Voice over by Val Cole
Author: festreviews
HISTORICAL FICTION Short Story: Call and Response, by Lori Crispo
Performed by Val Cole
LITERARY FICTION Short Story: When We Were Boys, by Joseph Michael Cerra
Joseph Michael Cerra “When We Were Boys”
Literary Fiction, 788 Words
A group of first-generation Italian-American boys spend their endless Pennsylvania summers playing baseball by day and listening to distant radio broadcasts by night, their games infused with imagination, hero worship, and communal joy. Only later do they understand the quiet weight of their father’s silence and his work-worn hands, realizing how adulthood transforms the timeless freedom of childhood.
Voice Over by Val Cole
Watch Today’s FREE Festival: DIVERSITY Festival Shorts Showcase
Watch the festival at 8PM EST FOR FREE by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/diversity-festival-shorts-showcase-september
The World Needs You, 3min., Portugal
Directed by 4.ºB Class Colégio do Marítimo
In a world where unity makes a difference, small gestures build bridges, but a lack of cooperation builds walls. And you, will you be part of the problem or the solution?
(mis)Match, 3min., Portugal
Directed by Grupo 5.º Ano ESC
A self-centered man lives locked in his world until he has a moment of shock. A story of regret, empathy and cooperation.
Message of Change
Directed by Grupo 3.º/4.º EBCC
Two astronauts have a mission in space. Unexpectedly they issue a worldwide alert as a way to spread a message!
Rose Colored Glasses, 12min., USA
Directed by Aiyanna Randolph, Frida Ajanel, Caper Ratchford
A young girl meets a guy through social media and realizes that he has different expectations of her than she has of herself. This film follows the girl as she changes herself so that the guy will accept her, with interviews from young people who has experienced the male gaze a tried to change the status quo.
https://www.womensvoicesnow.org/films/rose-colored-glasses
https://www.instagram.com/womens_voices_now/
The Beauty in Being Different, 8min., USA
Directed by Rebekah Grace de Guzman, Jairemei De Padua, Madison Mcmorrin Watson, Jennifer Tecum
Three girls share their story about not fitting the mold due to their feelings of inadequacy stemming from the harmful effects of beauty standards and how they overcome it.
Work in Progress, 12min., USA
Directed by Claudia Shin, Olivia Smith, Lenny Vargas
Four women in positions of power discuss the hardships and triumphs of working in politics, academia, business, and entrepreneurship.
All You Need is Less, 9min., USA
Directed by Adira Blades, Angelica Guillen, Erin Dela Cruz
“All You Need Is Less” is a documentary film that unravels fast fashion’s hidden costs, from the factory floor to the For You page. Consumers don’t take into consideration the effects that trends have on the world, targeting mainly women who are more susceptible to fashion trends because of underlying societal issues. Everything comes at a price. The future of fashion is in our hands.
Where Home Never Was, 9min., USA
Directed by Rain Herbert
“Where Home Never Was” chronicles the lived experiences of Arielle Busby and her mother, whose lives are upended by homelessness. As mother and daughter confront the systemic barriers and personal challenges of homelessness, their story unfolds with raw honesty and emotional depth.
Words I Can’t Forget, 9min., USA
Directed by Anabella Trujillo, Yaretzi Pineda, Catalina Kennedy, Izzy Medina
“Words I Can’t Forget” follows multiple women’s experiences of being criticized on social media and in their own communities, and how this affects their personal and professional aspirations. Throughout the film, women reflect on their personal stories and take solace in the stories of others.
Roses Through the Cracks, 10min., USA
Directed by Nargis Fazili, Alexandra Abundez, Leonora Garcia, Kimberly Ortiz-Ortega
Story about 4 immigrants within Los Angeles, conveying their stories about the challenges and struggles within the immigrant experience that can also birth moments of beauty. Though there do exist challenges faced by a majority of immigrants, the immigrant experience isn’t miserable but accompanied by lively and joyful moments. The film de fpicts a contrast embedded within the concept of this experience, sharing how the difficult and virtuous coexists.
Watch the POLITICAL Shorts Festival (in case you missed it)
Watch the festival by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/political-shorts-festival
Da Terra, 30min., Portugal
Directed by Miguel Chichorro
Emília Pedro e Fernanda Jorge revisit childhood memories to identify over 70 land parcels inherited from their father. As physical traces fade, memory and oral tradition become the only way to ‘see’ what is no longer visible. The film captures the emotional and cultural depth of the minifúndio system, revealing how memory sustains identity, heritage, and community in rural areas.
The Shadows Left Behind, 13min., Pakistan
Directed by Aun Ul Haider
Two twelve-year-old friends, Ali and Noor, share an unbreakable bond. Noor, an Afghan refugee, faces sudden deportation. Torn between loyalty and fear, Ali promises to see him off. But what remains is a farewell that echoes in silence, and a friendship lost to the shadows left behind.
https://www.instagram.com/aunulhaider/
Fragments / Palestine, 16min., Germany
Directed by Samu Morys Cornelissen
Through a montage of sound and pictures, “Fragments / Palestine” explores the silence of German media during the genocide in Gaza.
Hempman vs. the State, 28min., Finland
Directed by Sampsa Huttunen
Hempman vs. the State is a story of a man who wants to cultivate cannabis openly and without asking for permissions. Authorities are not in favour of his endeavour, and although the fields are blooming, many obstacles stand in the way of the harvest.
https://www.instagram.com/hamppumiesleffa/
Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: Action/Crime/Mystery Festival (36 FIVE Star Reviews)
Submit to the Festival via FilmFreeway:
“The Action/Crime/Mystery Film & Screenplay Festival is definitely worth your time! They provide invaluable resources for filmmakers, and they also are very helpful while recognizing your work. I recommend.”
——-
This festival now takes place every single month, giving filmmakers 4 tiers to showcase and promote their film (All accepted films get all four tiers). In-person public events also take place.
1) Screening #1 is held in Toronto or Los Angeles where you will also obtain your audience feedback video.
2) Screening #2 virtually on the Film Festival streaming service (optional)
3) Podcast interview on Film Festival Radio on ITunes
4) Blog interview promoting you and your film.
All festival dates have been promoted to private screenings with the same Audience FEEDBACK videos made for the short & feature films, and recorded script readings performed by professional actors for the screenplays. This is our way of showing community over distance so everyone around the world can experience our Audience Feedback videos.
Monthly Deadlines
Short Film Festival – Occurs once a month in Los Angeles and Toronto
Your film will get screened in front of a large, broad audience.
– We are a feedback festival and you will actually hear what the industry and film lovers think of your film.
NEW Showcase: Submit your FEATURE FILM and receive an audience feedback promotional/testimonial video of your film. Great video to use to get into more festivals and/or promote your film. All submissions receive the committee’s feedback notes on their film no matter what, as per their request.
Today’s FilmFreeway Deadline: HORROR Underground Film Festival (45 FIVE Star Reviews)
Deadline Today to Submit via FilmFreeway:
screenings.
Cinema screenings for audience feedback video (this is NOT an online festival).
Blog and podcast interviews.
And bonus virtual screening (optional!) geared to create community over distance,
Also, option for 2nd in-person screening for filmmaking to attend to do audience Q&A and feedback session. Even is ALWAYS sold out.
PLUS, get your film seen by the right people.
Festival designed to expose and promote films and screenplays that work outside the system and break the boundaries in the horror genre. To bring a voice to the talented independent filmmakers & writers within the horror genre.
Submit your Horror films and screenplays today to the festival.
Our mission is to promote screenplays, films, and videos that dissent radically in form, technique, or content and challenge and transcend commercial and audience expectations using the audience FEEDBACK festival format that the flagship festivals use.
Our film festival occurs at least 10 times a year in Montreal and Los Angeles. Each accepted film receives 2 festival screenings (and an optional 3rd). Private cinema screening where they will receive their audience feedback video. And the virtual screening (4-6 weeks later) that is an industry showcase of the best HORROR films from around the world today.
Screenplay festivals occur once a month. We perform a transcript script video of the winners in a studio using professional actors and post them online for the entire world to see. (Great proof of concept video to use to promote your script.)
NOTE: Accepted works also get the opportunity to do two interviews: a blog interview and an iTunes Film Festival podcast interview.
Watch Today’s FREE Festival: POLITICAL Shorts Festival
Watch the festival at 8PM EST FOR FREE by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/events/political-shorts-festival-september
Da Terra, 30min., Portugal
Directed by Miguel Chichorro
Emília Pedro e Fernanda Jorge revisit childhood memories to identify over 70 land parcels inherited from their father. As physical traces fade, memory and oral tradition become the only way to ‘see’ what is no longer visible. The film captures the emotional and cultural depth of the minifúndio system, revealing how memory sustains identity, heritage, and community in rural areas.
The Shadows Left Behind, 13min., Pakistan
Directed by Aun Ul Haider
Two twelve-year-old friends, Ali and Noor, share an unbreakable bond. Noor, an Afghan refugee, faces sudden deportation. Torn between loyalty and fear, Ali promises to see him off. But what remains is a farewell that echoes in silence, and a friendship lost to the shadows left behind.
https://www.instagram.com/aunulhaider/
Fragments / Palestine, 16min., Germany
Directed by Samu Morys Cornelissen
Through a montage of sound and pictures, “Fragments / Palestine” explores the silence of German media during the genocide in Gaza.
Hempman vs. the State, 28min., Finland
Directed by Sampsa Huttunen
Hempman vs. the State is a story of a man who wants to cultivate cannabis openly and without asking for permissions. Authorities are not in favour of his endeavour, and although the fields are blooming, many obstacles stand in the way of the harvest.
https://www.instagram.com/hamppumiesleffa/
Watch the LGBTQ+ Shorts Festival (in case you missed it)
Watch the festival FOR FREE by signing up for the FREE 3-DAY trial using the link, or go to http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch today’s Festival: https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/lgbtq-shorts-festival-showcase
STAG, 20min,. USA
Directed by Nick Giannetto
A queer son and his conservative father venture into the Sierra Nevadas for a hunting trip heavy with silence, grief, and unspoken truths. In the stillness of nature, their clash over identity and tradition becomes a test of love, acceptance, and whether connection can survive the distance between them.
TROY! The Original Lady Boy, 32min,. USA
Directed by Christina Linhardt
Take a peek inside the gritty, glitzy life of the one-and-only honky-tonk Queen, Troy Walker, considered to be the first “lady boy”. From his life of drugs and drag on the Sunset strip in the 1960s, to his infamous 1970s run at North Hollywood’s World Famous Palomino, not only did the ultra-flamboyant singer survive, but is now preparing to celebrate his 80th birthday.
https://troytheoriginalladyboy.godaddysites.com/
Today’s Podcast: EP. 1589: Filmmaker Matthew Putnam & Actor Darren Emery (The Christopher Nolan Experience)
When struggling creative Christopher Nolan is dumped by his girlfriend upon her discovery that he is not the legendary director of films such as Oppenheimer and Interstellar, he decides to prove himself by staging a play adaptation of The Dark Knight. “The Christopher Nolan Experience” captures the behind-the-scenes efforts leading up to this anticipated disaster.
https://www.instagram.com/thechristophernolanexperience/
Conversation with director/co-writer Matthew Putnam and lead actor Darren Emery.
Subscribe to the podcast:
Festival Reviews 