Duke City Shoot Out Short Competition
SCREENPLAY COMPETITION 2008
SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY TO THIS YEARS SLAMDANCE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION.
DEADLINE JUNE 2 2008 POSTMARKED.
http://www.slamdance.com/writing/feature.html
April 1st: LA Screening!
To all Zombie Supporters!
Cinema Libre Studio and Slamdance Film Festival invite you to come see 2007 Narrative Competition selection AMERICAN ZOMBIE on Tuesday, April 1st at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in West Hollywood for only $6! If you support equal rights for Zombies, then print out the coupon here and come check out this film, then stick around for a Q&A with Slamdance's Drea Clark and American Zombie director Grace Lee, along with cast members!
Laemmle's Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Showtime: 7:30pm
Buy Tickets!
Tell your friends!
Don't forget to join the Myspace and Facebook pages!
"Sharply funny and a winner all the way, Lee not only pokes fun of L.A., subcultures and the documentary form, but also herself."
- G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
"But the mere fact that Lee can make both a media satire and, in the end, a creepy horror flick, while at least alluding to bigger social issues, suggests the breadth of her wit and intelligence."
- Andrew O'Hehir, salon.com
"American Zombie is the must-see zombie movie of the year."
- ZombieReportingCenter.com
"Very clever, inventive and creepy"
- angryasianman.com
"American Zombie is most definitely an original work of documentary/fiction/comedy/horror."
- Toby Roberts, CinemActivist.com
Filmmakers Grace Lee ("The Grace Lee Project") and John Solomon ("Nonsense Man") team up to shoot a documentary about high-functioning zombies living in Los Angeles and their struggles to gain acceptance in human society.
Despite their wildly different working styles, Grace and John manage to chronicle the hopes and dreams of four fascinating subjects: IVAN, a convenience-store clerk who longs for a career in publishing; LISA, a florist trying to recover her lost memories; JUDY, a hopeless romantic who learns to accept her true nature; and JOEL (pronounced "Ho-El"), a committed political activist striving for zombie rights. As Grace strives to get to know the zombies "on their own terms," John is eager to uncover their darker side and rallies to get the crew permission to shoot at a three-day, zombies-only retreat called Live Dead where the documentary takes an unexpected and dangerous turn. What transpires there is beyond anything the filmmakers could imagine, as they are forced to re-evaluate their ideas about tolerance, identity politics and the future of the human race.
To watch the trailer and get more information visit:
http://www.americanzombiemovie
indieWIRE: Slamdance as "Refreshing Alternative"
Big ups to our longtime supporters at indieWIRE for a great piece by Eric Kohn on some of our festival offerings.
"Compact in terms of programming and scale, the Slamdance Film Festival offers a refreshing grassroots alternative to the Sundance Film Festival's glamour. This year's program includes several markedly similar attempts to tell fictional stories within a documentary framework. These aren't lighthearted mockumentaries of the Christopher Guest variety: YouTube generation filmmakers have adapted the style as a non-ironic storytelling device--and when the tactic works, it's stunning."
You can check out the full article here.
Being relatively biased towards the often easy-way-out feel of the indie mockumentary, I couldn't agree more that the films in that genre that we've selected give a swift kick to the tuckus of the standard "what, is that a camera? are you guys filming?" falseness that often pervades the style. High-five, filmmakers!
Horror Films
One of my favorite new blogs is Dead Harvey, not just because of the name (conjuring both rabbits and Weinsteins) but because of their intent to serve as "a resource for both independent horror filmmakers and fans. We hope to keep people informed of new developments in the industry, as well as bringing attention to new and worthy independent horror films and film festivals."
That's our kind of people! And here comes the bias... they recently had this to say about the festival:
"I could write pages upon pages about the Slamdance Film Festival... and probably should in my film festivals section, but... uh, well... you know.
Slamdance is a true representation of what independent filmmaking is all about and it has the balls to take place in Utah at the same time as Sundance. It's a festival "by filmmakers for filmmakers" and showcases undistributed films by emerging filmmakers. Of course, with being a "true" independent film festivals, you're going to get a slew of horror. So, there's always going to be a bunch of artsy crap, then there's these films that look awesome - I've also linked to their own sites:
"Paranormal Activity", written and directed by Oren Peli. On the Slamdance site, it just says, "A supernatural thriller featuring shocking footage of a demonic haunting", but there's a bit more to it than that. It's about a young couple that suspects that their house is haunted, so they set up video surveillance... their surveillance and home videos have been edited into this 99 minute feature film. Brilliant! Keeps the budget low, the low-budget feel is justified and it all makes sense. I can't wait to see it... the buzz is really big.
"Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer", written and directed by Jon Knautz is "about an angry young plumber who witnessed his family's brutal murder when he was a child. Unknowingly, he awakens an ancient evil which forces him to confront his past and deal with the monstrous reality of the present." Once again, that blurb does NOT do the film justice. First off, you've got a great Robert Englund cameo AND it looks like it's filled with beasts, ghoulies and monsters. Think "Reanimator" meets "Evil Dead" meets "Slither". The better blurb is: Jack Brooks is a plumber who fights hellspawns, cameo by Robert Englund. I can't get enough of movies like this, they remind my of early Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson.
Finally, the last one that interests me is "Trailer Park of Terror", directed by Steven Goldmann. "Six troubled teens become stranded in a ramshackle trailer park where they meet Norma, an undead, trailer-trash babe with a killer body and cursed brood of Redneck Zombies." "Trailer Park of Terror" is based on the popular Imperium Comic series and, yeah... that blurb kinda sums it up.
Check 'em out, if you get the chance...
*
Thanks, Dead Harvey! Couldn't have said it better myself (although we seem to have differing opinions in regards to "artsy crap"), but please do check us out, people!
Films
Congratulations to the short films of 2008!
There are five short film competition categories at Slamdance: Narrative Shorts Before Features, which screen before like-minded narratives in competition; Gallery Shorts, which are six one-hour short film programs; Documentary Shorts, which screen before documentaries in competition; the Polish Shorts Block, which was programmed by a festival jury in Krakow; and Animated Shorts.
Slamdance also has two out-of-competition shorts categories, which this year include nine Anarchy Online Finalists and seven $99 Specials.
For the full press release, please visit here.
SLAMDANCE 2008 SHORT FILMS
Narrative Shorts before Features
Brandon (2007, 13 min, USA)
Directed by Rachel Israel
Schooled by Hollywood romance, a sheltered young woman's romantic expectations collide with reality on her very first date.
Broken English, World Premiere (2008, 10 min, USA)
Directed by Oscar Alvarez
A high school student finds a way to fight against institutional racism.
Far Out (2007, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Phil Mucci
In 1972, a flamboyant producer's Hollywood house party takes a strange turn when an uninvited guest comes for more than sex and drugs.
Fin-de-Semana (Weekend), North American Premiere (2007, 8 min, PORTUGAL)
Directed by Claudia Varejo
A country house. A weekend. A family. A teenage girl’s secret. Time goes by. Silence prevails.
The Henry Convention, World Premiere (2008, 10 min, USA)
Directed by David Marks
The only thing stopping Peg from peacefully mourning for Henry is too much competition.
Lady Margaret, US Premiere (2007, 10 min, UK)
Directed by Deborah Haywood
Sadie just wants to go home.
Lucky Day, World Premiere (2008, 13 min, CANADA)
Directed by Lori Chodos
Maggie has been getting crank calls from someone who seems to know her and she hasn't left her apartment in weeks.
Mensajes de Voz (Voice Messages), North American Premiere (2007, 12 min, SPAIN)
Directed by Fernando Franco
The story of Marta, who comes back to Madrid to try living with Luis again, told entirely with a series of voice mails.
New Business, North American Premiere (2008, 14 min, USA)
Directed by Julia Kots
One summer evening in post-Soviet Russia, a teenage boy tries his hand at entrepreneurialism by attempting to prostitute two teenage girls.
Un Attimo di Respiro (A Moment to Breathe) (2007, 13 min, ITALY)
Directed by Sara Colangelo
Fed up with his job and his stifling rural life, a young pig slaughterer makes a break for the big city with his girlfriend’s younger sister.
Young Offender, US Premiere (2007, 11 min, UK)
Directed by Isabel Anderton
An 18-year-old white inmate becomes increasingly disturbed in the oppressive atmosphere of a multi-racial young offender’s institution.
Gallery Shorts
24 Frames Per Day (2007, 7 min, USA)
Directed by Sonali Gulati
24 photographs taken each day over 9 months.
4960 (2007, 14 min, SWEDEN)
Directed by Wing-Yee Wu
The faster you run, the more likely you are to stay alive.
A Catalog of Anticipations (2007, 5 min, USA)
Directed by David Lowery
A little girl is forced to come to terms with death when she finds a mysterious cadaver in her backyard.
Anecdote, World Premiere (2008, 30 min, USA)
Directed by Nathan Silver
A young woman seeks to restore order to her life, only to find that order alone is not enough. A tragic farce in black-and-white.
At Night, World Premiere (2008, 11 min, USA)
Directed by Max Landes and Philip Aceto
Television and subjectivity, and their impact on the sexual relationships between men and women.
Beijing Haze, World Premiere (2008, 9 min, USA)
Directed by J.P. Chan
A new Chinese immigrant to the USA finds that one dreams ends as another begins.
Bush, World Premiere (2008, 6 min, IRELAND)
Directed by Fran Apprich
A little girl waxes poetic.
Celestial Riddle, World Premiere (2008, 4 min, USA)
Directed by Ondrej Rudavsky
Runners escape from celestial space.
Dearest Fred This Party Is All For You, World Premiere (2007, 12 min, USA)
Directed by Alexander Uhlmann
When Fred arrives in the city to visit his girlfriend, a conceptual artist, a series of surreal and bloody events result in an unexpected climax.
Doxology (2007, 7 min, USA)
Directed by Michael Langan
A humorously allegorical animation, exploring the relationship between the terrestrial and the celestial via singing tennis balls.
Diva (2007, 7 min, FRANCE)
Directed by Josephine Mackerras
Escaping a home-town that completely rejected him, Vincent goes to Paris, alone, to find freedom and self-expression, but life is never that simple.
Heiko, North American Premiere (2007, 13 min, PORTUGAL)
Directed by David Bonneville
A seventy-year old aesthete, in a relationship with a young man named Heiko, takes a fetishistic relationship to extremes.
Karaoke Show (2007, 4 min, GERMANY)
Directed by Karl Tebbe
A mix between disco and sauna.
Knock Knock (2007, 4 min, USA)
Directed by Jack Ferry
The worst knock knock joke ever.
Knots, US Premiere (2007, 3 min, UK)
Directed by Matteo Pizzarello
To possess or to seed? This is the question.
Kooniklaster (2007, 17 min, POLAND)
Directed by Mariko Saga
A boy who wants to be a magician experiences the great magic that is not a trick but rather a power handed down from his grandfather and his ancestors.
La Coupure, US Premiere (2007, 12 min, CANADA)
Directed by Stephane Grasso
After Catherine is brutally assaulted one evening upon exiting the high school where she teaches, something breaks inside her. Bruised and scarred, she now returns to a life so different from that which she thought she knew.
Las Historias Mas Sexy Del Mundo! No. 2 (2007, 15 min, USA)
Directed by Eric Cheevers
Soft-core porn for academics, featuring TV's Answer Man and the Raveonettes!
Mariquita con Perro (Fag With Dog), North American Premiere (2007, 15 min, SPAIN)
Directed by Vicente Villanueva
Of all the goals that Pablo set when moving to Madrid, there is only one he has not yet reached.
No-Air House, World Premiere (2008, 4 min, USA)
Directed by Marco Cordero
Are you looking for treasure? Do you want to be happy? Visit the No-Air House. Dozens of rooms to explore. Do not let the No-Air Men see you.
Nothing Nowhere (2007, 12 min, MOROCCO)
Directed by Rania Attieh and Daniel Garcia
Two young American travelers sit inside a small room, bored, while outside the world is happening, albeit in small, fleeting, insignificant moments.
Serene Hunter (2007, 13 min, FRANCE/USA)
Directed by Jason Bushman
A randy Parisian moves in with his new boyfriend, just as an old flame from LA comes back into town.
Small Apartment, World Premiere (2008, 8 min, USA)
Directed by Andrew Betzer
A middle aged man, his son, and his daughter-in-law push the boundaries of love and perversion in 700 square feet of space.
The Story of Charles Riverbank, World Premiere (2008, 8 min, USA)
Directed by Benny Safdie
This is the story of a man named Charles Riverbank, who upon losing his home, wanders into various adventures and lot of dirty looks.
Softly (2007, 7 min, USA)
Directed by Bryan Jackson
A romance, fragile and ephemeral, in a doll-sized world.
Some of an Equation, US Premiere (2007, 8 min, USA)
Directed by Burke Roberts
A film in one continuous shot exploring just how very bad things can go in only a few minutes.
Son (2007, 17 min, UK)
Directed by Daniel Mulloy
In the confines of an underground theatre, a young boy tries to cope with the realities of his mother's abusive relationship.
There's A Werewolf in My Attic, World Premiere (2008, 17 min, USA)
Directed by Sam Thompson
A giddy couple are psyched about their new digs when a sound in the attic reveals an unwelcomed guest.
Tripp, World Premiere (2008, 22 min, USA)
Directed by Alexander Rojas
Cex Boy's anguished return home to see his recently disabled brother.
The Whole Day Through, US Premiere (2007, 10 min, CANADA)
Directed by Adam Budd
On a winter's day a relationship, stable in appearance, is tested by the confession of a past indiscretion.
Whore (2007, 4 min, GERMANY)
Directed by Isabelle McEwen
A poetic-pornographical vision of hell.
Woman In Burka, World Premiere (2008, 20 min, USA)
Directed by Jonathan Lisecki
Starring Sarita Choudhury. Sam Rockwell and Kerry Washington
A darkly comic look at the life of an actress and the types of Middle Eastern roles available to her in a post 9/11 culture.
Documentary Shorts
B for Beekeeper (2007, 12 min, USA)
Directed by Thomas O'Keefe
The story of Bill Waddell's journey through death to his current life as a beekeeper.
Covered Tracks (2007, 13 min, USA)
Directed by Nathan Kensinger
Sex and death in an abandoned homeless city underneath Manhattan.
City of Cranes, International Premiere (2007, 14 min, UK)
Directed by Eva Weber
A fascinating insight into a world unnoticed by most of us, yet fundamental to our lives.
Felicia, World Premiere (2008, 8 min, USA)
Directed by Tim O’Hara
A grandmother with a secret past.
Hattenhorst (2007, 5 min, GERMANY)
Directed by Ove Sander
A portrait of Hans Hattenhorst, 40-year veteran projectionist of a small cinema on the German island Juist.
Holdout (2007, 15 min, USA)
Directed by Brent Joseph
A portrait of a classic New Orleans eccentric set against the stark and surreal landscape of a desolate Crescent City.
If A Body Meet A Body, World Premiere (2008, 19 min, USA)
Directed by Brian Davis
The lives and jobs of three unique individuals who are constantly surrounded by death at the busiest coroner’s office in the world.
The Ladies (2007, 13 min, USA)
Directed by Christina Alexandra Voros
75 years since the first marriage, 50 since the Hungarian Revolution, 25 since the last divorce, two sisters continue to cling to their craft, their grudges and each other.
Massacre at Murambi (2007, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Sam Kauffmann
Does the way we responded to the genocide in Rwanda tell us about who we are as members of the 'Global Village' and predict our response to Darfur?
Swing (2007, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Chip Moore
A daughter recalls her father's story about observing a lynching when he was a boy in rural turn-of-the-last-century South Carolina.
World Star, US Premiere (2007, 52 min, GERMANY)
Directed by Natasa von Kopp
A film about an old man with no needs and a remarkable past, facing the hype as an artist against his will.
Polish Shorts Block (Programmed by a festival jury at Slamdance Poland in Krakow)
This spring, Slamdance Poland completed the 2nd edition of the Festival April 19-22 in the Communist chic Nowa Huta district of Krakow. Slamdance Poland was launched in 2002, when Slamdance alumni Przemysaw Wojcieszek created the event, following the Slamdance US premiere of his feature film Louder Than Bombs.
This year’s Slamdance Poland was organized by the Laznia Nowa Theater, headed up by Bartosz Szydlowski, with support from Rafal Kosecki. Slamdance Poland included a selection of 2007 Slamdance Films, as well as a program of Polish films competing for cash prizes and a slot at the 2008 Slamdance Film Festival.
Watch a video about the event at www.laznianowa.pl/slamdance/.
The Clinic, US Premiere (2007, 30 min, POLAND)
Directed by Tomasz Wolski
This documentary portrays a group of elderly patients in an ordinary Polish hospital. Doctors, while performing their regular activities, also act as friends, talking to patients about their lives – both their good and bad moments.
Three for the Taking (2007, 40 min, POLAND)
Directed by Bartek Konopka
Sixteen year-old Inga’s carefree life is suddenly changed by a fatal turn of faith. Left alone with two younger siblings, she must run away from welfare workers who want to split them up. A struggle to find a home has begun.
Animated Shorts
Blood Will Tell (2007, 6 min, CANADA)
Directed by Andrew McPhillips
Music written and performed by Sigur Ros
Set in 16th Century Holland, a mysterious visitor attempts to hide from death in a dark, mosquito infested well.
Blue Room, World Premiere (2008, 4 min, USA)
Directed by Ivan Örkény & Sandy White
A trapped character’s imagination provokes his own disintegration.
Bush Vs Bin Laden, World Premiere (2008, 4 min, USA)
Directed by Darren Way
President George W. Bush versus Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden in an Old Western Shootout.
El Viaje De Said (Said’s Journey) (2007, 12 min, SPAIN)
Directed by Coke Rioboo
A Moroccan boy crosses "The Straights," and discovers that the land of opportunity is not as beautiful as he had been told.
Everything Said (2007, 2 min, USA)
Directed by Andy Cahill
Three floors: on the first floor, consumption. On the second, interaction. On the third, everything said is stored.
Film Noir (2007, 4 min, UK)
Directed by Osbert Parker
A dark story of romance and psychological tension created from found objects combined with images cut from magazines and manipulated in-camera.
I Hate You Don't Touch Me or Bat and Hat, World Premiere (2008, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Becky James
A lyrical and monstrous meditation on when the mundane becomes gruesome.
Kid Show (2007, 3 min, USA)
Directed by Tom DesLongchamp
Flowers grow, clouds flow, and children giggle--they cannot help it.
Lux, US Premiere (2007, 8 min, SPAIN)
Directed by Vuk Jevremovic
Travel through the walls of the old Cathedral.
My Life at 40 (2007, 7 min, UK)
Directed by Laurie Hill
A special collaboration between the director, aged 12, and his 34 year old self, looking forward to a glorious future.
One Skin (2007, 10 min, USA)
Directed by Gudrun Cram-Drach
At the bottom edge of growing up, a woman views her options.
Spontaneous Generation (2007, 3 min, USA)
Directed by Andy Cahill
All about the things that grow, change, resolve and dissolve, follow and consume.
Tales for Cruel People (2007, 5 min, HUNGARY)
Directed by Hans Blume, Igor Buharov, Ivan Buharov
What happens when conscience gets tired?
Anarchy Online Shorts Sponsored by OurStage
MARCH WINNER: Contrasts (2007, 3 min, USA) EXPERIMENTAL
Directed by Sowaila Zada
Contrasts between the cities of Los Angeles and Kabul.
APRIL WIINER: Unblocked (2007, 4 min, UK) ANIMATION
Directed by Douglas Merton
A Surreal film about Birth, death and being in control of ones own life.
MAY WINNER: Touching (2007, 5 min, USA) DRAMA
Directed by Nat Johnson
When a quiet boy stumbles upon the recently deceased body of a middle-aged woman he makes a fateful choice.
JUNE WINNER: Windows Masks Doors (2007, 4 min, USA) ANIMATION
Directed by Sarah Orenstein
In an old radio a conductor tunes a medley of tracks revealing masked players hidden.
JULY WINER: Dead Water (2007, 5 min, HUNGARY) ANIMATION
Directed by Tibor Banoczki
The story of the man who used to drive the locomotive of the train passing through the village.
AUGUST WINNER: Hotel Tubu (2007, 5 min, HUNGARY) ANIMATION
Directed by Igor & Ivan Buharov
Most souls who live here will move to a higher dimension.
SEPTEMBER WINNER: Rock Garden (2006, 10 min, CANADA) DRAMA
Directed by Gloria Kim
A tale of two lonely neighbors as they struggle and toil with everyday existence.
OCTOBER WINNER: Jeweler's Eye (2007, 3 min, USA) EXPERIMENTAL
Directed by Rich Remsberg
Unintentionally lyrical moments found in vintage newsreels and government films come to life in this poetic assemblage.
NOVEMBER WINNER: Running In Darkness (2007, 2 min, USA) ANIMATION
Directed by Allan Jennings
A film exploring different experiences with Alzheimer's disease.
$99 Specials
88042, World Premiere (2008, 5 min, USA)
The zip code for Hillsboro, New Mexico and a documentary about the ebb and flow of a small town post office.
Crustväska, World Premiere (2008, 5 min, USA/GERMANY)
Directed by Benjamin Kasulke
A crash course in the intricacies of Swedish punk rock attire.
Feedback, World Premiere (2008, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Michael Lucid
Starring Jack Plotnick
Christopher is a fabulously witty storyteller. But one day, he gets some unwelcome feedback.
Mammon, World Premiere (2007, 3 min, UK)
Directed by Robin Fuller
Seduced by the promise of wealth, a poet turns his back on his muse.
The Outhouse, World Premiere (2008, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Jack Truman
The story of a 60-year-old woman and her backyard outhouse.
Politics of Preschool, World Premiere (2008, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Heidi Van Lier
A preschool girl attempts to gain social status and happiness through a materialistic strategy, only to find she's been trumped.
Panels for the Walls of Hell, World Premiere (2008, 5 min, USA)
Directed by Blake Meyers & Takuro Masuda
William, a pretentious, disaffected projectionist at a film festival, has high notions of cinema.
Horror at the Festival
As evidenced by our Horror Screenplay Competition, we love us some scary here at Slamdance. There are three genre-related pics playing during Slamdance's "Twilight Screening" program this year, and one of our narrative competition films (Paranormal Activity) is also a great chance to get your horror (or homage to horror creators) on. High fives to some of our favorite sites for picking up on the action...
Trailer Park of Terror at Comics2Film.com
Directed by Steven Goldmann
Starring Nichole Hiltz, Lew Temple, Hayley Marie Norman, Ryan Carnes, Priscilla Barnes, Trace Adkins
Six troubled teens become stranded in a ramshackle trailer park where they meet Norma, an undead, trailer-trash babe with a killer body and a cursed brood of Redneck Zombies.
Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer at Horror-Movies.ca
Written/Directed by Jon Knautz
Starring Robert Englund
Jack Brooks is an angry young plumber who witnessed his family's brutal murder when he was a child. Unknowingly, he awakens an ancient evil which forces him to confront his past and deal with the monstrous reality of the present.
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story at Bloody-Disgusting.com
Directed by Jeffrey Schwarz
Interviews with John Waters, John Landis, Roger Corman, Leonard Maltin, Marcel Marceau, Joe Dante
A chronicle of the last great American showman, filmmaker William Castle, a master of ballyhoo who became a brand name in movie horror with his outrageous audience participation gimmicks.
Paranormal Activity at Bloody-Disgusting.com and DreadCentral.com
Written/Directed by Oren Peli
A young couple suspects that their house is haunted by a malevolent entity. They set up video surveillance to capture evidence of what happens at night as they sleep. Their surveillance and home videos have been edited into the 99 minute feature film "Paranormal Activity".
Eat My Press
With the announcement of our feature film slate yesterday, we received a lot of interest - both from saddened/disgruntled/understanding filmmakers who didn't make the cut, and from The Press.
Yeah for The Press! We think we're newsworthy, and it's always nice when they agree. To check out what they're saying about us, click on these sweet links:
... Although that last one is my favorite site name, the Toronto Star had the best headline: "Canuck Flick Opens Fest". PLUS the sentence following our write-up leads with mention of a former-mental-patient-stalker. Man, I do love Canucks.
2008 Features
Congratulations to our feature films listed below; short films will be announced December 11, 2007.
For a full press release, please visit here.
2008 FEATURES: COMPETITION AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Narrative Feature Competition
Fix, World Premiere (2008, 90 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Tao Ruspoli
This darkly comedic road movie journeys from Beverly Hills to Watts over the course of 12 hours, as documentary filmmakers Bella and Milo race to get Milo's brother Leo from jail to rehab before 8 p.m. – or Leo goes to prison for three years.
Frost, World Premiere (2008, 92 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Steve Clark
When a Manhattan playboy learns his childhood love is engaged he is forced to face the demons of his past and grow up.
Glory Boy Days, World Premiere (2008,100 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Paul Encinas
A story about a group of young adults in the prime of their lives, in a time where being young makes you invincible, and being invincible makes you complacent.
Jetsam, North American Premiere (2007, 84 min, UK)
Written/Directed by Simon Welsford
Starring Alex Reid and Shauna Macdonald
An amnesiac woman is washed up on a beach and attacked by a man who washed up next to her. On the run from this stranger, she pieces her life back together, uncovering a world of spies, obsession and betrayal.
How To Be, World Premiere (2008, 83 min, UK)
Written/Directed by Oliver Irving
A wry comedy about twenty-something Art who moves back in with his parents, hits a quarter-life crisis and enlists the help of a live-in self-help guru. A timely look at the increasingly common phenomena of grown-up children living at home, frustrated creativity, and self-help.
Paranormal Activity (2007, 99 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Oren Peli
A supernatural thriller featuring shocking footage of a demonic haunting.
Portage, US Premiere (2007, 89 min, CANADA)
Written/Directed by Matthew Miller, Ezra Krybus, Sascha Drews
In this sensual, intense, indie feature drama, a quartet of teenage girls embark on a canoe-and-camping trip with a slightly older male guide in the endless wilderness of the Canadian Shield. Once the group is underway, romantic tensions erupt and disaster strikes, forcing the girls to face a gruelling and desperate trip back to civilization.
The Project, World Premiere (2008, 90 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Ryan Piotrowicz
Starring Michael Stahl David, Matt Servitto, and Juelz Santana
Three film student graduates move to New York City to make a documentary about inner city life, where they soon find themselves becoming active participants in a world they hoped to only observe.
The New Year Parade, World Premiere (2008, 90 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Tom Quinn
In the first year of their parents' separation, two siblings struggle for confidence in their own relationships.
Under the Snow, North American Premiere (2007, 99 min, SPAIN)
Written/Directed by Candela Figueira and Maitena Muruzabal
Following the unusual connection made between four workers at different stages of their lives, capturing factory life in a way rarely seen: personal, flirtatious, introspective.
Documentary Feature Competition sponsored by Langley Productions
Circus Rosaire, New Edit Premiere (2007, 93 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Robyn Bliley
For nine generations the Rosaire family has entertained audiences all over the world with their legendary animal acts. However, the circus industry is changing and attendance has dramatically declined. The Rosaire's livelihood and future are at risk as they struggle to continue the family tradition.
I Think We’re Alone Now, World Premiere (2008, 70 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Sean Donnelly
Labeled "stalkers" by the media, Jeff and Kelly profess their love for the 80's pop icon, Tiffany.
More Shoes, World Premiere (2008, 75 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Lee Kazimir
The story of one individual’s 3,000-mile trek across Europe on foot from Madrid to Kiev.
My Mother’s Garden, World Premiere (2008, 70 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Cynthia Lester
The story of one woman's extreme attachment to material objects and how her estranged children reunite to help her let go.
Neo-Lounge, (2007, 86 min, CHINA/PHILIPINES)
Written/Directed by Joanna Vasquez Arong
An Italian aristocrat, a Bulgarian jazz singer, a Colombian coroner, a French hair salon entrepreneur, all together for a short moment in time at Beijing's hippest nightspot Neo-Lounge.
Pageant, World Premiere (2008, 95 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern
In the talented world of female impersonation, this story follows the lives of five ordinary men as they go to extraordinary lengths to be crowned the 34th Miss Gay America®.
Song Sung Blue, World Premiere (2008, 85 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Greg Kohs
The alternately inspiring and tragic love story of Lightning & Thunder, a home-grown Milwaukee husband and wife singing duo, who pay tribute to the music of Neil Diamond.
Sync or Swim, World Premiere (2008, 100 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Cheryl Furjanic
A splashy look at a marginal sport: U.S.A.'s top synchronized swimmers endure rigorous training and overcome unthinkable obstacles to compete for Olympic glory.
View From the Bridge: Stories from Kosovo, World Premiere (2008, 105 min, USA/KOSOVO)
Written/Directed by John Ealer and Laura Bialis
Peace is for the brave. Told through the first person stories of Serbs, Albanians and Roma (Gypsies), this documentary juxtaposes the nightmares and dreams of Kosovars as it portrays a society trying to build a future while inextricably bound to the past.
Wesley Willis’s Joyrides, World Premiere (2008, 77 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Chris Bagley and Kim Shively
An underground rock icon and revered artist, the late, great Wesley Willis attracted and offended people from all walks of life. The film follows the prolific and controversial artist on his journey from obscurity to cult hero.
Narrative Special Screening Features
Real Time, World Premiere (2008, 80 min, CANADA)
Written/Directed by Randall Cole
Starring Randy Quid and Jay Baruchel
A comedic drama about a compulsive gambler who is given one hour to live by the hitman hired tGoodbye Baby, World Premiere (2008, 87 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Daniel Schechter
Starring Christine Evangelista, Kevin Corrigan, Jerry Adler, Alan Ruck, Donnell Rawlings
When Melissa Brooks discovers she can't afford college she moves to New York City and gets a job as a waitress at a comedy club. Living with her eccentric older brother, she enters a love triangle while trying to muster the nerve to get on stage and perform.
Just Add Water, World Premiere (2008, 90 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Hart Bochner
Starring Dylan Walsh, Danny DeVito, Jonah Hill, Justin Long, Tracy Middendorf, Anika Noni Rose
An offbeat romantic comedy about Ray Tuckby, a decent guy living in the once idyllic, now crime-infested town of Trona, California. After encouragement from a stranger he happens upon, Ray begins to dream about the way things used to be. He musters the courage to recapture his childhood love, topple the town thugs and return Trona to its original splendor.
Documentary Special Screening Features
Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Greene, World Premiere (2008, 60 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Loren Mendell
Narrated by Don Cheadle
The unlikely story of America's first shock-jock, a black man in a white man's world who battled the system and his own demons during a time of civil unrest in our nation's capital.
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father, World Premiere (2008, 95 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Kurt Kuenne
On Nov. 5, 2001, Dr. Andrew Bagby was murdered by his ex-girlfriend. To memorialize him, his friend Kurt began making a documentary film; then the killer revealed she was pregnant with Andrew's son.
Frontrunner, World Premiere (2007, 90 min, USA)
Written/Directed by Virginia Williams
A woman’s heroic, relentless run for the Presidency of Afghanistan.
Twilight Screening Features
Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer, North American Premiere (2007, 90 min, CANADA)
Written/Directed by Jon Knautz
Starring Robert Englund
Jack Brooks is an angry young plumber who witnessed his family's brutal murder when he was a child. Unknowingly, he awakens an ancient evil which forces him to confront his past and deal with the monstrous reality of the present.
Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story (2007, 80 min, USA)
Directed by Jeffrey Schwarz
Interviews with John Waters, John Landis, Roger Corman, Leonard Maltin, Marcel Marceau, Joe Dante
A chronicle of the last great American showman, filmmaker William Castle, a master of ballyhoo who became a brand name in movie horror with his outrageous audience participation gimmicks.
Trailer Park of Terror, World Premiere (2008, 91 min, USA)
Directed by Steven Goldmann
Starring Nichole Hiltz, Lew Temple, Hayley Marie Norman, Ryan Carnes, Priscilla Barnes, Trace Adkins
Six troubled teens become stranded in a ramshackle trailer park where they meet Norma, an undead, trailer-trash babe with a killer body and a cursed brood of Redneck Zombies.
Slamdance 2008 is presented by KODAK. Additional sponsors include the Maryland Film Office, Langley Productions, OurStage, Current TV, Dos Equis, Directors Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, Doc Martens, and XMission.