Now you can go to the movies — and the movies can come to you.
The 2022 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival (June 1-12) is showing over 70 new indie films in-person in venues across the Borough... and around the world, with three virtual premieres and virtual encore screenings!
The 2022 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival (June 1-12) is bringing people back to the movies… and bringing movies home to the people. Over 70 new films can be seen in-person across Brooklyn, and AoBFF is also offering its entire season online with virtual encores and special streaming premieres. This new hybrid format gives audiences the most flexibility to #supportindiefilm.
Cofounder Anthony DeVito said,"Producing our 2020 festival online during lockdown was tough, but there were unexpected upsides. We connected with audiences all over the world and three of our feature premieres got distribution. For us, nothing beats watching films in a theater, but we didn't want to give to give up the accessibility of streaming. So this year we're doing both!" And, for the first time ever, AoBFF will screen virtual premieres of features from the UK, San Francisco and Taiwan complete with filmmaker Q&As just like our live events. "The way forward is to give audiences as many options to watch as possible. Now you can go to the movies and the movies can come to you," said DeVito. 2022 AoBFF Promo Trailer:
Festival Highlights Include:
Silent River (East Coast Premiere) Chris Chan Lee's uncanny David Lynch-ian new feature opens AoBFF '22 at Brooklyn's historic Cobble Hill Cinemas on June 1. TRAILER & TICKETS
Dark Takes From Channel X (NYC premiere) -- plus more Horror!
Welcome to the dark side with this award-winning new horror anthology featuring curses, creatures and stalkers. And that's only the beginning of our horror and thriller films! EXPLORE THE DARK SIDE
Short Docs and Comedies in Bay Ridge!
'True Stories' Block and Cracked Comedy Shorts come to 11209 on June 10. BAY RIDGE NIGHT
The Blood Of A Poet 90th Anniversary Screening — with new, original score composed and performed LIVE by Brian Bonz!
A unique multimedia event: Our 90th Anniversary Screening of Cocteau's avant-garde silent classic THE BLOOD OF A POET with an all-new live score commissioned by The Art of Brooklyn. One night only and the beautiful new venue The Atlantic BKLN! TICKETS VIRTUAL PREMIERES & ENCORES:
SHAMROCKS
(San Francisco) Barry is a low-level crook who takes what he wants when he wants. Watch as this criminal buffoon's selfish actions impact the lives of a group of people over St. Patrick's Day weekend in San Francisco. A love letter to crime films and classic film noir. GHOST AMBER (United Kingdom) In the wake of analogue film’s great vanishing from the commercial film industry, a celluloid ghost materialises inside the ruins of a mysterious phantom cinema, beginning a phantasmagoric drift through death, rebirth, and the bardo like spaces in between. Blending animation, documentary, archive material and supernatural horror, Ghost Amber is a meditation on the inescapable nature of impermanence. HIDEOUT (Taiwan) Drug dealer Guo-hao hopes to make enough money so that he and his girlfriend can leave their life of crime behind. One day, he is contacted by Michael, a drug broker, with an offer to buy a batch of rare cocaine. On the day of the exchange, however, Michael is found dead, and the drugs are already gone. The owner of the cocaine threatens to kill Guo-hao if he fails to come up with the drugs or money. At the same time, Uncle Ma dispatches his henchmen to recover the loan. In the middle of the night, Guo-hao receives a phone call from a mysterious man claiming to be in possession of the lost cocaine, telling Guo-hao he has a new deal for him. Announcing Official Selections, Schedule and Tickets for the 2022 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival5/17/2022 The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival is proud to present a full slate of over 70 new independent films in all genres for our 12th annual edition (June 1-12, 2022.) Brooklyn's most talented emerging filmmakers join their peers from around the world for 2 full weeks of in-person screenings and special events. Our Virtual Festival platform will feature premieres and encore screenings that can be streamed everywhere. Our 2022 screening venues are Brooklyn's iconic Cobble Hill Cinemas, the stunning auditorium of Sunset Park High School, the amazing new music venue The Atlantic Bkln, and the Mary White Ovington School in Bay Ridge. 2022 OFFICIAL SELECTIONS:Narrative Features:
Dark Tales From Channel X 74 Minutes | United States | 2021 Horror, Thriller, Scifi, Lgbtq+, Body Horror A babysitter, Cassie, finds an old TV set in the basement which pulls her into the world of The Viewer; an anonymous entity in a mask who broadcasts seven stories of horror from monsters under the bed and ominous stalkers, to ancient curses and personal demons in this anthology. Ghost Amber 60 Minutes | United Kingdon | 2021 Animation Directed by Tim Grabham In the wake of analogue film’s great vanishing from the commercial film industry, a celluloid ghost materialises inside the ruins of a mysterious phantom cinema, beginning a phantasmagoric drift through death, rebirth, and the bardo like spaces in between. Hideout 119 Minutes | Taiwan | 2021 Crime, Mistery, Thriller Directed by Yen Kuang Chen Drug dealer Guo-hao hopes to make enough money so that he and his girlfriend can leave their life of crime behind. One day, he is contacted by Michael, a drug broker with an offer to buy a batch of rare cocaine. Guo-hao teams up with long-time buddy Da-wei to borrow money from local crime boss Uncle Ma to complete this deal. On the day of the exchange, however, Michael is found dead and the drugs are already gone. The owner of the cocaine threatens to kill Guo-hao if he fails to come up with the drugs or money. At the same time, Uncle Ma dispatches his henchmen to recover the loan. In the middle of the night, Guo-hao receives a phone call from a mysterious man claiming to be in possession of the lost cocaine, telling Guo-hao he has a new deal for him… Rock Paper Scissors 100 Minutes | United States | 2021 Thriller, Horror Directed by Doug Bollinger Sam and Missy Wagner have reached a crossroads in their mundane, suburban relationship. One night of horrific events lead them down a path of fear, retribution, and renewal. Silent River 121 Minutes | United States | 2022 Supernatural Spychological Drama Directed by Chris Chan Lee On the road in a desperate attempt to reunite with his estranged wife, Elliot takes respite at a desert motel. He encounters Greta, a mysterious woman bearing a striking resemblance to his wife. Elliot soon discovers her secret and descends into a mind-bending journey that forces him to question exactly who she is and where they are. Haunting and hallucinogenics, “Silent River” is a layered and nuanced film that boldly challenges the very notions of reality and illusion. Shamrocks 106 Minutes | United States | 2021 Crime, Comedy Directed by Greg Lofrano Shamrocks tells the story of Barry a low-level crook who takes what he wants, when he wants. We soon learn that he owes money to Donato, a local loanshark. In order to pay his debts, Barry sets up a plan to rob the home of the Joneses, a host family that his Au Pair "girlfriend", Luisa, works for. Skagit 104 Minutes | United States | 2021 Psychological Horror Directed by Nick Thompson Four friends leave Seattle for a weekend in a remote, rain-soaked corner of Washington State's rustic Skagit Valley. The foreboding October landscape begins to warp their minds, plunging each of them into alternate realities where they must grapple with personal demons, sexual tensions, and a sinister natural world as they claw their way back to sanity. Documentary Features: Cycle of Memory 72 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Alex Leff Cycle of Memory follows filmmaker Alex Leff and his Younger sibling Koby as they try to uncover the past and capture the present, in order to be remembered in the future. Guided by old photographs of teh 1945 trip, they search for places aged by time. But while searching for Grandpa Mel’s past, the two are confronted with their own fraught history. If they’re going to complete the turbulent journey, they’ll have to face their own emotional potholes and tumultuous relationship. With the help of a grandmother learning to l ive alone for the first time, Mel’s lifelong friend and co-adventurer on the bike trip, and a family collection spanning 1950s film reels to 1990s video tapes, Cycle of Memory explores the importance of intergenerational connection, healing apinful pasts, and leaving a meningful time capsule for the future. More Than Academics 93 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Elizabeth Mealey Dejinay Reed is a 7th grade English teacher defying the status-quo curriculum that prioritizes test scores over social-emotional literacy and independent thought. Under her guidance, Harlem charter school students learn their love languages, repair family relationships, and start their own small businesses, all while the Covid-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter uprising combine to make 2020 the most challenging school year in recent history. Nasima 86 Minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Heather Kessinger A little girl’s dream of riding the waves threatens to change the course of history for an entire nation. Selling trinkets on the beach, 7 year old Nasima’s attention is caught by something out on the water and immediately she is transfixed: surfing has come to Bangladesh. Nasima instantly knows what she wants and that is to surf the waves. She will become the first female surfer in Bangladesh, a place where women don’t even swim in public, let alone ride waves. Squatters 89 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Catalina Santamaria At the end of the 1980s, two abandoned buildings in Manhattan's Lower East Side neighborhoods of the "truquito" and the "maroma" were occupied by a group of young artists, mostly immigrants, who renovated them and turned them into self-sustainable homes outside the boundaries of the law. Santamaría gathers records from multiple sources to chronicle the transformation of Puerta 10 and Umbrella House based on the stories of their singular protagonists. Part of the material in this documentary comes from video recorded by them during the renovation of the buildings in order to document a community that built these houses by hand in order to inhabit them in their own way. This film pays homage to that desire by showing some of the difficulties that come with being a collective utopia, including fragility in the face of time and the looming threat of the system. The Sun Rises In The East 58 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Tayo Giwa The Sun Rises in The East chronicles the birth, rise and legacy of The East, a pan-African cultural organization founded in 1969 by teens and young adults in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Led by educator and activist Jitu Weusi, The East embodied Black self-determination, building more than a dozen institutions, including its own African-centered school, food co-op, newsmagazine, publisher, record label, restaurants, clothing shop and bookstore. The organization hosted world-famous jazz musicians and poets at its highly sought-after performance venue, and it served as an epicenter for political contermporaries such as teh Black Panther Party, the Young Lords and the Congress of Afrikan People, as well as comrades across Africa and the Caribbean. In Effect, The east built an independent Black Nation in teh heart of Central Brooklyn. Film As Art - Experimental & Non-Linear Shorts: ArtMinute1 - The Perfect Selfie 4 Minutes | Denmark | 2019 Animation Directed by Asta Wellejus & Teddy Kristiansen The story is about the Danish painter Jens Juel, who through his travels and inspiration from the old masters (Rembrandt) gains a unique inspiration and expertise. This is shown in the light/ colors he gathers on his travels and a special light/ glow that emerges from his brush. Beatings of the Devil 8 Minutes | United States | 2021 Experimental Documentary Directed by Bradly Dever Treadaway "Beatings Of The Devil" is based on the concept and weather event called sunshowers, or, as my grandmother would often say when it rained while the sun was shining, “The devil is beating his wife”. This wildly inappropriate, and outdated colloquial phrase, which resonated deeply within me as a child, provides a point of departure and interpretation for this work. Caprice x² 4 Minutes | Austria | 2021 Animation Directed by Claudia Ungersbäck Forms and gestures, situations over a copy (is_t) existance. marks and notes happening while light resounds. Chiaroscuro 7 Minutes | United States | 2022 Experimental Directed by Asia Vo Chiaroscuro is an immersive sound and video installation that follows an anonymous glowing figure as they traverse an empty, black and unknown plane. Collage 38.2 (Version Multiple) 4 Minutes | Spain | 2021 Experimental Directed by Luis Carlos Rodriguez Collage 38.2 is an Intervention (construction / deconstruction), in the form of an audiovisual collage, on the film in the public domain: Of Human Bondage (1934) by John Cromwell. Echo’s Answer 3 Minutes | United States | 2021 Music Video Directed by Cat Tassini This is a proof of concept video for "Echo's Answer," a feature-length psychedelic reimagining of the life and legacy of Trish Keenan of Broadcast. Although Keenan died in 2011 at only 42, the enchanting world she created with her music, writing, and art lives on through her influence on other artists. This film is an answer to that echo. Haptic Memory 1 Minute | United States | 2021 Animation Directed by Mike Enright Paint on glass with monotype animation. The images are captured with Dragonframe stop motion software and composited together in Adobe After Effects. This piece is part of research into the tension between hand made and digital animation. Ma1nframe 5 Minutes | United States | 2021 Music Video Directed by Qieer Wang MA1NFRAME is the story of an artificial intelligence created to bring us together as a planet after so many millennia of divisiveness. Pursuit of Sadness 3 Minutes | United States | 2020 Poetry Directed by Lea Wülferth ‘Pursuit of Sadness’ is an audiovisual collaboration built around the following repeating words displayed on screen and interspersed with other images: he gets himself a balloon / he lets it fly away / he flees to the attic / he cries. Secrets of the Galleries 7 Minutes | United States | 2022 Experimental Directed by Peter Meng This is your ticket to unlock the secrets in the galleries of Mount Kilimanhattan. Follow the Arthouse players as they go beyond the realm and revel in this magical, mystical world. Social Distancing 5 Mintues | United States | 2022 Animation Directed by Kayoko Nakamura Social Distancing is a video piece, visualizing the data of the Covid 19 pandemic, and the audio is also converted from the numerical values of the data. It explores new ways of communicating with the audience by presenting the data in a different perspective. The Animal 9 Minutes | United States | 2021 Animation Directed by Nora 6592 A poem that explores girlhood through the lens of poverty and alienation in the American South. The Dark Forest 10 Minutes | United States | 2021 Videopoetry Directed by Martin Del Carpio “To honor the memory of his father who passed away in 2019, Martin Del Carpio opts for the medium of film once again, and delivers his most lyrical work to date. At once deeply personal, carefully veiled in a delicate fabric of pure emotions, and absolutely immersive in its dreamlike, mysterious beauty, ‘The Dark Forest’ transmutes its author’s innermost life into an admirable piece of introspective cinema.” The Sixteen Showings of Julian of Norwich 8 Minutes | United States | 2020 Animation Directed by Caroline Golum This actor-less, handmade work is an exercise in texture and tableaux, depicting the visionary experience and historic significance of the first woman to write a book in English. Three Pride Flags 2 Minutes | United States | 2022 Music, Animation Directed by Tom Bessoir Inspired by Jasper Johns in anticipation of the joint retrospective exhibitions at The Whitney Museum of American Art and The Philadelphia Museum of Art, this is three pride flags permutating at different speeds. Music by Matthew Fritz. Universal Frequencies 2 Minutes | United States | 2020 Experimental Directed by Paul Arsenault The history of the universe through 1590 hand painted frames. Utera 5 Minutes | United States | 2021 Experimental Directed by Alexandra Tahereh Kaucher The director’s thoughts on her influences as a young girl to want children. Narrative Shorts: Always for the First Time 20 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by John Caliendo, Victoria Meade Loosely based on the first meeting of surrealist writer Andre Breton and surrealist artist Elisa Latte Elena Bindhoff Enet. Angst 10 Minutes | Austria | 2021 Sci-Fi Directed by Béla Baptiste In a distant future fear has been completely eradicated in order to find relief and peace beyond the hectic pace of life. That's where Bobby comes in: selling pills to those who wish to get back in touch with their primal instincts. Bitten, A Tragedy 20 Minutes | United States | 2021 Horror Directed by Monika Estrella Negra Bitten, a Tragedy follows Lydia, a Black queer woman living in Philadelphia. At a Philly rave, ancestral warfare wreaks havoc on the bloodline of an unfortunate party goer, connecting Lydia to a world of blood, ritual, secrets and vengeance. Breakfast at the Bodega 15 Minutes | United States | 2021 Comedy Directed by Marina Barham A talented young Brooklynite/Palestinian-American attempts to live out his dreams of becoming a French pastry chef despite his first-generation father's wishes. Struggling to fill his first big order for a gig, tensions arise when the father forbids him from using their family bodega to cook. Bridge 15 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Shannon Morrall When her grandfather passes away, a young girl sets off on a quest to find him and bring him home. "Bridge" explores a child's journey experiencing grief and loss for the first time. Bygone 8 Minutes | Spain | 2022 Thriller Directed by Mickey Tetrov A young woman wakes up in the middle of an apocalyptic, deserted world. As she meanders through the abandoned remains, she encounters a looming presence. Cameo 16 Minute | United States | 2021 Thriller Directed by Ryan G. Kelly A graduate student questions her reality after she receives a mysterious necklace. Community Service 15 Minutes | United States | 2020 Dark Comedy Directed by Grayson Tyler Johnson A young man gets too drunk one night and is arrested in the street. He now must perform community service, delivering spaghetti to home-bound adults throughout Brooklyn. The last stop on his route is Shecky… Daytrip Massacre 11 Minutes United States 2021 Horror, Comedy Directed by Artie Brennan & Anthony Giordano In the late 1970's a group of young adults go camping near the old abandoned Freak Show Camp. Legend has it, the bearded lady's son, a half-fish-half-child monster called "Fishboy" still roams the woods slaying anyone in his stream. Will they make out? Probably. Will they make it out? Probably not. Detour 15 Minutes | United States | 2020 Drama Directed by Bobby Webster Two broken people have a chance encounter one night in New York City. Fish Story 20 Minutes | United States | 2021 Comedy, Drama Directed by Annique Witdoeckt A grieving father and daughter struggle to connect, until Mom returns…as a fish. From Water Comes Melon 13 Minutes | United States | 2021 Sci-Fi Directed by Micah Vassau A woman finds the last watermelon on earth. Homebound 19 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Usher Morgan HomeBound is the story of Jamie Rockwell, a woman burdened by severe agoraphobia. After losing her therapy dog, she must muster the courage within, not only to find her dog, but ultimately, to find herself. I’m Fine 17 Minutes | United States | 2019 Dramady Directed by Justin Ho Allyson and her father join after years of separation and are both forced to revisit their past together. In Defense of Civil Society 8 Minutes | United States | 2021 Dark Comedy Directed by Rafeh Mahmud A (non)Muslim refugee becomes entangled in government-subsidized terrorism! In the Mountains 6 Minutes | United States | 2021 Animation Directed by Wally Chung A couple goes on a hike and run into some trouble. It’s Very Common 11 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Megan Hessenthaler Set in a queer collective house in Brooklyn, NY we spend a day or so with Amanda as she lives through the miscarriage of what would have been her second child. Led by her need to keep things light around her daughter we witness as she manages heavy feelings with help from her wife, roommates, and her signature dry wit. Later Daters 12 Minutes | United States | 2021 Comedy Directed by Fred Shahadi A widower decides to re-enter the dating world only to discover he's in way over his head. Lioness 7 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Molly E. Smith Barricaded in a motel room, a mothers determination and primal instincts kick in to protect her child's innocence. No Way Out 11 Minutes | United States | 2021 Horror Directed by Caleb Bergner Jack, a young man suffering from sleep deprivation is studying for an exam. After receiving some bad news and falling asleep, Jack finds himself greeted by disturbing figures in a reality separate from his own. Puss 9 Minutes | United States | 2020 Comedy Directed by Leah Shore Samantha desperately wants to get laid, but is finding it to be difficult for some reason. Sally 5 Minutes | United States | 2022 Comedy Directed by Phillip Russell After his car breaks down, a man seeks refuge at a seemingly abandoned mansion. Sold 20 Minutes | United States | 2022 Drama Directed by Christopher Thompson A Downtown Artist struggles with his newly found sobriety. ‘Til Death Due Us Part 6 Minute | United States | 2020 Dark Comedy Directed by Taylor Coriell Bride-to-be Jill wakes up on the morning of her wedding, and starts to believe that everything she touches, dies. ‘Til Morning 15 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Ana Moioli 'Til Morning is a coming of age short film about Julia, a Brazilian student in New York City. When Julia can't pay for her tuition, she has to choose between surrendering to her conservative family and selling herself to a stranger. The Game 21 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Aldo Vassallo Set in early 2000’s suburbia, The Game portrays a bewilderingly tense period in eight year old George’s life. One night, as he attempts to drown out his parents' constant and escalating conflicts by gluing his eyes to his Gameboy, he's startled by the sound of a deafening scream coming from his mother's bedroom. Based on a true story. The Walk Up 12 Minutes | United States | 2021 Comedy Directed by Nick Brown When a young woman from Texas moves to Manhattan, her ambition and independence are shaken by the long six flight walk up to her apartment. The Smartest Dumb Girl 13 Minutes | United States | 2021 Comedy Directed by Angie Comer With a flood of mischief, a woman with an acute sense of entitlement is persistent in her goal to get a discount for a murder-for-hire scheme from a prickly and foul-mouth female assassin. Treehouse 25 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by William Austin A reclusive construction worker is stricken with grief after witnessing the sudden, tragic death of his brother. Tortured by guilt, he struggles to build a treehouse—the unfulfilled dream of their childhood. Wake 11 Minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Andrew Patrick Torrez As Jackie mourns her husband's death at his own wake, her best friend Gwen is on hand to console her amidst an unforgiving family as Jackie discovers the truth behind his untimely death. Your Silhouette 15 Minutes | China | 2021 Directed by Haoyue “Caroline” Wu The boy runs for his dream; The girl runs for her own life They tries to connect with each other that ignores the gap between them which is caused by their family background. They are the medicine for each other, but they still need to face the reality. Short Documentaries: Adam Milner Takes Care of the Details 9 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Lorena Alvarado From flower petals to eyelashes, plastic gemstones, a friend’s hair or Babybel cheese wax casing, Brooklyn-based gay artist Adam Milner mixes and matches an unexpected range of objects into artworks that explore our often fraught relationships with the things that fill our lives. Breaking Ground 6 Minutes | United States | 2022 Directed by Phil Garrison The story of Fred Moore, America's first black soldier to become a prestigious Tomb Guard in Arlington National Cemetery. Chilly & Milly 9 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by William David Caballero Chilly and Milly is an animated documentary exploring a father’s chronic health problems as a diabetic with kidney failure, and his wife’s role as his eternal caretaker. DOPO YUMEmories 14 Minutes | United States | 2022 Directed by Jordan Galland The short documentary explores Dopo Yume, a NYC-based rock band that gained traction in the late 90s, early 00s, but never quite took flight. Told through home videos and present day narration from the band’s lead singer, we experience his memories of the highs and lows, the friendships and community that formed around the music and the role that fate and tragedy played. From Darkness to Light: The Peter Krueger Clinic 40 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Joe Fox “From Darkness To Light” is a documentary film that tells the story of the Peter Krueger Clinic (PKC) – one of the first HIV/AIDS clinics in the United States, which was established at Beth Israel Hospital in 1989. Just a Broadway Baby: Mary Ellen Ashley 24 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Patrick A Riviere A short documentary film about the career and life of Mary Ellen Ashley who made her Broadway debut in 1943 in The Innocent Voyage (as Mary Ellen Glass) and went on to do the entire run of the original Broadway Production of Annie Get Your Gun with Ethel Merman. Her career has spanned 80 years and includes: opening for headliners in Vegas; performing on Broadway, and starring in regional theatre, radio, film and early Television. Manji 39 Minutes | Japan | 2022 Directed by Yousuke Kiname MANJI follows Reverend TK Nakagaki, a Japanese Buddhist priest living in America for the past thirty-five years, as he travels the globe on a mission: to reclaim the swastika as a symbol of peace. Night at Downtown Beirut 10 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Mike Enright A quasi-documentary short about the quasi-legendary East Village punk bar, Downtown Beirut, shot and assembled in 1990 and rebuilt in 2021. Slow Burn & The Muse 15 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Darah Golub Two songs, many years and one fruitful night tell the story of a singer/songwriter's road to success. The Savior of Coney Island 10 Minutes | United States | 2022 Directed by Gary Beeber Meet Dick Zigun, “Honorary Mayor of Coney Island” and learn about the beginnings of Coney Island USA. The Brother Mike Tapes 12 Minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Rodd Perry Michael Cohen secretly recorded his parents growing up, then animated their conversations decades later. Unattached 3 Minutes | France | 2021 Directed by Fanny Texier A young French woman on the precipice of youth and adulthood releases her long hair as a symbol of her femininity. 2022 Screenplay Competition: Finalists: Centurions — Written by Sally Stubbs Pick — Written by Bernhard Riedhammer Sergeant Freeman — Written by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall The Puppeteer — Written by Alexander Julian III Semi-Finalists: Lost Memories — Written by Bernhard Riedhammer Prudence — Written by Sally Ann Hall The Comeback — Written by Maurice Hicks The Faerie Rings — Written by Zina Brown The Heart Lies Slain — Written by Dario Marcucci and Luca Zamparini Quarter Finalists: American Street — Written by Eugene Martin Amy & Angel — Written by Robert Craig Arthur’s Yearbook — Written by Jim Norman At The Mercy of Faith — Written by Samuel Taylor Control — Written by Jacob Davis Deep Hush — Written by Kristy Walsh Fatal — Written by Gregory Cala Namaste — Written by Lora Grillo The Mojave Experiment — Written by Chinisha Scott Wake Me Up — Written by Karen Wang Honorable Mentions: Avalon Farms Academy — Written by Sierra Blanco Known Unknowns — Written by John McCloskey Money Tree — Written by Isaac Ballesteros Barba Award-winning filmmaker Brian Ratigan has been named Guest Festival Director for the 2022 season of the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival. The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival is excited to announce that award-winning filmmaker Brian Ratigan has been selected as Guest Festival Director for its 12th season in 2022. Ratigan said, "AoBFF always provides so many opportunities for artists while cultivating a supportive community. I am honored to be chosen to work with Art of Brooklyn for 2022.” Every season the Art of Brooklyn selects a different filmmaker from around the world to curate their festival. Executive Director Joseph Shahadi said, "This year's search brought us into conversation with fantastic candidates from all over, but Brian was the clear choice for next season and we couldn't be happier he agreed." The founder and principal at Non Films — a label for ephemeral animation and experimental cinema — Brian screens at festivals internationally. A significant voice in the Brooklyn indie film community, his fascinating work was curated at AoBFF twice, and he has attended the festival as a filmgoer in person and virtually. The Alabama-born filmmaker is also Director of Animation for Kumar Pictures where he designs animation and motion graphics, and co-manages Chaotic Cinema. "Brian is the first experimental filmmaker to take the reins at the festival.” Shahadi said, a position previously held by award-wining filmmakers and programmers Christie Conochalla, Alan McClane Alejos, Sean Mannion, Victoria Negri, Dave Chan and Eric Trenkamp. “The past few years have required looking at everything in a new way and cinema reflects that. Brian is the perfect choice for this moment.” "AoBFF always provides so many opportunities for artists while cultivating a supportive community. I am honored to be chosen to work with Art of Brooklyn for 2022.” In addition to being a successful filmmaker Brian is an experienced festival programmer and juror, having worked for Slamdance, Chicago Underground Film Festival, Animation Nights New York, the Film & Video Poetry Society, and the London Indie Festival, among others. Film programming has been central for Brian since the beginning of his career. He began exploring his love for the avant-garde and independent film in his hometown of Birmingham, AL, creating digital and 16 mm visual projections for ambient music artists and hip hop collective LOBOTOMIX while curating screenings at the Sidewalk Film Festival. About The Art of Brooklyn The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival is an annual event designed to connect Brooklyn's diverse independent filmmakers with peers around the world. Founded by artists in 2011, AoBFF has been named Brooklyn Creative Group of the Year, One of the Top Seven American Film Festivals and One of the Five Notable Regional Festivals Worth Traveling For. Art of Brooklyn takes place in neighborhoods across the entire borough, including those underserved by art and culture dollars. AoBFF has produced film events in 20 ADA compliant venues, in 10 different neighborhoods, often partnering with area businesses and community organizations to boost economies and empower local audiences. Over a dozen AoBFF premieres have gotten distribution, and one became an HBO series. Brain Ratigan said, “I look forward to collaborating with the incredible AoBFF team to make 2022 the best festival yet." Entries for AoBFF '22 are now open for films and screenplays in all genres.
Lanie Zipoy's debut feature THE SUBJECT world premiered with Art of Brooklyn in 2020 and it was a smash with our audience. It won three awards with us: Best Feature, Best Director and Outstanding Performance for lead actor Aunjanue Ellis. THE SUBJECT went on to have an acclaimed festival run and got a distribution deal with Gravitas Ventures, including a major market theatrical release — one of two AoBFF '20 feature world premieres that got distribution.
The Subject's upcoming Theatrical run in 10 markets including Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, Dalles Fort Worth, Cleveland, and Detroit, and a wide VOD and release both debut on October 22, 2021. Make sure to see this powerful film! Our 2020 Interview with Lanie:Lanie's 2020 AoBFF acceptance speech:Our 11th annual edition featured one of our strongest slates ever, with incredible work in all genres from the Brooklyn scene, and all over the word. Thank you to all our filmmakers and screenwriters for being a part of AoBFF, and to all our winners! Outstanding Cinematography:
Shabier Kirchner for ‘Jamestowne’ Outstanding Sound: Brad Nayman for ‘Gestura’ Outstanding Editing: Peter Hogenson for ‘Inevitability’ Outstanding Musical Score: Andy Hasenpflug for ‘Dirt’ Outstanding Ensemble: Triple Threat (Stacey Maltin, Margarita Zhitnikova, Jay DeYonker, Catherine Curtin and more!) Outstanding Performance in a Narrative Short: (Our first tie!) Johnny Brown in ‘The Inconvenience of Being Black’ Louis Ozawa Changchien in ‘Sitting’ Outstanding Performance in a Narrative Feature: Martha Brown in ‘DimLand’ Outstanding Animation: Lea Zalinskis for ‘Seashells’ Outstanding Visual Effects: Christopher Phelps and Joel Barlow for ‘Odyssey’ The Dark Side Award for Outstanding horror/thriller/Noir/ Sci Fi: 'Hell of a Pitcher' directed by Daniel Burity The Vanguard Award for Outstanding Experimental Film: 'Entre Puerto Rico y Richmond' directed by Alicia Diaz Outstanding Comedy: 'Miss Blueberry Beauty Pageant' directed by Sarah Kennedy Outstanding Drama: 'Sisters' directed by Sarah Nolen Outstanding Short Documentary: 'Cat Man Do' directed by Matt Tyson Outstanding Feature Documentary: 'Last Call' directed by Johnny Sweet Outstanding Director of a Narrative Short: Stacey Maltin for ‘Appetite’ Outstanding Director of a Narrative Feature: Byron Lamarque for ‘The Desiring’ Outstanding Narrative Short: 'Song & Grace' directed by Maisa Chian Outstanding Narrative Feature: 'One Moment' directed by Deirdre O'Connor Outstanding Screenplay: 'Saratoga' by Robert Potter Jury Award: 'Koreatown Ghost Story' directed by Minsun Park and Teddy Tenenbaum Audience Choice Award: 'Mina Martin' directed by Anthony Petrucci The 11th Annual AoBFF runs June 1-12, 2021. Full Schedule and Tickets will be available at aobff.org Narrative Feature:
Canvas 76 minutes | United States | 2021 Horror, Animation, Drama, Thriller Directed by Ryan Guiterman In this midnight thriller, a demon known as ‘The Painter' comes to Earth with a gruesome mission- to create new spawn from chaos and murder. FBI agent George Rohan finds himself tasked with covering up The Painter's multiplying murders, meanwhile a dogged investigative journalist, Reila Martin works to unveil George’s growing web of lies. DimLand 75 minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Peter Collins Campbell In an attempt to shake off her melancholy, a young woman escapes the city to her family’s country cottage only to rediscover a world she’d long forgotten and the old friend who may convince her to leave reality behind. One Moment 115 minutes | United States | 2020 Comedy, Drama Directed by Deirdre O'Connor One Moment is a humorous, heartwarming story of middle-age siblings struggling to manage their own lives while also caring for their recently widowed aging father. Welcome to the "Sandwich Generation." One Moment features the final performance of beloved actor Danny Aiello. The Desiring 81 minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Byron Lamarque A Southern Gothic tale -- Richard is a typical Southern American who works hard and loves his wife, Claire. However, when he discovers her with another man, instead of feeling betrayed, Richard finds himself increasingly intrigued by the affair. His curiosity triggers conflicting emotions, uprooting his assumptions from the past. As he falls deeper into despair he wrestles with the resentment he harbors toward his father and begins to yearn for the love he desires. Triple Threat 96 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama, Comedy Directed by Stacey Maltin Just as the life-long Broadway dream of three friends is coming true, one decides that he wants to be a father and not just to art babies. With three friends, two babies, and one messy love affair, personal and professional lines become crossed in irreversible and life-changing ways. Documentary Feature: KUBOTA’S KIMONOS. HISTORY ON SILK 52 minutes | United Kingdom | 2020 Directed by Radik Kudoyarov Kubota's story begins with his time as a prisoner of war in the USSR during WWII. Beautifully produced reenactments capture this difficult yet pivotal period of his life. While locked up in his cell, Kubota saw a vision of the Siberian sunset which would later inspire his lifelong project, ‘The Symphony of Light,’ a series of kimonos that would illustrate the grandeur of the universe. This fascinating documentary describes the complex and intricate craft of Tsujigahana - a traditional technique of decorating fabric. Since there were no instructions of how to recreate this age-old process, Kubota spent decades experimenting to form his own version of the method called Itchiku Tsujigahana. Last Call 61 minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Johnny Sweet The hospitality industry is the artistic heartbeat of New York. Nowhere is that more prevalent than in Queens. Thousands of artists, musicians and actors flock to the city’s most diverse borough to work in the service industry to supplement their dreams. In March of 2020 these dreamers put their lives on hold, self-isolating and sacrificing their income as Queens became the global epicenter of covid-19. As the weeks go by we follow two local bars fight off the virus, financial ruin and the deaths of loved ones, while the frontline workers battle to slow down the death toll engulfing the borough. Under strict and safe filming guidelines, we witnessed how both industries needed each other in order to bend the curve. It’s a tale of two sacrifices that saved not only the lives of thousands but the future of New York. Right Now I Want to Scream: Police and Army Killings in Rio - the Brazil Haiti Connection 62 minutes | United Kingdom | 2020 Directed by Cahal McLaughlin, Siobhán Wills The film was produced using participatory practices in collaboration with mothers whose children have been killed during police operations in Complexo do Alemão, Manguihos, Complexo de Maré; and Salgueira. Janaina Matos, founding member of a group of Brazilian police officers campaigning against militarization, states that in Brazil ‘it has become normal’ for police ‘to enter a territory and treat the population as if it were a war enemy…Brazil’s security policy is not aiming to guarantee security for everyone, but just for an elite while oppressing the other larger number of the population, especially the black people.’ This film explores the relationship and close similarities between the militarised policing of favela communities in Rio de Janeiro and the militarised law enforcement tactics used by the Brazilian-led UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) between 2004 and 2007. Who is Lun*na Menoh? 81 minutes | United States, Japan | 2021 Directed by Jeff Mizushima "Who Is Lun*na Menoh" follows the life and work of the extraordinary Japanese artist. From her early career in Japan to the underground music scene in Los Angeles, from fashion show runways featuring her sculptural designs to art galleries showing her fantastical work, Lun*na's edgy, witty and beautiful creations are explored. Director Jeff Mizushima follows Lun*na's artistic career, showcasing her uniquely individual expressionism and interviewing her family, gallery owners, models, fans, and fellow visual artists & musicians to find out who and what Lun*na Menoh is and why her art, in all of its forms, fits in our world. FILM AS ART: 2020 2 minutes | United States | 2020 Short, Experimental, Animation Directed by Tom Bessoir A film for 2020, a year to remember. 2020 different colors create a flicker film. Music by Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth.) Cycle Du Matin 27 minutes | United States | 2021 Experimental Directed by Francis Berry A man deals with the psychological hardships of loneliness during quarantine. Entre Puerto Rico y Richmond: Women in Resistance Shall Not Be Moved 18 minutes | United States | 2020 Experimental, Dance Directed by Alicia Diaz This dance film combines biography, poetry, and ritual with the energy of live performance to bridge stories of resistance and liberation between Puerto Rico and Richmond, VA, honoring Black women tobacco workers in Richmond and Puerto Rican tobacco factory readers and activists Dominga de La Cruz Becerril (1909-1981) and Luisa Capetillo (1879-1922). lat.copiare 4 minutes | Austria | 2006 Animation, Experimental Directed by Claudia Ungersbäck Asking the question of originality in a world of DIY Reproduction. Mina Martin 94 minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Anthony Petrucci In this 'no-budget,' impressionist poem-dream, three outlier students cross paths amidst deadly shootings at their high school on Long Island, NY, and struggle for meaning in the ephemera and loneliness of life. Our Mine 11 minutes | United States | 2021 Experimental, Animation Directed by Shayna Strype Seashells 3 minutes | United States | 2020 Animation, Music Directed by Lea Zalinskis A surreal and whimsical animated music video for the song "Seashells", by San Francisco singer/songwriter Rachel Garlin. Done in stop motion with completely handmade paper cutouts. The Other Shore 7 minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Lynn Bianchi The Other Shore is an experimental film on the topic of the refugee crisis and the wide societal gap between the fortunate and the forgotten. The four interludes each depict a different sunny scenario of various microcosms at a colorful European beach resort. Triggered 13 minutes | United States | 2021 Experimental Directed by Ariyan Johnson Cell phones. Social media. Our lifelines to the outside world. Daily we’re barraged with images, words and video that trigger our emotions. But what happens when it’s one post too many and the emotional dam breaks? Documentary Short: Cat Man Do 13 minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Matt Tyson A shrimp boat captain in Florida spends his nights caring for the town's feral cats. Meriem Bennani: In Between Languages 8 minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Nick Ravich, Danielle Brock What if one language just isn’t enough? Featuring her acclaimed works at the 2019 Whitney Biennial, rising young artist Meriem Bennani chronicles a recent set of ambitious video installation works, unpacking her uniquely humorous and political mix of digital animation, documentary footage, and interactive sculpture. Originally from Morocco, New York City-based Bennani explains how “being here for ten years and being English [as a] second language, and feeling like I’m losing a little bit of my first language…I’ve found that developing this practice that pulls from so many different languages of TV, cinema, sculpture and installation, mixing it all together has allowed me to hit the right note, in my own way.” Priced Out: Why You Can't Afford A Place to Live in the City 15 minutes | United States | 2019 Animation Directed by Dyan Ruiz Nearly everyone living in a major city is experiencing the stress, instability and high costs of housing. Priced Out is our response to the increasingly polarized debate about why nearly everyone is struggling to afford the price of housing. Communities and organizations fighting displacement have been asking for years for a simple story that will help turn the tide. Priced Out is engaging, comprehensive and will change how people understand solutions to housing affordability. This production is voiced in English, and we are producing subtitled versions in Spanish, Tagalog and Chinese. Riddle Passageways 15 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama Directed by Jessie Brown Riddle Passageways tracks a young woman’s journey through COVID-19 as she becomes placed in self-quarantine for 14 days. Revealing her family’s annual Easter hunt tradition in which her and her brother are given riddles curated by their parents; the film follows the family’s celebration of this tradition as she remains stuck in quarantine. Depicting her nostalgia for the fantastical power of childhood and her emotional passage through the hardships of growing up and the challenges of COVID-19, the film comments on themes of identity, love, and the importance of a self-contentment with one’s individual journey. Narrative Short: Appetite 14 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama, Romance, LGBTQIA Directed by Stacey Maltin At an open love party, music and burlesque dancers seduce the patrons. Jack, distracted by the elaborate and decadent food offerings, becomes increasingly uncomfortable as his wife, Ruby, flirts and later goes home with Rex, a non-binary burlesque performer. While Jack hesitantly agreed to an “open marriage” on this night as a birthday gift to his wife, he nonetheless feels emasculated. This is the first power shift away from Jack, the classic male, “master of the universe”, weakening his control and providing the audience with a variant perception inconsistent with the traditional marital paradigm. Clark! 4 minutes | United States | 2021 Comedy Directed by Claire Dub On her one-year anniversary with Clark, Nell attempts to write a romantic poem. The task proves impossible... until Nell finds a way to tap into her true inspiration. DAWN 8 minutes | United States | 2020 Sci-fi, Suspense, Experimental, Silent Directed by Nona Catusanu, Katherine Castro, Liza Gipsova, Red Dawn Trio One woman faces her final obligation in her isolated, waning days among a post-apocalyptic world. Death Homework 9 minutes | United States | 2021 Directed by Ashley Teague Two siblings reckon with the meaninglessness of grief etiquette and customs in the wake of their father's untimely death. Dirt 12 minutes | United States | 2020 Experimental Directed by Helanius J. Wilkins, Roma Flowers Through the fusion of text, movement, layered visuals, and sound, this work presents a meditative exploration of identity and Blackness in a heightened time of unrest and uprisings fueled by issues of police brutality and systemic racism in America. French Picnic 9 minutes | United States | 2020 Comedy Directed by Cameron Tharma A couple wakes up after the night before to find that something isn’t quite right in the bedroom. The repercussions of last nights actions might bring up some hidden insecurities bubbling under the surface of their relationship as well as new opportunities. Gaining and Losing 11 minutes | United States | 2018 Directed by Stacey Maltin What happens to friendship when a shared dream is abandoned? Gaining and Losing explores a friendship torn apart when a young dancer combats an eating disorder and her talented friend can't understand. Gestura 5 minutes | United States | 2021 Experimental Directed by Drake Woodall A performing artist faces her fears on stage. Greenshields 26 minutes | United States | 2021 Drama, Comedy Directed by Nat Swyer When an out of work playwright arrives to close up his family's summer home, the ghost of his great uncle interrupts his seemingly endless solitude. Hell of a Pitcher 11 minutes | United States | 2021 Horror, Thriller Directed by Daniel Burity Hell of a Pitcher is a film about a group of high school friends that trespass on a little league baseball field on independence day. As the night unfolds, they get stalked by a mysterious baseball player and are forced into a deadly game that questions the place of Latino immigrants in current American society. House Hunting 7 minutes | United States | 2020 Horror, Thriller Directed by Patrick Andrew Higgins Hunters sneak inside our homes to steal our most private moments and anonymously post the video for all the world to see. In Sync 5 minutes | United States | 2019 Directed by Eddie Shieh A young couple walk a fine line while thriving in an open marriage until they catch each other breaking the rules. Inevitability 24 minutes | United States | 2021 Comedy Directed by Zoë Greenbaum A romantic comedy about liars. When Lu shows up looking for his ex-fiancee, he finds instead that a beautiful, eccentric heiress addicted to cheesecake, cookies, and rugelach has moved into her apartment. Insider Comedy Short Challenge 7 minutes | United States | 2019 Comedy Directed by Michael Codispoti An interview with a former band aid (not groupie) who is seeking sponsorships and credit. Jamestowne 14 minutes | United States | 2019 Drama, Thriller Directed by Nick Grau In the infant colony of Jamestowne, Virginia, a young woman resorts to cannibalism to survive as her husband starves to death. Koreatown Ghost Story 15 minutes | United States | 2021 Horror Directed by Minsun Park, Teddy Tenenbaum In this supernatural horror tale based on a Korean ritual starring Margaret Cho and Lyrica Okano, a woman entertains a macabre offer that would let her pursue her dreams, for better or for much much worse. Kumquat Kelly 13 minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Shane Allen A delicious little film about grief. Living in the blue of his computer screen, a mourning man finds himself at risk of another heartbreak when the object of his daily solace bites off a bit more than she can chew. Matched 4 minutes | United States | 2020 Horror, Thriller Directed by Zack Kron A young woman explores an apartment during a blackout with nothing more than a box of matches. But she’s not alone... Maya 8 minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Maren Lavelle Maya, a Queer, Korean-American stage manager in New York City, struggles to run the rehearsal for a play about a gay couple falling in love as she pores over the details of her real-life break up from the night before. In a series of flashbacks, we watch Maya and her white partner, Phoebe, reenact their first date, in an attempt to rekindle their romance, which ultimately unravels into an argument about race, class, and privilege within their relationship. In the end, Maya must choose between letting go of her grievances or the woman she once loved. Miss Blueberry Beauty Pageant 12 minutes | United States | 2019 Horror, Thriller, Comedy Directed by Sarah Kennedy Welcome to the 1984 Miss Blueberry Beauty Pageant! Where the girls are a feast for the eyes and as sweet as honey. Follow these three finalists as they navigate the twists and turns of a pageant that reveals a much more sinister secret. Odyssey 14 minutes | United States | 2021 Sci-Fi, LGBT, Romance Directed by Christopher Phelps A selfless young woman must undertake a critical mission that will either save the Earth and all of its inhabitants... or destroy it. Her fearless perseverance is only given pause by the remorseful memories of her past love who languishes on Earth, trapped in a dystopian society. Other Half 10 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama, Comedy Directed by Emily Lerer An atypical love story: two close but deeply flawed friends bond in unexpected ways. Quarantween 4 minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Daniel James McCabe Set on Halloween 2020, this short film follows the only trick-or-treater in NY on an odyssey through a city under lockdown. Seven Fishes 11 minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Jaclyn Gramigna So wrapped up in creating the perfect holiday memory at their Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian American family completely miss the fact that one of their own does not intend to stick around for the dinner...or at all. Sisters 16 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama Directed by Sarah Nolen Two sisters who have grown apart reconnect after the loss of their mother. An exploration of grief, intergenerational feminism and family trauma. Sitting 13 minutes | United States | 2019 Drama Directed by Jones Bryn’s week goes from bad to worse, when her latest babysitting gig turns out to be a grown man. Kyle is terminally ill, and wants company for the last hours of his life - he intends to kill himself by the end of the evening. Snaps 14 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama Directed by Joseph Mazzella Amidst a grief-ridden anxiety attack, a man is gifted with a mental awakening during the funeral of his best friend. Song & Grace 11 minutes | United States | 2020 Directed by Maisa Chiang When a stubborn Chinese grandmother can't rely on her usual translator to communicate, she must find a new way to celebrate her 75th birthday with her American granddaughter. The Inconvenience of Being Black 8 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama Directed by Ukachi Arinzeh A young motorist faces the challenge of driving while Black during a routine traffic stop. Things Could Be Worse 7 minutes | United States | 2021 Drama Directed by Mecca Mcdonald After a fight with his coworker young man deals with his anger and the world’s perception of it over the course of the night. In a year where so much pain from black bodies was on display, Writer and Actor David Bell start a conversation about the voice, anger, and joy of black men in America. This short talks about how the world might judge us but how we judge ourselves. WATER 15 minutes | United States | 2020 Drama, Comedy Directed by Brittney Rae In a dystopian Miami landscape in the late 60's, Lucy, our lead character, is trapped in a cult-like pool club, an example of a social group reinforcing societal pressures of conformity. In this world, everyone is required to choose a social group to assimilate to at the age of ten, separated by gender and arranged by skin-tone. As a result of an unorthodox family dynamic, Lucy is self-aware and independent at a young age, a trait that carries onto her young adult life. While in shock after discovering her mother's sudden death, Julian, her estranged friend from a different social group, invites Lucy to a secret gathering of rogue social group members, (each representing a true civil rights activist of the 60's), who are high in revelry and speak on ideologies rebelling against this American Dream. Reality/Unscripted: Love Locked 25 minutes | United Kingdom | 2020 Directed by Breanne Krause Love Locked is an escape room dating show where individuals are set up on blind dates in an escape room looking to find their true love. If couples are able to escape, there will only be one question left to ask; Do they ever want to see each other again? 2021 Screenplay Competition: Finalists: WALLS&BALLS by Kenneth Klein, Irwin Hahn The MicroCosmic Cartoon Show by Prema Rose, Hugh A. Rose, Suryananda Rose Saratoga by Robert Potter Semi-Finalists: Heaven Schmevin by Jim Norman Amira by Bob Celli The Strange Affair of the Elevator by Katy Regnery THE BRACELETS by Joanne Bellew Underbelly by Sally Stubbs Nescience by Bryce Jackman Just Jane by Carl Huebner SAVING SIMON by Joanne Bellew Quest for Light, Adventure of the Magi by Byron Anderson Racism Is Funny by Greg Fusco Are You Wild Like Me? Pilot: Dirt Universe by William Nawrocki Quarter-Finalists: The Mourners by John Painz Dog Bite by Sean Kenealy Back in Business by Jim Norman Review by Jonathan Zarantonello Bringing Down the Cartel by Chris Feistl The Postcard by Mike Sorrinni The Carrier by Todd A Restler Dead Shot Mary by Robert K. Benson North River by Joseph M. Montagna Benjamin Lee High School by John Pastore 6 Fairview Drive by Paul Charisse Honorable Mentions: Little Compton by Rachel Ingrisano Yoga Like Me by Eric Hollerbach, Emily Hollerbach The Overpass by Jeff Baker Imago by Sean Mannion I AM HERE by Francisco Solorzano Shane and Ivy - We're Eloping to Vegas by Sandra Gregory Hanging Gardens of the Sea and Sky by Zoë Greenbaum Retirement Road Trip by Joe Leone Surprise by Robert K. Benson The Death of Jeremy by David Seader UNDER DARK by Paul Charisse
Filmmakers Eric Silvera and Sean Kenealy co-wrote, co-directed and co-starred in "The World's First Two-Person Action Movie" IN ACTION. The feature had its East Coast Premiere at the Art of Brooklyn Film Festival's 2020 Digital Edition, taking home the coveted Audience Choice award. The film's successful festival run led to a distribution deal with Gravitas Ventures. AoBFF's own Jake King had some questions for Eric and Sean on the devotion to take this unique film from concept through production, how they built their audience, advice for filmmakers, and much more. ![]()
IN ACTION has a very interesting production journey. We’re still impressed by how you made it. Can you tell the story?
Eric: In early 2014, Sean and I sat in a pizza joint near Union Square brainstorming ideas for our next project. Sean pitched: “I want to make a feature-length action movie with two people sitting in chairs talking to each other for $5,000.” I said, “I don’t know what that means.” “We can use fast-paced dialogue, and descriptions of what’s happening, and quick cutting to make it feel like it’s action packed, even though it’s just us sitting in chairs. We’ll call it How To Write and Star in Your Own Action Movie.” I was intrigued. Then Sean added, “We have no Hollywood connections, and any other script we write is just going to sit in the slush pile. You do stand-up so you can perform, I act, we both write, and you studied film in college. Let’s make something that can’t be ignored.” Later, I walked through the East Village and kept picturing a car chase with two people sitting in chairs. If the camera was constantly moving, roving around the chairs, and there was quick cutting, strong sound design, and we took the scene seriously, maybe it could feeeeeeeel like a car chase. I was in. We made a list of action tropes we’d embrace: a mismatched heroic duo, core eccentric villains with generic henchman, one-liners, and over-the-top violence. But what about the story? We agreed it was best to develop a storyline for an actual movie and ignore the two-person premise during this process. The plot: Two idiots writing an action screenplay get flagged by the government based on the content of their emailed plot ideas, and uncover a giant conspiracy. We wrote for several months, and, once satisfied with a draft performed live readings in my apartment to understand what did and didn’t work. We also hoped to entice potential producers we invited during these sessions, but no producer fully committed... We then decided to film a reading of the script as a prototype to prove the idea played. Over a single day, and using two camera operators and a sound person, we shot the original premise: An Action Movie With Two People Sitting In Chairs In One Room. Sean edited the prototype. Turns out, it didn’t fully work…but there were a few scenes where the idea truly coalesced. Sean cut a short trailer from those moments and we used that trailer to get our producer, Alex Nordenson, on board. While he hadn’t produced movies, he was a producer at an ad agency and understood the intricacies of production, shoots, and the creative process. Alex was instrumental in getting the film made, the consigliere throughout production process. The prototype taught us that for the Two-Person Action Movie premise to work, it had to evolve into something more cinematic. Two actors, in limited locations, on a tiny budget was still the goal. However, we revised the script to show more, tell less, and pinpointed sections that could use mixed media (animation, hand-drawings, etc.) to enhance action sequences. The revised draft, evolved concept, and prototype trailer were enough to excite some core crew members to join the production. We raised funding via Kickstarter waaayyyy back in Summer 2015 and shot the film on weekends, between the summers of 2016 and 2017 (we had to break for a long period because my second child was born and then my wife had a nearly fatal case of sinusitis). We used two locations for the shoots. Acts 1 and 3 were shot in the small office of my day job. My VP of Sales and CEO allowed us to shoot on the weekends for free, “as long as everything was back to normal by Monday A.M.” This saved so much money, and we converted the office into a wedding reception, a bar, a hotel room, a supermarket, living rooms, a “highway car chase”. Plus, it had bathrooms, a kitchen, offices, and a conference room, all location types needed for the script. For Act 2, Sean found a 750-square foot photo studio in Long Island City, Queens off Craig’s List. It was cheap, grungy, and could be transformed into the various settings of the Underground Lair where our characters are held hostage. Our D.P., Mateo Marquez, did an awesome job figuring out how to shoot and light the scenes within these tight parameters so that each setting felt different, even if we were just redressing the location. During post-production, our editor, Billy Nawrocki, became a core member of the team, eventually also taking on the role of post-production coordinator. We gave him the note, “Imagine if My Dinner Andre was edited like a Michael Bay film” and he ran with it. His work is a major reason the concept of this film was pulled off; Billy’s editing has been singled out in reviews and won/was nominated for Best Editing at several festivals. All in, the film was a six year journey from idea to post-production, made patiently on the side while Sean and I worked full-time, non-entertainment industry careers, raised families, and had a couple nervous breakdowns. In addition to playing the leads, you both co-wrote and co-directed the film. What was that experience like, and do you have any advice for directors working together? Eric: Sean and I have a great partnership and we really lean on each other’s strengths. As writers, we’ve developed a good system of how to approach a project. Generally, over a series of conversations (and then random texts with ideas) we develop the overall story and map out the major beats/themes/plot points. Then, Sean writes first. He has an incredible ability to turn out pages quite quickly and that gets things moving. I have an incredible ability to overthink and analyze so if we waited for me to start a script, we’d still be staring at a blank screen. Once Sean sends me the pages, I begin to edit and also build upon ideas that are in the story. Then I send Sean the revisions and he starts to revise and build. It comes back to me and the process continues. By the time we get to the end of an Act, it’s like multiple drafts have been written, and the screenplay has become a mind-meld between both of our ideas/visions. As directors, we both work really hard to listen to each other and be respectful of the other’s opinions, even when we totally disagree. My wife watched us have an “argument” on set one day and couldn’t believe how calmly we sorted it out. She’s remarked that we’re like a very well-functioning married couple, and if marriages approached an argument this way, there’d never be divorce. Hahaha. Our advice for other directors working together:
There are many fun and interesting scenes in IN ACTION. Were there any particular influences in regards to films or filmmakers?
Eric: We were influenced (and stole) from a lot of different kind of movies. From an action movie standpoint, we really pulled from the tropes of the 80s/90s heyday - flicks like Commando, Predator, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon 1 & 2, The Rock, etc. to both develop the plot and lovingly poke fun at. However, this is a movie that’s basically two people talking to each other the whole time, so we also referenced My Dinner With Andre, Creep, and a lot of Richard Linklater’s work (Tape, the Before Series, Slacker) - films that are dialogue-heavy with limited casts. Then we edited these talky scenes like it was a Michael Bay movie, hahaha. There were truly a lot of disparate influences that we used for specific scenes: a single-take POV fight was inspired by the Ordinary World scene in Layer Cake, while scenes that take place in a therapist’s office were inspired by the interstitials of couples chatting in When Harry Met Sally. Recently, we’ve started telling people that In Action kind of a mix of John McTiernan meets Richard Linklater meets What The Hell Happened To Me-era Adam Sandler/early-Kevin Smith with a dash of the ZAZ comedies. The film won Audience Choice for our 10th Anniversary edition in 2020. Did you have a plan in place to involve your networks to watch and vote? Sean: Definitely. We started with our core team and brainstormed different communities we could reach out to. Friends and family were the obvious ones, but we also contacted coworkers, creative circles, and basically anyone we could think of! We also tried to be purposeful with how we timed all of our outreach. Sending an email or posting on social media every day with the same details will get boring fast. So we spaced it out and included new info with each post/email, such as reviews or write ups from smaller blogs and newspapers. We encouraged our communities/crew to share details on the movie as well. The In Action team only knows so many people, so we really leaned on our friends and family to spread info on our behalf, which was a BIG help. And with all of our outreach, we made sure to include specifics on the Audience Choice Award and how to vote! How early in the filmmaking process did you start to cultivate fans? Any advice for other filmmakers on how to create audience interest? Sean: Honestly, we didn’t really start to cultivate fans until Art of Brooklyn. Up until that festival, no one outside of our team (or other festivals we applied to) had access to watch our movie. AoBFF was the first time we could encourage everyone we know to watch - especially with the festival being online. That said, people definitely knew our movie existed, but a lot of folks didn’t know what stage we were at. AoBFF solidified we were a “real” movie to a lot of our community, and it helped us start to make a fanbase. As for advice, I’d say just keep people posted on what you’re doing with your movie - from pre-production to finished product. Sharing clips, pictures, news, or anything else relevant keeps your movie on people’s mind. They might not be able actually watch your movie yet, but when it DOES become available it’ll be good for them to already know a bit of your backstory. IN ACTION recently scored distribution with Gravitas Ventures — an amazing achievement! Can you tell us how that came about? Sean: Eric and I didn’t have a huge film community when we started In Action. We definitely didn’t know any agents or have any leads with distribution companies. So playing at festivals is what helped get us attention. Right after Art of BK, a producers rep reached out to us offering to help find us distribution. This was a very windy 6 month journey filled with rejection, dozens upon dozens of phone calls, redesigning our poster (then redesigning it again…), but it was the beginning of us landing a deal with Gravitas. What advice do you have for filmmakers in regard to submitting to festivals, as well as promoting your film? Eric: Treat the festival submission process like you’re applying to college. So build a list of your reaches, your “This feels like I have a good shot and would be happy there” and your safety schools. The key to doing this: understanding the genre your film fits into (if it’s easily definable). Then researching festivals that focus on that genre first and if they’ve accepted films in the past similar to yours. If so, what other festivals did those films show at? Then you can begin to build a list of festivals that probably make the most sense and expand outwards/broader from there. We used FilmFreeway often to get a sense of other filmmakers’ experiences, the history of the festival, their requirements, etc. There are so many festivals to choose from, but FilmFreeway is a good way to sort through them. Entry-fees add up quickly so have a good sense of your festival application budget and if it’s limited be discerning. But at the same time, take a few chances - AoBFF was a reach for our no-budget, weird concept-of-a-film, but we were accepted and it opened the path to eventual distribution. Promoting — emails, social media, texting your friends, whatever platform or research you need to do to get the word out, do it. Be nice to friends and family now because they’ll come through for you and help too years later when your film is released. Once your film finds distribution and will be released, consider hiring an (affordable) publicist who can help seed your movie across different media sources that you’ll have no access to on your own. A filmmaker friend thought PR was useless until it helped their small, indie debut receive a review from The New Yorker, which led to a Hollywood gig. 2020 was our first-ever Digital Edition. It was a very different experience but we were thrilled with the results. What was it like having your festival run during lockdown? Sean: This was our first festival run. Eric and I were able to go to one in-person festival (which happened the week before the world shut down in March 2020), and the rest were online. Of course, it would have been amazing to meet more people in person (and to see our movie on the big screen as opposed TVs/laptops!), but festivals like AoBFF did an incredible job of keeping the energy exciting and hosting networking events while being fully online. Being online also pushed us to share our movie with EVERYONE we know. Sure, it would have been amazing to show in Brooklyn, but if we had, then we wouldn’t have reached out to so many people out of state to watch. Online festivals definitely gave us a bigger audience, and in the long run I think it made us focus more on marketing and building a fanbase. Do you have any future projects in development that audiences can look forward to? Sean: We’re currently talking to producers about our next horror-comedy feature called Reject. It takes place in the festival world (not too outside the box of AoBFF…). Hopefully we can share more soon! |
Categories
All
Archives
February 2025
|