A TRACE, 5min,. USA
Directed by Julietta Zamora Lam
A 3D Animated Shortfilm in which a young girl learns to shed her guilt about her absent father.

https://www.facebook.com/atraceshortfilm
https://twitter.com/ATraceShortfilm
https://www.instagram.com/atrace_shortfilm/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
A Trace is heavily inspired by my own personal experiences growing up with an absent father. At the age of 3 years old, my biological father moved to a different country and has not been in contact with me since. Throughout my childhood, I felt a lot of conflicting feelings about having an absent father. I often longed for my father to be in my life and felt that I missed my father, but at the same time, I also held a lot of anger towards him for leaving. I watched many films throughout my lifetime depicting children missing and longing for their deceased parents, and although there were similar feelings I had in longing and missing my absent father, the ultimate difference was in the choice to be present, which is something deceased parents do not have. Although many children grow up with absent parents, I felt seldom represented in the movies and films I watched. It wasn’t until I saw Pixar’s “Coco” that I realized it was possible to make a story about an absent parent. I watched Coco, a story about a family dealing with the trauma of an estranged father, and I felt so seen and inspired. Even still, the absent father in Coco died before being able to return, which left me longing for something more accurate to myself. So, when given the opportunity to pitch a project for my senior thesis at San Jose State University, I decided to take from my personal experiences and make a film that had the exact experience and message that I wanted to see in a film. This is a film dedicated to my younger self, as well as the many kids out there who have grown up longing for their absent parents. I hope kids out there can see this film and choose to love themselves no matter what their family looks like!

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I began playing with the idea of pitching this film in May of 2022, at first simply starting with a note in my phone with a bullet point list of ideas. In June of 2022, I solidified my idea and began recruiting a team over the summer to develop and pitch “A Trace” as a thesis project for our senior year. July was full pre-production: story modifications and creating some 3D assets to test our proof of concept. In August 2022, we pitched the film to the SJSU Faculty and were approved! So from August 2022 to May of 2023, we were fully in production and managed to finish the film just before graduating. The film was completed on May 23rd, 2023. It took just about a year to complete from the initial idea to the final film!

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle we faced while working on A Trace was definitely having to juggle our other senior college classes alongside working on the film. Having deadlines for other projects and assignments took time away from working on our film. I was so passionate about our film that it was the only thing I wanted to focus on, but couldn’t due to other classes! In the end we managed our time well enough to finish the film and pass all our other classes just fine!

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
I loved hearing the various reactions to our film in the feedback video! It was so touching to hear the positive feedback and encouragement. It was amazing to see the audience point out specific aspects of our film that they enjoyed, and the message that they took from our film. As the director of the film, it was especially exciting to hear the audience understand the exact message and themes we worked hard to portray. It truly felt like our film resonated with the audience and that they genuinely enjoyed it! I’m grateful to have their feedback.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
As a kid I always had animated films and cartoons playing. I was so captivated by the art and stories! When I was in 5th grade, we went to see Pixar’s Toy Story 3 in theatres on release day. Ever since that day I realized how much I loved animated films, and that I wanted to help be part of making them.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Haha, the film I’ve probably watched the most in my life is Pixar’s “Cars”. Not necessarily because it was my favorite movie, but because my younger brother was a toddler around the time Cars released and that’s all he ever wanted to watch. He watched it multiple times a day on repeat. I’ve probably seen it hundreds of times because of him! I have a fond nostalgia for Cars thanks to my younger brother. It’s a great film!

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Helping promote our film and its filmmakers on social media helps us a lot with building our credibility and expanding our reach! Many film festivals already do this, but any that don’t should try and start!

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
FilmFreeway is an amazing platform for connecting films, filmmakers, and festivals all together. It makes finding and contacting festivals so easy, and it also helps create a secure place to submit and exchange info! It’s the must-use platform for festivals and filmmakers.

10. What is your favorite meal?
My favorite meal is combination fried rice! It’s so versatile, you can add whatever you want to it, and eat it alongside lots of other things. It’s also super easy to cook at home, so I often make it myself!

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I’m hoping to break into the animation industry in the near future once an opportunity finds me! For now, I’m continuing to share our film and promote our achievements!

BILLY THE KID, 18min. Italy
Directed by Michele Zampieri
BillyTheKid is a CGI 3D short series. We started the script and storyboard at november 2018. All project is made in Blender.

https://www.wildartworks.it/billythekid/
https://www.facebook.com/Wildartworks
https://twitter.com/WildArtWorks78

Get to know the filmmaker:

1) What motivated you to make this film?

It’s a personal project that I’ve been carrying out for 3 years now. And I don’t like leaving things half done. I always try to finish my goals

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

In theory this pilot episode is the first of 5 episodes.
Unfortunately in CGI productions, the times are very long if we don’t have money to hire many people and work on the project. This work is a totally independent production and only 7 people participated in the work.
This took us 2 years. I’m trying to continue with the second episode.

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

strong and irreverent.

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

The biggest obstacle was the animations to do, since there were only 3 animators and I did most of the animations. I’m aware that it’s not a perfect job like Disney, but it’s the best I could do with my current skills. And beyond this the obstacle was Render’s timing. Very long because we didn’t have professional machines.

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

I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not an expert in English, so I had to use automatic translator. I’m happy that I was able to convey something to people outside of Italy too.

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

I have liked cinema for many years. I like the western period, perhaps because it is hard and true. I’ve always made small videos and visual effects. I found in Michele a director who is as passionate about Westerns as I am. And we decided to try this adventure.

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

There are no specific movies that I watch over and over again. But I have pleasure in seeing the films shown during the 90s with the actors of those years. For example Clint Eastwood… I also like some Tarantino films.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

For those who create CGI projects independently, they have many difficulties in finding funds or companies that may be interested in investing money in our efforts. Unfortunately in Italy the market is always limited to small production companies. And many artists have no way to emerge.

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

At the moment the experience hasn’t been very positive, as perhaps the western genre isn’t very fashionable. So I won few awards.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Pizza or Pasta

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

As already mentioned, my goal is to continue working on the project and finish the second episode. I know it won’t be easy, since it’s an independent production. The idea would be to pitch the project to someone at Netflix or Amazon Prime. But at the moment we have no knowledge. And it doesn’t mean that Netflix or Amazon will like this genre.

Submit to the ACTION/ADVENTURE Festival:

GROUP, 2 hours, USA
Directed by William R.A. Rush
At a group meeting for recovering drug addicts, not everyone is revealing the full truth.

http://www.ogcinpro.com/
https://www.instagram.com/originalcinematic

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

It started with seeing a friend’s Facebook post one morning and then running into that friend hours later. The friend, in person, (demeanor, attitude, outlook, disposition, etc.) bore no resemblance to the Facebook persona. I thought “is any of this real?” That experience came around the time when one of the myriad tragedies we see in the United States had happened. Two commonly-stated refrains in the wake of these tragedies are that “no one saw this coming” and “everyone should have seen this coming.”

I wondered how far people would go to maintain a false persona. I thought of a group therapy session where people had to be honest in order to get help. Would these people, even if under the protection of anonymity, be honest? Or would these people present a glossy version of themselves, even if that glossy presentation prevented them from getting better? Of course, when people are focused on a false persona they may miss the obvious signs of danger around them. ‘Group’ was what was borne of that idea. No one sees it coming, but maybe they should have.

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

Including post-production, the total time from when I first began writing to the final cut was just under ten months. I know how crazy that sounds, but in my career as an attorney, meticulous planning and time management for preparation of a trial is the norm. Years that come down to the performance of your case over a very brief period. I use the planning, coordination, collaboration and delegation aspects of the legal profession to filmmaking to the greatest extent possible.

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

Viscerally realistic.

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

Well, with the impending strikes and the uncertainty of things, I would have to say the principal photography schedule. Even with the meticulous planning and establishing contingency plans, it was still a frightening thought that we would only have the actors on set for three days. That was it. I basically approached it like half-trial and half-play.

The best thing I did was getting the best cast and crew on Earth. That was 90% of the job.

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

My wife, Xxena (producer Xxena N. Rush) was with me. My literal reaction was “They all got it!” Everyone completely understood what I was going for and trying to convey. My goal is to make films that do not compromise my vision at all. I am a performance-focused director, and I believe in collaboration with cast and crew. I tell everyone involved in making the film that we are to respect the potential audience, to trust their intelligence and not try and hold any viewer’s hands. To see everyone speaking my goals and accurately describing the themes and meaning of the film meant so much to me. I am still in a great deal of shock.

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

I always dreamed of it. I love and am obsessed with film. It is my favorite artistic form, primarily because it encompasses dozens of incredible art disciplines. I didn’t begin filming anything until Mid-December of 2022. My first project was a short Stephen King adaptation called “One for the Road”. We only had seven shooting days for it, but we completed the project on time and I enjoyed it immensely. I knew I could improve.

I have always loved film, always been passionate about it. It is my favorite visual artform. I decided if I was ever going to attempt to be a filmmaker, that was the time. The pandemic forced a re-evaluation of life and goals and the idea that time isn’t endless.

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

I am all but certain I’ve seen “Jaws” more than any other film. “Goodfellas” can’t be far behind, however.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

That’s a great question. For me, it’s all about communication. Whether good or bad, the more communication the better. I think your festival should be a model for great communication. Some festivals offer no communication at all. But that little thing means so much to filmmakers. So I must thank you for your communication and openness.

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

I think it’s very user-friendly and a wonderful way to learn of incredible festivals and get your work out there.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sushi. All sushi. Any sushi. Unless there’s cucumber involved. I don’t like cucumber with my sushi.

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

The film “Immersion” (which we shot directly after “Group”) is being scored and colored at this moment and should be ready for the festival circuit by the end of May. My next feature “Fetish” is in preproduction and scheduled to shoot this September. In addition, I recently finished a feature script, “Encore”, which I plan to shoot in the Spring of 2025. My sex thriller (producer’s phrasing), “Sweetener” has won numerous screenplay awards on the festival circuit and is being shopped around to various producers currently.

MOB FAMILY TIES, 9min., Canada
Directed by Britt Dallyn
After grandpa Michael begins to unintentionally rat on old associates due to his mental decline, the Leslie’s, a mob family, face a moral dilemma whether they need to whack grandpa or not as they host his possible final meal in this send up of traditional TV sitcoms.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I made this at Vancouver Film School for what they call “demo shoots”. Meaning after we had filmed our higher budget, 2-3 day shoots throughout the year, we were given an opportunity to film one more project before the year ended to add to our demo reels. Unlike the shoots earlier in the year however, these projects had no budget and had to be filmed within the school for 1 day only. Everybody had to write a 6 page script and pitch it to the teachers as an assignment where the teachers would pick 6 to actually be filmed. So with those parameters I thought about what I had access to for free within the school. Then I thought “hey, that one pre-built set kinda looks like a sitcom set. I’ve always appreciated a good sitcom, so what if I made one of my own but with a dark kind of humour that you wouldn’t typically see in a show like this.” I found the contrast of all the cheery dressings of a sitcom mixed with a story about murder to be promising for a comedy. In short, like many solutions in film, it all came together out of necessity.

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

In 2023, I first came up with the sitcom idea in early June. We shot on July 11th. Which meant we took advantage of 7-11 day and got free slurpees for our wrap party. Then after graduation in August the editing process was put on hold as I was working a construction job to recoup from that pesky student debt. Finally got back to it late November and finished in late December. Just in time to show family and friends for New Year’s.

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

Gangster Sitcom

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

It would have to be the editing process. Because after graduation we didn’t have access to the fancy computers from school, so I had to figure out how to upgrade my computer enough to handle the high quality footage. This proved to be a little frustrating for me as I am not the biggest technical wizard.

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

Really honored to have strangers for the first time say positive things about my film. Because up to this point all my feedback was from family and friends who would of course say it’s good. It was very reassuring and helpful to hear it from different people.

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

Starting at 5 I wanted to be an actor and when I was 12 I started making short films on my iPad using iMovie, mostly as an outlet for the acting. But as I kept doing it, I got more obsessed with the production side of filming and from there that became my true passion.

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

Either Batman ’89 or Billy Madison. I had Batman ’89 on repeat as a child and I still watch it from time to time now. Billy Madison was a movie my grandma had on VHS and when me and my cousins found it when I was 8, we thought it was the funniest movie ever made. We couldn’t stop watching it and it still remains a movie I can put on anytime to get a chuckle out of.

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 suppose to just keep an open mind to all different types of films and value originality in projects even if it’s not your style or “not what the market wants”.

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

Great! It makes everything super easy and convenient.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sausage and Perogies.

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

Right now I’m pursuing getting a job as a crew member on a film set so I can pay the bills while still being involved with what I love. Once I’m in the off season (as I do live in Alberta where it snows half the year) I hope to go back to Vancouver to film another short with the friends and contacts I made while there last year. I got a script written and ready to go, along with lots of other ideas I want to pursue in the future.

PETEY POSSUM, 5min., USA
Directed by Sean Winslow
Oh no! It’s *enter name here* birthday and Petey’s running late! Follow him on his journey to make the party.

https://www.instagram.com/seanpwinslow

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I like to write sketch comedy, so I was thinking about random funny ideas. I have a memory from my 6th birthday party at Chuck – E – Cheese of a TV above the stage showcasing Chuckie getting ready in quick clips before appearing in front of a bunch of screaming children riding a sugar high. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be funny if he was getting ready, but things kept going horribly wrong as each clip progressed?”. That’s where the idea started.

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

Between the writing, the drawings, and the editing, it took about a year and a half.

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

Chaotic Comedy

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

Myself.

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

I had a smile on my face the whole time. I make comedy because I want people to forget about whatever they have going on in their lives and just take a moment to laugh. Seeing strangers make comments like “It’s kinda punk rock” fills me with absolute joy.

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

I would make “movies” with my parent’s camcorder starting at the age of 8. I’ve wanted to continue doing it ever since.

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

It’s between Jurassic Park or Dumb and Dumber.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?

So far, everything that’s been provided has been excellent. Showcasing what we spent so much time on is extremely helpful. I suppose getting people within the industry involved would be another great advantage. Breaking into the industry is incredibly difficult, so making connections is very important.

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

I love Film Freeway. Ever since I’ve been looking to get my shorts out into festivals, Film Freeway has been my go-to.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Peanut butter and strawberry jelly.

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

I’m bouncing around a few ideas. I would like to start a web series that I wrote a little while back. It would just take a lot of drawing, so I plan on looking into animators and professional voice actors to help speed up the process.