Motherland

The word motherland evokes the idea of a totalitarian state, and that is exactly the situation facing the citizenry of this futuristic thriller. In a post-revolution society, women are no longer charged with the classic responsibility of childrearing. Instead, their newborns are snatched away and placed in government institutions, where children can be nurtured, manipulated and bent to the new order. Mothers have no say in the matter, and that may be difficult at times, but it's all for their own good and the fairness of all. 

When Cora discovers a personal secret, it impacts her in a very human way, putting her on a collision course with the utopian state and one of its caretakers, who also happens to be the supervisor of the school where she works. Love and loss may be trivial emotions to the nation's leaders, but to women like Cora, they are everything. 

The star-studded cast of Motherland includes Holland Taylor, Miriam Silverman, Nestor Carbonell, Emily Arancio and Molly Hager. Director Evan Matthews employs a sense of beauty in the characters and aesthetics, despite the dystopian setting, underscoring the survival of a nation under the weight of oppression. Writer Nicole Swinford weaves modern relevance and the power of ideas into the script, making this truly a thinking person's film. 

You can watch a teaser here: Motherland Teaser

Princeton's in the Mix

In this darkly comedic and satirical film, a mother is obsessed with status. She is the kind of person who brags about her children with bumper stickers on her luxury branded SUV and drops the names of her children's schools oh-so-casually in conversation. When she finds an angle through which her son can gain an edge over other kids on the SAT, watch out. She will run her SUV right over anyone who stands between her and that Ivy League sticker. 

Director Jonathan DiMaio serves up a troubling mix of chill and fun in this short film from California. Inspired by real world college admissions scandals, Princeton's in the Mix asks questions about elite education and the impact, particular on young students themselves, when some people become too obsessed with academic achievement. 

You can watch the trailer here: Princeton's in the Mix Trailer

Peace and Serenity

When Serenity throws a surprise birthday party for her dad, it is about much more than presents and cake. She is trying to bring some measure of peace to a home that has had none of it for a long time. Then her estranged brother shows up on the driveway, making the situation even more tenuous. But at least he showed up. 

They can talk. Try to move forward. 

Student filmmaker Triston Kollister is currently pursuing a degree in Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin, and the high production values of this project suggest he is making the most of his opportunity. The story is nuanced, and pieces of the family's puzzle are left scattered on the counter like Serenity's Best Father gift mug. 

The resolution of the story is unclear and unsatisfying, but that is not a fault of the film. As the project developed, Kollister found that it increasingly mirrored real life, where circumstances often inch forward slowly to be resolved another day, if at all. 

You can watch the trailer here: Peace and Serenity Trailer

Brothers: A Civil War Story

It's 1864. The Battle of the Wilderness pits Confederate troops led by Robert E. Lee against a Union force led by Ulysses S. Grant. The showdown between two well-matched armies takes place in the woods, where the chaos of battle is intensified by the difficult terrain. After years of suffering defeat after defeat against Lee, the Union army is the aggressor and their general is a seasoned fighter who means business. 

The battles and campaigns of this pivotal time in U.S. history were brutal affairs, and much has been made of them in cinema. But other stories existed within the melee, and these smaller bits of history shed great insight into the tragedy of a nation at war with itself. In the film, two brothers bitterly split over issues of ideas as the war develops. Now facing each other in battle, their sworn duty is contrasted with their sibling bond, however obscured the bond may be at this time. 

Writer and Director Casey Schaffer does an excellent job of orchestrating the battle scene and recreating the 19th century. At the same time, he acknowledges the humanity of the people who served and died, which begs the question of whether the disputes around this horrible war could have been resolved in a better way. 

You can watch the trailer here: Brothers: A Civil War Story Trailer

The Why

After a tragic incident that stemmed from drug addiction, a man is forced to probe his considerable problems through a court-appointed therapist. 

This intimate film takes a close look at the psychology of a major public health issue in the manner of someone who knows from experience. Student filmmaker Ciara Evans has seen the impact of drugs and alcohol firsthand in her own life, and the film is powerful due to the truth she lends to the story. This is a well-produced student project, with creative cinematography, a haunting musical score and many tense moments. 

The Why will grab and hold anyone suffering from addiction, and earnestly suggest they seek help. You can watch a teaser here: The Why Teaser

On Paper

A woman named Barbara sits alone a table after her retirement party. A gift box sits in front of her, but she's reluctant to open it due to the circumstances around the giver. By the time she returns home to her husband, the box and the ideas she conjures around it are propelling her to a confrontation. After so many decades of marriage, some hard truths need to be expressed. 

So she thinks. Her husband may strongly disagree. 

Directed, Written and Co-Produced by Arthur Helterbran Jr., a Wisconsin native who earned his MFA in Film Directing from the California Institute of the Arts, On Paper is a poignant film. Helterbran employs lighting and empty space to evoke a type of isolation that can arise in marriage when a couple is not honest with each other for many years. 

You can watch the trailer here: On Paper Trailer

HOME

In the dim light of night, Seo-won wanders in a fragmented reality of memories and emotions. The people she encounters evoke strong feelings, but it isn't entirely clear whether the entire experience is happening inside her mind.  

This film is murky, and that is intentional. 

Writer, Director and Co-Producer Al Chang  frames Seo-won in close focus, enhancing the sense of the action taking place within her own life. A respected filmmaker in Los Angeles's Koreatown, he brings many experiences to his work, including a decade of service in the U.S. Army, hip hop music, and fatherhood. Chang has much to say about family and belonging in this film, but his main character is too trapped inside her own thoughts to express it outright. 

You can watch a teaser here: HOME Teaser

Frail Grounds

A fantastical world awaits Margot when she wakes up one night. Strangely, her siblings are there, and she has no idea how this could be happening. A feeling of moving towards something yet remaining trapped overcomes her; she wants to leave but has no means of escape. Frail Grounds is more intimate than frightening, but Margot is clearly shaken by her unfamiliar environment. 

Student filmmaker Abby Tarpey demonstrates imagination and a penchant for great unknowns in this narrative short. A graduate of Penn State with a B.A. in Film Production, she is now based in Los Angeles, where she is finding many talented people with whom she can collaborate. 

The underlying theme of this film, suicide, is a heavy topic, but Tarpey adds enough layers of light to offer hope. You can watch the trailer here: Frail Grounds Trailer

Saffron Robe

An ambitious and determined spiritual leader is running a monastery in a remote region of Laos despite the cultural revolution that accompanied the communist overthrow of his nation's 600-year-old monarchy. Abbot Onekeo Sittivong could be described as a measured and ascetic man, as one would expect from someone in his position, but he does not simply go with the flow. He wants to uplift people and have an impact on the greater good of his country. 

In addition to educating boys from poor, remote villages, he is reviving the ancient practice of Theravada Buddhism, arguably the core thread of the Laotian social fabric. Whereas many spiritual leaders fled their temples to toil in rice fields and survive as best as they could, the abbot lobbied the country's new political establishment to secure a charter for his school. 

It is a fine achievement. The helmer behind this documentary feature is Jane Centofante, a debut filmmaker who plays the roles of writer, producer and director. To make her film, she first needed to obtain special permission to film it, and the abbot kindly agreed. Centofante settles into the life of the community and draws out many moments of insight. 

As for the boys who attend the school, a small number go on to become saffron-robed monks, but most move on to modern careers that they otherwise would have no chance of pursuing. A Western audience will have no other chance to experience this quiet but important place along the banks of the Mekong River, and it is a place very worth visiting. 

You can watch the trailer here: Saffron Robe Trailer

Finding the Zone

This edifying piece of Americana involves a teenager who dreams of becoming a professional baseball player. His family's midwestern farm may not be the ideal environment for such an ambitious goal, but he does learn certain values here and people who love him are behind him all the way. He's a bit awkward, and his full potential is unclear, but he has talent. 

What he needs the most now is to believe. 

This idea of knowing you can do it, and that you deserve to make it, is a central part of the story. Director Elan Milkes plays with these elements of character through mystical interludes that bring cosmic importance to the action on the ground. It is as if he is suggesting you need to be in harmony with the universe to reach your full potential and find your purpose in life. But how do you know when you're in sync with something so much more vast than yourself? The dramatic question in Finding the Zone is whether professional baseball is, in fact, the young man's calling. 

You can watch the trailer here: Finding the Zone

So Help Me God

In this short film from Brooklyn, a Christian musician who plays modest clubs finds himself entangled in a romantic relationship that has spun out of control. He knows he has a problem with carnal desire—he can't control it—but now things have gone too far. He screwed up big, and even when trying to implement the right fix, he only digs a deeper and deeper hole.

Director Sophia Conger thrives on moral ambiguity and loves to give her audience a jolt. So Help Me God will make some people uncomfortable. It may enlighten, but it does not preach. The musician and his lover are in a hot mess, and no Hand of God will sweep out of the clouds to save either. Instead, they have to sort through their situation, and the foundation the musician is drawing from to make that happen is currently failing him. 

You can watch the trailer here: So Help Me God Trailer

Amy & Monte: A Legacy of Love and Creativity

Summertime in East Hampton, New York evokes a reverie of sun-drenched beaches, calm ocean breezes, delectable hors d'oeuvres and sophisticated company. But within this dreamy landscape, an alt culture vortex arose in the form of artist and couture fashion designer Amy Zerner and her soulmate, best-selling spiritual author Monte Farber. 

Famous for intricate art as well as tarot card readings, they are hard to pin down or categorize. Yet their deep spirituality lends the duo more to exploration than revolution. They don't really crash the party in the Hamptons; it's more like they evoke and paint it. Their Light-Filled, surreal perspective may be salutary in an area that absorbs a good slice of Manhattan in an attempt to flee it. (Many manage just fine, but some weekenders may never get there due to the infamous traffic jams.)

Producer and Director Annmarie Sairrino, who is based in Burbank, seems to have great fun pulling together the pieces around this puzzling, talented and fascinating couple. Seldom do people so irreverent act from a place of such transcendent intentionality. And therein is a story worth telling. It is told very well. 

You can watch the trailer here (parental discretion advised): Amy & Monte Trailer

Te Seguire a la Oscuridad

In this cheeky rom-com from LA, a high school student gets super motivated to test up in Spanish so she can share a class with her crush. It's a bold plan, and much more complicated than simply telling him "Hey, I kinda like you."

She is not one to choose the easy way out. Damn the torpedoes...she will pass that exam! The director of this short, Nicholas Luciano, owns a track record of creating zany comedies, and Te Seguire a la Oscuridad fits well into his filmography. He assumed the job at the request of the writer, Joy Regullano, who impresses in a dual role as the lead actor. The team's production values are excellent across the board. 

Our intrepid young student may motivate you to be bold and take a chance. Maybe brush up on your Spanish. Or reminisce about an equally elusive flame. You can watch the trailer here: Te Seguire a la Oscuridad Trailer

Here Where the Sea Shines

This quiet, reflective short film features a little pooch named Rosy, a true charmer who serves as the mascot of Marina Grande, a port area in Sorrento, Italy. A short documentary featuring a dog and the sea is a recipe for cinematic heaven, and when watching the film, one might notice a feeling of having arrived home and never wanting to leave again. 

Director Giuseppe A. Modica lived in the United States for a brief time before his parents returned to their native Italy. There is rich emotion in this film, including a sense of timeless belonging via family, tradition and the contrast of change. 

Rosy plays an important role in a town that is anchored in relationships with one another. Modica captures the spirit of Marina Grande through gazes, music, and a lead character who doesn't speak. The unspoken style of communication woven into the film speaks volumes about an old village and the undercurrents that make it special. 

Here Where the Sea Shines (Qui Dove Il Mare Luccica) will screen with English subtitles. The trailer we have at this time is in Italian without subtitles: Here Where the Sea Shines Trailer

I Hate My Love Life

When a long-married couple finds their relationship on the skids, they turn to a new age guide who is, let's be honest, delightfully perky but a bit flaky. Their new mentor, if you will, summons a bold idea that sounds crazy enough to work, and off they go to date other people—to see what else is out there. 

And wow, in the current era of online dating, racy apps and made-on-the-fly etiquette, what IS out there is really OUT THERE. Writer and Director Tiffany Jackman lends a sharp eye for people and social commentary to her comedy, and the result is riotously funny. 

For all the unfortunate, million or so souls who can relate to the title I Hate My Love Life, this film is for you. And so is the trailer: 

Don't Pick Up

When Louisa enters a children's bookstore, she has nothing particular in mind. That's not necessarily a good thing. Given her history of uncontrollable impulses, it's a dicey situation. Chris, the kind and single manager, awkwardly flirts with his equally uncomfortable customer. Neither person has a clue where this is heading. 

A budding romance would be exciting. But what if Louisa's secret albatross derails everything...again? This somewhat creepy rom-com will keep you guessing from start to finish. Will Louisa walk away with a new beau, or will he have to call the police? 

New York-based director Jeremiah Kipp brings out the chemistry and inners lives of both actors in this probing, unpredictable short film. You can watch the trailer here: 

Trail Mix

The thru-hiking community doesn't get much press, and in an era when almost everyone is interconnected in a somewhat closed system 24/7, it's not hard to see why those who unplug are off the collective radar. Trail Mix is a fascinating look at long-distance hikers who traverse the entire 2,000 plus mile Appalachian Trail that runs from Georgia to Maine. 

Director Glenn Robert Sweitzer has a taste for adventure and off-grid living himself, as he spends much of his free time traveling cross country in a van. Yet Sweitzer is quick to cite his lack of backpacking experience prior to embarking on an ambitious project that involved hiking end-to-end himself. 

The people he meets along the way—and the deep, philosophical worldview they share despite the disparate motivations behind their quest—shape this film project in a manner reminiscent of nature's often unnoticed but irrepressible force. There is a sense of the trail making the film as much as Sweitzer does. As one subject of the film puts it: "The trail...it won't give you anything if you don't let it. You have to kind of let the trail break you down a little bit."

Why would people quit their careers, give up their homes and shed just about every worldly possession they own, then submit themselves to a trail? Do they have anything of value to say to the rest of us who remain plugged into a grid that sketches out a different path? These are questions worth exploring, so Sweitzer exercised his artistic freedom and made this revealing documentary. 

You can watch a teaser here: 

The Fries Rebellion

After moving from Cincinatti to the Lehigh Valley, a sullen teenager feels too lost to perform in school. The biggest stumbling block at the moment is a history report on the area, a subject about which she knows nothing. But Mom drops a hint—their family has ancestral ties to this part of eastern Pennsylvania—and from there the schoolgirl's keen sixth sense takes over. 

She begins to experience visions of historical events that took place around a 1799-1800 tax revolt known as Fries's Rebellion. Her report takes a back seat to these spectral phenomena, a change of circumstances that she finds both fascinating and terrifying. 

Director Dan Hertzog collaborated with the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society to create this imaginative docudrama. The historical reenactments are very well produced, written and directed. If education and entertainment are the main objectives of The Fries Rebellion, the project is a big success. 

By the end of the film, the high school student has quite a story to tell in her book report. You can watch the trailer here: The Fries Rebellion Trailer

Artists at the Edge

On the northern tip of Cape Cod, Massachusetts sits a quaint seaside town called Provincetown. Long known as a haven for artists, LGBTQ+ culture, art lovers and foodies, the close-knit community combines an appreciation for history with a yearning for progress. 

Against this backdrop, Executive Producer and Director Patrick Riviere produced this documentary to highlight two talented local artists: Kenny Lockwood and Darlene Van Alstyne. Van Alstyne sings, dances, and acts while wearing her BIPOC LGBTQ+ identify with pride. And style! Lockwood, a senior LGBTQ+ identifying resident of Provincetown, collaborates with Van Alstyne and other artists for the greater good. 

This film is keenly interested in the big picture, with an emphasis on fostering creativity, equality and action at a time when society at large is polarized. When some people are still considered "other" on the wider stage, Director Riviere focuses his camera lens on a place where the Pilgrims landed and the quest for self-determination springs eternal. 

You can watch the trailer here: Artists at the Edge

Second Chance City

In this absorbing drama, a young man faces a callous world after his release from prison. His only safety net is his successful older brother, who tries to help, but their long gap in communication leaves this relationship tenuous. 

There are other problems, and one is pressing: a former acquaintance in prison is demanding money, and fast. There are also glimmers of hope when a girl says she's cool with his past. Good things start to develop there. But as much as this ex-con wants to leave his whole incarceration experience far behind, the vortex of the past keeps pulling him back under the waves. Now he has a decision to make: how can he overcome fate without committing a crime that will put him right back behind bars?

New Jersey-based director and co-producer Chris Cardillo tells his story with a measure of East Coast grit, which makes the film feel authentic. His inspiration was a younger sibling's arrest for a minor, non-violent offense. Although prosecutors eventually dropped the charges, the elder Cardillo gained a new perspective on ex-convicts who are free in name only, with tough stigmas that make reintegration into society extremely difficult. 

You can watch the trailer here: Second Chance City Trailer

The Root

In this disturbing short film, four women make a sacred pact. If one of them ever strikes it rich, she must share her good fortune equally with the rest. As a faith-based film, the expectation might be for someone to struggle before doing the right thing, but this is no plain-vanilla Christian story. 

When a member of the group hits a big lottery jackpot, she does precisely and only the wrong thing. The evil thing. She digs in hard, and no moral boundary will stop her from hoarding the money for herself. 

Tennessee-based actress, writer and producer Courtney Lee Simpson makes her directorial debut with The Root, and the final product is bold. The Tennesseean explores the dark side of the human soul in a way that is both terrifying and compelling, a combination that will keep moviegoers on the edge of their seats.  

You can watch the trailer here: The Root Trailer

Direct Action

An idealistic teenager named Emily Phillips leads a street protest in London. In her crosshairs is a coal mine, an enterprise that she condemns as deeply outdated and culpable for global warming. The protest is blocking traffic and creating a public disturbance, which brings the ardent environmentalists face-to-face with local police. To top it off, Emily's father is opposed to her radical spirit. 

Soon she is on trial, and the question on the court's mind is whether a principled, if misguided, young woman can learn a life lesson and gain leniency, or head down the path of a permanent criminal record. The tension is high in this true-to-life drama from the United Kingdom. 

Award-winning writer and director Tor Kristoffersen, who based the story on his own protest experiences and environmental sympathies, brings a palpable sense of realism to this narrative short film. At times, it feels almost like a documentary, and no doubt Kristoffersen wants his film to form a basis for meaningful discussion. 

You can watch the trailer here (parental discretion advised): 

Because I Love You

In this chilling short film, Marco and Joanna live the American Dream. They own a mansion, attend glittering parties, and enjoy all the finer things in life. But Joanne seems to be hiding something from her powerful husband, and no amount of material success can salve his wound of jealousy. 

Marco is used to getting his way in everything, yet now he feels three inches tall. He trusts his instincts, and within that supreme trust, there is zero room for a simple misunderstanding. Therefore, he will confront this threat head-on. He comes up with a plan and sets it in motion. 

Award-winning writer, director, and producer Bob Celli is at the top of his game with Because I Love You.  Despite an impressive number of wins and nominations, he continues to innovate and create, making this latest project a thriller that will linger in your mind after the final credits roll. 

You can watch the trailer here: Because I Love You Trailer

The EKSPATS - We're Going to Africa

In this biting satire, a quintessential American family moves to Nigeria in search of better opportunity. Their main breadwinner is Bill Diamond, a middling consultant with a dim future here in the States. He leaps at the offer to work for a Nigerian magnate, Solomon Babatunde, and informs his wife they are moving. Having not been consulted, she balks until he assures her the trip will further his career. She wants to get ahead, too, so she agrees. 

The question of whether this is a wise move, and whether their lack of worldly experience leaves them naive to many risks, will be answered after their jet lands in Africa. They may not even make it out of the airport in one piece, but they will press on anyway, because that is what strivers do. 

Helmer Ron Myrick, an animation veteran with an industry career spanning over forty years, sends two distinct cultures on a collision course in this TV pilot. The chances for laughs, insights and social commentary are high amidst this offbeat plot, and he succeeds in scoring many points. At the same time, he leaves the audience wondering what will happen to this downtrodden family as they try to rise out of their mundane existence. 

You can watch the trailer here: The EKSPATS Trailer

Come Out, Wherever You Are

Set in the verdant landscape of Montana, this narrative short features a man whose western ruggedness is tested by deep wells of regret. All Vernon Parrish wants from this rural area is a little peace and quiet, but it's not likely he will get it. When a local newspaper publishes a hit piece as he arrives in town, the retired mayor from a Chicago suburb escapes to his cabin. 

Now things are on the verge of getting a lot worse. The director of the film, Caitlin Presberg, has a penchant for surprise. As Parrish settles into the slow pace of fly fishing and the front porch, forces far beyond his control are descending on the land. 

What happens next will leave you questioning who can be trusted and where, exactly, a person can find safety. You can watch the trailer here: Come Out, Wherever You Are Trailer