Shucks, 50min,. USA Directed by Ty Brueilly A slow burning and silent eerie tale about escaping followed by personal transformations, addiction, programed human nature and the primal urges of evolved creature comforts through a macabre metaphorical manufacturing process. Written, Directed and Scored by Ty Bru. Starring Austin Rich.
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Tasha, a woman in her mid 40’s, trudges through the end of her day until she sees an old flame on the train platform. The lovers reminisce and rekindle feelings towards each other only to realize that circumstance continues to keep them apart.
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In Between tells the story of Blake, who lives a happy heteronormative life with her long time partner, Eric. After some vivid unexpected dreams, she gets a visit from a love from her past life, Adeline, who shows up to her home from across the world. If your past showed up on your doorstep… what would you do?
Some stories in our lives don’t end the way we would like them to, but In Between takes you into a world where it can. We rewrite the story in our imagination, feel what could have been so we can move forward and allow ourselves to be vulnerable and love once again.
I wanted to be a poet and film director since I was a kid because I wanted to tell critical stories and be ultimately be bossy. I wanted to tell stories and hold an audience captive momentarily with something incredible, just for a moment. The way Free Willy held me captive as a child. I ended up spending 17 years in education because everything seemed to being going to shit and it felt like the easiest way to make an impact. What do all my students over the last 17 years all have in common? .. they all consume media.. and a lot of it. No better way to make an impact than through film, more specially short films and series so people can pace themselves or get the bite sized chunks our ADHD world facilitates.
Growing up, I was not exposed to much queer media other than the occasional episode of Will and Grace, but not for lack of trying. By the time I got to college, The L Word was the closest we got to relationships that resembled ours. Any queer films or shows I could get my hands on was about belonging riddled in trauma- important stories to tell but it was the only lens that was filtering. I longed for something that showed the nuance, universality, humor and most importantly joy in lesbian relationships.
As a poet, I believe in exploring identity and experience as the substance of my art. Fruit Loops is the extension of my own experience which in some ways is a very universal one. This is my first project as a screenwriter and also as a director and after several decades in a different field, I was finally able to begin my pathway in film. I intentionally cultivated a cast and crew of women, nonbinary and queer folks to work on this mockumentary style short film. Fruit Loops is a love letter to queer storytelling where the focal point isn’t trauma or fighting for acceptance. I seek to display raw, genuine intersectionality and raw, genuine human connections in all their beauty and ugliness with the queer community as the backdrop for these stories being told.
It is time that entertainment and media can relate and connect to all facets of the human condition and not just the most dominant narratives. In a country that moves deeper each day in seeking to destroy the trans community and working to erase LGBTQIA+ rights, it is a priority now more than ever to tell joyful and normalizing stories to connect all of our experiences and find the humor in our struggles to find love and belonging.
Miami Film Festival Winner – This captivating dark comedy follows the eventful journey of Jessy, a morally ambiguous young man who finds himself entangled in a web of challenges when his mother is kidnapped. To settle his debt, Jessy reluctantly sets out to seduce Carlos, an older man in a vulnerable state of decline.
Directed by Alejandro Renteria
Written by Jorge Luis Sanchez-Noya
Cast: Alex Cowley, Mauricio Renteria, Lili Renteria
Director Statement This first story is part of a feature film design to reflect this statement.- The time spent on this earth is marked by the attention we give to our desires or the time we spend running away from suffering. This story develops and shows us the tragic force behind these silent motivators of human behavior. Miami is a hub for the Spanish speaker community world wide. This story happens to be spread out between Argentina, Mexico, Spain and Miami. This is a device to show the difference of tone, color and/or flavor of these cultural idiosyncrasies. This will aid to highlight how these silent motivators of human behavior remain the same regardless of the location. Using these four stories in different geographic spots while they are conceptually intertwined will show the audience these silent motivators with the hope they will recognize them, not just to be entertained but learn deeper truth about themself. As a result of having lived for long periods of time in different countries, has allowed me to perceive this simple truth, I want to share it and to show how similar we are at the core, no matter the location. The four short stories are tragedies with a tone of dark comedy, (one of those four has already been shot, link is attached.) The rest will be shot in similar manners, cinematic, subdued color schemes, low key lighting, high contrast cinematography. The fifth one is more of a dreamlike and will be closer to a romantic comedy look. One actor will play 4 different characters as he symbolically represents death, This will be evident with the final story.
Story short review
“Objetos de Deseo” is an 18-minute indie short film directed by Alejandro Renteria. It revolves around Jessi, played by Alex Cowley, who finds himself in a desperate situation in Miami and must make ethically questionable decisions to resolve it. The film expertly combines dramatic misdirection, tension, and a touch of dark humor. It explores themes of need, manipulation, and the lure of easy money, all set against the backdrop of Miami’s nighttime streets. The story unfolds as Jessi attempts to strike a deal with Mr. Lord, portrayed by Mauricio Rentería, but soon realizes he may not be in control of the situation. As the layers of deception are peeled back, the narrative keeps viewers engaged, leading to a surprising and impactful finale. The performances by the leads, Cowley and Rentería, showcase their characters’ complexity and the film’s understated style complements the storyline. Overall, “Objetos de Deseo” offers a fresh take on a cat and mouse game, making it a captivating indie film that explores human nature and the choices we make under extreme circumstances.
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.
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.
Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace, 38min., USA Directed by Brittney Brackett Grounded: Creating Space for Black Peace is a tragically poignant documentary short exploring how Black and Brown communities navigate mental health challenges, trauma, and the journey toward healing, that fosters peace and wellness.
Sequences, splitters, fragments. In settings of body and pictureroom in space of representation and poetry is volume scanned and reproduced, expressed and restored. A Collage in hommage to Antonin Artaud.
Stardust and Camp. 12min., Australia Directed by Jayden Van Win a wandering cosmonaut interviews artworks in an abstract art gallery, talking about queerness, identity and the artistic process.
Sprucilla and The Queen of Trees, 9min., USA Directed by Chris DiFiore Barē is a Halloween tree decoration living in the clearance aisle at Bargain Branch, but their dreams refuse to be boxed in. They think they’ve got what it takes to be crowned as the next Queen of Trees, even though they don’t have luscious green leaves or dazzling decorations like the other trees in the competition. After Barē gets some guidance from Sprucilla, a legendary Queen of Trees winner, they embrace their chance to shine as their true self and prove that being different isn’t a weakness—it’s a superpower.
Wax Wings feat. Miha and Lucille Croft “What if I Told you To”, 4min., USA Directed by William Kennedy Leaving no room for time wasters, ‘What If I Told You To’ elicits total scuzzy submission at the hands of London-based techno-protagonists Wax Wings and Miha’s unflinchingly dominant composition.
JIWA KORUP. 15min., Malaysia Directed by MOHD HISHAM SALEH A low-ranking officer’s corrupt leadership is scrutinised, compelling him to confront the repercussions of his unethical behaviour. This raw AI short film delves into themes of power and loyalty, illustrating how even the most reliable individuals can become lost to corruption.
Stoned for Christmas, 14min., USA Directed by Morgan Young “Stoned for Christmas” is a multimedia whirlwind and a love letter to weed. This short film follows the adventures of one cannabis courier delivering at Christmastime.
HAIR, 6min., Hong Kong Directed by Lam Man A young boy finds himself drawn to living as a girl through the influence of his transgender friend. Together, they playfully explore the world of wigs and cosmetics. Their carefree moments come to an abrupt halt when his father – a traditional barber shop owner – stumbles upon their secret…
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!
NO END LANE, 11miin., UK Directed by Mikkie-dené Le Roux In the aftermath of losing her closest friends in an accident in which she was the only one to survive, Michaela falls victim to prescribed antipsychotics to help her deal with the trauma. As she loses herself in the fog of her distorted reality, she can no longer identify the real from the unreal. Her subconscious haunts her as her memories become nightmares that she desperately tries to escape. Michaela finds herself at the scene of the accident, not knowing how she got there.
Devil Makes Three, 9min,. Canada Directed by Loken Charon When two punk bands are double booked to headline Halloween night, they must decide who will play before something else does.
Bay for Blood, 18min., USA Directed by Harry Waldman James and Rob are hiding out in isolation to fix their mutual issues. As time progresses, the two reveal facts regarding their disturbing past relationship. An acquaintance of James’, Jessica, finds herself in an uncomfortable position as she contemplates the best way to handle the situation.
Festival Reviews 