Narrative Short
LA Premiere, West Coast Premiere

Based on a true story, a young Nicaraguan woman flees into the jungle, pursued by the ones who love her the most.

Director: Tamara Hernandez
Producer: Tamara Hernandez and Juan Batista Hernandez Jr.
Writer: Tamara Hernandez
Cast: Flavia Carbone, Alder Perez Cruz 
Cinematographer: Robert Murphy
Editor: Robert Murphy

Short
West Coast Premiere

An Audience is a short film that depicts a young woman navigating college and dating for the first time away from her family. What the young woman doesn’t know is that she’s being watched from afar…Metatheatrical and abstract, this film explores loss, family, and the lengths loved ones will go to care for their own.

Director: Sonya Cooke
Producer: Ethan Hood
Writer: Sonya Cooke
Cast: Sonya Cooke, Alex Arnold, Masen Keltner
Cinematographer: Vinicius Silva
Editor: Mads Mathis

Awards: "Best Short Short" from 2nd Houston Short Short Short Film Festival (HS3FF)

Instagram: @ethan.hood34 (Producer) @sonya.cooke (Director)

Short Film

Director: Rani DeMuth
Producer: Roger M. Mayer
Writer: Rani DeMuth
Cast: Jane Kaczmarek, David Guerra, Shi Ne Nielson, Alejandra Flores
Cinematographer: Ernesto Lomeli
Editor: Yvonne Valdez
Instagram: @and_now_i_lay_me_down_official

FROM THE WRITER / DIRECTOR

Stories find me. They tap me on the shoulder or bullet train through my chest. AND NOW I LAY ME DOWN came to me in a vision.

In 2022, I lost part of my nose to skin cancer. As a forty-something woman in Hollywood, isn't aging enough?

AND NOW I LAY ME DOWN was inspired by the existential dread of losing my looks and career in one fell swoop. I saw an aging woman in the film industry dealing with rejection and the challenges of being a mother. Amidst flashes of pink and gold, I saw my character—Celia Dalvi. She was a woman with bravado and entitlement. Celia shows how maintaining the appearance of perfection is doomed. My film asks how to be happy when life is filled with sorrow. Celia's reward ultimately is not the resurrection of her career but the reconnection with herself. Sometimes smelling the flowers isn’t enough. You have to eat them. 

AND NOW I LAY ME DOWN had its world premiere at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. It went on to screen at two more Oscar-qualifying film festivals, Hollyshorts and LA Shorts and is currently playing the festival circuit. 

We are thrilled to be screening with the LA Women’s Film Festival.  

Short
West Coast Premier

After receiving life-altering news, a woman embarks on a transformative journey, daring to embrace life outside her comfort zone.

Director: Monique Straw
Producers: Jessica Irvine Drake, David Harrod Jr., Alexandra Chando, Charlene Fretz
Writer: Jessica Irvine Drake             
Cast: Jessica Irvine Drake, David Harrod Jr., Devin Drake
Cinematographer: Andrew Laboy
Editor: Tyler Mann

Bald is loosely based on my childhood best friend's experiences after being diagnosed with triple-positive breast cancer. Luckily, she survived and was a part of this film, which has been the most amazing experience.

Instagram: @baldthemovie

Short Film
World Premiere

A woman emerges from a period of grief and slowly finds her way to the other side.

Director: Nicole Agostino
Producer: Catherine Greene
Writer: Nicole Agostino 
Cast: Jillianne Brickman-Compton, John Castle, Kynder Bonilla
Cinematographer: Nathan Rigaud
Editor: Kaleigh Bauer Bish

Awards: Best Shorts Fest - Official Selection (September 2024) | Award of Excellence | Women Filmmakers; Independent Shorts Awards Official Selection (October 2024) - Bronze Award | Best Women Short

Venezia Shorts Italy praise for "Buried"- "...some of the elements from your film that overwhelmed and captivated us: Great script and story, powerful and touching."

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buried_shortfilm

Website: Nicole's website - www.nicoleagostino.com 

Feature
World Premiere

Who would you choose: your Nigerian father, your Australian fiancé or your Latin-American BFF? This heart-warming film about life, love and international identity is a passionate response to the world's constant pressure to choose sides. Together, best friends Carmen and Bolude travel from NYC to Sydney, where they have ten days to collect 100 'welcomes' so that Bolude's traditional Nigerian father will agree to let her marry an Australian. Based on true events.

Director: Michela Carattini & Maria Isabel Delaossa
Producer: Yolandi Franken & Michela Carattini
Writer: Michela Carattini & Bolude Watson 
Cast: Bolude Watson, Michela Carattini, Wale Ojo, Liam Greinke, Elliott Giarola, David Collins, Joey Vieira & Joe Avati
Cinematographer: Calum Stewart
Editor: Ramon Mazinga

Awards/Accolades: Carmen & Bolude has been 10 years in the making, and was one of the 20 international films in development selected for IFF @ TIFF 2021.

Website:  https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16985722/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmenandbolude/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarmenAndBolude

Short 

Ani is suspended between life and death. She must fall asleep, so she can be reborn, however, dark visions of the past prevent her from doing it. Will a mysterious man, she is accompanied by, help her in completing the task?

Director: Ewa Narbutt
Producer: Warsaw Film School 
Writer: Ewa Narbutt             
Cast: Monika Pawlik, Piotr Baranski
Cinematographer: Artur Michalik
Editor: Lukasz Matysiak

Short
Los Angeles Premiere

Director: Lauren Grant
Producer: Ashleigh Rains, Lauren Grant
Writer: Lauren Grant
Cast: Brynn Godenir, Jesse LaPointe, Moni Ogunsuyi, Adélaïde Schoofs, Dwight Ireland
Cinematographer: Gabriela Osio Vanden
Editor: Katie Chipperfield 

Yorkton Film Festival Golden Sheafs - Mental Health Award 

Website: https://www.clique-pictures.com/erase-and-rewind

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cliquepictures/

Short documentary film
LA premiere

This short film highlights the philosophy and impact of Eva Haller, a 94 holocaust survivor and activist.

Director: Jeanne Meyers
Producer: Skip Blumberg, Kitty Richardson, Annabel Vo, Xenia Shin, Jeanne Meyers
Cast: Eva Haller and friends
Cinematographer: Jeanne Meyers, Skip Blumberg, Marc Ostric, Dylan Saches
Editor: Kitty Richardson and Saint George Thompson, Anabelle Vo, and Xenia Shin
The film is produced by The MY HERO Project

Link to the Eva Haller Salon Series

Website: https://myhero.com/eva-haller-salon-series

Instagram: instagram.com/myheroproject

Twitter: twitter.com/myhero

Facebook: https://facebook.com/MyHeroProject

Feature
LA Premiere

Goody follows twenty-year old Guelia Pedat, raised Catholic by her overbearing mother and unknowingly suffering from OCD that manifests through an irrational adherence to religious rituals. After losing her faith and years after the death of her beloved older brother she still blames herself despite a lack of involvement. Throughout this Southern Gothic Coming of Age story, Goody connects to childhood friends and navigates new relationships as she spirals to new lows and must find a way to free herself from grief. 

Director: Zoe Lubeck 
Producer: Dustin Whitehead, Daniel Otero, Sadie Whitehead, Amanda Grupp 
Writer: Piper Collins            
Cast: Piper Collins, Cassidy Spencer, Dustin Whitehead 
Cinematographer: Zaughn Greve 
Editor: Gracie Straus 

Website: localcinemastudios.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodymovie/

Short
World Premiere

When Kaia returns from the hospital after an accident, her dad struggles to find the right way to care for her while she works to confront her own trauma.

Director: Anna Musky-Goldwyn
Producer: Anna Musky-Goldwyn & Kacie Lehner
Writer: Anna Musky-Goldwyn
Cast: Tess Goldwyn, Jeff Perry
Cinematographer: Kyle MacLennan
Editor: Billy Durden

This film is a love letter to my dad who took care of me, slept on my couch, bathed me, fed me and helped me recover from an almost-fatal ski accident in 2022. As a lifelong athlete, losing my physicality was completely dismantling and reliving the accident was constantly traumatic. This film is my attempt to analyze how 'strong' people deal with vulnerability, what parents do when they find themselves caretaking their adult children, and how love, honesty and self-awareness are key tools to moving through tough times.

Instagram: @amuskygoldwyn 

Short
Los Angeles Premiere

A major snowstorm looms in this female-driven drama where a daughter discovers her aging mother has been the victim of a crime. The violation triggers memories and insecurities, causing both women to reconsider their futures.

Director: Karin Kelly
Co-Producers: Karin Kelly, Gerry Sanseviero
Writer: Gerry Sanseviero
Cast: Phyllis Pastore, Gerry Sanseviero
Cinematographer: Alexa Carroll
Editor: Elyssa Cusimano

Directors are drawn to their subjects. For me, it’s always about exploring smaller, more personal stories that encourage audiences to connect and identify on the most human level with a character. "L’Inverno" began as a One Act play written by my dear friend and collaborator, Gerry Sanseviero. I was attracted to this intimate story of a mother and daughter traversing aging and the roles they play in each other’s lives and was excited about re-thinking a piece intended for the stage for the screen.

As a character study, it was important to cinematically capture this story in a manner that organically energized the intimacy of this relationship through blocking and camera framing & movement. The play had to be “opened up” to be visually engaging. Equal care was spent on filming to both heighten the more volatile moments and support the quiet ones. The result is a love story of two women at an emotional crossroads with life and each other.

Karin and I met in NYC in the 90's when we took the same improv class at Gotham City Improv, and the rest is herstory. :)

Last comments:  We shot the film in one weekend at my 93-year-old mother's home on Long Island. We're nothing if not efficient. ;)

Animation

Sanctuary is an animated short film produced by non-profit organization Generation Vegan, which tells the story of Indigo, a 12-year-old girl who lives at a farmed animal sanctuary. After hearing of an accident involving a truck transporting dairy cows to slaughter, Indigo sneaks out of her home to help rescue an animal for the first time in her life. A story of courage and hope, the film examines our relationships with animals and seeks to explore the change that's possible when we act on our compassion. The film is inspired by the true stories of the Marias, the pigs saved after an accident with a transport truck in Brazil, and Indigo, a new-born calf who was rescued by actor Joaquin Phoenix with her mother from a US slaughterhouse. Suitable for audiences of all ages.

Director: Isabel Siano, Christopher Shoebridge
Producer: Generation Vegan
Writer: Isabel Siano
Cast: Evanna Lynch (narrator, English), Xuxa (narrator, Brazilian Porguguese), Sneha Ullal (narrator, Hindi), Marcela Kloosterboer (narrator, Spanish)
Full animation credits available on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33241919/)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genv_eng/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenVeng

Short
World Premiere

OUTSIDE THE BOX is a dark comedy. When Nic, our perimenopausal protagonist, is pigeon-holed in the workplace she decides that more of the same is more than enough!

Director: Claire Coaché
Producer: Claire Coaché & Lisle Turner
Writer: Claire Coaché              
Cast: Claire Coaché, Robin Berry, Jenny Frost, Yuta Fairs-Billam, Abi Beaven, Trafford Irvine
Cinematographer: Kie Cummings
Editor: Flaura Atkinson
Production & Costume Design: Ioana Curelea
Composer: Livi Van Warmelo
Titles & Graphics: Fiona Oakley

The idea for Outside the Box came from a conflagration of life events: being a working mum, hitting peri-menopause, being by-passed by male contemporaries in the workplace and watching a lot of Marvel films with my teenage daughter. I had just co-written and co-directed a very serious feature (COLD) and wanted to make a fun, heartfelt but honest short.

This was an ambitious project on a tight schedule and we needed a strong team to make it happen. I was also acting on-camera, so called on my creative partner Lisle Turner to co-direct the shoot. The film was shot by the brave and bold Kie Cummings. We assembled a great supporting cast led by long-time creative collaborator Robin Berry who brought the smarmy Ryan Fox to life. The Costume and Art department, led by Ioana Curelea, worked overtime to create three different sets and looks on location. With the off-kilter BossaNova soundtrack by Livi Van Warmelo, hand-drawn on-screen graphics by Fiona Oakley and Flaura Atkinson’s smart and sassy edit, our comic book stylings all came together in post. We had a tiny budget and only two days to shoot, so this film is a testament to the cast and crew that made it happen.

Website: openskyahead.co.uk

Instagram: @openskyahead

Twitter: @openskyahead

Facebook: @openskyahead

Short Film
Los Angeles Premiere

A young housewife, trapped in isolation, turns the tables on her abusive husband with the help of the supernatural.

Director: Marcelle Marais
Producer: Marcelle Marais, Gregory Downing, David Levine
Writer:  Marcelle Marais            
Cast: Claire Canada, Nida Thaingtham, Brandon Bristol
Cinematographer: Jerome Stolly
Editor: Dalan McNabola

Website: https://www.marcellemarais.com/shorts/shrieek.html

Instagram: @shrieek_film

Short

When a group home for boys closes and a single mother who has regained custody of her son does not show up on the final day, the house mother must go in search of the boy’s mom before heading off to her new life where she hopes to reconcile with her own estranged daughter.

Director: Meghann Artes
Producer: Joe Lyons, Anna Maria Hozian, Meghann Artes
Writer:  Anna Maria Hozian    
Cast: Ora Jones, London Wygant and Angela Morris
Cinematographer: Scott Thiele
Editor: Savvas Paritsis

www.meghannartes.com

SYNOPSIS

In a world where division around abortion fuels our headlines, hundreds of thousands of foster children remain in our system without families to care for them long term. More people fight for the rights of unborn children rather than those of children who are currently alive and alone in this country, desperately in need of a stable home. Additionally, funding to support these kids continues to dry up. In this case, the home, Stronghold, has been forced to close due to a lack of funding. And Fran, who has worked tirelessly for decades at this home, must move on. Fran believes she has found placement for all of the boys until Leo’s mother, Shelly, who has regained custody, fails to show up on the home’s final day. Now Fran must try to track down Shelly before she is able to embark on the next chapter of her own life — trying to reconcile with her grown daughter. When she finally finds Shelly, these women must make decisions that will change each of their lives forever — and that of Leo’s. 

TV Pilot
West Coast Premiere

In this series, Kareema Bee, a Black woman and artist explores her journey through self-love in dialogue with others.

Director: Kareema Bee 
Producer: Alesa Andrew, Zulay Troche, Shirlyn Cesar, Chisom Chieke, Tiffany Kehinde 
Writer: Kareema Bee   
Cast: Dr. Gina Paige, Pamela Alvarez, Che'Von Cooper
Cinematographer: Kiymora Smith
Editor: Jasmine Lewis 

This was filmed by a 90% women team of color and is a result of Kareema's participation in the SheStories grant program sponsored by The Big We Foundation. The film has received the following awards: Winner, Imagine This Women's International Film Festival, Winner, Kwanzaa Film Festival 

Website: (as long as it does NOT link to a full version of your film) www.theselfloveact.com

Instagram: theselfloveact_series

Short
USA Premiere

On a hot summer's day, a young daughter seeks to soak up the sun but finds her thoughts are preoccupied with her mother at home.

Director: Charlene Jones
Producers: Margot Douglas, Menna Morgan
Writer: Charlene Jones             
Cast: Chloe Atkinson, Liz Thompson, Millie Ryder, Billy Currid
Cinematographer: George Haydock
Editor: Dominic Old

Awards: Honourable Mention at Female Eye Film Festival

Instagram: @thesunisupforever_film

Short documentary
World Premiere

"I can't believe they suffered at my age."  
This documentary sheds light on the horrifying events that happened to teenage girls nearly 90 years ago under the Japanese military sexual slavery system. Today, teenagers speak out: "This must never happen again."

Through a powerful blend of media art and heartfelt testimonies, the film amplifies the voices of Korean teens advocating for awareness of the unresolved 'comfort women' issue. Experience the emotions and cries of these teenagers as they confront this historical injustice through art, sharing their perspectives and determination for a better future.

Director: Jumyung Yoo
Producer: Nahyeon Kim      
Cast: Dana Kim, Junwoong Byeon, Arin An, Yuyoung Choi, Hyunho Choi, Junseong Heo
Cinematographer: Minjoon Park, Fabio Brais
Editor: Minjoon Park, Jumyung Yoo

This film was produced with the support of the U.S.-based NGO "CARE," which focuses on the issue of 'comfort women,' and includes testimony from Ms. Lee Yong-soo, a Korean survivor of Japanese military sexual slavery.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/udn_xr