Triggered 2.0, 22min,. USA Directed by Mario Ricardo Rodriguez, Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm A diabolical madman known as The Director 2.0, with a vendetta against Wolverine, plots a way to take his powers and use him as a distraction as he enacts his ultimate means of destroying all superpowered beings, by pitting him against his one ally, Blade, in a fight to the death. Lucas Bishop must find a way to break free of his control so he can save his friends and the rest of humanity.
LOGLINE: In the 1940s, prisoners — including infamous mob boss Joe Blunda — were released to defend America from Nazi spy attacks. What happened to them remains a chilling mystery: none were ever seen alive again.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
My screenplay tells a story that was circulating at the time — it captures society during the World War era and highlights an undeniable truth: Power is often manipulated by ruthless agendas.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
The genre is historical thriller.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Dire Straits
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
So many, but especially Superman (1978). When I was a kid, I watched it over and over again. Same with the Lord of the Rings. I would go through phases where I’d obsessively rewatch certain films — the ones that gave me a sense of hope deep inside.
How many stories have you written?
I worked on this script casually in my spare time over the past three years. Yes — I believe a draft needs to sit and “mature” a bit before you lock in the final version.
A former Army lawyer, Gemma Lightwater battles troubled family and calculating investors to reopen her Missouri Ozarks ranch that pairs broken veterans with broken horses
GEMMA LIGHTWATER a mid-30s Army veteran struggles to reopen the Red Rock Ranch that serves female veterans wellness. That is until she receives a five million dollar offer from her former captain, ASTRID MITCHELL, but the money comes with a ticking clock and giving up decision-making control to her former JAG leader. As the new veteran arrivals, tensions run high as NORMA JONES, Gemma’s right hand at the ranch tries to help Gemma and Astrid understand what a deal means for them. After a few rounds of will they or will won’t they sign, Gemma and Astrid find common ground to finalize the deal. Then tragedy strikes leaving Gemma conflicted and suspicious at the exact time she is supposed to be opening a new chapter for the only real mission she has left, saving others to save herself.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Thriller, Drama, Suspense
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
As a female veteran, I look into the eyes of women in uniform and remind them that our service matters. They remind me to tell their stories. The doubts of if female veterans deserve a seat at the table of service will be removed. And in this show, we ARE the table. This pilot should do for women veterans what Orange is the New Black did for incarcerated women. And do for Missouri what Yellowstone did for Montana. What Band of Brothers did for male veterans. We have a long historic legacy that quickly being erased. Women have put their lives on the line since the beginning of time, when do we see them as the main characters.
Summary: Researching transfusion therapy on different blood groups, something goes completely wrong when the test subjects start mutating and transforming into Zombie like creatures.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
A day in the life of a biotech firm takes center stage in Blood Red as we travel from floor to floor, department to department, meeting the teams that comprise Edgewater Laboratories and their sometimes adversarial motivations.
Edgewater’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Ruby Beck, is the inventor of a synthetic blood she’s named Ichor for the mythical golden fluid that ran in the veins of the gods. Ruby explains to an audience of investors gathered at the company’s headquarters that every two seconds, someone needs blood due to injury or disease.
Imagine a limitless supply of healthy blood in every hospital, school, military unit, and remote location. No more relying on donations. No more chance of contamination. No more delays in supply or delivery.
Three floors below, eight patients are halfway through the final trials of Ichor in the aftermath of a violent protest against the ethics of artificial blood that has put the entire company on edge. But today, something is different. Sabotage of the Ichor infusion is affecting each patient differently with horrifying results.
The day begins with routine patient observation and nerves around hosting the company’s first investor conference before spiraling out of control as we root for Ruby, fighting for her life from floor to floor while trying to unwind the conspiracy threatening her creation.
Ruby must reconcile if her creation is the pinnacle of healthcare or a threat to humanity.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Horror / Thriller
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Horror remains one of the few genres that’s arguably still best experienced in the theater with a crowd to share in the frights, jump scares, and wild reactions to what’s on the screen. Safety in numbers!
New York Times Co. v Sullivan, 10min,. Canada Directed by Yanjia Yang In the heat of the Civil Rights Movement, a full-page ad in The New York Times sparked a legal battle that would redefine freedom of the press in America. Through archival footage, this short film explores how the case reinforced First Amendment protections and shaped journalism as we know it today. A must-watch for anyone interested in media, law, and the enduring power of free speech.
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film? I was driven by a desire to revisit the New York Times Co. v. Sullivan case not just as a historical legal milestone, but as a powerful reminder of how fragile our freedoms truly are. In an era where misinformation, polarization, and censorship continue to challenge democratic ideals, I felt a strong responsibility to explore the balance between rights and responsibilities. I wanted my generation to understand that free speech is not abstract; it is something we must actively reflect upon.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? This was my very first documentary, and as an 11th-grade student, it was a steep learning curve. From research to editing, the process took about three months. There were moments of doubt, technical setbacks, and challenges in simplifying complex legal ideas. Though it required a lot of effort and time commitment, I pushed through and was able to find the true meaning of creating this film.
What is your novel about? The Origin of Humanity: A Real Dream is a deeply spiritual and philosophical novel inspired by a vivid dream I had. It explores the mysterious beginnings of humanity through a cosmic journey of creation, identity, mortality, and divine purpose. The story is both mystical and grounded, merging poetic storytelling with existential questions that challenge the reader to reflect on the meaning of life and the courage to awaken.
What genres would you say this story is in? Spiritual Fiction, Metaphysical Fantasy, Philosophical Sci-Fi, Visionary Fiction.
How would you describe this story in two words? Divine Awakening
What movie have you seen the most in your life? The Matrix — for its blend of philosophy, reality-bending concepts, and spiritual undertones.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?) “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac — it’s timeless, haunting, and resonates with the journey of vision and destiny.
When a young, broke librarian buys an abandoned house on the outskirts of a British Columbian town, he starts to uncover the house’s secrets as unexplained incidents occur.
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
The script follows a young programmer who moves into a haunted house in the Interior of British Columbia due to (widespread) financial difficulties.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
It is a horror picture.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
The story derives it’s chills n’ thrills from mood more so than sudden frights, which an audience will resonate with. The origin of the evil spectre which haunts the house and surrounding area is also relevant to issues of concern today.
How would you describe this script in two words?
‘Definite Appeal’.
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
By my recollection, either ‘Jaws’ or ‘The Maltese Falcon’.
A writer tasked with writing a true event is taken by the CIA to cover their tracks. However, his smart mind out smarts them when his characters learn their role in his book and save him
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
“John Burgess is all about writing for the high technology industry, until his life takes an interesting turn. He wakes early one morning with a new story in his head that he just has to write. Compelled to write each morning, the lines between fact and fiction are blurred, as John becomes a pivotal character in his own novel. Explosions, false identities, terrorists, international intrigue, high tech surveillance techniques, the U.S. government and kidnapping, all conspire to put John’s life in serious danger until the main characters in his book rescues him.”
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Action/Adventure/Mystery/Spy Thriller
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
ENTANGLED explores the relationship between consciousness, time as perceived by humans, and our quantum reality. The film will keep the audience guessing. What is real? What is fantasy? The audience will be guessing throughout especially when the last scene plays out.
THE COMMUTER, 11min., USA Directed by Joseph Sauchelli A protagonist struggles to cope with a rough commute in the only way she knows how.
Get to know the filmmaker:
What motivated you to make this film? Really the urge to make something, particularly for cheap. When you know you are going to go down that route, you begin looking around at what you can use for free. Hoboken has this old fashioned train station I always admired and found cinematic, so I began to build a story around it. With college and my job I have commuted for quite some time, so I tried to bring that experience to this film – which immediately turned into a stressful thriller.
From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film? The idea for “The Commuter” is several years old, however it took some time to feel ready and finally take the step towards making the movie myself. As I reflect on the finished product a lesson I have taken away is that no one is ever really ready to make a film, and it is a risky mindset to subscribe to. On one hand you want to make sure your script and pre-production planning is to the best it could be, however you must be careful not to lean on the excuse that “it’s not ready” like a crutch.
Festival Reviews 