’m excited for. I’m always thinking of ideas, from narrative to documentary works. I’m writing a script right now that I’m particularly excited about, which delves into meeting our shadows and adventuring into different realms. I’m loving the horror genre and community around it, so it’s certainly leaning in that direction!

Submit to the Horror Underground Film Festival:

WEEK 11: SLAPSTICK, 2min., USA
Directed by William (Sharp) Walker
After a little boy loses his ball on a roof, he tries increasingly outlandish strategies to get it back.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

This film was part of a project made with my creative partner Genus. It’s called 15 over 15. We made a 30 second minimum film every week for 15 weeks straight based on random prompts in different animation mediums. This was one of our more successful films.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

Because of the nature of the project, this was all done in a week. We wrote and storyboarded it within a few hours then spent the rest of the week modeling and animating.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Old re-run. This short feels like the old cartoons that networks would play to fill time slots when I was growing up. Short and to the point.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

Getting the look right. I think we succeeded because all the reviewers seemed to think it was animated in stop motion. We did everything in CG using Blender. Our stop motion animator friends were somewhere between angry and amused when watching the feedback video. I’m working on a real stop motion film to make up for it.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

I was happy to see people responding well to the story. I was worried there wasn’t much to latch on to but I’m happy it was well received.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I realized I wanted to make films in highschool. Me and a few other students used to get together and concoct wild ideas for film projects. We never ended up making any but it got me inspired to get better at making art and films.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Probably Fern Gully. I attended a summer camp when I was a kid that would play it every Friday while kids waited to get picked up. Over the years I was there I probably watched it at least over 100 times in part or to completion. Somehow I still remember very little of it.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

Honestly I’m super new to the festival scene so I wouldn’t know. This festival was pretty painless so just keep at it.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

I submitted through FilmFreeway. It wasn’t bad at all.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I don’t think I have a favorite meal, but something I really want to have again is sinigang na hipon. I made it once years back but never had it since.

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’ll be making more films but hopefully finding some work to keep me in Chicago. Whatever happens I’ll stay making stuff.

Submit to the Chicago FEEDBACK Film Festival:

DOWN IN FLAMES: THE TRUE STORY OF TONY ‘VOLANCO’ VALENCI, 29min., USA
Directed by William Joseph Stribling
Meet Tony Valenci and his bona fide sideshow of eccentric colleagues. Tony has spent his life dreaming of setting a world record. Despite numerous failures, Tony has never stopped believing in himself. Now, Tony has devised his most ambitious world record attempt yet: to be the first man to blow fire while skydiving.

https://www.facebook.com/downinflamesfilm

Get to know co-producer/co-writer Robert Joseph Lewis:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
My director and co-writer William J. Stribling and I had recently won awards for our short film: Beyond Belief, and I was interested in a new project. I saw a documentary about a man becoming an old-time strong man called Bending Steel. I wanted to make something similar only move it to a Mockumentary by good into the strangest thing I could think of. The next day, the opening lines of the film came to me in my morning shower, and I contacted William. He said, I”I have two weeks in August that are open.” We then started to write the script.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Due to time limitations on us both William J. Stribling and I wrote, financed and put the production together in about three months. I also contacted many of the “friends of Tony” and asked them to participate, which they did. It was amazing that it all came together.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Can two words cover a strange tale so a firewater who wants to set a world record? I guess Mind Blowing might work.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The usual ones: Time and money.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It is always a mixed bag. Some people get that it’s a mockumentary, and that the characters are not to be taken seriously, but the film is so well made that you really believe it, and they worry about the idea that “Tony” died. I can assure you that that actor is very much alive.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I’ve been writing Film scripts since I was a teenager. It very much all came together with Down In Flames. William J. Stribling is a great, talented director, but also a great writing partner.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Forrest Gump. Could explain why I like fake documentaries.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
The Documentary FEEDBACK Festival was great. I was sent timely information and timely follow-through. The audience feedback is a great plus.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
It works very well. Very easy to check up on different festivals, and see the status of each entry.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Eggplant Parmaigana— preferably my wife’s

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Currently working to get my screenplay for DUMMY produced. It’s about an older ventriloquist with Alzheimers, and his daughter having to face becoming his caregiver and her jealousy of his wooden partner.

Submit to the Documentary Festival:

PUREBRED PASSION, 22min,. USA
Directed by Sam Powell
A documentary profiling two teams of competitors during the 2023 Great American Dog Show in Chicago.

https://www.samnpowell.com/
http://vimeo.com/sampowell

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

This film was actually commissioned by a client, so I was motivated to make them happy and make something fun.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?

The project kicked off around the beginning of August, and wrapped around the first week of January 2024

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Purebred Passion!

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

The quick turnaround time, delivery date, and working during the holiday season

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?

Super happy that everyone enjoyed it and learned more about dog-show competing.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

I realized I wanted to make films and videos around middle school when I was 11 or 12.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

I can’t really say, don’t have much experience with festivals.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?

Loved it — It made submissions very easy and streamlined. It also made finding different festivals very easy.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Spaghetti & meatballs extra sauce extra cheese

11. What is next for you? A new film?

I’m a freelance video editor so working on some commercial campaigns and a few other fun animation projects. But I’m hoping to make another documentary one day.

Submit to the Chicago Feedback Film Festival:

ICELAND, ON THE TRAIL OF DEMOCRACY, 58min., Switzerland
Directed by Steve Vilhem
The Icelandic revolution, also known as the “Pots and Pans Revolution”, occurred in October 2008 in Iceland. It was rooted in the context of the subprime financial crisis when, in less than a month, the country’s three main banks declared bankruptcy. From this protest emerged an unprecedented process: the drafting of a new Constitution based on participatory democracy, which utilized methods such as random selection, online participation, citizen debates, elections, and more.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
The journey to creating “Iceland on the Trail of Democracy” began with a deep-seated civic engagement, sparked by the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in 2015. This event compelled me, alongside a group of students from diverse academic backgrounds, to dive into society’s pressing issues through a series of debates. Our quest for a deeper understanding of democracy led us to the “Pots and Pans Revolution” in Iceland—a pivotal yet underrepresented moment in the quest for participatory democracy. Our motivation was to shed light on this unique democratic process, aiming to stimulate a broader reflection on democracy’s essence and its continuous evolution within the European context.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
From its conceptualization to the final cut, the film took approximately six years to complete. The journey began with the seeds of an idea following the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks, leading to extensive planning, research, and finally, the on-ground exploration and filming in Iceland. We did the shooting in 2016, then we had a break (from 2017 to 2019) and we started the editing process in 2019 to 2023. This timeframe allowed for a thorough examination of the subject matter, ensuring a film that not only narrates events but also delves into the intricacies of Iceland’s revolutionary stride towards a more inclusive democracy. It also took time, as first-time filmmaker, to recruit a team and to find fundings.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
“Democratic Awakening”

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
One of the most significant challenges we faced was the complexity of capturing the essence of democracy on film—a subject that is both abstract and deeply nuanced. Balancing the need to remain faithful to the multifaceted reality of Iceland’s democratic revolution, while ensuring the film remained accessible and engaging to a broad audience, required a meticulous approach to storytelling and visual presentation. Additionally, navigating the logistics of filming in a foreign country, including coordinating with local participants and managing the practical aspects of production, presented its own set of hurdles.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Witnessing the audience’s reactions was moving; it underscored the film’s impact and its ability to resonate on a personal level. Observing viewers engage with the film’s themes, question their own democratic environments, and express a renewed interest in participatory democracy was both validating and inspiring. It was a reminder of the film’s capacity to spark dialogue and encourage a deeper contemplation of democracy’s role and potential in our societies.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
My passion for filmmaking emerged during my early engagement with the Kino Session association in Bordeaux, around 2012. Although my foundational background is in medicine and anthropology, the storytelling power of film to explore, challenge, and articulate societal issues deeply resonated with me. This realization was not a sudden epiphany but a gradual awakening to the potential of cinema as a medium for expressing my civic engagement and academic interests in a creative and impactful way.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Without a doubt, “Life of Brian” by Monty Python. Its unique blend of humor and social commentary, wrapped in a historical satire, resonates deeply with me. The way it playfully challenges societal norms and questions authority, all while making you laugh out loud, is nothing short of genius. The Python’s ability to weave thoughtful messages into comedic brilliance is something I admire and aspire to in my own storytelling. Plus, living in Switzerland, the film’s irreverent spirit feels particularly rebellious—a fitting choice for someone surrounded by mountains and, occasionally, the need to question the status quo.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Creating more spaces for interaction and dialogue between filmmakers, audiences, and critics can significantly enhance the festival experience. Workshops and panels that delve into the craft of filmmaking, discussions on the intersection of cinema with social and political issues, and networking events to foster collaborations would be invaluable. Additionally, mentorship programs linking emerging filmmakers with experienced mentors could provide critical guidance and support for those at the beginning of their careers.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Working with FilmFreeway has been a seamless and intuitive experience. The platform’s comprehensive approach to the festival submission process, coupled with its accessibility and user-friendly interface, made it an invaluable tool in navigating the complex landscape of film festivals. Its role in democratizing access to film festivals, allowing filmmakers from diverse backgrounds to share their work, cannot be overstated.

10. What is your favorite meal?
As a current resident of Switzerland, my favorite meal has to be raclette. There’s something incredibly comforting and communal about melting cheese and sharing food around a table with friends. It’s a meal that brings people together, fostering a warm, convivial atmosphere. And let’s not forget the endless possibilities of accompaniments! Potatoes, pickles, onions—it’s a veritable feast.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I hope the journey doesn’t stop with “Iceland on the Trail of Democracy.” Inspired by the profound experiences and insights gained from this project, I’m currently embarking on a more ambitious endeavor: a documentary series exploring the multifaceted expressions of democracy around the globe. Each episode will delve into different manifestations of democratic engagement, from the grassroots movements to the more formalized democratic systems, similar to the Swiss model, that incorporate direct participation at various levels. This series would aim to illuminate the complexities, challenges, and beauty of democracy’s continuous evolution. By capturing these diverse narratives, we hope to foster a deeper, nuanced understanding of what democracy can mean across different contexts and cultures, echoing the need for constant dialogue and reflection on this ever-pertinent issue.

Submit to the Documentary Festival:

NOSTALGIA TRANSPLANT, 6min, USA
Directed by Yuxing Xu
In a future world where people archive history as interactive virtual reality experiences called “Vistories,” “Nostalgia Transplant” introduces the “Vistorian” to relive the LA river’s historical stages. His emotional journey reveals a perplexing choice: to preserve a distorted river in the digital realm. Is it sanctuary, manipulation, or a reflection of his story?

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I’ve been really into the cinematic history of the LA River and how VR tech is changing our lives. Movies such as “Point Blank” (1967), “Grease” (1978), and “Drive” (2011), which feature scenes in LA River, have been a big influence on me. And there were days when I was driving past and walking along the dry riverbed near the new 6th street bridge construction site, seeing the homeless folks around, it just clicked in my mind to create this film and help expand the rich narratives of the LA River.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
It took nearly a year to complete this film, with the last month dedicated to sound & music with my friend Santiago Amézquita, a truly talented music composer

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Nostalgic, Futuristic

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Time-Management as I had to balance my school commitments with personal time devoted to independently producing the film.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It really got me feeling warm and fuzzy inside. It made me happy to see that all the effort I put into making the film was worth it. It just confirmed that I want to keep making more films.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 while pursuing my architecture master’s at SCI-Arc, the shift to online learning exposed me to various digital tools. All of this inspires me to explore the creative potential of storytelling via digital films.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
“Mirror” (1975) by Andrei Tarkovsky

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
More networking opportunities among filmmakers would definitely help a lot, but so far I’m happy with the LA Feedback Festival’s offerings.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
I found it to be a very convenient and good tool for filmmakers. I appreciate the platform’s handy interface, search tools, and the ability to see other filmmakers’ feedback and ratings.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Ramen or Rice Noodles I guess?

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Yes, I’m currently in the post-production phase of my next film: “La Jetee(VR),” a VR adaptation of the 1967 French sci-fi classic, and it’s set in a fictional L.A.

Submit to the LA Feedback Film Festival: