Home, 11min., Belgium
Directed by Hanne Schillemans, Ralph Timmermans
Home is a short film about the fragility of life and the virtue of solitude. A faceless figure attempting not to resist the endless waves of pointlessness.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Home grew out of a shared fascination with the fragile, often uncomfortable terrain of solitude. We were both navigating a kind of existential tension: the absurdity of life, and the strange peace that can arise when one stops resisting it. The idea that everything is ultimately out of one’s control and perhaps even pointless and the realization that this, paradoxically, can be liberating. That thought, oddly enough, gave us comfort. The film became a way to give form to that feeling.

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

It’s hard to say exactly when the idea began. We think Home found us during a hike through desolate nature, when we unexpectedly came upon an empty house. It felt like stumbling into the middle of a concept. We didn’t plan it, we just recognized it. From that moment to the final cut, the process took about 18 months. Much of that time was spent letting the idea unfold, allowing it to simmer before taking shape.

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

Existential surrender

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

The most significant challenge was trusting enough emptiness into the film. We are often conditioned, especially in film, to fill gaps, explain, dramatize, entertain. But Home demanded restraint. We felt that allowing the film to breathe, and not over-directing it, was both difficult and essential.

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

It was moving to hearing how the different viewer had a personal, often emotional responses and interpretations. We come from dance and music, so it was rewarding to see how those languages translated to the screen and how they resonated with an audience across the world, in Toronto.

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

There wasn’t a single moment, it was more like a slow unfolding. With our backgrounds in dance and music, we’ve always worked with time, space, rhythm, and emotion. Film felt like a natural evolution, a vast canvas that could hold all our interests and sensibilities in one place.

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

Honestly… for Hanne it’s probably Dumbo. As a child, she watched it so often that it had to be banned at some point. Every time she saw it, she cried uncontrollably, moved by the unjust treatment of the little elephant and his mother. And yet, she kept watching it again and again, perhaps needing to feel those emotions repeatedly. As a child, me (Ralph) and my friends would often get lost in the adventures of Marty McFly and Luke Skywalker. I’m not sure which of the two films I watched more, Back to the Future or Return of the Jedi, but I’ve easily seen each of them over ten times. I’m still working on that time machine…and practicing my Jedi skills, mostly so I can go back and rescue Dumbo and his mother. 😉

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

We’d love to see more opportunities for interdisciplinary conversations. Events that foster artistic exchange between filmmakers, performers, musicians, philosophers, scientists. Less about networking, more about community and curiosity. Also, support for experimental work through residencies or labs would be valuable, especially for those of us working outside conventional formats.

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

It’s been straightforward and convenient. The platform makes it fairly easy to discover festivals aligned with our artistic values.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Something slow-cooked and with an aftertaste

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

Between the two of us, creativity is always in motion. Ralph is working on a new music album, and I (Hanne) am performing and creating in various formats. Together, we’re dreaming up a new project where video and live performance intertwine. We’re not entirely sure what it will become yet, but the wave is moving, and we’re riding it.

Med Selkies, 11min., UK
Directed by Kelly Ann Buckley
Med Selkies is a poetic film exploring a near-future climate crisis where land is ravaged, and a lone human drifts at sea. Succumbing to the depths, the human encounters an ancestral, aquatic force – beings who once diverged from humanity to adapt to life beneath the waves.

https://www.instagram.com/k_a_b_art_n_sound

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

~ This was an expansion of a project I did for Focal Point Gallery – a wonderful contemporary arts gallery in SouthendonSea, UK. I was lucky enough to be commissioned to create an exhibition for their FPG Sounds programme. My project – Echoes in the Fossils – was a sound-led audiovisual 5 part piece – focused on rising sea levels and lost past & imagined future soundscapes, ranging from Mesolithic to Anthropocene epochs, which touched upon futuristic polymer-human hybrids. Med Selkies was a continuation of that exploration, after Echoes in the Fossils had finished. I am interested in the Aquatic Ape theory and the idea that there may be some human cousin out there in parts of the ocean we don’t know about. Med Selkies evolved from my thinking about that, and what may happen if we are forced to return to the ocean, living with them, because of climate change. This was combined with the thinking about humans carrying micro plastics in their bodies vs the plastic eating microbes scientists are now working with. What if these grow huge, and we become the food? It’s all very mixed up thinking and dreamlike and I suppose this vibe was carried through to the film.

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

It’s hard to be precise because I suppose the idea was growing alongside the Echoes in the Fossils project although it wasn’t fully formed. It may have been something like 6 months to a year or just over.

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

Fantastical truth

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

I had a very small but very powerful underwater camera that I was initially using to film some underwater scenes in the North Sea, which is where I also filmed some underwater footage for Echoes in the Fossils. Unfortunately one of my teenage sons then lost it in the sea. I was very distraught at the time but he’s forgiven now. 😊 I ended up licensing footage, which I’m sure is much better to watch anyway, than the very mirky and silty underwater views of the Thames/Estuary North Sea.

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

I had a big smile on my face. It was so lovely to listen to – I think as an experimental film, you don’t expect people to immediately ‘get it’, but they did, and that felt good, like I achieved my goal. It was funny to hear someone say they thought I worked with AI. There was no AI in this film! Also someone said about the music/sound filter. I’m not sure what they meant, but there wasn’t one filter I used. The underwater sound was a result of lots and lots and lots of hours of sounddesign and many many layered tracks; the majority being hydrophone recordings of myself underwater screaming and swooshing around plastic crisp bags and suchlike.

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

I mainly make sounddesign or sound-art/compose music and write. For many years I have documented a lot of these processes with video or moving art/imagery/visuals, so I suppose it has been a natural evolution that has run alongside. I’ve always been interested in filmmaking – I did an A level in film studies and did multimedia studies at college, but I didn’t really think of myself as a filmmaker in the obvious sense as I know so many brilliant filmmakers in the traditional sense – amazing knowledge, and tech, and camera skills and whatnot. I suppose I would say I’ve become more of a filmmaker (actually feels imposter-ish even saying that now) in an experimental/art sense.

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

Oooh. Lots. Ummm… a few faves I’ve watched multiple times are Withnail and I, Couscous, Caramel, Betty Blue. The whole Godfather series too.

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 think you guys are doing a wonderful job, which seems to go way beyond the norm (judging by the limited film festival experience I have), in helping get people’s names out there and help raise profiles, with your feedback, blog and podcasts etc.

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

Really good so far! I am quite new to it!

10. What is your favorite meal?

Sunday roast dinner with all the trimmings.

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

I have just finished co-writing a screenplay with Tom Keenan for a feature film. I have been a journalist of 30 years and so was partly brought on board for those transferable skills – the film is inspired by the true story of Steve Camps – but also my passion for Cornwall and it’s rich heritage, for story, and ecological issues. Steve Camps is an artist based in Cornwall who had never picked up a paintbrush in his life until recently when he retired, and then was very quickly catapulted into fame and fortune because these paintings are so special and enchanting – buyers have been coming in from all over the world! His story started appearing across national newspapers and TV. My partner Tom read one of these stories in a British National newspaper called The Observer (The Gaurdian’s Sunday paper), and secured the life rights of the story towards the end of last year. We then received early development investment. We also formed a partnership with the Sound/Image Cinema Lab in Cornwall. So we have been working together on it since around October/November 2024. I’m co-producing the film too, and at the time of answering these questions, we are currently in Cannes to form partnerships and push it forward. It’s title is The Prince Of Whales and people can find out more at powfilm.net if they’d like to.

La Ghostification, USA, Musical
Directed by Lena Glikson
A surreal and symbolic journey through the inner world of a girl processing abandonment and emotional distress. Through haunting imagery — from mirrored selves red to threads like tears and disturbed dancing — the video explores the psychological aftermath of being ghosted. Set to a dark, emotionally charged track, the visuals blur the line between dream and nightmare, revealing a desperate attempt to communicate with someone who has vanished without a trace.

https://www.instagram.com/lena_glikson_mx/?hl=en

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I was going through a very dark and isolating period in my life, where I felt completely abandoned. As a musician, creating music has always been a natural form of healing for me. I wrote, produced, and recorded the song as a way to process those emotions—but it didn’t feel complete. Since I spend most of my professional life shaping music for films as a film and TV music editor, it felt instinctive to add a visual layer to the storytelling. That’s how the music video for La Ghostification was born.

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

It took around two and a half months to complete the project, with most of that time spent in pre-production. I initially planned for just one shoot day in a photo studio, but during the editing process I realized we needed more footage to fully support the visual story—so we went back and shot additional material.
Since I normally edit music to picture, it was exciting (and intense) to work the other way around—editing picture to music. I’m incredibly grateful to my editor and cinematographer, Eduard Asaturov, who trusted me and gave me the space to be as detailed and specific as I needed to be.

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

Expressive madness.

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

There weren’t any major obstacles—just a lot of responsibility. As the driving force behind this personal project, I had to think through every detail: from writing the music and lyrics to finding the crew, designing the visuals, and sourcing all the props. It was creatively fulfilling, but also very demanding.

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

I was truly amazed by the depth of the responses. People picked up on nuances I hadn’t expected and connected with layers of meaning I had only subtly hinted at. It was incredibly rewarding to see the audience so engaged and thoughtful.

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

My entry point was through music. I studied at Berklee College of Music, where I focused on film scoring. I was drawn to film because it brings together so many artistic disciplines—music, storytelling, visuals. I’ve been working as a film music editor for nine years, but when I wrote a song that felt deeply personal, I felt compelled to tell the story visually as well. Making this video felt like a very natural extension of my creative process.

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

Probably A Star Is Born or Joker, both of which I worked on for many months as a music editor.

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 truly love your format—especially the audience feedback video. It offers rare and valuable insight for filmmakers. The only addition I’d suggest would be finding ways to help filmmakers connect more directly with one another, perhaps through a community platform or virtual meetups.

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

Very smooth. The platform is convenient, well-organized, and makes the submission process easy to navigate.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Anything my mom or grandma used to cook when I was little. It was pure love in the food form

11. What is next for you? A new film?
Right now I’m working as a music editor on Stranger Things Season 5, but I’ve started writing a new song—and who knows, maybe it will turn into another experimental music video.

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.

Get to know the filmmaker;

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I wanted to spotlight female drummers—many of whom are breast cancer survivors—who lift each other up through rhythm and resilience. Their stories deserved a stage, and I wanted to give them one.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
Just under a year. It’s a sequel to my 2019 film, building on that foundation with a new chapter, new faces, and a deeper focus on community.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Staying true to a tight indie budget.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
It was emotional and validating. Hearing that the film resonated so strongly with people I’ve never met was incredibly rewarding.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
After making the first Beat Keepers film in 2019. The response lit a fire in me to keep telling these stories through documentary.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Rocky. I never get tired of the underdog spirit and determination.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
Offer filmmaker showcases to distributors or streaming platforms.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experience been working on the festival platform site?
Smooth and accessible. I like how centralized it is, but it can be tough to judge a festival’s real-world impact before applying.

10. What is your favorite meal?
A hearty vegan lasagna—comfort food done cruelty-free.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
For now, I’m focused on promoting Beat Keepers: The Next Chapter and bringing it to live audiences, such as the UK Drum Show in October. But yes, the wheels are already turning for what’s next.

EVIL INTENTIONS, 12min,. USA
Directed by Tiffany Laveka Lacy
“After the untimely demise of both her mother and father, a young woman finds herself entangled in a web of deceit when her stepmother manipulates and alters their will. As the stepmother’s actions come to light, the spirits of the girl’s parents return from beyond the grave, seeking justice and retribution for the injustice done to their daughter.”
ti.lacy@student.nyfa.edu

https://www.instagram.com/t.lacy_

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

My motivation stemmed from a profound fascination with the complexities of human emotions and moral dilemmas. “Evil Intentions” explores the darkest aspects of human nature, prompting viewers to question their own values and beliefs regarding the spiritual realm.

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

The journey from brainstorming the script to production and editing unfolded over two semesters. I wrote the script during my first semester, then shot the film in the following semester, completing the editing process within the same timeframe. This project served as my graduating thesis.

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

I would describe my movie as a “psychological thriller.”

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

The hardest part was obtaining the green light to shoot the stunt scenes involving weapons. Although we didn’t manage to accomplish that particular scene, the film turned out well from a directorial standpoint, allowing me to make crucial decisions about cutting and manipulating the storyline during editing.

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

My initial reaction to the audience’s responses to “Evil Intentions” was one of amazement. They truly grasped the salaciousness and thrill of the film, appreciating my lighting techniques and the way I introduced horror without resorting to excessive gore. When an audience can understand the story without needing explanations, it’s a great sign—they were able to relate on a deeper level.

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

I realized my passion for filmmaking in elementary school, where creativity was a significant part of my education. My school engaged in plays and musicals, and I often took part as a performer. As I grew older, my church’s vacation Bible school allowed us to write and produce plays, which I found fascinating. From ages eight to thirteen, I was actively involved in performing, dancing, and writing stories for my siblings to act out.

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

I would have to say that the films I’ve seen the most are “Mommie Dearest” and “Lady Sings the Blues.” They are kind of a tie for me.

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 believe that providing more networking opportunities and connecting emerging talent with industry veterans would be invaluable for filmmakers.

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

My experience with FilmFreeway has been positive. The platform is user-friendly, making it easy to submit my film to multiple festivals and track its progress. It has significantly streamlined the entire process.

10. What is your favorite meal?

I enjoy stir-fried rice and vegetables with any style of poultry or fish.

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

Yes! I’m currently working on a new project that delves into psychological horror. It explores the fine line between reality and perception, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me.

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STAYCATION, 93min,. USA
Directed by Russell Emanuel
How is the world affected by a catastrophic event? Everyday people live through a government mandated quarantine during a global pandemic while desperate scientists race to find a cure before it’s too late.

https://russem.com/
https://www.instagram.com/russem31/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

It was the Covid Pandemic. Everything was shut down so my late filmmaking partner Emile Haris (who unfortunately passed away during post-production in July 2023) and I went about to create a film about a pandemic against what seemed insurmountable odds (nothing was open).

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

Emile Haris and I started with a short film called “Routine” which we filmed in April 2020 at the start of the pandemic when even SAG-AFTRA was shut down and we couldn’t go outside. So he and I took it upon ourselves to film a 5-minute proof of concept prequel called “Routine” at my condo with a non-SAG-AFTRA actress Paige Laree Poucel and we hired an amazing DC/Marvel Comics Artist Dave Beaty to “draw” the third act which took place outside and hired two amazing voice actors Bill Victor Arucan and Alan Courtright. Due to the success of this film, along with head executive producer Bill Victor Arucan (who reprised his role of ‘Rob Peterson’ from “Routine” and the Peterson name itself is a running gag in all my 6 feature films), we successfully raised the money to do “Staycation” and started filming in November 2024 when SAG-AFTRA was re-opened but with severe Covid restrictions. We then filmed piecemeal over 2 years, finally completing shooting in November 2022.

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

Horror Comedy.

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

The already mentioned death of my filmmaking partner Emile Haris who was the writer/editor/director of photography and was in the process of doing the visual effects for the film when he unexpectedly passed in July 2023. I had to complete the film on my own by hiring another editor/visual effects supervisor Brian Barsuglia and was finally able to complete everything in November 2024.

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

I was super grateful.

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

When I watched Richard Donner’s Superman at the age of 5 and fell in love with composer John Williams scores including for this film.

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

The Empire Strikes Back – the film I grew up on and with the aforementioned composer John Williams who did the music for it.

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

To be honest, what you have been doing is wonderful. Feedback, correspondence, a screening. Thank you so much.

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

I love the platform, it’s so easy to maneuver and many wonderful film festivals like yours are on there. Makes it super easy to submit.

10. What is your favorite meal?

Cookies and cream ice cream!

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

Yes, I am currently doing an extensive polish on the sequel feature film Staycation 2 with amazing writer Avishai Weinberger. I had already written a 93-page script in late 2023 but felt it needed more work and had read a script by Avishai a few years back and loved it and knew I would want to work with him. He should be completed in a month or two and then along with many of the executive producers of the first film, we will start pre-production. I also have another script called The Dollhouse which I’m also very invested in and most likely will make that my next film after Staycation 2 (along with fellow producer Julie D’Aloiso out of Ohio).

SILENT TOKEN, 14min., USA
Directed by Camilla Della Vecchia
When Sonia, a descendant of a secretive law enforcement group becomes the target of a ruthless enemy from the past, she must uncover the truth about her family’s legacy. Guarded by the fiercely loyal protector Michael Stone and the powerful coin that she inherited. As danger closes in she must decide whether to stay hidden or embrace her destiny in the fight against corruption.

https://www.instagram.com/silent_token_film

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Ive worked in the film industry for the last 6 years, and for the last few years I’ve been working full time on a popular widely watched syndicated tv show. That experience inspired me to create a character and develop a short film with a compelling story of my own.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I would say two years from getting the idea to writing, researching, filming, editing and completion. There were even some minor tweaks to the story, script and characters on the days of filming. All in all, it worked out really well. so I’d say two years in total.

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

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
It would be the fight scene that is the B roll flashback scene with Sonia, the main character. It was the last shot of our first filming day. After 10 hours of filming I was kind of exhausted from directing and coaching the other actors on their scripts to continue to film. We shot most of the scenes in one day mostly because I had rented the location for a great price and didn’t have the funds in my film budget to come back another day. Plus the other actors were coming from far away and they already had full schedules. The lead male character is actually my older brother and he coached me on specific moves on that fight scene. It was tough at first but I quickly learned the moves because of my background as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. We finally got the shots in and were able to move closer to completion.

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

I was very pleased to hear all the positive feedback and I thought to myself wow they’re really talking about my short film Silent Token, this is great! All the viewers gave encouraging and helpful feedback.

I especially noticed that one of the viewers caught something that I was trying to convey through the main character and how her personality tied into the overall message of the short film. This actually hit me the next day when I was replaying it all back in my mind.

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

Ever since I was a young, I started making films, I saved up money and bought myself a little Sony hand cam and filmed some short movies, nothing meaningful but mostly for fun. In my teens I worked in a video store. Then after college later on I taught musical theater and film for kids, and there I taught a music video class with my students.

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

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

Well, this is my first film festival as a film maker and everything seems to be going well. One thing comes to mind is, I would like to have some type of zoom festival and be able to attend when it’s far away to have some type of red carpet experience.

9. What is your favorite meal? It’s been a great experience, very organized and helpful.
Grilled salmon with honey Dijon sauce and capers, with a side of steamed broccoli and a baked sweet potato.

TALK TO ME LIKE THE RAIN, 15min. USA
Directed by Eloise Lola Gordon, Rose Trimboli
This is a story about the lies we tell in the name of love. In this adaptation of Tennesse Williams’ one-act “Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Lie Here and Listen”, a couple grapples with opening up about their deepest desires while knowing that the truth of what they both want would hurt the other more than anything. This short film explores how people lie to themselves and each other in order to not feel the pain that the truth sometimes brings with it. In relationships, whether we minimize the gravity of a situation or deny ourselves the extent of our desires, it’s simpler to avoid honesty and stay in comfortable cycles than to face the unknown that comes with picking up and moving on.

Get to know filmmaker Eloise Lola Gordon:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

I wanted to create something that would utilize not only all of the life lessons I’ve learned through my own relationships and the relationships of those around me but also what I’ve learned from working in the industry over the last few years. I also wanted to give opportunities to the talented friends that I’ve made through working and give them the chance to show what they can do!

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

About a year and a half!

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

Hurting and Healing

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

Having to sacrifice some of my ideas for the sake of creating a complete and concise piece.

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

I mainly felt a huge sense of relief that the audience got the message I was trying to portray.

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

I always knew I wanted to be in them but it wasn’t until college that I realized I wanted to make my own.

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

Mirror Mask or Nightmare Before Christmas

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 think festivals are a great way to connect likeminded artists so they can build relationships and collaborate on more projects in the future.

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

It’s been great! I’ve learned so much about the film festival community and learned about so many incredible festivals I wouldn’t have known about otherwise!

10. What is your favorite meal?

I love all breakfast food!! There’s nothing better than a good breakfast burrito or sandwich to start the day.

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

Right now I’m really busy with acting work but I’ve been writing a feature for the last few years that I would love to start pre-production on this year!

BLOOD IS THICKER, 14min., USA
Directed by Melissa Skirboll
Two sisters living in the same city but completely different worlds reconnect over a meal. A mother suffering dementia pulls them back home but before they can return the trauma of their past must be addressed.

http://www.melissaskirboll.com/
https://instagram.com/melhypnoschick/

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
I’ve directed co-star Jeanine Bartel in 3 films prior to this, and in a number of stage plays as well but we had never had an opportunity to act together before this. We’d started talking about the possibility while we were traveling together for a film festival screening for our last short OVERDUE and the idea kind of took on a life of its own.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
From the first time that Jeanine and I started talking about the possibility of working on something together in front of the camera, through to the final edit, probably took about 6 months. However this piece was originally a short play that I wrote and directed a number of years previous. From original conceit as a 10-minute play to finished film was 5 or so years!

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Sister’s secrets.
That’s not great. Two words is HARD to do!

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
Once we decided to go for it, I don’t think we ran into any real obstacles.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
Deliriously happy! Ok maybe a slight exaggeration, but only slightly! Hearing that it resonates, that people enjoy it on so many levels is so gratifying. Plus It’s been a while since I stepped in front of the camera, (I started as an actor but have focussed on directing and writing for the past 10 years,) so hearing such positive feedback about both of our performances means a lot. I don’t necessarily recommend taking on so many roles simultaneously – and directing yourself is always a challenge – but if you are going to direct yourself, having Jeanine as your scene partner definitely is the way to go!

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
I think it had been circling in the back of my mind for quite some time. I had moved to Los Angeles in 2002 with the intention of getting more film work (still focusing on acting at that point). I started writing and directing – theater! – while I was in LA ,and once I moved back to NYC that increased substantially. But not having gone to film school, it took a while for me to make the leap. Haven’t looked back since though!

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
I think it’s got to be The Wizard of Oz or Singing in the Rain. Pre-cable those used to run pretty regularly on TV and if I was clicking through the channels and saw either playing I’d definitely stop and watch again!

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career? Not sure.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site? Pretty easy and seamless. The more experience you get the more you understand how to use it to your advantage instead of letting it turn into a money pit 🙂

10. What is your favorite meal?
Mmmm. Depends on where I am, what time of year it is, what’s fresh, local, interesting….A steamed lobster in New England or barbecue brisket in Texas always hits the spot. B

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I’ve got two shorts in pre-production at the moment – hopefully you’ll see one of them next year! And if all goes well, a feature will be in works for 2026.

Grandpa’s Got A Brand New Pill, 9min,. USA
Directed by Jeffrey Moline
Grandpa’s Got A Brand New Pill is a short musical film that features an original song inspired by writer, producer, performer Jeffrey George Moline’s eighty year old mother. Grandpa’s Got A New Pill tells the story of Tootie, a headstrong, independent woman on the eve of her ninety-sixth birthday. Tootie feels unseen and constrained by the rules and regulations of Shady Nook Retirement Home. With a little help from her friend Awesome Lee Bodacious Queer Country Superstar – Tootie decides to make sure her party has a happy ending!

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

Grandpa’s Got A Brand New Pill started first as a song which was inspired by my mother and her boyfriend over using viagra.

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

The idea for the film started in May 2024 at an SGI World Peace Meeting when a member suggested that if someone started a project at the end of the year they could look at the year in review and say “I did this…” A few weeks later I had written the screenplay and started working in the recording studio with Jacob McCaslin and long time friend Ringo Maestro producing the music. The experience of working with Jacob, viewing his video work and his love for the character of Tootie made it clear to myself and co-producers (Terrence Franklin and Tangelia Rouse Ringo that he should be our director . A process of six months.

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

Amusing and subversive.

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

Overcoming my own self doubt – learning to trust my team, my talent and my story.

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

Floored – Gobsmacked. Happy, ecstatic and joyful that people connected with the story, the characters and the song.

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

I’ve been a storyteller since childhood. I loved Hollywood Musicals and wanted to dance and sing on screen.

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

Auntie Mame – but I never miss an opportunity to view The Fifth Element

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

My festival experience is limited, I enjoy connecting to other creatives and being inspired.

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

My experience has been very positive.

10. What is your favorite meal?

A nice medium rare cheeseburger with fries and a Tequila ginger ale.

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

I’m going to make 5 more Awesome Lee Bodacious musical videos along with an EP. I am also working on a feature with my husband and co-producer Terrence Franklin called The Last Will of Lucy Sutton which follows his family’s 1845 journey from slavery in Florida to freedom in Illinois twenty years before the Civil War.