This art visual film is an homage to the musical piece of Leo Delibes “the flower duet”
Review by Julie C. Sheppard:
The famous musical piece by Leo Delibes, “Flower Duet”, literally blooms to life on screen in this sensual art visual film directed by Artist Eddie Jelinet. The concept of two fresh and lovely floral heads on supple, graceful young bodies does full justice to this soaring, gorgeous piece of music.
The floral hues – soft pinks and purples – give the film a distinctly pretty, delicate, feminine feel. The bright white background presents these two figures in breathtaking, high relief. I appreciate the directorial choice that, at the beginning, the musical piece is solely orchestral and the figures are filmed in solo shots. However, once the joyous choral voices in the piece begin, the figures start to connect and move lovingly, giving one another soft touches and gentle caresses, as if a pair of flowers in a breezy field. They interact in almost a balletic manner – indeed a flower duet. And the delicate floral petals falling on the figures add a vertical dimension to these horizontal figures.
This film was indeed a real feast for the eyes and ears. Per the Delibes quote at the top of the film, these flowers, personified, do indeed “bloom together” as the film unfolds!
THREE Writing Festival Deadlines Today to submit to:
Short Story Performance Reading – Submit your Short Story to the Festival here and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself. SUBMIT NOW
HAIKU Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
TV PILOT & SPEC Screenplay Contest – Full Feedback on all submissions. Get your screenplay performed by professional actors and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
UPCOMING DEADLINES
FAMILY/KIDS Novel Contest – Get Full Feedback. Get chance to have transcript of your novel performed by an actor and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
ENVIRONMENTAL Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
COMEDY Screenplay Contest – Full Feedback on all submissions. Get your screenplay performed by professional actors and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
July 21st
VIDEO PITCH Logline – If you like us to do a video of your logline, we’ll peform it using a professional actor and promote it online on our site and popular YouTube channel and VIMEO Channel. SUBMIT NOW
POLITICAL Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
FAN FICTION Screenplay Contest – Full Feedback on all submissions. Get your screenplay performed by professional actors and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
July 22nd
ACTOR PERFORMANCE READING – Submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published. SUBMIT NOW
ELEGY Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
FAMILY Screenplay Contest (Features, TV, Shorts) – This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.) SUBMIT NOW
Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.
DESIRE, 7min., USA Directed by Jason Chu After a swanky luncheon, a sophisticated gentleman takes a reluctant date on his yacht for a drink. There is something that has been itching him, and he’s just not quite sure how to scratch it.
THE WRITER’S EXTRAORDINARY ACTION, 24min., China Directed by Chao Hao It describes the story of some writers who are bound to each other in their “writing worlds” and fighting against each other to break free from the control of fate.
HIGH-STAND, 15min., Hungary Directed by Péter Karácsony Hawk and Berry are standing on a high-stand, looking for game. It would be a funny joke, if it weren’t so sad.
THIEF, 29min., Kenya Directed by Andrew Odera Omolo, Gregory Kiwo Maole “Thief” follows the gripping story of Oliver, a reformed ex-thief facing the dire reality of his critically ill son, Richie. Struggling with escalating medical bills, Oliver is approached by Edward, a wealthy benefactor with an unconventional proposal – a high-stakes heist targeting Donna, a mysterious figure with a hidden fortune.
PROJECT 405: LOST AT SEA, 12min,. USA Directed by Josie Hull Aspiring artist Alexia, grieves the loss of a loved one and struggles to finish her painting. The-o, her personal AI assistant, who has little understanding of human emotions, tries everything in his power to feed her longing soul.
SHIVA, 13min., Canada Directed by Josh Saltzman Shiva is an unnerving tale about a recently widowed woman who breaks with a long-held Jewish mourning ritual in hopes of connecting with her deceased husband.
Submit your FILM for FREE using the FilmFreeway button
LAST DAY to submit for the April Festival.
The status of your film will be determined within a week!
NOTE: Other options to submit. For a short fee get a guaranteed acceptance and the total festival package: Audience Feedback Video. Written Film Review. Blog Interview.
Festival designed to showcase independent politically inclined films from all corners of the world.
Agenda is to help show the world stories with a macro political agenda. This is purely a partisan minded festival. Our goal is to show films from different ideological points of view. (As long as their is no hate filled, racist, sexist, or violent points of view)
It also intends to showcase screenplays that are politically themed. We give full feedback on all entries. Winners get their script performed by professional actors and made into a promotional video (paid service).
In this time of divided cultures, our idealistic agenda is to help bridge the gap in some small way. To entertain and educate by films and screenplays that need to be seen by the world.
Festival will occur every single month.
POLITICAL Film Festival VIRTUAL Events occurs once a month on the Film Festival Streaming Service.
All film submissions are FREE. Opportunity to have your film showcased on the popular streaming service for 48 hours.
(Other opportunities to garner a distribution deal with the company and have your film showcased always on the streaming service.)
Go to the Daily Film Festival Platform http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the free 7 day trial to watch a new and original festival every single day.
Directed by Daman Giglietta In the haunting shadow of a recent tragedy, “Mercy of Others” unfolds as a close-knit group of six friends reunite to mourn the loss of a friend. This gathering, meant for solace and reminiscence, swiftly uncovers buried tensions and unresolved conflicts within their circle, revealing a complex web of emotions and relationships.
Directed by Jeremy Brown, Mick Strawn A famous upbeat survivalist is cast for a popular television series about surviving in solitude, but survival turns to despair when she discovers a supernatural entity’s presence.
THREE Writing Festival Deadlines Today to submit to:
CRIME/MYSTERY Novel Contest – Get Full Feedback. Get chance to have transcript of your novel performed by an actor and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
(FREE) HAIKU Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
HORROR Screenplay Contest – Full Feedback on all submissions. Get your screenplay performed by professional actors and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
UPCOMING DEADLINES:
July 19th
Short Story Performance Reading – Submit your Short Story to the Festival here and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself. SUBMIT NOW
HAIKU Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
TV PILOT & SPEC Screenplay Contest – Full Feedback on all submissions. Get your screenplay performed by professional actors and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
July 20th
FAMILY/KIDS Novel Contest – Get Full Feedback. Get chance to have transcript of your novel performed by an actor and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
ENVIRONMENTAL Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
COMEDY Screenplay Contest – Full Feedback on all submissions. Get your screenplay performed by professional actors and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
July 21st
VIDEO PITCH Logline – If you like us to do a video of your logline, we’ll peform it using a professional actor and promote it online on our site and popular YouTube channel and VIMEO Channel. SUBMIT NOW
POLITICAL Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
FAN FICTION Screenplay Contest – Full Feedback on all submissions. Get your screenplay performed by professional actors and made into video. SUBMIT NOW
July 22nd
ACTOR PERFORMANCE READING – Submit for an actor performance reading transcript of your novel (any 5 pages of your book). Great way to promote the sales of your book if you’re already published. SUBMIT NOW
ELEGY Poetry Contest – Submit a poem that’s a dramatic monologue via Submittable. SUBMIT NOW
FAMILY Screenplay Contest (Features, TV, Shorts) – This festival has a guaranteed 4-tier set up for each accepted script. (No matter what, all screenplays submitted receive FULL FEEDBACK on their work.) SUBMIT NOW
1) Submit for FREE and have your film shown at the Virtual Festival Platform www.wildsound.ca
(Includes awards and other options for movie reviews, interviews)
OR
2) NEW OPTION: All submissions receive an automatic acceptance to the festival!
We have created a hybrid festival with 4 tiers to enhance your film and your festival experience. All accepted films receive all four tier options:
Tier #1 – Your film plays at a private festival event where the audience will record their comments/reactions to your film on their camera or phone, then we edit them and send you a promotional video. No matter what you will receive a promotional video of your film of people commenting on your film.
Tier #2 (optional) – Your film plays on the Film Festival streaming service for 30 hours and invite a select industry audience to watch it. With this system, some films have already received a distribution deal as many platforms are looking for solid feature and short documentaries. We can not guarantee anything of course but this has been very helpful to many in the past. (see testimonials below)
Then (Tier #3) we will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your film. Then after that (Tier #4) we will set up a podcast interview on our popular ITunes show where will we chat with you about the process of how the film was made.
Filmmaker Karen Akins’ darkly quirky personal quest to curb noise pollution in her quaint Vermont village uncovers dire consequences for noise regulation not only in her home state but nationwide. From a libertarian-controlled village, upholding a rural neighbor’s right to “recreational shooting,” to the basing of an ear-piercing fighter jet in the most densely populated area of the state, the examples are unending. As she consults leading experts and activists, including Ben Cohen of Ben and Jerry’s, Akins marshals the facts to frame noise pollution as an urgent yet overlooked crisis for both public health and civil society.
Review by Parker Jesse Chase:
In “The Quietest Year,” filmmaker Karen Akins embarks on a deeply personal and unique quest to address noise pollution in her quaint Vermont town. Through this endeavor, Akins uncovers alarming consequences for noise regulation not only in her private home, but across the state. The film is an exploration of how noise affects public health and civil society, framed within the context of a libertarian-controlled village upholding a rural neighbor’s right to “recreational shooting” and the bases of ear-piercing fighter jets in Vermont’s most densely populated area.
The documentary opens with a relatable montage for filmmakers: pauses in front of the camera to capture sound quality, often disrupted by planes overhead. This sequence sets the tone for the film, highlighting the pervasive nature of noise pollution. Akins effectively demonstrates that only a small percentage of the Earth remains uninterrupted by human-made noises.
Vermont, known for its environmental consciousness and forward-thinking mentality, serves as the backdrop for Akins’ journey. The state is home to Ben and Jerry’s, a company renowned for its activism, and Bernie Sanders, a prominent political figure. Even the footage of the town evokes nostalgia and a sense of peace, emphasizing the stark contrast between Vermont’s serene landscape and the oncoming intrusive noise pollution.
Vermont is unique in its choices to ban billboard usage and its anti-litter laws, yet it remains a “Wild West” of sound ordinances. This part of the United States is highly sensitive to noise, as exemplified by the harmful effects on even the simplicity of delivery truck drivers’ passerby noise, which can cause ear damage over long periods (as measured by an Apple Watch). The film reveals the detrimental impacts of sudden, impulsive sounds at night, which can disturb deep sleep and harm health. Even street sweepers cause disturbances in this noise-conscious community.
Akins delves into the historical context of noise regulation, highlighting the defunding of the Noise Control Act and the subsequent freezing of federal regulations without enforcement resources, a legacy of Ronald Reagan’s administration. This has left towns to navigate noise issues independently, often hoping neighbors will resolve conflicts amongst themselves.
The documentary emphasizes the impossibility of “closing your ears,” sound being a fundamental survival skill, and compares the loudness of roosters to jet engines. The negative physical response to living with constant noise, such as the crowing of three roosters outside a bedroom window, is palpable. The World Health Organization’s recommendation of general daytime noise levels of 55 decibels or less to prevent adverse health impacts underscores the severity of the issue. This town on a regular basis has the lowest in the mid60s.
“The Quietest Year” captures the unprecedented quiet of 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which the community found delightful. Akins continues to document stories of disruption, from detained sheep crying to gunshots at all hours to Ben (of Ben + Jerry’s) getting arrested for a protest display, sending people into distressing physical and mental states. Honing in on the filmmaker’s belief and undeniable truth that repeated exposure to noise causes a priming effect, enlarging the amygdala and making it more reactive to noise events exposing them to higher risk for a heart attack or stroke.
The film strongly establishes the community and lifestyle within Vermont, highlighting the sensitivity to noise that permeates across the state. This sensitivity manifests in various ways: personally (ongoing noise disturbances with neighbors), physically (impact on the nervous system and heart health), and through military actions, such as the national guard’s plane activities.
Akins presents a nuanced portrayal of noise complaints, revealing the complexities and challenges of addressing them through legislative avenues when civil conversations fall short. The documentary is rich with information, both social and scientific, about the sensory effects of sound and what constitutes healthy versus unhealthy noise levels for humans.
“The Quietest Year” is a compelling and informative documentary shedding light on an often overlooked yet urgent growing crisis in this area of the United States. Akins’ personal quest resonates deeply, making a strong case for the need to address noise pollution for the sake of public health and civil society as a whole.
A city lost in the past has to overcome its nostalgia to meet the needs of a modern community.
Retrocity takes you on a journey through the past 80 years of capitalism, consumerism, and individualism, exploring how they have all combined in time to transform our communities from collective, social, human environments, into individualistic, antisocial, car-centric environments.
Centred around Chatham, Ontario, Canada, and the annual retro festival it holds, the documentary takes you into the event to explore the city through the eyes and ears of its residents, showcasing the ironic tragedy of a community so enveloped in nostalgia for its past it has become lost in time.
Review by Victoria Angelique:
The history of Chatham, Ontario is told in a masterful depiction of architecture in RETROCITY. There is no dialogue, yet this is a powerful documentary that showcases the changes in a city through buildings. A sad story that goes from a thriving town to one abandoned throughout time due to society becoming increasingly antisocial.
The score is whimsical. It sets a nostalgic tone as the filmmaker, Jude Dauphin, takes the audience back in time to the beginning of a beautiful town. The captivating cinematography shows the beauty of a thriving town that had gorgeous architecture. The buildings are in contrast to the modernization of Chatham, with popular fast food and grocery store chains lining the outskirts of the magnificent historical buildings.
The editing is seamless as the scene transitions from the black and white past, to the colorful modernization and finally ending on a society beginning to decay. Dauphin showcases the decline in socialization through the lens of what appears to be an abandoned mall that still has the bright decor from decades ago and even payphones hanging from the wall. The footage is almost like an old home movie, reminiscing of the time when people would hang out at this shopping center as they socialized.
The contrast to people only coming together for a retro festival is not lost, as it shows the community still longs for the past before the world became antisocial and individualistic. Chatham, Ontario is a beautiful town that is being lost in time as people move on, leaving history behind them. The hope at the end is that this city can be saved and the people will once again come together as a community.
1. The title of my novel about a girl willing to sacrifice her name and her identity
2. The middle name of Cleo Hart, a scholarship student at a prestigious New England university in the 1950’s
3. A feminized form of “Thessaloniki,” a city in Greece possibly named after Alexander the Great’s half-sister
Get to know the writer:
1. What is your novel about?
A college student masquerades as her male classmate to join an archaeological dig in 1954 Crete. While excavating Minoan ruins, she unwittingly enters a labyrinth of post-war sociopolitical conflict.
2. What genres would you say this story is in?
Upmarket Historical Fiction
3. How would you describe this story in two words?
esoterico, exoterico
4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?
From the age of two to five, I probably watched The Wizard of Oz 300 times.
5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
Choosing favorites of any kind always makes me anxious, for whatever reason. But Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 has been a recurring refrain in my life for at least two decades. Especially the Adagio.
6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?
Not really? Like I said, I’m not psychologically able to think about the world in terms of absolute favorites. Instead, how about three novels I’ve read (or reread) in the last five years that did something to me: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, and This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart.
7. What motivated you to write this story?
I wanted to write the kind of book I love to read.
8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
Now that I’ve got Mozart on the brain, it’d have to be him, the guy who compared his creative process to a cow pissing in a field. He’d order the sturgeon, and I’d make the chef angry by asking for mushroom goulash. We’d drink the most expensive bottle of wine available and charge it all to the Prince Regent of Bavaria’s account. Salieri would send us a complimentary, but poisoned, Sachertorte for dessert.
9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Knitting, reading, teaching, swing dancing. I also like zipping around the world.
10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?
I’ve had good experiences in the past working with podcasts to adapt my essays. I like collaborating on creative projects and seeing my writing through the eyes of other artists, especially when several different types of expertise are involved.
11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?
Try to have as much fun as you can with your work. Give yourself space to take risks. Always be learning, but have fun with that too. Maybe make a collage once in a while. Somehow, it always helps me.
Festival Reviews 