Kyle Riggs & Dylan Lighthall met in acting class. They did a scene together in class. Then they decided to make a short film out of the scene. Now that short film, called The Interrogation, is a multiple award-winning film that has played at over 50 film festival from around the world.
Tom Pratt wrote a novel called ONE MAD APPLE about a small town school board election gone haywire. It’s based on a true story. Tom wrote the screenplay the novel is based on as well. He talks about the major importance of small town politics and how the politicians need to be held accountable.
A dark comedy feature inspired by a true story and based on the book of the same name.
After a man moves to a small town to care for his dying father, he embraces the community and his new life as a stepfather and husband, until he finds himself in the crosshairs of an unhinged townswoman who challenges him in a school board election and makes him look like the crazy one.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Thriller/Dark Comedy
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The story is inspired by real life and will be relatable to the viewer. Everyone has a crazy aunt like the antagonist!
Conversation with award-winning filmmaker Liz Smith (THE LINE WE CROSSED) about her feature documentary about climate protestors in the UK. They are all non-violent and heavily attended. But why doesn’t the media cover it?
A British story of dissent, drawn from the frontlines of climate resistance. Through the experiences of those who stood in defiance, it traces the quiet unraveling of our protest rights. The film challenges audiences to question what makes dissent effective and where the line of acceptability is.
Conversation with filmmaker/drummer Cindy Goldberg on the making of her award-winning short film BEAT KEEPERS. A film about talented female drummers who meet up for a retreat. Why so few female drummers? Cindy Goldberg explains….
Beat Keepers: The Next Chapter, 43min., Canada Directed by Cindy Goldberg
A powerful and inspiring documentary that follows a group of talented female drummers as they unite for a life-changing three-day retreat in Dallas, Texas. Through the raw energy of rhythm, unwavering mutual support, and a shared passion for music, these women forge deep, lasting connections and celebrate the transformative power of music to heal, empower, and unite.
Award-winning screenwriter Laurie Gruber (RAVEN’S CHOICE) takes the viewer into the world of British politics in the 19th century and how frighteningly similar they are to today’s world.
James Stuart Donovan Hastings, Earl of Billingswood, has had one headache after another. First his home is in disrepair, his nephew is too young for his own good, his best friend thinks he’s gone round the bend and now someone just tried to kill him. If it wasn’t for the angel with strawberry blonde hair and amethyst eyes, he might well be dead. Blasted horse, thinks he knows more than the master!
What is your screenplay about?
James Stuart Donovan Hastings, Earl of Billingswood, has a potentially deadly encounter on his way to Sandringham. He is rescued by a beautiful angel. His horse decides it is his right to make choices for the master. Can there be a happy ending?
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
With the success of other Historical Fiction/Romances such as Bridgerton allowing for viewers the chance to escape their day to day experiences, allowing them to immerse themselves in an era that has been romanticized.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Captivating drama
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Princess Bride
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Japanese filmmaker Yusuke Nakamae talks about making a sci-fi film about the future of AI. FYI: It’s not going to go well. But he has to make an anti AI film using AI.
The Third World War has left Earth’s resources depleted, pushing humanity to the brink of extinction. Learning from the repeated mistakes of history, humanity turns to the advanced decision-making capabilities of AI to find a path forward. The solution proposed by the AI is an ambitious plan: transporting energy from outer space back to Earth.
The release of ChatGPT in 2022 really sparked something in me.As a UX designer at Hulu Japan, I’ve always been close to technology and digital experiences—but that moment made me seriously reflect on what creativity means in an age where AI can generate content.That question became the seed of ECHOES.The sci-fi setting naturally came from my own personal taste and the kinds of stories I love to watch and tell.
What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was deeply moved and surprised by how many people picked up on the symbolism and emotional undertones. Seeing that the themes I care about resonated across borders and cultures was incredibly rewarding.
This is a story about a woman named Sarika, my mother – “the lady who records”… “Addicted” to documenting her life in photos and video, and to the memories they bring up for her, over and over again. This is a personal, Israeli and human story told through the dialogues with her daughters and grandchildren. And it shares the human phenomena of – the reduction of memory and sometimes even its loss. Sarika teaches us to document the memories, which give meaning to our lives and to the future generations.
Review by Julie C. Sheppard:
The feature, Sarika, is a true walk down memory lane. It is a joy to meet this senior Israeli woman as she reveals a multitude of archival materials she has collected over the years. The production is a labour of love, as her family and friends come together to reminisce about many years of experiences and familiar locations. While Sarika initially acknowledges that her short-term memory is diminished due to aging, it is her consistent effort to write down her thoughts and feelings and her long-term habit of labelling all her photos from her past that provide her with excitement.
It is particularly touching when she is shown with younger members of her family and imparts her wisdom and memories to them. It is also sweet to hear her sing familiar songs with some of her relatives, friends and neighbours. Another moving element is getting to witness an interview with her and her three siblings who are all still alive and thriving and living in the same area together – – it is lovely seeing old photos of the four of them when they were all young and vibrant, despite some socio-political tensions of the time.
The cinematography is fabulous when it captures expressions of the various people she meets, in addition to zooming in on her face to see how she reacts when she hears stories from those she knew long ago. The subtle soundtrack never overwhelms – – a gentle acoustic guitar strums below this project of moving sentiment. Intimate moments are sometimes painful to watch as participants relay how much they miss their loved ones who have long since passed on, but the project also provides the viewer with optimism. Sarika promises to provide further insights in a future book and walk down yet another path of memory and revelation.
From winning screenwriter Ama Adair, ORIGIN STORY is about a woman, Elyse Tyson, who wakes from a coma to find herself in prison with no memory. Everything that made her who she was is gone; her life turned into a living nightmare. And she’s still responsible for what she did. She’s a serial killer. Or at least she was. We follow Elyse as she tries to piece together who she is now by delving into her past, even if that means losing herself again.
The vicious attack that almost killed her erased all that she was. But not what she did. Elyse Tysoni s shocked to learn her taped confessions remove any hope of escaping her nightmare. Desperate for a lifeline, her only option is to be studied by Doctor Steve Bennett, a psychologist who specializes in psychopaths, to prove she is no longer a threat. But as the study progresses, it’sclearthere’smore to herstory than anyone knew.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
ORIGIN STORY is about a woman, Elyse Tyson, who wakes from a coma to find herself in prison with no memory. Everything that made her who she was is gone; her life turned into a living nightmare. And she’s still responsible for what she did. She’s a serial killer. Or at least she was. We follow Elyse as she tries to piece together who she is now by delving into her past, even if that means losing herself again.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Psychological Thriller
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Beyond immersing the audience in a thrilling journey into the dark recesses of the human mind, ORIGIN STORY explores what makes us who we are and the meaning of justice. By putting those concepts to the test in a scenario that is an extreme contrast to what most of us experience, it makes difficult subjects easier to digest and provokes discussion.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Relentless suspense
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
It’s a toss-up between Terminator 2 and The Princess Bride.
Singer/Songwriter Olivia Millin and her team decided to shoot part of their music video in the heart of Times Square in New York City. Conversation about how they pulled it off. When you decide to shoot somewhere without a permit in one of the busiest areas in the world, people will let you do it!!!
Conversation with Brazilian filmmaker Gabriel Milessis Braga on making his horror film and deciding to make it a Black & White film. Gabriel chats about the perspective of the audience seeing a film not in colour and the context of that choice.
After collapsing at the altar, Elise awakens inside an old church, and something inside her has changed. Guided by a mysterious man who seems to understand her condition, she begins to confront a new, terrifying hunger. The First Night is a gothic meditation on becoming, resistance, and the quiet seduction of darkness in our lifes.
Festival Reviews 