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PRESENTED BY

AUG 4-6, 2022 BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF NC

FILM FESTIVAL

A Message from the President

JOE’S STORY Asymmetric Warfare

When Joe’s diagnosis of osteosarcoma was delivered to us sixteen years ago, I felt numb. The only option given to us – “Go home and try to save his life” – seemed simultaneously daunting and unfathomable. Joe’s treatment lasted, on and off, for four years. Time that was demarcated militantly by a schedule of hospital stays and recuperation at home. Time measured by the fall and rise of his white blood cell count. Time interrupted by scans, then waiting for results, then calibrating the treatment plan in response. Cancer is a war waged on many fronts, temporally speaking – month by month, week by week, day by day. We are aware of this fact intimately. We have it burned into our past. So, we understand that we cannot think about cancer treatment only in the long term. We must also think about treatment as it is happening today, in the present, and how we can help them as well. At Joedance, we built our approach understanding that to best serve this community we must figure out how to make a difference every month, every week, and every day. Our collaboration with Levine Children’s Hospital, we look to the long term by supporting their research lab, funding the summer internship program, and partnering with them on projects like their integrated medicine initiative. We think of the family and how to ease their day-to-day lives. Such as our backpack protocol, which allowed kids to receive treatment at home, and Healios, which lessens the severity of mouth sores. Cancer fights in ways we are still seeking to understand, and at times it seems to mock us as we scramble for more time. But that is the only way we can confront it – by fighting for one more day. And then another. And another. But like when Joe was first diagnosed, this is not a fight we can do alone. It is only with all your help that we have been able to do so much; help so much. We are grateful for each and every one of you – our supporters, our sponsors, and our donors. But we are especially thankful for the arts community, both our partners and the filmmakers, without whom we would not be here today. Thank you, everyone, and welcome to the 13th annual Joedance Film Festival.

Joe Restaino was diagnosed in 2006 with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in his left leg. After a leg salvaging surgery, two different rounds of chemotherapy protocols and four lung surgeries he passed away in January 2010 at the age of 20. In July 2010 Joe’s family and friends established the Joedance Film Festival to further support rare pediatric cancer research at Levine Children’s. Your donation is greatly appreciated and will directly benefit Levine Children’s by supporting rare pediatric cancer research and providing the most advanced treatment to children of the Carolinas.

Our Mission

Joedance Film Festival raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research at Atrium Health Levine Children’s through the annual film festival featuring short films produced in the United States and US Territories. We support research and clinical trials for pediatric sarcomas, blastoma, and brain tumors.

Our Vision

Presenting a multicultural festival incorporating the power of cinema and performing arts to raise funds for pediatric cancer research at Atrium Health Levine Children’s.

Every Month. Every Week. Every Day.™ Cancer is not fought in a month. It is a long drawn out war. Cancer is relentless, and so we must be as well. One of the most powerful ways to support Joedance Film Festival is through joining a group of donors who are collectively propelling the mission of Joedance forward: G.E.M.s (Give. Every. Month.) Starting at $5 per month YOU have the power to create real change in the lives of pediatric cancer patients at Levine Children’s. To learn more and make a donation visit us at joedance.org.

Officers of the Board

Board of Directors

Diane Restaino

Ellison Clary David Restaino Tony Restaino Stuart Ruffin Steve Shifton-Martin Dianna Ward

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

Emeritus Board Members

Laura Walsh

Steven Green Mollie Vandiver

FESTIVAL ASSISTANT

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

Will Thompson BOARD CHAIRMAN

Keith Richardson VICE CHAIRMAN

Matt Mildenberg TREASURER

Diane Restaino

Kelly Crum SECRETARY

Bert Woodard

Chip White Emily Portal

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR

Kate Steel

FESTIVAL EVENT MANAGER

FESTIVAL SPEAKERS

A Message from the Festival Director The other day Diane reminded me that the Joedance Film Festival was right around the corner and my Festival Director’s letter was due asap. I knew this already and have been struggling with what to say this year. This is probably the 12th draft and my 5th cigar over the past several weeks as I fumble around trying to write the perfect letter. I’m going to be honest; I’m stumped. I believe you all know how I feel about Joedance and ‘Why I Joedance’. As Festival Director I’ve watched this little film festival have tangible results among rare pediatric cancer patients here in Charlotte. I have participated as we have been able to, one at a time, check items off Joe’s bucket list. I’ve met amazing filmmakers, bonded with people in the community, seen Doctors at work at Levine Children’s and volunteered to support other Fourth Ward events. Yet, I still struggle to express a clear Joedance Film Festival 2022 message. One thought has been consistent with each draft, and that is this - from the deepest depths of my heart all I know to say is “THANK YOU”! Without you our supporters, our audiences, and the filmmakers, none of those things would have been possible. In a world so divided Joedance supporters have put aside political, race, sexuality, age, and economic difference to come together and make an actual difference in the lives of children suffering from cancer. With tears in my eyes and joy in my heart I say it again: THANK YOU.

DIANE RESTAINO

Founder and President

JENNIFER POPE, MD

That is my Joedance Film Festival 2022 message, a giant, loud and grateful THANK YOU!

Levine Children’s, Supportive Medicine

MARK GRIFFITH, CFRE

Atrium Foundation Assistant Vice President, Development

ROMAN RIVERA

Levine Children’s, Joedance Intern

Sincerely,

Chip White Joedance Festival Director PS: I also ask each and every one of you (live and virtually) to share your experience with us and the world via email, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Facebook and even on MySpace.

STEVEN GREEN

Joedance Board Member

DEVLIN MCNEIL

Arts+, President and Executive Director

CHAD JACOBSEN, MD MS

Levine Children’s, Hematology and Onocology

THURSDAY God Bless

(8:21) dir. Kempson Bellington A mentally ill man, in an attempt to gain control of the city that has wronged him, rebuilds it. In miniature.

Resilience

(9:24) dir. Jerod Wood James finds it impossible to trust anyone after two different families choose themselves over him, leaving him abandoned to the system.

Little Package

(19:00) dir. Kent Smith A family gets themselves into hot water after a mysterious package shows up on their front doorstep by accident. Meanwhile, the owners of the package, track it down in an attempt to salvage it before their time runs out.

Beyond the Yard

(5:26) dir. Cameron McCormack After fantasizing about what their life and relationship could be like if her mother accepted help for her depressive and hoarding disorders, an independent young girl goes past the point of no return in a last ditch effort to get her mom out of bed.

FRIDAY The Wise Guys

(11:30) dir. Jonathan Smathers Two hit-men have an intimate conversation while having a killer day at work.

IMMUNITY

(20:00) dir. Alyn Darnay In 1942 Auschwitz, a deadly game is being played out by a by a young SS Officer and his once beloved teacher, a Jew who now finds that her most prized pupil has become her tormentor. Will his plan to immunize himself succeed or will his humanity betray him?

Mr. Keeps

(5:56) dir. Mike Reda “The more time you spend looking at yourself in the mirror, the closer Mr. Keeps gets, until one day he’s right behind you.” Janice explains to her granddaughter why she doesn’t keep any mirrors in the house: the terrifying story of Mr. Keeps. But it’s just a story, right?

Cabarrus

(9:31) dir. Andrew Huggins Cabarrus offers a glimpse in to the life of a struggling family in North Carolina.

The Nine Month Mother

(12:31) dir. Marquelle Young Suffering from the pain of an unwanted abortion as a teen, AMANDA always hoped she’d get a second chance to be a mother, but it never happened. Now a brief liaison with a younger employee has brought Amanda the chance she thought she’d lost forever. However, her joy and excitement quickly diminish when her child is diagnosed as “incompatible with life.” Now facing the trauma of her past Amanda has the opportunity to choose, but is nine months enough?

Vanderchap

(24:00) dir. Chris White The first day of shooting on Charlotte’s senior thesis film. Today she plans to shoot the film’s emotional and romantic climax: a sexy kiss that will involve her father and Charlotte’s mentor, favorite professor, and ideal new mom, Ilsa Sanderson.

Talk Black

(13:02) dir. Destiny Macon A timid engineer develops a wild and expressive split personality to help her speak up to the boy’s club at work.

Everybody Don’t Electric Slide

(15:00) dir. Rodney Stringfellow At a large family gathering after a funeral, an older woman confronts an awkward young man she doesn’t recognize. In order to reveal his identity, she forces him to use a haunted typewriter that will only type the truth.

STUDENT SATURDAY

SATURDAY

Dirty Laundry

Life and Tacos

This Wild Abyss

Eureka

Suga Brown

Birthday Boy

(3:16) dir. Jake Benton A young boy on his way to bed is unsettled by something he thinks he sees in the darkness of his room.

(22:30) dir. Thomas Mendolia The story of the unlikely friendship of Milton Humason (Mule-Driver with an 8th-Grade Education) and Edwin Humason and their research that led to our understanding that the universe is expanding.

(17:46) dir. Clarke Phillips In a world where free health care requires genetic alterations, a pregnant woman, Eden, must go to extreme lengths to ensure her child is born free of mandated modification.

Sonata

(6:55) dir. Fern Singleton, Vic Sosa, Madison Crisp, Abby Davenport When a blackout derails a young man’s plans for the perfect first date, he must navigate his nerves, the heat, and a mischievous gang of shadows if he has any hope of connecting with the girl of his dreams.

Sticks and Stones

(18:28) dir. Jason Kelly Lee Set in the South in the not-too-distant past, “Sticks and Stones” takes a snapshot of the relationship between Mommy and her daughter, Adilynn

What to do with Wallace Woods?

(8:07) dir. Tucker Shannon, Nick Bash Howard learns that his hero isn’t all he thought he was... A satire exploring how one separates the art from the artist.

(5:00) dir. Anil Dhokai Gil Gonzalez is a restaurant owner and chef living in South Carolina. In this short documentary he discusses his passion for food and how he got into the business.

(14:50) dir. Miida Chu A young indentured Chinese prostitute must overcome her toxic dependency on the brothel madam on the eve of the 1885 anti-Chinese riot in Eureka, California.

(9:42) dir. Dan Sellers An abusive dad gets his just desserts on his birthday.

Half-Second

(10:02) dir. Norb Caoili A moment before a devastating auto collision, 17-year old Tina is visited by the specter of her father, who provides her with an unimaginable choice.

Heirloom

(12:28) dir. Ethan Uphouse A woman is forced to consider the future of her family when she discovers she may have inherited a generational disease.

WORM RADIO

(15:14) dir. Austin Smith The story of how Ellie Miller got to space.

Pap Trap

(5:38) dir. Rachel Napolitano Based off of a true life experience, PAP TRAP is a short “gyne-comedy” about a pill poppin’ party girl in search of her next fix, only to find herself in the middle of a well woman exam gone wrong.

G.E.M.s : Give Every Month Hank Bramblet Mike and Kelly Crum Scotty Falk Sarah J. Kennard Steve and Fred Martin Alfonso McMillian

Matt Mildenberg Margaret and Anthony Portal Emily and Greg Portal Jack and Karen Rech Mike and Diane Restaino Randah Whitley

PATRON DONORS Betty Burns Ellison Clary and Linda Gallehugh Mike and Kelly Crum Eric and Roslyn Dickerson Steve and Fred Martin Alfonso McMillian Matt Mildenberg Sheila Mullen

Nicole Orban David and Deb Park Mike and Diane Restaino Keith Richardson Victoria Sutton Dianna Ward Susan Young

McCALLIE FRIENDS IN CHARLOTTE Reid Alexander Steven Green Josh Hamby Ryan and Danielle Hutcheson

Chris Lyons Michael Lyons Matt Mildenberg Russ Purdy

IN KIND Woodard PR

Reid Alexander

DONORS Tim Houlihan Carolyn Suits Jon Banwart Elaine Hunter Dana and Bob Sutton Julianne Bash David Jackson Gray Talley Ann Beardsley Suzanne Beaumont Kathy Jakubowski Mollie Vandiver Jason Jefferson Bennet Wall Frances Bendert Tahisa Johnson Eve and Chip White Beth Benjamin Roslyn Jones Bert Woodard Rebecca Benton Alexander Julian III Sharon Wright Todd G. Birdwell Marianne Kelly Hillary Young Joyce Bott Ms. Pat Kelly Daimler Mary Bowman Tom Kirkpatrick Amazon Smile Cathryn Britton The Benevity Georgia Ellen Cameron Anne Krueger Christopher Lakin Community Impact Susan Carr Rachelle Landis Fund Wanda Claude Randy LeCompte Facebook Giving Pages Sharon Colucci Robbie and Susie Lyons PayPal Giving Fund Erin Conrad Jim K. Mancke The Post Michelle Corbett Jared Martin Synco Properties, Inc. Amy Crossan Fred and Ann Martin Buzz Crown Whitney Dahlinger Devlin McNeil Diane Michael Yohana Dierolf Justin Miller Barbara Doyle Sue and Jeff Dupuis Kate Miller Vann Mills Lisa Edwards Lady Di Mohan Barbara Ettenger Robert Montano John Feldman Craig and Ann Field Robert Morris Kathleen and George Mundle Heidi Gardner Edward Munn Sara Jane Gibson Indrani Nayar-Gall Judith and Martyn Greene Mitzi Osterhout Ginny Hall Steve Pernotto Christopher Hart Bryan Pierce Zan Haywood Pierce Pope Ray Hiza Emily and Greg Portal Erin Holland Laura Potts Tim Houlihan Denise Ramon Elaine Hunter Jack and Karen Rech David Jackson Kathy Jakubowski Louise Restaino Richard Ritter Jason Jefferson Elvis Rivera Tahisa Johnson Nicholas Sheehan Roslyn Jones Alexander Julian III Eric Sorensen

PRESENTING SPONSOR