Festival Reviews

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Today’s Podcast: Filmmaker Joy Shannon (ROCK ISLAND PRISON 1864)

March 21, 2025March 21, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS EP. 1451: Filmmaker Joy Shannon (ROCK ISLAND PRISON 1864)

Rock Island Prison 1864, 7min,. USA

Directed by Joy Shannon

Guarding Confederate POWS in a Civil War prison, a runaway slave now Union soldier, desperately fights for power, or faces returning to slavery.

https://www.wildsound.ca/videos/audience-feedback-rock-island-prison

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Today’s Podcast: Screenwriter Aleks Lyons (LIFESOURCE)

March 19, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS Screenwriter Aleks Lyons (LIFESOURCE)

Watch the best scene reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrJ8KUPyDZ8

What’s The Best Part of A Story?

A young oceanographer discovers her gradfather’s plane – part of the Lost Patrol – and is thrust into an emotional journey with a rebellious reporter as the government tries to cover up what really happened that night in 1945. The duo uncovers an extraordinary truth of how water, our most precious resource, has a will and consciousness of its own and is an active, seemingly invisible, participant in its own survival from human destruction.

Get to know the writer:

What is your screenplay about?

In LIFESOURCE, well known historic events (the disappearance of 5 war planes we’ve come to call the lost patrol in 1945), a government cover-up, mysterious deaths and a romance, all come together when humanity’s killing of its life source (all of Earth’s water sources) reaches a tipping point and humanity and water are out of harmony.

Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?

It speaks to what humans are doing to the water sources on our planet and the value systems we’ve chosen to embrace and at the same time it stands on its own as a fun ride while creating awareness.

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Today’s Podcast: Filmmaker Nicolas Pereira (CATABASE FIRST PART: AD LOVE)

March 18, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS Filmmaker Nicolas Pereira (CATABASE FIRST PART: AD LOVE)

CATABASE FIRST PART: AD LOVE. 97min., France
Directed by Nicolas Pereira
Two lovers fall into madness.

https://www.instagram.com/nicolaspereiratheater/

What motivated you to make this film?

Honestly, I can’t say exactly why. By 2021, it had been four years since I had last directed a fiction film. In the meantime, I had worked as a screenwriter, script doctor, producer, cinematographer, and even as a content creator for Fashion Week. Yet, despite these experiences, all my personal projects had ended in failure.

2020 and 2021 had been particularly difficult years, both professionally and personally. Everything I tried to build seemed to collapse before it could even take shape. I had reached a point where waiting no longer made sense. If I wanted to make a film, I had to do it now, with whatever means I had.

It all started in November 2021, almost by accident. After a night of working in a nightclub, I was driving home when I got stuck in traffic. On a whim, I took out my iPhone and filmed a few shots inside my car, by pure instinct. Once home, I edited the footage to a piece of music by Wojciech Kilar and color-graded it in the style of a film noir. It wasn’t a calculated decision, but a spontaneous urge—as if I were finally allowing myself to do something I had always been told to avoid by client or the global industry.

And then, without fully realizing it at the time, something happened. These images were already telling a story I had yet to write.

Bit by bit, the film took shape in my mind: the story of a couple who love each other deeply but, despite everything, should not be together. As they struggle, they wear themselves out, burn out, and inevitably age—metaphorically.

Driven by this intuition, I kept filming, alone: a hand hovering over a lit stovetop, a snow globe in the shadows, a flickering lightbulb, an empty room where I smoke a cigarette. Then, I edited a teaser and sent it to Olivia Rose, a fellow acting student whose talent had always left me in awe. I asked her if she wanted to turn this into a film—a short, maybe a medium-length, perhaps even a feature. Less than five minutes later, she agreed to join me.

From that moment on, there was no turning back. Tired of waiting for a project to finally materialize, I decided to do everything myself: film alone with my iPhone, with no budget, no crew, and most importantly, no creative restrictions.

Filming began in January 2022 and spanned eight months—forty days of shooting filled with doubt, setbacks, and improvisation.

But above all, without intending it, this film became a catharsis. A raw, unfiltered reflection of my state of mind at that time. It wasn’t planned, yet perhaps that’s what makes it beautiful. Because it was born out of a deep, personal, and artistic necessity—out of urgency.

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Today’s Podcast: Filmmaker Colin D’Amelio (THE LAST HOUSEBOAT)

March 16, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS Filmmaker Colin D’Amelio (THE LAST HOUSEBOAT)

The Last Houseboat, 31min., USA
Directed by Colin D’Amelio
The Last Houseboat is a heartfelt short documentary that delves into the history of a unique wooden vessel, lovingly crafted by a family patriarch in 1970. Anchored on the Rhode Island coast for over 50 years, the houseboat became more than a structure—it was a landmark, a cherished family tradition, and a symbol of connection across three generations. When unforeseen circumstances force the family to dismantle the beloved vessel, they confront a profound sense of loss while celebrating its enduring legacy. A poignant tale of resilience, memory, and the ties that bind, The Last Houseboat invites viewers to reflect on the traditions and stories that shape their own families.

https://www.instagram.com/cdproducshins/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

I’ve been in love with the Houseboat and everything it represents since I first set foot on it as a child. It felt like a true escape from the world—an experience unlike any other. From the start, I believed this vessel had a beautiful story that deserved to be told. Having always been close to the Sola family, who own this beloved houseboat, my initial goal was simply to create a short piece as a keepsake for them—a tribute to their tradition. But that idea quickly evolved, growing into The Last Houseboat, a deeply personal short documentary spanning over 30 minutes.

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

Hearing that feedback was incredibly rewarding. It brought a smile to our faces to know that people truly understood what we set out to achieve with this film—that at its core, it’s a story about family, even more than it is about the boat itself.

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Today’s Podcast: Filmmaker Gareth Brierley (SNEEZE)

March 15, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS Gareth Brierley (SNEEZE)

SNEEZE, 5min., UK
Directed by Gareth Brierley
A woman sneezes and goes on an unexpected journey.

http://www.peopleshow.co.uk/
https://www.instagram.com/garethbrierley/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

We wanted to make a film that we could make on an iPhone where we could almost use a ‘Guerrilla filmmaking’ style to the shooting in a day or two. I came up with the idea of Sneeze after a huge sneeze that made me forget for a second where I was…and then the idea of transportation from a sneeze came.

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

Amazing comments and such insightful thoughts about the film. We felt humbled and so very pleased. Thank you.

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Today’s Podcast: Filmmaker Hamilton Young Ward (SMILE FOR THE DEAD)

March 12, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS EP. 1446: Filmmaker Hamilton Young Ward (SMILE FOR THE DEAD)

Smile for the Dead, 54min., USA
Directed by Hamilton Young Ward
True crime meets the paranormal as “Smile for the Dead” uncovers the eerie mystery of William H. Mumler’s spirit photography and his ghostly portraits that baffled the 1800s. This documentary investigates Mumler’s techniques and why society so needed him in the post Civil War era.

https://www.309filmsllc.com/
https://www.instagram.com/ham_on_vvry

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?
I love a good mystery and this one was particularly challenging to follow the threads of it. The more I learned about it, the more i wanted to share this story and mystery out to the world.

What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I was extremely nervous about it but my producer said I really needed to see it and was extremely touched when I saw the reactions.

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http://www.youreverydayheroes.com/

Filmmaker Morgan Notari (PUSHING UP DAISIES)

March 11, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS Morgan Notari (PUSHING UP DAISIES)

Pushing Up Daisies, 2min., USA
Directed by Morgan Notari
Pushing Up Daisies is a 2D Animated Short Film that follows Daisy, a lingering ghost who learns the importance of death after she accidentally kills a flower and observes the new life that sprouts in its place.

https://www.morgannotari.com/pudfilm
https://www.instagram.com/morganimates/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

So many people have a fear of dying or loss, and considering death is something that happens to every living thing eventually, I wanted to change people’s perspective on the topic! In most media, death is depicted as this intimidating, scary thing to fear, which feeds into that intense nervousness around dying shared by so many. I wanted to portray death in a more healthy and peaceful light through my film by showing that death can be a beautiful thing! Nature is designed in a way where when a living thing dies, it allows something new to grow or be sustained. For me, recognizing that death and life are not opposites, but are a part of the same beautiful cycle, helped me to overcome my fears surrounding death. I hope watching Daisy recognize the importance of death in this film can help others to view death in a more healthy way too!

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

It took exactly 5 months and a day! I started preproduction on July 15th, 2024 and wrapped on December 16, 2024.

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

Accepting mortality

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

It’s hard to say, luckily production was very smooth from beginning to end! The biggest obstacle might just be that I did every part of it by myself, so while I had guidance from my wonderful professor Angela Wu and my peers, I had to execute every piece of the film independently. So everything that you see and hear in the film came from me! Usually with animated films like this, they are made with bigger teams of people, so doing it all yourself is definitely a challenge! I luckily had a very clear idea of what I wanted from the very beginning, so most of the production period was put towards execution of the idea rather than concept.

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

I was a puddle of tears (in a good way!) This is my first film and my first time receiving feedback like this on my work, so I didn’t know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised by the sweet feedback! The audience noticed details and visual elements I included that I never thought anyone would consciously pick up on, it made me so happy! As an animator, I get really attached to the characters I work with so hearing people talk about Daisy in such an insightful way made me so emotional.

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

I can’t pinpoint exactly when I decided I wanted to be involved with filmmaking, I think I’ve always known that I wanted to be a part of the process! I’ve been making characters, watching films, and drawing my entire life so I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to do something in the animation pipeline. The moment I realized I might want to try my hand at being a director or filmmaker was at the very end of my freshman year in college. There was a student film produced at San Jose State that year called A Paw Over Dark directed by Dorian Saisse and Marisa Molson, I remember watching it in the theater as a freshman the night it premiered and just getting full body chills when the credits started rolling, it was that good. Seeing students from my school make something as incredible as that film gave me so much motivation to create my own films and animate for other people’s projects as a student. I fell in love with being an animator specifically during my 2nd year at San Jose State when I started taking 2D Animation classes; while I enjoy working with animated projects in any capacity, animating is the most fulfilling to me because that’s when the characters truly come to life!

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

Although I haven’t seen it in a while, probably Finding Nemo by Pixar! I watched it so many times as a kid that I could recite the whole movie word for word AND the ending credits when I was 3. I definitely can’t do that anymore but my mom likes to say that’s when she knew I got her memorization skills!

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 absolutely love the audience feedback video that this festival creates, I think more festivals should implement that! It’s very useful as a filmmaker to know how audiences are reacting to your work. I also think more festivals should give physical awards or cash prizes; most of the festivals I’ve won do have trophies that winners can order, but they come with a big price tag and festival submissions alone are already pricey. Giving cash prizes would be the most helpful, as it would help support filmmakers to continue creating work!

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

It’s been surprisingly successful! I’m very new to festival submissions as a first-time filmmaker and FilmFreeway makes it super easy to submit and research festivals. I had set my expectations low going into the Daisies festival run so I was floored when it started receiving selections and awards; in short, the platform works well! I am swimming in FilmFreeway emails now so that’s the main downside, but it’s a wonderful website that I will definitely use again for future projects!

10. What is your favorite meal?

A: Sushi hands down, every kind! I don’t have it often so it feels extra special when I get to treat myself!

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

I’m currently in my 3rd year in college at San Jose State University, so in a couple of years my work will be making the festival rounds again with whatever my graduating thesis film ends up being! I am over the moon to actually work with a team instead of by myself next time, my classmates are all so skilled and I am beyond excited to see our talents come together for whatever we create as a team in the future!

Today’s Podcast: EP. 1445: Director Gina D’Onofrio & Producer Albert Crane (MY BLOCK MY HERO)

March 11, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS EP. 1445: Director Gina D’Onofrio & Producer Albert Crane (MY BLOCK MY HERO)

My Block My Hero, 25min., USA

Directed by Gina D’Onofrio

Jahmal Cole is the founder of My Block My Hood My City, a Chicago-based non-profit with a mission to inspire youth and empower local communities. He has been shot twice in his day-to-day life, an unfortunate reality that the teenagers and communities he has dedicated the organization to uplifting face on a daily basis in the murder capital of the United States. By leading community-driven efforts, Cole has made it his goal to build a better world one block at a time, while positively impacting the lives of the teens who grow up there. Through the Explorers program, My Block My Hood My City enables youth from Chicago’s divested neighborhoods to discover the world beyond their blocks, by taking them on enriching experiences across the city and the country that open the doors to new possibilities. In their latest adventure, the Explorers went behind the scenes at the Shedd Aquarium to learn how researchers are working to preserve the world’s endangered coral reefs.

https://www.instagram.com/youreverydayheroes/

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

Jahmal Cole is doing amazing work with teenagers through My Block My Hood My City in Chicago, where I’m also from, and I’ve read quite a few articles about him. When I was tasked with finding a “hero” who was really impacting the community, asking if he was willing to participate was a no brainer.

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

Around a year and a half. There was a lot of coordination between MBMHMC and the Shedd Aquarium, where they allowed us to film the teenagers on an Exploration that involved going behind the scenes and propagating coral. The editing process afterwards was also lengthy.

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https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod

https://www.instagram.com/jimbrokenreelpics

Today’s Podcast: Filmmaker James Jarosz (SPACE TRASH)

March 10, 2025March 10, 2025 festreviews PODCASTS Filmmaker James Jarosz (SPACE JUNK)

Space Trash, 9min,. USA

Directed by James Jarosz

Short film and first installment of web series. A galactic garbage collector picks up a seemingly innocuous piece of space junk but it turns out to be more than he bargained for. This sci-fi action comedy will have you laughing, entertained and wanting more.

Get to know the filmmaker:

What motivated you to make this film?

Back in the mid 90s I read an article about space junk and how difficult it was going to be for shuttles and rockets to launch without hitting orbital debris. I was also very interested in the idea of taking an ordinary blue collar job and making it the most dangerous job in the future. The marriage of those two ideas along with my love for 70s and 80s sci fi films became the seed for Space Trash.

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

I was very pleased. It was great to hear what people outside of the project thought of the film and that they very clearly understood the world I was trying to create. I’m glad that the humer landed and that overall people found it entertaining.

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https://twitter.com/wildsoundpod