Month: January 2025
Filmmaker Podcast: Director Juan Carlos Zaldivar, & Composer Christel Veraart (MEROPE)
MEROPE, 8min., USA
Directed by Juan Carlos Zaldivar
The short film, Merope, follows a personification of the hidden star on a journey towards emancipation from the ties that historically have bound her and her six sisters, the Pleiades constellation, in a narrative about captivity and victimization, towards a new story where she claims visibility and a more authentic place in the universe for her and her sisters.
Christel Veraart Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christelveraart/
http://sedonaballet.org/merope-epk
What motivated you to make this film?
Juan Carlos: Winifred and Christel had the revolutionary idea of creating a multi-disciplinary art festival that would result in a collaboration. Merope was born from our group which included a composer, a filmmaker/animator, a collage artist, a photographer, a dancer, a poet, and a choreographer —with a wardrobe person and a camera person. Winnie and Christel acted as producers.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
The audience’s reaction was truly exhilarating! Watching people connect so deeply with our film and hearing their insights in the feedback video was both humbling and inspiring. Hearing the audience describe the film as wonderful, meditative, peaceful, harmonious, and touching was profoundly gratifying—it affirmed that our vision resonated deeply with viewers. Their heartfelt appreciation for the music and the emotions it evoked validated the passion and dedication poured into every aspect of the project.
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Watch Today’s Festival: FEMALE Filmmakers Shorts Film Festival
Watch the Film Festival HERE: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/female-shorts-january-2025
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.
Go to the festival page directly and watch dozens of films:
https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/
See the full lineup of films:
JOYCE, 25min., Norway
Directed by Tomas Martinsen-Hickman
Joyce, a 40-something closeted alcoholic, hits her breaking point after a series of bad choices, her husband stages an intervention but it goes awry and she risks losing her family and her life, based on true events.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14756796
https://www.facebook.com/anettemartinsen.actress#
https://twitter.com/anettemartinsen
https://www.instagram.com/anette.martinsen/
Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-joyce
BUDDY, 10min,. USA
Directed by Yeonwoo Kim
Buddy is John’s pet parrot. Every morning, when John’s mom opens the cage door, Buddy wakes up and helps wake John for school. This is a part of the routine that Buddy loves. John always makes sure Buddy doesn’t enter the bathroom, as it is a strict household rule. After John leaves for school, the house becomes quiet, and Buddy spends his time in John’s room.
Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-buddy
.Do .Re .Mi, 9min,. USA
Directed by Yuan Yao
A girl with a talent for dance is about to face one of the most important auditions of her life, but on that day an accident happens…
Watch the Audience Feedback Video:
https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-do-re-mi
Feature Film Review: Thank You For Her. Romance/Comedy/Drama/Fantasy
When aspiring fantasy novelist Anna Drake accidentally runs cyclist Lance off the road, she has no idea this chance encounter will change both their lives. As their romance blossoms, Anna finds herself falling for Lance’s free-spirited nature and determination, while keeping her brother Cam’s protective instincts at bay.
Project Links
Directed by Peyton Savington
Writer/Producer/Lead Actor: K Evans
Review by Parker Jesse Chase:
Thank You for Her brings us to aspiring fantasy novelist Anna Drake, whose accidental collision with cyclist Lance becomes the catalyst for a deeply intertwined story of queer love, family duty, and the burdens of generational trauma. What begins as an instant meet-cute quickly unravels into a melodramatic exploration of the secrets that bind—and divide—two families, wrapped around the complexities of this budding romance.
The film ticks all the boxes for a classic coming-of-age drama: a protagonist with a problem, family secrets inevitably revealed, love tested by betrayal, and a journey of one’s testament to healing. While its structure occasionally veers into overindulgence, stretching to a daunting 2.5-hour runtime, the emotional core of the story resonates, thanks to its earnest performances and layered themes.
The queer love story between Anna and Lance extends beyond the typical coming-out narrative, centering instead on their shared journey of healing and self-discovery. It’s refreshing to see their relationship portrayed with depth and nuance, making their connection feel authentic even when the script leans into melodrama.
While the story is rich in emotional stakes, it occasionally falters with moments of disbelief—like Lance’s improbable reaction to being hit by Anna’s car, brushing it off as if fate itself were playing matchmaker. These narrative conveniences, though forgivable, do pull the viewer out of the otherwise compelling drama.
Anna’s romance with Lance serves as both a narrative backbone and a vehicle for her personal growth. Lance’s free-spirited nature becomes a foil to Anna’s self-doubt, inspiring her to continue her writing. The ilm cleverly integrates her creative outlet into the story, with scenes that shift to Anna’s fantasy world during moments of heightened suspense. These sequences provide a visually dynamic metaphor for her processing the chaos around her.
At the heart of the story is Anna’s family, whose collective guilt over their father’s past casts a long shadow. Anna’s brother, Cam, embodies the Drake family’s belief in penance, attempting to impose control over Anna’s choices—especially regarding their estranged father. Cam’s overbearing presence sets him up as a compelling antagonist, though the film grants him moments of reflection and growth by the end.
The central conflict arises when Anna learns that her father, imprisoned for a drunk driving incident that claimed Lance’s mother’s life, is the linchpin connecting her and Lance’s lives. This revelation threatens their fragile relationship, and the way it unfolds feels appropriately weighty, though the characters’ responses sometimes minimize the gravity of the secret, opting for an easier resolution than the buildup suggests.
Thank You for Her is an ambitious film that grapples with themes of forgiveness, love, and breaking free from the past. Its combination of grounded family drama and imaginative fantasy elements sets it apart, even if it occasionally stumbles under the weight of its own ambitions.
Today’s Submittable Deadlines: January 20th, 2025
47th President of the United States Poetry – FREE submission or pay for a reading or movie
ENVIRONMENTAL Poetry – FREE submission or pay for a reading or movie
https://wildsoundwritingfestival.submittable.com/submit/300719/environmental-poetry-contest
SPORTS Short Story Festival (automatic acceptance)
https://wildsoundwritingfestival.submittable.com/submit/318568/sports-short-story-contest
FAMILY/KIDS Novel Festival
Full Novel Reading:
https://wildsoundwritingfestival.submittable.com/submit/298047/family-kids-novel-writing-festival
1st Chapter Novel Submission:
Novel Video Transcript Reading:
HISTORY Festival: Today’s Screenplay Deadline
Submit your screenplay that’s a historical story genre and/or plot line to the festival.
Submit on the submission page: https://documentaryshortfilmfestival.com/history-screenplay-festival/
FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay from our committee of Professional Screenwriters, Production Heads and Script Consultants. Get your entire script performed at the writing festival.
SUBMIT your FEATURE, TV PILOT or SHORT SCREENPLAY.
Submissions take 3-5 weeks for evaluation. Looking for screenplays from all over the world.
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.)
1st Tier: FULL FEEDBACK on your screenplay (all submissions)
2nd Tier: Accepted scripts (25% on average of submitted entries) get a best scene of their screenplay performed by professional actors and made into a promotional video.
3rd Tier: We will send you a list of questions to answer for our blog interview that will promote you and your film.
4th Tier: Then we will set up a podcast interview on our popular ITunes show where will we will promote the winning writer and script.
(BONUS: 5th Tier. A winning screenwriter’s WhatsApp group has just been formed. Over 50 writers to date. Great way to share ideas and contacts with people in the industry.)
Family & Kids Festival: Today’s NOVEL Festival Deadline
Submit your Family or Kids Book by the deadline.
FAMILY and KIDS Books will always be needed and wanted in our society. If you can write a great family story, then you are definitely on your way to having a great career. This portion of the Writing Festival would like to present at least 20 new works of Family Novels in the next 12 months. Submit your family novel today.
Submit your novel on the submission page: https://festivalforfamily.com/family-kids-novel-writing-festival/
3 ways to submit:
- Full novel
- 1st Chapter
- Submit for automatic performance reading video
SPORTS & RECREATIONAL Festival: Today’s SHORT STORY Deadline
Submit your SPORTS short story to the festival, and we will automatically have it performed by a professional actor and turned into a promotional video for yourself.
Submit at the submission page: https://sportsfilmfestival.video/sports-short-story-festival/
Accept only stories that fit into the sports genre. Sports storytelling is more than just reporting scores. It’s about weaving narratives that connect us emotionally to athletes, teams, and events.
There is no festival like this!
Mainly what this contest does is give exposure to the writer. They will be able to obtain a solid agent, plus get notice by producers looking for writers like yourself. NOTE: The writer will always own 100% rights to their story. The only thing we do is help the writer. Either with notes on their next draft, or gain exposure by having their story showcased at our festival.
ROMANCE & RELATIONSHIPS Festival: Today’s FilmFreeway Testimonial
Submit via FilmFreeway. Deadline Today:
What an incredibly sensitive and intuitive Festival! Our film “Cats and Husbands” was awarded Best Relationship Film and this means so much to us because that is what our film is all about. The audience feedback that was created was awesome and so good to hear. If you have an emotional film that you want to have reviewed with the care it deserves, The Romance and Relationship festival is the very Best! We are so Grateful and so Honored!
Filmmaker Podcast EP. 1404: Filmmakers Senda Maud Bonnet & Rebecca Berrih (TURN IT OFF)
TURN IT OFF, 7min., USA
Directed by Senda Maud Bonnet
A woman races through the woods, hiding from an unseen threat. After injuring her leg, she finds refuge in a house, but we see a girl curled up on her couch, safe at home watching the same film we are. As the woman hides, the girl realizes the events on-screen are linked to her world. Terrified, she turns off the TV but hears a cry from upstairs. Drawn by fear, she approaches her closet…
https://www.instagram.com/senda.bo/
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaberrih/
Subscribe to the podcast:
https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod
Festival Reviews 