January 19 -28 , 2024 Fo
By r
Fi
Fi
lm
lm
m
m
sponsored by
ak
ak
er
er
s
s
table of Contents 1. Welcome to Slamdance
17. Documentary Features
2. Yarrow Screenings
20. Unstoppable Features
4. Panels
22. Breakout Features
5. LUMIX Workshop
24. Spotlight Features
6. Programmers 7. Yarrow Events 8. Yarrow Map
30
9. Festival HQ Info / Slamdance Channel
10. Unstoppable / University of Utah Schedule & Info 12. Staff & Board 13. Sponsors 14. Narrative Features
25. Narrative Shorts 28. Animation Shorts 29. Experimental Shorts 30. Unstoppable Shorts 31. Episodes 32. Documentary Shorts 33. Revolution Shorts
welcome to slamdance
Welcome to the Edge Of Filmmaking my friends. This year we celebrate three decades of challenging the norms and reshaping the film industry. As we host our most inclusive and accessible festival to date, we recognize that this achievement is a testament to your invaluable contributions. Your unique stories, each a vibrant chapter, weave together to form our shared odyssey in cinema. These narratives are not just films; they are who we are. Together, we continue to write the epic saga of Slamdance. We are humbled. We are ready. We are By Filmmakers, For Filmmakers. With so much Gratitude,
Taylor Miller Festival Director Slamdance celebrates this milestone year as an ongoing experiment that has proven, year after year, when it comes to discovering filmmakers and launching careers, an artist-led community can do it themselves. Thank you to every Slamdancer for building this creative force and continuing to nurture and champion artists who go on to reshape our cultural future. A massive welcome to the next generation and Slamdance ‘24! Onward and upward,
Peter Baxter President & Co-founder 1
Summer & David Theater
LUMIX Theater
YarRow screenings
2
Friday, Jan 19
Saturday, Jan 20
Sunday, Jan 21
10:30 NINA is an ATHLETE + Baby 12:45 The Accident + Blockbuster 2:45 Demon Mineral + Lady with Lipstick 5:00 DGA Filmmaker Welcome, Jennifer Peat 7:30 One Bullet + Ask the Plantain 9:45 Inheritance
10:30 Darla in Space 10:30 Hell of SE + Flutz + lil sherbet 12:45 Good Bad Things 12:30 Citizen Weiner + DOSH + Dumpster Archeology 3:15 On The Way Home 2:45 Leilani’s Fortune + Madeleine + Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World 5:15 All I’ve Got & Then Some + Nowhere Stream 5:00 Revolution Shorts 7:30 I’m “George Lucas”: A 6:45 Sam’s World + This Is Connor Ratliff Story a Story Without a Plan + Say Something 8:45 Anna’s Feelings 9:45 Brando with a Glass Eye
10:00 Narrative Shorts 1 11:45 African Giants 2:00 The Death Tour + A Short Film About a Chair 4:15 Bliss + In C, Too 6:30 Chaperone + *666 8:45 Unstoppable Shorts
10:00 Narrative Shorts 2 10:00 Petro + Fortune 12:15 Bike Vessel + Friends 11:45 Daruma + Saving Art on the Outside 2:15 The Complex Forms 2:30 Roll Bus Roll: A Jeffrey + The Expectation of the Observed Lewis Documentary + The Cactus of Klaus 4:30 Slide + Demons in the Closet 4:30 The Bitcoin Car + Nobody Wants to Fix 6:45 The Washer + tape. Things Anymore 9:00 Look at Me + Baggage 6:45 Love and Work + Je Ne Suis Pas Une Star de Cinéma 8:45 The Herricanes
30
Monday, Jan 22
Tuesday, Jan 23
Wednesday, Jan 24
Thursday, Jan 25
10:30 Chaperone + *666 12:45 Death Tour + A Short Film About a Chair 3:00 One Bullet + Ask the Plantain 5:15 Episodes 7:30 Citizen Weiner + Dumpster Archeology
10:30 Punishment 1:00 Narrative Shorts 2 2:45 The Washer + tape. 5:00 On The Way Home + Madeleine 7:15 Sam’s World + This Is a Story Without a Plan
10:30 Anna’s Feelings 1:15 Hell of SE + lil sherbet 3:15 Narrative Shorts 1 5:00 Documentary Shorts 6:45 Brando with a Glass Eye
10:30 Revolution Shorts 12:15 Animated Shorts 2:15 Love and Work + Je Ne Suis Pas Une Star de Cinéma 4:30 Invisible Nation 8:30 Awards Ceremony
10:00 Experimental Shorts 12:00 Documentary Shorts 2:00 Demon Mineral + Lady with Lipstick 4:15 Narrative Shorts 3 6:00 Animation Shorts 8:15 Punishment
10:00 The Bitcoin Car + Nobody Wants to Fix Things Anymore 12:15 I’m “George Lucas”: A Connor Ratliff Story + Say Something 2:30 African Giants 5:00 Petro + Fortune 7:15 Episodes 9:15 Inheritance
10:00 Roll Bus Roll: A Jeffrey Lewis Documentary + The Cactus of Klaus 12:15 Narrative Shorts 3 2:00 Experimental Shorts 3:45 Darla in Space + Flutz 6:00 The Complex Forms + The Expectation of the Observed 8:00 Bike Vessel + Friends on the Outside
10:00 The Accident + Blockbuster 12:00 Bliss + In C, Too 2:30 All I’ve Got & Then Some + Nowhere Stream 4:45 Slide + Demons in the Closet 10:00 Closing Night Party
3
Panels Saturday, January 20 4:00 PM
Unstoppable Panel GOALS: DEIA ASAP — Redefining Narratives in Entertainment Now Moderator: Taylor Miller Panelists: Juliet Romeo, Ravit Markus, Olivia Kuan, Lauren Appelbaum, Cassidy Dimon, Barbara Twist Sunday, January 21 4:00 PM
Doc Shorts in Reel Times How Social Media Has Changed the Medium of Documentary Shorts Moderator: Karol Lindholm Panelists: Ben Proudfoot, Jillian Corsie, Poppy Mason Watts, Flor Portieri, Shirley Yumeung He Sunday, January 21 7:00 PM
Comedians and Indie Film Insert funny description here. Comedians/Filmmakers, Filmmakers/Comedians... Moderator: Anna Lee Lawson Panelists: Kristian Mercado, Andre Hyland, Rasheed Stephens, Steve Way, Joey Dardano Monday, January 22 4:00 PM
I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now Returning Filmmakers reflect on what they’ve learned since their first film and how they now do things differently. Moderator: Anna Lee Lawson Panelists: Joe Maggio, Lisa France, Dean Winkler Monday, Jan 22, 6:00 PM
An Inside Look at LUMIX Where Product and Marketing Meet When you’re creating content for a camera brand, quality is crucial…but so is speed. Panelists: Michelle Esgar and Mathew Frazer Wednesday, January 24 4:00 PM
REIMAGINING THE FILM FESTIVAL: A hope for film Live Interactive Brainstorm for a Revolution or Overthrow Moderator: Paul Rachman Panelist: Ted Hope
4
Workshop Daily workshops are: Saturday Jan 20 11am / 2pm Sunday Jan 21 10am / Noon / 2pm Monday Jan 22 10am / Noon / 2pm Tuesday Jan 23 10am / Noon / 2pm Calling filmmakers and festival attendees! Sign up and reserve a designated time to experience a LUMIX Workshop! Then, head over to the LUMIX Studio at Slamdance HQ to check out a Panasonic LUMIX camera, accompanied by a LUMIX professional, and get a chance to shoot footage in and around Park City! LUMIX Workshop Mentors: Neil Matsumoto & Mathew Frazer
5
programmers Michele Abraham Laila Al-Beiti Maha Al-Saati Sonya Alexander Emily Allen Shane Aquino Claire Barnett Daniel Barosa Michael Bartolomeo Peter Baxter Nadia Bedj Stephanie Bell Andi Benge Alexandra Berger Jonathan Berman Michael Biggs Annika Birgel Brian Bolster Cheryl Bookout Marcin Borchardt Cory Byers Christian Calson Jenna Caravello Jordan Carlman Gustavo Cerquera Benjumea Asha Chai-Chang Paolo Chianta Mikail Chowdhury Chelsea Christer Wally Chung Alexa Coblentz Alexia Colette
6
Teddy Collatos Tiffany Conklin Aaron Cook Jillian Corsie Jed Cowley James Cox Joe Cox Andrew Crane Skizz Cyzyk Rowan Devereux Sarah Diamond Jeff Dickamore Zach Dorn Scout Durwood Erica Eng Boise Esquerra Fabian Euresti John Fairchild Sophia Feuer Bryce Fishman Damian Fitzsimmons Christine Fugate Mario Gajo Summre Garber Pilar GarciaFernandezsesma Neil Garguilo Theo Georgescu Brendan Geraghty Yvette Granata Jacob Gregor Andrew H Brown Erinn Hagerty Rendah Haj Patrick Hamm Travis Harrington
Aaron Harris Stacie Hawkins Karin Hayes Laura Herman Spencer Holden Heidi Hornbacher Sarah Hudson Michael Curtis Johnson Jan Johnson Goldberger Shane Johnston Goldie Jones Dan Katzir Bowon Kim Peter Kimball Robert Kleinschmidt Marek Kozakiewicz Samuel Krauss Jay Kuehner Meryem Lahlou Tera Lecuona Sasha Levinson Alessandra Lichtenfeld Karol Lindholm Todd Looby Nefise Özkal Lorentzen Brogan Luke Bouwhuis Tyler Macri Nina Mahesh Josh Mandel Michael McDonald
Gabbie Metheny Kris Montello Ivan Morales Jr. Nathan Morris Emily MorusJones Michaela Mueller Lars Mulle Michaela Müller Julia Muniz Patrick Murray Alex Nevill Brian Yulo Ng Erin Palmer Craig Parish Chris Parizo Shaun Parker Tyler Parkford Anthony Pedone Chris Peters Jonni Phillips Jason Polevoi Theresa Polgar Brenna Power Beth Prouty Harsh Pundit Paul Rachman Brian Ratigan Nate Raven Shyamala Reddy Jacob Reed Cory Reeder Todd Remis Andreas Resch Steph Reuler Kyra Rogers
Juliet Romeo Jake Rotger Catriona Rubenis-Stevens Jeff Rutherford Pardeep Sahota Jesse Saunders Paul Sbrizzi Ashley Seering Susan Sfarra Patrick Sheehan Anthony Shepherd Zach Sherman Anna Siri Em Solarova Bernadette Speakes Sophia Stephens Andrew Stone Debra Sugarman Noel Taylor Ben Umstead Alexis Vail Desireia Valteau Martim Vian Breven Warren Angela Washko Ronnie Williams Lori Wilson Jan Wollenschläger Jordan Wong Camille Wormser Joshua Yates Joe Zakko
YarRow events Fri, 1/19
Sat, 1/20
Lumix Studio
South Florida Filmmaker Lounge
5pm DGA Filmmaker Welcome w/ Jennifer Peat 9pm-12am Opening Night Party Filmmaker Ball 11-1 LUMIX Workshop 1-2 Pierce Law Group Legal Clinic: Film Financing and the Business of Film 2-4 LUMIX Workshop 4-5 Unstoppable Panel
9-10 Filmmaker Breakfast
Sun, 1/21
9-10 Pierce Law Group Legal Clinic: Contract and Employment Labor Law 10-12 LUMIX Workshop 12-2 LUMIX Workshop 2-4 LUMIX Workshop 4-5 Doc Shorts in Reels Times Panel 7-8 Comedians and Indie Film Panel
Mon, 1/22
9-10 Pierce Law Group Legal Clinic: Copyright and Trademark Clearance and Distribution 10-12 LUMIX Workshop 12-2 LUMIX Workshop 2-4 LUMIX Workshop 4-5 I Wish I Knew Then…Panel
Tues, 1/23 Wed, 1/24 Thurs, 1/25
9-10 South Florida Filmmaker Breakfast 12-1 South Florida Filmmaker Lunch 2-5 South Florida Mixer 5-7 Violet Fire Happy Hour 9-10 South Florida Filmmaker Breakfast 12-1 South Florida Filmmaker Lunch 1-2 An Independent Producer’s Survival Guide Panel 2-5 South Florida Mixer 5-7 Meet the Programmers Happy Hour - Presented By Film Festival Alliance, Eventive & FilmFreeway 9-10 South Florida Filmmaker Breakfast 12-1 South Florida Filmmaker Lunch 2-5 South Florida Mixer 5-7 Happy Hour
9-10 Filmmaker Breakfast 5-7 Happy Hour 12-2 LUMIX Workshop 2-4 LUMIX Workshop 4-5 Reimagining the Film Festival: A 9-10 Filmmaker Breakfast Hope for Film Panel 5-7 Happy Hour 10-12 LUMIX Workshop
9-10 Filmmaker Breakfast 7
at the Yarrow
Fest HQ
Lumix Studio
Second Floor
Restroom Restroom
Restroom Stairs
Restroom
a lorid nge th F Sou ker Lou a m Film
Film pean Euro mission Com
Summer and David Theater
The Doubletree Park City — The Yarrow Restaurant welcomes guests of all abilities. The facilities are compliant with the ADA (Department of Justice ADA Title III Regulation 28 CFR Part 36, 1991).
Courtyard
First Floor
Festival Hall
Lumix Theater
Lobby
Restroom Restroom
Stairs
Box Office
Bar Entrance
Restaurant Entrance
8
Festival HQ info The Yarrow Hotel 1800 Park Avenue, Park City, UT 84060 t <— 80 way ree oF
Kearns
Blvd.
Yarrow Hotel Bus Stops rk Pa . Ave
y Dr. Deer Valle
Box Office Hours: 9am – 9pm** Filmmaker Relations / Festival Office: 9am – 6pm **Late Screenings will extend Box Office hours.
>
. Ave
— St.
pire
ain
to M
Em
www.slamdance.com Instagram: @slamdancegroup Twitter: twitter.com/slamdance Facebook: facebook.com/ SlamdanceFilmFestival #Slamdance2024 Los Angeles Global Headquarters 5634 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90038 P: 323.466.1786 E: submissions@slamdance.com
SLAMDANCE CHANNEL Slamdancechannel.com Discover Slamdance ‘24 and the edge of cinema online from January 22-28! The Slamdance Channel expands our mission of providing filmmakers the opportunity for audiences to discover their new work. The global streaming platform is available on Apple TV, Firestick and Roku, as well as online. Access to the Slamdance ‘24 festival lineup and year-round programming costs just $50! Slamdance has always looked at ways to overcome industry gatekeepers that block independently made films from being accessible and the Channel represents our biggest effort yet to support a decentralized media future. Film depends on truly unique artists that defy simple classification who take us to the edge of what’s possible in storytelling. We celebrate and champion their voices on the Slamdance Channel. 9
unstoppable U of Utah Schedule Monday, Jan 22
Tuesday, Jan 23
Wednesday, Jan 24
3:00 Nina is an Athlete + Baby 5:15 Unstoppable DGA Welcome w/ Jennifer Peat 6:30 Unstoppable Shorts
3:00 Panel Discussion Parenthood and Disability: Dismantling Hollywood’s Idea
4:00 Good Bad Things + Dosh
5:15 Look at Me + Baggage
6:45 Daruma + Saving Art
7:30 Leilani’s Fortune + Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World
ar
M
N. Campus Dr.
io Ca hi cc . Dr
us Dr.
S. Campus Dr.
l Camp
A. Ray Olpin Student Union
pe
Centra
100 S.
am
C S.
Foothill Dr. 10
s
pu
Dr.
30
University information What:
Slamdance Unstoppable is a program by and for filmmakers with visible and non-visible disabilities.
When:
30
Monday, January 22 - Wednesday, January 24, 2024 from 2pm - 10pm and online at slamdancechannel.com from January 22-28, 2024
Where:
University of Utah, A. Ray Olpin University Student Union Theatre (2nd Floor) For accessibility questions email our Slamdance Accessibility Coordinator Brittney Thaxton here: accessibility@slamdance.com
11
Staff & Board Peter Baxter President & Co-Founder Taylor Miller Festival Director &
Co‑Founder Slamdance Unstoppable Anna Lee Lawson Festival & Screenplay Competition Manager Michael Morin Festival Producer Leila Salari Festival Producer Cayden Turnbow Media Manager
Rahul Barkley
PR & Marketing Coordinator Gabe Eckert Festival Intern Dekker Dreyer Marketing Consultant
Brittney Thaxton
Accessibility Coordinator
Paul Sbrizzi
Graphic Artist & Theater Manager
Lauren Desberg
Photographer & Videographer Wilson Alston Crosby Photographer Tina Lynae Box Office Manager Emily Gardner Box Office Manager Skizz Cyzyk Senior Projectionist Mario DeAngelis Senior Projectionist Zach Berry Projectionist Paul Rachman Co-Founder MPRM Slamdance Publicist
Aditya Ezhuthachan & Pierce Law Group, LLP Legal Counsel Lighting design by
David Polcyn & Redwood Light 12
Festival Assistants:
Maggie Campbell Aura Martinez Ben Taylor Zac Doggett Julian Kozerski Josie Hurtley Abe Francis Bryan Bernardi Max Brown Jackie Jackman Vidar Hondorff Justis Aderibigbe Dua Azhar Collin Scott Lalith Goli Max Brown Jackie Jackman Vidar Hondorff Slamdance Board Members
Peter Baxter Ken Coehlo Sandy Lighterman Paul Rachman Kyra Rogers Thank You
Thea and Andy Beerman Pat Quigley The Starks Family
sponsors Official sponsors
supporting sponsors
Red Finch Rental
13
NF
Narrative Feature / Fri 1/19, 12:45pm; Thurs 1/25, 10:00am Italy / 66 min / N. American Premiere
The Accident Director/Writer: Giuseppe Garau After being fired, Marcella, a gentle hearted mother going through separation, buys a tow truck. She gets trapped deeper in a cynical and aggressive world until a terrible opportunity shines in front of her.
Blockbuster Dir. by Rafael Toledo — Brazil, 10 min
— Obsessed with the practical effects of classic cinema, an amateur director decides to orchestrate a real building explosion for his next film.
NF
Narrative Feature / Fri 1/19, 11:45am; Tues 1/23, 2:30pm USA / 106 min / World Premiere
AFRICAN GIANTS Director: Omar S. Kamara Over a weekend visit in Los Angeles, two first-generation Sierra Leonean American brothers navigate the changing dynamics of brotherhood after a surprise announcement.
NF
Narrative Feature / Sat 1/20, 5:15pm; Thurs 1/25, 2:30pm USA / 80 min / World Premiere
All I've Got & Then Some Director/Writers: Tehben Dean, Rasheed Stephens A day in the life of Rasheed, a homeless stand-up comedian living out of his car in Los Angeles, giving everything he’s got to make his dreams come true.
Nowhere Stream Dir. by Luis Grane — USA /
7 min — A man gets trapped in the labyrinth of his own mind while seeking meaning in the virtual world.
14
NF
Narrative Feature / Sat 1/20, 4:30pm; Tues 1/23, 10:00am Norway / 94 min / N. American Premiere
The Bitcoin Car Director/Writer: Trygve Luktvasslimo After pimping out her old Toyota with money she got when a crypto investor started bitcoin mining on her parents grave, a morally challenged goat farmer fears that activity at the mine is endangering everyone.
Nobody Wants to Fix Things Anymore Dir. by Joseph Wilcox — USA / 4 min — A short film about a lost man who finds a special rock.
NF
Narrative Feature / Sat 1/20, 9:45pm; Wed 1/24, 6:45pm Greece, Australia / 122 min / World Premiere
Brando with a Glass eye Director/Writer: Antonis Tsonis A talented method actor commits a heist that goes wrong; he befriends the critically injured victim and tries to reconcile his guilt before his one-shot scholarship audition in New York.
NF
Narrative Feature / Sun 1/21, 2:15pm; Wed 1/24, 6:00pm Italy / 74 min / US Premiere
The complex forms Director/Writer: Fabio D’Orta A group of desperate people who have sold their bodies to unknown creatures anxiously wait in an elegant villa.
The Expectation of the Observed Dir. by Stephanie J Williams — USA / 5 min — In consideration of unrecognized labor, puppets of disembodied meaty legs and flayed skin dance in repetition, even as they start to disintegrate.
15
NF
Narrative Feature / Sat 1/20, 10:30am; Wed 1/24, 3:45pm USA / 94 min
Darla in Space Director/Writers: Susie Moon, Eric Laplante Darla Peterson teams up with a sentient orgasm-granting kombucha scoby named Mother to pay off a huge tax debt.
Flutz Dir. by Ryan McCown — USA / 8 min — A rivalry between two figure skaters. And a witch.
NF
Narrative Feature / Sun 1/21, 10:30am; Wed 1/24, 1:15pm Japan / 72 min / World Premiere
Hell of SE Director: Sawa Kawakami Schoolgirl Momo Amano falls in love with her classmate Hayasaka, but he loves someone else. Amano’s best friend Yoshiyuki is opposed to her love. Hayasaka is a menstruophile, and one day he takes all the used napkins in the school and runs away. He never returns.
lil sherbet Dir. by Xinhe Zhao — China, USA / 3 min — My body is mine, but not all mine.
NF
Narrative Feature / Sun 1/21, 6:45pm; Tues 1/23, 7:15pm USA / 65 min / World Premiere
Sam's world Director/Writer: Lily Lady Sam — a non-binary mid 20s sex worker — navigates romantic, sociality and an impending pregnancy-related decision over the course of a weekend in New York City.
This Is a Story Without a Plan
Dir. by Cassie Shao — USA / 8 min — Two people, and an explosion.
16
NF
Narrative Feature / Sun 1/21, 6:45pm; Tues 1/23, 3:15pm Germany / 90 min / World Premiere
the washer Director/Writer: Nils A. Witt Young lawyer Jan discovers that the washing machine creates phenomena. The effect can be reproduced and he massively expands his experiments. Is he the only one who knows about it?
Tape. Dir. by Alistair Quak — Singapore / 9 min — Thrown into a violent and surreal situation, a Lady is forced to deal with the inevitable mortality of her Girl.
DF
Documentary Feature / Sun 1/21, 12:30pm; Mon 1/22, 7:30pm USA / 83 min / World Premiere
Citizen weiner Director: Daniel Robbins / Writers: Joe Gallagher, Zack Weiner Zack, an actor living in New York’s Upper West Side during COVID, makes a film with his friend Joe about running for city council, while actually running for New York‘s city council.
Dumpster Archaeology
Dir. by Dustie Carter — USA / 14 min — ”Dumpster Archeologist” Lew Blink embarks on excursions to uncover the last true stories within the refuse left in the alleyways.
DF
Documentary Feature / Fri 1/19, 1:30pm; Mon 1/22, 12:45pm Canada / 89 min / World Premiere
The Death Tour Directors: Stephan Peterson, Sonya Ballantyne Writer: Stephan Peterson Wrestling hopefuls tour indigenous communities in Canada’s far North on “the most grueling tour in pro wrestling” to show how far some are willing to go to live their dreams.
A Short Film About a Chair
Dir. by Ibrahim Handal — Palestine / 10 min — A lonely chair on an abandoned balcony; a photographer watching it; a strange thing happens.
17
DF
Documentary Feature / Fri 1/19, 2:45pm; Mon 1/22, 2:00pm UK / 88 min
Demon Mineral Director: Hadley Austin / Co-writer: Tommy Rock With guidance from the Diné (Navajo) community, Demon Mineral explores life in the wake of uranium mining on sacred lands from the perspectives of both the landscape and its inhabitants.
Lady with Lipstick
Dir. by Francesca Coppola — Switzerland, Italy / 9 min — Archival footage of a family turns into the poignant testimony of a woman who sees herself fifty years later.
DF
Documentary Feature / Sat 1/30, 7:30pm; Tues 1/23, 12:15pm USA / 90 min / World Premiere
I'm "George Lucas":
A Connor Ratliff Story Director: Ryan Jacobi Comedian Connor Ratliff questions his need for performing in “The George Lucas Talk Show” and his own drive for success and fulfillment in show business.
Say Something Dir. by Agustina Aranda — USA
/ 10 min — A filmmaker explores her fraught relationship with her father—a Paraguayan immigrant, workaholic, and amateur videographer.
DF
Documentary Feature / Fri 1/19, 9:45pm; Tues 1/23, 9:15pm USA / 81 min / World Premiere
Inheritance Directors: Matt Moyer, Amy Toensing A bright and hopeful boy dreams of a better life as he grows up amidst love, struggle, and heartache amongst five generations of his family battling addiction and inherited trauma in rural Appalachia. Filmed over ten years, we watch as he leaves boyhood behind and enters an uncertain future.
18
DF
Documentary Feature / Sat 1/20, 3:15pm; Tues 1/23, 5:00pm Georgia, USA / 62 min / World Premiere
On The Way Home Director: Giorgi Kvelidze On The Way Home follows two Georgian families, displaced by war, squatting in an abandoned former Soviet sanatorium as they await government housing.
Madeleine Dir. by Raquel Sancinetti — Canada
/ 15 min — Every week, two friends born 67 years apart share their life stories in a senior home’s living room.
DF
Documentary Feature / Sat 1/20, 10:00am; Tues 1/23, 5:00pm USA, Spain, Colombia / 98 min / US Premiere
Petro Director: Sean Mattison Writers: Gustavo Vasco, David Rojas, Sean Mattison, Trevor Martin A charismatic former guerrilla’s historic bid for president divides Colombia, a nation weary of conflict and yearning for change.
Fortune Dir. by Shirley Yumeng He USA / 5 min —
An embodied camera searches for the “truth” hidden behind the facade of the oldest alleyway in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
DF
Documentary Feature / Mon 1/22, 8:15pm; Tues 1/23, 10:30am Norway / 107 min / N. American Premiere
PUNISHMENT Director/Writer: Øystein Mamen Four inmates on maximum security have chosen to enter a three-week Jesuit silent retreat in prison. They are guided by two priests. The setting evolves into a prism for gauging a portrait of the existential landscape of the convicted.
19
DF
Documentary Feature / Sat 1/20, 2:30pm; Wed 1/24, 10:00am USA / 73 min / World Premiere
Roll Bus Roll:
A Jeffrey Lewis Documentary Director/Writer: Ilya Popenko Jeffrey Lewis, one of the chief figures of NYC’s anti-folk scene, grapples with crippling anxieties and questions his sanity while embarking on a quest for love.
The Cactus of Klaus Dir. by Tony Blahd, Lydia
Fine — USA / 11 min — A pioneering conceptual artist’s collection of ‘living sculptures’ create an otherworldly Los Angeles cactus garden.
NF UN
Narrative Feature / Day 1/XX, X:XXpm; Day. 1/XX Xpm /6:45pm Unstoppable Feature / Sun 1/21, 11:45am; Wed 1/24, Country / XX min / XX Premiere USA / 104 min
DARUMA Love Dump
Director: Alexander / Writer: Kelli McNeil-Yellen Director: JasonYellen Avezzano / Writers: Leila Gorstein and(bitter Jessewheel Kendall PATRICK chair user) must enlist the help of his
cantankerous neighbor ROBERTwhen (double amputee) to transport Trash-filled love ensues a quirky antique shop the four-year-old daughter hemissing never knew he and had falls to live owner searches for her father, forwith a her maternal grandparents on the other side of the country. determined dog lawyer along the way. Saving XXX Dir.Art by XxxDir. by Remi R.M. Moses — UK / 15 min — A father tells his terminally-ill son that chemotherapy will give him a superpower.
NF UN
Narrative Feature / Day 1/XX, X:XXpm; Day. 1/XX Xpm /4:00pm Country / XX min / Unstoppable Feature / Sat 1/20, 12:45pm; Wed 1/24, XX Premiere USA / 96 min / World Premiere
Good Bad in Things Stars the
Ordinary Universe
Director/Writer: Shane D. Stanger / Story by Shane Stanger, Danny Kurtzman
Danny, a young man with muscular dystrophy who is disillusioned by failed relationships, steps out of his comfort zoneDirector/Writer: and into the worldBowon of onlineKim dating. Three stories from three different in the Dosh Dir. by Radha Mehta, writtenearths by Radha Mehta, multiverse. Noorah Al-Eidi — USA / 16 min — A hard-of-hearing mother XXX Dir. by Xxx must decide how to seek help for her husband, to keep her family safe.
20
UN NF
Unstoppable Feature / Sun 1/21, 2:45pm; 7:30pm Narrative Feature / Day 1/XX, X:XXpm; Day.Tues 1/XX1/22, Xpm / Country / XX min / XX Canada Premiere/ 80 min
Leilani's Fortune the Girl Who
was cursed
Director: Loveleen Kaur
After a decade of struggling as an independent artist, EthiopianEritrean artist Witch Prophet finally gets the validation and support she needs to create the album of her prophecies.
Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World
Dir. by Julio Cesar Palacio — USA / 23 min — A Black teenage girl has spent her life grappling with a rare form of autism that rendered her essentially nonverbal.
NF UN
Unstoppable Narrative Feature Feature / Day / Sun 1/XX, 1/21, X:XXpm; 9:00pm; Day.Tues 1/XX1/23, Xpm /5:15pm Country / XX min / XX Premiere Canada / 86 min / World Premiere
Look At Me Love Dump Director/Writer: Taylor Olson
A fictional autobiography about an insecure, awkward and lonely actor who goes on an unwitting journey of self-love in the midst of an eating disorder relapse.
Baggage Dir. by Tim Hendrix,
written by Tim Hendrix, Dom Fera, Mae Catt — USA / 13 min — When everyone brings their Baggage to the table in the form of actual suitcases, a blind date goes awry.
UN NF
Unstoppable Feature / Fri 1/19, 10:30am; Narrative Feature / Day 1/XX, X:XXpm; Day.Mon 1/XX1/22, Xpm /3:00pm Country / XX min / Israel, USA / 72 min / World Premiere XX Premiere
NINA is an ATHLETE Director: Ravit Markus, Co-Director Livi Kessel / Writer: Ravit Markus A wheelchair badminton champion is pushing 40. Can she still fulfill the Paralympic dream?
Baby Dir. by James Di Martino, written by Llewellyn
Michael Bates — Australia / 19 min — A young woman with down syndrome sets out on a quest to get pregnant and have a baby.
21
BR
Breakout Feature / Sun 1/21, 8:45pm; Wed 1/24, 10:30am Russia / 129 min / US Premiere
Anna's feelings Director/Writer: Anna Melikyan The story of a simple worker in a provincial factory in Russia, who begins to hear the voices of extraterrestrial civilizations.
BR
Breakout Feature / Sat 1/20, 12:15pm; Wed 1/24, 8:00pm USA / 92 min
Bike Vessel Director: Eric D. Seals Film director Eric Seals’ father almost died after three openheart surgeries, but he makes a miraculous recovery after discovering his love for cycling. He brings Eric along on a bike trip from St. Louis to Chicago.
Friends on the Outside Dir. by Annabel Moodie
— Scotland, UK / 10 min — An incarcerated man called Jamie finds joy and comfort by foraging for weeds and caring for birds.
BR
Breakout Feature / Fri 1/19, 6:30pm; Mon 1/22, 10:30am USA / 100 min / World Premiere
CHAPERONE
Director/Writer: Zoë Eisenberg Alienated by friends and family for her lack of ambition, 29-year-old Misha finds a dangerous acceptance in a bright 19-year-old athlete who mistakes her for a fellow student.
*666 Dir. by Abby Elizabeth Falvo; written by Abby
Elizabeth Falvo, Lar Violet — Canada / 3 min — Two women perform a dark ritual and discover that some calls are better left unanswered.
22
BR
Breakout Feature / Sat 1/20, 6:45pm; Thurs 1/25, 2:15pm USA / 74 min / World Premiere
Love And Work Director: Pete Ohs / Writers: Stephanie Hunt, Will Madden, Pete Ohs Diane and Fox love to work. Unfortunately, they live in a polarized world where having a job is illegal.
Je Ne Suis Pas Une Star de Cine´ma
Dir. by Hugo De Sousa — USA / 6 min — An actor auditions for a mysterious project.
BR
Breakout Feature / Fri 1/19, 7:30pm; Mon 1/22, 3:00pm Afghanistan / 93 min
ONE BULLET Director: Carol Dysinger / Writers: Carol Dysinger, Steen Johannessen
An epic story on an intimate, human scale. Two decades of war told through one bullet, a death, and an unexpected friendship between two women.
Ask the Plantain
Dir. by Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos — Canada, Greece / 13 min — The space that exists between not belonging to the lands one was born on nor the lands one’s ancestors once came from.
BR
Breakout Feature / Sun 1/21, 4:30pm; Thurs 1/25, 4:45pm USA / 82 min
Slide Director: Bill Plympton / Writers: Bill Plympton, Jim Lujan What if Clint Eastwood and Mel Brooks became cartoonists and united to create the wackiest, most surreal musical western ever? That’s “Slide.”
Demons in the Closet
Dir. by James Smith — Germany / 1 min — A resident is challenged by demons from another realm in his closet.
23
SP
Spotlight Feature / Fri 1/19, 4:15pm; Thurs 1/25, 12:00pm USA / 100 min / World Premiere
Bliss Director/Writer: Joe Maggio An opioid addicted fugitive living off the grid in the desert canyons north of LA plays a twisted game of cat and mouse with a sexually repressed holy-roller in search of her missing sister.
In C, Too Dir. by Dean Winkler, John Sanborn — USA / 5 min — “In C, Too” illuminates how close our dreams are to a common reality.
SP
Spotlight Feature / Sat 1/20, 8:45pm USA / 87 min
The Herricanes Director: Olivia Kuan The Houston Herricanes, a women’s professional full-tackle football team, find camaraderie and strength as they controversially open a new door in the world of sports.
SP
Spotlight Feature / Thurs 1/25 4:30pm USA, Taiwan / 85 min
Invisible Nation Director: Vanessa Hope With unprecedented access to Taiwan’s first female president Tsai Ing-wen, director Vanessa Hope crafts a sweepng portrait of Taiwan and the country’s struggle to preserve its hard-won democracy.
24
Narrative Shorts 1
Fri 1/19, 10:00am; Wed 1/24, 3:15pm BURNT MILK Dir. by Joseph Douglas Elmhirst; written by Miss Ronnie, Joseph Douglas Elmhirst — Jamaica, USA, UK / 9 min — Her ritual is her survival.
Lan's Garden Dir. by Jennifer Ru Zhou — USA / 10 min — A matriarch has become old so now her children come to help her, but she does not accept this reversal of care.
European Man... American Beach Dir. by Rex Shannon — USA / 7 min — A nude European brawls with an offended American on the beach.
My Son Went Quiet Dir. by Ian Bawa — Canada / 13 min — After the death of his wife, a South Asian father and his son begin seeing a shadow around the walls of their home, who the son believes to be his mother.
WE ARE ALL DOGS
30
Dir. by Aminreza Alimohammadi, written by Solmaz Etemad — Iran / 14 min — A grandma and grandson try to get a house but are denied because of their pet dog.
Deserter
Dir. by Aidan Lesser; written by Aidan Lesser, James Salmon — Canada / 12 min — A desperate woman who can no longer support her mother with dementia takes her for one last drive. 25
Narrative Shorts 2
Sun 1/21, 10:00am; Tues 1/23, 1:00pm Affentanz - Hunter Dir. by Cyprian Hercka — Germany / 9 min — A hunter suddenly finds himself in a world of reversed roles when the weaker ones and nature strike back.
The Steak Dir. by Kiarash Dadgar; written by Kiarash Dadgar, Ali Narimani — Iran, Canada / 8 min — Birthday party preparations get turned upside down when something horrible takes place.
Fettyland Dir. by Vincent Dale — USA / 15 min — After being kicked out of their flophouse, four addicts struggle to come up with rent money in an infamous area of Southwest Florida.
Dissolution Dir. by Anthony Saxe — USA, Australia / 15 min — A woman is forced to confront her elderly husband’s physical deterioration when they meet to sign their divorce papers.
fishing
30
Dir. by Josie Charles, written by Esme Allen — UK / 8 min — 16-year-old Lola has been in her room for three days; she confesses to a camcorder the secret keeping her locked inside.
Invasive Species Dir. by Annie Ning — US / 13 min — A young sound artist confronts her imposter syndrome as it takes on new extremes at her first ever artist’s residency. 26
Narrative Shorts 3
Mon 1/22, 4:15pm; Wed 1/24, 12:15pm Tokyo Animals Dir. by Toshiki Yashiro — Japan / 7 min — Peculiar people in a peculiar city.
Kayla Baby Dir. by Clark Comstock — USA / 16 min — When a teenage girl and her older sister are forced to relocate to an abandoned housing development, they befriend a teenage boy and an old man.
VIRUS Dir. by Will Duncan — USA / 3 min — A complete dumbass accidentally downloads a deadly virus directly into his computer.
The Year of Staring at Noses Dir. by Karen Knox, Matt Eastman — Canada, USA / 22 min — A woman undergoes plastic surgery (for real) in an attempt to become a contestant on a beloved reality television show.
Complications
30
Dir. by Ivar Aase, written by Erik Ivar Sæther — Norway / 14 min — An intimate cam session unexpectedly turns into a suspenseful, life-and-death situation.
Shadow
Dir. by Kamell Allaway — USA / 12 min — A young mother’s shadow takes on a life of its own, terrorizing her and her daughter over the course of one night. 27
Animation Shorts
Mon 1/22, 6:00pm; Thurs 1/25, 12:15pm I Would' ve Been Happy
ButterFly
Dir. by Jordan Wong — USA / 9 min — This film is about my dad but it’s really about my mom.
Dir. by Soo Park (Yeonsu Park) — USA / 1 min — Have you ever deep-fried butterflies? Well, you’re going to find out what happens.
Tony's Dilemma Dir. by Nathan Sonenfeld — USA / 10 min — Cyberhacking psychos are wreaking havoc on their old teammate Tony’s hometown and Tony must decide between the life he loves, and the life he used to live.
edith and the tall child
VACATION
Dir. by Kenzie Sutton — USA / 5 min — A young girl navigates a capitalist world through the lens of childhood toys.
Dir. by Yifan Jiang, James J.A. Mercer — USA / 25 min — Barely surviving a volcanic eruption, a road tripping college student steps into an absurd fable on the nature of nature.
NOHOMO Dir. by J. Santos — USA / 5 min — Dick’s mundane evening turns sour when his penis launches an attack on him.
28
Dir. by Kohana Wilson — USA / 7 min — An anxious recluse fends off stircraziness, gender reckoning, and visions of a massive prehistoric ground sloth.
Chutes
Hills for the Head
30
Dir. by Hyun Kim — USA / 5 min — A guy is forced by his therapist to run, facing the physical and mental hurdles of a marathon.
Acid Green
Dir. by EXYL — USA, Singapore / 9 min — A person brushes the teeth of a dog and turns into a bus.
Experimental Shorts
Mon 1/22, 10:00am; Wed 1/24, 2:00pm Monolith
Welcome to the Enclave
Dir. by Teresita (Teri) Carson — Mexico, USA / 14 min — An encounter with a volcano culminates with the theft of a stone and a reckoning with disgruntled gods.
Dir. by Sarah Lasley — USA / 12 min — Two Texas sisters fight to save their digital utopia from demise amidst an onslaught of Reddit trolls.
Entrance Wounds
Nowhere Stream
Dir. by Calum Walter — USA / 18 min — A meditation on the image and the bullet.
Dir. by Luis Grane — USA / 7 min — A man gets trapped in the labyrinth of his own mind while seeking meaning in the virtual world.
Light of Light
Lotus-Eyed Girl
Dir. by Neritan Zinxhiria — Before his death in 1932, a monk created his own camera in one of the most isolated places in the world. 90 years later, a filmmaker discovers the footage.
Goddess of Speed Dir. by Frédéric Moffet, written by Frédéric Moffet, Bruce Jenkins, Diane Di Prima — Greece / 13 min — A rehearsal for a reenactment of a missing film by Andy Warhol starring Fred Herko.
Dir. by Rajee Samarasinghe — Sri Lanka, USA / 6 min — A hauntingly evocative, experimental rumination on the effects of colonialism on human desire.
30
29
Unstoppable Shorts
Fri 1/19, 8:45pm; Mon 1/22, 6:30pm A Perfect Morning Situation Dir. by Alex Gwyn Davies — UK / 5 min — A goat battles his decision paralysis, anxiety, and internal critics in his effort to get ready in the morning.
Smash or Pass Dir. by Cory Reeder — USA / 5 min — Dating pool or cesspool? They both stink!
PU EKAW TNOD Dir. by Rebecca Culverhouse — UK / 6 min — A couple watching a horror film try to stop events from repeating as they are sucked into a waking nightmare.
This Body Is A Shell Dir. by Ashley Eakin — USA / 6 min — Disabled women wrestle with selfimage and fight to uncover meaning beyond what is skin deep. 30
Legend of El Cucuy Dir. by Cynthia Garcia Williams — USA / 14 min — Carlos tells his wife about El Cucuy’s origins, and that same night, El Cucuy pays the family a visit.
Hair or No Hair Dir. by Janessa St. Pierre, co-director Courtenay Mayes — Canada / 15 min — A young Black woman’s Alopecia is exposed publicly; she uses this experience to break free of her shame.
Young People, Old People & Nothing in Between
30
Dir. by Parida Tantiwasadakran — Thailand / 20 min — Seven-year-old Juice has one mission this year: to help Grandma Lovely retain as many memories as possible in order to halt the onset of her early dementia.
Episodes
Mon 1/22, 5:15pm; Tues 1/23, 7:15pm Lucy and Sara (Chapter 1: Suicide)
Dir. by Susan Park — UK, USA / 7 min — A darkly comedic exploration of two unlikely sisters as they learn to navigate through the vulnerabilities and challenges of life after the passing of their beloved father.
Eindis Ends It All Dir. by Tamara Rosenfeld, written by Weslie Lechner — Taiwan, USA / 14 min — After finding herself inexplicably alone in a post-apocalyptic world, a young woman working through some anger issues must learn to survive the most terrifying thing of all: herself.
Night Drives - Season 2 Collection
Dir. by Jono Hunter; written by Jono Hunter, Alex Stypula — Canada / 17 min — An animated sketch comedy series about the joy and futility of life.
Dog Spelled Backwards
30
Dir. by Richie Soto — USA / 20 min — A professional dog trainer gives viewers an inside look at the American animal shelter system as never seen before.
Restorage
Dir. by E’an Verdugo; written by Caleb Davis, E’an Verdugo — USA / 29 min — A fractured group of siblings each receive a portion of their inheritance. Chase and Robert quarrel and he inadvertently breaks a vase causing a greater rift in the family. 31
Documentary Shorts
Mon 1/22, 12:00pm; Wed 1/24, 5:00pm Porta d'Europa Dir. by Samuel Mueller — Italy, Germany / 8 min — Stranded for 30 hours off Lampedusa, a migrant boat’s calls for help go unanswered. The Sea-Watch Crew, an NGO, launches an urgent search.
Dicks That I Like Dir. by Johanna Gustin — Germany / 13 min — Visual artist Daniela Torres creates colorful ceramic dick sculptures inspired by the men who have been dicks to her.
Vision of Paradise Dir. by Leonardo Pirondi — Brazil, UK, USA / 16 min — A journey in search of the island of Hy-Brazil turns into a meditation on contemporary ideas of virtual reality.
REMEMBER, BROKEN CRAYONS COLOUR TOO Dir. by Ur ša Kastelic, Shannet Clemmings — Switzerland / 13 min — 32
Shannet, a Black Transgender woman from Jamaica, shares her journey of healing as she wanders the empty streets of a European city.
A Home on Every Floor Dir. by Signe Rosenlund-Hauglid, written by Hanna Asefaw, Signe Rosenlund-Hauglid — Norway / 11 min — A poet uses her voice to excavate the lost home of her childhood.
You Were Never Really Here Dir. by Florencia Portieri — USA / 10 min — A young filmmaker aesthetically reconstructs the complexities and contradictions of a harrowing sexual assault.
30
Say Something
Dir. by Agustina Aranda — USA / 10 min — A young filmmaker explores her fraught relationship with her father—a Paraguayan immigrant, workaholic, and amateur videographer.
Slamdance Revolution Program — Decolonization Curated by Gabriel Misla
Sun 1/21, 5:00pm; Thurs 1/25, 10:30am Slamdance Revolution is a new shorts program selected by curators with a bold vision for what the future of filmmaking can and should be. While the established programming slates of the festival are a mainstay for audiences and critics, curation offers the possibility to add an unheard voice to the cultural dialogue. We invited Utah based filmmaker Gabriel Misla to curate Decolonization, our first Revolution program. In Decolonization, Gabriel recognizes and celebrates the voices and experiences of those underrepresented in mainstream media by confronting colonist ideals, stereotypes and harmful cultural assimilation. As Gabriel states, “Colonization is not a relic of the past. It is a present-day issue for people around the world. From Standing Rock to the Caribbean, the fights for liberation are reminders of the continuous work of decolonization. I want to confront these issues, challenge industry norms and open space for the discussion of current colonization.”
Our Grandmother The Inlet Dir. by Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos, Kayah George — Canada / 9 min — A poignant documentary illustrating the hardship of industry dominance on the mental health of Indigenous youth and their enduring spirit of gentle reclamation as they strive to reconnect with their culture, water, and land.
Nos Persiguen Dir. by Paulis Cofresi — Puerto Rico / 21 min — In the 1950s, 16-year-old Celia is forced to face the fatal reality of Puerto Rico’s colonialist oppression after an unexpected visit from a classmate.
Marungka Tjalatjunu (Dipped in Black)
Dir. by Matthew Thorne, Derik Lynch — Australia / 24 min — An Anangu Yankunytjatjara man escapes the city life to return to country for spiritual healing.
Urpi: Her Last Wish
30
Dir. by Sisa Quispe — USA, Peru / 17 min — Urpi travels to the sacred valley of the Incas to fulfill a promise to her grandmother. She meets Sayri, an indigenous Quechua young man, who offers his motorcycle for a journey that will challenge her understanding of identity. 33
Another epic ending.
With painted skies, turquoise water and everything from the rustic wilderness of the Florida Everglades to the colorful Victorian mansions of Key West, The Florida Keys offer an endless variety of stunning locations along the famed Overseas Highway. Whether you’re filming on land or at sea, you’ll find local production professionals, and crew-friendly accommodations to help you tell your story. For details, visit filmkeys.com, call 1-800-Film-Keys or email chad@filmkeys.com.
A new menu of various incentives $12 million dollar fund Rebates up to $2.5 million 15 miles from Downtown Miami
We can’t wait to see you at Slamdance South Florida Filmmakers Lounge - where everyone is welcome!
&
AT THE YARROW