Local Films at SIFF 2009

SIFF 2009 Centerpiece Gala
Humpday, directed by
Lynn Shelton (USA, 2009)
Two college buddies test the limits of heterosexual male bonding by agreeing to take part in an amateur porn contest, based on the real-life competition held by The Stranger. This smart satire from Seattle's Lynn Shelton about the contradictions of the male ego culminates in a hilariously uncomfortable finale.

SIFF 2009 Northwest Connections Features
Back to the Garden, Flower
Power Comes Full Circle, directed by
Kevin Tomlinson (USA, 2009) WORLD PREMIERE
Twenty years ago, local filmmaker Kevin Tomlinson interviewed hippies at a "healing gathering" in Eastern Washington. Now he tracks the same folks to see what became of their environmental utopias. Today, in the midst of global warming, the voices of these flower children are prophetic.

Dancing Across Borders, directed by Anne H. Bass
(USA, 2008) WORLD PREMIERE
Sokvannara "Sy" Sar was a dancer on the streets of Cambodia until he caught the eye of filmmaker Anne Bass, who helped him become a professional ballet dancer. In her debut feature film, Bass sympathetically chronicles Sy's ascent as ballet's newest rising star.

Finding Bliss, directed by Julie Davis
(USA, 2008)
Jody needs a place to shoot her movies but all she can find is a porn studio. She starts to secretly film there but is discovered and forced to collaborate with an adult film director. Filmed in Spokane, this fun romantic comedy borrows plot lines from director Julie Davis' own start in the industry.

Icons Among Us, directed by
Michael Rivoira, Lars Larson, Peter J. Vogt (USA, 2009)
Executive producer John Comerford interviewed 75 jazz artists with high-definition cameras, shot 25 hours of concerts on Super-16mm film, and blended them with archival footage. The result is a dynamic and engaging document of many of the greatest jazz musicians of today. Also part of SIFF Face the Music.

The Immaculate Conception
of Little Dizzle, directed by
David Russo (USA, 2009)
A group of janitorial slackers unwittingly becomes the subject of a very bizarre biochemical engineering experiment involving cookies that may help illuminate the meaning of existence. Full of imaginative animation sequences, this visually inventive
comedy from Seattle's David Russo is really a spiritual quest in sheep's clothing.

Independent America: Rising
From Ruins, directed by
Hanson Hosein (Canada, 2008)
Independent America: Rising From Ruins explores the effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans and how the Moms and Pop businesses provided hope where corporate America disappointed. Avoiding over-dramatization, Hanson Hosein educates
audiences about the empowered and hopeful in the New Orleans community.

It Takes a Cult, directed by Eric Johannsen
(USA, 2008)
The Israel Family (aka, The Love Family) was a communal religious movement born in Seattle that grew to a tribe of nearly 300 men, women, and children. Raised in the Israel Family, Johannsen brings an intimate portrait of communal life and what drew them all together.

Pirate for the Sea,directed by Ronald Colby
(USA, 2008)
Hero to conservationists and villain to hunters, marine environmentalist Paul Watson commits himself 100 percent to his cause. In this stirring profile, director and narrator Ron Colby explores Watson's beliefs, blunders, and triumphs. He makes a convincing case that the world's endangered oceans are better off due to Watson's dedicated and frequently controversial efforts.

The Spy and the Sparrow, directed by
Garrett Bennett (USA, 2009) WORLD PREMIERE
Shot in Seattle and produced by local shingle Eke Pictures, Bennett merges spy thriller with domestic drama to sly and surprising effect as retired agent Thomas Sparrow faces his greatest challenges in trying to reconnect with his troubled daughter, Josephine, in this sly and surprising film.

Sweet Crude, directed by Sandy Cioffi
(USA, 2008)
Ten percent of our oil supply comes from Nigeria, but few of us know the social and environmental devastation that the oil business wreaks there. Local filmmaker Sandy Cioffi brings her camera overseas to expose the corruption and the growing militant reaction to the politically irresponsible oil companies in the Niger Delta.

Trimpin: The Sound of
Invention, directed by Peter Esmonde (USA, 2009)
Trimpin is a wild ride through the kinetic universe of a creative genius. We watch Seattle-based artist/inventor/engineer/composer Trimpin design, scavenge, build, and investigate an outrageous range of materials. This will delight anyone interested in the mysteries, pitfalls, and sheer joy of creative experiment.
Also part of SIFF Face the Music program.

True Adolescents, directed by Craig Johnson
(USA, 2009)
Washington native Craig Johnson fills his directorial debut with the sights and sounds of the Pacific Northwest in this humorous and insightful tale of a down-on-his-luck indie rocker (Mark Duplass from Humpday and The Puffy Chair) who confronts his biggest doubts and fears when a camping trip goes awry.

The Whole Truth, directed by Colleen Patrick
(USA, 2009) WORLD PREMIERE
A greedy, high living acting coach transforms disgusting criminals to appeal to juries, until she overhears a client she helped set free plan a heinous crime - and becomes his target for murder. Escaping death and discovering who she really is becomes the most expensive - and rewarding - experience of her life.

World's Greatest Dad, directed by
Bobcat Goldthwait (USA, 2009)
Shot on location in Seattle, this wickedly funny dark comedy stars Robin Williams as a sad-sack poetry teacher who inadvertently finds his greatest opportunity from a freak accident. Bobcat Goldthwait has concocted a lusciously perverse and refreshingly original tale that tackles love, loss, and our curious quest for infamy.

ZMD: Zombies of Mass
Destruction, directed by
Kevin Hamedani (USA, 2009)
Things are rotten in the idyllic island town of Port Gamble, Washington, quite possibly because there's been a zombie virus outbreak. Now a small band of intrepid heroes must fight back and eradicate the undead invaders - it's the American way.

SIFF 2009 Northwest Connections Shorts
"Bedtime Story,"directed by
Sarah Jane Lapp (USA, 2009)
"CC 2010,"directed by
Travis Senger (USA, 2009)
"Endless Tunnel,"directed by
Tommy Thompson (USA, 2008)
"The Chronicles of Cleo and
Jack," directed by Karn Junkinsmith (USA, 2009)
"The Day My Parents Became
Cool,"directed by Steve Edmiston
(USA, 2008)
"Dark Material,"directed by
Maile Martinez (USA, 2009)
"Her Meds,"directed by
Matt Cibelli (USA, 2008)
"It's In The P-I,"directed by
Bradley Hutchinson (USA, 2009)
"November,"directed by
Benjamin Dobyns (USA, 2008)
"One Night,"directed by
Laura Jean Cronin (USA, 2009)
"Somewhere,"directed by
Salise Hughes (USA, 2009)
"Sophia + Anna,"directed by Joy
Andrews (USA, 2009)
"Thicker Than Water,"directed by
Sami Kubo (USA, 2008)

Northwest Screenplay Competition Call for Entries

The Northwest Screenplay Competition is accepting submissions for the 12th Annual Northwest Screenplay Competition (formerly called the Washington State Screenplay Competition). The Northwest Screenwriters Guild's focus is on providing support and insight to a dedicated group of screenwriters distant in geography from "Hollywood" but not in spirit or talent.

Submission Deadlines:

June 1 - Earlybird Deadline ($35)

June 27 - Regular Deadline ($40)

July 8 - Late Deadline ($50)

July 12 - Withoutabox Deadline ($50)

First and second round entries will be judged by trained and experienced readers who are screenwriters and producers dedicated to the craft. An added bonus this year is the separate SUNBREAK AWARD honoring writers who reside in Washington or Oregon.

The top three finalist scripts will be read by executives at established Hollywood production companies.

Other prizes include: Announcement as winner in Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, along with publicity releases to film industry and script-related publications; staged script reading with a cast of talented Seattle actors at the 12th annual Local Sightings Film Festival; one year membership to NWSG; one copy of the Final Draft; Michael Wiese Books Bundle; Yoneda Kathie Fong's "The Script Selling Game"; John Scott Lewinski's "Alone in A Room"; Save The Cat bundle; THE WEEKLY WORKBOOK: Twelve Weeks from Idea Through Rewrite by Pilar Alessandra.

Past finalists have been hired for writing assignments, secured representation, signed option agreements, and have had their work requested by film executives.

Details about the competition, including rules, deadlines and prizes, can be found at www.nwsg.org. For more information contact the competition coordinator at: competition@nwsg.org.

IFP Independent Filmmaker Labs - Call for Narrative Rough Cut Features

A National Program Connecting Mentors and Projects Before They Are Submitted to Festivals

Narrative Lab Submission Deadline: April 17

Led by experienced producers, the Labs assist filmmakers in tackling the creative challenges of completing their modestly-budgeted, independently produced films - getting a leg-up before industry exposure. The five-day mentorship program in NYC challenges filmmakers to realize the full potential of their footage and stories with ongoing dynamic feedback and advice on technical & creative issues and distribution methods. The Labs are for first-time, narrative feature directors in the late stages of post-production. For more information & application: http://labs.ifp.org
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This is from our NYC IFP chapter. I know several filmmakers who have been through the Narrative Lab program and had a great experience. I encourage all Seattle filmmakers who are in the late stages of post to apply!

-Lacey