US Shorts Program

The Encounter

DIRECTOR: ANGELA MATEMOTJA ·USA ·2010 ·21 MIN ·ENGLISH

A young white woman on a search for inner peace, gets stuck in an elevator with an older African man. Though the residue of apartheid still remains, does he hold the key to her finding inner peace?

Writer/Director Angela Matemotja is an NAACP Theatre Award Nominee, and a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. A trip to South Africa and experience making films at the Richard Lawson Studios led her to develop The Encounter

Print Source: Matemotja Productions, Angela Matemotja, amatemotja@hotmail.com

Mosquito

DIRECTOR: JEREMY ENGLE ·USA ·2010 ·12 MIN ·ENGLISH

Mosquito is about humiliation and redemption – the coming of age story about a 13-year old Dominican boy whose awkward bravado and fanciful imagination have earned him the nicknamed Mosquito. On a memorable Halloween night in 1974, Cesar fights to win the respect of his teenage tormentors.

Writer/Director Jeremy Engle was born and raised in NYC where he was a public high school teacher. Mosquito is his first film.

Print Source: Mosquito Films, L.L.C., Jeremy Engle, jengle280@gmail.com

Plume

DIRECTOR: KAREN CINORRE ·USA ·2011 ·9 MIN ·ENGLISH

In an article printed in Notes Africaines in 1945, a man claimed he became lost in the desert as a child, raised by ostriches until his rescue. Plumeimagines that ostrich-boy, a beautiful abomination, slipping between animal and human worlds, belonging to neither.

Director Karen Cinorre has worked on such diverse film projects as Isabella Rossellini’s “Green Porno” to Gus Van Sant’s “Last Days.” Karen's own directorial work includes film projections set to William Burrough’s reading of the dying words of Dutch Schultz for a contemporary opera at Opera Centrum Amsterdam. Before PLUME she made “L’École est Fini,” an updated take on the French Scopitone from the 1960’s as well as the short films “Transatlantic” and “Zero-One.” Karen has also directs commercials and music videos.

Print Source: Samuel Levy, sam.levy@me.com

Sea Sick

DIRECTOR: PATRICK BROOKS ·USA ·2011 ·14 MIN ·ENGLISH

When Claire and Keith embark upon what was supposed to be a romantic whale-watching cruise, they’re forced to confront the currents of discontent hiding just beneath the surface of their relationship.

Writer/director Patrick Brooks shot the whole film in Super 16 aboard a ship in the Pacific Ocean. He is currently finishing coursework for his M.F.A. in Film Directing at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television.  Patrick is also an accomplished cinematographer

Print Source: Patrick Brooks, patrickbrooksfilm@gmail.com           

The Small Assassin

DIRECTOR: CHRIS CHARLES ·USA ·2010 ·16 MIN ·ENGLISH

US Premiere

The year is 1947, and Alice (Lois Atkins) and David (David Marcotte) have just given birth to their first child. When Alice slips into postpartum depression, David seeks the advice of their Doctor (Robert Breuler), who assures him that she will eventually come around. But as time passes Alice's depression takes a turn for the worse, and she becomes convinced that the baby is conspiring against her. David must decide if his wife is loosing her mind, or if the child is plotting their doom. The Small Assassin is based on the short story by legendary sci-fi author Ray Bradbury.

Print Source: Beverly Ridge Pictures, Chris Charles, ccharles@beverlyridgepictures.com